17/12/2025
THE PREACHER
CHAPTER FOUR
I had to do everything to get back the Akenji’s on their feet. I worked in a financial institution. So, it was easy for me to obtain a loan, and that was exactly what I did. I got a loan for two million and gave to Sharon’s mother so as to enable her to revive her business. I got another loan for two million and gave to her father so that it could help to settle some family bills.
Her mother’s own money was free. I didn’t expect her to give me back. However, I made it clear to her dad that his wasn’t free. He was required to pay me back. I gave him two years to refund the loan. That was almost the exact time the company had given me.
Starting a new shop by Sharon’s mother wasn’t easy at all. Since her shop was burnt, she had to begin by doing renovation work, and that was going to cost a lot of money. After that, she had to stock the shop. So, at the end of the day, the money wasn’t really enough, but I had done my part. There was nothing else I could do. I could not stretch my hands longer than the bones in them.
In spite of my help, life was still tough for them because they had a family of eight. Sharon was the first and she had five more siblings. Consequently, her parents had to turn to farming in order to survive. Many times, I accompanied them to the farm and even carried firewood on my head just so that I could be of any help that I could.
I had put off my marriage plans for Sharon because I believed that there was no need going to spend money on an expensive and lavish wedding when her family needed all the money they could get. Since after the proposal, I hadn’t made any other move. I hadn’t even gone to collect the list. My mother wasn’t very happy about it. So, she travelled all the way from the village to have a chat with me. She didn’t even call me before coming, which was a risk because she could have come into town when I had travelled. Also, I had moved from my old house since the last time she came. So, she didn’t even know where I now lived.
I was in my house one Sunday, all alone, thinking and contemplating about my life’s troubles when I heard someone knock my door. I asked the person to come in. He shifted the drapes and I realized that it was a popular plumber I know.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Richard.” He greeted. “I brought your mum.”
“My mum? Where did she come from? Is my mum in town?” I was surprised.
At that same moment, my mum walked into the house. I was very happy to see her again. I thanked the plumber, and he went back to his house.
“Mum, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” I asked.
“I am sorry, but your number hasn’t been going through all this while.” She replied.
“What kind of phone do you use? I have wanted to change that phone several times but you have always refused. Thank God the plumber saw you. Otherwise, how would you have been able to locate me?”
“I thank God oh.”
“Anyway, you are welcome again, mum. How’s Papa and everyone else?”
“They are all fine, and how are you, too?”
“I am good mum, thank you.”
Late that night, after we had eaten and were about to go to bed, my mum brought the issue of my marriage with Sharon. We were in the living room when she began.
“My son, you haven’t asked me yet why I came to the city.”
“You came to see your son, of course. What else, mum?”
“Yes, I came to see you but not for nothing. I remember you told me a while ago that you had found a woman you were going to marry. It has been months now and I have been waiting for you to bring her to us for assessment, or to even call us to say that the marriage was underway. What is going on?”
“Mum, I am sorry that I didn’t tell you, but I have to put off the marriage for a while.”
“Why?”
“Because her family ran into a little hardship. I lent them some money so that they could use it to get back on their feet.”
“Richard, you lent them money. Are you sure they will pay back?”
“Yes, Mum. They will. They are reliable people.”
“Alright, anyway, as soon as you can, I want you to go and take the list from her parents and begin the process. I do not want you to be taking care of another man’s wife.”
“What are you talking about, Mum. I do not understand.”
“Of course, you do not. Let me tell you. Everything is possible. It could be that her parents have gotten someone for her. So, you have to hurry up and do things in order to know your position in her life.”
“No, Mum. Such a thing is not possible nah. I am her only fiancé, and nothing can change that.” I assured my mother.
“Alright, if you say so. But I am warning you. I am warning you as a mother.”
My mum left two days later. She had made her point clear, and now it was time for me to act on it. I thought deeply about what she had said and figured that she just might be right. So, the next weekend, I got a few of my close colleagues at work, since I had no relative in the city, and went to Sharon’s house to get the list. The reaction we received wasn’t very encouraging. Even her father’s facial expression was very disappointing.
He told us that he was not ready to give us the list now. He said he was going to give us a call when he was ready. When we tried to insist, he got annoyed and abandoned us in his living room. He said he had a meeting to attend to and was already running late. Embarrassed, my colleagues and I left in shame. That should have been a red flag, but I chose to ignore it.
It had been more than two years now from the day I had lent out the two million to Sharon’s father and I wanted the money back. I had been waiting for him to call me and give me back my money. Instead, he had maintained a strict code of silence. So, I went to his house myself, unannounced. His demeanour changed as soon as I entered the house.
“Good evening, Sir.” I spoke as I got a seat for myself.
“Good afternoon, Richard. I know you came for the money. I want you to give me a little more time to raise the money I have tried to raise some but I have not completed it yet.”
“What? I thought you knew the deadline, and I also told you that it was company money and companies do not joke with their monies.” I was desperately suppressing my anger.
“Yes, you did. Yes, you did, but I have tried to no avail. Please, tell your company to be patient.” He said offhandedly.
