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Tag: romance

  • Touch of Fate (1)

    • Prologue: 
      Somewhere on a campus in Nigeria- 2002

    The four friends in the black SUV had had a great time at the party and were on their way back to their campus in the early hours of the morning. They had written their last papers the previous day and in a few days, they would all be leaving school for the last time. The party had been their way of ‘cooling off’ from all the stress of their final exams as well as hanging out together for the last time.
    Except for the one driving, the others were slightly drunk. As they drove along, they spoke in slurred tones of some of the things that had gone down at the party. The main topic was the fight that had broken out between one of their classmates and another boy over a girl.
    “Men, that Derek is a fool. Why would he fight over a girl when there are so many out there,” one of them at the back remarked.
    “Do you blame him? That babe is really hot! Is it her mesmerizing eyes? Or those ‘killer’ curves of hers?” said his back seat mate.
    “Don’t tell me you’ve been ‘scoping’ her all this while,” the one in the passenger seat in front stated, turning round to look at his friends at the back.
    This caused much ‘yabis’ (insults) being thrown at the one at the back seat who had made the remark.
    They had just driven past the library sometime later when it happened. As the driver turned into the road that led to their hall of residence, he ran into a dark figure that had run across the road. It was a dark spot as there were no street lights by that part of the road. 
    “What was that?” the guy in the passenger seat asked the driver. Their friends at the back had fallen asleep and were dead to the world.
    They both got down and rushed to the figure on the ground. It was too dark to see properly but they could tell it was a female. She lay still, not making any sound.
    “Is she dead?” he asked his friend.
    “I don’t know,” he replied, bending down to look at the figure. He shook her gently on the shoulder but got no response. “Maybe we should take her to the clinic,” he stated.
    “We can’t. What if she’s dead? We will be charged for murder,” he stated, a frightened tone in his voice. Taking his friend’s hand, he said: “Let’s go. There’s nothing we can do for her.”
    The other guy reluctantly got up and they went into the car and drove away. As they left, the prone figure on the ground groaned a little then lay still once more…

