
I shouldn't have gone out on Monday night, because it did not make sense to me that midway through January we were still battling with fuel issues in Port Harcourt.
However, this time, almost all the filling stations were selling, but had different prices on offer.
I was almost out of fuel as my fuel gauge had shown. The last thick black line before going into the danger zones on the gauge... that's where it was when I checked in the morning. So the plan was to use it at night. While rounding up, head to my usual filling station, Nepal, to queue up by midnight, fill the tank up by morning and return home.
So, I waited till night, after football training, I had a bath, dinner, rested a bit, before hitting the road by 9pm.
My first ride took me to Iwofe. As I was about to end the trip, another one came in from Aker Road. I called the number and the man on the other end asked me to come to the NNS Pathfinder Junction. When I got there, he wasn't anywhere around. I called again and this time, he asked me to take the route leading to the oil firm, Saipem.
I immediately declined and told him point blank that I don't ply such routes at night. He pleaded some more and told me he's one of the soldiers stationed there, but there's an emergency he needed to take care of. We discussed terms offline which he agreed to. Well, money is a great source of motivation, I guess. Besides, there's a Navy base just around the corner, so what then could possibly go wrong? Na wetin gimme mind to march down. {That's what gave me the boldness to go that way}
I got to the Saipem gate and this time, he was already waiting for me.
He said we're headed to Choba, the University of Port Harcourt, precisely. He explained that he had been calling his girlfriend but she wasn't responding. He was worried and wanted to go and check if all was well. I asked him if she had someone living with her. He replied in the affirmative, but she too didn't pick up, which was quite unusual.
So, that's how we set course for Choba. He told me her lodge was along that Maryland Hostel Road. I explained to him that the road is bad (rough) and is a no-go area for cab guys like me. He promised to make an upward review of our already agreed sum. Who am I to say no to a soldier man at night?!
We got to the girl's lodge, knocked and her roomie came out, with shock stamped all over her face upon seeing my client. Oga asked about his girl and the room mate was stunned. She kept muttering what we couldn't make any meaning of. Na so Army man just shoved her aside and went in, only to find an empty room, kitchen and bathroom...hehehehe! His girl friend was not in the room.
He closed the door and brought out his 'koboko', threatening to flog the room mate if she doesn't reveal the whereabouts of his woman! Me sef don begin fear. I would have gone outside, but who I be to open door wey Army man don use him own hands lock?! Who I be na? {I can't open a door that was closed by a soldier}
Well, the girl begin cry sha,.knelt down and told us the babe had gone to Casablanca (a red light district) in the Government Reserved Area, GRA to 'hustle'. Her phone was low so she left it behind to charge.
My guy man's face changed upon hearing the news. His resolve was broken. With the little patience left in him, he asked that we leave immediately before he does something dangerous. Na so I rush open door as the order was given. We went back into the car and the silence was deafening thereafter. I was afraid to ask him where next.
He looked up and said,"Boy, let's go to Casablanca".
At that point, I regretted coming out that night. I for just dey house play PS (PlayStation with Obi my neighbor).
Well, who am I to refuse the orders of a depressed soldier man?!
We got to Casablanca, but didn't know where to start the search from. I told him I'll just park and watch over my car, while he can patrol around to look for his (lost) lover. So, I parked just by the Casablanca Junction, observing the array of pretty ladies on parade and taking in the beautiful scenery that they bring. Girls of different shapes and sizes, young and old, displaying their wares for interested clients. Some were lucky to get picked up, others strolled up and down in order to get noticed. A few others just enjoyed the music from the clubs around the vicinity, shaking some of their assets in enticing manner.
One of the pretty girls caught my eye though. She wasn't dressed in a skimpy attire, but her beauty was radiating. She was in a white palazzo trousers and pink crop top, very young too.
One black Lexus jeep parked across and a young man walked up to where she was standing with her friends/colleagues and asked them to follow him. He got back into the front seat, passengers side and both occupants of the car engaged the girls in a conversation. Of course, I couldn't hear them, but I knew what they were up to.
Two of the girls were dismissed while my 'favourite girl' got into the back seat. She was laughing while talking with them. The inner light was on briefly while I observed proceedings from my vantage point. All of a sudden, my soldier client appeared from nowhere. No joy on his face. He didn't find the girl despite combing everywhere.
He brought out his phone to show me the babe that's putting him through all this, also explaining how he's paying her school fees, accommodation and general upkeep because he plans to make her his wife right after school. I asked him why he didn't do it before now, he said she's seventeen years old and still a virgin, so he was keen on waiting till she reached adulthood, getting a degree before marriage. How can a seventeen year old 'Virgin' be a part time Ashawo? ({Prostitute} I felt sorry for the soldier who thought he was waiting for his girl before marriage, but the whole Port Harcourt was having a taste of her. It couldn't have been for money too, because he just said he took care of her needs from school fees to books and general upkeep.
I took a second look at the pictures this time and noticed the same clothes I saw on my 'favourite girl' moments ago. I zoomed in and I knew my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. Even he queried me why. I told him the girl he's looking for might be inside the black Lexus (pointing at it) across the road. Me and my big mouth, but I could not help it.
Almost immediately, my 'favourite girl' alighted from the car (my guess was negotiations broke down or she was going to bid farewell to her friends/colleagues and to inform them of their destination) and walking towards her previous spot when my guy charged at her. The girl was so shocked she could neither run nor shout. Like, she saw a ghost. I ran after him and restrained him, while speaking some wise words into his ears as I leaned on him. I must commend him too for the courage shown by not acting based on his impulse at the time.
We got back into the car and he requested we head to a suya joint. I was baffled as I couldn't fathom out the correlation between a suya joint and a heartbreak. But then again, who I be to refuse an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
So, I drove faraway to a Rumuomasi Suya Joint where we sat down, consumed suya worth about five thousand naira and washed it down with some Hollandia Yoghurt.
I took him back to his base, got rewarded handsomely for my services and we said our goodbyes. I guess his military trainings prepared him for shit storms like this, because, how he took this to the chin beats me.
I smiled and got sad a bit as I tried to replay every moment in my head. I didn't need to work again, but drove straight to Nepal at about 2am to join the queue as the 13th car. Maybe when I wake, I'll call my new found friend to see how's doing. Perhaps, another trip to the Suya joint again, with bills on me. No?