Oti Mkpu - conclusion

Parked on my street was a vehicle I'd never seen in my whole life and everyone was out looking at this master piece of a car and talking about it.

Chinwe and I joined other people to also look and talk about the car and wonder who it was that parked it and which house he or she was going to. The car was heavily tinted. 

All of a sudden a thirty something year old man stepped out of the car from the passenger's side and walked towards my friend and I as people watched.

He walked over to us and said to me in particular, "How are you?" "Fine" I responded.

I was in front of my house and there was nothing to fear. The young man said to me that his chairman wanted to see me.

Another chairman? Not again, those were my thoughts. I wasn't sure if it was the same chairman or not but it was definitely a different "Oti Mkpu"

Without thinking I said to him that if his chairman wanted to see me he should come down from his car.

The shock on the man's face was epic. He stared at me like I had committed a blunder and all of a sudden blurted "A man like my chairman come down to see a little girl like you?"

Oh so you knew I was a little girl? Mscheew! I completely ignored him and he walked away angrily back to his chairman's car.

The driver of the vehicle turned on the ignition to drive off and secretly I was disappointed because I really wanted to see the face of this chairman who could not speak to a girl without an aid. He must really look awful.

We noticed that the car only moved forward just to park very well. Then the almighty chairman stepped out. He was the driver!

I couldn't believe my eyes and I kept staring at him as he walked up to me. He was like a man straight out of Mills and Boon, quite tall, slim and with the most pointed nose ever. In summary,  this "chairman" was nothing like I envisaged. He was extremely handsome.

And when he opened his mouth to speak, I knew that there must be something wrong with him and was ready for his "herro"(hello).

I got another shock; he had the huskiest voice ever and his English was on point as he said "hello ladies". I just started smiling and thinking of my wedding day. Lol.

Mother had a shop downstairs where a few drinks and other items were sold. Chairman led the way to the shop by saying "shall we?" I followed sheepishly. I was left dumbfounded by his good looks.

Oti Mkpu followed and I said a quick good bye to my friend. Chairman looked at me again, called my name, introduced himself and told me that he had longed to see me for a while. That melted my heart.

I had stopped going to lessons because mother did not like my notes. I was finally safe from the the notorious bar. Chairman paid to find my home from what he told me. I had a good laugh. He said I was  that important. (Money,  good  looks and the right words? I needed prayers)

Just as I was getting comfortable enough to gist with him, mother drove into the compound and I knew that it was time for a reality check. I was too young to be seen with such an older guy and I shouldn't even be talking to a stranger.

Nwamaka!!! Mum called my full name which made me know that I was in trouble. She was still in her car when she called me. As soon as I got to her, mother just pointed upwards and said to me "go upstairs now or else" I didn't want to find out what the else would be. 

I went into the shop and told chairman that I had to get back upstairs. I hadn't finished talking when mother shouted again, Nwamaka!!! At that point I knew that the "or else" would happen next and I took to my heels.

Mother and I had a good talk which made me continue to resist chairman even when he came to look for me in school.

Mother surely saved me from a chronic womanizer who had a different lover every year even though he was very married as I learned later on. 

I don't know what my fate would have been had mother's instinct not made her send me upstairs that fateful day.

I've never forgotten chairman, he's still very much around and hasn't aged one bit. He does not know me but how can I forget him? He almost stole my innocence.