“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his/her choices.” – Alfred A. Montapert.
•••
“So a Passivhaus building, huh?”
Ose enquired with a skeptical, concerned expression as he studied the laborers from the elevated height they stood on. A day had passed since the meeting with all departmental heads and executives at Sky and work had flown into full swing ever since then. The engineers had set up their machinery and had started their statistical projections and calculations and the will of the labor force had undergone a big upheaval due to the fact that one half of their wages had been paid.
Sick country.
“Why does everyone keep on asking me that as if I announced that we would be building the house with glass and sand?” He found the constant questioning and shock, quite tiring. “Passivhaus isn’t so different from what we usually do. Just some tweaks and little innovations, that’s all.”
“Yeah of course. An architect of your caliber could say that. Go ahead and make everything sound as simple as building a mini sand castle.” Ose snorted, his arms folded. “Once again, you’re doing that your thing when you assume that everyone is as diligent or talented as you are. For some architects―the average Nigerian one―Passivhaus is a word that shouldn’t even be mentioned out loud. You know, like the name Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. Everyone knows it, but no one is crazy enough to actually declare work on it.”
“So…you’re indirectly saying I’m crazy then?” Tari questioned his friend.
“To a normal person, yes. But in your own head, you’re just breaking new ground, and doing what’s needed to be down.” Ose replied, as his hand came down on Tari’s right shoulder in an ironclad grip. “And that’s why I’m sure that it wouldn’t go sideways and become a disaster. Because only crazy people can pull off crazy ideas, and you my friend, are quite the crazy fit. Plus, you’re a perfectionist. You’d definitely scrutinize every single detail to ensure nothing is amiss. There is no way in hell a mistake could slip in under your watch.”
“Quit the flattery,” Tari said dryly. Throughout the sojourn of his quite successful career, that had been subjected to high praise and acclaim from his peers and other well wishers, Ose hadn’t for once partook in such exalting exercise. It wasn’t his style. His friend’s way of commending him on a great job done was simply muttering a stream of words that fell below the glorifying power of his intention. He thought simple statements as ‘Cool’ or ‘That’s tight’ sufficed and Tari never clamored for more. That was why a huge queer feeling hugged him tight, when flattery of such high class came from his friend.
“Trust me, in my head it isn’t all that normal for me.” Tari continued, his studious gaze watching the laborers and engineers at work. “I’m still slowly coming to grips with the fact that yeah, I’m going to a place no one has gone to. So there is simply no map or compass, I’m just making my own path to get there. This scares me a lot also, but just like they say―nothing good comes easy. Plus, if I don’t go there, who will? Not trying to be arrogant but is it Fola or Tej?”
“That is true but still, you could simply forgo this concept and build normally?” Ose offered. “While that might increase the money required to run and maintain the house, it isn’t exactly your problem as the architect. You’re not the one who sent them to build a big house like the one they have in mind. And your conscience gets cleared because they’re billionaires and paying the energy bills is almost like taking out the trash.”
“Taking out the trash?” He faced his friend. “They’re losing money. You know that, right? It’s still a lot of money all in all.”
“Taking out the trash of excess money they have,” Ose beamed with a sly smile. “C’mon, imagine yourself with almost fifty billion naira in your account. How does that make you feel? Doesn’t it make you feel nervous? And terrified? I mean how can one person have such money stored up in one place―”
“They’re usually in different accounts―”
“Different accounts, whatever.” Ose spat. “It’s still very unsettling in some way. I know if I have that kind of money, my mind wouldn’t be at rest due to its large nature. I’m sure it’s a relief finding expensive things to dispense things on for people like them so that their cash could reduce to a more reasonable, less terrifying level and when it’s constant again like bills they pay annually? I’m sure they’d be elated at that prospect. So can’t you see what you’re doing? You’re finding them good ventures that would suck their money and give them peace of mind. That’s until they have kids of course, and the peace of mind disappears and they take up the sucking role.”
Venom had seeped into his friend’s voice at the latter stage of his statement which touched on children. If Tari didn’t know better, he’d have called his friend bitter and assumed he belonged to the category of men who detested children. Ose had two kids of his own who were the main suppliers in his chain of headache and stress. They were a pair of fraternal twins, one male the other, female―both being very vibrant and attractive toddlers, who zapped his energy on a regular basis. Ose was a very open, jovial person but he guarded his private life with secrecy. There was only a select few people in the firm who knew he was even married.
