"That would be 6000 star shillings," Aaron would demand with a smile.
"2000 star shillings."
"8000 star shillings."
"If we're being honest, once you can't afford the pay, I can't help you," he told a client once, before going on to demand his payment.
"And that will be 4500 star shillings."
In the next couple of days and even weeks, the news of the Love Clinic had spread across the Bambara Village. Business had started growing little by little for Aaron who started off struggling and managing with zero to one client.
Now, he could have up to three clients in a day. It was not much per say but compared to where he was some weeks back, it was consistent and better than the measly start he had.
"You want to know how to please your woman, huh?" Aaron asked the man who was seated opposite him.
It was another client, his second for the day.
The client nodded with much enthusiasm. "Yes, yes!"
Aaron leaned forward and glared at the man with wide eyes.
"What does she like?"
The man was flustered by the question. He leaned back on his chair, maintaining a distance between him and Aaron. The man's mouth gaped but no words came out of it.
Aaron leaned further towards him.
"Come on, man. You can't tell me you don't know what your woman likes?" he said with a disappointed sigh. "That's very appalling."
The client sighed and nodded, agreeing with what Aaron said.
"That's the problem here. I'm hardly around since I work three jobs to put food on our table. So I can't know such details."
Aaron leaned back on his consulting chair and crossed one leg over the other.
"I understand but you need to spend more time with her. That's the only way you can get to know her and eventually, know what she likes and what does it for her. Otherwise, someone who does will have her."
The man thought about it for a minute and realised his flaws but he was still not convinced.
"So no pills for me? My friend who referred me here said you gave him miracle pills that settled his issue. Please give me one."
Aaron sighed and shook his head. "No pills for you."
The man was overcome by rue and awful sadness. He was expecting a positive answer to his request and not to be coldly turned down.
"Just do as I have said first," Aaron added.
"Okay. Thank you." the man said, getting up to leave.
"That would be 5000 star shillings though."
The man reached for the wallet in his back pocket. He counted the amount demanded out of it and passed it over to Aaron, who received it with a smile.
Aaron sighed the minute he heard the door close and clicked his tongue.
"Men."
.
.
.
After a while of spending time alone inside the Love Clinic, Aaron decided to go and get a breath of fresh air outside.
He walked out of the shop and met a cool breeze that swayed his hair to the side. Aaron looked around and saw different villagers going about their businesses. They waved at him and he usually waved back.
The people of Bambara were active and the surroundings of his shop were buzzing with villagers.
Aaron sat down at the entrance of his shop and watched them move to and fro.
There was nothing to do inside the Love Clinic and he was getting bored. He could watch these people for not more than an hour before he got tired and entered back inside.
Aaron glanced to the sky and exhaled. If only his business had picked up very fast then he wouldn't be sitting outside because he would have his hands full with clients.
However, progress was progress regardless of the pace with which it came.
"Hello, doctor!" a voice greeted Aaron cheerfully.
Doctor?
That was the word that drew his attention to this person. He lowered his head and glanced at the man who was in the company of a young red-haired girl with azure-coloured eyes.
"Don't you remember me?" the man persistently put himself in Aaron's face.
First of all, Aaron was no doctor and didn't know what gave this man the impression that he was.
Secondly, he remembered the man.
How could he forget that bald head that now reflected the light of the sun into his eyes?
Moreover, how could he forget the face of his first client?
The only issue was that he had forgotten his name.
Aaron finally gave in to his persistence.
"Ger..." Aaron struggled to remember the name. "Gerard?"
The man felt a hammer of paltry strike his entire body.
"It's Garolt!" he exclaimed, hoping to sound it into Aaron's memory for good this time.
Aaron's eyes lit up. "Yes, Garolt! Is it time for your next appointment yet?"
Garolt shook his head. "No. It's not."
"You see, doctor—"
"Sorry, Garolt. I am not a doctor," Aaron cut him off.
"What are you then?"
Aaron sighed. "I don't know yet. Until I figure that out, just call me Aaron."
The woman who was with Garolt giggled at Aaron's response and immediately muffled her laughter with her hands when Aaron looked her way.
Aaron quickly assessed her appearance and she didn't appear bad at first glance. However, he would like to know more about the body hidden inside all the clothes she was wearing.
"Aren't you hot?" Aaron asked her, concerning at how heavily dressed she was.
The red-haired lady shook her head. "Mm-hmm. I'm fine, thank you."
Aaron shrugged and turned his eyes back to Garolt.
"As I was saying, doc... sorry, Aaron. I would be travelling before my next appointment so I decided to come and see you for two things actually."
Garolt had gained Aaron's attention with his suspenseful reasons for visiting the Love Clinic.
"What are those?"
Garolt glanced at the lady that came with him and then at Aaron.
"First and foremost, I wanted to say thank you for your help," Garolt said, reaching for his pocket and taking out some money.
"This another 10,000 star shillings for helping me become a man again and saving my marriage."
Aaron chuckled and took the money from him as he handed it over. Garolt made a smart first move but Aaron was no fool.
Aaron was a being who had lived many lives and had a range of experiences that Garolt could not even dream about. He had met different people and had been in different situations that made it very easy to read Garolt like an old book off his favourite collection.
"I take then that your second reason is your true reason for being here, seeing how you felt the need to hand me this token first so you could win me over."
Garolt laughed.
"You're indeed wise despite being so young. Yes, it is as you said."
Garolt looked at the lady that had come with him and brought her forward.
"This is my stepdaughter, Elsa. She is very much interested in your field of work — medicine, pills and potions making and all those sort of things."
Garolt paused and went down on his knees before Aaron, bowing his head to the ground.
"Please take her in as your apprentice!"