Amoral (Chapter 2)
Akunne woke up to the announcement of the crew preparing for landing. They had been supervising the passengers on the craft and making sure they were not ill prepared for the descent of the craft.
Her head felt heavy and her neck cramped as she had rested in an awkward position for long. She had barely eaten anything on the plane, plagued by her own thoughts and emotions.
Her mind went to the last conversation she had with Chinwe’s husband Joseph and the information she had passed across. She was to get a SIM card at Heathrow airport while she waited for a connecting flight to Manchester. This would aid her in communicating over the phone with Joseph to keep him updated.
The aircraft’s landing was the smoothest she had witnessed because she barely felt the jerk she was accustomed to when the plane touched the ground.
Akunne hated flying so much because of the crash that took her parents’ life. She tried not to dwell on the loss most times but she often wondered how they felt in their last few moments. Were they terrified? Did they think of her? She often felt sad at the thought that they knew that they were going to die but could not do anything to help themselves.
The crew had encouraged the passengers to exit the plane in an orderly fashion, and she watched as hand luggage was hoisted down from the overhead compartments and taken out of the plane.
She stood up when it got to her turn and quickly brought down her handbag, which contained her passport and important documentation. Akunne stepped into a bus that conveyed her to a spot where she boarded an underground train. She followed the signs in the airport to figure out where she would board her local flight. She often stopped to ask questions while she navigated through a crowd of people.
The loud rumbling of her stomach deterred her from walking as fast as the other people around her. It seemed everyone was eager to get to their various destinations.
Her mind went to the instruction Joseph had given her after she was checked at the immigration stop. They had gone through her passport and asked a couple of questions about the place she was going to stay. The next step was for her to get her luggage which she did and she could not help but chuckle at the sight of other Nigerians who had packaged items in the popular travelling bag nicknamed “Ghana must go”. It was almost as if the bag gave the people she saw at the airport an identity.
Akunne got a free sim which he inserted into her phone after using her ear ring to open up the SIM compartment. The number she was to dial had been saved to her phone and she quickly rang Joseph who answered immediately.
“I am at the airport now” She began almost breathless as she pushed the cart which housed her bags.
“That’s lovely, which one?” He had asked to be certain of her location
“The Manchester one”
“We are waiting for you” Akunne could sense a tinge of excitement from his voice. She felt somewhat relieved that her presence did not bring the harrowing sorrow she had envisaged. After all she and Chinwe were very close and she assumed that her being in close proximity to Joseph would only remind him of the loss he felt.
When she arrived in the waiting area, Akunne was almost out of breath. Her eyes scanned the place for Joseph and the children, but she couldn’t help but admire the couples who shared kisses as they embraced each other. This was probably the only thing she loved about airports—the mushy feeling she got from watching reunions.
Her eyes caught a figure waving at her, and she gave a quick smile. She had not recognized him at first, but it was Joseph, or what she would call a leaner version of him.
She pushed the trolley beyond the point of restriction and Joseph rushed to help her with her items. He gave her a side hug and flashed a smile that made her feel at peace.
“Welcome to Manchester Nne” Akunne found it amusing how he never used the same short form of her name like Chinwe. It had been a thing that Chinwe taunted him with, but he was adamant that the “Nne” in her name was more endearing than “Aku”
“It doesn’t feel so cold, you know”, Aku began as they walked to the car park. Joseph chucked as he led the way. It was a way of telling her, “Wait and see”
For some reason she had mistook the temperature in the airport which also had a good heating system as the expected temperature.
“What about the children? I thought they would come with you” She enquired as they got into the vehicle.
“They are with a friend at home. I had assumed that you were going to come with more boxes than you have now” He waited until her seat belt was on before driving off.
The drive was long or maybe Akunne felt it was because of how hungry she was. She didn’t want Jospeh to stop on the way for a meal or snack even though he had made the suggestion. She wanted to see Kamsi and Kamso.
Akunne was excited about seeing her godchildren but most importantly she felt like she was seeing a part of Chinwe again.
Her eyes were fixed on the road as she saw cars speeding at the motorway. Akunne always found it refreshing to be on the road. She loved seeing people travelling to their destinations and letting her mind wonder what would happen to them there.
This always made Akunne lost in thoughts and Chinwe found it exasperating. Akunne lived in her mind; It was trait she could not help. Dreaming was the only way she could get away from her lonesome reality.
”Earth to Nne” Joseph seemed stunned by how quickly her thoughts could drift so far away. They were conversing just minutes ago
Drawn back by the slight increase in the pitch of his voice, Akunne could not help but apologise.
”We lost you there Nne, don’t tell me you’re missing home already. You just got here” He teased as she shook her head
”I am just trying to get my mind off the hunger” Akunne gave an awry smile but she knew that she couldn’t tell him why she could drift away so quickly.
They approached their street which Joseph pointed out and Akunne admired how quiet it seemed. They had driven past a park where she saw people walking their dogs and wondered why she never thought of getting a pet.
Her mother had once turned down her request to buy a puppy when she was 7. But after the death of her parents she never gave it thought again to get a dog. Akunne loved dogs very much but somehow something held her back. It was probably the fear that she would disappoint her late mother by going against her wishes.
The car came to an abrupt halt at the end of the street and Akunne admired how clean the street was. There were a block of flats surrounded by semi detached houses of the same structure in a straight line.
”I will never get used to the houses looking the same” She pointed out as they got out of the car. Joseph made his way to the booth of the car and got the two travel bags out while Akunne made her way towards him to help him.
”Unfortunately we live at the second floor and there is no elevator so I do not think you should even attempt carrying that bag”
Akunne knew how heavy the bags were. She could barely lift them onto the scale at the airport let alone a flight of stairs. But she couldn’t just let Joseph carry her luggage alone, she had to help somehow.
”Will there be humans in these boxes when we open them?” He chuckled as Akunne shook her head vigorously while they made their way into the house.
Akunne was panting by the time they had gotten to the second floor. She saw the smile tugging at Joseph’s cheeks but chose to ignore it. She didn’t mind him being amused at her predicament because she truly felt somewhat relieved that he wasn’t somber.
Joseph knocked on the door in a beat like manner and then waited while whoever was on the other side peered through the tiny hole on the door before opening it.
”Welcome back Joe” A lady’s voice echoed
Joseph gestured for Akunne to go in which she did as the lady stepped aside. “ Hello, you must be AK” She continued reaching for a handshake which Akunne obliged.
”I am June, a friend of Joe’s” She added as Akunne offered a smile.
”The kids are knocked out of it. They have been waiting for you. Do you care for tea or coffee?”
”I can do water” Akunne replied as she took off her shoes.
Joseph got the bags in and showed Akunne the room they had prepared for her. June served thd tea with cookies before rushing out for an appointment.
Joseph gave Akunne a tour of the house and when she had settled in. He offered her the Uha soup that he had bought prior to her coming. He laughed at the fact that Akunne worried that the only meal she was to eat was tea and cookies.
She had her meal and turned into her bedroom to sleep as she was worn out. Joseph had urged her to rest well before the children got up. And she gladly let herself fall into the deep hands of slumber