TAKEOVER

1

It was not a good idea for Stanford Mwina to choose the window seat, the commotion always got to him stealing his attention, his now half-lidden eyes threatened to close. The hot humid temperature didn't help him either as he glanced over his shoulders as some college hotties passed him by closely cat-walking to class, jeans so skinny amplifying their already curvy mannequins

"Hey you at the back" proffesor Maziwa who had noticed the troublemaker dosing at the back of the class unsuccessful in her attempts to catch the young rebel's attention stared at the next best thing..The girl beside her

"Martha would you please-" waving her hand signaling the half asleep Stan, she complied pinching him under the table

"Wha- what" he grumbled from the sharp pain on his thigh, his eyes darting across the room "now that we have your attention, would you please help in answering the question on the board"

The class was huge made to accommodate up to a 100 students and he was at the last row he couldn't posibbly see the words written on the board and the proffessor's below average handwriting wasn't helping at all. A few chuckles from the girls in his class reached Stan's ears

"I can't see, i'm too far from the board" the whispering increased laced with a hint of anticipation for the upcoming embarassing moment

"What's your take on the application of derivatives as a risk management tool" her voice stern but tame u just taught that yesterday! he thought this was clearly a trap to humiliate him little did they know he was ten steps ahead "specifically how would you explain its relevance to a local Tanzanian business that imports goods from abroad" that's just heartless teach he thought as cleared his throat

"Derivatives, particulary forward contracts or options would be crucial for a Tanzanian business dealings with currency exchange risk" checkmate he paused"since Tanzania imports many goods every year, the value of the local currency against foreign currencies like the US dollar fluctuates. A forward contract would allow the businesa to lock in an exchange rate in advance, protecting it from unfavorable shifts"

The silence that followed was deafening, he forced himself not to smile since that may only escalate the wrath already brewing inside proffesor Maziwa who only turned her atterntion back to the board and continued the lecture

"Good job doofus" Martha whispered as she scribbled notes into her notebook keeping up with the now ongoing rapid-fire lecture "look who's talking potato head" another sharp pain mde him hince hands covering his thigh the sudden reaction forcing a smile on Martha's face little strands of hair across her face left on purpose from her ponytail gave her a chic-look

No wonder she looks more beautifull today he thought

"You are seriously going to buy me lunch for that" he waved his finger just as Martha was about to protest "non- negotiable potato head"

The rest of the classes ended at near dusk. As usual, Martha declined to leave or more so Stanford declined to stay for a study group, he walked out steadily heading to the campus gates. University of Dar-es-salaam was huge taking him a whole five minutes to exit campus the smell of street food greeting him, the university was near the heart of the city that meant being surrounded with small shops, street vendors and public transport hubs which infact were starting to fill with civillians going to and fro. Car horns and chatter filled his senses

Stan's house was a ten-minute walk from the university the courtesy of Stan's parents who thought keeping him near proximity with school would be better for his academic life , the ideologies of Tanzanian parents

Upon his arrival at the door he could hear a familiar voice "ofcourse man i have the money-no  i wouldn't dare" a sudden pause "ok see you there" followed by a series of curses what did you do now he twisted the door knob and entered and was instantly greeted by a haze of ciggarate smoke "come on man- i thought we agreed no smoking in the house" Victor who now sat on the couch shifted to pick up his phone on the table front of him which was beside an ashtray Stan could see the nervousness on his face evidently by his habit of scratching his neck

A split second was enough for Stan to have a good guess on what could be the root of his rather rare behaviour. Victor was the first guy he met in the city three years ago and they shared the two bedroom house that they both contributed but after a year at the university Victor dropped out and got into selling PO a drug that was a bestseller in the city. Stan although bothered, never said a thing Victor was not one to change his mind with simple words and he sometimes admired that part of him but not most of the time but this was the first time seeing his longtime acquaintance like that so he knew something had gone south and he wanted no part in it

Victor furiously texted on his phone his face cold and serious he called a number but no one answered, he cursed again

Stan walked to his room leaving Victor to his devices choosing not to bug him more about smoking indoors he seemed he needed "Hey bro, can i talk to you for a sec" ah damn it

"Yeah watsup" stan faced Victor who was now standing "i'm in big trouble man" his voice full of dread "PO?" Stan asked and Victor's nod confirmed his agreement Stan dropped his bag laying it against the door and folding his arms on his chest

"What's the problem"
"Remember Mathew Mandinga right?" Mathew Mandinga according to Victor's endless rambling was a high class street dealer rumoured to be connected with a gang in the city and Victor had been working day and night to meet the guy according to him he was his door into the underworld if he could meet with him and somehow convince him to take him as an intern he would eventually join the gang assuming there is one in the first place but Stan could see the massive inconsistencies in his plan but he kept quiet letting him chase his so called dream

"The dealer?"
"Yeah, he wants to meet" as he spoke Stan noticed he was avoiding looking at him entirely which normally signified a lie
"Whats the catch"
"I can't go"

Brows furrowed Stan was now sure it was a lie which annoyed him after all those talk of the day he would buy a suit and meet the guy he talked about Mathew more than his own girlfriend for god's sake and now for some reason he can't go

"So tell him you can't go"
"Are you crazy!" Victor's face now showing annoyance like all this was Stan's problem to deal with "the guy calls you answer, he wants to meet you agree" he scratched his neck again "i was thinking maybe you can go in my place?"

Stan left out a laugh "are you drunk man!" He asked between laughter "i'm serious, the guy doesn't know my face we deal anonymously for safety" he stepped forward "all i need is for you to go to the den meet the guy tell him you can't sell his stuff and get out"

"Do i look like an idiot to you, if i the guy is as you say he is he might have intel on you, you said it yourself he calls you to meet which means he knows your face" Stan watched as the revelation hit him and he started pacing back and forth across the room his eyes not daring to look at Stan, after a few laps he stops "the stock i had was nipped and he wants his money, thats why he wants to meet at the den".

"The club"
"Yes" Stan's brain went to work to grasp the situation, if Victor didn't have the money he was surely going to pay one way or another and if the rumours are true that means that PO maybe owned by the gang Mathew maybe apart of making things drastically worse

"How much?"
"5 million" Stan's eyes widened "5 million? Are you insane? How do you loose five million" Victor turned frantic hands on his head "i know, i know! i screwed up!" Stan's brain went into overdrive, his finances from his days daytrading were just less than a two million which means they need to find three million before the meet with Mathew but where could he possibly get that much before nightfall

"When's the meet?"
"Midnight"Victor's voice now breaking as he continued his neck scratching. Stan checked his watch 19:30 "we have about five hours to find five million" reluctant to show his willingness to give up his hard earned legal money but Victor seemed already defeated he had a look of those people who are about to make very bad decisions a look Stan was familiar with, he had to take charge of the situation

For both their sakes