Amaka (Part 3)

I call this painting "Amaka".

As Amaka sat silently in her BMW, her thought went to her parent’s advice after her husband passed. “You have two boys, what are you remarrying for? asked her Mother. You need to stay and keep your late husband’s legacy. If they were girls you could remarry, but they are boys. "Nnem", you will stay and take care of your children. Who would you leave them for? asked her Father. In Igbo land, it is abominable to leave your male children and remarry. The children will not forgive you for leaving them behind since children belonged to the man and his family. Your boys will get married and always come home to visit, where will they visit? At another man’s house? "Alu! Biko Nne" you will stay, said her father.”

Madam "move this motor na", shouted an "Okada" rider. "You be learner"? asked the "Okada man". This brought Amaka back to reality and she realized that she was close to the hotel.

She arrived the hotel in good time. She stepped out of the car and walked into the restaurant inside Bizz hotel. Felix and Kanayo were already seated. With a warm hug, Amaka greeted them both. "Kedu?" She asked them both and they replied that they were well.

They chose Bizz hotel because of their assorted tasty Igbo soups. Amaka and her boys loved Igbo soups. Amaka ordered pounded yam and "Ofe-Onugbo" with Snail, Felix and Kanayo ordered pounded yam and "Ofe-Ora" with cow leg. They descended on the tasty food with their fingers, scooping the soup with the rolled lumps of pounded yam. Amaka ordered freshly squeezed lemon and water and her boys ordered a glass of palm wine each.

What do you both have on your chest? ask Amaka. Mom we were worried about you, Sarah informed me that you had trouble sleeping lately, said Felix. This is unlike you, is everything okay at work? asked Kanayo.

How could Amaka let them know that it was Shola, a stranger, that was giving her sleepless nights? She wondered. It is nothing, she said, just too much at work. We landed two big contracts from Abuja last week, I will be fine, said Amaka.

Mum? Felix called at her with a stare knowing she was covering up something. Mum you know you can trust us on anything, said Felix.

Amaka could not get herself to condescend to that level of saying she was in love with a strange man that felt nothing for her.

Amaka insisted that it was nothing, as she sipped her lemon water. Felix nodded knowing that whatever it was cannot be kept from him for too long.