KASARACHI
Kasarachi - Episode 42
(Tell it to God)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
It was on this Tuesday morning, I also got to find out that for madam Ify, her likeness for me was not in a romantic way as I thought.
She's not a l£sbian. Infact, she is married with five kids who school in another state.
Not until today, I never knew much about her private or family life and I doubt any of her workers knows about this as well because she's a very confidential person.
We entered madam Ify's office with me fidgeting with my fingers in an attempt to hide my nervousness and at the same time, I was wondering what could be wrong.
I mean it is so absurd for my madam to ask me to accompany her to her office immediately when she comes to work.
I really hope everything is alright cos I don't have the strength for any new wahala.
Madam Ify went to her side of the chair after politely offering me a seat at the second chair that's opposite hers.
I thanked her before gently sitting down.
"I got breakfast for the two of us. I hope you don't mind....?" Madam Ify said smiling at me.
Her free-spiritedness and smile really helped to ease the tension bubbling inside of me, although not completely.
I nodded my head in affirmation as I went on to accept the takeaway she stretched out to me.
Ah! I really needed this as I am famished as a result of not eating from home this morning.
It's not entirely my fault. Mama wasn't done with cooking when I was ready and so I left because I didn't want to be late for work.
I smiled gratefully and told her how appreciative I am of her thoughtful gesture.
It's not actually the first time she will be bringing me breakfast. Infact, it is one of the most thoughtful acts of kindness I love about her. Reminds me so much of my Mrs Sharon who was always asking me to join them to eat at the dining table as a family.
Before this month, I used to turn down madam Ify's extra packed food for me. Madam Ify still didn't stop offering it to me and so gradually with time, I relaxed my nerves and started accepting the takeaways.
I made sure to always thank her profusely whenever she gives me food. Most times, I reciprocated in my own little way by buying her different types of fruits with my money before going home for the day.
My colleagues were sometimes jealous of the unusual show of love from madam Ify to me and I know they secretly wished it could be them in my shoes.
Some will take it far by making annoying remarks and I will immediately give them annoying replies to put them in their place.
Madam Ify replied to my comment of appreciation with a thank you and I was curious as to why she was thanking me.
To clear my curiosity, I had to ask her what the appreciation was for, when I ought to be the only one saying thank you to her.
Madam Ify chuckled loudly without saying anything as a reply for a while. After a few minutes of silence, she told me to eat first then we can discuss better after the meal.
I shrugged my shoulders in obedience and didn't bother to ask any further questions.
I opened the takeaway plate and the aroma from the grilled chicken hit me before I even looked at the content very well. I looked at it and saw that it was Jellof rice with chicken and it got me really salivating.
I was looking at the garnished meal skeptically without making any attempt to unwrap the spoon and begin eating. Only I know how much I felt like devouring the food especially the chicken, but then fear wouldn't let me eat it without suspicions.
Deep within me, I was wondering why madam Ify was insisting that I eat first before we discussed anything. Could she have put something bad in the food...?
Thanks to my previous bad experiences, I don't really trust anyone again except for my immediate family. This world is a very wicked place so unpleasant things can happen anytime and anywhere, including my workplace.
I would have loved to ask her to taste the meal first before I eat but I didn't know how to go about asking her to do that. I'm sure it will sound somehow to her ears, more like I am indirectly accusing her of something.
I wouldn't want her to feel like I didn't appreciate her kind gestures and in this world where people are so selfish, it might make her stop being caring towards me.
It seems Madam Ify noticed my unsettling countenance and must have guessed where it was emitting from since I was still looking at the food without touching it.
I didn't even know she had been observing my behavior and looking at me, if I did, I would have probably pretended that I was fine and tried to eat the food.
There was a table in-between which demarcated us and it is on this table that we kept the takeaway plates of food.
Since I was sitting on a chair directly opposite that of madam Ify, our plates were also directly facing each other and within very close range.
I saw Madam Ify unwrap one of the spoons and open her own takeaway plate.
I thought she was going to eat her meal which was in front of her but instead she stylishly diverted and ate my food instead.
"You can go ahead and eat now Kasarachi. The food isn't p01soned!" Madam Ify said jokingly as she chuckled and began eating her food in silence.
