Infinite Love 52

May the ties that bind us never break 2

Princewill always believed that he would make an awesome; villain. It was in his nature. He was more predator than prey. More cunning than kind and definitely more sadistic than sympathetic.

But the casting directors were right. He was a handsome man with the face of an angel and so he was typecasted to playing heroic protagonists, chivalrous male leads that rescues the damsels and saves the day. Even though he had never cared about anyone but himself nor had he ever done anything for anyone else and whoever dared cross his paths he took pleasure in dealing with them.

Today, he had dealt with Michael whats-his-name the boy that Angela had been seeing for weeks now. He had never liked that a commoner was going out with his costar. He just wasn't worth her status besides he didn't like the guy. How could a broke, plain-looking nobody nab the guy he had been failing to nab for months now. He initially thought that Angela would snap out of whatever spell he had cast on her but as the days rolled into weeks, he only saw her looking more radiant and happier as their relationship continued. It was so inappropriate. She had him Princewill Onwunali a celebrity and Nigerian sweetheart. The hearthrob of all Nigerian women some of whom would give up their kidneys to go on a date with him and she snobs him and dates that guy? Oh, it was unnatural and unacceptable.

Initially, he had talked to her about her shameless fraternization but she boldly turned him saying all sorts of rubbish that the guy was "kind and generous" and that he should "mind his own business". Absolute balderdash, broke people can't be generous. They have nothing to give! But after all his concerns had been shoved and dismissed by her, he realised that she would never listen to him. She even insulted him on one occasion. She just didn't trust him. He almost gave up but the thought of his costar ending up with a commoner when he was available could rob off negatively on him. Single costars without family ties work best together and more importantly, he just didn't like that Michael guy. No particular reason except that he didn't like his cool confidence. Lesser mortals should always submit themselves and worship their betters and not be confident about anything in their lives. So he gave up talking to Angela and came up with another strategy, he would talk to Michael himself.

...

Filming had begun and Princewill and Angela had already shot many scenes that they were proud of, in a few minutes she was expecting Michael to come pick her up, they had a date. They had one every Friday for weeks now. It started when she asked him when next he would be taking her out again and he said;

"Friday of course, its the most romantic day of the week!"

She didn't know particularly why it was romantic but she liked that he said it. He showed up on time as usual and as she ran up to him she noticed something slightly off about him.

"Hey."

"Hey, you!" he responded.

"Is everything alright?"

"Wha...?"

"Its just that you look...a bit..."

"Angela? Can I see you in my office for a second please?"

"Please wait for me. I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere." and with that she left for the director's office. Michael was taken aback my her. He had learned to hide his emotions well for his family's sake and overtime noone ever seemed to notice his moods but she did, and it surprised him and delighted him because she cared enough to notice. He surprised him that visiting his dad's old airport still bothered him. But he wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about it just yet.

"Hello, Michael, right?" it was after the second calling of his name before he noticed Angela's usually snobby costar was nearly before him and talking to him.

"Erm, yes, sorry. Yes, my name is Michael."

"Splendid, my name is Princewill Onwunali."

"Yes I know sir. Good afternoon." he said taking his hand.

Infinite Love 53

The Prince Uncharming

"So Michael, what do you do?"

"I…run a drycleaning shop sir." He really wasn't in a talking mood he had things on his mind but he was trying his best to be polite as this was Angela's costar.

"A dry…cleaning shop? So you're a drycleaner huh?" he asked exaggerating his feign surprise.

"Yes sir. I dryclean shirts, suits and African attires very nicely. If you ever need my services just let me know. I'll give you a good discount."

"I see." Princewill said dryly.

"You look surprised, sir."

"Well, yes. I didn't know that you were a drycleaner, I thought you were an okada rider."

"Oh no. The Okada isn't mine, I borrowed it. Angela told me she liked it and so I have to borrow it a lot."

"So, that piece of ju…I mean that motorcycle isn't even yours!" he gasped. Princewill couldn't believe his ears.
"What does Angela see in this dude? How can she be with such a poverty-stricken nobody?" he thought.

"No, sir. Like I said its not mine. But hey, if you ever need an okada rider I know some great guys I could send over." he offered.

"Thanks, I have a car." he said dryly.

Michael didn't know how much more of this he could stand. He was used to people looking down on him, he usually never cared but today he just had too much on his mind and Angela's colleague was not even trying to hide his dislike towards him even though he was being very patient and polite. He wished the guy would say what he wanted to say and leave him alone.

"So, what are your plans with Angela?"

"Sorry?"

"I mean, you and Angela, is it serious?"

"Umm."

"Your relationship I mean. Is it serious?"

"Oh! Well, I'm going to marry her someday!"

Princewill turned to look him squarely in the face to see that he wasn't kidding. He couldn't believe the gall of this drycleaner to believe he could marry a superstar, a celebrity when he couldn't even afford the rickety Okada outside. Michael just stared back nonchalantly.

"Listen, Michael, I like you" he didn't believe that for a second "I'm sure that…you're a nice guy and…you obviously care about Angela…a lot. But you need to understand something. You see, the two of you come from two different worlds, two different…"

"You mean that she's a successful actress and I'm a drycleaner." he said.

"Yes."

"But we don't care about that so it's not a problem."

"She may not care but you should, if you really care about her."

"What do you mean?"

"As a successful actress she has a certain image that the public expects of her. She's expected to be seen with some kinds of people and in some kinds of cars, it adds to the glamour of her. If people keep seeing her on Okada's, with drycleaners it could hurt her image, and in this business, Image is everything. If you really care about her, you would do the right thing for her."

"So you're saying that... Angela should be dating someone like you?"

"No, no my dear boy. I'm saying that Angela should be dating someone more her speed.. "

"Like you?"

"...for her career's sake..."

"Like you?"

"...the entertainment world practically expects it..."

"Like you?"

"YES! Like me! Listen to me Michael. The entertainment world today is dog-eat-dog, to survive actors have to go to extremes before they even gey the recognition they deserve. Even me? If it wasn't for my parents money backing me up I wouldn't even be here right now. Actors need great amounts of support in terms of money, publicity and image. Which of these can you exactly offer Angela? Think about it! You may think I'm a baf person or whatever you like but I'm being honest with you. By dating Angela you're doing her more harm than good. You think about it. I know you'll do the right thing. "

Michael paused as Princewill walked away. He could feel Michael thinking about it. He grinned slightly. He always knew he was better as a villain. He could always detect anyone's weaknesses and he spotted Michael's from afar. Honest and loyal to a fault. The kind of person who would put others needs before hinself. Not like him, Princewill always took care of numero uno. Angela came out of Mr Adebayor's office and met Princewill.

"What was all that about? Telling oga that I was moving in bad company?"

"Hey I was just looking out for you. It's commonin this business to fall into the wrong crowd" he feigned innocence.

"Listen, Will. Michael is not like that. And anyways its none of your business. So stay out of my personal life."

"Well, if you say so. I will." He feigned honesty.

"I do. Goodbye"

"Goodbye, Angela. Be careful on that Okada. You hear?" She ignored him.

"Can you believe that guy? Reporting me to the director. Who does he think he is?" She said when she got to Michael but he was deep in thoughts.

"Michael? Michael, what's wrong?"

"No...erm nothing. Shall we go?"

As he lead away she noticed Princewill watching her leave, smiling that crooked smile of his. And she knew that something was definitely wrong.

Infinite Love 54

May The Ties That Bind Us Never Break 3

As he flipped through the pages he made sure that he touched each page with the palm of his right hand. He did that with every single page and then he sprayed the front, middle and back of the book with his Hugo Boss 112 perfume.

The book was one of his favorites and he had chased down this old copy from one of the bookshops on Tejuosho street to the old bookstores by the CMS library on Lagos Island. When he found the book; 'Enemies in Love' by Alexis Clarke, he almost jumped for joy because he had nearly given up, before he found this second hand one with slight dog ears on the pages. He liked second hand books. He found them quaint and full of mysteries about their previous owner. He smelt the back of the spine and could only vaguely detect the whiff of his perfume so he sprayed it again. He wanted her to be able to smell it, to smell him whenever she held it. He took his pen and wrote;

"Whenever you flip through this book and pause, know that my hand was there and everytime you place your hand on any page you are placing your hand over mine and we will always be connected.

Love,

Michael."

He signed it and smelled it once again and detected his perfume this time.

"Why are you smelling the book, Michael?" Dayo asked and came to sit right beside Michael at the foot of his drycleaning shop.

"Nothing, I was just...nevermind. Hey aren't supposed to be at work."

"I am, but I got tired of it. I have been tring personel for over two weeks now."

"What! You're in training? I thought you were in the front desk attending to customers?"

"Yes, I was but after the riot and the missing money they decided to put me to training bank staff on software applications."

"Wait, how much was missing and what riot are you talking about? How did that happen?"

"Well, all through the week I was at the front desk the customers kept complaining that I was either too slow or non responsive and so on and so forth. So I might have told a few of them to stop pestering me and things sort of escalated from there to a riot of customers in the bank. The security men managed to save the situation, thank God. Oh, and I may have wrongly transferred nearly two million naira into the wrong account but no harm done, my supervisor and I managed to get the money back in total."

Michael wanted to gasped in shock but air wouldn't come out of his lungs. He always knew that Dayo working in a bank wasn't a good fit, Dayo was not very good with people, in fact he didn't like people and so front desk in a bank was like putting a square peg into a round hole. And the worst thing was, he didn't even seem phased by it all. It was a miracle that he wasn't fired and he couldn't care less. Michael didn't have the energy to try to make him realise how grave his errors were so he just kept his mouth shut and looked into the distance.

"Is the book for Angela?" Dayo asked soon after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah, we went out last Friday because I had promised to show her some of the best places in Oyingbo for shopping and eating but I don't think she enjoyed it very much."

"Why not?"

"Because I was distracted. Somebody said something that really upset me and I couldn't get my mind off it. She noticed though and asked me about it several times but I didn't want to say anything to her. It would only make matters worse. Anyway, I got her this..." and he waved the book in front of his friend "...and I hope it will make up for our last outing. I can't wait till friday when I see her to give it to her. I think she might really like it."

"I think she'll love it." Dayo said matter-of-factly shocking Michael.

"She's a girl. And you're giving her a book about love. You're basically saying that you love her. Chicks dig that." Michael hadn't of it that way. But more importantly, he was shocked that Dayo knew anything about girls. He always assumed that his best friend was an emotionless robot who didn't know females besides his mom and sisters existed.

