UJU Episode 9 – 12 by Amah’s Heart

UJU Episode 9 by Amah’s Heart

My Oha soup turn out fine, everyone was impressed, I continued in the cooking, wakes up early to make breakfast for everyone, prepare for lunch then comes dinner, I started loving the job, I met other staffs, they were all nice, the securities, the Gardner, the car washer, the cleaners, laundry staff and others were all friendly, is as if they were trained on the job to always be nice, I became very close to some of them, like Joe head of the staffs, they report any thing to him and he takes it to the madam of the house if he can’t solve it, but i don’t report to him i report straight to the madam of the house, who everyone calls mummy,

my name sake, my madam’s daughter keeps me company sometimes or assisting me with small things in the kitchen, we bonded so well.

The day for the ukazi soup came, I was so willing to learn the delicacy that mummy’s favorite just as she was generally called, after buying the item needed, the Igbo market women helped her in cutting the achara, and there was also palm fruit seed, we came home and i watched the process, I have heard of this soup but haven’t tasted it, it wasn’t a general soup it was just for her, it was actually a long process, but it turned out so delicious, the soup was so rich, and I loved it and wrote down the procedure in a book, on the third time of making it, i was good to go, I prepared it for her on my own with the help of my book too and she gave me a hand shake, and said although it wasn’t perfect but i will get it next time and i did, I won her heart all over again, the soup also became one of my favorites, and when i finally have my family they will love ukazi soup, I know they will.

I must say my cooking job wasn’t so easy but working with this loving and warm family makes it easy for me, only Victor makes it difficult but everyone knows him so it was clear to us who he is, and his request must be met,

I still haven’t heard from Kala and is being two months, he called me during my first week here but i always ignore his calls, and sometimes switch off my phone since i don’t really have people who calls me often, I haven’t heard from Ada and Bibi, sometimes I’m tempted to call but i always wave it off, we have all moved on, she’s happy, enjoying her apartment with Bibi forgetting my existence, I wish i can also forget her but she crosses my mind sometimes, I know we will meet someday but not as her kids nanny or married to a palm wine tapper as she has wished me but as a different person, ones i have enough money I will enrol in a part time school like some other staffs does, and also go to computer school for future purpose, I don’t transport or buy food here, I have little expenses, so I have to save money, I know i will be alright because God is watching over me,

Ones day Victor came to the kitchen and told me to prepare jellof rice and chicken tomorrow that his friends are coming over and i should make sure it taste great,

i replied him “yes sir” just as everyone else, he was different from his mother and sister, he likes keeping to his self and doesn’t relate well with staffs, if his cloths are not well ironed he punished the laundry staff by telling the accountant to deduct their money, he doesn’t tolerate nonsense, all the staff are scared of him, he doesn’t listen to anyone except the mum who always tell him to calm down, whenever I’m ask to do something for him i always take my time because i can’t afford my money to be cut, since I’m seriously saving up for the future, and the job is very important to me, he once shouted at me and gave me a serious warning after i made tea for him one morning and he did not come down on time to the dining table, and the tea got cold, when he came down and started shouting my name, i left everything i was doing and rushed to the dining he asked me why the tea was cold, I tried to explain but he shut me up and asked me to trash the whole thing and make a fresh one for him and send it to his room, he warned me never to allow his tea to ever gets cold no matter how long it takes for him to eat, I have always makes sure of that, he doesn’t talk much but he is a fast talker when he is angry, he will speak so fast with his polished English, just like the Americans, everyone already knows who he is and always avoid getting into trouble with him, after all he was the man of the house,

Today was no different as he sounded it clearly to me about the jellof rice with garnished grilled chicken,

I was already taught on the food menu, the mummy of the house take out time to teach me how to make other continental dish aside the ukazi soup or other native soups, and I’m a fast learner, I learned everything i was thought, even write them down,

