she betrayed me with my bestfriend(painful story)

How did we get here?
That is the question I ask myself. How did we get here? How did our marriage reach this point where we can barely stand the sight of each other? Or, more honestly put, where you can’t stand the sight of me.
Ter, you used to love me. You used to…
Our anniversary was on the 19th of this month…just a week ago…but it came and went like any other day…any other day in this new reality of mine…of ours. You didn’t even bother coming home that day. That had been the 3 rdnight you spent out of our home. And I know you were with her…or one of4th them…
You stopped hiding your affairs long ago. It almost seems like a joke when I remember those early days of your indiscretion, when you used to actually make an attempt to hide your affairs from me. It is laughable for me to remember how you used silly aliases for your women, and went through extra trouble to make sure I never found out about them…But now, you rub them in my face. Now, the whole world can see my shame. Of how I have lost my husband to better woman than I…to women who have been able to give you what I haven’t been able to…a child.
We used to be partners in this infertility journey of ours. You used to be my rock, my champion, my fighter…the person who held me up when I felt the weight of our struggle was too much for me to bear. Remember how you would cradle me in your arms and rock me as I cried, after every failed cycle. Remember how you always tried to make me laugh when I thought the dark cloud would never lift. When did you stop being my sunshine, Ter? When did your patience start to wane? When did your steps lead you to search elsewhere for what I couldn’t give you?
Somehow, someway, I lost your love. I stopped being your angel…your prized possession. I remember those days when you went crazy if I was even bitten by a mosquito. But today, you don’t think twice before attacking me with your fists…
I will never forget that first day you hit me. I will never forget the shock I felt when your fist connected with my face, sending me sprawling to the ground. I will never forget how I couldn’t even cry…so great was my shock. My Ter had hit me? No, it couldn’t be. It had to be a mistake. But it hadn’t been. And that blow had been followed by another, and then another, culminating with your hands around my neck, strangling the life out of me. I honestly thought I was going to die that day. As I struggled for breath, I honestly thought that was going to be my end. But you had let go just in the nick of time, storming out of the house, leaving me lying on the ground. Did you think of me as you drove away? Did you worry I might not survive my wounds? Did I cross your mind at all, while you were with her? I reckon I didn’t, because I didn’t see you for the next three days. Your first marathon stretch out of the house. But it wouldn’t be your last. No, instead, it marked the turning point for our new normal.
And it was all because of her…the first person who was not just one of your random text and Facebook messages…the first person who posed a real threat to our marriage. It’s funny, because I actually thought she was the worst that could happen. If only I could see that there would be many more of her…many, many more.
If only I had known that the beatings would also become a constant part of our lives. If only I knew that first night would open the floodgates to the attacks…the abuse. After that night, hitting me became your favourite pastime. It became your good morning greeting, and good night salute. It didn’t matter what I said, or didn’t say, your hands, and even legs, always found a way to connect with my body. Now, I walk on egg shells around you…never knowing what to say that could trigger the time bomb you have become.
I used to think it was all my fault. I used to think I had driven you away because of how unattractive I had become. I know I look nothing like the woman you married eight years ago. In 2001, I had been a beautiful, happy go-lucky 27-year-old, looking forward to a lifetime of love with my husband. But over the years, my weight has crept up. I used to blame it on the fertility drugs and the stress…but the truth is that food has become my friend. My only friend. Today, I am about 20kg heavier than the woman you married. The light has extinguished from my eyes, and I have become a shell of the woman I used to be. I used to love life…but now, I only live for you. I only live for pleasing you…for thinking up ways to lure you back to me…
But I have failed woefully.
You haven’t touched me in over a year. Before, we would still have sex, even though I was aware of how much I disgusted you. Such a far cry from the early days, when you had been tender…and loving…and passionate. Our lovemaking transitioned from that, to fast and violent thrusting sessions, with you not interested in pleasing anyone else but yourself. Remember when your mission, your only mission, was to make sure I got maximum satisfaction? Remember how that was once more important to you than your own pleasure? But you soon turned me to the woman grateful for even those quick, violent thrusts. Even if I hurt from the pain caused by not being sufficiently lubricated, I still tried to do everything I could to please you…
And then it had all stopped. And then…the miscarriage happened…
Now, you can’t even bear to touch me. I disgust you. Even without the privilege of a baby in my arms, my body still carries the marks from that pregnancy. The stretch marks have compounded an already bad situation…and now, even the sex has gone. Now, I am left with nothing.
I haven’t been able to turn to anyone. With my family living far away, and my friendships all destroyed, I have been left with nobody. Except…
I hear you moan, and my attention is drawn back to our current situation. My hands are shaking, as I watch you writhing on the floor, your shirt drenched in your blood. Even with my quivering hands, I haven’t let go of the knife I hold.
You weren’t even my first choice…not even close.
I remember those early days, back in the 80s and early 90s, when our families would worship together in Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. So many of us were fascinated by your family’s exotic good looks, largely arising from your mixed parentage. There was no teenage girl in Church who didn’t have a crush on your brothers. Tall, lean, and with eyes colored somewhere between green and hazel brown, your brothers were the most gorgeous things I had ever set my eyes on. And one especially…Atoo.
If I’m to be honest, Atoo was the reason I went to church those days. I would be seated on our usual pew, waiting for your family to make its grand entrance. Somehow, Atoo always led the pack. He was always the first to bounce in through those big brass doors, casting flirtatious smiles at the many girls waving at him from their pews. I would literally melt to butter seeing that smile and those twinkling green eyes, wishing he would just notice me, even if it was for only a day!
But he never did. I was an incredibly awkward looking teenager, who was pretty much all skin and bones; flat chested, flat buttocked and way too tall for her age. As the only girl in a home of 6 kids, I didn’t have the slightest clue how to make myself look feminine or attractive enough to catch his attention…or anyone else’s for that matter. So, even when Atoo and the rest of your brothers chatted with my own brothers after Mass, I would just linger around awkwardly, not knowing how to flirt to save my life.
You? I didn’t even notice you. In fact, I always thought Atoo was the first of your family’s 4 sons…until that day I realized you weren’t their driver, or a visiting cousin, and that there were actually 5 of you. With you, it was like your mother’s Romanian genes went into full recession. Whilst your brothers were cool and suave, you were just as awkward as me; tall, with oversized glasses and a face full of pimples. I remember how shocked I was when my brother, Buchi, introduced you as ‘them Atoo’s oldest brother’, and I had almost passed out when you had smiled, revealing a mouth full of metal. Good heavens! On the way home, my brothers and I joked about how you were the ‘born troway’ of your family, because you were absolutely nothing like the others.
And then in 1992, your family had abruptly stopped coming to church. We were stunned to hear that your father had taken another wife, a young woman from your home state of Benue, giving your Romanian mother a ‘take it or leave it’ choice. It was the biggest shock ever, especially as your father was a Knight in the church. My parents were proper scandalized by it all. We heard that your mother, having fallen out with her family in Romania, had had no choice but to remain in Nigeria following the end of her marriage. So, she had chosen to move you guys to a smaller house, somewhere on the mainland…where exactly, nobody knew.
A few years later, 1994 to be precise, my father got a Government appointment and my family relocated to Abuja, leaving my brother, Buchi, and I alone to finish our studies in Unilag. While in Unilag, I somehow outgrew my awkwardness, and blossomed into an attractive young woman. I dated, as was the norm with girls my age, and by my final year, was in a serious relationship with a classmate of mine. By the time graduation came in 1996, and I had to move to Abuja to be with my folks, my boyfriend, David, actually proposed. I was over the moon, and even though ours was a long distance relationship, first of all with him being in Lagos, and shortly after with him off to the United Kingdom for his Masters, I was so thrilled at the thought of becoming his wife in the near future.
Until January 1999, when he had dropped the bombshell on me, by e-mail of all things! He had written about how he had fallen in love with someone else, and apologized profusely for wasting my time.
I had wept buckets. It felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I could barely even breathe! I blamed my parents for not sending me to the U.K, as I had requested. If I had been there, David would not have left me. I was angry that all my brothers had been given the privilege of leaving the country, but I hadn’t. But I knew it wasn’t because they were trying to be mean or wicked. With my immediate older brother, Buchi, only having just left for his post-graduate studies the year before, there was no way my folks could afford to send another one there. And my other brothers there were not financially strong enough to take on my additional expenses.
So, I had nursed my heartbreak, consoling myself with the fact that, at 25, I was still young and would surely meet someone soon. I had a decent job with an NGO, and I knew life would continue after David.
I remember how excited my mother had been that day. She had just returned from a trip to Lagos, and was brimming with excitement over whom she had flown with.
“Guess who was on my flight! One of the Tsumba boys!”
Upon hearing your surname, my heart had leapt as I remembered my teenage crush. “Atoo?!” I had squealed.
Mom shook her name. “No, Tersur! You know, the oldest.”
I had racked my brain, trying to remember. “Oh! The born troway?”
The look my very Catholic mother gave me could have turned me to stone, so I had stifled my laughter.
“He was very excited to see me. In fact, he was even the one who recognized me. He looks so different from how he did then.”
I nodded, but my attention span had already reached its limit with this gist. Seeing that she was losing me, my mother quickly sped to her point.
“He asked after you!” she said, falling just short of winking at me.
I had guffawed. “Me? Like he, or any of his brothers, even know my name!”
“He asked after you s-p-e-c-i-f-i-c-a-l-l-y!” my mother said, animatedly buttressing her point.
By now, I was beginning to spell a rat.
“He’s in Abuja for a week, on some kind of training. I have invited him for dinner this Saturday…so you better be nice!”
One part of me wanted to be anywhere but home that Saturday, but I admit that I was curious. I wanted to see if you still looked as bad as I remembered. In hindsight, I should have left the house. God, I should have left…

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Narration of love

It has been two years now since I last went to Newriton , I was gradually forgetting the fact that I was once a spy and I was having a perfect love life with my now Fiance, Ann. I had propose to her a year ago and she had even introduced me to her parents. I was surprised how freely her people accepted me despite the fact that I come from the western part of the country and she from the east. I used the money I saved during my stay in Newriton to open a big complex in which I train kids the basics of Martial art and it happens to be actually booming as the kids seem to be growing strong and matured day by day. Most times, Ann will escort me to the complex to see my students, she was always happy and joyous being with them. Yes, one more thing, I have confided in my wife by telling her am a spy, or better put, that I was once a spy. I don’t want what happened to gabi ( may his soul rest in peace) to repeat itself in my case. I told her hoping she would get angry with me but no, she took it maturely although at times she would look at me with doubtful eyes, she would always say I don’t look like who was a spy. So that is how life had been, I still keep close friendship with Alvana , Matt and even Christiana. This particular morning, I was in my complex busy with my kids as usual, ” Alex, that is not how you do it, you kick with the leg behind, so anytime you want to kick, you simply change your stance to keep your most comfortable leg behind” I told Alex, he was one of my very fast learning students. ” I am trying” he told me, ” Alex, you have been behaving sluggish since morning, you are not behaving like the Alex I use to know, what is the problem?” I asked him, truly, he has been behaving awkward since morning, he wasn’t like the strong vibrant guy I know. ” Master Israel, you are gonna die soon” he told me as he immediately busted into tears, I pulled his head closer to my chest and smiled, ” Die? How do you mean?” I asked him , ” I dreamt of you being killed, you were all in black and a tall guy with fine face also in black killed you” he explained, ” Hmm, Alex having nightmares again?” I asked him smiling, ” No Master Israel, this same mark on your wrist was on his wrist also” He told me. ” You say he is tall?” I asked him, he nodded. ” A tall guy that has the mark of Newriton, a perfect description of Gabriel ” I thought. ” Master Israel, a man with a black car and wearing a black suit is outside looking for you” One of my students shouted from the entrance, I peeped through the window, it has been two years now and am seeing Sir Ajan again.

