My Priceless Jewel - Episode 2

 

Saturday dawned, bright and crisp, with rare sunshine and a brisk breeze. It was a welcome relief from the constant rain and Juwairiyyah made up her mind to go forna drive that saturday afternoon. The past few days had been boring with no lectures to attend to, Juwairiyyah's Mom limited her outings coupled with the rain that had showered Gombe for two days.

She hooped out of bed, took a quick shower before getting dressed. Clad in a pink Ankara with red polka dots sewed into skirt and a blouse, Juwairiyyah applied little make up before drapping a pink veil on her head . Her legs were clutched in a pink flat shoe while she held a blue Gucci bag with one hand and her phone on the other.

Hopping out of her room and stepping out to the foyer where her mom was seated, Juwairiyyah kissed her mother on the cheeks before saying "Am going out mom, this house is kind of suffocating this days__don't say No please, just two hours okay? I promise."

Hajiya Raliya smiled, holding her daughter's hand in hers and kissed them "just an hour right?"

"Yes Mom, i promise."

"Okay fine. You can go, but take care okay?"

"Yes mom, thank you!"

Juwairiyyah stepped out of the house, hooping into her car__she drove off. The car speakers blasting with a song while she sang along 'Cheap thrills'

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/my-priceless-jewel

. She took the road that'll lead her to BCG quarters so she can give a surprise visit to her friend Soffie. But her car, like the Hausa's say _Karfe ba tabbas_ (A machine has no guarantee) broke down half way. Juwairiyyah groaned angrily. Stepping out of the car, she looked around in hope to find someone who can help when she spotted a vulcanizer (Mechanic) few meters away from her. She dragged her legs lazily and approached him, finding him drenched in black oil and attending to an old car. Standing beside the old car was an old man who seems like the owner. Juwairiyyah scanned the area before finally speaking.

"Hey you" she called out standing a few feets away from them "come over here and check my car am in a hurry."

"Wa alaikis salaam to you too miss. As you can see, am very busy right now attending to another costumer. I'll attend to you as soon as am done with him, please do stand under that shade" the vulcanizer pointed the shade made by a mango tree with a wooden bench.

Juwairiyyah stood there stunned. Did he just told her to wait? Her Juwairiyyah Abbas being told to wait? Who the hell does he think he is? She smiled mischievously before replying him "Excuse me mister, am paying you for your job. Do i look like someone who'll wait for something?"

The vulcanizer stood up from where he was lying beneath the car. And that was when she saw him. A dark skinned guy with strong jaw, a sharp pointed nose with beard and sideburns. His hair even though dirty was dark and curly. How can a vulcanizer be this cute? She wondered.

"Am sorry, if you think you're too big to wait then feel free to leave. I won't leave another costomer who's here before you and attend to you okay?"

"No my son" the old man spoke "she'll wait okay. You don't have to get angry, kids of now a days are ill-mannered, we just have to ignore them."

Juwairiyyah's eyes bulged out, did this old piece of garbage just called her ill-mannered? She swallowed a lump down her throat and approached him "Excuse me here oldie, why don't yoi respect the white hair on your head and mind your damn business? How dare you call me ill-mannered? Just look at yourself, look__just look at how dirty you are.

Read " Embedded Roses " by the same author ( Murjanatu Alkali )

. You even stink oldie, and yet you had the right to call me ill-mannered, do i look like a cheap lady to you? I can bet that the cloth am wearing can feed your family for a month__yet you're trying to disrespect me, well excuse me oldie, I'm far beyond your thinking!"

Tears were already flowing down from the old man's eyes, while the vulcanizer stood stunned to even lift a finger.

"Owwwwe, the poor oldie is crying. Are you hurt? Did i hurt your feelings? Owwnn, here take this" she threw a ward of money towards him "you can use that to wipe your tears okay. Next time, do learn to mind your business okay? Oh, and yeah....." A resounding slap stopped her from completing her sentence. 

The vulcanizer slapped her!

Juwairiyyah stood there, stunned, surprised at what just happend.....her Juwairiyyah, slapped by a common mechanic?.

 "It seems you lack self respect, a respectable girl won't raise her voice to man, no matter what the case maybe, now miss get the hell out of my garage!" The Vulcanizer shouted.
Juwairiyyah still stood there, she still can't believe someone as dirty as him could have the guts to slap her pretty face.
 "Arfaat, forgive her insolence, she's just a girl, and you know ladies are sometimes unbearable" The old man said.
 "Noo! this can't be, i won't let this slide so easily, you'll pay the consequences". Juwairiyyah shouted and left.

She could'nt go to her desired destination. So, she stopped a tricycle and went home angry. She fled into her mother's room crying and calling her name..."Mom, mom! come and see my face, just  look at my face mom. Someone has the guts to slap your beautiful daughter." Juwairiyyah said in tears hugging her mum tight.
 "I know you princess, you must have done something for that person to slap you, tell me what happened." Her mom cooed.

"I knew it, you never loved me as much as dad does, goodbye". Juwairiyyah snapped at her mum finding her way out of the room.

*

 *8:47pm*
 Juwairiyyah and her parents were all seated in the living room, Juwairiyyah looked at her dad and gave him one of her best smiles....."Dad, i need a favor".
 "Sure princess, anything for you". Replied her dad.
"I saw a mechanic today on my way to visit Soffie. He is so talented but has a very small garage....why don't you take him in as your company vulcanizer?.Juwairiyyah said sweetly.
 "You think i should take him in princess?"
 "Yea dad, pleaseeeeeee". 
 "Its done!" Said her dad.
 "Whoa! I love you dad, you the best!. I'll take you to him tomorrow". 

This sounds fishy! What do you all think this girl is planning?