KASARACHI
Kasarachi - Episode 17
(Tell it to God)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Later in the afternoon, Aunty Brenda was the one who arrived home first.
I hesitated at first but after an hour of continually searching everywhere and still not finding my money, I had no other choice than to ask her
"Aunty Brenda please have you seen any white envelope....? I've searched everywhere but I can't seem to find it where I kept it" I said trying to sound as calm as possible although I was feeling worried.
"No Kasarachi I haven't seen anything. You saw when I left the house so when did I have the time to check for an envelope" Brenda answered flippantly as she walked to the wardrobe to take a hanger
"Oh my God! What do I do now" I said inaudibly with my voice cracking
My heart beats accelerated and I bent my head low as I began fidgeting with my fingers out of anxiety.
Aunty Brenda seeing my unusual behavior had to pause to inquire if I was okay.
I nodded a yes but still not convinced, she queried further as she removed her clothes and hung it on the hanger she took earlier.
"Honestly Kasarachi I haven't seen any envelope but then what's the big deal about this particular envelope...? Where exactly did you even drop it and what's inside...?"
Her tone seemed like she was concerned but then I'm not God to know if she is truly saying the truth about not seeing it.
I lifted my head to look at Aunty Brenda and took a deep breath before replying her
"It was in my bag Aunty Brenda. I saw it last week but I was very surprised to check there early this morning and not find it anywhere. I'm worried because there's money inside...about fifteen thousand naira" I said with my face creased out of worry
Aunty Brenda shouted with her eyes bulged out and it got me wondering what exactly prompted such a reaction. Fortunately, her next reply helped clear my rising curiosity.
"Kasarachi! Did you just say fifteen wholesome thousand naira...? Like you've had such a huge amount of money in your possession and you've never thought of contributing to the running of this house...?" Brenda asked with her eyes fixated on me
Sincerely her questions are really confusing me. Maybe because I never thought it was a part of my responsibility to contribute to the running of the house, especially now I am still young and not earning a salary yet.
Moreover, I was helping in my own little way by doing all the house chores and even selling Aunty Tochi's wares in the market.
"Aunty Brenda you know that I am not working or earning yet. That money was given to me by my mother when I was coming to the city. She gave it to me in case I might need to get something...so I wouldn't disturb Aunty Tochi too much" I answered in frustration as I didn't understand where this whole conversation was leading to.
"Well I haven't seen your money Kasarachi... maybe you should ask your aunty Fiona. A piece of advice though....you are just sixteen years old and that kind of money is too big for you to be handling. So next time give me your money to hold for you okay...?" Brenda said dismissively and I absentmindedly muttered a yes under my breath.
After saying that, she made her way to the bathroom and locked the door without sparing me another glance.
I got so emotional that I was already tearing up and had to wipe my tears with the back of my palm to stop it from rolling down.
My hope now is that there's still a person remaining to ask which is Aunty Tochi. I'm just praying she has seen the money else I wouldn't know how I will feel honestly.
I sluggishly got up and changed my clothes. I want to go to the market so I could sell the fruits that remained from yesterday.
Normally I'm supposed to be resting but I need something that will distract my mind from thinking about the missing money.
At the market, one of my toasters came around and his jokes really helped a lot in relieving me, such that I felt much better by the time I packed up to start going home.
I was also happy that I sold all the fruits and made profits on them, plus a few naira notes customers dashed me after buying. That dash money of five hundred naira will be going directly to my personal pocket.
It was already past 8pm by the time I arrived home and thankfully Aunty Tochi was back home too.
I met her in the sitting room eating the beans and plantains I had prepared this afternoon before leaving the house.
Initially I thought of asking her immediately if she had seen my money, but I decided to let it be until later since I just got back.
I greeted her without acting like anything was wrong and then I went inside so I could change my clothes and freshen up.
The door creaked open and I jerked when I heard Aunty Tochi's voice behind me as I was removing my clothes in the bedroom
"Kasarachi! Kasarachi! Kasarachi. How many times did you hear me call your name...?" Aunty Tochi asked using an accusing tone whilst walking towards me
She reached where I was and stood directly in front of me. She continued looking at me intently which got me wondering why.
"You called me three times Aunty Tochi. Is there a problem...?" I answered wondering why she called my name with that tone and why she was looking at me suspiciously.
"Have you started pr*stitution in my house and for how long has it been going on...?"
"Me pr*stitution...? I don't understand your question Aunty. What's making you think this way...? Is it because I came home after five days the other day...?" I was feeling confused and asked what came to my mind
"It's not only that. Just answer my question Kasarachi. I'm not your mate so better be sincere instead of answering my question with a question. Are you pr*stituting...? since when...? and with whom...?" Aunty Tochi kept asking me tons of questions I didn't understand where it came from.
