The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Relationships

  • The birthday gift (3)

     

    Any hope that Thad might reconsider and come back to me were dashed on his return home from his trip abroad. At the ‘reconciliation meeting’ his mother called us to settle the matter, Thad made it clear that it was over between us. He even advised me to forget about him and ‘move on with my life.’
    “Maybe we are not meant for each other. So, just move on. Let me get on with my own life!” 
     
    I felt so angry and bitter as I watched him sprouting such words. To think this was the man I had committed myself to for years and built my future plans and dreams around. My family members including my two siblings and my mother who were with me at the meeting were so angry with him and even wanted to attack him physically. But my Mum prevailed on them to be calm.
     “Maybe, it’s God’s plan to expose him now. Is it not better this happened now than after the wedding when he might have just run away from home with another woman one day? God knows best. So, leave him. Let him go and enjoy with his new love. God will judge him. Let’s go!”
     
    We left for home and that was the last I saw of my ex-fiancé for a long time. I listened to the advice of family and friends to move on and forget Thad. It wasn’t easy as he had become such an important part of my life. I resigned from my workplace not because of Thad as he had been transferred to another branch after his course abroad but to start all over. I went back to school to do a short course in business administration as I wanted to start my own business later. I had some savings from my years of working so money was not a problem. 
     It was at the school that I met Abel. He was doing his doctorate degree which he combined with work. We got chatting one day after one of my classes while taking some snacks at an eatery on campus. We saw regularly in school after that day and with time, we became friends. Later, he wanted more than friendship but I was not too keen. I liked him but due to my experience with Thad I had grown wary of men and their ways.
    I told him to give me some time to sort myself out and recover fully from what my former fiancé did to me.
    “I will wait, Naomi because you are worth waiting for. But don’t keep me waiting too long!” he said.
    Actually it was Abel’s mother that made me to become serious with him. One day, after my lectures, he came to pick me up at school stating that he was taking me somewhere. 
    I thought it was just a normal outing so I was surprised when we ended up at his mother’s place. She was separated from Abel’s father and lived together with his younger brother. She welcomed me warmly and prepared a nice meal for us.
    Later, as we prepared to leave, she drew me aside and stated:
    “My dear, you are the first lady my son has brought home in a long while. That shows he really likes you. But he tells me you are not interested in him. What is the problem?”
    I told her that though I liked her son, I was not ready for a serious relationship because of what happened to me in the past.
    “That was in the past,” she pointed out adding: “This is the present. You need to move on and live your life. My son is serious about you; he has told me he wants to marry you. Why don’t you give him a chance? You can’t drive all men away just because of one incident in the past?”
     
    ***
    Perhaps her words had something to do with it for I began to reconsider my stance towards Abel. We started dating fully as a couple and I even allowed him to start making plans towards our settling down some day. My mother was especially happy when I took him home for introduction. 
    “Thank God you have accepted another man into your life. I was worried you might stay single for life with your earlier no-dating, no men stance,” she stated happily.
    After I finished the programme in school, Abel wanted us to get married as soon as possible and I agreed with his plans. We were working towards that when something unexpected happened that nearly truncated our plans.
    Return of Thad
    I was at home one weekend, watching a movie with my friend, Pat who had come to spend some time with me when I had an unexpected visitor: Thad, my ex-fiancé had come to see me!
    “What does he want?” I demanded when Pat told me who was at the door.
    “Maybe, you should see him to find out,” she replied.
    “See him for what? I don’t want to, so tell him to get out of my house or there will be trouble!” I said angrily, remembering all the pain and heartache he had caused me in the past.
     
    He must have got the message for he left that day. About a week later, he was back. This time, my mother who had come visiting at my apartment, said I should see him to know what he wanted.
    He wanted me back! He stated that it was over between him and Madge, that leaving me for her was the biggest mistake of his life.
    “I regret what I did to you. Please forgive me, Naomi! I want you back; let’s start all over again!” he pleaded earnestly. I listened calmly, not saying much as he narrated what had led to the breakup with Madge.
     
    “She was behaving like a whore, going around sleeping with nearly all my friends. Not only that, she seduced my little brother, our last born who is just 16! I had travelled on an official trip and the boy had come from his school to see me when the bitch lured him to bed! Even my uncle Bernard- you know him- narrowly escaped her clutches. As if her wayward ways are not bad enough, she spends money as if it’s water, nearly rendering me broke within a short time. She can’t even cook or keep the house clean. She’s…” and he went on and on about his erstwhile lover’s misdeeds.
    “Agaracha has come back then,” said Pat sarcastically when I narrated what happened with Thad to her. “Men! They will have a good thing and throw it away for trash!” she noted with a hiss.
    “So, what are you going to do now?” she asked sometime later.
    I shrugged.
    “Just wait and see as events unfold,” I said mysteriously.
    Two grooms, one bride
    A plan had been forming in my mind but before it could be executed, I needed Abel’s support.
    “Is it really necessary to do that? Why not just tell him to take a hike and leave you alone?” he stated when I told him about my plans.
    I shook my head. 
    “No. This is something I need to do. To get closure for what he did to me,” I replied. He reluctantly agreed and I swung into action.
     
    To the surprise of many who knew us, I accepted Thad back into my life. Some of my friends thought I was crazy to even contemplate getting back with him.
    “After the shabby way he treated you, you still take him back? Naomi, are you crazy or what?” they all stated. I just smiled and said nothing.
     
    Thad was even more shocked than the others.
    “I never knew you will accept me so easily. Thanks, baby for forgiving me. I promise to make it up to you,” he said happily hugging me tightly. I told him the only condition for getting back together was that we had to go ahead with our wedding plans as soon as possible.
    He readily agreed, even stating he was ready to marry me the following day if that was what I wanted. “I never want to lose you again,” he vowed, hugging me again.
      
    So, we fixed a date which was on his birthday and made all the arrangements, including picking the church and reception venue.
    The wedding day with Thad arrived and I got dressed in a nice cream colored gown and headed for the Ikoyi registry where my beloved was waiting with his mother, his sister and a few well-wishers. My family too, were there with me. After the short ceremony, we stood in front of the registry office to take some pictures of the happy and memorable occasion.
     
    Just then, a black, brightly decorated SUV with ‘About to wed’ sign at the number plates drove up. Before it could stop properly, Thad, who was nicely dressed in a grey suit with a maroon pocket square, jumped out and rushed to where I stood with my new husband, Abel, who had his arms protectively round me.
    “Naomi, what are you doing here, with this man on our wedding day? Let’s go to the church, baby! We are running late! Our guests are waiting!” he said, trying to grab my hand.
    I snatched it away and retorted: 
    “What wedding? As you can see, I’m already married to my darling here, Abel. So, you can go and marry that slut, Madge that you dumped me for. You seriously thought I would marry you after what you did to me? That fake ‘wedding’ was my birthday gift to you. So, you go and enjoy the party. As for me, my husband and I have a flight to catch for our honeymoon in the Caribbean. So, goodbye and good luck with your slut!” I stated. With that, Abel and I got into a waiting car and we zoomed off to our new life together as a married couple.
     
    The End!
    Did Thad deserve the treatment he got from Naomi? Readers’ feedback are welcome!
    Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.
    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

     

  • The birthday gift (1)

    (What do you do when your fiancé dumps you a month before your wedding? Do you lick your emotional wounds and move on or you plot vengeance? This is the situation Naomi, the protagonist in this story faces.)

     ***

    He promised me forever, that our love will last till the end and we would never be apart. I gave him four years of my life and what was my reward? To be dumped unceremoniously just weeks before our big day! Even now, over a year later, the memory of Thad’s betrayal still hurts like an open knife wound that refused to heal. 

    That day is imprinted in my brain forever when Thad told me he could no longer marry me because he had fallen in love with someone else. An old school friend of mine for that matter! What kind of man does that? He did not even consider my feelings or those of our families, friends and well-wishers who were looking forward to our wedding day. Or the four years we had been together as a couple whom our friends envied because of the great love we had for each other. Four years of love, devotion and care down the drain in a jiffy…

    I first met Thad in the second company where I worked after leaving school. He was already a manager then and was full of drive and ambition, traits that I find very attractive in a guy. Maybe that was what drew me to him because back then, I already had a boyfriend, Jeff. The only problem was that the relationship with Jeff had no future as he had made it clear to me that he was not ready to settle down anytime soon. 

