It was 2016 when I visited my sister in Lagos. I never knew Lagos rain usually comes with lots of drama. I was never told until I witnessed it. It was that afternoon when I was caught in the Lagos rain drama.
I have been hearing of the Lagos International Market and how I could get anything I wanted there. I wasn't ready to hear that I spent weeks in Lagos without visiting the market. Even though I didn't have a clear list of what I wanted to buy in the market, I was just eager to get there first.
It was a Monday afternoon; the sky was blue, clear evidence that the cloud was in agreement with my visiting the one big market. It was like three hours from my residence. I was still on the bus when the cloud gathered, a change of weather that got me confused.
As we alighted, everyone started turning on their umbrella. The drizzle quickly turned into a heavy downpour, as though someone had poured liters of fuel to ignite it.
Being a no man's land, everyone minded their business and I was left with no choice but to find a shed. Even with the shed, I was drenched as the rain came with a heavy breeze, pouring on the zinc like a drumbeat.
My phone rang nonstop, and I knew it was no other person than Rhoda. Rhoda is my seamstress friend who always wants to find a shortcut to any obstacle. The day I told her I was going to the International Market was when she started disturbing my peace.
"Maryanne, I hope this rain is not a disastrous one?” She asked, all interest in knowing if I'm already on my way.
"I'm on my way already; I'm in a shade waiting for the rain to subside so I can board a bus," I shouted, not minding those standing beside me; the noise of the rain was so loud that I had to compete with it.
"Try to stop by; I need to show you samples of the materials I want you to buy for me," she said, with so much emphasis on my coming.
I was determined to get to the market by all means, so I managed to get a tricycle. The driver drove by the flooded road like the lord of water. I was able to get to Rhoda's house, but I was already drenched.
Rhoda's face was full of surprise seeing me all drenched. Explaining she was so sorry for forcing me to her house in the rain.
"I don't know what to do right now; you can't go to the market looking this way. This cloth is urgent work that I need to deliver tomorrow and now..." She said with his hands on his head with a worried face.
I looked around her self-contained apartment and saw where she arranged her clothes in her open wardrobe. I examined them all and found one that looks okay to me. I rushed to the restroom, and after a minute, I returned.
"How do I look in this? Nothing can stop me from visiting this market today."
"Have you checked the time?" Do you know when the rain will stop?"
The time was already 2:30 pm, and the certainty of the rain stopping after an hour wasn't there, but I was still optimistic about getting to the market.
"Let's chill and see what happens."
"The earlier you zero your mind that you are not coming again, the better, because Lagos rain is drama," She said sarcastically.
The rain kept pouring like it was in support of Rhoda. As it continued, she called me to her cutting table, and that was how we started what I never planned for.
She brought out the cloth and started the cutting. My eyes were fixed on everything she was doing. She was so serious explaining all the processes, ensuring I was getting her point. Though it seemed simple with me just staring at what she was doing, my brain was too far from learning the processes that fast.
She was about to show me the next step when I told her I needed to rest my head a bit and wait for the rain to subside. I went to her bed, and I didn't know when I slept off.
My phone rang, and she picked up to inform my sister not to worry.
Her house was warm and calm, with so much comfort as the rain hit the roof. My sleep terminated my optimistic mission of going to the International market. It was around 7 pm that Rhoda woke me and served me beans and plantain as dinner.
"Finish your meal and return back to sleep. We will just go to the market together tomorrow," she said with a smile.
I appreciated her for making me feel as snug as a bug in a rug. In the morning, the sky was blue and beautiful with a cool breeze. I couldn't get the heavy rain pour of the previous day off my mind and what the outcome would have been if
I had insisted on going without stopping by at Rhoda's house.
Together we visited the market and bought all we needed. I was happy I was able to visit the market at last, even though the rain was against it.
Rain in Lagos is always so intense. Entering the rain would make you drenched except if you just want to enjoy it.
Anyway, it's best you got your way out to the market at last.
Ah, Lagos rain is something else, I witnessed it. Yeah, I was excited as I made it to the market.
I love rainy days when I'm in a safe and welcoming place. Your text gave me that feeling. (:
Good thing you managed to keep calm despite the rain and the commitments you had, sometimes it's better to wait out the storm and then everything will work out.
On days I'm seated in bed with my phone. I love the rain.
But on days I have to go to market I hate the rain, because it makes the market dirty.
Rain can be destructive, especially when you have somewhere to go to.
I know how you must have felt at that moment.
Stories I have heard about Lagos kind of makes visiting there scary but I still want to see for myself.