Six years later
She wiggled her leg uncomfortably on the bed where she laid. She could hear her name being called but she decided to throw a deaf ear at it. "Anisah get up" Bilkis said. She has been trying to wake Anisah for the past three minutes now but Anisah refuses to budge.
"Anisah i know you are awake" Bilkis said. She knew Anisah could hear her clearly.
"If you dont get up Ill make sure i pour cold water on you, and trust me its a promise" Bilkis said with her hands at akimbo.
Anisah who knew Bilkis wasnt the type to make empty threats got up in a swift with her long silky hair looking like a bird nest.
"Im up goat!" Anisah said while scratching her eyes.
"Better for you" Bilkis said and Anisah rolled her eyes. "Why were you waking me up?" Anisah asked while getting up from her shabby matrass which laid on the bare floor.
"Oh my God!" Bilkis face palmed herself at Anisahs forgetfulness "I cant believe that you forgot about our WAEC registration. Its today" Bilkis said making Anisahs heart skip a beat. Who would remember something they had no means to Afford, she thought.
"Uhm... Bilkis i dont think i can register this year" Anisah said truthfully. She wasnt a type to hide her misfortune.
"What? Why?" Bilkis asked worriedly.
"Well i have not been able to gather the money needed. I only have fifteen thousand and i need fifty thousand" Anisah tried her best to cage her stubborn tears as she spoke.
"Is that the problem?" Bilkis asked and she nods "Theres no problem then, Ill help you with the money" Bilkis said with a very wide smile on her face.
"No Bilkis" Anisah protested. She wasnt a type that loved taking from others, her motto was, work hard for yours. yes that was her motto in life.
"Why?. Arent I like a sister to you?" Bilkis asked. "Yes of course you are a sister to me. Its just that i cant take money which i havent worked for" Anisah said while taking in her view on the cracked mirror which was gummed on the wall of her room. She looked like she had just fought with a bear.
"Anisah i am offering it to you, so please take it. Okay lets do this, youll pay me when youve gotten money" Bilkis said hopefully.
"No Bilkis, And wait! Isnt that the money you kept to buy a gift for Marwas wedding?" Anisah asked.
"Yes but your WAEC registration is more important now" Bilkis protested making Anisah sigh.
"No Bilkis. Please i need to do this on my own" Anisah said in finality and Bilkis immediately understood and accepted her demands.
"But i need your help" Anisah said and Bilkis nodded for her to speak which she did.
"Okay then. Ill speak to Mamah" Bilkis said and Anisah engulfed her in a bone crushing hug.
***
He checked his wrist watch for the tenth time now, he was beginning to lose his cool because the Uber driver whom he had ordered for was ten minutes late. Nothing like this ever happened in Paris, he thought while talking another glimpse of his wrist watch once again.
"Where the fuck is this fool!" He grumbled under his breath as he took another glimpse of his wrist watch once again.
He had lost his cool and decided to take a taxi instead of the Uber which he knows very well Will not arrive soon.
"Hello Good day!" He greeted the taxi driver who sat in his green white green colored taxi.
"Where do you want to go sir?" The taxi driver who had had little customers today said with great enthusiasm.
"Rivers street" Waleed said carefully.
"Ahhh... Sir i dont think i can take you there. Thats where the rich people leave and they wont allow a taxi to go in" the taxi driver tried to reason with Waleed.
"Please just help me, i need to get home. I wanna surprise my family" Waleed said.
"Sir I dont want to get insulted ooo" The taxi driver said, he knew very well about rivers street. A street where only cars with government number are allowed to pass, a street endowed with only the rich and their workers.
"You wont, Okay lets do this. Youll drop me in front of the main gate of Rivers street" Waleed suggested and the driver agreed after much thoughts.
"Alright thatll be better" with that said by the taxi driver, Waleed hooped in in a jiff and the driver ignited the car and taxied away with Waleed staring at his phone where he was watching an episode of Bargain.
At approximately 10:50 in the night, Waleed Arrived in front of the main gate of river street which was endowed with a whole lot of street light, indeed the place had changed over the years.
"Stop here" Waleed ordered and the taxi driver who did as told. "How much is your money?" Waleed inquired.
"Ten thousand sir" The taxi driver tested his luck and fortunately for him he got lucky and Waleed counted fifteen thousand and passed it to him.
"Ahhh... Sir this is allot" The taxi driver said as he counted the money which was passed to him by Waleed.
"Keep it. Thats for accepting and bringing me all the way here" Waleed said which brought a pleasant smile on the taxi drivers face.
"Thank you sir. May the God we serve bless you" The taxi driver said and Waleed simply nodded and hooped out of the taxi with his little luggage in his hand.
Ignoring the taxi drivers continues gratitude, Waleed walked away and headed to the main Gate where a bright light was shined into his eyes.
"Who are you?" A stern voice asked with a mic.
"Waleed" Waleed said curtly to the guard. "And who are you here to meet?" Knowing that they wont let him in easily he ignored the mans question and picked up his phone and made a call to Bilkis who picked up on the second ring.
"Billie Im outside the estate, come and get me but dont tell anybody" Bilkis could not believe her ears but chose to agree and go to him.
In not less than a minute, Bilkis was before the gate with her car flashing into Waleeds eyes.
"WALEED!" Bilkis said the moment she saw him standing with his suitcase with a neutral grin on her face.