The shady vermin

10

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In the HRM's office

"A new employee I have not yet confirmed?", he said, he held his hands by his hips looking agitated and somewhat surprised. I looked at this man, muscular with tan skin, this man has a troublesome feel about him. He has deep-set light brown eyes and his short, thick, black hair is styled with a fade, while he gestured me to sit. He picked the telephone on his desk, dialed in some numbers, and put the phone between his ear and shoulder. He signaled for the receptionist to hand him my documents, and he gave me a creepy glare of disapproval. "Steve, come to my office...and be fast". He ended the call with what I felt was not short of banging the telephone. It was like, with every look at me, he got furious. No wonder he's telling someone to be fast. Please God, There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers, but please don't let me lose this chance. I prayed in my mind.
Just then, "Steve" comes in (I caught a glimpse of the ID attached to his breast pocket). An average-height albino, oval face, black suit. He had panic written all over his face, it's obvious why he's red. He responded to his boss's summon, with a low voiced murmur.
"H-here I am...Mr. John", said Steve.
"Who interviewed this-this man?", Mr. John said with a look of disgust on his face.
"I-I did sir...sorry sir", Steve said lowering his head.
"And without my approval he's 'new employee'? When did all this nonsense start?! Steve! I should query you for bringing in this rapist looking dude here!....WITHOUT MY CONSENT", said Mr. John.
"S-sorry sir. I'm so sorry, I just thought he was qualifi-", before Steve could finish.
"Qualified?!", Mr. John hit his table.
"To do what? Rape all of us in the office?! I mean look at this guy, see his documents, no family, no next of kin? Did you even do a proper background check? Hell...don't you read the news Steve?!", said Mr. John. I just sat there, shocked, but not that shocked because I saw it coming, maybe. Thought I thought it might just by a little chance be in my favor. He pulled his chair and falls on it. Takes cooling breaths, with his eyes closed.
"Ehhh Oga John...he was even asking me about Madam when he came, it's true. Maybe he wa-", the receptionist went on.
"And who the hell asked you", Mr. John cut her short.
"All of you get of my office, and take this guy too, Steve. Else I'll get the security to take you both", Mr. John added. He then threw my documents back at me.
So I stood up, I was so pained (not going to lie), behind the receptionist briskly going out, and Steve behind me, to show me out.
"Oh hey...", Mr. John snapped his fingers three times to get my attention. I stopped and turned, and looked his direction. He then told me, "Next time stay out of my business. Freaking Bastard".
At that point, the same point in my life I felt I was never going to let the b-word get to me. All the training, went through the window. I felt like it was still my secondary school days, being trolled by bullies.
I stood there, trying to gather my cool together, as I was looking at him. Then I told myself, I'm not that boy anymore. I can't take it.
"Hold this for me Mr. Steve will you?", I said to Steve in a very low tone, almost like a whisper, with a smile. He took my documents as he nodded his head with a smirk of approval to whatever it was I was thinking. I hurried straight to Mr. John, and without hesitation, I punched him really hard. It was so heavy my punch, it threw him off his chair. I could feel my hand sting from how hard I hit him. I watched him try to get up, feeling fulfilled.
"Mister...excuse me", Steve was calling on me, but my mind was not really with him, until he touched me on my shoulder.
"You have to leave, before the security is called", Steve said. I then realized I was still where I was, my documents with me, Mr. John on his seat. I smiled, then turned and left office. I left the premises and went straight home. I had had enough drama for the day.

At home, I took a quick shower, and went to the dining to eat my food. As I eat, Nabila came and sat next to me. She said nothing, just sat there, glaring, with a straight face.

"What?", I said with a smile as I stopped eating.

"Oh nothing...just...", she paused.

"Just what?", I prompted.

"No, you just didn't tell me you went to seek job at fight club...or it's UFC", she rolled her eyes and turned away her face a little. And naturally, I knew what the problem was. I placed my hand on the hand she had on the table, but she immediately took her hand away.