Victor wasn’t anybody’s friend when it comes to staffs, he treats us like workers unlike the mother and sister, he doesn’t call anybody by name, you will hear him call, hey” or laundry, security or even cleaner, he even call me cook sometimes, he will say something like this to his sister, “Uju, please tell the cook that i will be having Quaker oats for dinner… Tell her to make it down before i return back and leave it in a flask or microwave, I hate cold food” he doesn’t even know i bear same name with the sister or he doesn’t want to know,

he was really rude like that, the first week when he noticed i wasn’t in the boys quarter like i suppose to be he asked his mum in my presence why she gave me a room close to his kid sister Ujunwa, instead of the the quarters where the other staffs stays and the mum warned him not to question her ever again in her decision and he apologised immediately to her and walked away,

After giving me instructions on the food to make tomorrow for his friends he stopped at the door and asked me

“why didn’t you tell your boyfriend, Kala that you were coming to work here, he was actually looking for you it was until he mentioned it to me last week that i told him you are here and he was very surprise, he said you never told him about it… Why?

“uuhmmm…Kala wasn’t my boyfriend he was just accommodating me because i heard issue with where i was living, so i begged him to accommodate me for sometime until i got a place….”

“that wasn’t what he told me, I’m hearing a different thing from you… And when you finally got a place, you left without even saying thank you or good bye to him, making me look like a bad person when i told him you were working here for almost two months, which isn’t important anyway…what you did does not speak well of you, he deserve to know you got a job and accommodation and he also deserve a thank you…

“yes sir…you are right… He went to a club that morning and was sick so i didn’t get to tell him about it….I’m sorry sir”

“that’s not an excuse, and you know i don’t like liars,right? You were mostly with him so why didn’t tell him all the while…. Never mind… He initiated the meeting here, I didn’t want to but the pestering was much, and i know is because of you, he wants to see you and the only way is to initiate a mini gathering, I guess you are already told about the rules here, no boyfriend or girlfriends allowed in here but you can see them during your off day… Kala will be coming down so i know what that means for you, I don’t want you trying to act reunion movie around this house or at the flower lane, be on your duty at every point in time and act professional at it, you will also be part of the staff to serve us, you said you had three years experience so i expect professionalism in here,i haven’t had any friend visiting me for security sake i do the visiting instead but i decided to host them close to the swimming pool so make sure everything needed in the area of food is well taken care off….. Hope I’m clear enough?

“yes sir”

He turned and left my heart was beating so fast, this guy is really mean, which one is reunion movie, Kala is a nobody to me except that he accommodate back then,

Kala is coming tomorrow what do i do and I’m expected to be on my post at all time, I will dish out the food to the staff in charge of serving guest food to go and serve them but now I’m required to serve along with them, how do i face Kala, what did he tell Victor what I’m i suppose to do now

My heart was beating because i know Kala will want to disgrace me but that doesn’t bother me all that bothers me now is my job,

That evening i sat with Joe, the head of the staff who also stays at the staff quarters,

he is one of my close friends there i told him about what was going on and he said i shouldn’t worry that Victor maybe difficult to please but he wasn’t stupid , he knows the kind of friends he has and won’t allow them to bother me, I believed Joe as i looked forward to waking up early and making jelof rice with garnished grilled chicken.

UJU Episode 10 by Amah’s Heart

Today is the day, I don’t care what anybody has to say or think about me especially Kala, Victor or Kala’s friends, I escaped from him, and found a new life for myself, he’s only bitter because he couldn’t succeed in getting me to bed, that’s his own lost, because with God on my side i can scale a wall. I know he will want to get back at me any way he can but i wasn’t scared of him one bit,

I stood there like a waitress just as Victor has instructed me, the mini party turns out to be a large party, as friends who has being looking for a way to come to Victor’s house trip in like ants,

eating, drinking and even demanding for more food after the one i prepared with the help of Joe got finished, ladies were around too, some even came with their swimming wears, to swim at the pool,

I tried not to look at Kala who was surrounded by two ladies, he later beckoned on me, I pretend not to notice him, one of the staff tapped me and pointed at him, I sighed and went to answer him, he asked me to go and get food for one of the ladies who he claims hasn’t eaten, I told him politely that the food has finished but there’s drinks and meat, he asked me to get the meat, I left to do that.

