HOW I WISH? PART 3

Now the whole world was crumbling on me. I tried to wake up fully in expectations of the truth that I didn’t know what I’m doing or so. Then two of the guys showed me their ID cards that they work with secret service. It was getting a lot more uncomfortable to be a joke. I made a trip from Abuja to Benin to see a friend and now it all sounds like I’m a criminal who doesn't know what he is doing. I stood up to challenge them and they demanded to see a means of identification. I brought out my international passport and it was my name and someone else’s face. Then the problem escalated. 

I was dragged into their van and straight to the SSS office. The questions were confusing during interrogation. I told them I flew in and the next thing we found out was I came from Lagos to Benin through the road. The bus ticket with which I boarded was found with me. I was loosing my mind and there was no way to explain. I didn’t understand what was happening any longer. They brought out a file and asked if I knew the faces of the people there and I said yes I know one. There I saw Aisha’s face and I told them she was the person that invited me. The officers looked at themselves and laughed. I was left inside the cold dark room for almost twelve hours and when next they showed up I was waned beyond repairs. 

Now officer 1 said: Aisha died like two weeks ago in that hotel and that same room we met you. I lodged into the room two days ago against the one night I thought I’ve spent in the room. I was calling Aisha’s name while sleeping and that was the reason the receptionist had to force herself into the room to check what was happening. I was being set up; but for what? Everything I knew was different from the truth of what they said. I became psychologically unstable until I told them I knew Aisha’s house that she once took me there.  Reluctantly they allowed me take them to the so called house that I knew and when I got there everyone was mourning. A guy walked outside and started screaming my name saying what else I wanted. That I’ve killed her sister and what am I coming back to their house for. The mum came out and gave me a loud bite on my hand like she wanted to pull the flesh out. The officers stepped into the situation to save me and they explained who they are and why they are there. At this point I started crying and was asking myself if I really killed Aisha or what? I’ve lost all sense of reality. I felt like disappearing but they wouldn’t let me go. 

Now all I had left was God but I can’t even pray in this kind of situation. I didn’t know what was happening to me. Love has brought me this far and now I’m both a rapist and a murderer in a town I know no one. I asked for my phone to place a call to my business partner in Abuja as I claimed. Immediately his number was called; a police officer picked up the phone and asked who I was. I told him I wanted to talk with Arnold and he replied Arnold is in Area G command for kidnapping. I told the officer it was impossible. I left him in Abuja yesterday and how come he was in a police station in Lagos. The SSS collected the phone from me and after a short conversation; he started moving towards me with rage in his face.  Now I concluded I was mad. I tried to act it out, but the slap from the officer was good, that it woke me up.

I was sweating profusely when I woke up. There was no light but the whole atmosphere was bright. I have overslept. I struggled out of bed and walked into my bathroom to clean myself up. I was thinking of the dream I just had and wondered how scary that was. I felt a little bit of pain on my hand where Aisha’s mum bite me and when I looked at the same spot I saw marks of someone’s teeth. It became scarier and that moment my phone rang. It was Aisha and the first thing she said when I picked up the phone was “it was a scary dream right”…………….

HOW I WISH ? PART 2

 The airport is a twenty eight minutes drive from the city and that seems the hardest thing for Arnold to do. He tried convincing me about the trip to Benin to meet a lady I know nothing or little about. That’s for him but as for me it seems we’ve known for eternity. My flight was for nine o clock thus by seven thirty I was at the airport. She wasn’t asleep either; she was following my schedule of movement. The announcer was constantly announcing delays in flight and I wondered if that won’t happen to me, but surprisingly at exactly nine am, I was air bound. 

I composed myself like I was going for an introduction. I started rehearsing what I will do when I land in Benin. She is coming to the airport to pick me and I really can’t explain what was running through my mind any longer. At departure I was nervous but I didn’t show it. I slowly walked out of the arrival lounge with my suitcase intact. A car pulled out from the car park and here I am live in Benin to be picked up with a range rover. I stepped into the front seat after dropping my suitcase at the back and warmingly a kiss was buried on my lips and that was the real genesis. 

