Photo by: Tavi White
"Hey! Raise your head and look at me. Hope you didn't forget what we discussed?"
What was that we discussed?
"Don't tell me you already forgot."
Can you just go straight to the point and let me understand you?
Dave! (Screaming at the top of his voice) We are going to see Baba tomorrow.
(Baba means an old man in Yoruba)
The plate dropped down from Dave's hand and right from there, he started shaking and sweating profusely even when the ceiling fan was rolling faster.
He couldn't believe his life was about to take another turn in a wrong way even though he never planned it. It was an unfortunate visit to him which turned everything upside down.
What will Dave do now? Walking and panting slowly round the house while watching the hand of the clock ticking and moving.
It was the 30th day of the third month in year 2008 when Dave just finished his last paper. He couldn't believe becoming a graduate through thick and rough journey all through. His parent toiled all years trying to provide everything for him which they tried their best.
Now, it's Dave's turn to go into the world to work and pay back all those sufferings his parent had gone through.
This was his aim in life and he had determined to work hard to help and care for his parent which was his own way of appreciating them.
Everyday, he would always pray to God to keep them alive so no one would die before making it in life.
Dave remembered his friend had an Uncle in the city of Lagos and after talking to his friend, he agreed to take him along, but he would have to explain things to his Uncle first.
His Uncle agreed and the following week, they got ready for Lagos. Dave's parent wished him well and he promised to keep in touch with them everyday so they wouldn't miss him.
His mom said some prayers while his Dad gave him some advices to hold onto and never to miss his way.
They assured him that they would always be there whenever he encounters any problem.
"Don't ever hesitate to reach out to us when things are going in the wrong way and above all, always remember your creator". They hugged each other while they left.
After a year staying with the Uncle and had become an house maid since he had gone for different interviews but no one was successful. He just had to send money home to his parent. He spoke to his friend's uncle for a favor of working as a maid and getting paid.
One night, Dave was hearing silent voices in the house but didn't know where it was coming from. He was sure the voices were coming from group of people and not one person.
In the middle of the night, he sneaked out gently from his room, trying to locate where the voices were coming from.
Finally, he traced the room from where the voices were coming from and what he saw shocked him and made him knock out immediately.
The next day, his friend went to him explaining what had happened and had to tell him since he had seen what he wasn't supposed to see, he would have to be initiated so he doesn't expose their secrets.
He begged for his life and promised not to tell a soul what he saw but it seems his plea was falling unto deaf ears.
The Baba he saw that night performing a ritual had already told them to bring Dave on a said date, if not, things would escalate into something they never expected.
Dave wasn't himself anymore and he couldn't go out again. He wasn't allowed to do anything in the house but was locked inside. His only hope then was God and he kept praying for a way.
He couldn't reach out to his parent because the phone with him had been seized. He kept praying for a way out.
Dave's friend came to remind him of tomorrow being the initiation day and ever since then, it looks as if the world has turned against him. He had concluded that God wasn't going to help him out.
If he had known, he wouldn't have stood up that night to see what was happening.
Dave was crying but something happened that same night. He heard his friend's uncle speaking on phone and with the look of things, someone had died.
The Uncle called on Dave's friend to accompany him while leaving him alone in the house. They seemed to forget someone was inside.
Immediately they left, Dave tried opening the door and after several attempts, he broke the knob of the door and found his way out of the room.
He got to the sitting room, found his phone and some amount of money. He couldn't wait to pack his clothes but dashed out and passed through the fence to prevent the gateman from seeing him.
That was how Dave ran that night and he was saved.