Undaunted — A short play

Photo source: VectorStock

(It is a cold Monday morning and as usual, the office is full of chatters of young interns talking about football and new hip hop song video releases. Obi entered quietly and went straight to his desk to pray, he is not in the mood for football banters this morning. Just as he began praying, a hand raps on his desk interrupting his solemn conversation with God, it is Mr Uzo, Obi’s supervisor and Technical Officer at Merrill Engineering)

Mr Uzo: (Raps his hand on the desk again, it is obvious he is an impatient man, and uncaring at the same time) Please wake up Obi, it is too early to be sleeping.
Obi: (Displeased, but hides his displeasure with a feigned half-smile) Good morning sir. I was praying.
Mr Uzo: (Ignoring his reply) Come here, we need to talk. (Drums his right hand on the table again, impatiently)

(Obi trudges along with Mr Uzo, he needs to make a confession to God but had not gotten past thanksgiving before Mr Uzo interrupted him. They round a corner into the deserted office kitchen and Mr Uzo smiles slyly and begins to talk).

Mr Uzo: Well done Obi. I saw the report you did. Well done. If we didn’t do it that way ehn, they’ll never give us the approval to buy new inverter batteries.
Obi: (Hands clasped behind him as he tries to muster up some courage. His stance shifted from a casual lounge to a soldier’s 'at ease' as if expecting an order to launch a sudden offensive) Excuse me, sir.
Mr Uzo: (Continues talking oblivious to Obi’s attempt to talk) If the operations head asks you anything, just tell her what you wrote in the report, we need new inverter batteries. Don’t worry about anything dear, once the money is disbursed today I’ll settle you...
Obi: (Almost shouting) Excuse me, sir!
Mr Uzo: (Stops abruptly) Yes?
Obi: I sent another mail on my way to the office this morning that our judgement was wrong. I’m sorry, I cannot lie. It’s against my faith.
Mr Uzo: (Eyes blaring like a red traffic light) What? You did what? Are you in your right mind? O my God! (Rubs his temple with his right hand and moving close to a nearby table, he begins to rap his hand on it).
Obi: (Undaunted by his supervisor’s misplaced anger) Yes sir. I sent an apology mail to say that we misjudged in our review. I’m a Christian, and God does not want me involved in corruption.

(He quickly walks out before Mr Uzo could give a reply, and as he walked back to his desk, he felt a sudden relief and a warm smile curls up his face).

Thank God I chose to say no.

Be bold and choose to say no to corrupt practices in your organisation and society today.

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:13 NLT

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