Opana is pushed into the police cell and immediately he is placed inside the cell he rushes to the toilet to ease himself because he had developed an emergency running stomach due to the new development that had taken place and now he sees that there was no escape route for him. Akua Yankey at this point was very devastated and didn’t know what to do at the very moment, she broke down with tears and approached Eno Bruwaa’s daughter again.
Akua Yankey
(in tears) My dear there is no need for you to do this to my husband. He is an elderly person and keeping him behind bars is the biggest mistake you can ever make in your life. Remember what the bible says, that children should obey their parents so that their days would be long on this earth and that my husband is old enough to be your father.
Eno Bruwaa’s Daughter
No father of mine will behave like the way your wicked husband in there did. For me, I have done what I felt was right and the law has taken its course. I wouldn’t like to step in again to intercept the law from doing what it stands for. I am sorry but I can’t do anything to help you or anyone from your family. Next time you and your husband will know how to treat people. Officer please where is your colleague who is handling this case because I want to go back home and put things in place before darkness creeps in.
Police Officer
I don’t know where the arresting officer who is handling your case has gone to but I will advise you stay around and see him before leaving this place.
Inside the Cell:
Cell Leader
Motombo the cell commando, bring that man who was just brought in here before me.
Motombo
(pulls Opana to the cell leader) Chairman please I take am come.
Cell Leader
Hahahaha, this world is big but very small and if you don’t take care you wouldn’t be able to live in it if you don’t take proper care of your mouth. You came to insult me the last time and I told you that I will get you at the right time but you thought this place was only meant for dirty and smelling criminals like me erh. You see we are now on the same platform or level now? Now read out what is written on the wall above my head old man.
Opana
50ghana cedis!!! Nothing more, Nothing less.
Cell Leader
Good!!! That is the cell dues so how do I get it?
Opana
(runs back to the toilet to ease himself again and in about 5minutes time he returns) Yes you were saying something like I should pay some 50cedis as dues. Why, do you have a club or an organisation here for me to be paying dues to you?
Cell Leader
Nonsense!!! Mr. Man, you better respect yourself before I make my commandos descend on you mercilessly. You think this is your house erh. For now, I’m the landlord over here and if you can’t pay the money, then my boys will keep you inside the toilet and the only time you will come close to the gate is when you have gotten a visitor. Now Motombo get him out of my sight because he is boring me with his arrogant attitude. That cell dues is like the rent you pay here in this cell.
Motombo
My friend get up make we go, you want take wanna head play but you dey lie, dat thing no go happen for here.
Opana
(raising his voice) My friend let go of me, is this place your father’s house? If you don’t let me be I will slap you for you to see stars. Do you know who I am and what I can do to you people?
Motombo
This place not dey respect any brother man oooo, if you be big man, you be big man for your house or pocket. If you get connections like them no go take you come here, see you dey wanna custody now and not the police so make you shut your mouth for der before I silence you one time with my blow.
Michael Ansah hearing the loud noise coming from his father inside the cell felt very bad and immediately went to stand behind the counter where you are allowed to talk to your relative or friend when in police custody.
Michael Ansah
Yoo, my guy what’s up?
Cell Leader
Bro, I base oooo, what are you doing here by this time of the day?
Michael Ansah
Charlie brother, my old boy was arrested and brought here so I’m making a follow up to see if he can be released.
Cell Leader
Oh, sorry about that so where is he now? Is he in the CID office or what?
Michael Ansah
Mmmm, actually he has already been locked up and we are now trying to find ways and means to get him out from the cell.
Cell Leader
Hey, wait a second, don’t tell me that arrogant and controversial man is your father.
Michael Ansah
Well that is who God gave to me as a dad. Please how is he doing inside there?
Cell Leader
Well I planned to punish him inside here because of what he came to do here the other day at the charge office. He insulted me as if I had spoilt something precious of his so when he came inside here I made my boys push him into the toilet but knowing that he is your old boy I will get him out of that place and make him feel comfortable inside here.
Michael Ansah
Ah, thank you very much, bro. I’m very grateful and I don’t know how to thank you enough.
Cell Leader
Don’t mention bro. Hey Motombo, get the old man out from that place and please be very gentle with him. Let him sit at the VVIP section of the cell and no one should disturb him again.
As Michael Ansah was showing appreciation to his friend, the door to the commander’s office opened and the new commander who had taken charge came out of the office. He was a bit young in his mid 40’s and the moment Michael saw him he took a second look at him and mentioned his name.
Commander
And who am I seeing here in this police station this afternoon?
Michael Ansah
This is a lie; don’t tell me it is you, sir Albert.
Commander
It is me you are seeing live and coloured. What are you doing here in my police station?
Michael Ansah
My dad was arrested a moment ago so my mum, sister and I are here to see how his bail can be arranged but it seems the officer in charge of the case is nowhere to be found. Are you the new commander here?
Commander
Oh yes, I was just transferred here this afternoon and I’m now even going round to get myself acquainted with the officers and environment. But what is the crime of your dad and why is your mum weeping like she has lost someone precious to her?
Michael Ansah
Senior, my dad angrily pulled down the roof of one tenant who is owing him rent and causing problems in the house with her gossips, her daughter came to report the incident and one of your men led his team to arrest my old boy and with my little information at hand, my dad has not even written down his statement.
Commander
Whaaaaat? How do you lock someone without writing the person’s statement first? That is not what the law says and this is not professional. Corporal, who is in charge of the case? I want the person in charge of the case summoned before me right this moment.
Michael Ansah
Well, it seems for this police station, anytime someone is brought here the first thing is for you to be locked up before later you are brought out to write your statement.
Commander
That is very bad. It’s not all cases that the culprit or suspect should be locked up. Some you have to be detained behind the counter whiles for others you must go and come and report yourself later to the officer handling the case that you haven’t fled or taken to your heels.
Michael Ansah
Hmmmm, sometimes when you don’t know the law, you are always taken for granted.
Commander
Oh, so the rent control people gave a letter for the arrest of your dad and his statement hasn’t been taken down yet?
Michael Ansah
No, there was no involvement from the rent control office, everything was done by your men.
Commander
Whaaat? The police don’t act on certain things directly. A letter must first come from the rent control before the police steps in to effect arrest. Things have to change here in this police station, every new king comes with a new law so you officers must be up and doing or else I will be charging and dealing with you people ruthlessly.
Now Corporal, release that man immediately, his arrest was unlawful and he has been detained unnecessarily. Please forgive my men and don’t let your father hear about our conversation. Take my call card and call me later in the evening, I have a brief meeting with the chief of this town to introduce myself to him.
Opana was released immediately because of the conversation Kwaku Mike had with the commander who was his school teacher at the secondary school. He has respect for his son now. He is not worthless or useless as he thought all this while.
Meanwhile, back in the house, Agnes Kyerewaa had just seen Kwaku Mike’s number in one of her old diaries and she immediately stored his number. She refreshes her WhatsApp contact and scrolling through her contact list, she saw Kwaku Mike’s display photo which had his face showing boldly in a selfie he had taken, she gave a devilish smile as she saved the picture on her phone. Immediately, she called the unknown person who had left her place some minutes ago to meet someone.
Eno Bruwaa’s daughter got home and started packing the things in their room because the place looked scattered and as she was packing the things she stumbled upon the lotto coupon that fell from Opana’s pocket as he was pulling down the roof and when she picked the lotto coupon up, she made a comment that was very surprising…
What do you think will happen next?
