Nora drove into the company's garage a few minutes before the resumption time but didn't alight from the vehicle; it was her first day at the new branch in Ijebu Ode, where she would work as the branch manager.
She sighed heavily, thinking for the umpteenth time about the possible challenges she would encounter heading a new branch in a new environment. The happy mood she left the house with vanished and she became worried.
"I haven't done this before but I can do this. I deserve the promotion because I have worked hard for it," She stuttered, staring at herself in the rear mirror. She tried smiling while adjusting her hair, but the smile vanished almost immediately.
She bowed her head to pray, and before she said a word, someone tapped on her vehicle door.
"Am I obstructing someone? Nora thought immediately she opened her eyes.
"I noticed you haven't stepped out since you drove in. I hope everything is fine," A security lady asked Nora immediately she rolled down her car window.
"Yes, I am just taking my time before going in. I am Dora, the Branch manager from Lagos, and I believe you work here too," Dora replied, her eyes fixed on the lady because she looked very familiar.
"Welcome ma, I have been working as a security guard here since last week. Let me help you with your bag," She replied, but Dora closed her eyes, turning her face away from the lady while still trying to remember where they had met.
Dunni!!! Nora whispered, turning back to the lady.
"No, it can be. What are you doing here? We thought you traveled out of the country," Nora immediately opened the vehicle and hopped out.
"I was looking at your face too, you look too familiar. Dora from Girl's Anglican School?" She stuttered and Nora hugged her immediately.
"What happened to you? I thought you ignored me because you traveled," Nora asked, her hands still wrapped around Dunni.
"It's a long story," Dunni stuttered as tears welled up in her eyes quickly.
"Now is not the time, okay. Let me meet the staff, do a brief introduction, and we can go have lunch together," Dora replied, and as they walked out of the garage, she couldn't stop thinking about Dunni working as a security officer.
Dunni was the brightest student in the class, the school head prefect, and the president of the Press club. She was very famous and every student envied her because of the respect she earned from the teachers.
She won several competitions for the school, and the last time her classmates heard from her was when she won a scholarship to study abroad. The news circulated very fast and everyone was happy for her.
Dora was Dunni's closest friend, and they did almost everything together, but unfortunately, she ended in fourth position while only the first three were given the scholarship.
The agency responsible for the scholarship processed the traveling documents and Dunni left the country six months later.
Dora barely concentrated during the introduction, she kept wondering what went wrong.
She settled in her office for an hour and requested that Dunni come over because she couldn't wait until lunch break before hearing her story.
Dunni arrived some minutes later and Dora locked her office door.
"Have your seat and put those formalities away. What exactly happened?" Dora asked.
"The scholarship was fake and we were not taken to the UK as promised. We ended up in another African country, and they took every document we had on us," Dunni replied, and was already weeping.
"You could have called or reached out to me. Nobody heard from you again," Nora stuttered.
"Everyone said the same thing but there was no way to do that. I left the country 13 years ago when only the rich people used phones," Dunni replied, wiping her tears.
"I am so sorry about everything," Nora reached for Dunni's hand across the desk and whispered words of comfort.
"So how about the others? How did you guys return?" Nora asked.
"We were split and didn't see each other again. I started working when I realized that we've been lied to, but people took advantage of me because I was a teenager. I didn't get paid properly, and some people sent me away without paying me a dime," Dunni paused and sighed heavily.
"That must have been very difficult for you," Dora stuttered as tears welled up in her eyes too.
"I couldn't go to the police because people advised me not to so I don't end up in jail. While walking about, I met someone who offered to help me return home if I served for five years working as a maid. I took it but 5 years turned into 10 years. What matters is that I am back and can replan my life."
Nora paced around in the office, wondering how to help Dunni because she could do better than just being a security officer.
"How about your parents?" Nora paused and asked.
"They are fine. It was hard locating them when I returned and they were surprised. They thought I had died after the scholarship agency disappeared and the police weren't of any help. They don't know my condition because it would break their heart. I just have to work here for now to get a degree," She replied.
"That's a good one, and you don't need to continue as a security. I can put in words for you to get a small role here while you're in school so that you can concentrate, and I will be responsible for the tuition," Nora replied, patting Dunni on the back.
"All of that for me, I didn't believe this day would come. I can't thank you enough for everything," Dunni's lips trembled, and she knelt before Nora, who immediately lifted her.
"It's nothing, and seeing you again makes me very happy, even though I thought you ignored me," Nora replied and hugged Dunni again.
"So how did you achieve all these? Are you married?" Dunni asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"It's God all the way. I gained admission after you traveled and went to school in the south. I was deployed to Lagos for my NYSC and the company retained me. The journey was tough but it paid off in the end. I am not married, but" Nora was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Let's talk after work and I would like you to know my place. I have been wondering how to live here all by myself but with you, things should be easier. I am so happy to see you," Nora hugged Dunni again before she returned to her duty post.
Time passed, and Nora fulfilled her promise, but unfortunately, Dunni couldn't combine work and school; she also received lots of taunts because of her age, but she was determined.
With Dora's help, she graduated with good grades and secured an administrative role in the company while Nora got married and relocated to Abuja. Their friendship continued to blossom despite the distance and Dunni felt indebted to Dora forever.