Tari did his best to empathize with his friend, as there wasn’t much he could say in form of consolation since he wasn’t a father yet. “Did the school fees increase again?”
“No, it didn’t.” He shook his head as a smile grazed his face. Tari knew it was the smile of a father who loved his children, no matter how fazing he found the task of being a father. ”But is there any difference, really? Even if their schools are kind enough not to jack up their fees, the kids themselves jack up their own personal fees. At first, it’s mostly snack and junk, but just yesterday―Ebose was telling me that the kids came to meet her that they want a treehouse. And I’m like…a tree house?
“And then I needn’t wonder too much on how they came about such idea in the first place. All those silly cartoons and animation movies they watch is just too much. I just wished Nigeria had their own actual good cartoons and they didn’t have to watch American ones, you know. How am I going to get a tree house now? I don’t even have a tree not to talk of growing a strong one that a house could be built on? And let’s even assume all that is possible and I actually construct a good tree house, am I crazy enough to let them go all the way up to the top of a tree? Are they adults that would be composed and take caution so as not to fall down or will I have to climb up to ensure everything is alright? See the thing is just confusing me like that.”
It was the very first time that Ose would lay out his emotions and depict himself as a person who needed counsel or guidance or any form of support at all. The guy was the embodiment of independent as he scarcely asked for favors and simply dished out orders by exercising his administrative duties. So, that was why Tari felt frantic and burdened in choosing his next string of words so as not to disappoint Ose and cancel out future interactions of such nature.
“I guess that’s just the joy of fatherhood,” He started, unsure of his destination. “It feels unnerving and hammering now, but in the next couple of years when you look back―you’d be able to laugh and commend yourself on a job well done. The dark days would be long gone. It’s just the drama of the budding years…”
“Oh, please!” Ose rolled his eyes, a mild grunt escaping his lips. “In the next couple of years they’d be teenagers and I’d have more things to worry about like keeping the guy sane and off drugs and other bullshit and ensuring the girl hasn’t started to mess up her body and all.” He groaned. “So that looking back thing to smile isn’t happening until the next couple of decades when I’m all old and elderly. Even then, I’d be counting the number of visits they pay me every week and be comparing it with previous weeks and previous months to ensure it’s not dropping because, fine the kids might love you and all that, but they don’t necessarily send you.”
Absolutely right. Tari couldn’t remember the last time he visited his mother for a purpose that didn’t crop up as a result of an emergency. It wasn’t exactly his intention to be ruthless and unruly, but the reins regulating his day to day activities and the time therein wasn’t exactly in his own hands. It was tightly glued to work, and it wasn’t something he could compromise as much as he wished to.
He phoned in several times a week though, to ensure she was doing okay and was still breathing. His dad has passed away a couple of years back and the pain that stemmed from the death had been so excruciating and debilitating because it was the moment that he had finally broken free of the financial turmoil that had haunted him for years. It was the time where he was supposed to spoil his parents and
lavish them with love and care as a result of his newly found, profound wealth but his dad hadn’t been so patient.
He had left early and had left his mom behind.
His mom of course lived in great comfort and was surrounded with family relatives and maids who doted on her and showered her with care. That was the reason why he could go several months without visiting her and not worry too much about her wellbeing. But he still did his utmost best to keep tabs on her even when they weren’t in contact.
“Well, that’s true but I still think you’d be able to look back and smile anyway.” He replied finally as his thoughts came to a pit stop. “Using myself as an example, I think I’d still be very much happy as long as I have my wife by my side. If the kids like they shouldn’t call me for several weeks. Sure, I’d miss them and feel hurt but I still have the one true love of my life with me right? With that sort of strength I can definitely brace anything.”
“Hmm, Tari talking in love parables.” Ose mocked him, nudging him gently on the side. “This is a new side to you that I definitely haven’t seen before. You don’t have a social life not to talk of a love life. To be honest, I assumed you were a gay guy who is of course attracted to men and because of that can’t do anything about it because we’re in the part of the world where you can literally be slaughtered for that.”
Tari gave him an incredulous look. “I’m not gay.”
“That’s what they all say,” He shrugged. “Don’t worry, I won’t freak out on you and cry out loud, as long as you’re not attracted to me and you don’t make an advance on me. It’s all cool.”
