Akwaugo – Episode 54

PART 54

 

I needed to get a job in a Psychiatric hospital while studying. I had shared this with Amanze and Chiamaka because I wanted a Federal Government establishment. Amanze called me. He spoke with his contact about my need and he requested for some of my documents. I sent them to him. Before the end of two months, I had received my letter of employment. I was very excited. The only problem was that I was posted to Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River.

 

I forgot to tell you uncle Emma left an instruction which was not added to the will. He told his sons to treat me like their sister and ensure I further my education to any height I desired. He made them promise to take good care of me and I should never lack anything. This, he told his sons verbally and also in writing as a letter to them. I got to find out many years later.

 

Moving to Calabar was my biggest problem. I had to get accommodation close to the hospital. I looked for accommodation there and I got a three-bedroom flat, a new building close to the hospital at a good price. I didn’t need three bedrooms and so I advertised the remaining two rooms while I took the master bedroom. Amanze paid for my accommodation for two years. I was grateful. I had more than enough money to furnish my room. I had a balcony in my room which I loved. I converted part of it to a small kitchen so I wouldn’t share the kitchen with anyone.

 

Two people showed interest. Two ladies. When they came to see the rooms, I recognized one of them. She looked very familiar. When she saw me too, she mentioned we might have met before. Her name is Henrietta. She went to my university but studied pharmacology. She was just deployed to the hospital too. Then it clicked. I remembered where and how I knew her. I felt ashamed because I never spoke to her again after she was so kind to me. I said, “Henrietta, just choose the room you want. You accommodated me without thinking twice when Amaechi asked you to. I want to return the favour”

 

“Akwaugo! He can’t stop talking about you. It is good to see you”

 

“Same here. Who are you talking about?”

 

“Amaechi. He said he lost your contact after you both graduated”

 

 

“Please, where is Amaechi?”

 

“He is in Calabar here. That’s why I worked my way here”

 

“You guys are still together?”

 

“We are friends. Nothing more but I like to be around him”

 

“Or you are waiting for him to do the needful?”

 

“I can’t force him. He needs to do it himself”

 

“You are staying here. Which room would you want”?

 

She insisted on paying for the room but I gave her a discount. The other lady took the last room. We were only ladies in the flat and the flat opposite had only guys. They were up to six guys staying in that flat. Some of them had no jobs. The two flats down were occupied by two families and the two flats up were occupied by both sexes.

 

I asked for Amaechi’s number. She asked me to be patient, Amaechi would come when she moves in and it would be a huge surprise for him. I agreed to it. I liked her and how put together she was.

 

We moved into the apartment at about the same time. My two brothers helped me buy the things I required in the apartment and brought it to the Calabar for me with Obinna’s and my car Amanze bought for me which was to remain with me in Calabar. We set up the house. We got a man to install the air conditioner we bought that morning. They wanted to be sure I was comfortable and where I lived was safe. My mother made bowls of soups and stews. She froze them for days before this trip.

 

I had not disclosed to anyone in the village I was healed. I still wore long clothes when I was around and since they avoided me, I was happy to remain on my own. My mother wanted to ensure I would not be bothered in school. She had changed her prayer point from me getting a husband to me being successful. I liked it. I

 

 

never shared with them the details of what the prophetess told me. It was just the part of washing the leg with water I shared with them to explain my absence and how my healing came about.

 

I loved my new location. I had peace. I lived very comfortably. I lacked nothing. I was happy. I prayed my stay in Calabar will be a blessing to me. Henrietta and her friend Sumbo moved in on the same day I did. We sat down later in the evening and I shared the house rules I had come up with. They agreed with me. I did a cleaning roster for the general areas and it was also accepted. We pasted them where necessary and we welcomed each other.

 

I came back from night duty one morning. While trying to catch some sleep, I heard a knock on my door. It was persistent. I stood up and opened it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Standing right in front of me was Amaechi. I hadn’t seen him in years and I lost his number somehow while changing my phone. I excitedly hugged him. He was also in shock when he saw me. I invited him in but he said we should sit in the general area.

 

“She just told me to knock on your door there was a surprise waiting for me. I didn’t know you were the surprise. Henrietta is naughty. How did you meet?”

