Dirty Hustler - Season 1 - Episode 10

Episode 4 years ago

Dirty Hustler - Season 1 - Episode 10

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Mama had to borrow 12,000 naira from the dubious and notorious money lender, Mr Alabi to pay Nkiru’s school fees just a few days to her exam.

How she could borrow money from Mr Alabi without a substantial collateral beats my imagination. Mr Alabi was known to be very strict and brutal to his debtors and he wouldn’t blink an eye before seizing properties from his defaulting debtors.
When Nkechi and I asked Mama how she was able to get him to lend the money to her, she shrugged and told us it was God’s grace. In our hearts, we knew it took more than that.
Nkiru worked at Mama Afang’s restaurant and she also had to go to work with Mama on weekends to pay back the debt. At first, I went with them to work out of guilt but Broda complained that I wasn’t giving him enough time as I should so I spent most days at home with Broda.

One hot Sunday afternoon, Mama had just returned back from Church with Nkiru. I couldn’t go with them that morning because I felt sick.

They both came into the room and found me half naked and asleep on the bare concrete floor.

“Which kind sick this girl dey sick kwanu?” I heard Mama ask Nkiru as Nkiru bent to tap me.
“Sister…you dey okay? You done buy drugs?”


I rubbed my eyes and shook my head.
“You sure say no be belle?” Mama eyed me.
“Ahn ahn! Mama!” Nkiru defended me. “No talk like that na… E no go pass malaria. The mosquitoes for this room na battalion, buy fleet-”

“Thunder fire your mouth there!” Mama spread 5 fingers to Nkiru’s face. “I be small pikin? I nor know wetin I dey talk?…I don carry 2 belle for this body.” She slapped her tummy. ” I don dey watch this stupid girl since, I dey see symptoms of belle they show for her body, I be nor wan talk make I no go get high bp.”

Mama turned to face me. “Who give you belle?”

I was dumbfounded. Was I really pregnant? Broda and I hadn’t used any protection. I swallowed a lump in my throat.
” Mama abeg! I nor get strength for all this your talk!” I waved my hands and stood up to get a dress. I wanted to get out of the room as fast as I could. Tension built up inside me.
Mama moved to my front blocking me from getting to my bag of clothes. She stood with her hands akimbo.

“If you know wetin good for you no bring any bastard come this room.” She raised her hand to drag my left ear. “I no get money to train any bastard! You hear me.”
I tried my best to pull her hand off my ear. “Mama leave me!” I cried.
She finally left me and went out of the room. Nkiru stared at me confused.
“Sister…” She paused when I gave her a deadly stare.

I wasn’t in the mood for her lectures. I wore a dress and went to Broda’s room.
I cried bitterly when I got there. After I settled a bit, I told him of the supposed pregnancy.
“My Mama go kill me!” I sobbed loudly.
He thought hard for a while. “We go go lab this evening.”


“Wha…what if I truly get…get the belle?” I asked shaking. I silently prayed Broda would ask me to keep the baby and ask me to marry him.

“Nor worry, make we do the test first.” He took my hands into his and looked into my eyes. “Calm down.” He kissed me.
I didn’t feel calm.

That evening, I sneaked out of the compound after Broda had left and we met at the junction then we both headed straight to the laboratory for the test.

When we got there, my blood sample was taken and we were asked to wait for the test result.

I was apprehensive. I looked over at Broda who seemed calm as he watched football from the TV which hanged high on the wall in the waiting room. I wondered if he had done this before.


The lab scientist handed the test result in a white envelope to Broda.

“Wetin e talk.” I asked before he even opened the letter.

“Make I open am first na.” Broda chuckled.
His attitude was driving me nuts. I snatched the envelope from him and tore it open. I unfolded the white paper inside. I scanned through the prints till I saw the word ‘POSITIVE’ boldly written in black ink.
My heart almost flew out of my chest.
I felt Broda’s hand touch my tummy, I looked at him and he had a smile on his face.

****************************

I joined my legs together and pulled my skirt down as quickly and discreetly as I could.
I heaved a sigh of relief when I realised Broda and I hadn’t been caught.

We were passing a checkpoint and some Soldiers saw a few boys hanging on the exterior of our bus, looking for a free ride to wherever that night.

The Soldiers flagged our bus driver to stop the bus and asked the boys to get down, some of the boys fled into nearby bushes and the rest were caught. One of the soldiers asked our driver a few questions before he allowed us to leave.

A few minutes after we passed the checkpoint, Broda caressed my thigh and I slapped his hand away which made him laugh.
“Fear, fear.” He teased.
“Thank you.” I hissed and rested my head on the window.

Broda and I were seated on a large dining table in a beautifully hall with luxury decor. I sat on one end of the table and Broda sat on the other end.

Our six children sat on the sides of the table, three on each side. Chiamaka, Kosisochukwu, Kamsi, Somotochukwu, Chidera and Chidozie were laughing happily at a joke Broda had made.

“Don’t laugh at the table y’all, or you’d choke.” I spoke with an American accent.
They all kept quiet but snickered when Broda made a remark I didn’t catch. They stopped when I frowned.

When we were done eating, I rang a small bell on the table and 4 young maids wearing black uniforms with white aprons over it and white hats walked in almost immediately to clear the table.

“No desert for the kids tonight,they’ve had enough sweets for today.” I declared and the children m0aned.

“Listen to your mother, children. Now go upstairs and get ready for bed.” Broda said to them and they scurried out of the dining hall.

“Any desert for me?” Broda asked with a coy smile.

I smiled and stood up. I slowly unbuttoned my exotic looking silk dress to expose a sexy red lingerie.

“This is desert…Are-”
I felt heavy taps on my shoulder.
“Wake up.”
I opened my eyes and looked around. I saw I was still in the bus and it had come to a stop.
“We don reach Ore…why you dey smile like mumu for sleep?” Broda asked.


**************

Tears flowed from my eyes as we walked back home from the laboratory. Broda tried his best to console me.
“Wipe your face, no let everybody know wetin dey sup.” Broda handed me a handkerchief. “Nor worrt, I dey with you, you go born this pikin.
I love you.”

I smiled and felt hopeful.