The other side
2195 Words
“ I developed love for knowledge at a very early stage.” He said. “ I used to be a dan gwangwan (scavenger). We go about, pick things from rubbish and sell. When I do this and get money to buy food, I would go and hide behind a school class and be watching them. I used to vault over the fence, like I was going to steal, which of course was stealing of knowledge.
I would be listening from outside. I was caught one day ad beaten to pulp. I was accused of coming to steal. So I stopped. I could read and write. I developed a habit of collection of books. I never cared about topics. I just read anything that came my way.
Then I left Center City for Zaria. I started as an errand boy, carry loads when students resume and get paid. So I got customers. Girls were more compassionate. When I worked, I would demand to be taught something in return. The guys would teach me. The girls would teach me and give me something, feeling sorry for me.
I learnt the basic foundation in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I used to lack money for food because I was paid by teaching while the security men began to stop me from going to girls hostels because I was growing.
I became a science freak then crossed to computer. My love for computer knowledge led me to learn roadside computer engineering. I realized that my boss only knew much about hardware. I was very interested in software.
I learnt it and found a knowledge that would get me into trouble. Something very deep.”
“ What is that?’
“You better not know about it.” He said. “ I guess you can see lots of computers here. ICT is my life.”
“ Then why are you not practicing. You should have enough to take you off waylaying girls for food.”
“ Have you forgotten that we live in a country where they only consider paper qualification? I had to write common entrance to get a primary school certificate. Then I wrote GCE. I am a proud owner of secondary school certificate. But that is where it ends.
But my work as a PIDSA and my job at the bakery is enough to give me a decent meal but I do not collect salaries. I collect all these books on credit and my salary is used to pay for them. I am still paying for the new computers I bought. Those ones are old versioned. Their configurations cannot handle my projects now. But they were very useful for what I used to do back then before I quit.”
“ What was that?”
“ You better not know. Part of the trouble I got into.” He looked at the wall clock. “ Do you know what it feels like not knowing your parents? As in, not that they died but you don’t even know who there are?”
She said nothing.
“ That is my greatest pain in the world. Who am I? What happened to my parents?”
She did not want to suggest an unwanted pregnancy.
“ Who are the people that adopted you?"
He had not expected that question.
“ They are around. They are still in Center City.”
“ You are still in contact with them?”
“ No. I haven’t met them for ten years. The kids are all grown.”
“ How sure are you?’
“I saw one a couple of days ago. He did not recognize me.”
“What do you need all these books for?”
“ I need the knowledge. I am onto something. Don’t ask me what.” He smiled. “ And don’t ask me about what got me into trouble. The world is not what you think it is. It is deeper. We see some things in movies and call it fiction…..they exist. They slam some facts onto our faces, we laugh, get entertained without knowing the quiddity.”
“ Now you are going deeper. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“ Better. Now I have talked. You cajoled me…..”
“ I did not. You have never opened up and I am sure you feel better sharing.”
“ I hope I shared with the right person.”
“ Do you think I have a big mouth like you?”
“ And that reminds me, I told you my history and how I got respect for food. Tell me about yours,how did you get it?”
“ Me? Get what?”
“ Your rudeness. I want a history.”
She grimaced.
“ You just gave me a touching story about yourself. Can’t you spare me at least ten minutes to sympathise with you before you resume being a gut-wrenching bloke?”
“ Sympathise? Did you have the privilege of living my kind of life?”
“ Privilege?”
“ Just kidding. Thank you for planning to sympathise before I ruined it.”
“ Yes, you ruined it because I feel nothing for you.”
“ But I love you.”
“ What do you know about love?”
“Love means love and by saying love, I mean love like love.”
“ Adnan, you are crazy, do you know that?”
“ You just broke the good news.” He smiled. “ Talking about love, I know you are in love with me but I don’t like gold diggers. I hope you are not after my money ,right?”
“What? What money?” She said with a crinkled face.
He laughed.
Why did she always fell for his babbles. She had responded before she realised it was one of his blathers.
“ You will be the last person I will ever fall in love it.”
“ I know. Who would you tell them that I am? I don’t even have parents, no roots, don’t even know my state of origin ……”
“ I did not go there. It is not about that.”
“ Do not feel guilty. I have always thought about it. Who would give his daughter to me? If the family who had adopted me had been nice, I would have been better.”
She wondered how someone could give birth to a child and dump him.
“ I would do all I can to find them. Even if it their graves.”
