People trooped into hall, greeting and smiling at one another. Many smiles that were fabricated seem real and friendly, but they all knew it was part of the duties to always appear happy and very accommodating even when they didn't want to. While Ara and Grace walked towards the hall, it was just six o'clock in the evening. Expensive and clean cars were parked despite being said it was just a small party gathering to celebrate what was yet to be disclosed.
As they finally made it into the hall, some seats were already taken. Ara scanned the nooks and crannies of the hall with her eyes but found no one bearing Prince Ire. Even his brother, Prince Damola wasn't in the dinning yet. Both Ara and Grace quickly joined the line, standing on the same spot with Florence and Sewa. All the workers stood behind the visitors and could only come closer if anyone was called on to serve or called on for assistance.
Thirty minutes later, the persons who made it to the entrance got everyone's attention. Ara couldn't believe she was indeed seeing the respected and most talked about King live. He was putting on a long Buba and a short Sokoto made with shinning Aso oke in wine colour. On his neck were two, long and big red beads Yoruba will call Ìlèkè. And because it was on his neck, Yoruba will call it "Egba Orun". (Necklace).
On his two wrists were sitting the same colour of the same beads in twos. Ara could remember her Yoruba teacher calling that "Egba Owo", but she would rather call it Bangles. Many of them don't even know what these things are called in their native language again, she thought.
As the King made his way in, he adjusted his beaded Crown which was covering his head alone. Ara was expecting to see his face covered with long beads like in the movies, but it was different. She wouldn't deny the fact that, the King was looking extremely good. To her, Prince
Ire looked more like the King. He has the physique while Prince Damola has his vibrant looks. She had seen Kings and Chiefs during the time she was still ushering, but never had she seen the King of Lagos in his flesh.
"The King greets you... The King greets you. Thank you for coming my people." He returned their greetings with his Irukere, lifting it up and down to acknowledge their greetings. People bowed as he passed. On his face was a big smile that made him look younger than his age, and beside him was...
"That's the first Queen. Queen Adetutu I told you about." Grace whispered beside Ara. Immediately, Ara suddenly took interest in her. The tall woman who was as fair as Ara, but glowing extraordinary under the royal care was putting on a small smile that would suddenly disappear and reappear, obvious to Ara that she was trying to play cool. She had on her neck and wrists her beads of recognition as the Queen, walking majestically beside the King with her eyes rolling and adding a little force to her shoulder that raised higher to her neck. She took her time to walk slowly for her arrival to be noticed and for everyone to admire what she had on before taking her seat next to the King.
To Ara, she wasn't much of a beauty. She wouldn't want to say the Queen was exhibiting too much pride in her steps, but Ara couldn't help but spot the mean looks she was already giving some workers, complaining on not placing or doing something she instructed them to do. Her eyes were scolding the workers violently but she managed to restrain herself from passing that level, smiling at everyone that sought for her attention. She succeeded to scare some workers out of the hall to finish or bring whatever she talked to them about. Ara didn't like the first impression. She concluded the first Queen wouldn't be someone the workers could accommodate with.
"Kabiyesi o.... Oba Ayobami Adegoroye omo Mumusi o "
The loud voice which started praising the king made Ara jump. She was always listening to praise poetry in movies, but even in movies, the king get to be praised if it's a big gathering or special occasion. Ara was starting to feel she was staring in a movie already. It was becoming
more and more interesting to watch. While watching from distance, she felt her legs being held by tiny hands. She looked down to see a cute, dark girl smiling up at her.
She smiled sweetly, giving back her attention to the three years old girl. "Hey sweetie, are you here for Aunty Ara to carry you?"
The cute girl just flashed her uncompleted teeth at Ara in reply. Before Ara could respond back to the girl, a dark, robust lady scooped up the little girl very quickly. "Sorry about that dear." She apologized politely getting Ara to smile back at her in return for the humility she sold out. Before Ara could speak, Florence and the rest beat her to it. "Princess Toke." They seemed so happy seeing her. "You came too?" Florence added.
She smiled graciously at them. "You know your Queen. Mom monitored my journey down to this palace." She laughed slowly at her confession, getting others to laugh too.
Ara wondered, the Princess seemed nice and different from her mother. Princess Omotoke who was the first Princess and the first child to the King also attended the gathering organized by her mom. She got married about four years ago at the age of twenty six and now a mother to her three year-old girl. She was pretty in her little way and Ara immediately liked her.
