She stood there thinking. Then she spoke again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try to see what I can do.”
Ogbon looked at her, but he said nothing.
Ajimka turned and began to walk back. Her steps were slower now. Her mind was heavy.
“The only money I have,” she thought, “is the money I’ve been saving to fix my roof.”
She remembered the rainy night, the water, the bowls.
“If I touch that money, I certainly will not be able to fix the roof this month.”
She paused for a moment. Then another thought came.
“But if I don’t help him…”
She looked back slightly.
“His condition may get worse.”
Ajimka closed her eyes briefly as she continued walking.
As she got to the restaurant, she picked up a tray and began to serve customers.
“Your food, sir.”
“Thank you, Ma.”
But her mind was not there.
“I have to do something,” she said to herself. “I cannot leave him like that.”
After some time, she walked toward Madame Agatha.
“Ma,” she said.
Madame Agatha looked at her.
“What is it?”
Ajimka had come to seek permission to leave work before 5:00 p.m., using a believable excuse so Madame Agatha would agree. Madame Agatha asked her a few questions, looking at her closely as she spoke.
After listening carefully, she finally nodded.
“All right,” she said. “You can go.”
Ajimka quickly thanked her and left without wasting time.
She left the restaurant and hurried back to where Ogbon was.
“Sir,” she called gently.
He looked up.
“I want to take you somewhere,” she said. “Can you stand?”
Ogbon tried, but he struggled.
Ajimka quickly held his arm.
“Slowly. I am here.”
Step by step, she helped him. They walked to a small pharmacy nearby.
Inside, the pharmacist looked at them.
“What is the problem?” he asked.
Ajimka spoke.
“He is not feeling well. Please check him.”
The pharmacist nodded. After a quick check, he looked serious.
“He is down with a fever,” he said.
Ajimka’s heart dropped.
“I’ll prescribe some medications for him to use, and he will be fine,” the pharmacist said.
“How much?” she asked.
The pharmacist mentioned the amount.
Ajimka went silent.
It was a lot.
She slowly reached into her bag and brought out her debit card. The money on it was the money she had saved for the roof.
She stood still for a moment, then handed over the card.
Not long after, the pharmacist gave them some medicines. The pharmacist stepped back after attending to him.
“He will be fine,” he said.
Ajimka nodded.
“Okay, sir. Thank you.”
She turned to Ogbon and helped him up. Step by step, she helped him out of the pharmacy.
“Where did you get this money?” he asked.
Ajimka looked at him.
“I have been saving,” she said. “For my leaking roof.”
Ogbon frowned slightly.
“Then why use it on me?”
Ajimka took a small breath.
“Because I cannot watch something bad happen to you,” she said.
There was silence.
Ogbon looked at her for a long time. Then he spoke.
“Thank you. You are very kind, my daughter.”
His voice was low.
“But this is too much.”
Ajimka shook her head.
“It is fine.”
After getting him to his usual spot, she stood up.
“I have to go now,” she said. “Please take your medicine.”
Ogbon nodded.
“I will. Thank you once again.”
Ajimka gave a small nod. Then she turned and began to leave.
Behind her, Ogbon watched her go silently, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about something far beyond that moment.
And without knowing it, Ajimka had just made a decision that would soon change her life forever.
The next day, during lunch break, Ajimka held her small takeaway food again. She looked around carefully. Then she tiptoed out of the restaurant.
“I will be quick,” she thought to herself.
She walked fast. Her mind was only on Ogbon.
But she did not know that Azuka was watching her all along.
From inside the restaurant, Azuka saw her leave. She waited a few seconds. Then she quietly followed her from a distance. She stayed behind walls and behind trees, making sure Ajimka did not notice her.
Ajimka reached the usual place. Ogbon was there, sitting weakly. She moved closer quickly.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she greeted.
Ogbon looked up.
“Good afternoon, my daughter,” he replied.
His voice was better than the day before, but still weak.
Ajimka smiled a little.
“You look better today,” she said.
He nodded.
“Yes, I am feeling a bit stronger now. All thanks to you.”
Ajimka shook her head.
“No, sir. God is the Almighty Healer, and He alone deserves all the praise.”
Ogbon looked at the food.
“You brought food again?”
“Yes,” she said. “Please eat.”
He collected it slowly.
“Thank you. What would I have done without you, my daughter?”
Not far away, Azuka was hiding behind a wall. She quietly raised her phone. Her hand was steady as she took pictures of Ajimka and the elderly man. She captured Ajimka handing the food over to him.
Her lips curved into a small smile.
“Ajimka, you are finished,” she whispered.
She did not stay longer. She turned and left quickly.
Then Ajimka checked her wristwatch.
“I have to go now,” she said.
Ogbon nodded.
“Thank you again.”
Ajimka gave a small smile and left.
When she got back to the restaurant, she picked up a table napkin and was about to start cleaning the table in front of her when someone stepped close to her.
It was Azuka.
Her face was calm. She leaned closer and spoke in a low voice.
“I have finally found your secret.”
Ajimka froze.
“What secret are you talking about?” she asked.
Azuka slowly opened her phone. She showed her the pictures.
