Abike Badmus sat at the edge of the bed as she watched her husband Mike put on his agbada. As she watched, she shook her legs in such a way that showed that something bothered her, and her husband knew that too.
"If you have something to say you better talk now." He said, staring at his reflection from the mirror as he fitted his cap to his head.
"I'm just wondering about the kind of man you are. It's like after all these years I don't know who you are anymore."
Mike smiled then turned to face her. He pulled back the long yard cloth to prevent them from falling off his arms before he spoke.
"I'll tell you what kind of man I am. I am the kind that provides the roof you're living under, the kind that provides the soft wide deluxe bed you're sitting on. The kind that provides the elegant meals you eat, the vacation and shopping trips you have with your friends to Dubai. I made all of this happen." He said with satisfaction and gestured with his arms out wide.
"So that's all it means to you? You think money is everything?"
"No my dear, I don't think money is everything, I know that money is everything. This world is like a jungle and in this jungle, you need money to rule. Money equals power and power is everything."
"You fool!" Abike yelled. "You're saying your daughter doesn't mean anything to you?"
*You're lucky no one else was here to hear you say that... Of course, I care about Veronica, but you're making this look worse than it is. Everything I do, I do for this family."
"That's a lie and you know it!" Abike replied. "You are selfish. You claim to be working for your family but all you have ever done is to enlarge your pocket and make yourself look good to the public so people can praise you. You walk for wealth and fame! Why else would you ship your daughter off to that town in the first place."
Mike smiled.
"You of all people know how she was when she fell ill. I only did that to make sure--"
"Make sure, my foot," Abike shouted as she sprang up on her feet. "You sent her away to protect yourself. You wanted to avoid public disgrace. You didn't want to risk any member of your opposing parties to find out and use it against you in the upcoming election, again, you are selfish... Oh, God." She lamented with tears in her eyes. I wish I hadn't agreed to it when you proposed."
"Whether you believe it or not Abike, It was all for her best interest."
"So that's what you tell yourself eh? Then how come you have been avoiding her calls?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since she left, you barely speak to her. Last week Friday you weren't around when she called. Today also you're running off. She told me your line doesn't go through."
"You know how busy I am--"
"You're busy? So that is your excuse now... Ah, o kii see baba rere oh."(1) She said, biting her finger in regret.
"And so? What's the big deal in missing two weeks? That's what Hakim is there for, we are not paying him for nothing."
"There you go again falling back to your money like it's your second child. I do hope that by the time you realize what you're doing, it won't be too late. May God forgive you." Abike said finally and walked out of the room.
In all their twenty-five years of marriage, she had always defended him. Even when she knew he was wrong, his twisted logic and philosophies somehow made it feel right. She grew tired and decided there was no need to bottle it up anymore, not when it affected her daughter.
"Jowo Taraji mi Omo mi," (2)She said crying. "I have failed you in so many ways... Please come home soon, Veronica."
To Abike, Mike seemed to be unapologetic despite all her talk. But beneath the big hardcore shell he wore on the surface, he felt it hard on the inside. O kit sees baba rere. You're not a good father.
Her words had pierced him beyond what he could imagine. He found himself calling out the reality of what it was as he hopped into the back of his Lexus jeep. His thoughts preached to him as his driver drove out of the mansion.
The truth was Abike was right, Mike had sent Veronica away to avoid any drama that would bring down his name. He later got to know from Hakim that Veronica knew it also and ever since then he was ashamed of talking to his daughter. He was afraid she would confront him and he wouldn't be able to answer. He knew it would make him look weak and he avoided it so badly. So instead of speaking to his daughter directly, he decided to ask about her from Hakim.
He dove his hands deep into his pocket and brought out his phone to put a call through him.
* * *
Hakim sat down at the counter of the bar, resting his chin on the counter, using one hand for support. The other hand slowly twirled a glass of beer, most of which he had consumed already, leaving a little liquid with foam resting at the bottom. Low sounds came from a small box TV mounted at the corner to the right of the wall, showing an old football highlight that no one had any interest in watching again. The barman behind the counter was busy cleaning glass cups and turning them upside down. Another customer was at the far end of the bar, operating his laptop and sipping a soft drink.
Aside from those three, the bar was empty and Hakim couldn't blame the establishment. It was a hot afternoon and everyone was out with their jobs anyway. Ever since he became Veronica's guardian, he had nothing else to do than to sit all day in boredom. The bar was the only place he found some little excitement was at the bar and there was nothing of sorts at the moment. It didn't bother him much though, it was a Friday and the place would be crowded with people any moment.
Still, that little moment of epic boredom made him wonder about how life led him here. Growing up as a young boy, he wasn't bright when it came to academic activities and he wasn't even interested either. His father had realized that quickly in him and figured there was no need to waste more money to further his education and enrolled him as an apprentice under a roadside mechanic. Despite that, Hakim wasn't still serious about it and he couldn't finish in the end. As a result, he survived only at the mercy of Mike Badmus who was very fond of his father.
But as usual, nothing goes for nothing. All of Badmus's kindness came at a price. He became an errand boy for them even before his father died and now he was here, wasting his life away.
Then, the phone rang. Mr. Badmus was calling.
"Hello sir, good afternoon sir."
"Good afternoon Hakim, how are you?"
"I'm fine sir," He answered, letting out a silent belch. "Anything sir?"
"You know who I'm calling about, how is she?"
"She is fine sir, she's doing pretty well. She is at school right now although she told me she would be with her friends later this evening."
"Is it those from before?" Mike asked.
"Yes sir, they're all good girls," Hakim replied.
"Okay, have there been any signs?"
"No sir."
"That's good... I'll talk to you later," Mike said finally then hung up.
___________
Translations:
(1) You are not a good father.
(2) Forgive me, my daughter.