Mere Coincidence (II)

MERE COINCIDENCE (II)

       Following Daniel’s expulsion from the revered university, Dr. P.C. Obi was filled with mixed feelings. He couldn’t fathom what the chap could be doing with the results’ sheets, considering that the results in question had nothing to do with him; he was in 200 Level whereas the said results pertained to 400 Level students. Hence, it was very difficult for the don to reconcile the scenario.

      “Or, was he paid for it?” he thought deeply as he sat in his office seat.

       While in the deep thought, a knock was heard at the door.

      “Come in.” He responded.

        A man bearing unfamiliar face stepped in, calmly closed the door and majestically walked towards the don.

       He was clad in grey caftan and black shoes; was plump, dark and about 5.4-foot tall; and seemed to be in his mid-fifties.

       “Dr. Obi, right?” He verified, gesticulating, as he stood directly opposite the Doc who was still seated.

      “Yes.” Dr. Obi confirmed, nodding.

      “Okay,” the guest said. “Good day.”

      “Good day,” replied Dr. Obi. “Please, sit down.” He urged, gesticulating, could not wait to receive the awaited introduction.

      “Thank you.” the guest appreciated as he assumed the seat sited opposite the host. “You may be wondering, who is this man.” He thought aloud, smiling.

       Dr. Obi reciprocate with a smile, couldn’t utter a word.

      “Well,” the august visitor dished out. “I am Chief Ben Uzodinma.” He eventually introduced, paused. “Father of Uzodinma Daniel, the expelled student.”

      To Dr. Obi, the last clause was irrelevant. On hearing ‘Uzodinma’, he needed not an interpreter to inform him where the guest was coming from.

      “Oh,” he exclaimed, smiling in false pretence. “You are welcome.” He said, straight out his right arm for a handshake.

      The guest gladly reciprocated. “Thank you.” He said.

      When the saga was on, Chief Uzodinma was outside the country, Europe precisely, for a business trip. It was his wife who met with the school management during the period. So, the moment he returned from the oversea journey, he thought it wise to meet with the authorities involved towards making amends, if need be.

      “You know, I have been away since the incident occurred,” clarified Chief Uzodinma. “That is why I wasn’t able to make it to the university.”
     “Yes, I was informed.” quoth Dr. Obi. “But, your wife was here?”

     “You are right.” He confirmed. “I asked her to represent me.”

     “Please, accept my sympathy; I am really sorry.” Dr. Obi stated in a jiffy. “I was even thinking of it before you came in.”

      It’s alright,” Dr. Uzodinma responded. “I shouldn’t blame anyone for what happened.” He disclosed. “Rather, I am here to reconcile with the school.”

      “You are welcome once again.” quoth Dr. Obi. “You have done what a real father supposed to do.”

      “Please Doc,” the august visitor hesitantly said. “Can you tell me what really happened?” he verified, paused. “How did it happen.” He added.

      “Hmm…” Dr. P.C. Obi sighed. “I am still very confused myself.”

       Chief Ben Uzodinma was quiet, attentive.

      “Daniel your son looks so innocent,” Dr. Obi observed. “And I am sure, he is also from a good home.”

       The guest folded his arms, remained attentive.

       I just sent him to get me my spectacles,” Dr. Obi who dressed in his usual Safari attire rode on. “And by the time I returned to my office, here, a very vital file was missing.” He clarified, adjusted his ruggedly-looking specs.

      “Hmm…” the guest gushed out huge air.

      “He was the only one who had access to this office within that period,” he continued. “The most confusing part is that the results in question have nothing to do with him, or his set.”

      “Don’t you think there could be a mix-up somewhere?” Chief Uzodinma reasoned. “Because myself, I am deeply confused.”

      “Mix-up?”

      “Yes,” the guest reaffirmed. “It could be a coincidence.”

      “A coincidence?”

      “Of course.”

      “What are you insinuating?” quoth Dr. Obi. “That I misplaced the file?”

      “Not just that,” Chief Uzodinma replied. “Someone might have broken into your office.”

      “During a broad daylight..?” the don enquired. “Besides, I didn’t meet my door open.”

      “Maybe it happened during the previous night.” Chief Uzodinma asserted. “Maybe the invader used another means apart from the door.” He analyzed, paused.

       The host quickly glanced at the ceiling carefully to see if there was any breakage.

      The belated inquiry irritated the guest. “If may ask, did you observe the file before you left for the class that very morning?” he furiously added, though looked friendly.

      The question, which was apparently crucial, seemed tough. The astute teacher was speechless, couldn’t attend to it.

      Although the file was actually in the office before he left for Daniel’s class, Dr. Obi could not say for sure if it was there, because he never observed it prior to his departure. The last time he sighted it was the previous day before the incident transpired.

      “Dr. Obi?” the concerned father awoke his consciousness. “I said, did you observe the file before you left for the class?”

      “Of course, I did.” He lied.

      “You did?”

      “Why all these questions, if I may ask?”

      “Because, I know my son too well.” Chief Uzodinma said. “He is a no nonsense boy.” He enthused.

      Before he could finish, Abuchi a boy of about 22-year-old walked into the office having knocked at the entrance. He was Dr. Obi’s second son and equally an undergraduate of the university, but in a different department.

     “Good afternoon, daddy,” Abuchi greeted while standing. “Good afternoon, sir.” He added in a jiffy, facing Chief Uzodinma.

     “What is it, Abuchi?” Dr. Obi queried, frowned over the sudden visit.

     “Dad, sorry for disturbing you,” he said. “I came to tell you that I took the file.” He hinted, stood still.

     “You took which file?” Dr. Obi verified, still seated.

     “The one you are looking for.” He eventually confessed.

     “What..?” Dr. Obi shouted, stoop up.

      Chief Uzodinma hastily looked at him (Abuchi) in silent awe, felt very disappointed and mesmerized.

      It would interest, perhaps shock you to realize that the missing file was actually stolen by Abuchi. He made away with it exactly a few seconds after Daniel left the office on that fateful day; he deliberately made it to coincide with it so that the latter would be held responsible. Intriguingly, he had a duplicate key that invariably took him to the office whenever he wished, unknowingly to his father – Dr. P. C. Obi.

      Abuchi who was a 300 Level student of Psychology department, was as usual duly paid to carry out the dirty job by a certain syndicate comprising 400 Level students of his father’s department. Before the incident, he had been doing all sorts of alteration in his father’s records, particularly results; but Dr. Obi couldn’t acknowledge those previous ones, probably because they weren’t conspicuous. He was indeed a naughty dude, but surprisingly, all his antics were not observed by his acclaimed no-nonsense father.

      He decided to confess to his dad, perhaps because he was being haunted by Daniel’s fate. Dr. Obi would have loved to conceal such unspeakable confession just to save his job as well as public image, but his hands were ostensibly tied owing to Chief Uzodinma’s presence. It seemed God was really at work.

      The following week, Abuchi alongside his accomplices was outrightly expelled from the institution, whilst Daniel was recalled. Dr. P. C. Obi equally lost his precious job thereafter.

      There was uncontrollable uproar on the campus following the don’s exit.

     

       **The End**

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