I was embarrassed when I heard her say that. I couldn't really tell what was running through her mind but I didn't want to ask so as not to make it more awkward.
"Thank you ma'am. I'm sorry if you took my reluctance the wrong way. I really didn't mean it the way you said it" I said calmly while trying to force out a smile.
Madam Ify laughed out loud and then she told me it's okay that she bears no grudges against me. After that, we ate our food in silence for a little under fifteen minutes.
I must confess! the food was really nice especially the chicken, such that I was even wishing it wouldn't finish but of course every beginning has an ending.
Madam Ify and I finished eating at almost the same time. After I finished drinking water to digest my food, I got up to pack the two takeaway plates away for disposal.
By the time I got back to the office again, madam Ify was talking on the phone with someone. With the way she was cracking jokes and laughing endlessly, I could tell the call is definitely from someone close to her.
I sat down on my chair and patiently waited for madam Ify to be done with her phone conversation so we could discuss.
As I was waiting, I looked up at the wall clock in her office to check the time and I was surprised to see that it was 7:43am.
I arrived here by exactly 7:05am and now it is 7:43am, that's over 40 minutes gone.
Normally, workers are supposed to resume by 8am which means any moment from now, my colleagues will be arriving for work.
As for me, I do come an hour earlier and the next person who comes is either madam Ify or my colleague turned friend Nonye.
Nonye is an old employee who has been working here for close to two years now. In the past months that I've been working here we've grown attached to each other as friends. She is the only one who is friendly to me and makes working here fun for me.
My other colleagues are overly proud and love gossiping which I find annoying. That's why I don't even relate with them except when certain peculiar circumstances call for it.
Their gossiping and envious nature is one of the main reasons I wouldn't want them to meet me here, in order to avoid unnecessary skeptical stares.
In my heart, I am praying in my heart that madam Ify should be done with the call so we could discuss already. In a way, I also thought of taking permission from her to at least go and attend to other things until she's done with her call.
The next thing I heard from madam Ify was for me to take her outstretched phone and say 'hello' to her cousin on the phone.
I am wondering where such familiarity is coming from, but I didn't ask since she is my madam and I respect her.
So I simply collected the phone from her and told whoever that was on the line 'hello' as madam Ify told me to.
It was a man's voice I heard over the phone and when he introduced himself, I immediately knew who the man was. His name is Alexander, a handsome igbo guy whom I heard practically grew in the States.
Since I started working here, he has come to the shop thrice to see madam Ireti on three different occasions. Sometimes he will buy one or two car parts after he finishes chitchatting with madam Ify in her office.
I remember him asking me twice to keep the change remaining from his money but I refused and still went on to return his change to him.
He is not the first person to tell me that so I didn't make a big deal out of it. Most of the men that do try dashing me money end up asking for my phone number and some will even start asking when I will visit them.
That's why I stopped collecting money from all of them whether it is their remaining change or not. Some will feel bad and quietly stop while some will use derogatory words on me saying that I will rot here as a poor sales girl but I didn't care.
O yes, my salary may be small but I am very much content so far as it doesn't warrant disrespect and disregard from men who feel like sales girls are cheap and easy to get. I don't even relate or become overly conversational with them beyond business.
The man Alexander tried to spark a conversation with me over the phone but I wasn't interested in chitchatting with a stranger. So I made it obvious by giving him monosyllabic answers to all of his questions.
He was asking me how I was faring, where I am from, how I am coping with the job, if I have had breakfast and other questions.
To be sincere, I was quite curious as to why he was asking me such irrelevant questions, I mean we are strangers for Christ's sake!
Well I answered the questions I could and ignored the ones I felt it wasn't necessary for me to reply. The call ended at last and I breathed a sigh of relief since I was already tired of the boring conversation.
I landed the phone back to Madam Ify who smiled and fondly began talking about Alexander.
"Ah, Alexander will never change in his usual way of always making me laugh. He has set the tone for my day today and I'm so happy for the young man he has turned out to be" madam Ireti said smiling at me
I smiled back and told her that I was happy for her as well. Madam Ify jiggled and she continued talking excitedly
".....Kasarachi do you want to know another thing about Alexander....?"
