₦airaland Forum

Ogaga strolled down the bush path with confidence and enthusiasm. He had a huge grass-cutter in his right hand with a cutlass at the left hand. He is a young man of twenty-seven years who was quite successful judging by the village’s standard. He was a renowned wrestler, hunter and owns a large farm. He was gradually ascending the path to full manhood and was planning to get married before the year’s end. He was on his way to visit his bride, the apple of everyman’s eyes and the village belle. He loved and adored her and he was ready to do anything for her. The time was already past four in the evening when he got to the modest bungalow where Omote and her family lived. He saw her younger sister playing outside. Immediately he called her and she ran to him and greeted him.

“Where is your sister?” he asked.

‘’She is inside. It seems she is not really fine,” she replied.

‘’What is wrong with her?” he asked.

‘’I don’t know,” she replied.

“Can I see her?”

“Let me go and call her.”

She left and went inside the house. Ogaga was worried and he struggled to keep calm after the girl left. After some time, she returned.

“She said you should wait a little.”

Ogaga felt encouraged and went to sit on a bench that was placed under a tree by the side of the house. He waited for a few minutes before he saw the slow moving figure of Omote. Her face was gloomy and it surprised him greatly. She sat down on the bench close to him. There was no attempt to greet him and this proved uncomfortable for him to swallow.

‘’I brought this for you,” he said giving her the grass-cutter.

She mumbled a reply and watched him drop it beside her after no attempt to take it from him. Everything was strange to Omoefe.

‘’What is wrong with you?” he asked.

She raised her head and turned to look at him. She just couldn’t replace the look of worry on Ogaga’s face with the cheerful glee of Omoefe’s when he was on her. The thought seemed overwhelming enough and she stood up immediately and left.

Ogaga was too slow for her swift feet as she got into the house before he reached her. He kept staring at the door like one lost in a spectacle. He was suddenly brought back to the present by a grunt. He turned and found Omote’s mother standing some distance away.

‘’What happened?” she asked.

“She left without saying a word. She acted strange,” he replied. “Something bad must have happened to her.”

‘’Yes, she came back to the house early this morning,” she replied.

Ogaga turned to look at her in surprise. It was indeed a strange occurrence as she always sleeps in her parents’ house except when she travels to another village.

“Where did she sleep?”

She shook her head sadly and turned to look at Ogaga.

‘’She spent the night at Omoefe’s house,” she said slowly.

Suddenly his mind travelled through territories he loathed. The thought that she had gone to his house without seeking his approval irked him. He made an effort not to suspect anything knowing he could easily vouch for her commitment to their relationship. On the other hand, he was still unsure of what could have necessitated Omoefe’s decision to allow her spend the night in his house knowing he was married.

‘’He raped her,” he heard her mother say.

Dread, anger and surprise came in rapid succession. He struggled to bottle up these reactions. H was suddenly unsure if he had heard the right words from her mother. She said the next words with eyes concentrated on him.

‘’I am telling you this because I feel it will be best if we resolve the matter now. You are like the closest male figure to her and it will not be out of place if we confront the chairman with this information. I want you to accompany me.”

“Ma, I am ready.”

“No, not now, we are going to see him once it is 7:30pm,” she replied.

She stood up and left while Ogaga stayed back completely unsure of what to do. He had not lost her rather she might have lost herself which he loathed to think about. He had always prized her vivacious attitude over all other qualities others may have seen in her. He left the compound.

xaviercasmir:
The boss Is back again with another wonderful piece. Ride on.
But you did not invite me but I have invited mysef

I am sorry for not inviting you. I hope you enjoy this piece. Great to have you here.

She wasn’t going to heed his overt request as she suddenly burst into tears. He walked to where she was kneeling, held her by the arms and urged her to stand up. He made all manner of promises before she cleaned her tears and stood up. Omoefe turned round in order to lock the door when he noticed that she was following behind. He turned to her.

‘’You can’t go now, I am not through with you,” he said.

She stood looking at him unsure of what to do. He walked to where she was standing and stretched his hands towards hers but she pushed it away. She shoved him aside and made for the door but Omoefe was quite fast and he caught up with her before she got to the door. He held her firmly around the waist and carried her to the room where he threw her on the bed. She shouted but her voice seemed like a whisper as they were quite far from the village centre.

“Please don’t do this to me,” she pleaded.