“You’re crazy,” Tari was going to issue a stronger comeback but his vehicle of thoughts were flagged down by the approaching of a familiar figure. It was John in his gruff, abundant body physique―emasculated by his work outfit of a black utility jumpsuit that was marred with a vast range of stains. He looked very much alive and pleased with his current state. Tari always envied Engineers for that.
He realized his colleague was humming an odd, unappealing tone when he finally arrived. He gave Ose a curt nod to acknowledge his presence before facing Tari.
“Hey kid, what’s up?” He cracked his knuckles—the veins on his body protruding out to their fullest obvious state.
“Something tells me you didn’t walk all the way down here to ask me what’s up?” Tari examined his face. “If we had that sort of relationship, logic would dictate that you sent me a text message and not wear yourself out so much. So, definitely you came down here for business because you definitely want an instant reply, so if I were you I’d cut to the chase.”
John’s brows furrowed. “Someone peed in your coffee this morning or what? Are you high on bullshit?”
Tari couldn’t help but laugh. He and John weren’t exactly the closest of friends but they enjoyed tearing each other apart with expensive, offensive remarks. Tari wasn’t one for such barbaric sport, but he couldn’t help but indulge in it since the onset where John began to refer to him as a ‘kid’ due to some unknown reason. He might not be as brawny as the mechanical engineer, but he was slightly taller. Surely that should at least demand some respect.
“What’s your problem? Do you need a knife or a sword to cut to the damn chase?” Tari messed with him further. “That’s definitely the reason. Now, as a considerate friend I’d keep a blade on me so I could lend you for usage but I’d be too tempted to use to chop your head off, anyway. So, no. I’m not taking any chances. I can’t go to jail on top your matter.”
“You’re a serial killer of joy, not a killjoy.” John waved his hand in a disapproving manner. “Anyhoo, for your information―since we began work in the morning, I couldn’t help but come to a realization that I thought you might find very interesting, especially since your ass is so lodged up on your high horse and moral compass that you may fall to your death if the horse comes to an abrupt halt.”
His curiosity was ignited instantly. “What’s it?”
“While I set up the machine earlier and stood at the station, watching the men carry concrete to and fro―I counted them.”
“I’m sorry, did you say you counted them?” It was Ose’s time to butt in. “Aren’t there like a hundred men on site, currently?”
“Yeah, but I counted them anyway and that’s what funny because that’s not the figure I counted. And I know that’s the figure that’s supposed to be in place.” John said.
“What are you pushing at, exactly?” Tari asked.
“I’m telling you that the total number of men here stands at eighty-two and not at hundred like it’s supposed to be.” John declared in a very confident voice.
“Eighty two?!” That didn’t make a fragment of sense. “And you’re sure you counted well? I mean these men are many, even a mathematician is bound to make a mistake if he does a head count all by himself when they’re all mobile. It’s not like you told them to assemble in one place. They’re moving about.”
“Doubt me all you want, but I don’t count wrong.” John spat. “And what do you mean by mathematician? You of all people should know the kind of complex calculations and statistics we engineers do―so your point is totally out of line. As regards the counting, I’ve always been good at that. It’s a natural gift I discovered even before I got into college. And I never make a mistake. I’m willing to bet a hundred thousand that these men aren’t up to hundred. They’re only eighty two.”
A frown took up residence on Tari’s face as he reflected on the words of his engineer colleague. The services of the task force sought for was supposed to attain the number hundred. It was what he had asked for and what he had also paid for. So it simply didn’t make sense if what he got in return fell short of that number. Did the construction manager forget the figure or what? What was so volatile about the number hundred that could make it forgettable anyway?
To his surprise, neither John nor Ose found this bit of information unsettling or mind ravaging.
“Why are you smirking?” He faced Ose. “I don’t see what’s funny.”
Ose cleared his throat. “What’s funny, my friend is that after three years of being an architect you don’t know that things like this go on.”
“Things like what?” He asked.
“Like this. You hire the services of hundred men and the manager collects the money for hundred men but hires only eighty-two for the job anyway because no one is that jobless enough to do a headcount really, except special people like you―John,” He paused, motioning to his addressee. “All because the manager wants to cut the expenditures spent and have extra money to put in his pocket.”
“What?” He blustered, as the rage switch in him flickered. “So you mean this is no error and is actually intentional? You’re indirectly saying, that this is actually the doing of Mr. Leke? He did this on purpose? I don’t believe it. This is not the first time we’re working together and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t pulled off such stunt before in the past.”
