I’m Vengeance - S01 E07

2 years ago

I’m Vengeance - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

My siblings later left for their business while I laid on the bed and Desmond slowly entered, seeing him I faced the wall immediately because he was already pissing me off. He knelt beside the bed pleading but I kept deaf ears to all he said,

“I’m sorry, I know you’ll hate me now but trust me I didn’t plan for this to happen. Love please talk to me, he said and it was like he was talking to himself, when he got tired he stood up and left.

I kept him silent that way for days while my siblings asked me to rest at home, but how can I rest? Where will the money fall from so we can feed?

Immediately the 200,000 naira landed in my account from my siblings, I hit the street as fast as I could to see how I can help myself. But on the way I had a call from the owner of the shop asking me to pack out because I was owing her for about 3 months after my rent expired.

I pleaded with her to please give me some time and am on the way to the market to stock the shop but she dared me not to try her else she will throw it all out. The very first time Joan was not able to pay the shop rent for the years I’ve been there is making this woman convulse like this? I checked the money I had with me and began to cry silently. 20,000naira was left in the account I intended to manage while I’ll trade with the 200,000 that was given to me, but the shop rent, what will I do? I calculated and calculated endlessly until I began to feel dizzy, then I called back the woman and she picked up,

“Ma I’ll be bringing the shop rent tomorrow, I told her.

“See Joan I want to increase the rent or will you pay? She asked.

“Ahh increase? Ma what have I ever done to you? Why do you want to frustrate me? I want to pay the shop rent and you want to increase has this ever happen before? I don owe you before! I shouted forgetting I was in a truck.

“Then leave na! Na your thing? Pack your things and leave o and watch me give out that shop in a week time. 15,000 naira has been added to the rent whether you like it or not, pay and stay or you go! She shouted back and dropped the call and I saw myself crying in the truck.

“What will you do now? My fellow market women asked and I just shook my head very speechless.

“I don’t know what to do and I can’t afford that rent, I replied.

“See Joan in case you don’t know, the price of things has increased in the market and if you don’t carry enough cash it may not work out, I’ll advice you switch business for now, one told me.

“But what will I do now na? This is what I’ve been doing for years and am on the road now to the market will the transport waste?, I frustratedly asked.

“Is there no any other business you know how to do so you’ll start now and plan? someone else asked and I remembered when I dropped out of school I was helping a woman to sell clothes before I saved up and began my market business and I told them.

“Good, I know a friend who sells good okrika clothes in bells, I can call her up and tell her someone is coming now, its not that far from where we do purchase things, the woman said.

“Okay and where will I sell? I asked.

“On the road or get a small shop na, will you drop now and go back home without achieving anything? Someone else asked and I heaved. Hmmmm Joan you’ve suffered but what could I do? I had to accept and I got the woman number and called and she directed me to where she sells.

I dropped first from the truck and thanked the market women as I sadly located the woman and got confused on how many bags to get when I don’t even have a shop to begin with. I finally closed my eyes and gave out 150,000naira to get bags of clothes as she kept assuring me she sells quality clothes and I’ll have my gain.

I arrived very tired in the night bringing all the bags home and Desmond surprisedly looked at me as I dragged the bag in all by myself. He offered to help me but I stopped him,

“Love stop it let me help you and why do you have this? He asked.

“Good question Desmond, which money did you give me so I can purchase goods? I asked him.

“Love…….. “Answer my question straight to the point and dont beat around. And for your information Desmond, the shop owner is asking me to pack out because the rent is expired. Will I pay the rent from this 200,000 and still get stuff from the market? Don’t worry Desmond, stay at home and submit applications I will pay the bills okay, I cut him short.

“You think I am enjoying the life I’m living? He asked.

“No Desmond I am the one enjoying it, look at me, I’m still that beautiful Joan right? Just stay clear from me, I replied and proceeded to drag the bags inside.

The next day I went to the shop and saw the shop owner, she came very early to remind me of our earlier discussion and I told her I’ll be leaving.

“Good, tomorrow? She asked.

“No, because I still have few bags to sell and if I don’t finish all of it, I am not leaving, I boldly told her and she looked at me and began to laugh.

“We shall see Joan, she said and left. I heaved and saw I had 2 bags of rice and a bag of beans left in there which I can’t remember the year my shop has been that empty before, then I thought about the bags of clothes I bought. Anytime I think about it I end up having chest pain because I was so scared it may turn out to be something I may not sell, but I had to be optimistic.

My next neighbor asked what I did to the shop owner and I told her I did nothing wrong but only owed her for the very first time, but they advised me to pack out because they don’t like the word the woman used.

“Remember you’re carrying a baby o, that should be your priority, stay away from trouble, the young lady beside me said and I just bowed my head saying nothing. In the afternoon the lady called my name from her shop and I answered her,

“What brand of rice do you have? She asked and I replied her.

“How many bags? The man in her shop asked and I told him 2.

“Okay you’ll buy from her, the lady said. Hey God! The speed I used in running in to drag the bags out was what I can’t explain, and that was how I sold it out to the man and thanked the girl countless times.

“Its nothing, just that I didn’t have the brand he was looking for, what is left? She asked.

“Just a bag of beans and few stuff I can take home and use, I replied.

