Yesterday Lives – Chapter 10

“Ayo, will you pick up the kids now?” Ngozi asked and Ayo was jolted out of his reverie.

The duvet was still in his hands and he was still looking at her bare legs.

“Yes, yes.” Ayo said as he dropped the duvet on her body and ran out of the room and out of the house.

He entered into the car and for a few minutes, he could not drive. He was shocked and embarrassed that his body was beginning to seek expression. He readjusted his trousers and tucked out his shirt. Did Ngozi notice anything? What is wrong with me? I am expecting a baby from Kevwe and I am here dreaming about my boss’s wife. He shook his head to dispel the thought and took a deep breath. He honked for Dubem who opened the gate for him and let him out.

******

Kevwe sauntered into the house. Madam was seated in the living room watching TV. She picked up the remote beside her and paused the program she was watching as she saw Kevwe.

“Ehen? So what did the doctor say?”

“Malaria ma.” Kevwe replied.

“Malaria? And you were in the hospital for over one week doing what?”

Kevwe looked at Madam, unable to utter a word.

“Do you realize that business has been going on while you were sleeping and enjoying yourself in the hospital? You would have to work to make up for the days you spent wasting time sleeping in the hospital.”

‘Madam, but you no even check me whether I don die or dey alive for hospital. And you no pay for the hospital?

Madam stood up. “Do you pay house rent here? Or is it your money that you use to feed every day? Kevwe, so you now have the effrontery to ask me questions, you ungrateful animal.”

Kevwe closed her eyes and tightened her fist. She was boiling inside but she bit her tongue from talking. It was only a matter of time and she would be out of here. She told herself.

“Get out of my sight before I get my boys to deal with you.” Madam shouted at her.

Kevwe gave Madam a cruel look and walked away.

 

 

Later that evening, Madam walked into the girls’ room with anger. The girls were surprised as she hardly came to their room. Usually, she summoned them to the living room if she had something to discuss with them.

“Kevwe!” She shouted as she entered into the room.

“Yes Madam.” Kevwe said standing up and wondering why she was suddenly being picked on.

“So you are pregnant? What are you still doing in my house? Begin to pack your things this minute before I get my boys to throw you out.” She screamed.

All the girls who had previously been chatting looked at Madam with shock. It was 9:30p.m.

Oghogho stood up from her bed. “Madam, please make you give her time nau. She go go but do sofry.”

“Will you shut up your mouth? So you are also part of this? You knew she was pregnant and you refused to let me know. Ehn, you and that other stupid girl, Onome. Where is she?” Madam continued to scream as she scanned the room looking for her.

“You don send her go work.” Oghogho sneered.

“Both of you are in trouble, better let her know. So this is what you girls have been doing? Keeping boyfriends, abi? Is that why you are here? If you are not ready to work, then get out of my house. You can’t be eating my food, sleeping in my house and be disobeying my orders. You better get it into your heads, the rest of you.” She continued in her tirade. “Kevwe, I give you fifteen minutes to pack your things out of my house.” She said as she snapped her fingers at Kevwe. She stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.

Kevwe was shocked. Who had told her? She looked at the faces of all the girls. It was obvious it was not Oghogho or Onome.

“So who come talk nau? Who be the amebo wey we get for hia?” Oghogho asked looking at the faces of the other girls.

The girl who had had a discussion with Onome while Tutu was sleeping walked up to Oghogho and whispered something into her ears. Oghogho’s eyes grew wide and she exclaimed.

“I no dey surprised say na you Tutu.” Oghogho said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Tutu scoffed. She looked at the other girl and asked her. “Who told you I was the one that told Madam?”

“Oghogho, you see? Sebi, I just talk am now. E don show say na she do am. Guilty conscience.” The girl said.

“Na wa oh. Na because Kevwe boyfriend no gree for you or wetin?” The girl whose phone had been used to call Ayo weeks back spoke up.

Oghogho moved closer to Tutu and faced her. “If no be you, na who? Ehn? Who go tell Madam?”

“You people should leave me alone if you don’t want to get into trouble.” Tutu said.

“Trouble? We don dey trouble already.” Oghogho said as she continued to close the space between them.

“Oghogho, move back please.” Tutu said. The other girls closed in on her as well, while Kevwe stood aside and looked on.

“Kevwe, talk to them to leave me alone. I wasn’t the one that told Madam. They are lying.” Tutu said stepping back until her back touched the wall.

One of the girls reached out from Oghogho’s back and gave Tutu a slap on the face. As if on cue, all the girls began to beat Tutu. Tutu began to scream and kick back. Oghogho picked up a wrapper from a bed and stuffed it into her mouth while they all continued to beat her.

After a few minutes, Kevwe walked up to the scene and tapped Oghogho.

“E don do. Make una leave her.” She said.

The girls began to step back one by one while a few still gave her departing slaps. Tutu used her hands to cover her face as she sat on the floor crying.

