MERCHANT OF HAPPINESS by TOPE A. BANJO





















MERCHANT OF HAPPINESS
© 2018, TOPE A. BANJO

Published by VISION BUILDERS
Tel: +234 803 3075 969

Special Thanks To
‘Tope Olakanmi
Editor
……………..

To My Best Friend...
My Wife,
Victoria Abosede Banjo.
Thanks For Being There Always!
..............

Chapter 1

KAI KEPT DOING WHAT HE knew...but an unsatisfactory family life remained. He desperately craved a better living. Often he prayed...daily he desperately hoped...yet every night closed with a desperate yearn, “...How long will I wait? How long?”

EARLY THAT MORNING ...

At the first cockcrow, he set out. He had earlier learnt that labour force was required for work at the marketplace. The wages would help him provide some necessities for his family.
"Hopefully...for two more weeks!" he whispered.

Further ahead of him on the path, two fellows with a lamp strolled as they talked and laughed.
“Indeed brother! Our last expedition was certainly about gaining wealth!” said one.
“This …this 'Gaining Wealth' talks again!", Kai hissed, "I must go quickly past these idle talkers! My family's well-being requires much more than mere talk!”
That morning was dark. Even more as he went farther through the woods. Kai gladly clumped past them ...smiling as he went past and got far ahead of them ...but it was so sudden.
Kai screamed terribly!
The two men behind him, farther down the path, were shaken by the alarming scream. He had walked into debris he did not clearly see ...his right leg … badly injured ...pain quite immense ...and as his screaming continued, he fell! They ran to him as quick as they could considering the dimness around. The morning sun was still not yet bright enough!
As Kai strained to stand, one of the fellows reached out to grab his arm as he started falling again.
“Sir, oh my!" exclaimed the first fellow as he stretched the lamp toward Kai's legs.
"You …Your leg is bleeding so much. It is indeed wounded!”
They extended their lamp closer to see the injury better. Kai noticed that both fellows were wealthily dressed. One wore a white robe with a gold Sash ...which he took it off and wrapped around Kai's wound after soaking it with soothing Oil from a small bottle he removed from his robe pocket. Kai noticed that the pain reduced to a very convenient extent he could bare.
Both men raised Kai and helped him stand between them. The use of his injured leg was painful. As they proceeded slowly along the path, a younger fellow met the three.
"Greetings, Sirs!"
Kai's two helpers replied.
As their pace got some rhythm, Kai's helpers resumed their 'Gaining Wealth' talk.
Kai keeled, shaking their arms off. In shock, the two helpers stood fixed, watching Kai limp away, groaning deeply with each step.
“Did we offend that fellow by helping him?” asked the fellow in the white robe with the gold Sash.

…..

AT WORK break, Kai heard some more 'Wealth Gaining' talks.
"Again?!*" he hissed.
Although it was rowdy and noisy, it was similar to the discussions of the two fellows he had heard earlier that morning. Just before he injured his leg! As the pains returned, he bent to rub the leg. It was still dressed with the gold Sash which was now quite stained with his blood. Suddenly, laughter, happy shouting and handclaps rose from among the other labour hands.
“Kai, look,” said the fellow beside him, “...the wealthy Merchant who owns these fields…”
Holding his leg, Kai looked on as the Merchant thanked all labour hands for their service so far that day. The pain was much, but Kai could not but admire the Merchant's pure white robe and gold-spotted sash.
"Nice gold-spotted sash”...Kai thought.

Something about the Merchant's dressing seemed somewhat familiar...White robe? …gold Sash? Suddenly he groaned deep and shouted, "Yes ...He was one of them! Oh my God, this man used his gold Sash to administer the soothing Oil to relieve the pain in my wounded leg!”
Kai's neighbour wondered, "Friend, what are you saying? Kai, is it well?" He gripped Kai's shaking arm, holding him firmly.
Pointing at the Merchant and then to his injured leg, Kai bent over, groaning, “They helped me walk ...but I pushed them aside and walked away!”

The Merchant sharply turned to leave, walking very briskly with his gaze raised, fixed and firm...

“...I left them behind me" Kai continued saying to his work neighbour, "…I gave no salute …not even the least gratitude! Oh my God, he owns these fields …and yet he granted me labour? Oh God ...oh dear God, I am sorry! What can I do? Oh dear”...

The Merchant could go no farther.
Kai ...was kneeling across his path!
His path was blocked off!
Kai stretched his shaking arms, forward, wide open - the native posture of the citizens when seeking forgiveness.
Their eyes met.
Kai tearfully groaned, "Sir ...Please Sir, I am sorry … please … I am sorry ...I “...
Then fell heavily, face down to the ground ...right in front of the Merchant!

......................

Dear Reader,

Thank you for sharing this time with me in 'Merchant of Happiness'. I believe the content within these pages will inspire and enable you to Start-Up and establish a profitable Business. May you continue to stand out as ‘Merchant of Happiness’!

May God Bless You Richly!
Tope A. Banjo

OTHER TITLES
I sincerely look forward to you purchasing and enjoying all my publications as E-Book and Print. Thank you!

Novels
Merchant of Happiness
Assignment

Business Training
A Better Workforce Leader
A Better Employee
A Better Church Worker
Business Start-Up 1.0
The Ministry of Helps
Making Haven On Earth

Personal Development
Improving Performance & Increasing Results
Christian Living
Potential

Enjoy Tope Banjo’s Books available for purchase as: i) Epub Version @ Okada Books OR  ii) PDF Version @ Vision Builders Resources



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