AS NARRATED BY ALVANA
I sat down outside my poultry farm this particular morning, my employees were all inside taking care of my customers . A small black car soon pulled up in front of my farm, I smiled because I thought it was yet another big customer, shockingly, Sir Akpena of Newriton gently came down the car. ” What?” I asked myself as I stood up quietly and advanced towards him, I did not want to cause a scene. ” What are you doing here?” I asked him, ” Jason, it has been two years” he started, ” Yes, two years that I made the choice of living a better life” I told him resting my right leg on the back tyre of his car, ” No, two years since you decided to leave the world to itself, two years since you decided to leave the world to doom” he told me, ” I can’t save the world, I can’t risk my life in saving the world when after my death , I won’t be remembered, I can’t work for an institute that derives pleasure in seeing their fighters go through pains and die” I countered him, ” Jason, all that happened wasn’t our fault, about one year after you guys left, it was discovered that Sir Ajan had been bugged, Sir Jude got us through the bug, who ever did it, I dont know. And as for the part that you won’t be remembered, have you been to Newriton lately, have you seen the edifice statue of Gabriel that was built in memory of him?” He asked, ” The statue isn’t Gabriel, the statue won’t bring back Gabriel. And as for the lie of sir Ajan being bugged, you don’t think you can buy me over with that do you?” I asked him, ” Jason, I rather don’t say anything than lie, that’s my principle” He said, ” Jason, please come back and save the world, the world need you guys, people are dying, children are being wasted , Children are being displaced, we have lost more than fifty of our own spies, Jason, please accept my plea and talk to the rest to accept” he knelt down, ” I have ripped off my pride to beg you, Jason please when next you have doubt coming back to save the world, just know that your mom might be among the victims of the Manhunter one day” He concluded as he opened the door to his car, ” Jason, think well and think right” were his final statement.

AS NARRATED BY ISRAEL
” sir Ajan” I called as I went towards him, he stretched put his hand for a handshake but I refused it, ” I expected that” he smiled, ” Nice complex” He smiled looking at my complex, ” Thanks, what brings you here?” I asked him, ” Israel, it has been 730 days and some months since you guys took this decision of leaving the world to itself” He said , ” Hmm, it has also been 730 days and some months since you guys led Gabriel to his death” I told him , ” Hmm, Gabriel, the deadliest of them all, may his soul rest in peace” He said looking up the sky, ” But Israel, you must agree with me that compared to the world, Gabriel is a minority” He said.

AS NARRATED BY ISRAEL
” for me Gabriel will always remain a majority compared to anyone” I told him , he smiled. ” Israel, don’t let anger blind your sight to see what is happening outside, people are dying day by day. Israel, please don’t let anger blind you ” He said and opened the door to his car, ” Ajan” I called him back, ” Yes” he smiled, probably to the fact that I called him Ajan, ” Have you talked to Alvana about this?” I asked , ” Yes, we have ” he said and entered into his car, he drove off. I stood still staring at the blue sky and not knowing what to do when my phone vibrated, it was a call from Alvana. ” Van, how you doing?” I asked him, ” Israel” he called my name and then there was a long silence, ” I think we should go back to save the world” He told me.

AS NARRATED BY DARLINGTON
” so, I have been in this jungle ever since I was born” I concluded my story that evening, I was with the strange man outside his hut. ” What about you, how did you get to this jungle?” I asked him, he smiled. ” I was meant to be killed but was later spared and dropped here” he smiled, ” I don’t understand you” I said, ” I don’t expect you to understand me” he smiled, ” You have been behaving secretive since morning” I smiled also as he passed me a piece of the yam he was roasting, ” Have you ever been to the outside world, I mean outside this jungle?” He asked , ” No, I only go to the local market to steal at times” I smiled, ” You can actually use your abilities and power to fight the evil ones” He said, ” How do you mean?” I asked him, ” I want to go to the outside world, I have unfinished business there and I want your jungle strength to go with me Darlington ” he told me, ” You even know my name, what should I call you?” I asked him but he kept mute and stirred the yam he was roasting.

” Now rise my armies, rise my warriors” I smiled as I stared at my well trained fighter, it gives me joy anytime I see how strong they have evolved, From Daniel to Charles to Ken and to The Deadliest of them all, Gabriel. It was a good sight to behold seeing my empire grow so big, at last Newriton is about to fall, we have taken down almost all their fighters , almost all. ” Sir, I think delay is dangerous, why don’t we attack Newriton, why should we wait for them to bring the war to us?” Gabriel asked me, he is always ready to kill, he was indeed a worthful investment, all thanks to Scientist John for his knowledge, we applied it. ” Gabi, calm down, let make them look like the bad guys, the bad guys should always bring war to the good guys” I told him, he nodded. ” From my last findings, I discovered that, Ajan and the rest have gone back to bring the spies of old, the strongest set they have ” I said and the place went quiet. Alvana, Matt, Israel and Morgana are indeed problems to us, it was a relieve when I heard they quit Newriton after the rumor that gabi was dead, they had made the institute vulnerable and easy to attack, without them, I got a lot of their fighters and some now even work for me. ” Don’t worry about them boys, with what we have got, we can sure destabilize them, none of them would expect to see the dead Gabriel alive, go and get drunk boys” I told them laughing, just them my phone rang, ” Hello my dear” I smiled as I picked up the phone, I am always happy whenever my only daughter put a call to me, ” Dad, how is your plan going, am doing fine over here” She said to me.

AS NARRATED BY MATT
I was shocked to see a black Camry car park In front of my small abode, I wasn’t expecting anyone and for all I know, I hardly have visitors. I came out of the house after peeping through the window for sometime and the inhabitant of the car refuse to come out, I went towards the car. I was almost closing up on it when the door flung open to reveal Gwen, the I.C.T girl of Newriton. ” Hi” I said in shock, ” Surprised to see me?” She asked smiling, ” Surprise should be an understatement, to what do I owe this?” I asked resting on her car, ” We Don’t even know that well, we met only once” I said, ” I know , but once is actually enough to know enough about you” She smiled, ” I don’t get” I said, ” I don’t want you to get” she said holding my hand and shocking me the more, ” Matt” she called my name, ” I want you to come back to Newriton ” She said with a pleading eyes, ” Why should I come back?” I asked her , ” Because you need to save the world” She smiled, ” I don’t want to come back or have anything to do with Newriton” I told her, ” I am of Newriton, that means you don’t wanna have anything to do with me” She smiled, ” You aren’t Newriton” I told her, ” Matt should I tell you something?” She asked, ” Tell me” I said, ” I love you, I know what you might be thinking, that Newriton sent me to play this on you, yes Newriton sent me, but I am also telling you from my heart, please come back” She said as she entered back into her car, ” When you doubt coming back, remember , I love you” She concluded and drove off.

AS NARRATED BY DARLINGTON
” Okay, this will be the fifth time I will be asking you this, what should I call you?” I asked the strange Man , I don’t know why but he always tries to change the topic whenever I ask him his name, ” These yams are the best I have, they roast well” He said while I smiled, ” I know that, what is your name?” I asked him again, ” What do you need my name for?” He asked staring directly into my eyes, his stares were intimidating and scary, ” Because you know mine and since you are my friend, I need to know your name” I said , ” Okay then, Call me the deadliest of Them All” He said getting up, ” going hunting ” He said.

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The social media girl I met

Just on a blissful and normal Sunday i decided to run a check on my eskimi account so on of my crush or lemme say internet crush just emailed me her line
which i ask for some weeks back,
i was so happy then i copied the number down but waited till after church before trying her number out i tried it at first it wasnt going i was like “mogbe
this girl don see mugu” then i latter tried it in the evening then it went but she never picked up, i just zero am ni forget the girl because girls dey very
conny.
well sorry for not introducing my self at the begining of the story just wanna give you guys some suspense. am Zeus as per normal i be naija boy lag bred sha
, i dey stay alone because i be fredral government worker i am in my 20 the story i am about to say is about my meeting with an internet friend which lives
back door but i never knew until we met, now here was how it all began.
i usually browse on different website cus i social network a lot i be boring type and also a flirtzo, i do my things my way if you dey doubt me go ask your
sister eh! permit me i no dey sing o just trying to expres my self. i have spoken to many chicks online so ijust saw this girl for the first time on eskimi

na so i message am not up to 10 min she replied then we just chatted for a few minuites then i asked of her digits then she no gree. see shakara o she want
make i dey beg her ni na so i just snub her go check other girls wey i don message down before i knew it she went offline me sef comot but because of work i
no too dey frequent online.*****back to where i stopped*****
one nice sunday i just close duty cus na military guy i be i just dey rest i carry my ipad dey browse i first go place bet for 9ja bet for that day matches i
just say make i check my stuff for eskimi na so i see the number i come call am e no go na latter for evening e come go she no pick after like 30min she come
call me…..
me:hello good evening
she: sorry who am i speaking with???
me: this is zeus your friend on eskmi
she:oh! whats up
me; am fine
she: sorry for not picking up i was on a bike on my way home from a friend place
me: no wahala
na so we just dey talk unnecessary talks sha till we arrived at when we gonna see but she is always busy except sundays then we picked sundays and during our
coversation she did mentioned she was staying in my area less did i know she was staying in a estate at the back of my base until a day before now Sunday was here and the funniest thing was i was also expecting one of my side chick that schools in a university close to my place, her name is shade

she just called and promise to come on Sunday how i won do am but as a sharpy boy i just called my guy on phone who wasn’t around explained everything to
him this one na badoo he bad pass me he just said i shouldn’t worry that i should check for his key inside the flower vase in from of his apartment as i
dropped the call kwins call just entered and said she is almost my gate that i should come out and pick her up i had to rush and quickly arrange the house
because it was around 9 in the morning as i arranged everything bought malt and shortbread from the store beside my block put inside my guys fridge, put
air freshner on the guys air conditioner make the room dey cool na im call come enter o say i get visitor for gate i just ran to the gate as i got to gate my
guys just dey eye me say omo you don start chick wey just return from church wey never enter her house you don carry am come sey dem no even sure if she even
go the church sef as i reach where she dey then i saw whom i have been chatting with all these while dark in complesion a bit tall her front was not too big
but moderate the same as the back and she was wearing their choir attire one white top and red skirt for my mind i was like can something happen today omo

this one na s.u ooooooooo, i just lock up dey do think of how to runs my thing my guys just dey hala me for road i just smile dey go my own, finally we got
home chit chatted a bit i offered her what i bought then she said she wanted watching movie then we searched the shelf for film i never knew my guy had
prono in his house this girl see am come dey ask me jamb question sey how i take get am but i just bone she come dey claim holy, finally she laid on the bed
wey were just checking m,y pix on my ipad the girl still dey form and me still dey ponder i just dey think how i go take runs the girl package i finally
succeded in romacing her but she just dey form for me i sha do before i knew it her head don dey my chest i still dey romance her after a while she just lay
on the bed come dey say she go soon leave o instantly i remember orientation wey my guys dey gimme say if babe say she go soon leave she mean sey ogbeni do
fast ooo, i just soji my self still romacing her now in a flirty way i started kissing her neck she made a little moan .

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The Greed of Hatred (Friction)

Your guess was right. It was Cynthia calling. I then remembered that i called her last night but she didn’t show up or what. At first i didn’t want to take the call but i later decided to take it.

Me: hello(wearing an angry face)

Cynthia: hello Fab. What’s wrong with that voice?

Me: its you. Imagine i called you to come last night but you chose to turn me down and you think am happy with that.

Cynthia: wait Fabulous na me you dey vex for? Me and you who suppose vex? I came to your house but your mum and your girlfriend abi wife rained me insults. They went to the extent of giving me marathon slap and you are here talking to me. Anyway its not your fault….