“If you like, make your mouth go dey do cho-cho-cho again.” Oghogho said as she put her right hand to her mouth in gesticulation. “If no be Kevwe wey save you this night, we for give you mark for body wey you go use remember this night.”

Oghogho looked at Kevwe. “Wetin go happen? You go call your boyfriend?”

Kevwe sighed. “I no even know. His oga don die and e say im oga family don dey behave one kain.”

“Eeehh….sorry oh. Wetin kill the man?”

“Something for im heart sha. I no no.”

Oghogho put her hands on her head. “Osanobua! Hmm…..this life.”

“Ayo don dey look for place wey we go stay. If no be say that stupid girl go talk…” Kevwe was saying when she heard Madam screaming her name from the living room.

“Kevwe, call your boyfriend. Make Madam no go bring her boys. Those ones wey no dey hear come. Na only go dem dey hear.”

Kevwe picked up her phone and quickly called Ayo.

 

Ayo was lying down on his bed and was already dozing off when the call came in. He picked up on the third ring.

“Hello.” He said groggily.

“Ayo, na Kevwe.”

Ayo’s eyes cleared immediately he heard her voice and he sat up. “What’s wrong, Kevwe? Are you okay? Is the baby fine?”

“Nothing do the baby, Ayo.”

“Okay, thank God.” Ayo said heaving a sigh of relief.

“Madam don hear. Na Tutu tell her. She don say make I pack my things comot this night. If not, she go bring her boys make dem come beat me.”

“Ahn…ahn, what is the meaning of this? And this same Tutu again?”

Kevwe sighed. “Na so I see am oh. Abeg, come carry me.”

“Oh goodness.” Ayo sighed. “I’m coming.”

 

As Ayo got dressed, he began to think of where he was going to put Kevwe for the night. A cheap hotel would have made sense but that was cash meant to be saved towards securing an apartment. He couldn’t bring her home without Ngozi’s approval. He was in this state of confusion when he walked out of the boy’s quarters.

He passed by the main house to the car port and saw Ngozi sitting down on Chief’s chair staring into space. He looked at his wristwatch. It was almost 10:00p.m. He sighed as he half-jogged towards her.

“Ngozi, don’t you think you should go inside now? It is late.”

Ngozi looked at him. There were tears in her eyes threatening to spill. “I will go.” She said as she looked away.

“Ngozi.” Ayo called as he held her hand and pulled her up from the chair.

Ngozi fell into his embrace and the tears which were threatening to spill came down.

“It is okay.” Ayo said as he hugged her.

A gentle breeze blew through the garden and Ngozi shivered. She smelt like fresh flowers and the scent assaulted Ayo’s senses. He breathed deeply inhaling her fragrance.

“They called me on the phone. They are moving here in two weeks’ time.” Ngozi said as she sobbed into Ayo’s chest.

Ayo pulled her back and gave her a confused look. “Who is moving in?”

“Uncle Chidi and his family. They said I am going to marry him and have sons to continue my husband’s lineage.”

“What? Is that what you were discussing with Ebuka earlier on today?”

Ngozi nodded.

“Oh my!” Ayo said as he pulled Ngozi into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know what to do. I’m so confused.”

“What about your parents?” Ayo asked.

“I’m an orphan. My only sister is abroad. She couldn’t even make it for the burial.”

Ayo blew air through his mouth. Ayo’s phone began to ring in his pocket. He took it out and saw it was Kevwe calling. He refused to answer the call.

“We would have to work something out, okay. Can we talk about this tomorrow? He asked quickly.

Ngozi nodded sadly.

“But I need you to go into the house, go to bed and rest. You have cried enough for the day.” He continued. His phone began to ring again and he looked at it.

Ngozi noticed and asked. “Do you have a client to pick up?”

“Erm…not exactly. It is my girlfriend.”

“Okay.” Ngozi said as Ayo held her hand and led her towards the house.

“Can I ask for a favour?” He asked.

Ngozi looked at him and nodded.

“My girlfriend is stranded. She has been kicked out of her house by her landlady. I just need her to hang out in my place for a few days while I get her another place to stay.”

“Okay.” Ngozi said.

They got to the door and Ayo opened it to let her in. He entered into the house walking behind her; her hand still in his. As Ngozi dropped his hand to let go, Ayo held her back and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Please take care of yourself and you know you can call me if you need to talk.”

Ngozi nodded and sighed.

Ayo opened the door to go out and Ngozi called out to him.

“Ayo.”

Ayo looked back at her, his hand still on the door.

“Thank you very much.”

Ayo took a deep breath and nodded.

 

The story continues…

Yesterday Lives – Chapter 8

Madam was not home when the girls got back. They went to their beds quietly; each of them with different thoughts on their mind. Tutu watched as the two girls dispersed to their beds without a word. She wanted to know the outcome of their visit to the hospital but she could not ask as she knew Oghogho would ignore her. She decided she would ask Onome when Oghogho was away on a job or asleep.

******

“That her bobo good oh. As Oghogho dey pray that prayer, me sef dey follow am pray say make God send me person like that.”