“How would you know?” John drawled. “It is going on, right here, right now under your nose and you didn’t know. And then again, they don’t usually do it until they’re sure the client in question trusts them. So for the first series of contracts they get with a new clientele, they do what they’re actually supposed to do and when they’re sure they have the trust of the architect and engineers? They go on ahead to do whatever they like anyway. Don’t take it too personal, it’s quite rampant like Ose said. And don’t be too hard on Mr. Leke too, it’s kind of protocol for construction companies.”
“To be cunning and scheming?” The words sounded bitter on his tongue and he felt infuriated further by John and Ose’s carefree reaction. They had gotten accustomed to it and had already started to view it as a norm, in fact. “To cheat and to throw away honesty? Integrity? Transparency and other things that should be their symbolism.”
“Okay, once again you’re taking this thing too serious.” Ose emphasized in a calmer tone. “You don’t have to talk as if you feel like ordering a nuclear attack on the homes of all construction managers in the entire country. All you have to do is simply walk down to Mr. Leke―who is of course responsible for it all―query him and ask him to reinstate the number that’s supposed to be in place and also warn him that you won’t tolerate such nonsense in the future. Simple, and all is solved. And as from now on, you’d be wiser in these dealings to ensure that you’re not played.”
“Oh, I’m going to walk up to him and query him all right.” Tari replied, before striding forward and setting about his scrutinizing mission. Ose was wrong, gravely wrong. He should query the man for not abiding by the terms and conditions stated in the contract? A simple query? Nope, that was like letting a serial killer go scot free without sentencing him to adequate punishment. He was going to right this situation in his own way.
“Mr. Leke!” He bellowed as he approached the hoard of men, hunched over the foundation―working on it. Mr. Leke who stood from a distance, in a black leather jacket, black khakis and workmen boots, craned his neck around at the sound of his name. He also donned his uniform headgear so it was a bit difficult to read his profile from afar and as he approached further to where he stood, the urge to drive his fist hard into the man’s ribs waxed stronger in Tari.
“How many men are here?!” He asked, motioning to the area of reference with his right arm. “Don’t play games with me and tell me the exact figure of the number of men currently at work.”
“How come you’re asking me that question?” He looked mildly amused, and Tari had to draw in another deep breath to overcome the urge to make prints of his fists all over his face. “It’s hundred of course, like you request―”
“I said stop bullshitting me, how many laborers are on that ground, tell me right now!” His loud volume had brought an eerie panic on the collective atmosphere. The attention of the laborers had drifted from their work to the gradually escalating scene as they of course seemed intrigued by this drama. Tari also sensed the presence of John and Ose coming up behind him. “Are they below hundred?”
“C’mon, Mr. Ibiyemi. Let’s talk like civilized men―”
“Are they below hundred!” He persisted. “They are, aren’t they? Are you going to tell me, or do you want me to count myself? I have all day and I wouldn’t mind putting a pause on the ongoing work. But then if I have to go through all that stress to come to the conclusion that I’m right, then I wouldn’t be so happy now would I? Cos the energy used is something that I could have put in into other productive areas of my life.”
Mr. Leke bit his lower lip and nodded gently. “The figure is short of ten men. They’re about ninety.”
“You’re still going to lie to my face?” He closed the gap between them in one stride and almost stabbed the man’s right eye with his left finger. “You’re still going to stand there and tell me that the number of men here are more than eighty-two? Are you seriously going to do that to me?”
“Like I said, it’s ninety or so I’m not sure—”
“Oh, you were not so sure of the number of men you are supposed to hire but when it comes to knowing the exact amount of salary that I’m supposed to pay, you know that quite well, now don’t you―”
A hand latched on to his right elbow, and a voice followed. “Calm down, Tari.” It was Ose. “There is really no need to make a scene.”
“Oh, there are all sorts of reason in the world to make a scene!” He shouted over his shoulder, before turning on his subject. “Do you know what you are? You’re a fraud, a cheat and a scammer. You’re no different from all those yahoo yahoo buys committing crimes over the internet. Nope, you’re only here as a result of different circumstances―”
“Mr. Ibiyemi, please calm down.” He extended a hand to placate his anger, but Tari smacked it away from his on impulse.
