Rays from the rising sun
permeated the bare windows of the Gana's bedroom right onto their faces
waking them up on Christmas morning. “Merry Christmas darlings” Dawana said to
the children still lying beside her with eyes wide open. She sat up and
picked up a note addressed to her on the floor “will be back soon.”She had no
idea where Nathan had taken off to that morning. She got up from the floor
where they all slept with only a bed sheet separating their backs from the cold
floor and looked out of the window. The harmattan wind blew about dust and dry
leaves fallen off trees still yet the decor on the dried up trees looked better
than what was in the house because some families had decorated their trees
with Christmas lightning’s. Everything in their house they could get value on was
sold off from their cars to cutleries. Lucky were they to find a
buyer for the house in such short space and they were willing to sell at a
loss. Still yet to conclude transactions before they had to leave the house
finally, they planned how they were going to off load the children at Dawana’s
parent's until they could have them back . Nathan had been able to get his boss
to extend from two weeks to three months because he paid some money to the
company every week and his boss was touched by his determination.
The Christmas morning
was boring in the Gana’s and so was the afternoon. Somehow they managed to keep
their dilemma from their parents and lied to be spending Christmas at the other
of the couple’s parent’s house. Dawana worried as time went by and still yet no
Nathan, leaving no clue as where he might be, more annoying was the automated
voice popping up anytime she called his number “this person’s phone is
switched off”. “Maybe he
could not handle the pressure anymore and so ran off” she thought. She shook the imagination off her mind.
Nala and Terni surprisingly remained calm all day. They made do with what they
had available. Christmas tradition for them would mean the family all dresses
up in new clothing, shoes and other accessories for the women and going
to church in the morning then return from church to spend the rest of the
day entertaining family and friends with games , movies , music, food, drinks
and whatever was interesting to them. Tired of boredom Nala approached her mum
timidly and asked “where is daddy, has he gone to get our presents?" She
paused for an answer from her mum but Dawana stared at her daughter without a
reply “Mummy we didn't get to go to church, put on our Christmas dresses and
even get our hair done for Christmas. Why don’t we have our house decorated
with Christmas lights like the Teejay’s? Pointing to their neighbour’s house.
Getting irritated by the girls lamentation, Dawana lashed out at the girl words
she held back on for a while “you put us in the mess” gesturing at the state of
their house and their condition. “Shut your big mouth up-you just love to run
your mouth everywhere you go, it’s your mouth” pulling her under lip “that’s
gotten us where we are now and you still haven’t learnt your lesson yet”.
Nathan returned home
after 6pm, he meant each one of them maintaining a corner looking demoralised.
“I thought you had run away” Dawana said rising up. “No!” he brushed past her
and headed to Nala and Terni picking them up from where they laid down “I am
sorry you are having a terrible Christmas, daddy’s is going to liven things up
soon”. “What’s in the bag Nathan” Dawana asked pointing at the bag hanging from
his shoulder. “Money!” he said. He dropped the bag and opened to show his wife
the content. “A Guy called Ali paid $50,000 for the house. We’ve got more than
we need to pay our debt.” “Have you dealt with drug dealers where on earth do
you get someone to pay this much money cash down and i believe you were
introduced to him today?! You have never mentioned any Ali before now.” Dawana
said acting afraid “What do you care Dawana, this is a Christmas miracle.
We don’t have to sleep on the hard floor tonight we will go get dinner
and a decent room to sleep in, my body aches from sleeping on the hard floor. I
will hand the keys over to Ali when all the necessary documents are signed
after the holiday.”
A taxi finally arrived
after about half an hour wait. They dumped their luggage in the boot of the
car; they only packed for one night. Nathan still held on to the bag containing
the money “We will be making two stops but first the Bureau de change please”
Nathan announced to the taxi man. The ride to the bureau de change was really
quick, few cars on the road, most people seemed to enjoy the Christmas indoors.
However when they arrived their first stop they met a bit of a queue since it
was the only bureau the change open. Nathan asked that his family remained in
the car while he went in alone for business.