He climbed on the bed and stretched a hand towards her which she pushed away. He became angry and held her blouse. She pulled his hand and pushed it away. He grew angry the more they struggled and eventually slapped her. The effect momentarily took the strength from her and she was unable to fight back as Omoefe held her. He tore her clothes and pinned her to the bed while taking his chance with her.

Omoefe woke up just before dawn the next day. He stretched and sat up when he heard gentle sobbing from the floor. He saw Omote lying down with tears in her eyes while her beautiful yellow gown had some traces of blood.

‘’Are you still crying?” he asked.

She sniffled and sat up to face him.

‘’You have defiled me,” she said coldly.

He chuckled at the thought and stood up to go near her.

‘’It’s nothing. In fact I think you enjoyed it,” he said.

He knelt down in front of her and tried to place his hand on her cheek but she pushed it away.

‘’Okay, what do you want?’ he asked but got no reply. “There is little I can do for you unless you really want me to fulfil my promise to you.”

‘’I need my virginity back,” she said.

Omoefe was bemused and slowly he sat on the floor across her. Silence as they eyed each other and then Omote turned away. She knew it was an impossible request but she was seething with hatred. Omoefe chuckled suddenly and turned to look at her.

“Is there any other thing I can do besides your impossible request?”

“No, you have to undo what happened last night.”

He suddenly became angry. He hated the fact that he was pleading her cooperation even when she was aware of his reputation. He was not ready to succumb to an ‘idle’ wish from a naïve girl.

“You shouldn’t worry about this thing we had last night. You should leave,” he said dismissively and stood up.

He took his towel in readiness to go and bath but Omote sat in the same position without moving an inch. He left the room to go and have his bath in readiness for his meeting with the elders. After a few minutes he returned, she had barely moved and had her face buried in her palms.

“Are you still here?” he asked.

She raised her head and eyed him sternly.

‘’Alright then it’s time to go,” he said as he went straight to where she was sitting.

He grabbed her two arms and pulled her up forcefully. He tried pushing her out but she fought back angrily. Rage welled up inside him, he dropped his towel and pushed her out into the balcony. He applied the bolt to the door as soon as he closed the door. Omote continued her feeble protests by hitting on the door.

Omoefe dressed amidst the knocks on the door. He hated the fact that she was just complicating things on her own. If she had agreed to his request he wouldn’t have attacked her. Anyway he got what he wanted and it was indeed pleasurable. He finished dressing and went into the sitting-room. It was quiet. He felt relieved at the thought that she must have gone. He peeped through the window and confirmed that the balcony was empty before he stepped out. He breathed easily once he found no trace of her and went to where he had parked his car. He got in, turned on the ignition and drove out of the compound.

Got so much value from this. Thank you and I will certainly try out this options.

Years after and Omoefe had grown beyond his wildest imaginations. He was forty-three years old, a senior Advocate with a promising law practice. He had a family which included his beautiful wife and two boys and a girl. His short sojourn on Earth had seen him go to places that none of his kinsmen could even dream of.

He was a role model to the old and young in his village. Therefore he had taken active interest in the Crude Oil exploration deal between the Government and the various Multinational companies who were interested in drilling crude oil. He had informed his town’s people of his visit on that day which was going to be a Friday. An agreement had been reached and he was going to discuss the details with them before the final signing will take place.
He left the city for the village at noon and got there in time before the sun went for its daily rest. The Chairman had news of his coming announced and the people declared a bounteous reception. On the evening of his arrival, a huge reception was held to honour him.

Omote sang with joy and finesse as the men and ladies. She was easily the most beautiful girl in the village and the addition of her sonorous voice made her a unique blend of beauty and skill. She was one of the best musicians in the village and had grown to become a popular voice in the province. Despite her popularity she was down-to-earth and had a charming smile which endeared many to her. She could rightly be called the ‘pride of the village’.

Omoefe had arrived the gathering while she was still singing to the cheers of the crowd. He was impressed by her beautiful rendition. Until then he had no knowledge of her but once he heard her voice and saw her beauty, he decided to inquire about her. He turned to Areghe, the young ebullient secretary of the community who had been his close companion since the negotiation with the government started.

‘’Who is that girl?” Omoefe asked.

‘’She is Omote,’’ Areghe replied in the affirmative.

Omoefe nodded his head and smiled at the thought of having her. Despite all of his admirable qualities, he had a ravenous appetite for keeping mistresses. He just couldn’t wait to add Omote to his lengthy list.

‘’I like her,’’ he said loud enough for Areghe to hear.

‘’She is engaged,’’ Areghe retorted.