“Don’t touch me,” He warned in a deadly voice. “If you touch me then I’d be tempted to touch you, and trust me when I touch you―you won’t like it one bit. You’d end up with bruises and a lot of injuries, so yeah make sure you keep your filthy hands off me. Now do you know what? You’re off this project. You’re out, so please leave this instant. Now!”
“You can’t be serious.” He dared grin. “You can’t just sack me like that.”
“Oh, yes I can. I hired you and I very much have the power to throw you off for a reason if I deem fit and this is me throwing you off.” He shot back. “Now get off this ground now. In the evening, when I leave this place―I’m going to go straight to your firm and inform them of your scheme. If they refuse to refund the fees I had paid to you for these men, then I’d automatically assume that they’re in cohorts with you and Sky would be suing you.”
“Tari—” Ose’s hand came down on his shoulder once again, but he shrugged it off.
“What! You’re taking this too far!” Mr. Leke exclaimed with a parted mouth and horrified expression. “Look, I admit that I did that. And I’m very sorry for doing so. It’s nothing personal, it’s just business. Next time I’d keep in mind that you don’t like such and―”
“There would be no fucking next time, do you hear me?” Tari cut him off. “Now, leave this place, this very moment! Leave now! Or do you want me to call police officers to whisk you off? Matter of fact, I should do just that and get you arrested.”
“Hey, hey. Lookie here.” Ose’s grip encircled his right biceps and pulled him to the back. Tari tried to wriggle it off once again, but the grip was ironclad tight. “Look, guy.” His friend searched his gaze to ensure they were level. “Now I know this is very messed up, hell everyone knows that this is very messed up. But guess what else is messed up? Our country. Yeah, you got that right. We live in a country that is totally messed up and so therefore messed up things like this are the order of the day.”
“What’s your point?” Tari growled.
“My point is that you can totally go all Simba on this guy’s ass like it’s his fault. It’s his fault, of course but is it really? We all know how firms that aren’t so up there cheat their workers and all out of their wages and force these men into devising means of acquiring more money―”
“At the end of the day, it’s still everyone’s choice to be a criminal―” He insisted.
“And I know that, truly I do.” Ose let out a heavy sigh. “But, all what I’m saying is that you should try and look at this from this guy’s angle, heh? He is a criminal yeah, but the conditions aren’t so pleasant for him. Taking this step wouldn’t only ruin this job for him but would ruin the entirety of his career as a whole―”
“Well, maybe he deserves it―”
“And maybe, just maybe―he does deserve it but you’re better than that, Tari C’mon. Remember what I always tell you about not assuming everyone is like you. In this situation it’s not healthy to assume that everyone has a high moral compass like you do. We can’t all be angelic people, dude. Let this go away. Even if you would chase this guy off the job, do it in a discrete way that wouldn’t wound him totally―”
“That is what I will not agree with, Ose.” He shook his head, vehemently in protest. “This mentality that I’m supposed to accept such foulness in good spirits because it’s dominant in the society as a whole. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe, just maybe our country as a whole wouldn’t be so corrupt and polluted if people didn’t encourage these things by turning a blind eye on it like you’re telling me to do now? Are you going to tell me that the country wouldn’t be much more better if people reacted like I’m doing now, more often?”
Ose’s throat bobbed upwards. “While that may be true, you can’t exactly save the country in one day.”
“Well, you have to start from somewhere, don’t you?” He shot back. “Stay out of this, Ose. This is my contract and on here, I call all the shots. We’re not back at the office where I have no choice than to follow your orders. I’m going to do what I have to do.” And with that, he returned his gaze to where it was transfixed to before but the void he met in place wasn’t expected. Mr. Leke wasn’t standing there anymore. “What the hell?!”
His gaze rummaged the entire sight, before he finally spotted a black, retreating figure heading towards the east gate with a high velocity. Oh, he thought he could get away?
“Hey!” He cried out to the group of men in the region of space on the east, as he took off in great speed towards their direction. “Chase that man and hold him down!” No one seemed ready to comply with his orders and they all remained static, so he used other means to ensure his bidding was carried out. “If you don’t, I’d slash all your salaries and you wouldn’t be able to do nothing because if you report me, I’d simply say you were in cohorts with him!”
And that was the push they needed.
The trio of men charged towards the criminal and had him captive in a matter of seconds. Tari joined him as the group of able bodied, sturdy men held him down and restricted his movement. With his arms plopped on his waist, he enquired.