"Am I really saying I love you by giving her this?" he asked hesitanly.

"Sure! What's the problem? You love her, don't you?"

"You know I do."

"So, give it to her. But don't wait until next week to give it to her. Chicks lov surprises. Go to her house uninvited at a time when she will most likely be at home and not busy and give her the book and then take her out."

"Yeah, I could take her to the cinemas. They're showing cool Nigerian romantic movies these days."

"That's a bit pricey, Michael. Are you bouyant enough for that?" and he watched his friend search fruitlessly for enough cash in his wallet.

"No, I guess not." and the cloud of what Princewill had said to him earlier bothered him again and he sigh "If only my customers paid on time then I would have a chance to really treat her to something special."

"But that's no problem. I could give you some cash." and Dayo began to open his wallet but Michael turned him down.

"No, man. Thanks but that wouldn't be necessary."

"Why not? You just said that you wanted to take Angela out to the movies and that you needed money."

"I know...but I shouldn't have to depend on you for money and besides, you have already done so much in helping me with Mamas hospital bills."

"And I was glad to do it. I could help you again with some right now I don't mind. Why are you refusing my help?"

"It's not like that bro. My dad raised me to stand on my own, he would be disappointed if I depended on my best friend to hand me cash whenever I was short."

"But your father isn't here. He's gon.."

"I KNOW! I KNOW THAT! YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ME!"

Dayo kept silent. Michael never lost his temper with anyone and he was sure that he had said the wrong thing even if he didn't fully understand what he said that was wrong.

"Look...Dayo, I'm sorry I yelled. Thank you for all your help but right now I don't need it."

"Okay. And about your dad...I didn't mean to..."

"I know you didn't, I'm sorry but please let's just drop it."

Infinite Love 55

Dayo Vs Martins

Dayo kept silent. Michael never lost his temper with anyone and he was sure that he had said the wrong thing even if he didn't fully understand what he said that was wrong.

"Look...Dayo, I'm sorry I yelled. Thank you for all your help but right now I don't need it."

"Okay. And about your dad...I didn't mean to..."

"I know you didn't, I'm sorry but please let's just drop it."

The silence grew between them till Michael was sorry for yelling at his best friend. He knew for a fact that Dayo was only trying to help and he couldn't have realised what was bothering him as he hadn't told him about what Angela's costar had said to him. It bothered him more than he cared to admit even to himself. He knew that Princewill didn't like him one bit. Since he and Angela had been going out, not once did the guy ever properly respond to his greetings or even acknowledge him, so he knew whatever came out his mouth was bound to hurtful as he was obviously nurturing some grudge with him. But the point he made, that their relationship could somehow be detrimental to Angela's carrier was unshakable.

"Is that really true?" he thought.

He wanted to dismiss it and yet he couldn't bring himself to. He wanted to share it with Dayo but his recent indifference to human emotion and his trivializing of serious matters discouraged him from doing so. He would probably dismiss Princewill's objection, which was logically but then Dayo never truly factors consequences in his considerations. The best person that would truly know about this was Angela and even though he had tried to hide it from her, she was already suspecting was up with her numerous questions lately. He decided to ask her as subtly as he could when next they met without raising suspicions about her costar. He really didn't want to be the source of friction between her and her colleagues. Hopefully, she would be able to put his mind at rest and they could move forward from there.

"So, are you really not going to take any money from?" Dayo asked again pulling him out of his thoughts.

Michael smiled. Dayo's character was fraught with many bad qualities; he could be curt, with an annoying indifference and a quick disregard for social norms and etiquettes but one of his few outstanding qualitites was that he genuinely didn't care about money. You could ask him for any amount and he would give you without asking for gratitude. Anyone could ask him for his life savings and as long as he believed their need was genuine, he could that person his life savings. Michael knew that accepting the money from him would be so simple, like water under the bridge and forgotten instantly by Dayo but he still couldn't. Not unless he had a genuine reason he wouldn't take money even from Dayo.

So, instead he said; "Thanks man, you're a generous person but I can't take your money, not now anyways. But thanks."

"'O-kay." He shrugged "hey, maybe a few of your customers will be by to pay you what they owe."

And with that, as if on cue, Inspector Martins showed up coming towards them.

"Oh no." Michael groaned the last time Dayo and Martins were at his shop they nearly had a scuffle and he had to separate them, which was difficult even though he had other people to help him.

"Dayo, please just be cool." he said quietly.

"Me? Oh, don't worry." he responded and Michael almost believed him if he not for the growing forrow in his brow.

"Ah, hello Mike, how far now?"

"I'm fine officer, how you dey?"

"I'm good, thank God. Yes, have you finished those clothes I gave you?"

"Yes, he has finished and from which pocket are you going to bring out his payment, if I may ask?" Dayo spat out.

"Wha...wetin you talk?"

"Nothing! He no dey talk to you, oga. Na me im dey talk to. Oya make we go inside abeg." and with that, grateful that Martins hadn't heard Dayo, Michael practically dragged Martins into his shop in order to avoid any fracas between the two.

"Here are your clothes."

"Okay, thank you. I go see you later." and Inspector Martins swiftly about sprang out of Michael's shop trying to avoid payment again. He was already out and leaving when Michael said;

"Ah, ahn, oga. No be our agreement be this now."

"No worry, no worry, Mike. I go see you later, next time ugh..."and he touched the tip of his tongue with his forefinger in a gesture of solemn oath.

"But I already explained everything to you last time and you swore that time that you will pay me my money. How I go get all the chemicals and everything wey I dey use for your clothes now"?

"Michaeli, no worry. I say, no worry next I swear."

"NO SWEAR ANYTHING FOR HERE! WE NO WANT YOUR SWEARING! PAY MY FRIEND HIS MONEY NOW NOW!" Dayo spat springing to his feet.

"Who be dis frog?" Martins asked incredulously and Michael quickly tried to calm his friend down.

"Dayo abeg calm down."

"Hey, you dis skinny frog, you have better listen to your friend if you don't want me to match you flat."

"I no fear you jor. All this pockets wey dey your body, open one and bring my friend money now now!" Dayo said pointing to the numerous pockets on Officer Martin's uniform. He was wearing one of his trademark commando styled uniforms with many pockets and gadgets that gave others the impressiono that he was a seriously competent policeman. But that particular uniform was one of his favorites precisely because of its many pockets were he could stuff his bribe money since policemen weren't allowed to carry bags.

"Hey, you. This is your last warning. If you don't keep quiet, I will deal with you here now now."

"Dayo, calm down now calm down." Michael was seriously concerned about Dayo's safety he knew corrupt policemen like Martins usually didn't hesistate to harm innocent citizens but Dayo just seemed hell bent on getting a beating.

"Chill now. He will pay me just calm down." He was holding his friend by the arm and trying desperately to drag into his shop and out of harm's way. "He will pay me, come inside. He will pay me, don't worry."

Dayo spun around to face Michael.

"No, Michael he won't! This guy is the worst. You know he usually harasses drivers for money on the Lagos - Apapa Expressway right?"

"Yeah." Michael eyed Martins to see his reaction to Dayo's statement and his eyes seemed twitch with a vein popped up in his forehead.

"Two weeks ago, him and his fellows were collecting their usual bribes from Danfo drivers. But one particular driver refused and they started arguing with him and that caused a hold up. They wouldn't let him go or allow anyone else pass until he had paid them and that was how we were stuck there for several minutes until armed thugs came. They started robbing everyone inside the stranded buses and this guy and his men ran away when they came."

"IS A LIE!" Martins blurted out interrupting Dayo but thought to himself;

"Apapa boys no dey joke again o! Their guns na die! I must be careful in that area."

"I'M NOT LYING! YOU RAN AWAY! Michael they away, and left us there with no help at all until those boys left. I was robbed and I got to work late because of him. And the worst part was, I still saw him there the next day collecting bribes. He will never pay you because he is absolutely shameless."

"Me? I will break your head now now!" And he deftly kicked Dayo in the legs tripping him and when he was down he removed a club to hit him with but Michael stood in his path shielding his friend from harm. And holding back officer Martins.

"Michael, comot for road make I kill this guy." he said desperately trying to club Dayo who was now able to get on his feet thankfully and able to run away.

"Useless policeman, you no deal with Apapa boys, you run. Na me wey be innocent person you wan deal with.!" Michael, couldn't believe his ears, he was barely holding back Martins who had clearly gone mad with rage and Dayo instead of running away, was still standing there and talking back. For a minute he also wanted to club Dayo on the head.

"You still dey talk abi? YOu still dey talk." And he stepped to look for something more deadly to damage Dayo with. Michael, grateful that Officer Martins keeps his AK47 rifle at the station whenever he came to the shop, used the opportunity to push his friend into the shop and lock him inside there and threw the keys into the shop through the window so that Officer Martins wouldn't be able to open it.

"HEY! OPEN THAT DOOR!" he barked.

"I don't have the keys, it is inside." Michael responded. He went to the window and shouted.

"You, I must make sure say, I kill you today!"

"And you, I must make sure say dem fire you comot for police work!" Dayo barked back fearlessly.

"ME!!!" he gasped and removed one of the windows and tried to throw it at Dayo but Michael took it from his hand at the last minute even it cut four of his fingers in doing so.

"I'm sorry sir but you can't do that." he said politely enraging Martins even more.

"ARE YOU CRAZY?"

"No, sir. I just don't want you to kill my friend."

"GIVE ME RIGHT NOW!"

"I'm sorry sir but no."

"I SAID GIVE ME!"

"No, sir."

"GIVE ME!"

"No, sir. Sorry sir." And Martins finally said to the direction of the windows.

"I will catch you some other time." and he dragged Michael by his trouser belt to the station for obstruction of justice.

oga martins abeg no vex me oooo, pay Dayo him money na ..... abey wetin dey sup.

Hey guys,

What's up? It's your favourite lazy writer here. I recently continued my journey on the Infinite Love Novel.

Hope you'll join me.

Cheerio!

Infinite Love 56

All That Glitters

Mrs Nwolisa was deep in thougt as she prepared the Okra for Oha soup. The Okra was a nice one fresh from some far in the outskirts of Lagos or maybe grown in Ibadan or Ogun State.

She and her daughter loved Oha but their neighbourhood in the deep part of Lagos Island made it nearly impossible to get the much needed ingredients. They could barely get fresh fish at the many supermarkets surrounding them, only frozen foods. It was always the frozen stuffs. Frozen chicken, frozen turkey, frozen this and frozen that.

