My Contest story . "JAPA, a private affair."

 

TRENCHES

Dora glanced at her wristwatch to check the time again. She was simply tired. Being a doctor in Nigeria was exhausting, for three months now they hadn't been paid salary and it was getting really critical for her, spending so much time in the hospital now seemed too demanding, she would rather be at her shop at least, where she could make some daily 2k from her business. The economy of the country was bad as it is, with the price hike of goods and services, it wasn’t funny anymore. There was a knock on the door, Dora adjusted to sit properly for what might be the last consultation for the day.

 She left the office for home early to beat the terrible traffic. The bolt driver called to confirm location and pickup. Her phone rang again. Maureen. she thought, remembering she scheduled a video call with her friend, the one that stays in the US and she wasn’t home yet. She had been friends with Maureen since secondary school. After graduation, Maureen’s relatives worked her admission and she travelled to school over there. Ever since, their friendship had been flourishing through constant video calls, voice calls, texting and occasional visits to Nigeria. She got her phone out of her bag, but it was Angela her roommate, calling to tell her she had a good news. The bolt ride was almost reaching the destination so they both agreed to leave the gist till when they get home. It was either Michael her boyfriend had proposed or she had been promoted at work, but either way Dora couldn’t wait to hear the good news. 

Not long after Dora got home, Angela returned. There was no light as usual. She didn’t bother to buy fuel, they had to start managing. She was in the kitchen trying to fix up a quick dinner when Angela returned. Their one bedroom apartment which they shared wasn’t so big but it was comfortable. Dora called out from the kitchen, as Angela made her way to the kitchen immediately after dropping her bag in the sitting room. She happily narrated how a tough client of hers just agreed to purchase a land. Angela had just closed a big deal, this was a real good news, at least she would get that raise or perhaps a promotion. A perfect way to end a mentally exhausting day. They both laughed and shared the joy of the good news as they ate. Dora’s phone rang and it was Victor, her boyfriend, they last spoke in the morning, so it was about time. She would complain to him about her day, while he would compassionately reassure her that everything would be fine. Angela went to buy some fuel. The scarcity of fuel had reduced. Dora had finishing having her bath when Maureen called. She smiled, found her earpiece on the bed side drawer and relaxed on the bed to take the call, it’s was going to be a long conversation, there was a lot to talk about, from relationship matters to fashion to trends on social media to family to the terrible economy.

Dora was still on the phone with Maureen when Angela returned with the fuel and put on the generator. They were both talking about work now, and Dora complained bitterly on the poor medical facilities and the delayed salary payment. She told her of the meeting they had few days ago to go on strike again, the second time in the year. It was really terrible. Maureen felt really sad about the situation of things and how badly her friend complained, she then told her of employment opening for foreign medical professionals and asked if she would like to come over to the US and work as a medical Doctor. Dora was excited about the idea. she was going to think about it. Considering the offer seem to be the only way to leave the country to a better, perhaps greener pastures. This was the opportunity to finally japa from this trenches of a country to a better life. She was surely going to consider. Before going to bed, she said a hopeful prayer, checked her phone and saw the message from Dr. Chimaobi, reminding her of the two days off for Thursday and Friday. An information that made her smile to sleep.

 GODSENT

She went to the mechanic workshop to check her car to make sure Bala had worked on it, she didn’t want to use a bolt ride to work again, it wasn’t economical in the bad economy. The landlord had called to remind her of the rent, she cringed. The last time she and her roommate owed a rent it was really tough. That was the other time the government hadn’t paid salaries for almost six months. Bala was not in his workshop, he went for a test drive. She sat under the shade to wait for him to return so she can complete the payment and take her car. She used the free time to check through her phone to reply to messages on social media, check the news and follow the latest gists. She checked her whatsapp, Maureen had already sent the link for her to apply for the job online telling her an exam would be taken to assess the applicants. She had decided to take the opportunity because they don’t come all the time, but she had to tell her mom first when she goes home to visit her family over the weekend. Bala drove in and pulled up in front of the shade, Dora stood up. They exchanged greetings and she made the remaining payments and was handed the keys to her car.

