Entangled

The news made the rounds that Mr Bande has been caught in the act: he sexually harassed a subordinate of his in his own office. The tough, strict, uncompromising boss now has his name being dragged through the mud in a derogatory caption that has gone viral on the social media. Painfully, social media users prosecute and persecute without credibility check. All he has worked and laboured for is now on the line. The precious name that he has also built, protected and won him accolades and admiration among his colleagues is almost ruined. 

Mr Bande is no stranger to majority of his colleagues and subordinates. He is a boss like no other. A principled  civil servant that eschews ineptitude, nepotism and levity. Lateness in particular turns him off, and he makes no hiding of this. Work is work. It must be attended to promptly; there is no room for excuse or laziness. This is his philosophy.

Apparently, this philosophy of his is not at home with one of his departmental staff, Mrs Dedeke. She is one of the few daring staff who always come late to work and has constantly been at the receiving end of her boss reprimands. On this fateful day, she arrives to work earlier than the usual. She is however ten minutes late. That is the earliest she has been to work in more than a month. Mr Bande, her departmental head, already on the lookout, shuns her greeting and scolds her for turning up late for work, making a scene of the situation.

Remorseful Mrs Deleke is at Mr Bande's office. She kneels before him, asking for forgiveness. After assuring her of being forgiven, Mr. Bande helps her to her feet. In a sudden twist of events, two flashes of slaps sounded on his smoothly shaved, tribal mark tattooed face. Another is about to follow, but he envisaged it quickly enough, to avoid it. He loses his balance, quickly gathers himself and is about to shout: "You want to shout, abi...Oya, shout, e ni bo 'nu e" and she tears her blue silk blouse and let out a shout. Co-workers who rushed in meet an ugly sight. Mrs Deleke is half-naked, holding Mr Bande by the waistband, sobbing and cursing him. She is quick to narrate how he attempted to rape her after declining his sexual overtures. Mr Bande couldn't say a word. He doesn't not even know what to say, let alone, how. None of some of the departmental staff now in his sparse office is apparently interested. Yet, he wants to say something, something indistinct; nothing in particular, but finds his tongue failing him. Regrettably, his vociferous tongue could muster no muse. What does he have to say? The scene says it all. He is shocked at the unfolding events. He tries convincing himself that he is dreaming. Daylight dream. What a serious allegation that can smear his image. He knows the implications. 

The incident, now being investigated, had ripple effects. He lost the confidence of his mostly female staff. Their hostile attitude said it all. They cautioned one another against being in his office alone. They gossiped about him and mocked him. The lion has lost his pride. He no longer can roar.

The committee that investigated the alleged harassment found Mr Bande culpable. As the findings of the investigation were read, Mr Bande knew too well that the odds were against him. It is difficult to wash himself clean.  

Tomorrow promises to be another exciting time. Our prose form English Language lessons continue tomorrow.