Chapter
Sam Was adviced
The next day, Clara visited her grandmother's shop to pick up a list of items her grandmother needed. With the list in hand, she set off, determined to complete the errand.
After buying everything, Clara called a taxi to take her back to the bus stop near her grandmother's shop. As they drove, she thought about the magic ring her grandmother had given her and the possibilities it held. Ideas of how she might use its powers danced through her mind, filling her with excitement and curiosity.
The taxi driver sped down a busy street. As they reached a junction, he hit a large puddle, splashing dirty water onto a man walking nearby. The man yelled, "Hey! Stop, Mister! You splashed me!" But the driver, with his windows up, didn't hear him and kept driving.
Soaked and furious, the man quickly flagged down a passing motorbike. "Follow that taxi!" he instructed the rider. The motorbike sped off, and within minutes, they caught up to the taxi. The man knocked on the car to get the driver's attention. Startled, the driver pulled over, and the man climbed off the bike, fuming.
"Look at what you did!" he shouted, pointing to his wet clothes. "You splashed me with filthy water! I was on my way to an interview, and now look at me."
The driver got out of the car, looking genuinely apologetic. "I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't see you there, or I would have stopped."
"'Sorry' won't clean my clothes or pay for the bike that chased you down," the man retorted. "You need to compensate me for this."
"Please, sir, I don't have much. I'm just a driver trying to make a living," the driver pleaded.
The man was unmoved. "Twenty thousand naira, or I'm not letting you go."
By now, a crowd had gathered, murmuring as they watched the scene unfold. A woman from the crowd tried to mediate, but the man insisted on being paid. Clara also stepped out of the taxi, pleading with the man to forgive the driver, but he stood firm.
Reluctantly, the driver asked for the man's account details and made the transfer. Only then did the man step aside. The driver and Clara got back into the taxi, and he drove off in silence.
As they continued, Clara overheard the driver's inner thoughts, though she wasn't sure how. Oh God, the money I saved for my son's school fees—I had to give it away. Please, Lord, help me find a way to pay his fees.
"Amen," Clara murmured softly. "Don't worry, God has heard you."
The driver turned to her, shocked. "How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I... I thought you said it out loud," Clara replied, feigning innocence. She smiled to herself, realizing the ring had given her the ability to read minds. Thank you, God, she thought.
Soon, they arrived at the bus stop, and Clara stepped out of the taxi. Distracted, she left the bags of goods she had bought on the back seat. The taxi drove off before she realized her mistake.
"Oh no!" Clara exclaimed, looking around in dismay. "I left the goods in the taxi!" Her heart sank as she thought of her grandmother's disappointment.
Suddenly, Clara found herself standing outside her grandmother's shop, as if by magic. Her grandmother, seeing her tear-streaked face, asked, "Clara, what's wrong?"
Clara blinked, startled by the sudden change in surroundings. She covered her eyes, half-believing it was a dream.
"It's the ring," her grandmother explained gently. "It transported you here."
"I'm sorry, Grandma," Clara said, her voice breaking as fresh tears fell. "I left the goods in the taxi."
Her grandmother placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. With the ring, you can retrieve them. Just imagine yourself in the taxi, where you left the items, and you'll find yourself there."
Before her grandmother could finish, Clara vanished, reappearing instantly in the back seat of the taxi, startling the driver.
He was muttering to himself, unaware Clara was listening. Thank God, I can sell these goods and make back the money I had to pay that man.
Clara cleared her throat. "So, you were planning to sell my things and keep the money?"
The driver whipped around, his face pale. "Madam, I'm so sorry! I... I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't lost that money."
"Next time, be honest," Clara replied. "If you find someone's belongings, report it to the authorities or a radio station, so they can locate the owner. Honesty will reward you far more than dishonesty."
"Yes, madam. I understand," he stammered, trembling.
Without another word, Clara focused on her grandmother's shop, and in a blink, she was back there, the goods safely in her hands.
"Thank you, Grandma," Clara said, relief flooding her voice. "If not for this ring, I would have lost everything."
Her grandmother nodded, smiling. "Remember, use the ring wisely, Clara. Its power is great, but it must never be used to harm others."
Clara promised, feeling the weight of her grandmother's words. She knew this was only the beginning of what she would learn about the ring's power.
---
Clara always knew how to get what she wanted from Sam without giving much in return. Sam, smitten and eager to please, never hesitated to help whenever she asked, whether it was for money, rides, or other favors.
Over the course of a month, Sam began to keep track and realized he'd spent nearly twenty thousand naira on Clara. It wasn't the money that bothered him; what troubled him was that, despite all his efforts, Clara always found clever ways to avoid his advances. She played coy, deflecting whenever he tried to take things further.
One evening, Sam decided to take Clara to a hotel, hoping the romantic setting might finally sway her. They ordered drinks, enjoyed a lavish meal, and as the evening wore on, Sam, emboldened by the atmosphere, finally voiced his feelings. "Clara, I really want to be with you tonight."
Clara's expression didn't change. She smiled and replied, "Okay, no problem. Let me just use the restroom. I'll be back in a minute." She slipped away, and in the restroom, quickly set an alarm on her phone to ring in a few minutes, planning her escape.
Returning to the table, she looked at Sam and said, "Alright, let's go get a room."
Relief and excitement flooded Sam's mind. "Finally," he thought. "She's letting me in." They approached the counter to book a room, but just as Sam was completing the transaction, Clara's phone rang. She answered, putting on a flawless act.
