‎Every Lagosian knows this rule. I didn't... and I almost paid for my ignorance. ‎

‎Like every other youth in Ogbo community,I ventured on a journey to Lagos to seek greener pastures.‎‎I compressed my "Ghana must go" by my side, my head held up and my gaze was straightened.‎‎My eyes were glistening beneath my brows and my foot struck the ground like a soldier on the parade as I headed to the main road.‎People were moving into the busy-ness of the day. Two women were returning from the river with the jars of water well and carefully balanced on their heads. They were chit-chatting with smile flickering their jaws.‎‎"Good morning, mama sidi," I greeted one of the women.‎‎"Morning," she replied. " this one that you carry bag, you dey travel?"‎‎I smiled,‎"yes." ‎‎"Safe trip," she replied.‎‎I moved past them and soon arrived at the narrow path. Grasses lined both sides of the path, dampened by the morning dew.‎As I walked through the path carefully, the grasses caressed against my legs, soaking the edge of my trousers.‎‎I bent and rolled my trousers up slightly.‎At the main road, I met three passengers standing‎‎Their gaze swept the sides of the road, scouting for a vehicle. I dropped my bag, which was now on my shoulder and joined the wagon.‎Moment later, an 18-passenger bus showed up.‎‎"Lagos abi?" the conductor asked ‎"No," The passenger responded. "I am going to Ikire" ‎‎"Oya enter."‎‎The bus moved slowly and came to a halt before me.‎"Lagos abi?' the conductor asked me, as he alighted the bus.‎I did not say anything but nodded my head in affirmation.‎‎"Enter, enter."‎‎I climbed into the bus. My seat was the last remaining.‎In the bus, silence reigned except the hum of the engine and the voice of the man making calls at the last roll.‎‎The call soon ended.‎Silence...‎‎Then the driver struck conversations.‎"This country only God can help us," The driver said. His eyes were pinned on the road and his hand held firmly the steering wheel.‎"Yes o, " the passenger responded " the inflation no be here."‎My ears shut into their conversations as I was engrossed with the outside view. The trees rally past as the bus sped along the road, appearing as if they were following us.‎Gradually, darkness covered my eyes..‎Then, a sudden jolt stirred me from sleep.‎I yawned and blinked repeatedly as the bus moved slowly through a crowded road packed with vehicles.‎Horns hooted loudly from every corner.‎Traders moved from one vehicle to another, balancing baskets of gala, sachet water, plantain chips and soft drinks on their heads stretching it into the vehicle, while calling out to passengers.‎‎Towering buildings lined, looking like giants under the sky, unlike the mud houses and quiet surroundings of Ogbo community.‎The atmosphere was noisy, heavy, dusty and restless.‎‎“This na Lagos,” the conductor announced loudly, slapping the body of the bus.‎‎I slid the glass and My eyes furrowed as I stared through the window.‎The city was something I had never witnessed before.‎‎Buses raced past recklessly, motorcycle riders squeezed through impossible spaces and people hurried along the roadside as though time was being paid for.‎At that moment, reality settled in my chest.‎I had finally arrived in Lagos.‎Like every other passenger in the bus, I alighted the bus. ‎The scarp of my bag hanging on my shoulder, as I slid my hand into my pocket. I pulled out a paper which contained the address of my destination.‎‎"Pls bros," I called a guy that moved past me.‎He looked back and our eyes met. He then waited.‎I hurried my strides toward him.‎‎"I dey go Iyanapaja estate"‎‎"Okay, cross that road, you go see motor to Iyanapaja there" He described.‎‎"Thank you"‎‎I suddenly dashed across the busy road instead of using the pedestrian bridge overhead. ‎Almost immediately, but unknowingly to me that officials of the road safety task force began chasing after meThen a middle-aged woman beside me leaned closer and whispered hurriedly into my ear.‎“ move fast before dem arrest you," she continued. "yuno suppose cross road like that."‎My heart froze.‎I tightened my hold on my “Ghana Must Go” bag I wanted to run but my instinct echoed that they might take me as a thief‎Instead, I quickened my pace through the restless crowd.‎My breath burned out of my nose.‎‎“Hey! You there!” he shouted.‎My legs are weakened.‎‎Within moments, the officer caught up with me and grabbed my shoulder.I turned slowly, gesturing and waving my hands.‎"Ble Ble be be be be be"‎The officer spoke again, but I merely stared blankly at his face.‎"be be be belle ble Ble"‎Then I pointed to my ears and shook my head gently, disguising myself as a deaf person.‎The officer narrowed his eyes at me.‎For a few seconds, his eyes moved from my head to toes, while I continued waving my hands helplessly.‎“Abi this one truly deaf?” he muttered.‎I kept staring blankly at him‎A sound escaped his lips as he twitched them, then he dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a small notepad with a pen tucked inside it.‎He placed it on his palm, he wrote something quickly and stretched it toward me.‎I collected it with trembling fingers.‎“Use the pedestrian bridge next time. Lagos no be village.”‎Beneath it, he drew a line and pointed toward the overhead bridge.‎I lowered my gaze and nodded like a child.‎The officer waved his hand dismissively.‎“Comot for here,” he said.‎Relief washed through my body instantly.‎I clutched my “Ghana Must Go” bag tightly and hurried away before he could change his mind.‎As I walked deeper into the noisy streets of Lagos, surrounded by blaring horns, rushing crowds and towering buildings, I understood that Lagos was not just a city but a different world entirely.‎A world where one had to learn fast, think fast and survive fast.‎ And standing in the middle of its chaos, with sweat baptizing my skin and fear slowly leaving my chest, I realized that this is just the beginning.‎@Olarewaju Kindly hit the follow button for more fascinating stories

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