I wish the madam of the house was around, she traveled since yesterday with her daughter Ujunwa, if she was around all this partying and noise everywhere, with almost naked ladies and guys at the pool doing rubbish wouldn’t have happened, Victor knows better and host his friends when his mom was away, I always feel safe and confident when she’s around, Victor also limit the way he treats everyone when she’s in the house,

now, I have no saviour, just Joe and others who kept helping me out when i need help.

As i left to get the things he requested, I noticed he stood up and followed me, I called Joe who was looking out for me to walk with me and he did, Kala hurried up to me as i entered inside, and ask Joe in an angry tone to step aside, Joe hesitated and moved away, he stood where i can always see him,

“you actually think you are smart… In your mind you were very smart by escaping from me right? Coming to work for my friend behind my back, without even a thank you for accommodating you.. And everything, You are an ungrateful fool, so you are working as a cook here…hmmm, who even thought you how to cook, which cattery school did you go or you lied to them that you are a caterer, look at you working for the wealthy and famous…a club girl like you…prostituting yourself at the club…you see…you are right here in the palm of my hand…i can go out there and tell Victor that you are my whore…and tell him all the lies i can think of and he will believe me, and you will be back to the street where you belong..scumbag like you… I asked you politely to give me what i wanted…next time i won’t be polite i will take it by force…that will be your payment for the period i accommodated you and i will even lie that you stole my money… I called you severally and you were ignoring my calls, a whole Kala…i knew i will see you soon, is just to initiate a friendly meeting here and i never stop disturbing Victor until he agrees and here we are… No hiding place for you…Tracy or whatever your name is, I heard you stole a huge amount from the club where you use to work and they sack you and your identity was revealed as a village mbeke feeling funki, your friend ejected you from the house and you ended at mine and wanted to outsmart me…i met your friends at the club and, the one they call Ada told me everything, your total history.. Is just for me to walk up to Victor and tell him all about you and you will be gone, is even better now that his mum and sister are not in the house so no one will save you… You will be gone by the time they return and you will end up in the street where i will do whatever i like with you…

“Kala, number one thing you need to know is that my name is Obianaujunwa and yes I’m a village girl feeling tush, very proud of it, number two thing, this one is very important, is that I’m not afraid of you…Your threats are empty to me…or it pained you that you didn’t succeed with me like you do with other girls…sorry oo… I know how pained you are but if you can’t bear it anymore you can go and hug transformer…i don’t care, and take this message back to Ada and the rest, tell them to find any hard intertwined rope and hang their self and you can follow them and do the same…i don’t care…you are a loser Kala, and I’m not scared of you or anybody…idio…

Before i can complete my last insult he held me so tight with one hand, his nails was digging into my flesh, he raised the other hand to slap me but just as Joe who had being watching us from where he stood try to rushed to my aid, a strong voice came from the door and it was Victor, Kala on hearing Victor’s voice lowered his hand to my face and pretended as if he was romantically picking pimples from my face still holding me so tight with the other hand and pretending to be in a romantic conversation with me, he brought his face closer to mine and i pushed him off and try to take my wrist that was already on fire from his hard hands

“what’s going on….can some one explain what’s happening here…

“yes sir….i can explain…your friend is trying to hurt Uju….he was trying to attack her…

Joe said still looking at Kala who was smiling sheepishly….i shouted for him to let go of my hand and he dogged even deeper and looked at me with those wicked eyes of his while still smiling…

“Kala, you heard her, let her go now… And you shouldn’t be here…you supposed to be outside Kala…

He quickly released me at Victor’s warning… And turn to face him, I tried to massage my hand he just released with my other hand as i rob it trying to suppress the pain,

“uuuhh….forgive my manners Victor, I have missed her so much and was just asking her why she walk away without a goodbye after she proclaimed her love for me and promise never to leave me I was only heart broken that she could leave me shattered….nothing else…. What you saw was just a romantic gesture, just trying to hug her…it was only misinterpreted by the young man over there….sorry for crossing My boundary…Victor….i will just leave now

“Kala, the show doesn’t look so romantic to me, whatever you want to settle with her should have waited until her off day, not now.”

