Continued from Saturday, September 30, 2023
“AAAAYE OOOOO! So this is your secret of wealth, sleeping with the dead?!” Akanbi wanted to scream but Fatona prostrated on the ground and started begging him profusely.
“Ha, Akanbi, I will give you whatever you want, plenty money, but please don’t let the whole world know. I haven’t done this before, this is my first time. The lady loved me so much and I don’t want her to be angry with me, even in death. It was like I was in a trance and dreaming when I started this. I promise to give you millions and do whatever you want Akanbi, please, my bosom friend…” he continued to beg while shedding tears and sweating all over. He was drenched with terrifying sweats and sorrowful tears, all mixed together.
Akanbi shook his head sideways and gave a very sly, wicked and foreboding smile.
“Okay, you must first give me N10m before I leave here. Then secondly, at any gathering I must be the person speaking for you. Whatever I say at any meeting or gathering you are present should be the order and must not be denied by you or anybody. Is that right? I must be acting on your behalf as from today on… is that right?”
“No problem, Akanbi, I accept all you just said. Just don’t let the world know I beg you in God’s name…” Fatona pleaded, still lying helplessly and hopelessly on the ground, in tears.
Instantly, he went back into the farm and gave his friend a whooping N10m cash. Akanbi was really happy and excited when he got the money. After that incident, at any gathering or meeting Akanbi would hush his friend if he intended making a speech or talk. He would make big demands of money from Fatona and he would quickly give it to him without batting an eyelid.
Busola, the lovely wife of Fatona always wondered at the pervading sadness and aloofness of her husband for the past couple of months. She realised that her husband wasn’t eaten properly as he used to from the beginning of their relationship. He seldom talk now, and was very far and withdrawn from happenings around him.
Fatona had become a shadow of his former self. His business was on the verge of crumbling completely. His friend, Akanbi had taken over his entire business empire and world.
He started contemplating suicide, thinking that the only solution was to take his own life since he had committed a grievous sin by sleeping with the dead, and the whole world must not know. The secret was known only to Akanbi who was passing by at that particular time.
On a Saturday afternoon, when he had made up his mind to end it all, his wife suddenly walked up to him, and quizzed him boldly.
“My lovely husband, I beg you in God’s name and for the sake of the love we share from the beginning, could you please tell me the problem that is ravaging your mind and tell me what exactly it is that is bugging you for the past few months…” she hugged and cuddled him with the deepest love and affection.
It was as if a dangerous dam of terrible waters was about being released from the mind of Fatona. He began to talk instantly. First he cleared his throat and began making a confession to what had been bothering his soul for so long.