Areghe knew the kind of man he was dealing with hence he tried to make his announcement as stern as possible. He had since curtailed the respect he had for Omoefe once he discovered his habit of keeping mistresses. Omoefe grinned at the warning, he had made up his mind and he wasn’t going to wait any longer. He called one of the girls who was serving the people and gave her a note to give to Omote. He made it as discreet as possible as he was not willing to let Areghe into the knowledge of such transaction. Once the message had been served to Omote, he licked his lips in anticipation of the revelry that awaited him that night. Once the reception was over, he and the elders held a meeting.

Afterwards, he drove his car down a bush path to his house which was just at the outskirt of the village. He made out the silhouette of a lady with the aid of the glow of the moon. He got down after he parked the car and walked through the dimly lit way to meet her.

“Good evening Sir,” Omote greeted.

“Good evening beautiful Omote,” he replied enthusiastically.

He fondled with the lock and opened it.

“You can come in. It will be more appropriate to discuss inside the house.”

She walked cautiously into the house already feeling strange. Omoefe went to pick the lantern which he had kept by the couch in the sitting-room. He struck the match box and applied the resultant flame to the wick and the room was suddenly illuminated.

“Have your seat,” he told her noticing her reluctance.

She sat down slowly while he watched with interest. He chuckled at the thought of having a city girl behave this way. The village was still set on its values. He sat down on a chair across hers. She was indeed beautiful.

“I love your voice…,” he said.

“Thank you Sir,” she replied quite appreciative.

“What do you want me to offer you?” He asked as he rose to his feet.

“Nothing…’’ she said and added. “I ate not too long ago.”

“Alright…I will like to help you,” he said.

“How?”

‘’You are a beautiful singer and people like you are in short supply in the city where the demand is high…’’ he stopped to notice her fixed gaze. “I can help you become a recognised musician in the city where you will have more people that are willing to pay to listen to you.”

She smiled at the idea and this seemed to relieve the tension building inside her. Omoefe enjoyed seeing her smile.

‘’But Sir, it is almost dark. It is better I leave now,” she said suddenly.

‘’You don’t have to worry, you are safe here,’’ he said.

He stood up from where he was sitting and sat beside her. She shifted uncomfortably on the chair.

‘’I like beautiful ladies like you. Why don’t you spend the night here?’ he asked.

Omote was dumbfounded and stood up from the couch. It was more than an abominable request. Omoefe stretched his hands towards hers but she withdrew it quickly. Omoefe already filled with intense longing ran straight to the door and placed his back on it. She felt helpless and knelt down immediately rubbing her hands together as a means to plead for his mercy. Omoefe was unmoved, rather, he felt an overwhelming desire to have her.

‘’Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you’’ he blurted.

We are wired to talk and how do one win attention of others, it is to speak or concoct "reality". It is sad that people who speak negative often wish for something different from what they confess or insinuate.

The Chairman suddenly went numb. It was a curious decision to make as the village knew of no other profession but teaching. The few that went to school in the past had ended up as teachers. Omoefe looked at the crowd and then at the chairman. The quiet that replaced his statement reverberated in his mind. The Chairman ushered the young man down the podium before dismissing the people.

Unfortunately it seemed the carpet had been removed from the people’s feet as everybody went home stunned by the decision of their young hero.

The Chairman was unwilling to let the matter go on till the next day. He called the elders to an urgent meeting in his house. Omoefe was also included in the people who converged in the expansive compound of the Chairman. Once a lamp had been placed on a tree trunk which illuminated the whole environment, the meeting began.

“My Elders, this meeting will be brief hence I plead for your attention.”

The chairman began and pointing to Omoefe, “…we all know that this boy had done what no one has ever done in the history of this village. I gave him the grace to address us because he is the reason why we celebrated and I know his request ended our day in an unusual way. I have called this meeting for us to unravel this mystery.”

A murmur of approval followed and the Chairman bowed his head in agreement. Omoefe suddenly felt the gaze of the men on him and turned to look at the Chairman who urged him to go to the middle and address the honourable gathering. He walked slowly to the middle and took a stand.

“First of all, I appreciate you all for celebrating me. My fathers, I made the request as a result of my need for more finance besides the scholarship given to me by the government so that my dream may come to pass. I have little understanding of what a lawyer does but I think that is something I can do with all my heart.”

