*craze_banditJay1234567890jhay*azeemah60

***

That morning, Dele prepared breakfast for the love of his life. Don't doubt him because there's nothing to doubt about a caring guy. They ate together, like an actual couple, and joked while eating. Dele's charm was just too irresistible for Imade. She would never say no to him. After breakfast that day, he took his bath and went to her hairdressing saloon, which was just three blocks away from her house.

Getting there, Imade opened her shop while Dele took the traditional broom and started sweeping the place.

"No, Dele. Don't bother sweeping it." She begged him.
"You at home now you want to sweep again? No, please. Give me the broom." She collected it from him, but he nuzzled her away.

"Don't act as if you're just seeing a guy sweeping for the first time. Or am I doing something bad?"

"No ... That's not what I'm saying. Don't misinterpret_"

He cut into her words wearing a whatever smirk. "Good then. Just face your work and let me face mine."

"You're just so weird, Dele. Hope you know that."

"You're weirder, Imade. If you don't know."

"Whatever!" she hissed at him and went to open a big baco bag filled with attachments, imported hair wools, and wigs. She took them out one after the other and carefully arranged them outside her shop for sale.

After sweeping, Dele took the mop, but he noticed her drum was empty. He took two white buckets he found at the corner of her shop and walked out.

"Dele, where are you going?"

"I need to get water. That drum is empty!"

"No!" She rushed to him. "There's no need to fetch water. I'll buy it when the water sellers pass."

"Till when am I going to wait? Till Afternoon? I need to mop the shop and you'll need the water as well. Let me just go."

"Where are you even going, Dele? Do you know where to get the water?"

"Yes, of course. There's a well in our compound, right? I'll fetch it there."

"Isn't it too far? Why do you like stressing yourself like this? Ehn?"

"Did I complain?"

"Whatever! Let me follow you."

"To do what again? Follow." He teased, and she chuckled at his words. "Just go to the shop. I'll be right back." He smiled at her as she walked into the hairdressing saloon.

Dele loved everything about her and for some reason, he thinks she's just too cute to be alone all these years. Imade laughed curtly as she entered her shop. She was thinking about the same thing.

'Isn't he so adorable? I mean, he's so hardware. It's no doubt that Dele is a doctor. All doctors are anyway, so why would I worry?'

She smiled and continued arranging the products. After fetching the water, Dele mobbed and cleaned the whole place. He was about to finish when her first customer came in.

"Good morning, Anty Imade." The young lady greeted her as she entered.

"Good morning Shade, you've lost your hair?"

"Yes, o. People were already disturbing me, it's already old so I lost it yesterday. Please, how much is this Italian weavon?" She asked pointing at one hanged above her reach.
Since she was short. Funny enough, even Imade had to climb a stool to get it down.

Dele was washing the mop, so he just watched them from outside. Everything seemed funny to him, but there was something about Imade. She's an independent and hard-working woman. She's just the right piece he needs.

After the mopping, Dele swept the front of the saloon before going him. Everybody, including her neighbors, was wonderful about who he was.

Imade started Shade's hair when Dele came to stand beside them, watching how the hairstyle was being done.

Step by step, his eyes followed Imade hands as if he was the one doing the plaiting.

"Get a seat, Dele. Otherwise, you'll spoil your sight if you keep staring at my hands like this."

"But I want to learn."He muttered, sounding childishly.

Imade laughed at him. "And who do you want to plait? Your patients?"

"No... I just want to learn. Who knows, I might help you make your hair when next you want to."

"Please, just sit down." She joked. "You're already whining like a 4-year-old."

"Or maybe I am. Whatever!" He stuttered and took a sit next to the customer who was already choking with laughter. "Maybe I should just help you."

"That's better," Imade muttered, giving him the pack of Italian weapons. "You'll give me one after the other, okay?"

"Okay, ma." He answered, collecting the black-coloured weavon and placing it on his lap like a lady.

"Anty Imade, please, who is he? This uncle is so funny, I swear."

"He's a friend."

"Really? Well, you guys are just so perfect for each other o." Share nodded seamlessly. " My comments."

