Oaths - Season 1 - Episode 18

6 years ago

Oaths - Season 1 - Episode 18

☆☆☆☆
I gasped continously as we sped off. For the first time, I knew how the fear of death felt like. I kept looking back through the taxiʼs rear mirror to see if we had lost track of him.

If not for the taxi manʼs help, I wondered what wouldʼve been my fate at that moment. I thanked him immensely as he dropped me at my place, right in front of my gate. I hardly even checked the amount I handed to him to show my gratitude.

I explained the whole thing to Mimi when I got in and secured the locks. I fastened it with a padlock and closed the curtains. I also made sure the lights were off. Mimi asked for the details of what happened as I narrated to her.
She advised we called the police to report, but I decided against it since we didn’t know what or whom we were dealing with yet. She further advised I call Boma to inform him, but I decided against that too.

We had to sleep with one eye open and half eye closed that night.
• • •
Somehow, we managed to pass the night peacefully even if I hardly slept, Mimi did. She seemed to be less bothered about the issue, probably because she wasn’t the one at the receiving end.

Unlike most mornings when she usually disturbed and woke me up with her prayers, I was the one who woke her this time. She stretched and yawned as she sat up.

“Fifi, you are awake!” She stuttered weakly, struggling to keep her eyes open. I nodded and pecked her cheek as we usually did in our own way of greeting.

“Good morning,” she greeted. “Did you sleep at all?”

“I did, just a little.” I answered.
She heaved a sigh and yawned loudly, stretching her arms in the process.

“Did you later call Boma to inform him?”

“No, it wasn’t necessary.” I answered.

“But if you had died you would have called him abi?” She hissed.

Just then, a call came through my phone. It was Akosua, my sister. She hardly called for just anything unless she needs money or wanted something. I cut the call and called her back.

“Hello, Akosua.”

“Hello Sister Fifi, good morning,” her voice sounded shaky.

“Good morning, dear. Howʼre you doing?”

“I’m fine,” she sounded more odd.

“Whatʼs the matter, dear? You are sounding unusual.”

“He told me not to tell you but I had no choice. I had to let you know…”

“I donʼt get you. Who is it?”

“It’s Daddy, Sister Fifi! Heʼs not feeling too well.”

“My goodness! What happened?”

“He had his usual stroke attack after having dinner last night. He started grunting and holding his chest until he collapsed. I was helped by some neighbours to rush him to a hospital and since then we have been here. He only regained consciousness this morning and fell back asleep after eating a bit. I donʼt know what to do!”

“Hold on, who cooked the food he ate?”

“I wasn’t the one. He came back with a plastic take-away and had it for dinner, even after I insisted that I had prepared something for him to eat already, he didn’t listen to me. Now see where he has landed us,” she sobbed.

“Calm down, Akosua. Donʼt panic,” I tried to console her a bit. After she had regained herself, I continued…

“Is there anyone I can talk to there, maybe the doctor?”

“I just left the hospital not too long… Iʼm at the bank now, trying to withdraw some money. It’s not up to what they asked to commence full treatment on him but it can go a long way.”

“How much is it?”

“A sum of thirty thousand in total, but I have ten with me. Iʼm thinking of calling a friend to lend me anything she has immediately I drop this call.”

“You know what? Don’t call anyone! Iʼll get back to you in a moment, okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

I cut the call and heaved a sigh.

“Whatʼs the matter?” Mimi asked, looking concerned.

“It’s my dad,” I said without even looking at her. I paced about the room, thinking of what to do.

“What happened to him?” She asked.

“It’s his usual stroke attack,” I answered.

“Oh my God! Stroke?” She whimpered. I nodded in response, pacing about the room.

“Is it that critical?” She asked.

“It is much more than that,” I replied, “and the fact that they haven’t even commenced full treatment on him is what is making me bothered.”

“You mean they haven’t started treatment on him? Why?”

“You are doing as if you don’t know this our Nigerian hospitals. If you haven’t settled them, they won’t look at you twice.”

“That’s true. So what do you have in mind?”

“I’m thinking of squeezing out something from the package,” I said, moving closer to my wardrobe. “Itʼs the only way I can balance it up!”

“You mean you want to take out of that blood money?” her eyes bulged open.

“Mimi don’t start abeg, it’s too early for this,” I hissed and took down the nylon from my wardrobe. I opened the envelope and counted the bundled pile of cash as Mimi sat aside, watching intensely to see me disappear.

Our eyes met several times as I counted, like she really wanted something bad to happen. To her surprise, I counted it all without disappearing, fainting or dying like she had expected.

“It’s a total of 300K,” I gasped in shock.

“You don’t mean it!” Mimi said, edging closer. She held a bundle of the money and felt it, as if to see if it was real.

“Babe this money is real o!”

“Didn’t I tell you?” I scoffed.

I felt this pang of happiness deep within me.
It was more than enough of what I needed to clear the hospitalʼs bill. Without even thinking twice, I placed a call through to Akosua and asked her to send the details of her account number and that of my dad.

I counted a certain sum from the money and splitted it aside as Mimi watched.

“What is that huge amount for?”

“Itʼs just 50K,” I answered.

“Haba! Don’t you think it’s too much?”

“This is my dad’s life at stake here, Mimi.”

“I know and I’m not arguing about that, but what would you tell him when he asks of your source of income?”

“Leave that to me,” I said.