Beware of the specie called woman, I was once advised but now I know. It wasn’t a distance getting to her house and then I discovered she wasn’t staying with her parents. She stayed with some friends and they are all extreme children. They import guys from different places to satisfy their sexual urge and most times they pay. I was supposed to be the next victim. I laughed into understanding as I activated plan b. 

Immediately I became a fresh boy who is irritated by those activities they were doing. I called Aisha out from where her friends were and the sermon started. I told her how well I wanted her to live a decent life (like I had one) and that I was looking forward to seeing an angel I’ll take to the altar. She started crying as the advices rolled out of my mouth. Then I knew I would be a good pastor. She told me all about herself. How she was raped when she was young and how her last boyfriend always reaped her off her money just in the name of love. My last boyfriend took almost all my money, if not for dad. She exclaimed that she was tired of building trust and now she’s making up her mind about whatever comes. Sincerely Austin I want to be a single mother. 

Now emotions started setting into me. I started feeling for her and I knew where the problems started. She in a fixation and I would help her and probably marry her. I was getting hungry and kada fries was the eatery. The kitchen in the house could pass for a passage in terms of emptiness. I ordered accordingly as she ordered also. I asked how much it was, but her card came out faster as she wanted to pay. I insisted and I paid but something kept ringing in my mind “my last boyfriend took almost all my money” I took that as the first sign.

I remembered when I was relocating to meet my uncle in Abuja, my father warned me not to follow women who are liabilities but look for women who are assets. At last I heeded to dad’s advice.  Aisha continued her story as I discovered everybody in her family held a political position or the other. Anytime she mentions any uncle or auntie who holds a political office; the love grows stronger. After eating we sat somewhere to gist better and after all drink a little. I told her I wouldn’t be sleeping in her house thus she paid for a hotel for me. She bought two shirts for me and then the story of what I do started. I lied about everything to look so big till she told me dad might help you with some cash to make it bigger. At that point my love exploded. She asked the killer question “PLEASE CAN YOU BE MY MORGAN?” The sex was wild and romantic. I did all she wanted and the animal in me was exposed. If Morgan was the dredger; I was close to it. The three hours marathon has just ended and it was five thirty in the morning. I closed my eyes to sleep a little as she went to the bathroom to clean up. When I woke up it was past ten in the morning and turning around me it seemed I slept alone. Then I knew I was really in Benin when four guys walked into the room accusing me of raping the receptionist ……….……. I picked up my phone to call Aisha and there was nothing about her on my phone.

HOW I WISH? PART 1

There was a challenge I was looking for and now I’ve found it. Where does it lie? All within a wish I never expected. The conclusion is whatever you wish for you might just get more than enough. The internet is the newest markets where you sell to people you don’t know and make transactions without leaving a spot. Lots of fraudulent activities go on there but the security of our fast growing world could also be better managed through the internet. The electronic world generally is making the world invisible but I’m about to find something within this invincible world. It’s called LOVE.

When Alexandra Bell first discovered the telephone he sold only six copies of it that year. They were naïve to its functionality, but now we know that our generation is going through its doom through this same electronic medium of Bell called the telephone. Every day it gets smaller but still performing the same roles and even more. From coloured picture to Bluetooth, then facebook and now all can be done on phone.

I woke one early morning and I stretched for my phone to check the time. I had a friend request. I got people adding me up every day and lately we don’t ask where you got the pin from again. I accepted the request and after the second day I was ready to find out who that person was. My next trip to china was in a week and I need know what my clients crave for so I can get it for them while coming. I sent a broadcast out to all to ask if they have any specifics and a reply came from my new friend. “Whatever you think I deserve”. Waoh telling an Ibo man that shit, turns him off. I wondered where she came from; expecting a gift from a hustler. I tuned off like it was a missed message and it popped up again “or you wanna see my pictures”. I reluctantly said yes and then the Benin girl started downloading her entirety to my phone.