Me: i.. Hello.. Baby..
.hello…he…
Dawn. She cut the call. So she can to my house and that wretch of a woman has the guts to lay a finger on her? Don’t worry let me meet you in my house. I tried calling Cynthia severally but wasn’t answering. She was actually angry with me..

I checked my time, its 3:00pm. I packed my things and left the office. I drove straight to Cynthia’s house. Thank God she was alone. She frowned her face immediately she saw me.

Me: please baby am sorry for what happened last night.

Cynthia: please leave me alone, i don’t want to recieve another beating.

Me: i said am sorry. It won’t happen again. Please. Would you like shopping?
At this time i can see smile on her face but she later frowned maybe to pretend.

Cynthia: are you trying to bribe me with that?

Me: not like that. You know i can do anything to make you happy. Please don’t say no.

Cynthia: its alright if you say so. Let me change to something better..

We left her house to a supermarket nearby. She picked as much as she can and i paid for the bills. She was happy with my kind gesture and thanked me for the items. I dropped her in her house and promise to give her a call soonest. I drove to my house smiling, but my face changed immediately i came close to my house. I drove in, packed my car and left for the sitting room. I met that thing, sorry Ifeoma watching movie.. I walked to the tele and switch it off.

Ifeoma: darling welcome. How was work?

Me: you must be very stupid and out of your mind. You have the guts to harass my quest last night and you still stand here to take rubbish. By the way, what are you still doing in my house?

Ifeoma: please calm down. You don’t need to be angry like this.. That girl look like a cheap prostitute and a gold digger.

Me: what the hell…. (I landed a hot slap on her left cheek) its you that is a cheap prostitute. Is here your father’s house? Oya start leaving before i change my mind.

Mama: (from no where) Fabulous what i wrong with you? Eh! She’s not going anywhere o. As far as i am concerned she is not stepping an inch out of this house.

Me: mama you are pushing me o. Don’t blame me if i take action.

Mama: what action? Kill her? You can’t do that.

Me: you why are you still standing there? Pack your things and get out of my house.

Ifeoma: my husband please….

Me: you think am joking? I rushed to her land another slap but this time the gravity was so much that she cannot carry it.. She collapse and hit her head on the sofa..

Mama: Jesus! Fabulous egbu o m ooo (Fabulouse don kill me o) you see what your stubbornness has caused.

Me: Ifeoma! Ifeoma!! Oh my God what have i don to myself.. I quickly carried her out put her at the back of the car while mama entered the front passenger’s side. I drove to Living Word Hospital and got her admitted. They said i have to deposit the sum of N50,000 before treatment can commence. But i only have N10,000 with me..

I pleaded with the doctor to start treatment while i go get the remaining money. Luckily for me, he agreed. I deposited the little i had and rushed to the atm. I came back with N100,000 incase of necessity..

Ifeoma remained unconscious for hours. I began to think that she was dead but the doctor assured me that nothing will happen to her. Series of tests were carried out on her and everything was negative..

She regained consciousness around 8:30pm. The doctor said that she is having internal bleeding which is not a good one..

Doctor: sir you have to make available the sum of N125,000 so that we can transfer her to our headquarter where she can be given appropriate treatment.

Me: but will she be ok after that?

Doctor: i assure that she’ll be ok.

I went back to the atm and withdraw the remaining money…

To cut it short. She recovered after two days after i have spent almost N200,000 on her head.. I didn’t bother to ask her to leave again but the treatment i have to her made her leave.

That night as she slept off i got up took the cloth i will be using tomorrow for work then left her in my room after locking the door with key. I slept at the other room. Very early in the morning i prepared and went to work without opening the door.

At office
my boss called for a meeting. Who knows what will be discussed?

at exactly 12noon, i told the client i was chatting with that i have a meeting with the General Manager and will be back soon. I left my office for the meeting hall.. All the board of directors were present including other departmental managers. The meeting was presided by the General Manager, Mr. Duke.

Mr. Duke: good day gentle men and ladies.

All: good morning sir.

Mr. Duke: i wouldn’t want to take much of your time so i have to be brief.. I would like to first thank the few people who have shown genuine committment in the growth of this company. The likes of Mrs. Nick, Miss Matilda, Mr. Ben and Mr. Edna. Thanks to you and keep the good work going.

Mr. Fabulous you are the sole reason for this meeting.

Me: (i was shocked when i heard the statement, my heart began pounding like apostolic church musical instrument). Sir i hope its for good?

Mr. Duke: how can it be for good when you have decided to turn the company to a private affair. You come to work and go anytime you like. And recently we have experienced reduction in the number of clients. Just yesterday a client came looking for you but you have left the office even before time. I now recieve complaints of late delivery. Do you have any excuse for that?

Me: sir am so sorry, i had family issues to tackle. Please pardon me.

Mr. Duke: i will pardon you but if you continue this way you will have yourself to blame. Lets i forget, i want every department to submit their report this afternoon. I think that will be all for now, you may now retire to your duties.

I left the hall so ashamed of myself. I was the subject matter. I just hope i don’t get fired. I went back to my office and continued with the business transaction.

Client: the goods arrived safely but it was late. I will send the remaining payment tomorrow via online banking.

Me: tomorrow is not the best option. My boss is a staunch Sabbath worshipper and wouldn’t condone any transactions that day. Why don’t you make it money.

Client: tomorrow is the only suitable day for me unless you’ll wait till next month.

Me: no no. I can’t wait. Just send it to my account, i will drop my account number before i log out now..

Client: ok then till tomorrow.
I sent him the account details before logging out. I arranged my things and off to my car, its past 4pm already. I hopped in and off to Cynthia’s house. Thank God Grace has gone back…. I forgot to tell you guys that Grace tried severally to invite me over to her house but i refused until she gave up the invitation.

I met Cynthia in her house. She frowned her face immediately she saw me. I knew she was still angry about the event.
I knelt down to beg for her forgiveness.

Me: baby please am sorry for what they did to you.

Cynthia: please stand up.. But you should have told me that you have a wife.

Me: wife ke! Don’t mind that girl. She’s just forcing herself on me.

Cynthia: please i don’t want any problem with your family.

Me: baby please.. How about a date tomorrow so that i can prove that am truely sorry. Please don’t say no.

Cynthia: ok. its obvious you’re not gonna quit. But i think sunday will be better. I won’t be available tomorrow.

Me: Its ok by me. I will call you around 12noon. I have to be on my way now. I left for my house immediately… I met my mum and she began shouting at me and saying all manner of things to me, but i didn’t want to start a drama so i went to my room. Opened the door and found Ifeoma sitting and crying. I pretended as if i didn’t notice anything. I dropped my briefcase, removed my suit and laid on the bed and slept off..

I woke up around 7pm and couldn’t find Ifeoma, i checked everywhere for her but she was no where to be found. I checked for my mum, she was fast asleep. I wanted to wake her up but i changed my mind.. Why am i even worried about her, i didn’t even like her stay in my house so she can go hang herself for all i care.. I went back to my house, take my shower and went back to bed.. I picked my phone and chatted for some time before i slept off again…

To be continued…..

The story is gradually coming to an end, two more episodes to go… Sit tight and keep your comments coming as events unfold..

ah! Its morning already? I sprang up from bed, i needed to do some clean up almost all my clothes are dirty. I packed them all in a sack bag so as to take them to my dry cleaner. I hopped into my car and drove off..

Just 1km to my destination, a toyota corolla double-crossed me and i found my brake immediately.. Four hefty young men boomed out of the car each carrying an AK47, they made their way to my car and asked me to get down. At first i wanted to claim james bond, but what can i do? Am i even stupid to think of that? One man as vulnerable as whatever you can think of against four men with gun. Thats absolute stupidity… So i foolishly got down from my car raising my hand above my head, i found myself begging them to spare my life. One of the criminals abi assassins who seemed to be their leader stepped forward.

Criminal: your money or your life.

Me: please i don’t have any money with me.

Criminal: do you think am joking? I did not ask you if you have any money with you. Ok let me cut it short, here with me is an inter-bank transfer form, all you need to do is to sign it for me..

He brought our a pen from his pocket and started filling the form. After filling the necessary details he handed the paper to me for endorsement.

Me: what! I shouted as i saw the amount.. Two million naira? But that’s the only thing i have in my account. How can you take all of them?

Criminal: (Kra..kra..he pointed the gun to my heart.) i give you the count of 3 to sign that thing.. 1….2….2 and half..

Please sir let me sign it (i said as i collected the pen from him.. Chai! What am i going to do now. What of the outing i have tomorrow? Can it be possible without money? All these things ran through my mind but i think my life is worth more than all these.. I signed the paper and handed it back to him.. He went true it and nodded in satisfaction.. He walked back to their car.

Criminal: Axe! (he called out one of his boys)

Axe: yes boss

Criminal: groundnut bonus abeg.

Axe: your wish is my command boss…

He pointed his gun towards and went for the trigger and released a shot on my forehead… I screamed Jesuuuuuus!!!! And jumped up from my bed.
Ah! So this was just a dream. A call came into my phone and i reached for the phone. It was Tobi calling. I picked the call without hesitation.

Me: my main man whats up you?

Tobi: my guy i dey o just that work has not been easy here.

Me: no worry mehn na so in dey be nah. This one wey you hola at me this early, i hope everything is ok.

Tobi: everything is ok in my side. Fab i have a feeling that some bad is going to happen to you.

Me: where you come get that one from? You don become prophet?

Tobi: am not a prophet but i want to advice you based on what i saw. I had a terrible nightmare and in the night your were robbed of your money and properties. Please be careful of your movement these days.

Me: i don hear you, i assure you say nothing go happen to me.

Tobi: i just pray it doesn’t happen o.. So how mama

Me: mama is fine o she’s even in my house.

Tobi: wow! Is she around?

Me: she might be snoring in her room now.

Tobi: ok. Anyways extend my greetings to her and be a good boy.

Me: ok sir. Thank you for your concern.

Tobi: ok then.

He hung the call and i knelt down beside my bed to say a short prayer but i couldn’t just concentrate so i had to postpone the prayer till evening time. I wiped my face and went to my wardrope and found out all my clothes are dirty except the suit i wore to office yesterday.. Hmmm. I don’t have the slightest strenght to scrub my clothes but i dare not go out today after that nightmare. So i decided to wait till i have the strength to wash..

My mum woke up and came to my room to know how we were faring and know why we are still in bed when its already 9am.. She found only him and enquired about Ifeoma’s whereabout but i told her i didn’t know. She was very mad at me and asked me to make sure i find her and marry her if not she’ll disown me.. She left my room angrily..

