The Encounter

A pounding sound on Reuben’s window was terrifying. It made him jump anxiously. He looked up, the young person outside his window looked unwashed or perhaps suffering from a serious case of dry skin, possibly from sun damage. He also looked ten years old or even younger, carrying a big metal tray filled with small and large bottles of roasted peanuts on his head. The boy pleaded with his eyes for attention and continued pounding the window with his small hands.

He obviously couldn’t see Reuben, but knows someone important is inside the car.

‘Can we relive the little man with some of those peanuts? Ruben asked his driver whose eyes was passionately on the road’.

‘You really don’t want to eat that sir’. The driver said, without looking back at his passenger. And just then, the car moved a little further losing the young hawker, who in return turned to the next car.

The sun was red hot by the looks of it. Sitting in a pool of traffic in Lagos Nigeria for the first time, there wasn’t much to think about other than watch the interesting scenes around him. Outside the tinted window of Reubens’ private black Mercedes taxi, was like a river filled with different kinds of fish swimming to different destinations at once.

This time, they are human, walking either sluggishly or sprinting with all sorts of goods to sell, taking their chances as the traffic gets more complicated under the red boiling sun. Sweet pouring perpetually from most hawkers and pressers by, shirts wet, mostly around the armpit area as if they went for a quick dip. It was around 4 pm. Reuben felt discussed knowing that he appreciates his executive taxi which is fully air-conditioned while these people suffered under the raging sun.

The weather was really boiling when he stepped out of the plane earlier, despite his expectation, it was beyond his imagination. He couldn’t breathe properly, it felt like a cotton wool has been stuffed into his nose to allow just a little breathing.

As the cars slowly crawl down the traffic line, Reuben couldn’t stand more dose of street hawkers in sight. He saw children younger than the boy he saw earlier selling a big tray of nothing worth risking and losing precious lives for. Taking in and drawing out a long breath, he decided to make use of his time, he brought out a camera from this camera bag and started taking pictures of interesting Lagos scenery in front of him.

He admired the buildings, the distant basic skyscrapers, the flyovers, the tall residential houses. They made a turn and there were street hawkers actually blocking the roads this time not afraid of the cars passing by. They actually might be the cause of traffic in this area as they left little or no room for moving cars.

This batch was different from the ones on the expressway. These hawkers on the streets were selling oranges, mangos, banana, plum, fresh plantain, yam other things Reuben couldn’t identify. A mother, with her 3 boys all under fifteen by the looks of it, piles a tray with juicy oranges, bananas and mango, urging them to head to the cars on the street. Another woman with a baby on her back was riding a bicycle with a bundle of goods on her head.

Reuben pressed a button by the door to bring down this window screen a little and quickly took a picture of these women, he checks the first picture to see how it turned out, to his amazement it looked alright, he hastily took more, he couldn’t resist and carried on taking pictures of interesting scenery. One of them was a mother breastfeeding her daughter while attending to a customer by the roadside. Golden brown well-roasted corn-on-the-cob spread across the dark charcoal, blaze under a metal container, separated by a metal wire so that the corn and some purple looking plums wouldn’t fall into the fire.

Such environment motivates and reminds him to expand his work in other kinds of photography. Bringing out his notebook, he wrote down points to remind himself about his next action.

Just then, an instant feeling of belonging suddenly filled his heart despite the horrible scenery he has just witnessed. The dry sun-kissed city called Lagos through the tinted windows of a private black Mercedes taxi was breathtaking. Was it because his grandparents and possibly his mother was Nigerian? This was another reason why he is making this trip. Perhaps he is looking for closure and reasons why he is the way he is.

Ruben loves nothing more than his job, the passion he took in photography from a young age of 10 when he got a digital camera for this birthday totally transformed him. After years of studying and landing a job in the entertainment industry, Ruben has travelled the world in one year more than most people will do in a lifetime.

As the executive car left yet another traffic road and slowed down to a more quieter (rural) road he roll down his windows just a little once again, and he clicked away taking in the heat and the scene in front of him, he decided to put away his camera when he spotted a young girls working confusingly by the roadside. Her legs, dark, slim and long like chocolate sticks. The lady was wearing an over-worn mini Ankara print dress with a matching small headpiece to hold her thick un-breaded afro, if not for her long slim legs, he would have considered her as an older woman, moreover, she had no clue how to walk, it was like her knee-knuckles were competing with each other with every step she took.

“Can you slow down a little, I want to take a picture.” he said to his driver.

The driver nods his head and slows down.