“Patient? Did you say patient? You talk like someone who hasn’t worked in a company before. With all due respect, Sir, the company wouldn’t be patient. So, I need the money now.”
“Well, I don’t have it now. What do you want me to do?”
“Oh God! Alright, give me the part you said you have raised. At least, let me take that one to my boss and explain things to him.”
“Which part? I am sorry, I gave it to my wife to add it to her shop.”
“What?!! How could you do a thing like that? Do you want me to run into trouble? Do you want to put me in trouble?” I was very angry now.
“Hey! Young man, watch the way you talk to me. Why are you raising your voice? I thought you said you wanted to marry to my daughter.”
“That is no excuse for you not to pay back my money. That is company money and I need it now. Remember, I gave you in good faith.”
“You have no respect for your elders. Look at the way you talk to your potential in-law. It shows what my daughter will go through in your hands if you eventually marry her.”
“I love your daughter and will always treat her like a queen.”
“Okay, if you love my daughter, then forget about the money you lent to me. How can you be asking money from your in-laws? That is being ungrateful.” He spoke and that last word angered me the more.
“Ungrateful? Did you say ungrateful? Who is the one ungrateful now? I am so shocked, surprised and disappointed to hear you speak thus. I practically bailed you and your family out form hard times and all you can do is say this to me? Mr. Akenji!!!”
“Yes, you should be grateful that I even allowed you to come close to my daughter and to my family. Yes, my family, normally, doesn’t accept marriage proposals from people of your tribe. I only gave you that consideration because you appeared to be a gentleman. However, I am beginning to see that you were just pretending, and you know what, I am seriously beginning to reconsider my decision.”
I couldn’t take it any longer. I stormed out of the house in anger and went to my own house. When I got home, I sat on my favourite sofa fuming. It was true what my mum said. These old people could really see into the future. I shouldn’t have lent that money to them. I shouldn’t have carried their problems on my head. Now, they were being ungrateful and were spiting me. Maybe, just like my mum said, they were already arranging Sharon for another man. Oh no! I had been so foolish and trusting. However, it was not too late.
I called Sharon and talked to her. I told her about the bitter exchange I had with her father. She was very remorseful and apologized on behalf of her father. She said she was going to talk to him, and assured me that everything would be alright. But I was not convinced. From the look in her father’s eyes the day we had the altercation, I doubted we would ever be friends again. I was beginning to have very serious doubts about the whole thing, and I let Sharon know about it.
“Your father said some very unkind things to me. He even once again, made allusion to my tribe. Are you really sure this marriage is still going to work?”
“Yes, babe. Please, don’t mind him. He was always a nice guy until he lost his job. I will talk to him, please.”
“I am very worried about the future, Sharon. If you know that this thing would not work, let me know on time so that I can move on and sort out my life. I can write off everything I have spent, forget about it and move on. I don’t want to be shocked in the end because it would be very devastating for me.” I was serious.
“Calm down, Richard. I am assuring you that everything will be fine, okay? Just calm down and let me handle this. Anyway, where are you?”
“I am in my house.”
“Alright, I am coming to give you one for the road, maybe it can brighten your mood a bit.” She spoke.
About ten minutes later, she showed up at my door. I let her in and we had a long conversation. After that, we made love before she left. But even as we made love, deep within me, I had a premonition that all was not well. I could feel it, I could sense it deep down in my marrows.
It was Monday now and I had barely entered the company’s premises when my boss called for me. He had instructed the security guy to ask me to report to his office as soon as I came. I got to his office keeping a straight face though I already knew why he was calling me.
“Good morning, Sir.” I greeted.
“Richard, have you repaid the loan you took?” He asked, ignoring my greetings.
“No, Sir.”
“Why? Friday was your deadline. This is an insurance company, and we cannot afford such a huge amount of money to be unaccounted for.”
“I am sorry, Sir. I had a little disappointment. I will try to get it soon.”
“Soon? How soon is soon? Mr. Richard, you think we are here to joke? Oh! Maybe because I have been friendly and fraternizing with you, and you now think that we are mates? Listen, that is company money and I lent it to you out of trust. Now, you have disappointed me. Since you do not want to do things the easy way, you will do things the hard way.” He was furious.
“Boss, I am sorry. It was my supposed father in-law who disappointed me.” I begged.
“That is not my problem, Richard, that is not my problem. You were supposed to have sorted this out by now. You had two years, two whole years, and now you are coming to tell me about your father-in-law. What business do I have with him.”
“Sir...”
“Will you shut up. You are lucky I haven’t decided to fire you, but never mind, I have another package for you.”
He got out his phone and dialed a number. When the person he was calling picked, he spoke.
“Yes, he is here now. Come and get him.”
Ten minutes later, three policemen appeared in his office. I was handcuffed and dragged out of his office. My destination, the prison. As they took me away, he gave final instructions.
“Take this man to the police cell and make sure he is locked up until he is able to pay the money he is owing the company.”
“Yes, Sir.” The policemen replied.
I was dumped into the waiting police van outside the company and driven to the police station.
TO BE CONTINUED...
