11/09/2023
**DIRTY GAME**
EPISODE 4
I turned my head to know who was holding me and it was a security agent. âdidnât you see the notice that receiving calls is prohibited in the bank!â he yelled at me.
I was shocked and dropped the call unknowingly.
âAm sorry sirâ, I apologized.
I went back to the first attendant.
âMa, would I be able to get the ATM today if I apply?â I asked.
âATM form is not available for now, you will need to come as early as possible tomorrow morningâ, she replied.
âBut the money is needed right now in the hospital to take care of an unhealthy patientâ, I tried to explain to her.
âPerhaps, you withdraw through counter then, that is the only option you are left withâ, she advised.
I looked at the situation on ground; the queue was still as long as river Nile.
âI couldnât come out of this queue if I joinâ, I said to myself.
âMa, what favour could you offer me if at all I want to withdraw through counter?â I asked her.
âDonât worry! You will only be charged of two hundred and fifty naira from your accountâ, she said.
âAm ok with it provided that I will get the moneyâ, I responded.
âGo to that lady at the extreme end and request for withdrawal slipâ, she pointed to a fair lady, very beautiful and portable in size. She should be an I.T student like me, I guessed.
âWell doneâ, I greeted her.
âHow may I help you?â, she asked.
âI need a withdrawal slipâ, I replied.
âDo you have your ID card with you?â, she asked.
âYes, is with meâ, I replied.
(She detached a slip and filled it.)
âWhere is your ID cardâ, she asked.
(I gave out my school ID card to her).
She looked at my face and smiled. Why is she smiling at me? Are we from the same school or she has developed interest in me? I was lost in those thoughts when I heard from her. âSir, I donât mean your school ID card, but National ID card or better still, Your driving licenseâ, she explained.
âBut you said ID card and besides, what is wrong with my school ID card?â, I asked.
âAm sorry sir, we donât recognize school Id card. In the light of this, I will only give you this slip, but you canât withdraw with itâ, she said and handed the slip to me.
âWhat should I use it for since I couldnât use it to withdraw?â I asked in pity.
âItâs yours, since I have detached it and your names had been written on itâ, she replied.
I felt disturbed and started thinking of the next action to take and that was when I remembered that my PVC (Permanent Voters Card) could be of use as a substitute to National ID card.
It was already 3:15pm. I left the bank for office in hurry so as to take my PVC and come back before the bank close for the day.
I branched at Mrs. Akinâs office and told her what I had gone through.
She looked at me with pity and showed her sympathy.
âAm very sorry for letting you experienced such turmoil. Perhaps you delay it till tomorrowâ, she said in a pitiable mood.
âNo ma. Let me take my PVC at the office and give it the last trial for todayâ, I replied and left for office.
âAre you just coming from the bank?â, Mrs.Ola questioned.
âYes maâ, I replied.
âThatâs serious!â she exclaimed.
I started checking where I put my PVC, but couldnât find it. Another problem! It should be at home too, I thought.
âI will be back maâ, I said to my boss.
âAre you still going back to the bank?â she asked.
âYes maâ, I replied and I left. She uttered a statement but I didnât care to listen.
I checked Mrs.Akin in her office and explained to her that I couldnât see the PVC but I have prepared for the worst.
âHow do you want to go about it?â she asked.
âI have decided to go and meet the managerâ, I replied.
âDo you think they will allow you to see himâ, she asked with confusion.
âDonât worry ma, I willâ, I replied optimistically.
âAlright dear, thanks so muchâ, she said and I zoomed off back to the bank.
On getting to the bank, I changed my thought of meeting the manager, so, I went back to the first attendant.
âMa, I presented my school ID card to her for the slip, but she insisted that I must present my National ID cardâ, I lamented.
She looked at me with pity and collected the slip from me.
âWhere did you open your account?â she asked.
âEde, Osun Stateâ, I replied.
She signed it and gave it to me.
âYou are good to collect the money on the counterâ, she said.
I was a little bit relieved.
âThanks for your support ma, but I thought you are helping me to withdraw the moneyâ, I said.
âAs a good Nigerian, you have to join the queue, and besides, you know am on duty and customers could be here at any time. Sequel to that, I canât leave my seatâ, she continued, âam sorry incase I have disappointed youâ, she concluded.
On hearing that, I became hopeless like an orphan who lost her parents due to war and still lost in a desert. My heart vibrated and my eyes were filled with tears. Who would come to my rescue? I was lost in my thought when I heard from her⌠TO BE CONTINUED