Oga Martins - Season 1 - Episode 17

Episode 5 years ago

Oga Martins - Season 1 - Episode 17

If they thought the day was bad enough, it just grew worse. Martins wished he could fast-forward time and not have to deal with the present situation but there was no avoiding it. Reality was different from fantasy and his reality right now was that he was held hostage in a burnt down house and couldn’t go to work. With the current situation of things, he obviously needed his job and not showing up for work without a plausible excuse was reason for him to be fired. He had pleaded with the landlord, insisting he knew nothing about the cause of the fire but his pleas had been in vain. The man had insisted they find the culprit or remain where they were. Some of the other tenants had threatened and cursed, saying he had no right but the landlord had not bothered to respond. He had just called his goons to attention and given the order that if anyone tried anything funny, they should be beaten until they came to their senses and cooperated. Everyone had calmed down since the sight of the two hefty guys was scary.


“What am I going to do now?” Martins whispered to Deji who was standing beside Rotimi while casting a furtive glance at their imposed bodyguards

“Maybe you should call your office and explain things to them,” Deji suggested, also whispering back

“I don’t know the number to my office!” Martins explained, stating the problem
“Don’t you have the number of anyone there?” Rotimi asked

“No! I just started work?”
“Guy, it’s been almost a month. You should have someone’s number. You guys don’t call yourselves?!” Deji asked with slight irritation
“What are you people talking about?” Chris asked, whispering as well as he joined them
“I need to call my office and explain things but I don’t know anybody’s number and I don’t have a phone they can reach me on!” Martins explained, glaring at Deji as he said the part about not having a phone

Deji looked away, not bothering to respond as Fidelis also joined them. “Wetin dey happen now? Na like this we go dey?”

“At least until we find out who started the fire,” Chris supplied
“But this is ridiculous. This man can’t just keep us under lock and key”
“He already did,” Deji stated succinctly. “The question is what are we going to do about it? And with all the mouth you guys were making, I thought there would be a rescue squad here already.”

“Which rescue squad?” Rotimi queried
“Don’t you have people you can call? Like Fidelis said, this is ridiculous. We have jobs, lives; things to do. Should my life be on hold because someone’s house got burnt?” Martins asked, beginning to get upset, his voice no longer hushed
“Guy calm down! These guys fit enter you,” Deji warned but Martins was past caring
“Give me your phone,” he demanded, waving his hand in a gesture to hurry Deji up. “Is there credit there? This is totally unfair and unacceptable. We cannot be held hostage because a house got burnt! And I’m sure it’s unlawful. When we are not criminals!”
“Are you sure we are not criminals? Someone started the fire” Rotimi asked
“I’m sure I’m not a criminal. I can’t speak for you though,” Martins replied, his voice sarcastic

“Who do you want to call? A lawyer?” Chris asked in excitement. “Maybe we can even sue the landlord”

“On what grounds?” Deji asked, frowning slightly at him as he handed Martins his phone
“I don’t know! That’s the lawyer’s job,” he replied and turned his attention to Martins who was already dialing a number. “Ask the lawyer on what grounds we can sue the landlord”

“I’m not calling a lawyer,” Martins supplied
“Who are you now calling?” Deji asked, his frown deepening
“Aisha!”
It took Deji a moment before the name registered. “Aisha Bello?” he asked, giving his friend a quizzical look. “You know Aisha Bello’s number offhand?” he asked in an incredulous voice

Martins didn’t bother to respond. He put the phone to his ear as it began to ring
“I can’t believe you know Aisha Bello’s number offhand,” Deji stated again, still unable to comprehend the fact.

Chris looked from one to the other, asking the question on both Fidelis and Rotimi’s minds. “Who is Aisha Bello?”

Deji didn’t respond as he stared in disbelief at his friend who was already speaking into the phone.

“Hello Aisha”
“Who is this?” Aisha asked.
From her tone of voice, Martins could imagine her frowning. “It’s me Martins. Good morning”

“Good morning. Wasap!”
The frown had disappeared and was replaced with a certain curiosity. “I need your help,” Martins stated. He didn’t wait for her to ask what kind of help. He could imagine her skepticism already and quickly delved into the crux of the matter. “I’m being held hosta… ”

Martins didn’t finish the sentence when the phone was snatched unceremoniously from his hand and dismantled.

“What is…?”He held his tongue, not completing the sentence at the menacing look on the guy’s face. He immediately had goose bumps and instinctively moved back, putting distance between him and the guy. Without saying a word, the guy turned away from him and collected every other person’s phone, rendering them incommunicado.

It suddenly dawned on Martins that there was no way out except they found the culprit. The issue was how they were going to get the person to own up.