"You need to take things easy honey, it is not the end of your life," Sonia said as she gently rubbed his shoulder. "You will not understand," Kachi retorted. "I perfectly do. Remember it's not your fault. I'm still working, we have enough savings that can sustain us as you search for another job. I believe you will get another job in no time." He looked devastated. Kachi was laid off from a reputable real estate company he worked for. The company had some financial challenges. It became worse that they had to lay off some of their employees. Unfortunately, Kachi was among those laid off. That job was of utmost importance to him because it was his only source of income which he used in managing his home. The company's car that he used as his family car was also collected from him. He felt his world was crashing before him. Sonia was Kachi's wife. It's barely two years since they got married. They loved and cared for each other so much. People admired them a lot. Kachi made it his sole responsibility to carter for his family. He provided all they needed and wouldn't let his wife spend a dime even though she was working. His wife worked as a Sales assistant at a bakery factory. Sonia had begged him on several occasions to let her put in a little to the building of their home but he wouldn't allow her. She can only use her money for her personal effects but Sonia wasn't extravagant. They trusted each other so well that they chose to build an account for future purposes. A bank account was created in Kachi's name. He was the sole signatory to the account. He was saving a smaller percentage of his salary there due to the family responsibility he carried. Sonia on the other hand was saving a greater percentage of her salary because she wasn't contributing to their upkeep. They've saved up a huge sum that they were planning on what to invest in. They concluded on getting two plots of land for future development. They were still in the process of acquiring the land when Kachi was laid off. It wasn't easy for him, his wife suggested they should pause the process of acquiring the land because of his condition. They agreed to that. Kachi sustained himself from the savings while his wife took up the responsibility of running their home. A couple of days later, Kachi had gotten over the pain of losing his job and had started job hunting again. He searched through the internet for jobs and sent several applications. He also left the house daily for different establishments in search of jobs. One day, he got an email from one of the establishments he sent applications, inviting him for an interview. He was so happy, it rekindled his hope of being employed again. His wife helped him in preparing for the interview. They studied the company, their job duties and responsibilities and even did some rehearsals on how to answer some interview questions. On the day of the interview, Kachi woke up early. He arranged the necessary documents needed for the interview in a file and got dressed. He had breakfast. His wife wished him well and he left the house. Kachi got to the company as early as possible. It was an aluminium manufacturing company. The interview was scheduled for 9:30 am but Kachi got to the venue by 8:00 am. It was a mini hall. He was the first to get there, and the security man directed him to where to sit. "Oga sit here and wait for them to come." "Thank you." He sat down and waited for some minutes. He later got up and went outside. He started looking around the environment in admiration. Some of the workers were moving from one unit to the other. "These people are really lucky to be working in this kind of big company. This company rarely advertise for positions, this one they did is just one in about two years. I wonder how they get their workers," he thought. As he was still looking around, two persons worked into the venue. He went back to his seat and sat down. People continued coming into the venue and before 9:30 am, the hall was filled with those who came for the interview. Kachi was just thinking about the large number of people that came. "Is it just this one Sales manager position that all these people came for? Maybe other positions were advertised that I never knew." A few minutes later, a lady entered and greeted them. She introduced herself as the Human resource manager. "I will handle the interview. The written interview will come first, followed by the oral interview. Just cooperate with us. We won't take much of your time." They started immediately, the security man helped her in distributing the sheets for the written interview. In a little time, they were done and some people were asked to leave before the oral interview. Luckily, Kachi wasn't asked to leave. At least the number of people reduced. The oral interview commenced immediately and in a little time, they were done. Everyone was asked to go. "We will get back to you through text messages. Thanks for coming, have a nice day," the Human resource manager said as she dismissed them. They all left. Kachi reached his house in the evening. His wife was already at home. "Honey, how did it go?" "It went fine but many people came for that same position that I went for. I pray I succeed." "God will see you through." "Amen." Kachi didn't relent in searching for other jobs. He still went to different establishments in search of jobs. So one day he went seeking a job in a company, he entered and met the receptionist and greeted her. "How may I help you?" "Please I want to see the HR." "Tell me why you want to see the HR." "I want to know whether there is any vacant position here." "No Vacancy," the receptionist said bluntly. "Please can I see the HR." "Please get out." He didn't say a word and left the place. He was downcast. He moved to one restaurant around to eat food as he was famished. They served him a plate of jollof rice. He was eating when a text message entered his phone. He opened it and it read: 'Dear Kachi Onyema, thank you for your interest in working with us as a sales manager in FTRN. Unfortunately, we’ve decided to move forward with another candidate for this position. Have a nice day.' Kachi was despondent. He couldn't continue eating the food nor leave. "Life is just unfair, God why is this happening to me?" He was just seated devasted when he heard shouts outside, people rushed towrds the direction of the noise. Kachi also went out to check what was going on, he noticed they were jubilating. He went closer. "Please what is the jubilation all about," he enquired. "The man won a bet, he only put in 400 naira and won 5 million naira. "Wow. That's wonderful. Just like that." "Yes, people win every day. Cool cash, no stress." After watching them, Kachi left for his house. He had even forgotten his sorrows. All that occupied his mind was that huge win from betting that was been celebrated. "Cool cash, no stress indeed. 