Silence followed his last word. The Chairman gave room for as many who was ready to contribute to the decision making process. After much discussion, the elders decided that they would help but on the condition that the finances needed would be within their wherewithal. The Elders left once they had arrived at this decision.

The headmaster of the village’s only secondary school was contacted and he sent a mail to the city where the university was located. The information they requested came two weeks after and the headmaster explained everything to the chairman. The Chairman called a meeting the evening of that same day and he read all of the information to them. The Elders were quite receptive of the idea and they gave their seal of approval. The Chairman checked the treasury of the community and saw that the boy’s need was likely going to take up most of the savings. He decided to call a meeting of the men in the community to decide on how best to fund Omoefe’s education. The men were not quite receptive of the idea of funding the boy’s education with the bulk of the community’s resources but the chairman was able to convince them and they agreed.

Omoefe resumed as a student of the University of Midwest at the start of the next section. He did very well and graduated as one of the best students in his class. The University governing authorities were pleased with his stunning performance and they decided to send him to one of the best universities in England for further studies. The people of Uwo were proud of their son and themselves knowing they had contributed to his success.

Omoefe performed very well in graduate school and came out as one of the best students. He was faced with a choice of remaining in England or a return to the Republic. He decided to return home and on his return he was employed in one of the best law firm in the country.

Despite his humble roots he had risen up the ladder to make a name for himself. The people of Uwo were satisfied with the fact that their son had not misused the opportunity given to him and they gradually accepted the fact that their interest was going to be served regardless of where he had chosen to work. Omoefe was able to balance the expectation of the people with that of his as he made huge contribution to the development of the land in cash and kind. After serving several years in the private sector he made the decision to go into politics as he knew that was going to be the best place for him to represent his people.

It is mine and hopefully you do not take it without my permission because you will be found out.

This is fictional and any resemblance with any person, place or event is completely coincidental.



RAPE
EPISODE 1

Uwo is a village tucked in the rich forest region of the South of the Republic. The village have a rich cultural heritage which they have preserved even with the arrival of modernity and its cultural disruptive goods. The people lived a simple life as they were mostly satisfied with the little they have. All families owned a piece of land where they farmed, the produce were most times enough for their daily needs all through the period of crop planting. After their normal day’s job the men and children always gathered at the town hall where all kinds of social activities and entertainment take place. On the outside they were a very happy and contented group of people.

The arrival of the National Oil Company brought a sudden change to the scheme of things. Suddenly they had prosperity knocking on their door even as word went around that the ‘Black Gold’ had been found in their land. Some top Government officials had visited and meetings had been held in the city to discuss the various processes that would be involved in the exploration and production of that beautiful resource which was capable of changing their beautiful land. The people were suddenly happy at the enormous riches that may soon be realised from their land. The elders burdened down with the complex negotiations that would follow in the drafting of the rules of engagement summoned Omoefe.

Omoefe was one of the shining star of the land. He had lived in the land until his final year in secondary school. A provincial academic competition was held and he came out as the best after the results were released. The people were honoured to have a winner who had won something of such importance in the whole of the province. A huge celebration was held by the community in his honour. The celebration brought everybody in the community together including women and children. There was enough food and drinks to go round. After much discussion and couple of tributes the chief stood up to round up the evening meet.

“People of Uwo we are indeed glad to hold this special meeting which is a tribute to our brilliant son. I must confess that I am happy and the fact that you all have gathered here is an evidence of how much pride his achievement has brought to us. Thank you all for coming and at this junction, I will ask for patience as the occasion demands that the celebrant address the people.”

Omoefe rose up from his seat to loud cheers from the people. He was tall, dark and had an athletic build. He had celebrated his seventeenth birthday some days ago. He walked confidently to where the chairman was standing on the podium. The chairman shook his hand and stepped away from the podium. There in the lantern lit room, he had an unimaginable charm as silence descended on the gathering
“Good day all,” he began. “I want to sincerely appreciate you all for celebrating this achievement. I am indeed humbled and I have a plea…”

The silence grew intense even as everyone strained to hear the plea. The birds and all other creatures around most have taken cue as everywhere suddenly became still.

“I desire to study Law in the university.”

Good story Sir

Interested.

Episode 5

The journey back to the cell was torturous and painful. Instead of feeling relief he was angry and dejected. Bola’s visit was a big shock. He was led into the cell and thoughts of vengeance assailed his mind. The minutes ticked by even as his mind went darker. He started feeling the pangs of hunger and was suddenly desirous of eating something. He sat on the bare floor unmoved by the inquisitive eyes of his fellow inmates and gradually his eyes shut in exasperation.