“ How do you intend to do that? There is no record. You said you were found on a rubbish site.”
Adnan remembered what Bash had said a few days ago. A new discovery which he had never dreamt of finding.
“ You are acting all stubborn.” Bash had said. “ We know you. We will give you ten million Neirah.”
Adnan had smirked. “ Do not think such an amount can make me change my mind.” He had said. “ I have over one billion Neirah in my account, two houses in Victoria Garden City, two in Asokoro and a country house in Miami. So fuc* your ten mil.”
“ Where do you have all of these?” Bash had asked.
“ In my day dream.”
Bash had laughed.
“ They told me you were crazy, but you are crazier.”
“ I have to leave. I have got bread outside. Won’t you guys buy some? Our bread is delicious.”
“ We have another offer.” Bash had said. “ If you oblige, we would not reveal the micro-cheap era and you will have the chance of knowing who you are.”
Adnan had paused and turned.
“ What do you mean?”
“ You will have to tell us what we want, and do what we want and you will know what you need most in your life. We know all about you Adnan.”
“What do you know?”
“ You were not picked up from a dump site as claimed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“ You were brought there to be pictured.”
“Why would they do that? And who?”
“You can’t get that for free. There is a price for it. He said. “ Your life is more complicated that you can imagine. You were brought for a purpose and something happened. Let me tell you this, there is someone living your life out there. A life that was meant to be yours. There is another Adnan Abber. I guess you don’t know why they gave you the surname, Abber. We got your cradle. Recognise this?”
He showed him a white fluffy cradle. Adnan saw it to be similar to the one in the picture.
“We were expecting your reaction.” Bash had said “ And we were ready for you. You were not dumped. You were brought from somewhere. Now, I guess you would love to know where you came from, ICT Boy. And when you do, you will be shocked. The mistake they made was leaving a tag on your cradle with the name, Adnan Abber”
“ This sounds ridiculous. Who are you? What are you? How do you know these? You are about my age mate.”
“ I am twenty three, Adnan. But you don’t know s**t about me. We know things because we look for things. I give you three days to think about it. Have you heard that Vaberian prisons are so congested and yet they would still accommodate more inmates…..like the micro-chip guy? Then think about the freedom, money and a chance to know who you are.”
Adnan looked at Naairah.
“ I think I might have a clue. But it is very complicated. It is coming with a high price.”
“ Like money?”
He shook his head.
“Something very big. Something very dangerous but I really want to find out.”
“ You are never explicit. You are so cagey and obfuscating. What is it?”
He shook his head.
“ Please do not ask me. You better not know about it.” He said and looked at the wall clock. “ Time for breakfast.”
As he went to get the flask, he made a decision.
*********
“ I saw a guy today.” He said. “And he looked like Adnan.”The elderly man looked at the young man with a smile.
“ That is impossible.” The elderly man said. “ Besides, you cannot recognise him. You were both young then.”
“ I need an explanation.” Said the young man. “ You said he is your biological son and I am the adopted son. Why do you prefer me to him? I remember how he was treated as a child.”
“It is a long story, Adnan.” He said. “ With lots of complications.”
The young man sat down.
“ I think I have all the time to listen. I feel some things are so strange.”
“ You cannot get all of it today.” He replied. “ But I had to sacrifice my son for you. You may not understand this now. It is bigger than me. You are a world figure. You were born for this. You are the real Adnan Abber. We named him Adnan Abber as a charade. You were born just three days apart. He is older.”
“ Born for what? Who is my real father? What am I born to do? “
“Calm down. The elders will tell you when you are ready.”
“ I am ready. It's just too spooky.”
“ You are not ready. You are just in the second phase.”
“Of what? I have been undergoing strange training and learning, yet I don’t know what for.”
“ I said calm down. Your father died a long time ago. He was called Dr Abber. You were the only survivor of a plane crash. So we took you in and promised to fulfil your father’s dream. I cannot reveal anything to you now. I have done enough. My real son, Abber ran away ten years ago and we are sure he is dead.” It did not make sense to the young man. Too many mysteries. But he was going to tag along.
“ I advise you to keep enjoying your position. You are a billionaire, and have a power that is beyond your knowledge. Think about that and calm down.”
But something kept telling him that the young man he saw was Adnan.
“What if he is alive?”
“ He is not.” Said the man. “ But if at all he is, then that will be very bad…..for you and me.”
- Writer
