After Grad - Episode 5

 

THE MYSTERY OF LIFE is that it never goes as planned. When she decided to study finance at the University, it was because she thought she was competent enough to tread that path. She wanted to be entrusted to record budgets in rows and columns. She craved to hold onto a calculator with such professionalism whilst analyzing the financial status of any legitimate business at all. Yet, four months after youth service, Aramide remained unemployed.

     Maami once said the quality of a good finance manager was integrity . And as the twenty-three year old ploughed through the application form on her laptop screen, she didn't hesitate to click on “no” to the question that says; have you ever handled a companys assets? How was she supposed to handle a company's asset when no company had ever given her a single opportunity! Maami never said finding a job would be this difficult.

     “My dear, I'm off to the market. For some reason, that kitchen looks so scanty,” Auntie Shade's utterance echoed across the small stretch of the house. “Aramide, would you like to come along?”

     “Yes, anty. Yes!” she replied instantaneously

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/after-grad

. Anything to wave off the emotion that was beginning to overwhelm her. Slamming the laptop shut, she slipped into her Ankara-designed jacket and headed towards the front door.

     “Ara, is everything okay?” Her guardian's preceding question was tainted by worry. The frown lines had found their way between her neatly shaved brows, the pace of her heartbeat quickened like it always did when she was laden with concern.

     “Absolutely,” Aramide convinced.

     Once outside, the full brightness of the Thursday morning blurred her sight. Since she returned from Lagos, now five days ago, she hadn't had a reason to cross over the threshold of the bungalow. She wasn't the kind to keep so many friends, whilst the only one she's got had surprisingly showed up on Monday evening.

     She had been busy washing the bucket-ful of hard-shelled snails with sea salt and alum when she began to perceive the sound of footsteps and its accompanying knocks: It was two short raps intended to be filled with a response. A slight groan escaped from her lips as she headed for the entrance, and as she flung the door open, Bolaji stood six feet tall by the porch, a physique that made her stature look so feeble in comparison.

     Conversation didn't flow fluidly between the pair right away. They both stared blankly at each other for seconds, minutes, as if taking in those features that had undergone maturity after five good years of being apart.

     Bolaji was handsome; he had always been, but it was definitely not in a way that had her heart sinking like with the other girls at the neighborhood. Whenever she was around him, they would hiss maliciously, loud enough for her to perceive it; When she as much as dared to accept his embrace, they would threaten her further with a very dirty look. Unbeknownst to them, spending so much time with the guy had made him more of a brother than a potential lover. At least, that was how Aramide felt about him.

     When she first arrived at the locality of Bodija, he was the only one who didn't seem irritated by her reserved nature. Back then, a lot of kids her age genuinely tried to reach out, however, she hadn't exactly been the most welcoming person; her grief at the time wouldn't let her. And somehow, Bolaji understood this. He would stop by the house frequently, and hang out with her by the balcony. They never delved into any discussion half of the time, he would grant her that quietness for as long she wanted it; He only ever spoke when she wanted him to. Bolaji was honestly the most patient person on the planet.

     “Please don't tell me we are just going to keep staring at each other all day.. I would've sworn weve established a stronger bond than this,” he teased, and this was enough to trigger Aramide's hearty laughter. There was nothing he loved more than seeing the girl happy. Bolaji thought his best friend hadn't changed at all. Her skin glowed in its familiar ebony hue, her stubborn mane looked even curlier than he could recall. Those silky strands were hung up so high in the sky; He guessed she must've found it difficult to thoroughly harness them, as always.

     “So how's my favorite girl in the world doing? How's life after grad?”

     This was an harmless question on his part, but if only he knew how anxious it immediately made her feel.

     “It's good, it's all good Bj,” she returned dismissively. “What's up with you though? I mean, you are now a graduate too, there's got to be so much youve got to spill.”

