I was hopeful that John will bring me good news. It was late noon. Trina and Thunder returned with my launch. Trina started to apologize for bringing my food late. I didn't care about that. I wasn't even hungry. The young lady just liked to disturb herself sometimes. "Did you call Mr. Wellington?" I asked. "Oh yes! I did. He promised to get you out of here today" She replied. "Oh, good. Did you tell him to stay safe?" I asked. "Yes, I did sir." She said sarcastically. Suddenly, I heard John's voice from the reception. He walked into the room where we were chatting. We exchanged pleasantries. "I got goodnews for you, Tony. Mr. Wellington is here to help you get a bail out of here." He said. Trina exclaimed in joy. Thunder was happy too. They hugged. I couldn't wait to be out of that place myself. It wasn't a place to be at all. "How are you coping?" John asked. "I don't even know, John. I'm just here, tired!" I said, frustratedly. John began to pat my shoulders. His hands wer
I was overwhelmed by my thoughts. "John? No, he can't be!" Trina was trying to think. She wanted Thunder and I to see it from two or three angles. That's one of the things we learnt during our training. Our kind of job was like art. It must be seen from different sides to make sense out of it. Maggie did not stop trying to make investigations herself. But she wasn't gathering any fact at all. I began to consider Trina's opinion. We needed to think outside the Lotus Group. But I couldn't think straight. It was difficult to know who I could point fingers at. Only Charlie was in my head. "Tony, has anyone threatened or confroned you recently?" Trina asked. "Err... No one at all. " I said. "The only person I know may detest me right now is Uloma and the rest of her family. But... John told me they wanted my forgiveness." I said. "Hmm... How are we sure they really meant to seek your forgiveness?" Trina asked. "Exactly! It may only be their strategy to avoid suspicion" Thunder added.
Titi smiled at Uloma as the vehicle moved pass her. Uloma returned a smile from the owner's corner where she sat. She had a really nice day with Titi. She admired Titi and her lovely family. Titi and Anderson had two beautiful daughters and they looked just like her. They were beautiful creatures. Uloma looked at her phone and the evidence she had against Emeka. She was really happy about this. Her mind was drowning in the ocean of uncountable thoughts. She didn't even know what step to take. All she was sure about is that Emeka, by the time she was done with him, would regret all of his deeds. The driver tried to engage her in a talk about the economic problem of the country. But she didn't show any interest at all. She only needed that one idea that will make her break out from the poverty she and her family were romancing with. Finally, she was home. Mama was busy at the backyard. As she raised her head, she saw Uloma. "Mama" Uloma called. "Why didn't you just sleep there, huh?"
Lizzy dropped her phone and turned to Uloma swiftly. "Huh? What is it? Tell me about it" Lizzy said. She sounded really interested. But Uloma was still unsure about it."Say something, Uloma. What is it that can fetch us good money?" Lizzy asked. In her eyes was desire, flashing it's light to Uloma. Lizzy was really desperate to make money and get out of her family's house. She was tired of her mother's complaints and insults. She just wanted to explore and live the kind of life she had always wanted to live. So she was ready to grab any opportunity to live that dream. Faced with the promise of good money and fortune, she could only but to be filled with anxiety and eagerness to do the needful for money. Uloma hesitated. She started by begging Lizzy to keep it away from Mama no matter what. "Promise me you will not tell Mama about it" Uloma said looking quite serious. "Now you are making me a bit scared. What have you done again this time?" She said. "Lizzy, I have done nothing.