"Not till you spit out what's happened today and also what's with the injury on your nose", she said in a grumpy voice.
So, I told her everything, and she listened to me until I finished. Then she said, "Saleem, to be honest with you...I blame you".

"Wait...huh? What? Me?", I asked with much surprise and agitation.

"Yes, you Saleem. Don't you see? It all happened because of that woman. I really didn't like the sound of her. She sounds like trouble. First, she's checking you out, next she cost you...us a job! Why don't you see it Saleem?", she keenly lamented with eyes widened, tears in them. I understood her sentiments really but, I failed to understand how all of it was because of...another woman?

"Hey, Nabee. It's okay, I understand (I honestly didn't). Don't fuss over all that anymore, 'cus that chapter is closed, okay?", I said to her, to calm her down, which it did. And we went on our day, normal.

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Days later*****

My life - J. Cole ft 21 savage (the chorus) plays**
My phone's ringing tune, echoing through into my dream in my sleep, gradually made me conscious. I woke up, stretching and reaching for my phone to see who was calling. I wasn't expecting anyone so, benefit of a doubt or two.  I checked it, but the number was hidden. So I silenced it and laid back. It rang again, I checked, still same hidden number, so I declined it. I laid there for some minutes trying to think it through but, what am I doing? This happens normally...I guess. It's not always about me. I stretched my body out, stretched all that negativity and overthinking out.
I went about my usual day, unemployed with lingering uncertainties. Just me and Nabila, who I'm afraid hasn't complained about shouldering my needs and what not. Well, fingers crossed it will never get to that. But I have to get a job real fast. Nabila down to join me in the sitting room. We watched the telly as we conversed intermittently.
We were chilling, when there was a knock at the door.
"Who is there?", in unison. We looked at each other, smiled, and I inaudibly said "jinx" to her as I got up to check the door. I got to it, when I opened the door, it was just a black figure I saw just right in front of me, up close. I was startled I thought we were getting attacked but, it happened to be Mansoor.

"Mansoor, how many times will tell you and even show you to use the door bell?", I lightly reprimanded him, with a wide smile on my face.

"Oga, no bex (vex). Am sorry, I do mantuwa (I forgot)", Mansoor replied feigning shame and rubbing his head.

"It's Mansoor right? What's his qualm today? Food? Or what?", Nabila's voice echoed from the sitting room.

"Madam Nabee, jinx oo. Remember, jinx", I tried to silence her.

"No is no be food, Oga. Na is a visitor for gate. And Na for woman", Mansoor said to me, with questionable excitement (he does that whenever there's a female visitor). I believe this would be Nabila's visitor, besides Confucius said, "'Tis he with friends that gets visited". Actually, Confucius never said that.

"Nabee! You have a visitor!", I raised my voice so she could hear me calling on her. She came to the door and met us, and started waving hand signs to Mansoor. I and Mansoor were confused as we weren't sure what she was trying to commute or the reason for the hand signs.

"Madam, me I no understand fa", Mansoor nattered.

"The cat got your tongue Nabee?", I said to her chuckling.

She looked at me, rolled her eyes and made signs; pointing to herself, then her mouth, then pointed to me while she eyed me, then finally a duck beak opening and closing. I immediately understood. She meant she couldn't say a word because I restrained her from doing so (ah, the jinx game). So I called her name and freed her.

"Mansoor, what did she say her name was? Well, you should have let her in I'm sure it's Ammi. Has to be her acting like a stranger. Let me cover my hair and come", Nabila chattered.

"No. Madam is not your own.  Na for Oga this one", Mansoor chipped in again, looking at me, looking at Nabila, and Nalbila look at me, and looked at Mansoor, and I looked at Mansoor and looked at Nabila. I quickly cut the air of awkwardness by the neck and suggested she should be called into the house, but Mansoor said she refused. Unless she saw me.

Wahala no dey finish?