MISLED

They named her Chizaram...
And indeed, the name worked for her.
She was a beautiful and intelligent girl. The only child her mother bore.
And like everyone, Chizaram had a flaw: she was easily influenced by the people around her and enticed by the things she saw. With Chizaram being a bookworm, she gained admission into the University immediately after her secondary school. Without any proper informal tutoring about the University and everything she was likely to face there. She was a girl of 17years, but didn't look her age. Maturity played a huge trick on her figure.
Fate brought her to Mirabel and then misled her footsteps into the arms of Maxwell.
Mirabel was Chizaram' roommate. An elder daughter to her mother' friend... She was a sophisticated young girl of about 23years old. Plus, she was in her finals in school.
Mirabel thought Chizaram all she needed to know about "University life" and even shortened her name to "Chizzy" indicating that Chizaram was too long and "igbotic."
She took her to every hangout she went..
And with time introduced her to all her friends. It was on one of their usual late night outings that Chizaram' path and that of Maxwell crossed. She had gone to use the restroom, and on returning to the table where she and the other girls occupied, she pumped into Maxwell who was making his way to the direction of the restroom.
'Oh!.. I'm so sorry' She apologized.
'Its fine..' He said, picking up his sunglasses from the floor.
They exchanged clumsy glances at each other and parted ways without saying anything else. When Chizaram got to the table, the girls who had saw the wierd senerio where all smiling gleefully at her.
'What?' Chizaram asked, perplexed.
'Who was that guy?' Mirabel replied her question with a question.
'Oh. I don't know him.. We just pumped into each other, that's all' She said.
'And you didn't bother to ask for his name or something' Rita said, eyes wide opened.
'Why would I do that'
'Nne you dey fuck up o!.. This is Owerri o… guys like that are very hard to find' Ola rattled, gazing at Chizaram with disgust imprinted on her face.
'Hey girls..  Calm down. Make una no dey poke my smally like that nah shuuuu!' Mirabel defended.
'Bia mimi, is high time you groom your babe wella o... You know I no dey like falling hand' Ola said, vibrating her body as she spoke. With no introduction, one would know at once that Ola was the queen bee of their cartel. She spoke authoritatively and had this chubby height that commanded respect to her figure.
'Chillax babe.. With time she go learn the rules and regulations of surviving as babe for IMSU... Nah small small dem take dey lick soup way hot.' Mirabel said, smiling.
'She better learn o..  She better.' Rita said, sipping a glass of vodka. Ola was silent now, her phone kept her busy indeed. Same with Chizaram who sat frozen on her seat, listening to them discuss about her as if she wasn't present with them... Her eyes fixed on the plate of ganished suya in front of them. She dare not push a finger to pick up a piece now, or Ola the consuming fire would ravage her figure. When they were done eating, Ola drove them back to the hostel and left for her flat with Rita.
Mirabel scolded Chizaram that night and she promised to step up her game.
'You know I take you as a younger sister' She began. 'and whatever I tell you is the truth... You can't keep calling home for financial assistance when you can get them and get them abundantly with what you have. See, most girls fend for themselves here in school and they are leaving large.. Take a look around this room, everything you see here I bought them with my money. I didn't have to call mummy and daddy like a child. Or don't you want to have all this? Including a nice car like Ola' She said.
'I want them too' Chizaram answered sheepishly.
'Good. Then try to be more open to men... Do you get me?'
Chizaram nodded in response.
'Now, what is your name again' Mirabel asked.
'Chizaram Okeke'
'If i slap you eeeeh!' She blared.
'Sorry, Chizzy... I made a mistake' Chizaram said, smiling sheepishly.
'You better don't next time.. Get some sleep, so we'd wake up early for clean up tomorrow.. After that we'll go for a little shopping at Everyday supermarket. Good night.' She said rapidly.
'Good night' Chizaram replied.

The next morning after their shores, they set off to the supermarket all dressed up. Chizaram wore a pretty black floral print dress and a red sandal - given to her by Mirabel. Mirabel on the other hand wore a plain white polo and a jean shorts. Initially before they left, Chizaram had complained about the dress being too short and it was only the supermarket that they were going to.
'I don't think we need to dress up this pretty only to go shopping' She had said.
'In the university, you need to dress flashy at all time because you don't know where you'll meet your enemy… hurry lets go, Ola and Rita are parked outside already' Mirabel had replied, blending her makeup.
In the supermarket, they picked their toiletries and then moved up stairs to get their makeups and then back down stairs to pick up provisions, chatting and laughing and taking selfies.
