Resurgence

7. Chain Reaction

“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his/her choices.” – Alfred A. Montapert.

•••

“So a Passivhaus building, huh?”

Ose enquired with a skeptical, concerned expression as he studied the laborers from the elevated height they stood on. A day had passed since the meeting with all departmental heads and executives at Sky and work had flown into full swing ever since then. The engineers had set up their machinery and had started their statistical projections and calculations and the will of the labor force had undergone a big upheaval due to the fact that one half of their wages had been paid.

Sick country.

“Why does everyone keep on asking me that as if I announced that we would be building the house with glass and sand?” He found the constant questioning and shock, quite tiring. “Passivhaus isn’t so different from what we usually do. Just some tweaks and little innovations, that’s all.”

“Yeah of course. An architect of your caliber could say that. Go ahead and make everything sound as simple as  building a mini sand castle.” Ose snorted, his arms folded. “Once again, you’re doing that your thing when you assume that everyone is as diligent or talented as you are. For some architects―the average Nigerian one―Passivhaus is a word that shouldn’t even be mentioned out loud. You know, like the name Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. Everyone knows it, but no one is crazy enough to actually declare work on it.”

“So…you’re indirectly saying I’m crazy then?” Tari questioned his friend.

“To a normal person, yes. But in your own head, you’re just breaking new ground, and doing what’s needed to be down.” Ose replied, as his hand came down on Tari’s right shoulder in an ironclad grip. “And that’s why I’m sure that it wouldn’t go sideways and become a disaster. Because only crazy people can pull off crazy ideas, and you my friend, are quite the crazy fit. Plus, you’re a perfectionist. You’d definitely scrutinize every single detail to ensure nothing is amiss. There is no way in hell a mistake could slip in under your watch.”

“Quit the flattery,” Tari said dryly. Throughout the sojourn of his quite successful career, that had been subjected to high praise and acclaim from his peers and other well wishers, Ose hadn’t for once partook in such exalting exercise. It wasn’t his style. His friend’s way of commending him on a great job done was simply muttering a stream of words that fell below the glorifying power of his intention. He thought simple statements as ‘Cool’ or ‘That’s tight’ sufficed and Tari never clamored for more. That was why a huge queer feeling hugged him tight, when flattery of such high class came from his friend.

“Trust me, in my head it isn’t all that normal for me.” Tari continued, his studious gaze watching the laborers and engineers at work. “I’m still slowly coming to grips with the fact that yeah, I’m going to a place no one has gone to. So there is simply no map or compass, I’m just making my own path to get there. This scares me a lot also, but just like they say―nothing good comes easy. Plus, if I don’t go there, who will? Not trying to be arrogant but is it Fola or Tej?”

“That is true but still, you could simply forgo this concept and build normally?” Ose offered. “While that might increase the money required to run and maintain the house, it isn’t exactly your problem as the architect. You’re not the one who sent them to build a big house like the one they have in mind. And your conscience gets cleared because they’re billionaires and paying the energy bills is almost like taking out the trash.”

“Taking out the trash?” He faced his friend. “They’re losing money. You know that, right? It’s still a lot of money all in all.”

“Taking out the trash of excess money they have,” Ose beamed with a sly smile. “C’mon, imagine yourself with almost fifty billion naira in your account. How does that make you feel? Doesn’t it make you feel nervous? And terrified? I mean how can one person have such money stored up in one place―”