“So you think you can run, heh?” Mr. Leke’s expression had morphed into an apologetic, dismay one that caused something in his heart to respond in pity. Nope, this man didn’t deserve such. And he was going to get what he deserved, Tari vowed internally. “You’re going to jail, Mr. Leke. Your days of scamming people all about is over.”
“Just wow,” He let out an incredulous laugh, as his arms remained wedged in the grip of the men by his sides. “And then what? Just because I’m locked up in bars, you think everyone else would stop, huh? You think that would change anything?”
“It would change something, albeit little but it’d do something.” He replied, moving his gaze to the men by his sides. “Make sure he doesn’t move an inch. I’d be calling the police in a moment.” His gaze shifted back to Mr. Leke. “And don’t think you’d be able to wriggle out of this one. Your firm will try and save face and would of course dissolve all sort of relations with you, and the police definitely want money. I don’t think you’re that rich to pay a bail that’s millions of naira and even if you pay it and get out of prison one day, no one is going to hire you anymore. That’s your reward.”
And with that he careened away, sliding his hands into the outer pocket compartment of his jacket to retrieve his phone. He felt a presence by his side, and he needn’t visual confirmation to know that it was Ose.
“You’re making a big mistake, dude.” His friend’s pleas fell on deaf ears, as he went on to dial the number anyway. “This is not a good decision at all. Arresting this guy, that is. It has implications on you also. There could be a consequence for it.”
“For doing the right thing?” He halted for a moment, before resuming his dialing action.
“In this life, yes. There could be a consequence for doing the right thing and in an even messed up country like ours? What are the chances? And have you ever thought of the notion that a person in the group of men here could be loyal to this man and could someday, retaliate in some way? He might be a criminal to you, but to them he is a messiah. You’re not just taking away his job, you’re taking away the job of many other people who work for him.”
Tari raked his hair with his right hand. “I have to do the right thing.” He said finally, before concluding his action of contacting the police. After relaying the necessary information of the crime and bearings of their locations, he turned on his friend after hanging up. “I just won’t feel right if I don’t do this.”
Ose shook his head. “I understand, and I’m low key vouching for you but I’m only telling you this because I’m worried. I can’t help but feel that you’ve just triggered a chain reaction. A very bad, disastrous chain reaction that would end in a catastrophe.”
“Nonsense, I’d be fine.” He assured his colleague. But his conscience wasn’t privy to the fact that Ose’s statement held great reasoning. Yet, the conviction to do the right thing trumped that. He was going to lean on the higher powers of the universe to shield him away from all sorts of wrath that his current action might have incurred. The chain reaction he hoped to set in motion was one that would be instrumental in purging the country clean of its impurity.
Not bringing down hell on himself.
*****
Tari hurried the pace of his strides, as he stepped out of the faculty environment. It had been one hell of a busy Wednesday, loaded with lectures in every single time frame on the timetable. First thing he was going to do when he got to the hostel, was to slump into bed and take a lengthy nap before rising to shower, prepare dinner and then return back to bed for a good night sleep.
It had been a while since he had had one of those satisfying, adequate sleeps and although he didn’t exactly have the luxury to do so at the moment―he figured he was going to proceed with it anyway, no matter how much damage it could exert on his academics. He feared his sleeplessness was beginning to take an expensive toll that he couldn’t afford anymore, lest he collapsed as a result of his great fatigue.
He was currently walking down a deserted path of interlocked ground leading to the male hostel. The route wasn’t exactly a popular or conventional one, hence the isolation. He pretty much enjoyed the quiet and the little number of people that journeyed through it but he feared that word was getting out on the close proximity the path enjoyed with both hostels and as a result of that, was going to start getting a large amount of visitors.
He could only hope such wouldn’t be the case.
As the old, rusty metal-railed gates of his hostel came into sight, his journey also was nearing its end and he let out a breath of gratitude at the thought of taking ample time to rest. What he didn’t know was that his evening was only beginning. He felt an indiscernible pull to a couple, who stood in a secluded corner on the east bearing of the narrow road, discussing. His eyes went into inspection and as suspected by a part of himself in denial―his eyes met with a pair of dark, captivating eyes that were more than familiar.
Lani.
