Dirty Game – Episode 2
I turned my head to know who was holding me and it was a security agent. �didn�t you see the notice that receiving calls is prohibited in the bank!� he yelled at me.
I was shocked and dropped the call unknowingly.
�Am sorry sir�, I apologized.
I went back to the first attendant.
�Ma, would I be able to get the ATM today if I apply?� I asked.
�ATM form is not available for now, you will need to come as early as possible tomorrow morning�, she replied.
�But the money is needed right now in the hospital to take care of an unhealthy patient�, I tried to explain to her.
�Perhaps, you withdraw through counter then, that is the only option you are left with�, she advised.
I looked at the situation on ground; the queue was still as long as river Nile.
�I couldn�t come out of this queue if I join�, I said to myself.
�Ma, what favour could you offer me if at all I want to withdraw through counter?� I asked her.
�Don�t worry! You will only be charged of two hundred and fifty naira from your account�, she said.
�Am ok with it provided that I will get the money�, I responded.
�Go to that lady at the extreme end and request for withdrawal slip�, she pointed to a fair lady, very beautiful and portable in size. She should be an I.T student like me, I guessed.
�Well done�, I greeted her.
�How may I help you?�, she asked.
�I need a withdrawal slip�, I replied.
�Do you have your ID card with you?�, she asked.
�Yes, is with me�, I replied.
(She detached a slip and filled it.)
�Where is your ID card�, she asked.
(I gave out my school ID card to her).
She looked at my face and smiled. Why is she smiling at me? Are we from the same school or she has developed interest in me? I was lost in those thoughts when I heard from her. �Sir, I don�t mean your school ID card, but National ID card or better still, Your driving license�, she explained.
�But you said ID card and besides, what is wrong with my school ID card?�, I asked.
�Am sorry sir, we don�t recognize school Id card. In the light of this, I will only give you this slip, but you can�t withdraw with it�, she said and handed the slip to me.
�What should I use it for since I couldn�t use it to withdraw?� I asked in pity.
�It�s yours, since I have detached it and your names had been written on it�, she replied.
I felt disturbed and started thinking of the next action to take and that was when I remembered that my PVC (Permanent Voters Card) could be of use as a substitute to National ID card.
It was already 3:15pm. I left the bank for office in hurry so as to take my PVC and come back before the bank close for the day.
I branched at Mrs. Akin�s office and told her what I had gone through.
She looked at me with pity and showed her sympathy.
�Am very sorry for letting you experienced such turmoil. Perhaps you delay it till tomorrow�, she said in a pitiable mood.
�No ma. Let me take my PVC at the office and give it the last trial for today�, I replied and left for office.
�Are you just coming from the bank?�, Mrs.Ola questioned.
�Yes ma�, I replied.
�That�s serious!� she exclaimed.
I started checking where I put my PVC, but couldn�t find it. Another problem! It should be at home too, I thought.
�I will be back ma�, I said to my boss.
�Are you still going back to the bank?� she asked.
�Yes ma�, I replied and I left. She uttered a statement but I didn�t care to listen.
I checked Mrs.Akin in her office and explained to her that I couldn�t see the PVC but I have prepared for the worst.
�How do you want to go about it?� she asked.
�I have decided to go and meet the manager�, I replied.
�Do you think they will allow you to see him�, she asked with confusion.
�Don�t worry ma, I will�, I replied optimistically.
�Alright dear, thanks so much�, she said and I zoomed off back to the bank.
On getting to the bank, I changed my thought of meeting the manager, so, I went back to the first attendant.
�Ma, I presented my school ID card to her for the slip, but she insisted that I must present my National ID card�, I lamented.
She looked at me with pity and collected the slip from me.
�Where did you open your account?� she asked.
�Ede, Osun State�, I replied.
She signed it and gave it to me.
�You are good to collect the money on the counter�, she said.
I was a little bit relieved.
�Thanks for your support ma, but I thought you are helping me to withdraw the money�, I said.
�As a good Nigerian, you have to join the queue, and besides, you know am on duty and customers could be here at any time. Sequel to that, I can�t leave my seat�, she continued, �am sorry incase I have disappointed you�, she concluded.
