The Accountant –
EPISODE 9
It was a small room with two doors. They stood in space with a half sized mirror and a hand washing sink. There was enough space for them in there.
Once the door opened and he saw it was Nike, he rushed to the door and shut it. Then he turned around and looked at her, ‘’I want you right now.’’
She didn’t say a word. He didn’t need her to before pulling her closer and began to kiss her again.
They were breaking the rule and they both knew it.
It was a deep wet kiss that took her straight into space. She responded like it was her last kiss on planet earth. Deji untucked her white camisole, slid his right hand into it and reached for her b*****s. Her bra didn’t allow him feel her two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs in full. He had to push it up to make that happen. She knew were this was heading but she made no effort to end it.
It was Nike’s turn to join the party as she reached for his belt, pulled down his trousers and boxers and began to rub fiercely on his already free hardened gala. She was a mavin in the act.
Shortly he reached for her black mini skirt and look straight into her eyes thoughtfully as if to ask for permission. They stared at each other for a moment before Nike finally closed her eyes. That was exactly the response Deji needed in that particular mood. He unzipped the skirt and pulled it down.
She placed her two hands on the sink, and somehow the water stared running. They didn’t care, they were the only ones in the office. Well, they should have, because the running of the water did not allow them hear the footsteps of Doyin who forgot her package in her locker and came back for it.
Doyin picked up the package and was about to leave before she realized a strange sound. She inferred it was the sound of the water running and she headed to the unlocked Ladies.
Deji stumbled on his bed. He realized he had been in His similar situation few weeks ago, but this was worse. Doyin saw them and the look on her face, he could tell, was trouble. She even made the matter worse when she gave neither of the rule breakers a chance to say a word before she zoomed off.
What would he have said? That it was a mistake? That it was the devil’s work like many Africans do after getting caught in a foolish act? Or maybe he was seduced?
He really had nothing to say at that moment, but even he did, the sight of Doyin made him lost his voice. A flash of a certain image on the TV screen brought him back to reality. The face was a familiar one. A royal one. Sitting up from the bed to have a closer look at the TV. The news headline shocked him. It was boldly written just at the bottom of the screen, ‘’OONI OF IFE DIES AT 83.’’
IFE, 1988
‘’The next ruling house is the Ogborus and we expect them to provide the king by fortnight,’’ Akanbi, the
leader of the Afobaje House declared.
The Afobaje House was responsible for determining which one of the four Ruling Houses was to provide
the next king to fill the stool once an Ooni is deceased.
Akanbi was the leader of the Afobaje, so his influence as a kingmaker couldn’t to be over-emphasized.
His position required integrity and respect for the gods, the land, and the commune of Ife-Ooye as well.
Akanbi possessed these attributes, hence the reason why the people believed in his decisions.
His close relationship with Ademuluyi Giesi, a crown hungry fellow, didn’t dissuade him from declaring
the Ogboru House as the next ruling house, while the Adekanbi House would rule after them. Little did
he know that his friend had other plans.
The fire incident at the Ogboru’s family house changed the face of things. The eligibles (as those who
were worthy of being chosen as the king were fondly called in Ife) of the Ogboru Ruling House had
gathered at their family house expecting Ifarotimi before a fire outbreak.
Ifarotimi was the oracle consultant, a duty he inherited from his late father. His services were only needed when important decisions were to be taken. Nothing was more important in this city than deciding the next 401st spirit (Ooni of Ife).
When two or more eligibles of the Ruling House declared their intentions to rule, the revelation of the gods through the oracle consultant was the determinant factor on who to seat on the throne.
The fire incident left the city in a mourning state for few days before Akanbi declared the Adekanbi’s as the
next ruling house.
Having been the architect of the mysterious fire incident at the Ogborus, the Afobaje’s declaration couldn’t have come at a better time for Ademuluyi. But there was only one problem—Obamakin.
