Must Read: Life

7 years ago

Must Read: Life

‘Never find fault in a mad man; he who does is himself insane.’ YTC. 010.

Ola was confused. His brain was as dry as a pikestaff. He was short of ideas. He sat on the floor of his room wondering why his only source of happiness was being threatened by this devil of a man called Mr Adebesin. Throughout the day, nothing passed into his stomach.

Funmi was reluctant to go with her boss to the luncheon. She had wanted to damn the consequences and refuse totally but after the call to Ola, she felt a little bit of relief as she prepared for the luncheon.

Mr Adebesin came to pick her up at the appointed time he was astonished as she shone radiantly in the black dinner gown she wore. She draped a black shawl over her shoulders, her hair was encased in a black skull cap and her feet dwelled in a medium heeled black slip ons. She had never been a fan of make ups, hence, she was natural beauty at its peak. ”Shall we go?” he said stretching his hand towards her. She ignored it and walked towards the car.

At the luncheon, she lost interest in everything as her mind told her that her fiance would be in the worst of moods but here she wad sitting uselessly in front of these pot bellied old and young fools. She declined everything she was offered saying she was alright. At long last, it was over and by 6 p.m, she was at home. She called Ola and asked if she could still come over, he said she needed to rest that he will call her later. He was alright and at Daniel’s. He would be back at the programme they would have the following day.

Ola had called Daniel sounding embittered. ”Ol boy, how are you? This one you are sounding like you lost your wife. Is everything okay? How is Funmi?” Daniel had asked without waiting for a reply.

Ola explained what happened during the week and Daniel had laughed at him. He asked him to come over and they would work out a solution. Ola had changed his clothes, jumped into his car and drove down to Ikeja.

There was a knock on the M. D’s door early the following Monday morning. ”Yes, come in.” Mr Adebesin had said. The door opened and two people walked in hand in hand and dropped two envelopes on his table. They sat down and watched the expression of surprise and gloom on his face as he read the two letters.
”Are you trying to blackmail me?” he asked in fear. The man replied
”It’s not a blackmail sir, we have copies of those letters with us and we will forward them to the headoffice before close of work today. We need to resign our appointment but when we are asked why, we will tell them it’s because you had threatened us with the sack. Why? They will ask again and we will tell them that it’s because Funmi here refused to sleep with you.”

Mr Adebesin was shocked. He was in a tight corner. These guys had won. If they resign, they will get better offers elsewhere especially Ola. He was one of the most sought after faces in the communication industry. Funmi too will get a job anywhere. She is rightly qualified. But if they go, he (Mr Adebesin) will be fired because his past will be unearthed. No! He won’t allow them ruin him, these smartasses!
”Okay, what do you two want?” he asked.
‘It’s simple, just lemme be and leave us alone!” Funmi spat at him.
”If that’s all, it is granted. I wish you both a happy married life when the time comes.” He said resignedly as he watched the couple walk out of his office grinning from ear to ear.

Funmi was at home on a Saturday evening. The look she wore said that she wasn’t in any way alright. She had been calling Ola since the previous day and his number was switched off. She had called Daniel who said he hadn’t heard from him. Tutu had said the same thing when contacted. She was restless. She got into her car and drove towards the Third Mainland bridge. She is going to his parents’ place. She did not want to scare them with calls until she was sure. Her parents were out of town. As she approached the bridge, her phone rang. It was Daniel calling. She parked well and picked the call. ”Hello Funmi,” Daniel said calmly.
”Hello, have you heard from him?” she screamed into the phone her heart beating madly.
”Yes. He is at the Ikeja General Hospital. He was coming to my place when he had a minor accident. But he is fine. Wiill you meet me there?”
Funmi never bothered to answer the question as she engaged the gears of her Toyota RAV4 and sped towards the direction of the hospital…..