When she got to her apartment, she called Victor to tell him she wouldn’t be coming for the weekend because she had to go see her family, her Mum was getting worried why she hadn’t seen her Ada in almost two months. He agreed. Dora cared about him, victor was one of the reasons why she thought really hard about the whole japa thing, she didn’t want to leave the stable relationship she had with him but he was really understanding, he too would want to leave the country to a better place if he had the opportunity. All she needed to do was migrate and then make arrangement for him to migrate as well. Maureen was a God sent she thought.

Evening came and she went home. Everyone was happy to see her. Chika her younger sister was at home too, ASUU strike wahala. What a country. While in the kitchen, helping her mom cook dinner, she decided to use that opportunity to ask her mom an indirect question concerning her plans. Her mom's reaction was a positive one, figuring her mom would not oppose to her plans when she finally breaks the news. Dinner was set. They had a nice family dinner after a long while.

The next day, Sunday, Dora planned to go back to her apartment after church service. she had checked out the link to the website, researched and applied, determined and ready to take the big step to start the process. She prayed hard to God to grant her prayers. After church, she drove straight home to get ready for a new week.

PRIVACY

Mondays was always hectic and today was no different, Dora got to work with the news of the intending strike action all over the hospital. She was happy at least the strike would give her time to study for the exams. It was lunchtime, Dora went with a colleague to get lunch, he told her of the job offer he had at a private hospital. She was happy for him. Private hospitals were better than public hospitals. She really wished she could tell him too about the abroad job she was applying for. But, She couldn’t be revealing good things as this before something goes wrong. After work, Dora went home to Victor’s but didn’t tell him anything about the application when he asked how the weekend with the family went.

 Dora was done with the application processes by the following week, as discreetly as possible, providing all the necessary document needed to apply, she kept communicating with Maureen for guidance. The strike action had started so it gave her time to prepare, the exam would be in a month time, she had to prepare and give in her best to pass with distinction and get selected. At home she got so busy with working on her laptop and using the generator at odd times, her roommate got curious and asked what she was up to. But she only told her she was doing an online job. She did not tell her roommate the truth, she had to keep it private, as they say if you love something you keep it private. She was determined to take her village people unawares. Trying to move out of the country isn’t something you go about telling people, she thought to herself.

 The exam day came and she wrote the exams. The results came out few days later, she passed. She was so happy. She told no one of the good news. The next stage was the online interview which she took discreetly as well and when the selection was done, Dora was selected. She got the email a week later giving her the details of the job and all the document necessary for her to come over to the US and start the job. All these while, her parents weren’t aware of the progress she was making she only kept telling her mother to pray for her as there was something big she was working on. When the processes were done and she was selected she decided to tell her parents

JAPA!

Four months had passed. From the time Maureen had sent the link till now, she was able to keep the whole affair private, no one else knew. Only Maureen knew of her plans. Victor didn’t know as we because he might want to discourage her not to leave him for another country. Everything was set , she had started the whole visa collection process that would take about two weeks. She was required to be in America before next month end. She decided to tell her parents, since everything was set.

Her mom was overjoyed when she broke the good news to her parents, she danced as her dad smiled, singing praises to God. After she told them the news she begged them to keep it private because she didn’t want any sudden disappointments. She knew of people who had plans of leaving the country and they told no one until they had reached that country. That was exactly what she planned on doing. Few days to her departure, she told her siblings and victor. Victor was sad but she had good plans for him which he understood and they promised to stay in touch. The day she was to travel came, victor and her mom followed her to the airport to see her off.

Dora got to the US, Maureen went to pick her from the airport. She called her family and victor to tell them she had travelled safely. Then one week later she took to her social media with pictures she took in Atlanta to announce to her friends that she had successfully left Nigeria with the caption, ‘’Japa’’.