EPISODE 27
Days and weeks passed, and I was frequently patronising oluchi and her mother, and oluchi and I had already became friends.
Though they stopped selling corn, and switched into selling fruits, which was my idea, and it was very profitable for them.
Oluchi was no longer rude to me, and I was still patient with her, waiting to see if I could get all her attention from Kenneth.
Each time I was on lunch break, I would buy lunch in bulk from the eatery i normal eat from, then i would take it to oluchi and her mother, then we all eat the lunch together at her small shade, and then I go back to office.
It’s been a month i have known oluchi and her mother, and felt somehow comfortable around them.
One morning while I was preparing for work, it crossed my heart to give oluchi’s mother some good amount of money to expand her business.
I smiled at the idea, because I felt like I was doing that for my mother if she had been alive.
Within the short period of time that I had known oluchi’s mother, she had already became like a mother to me, showing love and care towards me, like a mother would.
As i had planned in my heart, when it was time for lunch, I drove out of the company to get food for the three of us as i normally do.
After getting the food, i went straight to their shade so we would eat together as usual.
Heeey see my pickin don come!!!!……. oluchi’s mother exclaimed happily.
Good afternoon sir…… oluchi greeted.
After much pleasantries between the three of us, i sat down and brought out the food i bought, and we all started eating, chatting happily among ourselves like one small happy family.
After we finished eating, i waited for a while before breaking the good news to the both of them.
“Mama”………..I called.
Yes my son, see me here…….she replied, pausing the orange she was peeling, and was staring at me.
Do you have a bank account?…….I asked, casually tapping on my phone.
Ehhhnnn, I been get account number oh, but the account number get small fault.
Anything before?…….she asked worriedly.
Nothing much ma, I just wanted to send to some money to support your business…………I replied.
Chaii, my God will continue to bless you nnam!!!!………she responded happily.
You can push the money to my account sir Alex, I will see it through my phone…….. oluchi responded, bringing out her small button phone from her apron, then she continued with what she was doing.
Okay, please call your account details…….I said, replying to oluchi.
Oluchi called her account details, and I instantly forwarded 2 million naira to her account.
Her phone instantly beeped after i had sent it, then she brought the phone out from her apron to check.
I look away from her immediately, so as not to see the reactions on her face, after seeing the money i sent.
Suddenly oluchi screamed, and her mother rushed towards her in fright.
Oluchi oginidi, tell me what is wrong?………her mother asked worriedly.
I sat down unbothered, tapping my phone to distract me from the whole drama.
I was already feeling shy, but pretended I was alright, but suddenly I felt someone jumped on me, and I looked up and saw it was oluchi.
With the force she came on me, we both landed on the floor and she still didn’t let me go, she kept crying uncontrollably on my shoulders, holding me tightly.
I was confused that minutes and didn’t even know what to do, if I should hug oluchi back or not, but still, I layed motionless.
Oluchi’s mother stood just watching us with a smile on her face as if she was admiring us, she didn’t even bother to pull oluchi away from me.
Soon enough oluchi realized what she did and quickly stood up from me, apologizing countlessly.
I struggled to get up from the floor because oluchi really had much weight, which affect my back bone’s a bit.
She quickly rushed to assist me in getting up from the floor still apologizing to me.
Am sorry sir Alex, am really sorry, I was really overjoyed, please pardon my manners…….. oluchi please, with her cheeks red in embarrassment.
It’s okay my dear, I understand……..I replied grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Bia nna, how much did you give us that made my daughter react like that?……. oluchi’s mother asked inquisitively, paying close attention to me.
I simply smiled, and asked her to confirmed from oluchi, and oluchi quickly announced the amount of money to her happily.
Heeiii, chimooo!!!
What have I done to deserve this kind of blessings oohhhh……… she exclaimed, kneeling before me with tears on her eyes.
I instantly felt embarrassed seeing oluchi’s mother kneeling down before me, i quickly pulled her up with my both hands, but she refused, so I knelt down with her, and she kept pouring prayers on me.
Passerby’s were wondering what was going on, making me feel more uncomfortable, i had to plead with oluchi’s mother to allow me return back to work which she reluctantly agreed.
When I was about leaving, oluchi grabbed my arm, showing appreciation.
Thank you once again sir Alex, how can we ever repay this show of kindness towards us?………she asked with her eyes misty with tears.
Well, I want us to have a harmless dinner date, I promise no strings attached…….I replied letting out a smile.
She instantly blushed, and looked away from me, like she was shy.
Okay sir, I will think about it…….. she replied, still not able to look at me.
Okay, I will be expecting a response from you…..I said back to her, then i left.
While driving back to the office, I noticed i didn’t take my wallet along with me when I left oluchi’s mother shade.
I smiled, knowing that would make oluchi search for me, either to my office, or my house.
My wallet didn’t have anything much, except for few cash and some of my businesses cards which had my phone number, house address and of course company address on it.
I would purposely not go back there for my wallet, let’s see if she would return it back to me……..I thought, smiling mischieviously.
To be continued………….
Written ✍️ by Martha