I’m leaving now, I will probably see her on her off day…..please sweetie try and call me during your off…..i have really missed you” Kisses”

He turned to me and said the last thing with a frown and blow me a kiss with his mouth, as he held to the door, i faced Victor who just stared at me for sometime, he tried to say something and quickly stopped, he looked at Joe before turning to leave, leaving me and Joe standing there,

I didn’t serve again as Joe decided to help me finish, I went straight to my room without a single scare of Kala the only person i worry about was Victor, i still remember the way he looked at me I don’t know what that means for me but his looks makes me feel butterflies spark in my stomach,

I wish his mum and sister were around….i know he can’t do anything to me except maybe scold me for not heeding to his warning…..

I’m just waiting as i tried to freshen up, I was seriously tired, biko let me rest, I will continue work tomorrow i know Joe will take care of things for me.

UJU Episode 11 by Amah’s Heart

“I warned you before hand…I told you i don’t want you and him acting any romantic movie around this house, you should focus on what you are asked to do…. But you disobeyed…the food you made wasn’t enough after i asked you to make enough food that I was expecting my friends..what is wrong with all of you in this house…you all hardly listen to instructions…you are being paid enough money and yet i will still be repeating myself every time… I don’t even know what my mom sees in you before employing….yo

u, you suppose to be professional at what you do…you have three years experience…you told me that yourself..for crying out loud, you don’t need to be told what to do…

“but sir..your friends where more than the expected…and the…

“shut up, I’m still talking…don’t ever cut me off when I’m still speaking.. Don’t ever try it… Let this be your last warning…all of you in this house are just so annoying…

He waved me off to leave, this was after his party, the next day when he asked me to report to his room for questioning, I already knew what awaits me so i was prepared, after the whole shouting and scolding I returned to the kitchen,

The next day the mother came back and the house was hot, I don’t know how she got to know about all that has being going on in her absence but i wasn’t the one that told her, although i would have love to anyway, is probably Joe that filled her in, I was hearing noise coming from down stairs, I have retire for the night so i was in my room about to hit my pillow, the noise was sounding like a quarrel, I quickly wear back my night rob and ran down stairs

“…I have practically done everything for you Victor…everything a mother could do…i gave you the best education and sent you out for your master degree so that after everything you will be ready both mentally and Physically…what haven’t i done for you….no tell me..answer me Victor I’m asking you a question…is this how you want to live your life…after all your education and personality you still will not have sense…those your friends you hang out with tell me any positive thing they have contributed to your life…you go out anytime you like and comes back at your own will…you care less about anyone except your self….i didn’t dedicate my life raising a fool.. I raised a son who will fear and love both God and humanity, who will be willing to serve others and accept everyone and anyone, treating the poor and the rich alike…I didn’t raise a son who treat his workers like slaves and ignore those that need help…i raised a son that will be humble, patient and forgiven…that’s the way i raised you after your father died…do you think he will be proud of your life style if he was alive…why are you so different from the boy i trained so well with my hand…look at your sister…she has never given me reason to worry.. What happened to you…because you are not acting like a man i bore, the boy that suckled from my breast…you are a total stranger…i was also told one of your friends harassed Uju…after you made her act like a waitress… You over stressed the poor girl as if that wasn’t enough your so called friend harassed her in this house and you didn’t do anything or even show remorse…the innocent girl didn’t mention anything to me…probably she was afraid of what you will do to her because you are gradually turning yourself into monster that everyone should be afraid of… God have mercy on you for giving me reason to worry all the time…i call for prayer every morning…you will not come down from your room and join the morning devotion, just because you are probably bigger than the God that gave you life ..yes… If you respect God you will be part of the people worshiping him every morning…i raised a better son not this prideful, unrepentant, unforgiving, unloving man standing before me…

“mom…I’m sorry…it won’t happen again…please calm down, I’m a man and i can make my own decisions…please mum stop shouting the staffs are watching you talk to me in this manner…i..