"All these frozen frozen kwanu! Do they want to freeze our intestines?!" She had exclaimed on one of their first supermarket runs when they first got to their new location. When they first moved to Isaac John Street with the money from her daughters new job contract she was full of praise and thanksgiving songs. The streets were clean with immaculate street lamps and surrounded by big houses cordoned off by even bigger fences some Angela had told her were electric fences that could shock someone to death if the person rest on them.

"Tufiakwa!"

The ocean breeze too were so chilling. She had told Angela that there was no need to have a fan in the house from all the natural sea breezes they got from the nearby Atlantic ocean but Angela only laughed and still bought them standing fans and airconditioners saying;

"Mama, it is just how things are done here."

Yes, indeed Agatha Nwolisa was a content woman. She was living the life that most Nigerians chase all their lives and never see, but she was living it comfortably. Every morning she was drinking water that shone like freshly washed jewelry and in the afternoon she would drink orange water that tasted sweeter than all the oranges she had ever eaten in her life. No more fetching water from the borehole and taking turns to bath in the communal bath, her bath water hot and cold now ran for her in a big china tub in their bathroom. And a television like none she had ever seen before, it was flat and thin like a plank and Angela connected the wire TV for her. It showed more than thirty channels Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and English. In the begining, her new trouble was learning to change the channel, then it became which programs to watch, until she found out disappointedly that only about four programs were worth her time.

Agatha could not keep all this to herself of course. Afterall, your joy was not complete until you rubbed it someone else's face. And so with her new telephone not like the one Papa Angela used to have shouting "GRRN GRRN" on the table when he used to work at the NPA. No, this one was smaller and one hand could carry the entire thing. So, as soon as she was able, she went to her old face-me-I-face-you compound in Abule Nla road along Apapa on the pretext of forgetting some important documents for her husband and made sure the taxi stopped right in front of the house and she stepped out in her latest attire the overpriced one that she bought in one of those malls that had more glass walls and mirrors than good quality native materials.

"TEN THOUSAND PER YARD?! What do you mean by that? Is it made of gold?" But the sales girl was snobbish and was eager to have her leave her stall than even to buy the cloth. It was unlike her favorite Tejuosho Market in Surulere where the market men and women would drag you by your arms, hair and clothes, kidnapping you until you at least visited their shop to buy something or promising to buy when next you visited the market. The tailors at the mall were even worse. They had no customer friendly nature and force her to picked a design and gave her a delivery of three weeks.

"Can you imagine, Nne? Those people have no courtesy or manners even for their customers. You know that a tailor is not supposed to do like that. They let you come with your preferred design and not force one upon you." she told Angela at dinner that day.

"What if they don't know who to make the design or what if the design or not suitable for the materials or the customer?"

"Ehn, but they will still try to make it now. There's no harm in trying."

"Mama, have you forgotten the many times you have fought with Aunty Stella for spoiling your materials when you went to give her materials and designs for your clothes?"

"Ah, that one? Leave that one she likes money too much. But if not for her greediness she would have sown good designs for me. But no! She would be rushing with people's materials in order to have all the customers and spoiling their materials."

"Okay o!"

"Still, Stella wouldn't have talked to me the way those people at the mall all spoke to me like I had Nsi on my body."

"Mama, that's just how people behave here. We both have to get used to it."

That was always what Angela said whenever she complained about their neighbours who never ever greeted them or respond to their greetings. Or how people on the streets snubbed you directly even though all you did was ask for directions to the nearest bus stop. Or how the only food available were in freezers or in cans. But she sensed that she may be nagging her daughter too much and she didn't want to seem ungrateful. So she kept quiet about the things that bothered her about their new neighbourhood. She was silent about their neighbours dogs that very often woke her up at night with their incessant barkings even when one of got loose and broke into their compound and gave her the fright of her life, barking at her savagely, looking like it was about to tear her to pieces. She didn't even mention it when Angela came home. It was only after their neighbour, an Italian lady with skin like citrus brought a fruit basket to apologize that the topic came up.

Her dress came on schedule, dry cleaned and packaged in a box as if it was imported from overseas and she kept the nice box. But when Angela said she liked the dress, she simply mentioned that Stella would have done a better job.

The taxi stopped directly in front of her old compound and even before she came down from it. Mama Grace, who sells the popular 'Ewa Aganyi' at the entrane gate to their street saw her and screamed her name, alerting the rest of her old tenants and neighbours of her arrival and they all came to gather around her and fuss about her. They all gathered around her, old friends, tenants, neighbours and well wishers, all of them. They asked how she was and she thanked the Lord for his mercies and she in turn asked about them and their families. She was so happy to be amongst them once again. She thought she had come to rub her daughter's success in their faces but now that she was there, she realised that she had missed them, every single one of them, even Iya Risi who used to make Fufu the Yoruba version of Akpu very early in the morning disturbing her sleep. She missed them all. With them she was visible, she was respected, she was a person. A person to talk to and relate with, not avoid because she wasn't related to any politician or married to an oil and gas business tycoon. She was invisible in Isaac John's street but here she seen. She spent more time with them than she had planned and before she left she gave their landlady, her old landlady the money with instructions to share amongst the people. No matter how justly she shared it, that money would be the topic in that household for months to come and how madam landlady pocketed the biggest part of it.

When the got back to Isaac John's street and her new life she was almost sad to enter the empty apartment. The cable television quickly lost its allure and the orange juices gave immeasurable amount of Jedi Jedi, heamorrhoids and the plastic taste of frozen and canned foods made her sad to her stomach. But mostly, it was the loneliness that ate her soul away. Angela was almost always outshooting until late and so she was alone, by herself most of the time. She began thinking about it until she found the perfect solution; Angela had to give her grandchildren that would keep her company.

Infinite Love 57

Agatha Nwolisa was finally dicing the Okra (lady fingers) in preparation of her favorite Oha soup. Only the feel of the slime oozing from the Okra seeds comforted her rather the stale plastic taste from the tins and plastic ingredients that crowd the kitchen cupboards.

She was happy she had changed her mind about discarding the Okra along with the other food stuffs that Angela had brought back from the White Sand market. Angela come back home happy in that silly looking way that made her look like a school girl just knowing about boys with him, that boy; Michael. Angela knew quite well that she didn't like him nor approved of him but she still kept her friendship him.

When he first came to their home about three months ago looking hungry and underfed she had welcomed him and chatted with him for old times and courtesy sake since he was an old school friend of hers. But she was surprised to find out that they met regularly.

"Nnem, why are you still seeing that boy now? Are helping him to look for work or something?"

"No, Mama. You know Michael now, he's my friend so we just hang out together."

"Hang out, together." she rolled the phrase in her mind many times and it still did not make any sense to her. As long as she was concerned they were rich now. Operating on another level and "all ties to their former life must be cut totally, in order to be rid of the curse of poverty." that was what Prophetess Celestina had told her. People like Michael were still ties to that former life of penury and they cannot operate together. Like the people in her old compound, she kept them at an arms length, never letting them know her address even though she called them frequently because she missed them, even the nosy ones and she was terribly lonely in their new apartment.

"But shouldn't you be hangging with someone like that, why not hang around someone in your circle?"

"Mama, you know Michael and I have been friends for years." she had responded tiredly as if she didn't know that those days were in the past so her mother tried to explain patiently to her.

"Ehn, that is true but Nnem, that was in the past now. You were in secondary school together and you were both young, things are... different now."

"Different how?"

"Well, you are an actress and he is a drycleaner. He is obviously not doing much with his life or he must have done something terrible for him to be stuck were he his. So, nnem ehn... please, we shouldn't be friends like that. If you want you can always send him some money, not so much or else he will make it a habiit and be asking for more. But some money, any amount that you can spare. Like me just last week I sent some to Mama Grace from our old compound for her granddaughter's naming ceremony."

"Mama, you're overreacting. We're just friends, nothing more."

"Okay, if you say so. I will say nothing." she said sensing her daughter was losing patience and so she let her be.

In the begining when they first moved to the island, her joy new no bounds. But soon enough, it became like their packaged foods in the cupboard, all packaging and no real depth. She was lonely and bored being at home all day. But she began to hope that her daught might soon marry and give her grandchildren to fuss over. And when she first brought home her costar Princewill, her joy once again was endless. A handsome and successful actor like him was all she ever wanted in a son-in-law. But when he stopped coming, she was devasted again. Angela told her that their dates were merely to get to know one another better in order to be better actors. A mere formality that often never lasts once its purpose was met. But for Agatha, it was more than a mere formality, it was a hope for a better fuller life. And then he came; Michael a begger that was better giving change and sent away but he managed to get his hooks into her and now they were becoming inseparable, doing everything together and buying food together as well. When Angela and him brought home the local foodstuffs fresh from White Sand market she had initially vowed not to touch it, her stomach changed her mind. She heard a knock on the door and lo and behold standing there was one of the most beautiful human beings she had ever wanted in a son-in-law; Princewill. All he said was;

"Good afternoon, ma." and she was already melting.

Infinite Love 58

Angela's mom was in awe of him and he knew it because she was barely even trying to hide it. She wanted him...for her daughter he could tell.

She was a diehard fan. There were two kinds of female fans; the ones who wanted him for theirselves and the ones that wanted him for their daughters. She was constantly doting on him from offering food and drinks to regulating the AC, if he'd asked her to bark like a dog, she probably would've asked; "How loud should I bark?". This was going to be easier than he thought after all.

"I hope that you are comfortable, Prince?"

"Oh, yes, ma. Thank you very much. I am very comfortable." he said giving her another one of his trademark seductive smile and she gushed away. The woman was like butter in his hands. Too bad Angela didn't react the same way. He would soon rectify that.

"Okay, well if you need anything just let me. I'm just so sorry that you missed Angela. She said that she was needed for some editing work in production and left about twenty minutes ago."

"Oh, I didn't know that ma." He lied. He actually did. He set up a fake editing work in order to get her mom home alone.

"Oh, well, that's too bad, ma. It is even my fault I should have called before coming over. I will do that next time. I should have known that she would be getting extra work with all the problems we have been having with her during shooting."

Agatha propped up on hearing the word problems.

"Problems? What kind of problems are you talking about Prince?"

Though a mediocre in most times he was on cue this time.

"Oh, ma." he feighed ignorance "i'm sorry I shouldn't have even said anything. It is not my place." he said acting coyly.

"No o! Please tell me Prince what problems is my daughter having at work." she pressed, taking the bait.

"Well, ma..." he hesitated at just the right intervals "please don't her I said anything but we have been having problems with filming for the new season of the show because of Angela."