     “Marriage is not for me; at least not now,” he often said whenever I asked where the relationship was heading. So, when Thad started showing interest in me, I did not think twice about leaving Jeff for him. From the beginning, Thad made it clear that he wanted me for a serious relationship and not ‘just for fun.’ He said he wanted a woman who would be supportive and help him actualise his goals and dreams in life.

    “I think I have found that in you, Naomi. So, will you be my girl?” he had asked that evening after one of our dates. We had been sitting in his car by the gate of my family home where I still lived back then. 

    I told him ‘yes’ as I had fallen for him then and a few months later, we became officially engaged. Thad wanted us to get married straight away as he did not see any reason to delay the wedding. I agreed with him but my parents were not too keen on our getting married less than a year after we met. 

    “It’s too soon. You just met him not too long ago. Take your time to study him, know him better. Men are like the chameleon, they can change anytime. So, be sure, my dear that he’s the one for you,” my mother advised. Based on that, we had to shift the wedding date till the following year.

    Later, other things happened to further delay the marriage. Thad lost his father whom he was very close to. It took him sometime to recover from the shock of his father’s death. I had to be there for him to console him as his fiancée. Then, Thad was nominated by the company for a management course in the U.S. He was away for about eight months and I missed him terribly. On his return at the end of the programme, things went back to normal and we resumed our plans for the future.

    We chose a date in April last year for our wedding, which was my birthday as I wanted it to be a double celebration. 

    The bombshell

    A week before Thad dropped his bombshell on me, I had gone for the final fitting of my wedding gown. My friend Winnie had introduced me to a lady who made exquisite bespoke wedding gowns in town. Her prices were steep but she was very good and her gowns were lovely. Her store was at Lekki and I had spent a long time there while she made some adjustments on the gown and veil. 

    “Have you put on some weight? Your waist looks bigger than the last time you were here,” she stated as she measured my bust and waistline with a tailor’s tape. 

    “Maybe I ate too much at the party I attended last weekend’, I said, laughing. I stood in front of the large mirror and checked out the gown. It was a strapless design with a bolero jacket to cover up during the church service. Apart from the small train on the skirt and some adjustments here and there it was almost ready. 

    “It’s looking good,” I said, spinning round to see the back. 

    “Just don’t put on more weight so it can fit properly especially in the bust and waist,” said the designer as she knelt down to check the hemline.

    “I need to do more exercises then,” I said, smiling. I was happy with the gown and our wedding plans too which were going well. It was stressful with all the arrangements, but I did not mind; at the end of the day, Thad and I would be together always.

    That evening, Thad came to pick me up for an outing we had. I told him about my visit to the designer as well as the caterer we had booked for the reception.

    “She wants the deposit by next week so she can make her preparations. We still need to make the booking for the hall at the events centre. I spoke with the manager yesterday and he wants us to come for the final inspection,” I said as we drove off.

    As I continued chatting about other matters concerning our nuptials, I noticed that Thad was a bit absentminded. Usually, he would be highly interested in what I was saying but that day, it was as if his mind was elsewhere.

    “What did you say?” he asked turning to me in the car. I had just asked about his mother but there had been no response from him.

    “You’ve not been listening to me, have you?” I said. “What are you thinking about?” I queried.

    “You,” he said with a smile.

    “I’m here with you so why would you be thinking about me?” I asked teasingly. 

    “Because you are looking really sweet tonight, baby,” he said.

    I laughed.

    “You always say that anytime I’m dressed up and we are going out,” I noted, caressing his cheek.

    Later that night, we were leaving his friend’s house where we had gone visiting when Thad’s phone rang. I sat in the car and waited for him while he took the call which lasted for a long time.

    “Who was that?” I asked when he joined me in the car.

    “Oh, just a friend I met during the training in the States,” he said, starting the car…

    To be Continued…

    Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.

    Your comment(s) is important

    Send comments/suggestions to 08054701481 (sms only)

     psaduwa@yahoo.com or psaduwa007@gmail.com

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

  • My cousin is married to a conman but who will tell her?’ (2)

    Ella had been married for about two years and I and the rest of the family were beginning to warm to him when his true colors were revealed. And it came about in a way no one expected. It happened this way. My husband,

    Eric, is a businessman and he does a lot of travelling in the course of his business.

      

    Sometime ago, he was on a business trip to a neighbouring country when by chance, he found out certain things about Jack’s past that shocked everyone of us who heard it. Eric was to have stayed about two weeks in the country but he cut the trip short to return home. 

    “Honey, what happened? I wasn’t expecting you till next week!” I said as I hugged him before taking his bag.

     

    He sighed then sat down on the couch and said:

    “Something came up and my plans changed. Come and sit.” After I had sat down, he brought out a newspaper which he gave me. I looked at him askiance, before glancing at the paper. It was a foreign one, from the country he was returning from. It was opened to a page and a picture on it immediately drew my attention.

    “What’s this? What’s Jack’s picture doing in a foreign paper?” I asked my husband. 

     

      “Why don’t you read the text?” he said. I did and what I read left me stupefied. It was a public notice declaring Jack wanted by the police for fraud, extortion and other offences. He was said to have made away with a large sum of money running into nearly half a million dollars said to belong to his wife.

    “What? Could this be true? Jack has another wife? How come?” I asked, the questions tumbling out. I just could not believe it. Though I had had some misgivings about my cousin’s husband right from the beginning, I never in my wildest dreams knew it could be this bad. 

     

      I listened as Eric narrated what had transpired on his trip. “The hotel I stayed in distributes free copies of the paper to guests. So, one evening in my room, I was going through my copy when I chanced on the picture. Just like you, I was shocked; the name is different, probably a fake name, but it’s definitely Jack. Unless he has a twin we don’t know about. Anyway, the following day, I called one of the numbers listed there. It happened to be the said wife whom he had swindled. 

     

    “I pretended I was a private detective and offered my services to her, stating I could help her trace her missing husband and recover her money. She seemed interested. We met up some time later and that was when she narrated the whole sordid story. She said she met aback at a nightclub in the city, got talking and later became friends. Jack, the woman stated claimed to be from Cameroun, the English speaking part and was in the country for business. One thing led to another and she fell in love. Before long, they got married and Jack moved into her house. 

     

    Some months after the marriage, Jack, she stated suggested they should go into the importation business together. “He told me computers and mobile phones and accessories sold like hot cakes in his country and that if we imported them in large quantities from China, and took them to Cameroun, we would make double the amount we invested. It sounded like a good proposal and I decided to invest in the business. I gathered all the cash I had and even sold one of my buildings that I rent out, to raise the amount he said we needed for the business. He called me the first few days after he travelled then to my shock, the calls stopped abruptly. No calls, contact, nothing. I could not reach him on any of his phone lines? All this happened nearly three years ago.

     

      “Initially, I thought he was involved in an accident or some kind of trouble. But I found out later that he never travelled to China as he claimed. It was Dubai he went to and from there, he disappeared to God knows where. I later sent someone to Cameroun, to his house address where he claimed his parents lived. But we were told there was nobody like that living there. The address is a workshop where welders and other artisans work. The bastard duped me and made away with all my life’s savings. It will never be well with him wherever he is! I’m ready to spend whatever it takes to get him, so he can pay for what he did to me,” the woman had vowed.

     

    ***

    After Eric stopped talking, we sat down for a while in silence. It was a shocking story; the type you read about in the papers but never think it could happen to someone close to you. God, how could this happen to Ella, were my thoughts as I mulled over things.

    Later, we discussed the next line of action, especially how to break the news to Ella that the man she was married to was a big time con man, a ‘419’ (in local parlance), a man who could marry a woman on false pretences just to clean her out of her hard earned money.

