HAD I KNOW š§
One
Written by Adeyanju Faith
š§
š§
Othanel is a brave man with many vision that he has not even getting hold of one. In their neighborhood his family are the one of those people with less privilege of living large. They sometimes disguised as a physical challenge personās just to earn extra money for themselves. His Father is the one that do collect all the money they do gather to keep because of the plans they have for the children.
His mother sells Sachet water at the road side during the day along with his two sisters Deborah and Anita. Deborah is 20 years while Anita is 16 years. They were all working earnestly, persistently and pessimistic that one day joy will come. 25 years old Othanel would sometimes work in a car wash station just to earn money as well. He wanted his siblings to go back to school after they dropped out three years ago due to inability to pay their school fees.
Deborah was in 100 level in Auchi polytechnic when her admission got defile due to late payment. While Anita was in Sss I in a public school and had to stop going because of inability to pay. Things were really hard for them that at the end of the day Othanel father left home one day and didnāt return. This got them worried for long until their waiting became futile. They believed he will definitely come back if he is still alive so they moved on with their lives without him.
The most painful part of his abscond that made them realized that he left intentionally was because he cater away with all the money they have been saving all along without leaving a single penny behind. They all cried like mourners when they found out because he jilted them without the fear of God in him. He has forgotten they are all his family, and he just decided to punished them more with his evil act.
However, life goes on again as they canāt sit back wallowing in tears and expectations that he will showed up. They started from the crash and continued their struggles. An incident occurred during the day in Othanelās work station. He got accused for stealing a customers money from his car that he didnāt know about.
āI said I didnāt take it. I swear to God who made me.
His boss didnāt listen to him as they searched him, beat him and abused the heck out of him. He cried, pleaded and non of them refused to believe him.
āThere is nothing you can tell me. You are the one that washed the car and thereās no how the money will disappear without your awareness. I have told you times without number that I donāt tolerate stealing here and it seems you are the one I will use as scape goat to others.
āOga please, I beg you in the name of God. I didnāt steal the money. Iām sure the man must have misplaced it unconsciously thinking he kept it inside the car.
āYou must be very stuupid for saying that. Are you telling me that I donāt know what Iām saying or what? The money I kept inside the dashboard locker this morning before leaving. Just an hour of seating here for my car to be washed, then you took it and claimed you didnāt. You must be very stuupid for saying that! 100 thousand, is 100 thousand a peanut that I wonāt know where I kept it.
The car owner blotted hot at him in annoyance as he paced around pressing his phone. āDonāt worry, Iām sure you will say the truth after getting dealt with by the solderās .
āHaaa sirā¦.sir please I beg you sir. I didnāt do it and Iām swearing with my life that I didnāt steal your money. Please donāt call the solderās for me.ā He pleaded in his crying state.
The man entered his car after calling one of his Army friend to come deal with him. Meanwhile othanel and others were still ranting about the missing money. The man called his wife and explain what happened to her.
āWhy didnāt you call me first honey?.
āHow?ā He asked in a curious response.
āHave you forgotten you told me to take the money you kept in your car in the morning to pay for the bags of rice I wanted to order.
He was shocked and looked through his driver side passenger glass as how the people were looking angry talking to othanel. He whispered to his wife and ask why she will take all the money when he has told her itās 50 thousand he could afford to give her.
āMaybe I didnāt hear you clearly then. But hope they havenāt injured the innocent boy?.
āThey havenātā He lied about it and ended the call. āHow on earth did I forget I sent my wife to take the money. How will it look if I then come out to tell them I was the fĆ“Ć“lĆsh one here. No, I canāt say anything so that I wonāt humiliate myself. Itās better I continue with my actions and then know how to sort it out.
He got down from the car looking sad and shaking his head in annoyance. Othanel boss went to meet him and pleaded that he shouldnāt be offended that he will make sure Othanel pay the money.
āIt is just so annoying. Really annoying! I donāt think I will ever bring my car here to wash again, Never! Look at what your worker did to me this morning when Iām supposed to be on My way to work.
āWe are sorry sirā¦. Please just forgive me for what happened on his behalf. Infact he is already gone from my work this minute. He is no longer working here but I will make sure he paid for it. Pleaseā¦. Please sir.
āIts okay, thereās nothing I can do since he refused to confessed. And I canāt waste my precious time here wasting my saliva with this idioot boy. Justā¦just leave him alone, I leave the money for him but he should remember one thing that I can never see him anywhere in need of help that I Ogunmola will help him!.
The man entered his car hastily and gave Othanel a warning hand before driving out. āDonāt try it again next time.
As he drives on motion he called his Army friend that he shouldnāt bother about coming that the issue has been resolved. He then hit his steering bitterly feeling guilty of what he did after talking to his friend.
āI hope that innocent man will be able to forgive me for what I did.
Tbc.