    Ten years later…
    The banking hall was crowded as usual that Friday morning. Don, a tall, slim man in a blue shirt and black trousers, stood at the entrance, wondering how long it would take him to transact the business he had come for. He made his way to one of the queues and was taking his place behind the last person on the line when he heard his name. 
    He saw a young lady sitting at a desk in the open space behind the counter waving at him.
    He went over and stood by the counter. She looked strangely familiar though he couldn’t remember where he had seen her before.
    “Come inside,” she invited him, pointing to the small opening near the wall.
      The lady called Helen turned out to be a school mate of Don at the university. She had in fact been course-mates and a friend of his cousin Tasha who had been two years his junior.
    “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you. You look so different,” he stated, looking at her closely. He could remember her as a somewhat skinny girl with a pimply face who always wore her hair in braids. That student of many years ago was in sharp contrast to the pretty-looking, confident lady in a dark suit with her hair in a long, sleek weave. She had put on some weight and it suited her.
    She smiled at his words.
    “I understand what you mean. Sometimes I hardly recognize myself when I look at my old pictures,” she noted. 
    “You are looking really fine,” he stated in an admiring tone. “You work in this bank?” he asked, looking round the office.
    “Yes. I’ve been here for about four years.”
    “That’s good. Hope you are enjoying the job…”
    They sat chatting about school days and old friends they had not seen for years.
    “What about Tasha? I’ve not seen or heard from her for a long time,” she stated. Don told her she was based abroad and was married with kids.
    “That’s nice,” Helen said quietly.
    Later, after she had assisted him in his transaction at the bank, she saw him off to his car.
    That was when he noticed the limp. She walked as if one of the legs was shorter than the other and it affected her gait. Since it could not have been caused by high heeled shoes as she was in a pair of flat pumps, he wondered what could be responsible. He could not remember her walking that way back in school.
    He got into the car and before starting the engine he glanced at her legs then up at her face.
      She noticed him staring and sighed.
    “I know you must be wondering about my leg. It’s a long story, something I will tell you some other time,” she said. 
    “Let’s meet up for lunch one of these days then,” he stated. They exchanged numbers before he drove off.
    Shortly after, Don travelled out of town on official business. He was so busy that he forgot all about his lunch date with Helen. It was on his return that he got a call from her.
    “Oh! I’m so sorry! I know I should have called but I’ve been really busy at work. You know how it is,” he said apologetically.
    “Is it just work or its something else?” she asked in a teasing tone of voice.
    “Like what?” he asked, sounding puzzled.
    “Like girls, perhaps. You used to have quite a reputation of being a ladies man back in school,” she said.
    He laughed at that.
    “That was then. I’m a changed person now, much more serious-minded,” he noted.
    They chatted for a while and before hanging up, Don said he would love to take her out for dinner that weekend. She agreed to the date then hung up.
    “Who were you talking to that has put such a big smile on your face, Helen? That is making you look so happy,” asked Tina, a colleague who sat close to her.
    “I’m always happy,” she replied, as she checked some figures on the computer.
    “I know. But today, you are glowing. Tell me the secret,” she persisted.
    “Just face your work, ok. Busybody,” Helen said scornfully.
    “Or is it that tall, fine bros that came the other day? Is he your new boyfriend? Gist me now!” Tina asked again.
    “Mind your business!” Helen said, getting up and walking away towards the restroom.
    “Hmm. Some people are so stingy; they don’t know how to share. What’s wrong in giving me a little gist about the guy? Na wa oh,” Tina said to herself before resuming her work on the computer.
    Some days later, they went for dinner at a nice restaurant not far from her office.
      “Why are you smiling?” Helen queried, looking across the table at him. They had placed their orders and were waiting for the food to be served.
    “I’m comparing that skinny little girl on campus all those years ago with the beauty I’m looking at now,” he said, smiling at her. “Whatever happened to her?” he asked.
    She gave a short laugh before saying:
      “Well, she grew up. I was in my teens back then. And teenagers grow up,” she pointed out.
    “You are right. It’s a good thing you didn’t look like this back then. You wouldn’t have escaped,” he stated.
    “Escaped what?” she said, taking a sip of her drink.
    He pointed at his chest. 
    “Me,” he said, grinning broadly.
    “So, I was right then. About your bad boy reputation,” she said.
    “Yeah. We did a lot of crazy stuffs in those days. We were young then…” he said, his mind going to a certain incident that happened on a dark, moonless night all those years ago.
    It was about a week later when they met up for drinks that she told him about the accident that broke her leg.
    “It was towards the end of the session and it was exam period. I had two more papers to write so that evening I had gone to the library with a friend of mine. She had however, left just before midnight, saying she was feeling sleepy. I stayed for another hour or so before deciding to return to my room,” she stated.
    She said it was on the way to her hall of residence that the accident occurred.
      “Everything happened so fast. I was close to the library and I remember crossing the road when a car came on high speed round the corner and knocked me down. It was a dark night and there were no street lights at that spot. Anyway, I must have been unconscious for I woke up the following day at the school clinic. I had a lot of bruises all over my body and my right leg was broken as well.” She added that her parents later came and took her to another hospital where they tried to set the bones on her leg. “They really tried. But the damage to the bone was much. So, by the time the leg healed, I ended up with a limp,” she said.
    “I’m really sorry to hear about this. It must have been terrible for you. Can you remember the day this incident happened?” asked Don curiously.
    “Of course. Its a day I can never forget,” Helen stated, telling him the date.
    “And the car that hit you? Can you remember it and the person driving it?” he asked earnestly.
    She shook her head.
    “I told you it was dark. I never saw the driver of the car. But I remember the car looked big, like a jeep…”
    At her words, a cold chill like the type that descends on one about to have a fever, came upon him. He stared at her, a dazed look on his face.
    “It can’t be. It can’t be. No way…” he kept muttering to himself.
    “Don! What’s the matter? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost!” Helen said, looking worriedly at him…

     

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  • My Best Friend’s Husband (3)

    My Best Friend’s Husband (3)

    All the pent up feelings I had for Eric and which I had suppressed all this while resurfaced. I held him tight as if I did not want to let him go again. That night, Eric did not go home. He stayed at my place, leaving early the next morning.

     That was how my affair with Eric began. You might think I’m a scheming bitch who went after her friend’s husband. But it’s not true. I never planned it to happen. Granted I had always fancied Eric. I liked him from the first time I set my eyes on him. But I decided to let go when he started dating Patra.

     After what happened between Eric and I, I felt some guilt, that I was betraying my friend. I made up my mind that it was going to be a one night stand, that I would stay away from Eric for the sake of my friendship with Patra. But it was easier said than done. The moment I set eyes on him again, all my resolve melted and I was back in his arms. The feeling was mutual as Eric too, could not stay away from me.

     From weekend visits, he began to come over during the week. Though I enjoyed his company,  I could see the risk.

     “Don’t you think you are coming here too often? At this rate, it won’t be long before Patra finds out,” I stated one evening. I had returned from work to find him waiting for me by my gate. Upstairs in my apartment, I prepared a quick meal for him and while he was eating, I went to take a shower.

     “Mmm, you smell really good. I like your perfume,” he said, coming over to bury his face in my neck. I wriggled out of his embrace and stated:

     “You’ve not answered my question. Patra might see you here one of these days and what will you say then?”

