PAYING THE BILLS

I called Mr. Potter. 

"You got the money?" he asked.

"Yes,"

"Well, it's all yours. There is no need for me to die with money in the bank, is there?"

"What about your wife and family? They are not going to take this decision sitting down. They will contest this, saying you are not mentally well, and I tricked you into giving me money."

Mr. Potter laughed. "You know, sometimes I do underestimate your intelligence, thinking that you are just a crook after my money. But you are not. You are really smart. But you need the money more than they do here. And that's why I am giving it to you." He chuckled. "And now you would have the problem of being a rich man. And for my family, I have had a meeting with them. Nobody is going to bother you. They have their own money as it is."

"I don't know what to say," I said.

"There is nothing to say. Besides, you can use a little part of the money to defend yourself against anyone coming after you. The Bible says money is a defense, or something like that. If anyone comes up with any insanity clause, use what you have to defend yourself." He coughed for several seconds. "They also say I have pneumonia. I just hate doctors; they just keep coming up with sicknesses and saying that I have them."

"I am really grateful," I said.

"Use the money for good, Paul. Money is as good as you make it to be. Take care of yourself."

And he began another bout of coughing and cut off the line before I could give another reply.

I sat for my long while looking at my phone and then at the opposite wall. I wished Sarah was here; life would have been at its best.

My phone rang at that moment and brought me back from fantasy land. I picked up the call, not knowing who the person calling was.

"Hello?"

"Hello," I said.

"Hello, Mr. Paul. This is Eunice, I am calling from Prime Bank."

Have the vultures smelled the carcass already?

"Okay; what can I do for you?" I asked.

"I am your account officer. Are you aware that some money has been paid into your account?"

"Two million pounds."

"Yes. Please can I come and see you? Wherever you are, just tell me the address, and my colleague and I would come and see you."

The vultures have smelled the carcass, I thought. They have never called me before.

"Is there a problem with the account?" I asked.

"No, no problem at all! In fact, there is everything right with your account, Mr. Paul. Everything is just wonderful with your account. Please can I come and see you?"

I considered for a moment. "Maybe another day, please. Or can we just discuss it right now?"

"Well, sir, we want to know what your intentions are concerning the money you have just received. We can give you advice on what to do with the money so that you can continue to have greater value from our bank. The packages we have for you are better than what you can have from any bank, sir."

"Are you afraid I might move the money to another bank? Rest your mind. I am not going to do that. But I will come to the bank and then we can see."

"When sir? When are you coming to the bank, sir?"

"I have your number; I will let you know. Thank you for calling."

"Thank you, sir. It's great doing business with you. And see you soon, sir. Bye."

"Bye," I said, and I dialed off.

I sat thinking for a long while. Was this how life was? One minute I was in sorry and a nobody, and the next the bank is calling me and doling over me?

Was this how fast and how easy one's life can change?

I felt the power and the courage of ten different men all in me. I got up and had my bath.

I drove to Plateau Hospital. I got to the reception and asked for Mr. Panja, Talatu's father. He was kept in room 8, in the Amenity Ward.

I walked there with my heart beating, but I was not afraid anymore. Money really gives confidence. Without the money in my account, I wouldn't have had the boldness to do the thing I was about to do. Now, I felt I can do anything in the world.

I knocked on Room 8's door, and then I heard Talatu's voice said, "Come in."

I hesitated for a moment, and then I turned the knob walked into the room. Talatu and her mom were in the room, and her father was lying on the bed, with his back supported with pillows and his leg hung up.

Talatu gasped, and her mother turned around to look at me.

"Good evening," I said.

The sound of my voice impressed me! It was neither loud nor silent, but it was just the right pitch, the voice of a man full of confidence.

"Good evening," Talatu's mom answered. "You are welcome, Paul."

I looked at Talatu's dad lying on the bed. He looked up at me and I saw recognition in his eyes too. His eyes widen up, and then they focused on my face. 

Talatu stared at me, speechless.