On hearing that, I became hopeless like an orphan who lost her parents due to war and still lost in a desert. My heart vibrated and my eyes were filled with tears. Who would come to my rescue? I was lost in my thought when I heard from her
______
�Bro, try to understand me. It�s not that I am being wicked at you or maybe if you could go to that man�, she pointed to a security agent, �If he could be of help�, she advised.
I bought her idea and went to him. I tried to explain to him.
�Who asked you to come to me self? Abeg, we don�t assist to withdraw and why can�t she withdraw for you too?� he said in anger.
So, I�m now a basket ball throwing up and down. No problem! I said and went back to the lady.
�It�s high time I left for office. I can�t join this queue. Probably I�ll come back tomorrow if and only if the patient sustain the condition till tomorrow, but hope my account will not be charged for this slip?� I asked.
�You have to return it so as not to be charged�, she replied.
I gave it to her and she crossed it.
I went back to office and told Mrs.Akin the latest development.
�I have told grandma to delay the check up till tomorrow since we couldn�t get the money today, so how shall we go about it tomorrow?� she asked.
�I have decided to go directly from the house to the bank tomorrow morning�, I explained.
�Are you cashing it through counter or how?� she curiously asked.
�I prefer applying for ATM, but if cashing it through counter would be the faster, I will use that�, I replied.
�Alright, let me follow you to take permission from Oga (boss) that, you may likely come late tomorrow�, she said.
It was 3:45pm that day and of which my closing time used to be 3:00pm, and since the permission had been granted, then I left office for home.
FOLLOWING DAY
I got up from bed by mrs. Akin�s call telling me on phone that grandma was in a critical condition and needed urgent medical attention. In that case, the money will be needed to cater for her treatment.
I left home as early as possible so as to get the money probably through counter, but it was quiet unfortunate that I still met people on queue. I got confused to the extent of contemplating whether to withdraw through counter by queuing or apply for the ATM. But, since ATM will still be useful for me in the nearest future, then I decided to apply for it.
I informed the first customer attendant that attended to me in the previous day and she instructed me to go into a room so as to get a form. I left for the room and felt like saying I was no longer interested when I saw many a customer to be attended to, but I summoned courage and collected the form, filled it and joined the queue for ATM.
While on the queue, my phone started ringing, I looked at the screen and it was Mrs. Akin, but I decided not to pick it. She continued calling and since the call was disturbing, I decided to put the phone on vibration.
After some minutes, it became my turn and couldn�t just belief it, the attendant was that fair lady that refused to sign for me in the previous day. She smiled and stared at me when she saw me.
�Good morning gentleman�, she greeted me.
�I pray this morning is good o�, I replied jokingly.
�It will surely good�, she responded.
I submitted my form to her with the PVC.
�Where is your school ID card�, she asked and winked me.
�But, you said you don�t welcome my school ID card yesterday, why asking for it now?� I asked. (Though, I gave her.)
�That unit is different from this one. Your school ID card is needed here�, she explained in a seductive manner.
�You will have to do the photocopy of these cards o�, she said.
�Where could I do it?� I asked.
�Give it to that security man at the door to do it for you�, she said pointing to a man.
She gave me my PVC and the school ID card, and then I took them to the man as instructed.
�Why didn�t you give it to me when others were giving me�, he complained.
�I was not aware about it�, I said.
He murmured for some minutes and collected only the PVC from me.
�But, sir, you are to do the two cards for me�, I said.
�You need the PVC only�, he yelled at me.
Then, I kept mute. He left and came back after some minutes with the photocopy.
Then, my phone started ringing, it was a strange number and I ignored it. I looked at the time, it was after twelve, and then I rushed back to the lady.
�Here is the photocopy�, I tendered it to her.
�Where is the second one?� she asked.
�He did only one for me saying the second one is not needed�, I replied.
�Who is in control? I said I need the two. Go back to him and tell him that I said he should do it before I get back to him�, she said furiously.
See me see trouble o, see the way this small rat is sending me up and down. No wahala! I said to myself.
I went back to the security, pleaded to him and he did it for me quickly, I now went back to her. She issued me another ATM card.
�Go back to the attendant that attended to you yesterday and give the card to her�, she instructed.
I quickly went to her handed the card to her. My phone started vibrating, I looked at the screen and it was Odunola, my co. IT student, but she has completed her own training. I neglected the call. By then, the attentant was ready.
…to be continued