 

I shared with him what happened. We talked about life and all that had happened. He worked with the teaching hospital in Calabar. I told him where I worked. We talked for a while then Henrietta came out of her room and informed us she was going to work. He saw her off. I entered my room to prepare food we would eat before he came back. I heard a knock on my door. He was back. He came into my room which was surprising as he refused to come in before. I pointed it out and he replied,

 

“She can be insecure. She asked me why I sat with you in the general area and I told her I didn’t want her to feel anyhow. She told me to feel free. I was surprised. She must like you”

 

“She is a nice person”

 

“She said you have no social life except work and you lock yourself up in your room all the time”

 

 

“That’s me. I don’t know anyone around and I am preparing for my examinations”

 

“No ring? You didn’t remarry?”

 

“It’s a long story” I shared with him my relationship experience. I gladly told him about Jacinta and Ugonna. He had a good laugh.

 

As we spoke, we had breakfast. He asked me questions which I answered. It was his turn. I asked about his relationship and he told me he had only been more than friends with one person; Henrietta. He wanted to marry her and she followed him anywhere he went so she could be close to him. He spoke about her with some form of fondness I had net seen before. It hurt me; I didn’t know why. I felt I had lost something and there was nothing I could do. We spoke for hours before I saw him off. He invited me to his place. We exchanged contacts and I promised to come on my next day off.

 

Calabar was boring mainly because I didn’t have friends and I hardly went out. I had been invited to many events but I never showed up. I dusted my makeup kit to make money again and I did. I posted my makeup jobs on my social media handle and Amaechi saw it. He asked me to come to his hospital so he would introduce me to a colleague who was about to get married and was planning to import a makeup artist. I went to see her and got the business.

 

As Amaechi was seeing me off, I collided with a man who was in a rush to enter the hospital. Luckily, the things he was carrying didn’t break. He apologized and I helped him pick up while Amaechi was called to attend to someone.

 

“Where were you rushing to?” I asked him.

 

“My mother is very ill. I went to get the recommended drugs for her. She is inside the ward”

 

“Ok, I pray she gets better. You are a good son”

 

“Thank you” He left to attend to his mother while Amaechi joined me to see me off.

 

 

I came to the hospital a few days later to pick up my advance payment. As I was leaving him, I saw him again. I said hello and asked if his mother wasn’t better. He said there was an improvement but she had not been discharged yet.

 

“Don’t you have a wife? Why isn’t she helping out? What of your sisters? Can’t they help?”

 

“I am not married and I am all my mother has got. That’s why I come here to check on her often. Her sister stays with her overnight but I do all the running around”

 

‘How do you cope with work?”

 

“I am a teacher. I work in a private school. I am here in-between periods, my boss understands”

 

“That’s nice. You are lucky. By the way, my name is Akwaugo”

 

“I am Samuel”

 

“It’s nice to meet you, Samuel”

 

“Same here”

 

Two months after we first exchanged names, we met again in the bank. This was beyond coincidence to me. I felt he was stalking me. He wasn’t. He came to make complaints about his account and to withdraw money as he needed to urgently buy a drug for his mother who was at home. His salary hadn’t dropped into his account, he just had to wait. He looked restless and uncomfortable. I asked him how much he needed and he told me N17,800. I withdrew the amount and gave him the money for him to pay back when his account had been regularized. He was grateful and asked for my phone number. That was how we exchanged numbers.

 

Three days later, he called me and asked me to send my account number to return the money I borrowed him. He sounded so tired and drained. I invited him to give me cash at home instead. He came to the house after school. I invited him into my

 

 

room and gave him food. He initially rejected the food but then he had to eat and he enjoyed the meal.

 

‘This is the first decent meal I have had in ages. Thank you so much. I need to go home now and sleep; I am so tired”

 

“Is anyone at home with your mother?” I asked him. Why I did, I can’t explain but I was so what drawn to him.

 

“Yes, her sister”

 

“Stay here and rest. I am on afternoon duty. When you want to leave, leave my key with any of my roommates or just call me”

 

He looked at me in disbelief. I felt pity for him. He looked stressed. I wanted him to rest so he doesn’t kill himself in the process. I went into the bathroom to have a shower and change. I picked my bag and told him I am leaving.

 

“You trust me to stay alone here and not steal anything?”

 

“Yes. Or are you a thief?”

 

‘No, I am not. You have been of tremendous help to me. I can never repay”

 

“Stay alive. Rest so you don’t drop dead”

 

When I was going to the hospital, I actually thought I was mad. I asked myself what was wrong with me. I was not one to be that reckless and careless. What had come over me? Did I like him or I felt he was helpless and needed help? I wanted to call to find out if he was ok. I stopped myself. He might be asleep. AKWAUGO