Waiting For A Rich Man - S01 E03

Story 3 months ago

Waiting For A Rich Man - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

Waiting for a Rich Man Episode 3

Uche couldn’t sleep that night. He kept turning on the small bed, watching Sonia as she slept. His heart beat fast. He knew she was tired of staying in the village. She was losing patience, and if he didn’t act fast, he could lose her completely. Around 2 a.m., he stood up quietly and stepped outside with his phone. He dialed his cousin’s number, the one who helped him rent the cars earlier. The cousin picked up after a few rings. “Please,” Uche begged him. “Come back with the cars just for today. I must leave this village with my wife.”

His cousin was quiet for a while. “You told me you were done with the lie,” he said. Uche sighed. “I know, but I can’t stop now. She will leave me.” After some more begging, the cousin agreed to help one last time. “By morning, I’ll be there,” he promised. Uche ended the call and sat on the wooden stool beside his hut. He stared into the sky. “I’ve put myself in a big mess,” he said quietly. He knew he had to raise money to survive in the city, even though he had no plan or place to go.

Before sunrise, Uche woke up and left the compound. He moved from house to house, asking people to buy his bicycle. He sold it for a small price. Then he sold his farm produce—bags of dry pepper, corn, and garri. He found someone to buy his goats and chickens. By 7 a.m., he had also sold his pigs and two dogs. Uche didn’t stop there. He called a local land agent and sold his cassava farm even though it was not yet harvested. He sold his rice farm and his yam farm. Every single thing he owned, he sold that morning.

By the time his cousin arrived with the cars, Uche had raised N300,000. He had never seen that kind of money at once before, but it didn’t make him happy. He was worried. “How long will this money last?” he asked himself. But he had no choice. He put the money in his pocket and smiled. “Let’s go,” he told Sonia. Sonia smiled and entered the car. The same villagers who cheered their arrival two days ago now gathered again to wave goodbye. Sonia waved at them happily. She was excited to finally leave for the city she had dreamed of.

They left the village in a convoy of two cars. Sonia sat beside Uche, looking beautiful in her new gown. “I’m happy we’re finally going,” she said. “I want to see our house in Lagos.” Uche smiled and nodded. He didn’t know what to say. He had never been to Lagos before. He only heard stories. But he had to act like he knew everything. “You’ll love it,” he told her. “Our house is big and quiet. You’ll be comfortable.” As they drove past towns and markets, Sonia smiled and took pictures with her phone. She even posted some online.

The journey was long. They passed many states and saw different types of people. Uche remained quiet most of the time, thinking about what would happen next. He had only N300,000 and no house in Lagos. “Maybe I’ll find a cheap hotel first,” he thought. “Then I’ll look for a room to rent.” By evening, they reached the outskirts of Lagos. The traffic was heavy, and the air was filled with the sound of horns and shouting. Sonia looked around with excitement. “So this is Lagos!” she said. Uche smiled and looked out the window. He was just as surprised as she was.

They finally entered the city at night. The street lights shone brightly. Cars were everywhere, and people were still walking around. Sonia kept talking about how beautiful the city was. “Where is our house?” she asked. Uche paused and looked around. “It’s late,” he said. “We can’t go home tonight. Let’s sleep in a hotel and go there tomorrow.” Sonia nodded. “That’s a good idea. I’m tired already.” Uche asked his cousin to drop them at a hotel. The cousin did so and drove away quietly. Uche paid for one hotel room using part of the money he had raised.

The hotel was not too fancy, but it was clean and quiet. Sonia took a shower and changed into her nightwear. She came out of the bathroom and found Uche lying on the bed. He looked tired and quiet. “You’re not happy?” she asked. Uche forced himself to smile. “I’m just thinking about work,” he said. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.” Sonia joined him on the bed and hugged him. “I’m happy you brought me to the city. I know we’ll enjoy our life together.” Uche nodded slowly. That night, they made love again. But Uche’s mind was not at peace.

After Sonia slept, Uche sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the wall. “What do I do now?” he asked himself. “This hotel won’t allow us to stay long. I need to find a room tomorrow.” He thought about calling his cousin again, but he didn’t want to be a burden. He thought about looking for work—maybe as a cleaner or a driver. But for now, all he had was the N300,000 in his bag and the hope that Sonia wouldn’t find out the truth soon. He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes slowly.

The next morning, Sonia woke up early and opened the curtain. She looked outside and smiled. “Lagos is so busy,” she said. Uche stood up and went to brush his teeth. He had a small plan in mind—to find a cheap room and settle quickly. After breakfast, he told Sonia, “Let’s relax today. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the house.” Sonia agreed. She trusted him completely. That day, Uche went out alone and moved around the streets. He asked for available rooms to rent and how much they cost. The prices shocked him. Everything was expensive. “This money won’t last,” he said.

He finally found one small room in a crowded area. The place was noisy, and the compound was dirty, but the price was manageable. He paid for one year. He returned to the hotel and told Sonia that their house was still being cleaned and they would move in the next day. Sonia believed him. She was beginning to feel that her dream of marrying a rich man was finally coming true. She had no idea that Uche was struggling. That night, they stayed in the hotel again. Sonia was happy. Uche was worried.

As they lay in bed, Sonia touched his chest and said, “You’re a good man. I know I made the right choice.” Uche ki.ssed her forehead and held her tight. “I’ll make you happy,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure how, but he had to try. The next morning, they packed their bags and left the hotel. Uche took her to the small room he had rented. Sonia looked around and was quiet. “Is this the house?” she asked. “No,” Uche lied. “This is just a temporary place. Our house will be ready in one week.” Sonia smiled. “Alright. I’ll wait.”

To be continued