I didn’t wish to stay long at work that day but with the level of conversation we were having I was at work till 7.30pm and I felt good about it. For the first time I had to carry my charger to the lounge close to my house because I need my phone to be constantly on. Now the scary thing happened when I heard her experience about life.

Just now I was a busy business man facing my business squarely. My solitude is the source of my riches and suddenly I felt warm within, when a female starts a conversation. I ended all calls abruptly and nothing made more sense to me than what she says.  I was a fool to my environment because I smile and laugh in public without talking to anyone. The electronic world could be as real as possible and sincerely it could take your sense away. I spent two hours drinking a small bottle of Guinness and I couldn’t wait to get my change. I needed to be home. She has started calling me baby and I knew I was travelling to Benin before I make any china trip. When I got home I plugged the phone to the charger and immediately the gist continued. 

Then her story begins. I am the first out of two children and my parents are wealthy people. I’m not coming close to you because of money but I want to locate true love and I think I’m enjoying your conversation and sincerity. I schooled in Finland and in my class were three African dudes. One was South African, the other was Ethiopian and the third guy was Nigerian. Their names are Mayor, biggie and Morgan. They have one thing in common. And I guess it’s the black man thing. Mayor was nicknamed the hammer, the other was the driller and Morgan was the dredger. Every woman complains afterwards and they became the best in the trade until I tried it out with them.

Mayor was my first, biggie came afterwards and Morgan was the last guy. Now the business now is; I can’t find Morgan again and I need a Morgan.

I started following the story until the vigilantes in my area rang the three o clock bell. I really couldn’t sleep but if I don’t I might miss my morning flight to Benin tomorrow. I’ll continue when I get to Benin.

DESTINY PART 1

There was going to be a link between a suffering present and a pleasant future. The object of change would be me; but looking around me nothing seems like it. “All things bright and beautiful” seems to me the only song that helps my questioning God when I first saw a black man riding like a king amongst white men and they were saluting him ‘sir’. The entrance of the premier into the Nembe community was like a heavenly body streaming among mere mortals. With wet clothes we were running across the coast waving as he sped away with so much military guidance at the shores of the gulf of guinea. The cold and dark night was in a solitary place for me as I knew I loved what I just saw, and I would try my best to get close to power. For the first time in my life I knew fishing wasn’t the best profession for me. I called my papa as I got back home and told him how well I loved what I saw. He told me it wasn’t meant for people like us. And with an African adage he told me to look at my fingers. I saw it wasn’t equal…. That’s how God created the world my son. I felt grieved and I asked God in tears why he created me into a city characterized by fishing, drinking and a wasteful product that spills on our soil later called oil.

My neighbour Perezimo heard when I was telling my father about becoming like a premier, and he told me after papa left, that the only way to attain such status is through school. If you don’t learn the ways of the white you cannot be like them. Many other advices came and when I finally made up my mind; it was dusk. I walked to papa and told him I want to go to school. He laughed and told me it was an abomination for someone from our family to learn the ways of the whites. It was our turn to serve the owuamapu god and who am I, to think I’m leaving the gods to school. Lastly even if I agree there is no money. If you can raise the money yourself go to school your brothers would help me…….. Words from papa. I left the house with a lantern and as a seven year old boy; I took my first adventure of sleeping by the shores of the river, so that I can catch fish early the next morning. 

The men in my town don’t wake up early. They all drink till late in the night thus they wake up late mornings. I slept off on the cold sand while thinking and the cold of the morning woke me up. At the second cock crow I was awake and ready to set sail. But I remembered I needed to pray and for the first time without being coerced I prayed to the God of the whites in heaven for a successful catch. 