The two sisters went to sleep after a long night. It was indeed a placid night for them. They slept with the assurance that their plans would work really well. Emeka's punishment to Lois wasn't working at all. In fact, her laziness doubled drastically. It all started one day at the hostel when Emeka started schooling at the university. He was introduced to pre-marital sex from his early days in school. His roommates were of bad influence to the young innocent Emeka at that time. When the boys, Samson and Delight, noticed that Emeka had no sexual experience at all, they invited one of the "hottest" slots on campus, Vivien, to take him on an adventure of "real men". He was trapped. He had just returned from church after practice. He was a member of the choir and he was doing very well. Delight and Samson were out. They had gone to stay in their neighbours room, Daves. Vivien was in the room waiting for Emeka's return. Emeka opened the door only to see Vivien on the bed. "Good evening,
Allen and Emeka made it so obvious that they had some personal issues. They walked past each other without exchanging pleasantries as usual. They didn't even want to see themselves anywhere. But they had no choice as they worked in the same office. The love and respect they had for each other was no longer there. Their relationship was more like that of a cat and dog. "But what is wrong with both of them? I mean, they have been acting really awkward for some time now." Queen, a fellow worker said. "Maybe they had a quarrel" Gift, another colleague of theirs said. Uloma and Lizzy had contacted all the ladies she needed to contact. They contacted the relatives of Cynthia and they had booked an appointment with all of them. They needed some money to make a fake identity card and sew a police uniform. "Mama has some money in her cupboard. I saw it there yesterday. We can just take it to sort all of this" Lizzy said. Mama's bedroom is the biggest of all rooms in the house. It was usua
The thought of Uloma and her sister's success woke Uloma up from the couch she was already dozing on. She smiled at herself. Mama asked her several times to go to the room and have a good sleep but her joy will not make her sleep well. Maybe I didn't check well that morning. I remembered taking my phone out of the room. But I couldn't find it when I got to the office. Maggie was at the entrance of the office. She was waiting patiently for my arrival. I asked her to call my phone number. I wanted to see if there would be a miracle because I was totally hopeless. The phone did not ring out. Then I knew I was in trouble with myself. "Perhaps I lost it" I thought. I wasn't sure about it. I picked a few files on my table and took it straight to my car. The files were exactly why I had come to the office that early. So I will just do the necessary reading at home. I drove back home hoping that a good samaritan would stop me and give me my phone. I could afford to get a better phone but I
"Fool! What business of mine is it?" I asked in my mind. I hissed. I wasn't ready for the nonsense Matilda sent to me. I was so sure she was behind it. She was bent on ruining Sarah's reputation because I liked Sarah over her. I continued to read the documents before me until someone started to knock. "Can someone ever have peace in this house?" I asked myself. "Come in" I said. It was Thunder. He had just returned from his friend's place. "Welcome, how was your journey?" I asked. "It was fine Tony" He said. "Good to know." I replied. "Tony!" He called. "Yes..." I replied. He didn't speak up so I looked at him. The tone at which he called my name showed that he wanted to say something serious. I closed the files in front of me to listen carefully to what Thunder had to say. "El-Malid has a white car, Tony." Thunder said. Sarah's call interrupted us. She was crying on the phone. I couldn't even hear a bit of what she was trying to say. I was worried. She hung up by mistake
I wanted to save his face the disgrace of his past life. I asked him to walk to the cafeteria while I follow him behind and he did as I commanded him. The cafeteria is a big one with so many serving tables here and there. Some of the costumers were eating some Kenyan delicacies and you needed to see how they were devouring the "sumptuous" meal. It had a good aroma that would cause anyone that is famished to salivate but this wasn't the time to try their food. Douglas and I had something important to discuss. We sat at the nearest serving table as I signaled the waiter to get us soft drinks. My kindness caused Douglas to fear the more. He thought I was doing him a favour that he would pay back in a thousand folds. But this wasn't so. He wasn't thinking well enough. I wanted to hear his story. Everything about him. The waiter had served us the drinks. It was enough to calm my nerves down. I gulped it as I was thirsty. Douglas felt very reluctant to take his drink. But I asked him to tak
I wasn't too sure if the idea of naming the child George was a good one. How will John and his wife take it? Will they be happy about it? Will I be mocking them with the name? I hope my son will not die prematurely like the late George? My mind was preoccupied with these thoughts so I had to relax for a while. When there wasn't any other name that my heart desired, we named the child George. Sometimes, our fears only threatens us but if we shun the threat, we would be heading for success. The christening was a success and to my greatest surprise, John and his wife were happy about it. The way they snuggled the child in their arms read a million meanings. Lyda said that he looked like George during his days as a toddler. She smiled and hoped that he lived long. Thank Goodness I didn't change the name. After another week or so, I travelled for a leadership conference at Nairobi - the capital of Kenya. It was hosted by one of the most accomplished business man in the world and it was hel
Maggie and I were having all the fun in this world. It was just she and I. No disturbance. I kept the news of Mama's death at the back of my memory. I wouldn't let it interfere with the nice time I was having with the love of my life. The wailing was for Uloma and Lizzy to do. I wailed enough while she was alive. Even in her wickedness, I loved her. I hope that her soul find rest in heaven or wherever! It's God's choice not mine. It was the first time Maggie had a sexual experience. She was a virgin. No one would believe she was because she was a full grown up lady. All through her years with Malid, they maintained "sexual distancing". Malid must have his own good sides too. Waiting till after marriage before such an experience must have come with a lot of patience. But maybe he wasn't patient enough so he loose his girl and not only his girl, but now, his life. I wonder what explanation he was going to give his creator for taking the life that was given to him on a platter of gold. I
In as much as we all enjoy peace, no one desires an eternal peace or say rest. But this wasn't the case for Mama - Uloma's mother. She desired death even though her children rebuked her severally. "Mama, don't say that!" "Mama, stop!!!" They cautioned. They warn her on a daily basis about her pessimism but she turned deaf to everything they ever said to her. She wanted a ticket to hell or wherever because life was teaching her hard lessons. She suffered from chronic fever, an illness one would consider "minor" or "ordinary" but it was getting worse by the day. There wasn't any kind of treatment Mama didn't receive. They did one thing or the other to ensure they meet up with the bills. They sold some of their properties and even their bodies for money to take good care of Mama. They went out of their comfort and did some menial jobs and secured something profitable for themselves. There was virtually nothing they didn't do. But their efforts were not amounting to any positive result.
