I DID NOT DO IT!

 There are so many cases of false accusations that I cannot remember. However, two left pains and scars in me more than I can imagine. As I write this now, I can feel the pains all over again. 

STORY ONE

I was in the room that day. I had just been informed by a coursemate that there was lectures in an hour’s time and there were rumours of a test happening in class. Most of the time, I am not when I hear stuff like this. Some lecturers do this for attendance. 

But this lecturer was one crazy one. I had heard of how he could frustrate students so I wasn’t about to get in his bag books. I got up immediately from the bed. Thank God I have had my bath sef, I thought. 

As I prepared for class, I observed Maria* (name changed) move around the room, searching for something. She had checked her corner for God knows when and was now moving everywhere, her face red with anger. Yeah, she was light-skinned so it had literally turned red. 

I wanted to ask her what she was looking for but quickly stopped myself. When she had entered the room earlier, I had greeted her but she didn’t reply me. I was the only one in the room so there’s no way she would not have heard. I just thought she had a bad day and didn’t want to talk to anyone. I’ll look for her trouble later, I thought and shrugged it off. 

“Excuse me,” she said. She was standing beside me now. I am surprised that she is even talking to me. I did not say anything. I picked up my bag and headed for class. 

I did not return until much later in the evening. Turns out there were other lectures too. As I got close to our room, I heard hot arguments. I was wondering what was happening. When I opened the room, the noise subsided a bit. It was already a full room because almost everyone was back from class.

(Let me explain. I stayed in hostels inside the school for most of my days as an undergraduate. It was only in my finals I stayed off campus. Shey you get now? Oya, let’s continue the gist.) 

Why are they looking at me like this? I wondered. Only a few persons, including my friend that I was staying with answered my greeting.  

(When you’re staying with someone in a room, especially when you did not pay any money but like a favour, we call it ‘squatting’. You that is receiving that favour is the squatter. My school frowned at squatting but it still happened. Not everyone got accommodation which was quite limited and not everyone could afford the expensive amount to rent a room outside. It was more of working with what you had. For me, aside from first year when I was in my former department, I never got accommodation throughout my stay in school. So, I squatted all through. Terrifying, abi? But I did. Oya, back to the story.)

I did not kuku answer anybody again, I changed my clothes. But I could still hear angry murmurs from Maria’s end.

Later, my friend dragged me out of the room. “Why are you dragging me na? Come, wetin dey do everybody today? What happened? Gimme gist na,” I said, getting ready for the juicy story I had missed. 

The look on her face said it was serious. “Maria is looking for her money.”

Ohh! That must be what she was looking for when I was leaving the room. “Why are you looking at me like that? How much is the money? Has she looked everywhere?”

“#5,000. She said when she came back she met only you in the room.”

“So?” I was still not getting it. Then, it dawned on me. “Wait ooo….she means….”

“I told them you would never do it. I have known you for so long a time and…..” 

I really did not hear the rest because right now and then, my body was trembling. From anger and past experiences. Because the truth is, I’ve always been accused since I could remember. There are many I cannot even remember again but each encounter leaves a terrible pain in me that I cannot even begin to describe. Most of the time, I would cry and cry proclaiming my innocence ti whoever cared to listen. Other times, I would do nothing and just wait. If I ever got vindicated, fine. If not, so be it. God sees my heart anyway. 

Why does this have to happen to me all the time? I could feel my heart squeezing tight. My friend was still talking but I cannot even remember anything she was saying. 

No, I have had enough. I won’t take this anymore. God sees my heart but this people have to feel the taste of my wrath. I can’t keep this to myself. Everywhere must scatter today. 

And I was very intent about it. I walked towards the room, my friend calling behind me. I could hear Maria saying, “But she was the only one here. Why did it not get missing when….”

“Come, madam, look at me and talk to me,” I announced as I entered the room. “So your money is missing and because I was the only one in the room, I was the one that took it.”

“I did not mention anybody’s name ooo,”  Maria said. What is this bitch saying? (Yeah, I used I swear word. Forgive me, Lord.) “You were here when I was looking for….”

“You are not serious,” I thundered back, my body trembling the more. “When you returned and I greeted you, did you answer? So you did not see anyone to accuse, it is me abi?”

“This is where I keep my purse. And you usually come here when….” She continued talking. 

“Am I the only one who passed your corner? Everybody in this room passes here. What rubbish are you saying? Since we’ve been in this room, nothing has ever gone missing. How come it is now yours?”

“Me, I don’t know ooo. I don’t know,” Maria said. “That’s why I said we should not have squatters in this room. When we are bringing people that we don’t know into this room.” She said so many things that I cannot even remember right now. 

If you know me, you’d know fighting is not just my thing. I have a sharp mouth, yes. But fighting? Naaah! But Maria and I would have killed ourselves if my friend had not held me down, I swear. The confrontation went on like that for as long as I can remember. My friend kept insisting she looked for the money and that I wasn’t a thief. 