What the hell does she want me to do? Will i kill myself because she decided to leave? Abeg let me think how tomorrow is going to be.. I got up, brushed my teeth and went back to bed to think about my life…

Sunday 20th May 2007 is the
day i will never forget in my
life or in a hurry.. What really
happened that day?
GRAND FINALE!!!!
Finally the deal day is here. I
can’t wait to have Cynthia all
to myself. I was reluctant to
go to church but i had to so
as to escape from my mum’s
wahala..
The service was so bored
for me. I can’t even tell the
topic of the day’s sermon. I
was only imagining what’s
going to happen in few
hours… Luckily for me, the
service ended around
11:35am, so i rushed home
to get ready…
On my way to the house, i
remembered going to meet
my mum at home so i
decided to go for my outing
from dear because i don’t
need anything or anybody
to spoil my fun for me. I
diverted to Cynthia’s house..
She was almost ready when
i got there so i waited for
her to finish..
After five minutes, we’re
good to go. Cynthia hopped
into the passenger’s front
seat as i zoomed off.. There
was silent as we drove.
Cynthia: so where’s our
destination? She said
breaking the silence.
Me: Luxury City.
Cynthia: wow! I heard its a
nice hotel.
Me: yea… All through the
drive we never said a word
again until we got there..
Here we are dear
Cynthia: so soon?
We walked straight to the
reception and i paid for an
accomodation for 5hrs.. She
directed us to room 101..
Receptionist: sir here you
are. Enjoy your stay here.
Me: thanks dear.. I replied as
she walked back to her duty
post… I pick the desk phone
to call the bar so as to place
an order but Cynthia insisted
that she goes there by
herself. After much
resistance that was fruitless
i allowed her to go and
make the order…
She came back five minutes
later with bottle of bazoka
drink and two tumblers..
That’s exactly my favorite
alcoholic drink.. She filled the
two tumblers while telling
me the the waiter will soon
come with the food…
While waiting for the for, i
took a gulp of the drink and
fished it in the next gulp. I
re-filled my tumbler.. I didn’t
notice that Cynthia was not
drinking, but thats not my
business.
I gazed at her with a ‘wow’
look. She was really hot in
the mini gown she wore
which revealed greater part
of her laps… What about her
milk industry? It was
swinging like a pendulum .
She noticed my mood and
she made some sexy moves
that turned me on
immediately.
I moved closer to her and
our lips met like a magnet
and before i could say jerk
she already caressing my
iron man which is now as
hard as a rod.. My hand
travelled from her shoulder
to her backyard then to the
two ripe water melons in
front. God really did a
marvelous work there. I
pulled her gown up to allow
me access to her banana
island, i noticed she wasn’t
wearing panties. I started
fingering her and she was
moaning gently.. Soon we
are into each other.
I became so week after one
round.. She got up, went to
her bag and brought out
something like a document,
my eye was so blurred that i
can’t even see the content of
the paper…
Cynthia: baby i want you to
sign this for me. Handing
the paper to me.
Me: can’t it wait till
tomorrow?
Cynthia: please its needed
urgently.
Me: ok. What’s the paper
about?
Cynthia: its a
recommendation later that i
will be submitting tomorrow
morning with my
application and resume.
I collected the book and
signed for her. I was still
dead hungry for sexx when
i suddenly slumped into the
bed….
_____
Uhhhh i yawned as i woke
up.. I checked my time
10:45am… What!! Is my time
wrong or what! I unlocked
my phone to see 45 missed
calls from my mum, Grace,
my boss and my clients, and
two messages i opened the
first one and it reads
“dear Mr. Fabulous, your
account has been credited
with the sum of
N10,000,000 from**some
text missing**.. I concluded
it was from the client i gave
my account number.
I opened the next text to see
the shock of my life. It reads:
dear Mr. Fabulous, a debit of
N11, 995,000.00k occured
on your account via transfer.
Your new balance is N5,283.
20k. Thanks for banking
with us. sender: Union Bank.
Jesus! What the hell is going
on where is Cynthia? I
picked my suit and walked
down stares only to be
stopped by the receptionist
to pay for over staying. It
was then i realized its
monday. Thank God i had
little money on me then i
paid her off and rushed out
only to find out that my car
is no longer packed there.. I
placed a call to my bank
manager asking her about
the transaction.
Me: why did you make a
transfer without my
consent?
Manager: sir a lady came
here with a transfer for but
i called you and you
confirmed it.
I hung up angrily. What am i
going to do? What will i tell
my boss? All this thoughts
were running to my mind
when i suddenly
remembered our sex
episode i began to smile as i
sight Cynthia standing half
naked in front. I went to her
pulled the dress she was
wearing, i removed mine
and started caressing her all
over. I was wearing only a
boxer. I pulled the boxer
down a bit so as to bleep
her not until a hot slap
landed on my cheek.

I was like ‘babe why did you just leave me like that?’ but she never said anything or respond to my sexxual urge. I continued until a hot slap landed on my right cheek and brought my back to reality. And behold i was standing in a boutique belonging to my boss wife.. Who slapped me? It was my boss and what do you think i was romancing all these while?….

GM: Fabulous what the hell are you doing here? So this is it? It has gotten to the extent of romancing a…… He paused… Well meet me in the company… He said and walked out immediately..

Chei!! The witches in my village has finally remembered me…

Next thing i found myself in a police cell where i would remain until the sum of N10,000,000 is paid to the company.. That was how i lost everything

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act of unlawful manners

I thank God for the inspiration given to write the second part of the story Act Of Faith. We also thank him for making the first part a big success and we also pray he makes the second one more successful.
Secondly, my lovely fans, they have been the best, always there for me, to support and help Gabi. This one is for you o guys, thank you so much, I hope you find this one also good as you saw the first.
I won’t forget to thank uncle Valentine Nkemjika, he gave me the best platform to write, he is always there to encourage me, uncle val thank you very much.
All those my ghost readers, thank you so much too o, thank you all.
You shouldn’t be wondering why I use We instead of I, I got my crews. James Edward, Me, Victor Edegbo, and Etz Sky Prince made the story come to place. I say a very big thank you To James Edward, he has been good, taking time to tell me what is right for business, giving me ideas over ideas. To victor Edegbo, my distribution manager, helping me with distribution of my books, and To Sky Prince, he gave me some inspiration, thank him to.
The Jungle was still, the tall trees shielded the sun from penetrating deep on the little inhabitants of the Jungle. Birds of the air could be seen Singing as they flew from trees to trees, they had nothing to bother about. Looking below the tree level of the jungle, a sculptured mark could be seen at the centre of large buildings surrounding it, everywhere was still. In one of these buildings, is a prison yard for criminals who had been caught by Newriton. Each cell could be seen to contain individual criminal, what a comfortable way to keep them. The thick iron protector preventing each of them from the outside world was electrically operated and at such they couldn’t break through their escape. In a particular prison room, a young, fine man could be seen staring intensely at the electric protector, he seemed to be looking beyond it as he was all focused on what he was looking at. He was all in black and wore a black jacket with a black trouser, he was calm like he couldn’t hurt a fly. Suddenly, the iron protectors to all the prison room swiped open. Surely, the inhabitants of the prisons were surprised but they took chance of what just happened and ran out to sort their escape from the jungle. The man in black did a quick roll from the floor and ran out, the guards were now alerted and two could be seen coming towards him, he immediately did a flying double leg kick and the both guards were soon on the ground. He ran out of the building with the rest of the prisoners to the big open field. Alerted trained fighters could be trying to curb the prisoners with swords, knives and guns, they shot at some of the prisoners, threw knives at some and slashed some with the sword but no one could hold down the Man in black. He was too strong and fast for the fighters, he beat through the fighters and found his way to where bikes were parked but he was shocked to meet a young lady waiting there with a sword. ” Young girl, Leave the way” he shouted as he advanced towards her, ” Beat me away” she said and flung her sword across his head, he simply bent and did a forward roll to her, he did a leg sweeping kick and the girl was soon on the ground, she did a Chinese get up immediately but a back kick sent her back to the ground, she tried staggering up but couldn’t. ” If things were okay, I wouldn’t mind having you as my girl” he smiled as he hopped on one of the bikes and zoomed off dodging bullets and knives, but he wasn’t lucky as one knife caught his back, nevertheless, he never stopped driving, he escaped.
•
Back in the prison yard, someone in all black could be seen holding an iron electrical change over, changing it down, all the prison room closed up. ” Done ” the person seemed to smile, but the cover face cap that was worn hid the smile.

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my lesson teacher is a wicked man

There was no way I wanted a family to be in danger just because they desired to help me. The only thing I could do at that point was pray. I prayed that the strange Mr. risking his life for me and my colleague would be safe. I prayed that area boy would not harm Mr. in any way. I prayed that my current ordeal on the third mainland bridge would be over. Mr. asked area boy to get down on his knees and tie the rope to both cars while he watched. That done, Mr. told area boy he would pay him one thousand naira. Area boy flipped and cursed. I pushed two thousand naira into Mrs. hands and begged her to give it to Mr. so we could leave. I had had enough for the night. She refused to collect the money but called Mr. and asked him to pay off the guy. He listened to the voice of reason and the guy left.

Whew!!! Now we needed to tow my car. Mr. asked that I sit in his car with Mrs. and son while he would maneuver mine with my colleague seated beside him. Mrs. got behind the steering and started the car. One move of the car and I realized Mrs. was a learner. This was going to be a very long journey. I tried to encourage her during the drive and admonish her on stepping on the brakes. Finally, we get to Anthony after a few stops and starts. Thankfully, my friends lived just off the expressway and Mrs. did not have to do a test of driving skills. I had called my friends earlier and also my hubby and they kept tabs on us all through the journey. The car was parked in front of my friends’ house and Mr. decides to start the ignition. Voila! It started. He asked if I would drive it home.

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Tomorrow may be too late(full episode)

my story is a very complicating one, beause growing up was not a easy tast, i lost my parents at an early age and lived with my parents in benin, his wife, mrs toyin, did wicked stuffs to me but i overcame all.

I didn’t know who the first person to find me
was, but the room was filled with policemen
when i regained consciousness. I was still
Unclad with blood on the sheets.
A man with a lot of tribal marks was asking me
questions like who i was, where are my other
gang members, where did we hide the things
we stole from the house. I just kept crying.
Some of the officers were laughing at me, each
was telling the others why they thought my
colleagues had tied me u and left me behind.
Most agreed it was greed, that i was probably
trying to run away with all they had stolen from
the professors house.
That was when I remembered the artwork in
the parlour. That must have been the professor
and his wife. I realised i had been used by the
girl to rob the house, her gang member had
met up with her and……oh my God.
I decided to tell the tribal marked guy all that
happened. He nodded and kept taking notes, i
wondered why he didn’t unbound me, but i
kept talking.
The he asked me two questions.
“What is her name?”
“I don’t know”, i replied.
“His name?”
“I don’t know”
The other policemen started laughing at me. I
wondered if he was going t laugh to but he
didn’t, until he asked me one last question.
“So him Bleep you for yansh?”
“Yes”
Then they all laughed louder, including my
interrogator.
Some minutes later I was handcuffed and taken
to their station, where i was locked up without
charge or trial for two weeks.

On a sunday afternoon, I was suddenly called
from my cell that I had made bail. I got to the counter to see Shade at the other side. She
cried as soon as she saw me, I tried to be
strong but I cried to.
As she drove me to her house, she told me
everybody was looking for me and no one
thought about checking the police station until
my abandoned car was recovered at Dugbe.
“Dapo, tell me, what happened?”
I kept quiet for a while, then i spoke.
H“Its a very short story… but first, please forgive
me.”

