I was still on my bed when Maggie called. Usually, I woke up very early to put somethings in place before leaving for work but my night wasn't a placid one. I was disturbed about the recent evils that had been befalling us. So l didn't know good sleep at all. Her call woke me up aggressively. It was so loud and annoying. My phone was just right beside me that morning. I was chatting with some old friends when sleep snatched me from the interaction I was having with them. Maggie never called that early except it was an emergency or something that needed quick attention. It was really strange. I picked up the call to hear what she had to say. I kept mute as I listened carefully to all that she had to say to me. She couldn't even speak straight until after many repeated "calm down". Malid's face beamed with joy after the success of the operation. He was so glad that his dreams were finally unfolding into the reality that he had always imagined. He rewarded the gang with double the pa
Before I left Pastor Goodnews residence the other day, he said a lot of things to me. He called his wife, First Lady, to join us to share some stories that I needed to hear. But first, was all that God was ministering to him through a trance. He didn't see marriage with Paula any successful at all. "Mr. Tony, I know you maybe wondering... I know that you share many things together and all that. But God doesn't have a hand in your relationship." He said. "The Lord is preparing something greater and better for you. What you have to do is to wait patiently on him to know exactly what to do" He added. I sighed so loud. I was lost at the center of sadness. I thought of the start of the relationship abd how far we have come. I loved her so much but something was wrong with me. Maybe Pastor Goodnews was right. After all, I felt really skeptical about getting married to Paula. Even when the pressure was pressing from her family, I continued to dogde her until I became too tired of it. I lo
It was just like a dream. Paula was now married to the love of her life - Dire. The wedding ceremony was a huge success. It went really smooth and without any itch at all. It was the happiest day of their lives. Trina attended the wedding. She testified to the "loudness" of the wedding ceremony. I was also invited to witness the big event but I felt too ashamed of myself. "How do I look her in the face at her wedding?" I asked myself. Trina did all she could do to convince me but my mind was made up already. I wouldn't go for the wedding and so did I. There was nothing she didn't say to make me change my mind but I simply ignored her. I waved as she took a cab looking really gorgeous in her dress as though she was a close relation to the bride or even the bride herself. Lizzy and Mama kept on waiting for the arrival of Uloma but it seemed she had made the United Kingdom her permanent place of residence. She wouldn't come back home and this really disturbed Mama. There was no mon
Trina said I needed to see the excitement on Paula and Dire, her husband's face that Saturday noon. Paula was an angel from above for Dire. She was just the perfect woman he has been looking for all his life. They had both longed for such a day in their lives and it was such a great achievement to join the league of married people. Her parents were not left out in the excitement too. They were now very proud of their daughter after many years of banter. So many people were there to witness the wedding. They came from near and far to grace the occasion. It was Paula's mother that was behind it. Even when Paula warned against making the wedding elaborate, her mother wouldn't listen to her. She went ahead to make it really grand because it was the wedding of her first daughter. Uloma was going through a lot of troubles over there abroad. It was as though life was coming to an end. She was only staying there to hide herself from the evils of the past. But life wasn't a bed of roses. Sh
She had so many regrets. The first was the fact that she left the country without letting any member of her family know about it. She didn't think that such a thing would provoke Mama so much. She was only trying to "oppress" Lizzy and make her regret lavishing the money they were able to loot from Emeka. Little did she know that she was herself digging her own grave.Emeka did not get any better. He was still the vagabond that was becoming very popular everywhere on the streets. His life knew no meaning. He was caged in penury and no one claimed to be his family or close relation. He was just roaming about the place in madness. Uloma thought of him and everytime she did, she got really scared. She felt like she was behind Emeka's predicaments and she wondered if God could ever forgive her for doing evil to a fellow human like her. The receptionist was no longer picking up Uloma's call. She was one of the main reasons why Uloma decided to return back home. The receptionist only kep
It was a roboot behind me at Malid's office. It was used to scan visitors before they entered the main office. I looked at it as it streched his hands towards me as if trying to read what was inside of my heart. It was the first time I was seeing such thing. The last time I came, it was some other kind of roboot. This was definitely a new one. I admired the level of technology that Malid was now operating in. Perhaps, he would have done greater exploits if he let others have good sleep. I wondered where Malid could possibly have gone with his so called "business associates". I was so sure as hell that they entered the office."So where could they have disappeared to?" I asked myself. It was as though I was insane. I looked around the place, it was just so weird and unbelievable. I walked back to Roxy's office to ask her the whereabouts of Malid. I was so surprised. As I took my first two steps, I heard Malid's voice. It wasn't from a distance. It was just around the office because i
Maggie walked to the door very fearfully. She took one step with millions of fear wrapped around her tiny legs. She turned on the lights in the living room but that didn't make any difference. As soon as the kidnappers realized that the lights were on, they hid themselves behind Maggie's car, hoping that she would be out in no time. Now, the sound stopped. Maggie was relieved a bit from the tension that was about to cause her heartache. Back then in school, Maggie was Malid's favourite girl. They met during the usual registration for new students. Maggie had just been admitted to the Department of Accounting while Malid, the Department of Computer Science and Technology. Malid followed Maggie everywhere she went. He was so desperate about making her his girlfriend. Maggie liked him too but just as a friend. She didn't have any feeling for him or looked forward to having a romantic relationship with him. There was absolutely nothing that he didn't do to get her but Maggie remained a
Aunty Raina did not know peace just after she made the confession. She felt so ashamed of herself to have been involved in such an evil act. She told the police how badly Uncle Ben treated her and the children. But they didn't have any pity on her. "Why didn't you say it to the police? Huh?" One of them asked her. She expressed her fear in front of the hefty policemen who did not take it any likely with her. They locked her up in prison without looking back as if she had committed a crime before the one they have just heard. It was the first time Aunty Raina was arrested in her entire life. She never knew what a cell looked like. It was quite dark and rough. Other prisoners were locked up in other rooms but Aunty Raina was left all alone and they wouldn't permit any family member to see her until further investigations were made. It was Uncle Franklin who called to inform me about Aunty Raina's arrest. I was so shocked to hear that she was behind the death of her own husband. I ne
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