I danced David's dance at the reception of my wedding. We were so elated and fulfilled. I now had a woman I could call mine with confidence. Friends and family joined in our dance. The bridal train were not left out too. The songs were so melodious. I mean, it was remedy for any broken heart. The musical instruments synchronized without any flop and we were just taking different steps - from left to right. We heard of the tragedy. It was as though we didn't hear the right thing. But it was true. Zero lies. It was so pathetic - the untimely death of Malid. No one could have thought that he would kick the bucket so quickly with the life of wealth he lived in. It was no news that he killed himself with poison right inside his room. He just wasted his life for nothing. He threw his poor family into mourning and complete bitterness. They hearts were heavier than the stone that was used to cover Jesus' tomb. The rumor was all around the place. It was everywhere that the founder of El-Tech c
Nobody would believe that I "snatched" Maggie from him. After all, I didn't do that. She simply got too tired of him so she "kicked" him out of her life and will not allow him back. Thank God for Thunder who stopped him right at the gate perhaps he would have done something worst. He was such an animal. I think God assigned some angels to create him and that day, they were too tired to add a pitch of calmness in him. He just liked to burn everywhere he is found. But the fire from a lantern is not same as the one that erupts from a cooking gas. Thunder's punches were enough lessons for him and a warning never to thread the path of lions like us. Malid got home badly injured. He collapsed on his couch in tears. He had sacked all his staff and some of them resigned because they could no longer be patient with him. He was acting like a demigod and they wouldn't let another man trample on them like a snake Malid hates to see. He was growing more wild by the day so they all had to leave him
I think Maggie is truly the divine woman made for me because for the first time in my entire life, I felt truly loved by a woman. I was betrothed to Uloma by her father who considered me a responsible man. He was sure that I was going to take good care of his daughter because of the traits I displayed during my stay at his house. I felt like I was marrying my step sister even though we were not in anyway related by blood. This was his death wish so I decided to honour the poor man. But one of the lessons I have learnt in life is never to marry a man or a woman in pity. I had compassion for Uloma and her family especially after the demise of their lovely father. So I married her but I regretted it quite too early. I wonder how Uloma, Lizzy and Mama coped with a man whose spirit provoked their demons. He was just one of a kind. A complete father and an epitome of love. I mean, he took me in without knowing a thing about me. Just assumptions and the fact that I was a human being as him.
Now I had to tell Maggie the story of my life to clear the air. She kept asking too many questions and I couldn't deny her the right answers because she was now very dear to my heart. I mean, can one withhold the truth about the colour of one's skin from one's buttocks? That would be eating beans with the eyes. Maggie was pensive when we got home. It was as though she had just finished watching a Hollywood movie but this time, she didn't watch it on screen but on set! She was amazed to see me take them down, one by one, as if I had prepared for the attack. I didn't prepare for anything but that sharp thought that flashed through my mind was enough to sense something. I usually had such a feeling when something goes wrong. My demons were never asleep. They kept on knocking the door of my heart until it dawn on me that there was something wrong about the route we were taking. I told Maggie about the Dark Dragons something I never mentioned to Uloma. Paula knew about it of course, because
It is true that once a soldier, always a soldier. But I also think once a fool is always a fool or maybe... Once a culprit, is always a culprit! Malid was at it again. His usual display of foolishness. I called it "foolishness" because he thinks he can play smart and get me tied to his trap. Me? What a dream! Malid couldn't sleep well. Of course, he wouldn't have. He was dreaming of the impossible. So how possible was it for him to find sleep? Sweet sleep are for those who have laboured in truth. Not some evildoers like Malid! I sensed it from the smile, the handshake, the gestures, uneasiness, friendliness, useless talks... everything! I knew he was surely up to something. Can I ever forget Aunty Raina? Even if she belongs to the family of evil-doers with Malid as the head. She would say; "a rat does not run in daylight for nothing. He must have seen a cat or something." Malid is the rat here but instead of staying clear, the idiot remains adamant, like a forgotten morsel of pounded