Dial - Season 2 - Episode 7

4 years ago

Dial - Season 2 - Episode 7

The following day, late in the afternoon, two other men came to the nsamanpowmu. They were men I was expecting. They were brought across the river where I was waiting for them, just as I had arranged in the letter I had sent to one of them through nurse Afua Takyiwaa.

One was a huge, bearded man called Brian Acquah, and he was the top engineer in my construction company. The other a tall lean man in spectacles called Kuuku Dawson, and he was my top manager in my estate company.

I was very sad that day, because when they got out of the canoe and I went to meet them, they just stared at me without any hint of recognition. And then I spoke gently.
“Hello, Brian and Kuuku, welcome.”
And Kuuku was so startled that he jumped and sat flat on his butt0ckz on the ground. Brian gaped at me and took a step back with a shock so complete that my heart beat with sadness.

It had not occurred to me that I looked that hideous.

“Mr. Biko?” Kuuku asked, still sitting on the ground, his face refusing to believe what he was saying. “Who the hell are?”
“Get off the floor, Kuuku, goddamn it!” I said irritably.

“Yeeeeiiiyi!” he shouted, but kept on sitting on the ground.
“What happened to you, Boss?” Brian asked, his lips trembling with horror. “You look…why are you so old? Is it a costume of sorts?”

“Rare hormonal and pigmentation imbalance, Brian,” I lied with a heavy heart.
“And it is making you grow old, sir?” Kuuku asked from the ground.
“Oh, get off the ground already, man!” I said, getting angry. “What’s the matter with you anyway?”
He got to his feet slowly, brushed his hands, and stared at me with stunned eyes. He shook his head dazedly.

“I’m sorry, sir,” he said with sudden firmness. “You do have the voice and mannerisms of my boss, but I can’t accept this.”

“What do you mean you can’t accept this?” I asked, trying hard to keep my boiling anger down.

“Yeeeeeiiii!” he shouted again and took quick steps back from me.

“Would you cut out that nonsense, Kuuku?” I asked angrily.

He brought out a pen from his pocket and took a sheet of paper from his small briefcase, and handed it to me.
“And what is this?” I asked, now angry.
“Please, sign it, sir,” he said, pointing to the paper. “Sign your signature, please.”
“What’s the matter with you, man?” I exploded furiously.

“If you don’t sign it I’m getting out of her right now, and I’ll report you to the police, I swear!” he said stubbornly, his shocked eyes not leaving my face.

Brian put a hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry, sir, but…the change is too drastic, and if it is really you, we need to be sure, because you always told us to take precautions,” he said, trying to be calm, but I saw the horror in his eyes.

I sighed deeply and shut my eyes for a moment.

“I won’t sign anything,” I said slowly. “Kuuku, I slept with your daughter four years ago, and you caught us doing it in your living-room, and I laughed at your pain. I never apologized. I put her name on a personal list of conquests…I’m sorry, man. I was a d--n bastard, and I know the pain has been in you all these years. I’m very, very, sorry. Please forgive me, my friend!”
Kuuku gaped at me, and then his lips trembled, and tears came into his eyes.
I put a hand on Brian’s shoulder.
“Brian, four years ago you introduced Kate to me as the girl of your dreams,” I said, and my face was full of shame. “I offered her a job as a translator, took her to Paris for a week, and slept with her. She broke up with you, and I saw your pain for many years. I don’t know if you ever found out about us.”
Brian nodded with a bitter smile.

“She told me about it, sir,” he said softly. “I loved her too much, and forgave her. I wanted to quit the job, and still wanted to marry her, but she was too distraught, and couldn’t forgive herself for cheating on me with my own boss. But it’s okay, sir. I’m a Christian, and I forgave you. I’m married to another woman now. With twins. Hey, it’s okay, boss.”

“No, it’s not,” I said sadly, and then I did something I wasn’t even aware I was doing.
I slowly got down on my knees in front of them; my heart was breaking.
“I’m sorry, please,” I said in an unsteady voice. “I was a jerk. An unfeeling bastard, a man who went on his way to destroy lives. I know I gave you guys pain, hurt you bad, destroyed your relationship, Brian. I ask for your forgiveness now…I’m so very sorry! Please, find it in your hearts to forgive me!”
I saw tears in their eyes.
“I wanted to kill you, boss,” Brian said and wiped tears from his eyes. “Oh, I so much wanted to shoot you dead and spend the rest of my life in prison. But, your words now have brought a healing to my heart. I’ve been in so much pain since then…but I’m okay now, boss, I’m okay.”
“Thank you, Brian, my brother,” I said in a choked voice and looked at the stunned Kuuku. “Are we fine now, Mr. Dawson?”
He did a strange thing.