I nodded in affirmation as I gave her a reply
"Yes ma'am, I want to know"
I am a mind-my-business kind of person so God knows I wasn't interested in whatever she had to say about her cousin. I am engaging in the conversation purely out of respect for her, not necessarily because I cared about knowing about Alexander.
"Alexander has eyes for good things plus the fact that he is always making our family proud by the business feat he has attained. Kasarachi, my cousin is just 28 years old and yet he already owns a telecommunication company that keeps blooming day by day"
"Wow! Congratulations to him and to your family ma'am. Indeed he deserves all the accolades you are showering on him!" I said smiling because I was genuinely feeling happy for her.
"His company is a global brand here in Nigeria. Kasarachi, I want to believe that you've heard of the AlexBel Telecommunication enterprise right....?" Madam Ify said to me and from the tone of her voice, I could tell she was really proud of her cousin brother.
I mean who wouldn't be a proud aunty considering that he is a young successful entrepreneur....?
For me, I was actually very shocked to know that he is a big fish in the business industry.
"I'm happy for you and your family ma'am and I thank God for his life and his success. Alexander is a good guy. You know ma'am, we've actually met and discussed a couple of times here in the shop" I said calmly.
"Oh you have...? That's interesting! Tell me Kasarachi, what do you think about him...? Like in terms of personality" madam Ify asked and I shrugged as I replied to her.
"Madam I think he is actually a jovial guy who is intelligent and really down to earth although I observed that he tends to ask questions a lot" I said lightheartedly
Madam Ify chuckled at the last words I said subconsciously.
"Can I ask you something Kasarachi....?"
"Of course ma'am. You can ask me anything"
"I'm aware you are twenty-two years old but I am just curious to know. If someone indicates interest in you and decides that he wants you as a wife. Tell me sincerely, would you be interested in marrying the person in the next one year from now....?"
"Well it depends on the seriousness of the man and how compatible we are as lovers who are going towards the marriage path. Please why did you ask ma'am...?"
"Well you remember I called you here because I have something important to discuss with you...?"
"Yes ma'am" I answered plainly.
"Kasarachi the thing is, my cousin Alexander has been observing you from afar on the different occasions he came to see me. He informed me two weeks ago that he likes you and would likely want to marry you!" madam Ify said to me smiling.
At that exact moment Nonye opened the door and came in. From the way she looked at me with suppressed anger, I could tell that she eavesdropped on us and probably heard all that madam Ify told me.
It left me wondering, is this going to put a strain on our newly built friendship or what....? Well I don't even care especially if it's my future that is at stake here.
As I am right now, I am thinking of accepting to go out with Alexander and if we are okay with each other then of course we could get married. Afterall, he is handsome plus very rich and at this point in my life, I need money to clear Mama's debt.
"Good morning ma'am" Nonye greeted and madam Ify turned to answer her greetings before focusing her gaze back on me again
"So Kasarachi...my cousin is wondering if you would be free and feel okay going on a date with him this weekend Sunday. Please don't say no. Honestly speaking, I have never seen Alexander so easily mesmerized by a lady. All he wants for now is to get to know you so please give him a chance, at least for my sake" Madam Ify said not minding the presence of Nonye in the room.
My heart leaped for joy and I had already prepared to reply a yes to Alexander's indirect request to go on a date with me.
Madam Ify turned to Nonye and asked her what she wanted. Nonye answered that she came for the keys to the storage room incase customers starts coming to purchase.
Madam Ify hurriedly gave Nonye the keys and dismissed her to go as she needs her privacy. Knowing how strict madam Ify can be when it comes to her business matters and private affairs, Nonye collected the keys and left the office immediately.
Madam Ify looked at me anticipating a response to what she said earlier but before I could give madam Ify a reply, she started talking again.
This time around, madam Ify revealed something troubling about Alexander that made me have a rethink about the whole thing.
My heart experienced an abrupt disinterest such that I even had to ask myself, if it was a good idea to accept to go out on a date and someday marry a man like him....?
Would I be safe and will mama even agree to this whole arrangement...?
I seriously doubt that....
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH'S HEART stories)
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