NO SMOKING
Episode 2
“Seems a tough decision right?”
The cool breeze was lavish in its provision, and it seemed to take away with each passing sweep, a chunk of heat the Sun had earlier given. Domfa was startled at the accuracy of the person behind him. How did she know that he was struggling with quitting? He would have been annoyed at the audacity of the question but its accuracy took him beyond mere annoyance.
“How long have you been standing here?” he asked as he turned towards her.
Though he was surprised by the pinpoint accuracy of her question, he was taken further into Wonderland at her breathless presence. Could a daughter born of a woman be this gracious or did he take more alcohol than his brain could bear? He was not sure what the appropriate response was. Her eyes possessed a twinkle which was a gift from the moon’s abundant light.
“For some minutes now. I am sorry for intruding.”
She stretched forth those limbs that had mesmerised him earlier and handed him a business card.
“We give our business card to first-time customers.”
“And you are?” Domfa asked.
“Nanyil. Good night sir,” she said as she walked back to the door.
Now two rough-looking men who were approaching the restaurant were talking in loud hoarse voices. They were walking towards the door too, so Nanyil hustled to attend to them. His eyes were delighted to trail her steps as they found their way back into the restaurant. He threw the cigarette in his hand to the ground and stepped on it. He would not be going back. At least not tonight. Nanzip had not come but somehow he found himself happy: seeing this lady was an affirmation that good things abound. Even if good may not happen in his case, he was going to hold on to this feeling. He needed a reason to exist. Without looking at the business card, he slid it into his pocket and started walking home.
It was minutes beyond half past ten and the streets were lonely. The initially cool breeze had grown into gusts of cold, dusty, dry wind. The moon was a brilliant white ball in the night sky. Domfa was grateful for the light as the streets were dark due to a power outage. He was wary of the activities of thieves who robbed passers-by at gunpoint. They were most delighted to leave with their victims’ phones. He had expected to go home in Nanzip’s car so he had come to the restaurant by taxi. Taxi cabs were scarce to find by that time of the night. He would have to walk for about twenty minutes unless he found a taxi. Domfa zipped up his pocket in order to secure his phone — just in case he had to run. He also picked up a sizeable plank which he felt lucky to have found along the way. He would defend himself with plank if need be. He believed that the plank would send some signals to anyone monitoring him from a distance. As he continued walking along the deserted streets he wondered how the once peaceful town was now ridden with hoodlums. He sighed as he made a turn into his street.
On reaching the gate of the block where he lived he dropped the plank and reached for his phone in his zipped pocket. He called the security man. It seemed as if Joshua was waiting for his call. On getting into the compound, he realised that he was the last to return. Little wonder Joshua was prompt in picking his call. Joshua slept while the tenants slept.
Once in his room, he ate some bread from the fridge and went straight to the bed. He hoped he would sleep. His recent nights had not been gifted with sleep: he watched movies, kept thinking, or just kept himself busy. This night felt somewhat different. Though he would not sleep and he would keep thinking, his thoughts were no longer about Ritz but about the restaurant. He remembered how happy the couple was and he admired them. He wondered what kind of woman that polite waitress was. His thoughts ranged from her beauty to her grace, then to her carriage, to her balance of audacity and politeness. He could not help but check his chances. He reached for the business card that she had given him and to his surprise, he saw her number on the business card. It had not occurred to him that she ran the restaurant. Should he call her later? Was he being too forward? He decided that he would call the number the next day. He thanked God he had not killed himself.
The alarm clock set on his phone rattled him to life by 7:00 am. He was not sure how to feel about another morning. He had taken a leave from work as he wanted to heal, and he was healing. His photo studio was being managed by his assistant since then. He thought about visiting his studio today. He was happy with the new feeling that this morning brought him. After all, joy comes in the morning. He could not deny that it had to do with the visit to the restaurant. Yes, the restaurant. He decided to dial the number on the card. He would make an arbitrary inquiry. He dialled.
“Hello, am I speaking with Nanyil?”
“Oga, if you want this phone, carry 50k come Ikejiani,” an arrogant voice replied.
And the line went dead.
To be continued…
