My story pt 7

I hurried unplugged my phone, picked my suitcase and rushed out of the office....

As I went past the secretary desk, she hissed but I didn't have time for any talk

As I was approaching the gate, the gateman who is known for his friendly attitude, approached me saying:

"Oga,closing time never reach na, wetin dey happen, anything for the boys"?... He asked, touching me on the shoulder and shining his almost- decayed sets of teeth 

"Sule, please leave me alone, I don't have anything to give you, I haven't been paid for awhile"... I answered, moving closer to the gate

But he blocked my way.. 

"Oga, wait oo, dem never pay you too"?...he asked

"I haven't been paid o".. I replied 

"Dem never pay me too oo, the food wey I chop this afternoon sef, I never pay, I dey tell the girl say make she con collect the money tomorrow "... he explained 

"Ahh, that's not good at all, but see ehn, I don't have time to all, there's a urgent situation at hand at my place... I said and left through the gate. 

I tried calling Mr Akpan again, but he wouldn't pick up, then I began to reflect... 

Was it because of the unpaid electricity bills? 

Was the house on fire? 

Or has Mama Landlady started another lunatic display? 

All these went through my mind, as I walked down the street. 

I kept on walking down the street, till I found a bus going to my area, I entered the bus and alighted at the last bus-stop of my area

At a distance, I saw the front gate of my house crowded, i was so perturbed about what the situation could be

"Is this the usual crowd that always come to cool off Mama Landlady's anger towards her tenants or what"?... I thought 

I entered through the gate, but what I saw was different from what I was thinking

I saw people smiling and exchanging pleasantries, they were all drinking and jesting 

I was still confused, and trying to figure out what miracle must have happened within few hours that I left for work. 

I haven't concluded what might be going on, when I saw Mr Akpan running towards me, hands opened wide, and beaming his sets of teeth 

We both hugged, but he hugged me so tightly that I started to gasp for breath.. 

"Mr Akpan, my mind hasn't been at rest since you called, what is happening here?.. I asked, with a worried face

"Ahhh Oga, he no reach that one na, na my wife born, she born twins pikins"...He said, still beaming his sets of teeth 

I looked at him for a while, not knowing what to say

"Should I firstly congratulate him on his wife's safe delivery or blast him for the confusion he caused for me"?...I thought

"Oga, wetin happen"?...he asked

"Nothing, congratulations, Thank God for safe delivery, God will watch over the children"...I said, while trying to calm myself down

"Amen oooo, I pray so".. He answered 

"Oga, sit down for there, I dey come, make I go bring chilled beer cos as I dey look you, e be like say, you wan vex for me, but I no go gree... He said and left for his apartment 

He was right, I just chose not to react so I wouldn't ruin his jovial mood

After a while, he came back with 3 bottles of beer and placed them in front of me and he left again

I wasn't a regular drinker, but when I had the chance to, I like to satisfy myself to the fullest

Within a short period of time, I was draining the last bottle, but I didn't know what came upon me, that I had to order more bottles of beer from Mr Akpan

He obliged and brought 3 more bottles to my table, I continued drinking till I drained the last bottle. 

"Oga, the one wey you don drink don do, you don drink your best, leave the rest for God, make things better, abeg...said Mr Akpan, and he left for his apartment again

I didn't respond to him, I was beginning to feel the alcoholic effect

It was getting dark, people were leaving for their various homes, but I still sat there

Suddenly, a feminine figure came in through the front gate, I couldn't figure out who it was but Mr Akpan was able to decipher who it was

"Ahh, Mama Landlady, good evening oo"... he greeted her

"Mr Akpan, congratulations ooo, as you call me say your wife don born, na so my belle dey sweet me, I happy for you ooo".. She replied him

I was hearing their conversation from where i sat, I didn't want to interfere.. 

I stood up from where I sat, and tried to leave for my apartment but I felt someone pulling me back

"Where do you think you're going, didn't you hear me talking, have you forgotten that today is the deadline for the payment of the electricity bills"?.. asked Mama Landlady 

"Or you want me to disgrace you before you pay"? .. She added

"Look, you this woman, I don't want your troubles this night at all oo, I don't have any money now, when I have, I will pay you".. I fired back at her 

"Ahhh Oga, na Mama Landlady una dey follow talk like that, abi una don drink forget"...asked Mr Akpan 

"I don't care who she is"... I fired back, facing Mr Akpan

I tried to leave their presence and move into my apartment

But she grabbed me by the collar and pulled me towards her, she had snapped off two of my shirt's buttons before Mr Akpan interfered 

"Mama Landlady, abeg, stop, no beat Oga, e never reach that one"... He shouted, while trying to separate the two of us

I tried not to lay my hands on her, but I was concerned about my office shirt which was beginning to tear into shreds 

Let go of me, Mama Landlady, don't angry me ooo,... I shouted, trying to push her away 

"I will make sure I deal with you this night, you don't know me at all"... She replied, now she was shouting at the top of her voice that the other neighbors started to join in separating us

I finally pushed her away and left for my apartment, the neighbors were able to stop Mama Landlady, Mr Akpan tried to follow me but I sent him away

She was still cursing, ranting and swearing outside, but I totally ignored her

I entered my room, pulled off my shirt and examined it 

"Oh God, my favorite office shirt is in pieces, how do I go about it"?.. I cried in regret

I laid on bed and began to think sorrowfully

I was still feeling a bit of the alcoholic effect and it was making me feeling dizzy 

I decided to say a silent prayer, but I wasn't myself again, I slept off...

The next morning, I was brought back to life, by the ringing of my phone, it was the Boss

I glanced at the wall clock, it was 10:25am

"Jesus Christ"... I shouted as I left the bed

I went on my knees to say my morning prayers

Simultaneously, there was a sudden hard knock on the door

"Mr Akpan, is that you again, are you crazy again this morning?... I shouted angrily 

I heard a voice replied back.. 

"We are not crazy, we are from the Community Police Station!... 

I placed my hands on my head, my mouth agape.... 

Thanks for reading guys, remember to comment and share

Am sorry, this part took a while, i had to clear a lot of issues before publishing it

Thanks for your understanding and support

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