"...because of Angela how? What do you mean? She always goes to work on time and atimes she comes home very late due to filming?"

"Umm...yes. She never misses work and she is always punctual but...her problems are a little different and serious than that. She is just...different somehow. Like something has changed about her or... in her life. Have you noticed it too? Have you noticed anything different about her or something or... someone new... in her life?"

Agatha couldn't believe her ears and she thought to herself. Mr Princewill must be lying. But No! He seems so sure and sincere. So he has to be telling the truth. But, she hasn't noticed anything particularly wrong or different about Angela. She was still the same way she was just a little... sad these days when she asked her she said nothing was wrong but she had suspected it had something to do with that... WAIT!

"Is that boy Michael responsible for my daughter's problems?"

Princewill all the while sipped his drink and tasted the sweetness of his host's new found woe.

"But I still don't understand, Prince what problems has she been causing you please?"

"Well, not me in particular, she has been having mood swings sometimes shes happy these days shes sad. She doesn't concentrate on the job, she misses her lines, and that's why she was recalled for editing today because her shooting didn't go well.

Our director has noticed it and he has been complaining to me about it and I am afraid that if this continues she might lose her job."

"God Forbid!" she spat "Tufiakwa! That will not happen."

"God forbid, indeed. I had spoken to her several times about it but she completely ignores me, and she's keeps talking on the phone. I don't know who she has been talking to that has changed so much."

She couldn't bear to hear anymore of it and so the wailing started.

"Hei! Angela will not kill me. Angela will not kill me o! It is that boy! It is that boy, Michael. It is Michael o!"

"Michael? Is that the boy that keeps coming to our shoot on his dangerous looking Okada?"

"Ehn? What did you say? Michael? Okada? You mean that Michael comes to your shoot on Okada?" she wailed again.

"Yes, a very rough looking boy with red eyes, ma. I think he smokes Igbo. I honestly, don't think that Angela should even be talking to such a person and I told her but instead she would just ignore and ride away with him on his rickety Okada."

"HEY O! Angela will not finish me! So she has been riding on an Okada after I had warned her several times before? HEI!"

"Yes, ma and I hope they never crash on that thing but judging by the state of it, who knows?" He just kept on pressing her and he was enjoying it. The woman was still easy to agitate and he could just imagine all the badgering she would give Angela when she arrives and that almost made him smile.

"NO! God forbid! She will not crash! My enemies will not win me! Nothing will happen to my daughter! She will keep her job! Nothing bad will happen! I rebuke it! I reject it! Heaven come down! Help your daughter! Help your daughter's daughter!"

She rambled on and on half in prayer and half in distress.

"Ameen, Mama. It's okay, Mama. Nothing will happen yes." he calmed her down and stood up getting ready to leave.

"It is time I left now, ma. And don't worry nothing will happen." he said watching the distressed woman hyperventilate on her chair as he made for the door.

At the door he said; "Ehn? Mama, it is better that you don't mention to Angela that I am the one that told you all this. In fact, it is best that you don't tell I stopped by because that may only cause more problems for her."

"It's alright. Don't worry. I won't mention you. Don't worry. Thank you very much for coming." she could barely breathe properly and Princewill almost felt sad for the poor woman. Almost.

Finally something was able to rattle Dayo .

Thanks bro for the update,you really starved us last month.

I can't think of anyone that soldiers won't rattle.


Sorry boss. Life got in the way. I hope to more than make up for it this month.

crossfm:
Finally something was able to rattle Dayo .

Thanks bro for the update,you really starved us last month.

adeabdul2:
I can't think of anyone that soldiers won't rattle.


Sorry boss. Life got in the way. I hope to more than make up for it this month.

I understand you bro.The truth is that am addicted to this story, if I tell you the number of time I visit your site,you won't believe me .

Thanks for giving us a story we can easily relate to.

Oh My God! Thank you so much boss!

I am blushing!

Infinite Love 59

As he was being dragged away by Inspector Martins, Michael despite the embarrassment was glad that Dayo was safely locked in his shop.

"Oga, No o! This one no be criminal o!"

"Oga, leave am now. Wetin he do you?"

His neighbours were protesting as he was dragged off.

"Make una mind una own business. Na you go tell me my job?" Martins barked at them still gripping tightly onto Michael's belt buckle until he got to his station; Area C.

"Donatus, book this guy for assaulting an officer of the law." he told his small skinny colleague behind the counter. Donatus looked up from his book and eyed Michael quizically.

"Who? This one?" he said obviously doubting the offense.

"Yes! This one! He was protecting a criminal and almost broke my head in the process.

Donatus simply flipped a page obviously not interested in the story and said;

"Look, Oga go come very soon o! I no wan trouble o! Anything wey you wan do with am make you do am quick."

Martins looked perturbed

"Donatus! I say book this guy now! What is wrong with you?" and whispered in his ear when the later didn't flinch "Don't worry we go collect before Oga come. No fear!" And with that Donatus sprung into action and brought out a roughly photocopied printed sheet full of false convictions as well as grammatical erros.

"Oya, come sign statement." Michael took one look at it and rejected it outrightly.

"What's all this nonsense, now? I no do anything wrong and you want arrest with false criminal charges. I no sign o! I no dey sign at all!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Look here! You are in a police station o! Na police station you dey so behave yourself." Donatus cautioned

"But I no be criminal now. I no do anything wrong." he protested.

"You no do wetin? No be you carry weapon now now?" Martins interjected

"But that was only a plank that you wanted to hit my friend with and I took it from you to prevent you harming him."

"Ah, so you admit the offense. You have confessed to the crime. Don't you know that is an offence? You better comport yourself or else we go put you for cell with president make him deal with you well well."

That silenced Michael, he had heard that

Area B division had one of the most wicked inmates locked inside it. Many people who had been arrested for minor and irrelevant crimes in the neighborhood had told tales of the beatings and punishments that they recieve by their inmates before their relatives or friends came to bail or bribe them out.

"Look here, you have better behave yourself in this place or else we will send you to Kirikiri Prison and you will not survive that place." Martins said noticing his unease "But since I know you let me help you get out of here. Just find Donatus something make him throway that report or else na prison for you."

Michael couldn't believe the kind of level that Martins would sink to for money. He was sick of him. First he owed him money severally, then attack Dayo, drag him, humiliate him like a common criminal to this station and now he was asking for bribe despite everything he had put him through already. He had had enough of the crook.

"Inspector Martins, listen to me..." he started to say before his brother Johnny suddenly burst in.

"Hey! Hey, wetin dey happen for here?

Why is my brother here? Wetin him do? E thief money? Abi e steal car?"

The officers were stunned for a moment before composing theirselves.

"Hey, look here. Watch your mouth." Donatus warned.

"Who are you self? Are you mad? Abi you wanted make we thrash you."

"He is my brother, John." Michael stated surprised at his brother. John had never spoken in such a way before, like one of the local touts in their area.

Infinite Love 60

A Brother Lost

"You better warn your brother or else I will lock him up." Donatus warned again.

"You can't do anything to me!" he barked startling Michael as well "I no steal, I no rob so you no fit do me anything. I am not a criminal."

"Johnny calm down." Michael said he really didn't like this version of his brother. He was talking and acting like the local touts. He knew that his brother sometimes hang around them and he had spoken against it several times because he feared for his safety amongst them. But he had never imagined that he would eventually become one of them. It was distressing for him. He had tried to keep their family intact all cost after his father died but now he felt like he had lost his own brother without even realising it."

"You this boy you had better shut up. You hear me so, you had better shut up your mouth before I slap you!" Donatus thundered but Johnny only got even more agitated.

"Nothing, Oga. You cannot do me anything!" he bellowed right back.

"Sharrap! Or I will lock you up!"

"Shishi, you no fit do me, shishi." and he jumped up and down and pulled off his in an exaggeratedly aggressive manner hitting his chest and pumping out his neck veins and even the officers looked slightly powerless in controlling recognizing the behaviour of a hardened streetboy. Michael was devastated.

"That's enough, Johnny!"

"NO! Brother, dey kan do nada. See!" and he hit their desk and swiped his index finger on the floor, licked the sand on it with his tongue and thrust it towards the sky in a solemn oath.

"NADA! I SAY NADA!"

"JOHNNY THAT'S ENOUGH!" Michael thundered and struck his brother across the face in a hard slap.

"Bro...brother?" he gasped suddenly with eyes brimming with tears disbelieving his brother's action.

"YES!"

"That's right!"

"This boy is very stupid. You should slap him more, beat him sef." the officers applauded getting their voice.

"Make I deal with am, proper." and Martins motioned to remove his belt but Michael was suddenly sheilding his brother like he did with Dayo.

"Don't you dare hit my brother! I didn't slap for your benefit!"

"But...why did you, why did you even slap me brother?"

Michael turned to face him "Because of the way you were acting, it was disgraceful. You were behaving like a common street thug."

"But how do you expecting me to behave? Look at where we are. We are at a police station for no reason, facing corrupt policemen who only know speak in bribes or fear lawyers, do you have money for either. Look at where we live? We are surrounded by touts all day everyday."

"It doesn't mean you become a tout, OUR FATHER RAISED US TO BE BETTER!"

"But look around you our FATHER IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Michael was utterly shattered! The pain of their loss took hold of him all over again by his brother's words.

"HE IS DEAD!"

Michael couldn't bear it and he moved to strike brother again.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" a very high ranking officer walked in both Officer Martins and Officer Donatus saluted.

"SHUN SIR!!"

"What is going on, here I asked? he said and Martins and Donatus exchanged looks. Martins gave his colleague a pleading look but Donatus decided to throw him under the bus.

"DPO Sir! Officer Martins is in charge of them." he said and Martins' jaw dropped at his blatant abandonement but Donatus only looked away and went back to reading his ledger as if he wasn't even there.

"Yes, Martins I want an answer now." said sternly but Martins only stuttered.

"Yes, sir...erm well the thing is...these two were...are criminals...they were causing disturbances...erm..."

The DPO obviously disbelieving him turned to Michael "Is that true?"

"No, sir! He was fighting with my friend at my shop and when I saw him grab a plank to him, I stopped him and that's why he brought me to the station. My brother here came to get me."

"Liar! He's lying sir!" Martins barked

And without another word to Michael the DPO turned to Martins.

"Martins! Martins! Martins! You know that I have been warning you severally. Only you have the highest complaint by civilians in the entire division. If a driver doesn't come to lay a complaint against you, the girls from the food canteen across the road will. Or you will be getting into fights! Why always you? The complaints against you alone last year supercedes the entire complaints of this division in the past four years."

