The Beautiful Conductor: A Fiction (short story)

The Beautiful Conductor A Fiction (short story)

She first waved her hand in the direction of the moving vehicle. As though she was not sure whether she wanted the vehicle to stop for her or not, while she continued to discuss with the man on the wheel chair.

Eventually the vehicle pulled up. An ugly looking bus popularly called Molue in Yoruba. "Oshodi," she yelled on the bus driver. "Ayee Ayee," replied the driver in affirmation as if it was pre-rehearsed.

She boarded the vehicle and beckoned on Mrs Anjo to enter. "Why is the bus filled with young men" Mrs, Anjo thought in her heart. "Well, it could have been a coincidence," she replied her inner thought. "But again, I have a lady company now," she assured herself.

All these were all happening in a twinkling of an eye. The bus waited for a while as though it was waiting for her as she hesitated. Helloo Ma'am a car pulled up just behind the bus. "Good morning Ma, are you going to Victoria Island," shouted the voice.

At this point Mrs Anjo got curious and moved away from the bus she was initially considering to board. "Oh Eric! Where are you coming from?"queried Mrs Anjo. "I am lucky this morning," she continued. "I had to go drop a cousin at the airport" replied Eric. He has a morning flight to Los Angeles. Ah okay I am heading to Victoria Island. At this point the bus sped off having realized that Mrs Anjo was no longer a potential customer, she is receiving a lift.

Mrs Anjo Entered Eric's Car and they zoomed off. From the back mirror, out of sheer coincidence or providence, Eric noticed the man he saw at the bus stop on a wheel chair stood up and left with his wheel chair. "What!!!" Shouted Eric. "What is it," Mrs Anjo asked. The man on the wheel chair just stood up and walked away with his wheel chair.

"It must have been a miracle, praise God," Mrs Anjo replied. "Miracle indeed," muttered Eric. "This is Lagos. Anything can happen," he continued.

It was around 7:40 am in a Monday morning. The atmosphere was appealing and cold from the Harmattan. The road was getting busy from people all rushing to meet one appointment or the other; and people hustling to get to their offices in time. The BRT buses were hooting and blaring their horns as if they were rehearsing an orchestra.

"How is your family" Eric queried as though he was not expecting an answer. They should be fine Mrs Anjo muttered not sounding interested. "Are you married now Eric", she asked back. Humm not yet. I am taking my time to find a good girl. You know marriage is not something you just jump into. Once married always married. Divorce is not an option.

Stop Eric! Immediately, Eric pulled up as though he was controlled by a robot. A group of people gathered by the roadside and a woman was just rushing to them and at the same time untying her wrapper. Looking closer Mrs Anjo identified the lady she met at the bus stop earlier completely unclad.

"This is horrible! What must have happened to the lady," she thought. Looking around to check if she could see the bus that was carrying her, it was no where around. The same bus she would have entered had Eric not pulled up at the time he did."This is not a case of accident" she thought.

"Oleee Olori Buruku," a woman in the crowd shouted, a Yoruba word used to describe criminals. At this point the picture was getting vague. Could the young beautiful girl at the bus stop have been a thief? How could that happen. Where is the bus she boarded? "She was unlucky today.They abandoned her and ran away," shouted a voice in the chaotic crowed which continued to increase in size.

....to be continued.

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