He sprang up immediately he was hit. His eyes made out the figure of the guard.
“Come out,” he said.
He struggled to his feet and felt the other eyes on him. He was suddenly aware that the gate had hardly been opened for another since he was brought to the cell. He had kept to himself since he arrived the cell the previous day. Suddenly, he felt a desire to look at the faces of the other inmates.

“You are wasting my time,” the guard said.

He struggled to keep pace with the guard as they walked to the reception. The journey away from the grimy atmosphere of the inner parts of the police base did little to dampen the gloom that had taken hold of his mind. They arrived the reception and immediately was surprised by the number of people loitering the room. The two policemen at the counter were busy attending to some people who were battling to get their attention.

It definitely looked like a marketplace albeit one that gave the seller much power. The guard led him to sit behind the other policemen in the counter and left. He waited with some level of patience and then heard voices coming from the office adjacent the reception. He saw Bola first still unchanged from their earlier meeting and quickly stood up. He remembered the poor state he was in physically and then Chief came into view. He was clean shaven as usual and grey beards cropped his chin.

“Good after…noon sir,” he stuttered.

He nodded without moving the pitiful look on his face. The official came into view and smirked.

“Chief, you can have him now,” he said.

He walked out of the counter and Bola held his hand immediately. They walked ahead of Chief whose eyes Abraham felt all over him. He was already feeling happy leaving the cell but was suddenly confronted with the thought that his relationship with Bola might just have ended. They stopped beside a Toyota Prado and chief joined them shortly.

“Bola, can you please excuse us,” he said.
She walked away and the thought of separation overwhelmed him. He kept his eyes down.

“I did not want to come when my daughter informed me of your imprisonment but I am happy I made it. You must count yourself lucky that you are indeed innocent of the charges brought against you.”

Abraham raised his eyes to stare at him immediately.

“Just take care of my daughter because I see that she loves you so much. Also stay out of crime.”

It was soothing to hear even though he knew the man had just questioned his credibility. Chief called Bola and asked her to get into the Toyota Prado. He also asked Abraham to get into the car and they drove out of the station. The first sight of the outside world was enough to relieve him of the pain and injustice of the past two days but one thing was unforgettable, even the innocent sometimes suffer the consequence of crime.

The End.

Sensitivity1254:
This is getting interesting. Keep it coming

Okay. Thanks for reading.

Episode 4

The drive was a short one and they arrived at the base of the force some minutes afterwards. He was still in shock and yet to get over his near defenceless state. The reception was a beehive of activities as several men were seated all bearing sombre look. He was led to sit on one of the vacant chairs and immediately clasped his head in anger. An hour passed before he was led by one of the men to an office beside the reception. A tough looking man sat behind the desk.

“So you are an internet fraudster,” a deep menacing voice.

“No, I am not,” he replied.

“Okay, you must be a yahoo boy then.”

“Sir, you are accusing me wrongly.”

The man’s eyes flared up in anger but was hesitant on flexing his muscles. Abraham was afraid for his life in that instant and realized he was in trouble. The man continued haranguing him and then told him about the complaints of his Asian partners concerning the failed bid for the waste disposal contract. The thought of being betrayed irked him even with the present threat of being tortured for a crime he did not commit. He denied the man’s every accusations and in a fit of rage, the man asked that he should be thrown into cell.

The cell was at the end of the building. It was a block of two large adjoining rooms but small in comparison to the people housed inside. He was pushed into one of these rooms and immediately was assailed by the number of bodies that stood in his way. His brief survey showed that most of the inmates were young and then realized that many could have faced the man at the office beside the reception. He struggled to take in the filthy air that hung around the building and then started contemplating how he would get out. The thought kept his appetite in check and all through the night especially when confronted with the buzzing mosquitoes.

The next morning, he woke up with weary eyes and immediately called the attention of one of the guards standing close to the cell. He asked to see the man who had interrogated him the previous day. The guard assured him that his message would be delivered. He was tired and the smell of his breath was unpleasant especially after two days of not brushing. The daylight was more pronounced when he was led to the office of the man that interrogated him the previous day. He was dressed in a black t-shirt similar to the one he wore the previous day. His eyes were hard and unflinching.

“Have you decided to confess?” he asked.

“I did not commit any crime.”

“So why did you come to see me then?”

“I want to go home.”

“You won’t leave until you have paid the money you obtained from those men.”

“Can I make a call then?”

