THE EVANGELIST PART THREE

©Temi Akintade

I got to Dimeji's apartment the following day. Benue state isn't that far from Abuja nevertheless, I still didn't like the idea of traveling in a bus filled with other passengers.

"How was your journey?" Dimeji asked the moment I started eating the meal he brought.

I simply shook my head. The trip was a disaster for me because I had to carry a pregnant woman's daughter all through the journey and the worst part of it was that, people began to stare at us as though we were couples.

"How is your business going?" I finished the jollof rice and sat fully on the bed. I had thought that Dimeji's apartment would be a caricature of my room back home. But his one-bedroom apartment was well furnished instead. He had things that even a bachelor shouldn't think of having at the moment. For instance, he had kitchen utensils which were uncommon for a bachelor because they were complete sets.

"Fine. It's booming. I have more clients now, and I've been able to save up to buy at least three orange farms here but," he was saying.

My jaw dropped open. "You now own farms here! You are doing well o! And we finished NYSC at the same time. Chai, this life no balance." I folded my arms.

He laughed and playfully hit my arms. "You are also doing well. See how huge your arms are. It is a sign of good living."

"Abeg, Dimeji forget that thing. Tell me more about your orange business now. I am interested o!"

"See, relax I will tell you about it. I was supposed to have 4 farms but the last one was snatched by one of the indigenes he was saying that I was not an indigene and I cannot take their wife and take their farm at the same time."

I halted him. "Wait. You are getting married? You never told me that you ever had someone."

"You were always talking about Ifunaya you had no time to listen to my gist. By the way, how is she?"

It was evening and I could tell because of the golden sunbeams that penetrated through the thick curtains.

"Forget about Ifunaya let's talk about you first."

Dimeji began to tell me about his wife to be and how he met her through one of his orange dealers. Her name was Ene. And judging from the pictures she took with Dimeji, she looked skinny and wasn't too much on the pretty side. It was almost as if he noticed what I was thinking because he said;

"Ene may not be the prettiest of the ladies I have met but I am attracted to her, and I connect with her on a higher level. Her heart is sold out to God, and she is always pregnant with ideas. We will have a company soon. A juice factory to be precise."

I didn't know if it was a prayer or an imagination but I muttered an amen. I sighed. I wanted to be like Dimeji. Settled with a business and a good wife. But life wasn't fair.

"So what's up with Ifunaya? How is she?"

I told Dimeji everything that transpired leaving no stone unturned.

"My brother, I believe God has forgiven you. Just stop letting your guilt weigh you down. Remember that we are all sinners and we are called to live the life of Christ by grace. So you must be aware that the grace is available and you need to rely on it to keep you holy."

I nodded.

I told Dimeji that I wanted to do the orange business with him and he agreed. That night, I got to understand why he has been prospering in his business and every aspect of his life. When we were about to sleep, he called for night devotion which we did for an hour with intense singing. We sang praises and even read hymns. Soon, we read some Bible passages, then we prayed and went to bed.

This became my routine for the days that followed. I became used to his long night devotions which I found interesting, then I began to follow him and his wife-to-be to their church. His wife-to-be, Ene helped him in his orange business. And I began to wonder how the business would sustain them in the long run.

After five months, after I became used to their mouth-watering food and cool environment, something happened when I followed Ene and Dimeji to the church. The pastor kept speaking about the prodigal son who returned home to his father. He kept stressing the fact that, the prodigal son was outside his father's protection and that was because he was in the wrong location and that was why he suffered. But when he had a rethink, he went back home to his father…. The preacher continued.

Just then, it hit me. My destination was supposed to be Kaduna, not Benue. I sighed. But I wasn't suffering in Dimeji's house. His business was going well, and Ene his wife-to-be was feeding me well. Even Dimeji complained that I was beginning to have a little round fold in my tummy. That means I was beginning to develop pot-belly. Surely the pastor wasn't speaking to me because I was not a prodigal son.

What the pastor said kept disturbing me for days until I could no longer take it. "Father, I like it so much here with my friend and I have grown and known so much spiritually under him. But if it's your wish for me to go to Kaduna please make a way. I don't have accommodation just provide one for me and I will know that that is where you are leading me to."

Two nights later I was scrolling through Facebook when my old schoolmate the one who lived in Kaduna chatted me up.

"Send me your number!" The chat read.

I wanted to send it, but I paused. Could this be God answering the prayer I prayed two days ago? I wasn't so sure. Besides, my old schoolmate might have changed location just like me. So I sent my number to him. A few minutes later, he called me.

"My man, how far? Longest time."

We talked briefly, asking each other about their present achievement and it turned out that he was working in Kano and is happily married with a kid.

"I thought you were coming to Kaduna. I already made plans. I told the people I was staying with that you were coming and I told them that you were an evangelist and they liked you immediately. But I didn't hear from you later on. Why?"

My heart slammed. Could this be accommodation? "Nothing oo! I just changed my mind. Who told you that I'm an evangelist?" I forced a laugh.

"You were always preaching to people to give their lives to Christ in school then. So I concluded that you are now one. But jokes apart. The accommodation with the couples is still available. They are still expecting you. That is why I am on Facebook. I was trying to search for you online and God connected us!" He laughed.

I tried to laugh but my cheeks wouldn't budge. This was it. God wanted me to go to Kaduna. And even though I wanted to stay back in Benue, I no longer had peace of mind and I was beginning to pick an unnecessary quarrel with Dimeji. Just as I was about ending my last call, Chinedu called.

"Brother, how is Benue?"

"I thought you called to tell me that you gained admission into the university. " I yawned. I was getting ready to go to bed.

"No, not yet. I'm writing my Neco exams. I had a dream."

My eyes cleared instantly. Chinedu's dreams were something I would never play with. "What did you see?"

"I saw you crossing a road with your bags and when I tried to see where you were going, I saw the label with 'Kaduna' on it. And then I saw that before you got there, there were so many poor people holding bibles, they were so excited to see you coming. Then later, I saw you giving them gifts including money." He said.

"It is a confirmation," I said in a stiff voice.

"To what."

"I am relocating to Kaduna. Don't tell mama yet."

I was supposed to hear his 'okay' as usual but this time, he yelled. And I quickly ended the call.

"Kaduna, here I come."

To be continued...