A tall handsome young man walked into the supermarket swinging his car key which he held. He was about to pick up a shopping trolley when he noticed the girls. He recognized them, maybe one of them. The girls noticed him too and sure they recognized him. Tho they pretended not to notice him. When he began walk to them gracefully, they began to smile gleefully. Except Chizaram who stood like she was watching the whole senerio from a distance.
'Hey' He said.
'Hello' They chorused.
'Um, forgive me. Ain't you the girl from last night' He intended the question to Chizaram. Who looked perplexed.
'We pumped into each other at spicy suya last night' He added.
'Oh! Yes.. Forgive my manners' She replied.
'No problem, not everyone has good memory for faces' He said. 'um, l hope I'm not interrupting anything' He added, turning to face the other girls who were busy checking out his expensive wrist watch, belt, sandal and phones.
'No.. Not all' Ola answered on behalf of them all. 'we will just continue our pickings, you two can chat' she added. They made their way to the other sections of the supermarket and Mirabel turned to wink at Chizaram.
'So, do you mind helping me pick up some items' He asked.
'Sure'
'Oh sorry, forgive first impression. What's your name' He indicated a hand shake.
'Chizzy' She said plainly taking his hand. Making it obvious that she was forced to shorten her name.
'Nice. Chizzy, short for Chizaram right?' He asked.
'Yes'
'Alright. I'm Maxwell, do call me Max if you please… hold on, let me get a trolley' He hurried to and fro.
All the while they shopped, Chizaram doing the picking, her mind was fixed on the conversation she had with her parents the night before she left for school. They had told her to always pray no matter what and also to manage her allowances and now, it was exhausted. Mirabel had been the one fending for her. "Try to be more open to men" rang in her head. Mirabel' last advice to her. She indeed needed all that Mirabel had. And a nice car too. But she knew her poor parents would never give her those. So she needed to get them else where.
'You seem lost in your thoughts' Maxwell tugged at her hand.
'What! Oh.. Not at all' She replied, placing a bottle of wine carefully in the trolley.
'Well, you haven't said anything since we began this clumsy walk.. And how did you know I needed wine' He said looking at her.
'I guess every man likes wine'
'Funny' He smiled. ' you seem smart'He added.
'Thank you Sir..  Sorry Max' She replied sheepishly. Maxwell smiled.
'So, I was wandering. I know it won't be possible but I just need to ask' He said.
'Go on.. I'm listening'
'Okay.. Um! I was wandering if you could come over my place. At least to help me in cooking.'
Chizaram was silent for a while... Beads of perspiration appeared on her face, and seem to glitter in the bright white light. Should she go with him? It was just to help him prepare a dish and before a child would finish reciting A-Z ,she was back in her hostel. But he was a stranger. Remember what they say about strangers.? He did not look harmful tho. She thought.
'Um, It's fine if you don't want to come.. I totally understand' He broke the peace. 'No! It's just that I need to ask my friends first.. You know I came with them' She replied.
'Okay.. Sure. You can go now, I can finish up with the shopping. See you at the cashier' section' He smiled at her.
Chizaram walked to the bakery section of the supermarket uncertain if she would see the girls there... But she did see them. Mirabel had mentioned them getting fresh bread and snacks. Rita saw her first and then tapped the others. They turned to gaze at her, all smiling mirthfully.
'He asked if I could go over his place to help him make a dish' Chizaram blabbed.
'And what was your answer?' The girls chorused the question. giggling.
'I said I needed to seek you guys permission first' She replied.
'You don't need that… go tell him yes already' Ola said.
'Really... Just like that' Chizaram asked. Looking at Mirabel.
'Of course.. It is just a dish right?  No problem. Just make sure he gives you enough money when he drops you off' Mirabel said.
'Did he come with a car at least?' Rita asked.
'Babes you dey ask?  How correct bobo like that no go use better car come here… Nne ifu kwara wrist watchu di na aka ya' Ola asked in igbo, jokingly.
They all laughed... surprising, Chizaram laughed too. They moved to the cashier section where Maxwell paid for his stuffs and thiers. And then they walked out of the supermarket. They said their goodbyes and parted ways into the automobile they came with. Mirabel drew Chizaram to herself and hugged her, whispering something into her ear before she headed off to where Maxwell had packed his black mercedes benz ...

'The taller girl, is she your sister' He asked, on their way to his apartment. He drove in maximum speed.
'No! she's my roomie'
'Oh… that's nice. So, where is chizzy from?'
'Enugu state'
'That's nice.. You base there too'
'No. I base at Benin'
'Wonderful.. Edo state, been there a couple of times. Ancient but quite cool'
'Yeah'
'You look tensed up.. Relax, I won't bite you' He said, almost laughing. Chizaram sat properly. She relaxed her back on the seat.
