C4 Chapter 4

It did not take time for James to adapt to his temporal apartment. At first, everything was quite strange to him except Alfred whom he has knownfor quite a while now. His room was properly kept daily by Lucy.He has yet to conclude with Alfred on his prior reason of coming to the country. He began to plan his trip to calabar, which got shattered on one morning. His phone rang and that was exactly what woke him up. He picked it up and alas! It was his cousin Badal.

‘Ke se ho, Badal?’

‘I’m perfectly fine but there’s a problem’

‘Ek samasya? Please kya samasya ha bhai?’

‘it’s your papa. He’s seriously down with illness. The doctor said his blood pressure went at its peak’.

Badal spoke in English while James, who was fond of speaking in hindi to those that understand it, spoke completely in Hindi.

‘what?’

‘yes. We are all stuck with worries’

‘see, you’ve got my ATM card and pin so Personally see to it that he’s taken to the best hospital around, mera tumme biswas ha ke tum mere pita ji ki dekhval karogi jab tak mai India wapas nahi laut ta’,

‘it’s alright bhai. I won’t fail you. I would have withdrawn money long ago but my instinct didn’t let me’

‘I am now telling you now that it’s alright if you withdraw some money. Now hang up and go do as I say, remember, I will be back as soon as possible. ’

‘Alright’

James dropped the phone on the bed and rose. When he turned to head towards the bathroom, his eyes met with surprise. There in front of him stood kodili who was dressed in a sleeveless gown, smiling bright-eyed so he went back and sat on the bed

‘have you been standing there all these while?’ kodili laughed widely before starring at him seductively and replied

No I just came in.

Alright, hope you slept well last night’

‘Yea and you?’

‘I slept fine. I hope am safe. Coz why should you be the first person to come and say good morning’

‘ I just came to check on you’

‘You did well. As you can see I am bubbling with enthusiasm’

‘Go to know that. Well I hope that servant of ours is not giving you trouble’

‘No, why?’

‘What? Didn’t my father tell you that she’s nothing but a bitch?’

‘What?’

‘she’s a wayward girl and if you become too kind to her, she will definitely seduce you’

‘Well, be rest assured that that will never happen’

‘well, that was why her parent disowned her’

‘what? she was disowned?’

Yes dear, she was because the tout who promised her heaven on earth, refused to take responsibility of her pregnancy’

‘she was pregnant?’

‘yes, that’s why she had an abortion to the rage of her religious parents’

‘poor her’

‘yes’

Without being offered a seat, kodili walked up to James who has been sitting on the bed and sat besidehim. It made James to begin imagining what this daughter of his best friend was upto. James stared at her painfully. The weave-on she fixed did not look impressive, it gave her no fitting. To James, she looked shabby. He knew she wanted to electrify him in anyway. Maybe that was why she showed up so early. James wanted to go numb instantaneously when he felt her palm on his right shoulders.

You are such a handsome friendof my dad. Tell me, are you the prince of india?’ her voice came softly and seductively. What could have gotten into this girl? James wondered. The girl has her eyes on him, he could tell by the look in her eyes. James felt bad aboutthis because he was sure she was yet to clock seventeen and he alleged that she could be wayward to have acted,as if she was interested in him. What a beautiful waste he thought.She went ahead and began to caress his moustache, and asked, ‘are you surprised at me?’

How canhe begin to put in plain words for her to understand that what she was up to was morally wrong and degrading too? James found some words which he gladly stress to her understanding

‘Listen, You just can’t walk up to a man and touch him the way you are doing now. Aren’t you aware that a man with a boiling blood and no fear of the lord could brutally rape you if you had acted this way towards him? Do not assume you can do anything because am in your dad’s house. Now leave this room’

‘Oh, am deeply sorry’

‘ I said leave my room at once!’ James shouted and she froze

In shock then walked out of the room in shame.

‘it’s a shame that Alfred has a slut for a daughter’ he murmured to himself still feeling aghast. The first time he met her, he had thoughts of her as a quiet decent girl with good parental upbringing. Who could have thought she was just a flirt. These were the things that was running in his mind till he heard the sound of the door. For a second he hoped it was not kodili. His anxiousness died out when lucy, who was in a gown and apron, emerged with tears on her cheek. She held a pail on her right hand and mob on the left.

‘what’s up with her, James wondered fretfully. Without saying good morning she began to mob the floor accordingly and that was unlike her. One thing james was so sure about is that all was not well.

‘lucy,’ he called out

Sir

Why are you crying? What saddens your heart?’ James asked earnestly with sincere concern.

‘what change will it bring if I tell you my trouble? It will definitely make no sense’

Common Lucy, am an adult. Back in India, girls at your age are always having fun and not shedding tears so if you don’t tell me your problem, my curiosity might definitely send me to hell,’ he joked and she forced a smile

‘Here are my problems if you insist to know them. I came to work in this house as a servant on the condition that I will be fed and paid 5000 naira monthly which I have been saving for my education, but never did it cross my mind that I will be treated like a slave’.

‘ please tell me, what makes you feel like you are being treated as a slave’

‘I have just little problem with Sir Alfred, he has made passes at me and still won’t let me be till now. I can not succumb to his selfish desires, I cannot lose my pride to a married man. As for my mistress, hers is the worst. She is determined to kill me.

‘no one will kill you. You have been such an angel since I came into this house. But am really confused. For although I can tell you are hardworking, I don’t think all you’ve said is true but nevertheless, I will not tell anyone about it. I promise’.

‘I don’t need you to believe me because it’s nothing to argue about but thanks for acknowledging my effort, it’s something no one has ever done in this house’

‘you are welcome’

‘ I have to mob the floor now’

‘Please go ahead’. And she dug the mob in the pail, squeezed out the water and began to clean the floor. James stared blankly at her before he went to make use of the bathroom