TARASHA: CHAPTER SEVEN- PART TWO

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**11.11.2030**

John Obiano sat alone, busy with his Ipad as he waited for the Desert Reporters’ journalist. The cafeteria where he sat was the biggest one in school; it was mostly patronized by the rich students and sometimes patronized by the not-too-rich after saving money to spend on a special day.

His yellow designers shirt drew so much attention to him, coupled with the fact that he was fast becoming a celebrity as the first student of the school and the second in the country to manufacture an airplane. He was proud of himself, seeing people glance at him from their table several times, he knew they were referring to him and probably discussing about his exploits with their partners

He took a sip of the fruit juice occasionally and glanced at his wristwatch from time to time, looking up to see if the journalists are forthcoming. In a little while, he saw two people approaching him at exactly two minutes before the interview time.

‘Good afternoon Mr. Obiano’ the chocolate skinned lady greeted, offering him a handshake

‘Good afternoon, Miss…’

‘Samantha’ she completed it for him as he took her hands in his.

‘I’m James’ the guy who accompanied her also introduced himself.

‘Welcome’ He replied with a smile. ‘It’s nice to have you here’

‘Thank you’ Samantha said as they took the seats facing him.

‘Would you like to take something?’ he offered.

‘No, thanks. We’ll just go straight to business’ she rejected politely.

‘Okay, I’m all ears’ he said, sitting up right.

‘We’ll like you to tell us a little about yourself first, your personality and views about life’ she began the long series of questions.

John Obiano replied intelligently to the interview questions, giving answers that’ll convince the listeners that he was truly a guru.

‘So how do you feel? Having the Governor of the state and the Minister of Aviation coming to have a flight in your own produced airplane?’

‘I feel awesome’ he smiled cheerfully, ‘it’s a great honour to have a flight with great personalities like them’

You’re gonna be flying with them?’ She asked

‘Yes, I will be seated with both of them in the plane’

‘Wow! But I thought you’ll be flying the plane while they enjoy’

‘No, I’ll be seated with them, we already have two pilots who are going to fly with us’

‘How many of you are going on board?’

‘Seven; His Excellency, Honorable, myself, the two pilots and two flight attendants’

‘Oh! I see. So where are you flying to?’

‘Just around Port Harcourt, we’ll be flying around for just thirty minutes before we return to the airdrome’

‘I know several media houses have been denied the opportunity to have look and take a picture of the inner view of the plane, when would we be allowed to do that?’

‘Who told you that?’ he frowned, ‘several pictures of the inner view are online already’

‘But there seems to be a notion that the pictures online are not real’ she countered. ‘People say they are pictures of a foreign built plane’

‘They are real, I posted some by myself’ he replied confidently. His interviewer paused for a while and then continued with the concluding series of questions.

++++++

**14.11.2030**

** Port Harcourt School of Aviation**

A CRV jeep sped past, splashing the stagnant rain water on Gloria’s body as she carried out the early hours jogging with several other students. Only few girls could be seen amongst the joggers, and the few girls were with their male partners.

She jogged to the area of the road shoulder close to the drainage, smiling broadly to guy who was also jogging beside her.

‘Hi’ he greeted, panting heavily

‘Hi’ she replied, flashing her teeth

‘I’ve not seen you with us before, it’s like you just made a decision to start exercising your body’ he continued in a cheerful manner.

‘No, I’ve been exercising my body. I just decided to join you guys today’ she said.

‘Well, today must be a very special day then!’ He exclaimed

‘Why did you say that?’ she gave an inquisitive look.

‘It’s not every day I wake up to see such a pretty lady very early in the morning’ he commented, admiring the beautiful eyes on the chocolate skinned face.

‘Oh!’ She blushed. ‘Come on, stop flattering me’

‘I’m not flattering you’ he replied, gradually reducing his jogging speed. ‘I’m only saying the truth’

She chuckled, ‘Thanks anyway’

‘You’re welcome’ he smiled back

‘Why?’ she asked in respect of his reducing speed, he increased it back to level up with her. ‘Are you tired already?’

‘No, I just jogged past my hostel’ he answered

‘Your hostel?’ Gloria looked back at the hostel building and they gradually came to a halt. ‘Your hostel is Block C?’

‘Yes’ he cleaned his face with the hand towel placed round his neck. ‘But never mind, I’ll see you off to yours’

He motioned to keep jogging but she refused. ‘No, I don’t stay on campus’

‘You stay off campus?’

‘Yeah’

‘Does that explains why I’ve not ben seeing you jog with us?’ he questioned

‘Yes’ she replied with another smile.

‘Would I see you again?’ he requested.

‘If you want to’ she gave a sharp reply.

‘Hope you don’t stay too far from school?’ he asked and without waiting for a response continued, ‘may we meet this evening?’

‘This evening? Let’s make it afternoon, my lectures for the day will end by noon and I might be going home immediately’

‘Come on Gloria! Let’s go’ someone shouted from afar. ‘We’ve got a practical course today’

‘Gloria is the name?’ Is she your friend?’ he asked double questions

‘Yes, I’ve got to go now’ she turned to leave in a hurry. ‘We’ll see later’

‘How do I reach you?’ he shouted without getting any reply, Gloria already jogged off with her friend

**

‘We’ll return to the hotel now and return as students’ Tarasha spoke to Aisha as she started the car engine. ‘Remember to always put on your ID card when you are in the school premises’

‘Okay’ Aisha replied calmly and remained quiet, secretly staring at Tarasha often times as they journeyed.

‘Do you have any question?’ Tarasha startled her. ‘Ask your question and stop looking at me like that’

‘No question really, I was just wondering how you were sure that he was going to start a conversation with you’

‘I wasn’t sure he was going to start a conversation with me’ Tarasha replied. ‘I was going to start something with him if he didn’t’

Aisha gazed at her, the look in her eyes showed that she still had unanswered questions.

‘I would have fainted and fall on his body if he didn’t notice me’ Tarasha added. ‘He only made things easy for both of us by not ignoring me’

‘Hmm, I see’

‘Yeah’

…to be continued

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