"No, sir. I..."

"Shut up! Do you think I don't know you? I know everything about you; the hustles and the shake downs and maybe the last DPO was able to overlook your indiscrepancies but not me. Do you hear? If I catch you or I get one more complaints against you, I will make sure that you regret it, do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good!" and he turned Michael and Johnny "You may go! Sorry for the disturbance."

The boys were so relieved and with a quick look at Martins who gave them a look that meant "I will catch you" they left. Instead of their usual jokes the brothers walked silently side by side. They barely even looked at each other. Until, Johnny took a deep breath and took off ahead leaving Michael behind. He deeply and sighed, realizing that something changed about their relationship today. And he worried the change might be permanent. Johnny was a grown man now, and he wasn't proud of the man he was becoming. And he blamed himself for that. It was he that moved them into the ghetto and it was he that left Johnny alone to mix freely with the local street boys. So how could he complain? No matter what he did right, he was bound top get something wrong and that weighed him down. His grief was growing again. Threatening to overwhelm him like a long season of draught in his heart. He had to talk to someone, he had see her. Only she could save him now. Her presence alone would put a spring in his step and spring in his heart.

So he went back to his shop and retrieved the mashed up novel that he had intended to give her in the first place and headed to her place. He needed her now more than air.

Infinite Love 61

Angela was perplexed. Yes a little editing was required on their last shoot but it didn't require her presence in the editing room not to mention spending half a day there, which she ended up doing.

Because everytime she tried to leave the editors always came up with some excuse for her to remain there. Something was fishy about the entire set up but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, try as she might. Anyways, she was grateful it was over and she looked forward to lunch hoping her mom was making Atamma. And thinking of her mom she parked by the roadside to buy her some sham sham fruits (soursop). The last time they had some Mama said it to her back to her happy childhood in Nsukka when she used to pick them in the bush with her friends.

...

Mrs Nwolisa was utterly restless. She felt her world was crumbling right before her eyes and she had been oblivious to it. She had paced. She had sat on the floor then later on rolled on it. She was so anxious for her daughter to arrive. She wanted to call her but later decided against it. She would wait. Oh, but the waiting was terrible to bear. It was at times like this that she detested their compound, their area and the entire Lagos Island with its solitary 'mind your own business' attitude. The mainland was a lot less clean and tidy but at least it was not short of friends and neighbours who were always willing to listen and console and advise in times of need such as this. Even if those same people would still gossip about you and your woes behind your back.

"Kedu, kai mere?" Angela greeted and surprised to see her mother lying spread on the shiny tiles of their living room. "Ah ah, Mama. What is going on? Is anything the matter?"

Her mother got up with fury responding; "What is not wrong? Everything is the matter! "Where are you coming from?"

Taken aback she replied; "But Mama, I told that I was going to work for some editing issues."

"IZ A LIE!" she shrieked and Angela had to steady herself from the onslaught. She hadn't seen her mother this hysterical since her since left them.

"YOU WENT TO SEE THAT BOY, NOT SO? You went to see that...that Michael boy."

"No, Mama, I..."

"SHUT UP! HEY O! CHIMO! Ndi iro m choo imegbu m My enemies want to finish me. Angela, Angela, Angela!?

"Ahn ahn. Mama, what is all this, now? What have I done?"

"What have you done? You're asking me? Okay, I will tell you. You have not been serious with your work. You have been joking with your work when you don't have another one and you know that I you are my only mens of sustenance.

"What...but...that is not true."

"Oh, okay. You have been missing work and when you get there you will be pressiing phones. Iz that not so?"

"What, Mama....but that is not true!"

"Ehn? So it is not true abi? Tell me something. Have you not been riding around town on a motorcycle...Okada after I had warned about them?

She was speechless because on that point, her mother was right.

"Erm,...its only on Thursdays after work."

" Aiyeee, Ichoo igbu m? Do you want to kill me, ehn? When you see how dangerous they are everyday in accidents. Biko, Ichoo igbu m?"

"Aiye, Mama. Stop saying that. Please, get up, now." she pleaded.

"No, leave me o. Just leave me and let me die since you already want to kill me. You are joking with your job and running around town with that nonsense boy, Michael on his Okada, abi?"

"Mama, I..."

"I knew it! I just knew it when I saw him here that day, that early morning. I knew he was up to no good. Looking like one of those people who beg for igbo money under bridges. I knew that he had come to ruin our lives. And Angela, why? Biko, tell me why you are allowing such riff raffs back into your life?"

"But, Mama. You're wrong about him, he's not like that at all." she tried to protest but to no avail.

"Me chonu onso! Just be quiet. You have better people in your life. You have Princewill..."

Angela, smelled something fishy at the mention of Princewill's name.

"Could he be the one behind this?" she thought.

"...educated, handsome and he has a good job too. The both of you already work together, why not show interest in him? I am sure that he is already very interested in you."

"No, thank you!" if her mother thought that drama was going to get her back to that self-worshipping goat, she has got something else coming.

"WHY? I ASK YOU, WHY?" she got up challenging her daughter. "He is a good man."

"No, he isn't and he only ever cares about himself and I am not interested in someone like that."

"IZ A LIE! " her mother shrieked again "You must be intereseted and you must leave that Michael. I don't want to see him here ever again."

Angela had heard enough; "Mama, I am too tired for all of this please and you can't stop me from seeing Michael, he is a very good man and I have nothing to do with Princewill." she said dropping the soursop on the dining table for her mother and stumping off to her room.

"You lie. That is a lie, Angela. I say, that is a lie! You must stop seeing that boy and face Princewill! As long as I am your mother, you must listen to me. Do you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Angela had already reached her room and bolted the door but still she heard her mom quite clearly. She wondered how she got to know about her and Michael and suspected Princewill might have something to do with it. But she finally dropped that idea because she couldn't really fathom spreading gossip or rumours like that and to what benefit?

Mrs Nwolisa had collapse onto the sofa after screaming at Angela. She fell silent finally because this was the Island and noise was frowned upon. Another trait that she dislike. In Abule Nla she would have screemed and screemed until her voice was hoarse. She looked at the soursop on the table and realised that she was hungry and hadn't touched the food that she had prepared since morning due to all that Princewill told her.

She couldn't understand how Angela could let a big fish like him get away. She feared that her daughter would end up making her own mistake. Marrying the boy how impregnated and afterwards he left her saying that she was too old and that he had found someone else. He never told her that when they got married and he didn't find someone else when they were drinking garri for breakfast and lunch.

She had married for love and he left her as soon as he got a little bit of money. Men are not to be trusted and her daughter must not make that mistake at all costs.

Infinite Love 62

Angela just had to get out of the house. Her mother was unrelenting in pestering her about Michael.

She just couldn't understand how or why she suddenly developed such a deep hate for him. Sure, she wasn't a fan of Michael to begin with, but not like this. Her fondness for Princewill has always been obvious. In the early days of their casting in preparing for their roles when they had to develop a suitable chemistry for their roles. They went out a few times and the only one impressed was her mom. She, not so much, she wasn't interested in self-obsessed men that expect the world to tend to them. But all her mom saw was; handsome and rich and she practically expected her to baby trap Princewill before he escaped. She did understand her mom in a way. She wanted what was best for her but they only differed on what the thing was. Her mother wanted her to be with a made man who she wouldn't have to struggle with but he remembered that it was Micheal his friends and Aunty Jane who were there when her father left. They were boys but she remembered they being there for her in ways that men should. Those boys taught her how men should treat a lady and what a real men should be. That's why she was never impressed with the players and egomaniacs such as Princewill that can her way. She had people to stack them up against and they never truly measured up. She just wished her mom would remember how Michael and his family were there for them when they truly needed it instead of screaming in her ears all day.

...

Agatha's voice was hoarse from all the screaming. She would never relent, she would never give up. Her daughter must desist from the so-called "friendship" that she was having with that boy Michael.

"Oh, dear Lord in heaven. Please don't let this girl be as unfortunate as I was with men!" her prayer had always centered on a fortunate son-in-law for herself. She couldn't believe that her superstar daughter only had time for a useless nobody.

"How can this be? Is this a spell? What can this be if not a spell? All the men in the world that she could have; even that precious soul; Princewill is practically begging her. Princewill who drives that car that looks like it is worth billions and wears clothes that even our village king can only dream of is begging Angela nmuo and my daughter only has eyes for an Okada-riding, chain-smoking nobody.

Ah! It must a generational curse. This was everybody in the village including Ojemba were begging me to marry him but no. Instead, I went Emeka because of his sweet talk and Lagos swagger. What did I see at the end of it? Nothing! I can't even face Ojemba whenever I see him these days. HEY O! My enemies want to finish me! They are still on my case. CHIMO!" she exclaimed out loud, raising her blood pressures again and made the traditional gesture of rejection by snapping her middle-finger and her thumb in a circular motion around her head three times.

"Yes, there was a time that that Michael was a good lad and infact, he and his parents lent a helping hand towards us after Papa Angela abandoned us for that wretched woman all those years ago. Still, I am yet to see what i was that he saw in her. Sooner than later he will regret his actions and finally lose everything." she thought.

"Those days their family really tried for us, I will admit. I recall how his mother would visit us and leave foodstuffs behind. Even his father would come and pick up Angela and drop her off along with his son those days. God rest his soul. They did a lot!" she thought solemnly.

"But that was years ago and circumstances have changed. Their father is dead, sadly and their has fallen to disrepute. Even their son, whom Angela is now following like a dundie is nothing but a smoker now. Yes! They are totally different. Gratitude does not mean that the village should give the Queen as a bride to the slave. No! Do we give the princess to the pauper because we are grateful? No! Gratitude for past deeds does warrant me to allow my daughter destroy her life. No!" she rebuked it again making the traditional gesture.

"I cannot open my mouth and let the wall gecko in. Their relationship must end and each of them must go their separate ways. I will still talk to her again when she gets back. She must listen to me. I am her mother!"

Infinite Love 63

Love & Hate

Michael was having a dog day afternoon. He had been arrested, roughed up and dragged off to the police station where he hit his own brother for disrespecting their late father's memory.