Ademuluyi had successfully persuaded the other eligibles to step down for him. Being the richest man in
the Adekanbi’s clan, it wasn’t impossible for him to achieve. Obamakin wasn’t intimidated by his wealth, he was ready for Ifarotimi revelation to decide who the next king was.
Ademuluyi wouldn’t take the risk. Another fire incident would raise suspicion, so he cooked up another plan. His thugs already took out the entire Ogboru’s eligibles, Obamakin wouldn’t be a problem.
Having helped his heavily pregnant wife, Ajike, escaped through the back door, Obamakin bravely fought the Ademuluyi’s men. He was outnumbered and couldn’t over power them. After taking him out, these thugs went after his wife.
They couldn’t catch up with her, but they knew better than to tell Ademuluyi that. Ademuluyi had believed his thugs when they told him they buried the wife in the forest. He didn’t care much about her since his real rival had been confirmed dead. Now nothing could stop him from seating on the throne. He was almost right.
He became king, but his stay was short-lived after he slumped and died 3 months after his coronation. Thus becoming the shortest serving Ooni.
After two days in the forest, Tewetegbo, who was in the Aiyedade forest looking for leaves he has been using for making herbs, found Ajike.
She was looking lifeless and dirty. He realised she was still breathing and took her home.
Ajike was able to speak after few herbal medicine.
She had narrated the whole story to her saviour. Ajike figured out those thugs were sent by Ademuluyi as
a result of the throne rivalry between her husband and him.
Her condition wasn’t good enough, so Tewotegbo allowed her stay with him till at least after her delivery. She stayed in one of the rooms in his house. There was no issue as Tewetegbo was staying alone.
His two sons were both living in Lagos. Their attempts to convince their herbalist father in coming to live
with either of them proved abortive. He always reply them with ‘’the gods want me here in Aiyedade.’’
Nevertheless, they both do visit their father once in a while. Tewetegbo also did the same.
Three weeks into Ajike’s stay, she delivered a baby girl. Tewetegbo would have been more fulfilled if Ajike
had stayed alive to take care of the beautiful creature she delivered. She had gasped her last breath the
second she saw the baby that night. The baby had the Adekanbis’ birthmark which confirmed the story Ajike had told him. He was left with the decision on what to do with the baby.
He, of course, could not look after a day old baby by himself, so one person came to his mind—Awele.
Tewetegbo knew having a dead body in his house was a real mess. He consulted his gods for guidance.
He buried her in the forest they met before the day broke in a furtive manner. Then sent a message
across to Awele through one of her fellow market women who likes going to the market before aurora.
Awele got to his house some minutes later. Tewetegbo filled her in with some details. He gave Awele another version of the whole Ajike story. He thought knowing the original story might freak her out.
Awele was made to know that Tewetegbo had found the infant in the forest couple of hours back. She had believed someone had deliberately abandoned the child there for whatever reason. She agreed to take care of the child and followed Tewetegbo’s instruction as directed by the gods. The high point of it was to make sure the child was raised in Ife. Tewetegbo gave the child a safety inscription at the back her neck.
Awele and the infant, which she later named Olanike, became settlers in Ife-Odua before dusk.
2016
Since the news of the demise of king broke out two weeks ago, it had been the trending topic in the
country. You would barely miss a thing even if you were in no way close to the Ife monarch.
From the traditional newspaper, to the modern social media, it was as if they had nothing else to report
besides the happenings in the city of the 401 deities—Ile-Ife.
The news of insurgency, hyper-rise in dollar and the general increase in the prices of commodities that was threatening the nations’ economy were over-shadowed by the news of the death of Lagbade Lajuwa, the fiftieth Ooni of Ife.
Lagbade was crowned Oba in 2009 after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Iyiola Adelowo. The news of his death was a simple matter of traditional beliefs and procedures clashing with modern technology.
According to the Ife tradition, the Ife High chiefs do not announce the passing of the Oba until certain functions have been carried out. However, it appears that modern technology in the form of the internet and numerous news feeds got a hold of the story and publicised it.
