C2 CHAPTER TWO

Guilty conscience kept Alfred restless throughout the cold night. He laid his hand on the scalloped edge of his bed, thinking of a lie to blow at James if he happened to catch him at dawn in his lodge. Hopefully, sleep came and cuddled him into a deep slumber but the miracle didn’t last. His phone's alarm rang at four o clock a.m. this was someone who managed to doze off at one o’clock a.m.

Alfred hurried his bathing and breakfast and drove off like a mad driver, down to Sun City hotel where James lodged. He jumped out of his car after he had parked in the hotel’s garage. His guilty mind made him look like a sick swine. He knew what he had done. He has deliberately asked James to meet him in the market, even though he knew he would not make it. Disappointment is something heart wrecking which he was very much aware of. Although he has invented the lies to blow, he knew deep down what took his time. the gospel truth was that he had a very dirty skeleton in his cupboard which is the kind of skeleton that will shatter him completely if discovered by someone else. To clothe his naked guilt, he fixed a wry smile on his ugly face and walked firmly into the reception. The receptionist glanced at him strangely, with eyes that refused to be polite even though they were bound to be.

'I am Alfred. I came to see James sindhia, room397', Alfred blurted out

'Ok, hold on a second', the receptionist spoke softly and went for the telephone. After she had words with James, she directed Alfred who has been waiting impatiently.

Meanwhile, James was still fast asleep coz he felt so down after being stressed up at the market. He was outraged at hearing a knock on the door.

'Am sure it’s the lunatic. I know how Nigerians are. Maybe he has fabricated a good story. I will not let him impress me, not on the planet', Jim soliloquized with a lowered voice. The knock came harder this time. Effortlessly, he rose as if mighty energy generated inside of him. He reluctantly walked up to the bolted door and unfastened it. Then he grab the door handle and threw the door ajar. James' eyeballs met with no surprise coz he was not out of guess. Right in front of him stood the 'lunatic' with his heart racing fast.

'Good morning Jim', he said, smiling pretentiously. James glanced at him thoroughly like a judge who is looking into the eyes of a criminal that pleaded not guilty. He looked at him as if he was about to give his verdict.

‘Come in' he answered instead, turned and walked away slowly and Alfred followed like a submissive servant.

‘kese ho?, James spoke in Hindi. Asked him how he was maybe perhaps to fulfil all righteousness.

‘me theek hu’, Alfred answered in Hindi.

'I might have been made a cowboy in the west of US and lived in a cold cottage alone but not once have I been a foolish cowboy till I got myself a better life. You turned me foolish yesterday' James said ruefully. Alfred knew at once that there was great anger in his heart coz back in Mumbai, whenever James spoke of his experience as a cowboy in the US or mention it in any way, everyone become so sure that he was so loopy. He mentions it only when he was thrown into a rage. He knew that hell has already broken loose. Alfred went numb and waited for James to drop his bombshells. Surprisingly, James threw no more words at him so he tried to make the most of the moment

'James, you have to believe me, my wife called me for an emergency. One of my commercial buses was set ablaze.' Alfred lied

'I will not heed your blatant lies unless you back it up with proof. Listen, man, I have searched every hook and cranny of the planet for the truth but found none. Now standing before me is a Nigerian who expects me to trust his words. Of course, I know. I’ve heard stories of how Nigerians do terrible things to good people. And the only Nigerian I might be able to trust, is the guy I bumped into right in the marketplace who gave the address to your office. He was kind enough to help. now, look at you that has been my friend, you left me to die there'

'Jim, you're always scared of trusting me. Ok, have I ever done anything terrible to make you mistrust me this much? We have been doing business together and I have been watching your back and never stamped you at the back. You are free to do or say what you like but I will not jeopardize our friendship. You have been a good friend to me and I wish you could say the same' Alfred said manipulatively

'chacha. For now, I believe you. anyways, who knows if you have been pinching my currency behind my back? Nah, Nah, don’t look that way coz am just joking. It’s just that I almost died back there in that dirty market.'

'I’m truly sorry about that

'And I’m sorry about the lost’

‘ shukriya’, Alfred spoke to him in Hindi

James was soft-hearted and cannot keep grudges. Since the deed has been done, he felt it was a wise thing to bury the hatchet.

'I think it’s high time you check out. Your room back home is ready.'

'You just can’t label one of your rooms mine and besides, I will be leaving the country as soon as two months to come'

'Mera Dosti, my home is yours,' Alfred answered completely in Hindi.

Jim looked at him with no complementing formality and folded his arms akimbo. He felt like throwing dice at his luggage to know the one to pack before the other