Princess Toke looked up at Ara. "I guess you are part of the new workers working in the main kitchen?" She asked.
Florence jumped into the discussion again, smiling and showing too much of familiarity with the Princess. She smirked. "She works in Prince Ire quarters with us. We know she would soon run like the rest in no time." Then she laughed, mocking Ara whose self-esteem suddenly dropped in front of the Princess.
Princess Toke didn't quite like Florence response but she concealed it, smiling to encourage Ara and flowing with them all with her response. "Whao! Ire finally took in another person with you
guys. I'm guessing this time it's different." She added with a small smile. Her eyes couldn't quite hide the admiration she felt for Ara. She was pretty with the black dot sitting on her cheek.
Princess Toke took a liking to Ara as well. "I hope the Palace is treating you well on your first day?"
Ara regained back her confidence in front of the Princess who stood elegantly. Ara felt connected to the Princess immediately and opened up. "I must say I've been blessed with unexpected surprises after many months of my boring life."
Princess Toke laughed in a graceful manner with the understanding of what Ara said. "We will have to catch up and talk more. I like you actually," she confessed, then turned to her baby. "Sweetheart, let's say bye bye to Aunty so we can say hello to Grandma."
The girl waved just like her mother did and they left, greeting the first Queen who took her time to greet her daughter so everyone could see them together. After the greeting, Princess Toke and her daughter came back again. She laughed. "Sorry we are back again." She faced her daughter. "Who do you want to go with to get your Bobo? Aunty Florence right?" Florence quickly smiled trying to play the sweet and loving aunty, but the girl ran to Ara immediately.
"Aunty Aba! Aba!" She said causing Ara and Princess Toke to laugh.
"Aunty Aba or what did she just say? Is your name Aba?" The Princess couldn't help laughing again.
Florence was saddened. Anytime Princess Omotoke was around, she was the one to always get things for her. She was the one the Princess would always call on. She was familiar with her, but now, she wasn't even looking her side. Why Ara again? Why her? What's so special about
her? She thought angrily. Jealousy and envy was destroying her inside.
Princess Toke corrected her daughter. "Sweetheart, Aunty says it is Ara not Aba okay."
"Aba! Aba!" The girl shouted excitedly again causing both the Princess and Aramade to laugh at the same time. Ara scooped her up, collected the car key from Princess Toke. "Where did you park your car ma?"
"I own the black Venza parked at the left side of the hall. At the back seats, I kept some wavers there too. Please come along with it. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. She insists on going with you."
Ara smiled at the girl who displayed her scattered teeth at her. "Okay sweet girl, let's get our Bobo And Wavers. Aunty Aba is ready to get them for you."
Princess Toke laughed and walked away. Her daughter barely allowed anyone to carry her, but the fact that she allowed Ara, she was excited about it. The workers who stood on the line also watched the scene. Some liked Ara, some felt she was doing notice me, and some were just glued to the little princess shouting Aunty Aba.
After Ara left, Florence finally got the chance to spit out her hiss and murmur to herself. "First day and she's already doing familiarity. Huh!" She hissed again. "So cheap."
Ara walked out of the hall. It was getting dark outside but light was everywhere. She was about climbing down the three stairs to get down when a strong hand grab hold of her. "Bonsoir Mademoiselle. (Good evening Miss)."
She was yet to raise her head. She stared down at the hand holding her, wondering how the man knew she understood french. She looked up, and there he was in his killer smile. "On se revoit (we meet again). You stopped picking my calls?"
"Because she won't sleep with you." A different voice responded before Ara could. He bailed her out. But how come he knew all that?
Ara turned her head to the direction of the voice she was getting familiar with. There stood the second Prince, Prince Adedamola, the fifth Prince, and the second Queen who couldn't tell what was happening, but knew her son and the guy beside Ara stopped being friends a long time ago. And which her son refused to tell her.
Ara released her hand, looking in between the two men before escaping their hateful stares. She wondered why she was seeing him again. What did she expect by working in the palace? He was the son to the minister of finance like he told her, but how come? Those two?
Ara...the Bobo, and Wavers. Her mind told her to concentrate on what she was going for, but she could remember vividly. The more reason she quit her ushering job.
3months ago....