“You can but in my presence.”

He agreed and requested for the man’s phone. The official hesitated before giving him the phone. He knew Jeffery’s number and immediately dialled it. Jeffery picked on the second ring and they had a short conversation. Immediately, he returned the phone to the official who had listened without restraint. He stood up immediately and left the office and was led to the cell where he had spent the night.

The wait was long and in that moment, he prayed for Jeffery to deliver his message. The wait lasted until some hours after noon when an official came to call him. He stepped out of the cell with heightened expectation and was led to one of the rooms in a different section of the building.

The interior was dark and gloomy with walls that needed painting. The furnishing was sparse with a table in between two chairs. It looked very much like a room fit for interrogation and possibly torture. He became agitated and waited with baited breath for the return of the official. Some seconds after, Bola came into the room and immediately burst into tears. Her teary eyes seemed more than a mirror into his physical appearance. He started contemplating his physical condition. He stepped forward and embraced her.

“This is not allowed,” the guard said.

They detached and she went around to sit on the other chair. He struggled to avert his eyes clearly unsure of how he would console her. A moment of nervous silence followed and gradually words began to flood his mind.

“I really don’t know what anybody has told you but I am definitely not a thief,” he said.

She still held his gaze, unmoved by his attempt to relieve the pressure in the room.

“Are you a yahoo boy?” she asked.

He was shocked beyond words and bit his lip in anger. The question seemed more like an unfair description of his efforts to stay honest while trading on the Internet.

“I really don’t know why you came,” he said.

She was crossed and immediately her countenance changed. She was asking the right question at the wrong time and it seemed more like an indictment. He felt angry considering that she did not trust his assertion. He stretched his hands and held both of her hands.

“I am not,” he replied.

“Time up,” the guard barked.

He released her hands and immediately Bola left the room.

Episode 3

Jeffery chuckled loud enough for Abraham’s ears and turned to look at him inquisitively. He knew already that his friend was making mockery of his tightened chin. Chief’s exit offered some momentary comfort which gradually dissipated into series of questions on how well he had impressed his supposed father-in-law. His biggest fear had been on how to describe his job and that had been summarily dismissed by a man whose major concern was the end product itself. Jeffery showed little interest as he looked in expectation of Bola running down the stairs. She appeared some minutes after Chief had left with a smile illuminating her face. She found the space between them large enough and sat down.

“So how was it?” Bola asked.

“Not as bad as I thought initially,” Abraham replied.

Jeffery grunted and he retaliated with a light punch.

“So what would you like to take?” she asked.

“I am not interested in another treat especially after that…” he pointed at the bottle of Brandy on the table. “It’s best we leave.”

“Okay.”

Abraham stood up, pulled Bola and Jeffery followed. Bola was all smiles as she held his side while they walked out of the house. The visit had been short, unnerving and exciting at the same time. He knew already that Bola had just taken the blind off their relationship and it was more of public knowledge already. The thought offered little consolation considering that her father had warned him against preying on his daughter’s heart. She hung by the side of the driver’s seat while he revved the engine. She kissed him lightly on his fore-head and then walked away while he drove out of the garage.

Jeffery was already on his phone as he drove into the empty street of the estate and silence reigned. He remembered the deal with the Asians especially as it concerns their yet to be tested waste disposal app. The collaboration looked promising but he was not giddy about it. Jeffery alighted at the city centre and he drove to the serene surroundings of his house still contemplating the merit of meeting Bola’s father.

***************************
Life continued in its usual fashion as he went about his business. The bid for the project was being scrutinized by the government agency in charge of the Environment. He was already anticipating the success of the deal and reassured his partners who he had not met of their seeming success. He was already used to dealing with clients via the internet and hence did not find it strange dealing with the men from somewhere in Asia.

The men had offered their cooperation through their financial contribution and then also shown their interest by constantly messaging him. Abraham felt uncomfortable each time he had to reply their messages. The deadline for the announcement of the new partners were already past and yet he was unable to confirm if the government had accepted their bid. He struggled to keep his mind at rest as the days went by.

Five days after the deadline was all it took for Abraham to face the gravest threat in his career as a cyberspace retailer. He was woken up by a loud knock on his door. He woke up and sauntered to the door oblivious of the looming threat. The knock came again and this jolted him out of his sleepy state. He opened the door and was immediately confronted by the glare of a torch-light. He covered his eyes obviously assailed by the harsh stare of the torch. A firm hand grabbed him and tried pulling him.

