The Gunshot

"We live to die, we die to live,

Our homes just differs,

Dead or alive, we keep living.

This time, either on earth or in Paradise". Mr Biobaku poetically said while footing it home from work.

Its the end of the month, Mr Biobaku just got paid his countable salary.

Whilst going home, he thoroughly thought about the financial expenses and cravings that is about to befall him, ranging from the school fees of his kids, his sick mother in the village, food provisions and house rents in which his salary ain't enough to cater for quarter of the listed financial responsibilities considering the fact that the afore king who was lynched ain't longer alive to continue carrying the financial requests of the family.

Mr Biobaku might be an alcoholic father and husband but he is and never was a gambler.

But recent hike in financial responsibilities seems to be pushing and shoving him too hard..

While trekking home, he kept thinking of how to grow his salary in folds in order to meet up with his pipelined responsibilities, then he thought of patronizing a gambling shop nearby..

He said;

"Ẹ̀kọn lọ́mọ́kùrin ń kú (A man does die once). Let me take this risk, I hope I come out lucky else its doom for me".

He proceeded to the gambling shop, tendered his entire salary for the month, he basically don't know how the game is being played but the receptionist helped him with necessary instructions, directives and conditions..

Out of a hundred list of random numbers, he needs to pick at least 4 correct numbers out of the proffered 8 numbers provided by the gambling machine..

Mr Biobaku's pulse begins to race faster, he started chewing prayers. He placidly reached a resolute of 8 numbers in his mind, he started shuffling them in his mind, doing all he can to be skeptical and alongside pragmatic in his selections.

At the eventuality of his resolutions and pronouncements, at an unusual occasion in the gambling world, Mr Biobaku correctly guessed 5 numbers right out of the list of 8.

He was drowned in an immeasurable relieve and happiness as he took the breath of relieve and folded his fist into the air as a sign of victory..

Getting five numbers correctly means he will be getting his betting amount and get another 5 folds of the same amount he placed in betting. What a fruitful and productive evening for Mr Biobaku as he gets his winnings..

Immediately he proceeded home in the urge to discharge the good news to his family.

In the same vein, he kept his security alertness alive and he was conscious of people walking in his path to avoid being traced to his home.

"My love,

My love,

Come, come." Mr Biobaku called out his wife in a tone filled with romance and happiness.

He continues;

"Its good news for us today,

I have always told you that Mondays are good days for me, they're my lucky days."

He narrated to his wife, how he was able to summon the courage, how he risked it all and what filled and refilled his mind if his risk had turned otherwise against his luck.

"This is my winning, don't you see how lucky we are?"

He took to his feet, dancing to the rhythm in his head.

"But my husband, because you're lucky today doesn't you should make it a usual practice to gamble every Mondays," Mrs Biobaku emphasized.

"Good evening daddy, how was work today?" Ayo who has been spending adequate reading time with his sisters came into the room after achieving progress in today's academical discuss.

"Work went well. In fact, today is the best day ever since I was born. My first time of ever being lucky." Mr Biobaku replied.

"Oh, daddy, your dancing steps are amazing. I actually can't remember the last time I saw you dance." Sade emphasized.

"What's the good news dad?" Aduke asked.

"I did something I won't encourage y'all to do, albeit I did it for your sakes.

Y'all know its the end of the month today and salary will be paid, as I was coming home, I just branched the gambling shop, took the risk with my salary and gbam, I won!

This is the result." Mr Biobaku narrated.

"Congratulations Dad, its a good day. I can see where your dancing steps are coming from." Ayo said.

Mr Biobaku got on his feet to exercise more dancing steps.

Ayo continues;

"However mom, the secretary informed me in school today that our bills are settled, that the former King had settled it before he met his waterloo.

I'm sorry that I'm just reporting it to you, never knew you've returned from the market."

"Its okay my son, that's another good news." Mrs Biobaku replied.

Mr Biobaku seems not to have exhausted his dancing styles as he keeps cracking the ribs of his family with his unrelenting dance moves.

They laughed and laughed..

"My wife, please make something sumptuous and yummy for us at dinner tonight.

My children deserves to bite their tongues from the yummies devouring from your pot." Said Mr Biobaku.

"My mommy, my daddy deserves a special massage tonight, he deserves all the very possible means of your woman care tonight." Sade who mimicked her dad said.

Sade continues;

"Thank you for your effort dad, thank you for always putting us first in your life, thank you for loving us.'

"Unconditionally," Sade, Ayo and Aduke all chorused.

"I love you too my amazing pearls," Mr Biobaku replied.

Few hours later, at the hour of the middle of the night, Mrs Biobaku who heard sounds of light feet and shadows approaching their room after the entrance door that was well locked before sleeping was professionally dismantled by the strange night crawlers.

Mrs Biobaku tapped her husband to witness the strange happening of the night.

"Where is the money you won today?

Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about." A croaky voice from the armed robbers emerged.

You see this metal in my hand, it cost me nothing to strike it and when I do it permanently asphyxiate lives.

Mrs Biobaku hurriedly gave them the money so as to avoid them and their children who are still lost in their sleep get hurts.

"You're a good woman, enjoy the rest of your night. We come in peace, we met you in peace, we will live in peace, living you in peace and not in pieces." Another voice from the robbers emerged.

As the robbers were about leaving, Mr Biobaku who has made a plot in his mind, swiftly took out his sharpened cutlass to strike one of the robbers in the leg, immediately the other robber stroke his gun against Mr Biobaku as they absconded lifting his injured partner.

"What's that?"

Ayo asked as he interrupted his sleep hearing the sound of the gunshot.

"My husband

My husband."

That was the cry that Mr Biobaku last heard.