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The unseen powers of a thousand land

My phone rang again, this time I picked it and
switched it off. I tried pushing u the sickening
image of Joseph bursting inside her, spilling his
Pour on her stomach, her saliva all over his
Joystick, but I couldn’t. I could hear her
moaning as he hit her from behind. I had to
stop my car Sango bus stop, in front of Total
filling station.
I sent her a message, telling her she was killing
my battery and I didn’t want to hear from her
again. I told her I would return her ATM card
which was still in my possession. She replied
saying she was very sorry. I deleted the
message.
Joseph was one of the few guys that
intimidated me at work. He was not just
handsome, he was also very intelligent. He also
happened to marry one of the most s*xy** girls
I had seen. many a time, during pre-intimacy
with Shade, I’d fantasize that I was with his
wife, my Attention usually became firmer. If he
knew I was jealous of him and all that he had
working for him, he never showed it. We usually
hung out on weekends, watching premiership in
his apartment or mine.
He had teased me countless number of time,
how if I wasn’t going to marry Shade, I should
let him have a go at her. He told me he would
toss his wife in as a sweetener, ofcourse he
was kidding so we’d just laugh about it. He
didn’t know I was the person that sent his wife
numbers and images of girls he was cheating
on her with. I had this secret SIM that I used
for my mission. Surprisingly, their marriage
seemed to go on smoothly. I had flirted with
her about a month ago. we where at a dinner
party organised by the bank at which we
worked. I had pulled her to the dance floor and
as we rocked on, I told her she had a behind to
die for, and if she was ever bored, she
shouldn’t be shy to call me. “Your friend never
makes me bored”, she said and shortly after,
left me by myself.
I always thought, Shade like him. She talked
about his height, his nice car and how he was
really funny. I even sensed she was developing
a crush for the guy, but I didn’t think they
would ever have the opportunity to screw each
other.
I started my car engine, making up my mind to
visit a university of Ibadan girl I had met some
days ago. she seemed smitten by a young
Banker, she told me in very clear terms that if I
wasn’t after only her puna, ten I could have all I
wanted, including her puna.
“Hello Jes, are you in the hostel?”
“Yes Dapo, long time o!”
“Im coming to pick you up, hope you aint busy”
“Nope, I aint. I will be waiting”
“Okay, I am on my way”.
I stopped at a bar opposite Sango police
station and bought a small plastic bottle of
Origin bitters. I had every intention to have her
all night. In three gulps, the bottle was empty, I
was in business.
Driving down to University of Ibadan, that was
when I saw her. She was standing infront of
Ventura Mall, she had the face of an angel. Her
beauty was unlike I had ever seen and even
though I had passed her by some metres, I
reversed to where she stood.
That was when I saw the swollen part of her
brow, the sorrow in her eyes. her eyes were still
watery. I decided that I must be the hero to this
beautiful damsel.
she didn’t act like a car was in front of her. I
honked but was still met by the blank stare of
the very beautiful lady. I got down from the car
and approached her. The closer I got, the more
I realised that I had underrated her beauty.
“Excuse me, Miss., Why are you standing here
all by yourself with that nasty bruise. you
should get it treated.

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The Love for blood money at the wrong time