“shut up..don’t tell me to calm down because i have being calm for too long…i have watch you treat everyone around you like they are trash…i have listen to you question me on my decision to be nice to people…those staff as you call them all has a name…and is high time you learn their name and stop addressing them by what they do…the cook, the one your useless friends harassed is your sister name sake…i haven’t heard you before address any one here by name and you should start doing that and I know you are a man start acting like it and stop acting like a spoilt boy because i know that i raised my son better than that… I don’t want to see those your unreasonable friends here again, they were all lucky because i wasn’t around…

I just listened as mummy shouted and scold i saw that she was disappointed and angry with Victor who just sat there with his head bow…the sister Ujunwa was also there but was obviously angry with his brother too.. When his mum was done she asked him to leave her presence he tried apologizing again to her but she waved him off, he passed me with an angry face but never looked up as he went to his room…the mum turned and called me to come, she asked me if i was hurt from the attack by Victor’s friend, I told her no that i wasn’t hurt, she apologised to me on behalf of Victor even Ujunwa came and hugged me..

I looked at Joe and knew he was the one that told her, Joe looked at me and smiled as he ordered other present staff to go to there quarters

I was happy for the scolding…i was loving the way she handled Victor’s arrogance…i felt no mercy for him…he deserves it, someone need to call him to other and the mother was a disciplinarian when it comes to that.

I went back to my room with my name sake, Ujunwa who followed me and we sat on my bed and gist for sometime before she went to her room,

I just hope Victor change for good this time…for the first time i prayed for him before sleeping that night I also prayed for mama and Papa and also my siblings, i can’t remember when last i did that,

if only mama knows that the way she calls my name no longer annoys me but makes me proud, I missed them all but I’m determined to work hard to make them proud, I’m saving up for the future.

I’m no longer bothered about anything, I concentrate on my job and try to be more better everyday

UJU Episode 12 by Amah’s Heart

I’m sitting down outside gisting with Joe when Victor passed and just glance at us as we greeted him, He smile and raised a hand in response to our greeting before heading to his car, he has being more quiet since after the mum’s scolding, he stays in his room often and sometimes come down to watch the TV in the big sitting room, or go outside to the pool side,

He has also being joining us for morning devotion and also goes to check out the family business which he sometimes does with his mum ,

he stopped going to hang out with his friends, he even speak to the staff with a calm voice and a smile too,

there’s a lot of change in him that even the other staffs noticed, they can’t get enough of it, he still hasn’t spoken to us or talk much or even asked who told the mum about the whole incident with his friends, But he didn’t relate harsh or arrogant with any of us.

Today after the morning devotion of which he was the one that lead us as he was instructed by the mum, he stammered through prayer just to show he hasn’t being so much involve with it, after his prayer and worship song he looked up at me, and when i thought there was a spark again he looked away and looked at other staff before saying

“…please everyone, permit me to use this medium to thank everyone first, for there hard work and total devotion to my mum and this household as a whole, I understand how difficult i have made your work for you all, I understand how over demanding and bossy I have being, I sincerely apologize for all that. I will try to be the people’s person, I’m better off than what i use to be, don’t really know what got into me…I’m working on myself to be better everyday, continue to do your work and be selfless, continue in your diligence and total dedication, I love the way the you all never allowed my negativity to affect or take root in your heart, I know there’s always a reward for every good work….and you will all receive your rewards,