    Looking back at it now, Aramide wished she hadn't thrown the question back at him. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what shed expected to hear him say. Perhaps, she thought things would be rough on him as well, she thought they could have connected on that unemployment level. She couldn't have been more wrong.

     “Honestly, it's been breathtaking,” Bolaji innocently confessed, barely taking note of the gloominess smeared across his best friend's face. “During service, I came across this really cool guy, Olamilekan. At the time, his Uncle was just starting up this small company and was kind of in a desperate need of a computer expert. So boom, that was how I waltzed into the picture. It was like a side job for me then, a way to earn some extra cash. But then service ended, and since there wasnt much of an opportunity out there, I decided not to toy with the one I had,” he concluded with a cheeky grin.

     And there it was again. Just like Nifemi, Bolaji had his life sorted out too, however, Aramide was determined to be happy for him; She wouldn't permit her jealousy to push him away as was the case with Nifemi. Thus, despite the heaviness on her chest, despite how unaccomplished she felt, she still managed to offer the warmest smile she could possibly afford. 

     “Lucky you!” she gushed, hoping the evening could somehow dwindle into nonexistence. 

     She gulped in a sigh.

     Commercial vehicles darted through the bumpy road, polluting the air with a cloud of smoke. Instinctively, Aramide guarded her nostrils from inhaling the choking smell of the gas, staring daggers at the drivers who thought it was safe to ride such faulty vehicles in the first place. Bodija market was a very busy street, rammed with people of different classes of the world. Auntie Shade had insisted that she shouldn't be fooled by the rugged appearance of the traders. She said most of them only dressed as such because of their jobs. Outside of it, they were rich, beautiful people.

     The scenery had her lost in an ironical admiration: Everywhere was noisy, and yet, so serene. Buyers roamed the market alongside their insatiable wants; Traders displayed their wares, shielded from the sun beneath garish-looking Umbrellas; Once an agreement was met, naira notes exchanged hands. The science of commerce was almost magical!

***

AUNTIE SHADE STRODE directly to the butchery section. Although old age wouldn't permit her to consume so much meat, she refused to drag her niece into her beef-free diet. She glanced briefly at the young adult and frowned. The woman refused to be fooled by the weak smile that morphed nervously on Aramide's lips. She was just so convinced there was more behind its unusual strain. 

     Of course, she was aware of how quiet her niece could be sometimes. Still, since her recent arrival, she thought she'd become much more quiet; she was certain it had something to do with the after graduation nerves.

     Auntie Shade couldn't say for sure how this felt like. After all, she'd barely reached her third year when she met Dele, and decided to marry him rather than to continue with her Law course. It felt like the right step to take at the time. She didn't regret it either.

Read " Zakia " by the same author ( Ishola Ubaydah )

. Yet, she recognized the uncomfortable feeling so much; long ago, the chubby woman had experienced it through her older sister's anxiety, months after her graduation as well.

     In those days, gender inequality was rampant in the city, particularly around office jobs. Olabunmi partook in several interviews and had to go through the embarrassment of being turned down every single time. Not because she wasn't qualified though, she was simply a lady, that's why. Olabunmi's confidence shrunk to apprehension; her determination drowned into the sea of doubts, and lack of self-esteem. It seriously got to the point where she cursed her effort towards achieving the degree in the first instant, whilst the words of wisdom that escaped from their mother's mouth was something Auntie Shade felt the desperate need to pass on to her niece at that moment.

     “Aramide,” she called onto her as they strode on the dusty street of the market. 

     “Ma,” the twenty-three year old was ever respectful.

     “Look, I know I'm not exactly in the position to advise you on a subject like this. Your Auntie doesn't even have the slightest idea what it feels like to hunt for a job. As you already know, I'm ever dependent on my husband. But still Aramide, neither me nor my husband is chasing you out of the house, our house. So just go easy on yourself, okay?” she soothed. “Maybe the perfect job is not turning up right now, but please don't stress it my child. Slow and steady wins the race.”