     

    Was he planning to do the same to my cousin, Ella? Ella had a lot of money and investments so was that his plan in marrying her so quickly after they met? How would Ella take the news? She was already pregnant with their second child, so was in a delicate situation. How do you break that kind of news to someone in her condition, I thought glumly.

    “So, what are we going to do now? Should we tell her the truth about Jack?” I asked Eric.

    “Obviously, yes. We can’t keep this kind of information from her; it’s only fair that she be informed,” he replied. 

    The issue now is, who is going to tell her? I was reluctant to do it because I know how much Ella loves her husband. Besides, she has invested so much in the marriage that such news would be devastating to her. Is it right that we should break her illusions, shatter her dreams of marital bliss? Should we tell her as my husband has suggested or let sleeping dogs lie, hoping that she will discover the truth by herself? What if he ends up duping her like he did to the other woman whom he married before? What should I do? I’m really confused and will appreciate if someone could suggest a way out of this dilemma. Thank you.

     

    The End!

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

  • ‘My husband is rich, handsome and kind. But refuses to sleep with me!’ (2)

    After my boss had talked for a while about the terms of the proposed marriage between us, I remained silent, too stunned to say anything. 

     

    ‘What kind of bizarre proposal is this?’ I thought, watching him as he continued to eat and drink as if everything was normal.

    But what was normal about a man asking you to marry him yet with so many strange terms attached to it, in a so- called contract? Back in my hotel room later that night, my mind mulled over his words.

    “After our wedding, we’ll live together like a normal couple, except for one thing: there will be no intimacy between us. We can’t have sex. We will stay in separate bedrooms. Also, we can’t have children. We can always adopt if you care so much about having children, but we can’t have kids of our own.” 

     He paused for a while before continuing. “This arrangement will initially last for seven years. If at the end of that period, you choose to end the marriage, you will be paid a substantial amount of money that will set you up for life. If you choose to stay with me for life, then you will be my sole heir. You will inherit all my money, properties and other assets.” Then looking keenly at me, he added: “Another thing, though we can’t sleep together, that doesn’t mean you can keep lovers outside our marriage. If I find out you are having affairs, I will immediately terminate the contract, throw you out and you will be left with nothing.”

     

     My initial reaction was to say; “Hell, no! No way will I marry you on those terms!” But as if reading my mind, he quickly stated:

     “I won’t blame you if you run away now and never want to see me again. But, Amanda, think of the bright side of things. If you accept this proposal, you will benefit immensely. All my wealth and resources will be at your disposal. You will live a life of immense luxury beyond your dreams and never lack for anything. Designer clothes, expensive jewelry, holidays anywhere in the world, just name it. All these and more will be yours. I will also take very good care of your family and they will never lack for anything. Think about it…”

     

     So, that night, I sat for a long time thinking. In all my 28 years on earth, I had heard a lot of strange things but this must be the weirdest of all. What kind of union would that be if the couple involved can’t sleep together, have children and other things that come with marriage? Besides, what kind of man was my boss that he would make such a proposal? Was he in a cult or what? There were tales of some men who join cults or some secret societies who had to abstain from certain things. Was my boss involved in a cult? Was that the source of his wealth at such a relatively young age?

     

     And why me? With all the ladies out there, many of whom threw themselves at him, why did he pick me? He couldn’t be in love with me as he said he did not believe in such things. And how did I feel about him? I liked my boss and if circumstances had been different, he was the kind of man I could love and cherish. But he did not want my love. All he needed was a wife in name only. It was as simple as that. Was I ready to commit myself to such a cold-blooded arrangement? How would I cope in a marriage without love and affection from my husband?

     Without intimacy?

     It took me all of two weeks to reach a decision. It was solely made by me as I did not confide in any one including my mother. I knew she would not approve of such a marriage despite all the perks that came with it.

     But watching her one evening at home as she struggled to get up from her bed, to use the bathroom, I knew I had to do something. The sickness had made my mother become lean and weak. The once vibrant woman who was so hardworking and full of life was gone. In its place was a weak, pitiable figure I could barely recognize. It was obvious she needed very good medical care which I could not provide with my wages alone. My beloved mother who had sacrificed so much for me and my younger brother was fading away before my eyes. I couldn’t just watch her die.

     

     “You’ve made the right decision, Amanda. You will not regret the step you have taken today,” my boss stated when I told him later that week I would marry him. 

     “I will take good care of you and ensure you lack nothing,” he assured me. It was closing time and most of the workers had left. We were alone in his office.

    “If you say so, sir,” I stated quietly.

    “Just call me Bennie. We will soon be husband and wife so don’t you think it sounds silly for you to be calling me, sir?” he said in a teasing tone.

     I smiled and called his name for the first time…

     

     Meeting Max

    After our wedding, Bennie kept to his promise about taking care of me. It was like he could not do enough for me. He showered me with all sorts of expensive gifts and ensured I lacked nothing. He also took care of my mother’s health. When the doctors he consulted advised she should be taken abroad for treatment, Bennie made all the arrangements and had her flown to a foreign hospital. My younger brother, Johnnie went with her so she could have a familiar face around her. 

     I had to resign from my job after we got married as my husband didn’t want me to continue working.

     

      “I don’t like the idea of my wife working in the same office with me,” he stated. 

     I needed something to do to keep busy as I hated staying idle. So I told him about having a boutique where I could sell top quality clothing items for women. He agreed and gave me the money to start off the project. Everything went well and in a few months, I was the proud owner of a classy boutique and store in a choice part of town. It quickly became popular among the chic, sophisticated ladies in town due to the kinds of goods I stocked. Money rolled in and I couldn’t be happier. 

     Though Bennie provided well for me and gave me lots of money even without my asking, I felt a certain satisfaction in having my own income.

     Life was good and at this stage, I had no regrets about marrying Bennie. Okay, there were certain things lacking in our marriage. There was no romance, passion or sex. But I convinced myself that there was more to life than all that. Afterall, I had gained so much from the union so if not having a love life was the sacrifice I had to make for all the material blessings that had come my way, then so be it. I bet you must be thinking at this stage that I was one cold-hearted woman. 

     

     Don’t get me wrong. As a young, healthy lady, I had normal desires and needs but I was also a pragmatist who liked to face the realities of life. Having struggled so much in life, it would have been stupid of me to give everything up for the sake of love and romance. At this stage, I had convinced myself I could live like a nun as long as my mother was well and alive and I had all the comfort I needed.

     

    That was what I told myself and things would have continued this way if fate had not intervened in the form of Max. He had come to the store one afternoon. Some of my shop assistants had gone out to eat as it was their break time. I was standing at the shoe section, taking stock of the items there when a voice spoke behind me.

    “Please, could you tell me the colour of shoe that will match this bag?” He held up a brown leather bag. It was an expensive designer one, the type I usually reserved for my well-heeled customers.

    I studied the bag for a minute then glanced at the stack of shoes on the racks.

    Picking up a high-heeled pair, I gave it to him.

    “I think this will go well with the bag,” I stated.

    He thanked me and left. After he had paid at the cashier, he came over to where I was arranging some clothes on a rack. He thanked me again for helping him make the right choice.

    “It’s a birthday give for my younger sister. And you women can be so fussy over the right colors that match and so on.”

    “I’m sure she will like the gift,” I stated, smiling at him.

    Then he asked:

    “Are you a sales girl here?”

    I looked at him coolly for a while before telling him I owned the place.

    “Is that so? You look rather young to have such a big, classy place like this. Your parents must be rich,” he noted. I laughed at that.

    “Actually, it’s my husband who is rich,” I told him.

    “Husband?” he stated, a look of disappointment in his eyes…

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”82112″ orderby=”random” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • ‘My husband is rich, handsome and kind. But refuses to sleep with me!’ (1)

    (This is the story of Amanda, a lady who marries for money, material things and possessions, only to realise later that money is not everything in life.)

    The first time I saw Max, he had come to do some shopping in my boutique. Back then, I never knew that that chance meeting would have such an effect on my life. With time, we would grow very close, something that should not have happened as I was a married woman and infidelity is something frowned upon by our highly conservative and judgmental society.