Something he had never done and never thought he'd do. Yet, they both did and now their relationship was forever changed. He had already had a terrible week by visiting his father's old workplace which made him question his life choices and made him moody all week before this day happened. He glanced at the novel in hand 'Enemies in Love' a classic that he had spent a lot of time and effort to acquire. Its old antique look had now been battered out of it due to the fracas at his shop and now it just looked old and shabby. That's a shame because he was counting on the book to improve his appearance. He imagined he couldn't have looked very good since he was almost coming directly from the police station. He could have gone home for a change of clothes but he knew that his mom would only bombard him with questions and worries delaying him and also, he didn't want to be around his brother at the moment. He was both mad at him and sorry for hitting him. But most of all, he wanted to see Angela, to be close to her. He knew just seeing her would make it all okay somewhat. She was the only thing in his life that was perfect. The only one in his life that he was proud of. The only one who didn't have expectations of him. He could just be himself with her. He could let loose and just breathe. Just be himself. She was his escape. She was his love. He knocked on the door and his hate opened; her mother.

When I thought everything was back to normal for Dayo,now comes another drama.

The good thing is that the manager got his back.
Thanks for the update.

Thanks for the update. Keep it coming.

You're welcome guys

Infinite Love 64

Things Fall Apart

Mrs Nwolisa opened the door and lo and behold; It was that boy Michael. As it was told by the elders that only an evil man arrives after dinner. The boy was indeed the evilest of evil men.

He didn't arrive before, midway between dinner or right after but all the dinner dishes had been cleaned and washed away before he comes knocking. What an omen of a proof if you were ever looking for one, and Agatha, was always looking.

"Good afternoon, man." he said already looking over he shoulder "please is Angela in? I really need to see her."

The nerve of him; "Hey O! Hey O! You this boy again!? What are you doing here? Haven't I told you not to come here again...?"

He looked taken aback and almost glanced behind if not for her deep penetrating stares at him, confused; "Erm, no...ma. You haven't told me that before now... but erm...is there something wrong...?"

"Everything is wrong! Everything! You! You are the wrong thing! What are you doing here? Kwanu. What are you doing here again?"

Now he was properly confused. He tried to figure her out but she just kept on shouting.

"Why are you always here, ehn? Are you homeless? Don't you have a home for yourself? Or has someone sent you here?"

"No, ma. I am not homeless. I just came to see Ang..."?

"Oh! They have sent you then?"

"They...?"

"Yes, they! My enemies! My enemies have sent you to my daughter. Go back! Go back and tell them that you didn't see her. Go back o! What you have done is enough! The havoc you have wrecked in my daughter's life is enough!"

"What!"

"Yes! They are complaining about her! They want to fire her! They want to fire her o! All because of you and your bad luck!."

"Wha...who, me?"

"Yes, you!" she took her stance between him and door, shutting it and taking up his personal space forcing him to move back "Your bad luck has wrought misfortunes on my daughter. Do you think that I don't know what has happened to your family?"

He confusing was now slowing becoming fury at the mention of his family.

"Mama, please!"

"Please. what?" she took of her head scarf, untied and tied it around her waist like a belt in a battle stance. "Your father died and the rest of your family are now sick. There are evil eyes upon you all! So just go away! And leave my daughter alone! Amuofia!" He clentched his fists to balls "Wretched people who gather the rich like mosquitoes to suck out all their fortunes! Go away! And stay away!" she bellowed raising her voice and thrusting her head, yelling in his face.

"It is quite a shame. That...it is You! Who would speak to Me! In such a way!" his hands were shaking as he struggled to hold back the words threatening to erupt in bursts of insults "Have you forgotten so soon! How my wretched family! Were there for you? When the whole neighbour saw you as a..."

He uncurled his fists and bit down hard, on his index finger to control his temper and his tongue.

"As a what? Tell me! As a what?" she bellowed in his face once again and the neighbours dogs began barking and voices could be heard shouting on the other side. "I knew it! You came here to collect, didn't you? You came here to collect from my daughter's glory o! Gold digger!" she blurted and his mouth fell open.

"Now, listen to me! My daughter is not a charity organisation that she would be dishinig out money to poor people. Go home and find a girl in your class. Lazy man. Amuofia!" she spat on the floor beside his feet. There was nothing else to do. He came because he needed her, but not in the way that her mother was implying. It was a more passionate need not financial. He never took money from her. After their first meeting where she paid for dinner and for his ride home, he never asked. But the money still hovered over them like a cloud. He initially feared that she would mistake his interest in her for money and when that had been claeared off everyone else judged them whenever they were seen in public. Their looks said it all but noone ever confronted him about it. Not until now. No matter what he said, she would never believe him. There was mothing more to say.

He glanced to the novel in his left hand, now crumpled, now worse in condition than before. He remembered and figured out why he had come in the first place.

Before he met her again he had made difficult choices that had put his life on hold. Everything he was, everything he was working to be, everything his father had hoped he would be, was on hold because his mother was ill and taking care of her required him, all of him after his father died. And the consequences of that now became clear to him because she was back in his life. Her life, sharply contrasted his. She was successful, famoous and on the rise, to her peak and he was by comparison; a loser. A nobody. Before she came back, he was fine with that because he had sacrificed it all for his family. But seeing her every week and seeing himself in other people's eyes and now in her mother's eyes, he wasn't so sure. He had been brooding over this for more than a week making him stoic and distant towards her despite her pleas to tell him what was wrong. But he couldn't tell her. He wasn't sure how she would react.

"Would she think that he was jealous?" he thought

"Was he jealous? No! He was proud of her. He just felt like a failure. He had failed his father and the fealing was more pronounced when he was with her even though he wanted to be with her, all the time. So, he had brought the novel as an apology for being so distant and hoped to word out his feelings to her. But most of all. He needed her to console him. Among other things. He just needed her. But her mother and the rest of the world would judge him even of she didn't for being with her because she was out of his league. So, he threw the novel on the floor, turned around and turned around.

"Hey, hey! Come back here!" She yelled and picked it up "Come back here I say!" And she hurled it in his direction towards the gate as he closed it and left. "Amuofia! Let me see you back here again! Wretched thing! Amuofia!"

Infinite Love 65

Closed For Business

She was driving to see him. She knew something must have gone wrong. She knew her mom must have said the worst to him when she came home to find the classic novel; "Enemies in Love" discarded by their gate

just inside their compound. Michael wouldn't leave it there unless something had gone wrong when he came to see her. She immediately went indoors to find her mother still scowling at the television, watching with paying attention to the CNN newschannel that she cared nothing about.

"Mama, what happened? Why was this novel on the groud outside?" she asked but her mom only pouted more raising her nose away from her.

"Mama, did Michael come here? This is his novel."

No response.

"Mama, I am talking to you. What happened and where is Michael?"

"How should I know where he is? Am I his mother? Or do I look like the motor garage where Okada riders gather and do their business?

Angela feared the worst "Oh, Mama. So, Michael was here. Dear Lord, what did you say to him?"

"Nothing at all!" She said matter-of-factly. "I just advised him to go and do something better with his life than chasing shortcuts and looking for successful women to exploit."

"You, WHAT?!" she glared.

"Classes are important in our society afterall. Let him go and find a suitable girl of his class for his girlfriend, not you."

"But, Mama. I am not his..." she meant to say that she wasn't his girlfriend because they had actually not worded those titles in their relationship but it was implied and they understood it between themselves and now after what Mama has done. She doubted they would even be friends at all.

Her hands dropped the groceries that she had gone out to buy and she covered her face in embarrassment.

"How could you?" she asked from between her covered hands "How could you?" she opened them.

"Don't you remember; The Railway Hospital, when you were admitted with Malaria and Typhoid?" her mother's face changed expression. "You don't do you? But I do! I remember sleeping on the bench and sometimes on the floor of the hospital with mosquitoes bearing down on me so much so that I couldn't sleep a wink. I stayed away all night. And I cried during the day, because the doctors said that your high blood pressure has complicated your condition and that I needed to raise money fast or else you will be removed from the hospital because they needed the bed for other patients waiting outside."

Her mother's mood was now subdued "But you won't remember that because you kept on slipping in and out of a coma. I rushed home to our house in Abule Nla for help from the tenants and neighbours for assistance but the money they rallied was not enough. It only ensure that the hospital didn't kick you out fast. I called Anty Mary but she did not arrive quickly enough to help. The hospital had almost lost their patience with us and they nearly kicked us out until this same Michael, noticing my absence from school found me at the hospital and brought his parents to help. They paid the rest of the bills and his mom came there often until aunty Mary came and took over and I was finally allowed to go back to school while she watched after you."

"Hey!" she mother raised her hands to her head. "That was such a long time ago. I did not even...Hey!"

"That family was there for us. They saved your life back then and now they are no good for us?"

She took her car keys from the small Hausa styled wooven basket on the table and headed out the door again but first turned back to say;

"I am ashamed of you today." she left.

She remembered the address to his shop and hoped that he would be there. The directions to his house was a bit tricky and he always said it was better he took her there himself in order for her not to get lost. She found his laundromat easily. She found him inside it gathering his things.

"Hello, Michael? Can I come in?"

"Sure!" he said without looking her directly in the face.

"My mom told me you came. I am very sorry about what she said."

"She only spoke her mind. My father always preferred people speaking their minds to fake smiles."

"Yes, well. She must have been clearly out of line and I told her. I am sure that she would apologise when next you two meet."

He finally glanced up to look towards her.

"Is that your car? He asked looking behind her.

"Erm...yes."

"Let's talk beside it. Camry's are the most stolen cars in this neighbourhood."

So they both went to talk beside while she leaned against it, he merely stood beside it.

"Your mother said that you were out of my league."

"OH, no, Micheal she's wrong! That's not true!"

"Many people seemed to think so too."

"Who?"

"Strangers, whenever we went somewhere I could almost hear them saying it. People I know, some of my neighbours have even said to my face."

"But, Michael. Other people's opinion doesn't matter. All that matters is what you and I think, and I don't believe that." she said passionately.

"He said." he said flatly.

"...what?"

"I think that you're out of my league. I mean, why else haven't I asked you to be my girlfriend? You are a star and I am just a drycleaner. A superstar deserves more than an ordinary drycleaner."

"But there is nothing wrong in being a drycleaner!" she said exasperated.

"I know that it's just not what I wanted for my life and... so I have decided to close it for now."

"What? Why? What will you do? Do you need a job on the set because I can get you a job on set?"

"No, but thank you. Look, erm...perhaps it's best that we don't see eachother for a while."

"No, no Michael. Don't be this way. We can work it out together. Don't shut me out."

She was close to tears again and his old instincts kicked in. He wanted to hold in an embrace and tell her that everything will be but instead he said.

"We're in public. It is best that we don't make a scene. I should get going now." and he turned to go but she called him right back.