Her eyes were solely fixated on him, despite her company of a tall, stacked boy whose back was turned to Tari. He was going to flash her a warm smile, and resume his walk into the hostel but her eyes didn’t stray off his and he had no other choice than to halt and return her intense gaze. Did she want something? Her expression was a beckoning one almost as if she was pleading for something that was obvious.
What could that be?
His mind went to work in decrypting the secret message in her action. Was she merely giving him a look of acknowledgment? It seemed excess and overboard, furthermore they had been in similar positions in the past where their paths had crossed and she hadn’t given him more than a curt nod or a playful wink.
It was definitely a request she was making. The only problem was that said request was shrouded in mystery.
Her reason became as clear as bones and tissues in an x-ray photograph and he swiftly jumped to her rescue—hoping that what he had interpreted her request to be was what it truly was.
“Hey, Lani.” He took the pleasure of gulping her in. Unlike their meeting days where she mostly wore trousers, she wore a black shift gown stitched with shiny, glinting beads of differing dark colors and the outfit accentuated her curvy shape, which was usually concealed by her usual outfits. The lower region of her braids towered all the way down to her shoulders, while the upper was bounded with pins. “What’s up?”
“I’m really good.” And he knew he made the right call, judging by the overwhelming relief reverberating in her voice. Apparently, she had been accosted by a person whose company she didn’t find enthralling and wanted out at all cost. Tari Ibiyemi to the rescue. “This is Chima, my course mate.” She motioned to the tall, fair, jock looking guy who didn’t seem to be enjoying Tari’s intrusion in any way.
“Hello,” Tari said, waving his hand in a greeting gesture to Chima before facing Lani again. “You know it’s time, already. We have to get there so we would be able to get good seats.” His gaze lowered to his digital wristwatch for good acting measure, and he confirmed the time. 6:07P.M. March 26, 2008.
Finally, his action cracked Chima’s pensive silence.
“You’re going somewhere?” He questioned Lani.
“Yeah, Tari and I have this um—concert that we have to attend and it’s going to start very soon, so well yeah you know we have to go now.” She said in the most convincing tone she could muster and looked back at him for assistance.
“It’s a very big event so if we show up late, we’d get really bad seats.” He chimed in.
“A big concert being held by the school that I don’t know of?” He looked vaguely amused. “You know I’m an aspiring musician, right? I get to know these things before the information gets to the public. Plus, concerts and other events are always scheduled for the weekends not weekdays as busy as a Wednesday for an example.”
This guy simply didn’t give up could he?
Fortunately he had a good lie in mind to combat such contingency. “Well it’s not a concert for secular music. It’s a gospel one and it’s being organized by our church. Lani and I go to the same church on the campus. And the reason why it’s during a weekday is because we have a vigil on Friday night so it wouldn’t make sense to hold a concert on Saturday evening, when there is church on Sunday.”
Chima still didn’t look convinced, but Lani didn’t seem to care about that anymore. She had reached out for Tari’s right hand already and had looped her left hand through it and was tugging him in the opposite direction of where he was previously headed.
“I’d see you around, Chima.” She called behind her shoulder, as she pulled him further away from the crime scene with a mischievous smile on her face. She didn’t say a word to him until they had put reasonable distance between Chima and them. “Phew! Thanks for the save, Tari. I really owe you one.”
“It’s no problem,” He smiled. “I’m just happy that I was able to read where your head was at quickly. It wouldn’t have been nice if I didn’t understand and I walked away, leaving you to fend all by yourself against such enemy.”
“Enemy ke?” She gave him an endearing smile, as their hands remained looped. For some reason she refused to severe the hold in place. “I’d have figured out myself eventually, jare. That’s for sure. If it ends up taking too long, I’d just tell him that I have to go and I have no choice. It might seem rude but there is only a limit to boring, unedifying talk that I can take.”
“I see,” was all he could say, as he nodded gently in comprehension. “So where were you headed, exactly?”
“My hostel o,” She replied. “Today was just too hectic for my liking, I just want to collapse on my bed and sleep till tomorrow. But I’m also very hungry also. You?”
“Same here,” He said. “So, do tell me. I’m curious. How often do stuff like what happened back there, occur? Regularly or once in a while. I know it’s probably the former.”
“Not quite,” She shook her head. “While I may get a lot of attention that I don’t want in different forms, approaches aren’t exactly that dominant because I hardly walk alone on my own. I have a group of friends who are always with me and only an extremely confident boy would dare walk up to a girl in a group and request for her company. It’s a very bold thing, so I don’t usually get accosted like this. But once in a while, it happens.”