"I'm at a friend's house," she said into the phone. After a pause, she added, "Yes, I'll be right there. Just give me five minutes."
She hung up and turned to Sam. "I'm so sorry, but I have to go. My dad needs me to run an urgent errand before the stores close." Without waiting for Sam's reaction, she walked away, leaving him standing by the counter, a mix of frustration and disbelief on his face.
---
The next day, Sam messaged Clara on WhatsApp. "Hey, can you come over? I need to talk to you about something important."
Clara replied, "Sure, I'll be there soon."
Instead of heading straight to Sam's, Clara stopped by a friend's place and asked her to tag along. Sam, expecting only Clara, was surprised when he opened the door to find her with a friend.
Hiding his disappointment, Sam forced a smile. "Come in, have a seat," he said, ushering them to the couch and offering drinks. He tried to make small talk, but frustration simmered beneath the surface. "Clara, I thought it would be just us."
"Oh, sorry," Clara replied casually. "I didn't feel like coming alone, so I asked my friend to come along."
Sam suppressed his frustration and went along with it, turning on the television and putting on a movie, hoping to create a comfortable atmosphere. They watched for nearly three hours, and with every passing minute, Sam's hope of getting closer to Clara dwindled. Eventually, he saw them off, feeling defeated once again.
After they left, Sam went to his friend's house and poured out his frustrations. "I've tried everything to make her like me, but she always finds a way to dodge me," he vented.
His friend listened and then said, "Why are you wasting your time on someone who doesn't value you? Let me tell you what you should do." He leaned in and whispered a plan.
---
The next day, Sam wrote down the names of four girls he was interested in and brought the list to his friend. His friend looked it over and suggested they seek advice from a pastor—someone who could offer insight on which girl might be "the one."
When they arrived at the pastor's home, Sam explained his situation. The pastor welcomed them warmly and invited them to sit.
After a few pleasantries, the pastor took the list and said, "Let us pray for guidance." They closed their eyes, and the pastor began a lengthy prayer. When he finished, he looked at Sam and said, "The last name on your list is the girl meant for you. Forget about the first name—Clara. She's not meant to be in your life."
Sam felt a mixture of disappointment and relief. "Thank you, sir," he replied quietly.
---
Walking home, Sam and his friend discussed the pastor's words. "Maybe it's time you focused on someone who genuinely cares for you," his friend advised. "It's not fair that you're spending all this money and effort on someone who doesn't appreciate it. True relationships involve give and take, not one person doing all the giving."
"You're right," Sam replied. He thought back to another girl on the list, someone who had always been kind to him, often surprising him with small gifts and never asking for anything in return. He hadn't taken her seriously before, but maybe it was time he did.
As they reached Sam's house, his friend added, "Appreciate the people who appreciate you. Show them gratitude, and you'll see how rewarding it can be."
Sam nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps it was time to let go of Clara and start recognizing the value of those who had been there all along.
******,,
Clara sat at her vanity, eyes fixed on her reflection as she applied makeup with practiced precision. Her makeup kit lay open before her, and she moved carefully, applying each product in turn. Nearly an hour later, she examined her work with satisfaction, admiring her polished look before heading out.
As Clara stepped outside, she noticed a man standing by his car, speaking animatedly into his phone. He looked up, his gaze catching hers as she walked by, and his eyes lingered. Intrigued, he ended his call and took a step closer.
"Hello," he greeted warmly.
Assuming he was still on the phone, Clara continued walking, unaware he was addressing her. Realizing she hadn't heard him, the man approached her again, speaking a little louder this time.
"Excuse me—hello, miss. I was calling you."
Clara stopped, turning to look at him. "Oh, hi," she replied with a polite but cautious smile.
"How are you?" he asked, extending his hand. "I'm James."
"I'm fine, thank you," Clara responded, shaking his hand. "I'm Clara."
"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman," he said smoothly. "I'd love to get to know you better—maybe we could be friends?"
Clara shrugged, noncommittal yet intrigued. "Sure, I guess that's fine."
"Could I have your number?"
She hesitated, thinking quickly. "My phone screen's cracked, so I can't make or receive calls right now."
James nodded, thoughtful. "Alright. Where are you headed? Maybe I could give you a ride."
Clara glanced around before giving him her destination. "If it's not out of your way," she added.
"No trouble at all," he replied, gesturing toward his car. "Come on, let me give you a lift."
He opened the back door for her, and Clara slid in, feeling the cool leather seats beneath her. James settled into the driver's seat, started the car, and they set off.
"So, are you a student?" he asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
"Yes," she replied. "Kwara Polytechnic. What about you?"
"I'm a contractor," he said with a hint of pride. "Work keeps me busy."
"That sounds… good," Clara replied, studying him curiously.
James reached into his pocket as he continued. "About your phone," he said. "How much do you need to fix it?"
She blinked, surprised by the offer. "It'll probably cost around five thousand naira."
"Here, let me help you with that." He handed her a small stack of bills. "Now you can get it repaired. Take my card, too, so you can call me once it's fixed."
Clara accepted the money and the business card with a practiced smile. "Thank you, sir."
They continued chatting, exchanging small talk as he drove her to her destination. When they finally arrived, Clara thanked him again as she stepped out of the car. With a polite wave, James watched her walk away before driving off.