I sighed deeply as I slowly walked to the bed and sat on it. I looked at Aunty Tochi before answering her questions respectfully
"I have never pr*stituted in my life Aunty Tochi so I don't know where all these questions and accusations are coming from"
"It's okay if you say so Kasarachi. Infact forget I even asked you that question in the first place. Whatever you choose to do in this Lagos is not my business but just make sure you do not get pregnant...because if you do...I will send you and the b*stard child back to the village" Aunty Tochi said plainly and I nodded in understanding.
She was about turning to walk out of the bedroom door when I decided that it was about time I asked her about the money
"Aunty Tochi please there's something I wanted to ask you"
As Aunty heard that, she halted in her movement. She turned to look at my face urging me to go on and ask my question
"Okay Kasarachi. I'm listening. What is it you wanted to ask me...?"
"The thing is that I kept a white envelope containing money inside my bag but today I've checked there several times and I couldn't find it. I even had to ask Aunty Brenda if she saw the envelope and she said she hasn't. Aunty Tochi it is just the three of us in this house so I was wondering if please you might have seen it...?" I asked carefully trying as much as possible not to sound like I was accusing her of anything
"Yes I saw the envelope and took it and so what...?" Aunty Tochi answered rudely but I wasn't too concerned about her harsh tone.
Rather I was happy and relieved to know that my missing money is not lost afterall, and it would be recovered from my aunty.
That's what I thought until Aunty Tochi continued with her words which broke me
"...why do you think I was asking you all those questions earlier...? It's because I'm wondering how you got all that clean thousand naira notes in your bag. I'm very sure that you either stole them or probably slept with men in exchange for the money"
I later exhaled heavily no longer feeling surprised at her mediocre way of reasoning
The words that usually come out of her mouth are ab*sive and bland so I have decided to start developing a thicker skin.
I didn't even waste my time getting angry at whatever she said or asked me instead I simply answered her as politely as I could.
"Mama gave it to me before I left the village for any petty things I might need. She just didn't want me to disturb you too much for the first month until I received my salary"
I know that I'm lying about where the money came from but then I think it is for the best, since they don't actually know about the accident at the hospital.
Besides Aunty Tochi may not even believe me so I would just keep it to myself instead of starting with the long explanations.
"Wow, wow, wow! I can't believe that you've had all that money in this house and yet you never for once told me about it...? To make matters worse...you never bothered to contribute a penny to the food or running of this house. Tell me Kasarachi...what kind of a bad child are you...?" Aunty Tochi asked angrily as she placed her hands on her waist and looked at me frowning
"Aunty what are you even saying...? First of all, you said that you aren't paying me until next month so I'm not earning yet. Secondly the fifteen thousand naira is barely enough for my personal use...let alone to contribute to the house keep. Thirdly I try to contribute in my little way by doing the house chores and selling in the market.." I said gently and paused to clear my throat before continuing
"....moreover Aunty Tochi you've never before complained about me not contributing to the house keep....so where is all of this coming from today...?" I asked bluntly whilst also staring at her directly
Aunty Tochi exhaled but couldn't find an answer to my question so she was just keeping quiet and looking at me. I suppose she was lost for words because she knows that I am correct with my speculations.
At that exact moment, Aunty Brenda came into the bedroom and she jumped into our conversation without being invited
"Fiona shea I told you not to accept this girl to come stay with us...? Now look at how she is sounding so ungrateful..." Brenda flippantly said to Aunty Tochi. It got me wondering if she's the brain behind this.
Aunty Brenda turned her gaze from Aunty Tochi to look at me and continued talking
"Kasarachi must you wait to be asked before you know the right thing to do...? Or do you think you are still in the village with your wretched mother who pampered you into this spoiled brat you are today...?" Brenda said annoyingly and then she hissed loudly.
I wasn't even angry at the rest of the words she said but the part she called mama a wretched woman triggered me violently
Brenda continued running her mouth and brewing more abusive words without caring how the previous ones made me feel
"Maybe that's why your father had to d*e and abandon you people early. It's obvious that at a much younger age...you were already going about sleeping with all the young men in your village for a common fifteen thousand naira. Cheap pr*stitute!"
That's the last straw that broke the camel's back. The insults were so painful that I couldn't control myself again.
To make matters worse, Brenda was now standing in front of me smiling as though she was daring me to do my worst.
Aunty Tochi could see how I was visibly fuming from my facial expression. She knows how unpredictable I can be most times when I am being treated unfairly.
I guess she was wondering what was going through my mind when I was not talking but was instead staring at Brenda angrily.
She tried to say something that would at least savor the tensed atmosphere, but it was already too late as I did something I'm sure they will never forget in a long while....
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH'S HEART stories)
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