SITA
He lunged at me; the knife aimed directly at my midsection. I pivoted smoothly, the blade slicing through the air just inches from my body. In one fluid motion, I grabbed his wrist and twisted, it forcing the knife from his hand with a sharp, painful jolt. The knife clattered to the floor, and I spun, delivering a well-anticipated kick to his temple. He dropped like a marionette with its strings cut, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Breathing heavily but controlled, I looked around at the fallen men, the supermarket returning to its usual quiet. The only sound was the hum of the refrigerators and my heartbeat, steadying after the burst of action. I quietly walked out of the supermarket. I waved a cab and headed for the hotel.
I dropped at the entrance of the hotel. I made sure that I wasn't followed by taking a lot of turns. The journey that should have taken at most three to five minutes, took me 30 minutes. If they were able to find me, then there was no telling just how bad things were bound to get from now onwards.
I cautiously made for my room. I crosschecked the room making sure that no one had bugged my room. I checked behind the fluffy curtains, under my sheets, under the bulbs, bathroom, and any place my hands could fit that might have been an option. When I was certain that there was nothing, I collapsed on the bed in exhaustion.
I removed my clothes and entered the bathroom. I entered the bathtub and dipped myself. I stayed underwater until I heard my phone beep. It was a message from Baba.
I stared at the picture before me.
Kouadio, a former drug and arms dealer, who once sat on top of the black market. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor after facing trial. Though I would have preferred dead by firing squad there were a few who agreed with me.
Apparently, according to Baba's informant, the opposing party had found their way around government officials. No wonder they were able to get their hands around his sentence. According to another informant, Kouadio was last spotted in the dense city of Abobo. It wasn't one of my favorite cities. The traffic was always almost impossible to escape and I hated traffic!
Getting information in such a busy city was going to be a feet I was yet again about to beat. My thoughts were interrupted by another beeping sound. I opened the message and saw a reminder from Maria about a Charity Home I was supposed to hit later in the day. I sighed heavily and quietly stepped out of the tub; my body dripping with water.
***
By the time I arrived at the Charity event, it had already gone almost half.
"You are late." Amina, my secretary, said as she dragged me to my seat. I adjusted my eyeglasses, gently pushing them up as she stood beside me.
"Sorry about that, I completely forgot about the event."
"Didn't you receive the reminder I sent you an hour ago?" I scratched my head with a gentle smile.
"I did but I was busy with other things and I had to make sure I rounded them up before leaving."
"I guess I'll be able to understand you, politicians. You are always busy with one thing or another but we ordinary citizens, don't see what exactly keeps you busy. Except for you of course." she smiled gently.
"That's all right. We all have different ways of attending to the public needs and most times there are needs the citizens may not even be aware of."
"Now let's welcome our beloved philanthropist, Miss Sita." A voice said on the stage. There was a round of applause as I walked gently to the platform. I shook hands with the man, my face full of smiles.
"It warms my heart to see that many of you made it a date to gather here to show support to those who because of misfortune, have one disability or another"
I made a promise to myself that never will I sit and see people suffer. As long as it was within my ability. And here again, I've received an opportunity to fulfill that promise. "With this, I declare this Orphanage and School for the Disabled, hereby open!" there was a loud cheer as the ribbon was split in two. Flashlights blinked as the numerous represented new papers and TV stations tried to capture the moment.
The events continued until the sun had gone beneath the horizon. I spent the greater part of the event taking pictures with some dignitaries who had attended and donated to the orphanage. I also took some pictures with some disabled children.
"I still don't know why I have to take so many pictures," I complained as I sat down on a sofa. I took a glass of wine from Amina.
"It happened to be very good for publicity and also for your campaign of course," Amina said
"I know, but most of these pictures won't even make it to tomorrow's headlines, so why take so many?"
"Who knows? Maybe they have a gallery where they keep the pictures." I smiled.
"What would I do without you?"
"That's a question we would never get to find the answer, right? Now get going. We have some publicity to make." I dropped the glass on the table and sighed as I stood up and headed towards a group of invitees.
By the time I arrived at the hotel, it was only a few hours to midnight. I hurriedly removed my high heels and bent my toes to relax them. I lazily fell on the bed in exhaustion. I was about to fall into sleep's awaiting arms when I heard my phone ring. I looked at the caller ID and saw Amina's name.
"Hello?" I said sleepily.
"I want to remind you that you have a conference tomorrow at 9 o'clock."
"I know but don't you think, I need a little vacation?"
"I don't think so, because the needs of the people don't go on vacation."
"That reminds me, cancel every one of my appointments and meetings for the next two weeks. I'll be out of town for a while. Contact me only when you feel it's important, okay?"
"But?"
"Please, can I at least rest? Tomorrow we will look at whatever it is you want to discuss, okay?" Amina murmured an okay before ending the call.
***