     Before you start casting stones at me for cheating on my husband, you need to hear my story first to understand the circumstances that made me stray outside my marriage.

     

     I got married to my husband, Bennie about three years ago. I still remember the ceremony which was held in our local church. It was a grand one, as my husband, who is very rich, spared no expense in ensuring that it was an event that would be the talk of the town for a long time. All my friends had been so envious of me back then.

     “Amanda, aren’t you lucky! I envy you o!” Dorothy, a good friend and one of my bridesmaids had said as I got ready on the morning of my wedding day.

     “Bennie’s such a great catch! I wish I could get someone like him!” said another. They all went on and on about Bennie’s good qualities and what a great husband he will be. 

     

     If only they knew. 

    For as I sat that morning staring at my reflection in the mirror while the make-up artist worked on my face, my mind was churning with different thoughts. Uppermost was the nagging thought, ‘Was I doing the right thing or was I making a big mistake that would haunt me later?’

     

     Even as I stood before the pastor at the altar and exchanged vows with Bennie, that thought kept popping up. But I pushed it aside and put on a brave face, smiling and trying to look like a typical happy and radiant bride on her big day.

     You might be wondering why I still went ahead to marry Bennie with all my misgivings. Well, there’s a plausible reason behind my decision. 

     

     You see, I met Bennie at a very low point in my life. It was at a time when nothing was working and it was as if the whole world was about to collapse on my shoulders. I had finished school but had been unable to get a job after several years of job-hunting. Worse still, my mother who had been my sole support after my father abandoned us years ago, had fallen ill with a sickness that defied solution. There was also a younger brother who was still in secondary school. They both looked up to me for support but how could I play my role in the family without a job?

     

     At that point, I was ready to do any job as long as it paid some money. So, when I heard a manufacturing company at the Isolo area of Lagos was looking for some factory workers, I went to apply. But to my shock, I was rejected for the job because of my qualification.

     “You have a university degree so you are overqualified for the job. It’s school certificate holders we are looking for,” the supervisor in charge of the recruitment told me brusquely. I pleaded with him, telling him I was ready to do the job even with my degree but he refused and ordered me to leave. 

     I was walking dejectedly towards the front gate of the company when someone called out to me.

     “Excuse me, young lady,” the voice said. I turned round. It was a man in his thirties, I had never seen before.

    “Sorry to butt in this way but I heard you talking with the supervisor concerning a job back in the office. What exactly are you looking for?” he asked. I studied him for a moment. He was dressed in a dark suit and blue tie and he looked quite respectable like a top executive. 

     “And why do you want to know?” I countered, wondering if he was an official in the company.  

     “I can see you need a job badly. Maybe I can help you,” he stated. He brought out a complimentary card and gave it to me. 

     “I run my own company. There’s an opening there now. So, why don’t you come and see me and we can talk,” he stated.

     I gazed at him warily, not sure if he was serious or not, then looked at the card again.

     “Mr Bernard or whatever your name is. As you can see, I’m in no mood right now for silly games. So, if you will excuse me, I will be on my way,” and I turned and made for the gate once more.

     “What makes you think I’m not serious about this?” he said behind me.

     

    I turned round again.

     “Because I’m a total stranger to you and people don’t just offer jobs to strangers they don’t know. At least, not in this country,” I said.

     “We’ve been talking for some minutes now so you can’t say we are still strangers,” he noted, smiling a little. He had this sincere look in his eyes that made me relax a little.

     “Look, I understand why you are being wary. You can’t trust people these days. But try and come to my office and I will see what I can do for you,” he said.

     Based on that invitation, I went to his office the following week and he gave me a job right there. It was like a miracle. I was so happy, I felt as if I was walking on air as I went home that day to break the good news to my mother.

     

     I resumed work not long after and I couldn’t be happier. My boss, Mr Bernard was a hard-working man who drove his workers hard so they could achieve maximum results for the company. He also treated us well and was not mean to the staff.

     

    The proposal

     I noticed he travelled a lot, mostly business trips. On one of such visits to Abuja, he invited me to accompany him.

     “You will need to check the sales records at our office there. So, get ready,” he ordered.

     

    We were in the city for about a week and we worked most of the time. After that trip, we travelled together to some other cities and even outside the country. It was on our return from one of such trips to Nairobi, Kenya when the office gossips started to circulate the story about my affair with my boss. I laughed when I heard it as it was all lies. Though we had travelled to different places and stayed in the same hotels, he had never shown any romantic interest in me. He was friendly and treated me well but he always acted like a boss to a subordinate to me.

     

      I knew he was still single and I often wondered why a successful man like him, with money and such good looks was still unattached.

     Some time later, on another of our trips, I told him about the gossip in the office concerning us. It was evening and we were having dinner in the restaurant of the hotel.

     He laughed at my story.

      “People love to talk. So don’t let it bother you,” he stated.

     I smiled at him.

     “Of course it doesn’t bug me since I know it’s not true,” I rejoined. 

     He was silent for a while then he looked at me with a serious look on his face.

     “Perhaps we can make it real, give those gossips something to really talk about,” he stated.

     I looked at him warily.

     

      “What are you talking about?” I asked.

     Then reaching across the table, he took my hand and said:

     “Marry me, Amanda. Be my wife so I can take care of you.”

     His proposal was so unexpected that I sat for a while, just staring dazedly at him.

     “You’ve not been drinking sir, so you can’t be drunk…” I started to say when he interrupted me.

    “I know this must be a surprise to you. But I’ve thought about it and I believe it’s the sensible thing to do. I need a wife, you need a man to look after you. We both get what we want and it’s that not what matters?” he noted.

     When I pointed out to him that there was more to marriage than that, he said:

     “I see where you are going. All that Hollywood stuff like love, romance, desire, passion. I don’t believe in all that. Maybe because I’m a realist who doesn’t believe in fairytales…”

     As if his proposal was not strange enough, there was more to come. Something to do with a contract which stipulated clearly the terms of the ‘union’…

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”82112″ orderby=”popular” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • The Returnee (2)

    The Returnee (2)

  • My emotions led me into wrong relationships before I met my husband – UK-based charity worker Olasubomi Iginla-Aina

    My emotions led me into wrong relationships before I met my husband – UK-based charity worker Olasubomi Iginla-Aina

    United Kingdom-based charity worker, Olasubomi Iginla-Aina, is the CEO of Lightup Foundation, a UK-based NGO. Among other things, Olasubomi through her NGO, has taken it upon herself to travel round some of the poorest nations of the world to give succour where necessary to the poor and downtrodden in society. The main idea, according to her, is to inspire and empower young people across the world to take actions which create positive change and real impact in their communities. But in the course of doing this, Olasubomi, an architect, also has to live her personal life. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, she tells us the story of how she scaled through a polygamous home to move up the ladder of life and eventually got a consultant psychiatrist as husband in the UK. 

    You came to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to host the sowing of what is to be known as the Biggest Bag in the World, a project for Guinness Book of World record, and you chose your alma mater as the venue. What is this love for Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School about?

    I attended Yewande Memorial School. I used to be on the debate team for my school then and I remember I used to tell my friends while I was in primary school, that I will in future attend Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School in Surulere, Lagos, and I will be the head girl. It used to be one of the good schools then and everybody wanted to bring their children there. As soon as I got into JS 1 there, a teacher spotted me and called me, ‘head girl’. The reason is that I started carrying myself like a head girl from JSS 1, I started to get concerned about the plight of others and caring for other students and I noticed that a lot of the prefects and other students just wanted to work with me even though I was in JSS 1.

    The leadership stint was in me and while I was in SS3, I was doing some studies at Yaba College of Technology at the same time, because I passed my GCE earlier. It was after the WAEC that I started preparing for GCE and luckily, I got 4As and 5Cs. A in Yoruba, A in Mathematics, A in Physics and C in all other five subjects. So, I passed my GCE early and I went further to do Poly-JAMB for Yaba-Tech and just while I was in SS2, I already had admission to Yaba Tech but I could not go because Yaba Tech had a student strike then. So, I started Yaba Tech when I was in SS3 and it was somehow cumbersome. I would come to Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School today and tomorrow I would be in Yaba Tech.

