15/09/2026
THE ELEVATOR OF WICKEDNESS — Chapter 5 The Ledger Of Justice
A week after she was laid off, Nurse Nurfisat returned to the company premises to clear her final clearance papers with the Human Resources department. Her face was heavy, stripped of the arrogance she once wore like a uniform.
As she walked past the clinic car park toward the exit gates, she saw Balogun. He was busy polishing the rims of a senior director's car, looking sharp, healthy, and completely at peace. The contrast was stark—here was the man she tried to destroy, thriving in the exact same spot, while she was going home to face the harsh reality of unemployment.
Her conscience pricked her deeply. With slow, hesitant steps, she walked over to him.
Balogun looked up from the tire he was cleaning. He didn't frown, he didn't mock her, and he didn't celebrate her downfall. He simply stood up, wiped his hands on a clean towel, and greeted her with the same respect he gave everyone.
"Good afternoon, Balogun," Nurfisat said, her voice trembling slightly. She looked down at her shoes, unable to maintain direct eye contact. "I came to clear my papers... and I felt I shouldn't leave this company without speaking to you. I know what I did. I allowed people to use me to write that report against you. I am deeply sorry. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me if I have offended you."
Balogun looked at her for a few silent seconds. He saw the genuine regret written all over her face. He smiled gently and shook his head.
"Nurse Nurfisat," Balogun replied calmly, "you have not done anything to me, and I hold absolutely nothing against you. In fact, I have no reason to be angry. You thought you were pushing me into a pit, but you didn't know you were only pushing me closer to my destiny. God bless you in your future endeavors."
Nurfisat wiped a tear from her eye, thanked him, and walked away. She had learned a bitter life lesson: when you dig a pit for an innocent person, you will eventually be the one to fall into it.
But while Nurse Nurfisat sought peace through repentance, the universe was not yet done balancing the ledger with the principal architect of the wickedness—the jealous driver who had connived with her to setup Balogun.
This driver thought he had escaped scot-free. He thought since his name wasn't on the official report, he was safe. But nature has a terrifying way of collecting its debts, especially from those who seek the downfall of their fellow men.
A few days after Nurfisat’s departure, the jealous driver was assigned to transport some corporate goods to a neighboring state. On his way, due to pure impatience and a reckless attempt to overtake a truck, he lost control and crashed the company’s brand-new pickup van into a ditch. The vehicle was badly damaged, but the management gave him a warning and let it slide.
Two weeks later, while reversing a luxury sedan inside the headquarters' compound, he was distracted, looking at Balogun counting car wash money. He rammed the expensive car straight into a concrete pillar, smashing the rear bumper and trunk. The transport manager was furious, but because of his years of service, he was suspended for a week.
The final stroke of judgment landed exactly a month later. The company had just acquired a multi-million naira executive coaster bus for staff logistics. On his very first assignment with the bus, the jealous driver slept off on the steering wheel along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The bus veered off the road and crashed heavily into a stationary trailer.
The vehicle was completely totaled. It was a miracle he survived, but the financial loss to the company was too massive to ignore. Three major accidents with three different company vehicles within a space of two months was an unforgivable corporate crime.
The management didn't just suspend him this time; they drafted an immediate termination letter. He was sacked on the spot, with no benefits, no recommendations, and a stained professional record that meant he would never find a driving job in any reputable company in Lagos again.
As he packed his driving logbook in shame, he looked out at the parking lot. Balogun was there, neatly washing another car, surrounded by the favour of God. It was finally clear to everyone: Balogun did not need to fight, use charms, or seek revenge. The Hand of God was his shield, and nature had paid his enemies back in their own coin.
What is the biggest lesson from this chapter?
Follow Papa Rapha Studios for Chapter 6.