“How can I be mad at the love of my life?” Natasha asked her son.
“So can I take him back home?” Tulani asked. “I am after all the one that brought him here. You are making your Zambian debut on air tonight with the evening news right?”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that for a minute.” Natasha said.
“You forgot?”
“I was too upset to think rationally. Let’s continue this conversation after work. I need to go back up now.” And bending down to address Sean, “dad will take you home now honey okay?”
“Aren’t we going to eat lunch together?” Sean was looking from mother to father and back.
Natasha threw Tulani a look that said,
this is what happens when you do random things. “I didn’t know you were coming sweetie so I already eat.”
“How about you and me grabbing some burgers before going home son?” Tulani suggested.
Sean had won the lotto in his father.
Feeling triumphant, Tulani took his sons hand and led him away. “Will be back before you go on air,” he told Natasha.
“Have fun with your father honey but don’t eat too much junk.”
Natasha had just stepped out of the elevator and was about to head to her office when Luyando stepped in front of her.
“Anything I can help you with, ma’am?” She was as sarcastic in her delivery as could be.
“I guess you are on cloud nine celebrating your little victory in there,” she pointed towards the cafeteria. “How does it feel to have everyone know that you have the son to the heir of this empire?”
Natasha laughed. “It’s a feeling you will never get to experience I guess.”
Luyando pursed her lips in derision. “You think you’ve won the lotto don’t you? Let’s see how long your victory is going to last.” And she started to walk away.
“What exactly do you get from chasing away the women in your brother’s life?”
Luyando stopped, but didn’t turn.
“You want him to remain single for the rest of his life just to satisfy your sick desires even though you are married yourself…even if it’s unhapppily. Don’t you think that’s being selfish? Can’t you see how miserable and unhappy you are making him?”
“What are you, Tulani’s spokesperson?” Luyando retorted, turning to face her. “You suddenly think you are a huge part of his life just because your womb landed a big one, don’t you?” She crossed her hands over her chest.
“Well, let me tell you this, no one knows or understands Tula better than me. I have been with him for over twenty years.”
“Yes, as his sister,” Natasha rudely reminded her. “Unless you are planning on making love to him via Bluetooth, I don’t see the two of you working out.” She then shrugged her shoulders and walked away, leaving Luyando reeling in fury behind.
Just as she had feared, Natasha was the centre of attention when she walked into the pool office of her department on her way to her own office. The looks on everyone’s faces told her everything on their minds and she knew from that point on that they would all be looking at her like that for a very long time.
Just one minute in her office and Astridah came pouring in. “Why didn’t you tell us!?”
Why wasn’t she surprised that it was Astridah that came first?
“Tell you what?” Natasha asked, desperately avoiding her colleague’s gossiping antenna.
“That you are the CEO’s secret girlfriend!” Astridah was excited at the prospect of collecting content for her gossip channel. “And…and you have his child! OMG.”
“This is a place of work Astridah,” Natasha cautioned her big eared friend. “I have no reason to talk about my personal life here…and obviously Tu…I mean, Mr Mulenga had no business bringing my…our son here. You should go back to your desk now. I think there’s a pile of scripts there waiting to be edited.”
“Ah, oh yeah,” Astridah said, looking disappointed but Natasha’s commanding tone was enough to send her out of the room immediately.
Unfortunately for Natasha, Astridah was not the only one that day trying to get a scoop into the story of Tulani and Natasha. Different people that had no business being in her office kept coming and going from her room.
At one point during the day, Chef Michael who never left the kitchen came to her office to find out if she had enjoyed her lunch. Even people that had not spoken to her since she joined the company were now acting like they had been the best of buddies.
Tulani made matters worse for Natasha who desperately wanted to keep her private life private when he walked into the news room just as she was concluding and shouted,
“That’s my girl!” the moment she was off the screen.
Natasha sent him her signature disapproving look and immediately after thanking the crew, she walked passed Tulani and headed straight to her office.
He was right behind her.
“Did I do something wrong again?” He asked once they were in her office.
“Do you forget sometimes that you are the boss here?” She asked him.
“What’s that got to do with anything? Are you trying to tell me that I am not allowed to celebrate when the mother of my child has done a good job?”
“You see, that’s the problem right there; here at TMH I am not the mother of your child, I am your employee.”
“Tasha,” Tulani sat down. “Why don’t you just be honest with me….”
“Honest?”
“Why really are you doing this?” He asked.
“Doing what?”
“Rejecting me, every single turn you just keep rejecting me.” Tulani was stressing every word in the sentence as if to emphasize every single pain in his chest. “Nothing I’ve tried to do is good enough. It’s like you’ve already written me off in your heart.”
“Tulani….” Natasha searched for the right words to say in such a situation but couldn’t find any.
Tulani waited for her to finish but when nothing came, he got up. “Just forget it,” he said and walked out of her office.
Alone, Natasha sunk back into her chair, shutting her eyes and rubbing her fingers over them.
Luyando was in her office pacing to and from whilst on the phone and looking like she was about to explode from whatever the person on the other end of the line was telling her.
“Well, tell him to call me when he’s done with his rounds!” She yelled and cut the line. A few seconds later, her cell rang again.
She answered without even looking at the caller id. “Peter!” She yelled.
“It’s me Lulu.”
“Mum, I’m sorry, I thought you were….”
“Peter?” Ayanda laughed. “Too bad love, it’s only…your mother. What’s wrong? Did you fight with your husband?”
“He hasn’t been home in three days and he hasn’t even bothered to call, not even once. He’s never done this before..” Luyando complained.
“Maybe he’s taken on extra shifts. Doesn’t he work part time at that new hospital as well? Have you tried contacting any of his colleagues?”
“I called the secretary at that other private hospital he works but she told me he hasn’t been there this whole week.”
“What about his colleagues from UTH? Don’t you know any of his friends?” Her mother asked.
“I know some of them…well. I’ve met a couple of them before but I don’t remember their names.”
“That’s the problem with you Lulu, you don’t take a lot of interest in your husband. I’ve told you numerous times to take an interest before you are shocked to find out things that should have been obvious.”
Luyando laughed. “Shocking things?” She asked. “Like what mother? Peter doesn’t have the guts or the time to cheat on me. I am the best thing that’s ever happened to him and he would be a fool to risk that. I am special; I am your daughter after all.”
Ayanda chuckled. “Indeed you are, but just do what I am telling you from now on; take an interest in your husband. He is such a generous and humble soul. There are not many men like that these days.”
“I am going to give him a piece of my mind when he comes back on the radar.”
“That temper of yours,” her mother cautioned her. “But doesn’t he tell you when he’s working nights or extra shifts?
“He usually does but he didn’t tell me this time that’s why am worried.”
“Did you fight the last time you saw each other?”
Luyando didn’t answer, her mind going back to that night when he yelled at her for spending all her free time at her parent’s house.
“Luyando?” Ayanda called her out of her reverie.
“I’m here mum. We had a slight misunderstanding but that’s because he wanted me to apologize for something ridiculous. Sometimes he’s such a cry baby that one.”
“Did you apologize?” her mother asked.
Luyando laughed. “Apologize for what? I never did anything wrong! He was just overreacting. He always takes out his stress on me.”
“Luyando,” Her mother chastised her.
“Why did you call mum?” She quickly changed the topic, sensing that her mother was about to venture into nagging territory.
“Oh yeah, I got carried away when I heard you talk about your husband. Actually,” Ayanda lowered her voice. “I called because there’s a lady here who said she wanted to talk to me and your dad about you.”
Luyando stopped pacing. “What did you say?”
“I said,” she was still whispering. “There is a lady in the living room; she’s waiting for your dad to come back home. He went to that PFP party meeting. They will be choosing a successor tomorrow since ….”
“Mum, mum stop blabbering about that dame party! Who is the lady in the living room?”
“She said her name is Martha.”
“Martha who?” Luyando tried to recall her step mother’s name but nothing came to mind. She had not been interested in knowing who her father was worried to.
“She didn’t say.” Her mother said. “But she seems very nice, very soft-spoken.”
“I’m coming home right now mum.” Luyando said.
“I didn’t call you so you could come home.” Ayanda said.
“I know mum, but I still want to hear whatever it is she has to say about me.” She cut the line before her mother could say anything else, grabbed her handbag and bolted out of the office.
Even though she could not remember her father’s new wife, she suspected that it could only be her who had visited her parents.
“I am going to kill that old man!” Luyando kept hitting her steering wheel over and over again in frustration.
“How dare he send his dame wife to fight his battle? Wait until this is over…I am going to get you for this Bernard Chimeko. You just wait.”
Luyando entered her parent’s house and found the three adults siting in the living room.
“Who are you?” Luyando addressed Martha.
“What kind of manners are these? Sit down young lady!” Her father shouted.
Her body, shuddering from both fury and fear, Luyando went to sit next to her mother.
“Did you tell her to come?” Joshua asked his wife. But Ayanda did not respond. It was clear from his tone that he already knew the answer and he was not pleased.
“You must be Luyando.” Martha was smiling at her husband’s daughter, unable to imagine that a beautiful girl like her would have so much hate towards her own father to threaten im in the manner she was doing. “I was just about to introduce myself to your parents.”
“What do you want?” Luyando asked.
“Lulu!” it was her mother’s turn to put her in line.
Martha chuckled nervously. “I think your daughter already knows who I am. That’s why she’s very nervous.”
Both Joshua and Ayanda turned to give their daughter.
“You know who this woman is?” Her father asked.
Luyando was shaking her head emphatically. “Of course I don’t know her. Why would I know her?”
“Ms…what did you say your name was again?” Joshua turned back to Martha.
“Martha, or you can just call me Mrs Chimeko. I am the wife of Bernard Chimeko…who also happens to be your daughter’s biological father.”
Ayanda’s jaw dropped.
Luyando was gripping her mother’s hand and holding on to it as if for dear life. “He actually did it,” she said, shaking and crying in fear.
“Lulu,” Ayanda turned to her daughter, wiping the tears away with her hand. “What’s wrong honey? What do you mean he actually did it?” And then turning back to Martha, “Look, I don’t think you coming here unannounced is such a good idea. Do you have any idea what your husband did to his daughter? Just look at her.” And turning to her husband, “Honey, are you going to let this lady continue sitting there?”
“He…he…he told me that he…that he was…going to…punish me for…for telling on him.” Luyando said in-between sobs.
“What?” Ayanda asked, sending a warning shot in Martha’s direction.
However, Martha appeared to be unfazed by the female Judas performing in their midst.
And so did Joshua.
“He told me that…that he would take me away from this family…that I didn’t deserve to be happy. He sent her here to take me away. I don’t want to go back to him mum.” Luyando cried, hiding her face into her mother’s b---m.
“Why are you here Mrs Chimeko?” Joshua asked the visitor.
“I came here for two reasons,” Martha confidently replied. “To clear my husband’s name and to ask your daughter…who also happens to be my daughter as well…I came to ask her to stop threatening my husband. Bernard has absolutely no intentions of taking you away from this family.”
“If your husband is innocent, why didn’t he come himself? I think he is a coward for sending his wife instead.” Joshua said.
“I never said my husband sent me here,” Martha candidly informed the three. “He doesn’t even know I’m here. I came because I know he would never come, because that’s what Luyando asked him to do.”
“What are you accusing my daughter of?” Ayanda asked.
“I am not accusing her of anything. I am here to give her a chance to let go of the hate so she can live a peaceful life. If even after what I tell you today you still feel like taking my husband to the police, I will not stop you.
“Bernard is not afraid of anything. If he really is guilty of the things your daughter accused him of doing, I will see to it myself that he’s locked up. But you see, the truth of the matter is that Luyando was never raped. The only sin my husband committed against her was neglecting her at the time when she needed him the most.”
“What do you know?” Luyando snapped at her step-mother. “You were not there! You don’t know anything!”
“Don’t you think it’s time you told your family the truth Luyando?” Martha asked her.
“We’ve been through all this before,” Ayanda said. “Why would you want to put her through such a terrible ordeal again? Don’t you have kids? Don’t you have a heart? Can’t you see what this is doing to her?”
“As a matter of fact, I am here because I am a mother.” Martha answered. “I am here because somehow, thanks to Luyando, this whole situation has affected my own daughter’s life. Has she told you that she and my daughter…who isn’t Bernard’s biology daughter by the way…has your daughter told you that they work together, and that she is the mother of your grandson?”
Joshua and Ayanda gaped at her.
“My daughter Natasha is the mother of Sean. Tulani is the father.”
Ayanda couldn’t believe her ears. “No, it can’t be,” she kept repeating.
“Apart from Luyando here, none of the others are aware of this ridiculous entanglement.”
“Did you just say ridiculous entanglement?” Ayanda asked. “Your husband raped his own daughter. That’s not ridiculous, it’s a sin!”
“I understand why you would believe that,” Martha said. “I also understand that there is no way of proving my husband’s innocence to you, however,”
“There is a way.” Joshua interjected, three pairs of eyes were on him.
“There is a way?” Martha asked, looking extremely curious.
“Joshua!” Ayanda couldn’t believe her husband.
“I heard it from Luyando herself,” Joshua informed the women.
“What are you talking about dad?” Luyando asked her father. She had never spoken to him about the past. She mostly spoke to her mother and to Tulani.
“I kept quiet all these years because I wanted peace in my home.” Joshua said. “Your diary,” he was addressing his daughter. “You remember the diary that you lost?”
Luyando was visibly horrified. That diary. She had wondered when it was going to appear and bite her in the a-s. It appeared the time had finally come. Why had she written in that dame thing?
“Are you talking about the diary that Dr Lucas gave her?” His wife asked. “The one that was lost during our move from Kitwe to Lusaka?”
“Yes that same one,” he answered.
“We looked for it everywhere,” Ayanda said. “There were Lulu’s private thoughts in there. The doctor had asked her to write down all her thoughts as a form of healing that’s why we were so worried someone might have picked it up and read everything. Did you find that diary honey?”
“It was never lost,” Joshua said nonchalantly.
Luyando finally sat up straight. “What do you mean it was never lost?”
“I was carrying your stuff from your bedroom at our old home to take to the truck when the diary dropped.” He informed his daughter. “I was going to close it right away but something on that opened page caught my eye.”
“You read my diary?” Luyando was up on her feet. “Those were my private thoughts, how could you?”
“Luyando don’t talk to your father like that. Sit down.” Her mother instructed.
“I can’t sit here and listen to this anymore.” She picked up her handbag. “I always knew you never liked me,” she told her father. “But how could you do this to me?” she started walking towards the door but her mother ran after her and stopped her.
“Don’t leave like this honey, your father is only upset….” Ayanda tried to reason with her daughter.
“Just look at all you looking at me like am some kind of criminal. If the man that gave me life rejected me, what can I expect from you people?” She pushed her mother’s hand away and stormed out of the house.
Ayanda tried to go after her but her husband menacingly yelled at her to stop. “Come and sit down!” he said, and she did as she was told.
“What will happen if she tries to take her own life? She tried it so many times before. Why are you suddenly doing this Bashi Tula?” Ayanda cried to her husband. “I know she is not your blood but she is our daughter. Would you be doing this if she was your own blood?”
“Don’t raise your voice at me Ayanda,” Joshua thundered. “The only reason that child came into this family was because I felt guilty…. Guilty that I was not around when you suffered a miscarriage and ended up losing your womb. Allowing that girl into the family was the least I could do to show you that I was sorry.”
“But you never even tried to love her, not even once!” his wife accused.