    How were you able to do all that?

    Well, I grew up not having a mother and that increased my sense of urgency and sense of survival. I was doing architecture in Yaba Tech. I didn’t have a mother; I didn’t have proper guidance. I was just doing it and naturally enjoying it until one day, the HOD came to greet my new principal at Lagos Anglican Girls’ Grammar School and I was the head girl of the School despite the fact that I was studying at Yaba Tech. And because this lady was always proud of me, she said: ‘Subomi come and meet my friend’; she didn’t know I knew the woman but the woman herself didn’t know me because I was a new student at Yaba Tech; and when she extended her greetings to me and said ‘Hello’. I humbly maintained a dodgy calmness because I didn’t want her to say ‘Oh, lady, but I have seen you at Yaba Tech’. I was silently praying ‘Oh, Father God, don’t let this woman match this face with the one she sees at Yaba Tech, just let me leave this place in peace’ and I left the place. So, I have been much attached to Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School. Again, while I was there, I desired to move to the University of Ife (OAU). I also wanted to be the Student Union President when I get there. It was another self-made decision that God helped me to actualise. And my friends said then that ‘girls don’t become presidents’ and all that, they didn’t understand me. And one day, I left Lagos for Ife.

    How did that happen?

    When I passed my JAMB, there was nobody to go and lobby for me. You know parents used to go to lobby for their children to say ‘Oh, this is what my kid got in school.’ There was nobody to do that. So, I just went to Ife on my own that day and I went to see the HOD at the Environment Department. When I got to his office, there was an elderly woman that sat down with me. She came to advocate for the plight of her daughter. And we were to see the HOD one after another. I was supposed to be the next person because I was there before the woman but this woman stepped in to see the HOD. I was shocked because I had been waiting patiently before the woman came. So, I went in with her and there, the woman was busy advocating and telling the HOD about her daughter and the man was saying ‘don’t worry, she will be fine bla-bla-bla’. And as she was about to leave, because the man all the while thought I was the woman’s daughter, the HOD faced me and said: ‘Young girl, don’t worry, you will be fine, you will get your admission’.

    Seeing the scenario being played out, the woman said: ‘No, she is not my daughter’ and the man looked at me and I said: ‘She is not my mother’.  ‘So, who are you?’ I replied him and said: ‘Sir, I actually came also to advocate for admission; I also got a good grade’. He said: ‘Where is your mother?’ I said: ‘I don’t have a mother’. He said: ‘Ah! Where is your father?’ How was I going to defend a polygamous man with over eight wives and concubines? The man said: ‘Oh, so you came on your own volition?’ and I said: ‘Yes, I also came to get admission’. The man said: ‘Just wait! Just wait!’ And he then dismissed the woman as he wrote my name down and he said: ‘I will make sure I monitor your admission and you will get admission into the school because you have everything it takes.’  When I came back, he said: ‘Oh, you are the number 9th on the admission list’ and that was how I became a student of the Architecture Department.

    You later went on to become the Vice President of the Student Union, what was winning an election like there?

    I wanted to be the Student Union President. I was so concerned because a lot of touts were the ones that became the SUG leaders, and they kept closing the school every time because touts were the ones leading us, they were the ones taking decisions for we that call ourselves ‘sane’. So, I felt there were some things wrong and needed change. I kept telling my friends: ‘Why should we go home because of a nuisance or somebody who feels he is all in all?’ and a lot of them were not even students. So, why should we go home as a result of people who have no life ambitions? Some of us can assume this position and influence a change’ they said ‘no, no, we don’t do that here. Apart from the fact that such position is not for a woman, they will kill you because most of them are cult guys.’

    How did you overcome?

    I fasted and saw in one revelation God showed to me, two moons and I saw my surname, ‘Iginla’ written between those moons. Everybody called me Shuby in school. I was tempted to use Shubby for the election but in that revelation, Iginla was the name I was given, so I needed to follow the instruction to be able to win that election; so, I used Iginla. Now, everybody had been showing off that they wanted to contest and I had just nine days to Election Day. So, I had nine days to prove to the entire Ife campus that I was around and that I can do it.  I asked God what next thing to do, because I did not have any money. Omo ti ko ni iya kii legbo leyin (A motherless child cannot afford to have a sore at the back of the skin).

    So, I stood up and I made my first move. A lady came into my room and I said: ‘Please, just get me chalk’ and N200 fetched us a pack of chalk, and all through that night, myself and a friend of mine in architecture wrote I-g-i-n-l-a everywhere in Ife such that there was nobody that woke up within the campus community of Ife that day that would not see Iginla, because I didn’t have money for posters.  Even up to the toilets and the most hidden corners, there was no how you would wake that you would not want to brush your teeth or take your bath, you must see Iginla in every toilet, we wrote Iginla everywhere and by the time it was morning, everybody was asking ‘Who is Iginla? Because they didn’t see any poster due to my economic challenge.

    But the question refused to go away! “Who is Iginla?” was the question everywhere; but on this particular occasion, I went to Adekunle Fajuyi Hall and I was speaking, telling them about my manifesto and there was this particular guy who did not interrupt my conversation. But my spirit kept going towards the guy. After talking to everybody, I got attracted to him, because he never made a comment, he was just drawing as he was in the Arts Department. So, I spoke to him that I needed a mascot. He promised to get me one by 9pm. By 9pm he knocked at my door and said ‘I am going to be the mascot’ and I said ‘I don’t have money’ he said ‘Just go and get me a white clothe and get me paint’. I don’t know how I got that money to buy paint and we did it. By the time he came out in motion ground where students went to take pictures at Ife, there were lots of camera men there. All of them, it was as if Bill Clinton was in motion ground. People were just taking pictures and there was a sudden mass attention and people started following the mascot with the name Iginla on it.

    Now, God did another shocking thing. There was a lecturer called Ogunbameru, he had about 5,000 students; he was doing a general elective course. Ogunbameru mounted the stage and said ‘Look here, I don’t know who this Iginla is, but I want you people to vote for him’ (Instead of her). That was what he said because nobody knew if it was he or her, he said ‘because he (Iginla) is environmental friendly. He is a not messing up our walls, Ife is a beautiful school but you guys are messing up our halls with laminated posters and you are spending money, nobody knows where you got the money from and you are going to steal the money back when you get into power. Go and vote for Iginla because he is environmental friendly, he is using chalk to write on the wall so that when it rains, it will wash off. And Iginla will not steal your money’. The man was companying for me in front of 5,000 students and two of my friends rushed into my room, they said ‘Where did you know Ogunbameru?’ and I said ‘I don’t know him at all’. I went on to win.

    So how did you move from being a Vice President to become President?

    I had a revelation from God about my president, that he was about to run into crisis. I started looking for him everywhere in school. By the time I saw him, I said ‘Look here, you are about to run into error, please, be watchful of your acts from now so that you will not be removed’. He did not listen to me. One morning I was going into the Acting Department and somebody rushed to me and said ‘Subomi, hope you did not get injured?’. I said ‘injured? What happened?’ She said overnight, there was serious fight and the president was involved. Everybody was involved and there was serious pandemonium everywhere and people had been rushed to the hospital. I packed my bags in confusion and ran to Lagos; and I was terrified, I said ‘I told him’ because I saw everything that was going to happen to him in a revelation that God gave me, so I knew the severity. Within the next 24 hours, I was by the radio listening to the crisis, that Ife had scattered and everything had gone bad.

    I knew there was going to be a parliamentary sitting that night; within that 24 hours, the PRO of OAU was in Lagos; he came to my house but didn’t meet me and he wrote ‘The die is cast, the mantle has fallen, you are now the President of Ife SUG’ You must report within 24 hours to Ife.’ That was how I emerged the President of Obafemi Awolowo University Student Union Government ; and from there, God started helping me and I realised that He had actually deposited a lot in me  which I had even identified when I was in secondary school. I will enter into an election room, for a club for which I am not a member and I will be chosen. I was the President of Jet; I was the president of Red Cross; I was the President of Arts and Craft; I was the head girl. I later realised that I will get somewhere and something will happen and I will have to replace the leader. It has happened not once, not twice and I realised that it was a calling I had to live with.

