Chapter 120: What Ifs
***WHAT IFS***
"What's wrong with him? Why is he smelling this odd?"
So the man asked. As he asked this question Aunty Paula pinched mom to talk. But all the while I was in the man's mind, and all he was saying was so annoying, I wished mom also listened to his thoughts but little did I know that she just can't. The man kept asking rhetorical questions about me to himself.
"What creature is he? why does he smell like a sea monster? No... This boy could ruin all that I have gathered for years. He is haram"
These were only but fragments of his thoughts.
"Alfa, we came to you because of him, we want him to be delivered from the water demon. Alfa sir, this boy jas a history with the water creatures."
Mom said looking at me with tears running down her eyes, I never understood why she was crying at the moment, I thought she was sympathizing with me before until I heard the full gist.
"His father is from the Elegushi beach, he is a son of a real-life Merman, I never knew what he was I saw him dove into the sea and swam away."
Mom added very swiftly, im sure she wished that I never understand what she was saying, but I heard her pretty clearly. Seriously? So that means that I am not even a human? So that Man of God in Gwarinpa was right about us.
"Now, if you take off that shirt of his, you will find scales, fish scales, I think he is gradually turning into a fish just like his father. Alfa, please help me, I dont want to lose him, he is all I have got."
Mom added, now the Alfa stood looking at me dumbfounded.
"So, why not let him go? You know he is not even human, you said it yourself, why stress yourself over something that is bound to go back to the sea."
The Alfa said.
"No, he won't go back."
Mom responded sharply.
"Well, I have heard you, I have suspected he was not human the first instant that I saw him, that was why I never permitted him to sit on my chair. Hmm... You know what? I do not do such work..., but I know someone who could do it."
So the Alpha said... Mom was so excited to hear that from the Alfa, it was already apparent that he can't do shit, but he wasn't a fraud like the man at Gwarimpa.
But of a fact, mom is trying to say that I'm not human? Oh God, I just can't wait for all these to end so I can ask her all these questions, I feel so irritated at the moment, everything was so annoying to me at the moment. Even mom noticed my mood, she knew I was not happy about the development, but she didn't say anything because of the place we found ourselves, I also remained calm, I wouldn't want to start any trouble here.
"Please sir, help us to the place..."
Mom and aunty Paula said.
"Well the place is at Ushafa, the man who will help you out is at Ushafa, that is like going to the Bwari axis, he is an old man, and also a ghost hunter, and he is a specialist when it gets to things like this. But is not like me, we are not of the same fate, but we work together, don't worry, your friends trusted me, and I also trust this man, you can call her and ask her about the crippled native doctor at Ushafa, I have taken her there a few numbers of time, so don't worry, you are in good hands. And don't worry about how to locate the place, one of my boys will escort you there, I wish that I have the time, I would have taken you there myself. I will really love the see the end of this matter, and do not forget to reach me when the problem is solved."
So the Alfa said with his tasbih in his hand. But of a fact, I would say that u was surprised when we got to the place where was supposed to be a native doctor's house only to find out that he was an Alfa, a Muslim cleric, but the level of surprise I got when the supposed Alfa sends us to a real native doctor, one who does necromancy, the level of shock and surprise can never exceed the orbit of terror. What is even happening today? Why do I just keep getting the shock of my life? Now im getting the revelation that is somehow strange to me, what was she even doing? Or Are all these things one big prank? Can a human not be a human? Can I not be a human? Is it even possible? Can a dog give birth to a goat? Can mom possibly give birth to a merman? How are all these even possible? But could it be the reason why all this is happening?
These were thoughts that ran through my mind as we sat there waiting for the person who was supposed to lead us to the native doctor's place at the place the Alfa called Ushafa. The Alfa kept echoing the name Usman, but from the way, he pronounced the name it almost sounded like he was calling "Uthman". As we sat there I kept gazing at mom, I just can't wait for us to go home. As I stared at mom when she catches mine she will quickly take it off like a shy thief who had just been caught at the market square. At that moment, everything was so strange to me, I just couldn't pinpoint the head or the tail of the situation.
Finally, a young man ran into the house where we sat, when he got there, he squatted before the Alfa and greeted him saying:
"As-salamu Alaykum Malam, You called on me."
"Wa Alaykum s-salam. Yes I did, you will follow these ladies to Ushafa, lead them to Baba Ajakuta's place, they will need his help, do not leave them until the Baba accept them, do you understand?"
The Alfa said.
"Yes Malam, I understand."
Usman responded and we left with mon leasing the way, she hurriedly went into the car without even looking at me, even aunty Paula who I do not even understand her reason to fear me also walked trying all she could so that she will not catch a glimpse of my eyes. You know, it was only at this moment that everything started making sense to me, aunty Paula was scared of me because of what mom told her. Without time wastage, mom ignite the engine and the car started and we zoomed out. We drove back to the road and headed to the place where aunty Paula called Dutse junction, we took the right path and advanced.