“How can I love her when I knew she was lying? If she could accuse her own father of harming her in the way she said he did, what do you think she would have said about me…or about Tula if something happened to her whilst under our care? That girl is no ordinary girl. She is dangerous.”
“Just what did you read in that diary that’s making you talk like this?” Ayanda asked.
All the while, Martha was seated quietly, listening to their conversation and saying nothing as if she was not even there.
“She wrote everything in that book,” Joshua said. “How she approached us, those cuts and wounds on her body. She did all that to herself.”
“Nooo….” Ayanda cried.
“I still have the diary in my safe. You can read it from page to page if you don’t believe. Her father was a drunk quite alright but he never touched her. All those things were lies to gain sympathy from us. It was the only way she knew to get away from the life of poverty her father was subjecting to, no offence to you madam of course.”
Martha laughed. “The truth is the truth,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” Ayanda asked her husband.
“You were so into the girl the moment you laid eyes on her. I knew the truth would break your heart.”
“Oh my God how can this be happening?”
“I think I should leave and come back some other time.” Martha reminded them of her presence.
“I think that’s a very good idea Mrs Chimeko. Apologies for the way things turned out. If you don’t mind leaving me your husband’s contact information, I would love to have a man to man conversation with him.”
“Are you planning on giving Luyando back to him?” Ayanda asked, crying at the prospect of losing the child she had come to regard as her own for the past twenty years.
“I never said anything like that,” Joshua said sternly. “It is just proper that he and I meet.”
“I agree,” Martha said.
Martha was driving back home thirty minutes later when she received a call from her husband.
“I am on the road heading home Ben. I can’t talk right now.”
“Wherever you are turn around and start coming to Thurston Hospital. I just received a call from someone informing me that Luyando is undergoing surgery.”
“What?” the first thought that crossed Martha’s mind were the last words that Luyando said to them before storming out of the house.
“I am almost at the hospital, you will find me there.” A very frantic Bernard said. Martha had never heard such desperation in his voice before.
“Did they tell you what happened?”
“Accident,” Ben said. “The man who called me said that she tried to commit suicide.”
Martha’s heart dropped. Did I do that ? She thought. Did my visit push her to try and kill herself? She quickly made a U-turn and started driving towards the hospital.
“I am on my way there,” she said.
Ben cut the line.
Thirty minutes later, Martha spotted her husband standing in the hospital lobby reading a note in his hands. She did not see Mr and Mrs Mulenga seated on a bench on the other side of the room.
“Ben,” she called out to him before she could even reach where he was.
Ben slowly lifted his eyes from the piece of paper and looked at his wife in a way he had never done before.
“What have you done?” Martha heard him ask.
“What is it Ben?” she had reached where he was.
Ben handed her the suicide note written by his daughter.
Martha was crying and shaking her head in disbelief as she read the contents of the note.
Two days had gone by and Bernard had not returned home. He had stayed by his daughter’s bed side and refused to take a break so he could go home and freshen up. Martha, sensing that her husband would not be coming home any time soon, she woke up early on a Wednesday morning and prepared to visit the hospital.
“I am coming with you,” Natasha told her mother when she walked into the kitchen.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Martha was leaning against the kitchen island while she waited for her coffee to be ready.
Natasha sat down on the stool closest to her mother. She still had her night gown on and the weave in her head appeared to have a voice of it’s on, an angry one at that.
“I don’t have much to do this morning,” Natasha informed her mother. “I haven’t been able to sleep these past few days so I’ve spent my nights working on proposals for a show I have to pitch to management next week.”
“Do you think I need protection from your father and Luyando?” Martha asked her daughter. She understood very well why Natasha was offering to accompany her. Even though she had not said a word about her father’s behaviour since Luyando’s suicide attempt, Martha knew that Bernard had lost favour in the eyes of his adopted daughter.
Natasha had a tendency to love hard and to hate as much as she loved. In Natasha’s world, you either loved someone, or you hated someone; there was no middle ground. Those who loved did their best to win and protect the ones they claimed to love and those who didn’t love hurt others.
Bernard had lost points in Natasha’s heart the moment he decided to trust his daughter’s words over the integrity of the woman that had loved and devoted herself to him for the past twenty years.
“I don’t think dad is the kind of person you need to be protected from,” Natasha said. “Of course I’m a little disappointed that he hasn’t called us since that incident but…I sort of understand what he’s going through.”
“Then why are your eyes telling me something else?” Her mother asked.
Natasha chuckled. “I trust dad, it’s Luyando I don’t trust. Who knows if her amnesia is real or not? I have never met a conniving person like her in my life. I don’t trust her a bit.”
“How can she lie about that when it might alienate her further from her adoptive family?” Martha asked. “She clearly prefers them over your dad so….”
Natasha scoffed. “You really don’t know her do you? Anyway, I am going with you because I want to check for myself if she really has amnesia.”
Martha walked over to the coffee maker and asked her daughter “You want some?” before pouring some into a mug.
“I will need to fully awake when I see that woman,” Natasha opened the cabinet next to where her mother was standing and took out a huge coffee mug.
Martha laughed as she took the cup from her daughter.
Natasha stopped laughing and was now looking at her mother with a grave expression on her face.
“What is it?” Martha asked, looking extremely perturbed.
“I am just happy to finally see you smile,” her daughter said. “You’ve been so out of it for the past few days that I was starting to think you had fallen back into depression.”
Instead of cheering her up, Natasha’s words seemed to have an opposite effect on Martha. It was as if the wound that had numbed down a bit was awakened again.
Feeling herself slipping back into dangerous territory, Martha blinked away the memories from her past and forced her mind to focus on what was most important at that time; her family.
The mother and daughter pair found Bernard seated in the lobby while Luyando was being attended to by the doctor.
He stood up nervously and could barely look at his family when he saw them approaching.
“Martha…Tasha….” Was all he could say as he tucked his hands into his back pockets.
Natasha surprised him by closing the distance between them and hugging him. “You smell like s--t dad, but I missed you.”
Bernard laughed, thinking how typical of his daughter to not hold a grudge for long. “I’m sorry my love.” He said.
Martha was smiling on the side, silently thanking her daughter for breaking the ice and making what could have been one of the most painful confrontations of her life turn sweet.
“Are you sorry for the smell or for not calling us?” Natasha boldly asked, pulling away from him so she could look him in the eye.
“Both.” Bernard looked like he had lost all life in him in the few days he had been away from home.
It was hard for Martha to look at her husband like that and not want to cry. “How is she?” She asked whilst surreptitiously pushing back the tears.
“She’s much better today,” Ben answered. “She had been refusing to eat for the past days and kept asking for her late mother…but last evening, she eat some of the food the Mulenga’s brought for her.”
“How about you two remain talking while I go in to check on her?” Natasha said with a smile on her face. “I just saw the doctor pass over there, I think they are done with her now.”
“Go ahead, I will join you in a bit,” Martha said, handing her the bag containing breakfast she had prepared for Luyando. “Don’t tell her I prepared that!” Martha shouted after her daughter.
“She doesn’t know who you are right now….” Ben reminded his wife.
“I figured as much,” Martha said, her complexion suddenly turning a shade pale. “What’s your plan going forward? You know you’re gonna have to come home soon…unless of course you….”
“I will come back home Martha,” Ben assured her. He knew what she was about to say and he couldn’t blame her for having doubt in him. It had not taken him long to know he had hurt her real bad the last time they had spoken.
“I am sorry for my behaviour the other day…I don’t even any excuse.” He said.
“How about we go over there and sit for a bit?” Martha pointed to the bench outside on the other side of the hospital, away from the entrance.
“What do you plan on doing about Luyando’s situation?” Martha asked once they were seated outside. “I hear it can take longer, years sometimes for someone to retrieve the memories they have suppressed.”
Bernard sighed. “I have done a lot of thinking for the past days and until last evening, I found a solution to all this.”
Martha’s eyes filled with fear as she waited for her husband to tell her what decision he had made. She could only think of one thing Ben would do in such a situation…and that was to ask for a divorce or separation so he could bond with his daughter who seemed to have lost her memory.
Bernard’s heart broke when he read the fear in his wife’s eyes. What had he done to bring such unhappiness to his family?
Inside the hospital, Natasha paused outside Luyando’s private ward before finally knocking.
“Come in,” she heard someone say.
Natasha slowly opened the door and entered.
Luyando’s eyes opened wide in surprise when she saw who it was but she quickly required from the shock and relaxed her features. “Who are you?” She asked Natasha.
Natasha had not missed a bit. She had seen the look on Luyando’s face the moment she had laid eyes on her and she had also seen the quick recovery.
If you want to play this game, let’s both give it our best shot. She thought as she smiled at her nemesis. Natasha put down the flowers she had bought for her at the store outside the hospital and she opened the bad to remove the packed food in there.
“My name is Natasha,” she said, unpacked the contents from the bag onto the table. When she was done laying out the food, she put the bag down, pulled the chair that was by the wall and sat down closer to the bed.
“I am Tulani’s girlfriend,” she added, closely watching Luyando as windows to her soul contracted into little beady holes of horror. “I heard he’s been here to see you a couple of times already.”
“He never said anything about having a girlfriend,” came Luyando’s icy tone. “Are you sure you not just one of the billions with a crush on him? He did seem like such a charming man, I wouldn’t balme you if you had a little crush on him.”
“For someone who’s lost their memory, you seem to know quite a lot about Tulani whom you never met before…according to the state of your brain right now.”
Luyando shot daggers at her. “He mentioned something about his life in passing when we talked last evening. Do I sense some hostility from you?”
Natasha snickered. “I doubt it. I have absolutely no reason to be hostile with you. I mean, I hardly even know you. You are just someone my boyfriend considers a sister and yours and his family have been close for years I hear…so it doesn’t make sense that I would not like you.
“I just so bad for you that you’ve lost most of your memories. I can’t be easy looking at your own children and not being able to recognize them. I don’t know what I would do if I was ever in a position where I could not recognize my own son.
Oh yeah, I have a son,” Natasha added deliberately. “He’s name is Sean. Tulani is the father. The three of us….”
“I have a slight headache,” Luyando shifted in her bed and closed her eyes. “I don’t feel like eating so you can go back with that food you came with.”
“Do you need me to call the doctor?” There was a mischievous grin on Natasha’s face as she towered over Luyando in feigned concern.
“NO.” Luyando opened her eyes to find Natasha’s face hovering over her. “You should leave, I want to get some sleep.”
Natasha straightened up and folded her hands across her chest. “Tsk tsk tsk,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “I guess it can’t be easy being in-love with your own brother.” Her words were delivered in a whispering tone, as if she was talking to herself but she knew Luyando could hear her.
“Tulani was right when he said you were crazy.”
Luyando opened her eyes wide open. “Tulani would never say something like that about me!” for a person that had been looking broken and unable to move much a few seconds ago, she suddenly looked like she had too much life in her sitting up in bed like that.
“How would you know that?” Natasha asked. “You don’t even know who he is. He told me that he hated having you in his family. How you appeared from nowhere and tried to take his parents away from him.”
“You lying b---h!” Luyando shouted. “Tula would never say that!”
“Oh but he did!” Natasha shouted. “You think he liked having you in their house but it was just pity. You keep holding on to the idea that he might one day tell you that he loves you…because how can he not when he accepted you into his life so easily? But that was never love. It was pity!”
“Tulani loves me!” Luyando shouted back. “He just doesn’t want to admit it because he knows it would break his mother’s heart.”
“Because in his mother’s eyes you two are siblings right?” Natasha said, leaning her head towards Luyando to deliver the point right into her face. “So why not just give up? Why keep waiting for him when he’s never gonna break his mother’s heart for you?”
Luyando scoffed. “I don’t think that’s a problem anymore,” she proudly stated. “He and I are no longer siblings. As of three days ago, I am Bernard’s daughter.”
“You conniving evil vixen,” Natasha cussed. “I knew you were faking it.”
Luyando laughed again. “It’s not like there’s anything you can do about it.” she said smugly. “It’s your word against mine…and who’s going to believe the word of the step-daughter of the man whose real daughter has reappeared after twenty years?
“To everyone, your words will just be those of jealous little thing afraid to lose daddy’s love. I have seen the look in that man’s eyes. He would be willing to eat faeces if I asked him to. I am his number one priority right now. You and your sad little family should prepare to say bye now because I am taking back my father.”
Natasha’s heart went out to her mother. Luyando was right, she silently reasoned. No one would believe her if she told them that Luyando was faking it. Who would believe that a mother of two would go to such lengths just to win the heart of the man she loved…especially when that man happened to be her brother?
Everyone was going to think her petty, jealous and insecure. Natasha had seen first hand how protective of Luyando Tulani was. There was no way he would think her capable of such evil. To him, she was simply a pitiful girl in desperate need of love and attention.
Somehow, Luyando had successfully managed to turn a situation that was dangerously against her and turned it around to work for her.
“I can see you are slowly coming to terms with the new reality….” Luyando said with a smirk on her face. She relaxed her back a bit and rested her head on the pillow. “I invested half my life to get where I am today. I did not spill my own blood twenty years ago for nothing. Don’t think you can just pop up from God knows where and think you can take over my show.”
“You are a married woman,” Natasha said, her eyes filled with disbelief. “For God’s sake you have two children! You are going to pretend you don’t know who they are just so you can be with a man whose been your brother for the past twenty years?”
“Tulani was never my brother!” Luyando replied. “I never thought of him as a brother, not even once. As for the kids, Peter can take care of those brats, they are his kids. He tricked me into getting pregnant. I never wanted to have his children.
“I know that it might take a while for Tulani to adjust but I know that once his mother comes to grip with the new reality, she will have no trouble accepting me as her daughter in-law because she will never accept losing me as a daughter.”
“No,” said a voice from behind them.
Natasha and Luyando turned to find Ayanda standing by the door.
“Mum,” Luyando tried to sit up but she had moved too fast she ended up disturbing her surgery wound. She winced in pain and stopped moving.
Ayanda walked into the room, the tears that had welled up in her eyes for the past three minutes since she had been standing by the door finally rolled down her cheeks but not once did she shift her gaze from Luyando.
“How…how could you?” Ayanda asked.
“Mum…it’s only a misunderstanding…please….” Luyando stuttered. “It’s not…it’s not…what it you….” she reached out her hand and tried to touch her mother who was now standing next to Natasha but Ayanda flinched and stepped back, away from her.
The heart wrenching look on Ayanda’s face told Luyando that it was all over for her. Unable to move, the only thing she could do was cry.
“I am sooorrrry,” Luyando cried, one hand clasping the side of her stomach. “I am so sorry mum.”
“Don’t call me that,” Ayanda said sternly. “I could forgive the lies about your father but this…this is something else. How can you do this to your own children? To your husband? To us?”
Luyando was crying so hard and desperately clasping her side in pain that the machine on the other side of the bed started beeping.
A minute later, the doctor was in the room and Natasha was leading Ayanda out, her arm over her shoulder to steadily lead her to the nearest seat, a bench towards the far end of the corridor.
