Episode 4: Kiki Saloon’s Series.
Sometimes you may feel choked, maybe due to anger, disappointment or even an older grudge. These things would make you overwhelmed in an emotional rollercoaster, you might want to scream, or cry but you can’t bring yourself to show such amount of emotion, because you fear that you’ll betray the very things you stand for—the reason you’re angry. But then in retrospect, maybe that sudden outward surge of emotions such as a cry or scream may do a lot of good for your insides. It’s like sitting outside in a cold evening, drinking a hot cup of tea, listening to the birds. At the same time, watching the birds prepare their nests for the night on the trees or staring into the sky, your eyes playing a symphony—hide and seek with the birds so far into the clouds they look tiny, one moment they’re visible the next moment they’re gone. You suddenly see them again, the whole flock and you let out a relishing 'Ah!’ Your mind becomes at ease, all your questions answered, all your doubts cast aside and there you are no grudges or anger anymore, just empty, till the regrets come trickling in.
The week that followed; after what I heard at Kiki’s events which soured my mood throughout. However, kiki herself made it her duty always to call and text, which I ignored. But when the calls and texts where excessive I had to block her from reaching me. Avoiding Kiki cost me a lot of physical and emotional distress as I went through a longer route, instead of passing in front of her shop, this route meant I walked more distance to and from work daily. I always reassured myself it was for the better good, and I would rather avoid her than confront her. At the same time, I felt terrible towards my landlady, and I felt guilty whenever I saw her because I was friends with the same lady that stressed her. ‘If only I had stayed at home, I wouldn’t be going through such stress like this’ I often told myself.
That weekend, I spent most of my Saturday sleeping and doing laundry. That afternoon instead of going to Kiki’s place, as usual, I found myself sitting and gisting with my housemates, we spoke at length from one topic to the other, whenever the gists moved towards Kiki’s issue of last weekend, I simply avoided making any comments. Even when Blessing asked me what saloon I made my hair, I was forced to lie and say it was at Iya Malik’s saloon. Then she told me to take her there later in the evening, I felt my face go pale, how would I justify the lie, and saying the truth would be disastrous for me, I managed to fake a smile and tell her not to worry, we would go together. Technically it wasn’t a lie, because I had once visited Iya Malik’s shop when I was still new in the area and had not found Kiki’s saloon. Yet, after the first time, I decided not to go back because I didn’t merely like how she made my hair and her saloon's setting. The women in her saloon were super gossipers. They were the ‘CNN’ of the area; her shop was located at the edge of our street, a small metal container shack with a few chairs, several mirrors, stools and cabinets, which housed all her creams and combs, by the doors of the containers she hanged everything from cheap attachments to wigs and some creams which I figured she sold to some of her customers. The whole shop had an offensive odour which I believe was stale fish since she sold frozen foods on the side also. Then she had this young ladies who served as her apprentices, the oldest not more than 18 years. Simultaneously, the most youthful not more than nine years, the older one was called Shukura. She was pregnant, which made her unnecessarily rude and impatient, whenever she was weaving a person’s head. She requested a piece of attachment, and if the younger apprentice weren’t fast, a slap would follow. I felt it was abnormal. The other apprentices, holding a constant angry face, as though it was a crime to smile or even laugh. They went about their business in haste either when soaping a customer’s hair or cooking for their boss, which happens in the same shop, and it was conducted in haste. Then Iya Malik and her friends will seat outside doing nothing except telling stories of all that was happening in the area, if you wanted to know what was going on, trust me they knew.
Then I figured they would also have learned about the Kiki’s event and my relationship with her, more reason why I wanted to avoid going there. But I didn’t want to discourage Blessing or tell another lie so I decided to brace up and go, ‘what’s the worse thing that could happen?’
It was late evening when we got to Iya Malik’s place because I took my time stalling hoping that if we went late she might’ve gone home and it’ll just be her girls who will be available but alas I was wrong. Here she was sitted with the gang outside, someone’s matter was being tabled, because they all looked serious, while one of her ladies was beside the container kneeling, no one seemed to pay any attention to her as they all went about their duties. At the same time, the small generator behind the shop growled ahead, releasing dark fumes. As soon as we were about to enter, Iya Malik turned back and soon greeted us, myself and blessing. We murmured a greeting back, she then mentioned how it had been long I visited her shop last, which I apologised for and told her that I brought a gift for her, she smiled at me and then asked a ridiculous question ever, I felt as if the ground should open and I should sink. She asked, 'Wetin happen you no dey go your customer place again?’ At first, I feigned deaf and confused till she’s mentioned, 'That Kiki side?’ I didn’t know what else to say than just smile and told her we were in haste. Throughout the time we were there, I was uncomfortable as Iya Malik made it sure that all the gist that went around centred around Kiki’s place. As soon as she was done, I couldn’t wait to leave the shop, and I was a bit relieved to find out that Blessing didn’t even understand what was going on. Instead, she was excited at Iya Malik’s comic and gists and the way the whole shop’s setting was, the sarcastic replies Iya Malik gave the girls when they asked a stupid question. Shukura’s incessant nagging and complaining, at the other girls. Iya Malik was sarcastically telling me, not to bother coming back till next year, while telling Blessing that she was always welcome. As usual, I faked a smile, my cheeks hurting from number of smiles I had to fake that day. Blessing grinning saying on our way back home, ‘she’s so nice and funny’ I had to fake another smile.
On getting home, we received news that our landlady requested a general meeting to address some issues the early the next day. I felt my throat dry, and I began thinking 'does she know?’
I didn’t sleep at all through the night as I wondered what the meeting was for, ‘will I be evicted from the house for being friends will my landlady’s enemy?’ ‘Everybody will see me as a traitor and put me in the box as Kiki’ I was praying that the Lord allow this cup to pass over me or maybe I should just save myself from the embarrassment and run away first thing in the morning.
I had barely dozed when I heard a loud pounding on my door, my heart skipped a bit, as I wondered what was happening and who could be banging my door that early. I checked the time, and it was 6:30 although everywhere was a bit bright, I managed to scramble out of bed, opened the door and lo and behold, it was Kiki standing in front of me.