The day started like every other day, I was in high spirits, I knew the time was right for my business to bear fruits. It was just like me to scream when I was excited. The phone call came as expected and the feedback was good. I was told that my business had prospects and if I keep at it, I shall become a millionaire in no time. Those words gave me inner joy and I began to plan for the future of my business. I called out to my little sister.
‘Temi, come over here quick.’ I said.
She lived with me, our parents were in the village and I lived in Lagos, she was sent over by my father with stern warning that I look after her. We were just two with a large age difference. I was 35 and she was 15. But we shared a strong bond and did not really care about the respect and all the other rubbish attached to seniority. Sometimes, when things were so tough, she sold groundnuts to feed us. And when things were good, I bought her cakes and other goodies. Hmmm! She really loved cakes and that made my smile all the more.
‘Buy us shawarma.’ I said.
‘What is it?’ She asked, revealing her wide gaped tooth.
‘Since you have been in this Lagos for more than 8 months now, you still don’t know Shawarma, na wa. Ok you will know it today.’ I said.
‘Go in the evening, I need to take a nap now.’ I said.
I walked gallantly into the only room we lived in and stretched on the mattress on the floor.
I woke up late and saw my sister watching me like a hawk waiting for its prey. I cleaned my eyes and looked at her strangely.
‘Shawnama , shawnama.’ She muttered. She was excited.
‘I forgot o, what time is it?’ I asked.
‘6.30pm.’ She said.
‘Let us buy it tomorrow, it is already late.’ I said.
‘I no go gree o, I must chop shawnama.’
‘It is not shawnama, it is SHAWARMA and we shall have it tomorrow.’ I said.
Her face was crestfallen, and I couldn’t bear it. Alright go and buy it. Be fast o! When you enter car at the junction, stop at Nero and cross over o! The man is there.’ I said.
She nodded and hopped happily. That was the last time I set eyes on my sister.
No one knew her whereabouts and I never knew what happened to her. The thought of her going through all forms of pain was unimaginable. The thought of her in her dying moments was unimaginable. I could only imagine what my desire for shawarma had done to her. Maybe, I should have bought it myself. I was just too lazy to go out and it had cost me my only sibling.
On that day, I went to the shawarma man’s stand and described her, he said he saw her and he sold shawarma to her. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents. So I did what everyone expected me to do. I reported to the police but it was worse than doing nothing. I waited day after day for her return but she never did.
Shawarma what have I done? Its’ been 3 years, 2 months, 19days and 5 hours since I last saw my sister and my parents have no clue.