Imade looked stunned at Shade, who was a health services worker in the nearby hospital facing her shop. Although Shade doesn't live around there, she worked at General Hospital Ikola so; she makes her hair whenever she's free from work.

"Thanks a lot, sister, you're very kind and you have friendly words. Don't worry, I'll help you make your hair when next you come."

"No, o! Don't use my hair for practice, please." Shade begged, giggling at the same time. "What a funny guy."

"So how do I practice? I mean, I want to learn this. I've had the passion since childhood, but you know how Nigerian ladies are. They don't want a guy to make their hair and they see it as a lady's business."

"Hmm... Is that true?" Imade gazed at him, looking puzzled.

"Yes, of course. I'm so serious." He retorted. "But if you teach me, I'll be able to help you and your business grow. And I'll be happy as well. At least, I've achieved something."

"Okay, I'll have to buy you a doll, Mr. Doc. You'll need to practice a lot from now on. At least, since you can see someone's skin, you'll be able to see someone's hair, right?"

"Yes," he muttered. "It's almost the same thing anyway.

"Wait! Is he a doctor?" Shade asked, turning to him.

"Yes, he is," Imade answered almost immediately. "He works in Lago-"

That instant, Imade's mother- Mrs. Fayishara, entered.

"So he's a doctor. Ehn? You're a doctor." She muttered, facing Dele.

"Ekaaro ma." He greeted them, prostrating at her feet the way it's done culturally in Yoruba land.
She looked at him, quirking her well-drawn eyebrow.

"Just get up. I didn't come for you this morning. I want to have a word with you, Imade." She faced her daughter, who was already rounding up with Shade's hair.

"Okay Maami, what is it?"

Feyi held her daughter's hand and took her to a corner. Imade pulled her hand from her mother's grip, halfway.

"What's it Maami? You know I'm always busy at work. Why did you come here again, Ehn? Can't I have my peace?"

"Shut up you idiot! And who the hell is that guy?"

"Oh! So that's why you came. Let me interested you to him now, at least-"

"Shut up, you stupid girl! Her mother cut in her words, impatiently. I don't know where you met that nuisance from o. Or where you guys knew each other, but one thing is clear, that he is not the responsible person!"

"But Maami. I love Dele." she defended instantly.

"Love you say? Do you even know him? Tell me... Because you've known each other that long, I think I must have known about it already. Everything about that boy... Dele or whatever you call him. Everything about a mysterious guy is looking so fake and devilish!"

"What are you saying now, Maami. Which one is devilish again? Someone you're just meeting for the first time." She wondered, unable to solve the puzzle.

Let me tell you something, my daughter. Even though we don't live together, I know you like the marks on my palms. And again, what an elderly person is seeing, a young person can't recognize even if he climbs an Iroko. How can a guy leave his house to talk with a lady? Is that love?

"We started chatting Maami. It's a love website where people like me meet their soulmates. He's the one Maami, please... Give me a chance."She grabbed her hair while explaining. Hoping Fayishara will understand. "I'm not getting any younger and you know it."

"I need a grandson than you need a husband, so what are we saying? The guy is good-looking but character is the best beauty, my dear. What is wrong is wrong. Please, leave him alone and accept Baba Fagbemi's proposal." The seriousness in her eyes formed a frown. "When a man loves a woman, he visits her family first to show his intentions, not sleeping with her directly, even before knowing him."

"Maami... that was in the olden days now, not these days again. We need to meet and know if we're compatible before informing the family members."

"Imade! Imade!! Imade!!!" Feyi held her ears. "How many times did I call you?"

"It's three times Mama."

"Good! Since you're not deaf, listen to me and listen well. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm only playing my part as a mother would to her child. Leave this guy alone." She hissed and walked away.

"But..." Imade wanted to say something. It's just so surprising why her mother wouldn't accept Dele as her son-in-law. Someone who is even prepared to marry her. 'A doctor in Lagos?' Imade thought as she pondered on the thought.

'What would I do now?'

***

Words and Translations

-Baco: A kind of big, local sack

-Ekaaro ma: Good morning ma'am.

-Iroko: A tall African tree.

19.02.2021