It was getting late and people were about to sleep. I did not allow anyone sleep ooo. Sleep where? “Nobody will sleep or rest in this room until we find that money. You, Maria? So, even if someone tells you that I stole outside you will believe it abi?” Why won’t she believe it? She’s the one accusing you for Christ’s sake, a voice yelled in my head. 

We continued searching. Maria insisted on checking my bag. I allowed her to. She wanted to check my personal belongings. I refused. “If you check everybody’s own, then you will check mine. If not, no way!”

When she couldn’t find the money, she muttered, “Maybe she has even spent all the money….”

“Maria, you are mad. Very mad,” I yelled. 

“You are very stupid. You are….”

And that’s how we began teasing words. Of course, our room was full with spectators from other rooms. What a scene! 

Someone dragged me out of the room. I remember walking out of the hostel into the cold that night. It must have been around one or two in the morning, I’m not so sure now. But this was usually around the time I go out to read. 

There was no reading this time. Too much rage. As I walked, the cold breeze slapping my face and me shivering, tears dropped. I really did not know why I was crying now but I was glad it wasn’t in front of Maria. 

I walked to Motion Ground and sat there. Just sat still. My mind was blank completely. I really cannot remember what had happened the time I had sat still. 

When I returned, everyone was asleep. My friend woke up when I opened the door but I shook my head, my way of telling her I didn’t want to talk and she didn’t push it. Thank God!

I laid down on the bed but no sleep came. How in the world is this evil Maria sleeping and I am not sleeping? I thought. Abi I should wake her and let’s continue the fight?

I checked the time later. 6 a.m. I got up from the bed. I couldn’t even pray or study the Bible. I just wanted to leave the room before she woke up. I didn’t have any lectures until around 9am or so. I didn’t care. I left the room around 6.30 and went to Social Sciences basement to sit there. 

The day passed like that. I didn’t talk much and people kept asking what was wrong. “Nothing,” I told them. In my mind I was yelling, Leave me alone! Just let me be! Leave me alone! Is it by force to talk? 

I entered the room very late. I think around 9p.m. or so. I was just stalling not going back to the room. By now, hunger had beaten me ehh….but I didn’t care. 

As I opened the door, one of my roommates beamed, “Tope, welcome.” Ohhh! So you can smile at me now, abi? “Maria has seen the money ooo.”

I swear, that was the best news ever but I didn’t even show it. I was cursing Maria in my mind. I entered the bed and slept off. I didn’t wake until the next morning. 

The next morning, Maria was begging me not to be angry. Turns out she had removed the money from her purse and placed it in another bag the day she had used it. When she returned, she did not put it back in her purse. God punish your full destiny, Maria, was all I was thinking about as I looked on. 

She was begging, other people were joining to beg to.

“I hear,” was all I said. 

Iffa hear say I hear. 

Our relationship was never like before till we left the room. It took me a long time to start talking to her again and it was always like a forced one. 

After that incident, I stopped staying in the room if I was the only one left. Plenty times bitten, plenty times shy. If I was the only one left, I’d leave the room. Anywhere else but the room. Even when I went to friend’s room and I’m the only one, I’m thinking, “Make I come dey go, before they will say Tope has stolen one thing.”

I try not to think of this, but this still follows me till date. 

STORY 2

This is 2018. I had just finished my project finally after pleeeeenty delays because of financial wahala. Big Thanksgiving for me. 

I needed to raise money for NYSC mobilization. I knew I would not get much in Ife, so I suppose to a friend’s mum in Warri and next thing you know, I’m on a bus going to Warri. 

(For those of you who don’t know, I was born and raised in Warri. After many years there sha, dad decided to come back to his hometown, Ile-Ife in Osun State. Truth is, while I very much acknowledge it as my hometown, I still don’t feel at home there. We’ve been in Ife for more than six years now, it still doesn’t feel like it. So imagine my excitement of going back to Warri. That was and still feels like home.)

Anyway, I got to Warri and sharp sharp, my friend’s mother got me a job with her younger sister’s printing company that she ran with her husband. I was so glad. No wasting time. Unlearnt the ropes as fast as I could. I was in the sales department. The t-shirts, face caps and even some of the materials used for printing, I handled them. So, money was always in my hands. 

Later, I found out I had a senior colleague, Lisa* (name changed). She’d been away for health issues. When she returned, we hit it off instantly. No trying to know each other better or those sort. Very quickly. Can life be any sweeter? 

When Sister Anna* (name changed) could not go to the bank, Lisa did. 

After a while, she began to send me to the bank too. 

Life was good.

Until one day.

The following day was Sister Anna’s husband’s birthday and I was told it was usually celebrated with cake, drinks, food etc. Thank you, Lord. Me wey like all those kain things before. She even asked us to print a cap for free that had the inscription, ‘HBD Boss’. See love! 

I was so excited the next day. I was wearing a white t-shirt and a blue pair of trousers (That was the dress code.) Work continued as usual because the celebration was until later in the evening. 

