I HAVE DRUNK STRANGE WATERS - Episode 9

 

EPISODE 9

Kike came out of the room and saw me standing with the phone glued to my ear.

“Who is that dear?” She said yawning.

I became dumbfounded, I was panicking and I was afraid she would see how badly I was shaking.

“Nobody,” I said and held the phone away from my ear.

“Nobody? Then why are you looking like that?”

I swung into action quickly; I disconnected the call and tried to regain my composure. The phone rang again and I switched it off.

“Why are you switching off the phone?” Kike asked now getting suspicious.

“It’s the supervisor. He said there is an emergency at the filling station and I am required to come quickly” I hated lying to Kike but something told me I was doing it for her own good.

“Will you be going?” she said looking disappointed.

“No, I just want to shower and cuddle up to my wife. It is late already” I said and watched her broke into a smile. I quickly gave myself a pat on the back for the wonderful lies and I swore to warn Cynthia never to call me in her life again.

I quickly forgot the incident, I was to collect the salary that week and Kike already made a list of what she was going to do with the money. We have a debt of over a hundred thousand already and we have to stock up the new apartment since I would be moving in that week to avoid burning fuel every day.

I had a meeting with management and agreed that our salary should be paid in cash the following day. I was so overjoyed that I hummed as I worked in the office that day. I went round to ensure everything was in place that Thursday, I entered my office around noon and I heard a knock a few minutes later.

Come in, I said and Cynthia walked in looking stunning as usual.

“Good afternoon Mr. Femi”

“Afternoon Cynthia,” I said trying to look stern.

“I just want to inform you that tomorrow is my birthday Sir,” She said smiling alluringly.

“Happy Birthday in advance,” I said and went back to work but she did not leave.

“I was hoping the company will pay our salary this week so that I can have a little something to celebrate,” she said smiling.

I debated how much to tell her and later decided that giving her full information isn’t a bad idea.

“Tomorrow is Salary day, don’t worry, you will have enough to celebrate,” I told her smiling.

“Awn! Thanks so much, Sir, I am so happy” she said and she was out of the office in the twinkle of an eye. I shook my head in wonder and went back to work.

When I got home that night Kike had prepared efo riro and semo, the soup had orisirisi in it and I ate it with so much gusto.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow to come dear” she said beaming.

“Is that the reason why I am eating this kind of delicious soup” I said laughing.

“Before nko? I borrowed five thousand naira from my colleague in school today when she collected her own salary. I would have collected mine too but I had borrowed it last week when you said you needed money to sort out some things”

“Don’t worry Kike, you will money to buy whatever you want to buy tomorrow: you can spend the money the way you want” I said and watched the look of pure joy on her face.

“Thank you my husband” she said kneeling down.

Kike could not wait for day to break as she kept turning around on the bed; she even stood up to take a shower in the middle of the night when she could not sleep. I imagined her calculating what she wanted to use the money for.

Two men drove into the filling station with a van loaded with money the following evening. My salary was in a briefcase and others received theirs in a brown envelope. I planned to go home early but something came up and I was delayed, I walked to my car around few minutes past 11:00PM in the evening carrying my briefcase.

I noticed someone was learning on the car from behind, she lifted up her face and it turned out to be Cynthia.

“Good evening Miss Cynthia, why have you not gone home?” I said looking alarmed. She moved into the full glare of the light and I noticed that are face was stained with tears.

“What is wrong Cynthia?” I asked again and to my surprise she fell into my arms and was sobbing like a child.

“Mr Femi, I… need your help” she managed to say in-between sobs.

To be continued…

Don't forget to subscribe to our blog, click the Follow button, comment & share