They locked the door, hid the key
and walked to the express road, not too far from the house. Cynthia entered the
bus going in the direction of Chidinma’s place while Mabel stood and waited for
the one going in the direction of her office. Soon, a cab going her direction stopped
and she entered. She sat in the front seat. As the cab moved, someone tapped
her from behind. She was startled. She pretended she did not feel the tap. The
person tapped her again and then called her name. She turned back to know who
tapped and called her.
“Ah ah, Etim,” she
said. “Where are you going to?”
“I am going to your
branch,” the lady said.
Etim
was her colleague working in another branch of the office.
“What are you going
to do there?” Mabel asked her.
“I have a report to
submit,” Etim replied.
“Etim Etim. Long
time o.”
“Yes o. Since I was
transferred, I don’t think we have seen.”
“I don’t think so. You
don’t come around again to check on those you left na.”
“My dear, no time o.
You know how this work is.”
“I know my sister. How
are you doing?”
“I am fine. And you,
how are you doing after what happened?”
“After what?” Mabel
asked, looking back at her.
They
were not the only passengers in the cab so Etim just bent her head sideways.
“The people in your
branch have heard?” Mabel asked.
“Yes o,” Etim said. “The
news is everywhere.”
“Was it in the news
bulletin in Network news? Nawa o.”
Etim
laughed and she joined.
“My dear, gossip
flies o,” Etim said. “One person tells another person and tells the person not
to tell another person. The person tells another person and tells the person
not to tell another person. From person to person, the gist spreads. Before long,
everybody knows.”
“It is true,” Mabel
said. “I think I should have taken the rest of the week off so the gossip will
die down before I go. Maybe going to the office today is a mistake after all.”
“Meaning what? Who
hasn’t go through something like that before?”
“I don’t know how
they must have twisted the story.”
“Abegi. Forget what anyone thinks or
says.”
“Abi.”
“If you keep missing
work, they will employ someone else to replace you o.”
“My supervisor told
me to take as much time as I need though.”
“Leave that thing.
Is she the MD? There is a limit to how much she can cover for you.”
“You are right.”
“MY dear it is good
to see you o.”
“Yes o.”
They were quiet for the rest of the
journey, just making some comments about things they saw along the road. When
they got to where they were supposed to stop, the driver parked and they
alighted. Mabel opened her bag to bring out money to pay but Etim told her not
to bother.
“Let me pay,” she
said.
“Ok Thanks,” Mabel
said to her.
When she
paid, they walked down to the office, which was not too far from there. After about
five minutes walk, they were in the office compound.
“Remember to comport
yourself,” Etim told her. “No matter what anybody says or does.”
“I am prepared to
face them,” Mabel said.
“If at any point,
you want to get emotional, lock yourself in the restroom o. Don’t let anyone
see you cry.”
When
Etim had prepped her enough, they walked into the office. Mabel didn’t know
what to expect from her colleagues so she just wore a plastic smile. Her colleagues
appeared excited to see her. Those who could, hugged her and welcomed her back,
and then went back to their work. Others just waved or told her something nice.
When the pleasantries were over, she realized that no one asked her anything
about the incident.
“Nobody is saying
anything about what happened,” she whispered to Etim who was still walking
beside her.
“I told you,” Etim
whispered back. “There is nothing to worry about.”
Mabel
asked one of the staff whether Mrs Biodun was in her office. She was told that
Mrs Biodun was around.
“Let me see my
supervisor,” she told Etim.
“Ok,” Etim said. “Let
me go and submit the report I came with. I will be leaving soon.”
“Check on me before
you leave o. I smell something fishy.”
“I will, but as I
said before, there is nothing to worry about.”
Mabel
went to Mrs Biodun’s office while Etim went to submit the report to the right
person. Mrs Biodun was with a woman when Mabel entered.
“Good morning ma,”
Mabel greeted and also greeted the other woman.
“Ah ah,” Mrs Biodun
said. “Mabel how are you?”
“I am fine ma.”
“You came?”
“I had to come ma.
There was nothing keeping me at home.”
“Are you sure you
are ready for work?”
“Yes ma.”
“Ok. Hold on a
little. Let me finish up with our client.”
“Ok ma.”
Mabel left. She was feeling pressed
so she went to the restroom. On getting to the door, she heard two ladies
inside the restroom, talking in hushed tones. She stood still and eavesdropped,
and heard the gossip of her life.
(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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