“Ehen!! So he go marry her be that nau as she don get belle.”

“Yes nau. If he say he no want make she remove am, e mean say he wan marry her be dat. Because we don tell am say she no fit use belle do this work.”

Tutu had awakened from her sleep but remained still when she heard the conversation. She recognized the voices as that Onome and another roommate. So Kevwe was pregnant and Ayo was planning on making her keep it. Her emotions drifted between anger and jealousy. Who was Kevwe to have it all good? An uneducated prostitute. She was many times better off and she had been unable to get Ayo. She was educated; he was as well. Why would he stoop so low to someone like Kevwe? The anger in her boiled and she tightened her fist. She had to listen to everything her roommates were saying. She took her mind off Ayo for a brief moment and paid attention to what the girls were saying.

The girls kept on chatting until Tutu moved her legs. Onome noticed the movement and stopped talking. She nodded her head towards Tutu’s bed and the other girl acknowledged with a nod. They changed the topic of their discussion and started talking about what they intended to do with their future. When Tutu realized that they were no longer talking about Kevwe, she stood up from her bed and walked out of the room.

******

Kevwe drifted in and out of sleep. Ayo stayed by her side till late in the evening. At 7:00pm, he decided to go home. As he drove into Chief’s expansive compound, he saw Chief sitting in the garden reading an evening newspaper. He took a deep breath as he switched off the engine. He eased out of the car and greeted Chief.

“Good evening sir.”

Chief looked up from his newspaper. “Ayo, how are you?”

“Fine thank you sir.”

“Don’t you think you are overworking yourself young man. Your weekends should be for resting.”

“I know sir.” Ayo said looking at his feet.

“Come over here.” Chief said.

Ayo walked towards Chief.

Chief patted the chair beside him.

“I know you are trying to make money but you should not do that at the detriment of your health.”

“Yes sir.” Ayo replied as he sat down beside Chief.

“What do you think about working in my office as my technical assistant?”

Ayo raised his head to look at Chief. He stood up and prostrated. “I would appreciate it sir. Thank you very much, sir.”

“C’mon, stand up Ayo.” Chief laughed. “You have been very diligent and sincerely, I think you deserve something better.”

“Thank you sir.” Ayo said sitting down. “I appreciate all you have done for me. I am grateful, sir.”

“It is okay. You can continue your taxi runs if you wish to. It is your decision to make, if you feel you can handle it.”

“I can handle it sir.” Ayo said as he thought about his new status as a soon-to-be father.

“You can go and rest. We would draft your appointment letter on Monday, okay?”

“Okay sir.” Ayo said. He was about to stand up when he reconsidered. “Chief, can I discuss something with you?”

“Yes. What is it?”

Ayo cleared his throat. “Chief, I am….erm…my girlfriend….erm….she is…erm…she is….” He looked at his feet and scratched his head.

Chief looked at him expectantly. “She is…”

“She is….erm….pregnant.”

“What? Ayo? Your girlfriend is pregnant? What were you thinking of? What happened to protection?” Chief asked.

“I’m….I’m…I’m sorry Chief. I didn’t…mean….I mean, I didn’t know…” Ayo stuttered unable to complete his sentence.

Chief shook his head. “Ayo! Ayo! I warned you to be careful. Look at what you have gotten yourself into. Are you ready to take care of a family now?”

Ayo clasped his hands behind his back.

Chief sighed. “Let us talk about this on Monday at the office, okay?”

“Okay sir.”

Chief flicked his hand dismissively.

Ayo took the cue and walked to his apartment with his head bowed.

******

The next morning, Chief received a call about an impromptu meeting in Abuja for Monday morning. He asked Ayo to drop him off at the airport and told him he would be back on Wednesday.

“We would discuss all these pending issues when I get back. I won’t tell you that I am happy with you but well…” Chief paused. “We would talk about the way forward on Wednesday.”

Thirty minutes after Chief’s plane took off, it suffered a mechanical failure. The pilot had to do an emergency landing. There was chaos within the plane and passengers screamed, prayed and shouted. The pilot landed the plane successfully. As everyone struggled to get off the faulty plane, a woman noticed Chief slumped in his seat. She screamed, drawing the attention of the air hostesses. CPR was administered on Chief but it was too late. He had suffered a shock.

Chief’s family was contacted and his body was flown back to Lagos on Wednesday. Ayo told Ngozi, Chief’s wife not to bother going with him to the airport. He assured her that he would handle it. She was already broken and he did not want to see her breakdown totally when she saw her husband’s body.

Ayo shed a tear as he saw Chief’s body. A lot of his dreams had died with the man he was transporting to the mortuary. As he wiped the tears finding their way down his cheeks, he prayed he would be able to come out of the mess he had found himself.

 

Chief’s burial was done quickly. Tears flowed freely during his burial. Chief had touched so many lives and Ayo was shocked to see so many young people stepping out during the church service to eulogize him. Students who were on scholarship, widows Chief had helped to start off a business, market women who had been loaned money but Chief refused to accept repayment.

