JODA
By Amah’s Heart
Episode 4.
“Sorry, we didn’t get your name the last time…
“Kuria…kuria Landy…that’s my name… And yours..?
Before I could even open my mouth to answer, Binta stepped in.
“Her name is Joda… Joda Tomas…that’s her full name. Mine is just Binta Greg, but wait you said your name is Korea Landing, …what kind of name is that…is it like Korea Japan or Korea is landing…how can your name be Korea… Tell us little about yourself….are you a half cast…or fully from here…your accents is nice…. So Korea are you married or seeing someone….becau… Aaaawwwuuu…. Joda… Stop pinching me…..
I was trying to hush Binta to shut up and stop embarrassing the young man who was just laughing, when he laughed his gap teeth showed up with a matching dimples. I love gap teeth, and my Dad was blessed with one, one of his favorite features. I love making him laugh when he was alive so that I can see his fine gap. I have wished severally to have one while growing up but my wishes never come true. Kuria’s laughter was also making me to smile despite I was pinching Binta to stop teasing him.
“No…is not Korea Landing…is Kuria Landy. I’m not yet married but will do that once I see who to settle wit. I was so much focusing on my business I didn’t have much time for dates. Now I’m fully established, I will start working towards having a good life partner… Okay, let me tell you about myself, my Mom was a single mom and she wasn’t from this part of the country. She gave me her family name. My Dad was from this country. It was after she told me about him, I decided to travel down in search of him but on getting here, when I finally found the family he came from, I was told he died eleven years ago. I decided to stay here, live here among his people who I’m also part off, my Mom later got married and had a new family. I visit them once in a year. They are doing fine, but I have decided to live among my father’s people. A father I never met but only through pictures that my Mom gave me. I have being here for 9years. I started my business here, and business has been good, people over here love vegetables and fruits, wonderful people like you…
Before I could say anything again Binta spoke.
“We are very sorry to hear about your dad, Joda also lost her father three years ago which still troubles her, so both of you are fatherless… Please don’t take it personal is just a joke, but God has really blessed you in this land, looking at how stored up your shop is and how people patronise you, maybe is because of your fine look and… Aaaahwwwuuu! Joda that’s painful…stop pulling my hair…what is wrong with you…I’m an adult, we are in a democratic world…freedom of speech…allow me to talk if you don’t want to…don’t pull my hair again or I will pull yours….
I have to drag Binta’s head hard for her to shut up.
“Please, don’t listen to her she can be a parrot sometimes, I’m so sorry for everything. I know that feeling of loosing a father, but is all good…I’m glad you are doing well for yourself here Kuria..
“I’m equally sorry for your lost…please you ladies should come around tomorrow, my place is just three buildings from here. I have a back kitchen and a sit out too, let me give you a treat of trequi….please don’t say no…you will really love it.
“What in god’s name is treku…whatever that is…it sound like a good wine though, we will come…Joda don’t really drink but she will love your trek…sorry I’m trying to call the name but my tongue is falling apart…
I don’t know why Binta was too forward, especially in the presence Kuria. I don’t really drink, how does she know I will love whatever kuria was offering us. I was just standing here and admiring his fine set of teeth with a gap in between, and his fine brown eyes, and a good accent makes me feel like I’m already cheating on Denis. In order to scare him off from me I used my ring hand which had my shining Diamond engagement ring to rob my face and stroke my hair. It looks funny but I didn’t care I can’t be tempted to cheat on Denis in any wa. I did it severally and he noticed and smile before he spoke.
“Trequi..is not a wine is a vegetable sauce mix with mushroom. One of my Mom best food. My mum taught me how to prepare it and I want to specially prepare it for both of you if you don’t mind….And I have seen your ring Joda…fine Diamond…an indication I should stay off…you are taken…I got the message very clear…. Hahaha..is funny though the way you kept on doing that…I’m not gonna bother you or your friend…I just want to appreciate one of my constant customers. I knew you even before you do…sometimes I stay at that corner where no one sees me but I see everybody. I sit and watch how my staffs attend to people. Sometimes I stay in my office and watch the CCTV camera, so I see regular faces and you are one of them…so please…you can even come with your husband or fiance…I will prepare enough for everyone to even take home…but no problem if you can’t make it down…
“Don’t worry Kuria… We will be here…me and Joda are both coming for the trequi…we won’t miss it..
We said our goodbyes and I drove home with Bint. I asked Binta why she kept on talking like a drunkard, embarrassing kuria and making me to start regreting of taking her down to his shop. She laughed and ignored my question, and only said I should get ready for tomorrow to be trequilize by Kuria ‘s food. I joined in and laugh because I will love to see him laugh and showcase his fine teeth with the gap in between. I will also tell him to teach me the recipe too if the food is nice so that I can prepare it for Deni. But I’m still feeling guilty, my wedding is next month end and I’m admiring Kuria and getting all familiar with him. I quickly waved it of. Kuria just wanted to appreciate his customers like he mentioned, he even said I can come with my husband to be, so that’s cool by me. I will ask Denis if he will come with me and Binta to Kuria’s place.
Denis was not around when I got back, he didn’t tell me he was going out, so I called him and a lady picked up. My heart skipped but was calm when I found out it was Vanessa, she said Denis car broke down, and she saw him along the road trying to call his mechanic so she gave him a lift. He was actually in the toilet when I called after exchanging pleasantries, she handed the phone to Denis who was out of the toilet according to her. I was surprised to hear that his new car that isn’t up-to a year suddenly broke down and Vanessa appeared like an angel and drove him to her place. The sad thing is that he said he wasn’t coming home that nighr. That once his car is fixed he will be going over to his friends place. They planned to watch football together that night. I was angry and asked him why he didn’t tell me all this before leaving the house or even to call me on phone. He apologised and said he tried calling me but my line wasn’t going and his friends just called him immediately I left the house. He also reminded me of Vanessa being my Chief brides maid and I told him no problem, that one was already sorted.
After the call, I called Binta to the room and told him to stay with me that Denis wasn’t coming back that nigh. Binta was overjoyed and danced round the room, we gist that night and I also mentioned the dream I had about my dad to her. She said is an indication that my Dad does not support the wedding. She suggested we pray before sleeping which we both did.
I didn’t believe Binta interpretation about the dream, she was only saying that because she does not like Denis. But as I slept that night, all I dreamed about was the trequi with Kuria, and he was so full of smile. I actually thought that when the day break, I will tell Binta that I wasn’t going again but as I woke up in the morning all that was on my mind was kuria.
Towards the afternoon, we dressed up and I tried calling Denis but his line was off. Probably after the long night of watching football with his friend, he was tired and put off his phone to avoid being disturbed, so that he could sleep. I will try his line in the evening again if he doesn’t call.
When Binta and I finally got to Kuria’s place, he was wearing a kitchen apron, I laughed on seeing him look like that he also laughed.
There is something about him that makes me feel happy, maybe because he shared the same shape of gap teeth with my late Dad, or there’s more but I love the way I feel when I’m around him. It also makes me feel bad, I feel like is unfair to Denis to be feeling this way with another man.
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