“Who are you?” he screamed.

“Special force,” the man replied.

The statement rang alarm bells in his ears. He was not a criminal as to warrant the arrival of the special anti-robbery squad. He tried to resist but the hold was firm and then he felt another hand take the other and immediately was led outside towards a waiting truck. The scene was reminiscent of that associated with an action movie. It was still early in the day and the air was cold and misty.

Immediately he was bundled into the truck, they hit the road. He had just a singlet and boxers on and somewhere in his mind, he was hopeful that the arrival of the men had not been witnessed by the neighbours.

oloyedprince1:
not bad a story , thumb up

Thank you.

I am not a "yahoo" boy
Episode 2

Bola was like a breath of fresh air especially when compared to his previous girlfriends. He had befriended two girls before he met Bola and they had come with their own baggage. Bola was a lot different from the previous ones but she had one thing in common with them. Bola did not know the nature of his business though was aware that he was often on the cyberspace searching for clients. She was also reluctant to ask for financial favour which he assumed was because of her privileged status. He was reminiscing how well the past months has gone since he met Bola when Jeffery shook him.

‘’Bro, I think it’s time we leave,’’ Jeffery said.

He looked at his watch and they had just an hour before the scheduled time with Chief Bako, Bola’s father. He stood up from the couch and they walked out of the bar. The traffic was gradually getting heavy when they started for Bola’s house. They arrived at the estate where Bola lived some thirty minutes afterwards. He fished his phone from his pocket and called her.

She arrived shortly and talked to the security men at the gate before walking towards Abraham and Jeffery. A smile illuminated her face as soon as their eyes met and she hugged him. She greeted Jeffery and got behind the wheel while Abraham sat on the front passengers’ seat. She turned on the ignition and drove towards her home. The Estate was quite expansive with varying structures built in elegant fashion. They arrived in front of a one storey building and she parked beside the house.

‘’We are here,’’ she said.

It was an exquisite mansion and Abraham conveyed his delight by whistling. Bola smiled and led them to the front of the house.

‘’Bola, I hope this meeting will not be a bad idea’’

‘’Don’t worry, he is a nice person.’’

Bola opened the door and led them into an expansive sitting room. A minute had barely gone by when a man with a rotund stature started down the stairs that led to the sitting room. Abraham watched Bako’s arrival with baited breath and then he felt sweat trickle down his body despite the cool air circulating around the room from the air-conditioner. He arrived sooner than he thought and was startled by the voice of Jeffery.

‘’Good evening sir,’’ Jeffery said.

‘’Good evening sir,’’ he stuttered.

‘’Young men you are welcome to my house.’’

The voice of Bola’s father sounded quite different from the sort expected of his imposing stature. It was baritone but a soft one that seemed to belong to a youth. He shook their hands which only made Abraham uncomfortable and averted his eyes.

‘’Who is the prospective son-in-law?’’

The statement sounded like mockery but Abraham raised his hand reluctantly which brought cheer to the man’s face.

‘’I hope you are not this timid all the time.”

“No sir.”

“Come with me.’’

He led them to a couch and urged them to sit. He sat on a single chair facing them with his bulk taking up every space. The sheen of his clean shaven head was complemented by a blood shot eyes which aroused some fear in Abraham’s mind.

‘’So what are your names?’’

They said their names and he nodded in acknowledgement. He rose to his feet with some effort and headed for the bar. Abraham watched with discomfort as the man took a tray, got three glasses and a bottle of Brandy and then started back for the sitting area. Abraham stood up, not moved by the carefree attitude of Jeffery and resorted to lend a hand which the man shrugged off. He opened the bottle and poured little portions into the three glasses. Abraham took both of the glasses and handed one to his friend. Bola’s father took his and sat on the chair.

“So boys you are welcome to my house.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Okay… I like people calling me by my title…oh, I haven’t told you my name. I am chief Bako, the former cocoa merchant,” he burst into rapturous laughter.

“Great to meet you sir,” they replied.

“Indeed… so what do you do?” Bako asked.

“We are internet entrepreneurs,” Abraham replied.

The chief contemplated them for a moment before he broke into a broad smile.

“I like mobile looking guys like you. I have heard so much about the wonders going on in the cyberspace. That is what you guys refer to as soft work.”

“Something like that sir,” Jeffery interjected.

“I just told you I am or was a cocoa merchant. That was my occupation until I saw the wonders of real estate when I changed location. I like men who don’t sweat too much before making money and I must commend you boys for following that path.”