'And you school in IMSU right?'
'Yes I do'
'What course..  Hope I'm not preying' He looked at her.
'Not at all... Accounting' She smiked.
'Oh!  Then you must be really good with money'
'Not really' She turned to view the side mirror. But couldn't see clearly. The glasses were tinted.
'Why... You don't like money?' He sounded funny.
'I'm sorry where are we heading to?  You've made about four turns and this place is too bushy. I can't find any house around' She said, trepidation written on her face.
'Relax. You haven't been to world bank before? My apartment is in one of the new estates' He grinned.
'Sir, sorry Max. Turn around, please take me back to my hostel.. I am not comfortable with this any longer' She said softly.
'Relax dear... We'll be at my place in few minutes' He said, stretching a hand to caress her shoulder. She wriggled his hands off.
'Take me back… I don't want to go anymore' She insisted. 'I will scream' she blared.
'Oh! You foolish girl... No one will hear you scream. So stay calm little whore' He laughed, turned on the volume of the speakers to its highest pitch. His glowing face of mirth desolved into a bout.
'Stop this car.. Stop this car' Chizaram cried. Tugging at the wheel. But he ignored her and kept on moving.
Her mother' voice played back into her head "always remember to pray my child.. God answers." She began to pray in her heart, calling to mind the last time she did - three weeks ago. God, if indeed You answer prayers, then come to my aid today. She reached for her rosary in the red purse she placed on her lap, she carried it everywhere she went. She brought it out, held it up in front of Maxwell.
'Stop in the name of the Lord' She wailed.
Maxwell began to laugh. His laughter was really creaked and hassling.
'I never knew whores do call on God too' He snatched the rosary from her and flung it to the back seat... Chizaram began to smack the window sreaming for help.
'Shut up you bitch' He blared. He then landed his fist so hard on her head and she past out almost immediately. Causing her head to fall over his muscled shoulder. He made a turn unto the main road again, driving recklessly. His phone began to buzz, he picked it up and gazed at the caller ID.
'Yeah...  Hello, I've got one. What about you' He asked the caller. 'correct. I'm driving to the usual spot now... Fuuuccck!!!' He wailed. Few steps away from him, four SARS officials with burnt black skin stood. He had focused so much on balancing the situation at hand that he didn't see them in time. He had wanted to reverse the car, but he thought of it as a waste of time. Why the hell did he take the main road again, I thought this guys don't work on Saturdays? he asked himself. No answer came to his head. One of the SARS officials asked him to pull over, indicating with his gun. He did, and two came over to inspect the car. Maxwell was panting heavily like one who had murdered someone...
'Oga wine down jhoor!' One of the SARS officals said.
'leave am..  Him no know where he dey' Another one added.
'Sorry… I was in hurry' Maxwell apologized.
'That's why you dey sweat like this'
'Oga, come down.. Let me see ya phone' The other one said
'I've got a flat battery' He said. He remained in his car.. His hands viabrating.
'Mr man, find way on that phone... Or you follow us go our station'
'It's an Iphone... I can't put it on. Once it's dead, it's dead.'
'You still they speak English abi?  You never serious. By the way who's that girl?' the other official said, noticing Chizaram for the first time.
'Oh! She's my cousin. We are on our way back from the supermarket… she just slept off' He said. He was soaked in the river of anxieties. What if she wakes up from the journey to the land of unconsciousness he had sent her to? Cattle slayed, Chizaram did woke up gently, rubbing her hands over her head. Her eyes trying to take in the new happenings. Her brain recalling the old. And suddenly she was fully awake.
'Help me please.. Good God help me' She beckoned at one of the officials.
Maxwell smacked his fist hard on the wheel "Damn damn damn" he casted his head down on the wheel. All strength gone. His day of reckoning has come to face him.
'Help me..' Chizaram continued. Eyes wide open, tears finding their way down her chubby cheeks.
'calm down young girl.. Who are you to this man?'
Chizaram did not waste any time. She narrated the whole story to the SARS officals rapidly, and they forced Maxwell out of his car and cuffed him.
'O girl follow us to our station for statements. After that, you can go and spread the good news.. God done answer ya prayer today. Dem for use you do plus, sit down one place una no go hear' One of the SARS officals said to Chizaram as they pulled Maxwell by the trouser towards their vehicle. Chizaram followed them clumsily, her legs palpitating as she walked. Indeed she would tell the story, the story of how her name saved her. Chizaram - God answered me.