Busy robbing Peter….

‘I’m very sorry Mummy, I got unexpectedly delayed and I didn’t go with my phone, it’s in my room charging.’ She explained.‘But all I said was go down the street and greet our neighbours because they were always asking of you when you were in school. Just say salams and come back so they will […]

‘I’m very sorry Mummy, I got unexpectedly delayed and I didn’t go with my phone, it’s in my room charging.’ She explained.
‘But all I said was go down the street and greet our neighbours because they were always asking of you when you were in school. Just say salams and come back so they will know that you are back home safely for the holidays and you had to stay there for two hours?’ I complained.
‘I’m truly very sorry Mummy, but I wasn’t at Anti Hussaina’s house all this while.  I told you I got unexpectedly delayed, I ran into her actress niece Khairiyya, the one who acts in Hausa films.’ Ummi said.
‘I see, so because you ran into Khairiyya, the actress, you became star-struck and completely forget yourself.  Ummi, this is so unlike you.’  I scolded.
‘But Mummy you didn’t allow me to finish, I didn’t stay there because I was star-struck. I was delayed because the moment I left the house Khairiyya  followed me and asked a favour I couldn’t refuse. I had wanted to call and seek your permission before I proceeded to help her but I realised that I didn’t have my phone with me. And I would have come here to tell you if I knew it will take us this long to finish but I decided that since it might not take us longer than 30 minutes, let me just accompany her to the bank then explain things to you later. But I was at their house for no more than 15 minutes, honestly.’ She explained.
‘So why did you have to escort her to the bank? Didn’t she know the way?’ I demanded.
‘She knew the way but just didn’t know how do to things there.’ Ummi declared.
‘And I suppose you knew just what she needed to do at the bank.’ I said with sarcasm.
‘Let me start at the beginning Mummy’ Ummi said, finally sitting on the chair opposite mine. ‘I was making my way to the door after having greeted Anti Hussaina when Khairiyya followed me quietly through the door, her phone in hand. I’m not sure her aunt had seen her because we parted ways with Anti Hussaina at the hall. The moment I saw her I stopped to greet but she gestured me to go ahead outside. As soon as we did she showed me a message in her phone and said that because of it she needed me to accompany her to the bank.
‘Don’t you know where the bank is?’ I asked.
‘I do’ she replied but added ‘the only thing is I can’t sign all those papers one has to sign to get the money out. I need your help.’ She added.
‘Ok, then’ I said wondering how such an incredible beauty with such great taste in fashion can also be a stark illiterate. I know that Hausa films are done in Hausa so she probably didn’t need to read her lines but just to cram them, yet with her kind of exposure and sophistication I thought she had managed to learn to read and write. With great pity I agreed to follow her. To my great surprise, I saw her walking towards the best car at the house’ car pot. An incredible looking silver-grey Jeep which looked totally brand new. I watched in amazement as she inserted the key in the lock and started it before I jumped in.
‘Whose car are we using?’ I couldn’t help asking.
‘Mine, this is my new car. I’m sure you only know my old Kia salon. The same person who sent me this half a million naira we are going to withdraw was the same person who gave me this car as a Sallah gift recently.’ Khairiyya explained.
‘We are going to withdraw half a million naira?’ I asked in disbelief.
‘Yes we are, I asked him for a million naira but he said he isn’t quite heavy now so I should manage the half a million. I accepted it because I know he will not mind giving me the other half next month.’ She stated.
‘Why is he giving you so much money, what does he do to earn so much?’ I asked, not able to contain my curiosity.
‘He is an Abuja-based politician and he holds a big post but he doesn’t want me to be telling people. That’s why I won’t tell you his name. In fact that’s the reason I didn’t want to invite any of my cousins, Anti Hussaina’s children to accompany me to the bank because if they do, they will ask questions and end up telling their mother everything. Then I will be forced to reveal his identity which I promised not to.’ Khairiyya explained, driving on. ‘As for why he is giving me money and gifts, well he is an admirer. That’s what all rich admirers do.’ She added. At this point we had parked in front of a bank. We went inside and were ushered straight into the manager’s office. She greeted him and showed him the message from her politician friend. The man welcomed us and  brought me the papers to sign. Obviously it wasn’t the first time she brought a literate person to help her claim her Abuja bounty. Soon after, we were on our way out. Because they were one thousand naira notes, she had only five wads of bank notes to put into her handbag. When we reached the car, she turned round and said there was one more thing she wanted me to do. That we will go to another bank and deposit N250,000 before we went back. I asked whether it was for her parents since I knew that they live in their hometown but she answered:
‘No, I’m sending the money to my boyfriend.’
‘Your boyfriend? I thought it is this one that gave you money who is your boyfriend.’ I asked, suddenly confused.
‘No, that one is just an admirer. I mean he likes my company and likes giving me things but I have no plans to marry him. This one I am sending the money to is the one I plan to marry. But he is a poor struggling young man who needs to be empowered before we settle down. That is why I am helping him out.’ Khairiyya said before driving on to our next destination. At the next bank I had to fill the deposit form for her and pay in the money. Then we came out. She took me to a bakery where I bought all these cakes and sweets and then she offered me N20,000 which I declined to accept. I told her that you will disapprove of my taking such an amount from her. So she thanked me but also begged me not to say a word about our adventure to any of her cousins. I promised her that.’ Ummi finally ended her narration.
‘It is unfortunate that you had to be exposed to this immoral world of beautiful young actresses Ummi. I would never have sent you to that house if I knew you would be running into that girl. Please don’t ever agree to go anywhere with her again. If she insists on taking you along threaten to tell her aunt. You can see how she didn’t want her aunt and cousins to know about how she gets her money or from where. Avoid her wherever you see her Ummi, because her lifestyle is dangerous and sinful. Though she seems happy and rich, a world of regret awaits her unless she repents and mends her ways. This regret is both here and in the hereafter because even the foolish politician sending her money and the young man taking it from her will both abandon her once her beauty fades. Yes, right now he will promise to marry her because she is busy robbing Peter to pay Paul on his behalf, but one day even he will have nothing to do with her, believe me Ummi.’ I emphasised as a warning to my daughter.