A day after the burial, Chief’s two brother’s came to the house with their aged mother to have a family meeting. Ngozi was told that it had been decided that Chief’s elder brother, Chidi take her as his second wife. She was told to handover all her husband’s documents for the house, his business and cars. She was also informed that since Chief was gone, there was no need wasting money on the numerous scholarships. They informed her they were going to Chief’s office the next day to introduce themselves to the staff as the new management. They told her they were only informing her out of courtesy as they really had no reason to.

Ngozi looked at her husband’s family with shock stamped on her face. Her husband had just been laid to rest and his brothers were talking about sharing of properties.

“I don’t understand what you are saying.” She said.

“What do you mean you don’t understand? Am I not speaking English or you want me to translate it to Igbo for you to understand?” Chidi snorted.

“You see, brother. I told you she won’t like this idea of being a second wife. I don’t know why you and mama don’t want her to be my wife. Ngo and I are almost age mates and I am still single and virile enough to continue Chigozie’s lineage. Let us change this agreement in the interest of everyone.” Ebuka; Chief’s younger brother said as he stood up.

“Will you shut up your mouth? Interest of who? Ngo and I are almost age mates.” Chidi mimicked Ebuka. “I have four strong sons. You don’t need an angel to come down to tell you that I can produce more. What have you produced that is giving you confidence? Sit down there.” Chidi said barking at his brother.

Ebuka sat down with a frown on his face. “Mama, mama, me I have said my own oh. Let it not be that I have not spoken my mind. I don’t know why you and brother are doing this wickedness to this poor woman.”

Tears streamed down Ngozi’s cheeks as she looked at her husband’s brothers haggling over her like a piece of meat. She bit her forefinger as she shook her head and looked to the heavens.

“Why are you crying now? Are we not trying to make your burden lighter? So what is making you cry? Chidi will take care of you and your children. This house is too big for you and the children alone.” Mama said as she swept her hand round the house.

“Besides, you are still very young and you need a man. It is normal for your husband’s elder brother to continue from where your husband stopped.” Mama continued. “Chidi and Mama Junior will pack their things and come here. You know their house is very small. All the children can play together in the very big compound.”

“Mama, you will even have a bigger room here instead of the small one in my house.” Chidi said smiling. “So Ngozi, where are the documents? Go and bring them.” He said facing his younger brother’s wife.

“Mama, Uncle Chidi, I have heard all what you have said. I will give you the documents of the house and the business, but God forbid that I marry any of you. I am shocked that you can even think about it.”

“Who are you to tell us what to do?” Chidi said getting angry. “You want the name of my brother to be wiped away just like that. You are not serious. Your place in this family can only be retained by marrying me.”

“Then I would prefer to leave then. I will not marry you.”

Ebuka coughed and all attention was drawn to him. “I am still single. I knew you would have issues with being a second wife. I can take care of you and the girls.”

Ngozi looked at Ebuka disgustingly. “Ah, Chigozie, why did you do this to me?” She soliloquized as she burst into tears.

Bia, stop calling my son’s name in vain.” Mama said as she also burst into tears. She untied the wrapper around her waist and used it to wipe the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“You see what you have caused. It is your fault that mama is crying. Why are you so stubborn?” Chidi scolded Ngozi. “Mama, e don do. Let’s go. We would come back next week when your head don correct well well. Just make sure those documents are ready before my arrival, you hear?” He concluded as he pulled up his mother who was sobbing uncontrollably.

 

The story continues…

Love, Lies and Murder – Part 1

This Monday, Olubukola’s Thoughts serves you another African love story broken into three parts. 

Please enjoy, drop your comments and don’t forget to use the share buttons below.

Thanks 

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As the police led Mojirayo away from the scene of the crime, she looked at the faces of her parents. Her mother put her hand on her head as she threw herself on the floor in lamentation. Her father who she expected to be man enough to handle the situation wasn’t any better. He was crying in broad daylight. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he looked at his first daughter. His pride, the one who was meant to take them out of the depth of poverty. The one who was meant to be the shining light to her nine younger siblings. The one he had given out in marriage at the age of sixteen because he needed to provide a better life for his family.

 ******

      Mojirayo raised her head high. She wasn’t sorry for what she had done. She showed no remorse. This was not the time to be sorry. This was the time to be happy. The time to jubilate because she had finally been delivered from the hell she lived in. Yes, it was hell but her parents thought otherwise. Even though she hadn’t planned what happened, it had worked perfectly in her favour.

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Baba Ibeji was a pain she endured the past twenty-four months. He had a pot belly that irritated her anytime he tried to hug her. He had a terrible mouth odour that nauseated her and made her puke when he kissed her. After retching, she washed her tongue with her toothbrush vigorously so that she did not also become a victim of his terrible sickness. When he visited her room to satisfy himself, he grunted like a goat during his height of ecstasy and snored like a generator that was about to knock its engine immediately after.