    You later relocated abroad?

    I actually started Lightup Foundation here. I was involved in a lot of charity projects not directly with the Federal Government; I was just doing my own thing. I was able to use my funds to do a lot of things for the people. By God’s grace I had a very rich father who left wealth for his 41 children. My father, Alhaji Alade Iginla, made each one of us a millionaire in naira through his ‘shares.’

    What number are you among the children?

    I think he had many wives and my mother’s position I wouldn’t know because she passed on when I was very young. I don’t even know which number I am as his child. In 2005, there was draught in Niger Republic and I volunteered myself as a charity worker over there. I felt there were lots of wealthy Nigerians who have money but wouldn’t spend. So, if I have money, I should be able to use it to serve humanity. There was a day I called my insurance broker and I said to him: ‘I wanted to withdraw a large sum of money’ and the guy had to sit me down, he wanted to be sure it was not 419 people that were working on me. He said: ‘What do you want to use this money for? I said: ‘don’t you hear that people are dying in Niger Republic and I have shares? Let’s sell the shares and get food for them. And I sold the shares and got the money.

    I volunteered for Nigeria and we bought food from the Northern parts of Nigeria and took it there. We went to several provinces and localities. We met the governor of the capital of a state, we met chiefs and traditional rulers there and they supported us well. We distributed foods in all the communities, the capital and all the rest. We met UNICEF, we met Washington Post and they interviewed me, it was very colorful. In fact I got to Republic of Niger and I heard somebody say ‘Iginla’ and I looked back, I said ‘Who knows me here?’ And it was actually an Ife student who was guiding Washington Post on assignments and it was really a wonderful experience. Later I decided to travel to America; I prayed that God should direct me to America. I wanted to be sure if that was the direction from God, I didn’t want to go to a place where I am not supposed to be. But I prepared documents to submit to the UK embassy because my mind wanted America, I acted in the flesh, I didn’t know when I addressed all my letters and documents to the US consular officer and I submitted it to UK consular officer. You can see the confusion of course. US was what I wanted but I was forced by the will of God and it was submitted to the UK consular officer. I didn’t know how they didn’t see it, they did not deny that visa. I was going there for the first time and I applied for two years and they gave me two years.

  • ‘I caught my husband in bed with his mistress’ (2)

    Follow @Escapades007

    • Now my home is in disarray!

    That weekend, Kel took me to a fun spot on Victoria Island. It was an open air restaurant in a secluded area by the lagoon front, popular for its spicy, barbecued chicken and other delicacies. After placing our order, we sat taking in the cool breeze from the lagoon and admiring the view.

    “Nice place,” I said as I watched some speed boats racing on the choppy waters of the lagoon.
    “Yes. My friends and I hang out here once in a while. Since you like it, we will be coming here more often,” Kel stated.

    Soon, the food arrived and we concentrated on eating and chatting. 
    “The chicken is so delicious! Soft and succulent too,” I enthused as I bit into a chicken wing.
    “I was told its a secret recipe only known to the owner of this place,” disclosed Kel.

    “He had better guard it well or he will lose a lot of business if someone else gets to know the recipe,” I remarked.
    Just then an acquaintance of Kel came over to say hello. Soon after he left, we finished the meal and were preparing to leave when a lady came over with a small gift bag. She handed it to me stating:
    “Someone said I should give this to you.”
    I looked at her and the parcel.
    “What is it? Who gave it to you?” I queried. I did not know anyone there and wondered who could be sending gifts to me.
    “Why don’t you open it and let’s see what’s inside,” Kel said encouragingly.
     Inside the bag was a small wrapped gift which I brought out and opened. A diamond- encrusted sparkling ring nestled inside the small jewel case; besides it was a small note with the words: ‘Baby, will you marry me?”
    I looked up quickly at Kel who was smiling broadly at me.
    “Kel!” I said excitedly, jumping up. He rose, took my hand and repeated the words in the note.
    I nodded my head, saying: “Yes, darling! I’ll marry you!” he hugged and kissed me briefly then, unmindful of the other customers around who were looking at us in an amused manner…

    ***
    “Wow, lovely ring! Jessy, you are so lucky. Congrats o!” said Trina as she admired the ring on my return home that night.
    “Thanks, my sister. I just can’t believe I’m engaged to be married. Kel really surprised me,” I said happily.
    “It’s not a surprise to me. That man really loves you. As I said, you are a lucky lady. I wish I could get someone like Kel,” stated Trina. She had been engaged about a year before but things had not worked out between her and her fiancé.
    “Don’t worry; God will bring your man, specially made for you,” I reassured her.
    “Amen o! Better guy o! Not all these ‘chop and clean mouth’ types that are all over the place now who are just looking for who to use and dump!” she said.
    As I gazed at the ring in admiration, I knew Trina was right: I was lucky to have a man like Kel who cared about me and cherished me so much.
    “I love you, Jessica. I promise to always be there for you, to be your shield and to protect you. As long as we are together, I will make sure you never lack. I’ll take care of you and love you forever,” Kel had stated earlier that evening after his surprising proposal.
    I believed and trusted him and gave all my heart and soul to him. But who can tell what lurks deep in a man’s mind? Or fathom what he will be like tomorrow? Only time can unravel that mystery and time did just that to me.

      ***
    Our engagement was a short one. Within five months of Kel’s proposal, we got married in a very classy ceremony at my family church. My father had remarried three years before; though my step mum and I did not get along that well, she stood in and played the role of my late mother during the marriage proceedings.
    It was a very happy period for Kel and I. In the early days of our marriage, he lived up to his promises and was very caring and loving. About six months after the wedding, I found out I was pregnant. Kel was over the moon when I broke the news to him.
    “So, I’m going to be a father again,” he said with a wide grin when he arrived home from work that evening.
    “Yes, dear. I got the result of the test this afternoon at the hospital. I have an appointment with the doctor next week,” I told him.
    “Ok. I will go with you. You know I will do anything for you, dear,” he said hugging me tightly.
      I nodded, at that instant feeling very happy and contented. My joy however was not to last. The pregnancy was about five months old when I woke up one morning in a pool of blood. Kel, who left home very early for work, had already gone out and I was alone in the house. With the assistance of a neighbour, I was able to get to the hospital where I was admitted.
    I felt terrible losing my baby. I had so looked forward to the birth and becoming a mother. I wept bitterly, wondering why such a thing could happen to me. I had been attending antenatal classes regularly and there had been no sign of a problem. So, why this, I wondered. Or was it something I had done?
    “These things happen. Anything can go wrong with a pregnancy even with the best care,” the doctor had stated when he came to check up on me.
    To be fair to him, Kel, my husband was very supportive at this trying time. He was at the hospital regularly throughout the period of my admission and even when I had returned home. I took some time off from work to recuperate and Trina often came to spend time with me.
    “You look so pale. Are you eating well at all?” she asked one day when she had come visiting.
    “You better talk to her. I’ve been telling her to eat all day but she says she doesn’t have any appetite,” said Kel.
    “You need to eat to recover. What has happened can’t be undone. Life has to go on. You are still young and will have more babies in the future,” Trina stated. She then went to the kitchen and prepared some noodles for me which she forced me to eat.
    With their care and support, I was able to recover and was back at work a few weeks later. My husband and I put the incident behind us and got on with our lives. Then, five months later, I got pregnant again. Though, I was happy at the good news, it also marked a turning point in our lives that brought unexpected occurrences I never envisaged…

    The End.

    For Archive, Please Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”82112″ show_more=”on”]

  • Flora Forever (2)

    [dropcap style=”circle” color=”#dd3333″ bgcolor=”#efefef” font=”times”]B[/dropcap]y this time, the rain had reduced to a slight drizzle and it was nearly sunset. We couldn’t sit in the car all day talking so I started the engine and drove to an eatery not too far away from my home at Ikeja. I ordered for a drink while Flora, who said she was hungry asked for some food. 

