The Darkest Hour [completed] Season 1

Season 4 years ago

The Darkest Hour [completed] Season 1

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The gentle wind of the evening weather blew a hip of refuse randomly in the air. It was rush hour time: vehicles, people and other land locomotive technology moved to and fro on the road causing an unbearable hullabaloo. At the same time, hawkers joined them advertising and making sales for a living. One of them who carried a tray of plantain rushed a vehicle in motion. She wore a jean trouser which she folded at it’s cross sectional area and a brown top which she also tied at it’s base in a way her abdomen was slightly visible. She wasn’t slim and short neither was she fat nor tall. She was a girl in her late 20s. On her feet were correct old canvas that enabled her pursue moving vehicles. As she ran, her butt0ckz kept bouncing until she stopped by the side of a customer in a driver seat who whined down the front glass of his car gazing at the plantains.

“How much are these?”
“Four hundred naira per square, sir” Monica, the girl responded.

“No, it’s costly” the driver wanted to whine up the glass.

“Alright, let’s bargain” Monica never gave up.

“Two hundred”
“Three fifty”
“Two fifty”
“Okay, bring three hundred and forty-five naira, sir”

Hearing that, the driver smiled causing a smile on Monica’s face too. “Alright, give me the remaining three squares for three hundred naira each” he concluded.

Monica sold her remaining plantain happily then waved at the driver before crossing the road to meet her twin sister Udoka who was sitting sadly in front of an empty shop with her empty tray of plantain too. She looks exactly like her sister except that she was wearing a short jean trouser and a black top.
“Udoka, let’s go home, I’ve sold the remaining plantain” Monica approached happily but Udoka showed no sign of happiness. “Are you okay? You look sad” she added yet, Udoka didn’t say a word rather began to stand up. She stood simultaneously with her tray and said, “Listen Monica, I’m tired of being a hawker. I’m not coming back here again in the name of selling plantain. My mates are in the university and I’m here..” she hissed and walked out shaking her butt involuntarily without allowing her sister say a word. Though Monica couldn’t say anything rather stared at her until she walked out.

“Udoka, wait for me nah!” she shouted and ran after her.

**

The resident of these twins has a small gate, and inside the compound was a long horizontal building having seven rooms. Though it isn’t a story building but made in a way it was higher than the ground. Before one enters each room, he/she has to climb four stairs. They were tenants in other rooms but none was seen outside except Trust and Sunday popularly known as Sunny. These two sat on a long bench in a way they faced each other playing puzzle (Draft). They wore longsleeve shirts without bucklling it up. Suddenly, Udoka b@nged the small metal gate opened thereby startling them. Even their puzzle-rings disorganized.

“My God!” Trust exclaimed wanting to fall.
“Bia, Monica or are you Udoka” Sunny began. “Have you lost your manners or did you sell it away with your plantain?!” he asked glaring at her.

Udoka didn’t even stop, she glanced at them while still in motion and eventually entered into their own apartment.

“My friend, her name is Udoka not Monica” Trust corrected and sat up.
“But she behaves contrary to her name” Sunny faced Trust seriously.

“How?”
“The girl suppose to be peaceful because her name means ‘Peace is Greater’ but she’s so troublesome!”
“That’s how it should be”
“What?” Sunny stared at him. “Don’t you know that someone’s name should have a psychological effect on one’s life? Chai..! No wonder!”
“No wonder what?” Trust also stared at him.

“It’s because your name doesn’t tarry with your character too”

“How?”
“Is your name not Trust?”
“It is”

“How many times have you betrayed me after trusting you?”
“Guy, leave that thing” Trust waved it off. Just then, Monica entered, she slowed down and greeted them with a smile.
“Welcome my dear Monica” Trust replied looking at her with his teeth widely opened but Sunny hit his leg hardly.
“Who’s your dear?” he whispered angrily then looked at Monica. “My love.. sorry.. my dear, welcome” he said opening his teeth too.

“What has come over both of you today?” Monica asked with hands on her waist.
“Your beauty has come over me, for that, i can do anything for you” Sunny replied.
“Oya, i need 10k now” Monica stretched a hand forward while the other remained on her waist.

Hearing the amount 10k, Sunny focused on his game and began to whistle then Monica laughed and entered into the house. Even Trust couldn’t help it too.
“This gir’s behaviour tarry with her name oh” Trust said.
“I’m not surprise” Sunny began without looking up. “Her name means ‘Money is Greater’ and that’s why she loves money a lot”
“I thought you like it when someone’s behaviour tarry with her name”
“Not on money matter oh” Sunny concluded and Trust laughed seriously..

:

Mrs Williams, the twins’ mother sat on the edge of a family bed inside the house when her children entered with their tray of plantain. She wore a milky gown and tied a loosed wrapper above it. She was a bit fat and had an old look. The room contains the bed, a long cushion opposite it, an old refrigerator, stove, clean pots, bags and other materials since it was one room apartment. Udoka angrily dropped her tray on the floor and sat on the long cushion. While Monica gently kept hers and sat beside her mother on the bed. Mrs Williams noticed that something was wrong, so she adjusted her wrapper, looked at her children and said, “You sold all the plantains but you’re not looking happy, especially you Udoka. What’s the problem?”

None of the girls replied rather Monica folded her hands and looked at Udoka who placed a hand on her cheek without smiling.
“Answer me!” the mother shrieked. “Did anybody steal your money?”
“No, mother” Monica replied.

“Then what?”
“It’s Udoka, she said she won’t hawk plantain anymore”

“Why?” the mother looked at Udoka who disengaged her hand from her cheek instantly.
“Mother, that’s what i said oh! And I’m not going back to my words!” she said.
“Why my daughter?” the mother brought down her voice.

“I want to go to school. Moreover, I’m tired!”

Hearing that, Mrs Williams wore a sorrowful face remembering her late husband. Monica noticed it instantly then felt her emotions.
“My daughter” Mrs Williams began looking at Udoka. “I don’t have money yet to send both of you to school and you know we eat from the small sales we make from the plantains. Biko nwam..”

“Like i said, I’m not going back to my words oh!” Udoka stood up to take a cup of water.

The mother remained quiet staring at her as the water poured down into her stomach through her gullet.

“Mother, this is my today’s sales” Monica’s voice brought back her attention. She looked at her and collected a money from her.

**