Reuben took a picture of the young girl who was slightly in front of them. All he could see at first was her swinging long arms and legs horribly working on the left side of the road. He gently pushes the button on his camera about 4 times within a second, the lady automatically turned to look back, however not noticing the taxi and a man with a camera pointing at her. It was clear something was bugging her, Reuben noticed from the sad look on her face through his lens. He clicks again and again. The car slowly drives past her. He quickly took another picture of her face, this time the lady looked just in time to see a camera flash at her, she didn’t take much notice from her reaction which was plain. The look on her face was distance and sad.

Curiosity strokes Reuben, he immediately previewed the pictures he had just taken. The picture of a poor, starving dark young girl wowed his imagination.

“She is so photogenic! he whispered.

“Sorry, sir. The driver turned his head curiously trying to see what his passenger is up to.

“She has got it, that young woman has got what it takes to be a supermodel! “He shouted cheerfully to the driver.

“Look at this! “I don’t normally go through my pictures right away but these ones are exceptional. Look at those legs and arms. He cheerfully pushes his camera screen to the driver who took a quick glance.

“I heard you are an amazing photographer sir.” the driver said nodding his head in approval.

“Bloody yes I’m! One of the best in the world! He replied proudly. ‘I’m certain that young lady is still a teen.

‘Definitely sir, about eighteen or twenty even’. The driver agreed.

“Do you know what? he continued with excitement in his eyes while going through the pictures. Stop! I need to speak to her.

“ What? Sir! Did you say stop?

“Yes stop please! This picture means nothing if I don’t speak to this lady, no point having them if I can’t trace her”. “Stop right now please, I need to go back!

“But sir, the more we wait the more traffic ahead of us.

“Perfect, Do you know the number one priority for a highly successful man?

His big owly grey eyes on the driver.

“No sir”. “ Good! One of them is to hit the iron while its red hot’. And this is what I’m about to do now.

The driver carefully looked and park in an empty spot just by the side of the road.

“Are you seriously sure about this sir? We will have to be stuck in this traffic for a while after this.’’ He tried to discourage Reuben who was trying to take off his seatbelt.

“No problem Ade, and I promise to double your payment, he smiled knowing the driver wouldn’t resist.

“So I’m going to run back and meet this lady quickly, then I will be right back before you know it, he added.

Coming out of the taxi horridly, he grabbed his camera before shutting the door. “I will be right back before you know it”. He reassured the driver with a nod before heading to the direction he saw the girl.

Of course, Chika know she doesn’t need a prophet to tell her that losing 5 hundred Naira in one go is the death of her. Her uncle and aunt wouldn’t listen to any of her stupid stories about how the money got lost. To simply get some shopping she can’t even do that, she thought. Immediately a drop of tears forcefully found its way from her eyes. Wiping it off, she reassured herself tears wouldn’t help, but rather she need to stay focused and look properly.

This is the 3rd time she is walking up and down on this street like a crazy woman who lost her way. She just can’t go back home without the foodstuff or the money. ‘What am I going to do? I’m really dead this time’. Was all that occupied her mind until she heard a gentle yet calm deep voice behind her. Had someone found her money?

“Excuse me, young lady! The voice which sounded much clearer now obviously was referring to her. She turned to the sound of such graceful and calm voice. Panting and walking towards her was the most handsome man she has ever set her eyes on. His facial expression made her weak, his hair was a loose curly afro, bouncing along as he walk, his eyes were big and the colour looked different, almost grey, he had a strong facial jaw bone, his arms swinging left and right as he finally make a stop in front of her with nothing but few inches between them.

The lovely smell of his perfume embraces her like a ghost. As she gently takes a long drink look at him from hair to toe. He looked simple but expensive. A pair of white trainers, a blue jean and a white t-shirt was all he was wearing. He had a bag on his right hand. His hair up close was dark and twisted in little kinky. His skin was fair but not pale, just like black tea with a dash of milk.

Young children do not fail to remind Chika how tall she is. Most men who admired her were always a few inches shorter than her. She didn’t have to look up or down at this ghost or angel before her. Her heart began to race fast. Maybe she had been hit by a car while on the road and this is the result, an Angel is here to tell her or take her away.

‘I apologise for walking into you like this”. Reuben interrupts her before looking her up for a whole second.

Her eyes were focused on him astound and confounded. Instantly he became mesmerised by her beauty. Up close, she is indeed tall. Possibly 6 foot. Her eyes were dark brown in colour, big and bright, just like the colour of her skin. The shape of her face, almost curving in the chin in a heart shape. Her lips were not too thick or wide but fits her perfect face. She will nail many photos shoots with such natural look already. Though her hair was untidy and tied back with a piece of cloth, it was jet black with thick mini curls hanging in the air. The only flaws Reuben could see was her skin had some marks on them, it could be cuts or injuries perhaps, but that wouldn’t be a problem that can be easily fixed.