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Most times, she picked up her pillow and went to the living room to sleep. When he awoke in the morning and asked if she enjoyed him, she faked a smile and nodded like an agama lizard. Her three senior wives would hiss and spit at her for the next three days. She was the intruder. The one who had come to reap where she did not sow. The one who had come to take advantage of their husband’s goodwill to better her own family. The selfish, bad-mannered girl who was old enough to be a daughter to them but was sleeping with their husband and keeping him away from their rooms for the most part of the month.

******

      Twenty-six months ago, Mojirayo was about to write her SSCE exams. Every day, she reminded her father about the payment for the exams but she got the same answer each time; he did not have the funds. Shina was an okada rider who lived in a one room face-to-face apartment with ten kids. His wife was a petty trader who sold Ugwu leaves for a living. Mojirayo once asked her mother why she had to give birth to many children when they could not afford to cater for them. She had received a resounding smack across her face as her response. She was told never to stop the flow of God’s blessings. Family planning had never been an option. To her mother, it was a sin.

:

But Mojirayo had overheard their neighbours making jest of them many times. They were the butt of the neighbours jokes in the building. They said Shina could barely feed himself but never ceased to get his wife pregnant. They said he was either trying to prove his virility or was too stupid to look for another form of recreation besides the bedroom.

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When Mojirayo refused to allow her father rest, he decided to approach members of his okada riders association for a loan. He however received sad stories from everyone. They also had obligations to their various families that they couldn’t fulfill.

:

This denial made him take a visit to Baba Ibeji’s house which was a stone throw to theirs. Baba Ibeji was their landlord. He was a big time farmer who dealt in cassava plantation, fish farming and piggery. He had a number of employees working for him and he built the face to face apartments with the proceeds from his business. Shina had pleaded with Baba Ibeji to loan him the money for his daughter’s exams. Baba Ibeji had gladly accepted to oblige him but under a condition. Shina had promised to accept whatever condition it was. He had assumed that Baba Ibeji would probably ask for a free supply of Ugwu to his family or ask for his monthly rent to be increased to cover the cost of the loan.

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He was however in shock when he heard Baba Ibeji’s condition. He wanted to make Mojirayo his fourth wife. Shina had stammered and asked if Baba Ibeji was serious. Baba Ibeji had gotten upset and walked him out of his house. Shina had gone home dejected. How could Baba Ibeji want to take Mojirayo who was old enough to be his own daughter as wife? What about his other three wives? Shina had been unable to sleep that night. He had tossed and turned on his tattered mattress. Even when his wife, Omowunmi had tried to touch him, he had turned his back to her. She had been surprised as Shina never refused her advances. They always practiced Proverbs 5 verse 18 – 20 and Ecclesiastes 9 verse 9 to the letter.

******

      The next morning, Mojirayo greeted her father with news. She wasn’t going to write the SSCE exams because she was yet to pay for it. She had been told in school the previous day. Shina made up his mind immediately. He went to Baba Ibeji and agreed to his conditions for the loan. Baba Ibeji smiled as Shina almost prostrated before him. He had eyed Mojirayo for a while. She was a stunning beauty and he felt she should live a happy life; away from the poverty of her parents. He gave Shina cash on the spot and asked him to bring Mojirayo to his house immediately after her exams were over. Shina nodded as he collected the cash and left Baba Ibeji’s house. Baba Ibeji smirked in a self-satisfied triumph. He touched his nether region and licked his lips. Mojirayo was going to be his trophy wife.

******

      Tears streamed down Mojirayo’s cheeks when her father told her about his agreement with Baba Ibeji after her last paper. Shina had thought it wise to allow his daughter write her exams without any distractions. Mojirayo told her father that she would have rather missed writing the exams than get married to Baba Ibeji.

:

Shina told her that she needed to look at the bright side of the situation. Baba Ibeji was rich and he would offer her a better life. She would be able to have the nicer things of life which she would never have access to under his roof. She would be able to help him send her younger ones to school which he could barely afford to do at the moment. She would make all their neighbours envious and he would have the last laugh as they would all love to be in her shoes. There was nothing Mojirayo said that made sense to her father. As far as he was concerned, this was a dream come through for them. Mojirayo was their ticket to a life out of abject poverty.

******

      Two weeks after Mojirayo’s exams, Shina was yet to take his daughter to Baba Ibeji’s house. He knew he was meant to fulfill his promise but he wanted to have his daughter for one more day. He told himself he would do it tomorrow but tomorrow never came. He noticed his daughter’s countenance had changed since he told her of his agreement with Baba Ibeji. She wore a sad face permanently and looked as if she was waiting to be taken to the slaughter house.