Ayanda sat down and hang her head in resignation. Natasha rushed to the end of the hallway and poured some water for Ayanda from the dispenser. She rushed back and handed the shaken up woman the cup.
Ayanda gulped down the contents at once and sighed heavily.
“What’s going on here?” It was Martha who had asked. She was in the company of Joshua, Ben and Tulani.
“Tasha?” an astound Tulani said before going over to his mother. “Are you feeling sick mother?”
Looking up at her son, Ayanda broke down in tears again. She wrapped her arms around his legs and sobbed.
Tulani sent a puzzling look in Natasha’s direction.
Natasha could not bring herself to explain what had just happened. She wasn’t even sure how much Ayanda had heard.
So, she shrugged her shoulders.
“She hasn’t been able to sleep since the accident. Could be the stress is finally getting to her.” Joshua commented.
“How could that girl do this to us?” Ayanda said in-between sobs. She had removed her head from Tulani’s legs and was now looking up at her son.
“She said she’s in-love with you!”
“What?” Tulani asked, shocked by the unexpected development. He was looking at Natasha again but she was shaking her head profusely to declare her innocence in the matter. Clearly, his mother wasn’t talking about her.
“Who’s in-love with…oooh.” Martha stopped herself in time.
Ayanda suddenly stood up. “She’s not sick! She hasn’t lost her memories!” She wailed, pointing towards Luyando’s room.
Bernard and Martha shared knowing looks while Joshua looked appeared unfazed by the shocking news. Tulani was the only one who appeared to have received the news for the first time.
“You all knew?” Ayanda eyes searched the face of each person standing before her, disgusted by the sudden realization that she might have been the only person who had no idea the woman she called her daughter for the past twenty years was deceiving her to such an extent.
“How could you not tell me she was faking it?” Ayanda cried.
“I only found out last evening,” Bernard said.
“And he is just from telling me.” Martha chipped in.
“I knew it from the very beginning.” Joshua remarked unapologetically. “How did you find out?”
“I heard her telling this young lady here….” She was pointing at Natasha. “Are you my grandson’s mother?” Ayanda finally realized who Natasha was.
Natasha nodded.
“Are you saying that Luyando faked her amnesia?” Tulani asked.
Just then the doctor appeared from Luyando’s room. He spotted the family standing in the distance and started walking towards them.
“She was too stressed so I gave her a sedative to calm her down. She’s sleeping now. In future, it would be better if….”
“What happened?” A very concerned Ben asked the doctor.
“She must have been agitated by something,” Doctor Soko answered, looking accusingly at Ayanda and Natasha.
“I’m going back home.” Ayanda announced and left the group in stunned silence.
“I have the car keys,” Joshua said, glad to have an excuse to leave as well. He had been dragged to the hospital against his will.
“I will go in and see her,” Ben said, leaving before anyone could say anything. Martha quietly followed him behind, leaving a visibly shocked Tulani and a worried Natasha behind.
“Are you okay?” Natasha asked Tulani, guiding him back to the bench behind them.
Tulani sat down. “What happened Tasha? How did mum find out about Lulu’s feelings? And what’s this about her faking the amnesia? I don’t understand.”
Natasha sat down. “Your mother overheard Luyando and I talking. We both had no idea she had been listening.” She explained. “I knew Lulu was faking the amnesia the moment I walked into the room and we locked eyes.
“For someone who had never seen me before, the intensity of her hostility towards me was too much for someone who has never seen me before. Of course she tried to pretend but I provoked her into losing her cool and she ended up spilling everything.
“She didn’t mind telling me the truth because she thought no one would believe me. it would be my word against hers and naturally people would be inclined to believe the patient over the accuser. Unfortunately, I was not her only audience…your mother had heard the whole thing, well, at least most of it I think. I am not sure how long she had been standing there.”
“What exactly did Lulu say that made mum so upset?” Tulani asked.
“She talked about how she spilt her own blood to get into your family and how she wasn’t going to let me take you or anything else away from her. She said in no uncertain terms that she was in-love with you. I think that’s what shocked your mother more than the realization that Luyando was faking everything.
“She was probably shocked that Luyando was doing all these things…even risking losing her own children just so she could be with you. I don’t think your mother had any idea Luyando might feel that way about you but it appeared your dad knew all along.”
“How could my mother know?” Tulani asked. “She was too busy getting excited about the idea of having a daughter that loved her like the whole world revolved around her to notice what was happening on the sides.
“Luyando was also careful not to let anything slip especially when we were at home. Mum took her over concern in my personal life as simply an elder sister looking out for her little brother. If at all the thought occurred to mum, she probably brushed it off as ludicrous.”
“And your dad, how did he know?” Natasha asked.
“My father became a rich man at a very tender age so he’s learnt over the years that people are not always what they seem. He’s had to be protective of who surrounds him and the family and he always questions everyone that tries to get close.
“He had always been suspicious of Luyando…he said the timing when she approached us was just too perfect for coincidence,” he laughed. “Unfortunately, by the time he found the diary, mum had already grown attached to Luyando.”
“What about you? You never suspected that she could have lied about her father? We never got to talk about your reaction when your dad revealed that he had read her diary.”
“I never suspected anything of course,” he answered. “I was just as shocked as my mother that day. but after knowing Lulu for so many years, I think both my mother and I looked at the whole thing as simply Luyando’s desperation to be loved by someone.
“She’s been a part of us all these years and I genuinely loved her like a sister, I still do. Just because these things have come out does not mean I have to turn my back on her. I know most people won’t understand…but I wish you would. Do you think you can?”
“I think you are forgetting one thing Tula; Luyando is my sister too.” She reminded him.
“Ah!” Tulani said. “I forgot about that. This whole thing is crazy eish. I hope it won’t affect our marriage, no, I won’t let it affect us. I refuse to let it get in our way. If our parents try to give us a hard time, what do you think about eloping? After we already have a child, there’s no escaping this. It’s just a matter of signing a piece of paper.”
Tulani was too deep making mental calculations concerning the future that when he finally turned to look at Natasha for a response, he found her gaping at him in incredulity.
“What?” Tulani asked.
“Did you even hear yourself?” She asked him.
“I heard myself loud and clear.” Tulani was as unapologetic in his delivery as he was in his love for her. “Go out on a date with me Tasha, please. We haven’t sat down to talk just the two of us since you came. Aren’t you scared that another girl might steal me away from you?”
“Human beings don’t get stolen Tula; they leave on their own.”
“But you will still go out with me right?”
The look that Natasha was sending him was clearly asking him; have you no shame? But Tulani did not look like he was ashamed of the fact that he was shameless.
“What do you think is going to happen to Luyando?” Natasha changed the topic. “Where’s her husband by the way?”
“Peter,” Tulani said. “He was here a few days ago and hasn’t been since. He thinks that Lu’s suicide attempt was selfish…that a mother shouldn’t be so self-centred. It was the first time I was him upset. He’s such a soft-spoken guy. But I think he’s also mad that Luyando had erased him and the kids from her memory like they were not that important.”
“He’s a medical doctor,” Natasha said. “What if it was real amnesia? I don’t think amnesia is something that occurs just because someone instructs their brain to forget. Doesn’t the brain do that on its own as a coping mechanism?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I think that the two of them were having problems way before this thing happened. I wonder what will happen now if…when he finds out the reason why she faked amnesia.”
After Martha, Natasha and the Mulenga’s left the hospital, Bernard remained behind to stay with his daughter when she wakes up. Two hours had passed and Luyando had not woken up.
Worried that something might be happening to his daughter, Ben went out to get the doctor and when he came back, he found Luyando gone.
For the second time, his daughter had run away from him.
* * *
Tulani had just finished talking on the phone with his son and was getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on the door. He dressed up again and went to check who might be visiting at such an ungodly hour.
He was half-way though the living room when he realized it might be Luyando. He quickly rushed to the door and the video intercom by the side immediately confirmed his suspicions before he even opened the door.
Tulani opened the door to a dishevelled and disoriented looking Luyando.
“Where the hell have you been?” Tulani asked her right away. “We’ve been looking for you the whole day. Thought you went and did something crazy again.”
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” Luyando asked, sounding too calm for someone as headstrong as her.
Tulani stepped aside to let her in.
“Can you give me something warm to wear? I’m feeling very cold?” She went and sat down on the sofa. She was clearly shaking from the coldness of the night.
“Let me get you something,” He said, turning to leave and then stopping suddenly. “The remote for the AC is over there,” he pointed to the sofa next to the one she was sitting on.
Two minutes later, he appeared with a thick coat and a small blanket in his arms and handed it to her.
“Where the hell where you?” Tulani had sat on the arm of the other sofa, facing her. “Your father has been searching everywhere for you. He’s worried sick, we all were.”
“That man doesn’t care about me,” Luyando said when she was done putting on the coat. “He’ll probably be happier when I’m gone. It’s only guilt that’s making him act like that.”
“You shouldn’t be here Lu, your husband is probably waiting for you to come home right now. Your kids haven’t seen you for days.”
“I Just came from home right now,” she told him, a strange smile on her face. “I found Peter packed all his stuff and that of the children. They’re all gone. Left a note with just one line; I hope your brother makes you happy.”
“Is that why you decided to come here instead? shouldn’t you be out there looking for your family?”
Luyando laughed. “Good riddance to bad rubbish. I was gonna leave him anyway.”
“And what about the kids? Don’t you at least care about them?” At this point in time, Tulani had been forced to come a deep understanding of how his sister’s mind worked. If it wasn’t going her way, it wasn’t worth being in her life. But he still hoped that that wouldn’t be the case with her children.
“They are better off being with their father. you and I both know I was a terrible mother. Those kids don’t like me. They cry whenever I hold them in my arms and they go quite when held by the nanny. Being with their father is the best thing that can happen to them.”
Tulani was almost tempted to conquer with her. He had seen her with her children; it was the first time in his life he had seen children reject the affections of their own mother. At first he had reasoned that it could be because Luyando was always at work and rarely had tie to bond with them, but after everything that had happened, it had become distinctively clear that there had never been a bond between them to begin with.
“So is your plan to spend the night here instead?” Tulani asked her in a very serious tone.
“Where else can I go? My parents don’t want to have anything to do with me, my father’s family won’t even think about taking me in and frankly I wouldn’t even go to them if the world was crushing down on me.
“I couldn’t stay alone in that big house…and am still sick…so, you were the only person I know would welcome me. You know very well that I have no friends. You’ve always been my only friend.”
Tulani again had to accept that that was the hard truth; he was Luyando’s only friend. If he kicked her out right then, only God knew what she was likely to do.
“Alright,” Tulani made his decision. “You can sleep in the guest room.”
It was the best news Luyando had heard that day. “I can’t believe I finally get to sleep at your place. I guess something good had to happen out of all this drama.” There was a triumphant smile on her face, like a marathon running successfully crossing over the white line.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” Tulani said and left the room to go upstairs.
Luyando was beaming with happiness. She was finally getting rewarded for all the hardwork and pain she had had to suffer through. It Tulani thought that he could resist her even when she stood naked in front of him, then he had another thing coming.
“Tonight I seize to be your sister…little brother.” She whispered to Tulani’s back as he walked up the stairs.
Luyando made herself comfortable on the couch, stretching her legs out and covering herself with the blanket Tulani had brought for her. She turned on the TV as she waited for him to come back downstairs, a wide grin on her face.
Five minutes later, Tulani appeared.
Luyando sat up the moment she saw him. “Are you feeling that cold too?” Tulani was now wearing a coat over his t-shirt.
“I’m going out,” he announced.
“What do you mean you are going out?” Luyando asked. It was then that she noticed his shoes. He hadn’t been wearing shoes when he opened the door.
“I am not a child Lu, I know very well why you are here.” Tulani said.
“What are you talking about?” Luyando feigned innocence.
“There’s everything in the house, I think.” Tulani said. “I am going to sleep at Kendrick’s place. It would be foolish for the both of us to sleep under the same roof…after everything that’s happened.”
And he turned to leave.
Luyando jumped from the chair and ran after him. He placed herself in front of the door to block him from leaving. “You are not going anywhere,” she said, almost sounding out of breath.
“Move out of my way Lu,” Tulani deliberately hardened his voice.
“No, I am not going to let you leave this house Tula. Why are you running away from me? Are you scared that you might not be able to fight me now that you have me here in your house, at this hour?”
Tulani was looking at her like he would a child begging him for change on the streets of Lusaka.
“You are not in your right mind Lu, I think you should just go to bed.”
“I have never been as clear headed as I am right now!” She yelled. “Tula,” she placed her hands over his chest but he immediately peeled them off and gently pushed her to the side.
He had just opened the door to leave when he heard something rip behind him. He quickly turned to check.
The coat she had been wearing was lying on the ground and her dress was ripped apart from the middle.
Luyando’s body was completely exposed in the front…and she had not been wearing anything under her dress.
“Do you think your neighbours would hear me if I screamed loud enough?” she asked Tulani.
Tulani could not believe what was happening in his own house. If before he had doubts about Luyando’s state of mind, he was now convinced beyond reasonable doubt that she was in desperate need of psychological help.
“I wonder what will happen to TMH’s stock on the market when it’s revealed that the CEO tried to rape his own sister?”
Something broke inside Tulani and he felt a tear run down his face.
He walked over to where Luyando was standing, bent down to pick up her coat and wrapped it around her.
“What do you think you are doing?” Luyando asked bemusedly. “I must look like a joke to you. Do you think I am bluffing?”
Tulani zipped her up in his coat and took a step back from her. “I don’t think you are bluffing,” he said. “I truly believe that you are going to scream loud enough for the whole neighbourhood to hear.”
“Are you patronizing me?” Luyando asked, her pride down on the ground. Without warning, she started screaming.
Tulani watched in stunned horror as she unzipped the coat and dropped it back on the floor. She ruffled her hair with her hands, bending up and down to make sure her screams were coming out as loud as possible and like a mad woman she started throwing things around the house, anything she could get her hands on.
The neighbourhood dogs were now barking in full force and ready for attack.
It appeared Luyando had succeeded in waking up the whole neighbourhood.
All the while, Tulani watched in silence, his arms crossed over his chest. “I’m leaving now.” He announced nonchalantly. “You can tell the neighbours whatever you wish to say.” He started walking to the door and just before exiting; he stopped and turned to look at her.
“Ah,” he said. “I forgot to mention, don’t forget to smile for the camera.” He pointed to the huge chandelier hanging above her. “Dad’s idea,” he said, smiling and shrugging his shoulders at the same time.
“Arhhhuhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” Luyando screamed and threw a flower vase at him.
But Tulani had already left the house.
As the flower vase and Tulani’s glass door became one in pieces, Luyando broke down to the floor and cried her heart out.
Like the broken glass on the floor in front of her, Luyando’s world had crushed into tiny pieces that could never be mended

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