Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

I was tired about the number of calls I was
getting, even Yewande called me to offer her
condolences. I was waiting for Timi’s call before
I switched off my phone. There was a packet of
cornflakes in the kitchen, I made some for Toun
but she didn’t touch her plate, I could tell she
was weak because she kept sleeping and
waking up.


Finally Timi called.
Me : what did they decide?
Timi : school has been shut down till further
notice, they brought in the police to seal of the
campuses.
Me: When are you coming around?
Timi: very soon…should I get you guys
anything?
Me: Please get valium for Toun..
Timi : The deputy vice-chancellor is missing,
does Jafar know anything about it?
Me : How would I know?
Timi : The police will start raids soon, that place
might not be safe for you..



Arrest was the least of my problems now..
Jafar came into the house some minutes after
4pm; he had dark shades on, so also the guys
that came in with him. Toun was sleeping in the
room, I didn’t want to disturb her so I had
stepped into the Living room where there were
a couple of magazines I flipped through.
Jafar : Tana whats up?
Me : I am good..i want to talk to you
Jafar looked at me, trying to decipher what I
wanted to talk to him about..

Jafar : give me some minutes, you can wait for
me in front of my room..
I did as I was told..
They were talking in hush tones, preventing me
from hearing what they were saying.
Jafar : how is Toun?
Me: she is sleeping..
He opened his door and ushered me in. I
remembered the last time I was in his
apartment, when my life was still normal…I sat
on the only available chair..
Me : where is the DVC?
I wasn’t in the mood to beat around the bush..
Jafar : I don’t know
Me : are you lying to me? Cause I heard the
police will start their raid soon
Jafar : I am not lying to you…
Me: what will we do about the raid?
Jafar : have you eaten?
Me: yes I have
Jafar : Toun?
Me: she isn’t in the mood..
Jafar : what’s her favorite food?
Me : Jafar, what will we do about the raid?
Jafar : just tell me her favorite food
Me : meat…she likes fried turkey meat…



He made a call as he pulled his shirt; he was left
with his singlet and slacks.
Jafar : You shouldn’t be worried about the raid,
we would have it sorted out..
Me : what of Eli, where is he?
Jafar : He is in Ijebu-Igbo, moves around with
twenty guys, fully equipped.
Me : he is after your neck too?
Jafar : Yes, it’s a matter of time before the real
storm arises..
Me: I heard the elections have been cancelled
and school shut down?
Jafar : yap, students are leaving towns in
droves..
Me : you were at the park?
Jafar : times like this, each group places
informants at the parks in Ijebu-igbo and Ago-
iwoye. Any body seen trying to leave town will
be brought down, your group or theirs.
Me: why?
Jafar : For a member of one’s group to try to
skip town, its cowardice. For the other group,
it’s the easiest target.
Me : what of those that would want to leave
town with private cars?
Jafar : There are only two routes into Ago and
Igbo, through Ode or Ilesan….
Me : oh…
Jafar : Toun will eat soon, I hope you know
where her folks reside?
Me : Yes..
Jafar: because she is leaving town tonight…
Me: how?
Jafar: ‘Last-Born’ will take her, he is the guy you
spoke to this morning..you would be going
too…
Me : I don’t want to go yet, I owe it to
Abayomi…but Toun is unstable…so I think it’s a
good idea…but you said any confra guy leaving
town will be felled?
Jafar : Last-Born is a smuggler, when would you
go?
Me : when you take care of Eli..
Jafar : it’s going to get really bloody, miss.
Reports have it that the government is
releasing weapons to Eli’s people..
Me : I am stubborn o…just so you know..
Jafar : oh….that I know…
Jafar left shortly, leaving me with Toun and the
strangers in the house. Luckily, Timi came
around. He wasn’t allowed inside the
apartment, I had to meet him outside. After
dropping off the bags he brought, we sat in his
car.
Timi: its crazy out there mehn, the garage is
filled with students, transport fare to Lagos is
now 700 bucks
Me: so I heard
Timi: They are killing themselves anyhow, it has
never been this bad.


My heart started beating again, I had lost
Abayomi, I didn’t want to lose Jafar.
Timi: You have to leave this place soon..
Me: I can’t, I can’t just leave town..
Timi : I am not saying you should leave like
that, but staying here aint the best right now.
Me: you think so yh?
Timi: I have some friend in TASUED, they can
take care of you…
Me: Jafar will be taking Toun to Lagos tonight.
Timi: driving her down himself?
Me : Nope, a friend of his would be taking her.
Timi : are you sure it’s safe? Do you know the
guy?
Me : barely, but I trust Jafar..
Timi smiled…
Timi: I know you do..i miss you dear..
Me: I keep thinking of Abayomi..
Timi: I do too..please say me well to Toun.

After a few more bants, he left. I kept thinking
of what Timi said about my leaving the house
and it made sense. But my guts kept telling me
to stay. When I got back in, Toun was eating
the turkey Jafarhad gotten for her, she hugged
me when I approached her.
Toun: sorry, I know it has been had on you too
Me: its okay, you are very strong. Just be strong
for us..please..
Toun: I will try?
Me: Jafar and I feel it’s better you go to Lagos
tonight. At least till it cools off..
Toun: what of you?
Me: I will wait behind, till Eli is sorted out.
Toun: are you sure?
Me: yes dear..Timi brought our stuffs, so I will
help you pack, just eat and rest..
Toun: you are a darling my dear.
Me: I love you.
Toun: why is Jafar?
Me: he went out but he has arranged for your
transportation.
Toun: so gist me, what is the latest?
Me: National is dead, Dvc is missing..Timi said a
couple of other deaths..
Toun: hmmmm, I am only concerned about Eli..
Me : me too..


I was glad Toun was sounding alright, I didn’t
need to give her the valium anymore. She went
into the bathroom to take her bath, Toun likes
crying in the bathroom, so I eavesdropped to
make sure she didn’t break down in there. Just
as I suspected, she started crying again.


Around 8pm, Last-Born came to knock on the
door, he informed Toun it was time for the trip
to Lagos.
Toun: Thank Jafar for me, and promise me you
will come to my house when this is all over?
Me: promise, my love.

We hugged again, then she left in a blue
Primera.