    “You are sure your head is ok? You are not feeling any pain?” I enquired glancing at her head which was covered in a headscarf.

    “I’m fine. Stop worrying,” she said looking up at the waiter who had brought the food.

    I watched her closely as she ate. She looked up then, saw me looking at her and smiled.

    “Want some?” she asked, offering me a piece of chicken. 

    I shook my head.

    “I’m ok. I ate at my friend’s place,” I told her. 

    “Is she a girlfriend? she enquired. “I see you are not married,” she added, glancing at my left hand.

    “You are right. I’m still single. But she’s just a friend,” I stated. That was not the whole truth but more about that later…

    “Anyway,” I began. “We are not here to talk about my love life. You were supposed to tell me about your husband,” I pointed out.

    The animated look on her face disappeared then and she sat, staring gloomily into her plate.

    Seeing the sad look on her face and fearing she might start crying again, I said softly:

    “It’s ok if you don’t want to talk about it. I’ll understand.”

    “No. I’m fine,” she stated, looking calmly at me.

    Then after taking a sip of water, she began to speak. And this was her story:

    She was in her second year at the university when her father died. Her mother had passed away some years earlier during childbirth. The baby, Patricia had lived and the bereaved family had tried to raise the little motherless child as best it could. “My dad really tried. He refused to remarry though there were opportunities for him to do so. He said he didn’t want another woman to come and spoil the love and unity in the family. You see, we were a very close-knit family, my siblings- four of us- and our dad. I have an older brother Michael who lives abroad, though we don’t know if he’s still alive as we’ve not heard from him for some years now.”

    She said after her dad died, things became tough for the family. “Michael and I were at Uni then,” she explained. “Though my elder sister, Janet had left school, she had not started working as she was planning to go for her Masters degree. With our dad’s death, everything was affected- our education, lifestyle and other things. My dad worked as a senior manager in a big manufacturing company and though we were not swimming in money, we were at least comfortable.

    We had inherited some money from him but that ran out in no time. When things became really tough, we had to seek help from relatives. None was willing to help except for an aunt, one of my mother’s sisters. She had a successful business and was doing quite well. 

    “She agreed to pay my school fees and that of Michael who was by then in his third year. She kept to her promise and helped with our education. Among her various businesses was a restaurant. During the holidays, due to my aunty’s promptings, I began helping out there. If I had known, I should have stayed away from that place because of what happened later.”

     At this point, she stopped speaking and took a drink of water.

    “Do you want anything else? Let me order for some soft drinks…” I stated but she shook her head.

    “I’m ok,” she said and began to speak once more.

    The restaurant, she stated was a fairly large one and quite popular. “It was always filled with customers, especially male ones who often came in expensive-looking cars which they parked across the road in an undeveloped plot of land. Initially, I thought they came just for the food which was quite good. It was later I discovered it was for something else as well. A lot of girls worked at the place and most times, some just hung around doing nothing. They would be in one of the rooms in the building, chatting, fixing their make-up or doing their hair. Whenever I told my aunty how they were lazing around doing nothing, she would tell me to ignore them and face my duties.

    “I helped with the accounts as my aunt said I was good with figures. Then one night, I had to help out serving the customers as we were short of waitresses. That opened my eyes to the other aspect of the business. After their meals, some of the male customers would leave with a girl or even two and they would not return. I observed this most nights and I began to have my suspicions which were confirmed by one of the girls who worked in the kitchen. “They take the girls out to sleep with them after paying Madam. It has been going on for years,” she whispered to me.

    In other words, my aunt was running a prostitution ring, using the restaurant as a front! I was shocked because I had always seen her as a decent person who would never be involved in something so shoddy. But you could never tell with people. Later, she tried to involve me in her evil deeds. After serving them, some of the customers would ask for me, saying: “Where is that fine girl? Call her for me!”

    “They made all kinds of offers- lots of money, trips abroad, any car of my choice. But I wasn’t interested and I made it clear to them. When it came to my aunty’s notice that I was rejecting her customers, she was not happy. She accused me of being stubborn and trying to ruin her business. 

    “Mind you, its from this business that I pay your school fees and that of your siblings. So, you better cooperate or you will have to look for another sponsor,” she threatened. I still refused the men’s advances. But something happened one day to change all that. There was this man who was really persistent. Larry was his name and he was a regular customer who came nearly everyday. The more he pestered me, the more I turned him down. Then one day, I heard he gave a very large sum of money to my aunt so he could have me. 

    My aunt told me I either complied or she would no longer have anything to do with our education. I was more concerned about my brother who was already in his final year then. What if he was forced to drop out of school due to lack of sponsorship at that stage in his education? It would be my fault. I could never forgive myself for that. So, because of my aunty’s threats and maybe my age then- I was just 18- I succumbed. I began to date Larry and to be fair to him, he treated me well at the beginning. 

     He was a rich businessman and was unmarried. Larry became responsible for my education and upkeep. The only condition was that I was not to date any other person as long as we were together as he loved me too much to share me with any other man. 

     About six months later, I found out I was pregnant and when I told Larry, he said we should get married. I was against it as I was still in school and I felt my education would be disrupted if I had a baby. But he assured me that I could always return to school after the baby was born. My aunt and even my sister Janet said the same thing. “School will always be there but good men like Larry are hard to find,” they told me. I took their advice and married Larry. I had my daughter Ivy soon after that. And before I could think of returning to school, I was pregnant again with my second child. 

    I had to put my education on hold so I could take care of my children. Besides, by this time, I was having problems in my marriage. Larry, to my shock changed from the loving, caring man I dated. He began to drink heavily, often came home late and would beat me without provocation. I tried to reason with him but it was no use. There was a night he beat me so hard, I became unconscious and it was the neighbours who had to take me to the hospital.  

     When I recovered and returned home, I found another woman in the house. Larry threw me out, stating he had married someone else who would give him sons as I had only female children in my womb! I had to move in with my sister with my children. He took everything away including the car he bought for me, though we had been together for eight years.

     That was six months ago. He doesn’t even care about the children’s welfare or their education. That morning of the accident, I had gone to see him at home concerning Ivy’s school fees as she attends an expensive private school. He chased me out, saying he didn’t have money to train ‘those brats’ as he called his own kids. I was really upset. I just walked along the road not really seeing where I was going, thinking about my life and how badly things had turned out for me when you hit me.”

    She stopped speaking then and just sat staring glumly down at the table. I felt really sorry for her after listening to her tale. ‘What kind of man would do this to a beautiful lady like this, his own wife?’ I thought as I gazed at her.

    “It’s really sad that such things happened to you at such a young age,” I told her softly, reaching across the table to take her hand in mine.

     She looked up then and shrugged.

    “That’s life. Full of ups and downs,” she noted. “My main concern now are my children. I’ve been looking for a job so I can earn some money to take care of them. But it’s been tough as they always ask for qualifications and I didn’t finish school.”

     I thought about what she said.

      “If it’s a job you want, I have something in mind. Can you…?

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_list display=”category” category=”82112″ orderby=”random” count=”8″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Touch of fate (3)

    Follow @Escapades007

    “Are you ok? You look sick!” Don said, going to sit besides her on the couch. But she moved as far away from him as possible, looking at him as one would gaze at something that was particularly repulsive.

    “Baby, what’s the matter? Did something happen while I was away?” he asked, getting up to stand in front of her.

    But she rebuffed him and shouted:

    “Don’t come near me. Stay away from me!”

     Then seeing the confused look in his eyes, she said:

    “Why Don? How could you be so mean, so wicked?”

    “What are you talking about?” he asked in a perplexed tone.

    She did not answer but simply pointed at the computer screen. When he saw what was there, he slumped on a chair, his head buried in his hands.

    There was silence for a while then she began to speak.

    “You knew I was the accident victim all this while after I had told you the story of what happened to my leg. Yet you kept quiet. Why didn’t you say something? Why?” 

