The Irony of Life (3) 😔😔

THE IRONY OF LIFE (3)😔😔

Duration: 4mins

Oga Chidi led us through the necessary check-in process. A while later, we were on-board.  It was a mind-blowing experience as our plane taxied and we went airborne.

The sudden occurrences in my life of recent was beyond my wildest dreams and imagination.

Me, Oreoluwa ogunfiditimi on a plane to the United States?

I pinched the back of my hand,  felt the pain and knew it was happening for real.

We were served light refreshments at different times during the flight. Playing on a screen straight ahead was a high school movie that caught my attention. I didn’t know when I drifted off. We touched ground a couple of hours after I awoke. That was about 7 a.m. the following day. Oga Chidi announced we are in Miami, Florida. 

Away from the airport, we headed to an hotel. At the entrance before we were lodged in, Oga Chidi said phone was not allowed in the building. Our phones were taken as well as our passports. He told us we would be photographed again for our job procurement documents to be registered. That felt strange. But what do I know? I believed him, too excited to ponder on the feeling. He also instructed us to say we were there on a tour should we be asked what we came in for. That was the last I saw of Oga chidi. 

As darkness was beginning to ease away daylight, two African American showed up in our hotel room. One introduced himself as Kelvin, and the other; Steve. They should be in their early thirties. Steve who did most of the talking informed us Oga Chidi had other important businesses to take care of, and that they were taking over from there. They handed us our passports. I became disturbed when nothing was said about our phones. 

After checking out, we were split into two. A set of seven went with Kelvin, and that was how Folusho and I parted ways. Steve drove my group to an apartment where we met some other youths, male and female, all blacks. 

“I advise you all to stay indoor and do as you are instructed. Move about at your own risk, ” Steve said and left.

I was a blend of fear and confusion. It took Jamani, a Kenyan putting me out of my mystery. He told me the passport I was carrying is fake. I doubted him at first till I did a thorough check and realized the former one had been replaced. 

My gosh! What’s going on?

Jamani further made me realize with a fake passport, it was safe for me to remain indoor. If I must go out, then I should tread the streets cautiously, not doing anything that could call the attention of the cops on me. Should that happen, I would find myself in Nigeria faster than I flew in. That’s if I don’t first make a stopover at the prison. As for my phone, I won’t be getting it back ever. It was taken so we wouldn’t be able to communicate our relatives back home. The information on it could also be used to reach and harm our folks should we try anything stupid like expose their illegal acts.

Mogbe!

What mess have I gotten myself into?

Jamani and his group were brought in the previous day, they also met some other people in the apartment. They were all awaiting our arrival. Our number completed the required people needed for whatever job our host had in plan for us.  

On the rugged floor where I sat coiled up in a corner with my knees drawn up to my chest, the thought of home slipped into my mind. Had I known, I wouldn’t have left the comfort and freedom of Agbómábiwón for this place. I wished I had listened to Baami. 

It’s two days since I left home. Oh, maami, she would be worried-sick by now, expecting to hear from me.

The others with whom I came were beginning to mingle like they just arrived their second home. A slim, average-height African-American lady, Monica had been assigned to attend to our needs and show us around the house. While others freshened up and ate the meal offered, I remained shiftless in my corner. I had anticipated furthering my education and working alongside. Now that my fantasies were fast turning into nightmares before my eyes, I needed to know what fate had in store for me.

I soon got a hit-below-the-belt answer to my question when Steve arrived and gathered us together.

“Listen up everybody, jobs have been procured for each and every one of you.” 

Everyone roared with excitement except me. Steve's next statement poured cold water on their enthusiasm. 

“With that, you are indebted to our agency to the tune of $2000. We have made arrangement with your employers to be the ones collecting your wages to the last penny till you are able to pay up.”

Sharp cries rose from different angles.

What!

Lost, I was forced to speak up.

“Excuse me, I paid Mr. Chidi a sum ₦400,000 that covered expenses for my visa, passport, ticket, and job procurement.”

“Where are you from?”

“Nigeria.”

There was a moment’s pause as the man accessed me from head-to-toe. I knew there could be a likely mixed up somewhere.

“Look at me, Nigga, ” said Steve, staring pointedly at me with bulging, fiery eyes like two headlamps, “if jobs were that easy to get in your f**ked up country, you won’t find yourself in this shit hole.”

“That's not all, ” he continued from where he stopped before I interrupted. “While you all remain under this roof, for your feeding,  accommodation and the use of our facilities, $1500 has been added to your debt. After a while, if we observe anyone not forthcoming, just living large on our supplies, we kick your black ass outta da street. Y’all understand?"

Steve must have taken our ‘no response’ to mean yes.

“Good. Now, go get yourselves ready. A vehicle would be here in the next couple of hours to convey you all to your job site.”

After Steve left the room and everyone dispersed, I was still rooted to a spot with sagged jaw. The promises I made to Baami and Maami flashed through my mind.

Baami's Farmland

I didn’t know when the cloud of tears that have gathered at the corners of eyes began falling.

I felt a squeeze on my shoulder, it was Jamani.

“C’mon man, don’t be like this. None of us expected things will turn out the way it did. As it is, if you will survive in this jungle onto freedom, you will need to brace up.“ 

He patted my back and left.

A truck showed up at the set time to convey us. After driving for a while, we pulled into an industrial area and stopped in front of a building.

A white man of not more than forty emerged to receive us. 

“My name is Eric, the manager of this liquor factory. Thaddeus here will be your supervisor.” 

Eric gestured at a much older black man by his side who beamed with a smile.

“Pleased to have you all. I hope we will have a nice time working together. I will let Thaddy take over from here,” Eric said and took to the side of the building. I watched till his back faded into the dark.

“Hi folks, this is what you will be doing.”

Thaddy turned, doubled-up and lifted the entrance gate. At the sight of what was revealed, I knew I was doomed.

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To be continued same time, next week. Hope you enjoyed the read? Please leave a comment. Thank you.🙏🏻