There's this adage in Yoruba that says, "Ajumobi"Ajumobi ọ kan tanu." Eni olorun ran sini.
Loun se'ni l'ore"
Meaning, "Being family or a well-known person doesn't mean they will help you."
Only those God sends to you that will help you will help you."
To some, strangers are more helpful to them than those they have known for years, while for some people it is otherwise.
That faithful day I went out with one of my apprentices to get done fabric at the general market. On our way, we sat separately, and we paid the driver—no issues. We got to the market, and we bought all we planned to, but somehow we got some fabric at a higher price than I calculated. I shall make it by the time I realize the fare can't take the two of us, and then I'm like, "No problem, I will lap her inside the bus; that's no big deal." And I should have withdrawn, but the account is red, and since we have the fare for one seat, we will reach the house.
As we wanted to enter the bus, I saw a woman who happens to be a neighbor, and we greeted her.
Surprisingly, when we get to the bus, we enter with our bags, and I lap my girl, then I hear a voice from outside.
*"Never, never. I can never take lapping in my bus. No, no, no, come down, down.
And I explain to the driver politely, but he said, "It doesn't concern him," which was shocking for me. The woman I greeted that was at the front didn't even act as if she heard what was happening. Passengers were even talking to the driver, but he didn't agree, and the woman we know just looked away as if she didn't exist in the bus.
I just told my girl, "Let's get down; we are about to," and then the young guy sitting beside us said the girl should sit on the next seat and that he will pay.
I was surprised he didn't pay for my girl's seat alone; he paid for both of us with him, i.e., he paid for 3 seats at ₦800 per seat.
I thanked the brother throughout the journey. God shame my enemy; that was when the woman got the mouth to talk, saying those drivers didn't have sympathy at all. I just shook my head; even though she couldn't help at that time, she should have at least shown concern rather than acting as if she didn't hear what was going on. Even at first, I thought her mind was far away in the bus, but not until she talked after someone else paid for us, imagine.
The gentle brother was the one God sent to us at that moment, and in my mind I was thinking maybe he will ask for a number before we get Dre, but this stranger didn't utter any word till he alighted at his bus stop. Yeah, he got down before us.
A stranger who was so generous and kind that he saved me and my girl from embarrassment.
Since then, anytime I went out, I would surely put aside my t.fee first, no matter what, or if it happened that I was short of money where I was, I would surely find means before I approached the bus.
Thanks for reading through.
All The pictures are mine.