“Thank you sir,” Abraham said hesitantly.

The man sitting in front of him seemed like a joker but the look on his face was one that spoke volume of his seriousness. He was gradually becoming comfortable and warming up to the image of an “easy man” described by Bola.

“I hope you are not a prey?”

The question left him in a hook and he shook his head hesitantly at the persistent stare of Chief. He averted his eyes and stole a look at Jeffery in a bid to lessen the discomfort.

“I don’t play with my daughter, she is a jewel and I cannot imagine what I might do to any guy that plays her like a ball. It’s good you have your friend here so that he will do well to remind you.”

The words echoed in his mind and he would have been appreciative if his eyes had met Bola’s in that moment. He nodded in affirmation and averted his eyes once again. Chief poured some more drink into his glass and drank with relish.

“Do you care for more?” he asked.

“Yes sir.”

Jeffery was quick out of his trap as he handed his glass to the chief. Abraham had little appetite, carefully nursing the little remaining in his glass. Chief drank some more and then seemed to relax under the influence of the drink. He would bring up some topics which Abraham responded to with some restraint. He was not afraid of the man but was unsure of how best to go about their nascent relationship. He heaved a sigh of relief as soon as Chief stood up.

“I am tired gentlemen, it’s time I go take a rest,” he said.

He left for the stairs immediately to Abraham's relief.

All rights reserved

A short story on the strained relationship between police and the youth as a result of unending internet fraud. I hope you enjoy your read.
All characters are completely fictional and where there is any relation to a real person or situation, it is purely coincidental.

Episode 1

Abraham’s eyes were tired even though he had glasses shielding them from the gleaming light of the computer screen. He was on his usual beat. The moment, he got the waste management contract he had been working since the past three days, he knew it was time to take a rest. He was a computer freak but that was simply glossing over what he does. It was also easy to describe him as a fraudster as he was wont to spend hours working on his HP laptop computer. He also had a handy tablet which followed him wherever he went. The perception was reinforced by his desire to be a loner, there was no way he could dispel the rumours swirling around his neighbourhood.

He was already living a comfortable life which has a lot to do with his ability to navigate the internet world. The moment he found a client that was willing to part with some up-front payment he moved to a new apartment in a cool section of the city and then the Toyota Venza, the rave in town had come calling as a gift for a job well done. A life of solitude followed which had always been his way and partly in the knowledge that he could be arrested by the anti-fraud unit of the police force. He loved working from home and hardly had cause to move outside until he started thinking about divesting from being just an internet retailer.

He stood up from the chair and stretched his body. The time was an hour after noon. He picked his phone and called his friend, Jeffery. He had an important meeting which he was to attend in three hours’ time. He was in love and that had been a healthy distraction.

Bola the pretty silver-spoon girl of twenty-four was an unusual choice. He was from a poor family but since his foray into the commercial city, he had assumed a new identity. He met Bola during a seminar on cyber security at the city’s main university and had taken interest in her. He approached her as they exited the venue and all seemed easy from that moment onwards as she was quite straightforward. Their relationship had been on for just about five months when she requested that he met with her family. It was an unusual request but he was willing to go through with it just to prove his love.

He was about having his bath when Jeffery entered the house. He got out as soon as he heard his friend’s voice and went to meet him in the sitting-room. Jeffery, his friend was his go-to guy and an internet freak like him. He shook his hands with some enthusiasm and looked into his eyes.

‘’Bro, it is good to see you,’’ Jeffery said.

‘’Just make yourself comfortable.’’

He left for his bedroom and wore a pair of jean trousers and a T-shirt. His mind was already working in rapid motion and was thinking about his meeting with his girlfriend’s father. He had seen her father’s picture but that seemed to have little effect on his wild thoughts. He returned to the sitting room as soon as he was done dressing up.

‘’So have you reached an agreement with the Asians?’’ Jeffery asked.

‘’I am still working on that.’’

‘’Okay.’’

The thought of getting ahead of himself have always haunted him especially in the precarious world of negotiating with foreigners. He got his car key and they left for the mini-park where his car sat. He drove to a bar and they took a spot among the other young patrons. He was already thinking of the kind of reception that would be accorded him by Bola’s father.

One major drawback would be how to describe the nature of his job. He had often steered clear of telling others about his job even in the face of the gossips that normally followed male folks who worked on the computer all the time. Jeffery seemed unperturbed with his silence and instead engaged his phone.