"Michael, wait! We're having a party on location to celebrate the end of the season. I would really love for you to come."

"When is it?"

"Next Wednesday."

"I'll be there."

An awkward moment hung between them for a moment before he turned and left. She got into her car and a tear rand down her cheek and she wiped it off. Hoping that Michael wouldn't dismiss her for too long.

He watched her car drive out of the neighbourhood. And when it was finally out of range he rummaged through his box of belongings from the shop and brought out and old, worn out fashion magazine and opened to the middle where he sellotaped the cutouts of Angela that he had collected over the years from her first stage performances and later movie clips. And the longing for her gripped his heart again.

Infinite Love 66

Penguins

Michael inhaled deeply. He needed to talk to Mama about it. Her support was what he needed the most.

Without her the whole couldn't even start. But still it was hard for him not to feel like a bad son. But, it had to be done. It was time. That he was sure of. Still, he felt the guilt heavily. So before he changed his mind he reached for his sleeping mother on their couch, their only semi-good furniture. The only one that didn't have springs sticking out of it. That doesn't mean it was perfect. Even for Mama, the shortest in their family, when spread out on the couch her legs still extended over the other armrest. He shook her gently.

"Mama? Please wake up." Her body was fattening again as she was painfully thin and pale following the death of their father for many years. It took the combined nursing of all three of them; Michael, Johnny and Grandma to get her back to good health. They all leaned a little in the process. It was like they all pumped her up with their combined life force.

"Mama..,"

"Hmm?" she woke up.

"...please I need to talk to you about something important."

"Alright, my son." she sat upright wiping the sleep from her eyes. "I am listening."

"Mama, I have thought about if for long and I think it is time I go to Zaria." He watched her reaction closely for any signs of panic or displeasure or disagreement. He was ready to drop it if she did not consent. But all he saw was a serious expression on her face as if she was deep in thought trying to make up her mind.

"It was what Papa wanted... for me. He talked about it all the time, he made plans about it and he even made memorise everything about it."

Still, no change in her reaction so he said.

"But, if you don't want me to go. I won't go."

A change. She looked up to him.

"No, you should. It was what your father wanted. He talked about it all the time. It was his dream for you. He made plans, and connections and back up plans. He even made me memorise all of it as well. He convinced me about it earlier on that even I believe that you nothing would stop you from going. It was your destiny. How would we have known that an accident in your father's destiny would change everything?" her face fell for a moment before saying.

"But you should go. I want you to. If your father were alive today, you would've gone and come back already and we would all be living in luxury, just as your father planned." she smiled and he did too.

"Michael..."

"Yes, Mama?"

"...but will you pay for Zaria? Its a lot of money and we don't have the money your father saved up anymore?"

"I am... still working on that." he said plainly and she looked away for a moment thinking.

"Why don't you sell your father's land, the back 40s?" she asked.

"I honestly, don't know anything about selling lands and by the time we get a good price for it, it may already be too late. Besides, I don't want to sell it, Papa wouldn't have sold it."

"Yes, I agree. Maybe you can wait till next year when you have enough money...?"

"No, Mama. I will handle that. Dayo will help me, don't you worry."

"Okay." she said and a small silence fell between them.

"I'm just worried about you." he said breaking the silence.

"Why?" she asked perking up. "What are you worried about?"

"Because I don't want to leave you alone."

"I won't be alone, I have Johnny."

"That one?" he sneered "He never takes anything serious long enough to tie his shoelaces. I don't trust him."

"Well, I do!" she said matter-of-factly "I trust him completely. Don't you think that it is because you are always so serious and moody that Johnny becomes that way?"

"What? No way!" he waved it off.

"Yes, it is because of you that he becomes such a jester. He is always trying to cheer you up. If you showed him that you're okay he wouldn't jest so much."

Really!"Michael was shocked. "I see."

"Yes, so I have complete faith in Johnny besides Grandma is also here so I am not alone."

"Okay, Mama. If you say so."

"I do but what about the girl you've been seeing, Angela? Have you told her yet?"

"No, ma."

"Why?"

"Honestly, I don't know if I can. And I have been thinking that it maybe best for us to stop seeing each other. You see her mom doesn't like me and she chased me away from her house."

"Really, Agatha did that?"

"Yes, ma."

"Oh, I should giveher a piece of mind then.

"No! No, Mama please, just let it go. I don't want to make more problems for Angela."

"But who does she think she is, treating my son like that?"

"Mama, please just let it be."

"Oh, okay I will let it go for now. But is thay why you want to leave the girl? Because of her mother?'

"Not just her, Mama. Everyone else as well. People just react negatively when we're together."

"That shouldn't make you leave her. Or what does Angela herself say?"

"She doesn't care what other people think."

"There you go. If she doesn't care, you shouldn't care either."

"I don't know, Mama. I think she may be better of without me."

"But that is up to her to decide, isn't it? Listen here, Michael, If you really care about Angela which I think you do then you should stay together at all cost. If she is the one for you then you will never get over her because your father, you and Johnny are all like penguins. Once you find the one your heart never lets it go."

"Is that so?" he asked amused.

"Yes, sir."

"Alright, Mama, enough of that. Now, are you sure that you are going to be alright without me?"

"Of course! I'm absolutely fine! I'm very strong! Look here!" and she raised her arms and flexxed her flabby biceps for him to see. "You see! I'm very strong!"

"Alright, Mama. Take it easy before you break something. I am convinced. You really are strong."

They were both laughing.

Check me out dudes

Thanks for the update. U are a real talent.

Thanks a lot boss

Infinite Love 67

Romeo Must Die

"So how are things with Michael?" Princewill asked her again in that casual manner but with sharp keenness in his eyes.

"They...they're fine." she answered casually masking her discomfort with a quick smile.

"Great!" he replied and walked back to his chair to get another of his never-ending touchups to his already made up face, all the while sporting a smirk. It made her uneasy. Like he knew something she didn't or as if he waiting for something to occur. She didn't like any of it. His sudden interest in her relationship with Micheal when he had barely hidden his disdain for him

"Could he be jealous of Michael?" she thought.

"No, that couldn't be it." she replied herself. Michael was great. Infact, the best man she knew but she couldn't expect a guy like Princewill to be jealous of him. Micheal ran a struggling laundromart while Princewill was a rising star in the entertainment industry. In looks Michael was fine but Princewill was drop dead gorgeous. So, she couldn't consider Princewill being jealous of Michael in those aspects unless he was jealous because of her?

"Was he jealous of Michael because she was with him?" No! That couldn't be it either."

She had seen so many girls with him, fans, lovers, fans that became lovers, so many. Big ones, small ones, fat ones, thins ones. The man did not discriminate with girls in terms of their stature or sizes she gave him that. His only preference was that they should be very pretty. So pretty were his female friends that she had seen girls with Princewill that looked like they were Princesses. Angela knew that she was pretty, yes but there was no way she was the reason he would be jealous of Michael because his girlfriends were all very very pretty. And the flocked around him too. She couldn't count the number of times that girls had interrupted their shoot all because they wanted to see him. Mostly, he allowed them and delayed their shoot often times he would become aggressive with some, he had actually slapped a girl in front of her before.

"Haven't I told you not to follow me around!" he screamed into her face and next thing anyone knew 'THWACK!' He slapped the poor girl in front of everyone in set. Angela felt bad for her as she mumbled 'sorry' and went away. But that was the least of it. There were so many times that some girls would get into a scuffle over him. Once it was three girls who were jostling for his attention which eventually developed into a fight and the three of them were in the middle of their set, tearing at eachothers bag, hair, clothes and using set props as a weaon. It took the effort of the entire cast and crew to separate but what did Princewill do? He only sat at his makeup chair recording them on his iphone and laughing mumbling a weak "Eh, stop fighting, o!" when he saw the anger in the director's eyes. That day they had to rebuild the set and replace some props and put off shooting for a whole day. It was after that that the director warned him severely about his fans and banned him from having girls visit him on set. She really couldn't figure out his problem.

"Is he just one of those guys that don't like to see others happy?" she thought.

It was the only possible explanation. Come to think of it. Ever since her problems started with Michael and her mother interfering, Princewill had been asking about her relationship with him.

"Could he have something to do with it? Did he say something to Mama?" she considered it but discarded it. That was beneath him. It should be. But ever since she criticized her mom for chasing away Michael she had been somber and has never openly spoked against him again. She hoped it would last. And as far as her relationship with Michael went. It was not in a good place at the moment. After her mother insulted him he had been distant and there was some kind of wall between them again. They were no longer carefree in the manner in which they spoke to each other. Angela felt that there was more to it than what her mother did and she wanted to press him about it but she also was a little distant due to work pressure. They were behind schedule in filming the show's finale and the director was really rushing them, so she was swamped with work. Hopefully, he would come for the finale party. She hoped he would, she wanted to use the party to get them back on track in their relationship. She wished they were back on that small island which made everthing and everyone disappear except them. Only them locked in eachother's embrace, the warm morning sun on the skin, sand on their feet and crabs in their hair.

"Hey, Angel. I hoped that you have invited Michael to the finale celebration party?" he called out to her and asked under the makeup artist's brush.

"Ye...yes. Why?"

"Good! No reason." he said and closed his eyes and makeup powder was padded onto his face repeatedly.

"Why did he ask me that? Could he be planning something?" Angela was now very worried.

Infinite Love 68

Robin Hood

There are three times that Dayo should have been fired from his depressing, soul crushing job at the bank.

The first time was when he was newly trained and posted to the front desk, cash withdrawal and deposit counter based on his mathematics and calculations skills. He was expected to do well at the counter, infact he was expected to pick it up straight away and master it. That was so far from the case. He sucked at it. He made numerous mistakes, he often debited accounts instead of crediting them. At works end his accounts would not balance and he would have to spend extra hours looking for errors which were usually misplaced or unaccounted for cash. His supervisor suffered the worst of it for she would have to be the ones to tend to customers complaints about his ineptitudes and rude manner. He was so rude but to be fair he was rude by nature so he wasn't trying to be extra rude, he was just being himself.

"If Adam has $15 and he earned $1 in each month for a span of 3 years at an interest rate of $0.5 then how much does he had at the end of 3 years?"

Financial maths, those were the kind of questions that he hated the most in Jamb entrance examinations and he always abandoned them out of impatience. He never knew he would actually be performing financial mathematics as a job else he would have paid more attention in maths class while in secondary school.

