Episode1- London
He remembered many lying about their countries of origin so they won’t be deported to Nigeria
Praise GOD
https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2024/11/17/gmt-expands-solutions-for-easy-migration/
Kalu’s Story
Kalu’s heart was in his throat all through the journey from Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Heathrow Airport in London. Climbing down the stairs on the plane, the panic in his chest turned up a notch and he could feel his chest clench. It was as if the airport’s air conditioning were not working as he could feel his clothes drenched in cold sweat. He wiped of his brows with the back of his hands as he walked towards the terminal
He remembered hosting his friends to a goodbye party and he started wondering if he had committed a blunder doing so as he thought of people refusing to tell their friends and relatives about their plans for the fear of the plans getting thwarted. His feet glued to the tarmac until a lady who had been on the same flight with him walked up to him.
“Scared?” The beautiful voice asked him.
“No. It’s the jetlag.” He lied.
“First time flying?”
“Yeah.” he lied again.
“No wonder. You will get used to it.”
He sighed as she nudged him into moving. He felt like telling her the truth but he felt like he barely knew her and all the women he had known except his mother had always been out to extort him. Walking into the Customs’ terminal, he saw one of his worst fears play out.
He saw a passenger on one of the earlier flights in cuffs, awaiting deportation. He could remember the guy as he had been the loudest in the airport during their wait. The man had shown a terrible personality towards the passengers and the airport staff. Kalu remembered how he had boasted of having nothing to come back to Nigeria for as he had ensured that he sold all his properties before the trip.
One part of him felt pity for him based on the stigma and shame that would be waiting for him once he got back to Nigeria. Kalu remembered one of his uncles who had gotten deported after his oyibo wife had called the cops on him after she discovered that he had a family in Nigeria. The saving grace he had was that he was generous to his family members. They welcomed him and they gave him succor but outsiders were not so nice to him as they made jest of him at every turn. He became a joke in his Umu Nna.
Another part of Kalu concluded that he had received his comeuppance and that his village people had caught up with him due to his boisterous nature.
At that point, all that was on Kalu’s mind were the worst thoughts possible. He went to the baggage and picked his bag from the lot. His mind started playing the scenario that he might have been an unwilling drug mule and someone might have planted drugs in his bag. He managed to strike the thoughts from his mind but the more he advanced, the more his mind flashed back to one of the worst memories ever.
He remembered paying a mule to traffic him through the Sahara route. He could recollect how many of his cohorts died in the Sahara without getting proper burial. The things he had seen put the fear of GOD and the fear of man in him. He remembered barely surviving the Spanish assault on their boat. He was arrested and was deported to Nigeria. He remembered many lying about their countries of origin so they won’t be deported to Nigeria. He had told the truth because he knew he had family who would not judge him. Instead, they would welcome him like the prodigal son that he was. He had decided to travel out of faux desperation and the urge to be his own man.
On getting to the Custom’s, they checked his load and nothing was found. He proceeded to the checkpoint where the attendant took an extra interest in his passport.
‘Kalu Muoka?’ she asked with some interest in her voice.
‘Yes,’ he answered with fear in his voice.
‘Where in Nigeria did you attend your primary school?’
‘Iju area in Lagos’
‘Debo?’
Kalu’s eyes widened in awe as the recognition set in. The lady had been his classmate with whom he had lost contact with since they finished their primary education. The attendant stamped his passport after confirming his visa.
‘I get off in an hour. Wait for me. Go to the bar by the left and make yourself comfortable. I will be with you after.’
In that instant, all his fear vanished in an instant and the only thing that could play in his head was his discussion with his best friend, Ikechukwu.
Flashback
‘Guy, I can’t use those travel agencies. They are scammers,’ Kalu blurted out.
‘Sure, majority of them are but not GMT Global’ Ike countered.
‘They are all the same.’
‘You remember my cousin, Mary?’
‘The one you refused to let me date?’
“Of course. She used GMT and within a few years, she has been naturalized without even getting married”
‘How did she get that done?’
‘GMT’s work does not end after leaving the country. They help with settling down over there too.’
Kalu was brought back to the present by a Caucasian waiter who stared at him curiously.
‘What can I get you?’ She asked again.
‘Coke’ he managed to respond after weighing all the options in his mind. He would have preferred a beer or liquor but he wanted to be in charge of his thinking faculty.
Moments later, he was standing face to face with the attendant from the processing stand.
‘Now. You have 25 years worth of gist to give me’
For Travel advise
Written by LazyGenius
Next Episode- December 8-2024
Thank You Jesus