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Even though, he also felt bad about the agreement, he consoled himself that it was for a better life. Once she became Baba Ibeji’s fourth wife, their fortune would change. All those neighbours who taunted him would see the other side of him. He would make sure they apologized for all the insults they had heaped on him all through the years. He would stop riding an okada because Mojirayo would urge her husband to buy him a nice Toyota camry 2001 model which he would use as a taxi cab. His other nine children would change their school and move to a private school in the area. Omowunmi would stop selling Ugwu leaves and start doing supplies like Baba Ibeji’s first wife. She would rub shoulders with the big women who tied their geles like a satellite dish every Saturday. She would supply party souvenirs, canopies and chairs and maybe even start cooking for large parties. At least, she loved to cook and the aroma of her food anytime she was cooking was the reason why she was called “Ìya Mojíráyò, Ölówö síbí” by their neighbours.

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He had just finished a bowl of eba and edikaikong soup as his mind played around with ideas shooting them into the goal post. He smiled and picked his teeth with a broom stick as he thought about what he would do once he became rich. A hard knock on his door jolted him out of his reverie. He wondered who could be banging his door that way at this time of the night. Another bang on the door got him upset and he stood up to accost the intruder.

:

He opened the door and standing before him was Baba Ibeji. He had an angry stare on his face which highlighted the tribal marks on his cheeks. Many of the kids in the compound whispered to each other whenever they saw him that he must have fought with a tiger to have such terrible marks. Shina knew the wait was over. Baba Ibeji asked him to pack his family and wretched belongings and leave his house the next morning or fulfill his promise. He pleaded with Baba Ibeji and told him Mojirayo would arrive at his house first thing the next morning.

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The story continues…

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UPDATE: 

The concluding parts of ‘Love, Lies and Murder’ have been published with other short stories in a book titled – Tears, Blood and Death.

Tears, Blood and Death (A collection of Short Stories) can be found on Amazon kindle

Buy-on-Amazon

Do click on the link above and you would be directed to the Amazon website to purchase a copy of the book.

I hope you enjoyed the story thus far. Please share and don’t forget to send me your reviews. I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

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Photo Credit: http://www.123rf.com

Blind Pact – Chapter 4

Gboyega looks on as Bola walks away. He had noticed her when she came into school as a fresher and he had felt there was something strange about her. He knew it was beyond being just a girl studying Civil Engineering. There was more to her and he had been curious to find out. He watched her from afar hoping to understand her peculiar personality. When he found out that her life revolved around school, fellowship and the hostel, he had smiled. One of those born-again chicks. They had always being a mystery to him. There was something about them that he just did not understand.

His parents were not religious. They attended church whenever they felt like it. And their kids, all seven boys always stayed away on such days. His parents were secondary school teachers who believed that as long as their kids were morally upright, they were fine. The boys however, all engaged in one vice or the other without the knowledge of their parents.

Two years ago, he lost them on a trip back from their hometown. They had travelled home to attend the burial of a family friend who had died of a heart failure. The bus conveying them had somersaulted a number of times after a burst tyre. The bus had been mangled and bodies were thrown out during the mishap. There were no survivors.

Gboyega suddenly became an orphan with six younger brothers to take care of. He tried to keep his brothers as one family but they all rebelled. Family members deserted them and life became tough. This further hardened the boys and the centre of their family could no longer hold. Each went his own way taking his destiny into his hands and struggling to chart the course of his life.

It had been a sober day for him during one of the crusades organized by a church close to his house. He had been loitering around thinking about what had become of his life and that of his siblings when he felt a strong urge to go into the crusade ground. He looked around and saw joy radiating as the people danced and worshipped God.

When the pastor started preaching, he looked around wondering if anyone had mentioned his travails to the pastor. The pastor kept on talking as if he was referring directly to him. He stood up in annoyance thinking someone was playing pranks on him. But as he was about to leave the crusade ground, right before his presence, he saw flashes of his life before him. He saw himself struggling in vain to come out of a dark pit. The pit was deep and hollow. He looked up and there was bright light at the top of the pit. He cried out but no one heard him. His voice bounced back to him in deafening echoes. All of a sudden, he started to sink. He stretched out his hand for a lifeline but there was nothing to hold on to. The more he struggled, the more he sank deeper. He was neck deep in the bog and was about to be enveloped in the darkness of the pit when he suddenly came to himself and realized that he was still standing in front of the crusade ground. He turned back and right there on his seat, he called on God to save him. He could not boast of his past and he was haunted daily by a past misdeed. He continuously prayed every day that God will forgive him for all the wrongs he had done in the past.

Gboyega becomes a regular in the fellowship longing to know more about God. His lifestyle changes and he garners a lot of whispers within campus. His close friends notice his turnaround and they are surprised. He moves close to Bola trying to learn more about God from her. When he is confused about a scripture, he calls on her to expatiate which she gladly does. At other times, she refers him to the pastor of the fellowship. His changed life has an effect on a few of his friends and some also turn a new leaf.

A few days to his graduation, Gboyega attends his last fellowship meeting. After the service, he walks up to Bola and asks if he can accompany her to her hostel.

“Okay.” She replies.

“I want to thank you for being a good friend and helping me in getting grounded in Christ.”

