THE CARD

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Enitan drove into the premises of the Federal Medical Centre; she drove towards the car park and found an empty space and drove straight in.
She never liked a hospital; she hates the “hospital odour”. “The thickness of the ever present smell of antiseptics, drugs, disinfectants and sanitizers nauseates me.”
She has no idea where to go first. She walked towards one of the buildings with doubt clearly written on her face. I think I should just ask someone for directions.
Quickly, she scanned the environment and noticed an elderly woman who looked like a staff. She made quick and calculated strides towards the woman.
“Good morning ma…please ma I would like to see a doctor but I have no idea where to start from…ma.”
The woman cleared her throat “Yes…errmm…du yu haf a kaadi?” Every word heavy with Yoruba accent.
“What... I’m sorry, did you say a do I have a card…ma?”
“Ehn!… yu wee need a kaadi to see the dortor, go to the Record Room, that is where yu wee kollet kadi to see the dortor. Kaadi is free o…yu hear? ”
“I should go to the Records room where I will get a card in order to see the doctor, and the card is free, right?” the woman nodded at every word, obviously mesmerized by Enitan’s British accent.
She thanked the woman and walked towards the direction the woman pointed to. So this is how it is done.

Enitan was born with a “diamond” spoon. She was born in the United Kingdom, grew up and schooled there. She had never gone to a government hospital for medical treatment or anything of such nature. It’s been three years now since she relocated to Nigeria to manage the Nigerian branch of her father’s vast business empire.
“You see, I want you to have an experience of the rich culture and tradition of the Nigerian people. Nigeria is your fatherland, look at me I was born and bred in Nigeria, I schooled in Nigeria and look how successful I have become…” her father’s words rang in her ear again, those words will forever ring in her ear. Enitan never liked coming to Nigeria, but according to her mum, being the first born of the family she had to set a good example for her younger brother, and besides she knows how much her father holds her in high esteem, that meant a lot to her.

“Excuse me, I was told to come here. I need to get a card to see a doctor? Yeah?”
“Aunty, when you know you want to write a new card, why are you just coming at this time? Abi you have a card already…You may not get to see a doctor today o, because all these people are here to see doctor as well and we have just three doctors on seat…”
Enitan’s heart sank. The devil is a liar I must see the doctor today
“Excuse me, did you say three doctors?”
The lady in charge of “the cards” gave her a long look before answering yes. “After compiling your names we will divide you people into three so that you can see the doctors.”
“Does that mean I may not see Dr. Akindele?”
“Is it Dr. Akindele you want to see? Ah!…after dividing you people your name may fall under a different doctor o.”
“Please, I need to consult him.” The devil is a liar today
The lady shrugged. “Don’t worry, I will put your file under those seeing Dr. Akindele but that doesn’t mean you won’t wait for a while, your names will be called in the order of your arrival. Some of these people have been here since 7am.”
Enitan thanked the lady and found a seat. She is willing to wait, as long as she gets to see Dr. Akindele. She smiled, imagining the expression on his face when she works in. Coming back to Nigeria hasn’t been that bad, at least she met Dayo nearly a year after relocating to Nigeria and they have been friends since then. Friendship later turned to something else; she smiled as she glanced at her middle finger once again. Everything has been awesome since they met and he has finally put a ring on it. Soon-to-be Mrs Akindele. She smiled again.

I can’t believe I have never being to this part of this hospital. Whenever she visits Dayo at work, she always work straight to his office but today she decided to give him a surprise visit by pretending to be a patient. She even gave the card writing lady a fake name. I have to be sure Dayo has no idea who is about to come in.
She swept her eyes through the waiting room, she gasped at the number of people sitting on the long benches waiting to consult a doctor. I wonder where Dayo gets the energy to do all this, running his own clinic and still working here! She was jotted back to reality by the loud laughter of two guys standing at the table where cards were being written. She shrugged.

After a while, the card writing lady started calling out names and divided them into three groups. She faced Enitan’s group and asked them to follow her, they were taken to a different building where the lady started calling names again and asked them to sit according to the names being called. When she was done she told them Dr. Akindele will attend to them according to the way they were seated.
Enitan smiled but the smile vanished when she realised the guys who were laughing loudly few minutes ago at the general waiting room were seated in such manner that they would be the first two to see the doctor.
“Excuse me lady, errmmm… these guys just came not quiet long and you told me we will be seeing the doctor according to…”
“And in what way do you have a problem with that?” one of the guys asked standing to face her squarely.
“Really? Are you seriously asking me that question? Some of these women and men have been here since heaven-knows-when and you think you are doing the right thing by bribing your way in?” She was already causing a scene.
The other guy stood up to pacify the one already standing. “Guy! Free am! This one na small pickin nah, she no reach my last born age sef…no dey exchange words with am…na woman!...”
Enitan was boiling with anger “I can’t believe this, you know what? You both are not real men because real men will own up to whatever they have done. You have done something wrong by cheating these people, by swapping cards and you still don’t want to accept your fault, have you no conscience? And you’re not being honest…”
Both guys went back to their seats ignoring her. “No mind am, because one mad man don dey deceive am,dey give am peanut money, she don dey carry fake bag, wear fake shoe, put fake make up for face, she don dey feel important.”
The other guy responded. “No mind am, shey dey feel important, if your papa get money wetin you dey find for government hospital…if e no be say the tin wey I wan do na government hospital dem compulsory for us, wetin I go dey find here. This slut com dey do mouth anyhow, mouth wey no get value…”
Enitan tried to voice her opinion, the guys kept ignoring her, they kept hurling abusive words at her and were having a good laugh, they were obviously enjoying taunting her. She had to leave angrily. It was a nasty scene.
                           
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Enitan literarily ran into the boardroom. Although her father kept her in charge of all matters and everyone answers to her but she doesn’t lord it over any one.
“I’m sorry I’m late…good morning everyone…so shall we begin?”
“Excuse me ma… during the last meeting you said the new recruits will be meeting the board… ”
Enitan cuts in “oh yeah, I’m sorry I was not around during the whole process… what is the latest news on recruitment?”
Her P.A stood up. “We are through with all the process, we actually needed two recruits and I assure you we selected the best two; a male and a female since we are trying to breach gender inequality, in fact they have been asked to go for medical fitness and obtain a medical fitness certificate. Once they have proven to have a clean bill of health, we will then make their employment official by giving them their letters of appointment.”
“Alright, that is fine by me and I trust you guys judgement…please do usher them in.”
The boardroom door opened and it closed, Enitan looked up from her phone to the two new recruits, she smiled at the new lady, lo and behold the new guy was one of the guys hurling abusive words at her yesterday at the hospital.
Mischievous smile played on Enitan’s lips. The guy’s heart jumped into his mouth. “Chai! Bush meat don catch hunter.” Finally, Enitan spoke “This guy right here is a perfect example of dishonesty, a dishonest fellow and I don’t want someone like him in my company or anywhere near my dad’s business. Young man you may leave.”
The room went quiet. Enitan spoke again “Y’all may not understand what is going on here but I have five words for everyone present in this boardroom today….HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.”

By: Adeosun Adepeju Answer