Nathan looked at his
time and it was already a quarter past seven. He guessed he might be on the
line another fifteen minutes and thought he should ask the taxi to go so they
would ring for another when he was done but he changed his mind quickly so he
didn’t say anything, he intended to convert a thousand dollars and with that he
would have enough Naira to ensure his family got a great time. Getting uneasy
as he edged closer to the door of the entrance to the money converters he
stretched his neck and noticed that even though the line was long there were
four attendants and they were pretty fast. Soon enough he was in, he looked
around and noticed they were all men, for them to be here on a Christmas day
they must have had a pressing need-The rich who took out money from their
collection of foreign currencies stashed in their safe to exchange so they give
themselves a more lavish Christmas, to the average who maybe had run out of
cash and decided to pinch from his savings and the poor who might have gotten a
Christmas miracle and found favour with someone. Whichever way the room was
packed with men whom all seemed to be in a hurry. He tried to fix each man to
the cars he noticed parked outside- some had families, some wives and others
girlfriends waiting for their men to return with money to carry on enjoying
themselves. He shifted his attention back to the counter and noticed a familiar
face. “Mr Danja” Nathan called out as he passed by him after being attended to,
he looked shocked and without responding walked out in a hurry. At first Nathan didn't notice but just
wondering why Danja reacted like he saw a ghost when he saw him looked back at
Danja and noticed something that eluded him the first time- Nathan had the same
bag Nala's ransom money was put into. Curious he followed Danja who walked
rather briskly. Just when he was about to open his car door he noticed Nathan
walking very fast towards him. Considering he might not make it out with his
car before Nathan caught up with him took off on his heels. . Nathan
noticed as he ran past Danja’s car the female companion wasn’t even his wife.
All along the security in the bureau de change had been aware of Nathan move
and had alerted the police within the vicinity and they were already on their
trail.
Noticing the commotion
at the entrance of the money converters as everyone inside scrambled outside
holding their bags and pockets to avoid losing their money so they could catch
a glimpse of the men running and the security shutting the doors of the
building behind them, Dawana searched through the crowd of men and didn’t find Nathan.
She attempted to peak through the glass door but was blocked by the security
men. Describing Nathan to the security man she asked if he had seen her husband,
but he just looked above sending a signal and soon she was surrounded by police
men.
The chase continued
with neither of the men backing down. Too sure Mr Danja had something to do
with Nala’s kidnap because that was without doubt the bag he put the money in
he chased after Danja rigorously. Not wanting to be caught Danja tried his best
to run with the weight on his shoulders. Unable to keep up, Danja noticed
Nathan edging closer to him, dropped the bag down and continued running. Nathan
stopped by the bag, opened it saw some money but still kept searching the side
pockets and found the Receipt from the exchange
Amount-$42,000
Exchange rate- N179-$1
Amount received –N7,
518,000
“The exact amount “he said after reading the receipt “You are finished
Danja” he screamed on top of his lungs. “an extra N18,000 On top ”Nathan thought as he raised the bag up, suddenly he felt overwhelming
pain on his back he staggered and tried
not to fall but he felt the pain again and couldn’t bear, he fell to the ground. Immediately he
was jacked up by two powerful hands and turned to face the third person. “Where
is the second Man?” The man who appeared to be a policeman asked. “He ran away”
Nathan replied dazed from the hitting. They had run quiet a distance from the bureau
de change and after a few minutes a police car arrived and he was pushed into
the car his wife and children where in same car too.” you can’t do this to my
kids” Nathan begged them but they refused to listen, then he pleaded to make a
call but the police refused stating there was nothing that could be done until
after the holiday. The Christmas only became worse as they spent the night and
the Boxing Day in the police cell.
Finally on the morning
of the 27th Nathans
boss arrived at the station shocked at what was revealed to him that morning by
Nathan’s call, “Danja managed to escape town but nabbing him would not be much
of a problem the police are already onto him”. Nathan’s boss informed him and
his family as he led them out of the police station into the company’s guest
house he felt so sorry for what had befallen them and wanted to do his best to
help them recuperate from the incidence. “What demon possessed Danja to make
him act this way?! It’s unfortunate but I will be honoured to have you back at
the company I promise great day are coming your way with us. I believe the
money is intact. I will take that to the office now and you can call the guy
who bought your house for the refund of his money” the boss said. “The house
money is short of $4,000” Dawana chipped in. “That has to be from the police
station” Nathan said in a defensive manner. His boss smiled and said “doggy as
ever this police men. Every amount you have paid previously will cover up for that,
I will see that you are refunded before the day runs out. Ok! Taking my leave
now” Nathan walked his boss to the door and gave him a handshake “thank you so
much sir” he said. His boss Smiled nodded his head and left. Shutting the door
behind him he sighed and stretched out his hand to his family and they ran to
hug him back.
-----------The end ------------
Zaza
ReplyDeleteNice story dear
ReplyDelete