Lisa could not make it. I think she had taken excuse earlier that she had a function to attend or something. I really cannot remember now. But I was the only one handling the department. 

It was now well into the afternoon. Sister Anna called me later to bring the money we had sold the previous day as she was about going to the bank. There’s a safe we keep the money so I went there to get it.

The money was not there! Aye mi! What’s happening? 

I had separated the money in various envelopes based on what and what I had sold. So there were about three envelopes. Two contained different amounts. The biggest one was well over a hundred thousand. 

It was gone. Only that one! 

I checked everywhere in that safe. Even the place that I was not supposed to, I did. It wasn’t there. My heart was beginning to race fast. 

I went back to the store and checked everywhere. It’s not like the money could have been there, but by now, I wasn’t really thinking straight again. I was not settled. Money haff fly away. 

By now, Sister Anna had already noticed it. When I told her, you needed to see the change in her face. (Trust me, money brings out emotions you would never have thought existed in people.) She said I should look for the money ooo. If she had known, she would have collected the money blah blah.

As the printing company was not a big one, word had spread. Even customers knew about it because Sister Anna sha will not keep her voice down. The way she continued talking already pointed to me as the thief. 

Her husband returned with a friend and I was called to the office and interrogation started; asking where I kept the money, where I put the money blah blah. Painfully and in tears, I answered. 

Sister Anna said she would call the police ooo. I was not so worried about that for myself but for the people I was now staying with (My friend’s family moved to another place and it was too far from where I was working so I went to stay with a family relation.) All I was thinking was, Where would they get money to bail me? Would I even be granted bail? I had brought trouble to a peaceful family. 

I was asked to call them. I refused. 

Then the friend said there was somebody they will call, the man can tell if a person stole or not by just talking to the person on the phone or seeing the person’s picture. He said he would call the man right there and then. 

Does this man think I am a dive year old that can be threatened like that? “Call him now and put it on loudspeaker,” I said. Now, I was done crying and angry that people that were all laughing with and telling me how efficient I was, were now pointing accusing fingers at me. “Should I stand well so you can take my picture and send to him? I did not steal the money. Maybe he would help us catch the thief.”

He was shocked and tried to hide it. But I saw it. 

I was told to go and look for the money. By the time I got out Sister Anna was still ranting. Well, I was used to it so I just entered my store. 

Some customers were still coming and I was still selling. You would think I would leave, abi? Well, leaving would only make them really believe I did it, don’t you think? My face was swollen from crying too much and customers were asking what happened. I did not answer anybody. 

The birthday party had begun already. Yes, they still did the party ooo. Everywhere was smelling nice but I did not partake. I was still searching and thinking where the money was. Lisa had called me 100 times to know how far with the money because I had called her to tell her. She kept telling me to calm down. How can I be calm with that kind of money missing? 

If I had that money as they thought, and I was really a thief, I for don run comot for Warri enter Ife na. They only knew we had moved to Osun State. No address or anything. It would be too easy, abi? 

But nobody was thinking in that line. 

My colleagues came at different times to help me search too and drop advice. While I find it thoughtful, I couldn’t help but think that it might be one of them that stole the money at that time. 

When I was tired of searching, I sat down. Anyhow wey e wan happen, make e happen. I nor find again. I was done. Alex* (name changed. One fine boy that we were crushing in each other but sha doing like nothing was happening) kept coming to ask me for updates. He wasn’t happy. You could see it from his face (or maybe that’s what my lovestruck eyes were seeing). He sat with me for a long time, trying to soothe me. And I kept crying because he was there. 

Imagine guy you are forming for to be seeing you crying terribly! Fada Lawd! But I didn’t care about all that then. 

Now, it was around past eight or so at night. We’re getting prepared to close but they said I will not go ooo until I coughed out the money. No wahala. Let us all sleep here na.

I don’t know who entered the office where the safe was. The safe was opened and the money was found on the floor just behind it. 

Sister Anna and the husband together with some others called me and showed me the money. They said I was careless. That I didn’t put the money well with the books and thank God they’ve seen the money. 

One of the idiots was telling me that he knew that I didn’t steal the money. If eyes could kill, that guy would have been long dead. I swear. 

Story ended. Jubilation started. I was asked to count the money and it was complete. Exactly the way I used rubber bands to hold it. 

But the story of the money being found did not make sense to me one bit. The safe was like a kind of cabinet so if you push things to the extreme, it would fall to the back. Agreed. Now the envelopes and books I use to wrote down what I sold, I used rubber bands to hold them together. Firmly. 

If it really got to the end, why did the other flatter envelopes and books not fall with it? How come it was only the fatter envelope that fell? Why? How come other papers there did not fall? 

Shey you are thinking what I’m thinking too? 

I had two reasons why that had played out and I told only Lisa about it. I suspected either a foul play or that I was being tested.

I didn’t tell the family where I was. They asked why I had returned late and I told them that it’s because of work and all. Even my parents do not know about this. Maybe the day they read this, they will know. 

I became more wary till I left the company.