Ajimka’s eyes widened slightly. She did not say anything.
Azuka leaned in again.
“So the same man Madame Agatha chased away is the same man you are feeding with her food, right?”
Fear gripped Ajimka immediately.
Azuka continued.
“So you are trying to show that you are better than Madame Agatha.”
Ajimka shook her head quickly.
“No, it is not like that.”
Azuka smiled faintly.
“Oh, really? I will tell her everything.”
Ajimka quickly held her hand.
“Please, Azuka, don’t do this.”
Her voice was low, almost begging.
“I’m just helping him. That is all.”
Azuka tilted her head slightly, a mischievous smile forming on her face. She looked at Ajimka and said,
“This help of yours will cost you your job.”
Ajimka’s eyes widened.
Azuka continued, still smiling.
“So you had better start thinking about how to help yourself now.”
Her tone was mocking, as if she was enjoying it.
Then she turned fully and walked away without looking back.
Ajimka stood still. Her heart dropped. She knew trouble was coming.
That evening after work, she quietly walked home. Her mind was not calm.
She kept thinking, “If Madame Agatha finds out, I am finished.”
She barely slept that night.
The next morning, she arrived early at work. She wanted to go and pick up her apron.
“Ajimka!”
A loud voice stopped her.
She turned slowly.
It was Madame Agatha. Her face was hard, and her eyes looked sharp.
“So you think you are better than me?” she asked.
Ajimka froze. She looked around. Other workers were already watching.
Madame Agatha stepped forward.
“You are the kind one, and I am the wicked one, right?” Madame Agatha asked, her voice rising.
She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on Ajimka.
“The same man I chased away from my restaurant is the same man you are taking my food to feed?”
Her voice turned sharp with anger.
Ajimka shook her head quickly.
“No, Ma. It is not like that.”
Madame Agatha laughed slightly.
“Not like that?”
She pointed at her.
“Come to think of it, that food you are sharing is still my food.”
Ajimka shivered as she pleaded.
“Ma, please, it was my lunch. I just—”
Madame Agatha cut her off.
“Your lunch?” she raised her voice. “Does the lunch not come from my kitchen?”
Silence fell in the restaurant. Only her voice was heard.
Madame Agatha took a step closer.
“Before I open and close my eyes, I want you out of here.”
Ajimka dropped to her knees immediately.
“Ma, please. I’m sorry. I did not mean any disrespect.”
But Madame Agatha did not listen. Her face was still hard. Then she turned her head.
Azuka stepped forward slowly.
“Yes, Ma.”
Madame Agatha pointed sharply to the kitchen.
“Go and get me a bucket of water,” she said to Azuka.
Her voice was hard.
The whole place went quiet again. Even the customers stopped eating. Nobody spoke.
Azuka turned and went inside.
Ajimka looked up quickly.
“Ma, please,” she said again, her voice shaking. “I’m begging you.”
Madame Agatha raised her hand.
“Shut up.”
Her voice was cold.
“I will count from one to five.”
Her eyes were fixed on Ajimka.
“If you are still here when I finish counting…”
She paused. Then she turned her head slightly toward Azuka.
“Bring the water.”
Azuka came back quickly, holding a bucket of water.
Ajimka saw it, and her eyes widened. Her body moved back a little. She quickly picked up her bag and ran out of the restaurant.
That was how Ajimka lost her job.
She quietly walked home. No salary. No work. The hope of fixing her roof was dashed.
Her eyes were red, but she did not cry. She lay quietly alone in her room.
Later in the afternoon, she stood up. Then suddenly, her mind went back.
She remembered Ogbon, the elderly man. She remembered how he said he had no money for medicine.
“What if he has not eaten?” she whispered to herself.
She went into the small kitchen area to cook a small pot of rice. When the rice was ready, she served herself a small portion on a plate. She ate just a few spoons, then packed the rest into a takeaway.
She went to the usual place, and when she got there, she discovered that Ogbon was not there. She scanned the surroundings and looked across the road. He was nowhere in sight.
She found a locked shop with a bench in front of it and sat there to wait, hoping he might be around.
Still no sign of him.
She waited for about ten minutes and stood up.
“Where did he go?” she asked herself.
As she walked home, her mind was full.
“I hope his condition has not gotten worse. I hope nothing bad happened to him.”
Over the next few days, Ajimka walked around looking for a new job. Her roof was still leaking. Her savings were running out, but she kept trying.
One morning, a shiny black SUV stopped in front of Mama Agatha’s restaurant. Two men in black suits stepped out. They looked serious. They walked straight into the restaurant.
Customers turned to look.
One of the waitresses walked up to them.
“Yes, what do you want to eat, sir?” she asked.
The men spoke calmly.
“Is this where a lady called Ajimka works?”
The waitress hesitated. Then she answered,
“She used to work here, but she was fired recently.”
The men looked at each other.
One of them asked,
“Do you know where we can find her?”
The waitress shook her head.
“No, I don’t.”
She paused a little.
“But I think someone here might know.”
She quickly ran into the kitchen.
“Ma,” she called.
The cook turned.
“What is it?”
“There are two men outside asking about Ajimka.”
