ALL FOR NOTHING…
Episode nineteen
I arrived at Sodiq’s and Suleiman’s place early enough to meet them still dressing up. There was the stench of cigarettes and indian hemp. Other guys were also there and the setting wasn’t appealing to the eyes.
“Is he the one you talked about?” One of the boys asked.
“Yes, he’s the one.” Sodiq replied.
“Does he have any idea where it is we are going to?” The boy asked.
“No we haven’t told him yet. You can as well tell him now.” Suleiman replied.
“My name is Dara. I’m the leader of our group and it’ll interest me to tell you that once you join our group there is no turning back.” He said.
I was beginning to get scared.
“There is nothing you want that we can’t give to you here. Is it money, girls, fame. Name it. Everything is possible in our group. All you have to do is to swear an oath that you won’t leave and that the day you try it, you’ll be dead.” Dara said looking serious.
My heart was beginning to pound like a pestle pounding fufu in mortar.
“What exactly do I have to do?” I asked trying to hide my fear.
“You’ll come with us to a place where we’ll initiate you fully into our group but there are some conditions too.” He Said.
“What conditions?” I asked becoming really nervous.
“Once the money starts coming, there are things you should and shouldn’t do with the money.” He said.
“What are they?” He asked.
“You’ll have to womanize with the money. It’s compulsory you do it. You’ll have to gamble and believe me you’ll win. We don’t lose in the brotherhood. You mustn’t render financial help to anyone but you are to show them how you made your own money. You are free to take people out and lavish money on them but never are you to give it out as a means to help them.” Dara said.
I could now see the reason why Sodiq and Suleiman always won whenever they come to the casino. I also the reason why they refused to help me when I told them I needed financial help. It was what led them to decide to finally show me the secret of their riches.
“Are you still willing to continue after all these conditions?” He asked.
“Yes I’m in.” I said. I wanted to get the money as fast as I could so I could return to Utti and give mama a good life. At least the condition didn’t say I couldn’t give my mother a good life.
“Congrats! Ayo, you just made the best decision in your life.” Sodiq said extending a hand shake which I took.
“You Ayo, you are a man and not a boy.” Suleiman added.
“So can we go now?” Dara asked.
“Yes, we can.” I replied.
We all came out of the house and all four of us entered one car and drove off. It was around 8 p.m and as we drove through the streets of Republic town, I was beginning to have a change of heart. I wasn’t sure but I could feel there was something they weren’t telling me.
We soon came to the place and it was along a bushy path. I was scared because I knew I wasn’t safe.
“What if they decide to gang up on me and harm me?” I asked deep in my thoughts.
We walked along way until we came to a very beautiful building in the bush. It was in a well fenced compound and was standing alone. We entered and as I continued I was really scared.
There was an inscription at the entrance door which read..”Poverty is foolish when money is your wisdom.” I actually agreed with the saying but I was still uncomfortable.
“Welcome my boys.” A voice greeted. It was the voice of an elderly man causing me to become even more afraid.
They all greeted him with all sorts of signs that I couldn’t understand.
“Sir, this is Ayo and he wants to be a part of us.” Dara said smiling. My heart was beating fast and I could sense I was in danger of some sort.
“Ayo, this is the great baba A.k.a _Sabi-man_ He is the one who made us who we are today and he can do the same for you.” Dara Said.
“Ayo, hope they’ve told you everything you need to know about this brotherhood. It’s no child’s play and once we start the initiation process, there is no turning back.” The great baba said.
“Yes baba I told him everything. He agreed to do as he was told.” Dara replied.
I noticed Sodiq and Suleiman have been awfully quiet.
“Let’s go in and start the process.” Great baba said.
Only myself, Dara and great baba went inside the room where I would be initiated into the brotherhood.
The place was looking like a modern shrine. There was something really ominous about that place that day.
“You want money isn’t it? And money you’ll get. But you have to know that money is life. So in exchange for the money, you’ll be giving up a considerable amount of your life time too.” Great baba Said.
“Sir, I don’t understand you.” I replied panting unnoticed.
“Assuming you have a life span of 80 years you’ll only live for 50, you’ll be giving up 30 years of your life for the money and I tell you even 30 generations after you will know no poverty.” Great baba said.
I paused to think of what great baba has just said and thinking very well, I agreed to it.
“Is it not better to live the next thirty years of my life in affluence and to live a legacy behind than to live another seventy years or so with no guarantee that I’ll be rich some day.
He brought out a piece of cloth and blindfolded me. He started with some incantations and then handed me a calabsh to wash my hands. I was really scared but what choice have I got, it was all for mama. I wanted my mother to enjoy the rest of her life and I just couldn’t wait to have enough money to do that for her.
After that, he handed me a knife and led me by the hand still reciting his incantations.
“Now repeat after me.” He said.
“Oh great wealth giver, I’ve come to you with this sacrifice in exchange for wealth. Accept it from me.” He said and I repeated after him. My heart was still beating fast and I had no idea what sacrifice he was talking about.
“Ayo, we are almost there. There is a mirror in front of you. Stab it with the knife.” He said.
“What exactly am I stabbing in the mirror?” I asked becoming tense and terrified.
“You don’t have to know. Just do as you are told. I don’t like people asking too many questions.” He said sounding angry.
Not to argue with him, I decided to do it but I had to remove the blindfold and what I saw scared the life out of me. It was mama. My own poor widowed mother whose face was on the mirror.
“Who asked you to remove the blindfold?” Great baba thundered.
“So this was a trick to make me kill my own mother. I’ll never do it.” I said.
“Do you know the implication of what you just did?” Dara asked.
“I don’t care to know but I’ll never kill my mother because I want to be rich. I’d rather die poor than to use my mother for money ritual.” I said and turned to take my leave. I wasn’t interested in the wealth anymore if the reason I wanted it would be the one that I will exchange for it.
“You walk out of that door and you are dead.” Great baba said.
“I died once and I’m not scared to die anymore.” I said and banged the door behind me.
“What happened? Where are you going to?” Sodiq asked.
“To hell with your money. I’ll rather die poor than to kill my own mother.” I said and walked out on them.
I was able to trace my way out of the bush and as I left that place that night, I knew I was in a bigger trouble.
The following day, I woke up with a fever. I didn’t know what to do as I was aware it had to do with what happened the previous night.
I was still struggling to get up when the postman who drops a letter for Mr Omotayo came to me.
I managed to open the door and after exchanging pleasantries, he handed me a letter.
“Dear Akintunde Ayomide, your application for the Educational trust fund Scholarship was successful. You are hereby invited for the exams and interview scheduled to take place next week Friday. Further information will be communicated across to you.” I was left speechless because I didn’t apply for a scholarship exam.
“It must Mr Omotayo” I said to myself.
I signed the recipient column and with my fever decided to dress up and go for work…
Hope you enjoyed this episode?
Vicky’s stories…
Touching lives….
Changing people….
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