A big smile break between the two ends of his lips, grey eyes balls fixed on her still.

To Chika, his voice sounded like he had his nose stuffed with a piece of cloth that wouldn’t let him speak properly, the fact that his nose is longer, pointier with a narrower open than what she is used to must be why. His voice was calm and gentler and music to her ears.

Good evening? Chika heard herself whisper.

Reuben’s eyes still fixed on her,

‘Hello’. ‘Can you turn around, please’. He demanded politely.

Surprisingly, Chika understood what he meant and automatically turned around. To her surprise, he nodded as some kind of approval.

“How old are you, please? He questioned.

“I’m 20 years old”. She barely whispered.

Reuben nodded again. So far, she is everything he expects in a model. “Can I take a picture of you please? And immediately brought out his camera. Chika still looking confused managed to speak out.

“Please let me go, I don’t know who you are’. She pleaded looking around to see if anyone is watching. Passers-by indeed were, including children. Fear gripped Chika, she hates being the centre of attention.

“Oh! I’m very sorry for coming onto you like this, I must have scared the hell out of you. Forgive me. Right! My name is Reuben Webster. I am a photographer who works with top models, I couldn’t help but admire your figure, you can become a professional model you know’.

He said slowly and as clearly as he could and purposely gave her some seconds to take in all that he has just said, having in mind that this young girl with a thick African accent might not understand a word he had just said.

“What! What do you mean? Chika asked clearly confused. Her legs were feeling like jelly and threatening to give up on her.

“What I mean is you are very tall, slim girl with astonishing Melanie, models of your calibre are very rare too. Perfect! Did I mention beautiful? His smiled, taking a picture of her.

“As a professional photographer, I easily can tell if someone can make a great model. Do you understand what I mean? His instinct told him to make sure the girl understood.

“A model? I don’t think my family would like that”.

Reuben was relieved to know that she obviously understood him perfectly. Though her English was very rusty, he utterly understood her and immediately knew language wouldn’t be much of a problem.

‘Good I’m glad you understood.

I’m from England and here in beautiful Lagos in search for models of colour who can possibly make it to international level. If you succeed, you can travel to London, France, New York, Italy and other amazing countries for modelling jobs.

Chika thought about what he just said for a minute and admitted she must be dead. Because this meeting can’t be possible, just like seeing herself travelling from London to America and France is a fairy tale which can never happen to someone like her.

‘What you’re saying doesn’t make sense, I have to go, people are looking”. She said thoughtfully before looking away to see the gradually developing crowd around them, mainly children. Adults were also curious but carried on walking by while watching. They are obviously surprised by the scene before them.

‘I know I’m a stranger to you, but I’m assuring you that you wouldn’t regret it, you have a great chance here to change your life’. Reuben brought her back to reality. “Ok here is my card. Think about it first and then give me a call and let me know if you would like to be a model, I won’t take any more of your time, I can see you’re disconcerted.

Bringing out his wallet, he grabbed a huge quantity of Naira he exchanged at the airport earlier. “

Here is some money, use some to buy whatever you lost and use some to give me a call. Trust me, I think you’ll make a great model for your country”.

“Oh God no! This is too much I can’t accept it”. The horror and fear on her face speaking louder than her voice after she saw the money entrusted to her.

“Don’t argue! I’m giving it to you from the bottom of my heart, please take it. I know you lost something on this street, perhaps buy whatever you need and keep the rest’. Reuben insisted, thrusting the money into her thin long hands which automatically accepted.

Reuben Webster is my name if you decide to give me a call in the next three days that will be awesome. I will be living Nigeria there after”, he added with a huge smile on his face before turning around to walk back to his taxi.

Chika stood there and watch him walk away graciously.

Recovering from what she saw as an apparition after some few seconds. She looked around, the attention the foreign drop dead handsome man has attracted between them and an exchange of money is now obvious, the adult passers-bye gave her a concerned look, while the children giggled in acceptance. She hesitated with a big grin on the face, her feet moving faster as she can, she must get some fresh new cooking stuff and hurry home before words reach her uncle and aunt about this movie scene.

The Naira notes were crispy new and smelt good, she started wondering what she can do with the rest of the money after buying food stuff, moreover there is no way she is calling a strange man on the phone, not even when he is from Britain, drop dead gorgeous, speaks so well and has a big heart. But hay! First thing first, she doubted she is still alive for what just took place to be real. Seriously she must have been hit by a car in this notorious Lagos roads.

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