Safina was wearing a pink track suit and white canvas jogging on the main road close to their house. She was listening to a cool music. A car honked at her back as she was trying to cross over to the bridge that will lead her home. She removed one of the ear piece from her right ear and turned round to make sure of the sound she heard. She stopped to allow the car pass and the car passed accelerating on a high speed. Two huge men dressed in dark blue track suits and black canvas were also jogging and chatting. They also waited for the car to pass. She sighed and crossed over the bridge and wondered why some people are driving recklessly as if they are cats with nine lives and are not afraid of hitting or crushing people to death. Safina returned the ear piece and continued listening to the music. The morning breeze was blowing gently, she turned and looked at her favorite river. Morning birds flying and chirping on the beautiful bright blue sky. She is a lover of nature and sighted the one and only canoe she sees everytime she's out for jogging. The colour of the river fascinates her, the colour changes sometimes it's blue and sometimes green. She smiled and continued jogging.
When she reached the end of the bridge by the filling station, she stopped. A middle aged man was seated on a wooden chair selling newspapers. The newspapers were on the rubber table. They exchanged greetings. Safina was his customer. He smiled as he gave her today's newspaper. You are out for your jogging again?"
"Yes," Safina responded as she collected the newspaper to check the headlines.
"Wow! Today's newspaper will be interesting." she said after checking the headlines. She put her hand in the pocket of her trouser and brought out 500 naira note and handed it to the vendor and told him to keep the change. He collected it and thanked her with a smile.
"Next time, I will give you your change, you always leave the change to me."
"You never forced me to leave the change for you, that's my intent."
Safina changed the music in her playlist to one of her favorite music 'Julia Agatha's.... Only Child" She crossed the road to the direction of her home. She saw few people also jogging, some were jogging back home and others jogging out of the street. She jogged for 25 minutes and there she was in the avenue, where she lived. Five minutes she was at the gate of their house. As usual, the road was quiet. Only few security were outside the gate of the houses they are guarding. When their security guard saw her, he quickly stood up dressed in black uniform and welcomed her back with respect.
"Welcome," Hajiya, he said as he opened the small gate for her.
Safina responded as she was about to enter the house, she suddenly turned back and saw the huge men jogging, they passed their house without looking at the house. She entered and closed the gate behind her.
One of the gardeners was busy watering the flowers that surrounded the house. While the other gardener was trimming the flowers at the other side of the house. They welcomed her back and she responded with an amiable smile. "Well done," she added.
She looked at the parking lot and saw all the cars there. She was glad her father didn't go out early today. She wanted to see him about something important.
Safina went straight upstairs and saw one of their house helps coming downstairs with trunk of clothes taking it down for laundry. "Good morning Safina!" She smiled at her.
"Morning Mama Rahina." She responded and smiled back. Have you seen Mum?" She asked.
"Yes, she is in the dinning room"
"Ok"
Safina went straight to the dinning room and met her mum giving directives to the chefs arranging breakfast on the table. They were arranging dishes of tantalizing food on the table and the aroma was everywhere.
"Hmmm... This smells delicious, aroma everywhere in the house. Safina said smiling.
"Welcome back dear," welcomed her mum who was wearing a green gown and covered her head with a small veil. Smiling at her daughter, she added "they are all your favourites". You know you and your Dad have the same likes. And because he is in town today, I cooked his favorite Breakfast with the help of our amazing chefs.
"Oh! Thank you, Mum. You made my day." Safina said opening the dishes one after the other.
"You know you are always welcome dear."
Safina went to the bathroom to take a bath and got ready for breakfast. By the time she arrived at the dinning room, everyone was there about to start eating. Her Dad, Mum and her younger sister and brother.
She greeted her Dad and sat down on one of the chairs. He smiled and said morning dear. "How was your jogging?"
"It was fine as usual."
"Glad to hear that"
"Shahid please pass me the bowl of Fish pepper soup" Safina said as she picked a small porcelain bowl from the table.
Her younger brother passed her the bowl of Fish pepper soup. She served herself. She enjoyed the fish pepper soup. "Dad I will like to talk to you after breakfast," she said after sipping a glass of orange juice.
"Alright, dear,"
After breakfast, Safina and her Dad were talking in the garden. "This is the second time, Dad."
"Are you sure?" he asked staring at his daughter, trying to catch every nuance of her expression.
"Yes, Dad. I'm sure. I noticed the two huge men following me when I went for jogging today. I am sure they are following me. I think they are kidnappers."
"Alright, you know what? Stop going for the jogging for a while and let's see what will happen. Not only jogging, avoid going out unless it's very important. I think I will get you a security guard to escort you anywhere you are going. You know the situation we are in now, we have to be extra careful and prayerful."
Safina sighed with a relief and said"Alright. Thank you Dad" Talking to her father has always been a relief to her.
"I have meeting with my clients today at the office. I better go and get ready. I don't want to be late. Alhaji Muhsin said as he got up from the rubber chair he was sitting on and grabbed his phone from the rubber table.
"Alright Dad. Good luck with your meeting and safe trip to your office," Safina wished him luck.
"Thank you, dear" he said with a smile and headed to the main entrance of the house.
Safina stretched her legs on the chair opposite her. And leaned on the chair, closed her eyes to perceive the morning breeze. The garden was her favorite place in the house. It's full of flowers, plants, trees, swings and a big swimming pool. Birds and butterflies of different colours always nest there. The garden is so serene.
*. * *
Since from that day Safina stopped going out for jogging in the morning. Always do her jogging round their big house. And when she's going out, she go with 2 security guards her father hired for the entire family.
It was on the 8th day, that Safina decided to go for jogging. As usual, she was dressed in her track suit, yellow colour, white canvas and a facing cap. She passed the bridge and round about and jogged down to an avenue. Ear piece was on her ears, but she wasn't listening to music. That was deliberate, to hear the sound of things happening around her. She jogged to the end of the avenue passing few people, some going up while others going down the avenue. Then she turned round to go back home. One huge man passed her and jogged down the avenue, she didn't notice at first. Then she turned back and looked at him, and started thinking of where she knew the face. His face was familiar. It came to her mind, it was one of the two huge men that followed her twice. She turned and faced her front and looked around her, if she will see the other one. But didn't see a sign of him. She felt a little relief. Two men appeared from behind, one was in her front and the other jogged at her back. She looked at them, ignored them and continued jogging. As she reached the end of the bridge, she saw the other huge man leaning on the bridge resting. She recognized him at first sight, because she never forget a face. She didn't panicked and continued jogging. Today, she didn't stop to buy newspaper, just greeted the vendor and passed. He answered and waved back.© Asmie's Diary