"How is he doing?" I asked.

"He is much better," her mom said. "Paul, is that really you?"

"Yes."

"I heard what happened to you. I am so sorry."

"It's alright," I said, and walked closer to the bed. "How are you feeling, sir?"

Talatu's dad shifted his eyes from my face. 

Talatu's mom said, "He has not started speaking. The stroke affected his speech, and he has to learn how to speak all over again."

"I wish him a quick recovery," I said.

"Thank you so much," Talatu's mom said. "This is really kind of you…after all we have done to you. You are so kind."

"Don't worry about that," I said. "I am over it."

Talatu stared at me as if she were a picture on the wall. The atmosphere in the room was as tense as atmosphere of a room filled with African legislators arguing about gay rights. 

"Well, I will take my leave now," I said. "I hope he gets better."

"We are grateful to you, Paul," Talatu's mom said. "Thank you so much for coming."

"Just one more thing before I leave," I said. "Please let me know how much the hospital bill is. I will cover it. I will pay for everything."

"What do you mean?" Talatu's mom asked.

"Don't worry about the bill. I will pay for everything."

Talatu's mom held my hand. "Oh, Paul, thank you so much. You don't have to do this…after all we have done? Rejecting you and you are coming back to help us? You are a saint. You are better than all of us."

"No, we cannot accept it," Talatu said, speaking for the first time. "Thank you, but we will take care of the bills as a family."

"Talatu," I said. "Let bygone be bygone. I am not here to talk about what happened before. That's in the past. All I want is for your dad to get well. That's all I want. There are no strings attached."

"Talatu, what are you complaining about," her mom asked. "Is Paul not an answer to my prayers? Don't you know how expensive this private ward is? Or are you not aware that we have been struggling to pay the bills?"

"But Agaba said he would pay the bills," Talatu said. 

"I know he said he would pay, but has he given you a penny yet?" Talatu's mom said. "See how we had to beg the hospital this morning to give your daddy's drugs, so we could pay later. We have not paid yet, and we have to get more drugs tomorrow. Where are we going to get the money from? And did you not consider selling your phone this morning? So, if help comes should we not take it?"

"Sorry to hear that," I said. "If you or Talatu can give me your account number, I will send some money to you right now, before I get some more for you later."

I had 560,000 Naira in my account at that time. The money was what was left from the money we saved for the wedding. I had used part of it for the Sarah's burial, and this was the rest. 

"Give him your account number," Talatu's mom said, rather quickly. "You are the one who goes out to pay the bills, otherwise I would have given my account number. Give it to him."

Talatu hesitated. 

"What are you waiting for?" her mom asked. "Give him the account number."

Talatu called out the numbers with the reluctance of a child forced to say the ABCDs.

"Got it," I said, and transferred the money to her.

Several seconds past, and I stared at the Mr. Panja lying there on the bed, noticing how our situation had reversed. I could see the hatred in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do but to accept my benevolence, even if it is against his will. 

A beep sounded from Talatu's iPhone, and I knew the money had hit her account. 

She checked the message and looked at me. 

"Has the money gone into your account?" her mom asked.

"Yes," Talatu said.

"Thank you so much, Paul," Mrs. Panja said. "You are God sent."

"He sent 500,000," Talatu said.

"500,000? Paul, can you spare that much?"

"Don't worry, Mrs. Panja," I said. "It's not a problem at all. Please manage it."

"Manage? This will help us for days. Thank you so much."

"It's alright," I said. "Think nothing about it."

"Thank you," Talatu said in a small voice. 

"No problem," I said. "I will take my leave now. And I wish Mr. Panja a quick recovery."

"Thank you, Paul," Talatu's mom said. "Please give my regards to your parents."

"I will," I said and opened the door.

"Talatu, what are you doing standing there?" Mrs. Panja said. "Escort him to the car park and then go and pay the outstanding at the pharmacy and buy his drugs for the coming week."

And Talatu followed me to the car park all against her wish.