Sunday morning. Amadi had packed his bag the night before and before dropping the bombshell that he was leaving the village with Chidi but going to Abuja to start a new life with the help of his friend. Musa a former houseboy was now a self made man. “If he could do it then why can’t I?” He used his hand to smoothen his moustache and little beard he kept underneath his chin. This was no longer the little boy Mr. Theophilus accused of stealing amounts of money from. This was a young man about to pave a path to success for himself in a new city. He buttoned his shirt up and then tucked them into his brand new trousers he picked up from the market. He didn’t have enough money to buy a good pair of shoes so he bought himself black trainers. “It’s not as if I am going to work in NNPC” he joked to himself. When he was packed and ready he looked outside his window and saw that his little step brothers and sisters were all up and were on getting ready to go to the stream with Anulika, their father’s youngest wife. He went out to them. “Chidi would you bring us Onitsha biscuits when you come back and Amadi can you please bring us nice shoes and a ball and Nnenna says she wants a dolly baby” The children asked expectantly from the brothers. “Of course I will and when I have made plenty of money I will come back to get all of you” Amadi said smiling at the children he looked above Nnenna and saw her mother Anulika she was smiling and Amadi sometimes wondered to himself if she fancied him even though he was 2 years younger than her and her stepson. He smiled back and patted each child on their head before giving them a 50 naira note. “Buy yourselves something with this” he realised how much he’ll miss them as he saw Chidi give them 50 naira too and give them a hug. He walked to Anulika “Take care of yourself me and Chidi are off to the station its 9 o’clock already and I don’t want Chidi to miss the bus eh.” “Ijeoma oh (safe journey) remember to take care of yourself and don’t go and follow Nwunye Hausa or become an Alhaji” she joked. He grabbed his bag and waited for Chidi to say his goodbyes. As the brothers set off each took a last look at their father’s home knowing that as they turned away even though going different directions, they were off to a better life. A life that they were both privileged to have. A life that could change other lives forever. This life awaited them and all they needed to do was reach to grab it and never let it slip.
“Nna I am so excited oh, I can’t wait to get to Abuja and see Musa it has been so long and he is even married now.” Amadi said patting Chidi in a playful way. “So how long are you planning on staying with them for? I mean you will have to find your own feet after a while won’t you?” His brother asked. “I plan on moving out by next month maybe to a one-bedroom flat or something”. As they approached the bus station, Amadi checked his watch. The time was 9.20 and he was just 3 minutes early to board his coach. He looked round as he saw women with their babies strapped to their backs with wrappers as they all tried to sell kola nuts to the people on the coaches. He also saw young boys pushing wheelbarrows that contained the luggage of people travelling. He made sure he absorbed everything from his hometown. “In 6 hours time I will be an Abuja boy!” He chuckled to himself. “Well bros I’m off oh. Safe Journey eh and I will send you a letter with a phone number you can reach me on as soon as I can eh. Be good oh!” He gave his brother a handshake, although he noticed his Chidi was looking all around as if he were expecting something important. He was going to ask him where Amara was but he felt it was best for Chidi that her name was not mentioned.
The coach was a luxurious one. He made sure he saved up enough money to get a luxurious coach to Abuja. Inside where everyone was secure from the hot air outside, the air conditioner released waves of cool breeze so good that he wanted to fall asleep but he had made up his mind to try to be as awake as possible so he could pass everywhere he had heard about, from Ile Ife to Lokoja. From Enugu to Nya Nya. He looked out of his window towards his brother and saw Amara running to Chidi. Then he saw them hug each other very tightly and then Chidi got into a Bus. It all happened so quickly that he didn’t even realise that the coach was already moving slowly. As the coach pulled out of the station and onto the road, he could hear a man praying out loudly as people responded to his favours with loud shouts of Amen! He looked out to see what direction Chidi’s bus turned. It went opposite. As the coach accelerated, Amadi closed his eyes and thought about everything he was leaving and what he was going to meet. This was definitely a new start for him and he was willing to grab it with every breath he took.
“Welcome to Abuja” Amadi saw the signs at every turn the bus took. This was much different to what he at left at Ukigwe. There were much more beautiful cars that crammed the road. Men in Kaftans and women in Hijabs walked up and down the street. As he tried to look into car windows as hard as he could, he noticed the way the drivers of the nice cars looked. They wore smarts suits and the women wore expensive laces. The sun was shining brightly and he could fill his heart leap with excitement as the coach turned into the Julius Berger Bus Station in Wuse. As he got off the bus he noticed Musa immediately and went over to him. Musa looked much more different that the boy he served with in Onitsha. He was much taller now and looked fair despite the weather he was in. He wore a pink shirt that was tucked into neatly ironed Beige khaki trousers. He had slippers on. Musa looked smart and respectable. Amadi secretly thanked God that he himself looked smart today. As he approached Musa he noticed that friendly smile his friend always had for him and even though they were from different tribes, Amadi sometimes referred to Musa as his brother. “Ahh! You got here just at the time I predicted. Brother long time no see! And once again welcome to Abuja!” Musa gave Amadi a warm and welcoming hug. “Thank you oh! This your weather is like the Sahara desert” Amadi joked. Musa led the way to where his car was parked. It was a Mercedes V Boot. Musa put Amadi’s bags at the back seats and then gestured Amadi to go to the front seat. As Amadi put on his seat belt, he felt proud. He was in a ‘big’ car. Musa got in and started the car. As they drove through the streets of Abuja, Amadi and Musa talked about their time at Onitsha and how Musa had made a fortune for himself after opening an Electronics shop. Musa lived in Wuse II, the rich district of Abuja.
With 5 rooms and a big reception, Musa’s house was definitely the house for the rich Nigerian. Musa had a wife Halimat, who was as Amadi could tell by the way she spoke, a humble very educated woman. “So I finally get to meet the Amadi my Musa is always talking about!” She said giving him a hug as he entered their house. She then made sure Musa and Amadi sat at the table as she served them some Rice and Chicken stew. “Please I want you to see my house as your house because you are my brother from another mother” Musa joked. After they had finished eating, Amadi was shown his room. “My God! This is too much now!” Amadi said in joy. His room had a television, a soft king sized bed, and a wonderful view to the street leading to the Nicon Hilton Hotel and the Holy Trinity catholic church in Maitama. Amadi thanked his friend and wife and before he knew it he was fast asleep because he knew the next day he would begin working with Musa and hopefully making a better pavement for himself in life.
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