There's no place like home. I grew up hearing this but came to fully agree with the saying when I traveled to Lagos to spend my holiday with my aunt.
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Lagos is a world of its own. The bustling cars, the loud honking noises struggling to be heard above the loud music blaring from various salons. The compacted streets and aroma of tasty delicacies, wafting through the air from small food stalls known as 'buka', the sight of hawkers chasing after a vehicle, trying to convince whoever was in it that he should get a particular brand of bread from them and not the next person.
I was born and brought up in Lagos, but since I left at 16, this was the first time I was returning to visit. My aunt had specially requested that I spend this holiday with her family because her only daughter who used to be my favorite cousin was also visiting from China where she studied.
As I stared out of the car window, I didn't know what to expect. Boma used to be a sweet little girl, a year younger than I was though, she was way bigger and even more pretty in my eyes. I was the closest idea she had of a sister and this made her really cling to me when we were in the same space.
She asked me everything, told me everything, even asked me to take the calls of some guys who were troubling her for a relationship at that tender age. I was the one who made her love cooking, left to her mother alone, she saw it as a dreaded chore.
Now she was 20, and by her latest photos, she was even bigger than I imagined, I wondered if we would get along well. The driver rolled the car into the large compound and before he could come to a final halt, my aunt came out to receive me.
"Treasure, welcome. Your sister is so excited to see you" she was beaming with smiles when I stepped out of the car to embrace her.
"Good evening Aunty" I responded. She asked the driver to take my bags in and guided me into the house. I had not been here before. When I was much younger, my aunt and her family lived in a rented apartment close to our estate. Now, they had migrated to a bigger, well-furnished duplex. I had my mouth held open at the grandeur almost for a full minute before I caught myself.
When I went in, Boma was descending the stairs.
She had a faint smile on her lips and took time to regard me from hair to foot before saying a reluctant "Welcome sis".
I knew something was off from that minute.
Naturally, I was asked to share her room, but I became uncomfortable after I noticed she didn't come into the room except at night when she thought I was asleep.
For the first time, Boma and I hardly had anything to say to each other except for the warnings she gave on a daily basis about her priced, princess room.
"Treasure please don't use your slippers on my rug…Treasure don't hang your dresses in my wardrobe…Treasure dry your body before you climb the bed…" it was so obvious she didn't want me in her space. I had to complain to my mom.
"Are you sure it was Boma who wanted me to come over or it was just Aunty's plan?" My mother sighed.
"Your aunty thinks Boma has picked some immoral habits from that school she attends, she was hoping you would maybe come and have some effect on her or something."
I sighed. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, but my aunt had paid my transport fare all the way to Lagos because she was concerned about her daughter so I had to quit complaining, afterall, it was for just 2 weeks.
But then I craved the comfort of my house where my roommate and I who loved each other, shared everything. I couldn't imagine my roommate asking me not to lie on the bed because my body hadn't dried off or not to hang my clothes in the wardrobe because it was hers.
The next morning, I decided to talk to Boma.
"Boma, are you okay?" She stopped fiddling away at her phone but didn't turn to look at me.
"Okay?" She asked me back. I wanted to find out what the challenge was, and why she was so different and hostile. Boma was sanguine, she should have been all over me, especially with our history.
"Yes. You seem to be…" I didn't want to use the word cold "...disturbed". She chuckled and finally turned her eyes to me.
"Who do you think you are Treasure? The perfect child who was transported all the way to fix all the loose nuts in my head? Please go back to wherever you came from and allow me to live my life."
I realized why she loathed me and decided that I would no longer subject myself to such a toxic environment. I packed my bags and informed my aunt that I had to return to school urgently.
The minute I landed in my house, I appreciated the warm embrace of my roommate and jumped into the shower then crawled right into bed. I could almost hear Boma's nagging but a voice in my head corrected her, "Keep quiet Boma, this is my house".
I was finally home.
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I know the feeling of having to leave a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed to another where you don't feel like that. Your aunt's house had all the joys a modern house can afford but you still felt restless all because of a cousin's 'toxic' behavior. It must have been an unpleasant surprise to realise that the cord of companionship between you and Boma had snapped. It must have felt like heaven to return to your real 'home' where you could relax and be yourself. Your story reminds me of a proverb: 'it is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious person', which I think aptly describes your experience at your aunt's place.
Thanks for sharing your experience here.
I love that proverb you shared. And I am happy I realized it soon enough that I wasn't welcomed by my cousin so I could leave her space in peace.
Thank you so much for reading and for such a thoughtful comment. I appreciate you.
You are welcome.
The difference in comfort in both rooms is noticeable, it is also sad that one of your cousins makes you feel that you are not necessary and you should leave. It seemed like a good decision for the character to get out of there. There is nothing better than peace of mind.
So true. It's better to have peace of mind. And that's exactly what I picked. Thank you so much for visiting.
The title is so catchy that can bring attention undoubtedly. I completely agree with you that there is no better place than our home because we can do whatever we want. It's quite common that people don't want to adjust even for a couple of days when we visit them. I think it's better to stay at our place but I know sometimes we have no other choice than to go.
Lol. I did the title on purpose 😁
Yeah, sometimes situation warrants visiting other people even though it means being uncomfortable for a few days.
Buuuuutttt... I always run back home no matter what.. lol
Thanks for visiting
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Thank you hivebuzz
What a cold shoulder Boma displayed. I can't really fathom what made her act that way. But it could be age needed her privacy. The fact you understood her message and refused to stay longer shows how you value your peace of mind.
She acted that way because her mum thought I was perfect and Boma could use a positive influence and be able to get rid of the bad nature she picked up in school.
She hated that she was seen as someone who needed fixing. Thinking about it now, I don't blame her anymore, I could have reacted the same way if I was in her shoes.
Thank you for visiting darling
Oooh, I see. Anyone in her shoe would have felt that way. Not everyone have that grace of understanding something of that kind but it's a good thing you left instead of letting things get our of hand. I know a time would come she would understand that her mum meant good for her and you visited with pure intention.
You set the story up well with a good descriptive setting, and details of your relationship with your cousin so that we could understand the context. Sadly we then do not get to hear any details about the bad habits that she had supposedly picked up, what happened to your cousin when you left, or to the relationships between her and you, and her and her mother, as a result of the introduced conflicts. It was nicely written but left me wanting a little in respect of story development.
Thank you for writing in The Ink Well. We enjoy your submissions.
I think Boma is a proud girl. Someone who is hard to deal with. She didn't want you in her room, and you made the right decision to get out of there. Why stay, when you are not welcome.
Hmm!! This is why I don't like staying with someone. People are of different mindset and trust me I don't want to know whether you are good or bad but I don't want to disrupt your comfort stay in your house let me stay in mine no matter the condition..
Gosh, she was too harsh on you honestly, well, I believe she is just being childish, with time I know she will come back to her senses. And I hope you didn't create hatred for her after that incidence?
Boma has a long way to go. I am surprised that she was made aware that you came to help influence her positively. I thought such wouldn't have been revealed to her.
I understand your feelings when you finally got home. A sigh of relief.
Yes. This is my house!🤩
Nothing beats comfort and a space where you are welcomed.
It's sad that what you both shared in the past was lost. Such is life though, people change.
I could imagine.
I just want to go home too. This service thing is not for me especially when I have to live with someone that doesn’t want me to live with them. 😭😭