    “I’m truly sorry, Helen. I know now that I should have spoken up but I was afraid,” he said.

    “Of what?” she queried.

    “I was afraid I would lose you. At that time, I had begun to develop feelings for you and my thinking was that, if you knew the truth, you would not want to see me anymore. And I couldn’t bear that to happen,” he explained.

     “That has always been your problem. You only think of yourself! What about me? Do you have any idea of what I went through? If it were not for the two students who found me by the roadside after you had knocked me down and run away, and who took me to the clinic, maybe I would be dead by now. Your wicked and cowardly act almost cost me my life and all you can say is sorry! Look at my leg. I walk with a limp today because of you!” she stated angrily.

     “Please Helen, forgive me and my friends. We were very young then and you know young people do all kinds of stupid and crazy things,” he pleaded.

     Then continuing, he added:

     “That incident has haunted me for years. Initially I thought the person I knocked down was dead. But the following day, when there was no news of the death of a student, staff or someone else by accident on campus, I felt relieved. Shortly after, we left school for the last time and we all dispersed to various places. I never knew in my wildest dream that you were the one. So, you can imagine my shock when I found out. I decided not to get involved with you as my conscience kept bugging me. But I couldn’t stay away from you. Please, honey, forgive me. Don’t let this come between us now at this critical stage in our relationship. Please,” he begged, going to her and taking her hand in his. But she flung his hand away and jumping up from the chair stated:

     “It’s too late now. The thought of marrying someone like you, who could do what you did to me, makes me sick. This wedding is off. Don’t bother calling me or looking for me to beg me to change my mind because I won’t. Loser!” 

    And picking up her handbag, she marched out of the house closely followed by Don who kept pleading with her.

    “Please, Helen! Don’t go! Let’s talk this over. We can sort it out. You know I love you! My life will be empty without you…”

    A mother’s counsel

    “Look my daughter, I know what he did was wrong. Even your father and I were shocked when you told us he was the one that hit you all those years ago back in school. But the young man has said he is sorry. That it was a mistake he regrets till today. Since he has apologized and seems repentant, why don’t you forgive him and continue with your wedding plans?” said Helen’s mother about a week later. They were in the living room of their home having a mother-daughter chat.

    “Mama! Is that all you can think about now- the wedding?” Helen said.

    “Yes o, my child. Your marriage is important to me. I want you to settle down and start giving me grandchildren. So, you have to forgive him and continue with your plans,” she insisted.

    “That can’t happen now. It’s over between us,” Helen maintained.

    “Why are you so stubborn and hard-hearted? I didn’t bring you up like this! Even the Bible says we should forgive those who have trespassed against us. So, put the past behind you and move on with your life,” she stated.

    Helen shook her head.

    “I can’t Mama. What he did is too terrible for me to forgive. Or forget,” she insisted.

    “So, are you going to just throw away such a beautiful relationship because of your unforgiving spirit? Think carefully, my daughter and don’t do something you will regret for the rest of your days. I know how much you love the young man. Just look at you. You are a mess. Since your break-up, you’ve not been eating or sleeping well, either. You have stopped going to the office, claiming you are sick. My child, pull yourself together and use your head. Let go of your anger so you an embrace the future,” she advised.

    Back in her room that night, Helen lay on her bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Her mother’s words kept ringing in her ears- ‘He says he’s sorry. Forgive and take him back. He’s your one true love. Don’t let him slip away because of your stubborn heart!’

     “But what he did was too bad. How could I forgive him so easily? Let him feel some of the pain I felt when he nearly killed me all those years ago. Idiot!” she said to herself, her heart hardening against him once more. 

    The following day, when Don came to the house as he had been doing since the split, she refused to see him as usual or pick his calls.

    “Why don’t you at least see him, hear what he has to say?” her mother pleaded with her. Helen had gone to her room and had refused to come out as soon as she heard Don had arrived.

    “Tell him to go away. I don’t have anything to do with him anymore,” she stated. 

    “You tell him yourself. Stubborn child!” her mother said angrily as she stormed out of the room.

    A short while later, Linda, her younger sister came into the room quietly.

    She sat staring warily at her big sister for a while then said:

    “Sister, you can tell me to go to hell and mind my business. But I’ve to speak my mind. Have you not punished Brother Don enough? You need to see him. He looks so sad, so lost. I feel so sorry for him.”

    “Why is everyone taking his side. What about me?” she asked angrily.

    “Forgiving him is for your own sake too. By punishing him like this, you are also hurting yourself. I see how much pain you are going through and it breaks my heart,” Linda said. To her surprise and shock, Helen broke down and began to cry. Great, wracking sobs shook her body and she wept bitter tears of anguish and regret.

    Linda held her close and comforted her as best she could…

    Two days later, Helen returned to work. She tried to put on a bright face but everyone noticed she was not her usual cheerful self. During their lunch break, Tina cornered her and began to bombard her with questions.

    “Is it true that you and Don have broken up? What happened?” 

    “Who told you? Busybody,” Helen stated teasingly.

    “But is it true?” she persisted.

    Helen sighed before saying:

    “Yes. We’ve split. The wedding has been cancelled.”

    “Ah! It’s a pity. You two were so much in love. That guy loves you so much. He had eyes for nobody else but you,” she said.

    Then she added excitedly:

    “Now that you two have broken up and he’s now free, that means I can have him for myself. Waoh! I can’t wait to see him again!”

     “Hey, hey! Hold it there. See who?” Helen asked frowning a little.

    “Don, of course. He’s free so he can date someone else now, abi,” she said.

    “Date who? Don’t you dare! If I see you near him, I will kill you!” Helen stated vehemently.

    “Ha! Na which kin thing be this?” she stated in pidgin English. “You say you no longer want him, yet when I show interest in him, you get mad. You better make up your mind about what you want before it’s too late. You don’t appreciate what you have. That guy is one in a million. You better go and sort out whatever issues you have with him before I or some other girl snatch him from you for good. Yeye (silly) girl. So confused, she doesn’t value what she has. Besides, what am I supposed to do with the bridesmaid’s dress that has already been made?” she queried, before leaving the table.

     Helen smirked at her, making faces at her retreating back.

     

       * * * * 

    One week later, on a Saturday evening, Don stood at the small balcony at the back of his flat, which overlooked the backyard. There was a small guava tree that was just starting to bear fruit, a couple of banana, plantain, pawpaw trees and other plants. But he did not notice the luxuriantly growing vegetation. He stared far away into the horizon, his thoughts deep, gloomy. His dark mood was in sharp contrast to the radiant scene high above him where the slowly setting sun was painting the sky in vibrant shades of red, pink and orange. 

    Uppermost in his mind, was the thought that he had lost Helen for good. Thinking about it was driving him crazy and he felt so helpless as if there was nothing he could do to salvage the situation. He couldn’t even see her or talk to her as she had kept avoiding him. With his shoulders slumped as if in defeat, he kept staring moodily ahead, at nothing in particular.

    Then a voice that he had been longing to hear for days intruded into his gloomy thoughts.

    “Our wedding is just a few weeks away and instead of distributing the wedding IVs, you are standing here, wasting time, just staring into space. Or don’t you want guests on our big day?”

    Don turned round slowly, not speaking, just taking in the lovely sight before him, a look of surprise, joy and relief on his face.

    Then he said:

    “Helen!” and quickly walked towards her.

    She spread her arms wide.

    “Welcome home, baby,” he stated softly as he held her in a tight embrace. Just then, the sun dipped behind the horizon and disappeared. The old day was gone. And a new dawn would soon begin…

    The End

    Epilogue:

     Well, all is well that ends well. Helen and Don’s story had a happy ending after all despite all the odds against their relationship. But not everyone is happy with the ending. A colleague who saw the story before publication was quite pissed with Helen, stating she was stupid to have forgiven Don. “What if she had died that night of the accident, would she be talking about forgiveness now?” she said angrily.

     So, what do you think? Was Helen right in forgiving Don? Or should she have stuck with her earlier stance of never having anything more to do with Don? We would like readers views on this.

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”82112″ orderby=”random” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]