The first time that he should have been fired; was a particular Monday morning while he was working at the counter and a long queue had formed due to his ineptitude. The security was trying his best to calm the customers but they were getting increasingly rowdy and some were even downright mean to him.

"He has been attending to one customer for 3 hours. How can you be put someone this slow at the counter?"

"Yes! Hurry up, now."

"I'm sorry, i'm going as fast as I can."

"Just hurry up and stop giving us English. No be English we wan chop!" One particularly fat woman spat.

"Please take it easy he will work faster from now on." his supervisor said from behind assisting him.

"But why did you even put a new person for front desk?"

"I no know for dem o!"

"This is how all bank staffs start please. In time he will get better."

"No be this one. No time go pass wey this one go dey fast! He is stupid!" He looked up to the customers facing them all for the first time zooning in on the fat woman who had spat insults at him again, but this time he couldn't swallow her vile words. His supervisor had sensed his tension and grabbed his shoulder trying to calm and restrain him from reacting; his job and hers were on the line. Too late, he was beyond caring. He never liked the stupid job in the first place.

"How can someone who can't even speak good English call me stupid? Can you even spell stupid?"

"Are you talking to me like that? You must be crazy!" she shrieked and his supervisor moved her hand from his should to his neck trying to keep him quiet.

"Spell crazy!" he barked.

"You ar mad! Fool!" she barked.

"Spell fool!" he shouted at her standing up. He knew she couldn't because he knew her type. Fat uneducated but wealthy market woman who probably sells foodstuffs or Aso Ebi clothes with at least three poor sales girls that she tortues verbally and physically for any flimsy excuse but really because they were young, pretty and slim.

"Fool!"

"No not Food! I know that you will be able to spell that one. I said Fool. Spell fool!" he taunted her and the other customers even those who had been criticizing him earlier had now began to snigger at his taunts making the fat woman self concious.

"er...Idiot...Babboon..."she was struggling and he went for the jugular.

"You haven't even spelt fool yet you are using big words do you want me to force you to spell them?"she looked at him bewildered by his audacity. She was used to having the last words and talking without getting a response but he was now shaming her because she didn't finish secondary school.

"Why are you people insulting me here? I will go with my money. I no go bank here again!" she said storming out but he wasn't done with her.

"Madam, come back!" he yelled "Please don't go. Alright, you can come and spell food then!" and the rest of the banking hall burst into laughter.

But his supervisor, even though she had stiffled a few laughs herself pulled him out of the chair and warned him severely.

"Mama Risi is one of our big clients. She is connected to our manager and if he hears that she took her business to another bank even another branch, you will be in big trouble!" but he was beyond caring.

"It is better you tell him yourself to save me the time. I can't wait to leave this place."

He responded leaving her dumbfounded. She removed him from the counter and into the bulk stuffy bulk soon afterwards. He went home that day hoping to get a sack letter the next day so he could be free of the job but on seeing the branch manager he only said.

"Listen to me carefully, my boy. We at Spalding Bank do not, I repeat, do not respond to customers. Luckily, I was able to calm Mama Risi down. She would still be banking with us but you are never to attend to her or even speak to her again. Do you understand?"

He nodded limply and went back in to start his workday. He had hoped for strong rebuke and a stern dismissal not this feeble scolding from his Santa Claus looking overfed manager whose middle suit button is always overstretched to their limits due to his peppersoup belly.

The second time happened during a bank robbery. It was a Friday afternoon with the usual hustle and bustle of the eager customers who wanted to beat the traffic home to start their weekend. When out of nowhere a black Sedan blazed into their bank premises and five hooded gunmen came into the banking hall and fired rounds into the roof causing pandemonium. Dayo was stunned. He had never been close to a gun before, only seeing them with police officers from afar but now five men were waving it right before his eyes.

"GIVE US OUR MONEY!!!" they yelled as if they were merely making a withdrawal of money they had kept earlier. One of the men pointed a gun at Lekan, his colleague who was seated beside him and Dayo had just brought money for from the bulk room and shouted at him to bag the money. He still couldn't remember clearly how it all happened. He just knew that one minute Lekan was shakily putting money into the brown paper bag and when the gunman say the bag size he yelled.

"This small thing!"

And the gun went off and then Lekan was lying eerily still in a red puddle the next minute. The gunman then turned to him and before he could say anything Dayo yelled;

"Upstairs! All the money is in upstairs in big bags!"

The gunman grabbed him up to direct them to the bulk room and he opened it for them, startling the rest of his colleagues who were in there. He and the rest of them scampered under the tables or chairs until they had cattered away almost thirty million in cash. An internal investigation was carried out later as was protocol and Dayo was invited for questioning by the board which included his branch manager.

"I used that it was you told them where the money was is that correct?" one stubby man asked.

"Yes sir. The robber pointed his gun at me and I told him about it."

"Oh, so the robbers did not even know about the bulk room beforehand!" another said triumphantly as if he had confessed to murder.

"I don't know if they knew about it beforehand sir."

"But it was you who took them there and opened there door for them correct?"

"They more like dragged upstairs but yes sir. And I opened the door for them." he said and all the board members exchanged glances and murmerred within themselves as if they had caught one of the robbers himself. He was irritated by them all.

"Are you aware that they carted away close to thirty million naira?" his manager asked in an accusatory tone.

"Yes sir, I am aware. Can I asked a question please?" he said dismissing his manager and addressing the bankers from headquarters.

"What?" one asked unbelieving his ears he had expected a timid worker who would be begging to be spared from prison and not someone who talked back to them or ask questions.

"What was that?" another asked.

"I have a question about Lekan, the guy who died? He was my friend. He had a family; a wife and kid. What does the bank intend to do for them?"

They exchanged looks again and whispered amongst themselves until the bespectackled one finaly said while reading from a file;

"Mr Lekan Alao was a contract staff, was he not?"

"Yes, sir."

"As are you?"

"Yes, sir."

"You very know the conditions of our contractor workers. They are under the employment of the bank's contractor so he has to deal with them. If he is obliged to."

"What! If he is obliged to? But Lekan died for this bank?"

"No, correction. Mr Alao died while working in our banking premises that is true but he was working for the bank's contractor not the bank." he said pulling down his spectacles avoiding Dayo's eye contact.

"That is bullshi...!"

"Dayo! Comport yourself!" the manager cautioned.

"But.." he said "Lekan's family gets nothing! Have you even paid them this month's salary?"

"Dayo!" the manager called him again "...his family will get his February salary but that is all. You know contractors don't get benefits. That is all. You may go now."

That silenced him and he turned to leave but at the door he turned to face them once more asd said.

"I know that the robbers took thirty million and do you know what? If they had asked me for the vault... I would have given them all the money in there as well." He watched tense and gasp.

"That is enough young man! I said ..."

"...because there is nothing worse than dying for a bunch of greedy fat people in oversized suits!"

"Shut up, Dayo and Get out!" His manager yelled as he slammed the door behind him.

That day he left the banking premises thinking he was surely fired because he had been rude to the boys from HQ. They were considered sacred. But when he arrived the next day the manager merely pointed towards his desk;

"Get back to work." His supervisor said.

He sighed and resumed.

Infinite Love 69

Robin Hood

The third time Dayo should have been fired was when he got caught.

It happened during his third year at the bank. It was his lowest point there and in his life. His life had taken wrong turn somewhere and suddenly, he was stuck at a job he never wanted and just plain hated. Truth be told he wasn't sure what he wanted to do in his life but he always knew that he would be in IT at a company he loved like Andela or Google. He only took the bank job as a part-time gig. It seemed like a good idea at the time, Micheal agreed. He didn't know his part-time gig would take all of his time and pin him down for over three years.

"Why am I still here?" he asked himself constantly.

He really couldn't say. He didn't like it but he was stuck in it. How did that happen? It certainly wasn't there because of the money. His salary was a paltry sum barely enough to covered basic amenities. So the bank encouraged them to take out loans to get everything the wanted; house, cars, clothes everthing was on loan. The bank basically shoved it down their throats, threatening them on promoting the bank's image. And to do that they must get loans.

"What the Bleep?" he hissed "if the bank was so goddamned concerned about my appearance they can damn well raise my salary not shove loans down my throat." he responed to supervisor one day after she had given him a hard over wearing a tshirt to work.

It was all a scam. The appearance bit and he was fortunate enough to see through it during his first year. He had already taken out loans for clothing before he realised it but he swiftly managed to pay it off within three months. He remembered the look on his colleague the senior account manager's face when he did so. The poor thought he had initially come to take up more loans but when he declined, his smiling face fell into a sad expression and he gave Dayo a half hour lecture about upholding the bank's public image through staffs appearance before he finally accepted Dayo's money. Others were not so lucky.

Most thought that the bank was being generous, leaving such huge amounts in their disposal. By their second year, it becomes clear. The loan was a scam to entrap workers into becoming knee deep indebted to the bank. The only way to pay back the bank is to work for the bank. Effectively entrapping theirselves whether they liked it or not. One guy, bought a big car. Big mistake. The mechanic bills alone, without the fuel money secured that he would be working for the bank until his kids twentieth birthday.
But, Dayo wasn't indebted to the bank so why was he still there.

It certainly couldn't be the salary, he usually gave it out. Michael always said that his one defining quality was that he never cared about money and he didn't. Most of his salary went to other people. His sisters for one. They can't stand his sharp wit and constant rebeliousness but they always took his money. They were mostly married and soon after he secured his job they suddenly became more tolerant of his disaggreable nature began calling him for all manner of assistances from help with rent money to help with school fees.

"Out of curiosity, Anty Shola, what about your husband? Is he never going to help with your...his own children's school fees" he usually asked.

"Oh, O tun ti bere! You have started again, abi Dayo? I told you the last time that he was fired from his last job and for now he is looking to start a business. When we start he will pay you back everything now. So, just help with this one, ehn? I will pay you back."

He never liked his sisters, not one of them. But, he always did whatever he could to help them and so, he always gave out money to them. Michael, too. When his mother was seriously ill, he was the one that Michael ran to at the time and he loved helping his friends and family. That was it really. He loved helping his friends and family and the bank allowed him to do that. So he stayed. So, he imagined he was stuck there.

Working with people he didn't like. Who played on people's trust and carried out sharp practices with their money.

Wow Dayo is such a generous person and he always stand for the truth. Thanks for the update.

The saying"one good turn deserves another" played out perfectly well here for Dayo.

We must learn to respect and treat people well while climbing the ladder of life,for we don't know who we will meet while climbing down.

The security guys has played his part,we awaits what the future has for Dayo.

Thanks Mr Abdul for the update.