thank you all for always taking this family like yours…. Mum, I’m very sorry for causing you much pain and sadness, I love you mum, I only become what i was out of ignorance, you are the best mother any child can have, I have watched you care for all the staffs like your own children. I watch as you pulled in strength in running our business empire, employing capable hands to manage it and you do the follow up, I know i was supposed to be doing all that, I just felt unconcerned, I just believe that the employees can do everything, you opened my eyes to really see how self centered and foolish i have being, no matter the education, home training or age we all are bound to make mistakes, I’m not trying to make an excuse for mine….I’m sorry and thank you mum for everything….i know Dad will be so proud of you if he was alive because you are a true definition of a strong woman, I love you mum and i say thank you once again. To Ujunwa my sister, I’m sorry for not being the loving big brother i was to be, I’m sorry for not always making you proud or happy, I promise to do better dear, i promise to love and protect you in any way i can, I will always be here for you if you need me…i love you always. Joe….hahaha..i know you must have wondered what planet i fell from to have treated everyone differently and opposite from my mum and sister, I’m sorry for making your work difficult for you, I’m sorry for being a bully, thank you for always taking charge of the staffs and making sure things are in place here… I don’t know everybody’s name but with time just gradually i will learn all your names and another thing, There will be a raise of salary for everyone…with the permission of mum I’m increasing your salaries…and you can meet me or mum if you need anything, if you want to learn a handwork or further your education or anything you will like to add to yourselves you are free to do that…we will employ extra staff, to take your place while you are gone but be sure of this you will always be family, because your efforts can’t be denied, family you are today family you always be….

The cheering and thanks was coming from everyone, all the staffs where all happy, they couldn’t hold back their joy, mummy was also happy that her real lost son was finally home, I was equally happy, my happiness was so large that i wanted to go and hugged him, but held unto my emotion, I know i can start my part time school or full time depending on the one i want, I have being saving up plus the increment, I can start the journey towards going back to school since they will be employing a kitchen assistsnce, I was so happy and was so much in love with this family, when i thought he was done with his speech he suddenly turned to me, he looked at me without blinking, as he focused on me i thought i was going to melt under his gaze, I looked away and bow my head so he won’t see through me he then called my name for the very first time and said

“Uju, I saw how hard working you have being, feeding us everyday, we are more than 10 in this house yet you manage to make sure we don’t go hungry, mum wanted to get an assistant for you long time ago but I turned it down because i was self centered and didn’t want her to start spending on another staff, I thought that when one person can do the job what was the point of spending on another, I know it hasn’t being easy waking up early and sleeping late with just little assistance from others, that was a total foolish thinking of me, I know how difficult i have being and never thought you were also human, I just want to say I’m very sorry, sorry for allowing my guest harass you without tendering an apology, no matter who he was or is to you, he has no right to hurt you, I could have asked the security guards to throw him and others that he came with out but i allowed him to join the party and i ended up angry with you for reasons i don’t even understand, I’m sorry, so sorry for everything, we are getting a chef for you and a kitchen assistant, you will be able to do other things for yourself, thank you for accepting us as family……so can i get a hug or handshake from you all?

Everyone was happy to hug and shake him and when it got to my turn i was shy, but he opened his arms beckoning me to come forward, I slowly went into his arm and he wrapped me with his, I felt so glued that i don’t want him to let me go and he didn’t he allowed me to stay as much as i wanted before i finally released him, I remembered the first time i was so happy after he told me at Kala’s house that i can apply as a cook in his house i was so happy that i threw myself to him and wrapped my hand around him and he pushed me off and warned me not to ever do that again, hugging him now was a memory i will forever cherish.

We later all departed to our various duties, I always wake up early and refresh before morning devotion after which i will go straight to the kitchen to make breakfast for the house and start preparing for lunch which Joe always assist me, with few others who are less busy,

Today i was so happy as i prepare for breakfast today, I sang different songs as my voice echoed in the kitchen, I was singing and smiling when i turned he was standing there, I almost dropped a plate that i was carrying in my hand as i saw Victor standing by the kitchen door and watching me, I don’t know how long he has being there but he was smiling, I have always wanted to see a smile on his face and he has being doing so much of that over a week now since his last encounter with his mum…he was just by the door standing and not saying anything..i stammered through words as i didn’t know how or what to say.

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