Ajimka closed her eyes for a moment.
“No,” she whispered.
Her heart dropped. She already knew what was coming.
Not long after, the rain started. At first, it was light. Then it grew heavier, then louder.
Within minutes, water started leaking through the roof.
Ajimka stood up quickly.
“Not today,” she said under her breath.
She rushed to the leaking spots and placed bowls underneath so the water could drip into them. Water kept coming in from different spots.
She sat on her mat and sighed deeply.
“Once I get paid by the end of this month, I will add it to the money I’ve saved and fix this roof. I will fix everything. All these leaks must stop.”
Then suddenly, she heard another sound behind her.
She turned. Her eyes widened.
Water had started falling right where her mat was.
She bent down and moved the mat to another part of the room where there was no leakage. She stood in the middle of the room, looking around at bowls everywhere and water on the floor.
It was frustrating.
The next morning at the restaurant started like any other day. Noise. Movement. Customers placing orders.
Ajimka worked quietly.
When it was time for lunch break again, she walked to the kitchen. The cook was already serving food to the workers.
“Ajimka, come and take your food,” the cook said.
Ajimka walked closer and whispered.
“Please, Ma. Can you serve mine in a takeaway?”
The cook stopped and looked at her.
“Again?” she asked.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You did the same thing yesterday. Why?”
Ajimka forced a small smile.
“It’s just something personal, Ma.”
The cook sighed.
“Okay.”
She packed the food into a takeaway plate and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Ma,” Ajimka said quickly.
She took it and left.
Ajimka placed the food in a nylon bag and waited until everyone was distracted as usual before stepping out of the restaurant.
Outside, the sun was hot. Ajimka walked fast, her eyes searching as she got closer to the usual spot.
She saw him, Ogbon.
But something was not right.
He was not sitting upright like before. His body looked weak. His head was low.
Ajimka moved closer.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she said.
Ogbon lifted his head slowly.
“Good afternoon,” he replied.
His voice was weak.
Ajimka frowned.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He shook his head slowly.
“I’m not feeling well, my daughter.”
Her face changed.
“What is wrong?” she asked.
Ogbon sighed.
“My body is hot. I feel very weak.”
Ajimka quickly handed him the food.
“Please eat this first.”
He collected it slowly.
“Thank you, my daughter,” he said.
Ajimka watched him for a moment. Then she asked,
“Have you taken any medicine?”
Ogbon shook his head.
“No. I don’t have money for that.”
Ajimka went quiet. She drifted into deep thought. She looked at him again.
“How long have you been feeling like this?” she asked.
“Just since this morning,” he replied.
Ajimka pressed her lips together.
“This is not good,” she said softly.
She stood there thinking. Then she spoke again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try to see what I can do.”
Ogbon looked at her, but he said nothing.
Ajimka turned and began to walk back. Her steps were slower now. Her mind was heavy.
“The only money I have,” she thought, “is the money I’ve been saving to fix my roof.”
She remembered the rainy night, the water, the bowls.
“If I touch that money, I certainly will not be able to fix the roof this month.”
She paused for a moment. Then another thought came.
“But if I don’t help him…”
She looked back slightly.
“His condition may get worse.”
Ajimka closed her eyes briefly as she continued walking.
As she got to the restaurant, she picked up a tray and began to serve customers.
“Your food, sir.”
“Thank you, Ma.”
But her mind was not there.
“I have to do something,” she said to herself. “I cannot leave him like that.”
After some time, she walked toward Madame Agatha.
“Ma,” she said.
Madame Agatha looked at her.
“What is it?”
Ajimka had come to seek permission to leave work before 5:00 p.m., using a believable excuse so Madame Agatha would agree. Madame Agatha asked her a few questions, looking at her closely as she spoke.
After listening carefully, she finally nodded.
“All right,” she said. “You can go.”
Ajimka quickly thanked her and left without wasting time.
She left the restaurant and hurried back to where Ogbon was.
“Sir,” she called gently.
He looked up.
“I want to take you somewhere,” she said. “Can you stand?”
Ogbon tried, but he struggled.
Ajimka quickly held his arm.
“Slowly. I am here.”
Step by step, she helped him. They walked to a small pharmacy nearby.
Inside, the pharmacist looked at them.
“What is the problem?” he asked.
Ajimka spoke.
“He is not feeling well. Please check him.”
The pharmacist nodded. After a quick check, he looked serious.
“He is down with a fever,” he said.
Ajimka’s heart dropped.
“I’ll prescribe some medications for him to use, and he will be fine,” the pharmacist said.
“How much?” she asked.
The pharmacist mentioned the amount.
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