Tiit For Tat - S01 E45

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Tiit For Tat - S01 E45

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 45

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The Course of True love never did run smooth- William Shakespeare

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[Mike's Point Of View]

TROUBLE!

I checked my notification panel and saw the message. I clicked on the message icon and it opened. At once all my strength forsook me. I wished the world could end at that moment.

Zolabin’s had sent me this message;

“WE HAVE CAPTURED YOUR GIRL

FRIEND. IF YOU CARE ABOUT HER, SURRENDER YOURSELF IN THREE DAYS. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR

WITHIN THREE DAYS, WE WILL SEND THE PICTURES OF HER LIFELESS BODY TO YOU.”

Cassandra’s picture was attached to the message. It was a miracle I didn’t faint after reading that message.

My heart nearly burst out of my chest. My hands shook uncontrollably and all my joints wobbled. If my joints were fixed into place by bolts and nuts, they would have unfastened themselves.

It was as if my whole body was disjointed. Cold shivers ran down my spine and a wave of pain cut through my abdomen as if a hot knife was used to slide it.

How can I allow my girlfriend to be killed in cold blood. But how can I surrender myself to my enemies, enemies I ran from to Ghana.

If it were you, will you surrender yourself to the thugs knowing very well your life is at a high risk?

I knew going to the police is totally out of the question.

“Hmmm.” I kept thinking deep into the issue. The message had shattered the joy I initially had when I met my Sister Rosaline.

It was as if I have become the biblical Jesus who knew the suffering and toil ahead of him.

In that tensed moment, even Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”(Luke 22:42)

Should I be the 21st Century Jesus Christ and offer myself as a sacrifice for the liberation of Cassandra my love?

My sister started crying when she saw the message. She had lost a younger brother to that gang and she didn’t want to lose another brother. The message kept haunting me throughout the night.

Day #1

After deliberating on the issue for the whole night, I asked myself if Zolabin was really willing to kill Cassandra or it was a mere gimmick to pull me out of my hideout. Then I analysed the problem in entirety.

The gang might put a plan in place in case I didn’t turn up. The only way they can get to me was through Cassandra. If they kill Cassandra they have no hold on me. Hmm. But their leader was killed by Cassandra’s colleague, Gina. They might decide to kill Cassandra to get even us.

Day #2

I made a strong decision that I had to go to Nigeria and tried to rescue Cassandra or die trying.

I remembered Pastor Jonathan’s sermon based on John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

He said, ” Love in God’s Kingdom goes beyond anything earth has to offer. It is not the love between two people who are mutually attracted to one another because of natural inclinations. It is closer to the love that a father has for his children, or children for their father. But the love of God is perfect and issues forth from his presence apart from any feeling elicited by actions or attributes in the other…..”

I could still feel the passion with which he emphasised on the unconditionality of God’s love.

“……Western culture is obsessed with what it calls love. Romance is on everyone’s mind all the time. Listen to the radio. Watch a movie. See how the culture celebrates and even worships passion. For this kind of love, men and women will do some outlandish things, not the least of which is abandoning their families for the next lover. But compared to the true love of God, this love is merely emotionalism and psychology. This greater love is more powerful than anything else on earth. This love does not and cannot exist in the same vessel as hate. This kind of love can only be learned from God……”

“Mike, Mike !”

I heard my name been called and turned my head. It was my Sister.

“Try and catch some sleep. I don’t know this girl but I think your love for her is so great that you are willing to leave your own blood sister in this strange land in order to free her. I know I can’t prevent you from going but I would support you in prayer.”

I was uplifted by my sister’s words.

She has shown great maturity by not allowing her egoïsm to overshadow her wish. She even said she would rather see me as a dead hero than a living coward. These words amazed me considering the fact that we had lost one brother already.

Having said that, I have finalised my decision.

There are various road transport companies available that travel from Nigeria to Ghana and Ghana to Nigeria on a regular basis like the ABC Transport, CHISCO Transport, EFEX EXECUTIVE Transport,Cross CountryTransport and GUO Transport.

For Obvious reasons I didn’t want to travel with ABC transport because I nearly had an accident with that transport company.

“CHISCO?”.

I did a little background check on

CHISCO and EFEX EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT and concluded that I have to do travel by EFEX EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT.

I booked it online. The bus was schedule to depart at 5:00 am the next day.

Day #3

For some reason, the watch seemed to speed up as if it wanted Cassandra to die quickly.

I woke up very early the next morning. It was around 3.45 a.m.

I woke Rosaline up and we prayed for Divine Intervention. I then packed a few things and made ready to go.

My sister saw me off at the station. As I waited for the vehicle to be filled, she was sobbing inordinately, her face covered in tears and her nose dripping…. It was a sorry sight, I hugged her close and she cried out loud.

“Noo… My brother! My brother! Oh God why?”

I said to her. “Rosy, it’s okay, I will miss you dearly.”

She then said. “What will I do now? Where will I start from?

I don’t have any other brother. Oooooooh God please…”

I was able to calm her down after ten minutes and she stopped sobbing. We have already created a scene and people were beginning to see us.

I said to her. “Rosy, please I need you to have this money.

I handed over Chc 1,500 to her. The money didn’t do anything to reduce her sorrow.

“Use it wisely because I don’t know when I will be ……”

I paused for a while. I wanted to say ‘back’ but decided against it. I must sound optimistic. Instead I say “done with my rescue mission.”

Soon the bus was filled. She looked at me one more time and said, “have my lucky charm.

It would protect you. I believe you will come back or…..”

She hesitated for a few seconds.

” …..I will follow you …there.”

Don’t worry, I will be safe,” I assured her.

“Hmmmmmmmmm…..” she sighed

and began walking away. As she walked away in tears, I watched her fade away from my sight. Tears filled my eyes too and I felt an

emptiness within me.

The bus was now moving slowly away from Accra station.

Along the way, I reflected on the sweet moments Cassandra and I shared. I then realized they were the best times of my life and I felt privileged to have had such memories especially our first sex .

This journey from Accra to Lagos by road was quite problem free.

For some unexplained reasons, it looked shorter than when I first came to Ghana.

At the Cotonou-Lagos border known as Seme Border, we were stopped and required to get down from the bus and walked to the Cotonou side on foot. The border town of Seme is a fairly developed settlement, with a market, ready to provide goods and services for travellers. The Seme border is perhaps, the busiest border in Southwestern Nigeria; it is a great place to buy some food and maybe grab a few souvenirs. I saw a carved heart and decided to buy it.

You know who I wanted to give it too. I managed to change a few cedis into Naira. Alas! I was in Lagos.