I HAVE DRUNK STRANGE WATERS - EPISODE 41

 

EPISODE 41

“How much?”

“Oga just give me 150k for the three tyres, I wan do you well because na Solo bring you,” he said with a pleasant smile.

“150 what!!! Is that what you do in the South East here?” I shouted in shock.

“Why you dey shout na? I no be thief o! Na my business I dey do. If you think say he no pay you make you dey go” he said angrily.

I took a deep breath to stabilize my emotions, I knew I would go crazy in that instance if I don’t take control of the situation.

“How much last Oga Alo? I no get up to that amount here” I said pleadingly.

“Oga I don do you well o, Oga Alo dey collect bank transfer, I fit carry you go ATM sef make you go withdraw for me but you see that 150k I no dey remove shi shi”

Heavy winds started blowing and we moved to a closed place for shelter, I know the rain will resume soon and I have to make a decision fast.

“Can you follow me to my car with the tyres? I don’t have enough cash here” I said slowly.

“Don’t worry Oga, I go carry you with my moto sef, that one na small thing”

He brought out the tyres and they look dirty, when I felt them I discovered that they are strong and will be able to withstand the journey to Calabar and back home. 

I became friends with Oga Alo and he carried me in his rickety pickup. He volunteered to lead me to where Mama and the bus are and help fix the tyres and I thanked him profusely. When we got to the filling station I was glad to discover that my vehicle has not been tampered with, I gave Oga Alo 150k in cash and he transferred the tyres to my booth. 

I called Mama and discovered that the bus was about 1hour journey from the filling station, I told Oga Alo and he said he would still follow me there. His pickup followed my car as we left the filling station, luckily for us, it didn’t rain till we got to where the bus was.

I was furious but managed to put my anger under control as the driver kept on apologizing for the accident.

“Oga I no see the ditch, I’m sorry,” he said for the hundredth time.

“Just shut your mouth! Do you realize what would have happened if the accident was more serious? You only care about the money you would make at the end of the day”

“I’m sorry Sir, I wanted to stop but Mama said I should keep on driving, I have been doing this work for over ten years…”

“Which Mama? Abi you dey craze? When did I tell you to keep driving? See me see trouble o!” Mama shouted angrily.

I quickly intervened before the matter would escalate, I told Mama to calm down and thank God that nobody got hurt. Oga Alo and the driver worked together to fix the car, it was very dark when they finished and everyone was scared of being attacked or kidnapped.

“Iya Femi see what you cause? If you didn’t ask the driver to continue driving this wouldn’t have happened. I blamed myself for following you to your yeye party, If not for longer throat I’ll be in my house sleeping by now” Iya Tawa shouted.

“Iya Tawa! You have mouth to talk? You that I gave money to buy clothes and shoes so that you can follow us, I even paid your child’s school fees! Some people can be such an ingrate sha! Oya come down and start going back to your house” Mama replied angrily and was trying to drag Iya Tawa down from the bus.

“Don’t worry everyone, as far as Oga Alo dey here nobody fit attack you. I know all the armed robbers and kidnappers in this area, dem be my friend” Oga Alo said with a smile. 

His statement was supposed to reassure us but it got us more scared. Mama got back into the car hurriedly; I could see the fear in her eyes.

“Oga driver oya move this vehicle before I curse you!” Mama screamed.

The driver started the vehicle and luckily for us the bus was OK, I thanked Oga Alo and got into my car.

“This na my business card, call me anytime you enter my domain or you wan make I help you”

I collected his card and thanked him again, I was relieved to drive away from their community as we headed to Calabar. We still had about 3 hours to go and I was hungry but that was the least of my problems; I had just 20k in cash left in my pocket and I wondered how I was going to survive in Calabar with my relatives, the thought of impressing Cynthia’s family was far from my mind at this stage.

We got to the hotel around 11:00 PM in the night and I was very tired, It was the best hotel in that area and we booked for 3 nights. We got to the reception and I collected the keys from the receptionist.

“Mama take these 5 keys, let four of your relatives stay in one room and you can have one room to yourself for privacy 

sake”

“OK, but Iya Tawa is not staying with us or I will make life uncomfortable for her. With all I did for that ungrateful woman she still has mouth to abuse me, has any of her generation slept in a fine hotel like this before? See as they covered everywhere with gold and glass…”

“Mama it is OK, just forgive Iya Tawa and let it go. I am very tired and I have to rest because of tomorrow” 

We arranged for the people that came with us to locate their rooms, I ensured they were all well settled before I moved my belonging to the suite I reserved for myself and Cynthia.

 I arranged the attire I’ll be putting on the next day and hit the shower immediately.

I called and ordered food immediately, I was told the money we paid covered feeding for 3 days and I was glad. I decided to try Cynthia’s number again and it rang.

“Hello Cynthia”

“Hello Femi, thank God you called!!! I have been trying your line since”

“Where are you? I have been trying to reach you since morning” I said angrily.

“I am in another room in the same hotel; I didn’t want to move into our suite before you get here. I’ll bring my things over now, something came up” She said and dropped the call.

I didn’t see her until about 30 minutes later, I heard a knock on the door and stood up to admit an anxious Cynthia.

“Femi! What happened” she exclaimed again.

“We had a little delay on the way, what happened to your phone?”

“I had to switch it off, something happened this morning,” she said and sat on the bed. She was trying to avoid my eyes and I knew whatever happened must be serious.

I thought about a thousand things that could go wrong and none of them was pleasant. I thought about the wedding being canceled, but I quickly dismiss the thought, “I would tear down the whole of their village if they try that rubbish with me” I thought in anger.

“I really wanted to inform you but your number was not going through, there was nothing I could do,” she said looking perplexed.

“Can you just tell me what happened and stop beating around the bush!” I shouted in anger.

“It's o..ur vill..age elders” she stammered.

“What happened to your village elders? You are not making sense” I shouted again. I have suddenly become impatient as I find the way she is stammering irritating.

“They we..nt away with the Enga..gement It….ems” 

Before I could control myself I landed a hot slap on her cheek. 

To be continued…

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