... continued from 6

Mr Johnson Egung sits there staring at me without a word. Next thing, the phone rings. The lady on the order end makes an enquiry and the next thing he says is "yes, he is here!"

At that point, I felt my soul leaving my body. I am overwhelmed with fear and trembling... Right inside me, there are hundreds of questions within seconds. "Could that have been a cop"? "Seems I'm going to jail". "What happens to Angelica; how is she going to cope if something happens to me"? I am in a state of discombobulation.

Minutes later, there's a knock on the door, and guess who's here? Margaret!
"Hi dad" she greets...
"Hi Madam" (with a trembling voice) I manage to send a salute to her.

At that point for the first time, I am beckoned to sit while the following conversation ensues:

Mr Egung: I'll get straight to the point. Maggie is my daughter and I love her very much. Though she made a mistake of giving herself out to a nobody like you, yet her action has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I will soon be retiring and I need a cool head to continue from where I will drop... Maggie thinks you can handle that.

(Again, I am thrown into utter disbelief). I am thinking that this could be a bait as it's surreal. Why me? As I continue in my state of thought, he continues.

"...there is a condition attached to this offer. I cannot imagine my daughter continuing to live as a single mother, both of you must get married, with that, I can be sure I am handing over to a family member. But if you refuse this offer, I'll ensure you rot in jail".

You see how cruel life could be? Why can't such offer come naturally without a condition? I never raped Margaret, she wasn't a minor, she was even the lurer, using a fake slip-and-fall as a decoy. Things the proleteriats go through in the hands of bourgeois can only be imagined than experienced. So hurting is the fact that Margaret has refused saying anything... She is a serious accomplice with her father. In fact, she is the formulator of all the conditions placed before me.

While still startled, I am asked to make response. "Let me sleep over it sir" is all I could manage to mutter.

On my way home, I'm still lost in thought...I cannot stop thinking about Angelica... paying her evil for good is the least I could think of. She has been such an amazing women...will she understand my dilemma? I have before me a chance of becoming an instant multi-millionaire, but if I do not handle it well, the jailer awaits me, at the process, I'll lose not just the love of my life, but also my son.

Which kind wahala be dis?
What would you do if you were me?
Will this travel ever end?

My name is Ntemuse; my ghetto story continues.
© Joshua Books