“Oh don’t mention. What are we friends for?”

Gboyega stops and holds Bola by the hand. “Bola, I want us to be more than friends.”

Bola looks at him confused. “I don’t understand.”

“I mean, am I allowed to date you?”

“Date me?” She looks at him, shock written on her face. “I see you as an elder brother.”

“But I am not.”

“I’m sorry Gboyega, I can’t date you.” Bola says as she starts walking ahead. She looks back at him. “Thanks for walking me to my hostel.”

Gboyega stands still at the spot where he had stopped Bola. She walks away without a second look at him. Their friendship had grown over the past months and he saw her beyond being friends. He had fallen in love with her. He had tried to lighten his proposition by telling her he wanted to date her. What he actually wanted was to spend a lifetime with her. But he had been unable to bring himself to tell her. She would have thought he had gone bonkers. She was so different. He had had his fair share of ladies in the past but Bola was nothing compared to them. He hadn’t planned on falling in love with her. But it had happened and he could not deny it. He was leaving school in a few days; and in about two months, he would be going for the compulsory National Youth Service. He did not want to leave without declaring his feelings for her.

As he turned to walk back to his hostel, he thought. “How am I supposed to tell that I love her if she won’t let me?”

**********

Bola walks into her room tired. Her room is empty. As usual, her roommates have gone for either a party or hangout. Sometimes, she wonders how she copes living with such roommates. They all lived for the moment. They knew Bola’s stance and tried as much as possible to respect her. One of them had actually confided in her once about changing her lifestyle. She said not having enough to spend had pushed her to hang out with the others. She wanted to be seen as one of the happening girls on campus. Bola had smiled and asked her if that was her main purpose in school. She had been sober but it had lasted only for a day. The next day, she was back in the company of the others. She did not want to be seen as a living the life of a bore.

Bola had gone straight from lectures to fellowship. She was hoping no one would try to make small talk with her as she sneaked away after the service was over. She was therefore surprised that Gboyega had still found her. His question about dating her had come as a shock. She was not interested in dating anyone much less someone she took as an elder brother. Yes, he was not her brother but he could pass for one. She had a lot ahead of her and a relationship was not part of what she saw right now. She pushes away thoughts of him and lies on her bed. In a few minutes, she drifts off into deep sleep.

Gboyega’s graduation day is here and he has no one to invite. He asks Bola if she would be his guest and she obliges. When it is time to take pictures, she looks around wondering where his family members are but sees no one. After the event, he asks her to walk with him to his hostel to pick his luggage. “How come no one came for your graduation? I thought you would have invited your family.” Bola asks.

“I don’t have a family.”

Bola stops short. A confused look on her face. “You don’t have a family? How is that possible?”

Gboyega smiles as he holds her hand so she can continue walking. “I lost my parents two years ago. We have been deserted by family. My six brothers all live their lives the way they deem fit.”

“I’m….I’m so sorry. I did not know that.” Bola says sadly.

“I know. I don’t like talking about my past.”

They walk silently for some minutes; each lost in his own thoughts. When they get to the boys hostel, Bola tells him she would rather wait outside. Gboyega nods and goes inside alone. A few minutes later, he emerges with two travel bags and a knapsack on his back. Bola asks if she can help him with his knapsack and he takes it off his back, balancing it squarely on hers. They proceed and walk towards the campus gate.

“Where is home?” Bola asks.

“Lagos.”

“Okay. And where were you were posted to?”

“I was posted to Ogun state.”

Bola smiles. “That’s nice. At least, you were not thrown into a bush where you would have to go in search of network to receive calls.”

“Does that mean I should expect your calls?”

“Would you rather I don’t call?” Bola teases.

“I would love to hear your voice every day and today’s pictures would remind me of you even when I am far away.”

Bola looks away. “Abeg, don’t start oh. What’s with all the ‘mushy mushy’ talk?”

“I meant what I said the last time and much more.” Gboyega stops walking.

Bola also stops and looks up at him. “And I also meant what I said as well. Sincerely, Gboyega, can we just remain friends and leave a relationship out of this?”

Gboyega shrugs. “Okay. If that’s how you want it.”

“Thank you.” Bola replies as they resume walking again.

They arrive at the garage some few minutes later and Gboyega loads his luggage into the next public bus on queue. Since it is going to take a while to fill up, Bola decides to hang around with him till the bus moves. They find a comfortable place to sit down and order two cold bottles of coke from a food vendor.

“So, I have never asked about your family as well?” Gboyega asks.

“I lost my dad two years ago as well. My family is just me and my mum. I am an only child.”

“I’m sorry about your dad.” Gboyega says looking at her. “What does it feel like to be an only child?”

Bola shrugs. “Sometimes, it feels lonely. No one to talk to or confide in. But mum tries her best to fill in the gap.” She says staring at the bottle of coke in her hand.

“I feel that way too sometimes. Lonely. Since my parents’ death, everything has been in disarray. My brothers don’t care about each other. I have tried to bring them together but nothing seems to work. I guess the rejection by family members worsened it. I once thought about ending it all….”

