FOUR
Customers were trodding in and out of the bank premises. A rustle, chatter, banging on the table and humming of voices could be heard everywhere. Fresh fluorescent light beamed from the roofs and cascade down in bright rays, illuminating everywhere. An air-condition was humming and oozing out cold gusts of breaths.
Nkiru was engulfed in entering some data into the bank software. Her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up. Nonso was at the other end.
‘I need to see you urgently. There are some files I need you to work on.’
‘You need to give me some minutes’
‘Alright’ He said and hung up while Nkiru also put down the phone tiredly. She dipped her legs into her shoes and picked her way tiredly to Nonso’s office. She got to his door and she could hear soft moans emerging. She knocked softly and creaked the door open. The sight she beheld made her retreat, shutting back the door hurriedly. Judith was with Nonso and they were fondling themselves with their mouths glued together in tight kisses.
‘Why didn’t you tell me you were expecting someone?’ Judith queried angrily, buttoning her shirt.
‘ I didn’t expect her.’ Nonso lied.
‘You are such a dickhead Nonso!’ She cursed angrily and left. She walked with heavy footsteps past Nkiru who was still at the door smiling at herself. She didn’t believe Judith of all people could be having an affair with Nonso. Well, that was not her business. She told herself.
‘You can come in.’ Nonso spoke from within.
‘I was waiting for you to finish what you started. Sorry for being an intruder.’ Nkiru said as she ambled in.
‘No problem’
‘Wait Nonso, was that a ploy to get me jealous or something? Because I didn’t know why you called me when you know you are seriously in a business you wouldn’t want anyone to disturb?’
‘Anyhow you want to take. I have this for you’ Nonso threw a file into the table, wheeled his chair round and began to type somethings into his computer. Nkiru picked it up smiling thoughtfully at herself. She walked gently away, shutting the door after her.
‘Good job’ Nonso nodded at himself. ‘Now she will know I am not a boy in this game. He smiled shrewdly at himself, rubbing his hand on his cheeks as if he was pleased with himself for a job well done.
‘I rule the world of girls.’ He bragged, rocking his arm- chair in a satisfied mischief.
Nkiru walked back to her desk and vowed not to talk about what she saw to anyone. She met Judith already sitting in front her desk. She got to her table, pulled her chair and flopped into it. A repentant look had enveloped Judith’s face.
‘I know you will want us to talk about what you saw there’ Judith spoke with a smile to light her face.
‘I have nothing to talk about. You really disappointed me Judith. Nonso of all people. You know that guy is a Casanova. Besides how long has this been going on?’
‘Nkiru. I need a d**k! ‘ Judith submitted.
‘And if you will get that, is it now from Nonso? A guy who left his wife and two kids.’
‘He told me his wife left him.’ Judith cut in.
‘And you bought that?’ Nkiru asked paging the file Nonso had handed over to him absentmindedly and shaking her head. ‘ Wait a minute! What about Abu, the guy from the North?
‘I told you I can’t marry Hausa.’ Judith intoned with a sneer. ‘Though he is a caring and loving guy. But I can’t!’
‘You talk about tribe like it is a disease. You are better educated to understand that tribe doesn’t matter. Marrying from the same tribe doesn’t guarantee peace and joy in your home. I still wonder why someone like you still talk about tribe in this twenty-first century.’What about you Nkiru?’ Judith asked after observing Nkiru for a while. ‘Do you really enjoy your marriage? You don’t look like your old self. You hardly make your hair or face these days. What is wrong Nkiru?”
‘I am really enjoying my marriage, Judith. It is just the devil that has vowed to rear up his ugly head.’ Nkiru showed a smile.
‘You keep saying the devil every time, when the man is busy making a mess of your life. You better start showing him that you are not a fool yourself. See babe, Men are evil. There is nothing to be pitied about them. Once a man is not worth a man, dump him. Can you imagine? I know how you started with that your guy. He was just a youth corper. Eeh, a boy you made a man now treating you like this. I will not take that shit if I were you Nkiru. You are just too cold for my liking.’
‘There is something you don’t understand.’ Nkiru began softly. ‘Every man is possessed of something. Either the holy or evil spirit. Fighting him is like fighting shadows. You have to fight that devil that has possessed him and not him. When you pray that your enemies should die, is it the people that you pray to fall and die? It is the evil spirit in them. When you fight your husband or your wife, you are fighting the wrong person and the devil is happy with that. Leave your spouse and begin to fight the devil himself and soon you will see the battle is yours.’ Nkiru preached passionately and Judith couldn’t help but sigh down. Those words seemed to pierced into her heart. But there was a sneer on her face like she wasn’t all taking those religious hoax.
‘Remember all men are not perfect.’ Nkiru added ‘ And neither you nor me. So let’s keep praying for our spouses.’ Nkiru concluded. Judith rose in sullen admittance, adjusted her skirt and turned to leave.
‘Think about Abu’ Nkiru added. ‘ I somehow like the guy.’
Judith nodded, smiled and walked away. Nkiru glanced at her watch. It was 5:30pm. She concluded it was about time she broke her fast. She dipped her hand into her bag and brought out a wrapped plate of fried yam and tomatoe sauce. She ate hungrily, thanking God for another successful day.
To be continued………
ยฉ Emmanuel Erondu,
