Garba 3

We drove up the Jos Road and then turned right at the roundabout unto the Darazo Road. Bauchi was a far cry from the rowdy, noisy, unruly chaos of Lagos to which I was accustomed. It was a pleasant change, although as this was just towards the end of the rainy season and being so far inland, temperatures were higher than in Lagos. But the roads were broad, traffic was light, and there were not very many people about. Altogether, I thought it was pleasant. I was with Garba in this car with powerful air conditioning, who had surprisingly put on an Anita Baker tape on the car stereo. Somehow it was not easy to identify the connection between the American songstress and this man, dressed in a caftan made from the most divine white guinea brocade and sandals that revealed perfect toenails. I had a lot to learn. 

I was lost in thought, thinking about everything that had happened since I left home in Lagos yesterday when I heard Garba's voice as if from a distance. He was asking me if I was alright, and I apologised, saying that my mind must have been elsewhere. He told me that although he wasn't working today, he had a pet project on the outskirts of town he wanted to show me. I wasn't exactly in a position to object, I told him jokingly. So we continued down the Darazo Road, which is one of the main roads leading out of Bauchi towards the north east. This road leads to Darazo, Potiskum and Maiduguri Garba informed me. 

We drove past the Awalah Hotel and I marvelled at how beautifully the building was located, as it appeared to be nestling precariously in the shadow of a huge rock. The rocks were another feature that were in abundance here in Bauchi and the wide expanses of grassland too. 

After about 20 minutes of fast driving down this wide and nearly empty road, Garba turned the car to the left into a narrow road, which one could see was relatively newly constructed. The road twisted and turned and we were surrounded by rocks and grassland on both sides and as far as the eye could see. When we had passed the Awalah Hotel a while back, we were already outside the city limits, so now we were well out of town. I was curious to see where Garba was taking us and was just about to ask him when we turned a final corner and in front of us was the imposing facade of what was eventually going to become a magnificent building. 

The building had clearly not been completed and the site was completely deserted. It was silent, except for the call of birds. Garba stopped the car and we got out. It had been the plan, he said, to establish an entire residential estate here, complete with shopping, cultural and recreational facilities. This building was the first structure put up, but the state government had pulled the rug from the project and this uncompleted structure stood as a monument to the dream that Garba once had, his first major project in his professional career. He said he came here often when he wanted to be alone.

We stood by the car, me leaning against it when Garba started to speak. Garba revealed to me that from the minute he saw me, he saw in me something that he had been searching for for a long time. He said he soon saw that I was open and sincere, and he knew immediately as we had our first conversation that he would want to get close to me. He said he had to say all this to me now, because he knew that I would soon have to go back to the South, and there was no telling what would happen when I returned to Bauchi, or even whether I would return at all. 

He said he believed that providence had brought me to him and that he would do everything in his power to keep me close to him. He admitted that his parents had put him under pressure recently to get married and that his father had even begun arranging a bride for him. He said that his parents had substantial influence over him, and that traditions in this part of the country were strong. He would have no choice but to do what was expected and marry his bride. However, he wanted to leave it as late as possible.

Hearing all this, to say that I was flabbergasted would be an understatement. What on earth could have spurred this man to say these things to me? As if he knew what I was thinking, he said he knew from when we slept in the bed last night that he could talk to me. He said if I was unhappy about what he had said, I should forgive him, but he had never met anyone like me, and since he thought I might soon be leaving he needed to say what was on his mind. 

I was shocked. I wasn't sure that I could handle what I had just heard. But here he was standing in front of me, gauging my reaction to what he'd just told me. 

I was lost for words, dumbfounded. I just stared at this man whom I found so attractive and wondered that he had made himself so vulnerable. I could now understand why he had brought me to this deserted place. This was a matter that could only be spoken in a place like this, where it seemed as if we were the only two people on the planet. I didn't know him well enough to give him any answers, but I liked him a lot and it almost hurt to see him so exposed. I held out my hand. 

Taking it he moved himself towards me and held me. I sensed that he was relieved that I hadn't rebuffed or rejected him. In truth, I could never have done that because this was someone I really liked. We just held each other's hand for a while saying nothing. Then I tried to assure him that there was nothing for him to worry about and that even if I went back to Lagos I would be back within a week. In any event I was stuck in Bauchi for a whole year or so, so he would probably see more of me than he wished for.

We drove back to town in complete silence. We went straight home since it was lunchtime. Somehow Garba's ambiance had changed, he had become noticeably more protective. Abdulrahman was still out and Garba went into the main house to arrange for lunch to be brought to us in the back house. He joined me and fussed over me in a way that I found slightly uncomfortable, but only because I wasn't used to such. 

In truth, though, I didn't mind being doted on as he was doing. We watched TV, ate, and when he suggested that we go for a drive before Abdulrahman returned, I sensed that he was possessively wanting to keep me to himself. 

We drove around town for a while. This was a quiet little city where traffic jams were unknown and it felt cosy sitting in the car beside this very nice man who had told me only a short while ago what he honestly thought of  me. It was Thursday, we both agreed that I should return to Lagos the next day, Friday, but that I would be back by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

We returned home to find Abdulrahman packing his bag. He was returning to Zaria. Having come to Bauchi to collect money for school from his uncle he was returning to school this afternoon. I told Abdurahman what had happened at the NYSC office but that I intended to leave the next morning, since I had a much longer journey to travel than he did. 

Abdurahman bade me goodbye and Garba offered to drop him off at the motor park. I was left alone in the room and being a bit tired I got into the bed and must have fallen asleep, but I don't know for how long before I was awakened by a warm body in the bed beside me. Garba had come back from dropping off Abdulrahman and was now in the bed with me. It was still light outside so I knew it was not yet bedtime.

(To be continued)