Sushi at Izanagi

“I would go through all this pain. Take a bullet straight through my brain. Yes, I would die for you baby…,” E.J. bopped her head along to the beat of the song Grenade by Bruno Mars. She rummaged through her sunflower yellow Mak Nisy bag for her mirror to check the finishing touches on her makeup. Her boyfriend, Tunde was on his way to her place so she needed to be ready. They had been dating for 15 months and were heading to E.J’s favourite restaurant, Izanagi for Valentine’s Day. She brushed some lint from her native maxi dress and nodded, satisfied with her look.

Ring. Ring. E.J. picked up her phone. “Hey babe, I am here.” She looked in the mirror one last time and called her carer, Feranmi to open the door for Tunde. A few minutes later, there was a knock on her bedroom door. “Come in!” Tunde smiled and said, “Babe, you look beautiful. Where’s the backless, frontless dress you mentioned last week.” E.J. grinned, giggled and replied, “I changed my mind. Don’t you like this dress?” Tunde paused and said, “You look good in everything.”

“Good answer. You are so sweet.”

“Are you ready?”

“Leggo!”

Feranmi strolled quickly towards the gate to get the security guard who would piggyback E.J. downstairs. Her bedroom and bathroom were on the first floor. Mr. Matthew knocked on the door sheepishly and said, “Ah” Madam! You look takeaway!”

“Thank you, Mr Matthew.”

He smiled and knelt down. E.J shuffled forward to the edge of the bed and put her arms around his neck. He stood up and adjusted E.J so she was in a comfy position on his back. They all went downstairs and climbed into E.J’s wheelchair accessible van. Mr Obed, the driver put the radio on to Rhythm 93.7fm. P-Square’s “Personally,” came on. “You look incredible, babe,” Tunde said.

Ten minutes later, they were at Izanagi. The ramp landed on the gravel and E.J glided out of the van. The thing about the restaurant is that there are two flights of stairs leading to the entrance and there is no elevator. Mr Matthew crouched down and carried E.J on his back. Mr Obed and the security guard at Izanagi lifted the Whill C2 off the ground and carried it up the stairs. E.J drove the Whill chair into the restaurant.

She and Tunde chose a table in the back corner so they were able to make out discretely. She transferred to the booth and smiled. “So, what do you think, babe?” Tunde asked E.J, whilst stroking her hand. “Well, I give this place zero stars out of five. It is completely inaccessible. No elevator. No access. It sucks because their food is really good. Such a pity. Ah well. Should we order?”

The rest of the evening was magical.