I got a full boat of fish before the fourth hour of the day. This is what papa wouldn’t even get a full day. I dragged the boat to the shore to sort out the fish and the white man named Henry Shaw that lives across the river on a beautiful island came and asked if I was selling. I happily told him yes and he asked what I wanted to use money for. He called me a small boy and within I wept that how come a common British boy, privileged is calling an African leader a small boy. But for the future ahead, I ignored him as I told him I want to use the money for school. Suddenly I saw the amazement in him as he asked if I was serious. He put me in his speed boat as we dragged my boat along to the other side. His uncle gave me thirty three shillings; a little more than I make on a regular basis and told me to tell papa to come and thumbprint for me so that I can start school at their camp. 

When I narrated the story to papa he was happy. I was surprised at his happiness and I thought to myself how come this man had just forgotten his dream of us being the ones to serve the god of the land. He collected the thirty three shillings and bought local gin with it. His friends joined him as they drank to my admission. I couldn’t sleep. This was the first step for me and if this could be possible; all things would be. I woke the same time like yesterday and the same way I prayed to the God of the whites. At this point I knew the God answers prayers. Papa couldn’t wake up till noon and when he was awake he got angry that I didn’t wake him up. He pulled my ear into the boat as we travelled the distance into the island. When we got there they asked my father if he was aware I would be a student as from the next day. He said yes and they gave him a paper to thumbprint to show consent. I was going to start the next day. I was given knickers and a shirt to wear while coming, and that no fishing before school. 

I now had a regular time of waking up. I brought out the cloth and wore it. It was bigger than me, but I wore it like that as I slowly walked to my canoe. Paddling slowly not to be too early; I sailed to the other side of the sea. And it was the third crow that I got there. They took me to a class accurate for me and when I entered everyone started laughing. I looked around and saw I was so different and the most obvious of it was that……………………………………..  I wore no shoes….

POLYGAMY PART 5

I tried to move my limbs but wouldn’t move, I looked around me if I was chained but I wasn’t. It was when I saw the POP on my left arm, that I knew the intensity of the accident. When I started to talk they laughed the more. Nosa came close to my bed, and held me. I hated the fact, she was touching me.

The phone I had seen wasn’t for my husband. It was for Nosa’s fiancée. Rotimi’s best friend had been seeing Nosa since the days of Port Harcourt but it seems both of them were not serious. I had been the one complaining so well about it. Thus my husband spoke to his friend about being serious a night before, and then he showed Rotimi the text Nosa sent as a confirmation of their seriousness. It was drizzles of rain that drove them and that was the reason Rotimi came back home with the phone. 

SECURE YOUR SAVINGS

Those were people I knew. I was so ashamed how I could react to what was never happening around me such that I had to stay in the hospital for two weeks before I started walking again. The whole incident wasn’t for any other thing than the fact I can’t contain the pains I went through growing up. Nosa stayed almost all the time with me in the hospital and was also taking care of my children. Rotimi professed his love once again and promised my fears would never become a reality. My love life was once again restored and the reality of polygamy was removed from my thoughts. 

I’m happy the trend of polygamy is getting into extinction but some men still live with mistresses and I don’t know why we women can’t just get settled with one man of our own. Must women jump around from man to man to get satisfaction? Secondly I don’t know the fun in dating someone else’s husband?  The irritation and disgust that fills my mind when I hear a man is cheating is enormous and I feel the feminine gender should be blamed more for it. 

I want to use this opportunity to thank all those who stood by me during this ordeal and I pray no woman shall take charge in your house in Jesus name.  All those girls standing on the road trying to entice your husband will go lame in Jesus name. Any feminine eye that looks at your husband and gets enticed will go blind in Jesus name and any girl that forcefully follows your husband into a hotel room will die of suffocation in Jesus name…… no not die o but will be choked till she will run outside in Jesus name. Our husbands that the Lord has given us shall not be snatched in Jesus name.  Amen

I love you all

Ojekunle Laide

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