5 million naira on a platter! I will give this betting a trial," he thought on his way home. When he got home, his wife was already back from work. She was preparing dinner. She welcomed him. He then went inside, freshened up and changed. "Honey, how was today?" "I had a bad day but I'm not worried anymore." "Really? What happened?" "A receptionist insulted me at one of the companies I went to in search of jobs and I got a rejection text message for that last interview I attended. I felt bad but I don't care anymore." "I'm so sorry about that. But why don't you care about that." "I've learnt to move on." "That's beautiful. God will see you through." "Amen." He never mentioned the incident he witnessed nor even told his wife that he was considering betting because he knew she would be against it. So the following day, Kachi prepared as usual and left the house. He took the file that contained his document along with him but going to different establishments in search of jobs was the last this on his mind. He went to a betting outlet that was far from where he stayed. "It's just a trial, let me know whether I would be lucky. If it doesn't work for me I'll stop," he thought as he moved into the outlet. The outlet was a mini hall. It had a long high counter with many desktop computers and attendants behind them. Some young men were there busy checking the desktops and interacting with the attendants, white papers were littered on the floor. Kachi got closer to know the procedures involved. He tapped one man who was checking the desktop. "Abeg I wan play." "Meet the bookie," directing him on the attendant before him. Kachi then went to the attendant. "Please I wan play." "Which game you wan stake on." "Anyone," he said trying to be smart. "Ok." He then gave the attendant 1,500 naira. She collected the money, made some inputs on the desktop on her table and gave him a receipt. A few minutes later, the attendant called him. "Oga your game cut, no payout." "Meaning?" "Try again." "So my money is lost." "You might be lucky some other time." Kachi started grumbling and was leaving the shop. Then a man who saw what happened stopped him. "You don't need to take this thing too seriously, it's a game of chance bro. Which match did you play?" "I don't know, she played it for me." "No wonder, you are JJC. Na sure odds dey win. I will teach you how to get the best odds. You need to get back this money that you lost." "Thank you, I want my money back please." "Let's go back, I'll play for you." So they went back. Kachi gave the man 500 naira. The man chose a game and placed a stake in the outcome of the game. He gave the printout receipt to Kachi. A few minutes later, he checked the desktop again and shouted. "I tell say we no dey give up. You win 8,000 naira." "Wow!! Thank you, bro." Kachi then went over to the cashier's table and gave him the receipt. After crosschecking it with what he had on his desktop, he gave him 8,000 naira cash. Kachi was so happy. He thanked the man who helped him and left with the money. "Let me go with this, at least I made a little profit." He went home fulfilled. The following day he went back and met the man who helped him. He begged him to teach him how betting works. "It's very easy, just predict the outcome of games played around the world." "How do I know the outcome?" "You must be a sports lover, my love for football has become my source of income," the man bragged. "Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose but remember, the greater the risk, the greater the profit. I don't give up." They continued discussing and afterwards, they moved to a viewing centre close by. Kachi devoted his time to knowing how betting works. He did it for a couple of days and started a full-time job on betting. He told his wife that one of the companies he visited offered him a menial job. So he left the house every day for his new job. He never lacked money for this because he was the one in control of their savings. Kachi then put all his time and energy into betting. He would leave his house early to different viewing centres to watch matches and to stay up to date with games around the world. He became a regular visitor to online betting sites and betting outlets. He had as well made bettor friends who wouldn't give up even after experiencing a huge loss. His wife never knew about those friends because he wouldn't let them come close to his house. Kachi continued betting as he experienced losses and wins even though he had more losses than wins, he saw it as a normal thing. So losses didn't discourage him. Rather he would put in more money to recover from the ones he lost. He kept hoping that one day he would win big. Whenever he had a win, he would celebrate it with his bettor friends and on his way home, he would go to the market and buy some foodstuffs in stock and every other thing needed in the house. So one day, he had a win and bought foodstuff as usual but his wife was worried about the way he spends and decided to query him. "Honey, how come you are spending this much but you do a menial job?" "My manager pays us salary any time he wants." "Really? That's strange." "In whatever I do, I can never neglect my responsibility as the man of the house. I love you and I'll do anything to make you happy."
COMMENTS 0