Given that news and general communication in today’s society has been widened to such an extent that
virtually every corner of the earth can now access news, it was apparent that the news was in the public
domain, whilst the chiefs were still conducting their functions.
The city of 401 deities wasn’t done rocking the media. Several reports claimed the burial rites of Oba Lagbade was reportedly been stalled after the Abobaku fled the town.
The Abobaku was the one who dies with the king. He is usually appointed upon a king’s coronation, and has to be buried with the king when he eventually dies. His job was to serve the king here on earth and in the world beyond. The reports were denied by the Ife High Chiefs.
After the Oro festival that lasted seven days ended two days ago, the Ife High chiefs officially announced the passing of Oba Lagbade. That meant the seat of the Ooni of Ife was vacant.
It was only customary for the prospects from the Adekanbi Ruling House to gather at the Ife shrine as
Ifarotimi consulted the gods.
Things took a new turn when Ifarotimi revealed none of the candidates was chosen by the gods to become the next king.
Consequently, a meeting was setup by the High chiefs to invite Ifarotimi, Afobaje and some representatives from the current Ruling Huose—The Adekanbis. The purpose of the meeting was to ask the gods through Ifarotimi on which step to take.
Ifarotimi was at it again. He tapped his finger in the white sand which had on it some calories. The thing
was placed on a clean white garment. After repeatedly tapping the sand and concurrently making some
invocations, he pronounced to the assembly.
‘’The gods revealed that the next is still from the Adekanbi House, but a feminine gender.’’
The whole assembly was shocked by this revelation.
Ifarotimi quickly added to clear their doubts, ‘’this lady is not going to rule, but her husband will.’’
‘’Does that mean the ladies who have come of age should gather and the gods will choose from them?’’
Abigbola, the eldest of the present Ruling House inquired.
‘’Apparently, no. the lady in question does not live in Ife presently. So I’ll suggest we narrow the assembly
down to the eligible ladies residing outside Ife at the moment.’’ Ifarotimi explicated, facing Abigbola.
‘’Abigbola, now it’s your duty to get your women wherever they all are down here as soon as possible.’’
Oyeyemi, one of the High Chiefs prescribed.
Uju had finally gotten answer to her longstanding question. Since Nike came to the branch, he hasn’t been himself. Deji thought.
The confidence he usually displayed on the job has recently dropped. The reason for this can’t be farfetched. Since the incident in the Ladies three weeks ago, he hasn’t seen Doyin.
It turned out she was starting her four weeks leave that very evening. Attempts to reach her proved abortive. Deji needed to know where she stands about the whole thing.
Deji found the situation awkward because many times Doyin had asked him out both directly and indirectly. On each of these occasions Deji had always lecture her on the dangers of office romance.
Clearing some mental space, Deji needed to tell someone about the whole charade, but he wanted to be sure about it. Nike wasn’t even an option, because she made it crystal clear she will never speak to Deji again.
His mind would have been lightened if Doyin hadn’t keep mute since then.
Office romance was a sanctionable offence which could result to outright dismissal. He knew resigning was way better that being dismissed. He needed to settle with Doyin. Only if he could reach her.
Around 2pm that Friday afternoon his phone rang. A glance at it indicated ’Doyin Office.’ Just the person he needed to talk to. He picked up the phone impatiently. Although his office door was shut, he had to stand up to confirm it, then back to his seat before sliding his finger on the phone screen to the green icon to receive the call.
‘’Hello Doyin.’’
‘’Hmm the pretender,’’ Doyin responded from the other end of the line.
‘’C’mon don’t do that. Where are you? Where have you been?’’ he asked impatiently.
‘’Relax Deji. You must have had I’m on holiday. Life’s too short you know. i just came back from South Africa.’’
‘’You mean you’re in Lagos now?’’
‘’Yeah.’’
‘’We need to talk please’’
‘’We do?’’ she asked feigning ignorance.
‘’Of course….’’ He broke off as a knock came on the door. ‘’Please hold on,’’ he whispered to the phone.
TBC