“Funny how I haven’t seen you with this set of friends,” He queried further. “Do they exist? Or you were going to finish your statement by saying that your walking partners are fictional and don’t exist.”
“Oh, sometimes I wish they don’t exist.” Lani sighed. “I have two roommates who are in my class and are pretty much my closest friends as of now. They go by the name Tracy and Dunni, and the reason why you probably haven’t seen them is because they really hate going to the cafeteria, which is pretty much the only place you and I meet. They go to food outlets in the campus mostly or just stay at home and cook.”
“I see. Because well, I’ve always been wondering about the criticism directed on my social life by you. You say I don’t have friends and all that when I’ve hardly seen you with anyone, you know. But that’s that. We’re going too far from the hostel, I’m really exhausted like you are and want nothing more than to sleep at this moment.”
“I understand,” She halted, and faced him squarely as her grip on his tightened. “Something very funny and scary happened today though. I don’t even know why I’m sharing this with you, maybe it’s because we’re on the topic of me being bothered by guys or something but it just popped into my head for some reason.”
“Do spill.” He encouraged her.
“Well…” She trailed off to pick her words carefully, before her voice lowered to a whisper. “Earlier today, the lecturer from your department who is overseeing the entire project, what’s his name again?”
“Mr. Smith―”
“Yup, the Mr. Smith. The black guy with the mole and receding hairline. Well, he kind of cornered me today and asked me to see him in his office. On getting there, guessed what he asked of me?”
“Sex?” Tari joked with the first comical line that formed in his head but Lani’s resulting expression wasn’t the appropriate. It remained serious, almost as if he had guessed right. What? “Oh, no he didn’t ask for sex, did he?”
“Not directly.” A hint of fright that wasn’t in her voice earlier invaded it. “He started out saying that I’m really beautiful and I have a nice shape, blah blah this and that. And that he is interested in appreciating such beauty, since that is what he usually does. He said we could date, go out a couple of times and do other stuff and I was quick to tell him I wasn’t interested in a very polite way, mind you. But he insisted and went on another attempt to sway my stance. I told him no once again, and he finally released me in the hopes that I’d think about it and reconsider. I used to think that these things happen only in Nollywood. What the hell is going on?”
He’d be telling a big lie if he told her that the new development didn’t portend danger or was something that should simply be discarded. It was a matter of a very delicate kind and they couldn’t afford to treat it with levity. Exhaling sharply, he feigned a smile that broadcasted ease.
“Don’t fret, Lani. All is well.” He replied. “So far as you stay out of his way then he wouldn’t have the chance to ask you to another meeting or something. Plus, you don’t see him in your own department so that’s great. You just have to avoid him at all cost.”
“Yeah, I thought that too but then my mind went to the fact that he has everything to do with our project.” She clarified and brought a matter into light, that another part of him was in denial with the consequences of things going south. “Hopefully, he won’t know my name. You’d just be the one to submit it, right? Let’s just hope he doesn’t know who I am. You don’t think he does right?”
“I don’t think so,” He shook his head. But that was far from the truth. When lecturers marked their prey, they scouted and amassed knowledge about said person so they could wield the power to control their dealings totally but there was no use in scaring Lani. She was going to come to that realization herself. “Just be careful.”
“Careful is now my first name. Oh, and also he made me promise that I tell no one, and I mean absolutely no living soul.” She said in a grave tone. “I will tell my girls of course, but just them. Just Dunni and Tracy because I trust them. I’m trusting you to keep your mouth shut also and not ever discuss this with anyone, ever for whatever reason. In fact, I didn’t tell you anything and you do not know anything about this.”
He went on to assure her by swearing an oath of silence that was enough to patronize her. Although deep within, he knew that sealing his mouth close on a subject that could spur so much conflict and was based on the grounds of immorality was going to be nigh impossible, since he lived to bring matters of such nature to the light―but this wasn’t his secret to tell or his fight to declare war.
He was going to honor his promise and do his utmost best to ensure he didn’t set anything disastrous into motion.
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This is a very vital chapter to the plot, and like the title implies—it sets into motion, a chain reaction that is indeed the major climax of the book. The central story arc itself. Are you getting an idea of what it could be? Flood the comments with your thoughts.
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