SACRED_OATHS

Author: Samuel Frederick

Episode 18: A DISTRESS CALL.

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I gasped continuously as we sped off. For the first time in my life, I knew what the fear of death felt like. I kept looking out the taxiʼs window to see if we had lost track of my pursuer.

If not for the taxi manʼs help, I wondered what wouldʼve been my fate by now. I thanked him immensely when 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 my experience to Mimi when I got inside, and we both stayed at high alert afterwards. I fastened the doors with padlocks and closed the curtains, then I turned off the lights even before our bedtime. Mimi asked for more details of what happened and I narrated everything to her from scratch. She advised we call the police to file a report the next morning, but I decided against it since we didn't know what or who we were dealing with yet. She further advised me to call Boma and inform him about it, but I decided against that too, for reasons best known to me.

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Somehow, we managed to pass the night peacefully despite our fears. Even though I hardly slept at all, 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 actually disturbed and woke me up with her prayers, I happened to be the one who woke her this time around. She stretched her arms out and yawned loudly as she sat up.

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

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

“I did, just a little bit.” I answered.

She heaved a sigh and yawned again, stretching her arms out in the process.

“Did you later call Boma to inform him?”

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

“But what if you had died, or gotten injured last night?” She said grumpily. “Would you still be talking this way?”

Just then, a call came through my phone. It was Akosua, my sister. She hardly called me unless she needed money or wanted something else, so I terminated the call and called her back.

“Hello, Akosua.”

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

“Good morning, dear. Howʼre you doing?”

“I'm fine.” Akosua sounded very odd. I could sense the anxiety in her voice.

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

“Sister, he told me not to tell you but I have no choice. I have to let you know…”

“I donʼt get you. Who is it? What’s going on? What’re you talking about?”

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

“My goodness! What happened to him?”

“He had a heart attack after having dinner last night. He started groaning 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 to sleep after eating a little bit. I donʼt know what else to do!”

“Oh my goodness!” I gasped, shocked. “Hold on, who cooked the food he ate?”

“I wasn't the one. He came back with a takeaway and had the meal for dinner, even after I insisted that I had already prepared something for him to eat, but he never listened to me. Now see where he has landed us!” She sobbed.

“Calm down, Akosua. Donʼt panic.” I tried to console her as best as I could. After she had regained her composure, I continued speaking:

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

“I just left the hospital not too long ago. 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 Naira, but I have ten thousand Naira with me. Iʼm thinking of calling a friend to borrow 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 sniffled. “I’ll be expecting your call. Please, don’t keep me waiting. I’m counting on you, big sis.”

“I know, dear; and I won’t let you down. I promise.” I vowed, sounding so calm and collected. “Just believe in me. I won’t let you and daddy down.”

After sniffing loudly for the second time, Akosua said: “Okay. I trust you. I’m waiting.”

“Don’t worry too much. Okay?”

“Okay. I’ve heard you.”

“Goodbye for now, dear.”

I hung up and heaved a sigh.

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

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

“What happened to him?” She asked, showing even more concern.

“It’s his usual stroke attack.” I answered. “It just keeps getting bad.”

“Oh my God! Stroke?” She gasped. I nodded, still pacing the room.

“Is it very critical?” She asked, placing both hands on top of her head.

“It is much more than that,” I replied, clenching my fists. “And the fact that they haven’t even commenced full treatment on him is what makes me so bothered.”

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

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

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

“I’m thinking of squeezing something out 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 fetish money?” Mimiʼs eyes literally bulged out of their sockets, both hands still on top of her head. “Are you serious right now?”

“Mimi don’t even start, please. It’s too early for this.” I hissed and took the nylon from the top of my wardrobe, then I opened the envelope and started to count the bundles of cash while Mimi sat aside, watching intensely to see me vanish into thin air.

Our eyes met several times while I counted the money, and the look in her eyes suggested that she really wanted something bad to happen at that very moment. Maybe she expected to see me get struck by lightning, or collapse on the floor and bleed to death instead. But to her surprise, I counted it all without disappearing, fainting or dying like she mustʼve expected.

“It’s a total of N300K!” I gasped in shock. “Unbelievable!”

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

“Babe this money is absolutely real! Iʼm actually holding it with my bare hands!”

“Didn’t I tell you?” I scoffed, visually sweeping her through.

I felt this exquisite pang of delight deep within me, all because the money was more than enough to clear the hospital bill. Without even thinking twice, I placed a call through to Akosua and asked her to send her account number and my fatherʼs own too, as soon as possible.

I counted a certain amount out of the money and placed it on the table while Mimi watched keenly, confused.

“What is that huge amount for?”

“Itʼs just N50K.” I answered, raising a brow for emphasis. “Any problem?”

“Sweet goodness gracious!” She exclaimed dramatically, her mouth agape. “Don't you think it’s too much?”

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

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

“Leave that to me.” I simply said with a vibrant smile on my face. “That would be the easiest part of this whole thing. I’ll definitely sort it out when the time comes!”

Mimi obviously doesnʼt know how smart I am when it comes to monetary issues and telling fluent lies. I absolutely wasn’t a Ghanaian for nothing. In fact, even the devil himself was no match for my remarkable lying prowess.

What could possibly go wrong?