Bola raises up her head in shock.

“I was just tired. It was the same day I walked into a crusade ground and everything changed from then.” He says smiling.

“I’m glad that happened.”

“Me too.” Gboyega says as he holds her hand.

The bus fills up and Bola nudges him gently. “You should go now.”

Gboyega gets up still holding on to her hand. Bola becomes uncomfortable and tries to remove her hand from Gboyega’s hold. He looks at her straight in the eyes and smiles as he drops her hand gently.

They hand over their empty bottles to the food vendor and Gboyega takes his seat in front beside the driver. “I will miss you.” He says as Bola stands by his side.

Bola looks away and does not respond.

The bus drives off before Bola decides to leave for campus.

As she walks back to her hostel, she pulls out her copy of Gboyega’s graduation picture from an envelope. Even though he is smiling, his eyes are sad. She remembers what he said about his family and brothers. How sad that no family member had been there to share in his joy. She put the picture back into the envelope and sighs. At least, she had her mother, Gboyega had no one.

blind-pact-4

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Photo Credit: http://www.shutterstock.com

Blind Pact – Prologue

“Lord, what have I done wrong? Why is this happening to me? Where did I miss it? I need your help, Lord. Please strengthen me”.

Prologue

Banke looks at her daughter helplessly. Tears pool in her eyes as she sees her hurting. “Bola, I understand how you feel. But you cannot continue to beat yourself over this”. Banke says holding her daughter’s hands as she struggles to put her own emotions in check. She wishes she could erase the pain her daughter is going through. How did the course of their lives suddenly go downhill?

Bola looks at her mum but sees no one. Her mind is faraway. Tears stream down her cheeks and her mother looks away trying to hide her own tears which were beginning to make its way down her face. I have to be strong for her. I cannot breakdown. Oh Lord, please help her ease her pain. She closes her eyes as she does a little prayer within the confines of her heart.

Bola kneels down in a bid to pray but breaks down into uncontrollable tears. “Oh God, why-why do I have-have to suffer this-this way?” She struggles to say in between body wracking sobs.

If only the last few days of her life could be erased. If only destiny would allow her remake the turn of events in her life. If only her life could go back to being perfect the way it was about three years ago.

********

Three years ago, Bola attended an upscale secondary school in Lagos state. She was in Grade 12 and was preparing to write her certificate exams in a few months. Being the only child of her parents, they doted on her and gave her all she desired. She lacked nothing and in return, she ensured that her parents were never disappointed. She gave her best in her academics and stood out among her peers. She was the typical well-behaved, obedient and good child.

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Never Forgotten

The white Volkswagen beetle moved steadily in front of the Peugeot 504 on the expansive tarred road. A couple sat in the front seats of the Peugeot; the husband behind the wheel while their kids sat behind. It was a bright day and everything seemed to go smoothly until the still morning was shattered by tragedy.

Three little girls stood on the right hand side of the road; the eldest holding the hands of the other two on each side. The Volkswagen beetle swerved of the road and in an instant, the oldest girl was rolling on the bonnet of the car, her head hitting the windscreen. The occupants of the Peugeot 504 watched in horror and wondered if the scene was actually happening. The piercing scream of their mother made them realize this was no dream.

The beetle moved forward a few metres before halting and a man eased out of the driver’s side in confusion. He put his two hands on his head in shock and regret looking at the ground as the girls lay there unmoving. Screams and shouts rent the air breaking the serenity of the once still atmosphere.

Meanwhile, a woman was sleeping in the backseat of the beetle. Maybe it was the screams that rent the air, maybe it was instinct; but she woke up and looked around her. She pushed the passenger seat forward and opened the door. She assessed the situation around her, removed her head scarf and started crying. She looked at the girls and ran helter-skelter. Onlookers realized she was in shock and held her; before she decided to run into oncoming vehicles.

Never forgotten

The mother in the Peugeot car was frantically telling her husband to park the car. She ran out of the vehicle immediately it stopped and rushed to the scene. The three girls lay on the ground. Rescuers carried two of the girls while the mother in the Peugeot carried another girl. A hospital was just across the road from the scene of the accident and people flagged down cars so the three girls could be rushed into the hospital.

The children seated in the back seat of the Peugeot were shaken from witnessing the accident first-hand. They waited for their mum who was still in the hospital across the road. She came back some minutes later and told her husband that the victims were twin girls and the eldest girl presumably a maid. The car brushed one of the twin girls to the side, hit the eldest girl making her somersault on the car and rode over the second twin with its tyres twice.

She confirmed from her position as a medical personnel that the eldest girl and one of the twins would survive the accident. Chances of the other twin surviving was very slim. The accident scene and the resulting tragedy will leave an indelible impression on the hearts of not just the unknown parents of the girls but also the kids in the Peugeot car who had witnessed it.

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Photo Credit: http://www.shutterstock.com