“Okay I’ll buy the beans from you, the lady said and I weakly looked at her not knowing how to start the thank you. I gave her the bag of beans and called up the shop owner to come get her keys that am leaving,

“I thought you said you are not going out? She asked.

“I can remember I told you until am done selling, so come get your keys, I replied and dropped the call and left to get a taxi to pick the other stuff home…………

I got home and took the few cartons in and met Desmond sleeping with his head leaning on the wall and I saw he’s back from his job hunting. I didn’t bother to wake him up but he woke up and met me,

“You’re back, welcome, he greeted but I only nodded.

“Love how long will we continue this way? I’m trying okay, stop making me look useless. Okay see am back and I haven’t gotten call or interview yet because I am ready to take any Job now, I’m so sorry, he said and I looked at him.

“You’re ready to take peanuts now and its not coming? Wow congratulations you’re doing well, I said and went in and followed me inside.

“Joan…… “Can you please leave me alone? What do you want to tell me again? Eh Love things will be better, I’ll take you round the world, I’ll buy you private jet bla bla, are you saying that to a kid?. Keep it all to yourself okay! I shouted on him.

“So you’ve given up on me already because I am incompetent for now? I thought we are in this together and we will support each other during the trying times? I accept I made a mistake but I had your interest at heart because the business plan was big and would have hit hard, now everything is changed, you don’t love me anymore huh? He asked.

“I wish I can also fold my hands and look you so we can be eating this love and belle full. Our baby is coming, what have we kept on ground to receive our baby? I haven’t even registered for antenatal yet, and you’re standing here talking about love while I take the responsibility of a husband and wife……. “Joan stop breaking me more than I am already, you don’t know what am going through seeing myself in such a state and I’ve decided to go for any job that comes my way now but ask yourself if that pay will foot our bills and make me fulfill the promise I made for you. The sinking of that ship took my life with it but you’re making it more difficult for me with your attitude as if I planned for it to happen! He shouted.

“How did the ship take your life when it was not your sweat? Your kobo was not in it and it was not only the ship that wreck, you wrecked my life with it when you talked me in to give it all without listening to me because you’re the lord of wisdom. Now look at it, Joan doesn’t have a shop, I can’t pay my bills in school and am empty, tell me Desmond is it not enough? How can love be this cruel! I shouted on him back and left the room to get something to eat.

That evening I summoned courage and opened a bag to see lovely baby wears. I screamed in excitement and thought of taking some for my baby but I returned them sadly knowing I needed money now, probably I can shop for that later. Desmond entered and slowly picked 3 from the bag,

“I’ll pay for this, he said and I stretched my hand to get the money.

“How much is it? He asked.

“2000naira, I replied without even settling on the price I’ll be selling them and he gave me the money which I collected and took my calculator to see my profit.

“Love, he slowly called out.

“I’m busy, I replied selecting the clothes I felt worth a particular amount aside and he heaved,

“I’m thinking of going back to the oil mill as a labourer, I’m sorry I put you through so much stress, please let’s stop this fight, he said but I just ignored him and continued on my work, and after a while he left. I hissed when he left and saw there was a tangible profit from a bag, then I folded it up and opened another and saw good jeans, polos and women clothes respectively. I excitedly called the woman back thanking her she gave me the best bell to sell,

“I told you didn’t I? I sell good things, she said.

“Ahh thank you ma, I’ll hit the road tomorrow at all cost to sell and come back again for more, I told her.

“No problem then, I’m at your service anytime, the woman said and I laughed and dropped the call.

I was ready to hit the road the next morning, and I took some baby wears, polos, jeans and women wears into a bag and got them tied for business which I will have to hawk since I don’t have a shop yet. Duke called me on phone after I was done and I had to tell him the latest,

“What! Have you seen a shop yet? He asked.

“Nothing yet o, though I’ll still ask around, I replied.

“Do you have any money with you? He asked and I told him not to bother because I have my plans. I couldn’t bear the thought of my younger ones now taking care of me in a man house, I don’t want to risk them not respecting me anymore. I had to respect myself and cope with whatever situation I find myself now, after all I have been hawking since childhood and I was ready to do it now just to survive.

The next morning I was out with the bag on my head going from street to street and arrived at a market which I was made to pay a little amount so I can keep my bag just on the road to sell. I saw myself back to how I used to be in my teenage age shouting and raising the clothes up and holding passers hands to buy. Sometimes I enter people compound, knock on different doors just to show my wears, and that was how it continued for weeks, and then months and God helping me I was selling.

My goods got finished and I alerted the woman I’ll be coming and asked her to keep good bags for me which she laughed telling me I keep reminding her one particular thing anytime I come to buy. I told her I have to o because that was the only way I can sell and still come back to get more. But that fateful Friday I traveled to get the bags so I can go sell on Saturday, the truck I got in was involved in an accident. Before I got into it, I noticed the driver face was sleepy and I jokily asked him if his wife didn’t let him sleep last night which he laughed telling me to leave him alone. Whatever made him divert into another lane and crashed with a coming bus is what I can’t still explain. I was 7 months pregnant and I fell unconscious.

I woke up in the hospital with bandages on my body and I was confused asking myself what’s going on and my younger sister quickly ran out to tell the doctor I’m awake. But when she left I felt something was missing and I remembered my baby and they immediately walked in,

“Patience, where’s my baby? I asked her and she weakly looked at the doctor………