     He shrugged before saying:

     “So what? I’m a grown man and I can go anywhere I please. And I like being with you,” he said, reaching for me again. I just could not get him to face the situation we were in squarely and I decided to simply go with the flow at least for a while.

     ***

     Things went on this way between us without Patra suspecting a thing. I was very careful and never gave a hint of what was going on- that I was dating her husband. On his part, Eric could not be bothered. It was like, he wanted her to know about us. There was a time he came over during the weekend and refused to return home on Sunday evening as we had agreed on. Worse, Patra had called me, complaining about his absence.

     “He said he was going for a business trip and would be back today. It’s already six p.m and I have not seen him. I can’t even reach him on his phone as it is switched off,” she said.

     I reassured her, telling her he would show up soon and not to worry.

     At that moment, Eric was snoring deeply in my bedroom. I went to wake him up, so he could get dressed and return home.

     “What’s the rush?” he grumbled, sitting up on the bed. “The day’s still young. Let me rest a little; and come and join me. I miss you,” he stated, stretching his arms for me but I evaded his embrace.

     “Eric! It’s nearly 7 o’ clock! You need to go home. Patra is worried about your whereabouts,” I told him.

     “That’s her problem. I have peace here. Why should I go home to face her nagging and bad attitude. When I’m ready, I’ll go. Besides, I thought you liked my being here. Or don’t you love me anymore?” he queried.

     “That’s not the issue now. Much as I love you and want to be with you, Patra is still my friend and I care about her. I don’t know how she will feel if she finds out about us,” I noted.

     “Well, forget about your friend for now. Focus on us. So, are you coming to bed or not?” he asked.

     It was obvious, Eric had become quite obsessed with me. He preferred being with me than his wife, stating I made him feel loved and appreciated. I could have taken him from my friend if I had wanted. But I just could not bring myself to do it. We were more than friends- she was like a sister to me so how could I take her husband from her? I knew a time would come when I would have to choose between my happiness, my love for Eric and my relationship with Patra which I cherished a lot.

     Believe me it was a hard choice. But in the end, I decided to choose friendship over love. So, about six months into the affair, I told Eric we had to end things between us. As I guessed, he did not take it well. He said I could not do that, that he could not live without me.

     “How could you do this to me, Una! I can’t do without you. I love you!” he said. He pleaded and begged and for a moment, I almost weakened. I loved Eric and it was killing me that I had to let him go. But it was something I had to do.

     “You can live without me. Afterall, you still have your wife. Go home and resolve things with her. It’s over,” I said firmly. And with that, I practically had to push him out of my house. He kept calling and sending text messages but I stood firm in my resolve to end things with him. It was hard for me as well as my heart still longed for him.

     I thought that was the end of the matter until some weeks later when I found out I was pregnant. I am carrying Eric’s baby! Something that is supposed to be a thing of joy under normal circumstances is giving me sleepless nights. On one hand, I want to keep the baby since its for the man I love. Then again, since Patra and I are so close, there’s no way I can hide the paternity of the baby from her; what will be her reaction when she finds out I’m pregnant for her husband?

     And what about Eric? What will he do when he learns about the baby which he will eventually do? Will he do something crazy like leaving Patra for me as he had threatened several times? I’m in a real dilemma!

     What should I do? Both about the baby and Eric who still keeps pestering me to come back to him? Should I take him back because of the baby? The mistake has already been made, getting involved and falling in love with my best friend’s husband. It was all due to my weakness for Eric. But right now, I need to resolve this issue. So, I’ll appreciate readers’ advice on the way forward for me. Thank you!

    The End!
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  • My master’s son (4)

    My master’s son (4)

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    I quickly picked up the paper and my heart froze as I read the story. The report was about Edward. It stated that he had been involved in a car accident a few days before and that he was in a critical condition in an undisclosed hospital.

    ‘While the doctors are battling to save his life, a source close to the family disclosed that his parents are making frantic efforts to have him taken to a hospital abroad,’ I read. I stared at the paper in disbelief, not believing what was before my eyes.

    Edward in an accident? How did this happen? Different thoughts kept swirling through my mind. I was walking away from the vendor’s stand in a daze when the man said: “Aunty, you never give me money for the paper o!”

    I apologised, paid him and left. Throughout that day, I thought about nothing else but the accident.

    I kept praying that he would be alright. I longed to get an update on his situation but there was no one I could reach immediately. My mother had stopped working for the Addamsons some time ago after my grandmother fell seriously ill. She had resigned and had relocated to the village to take care of the old woman. As soon as I closed from work, I took a cab and rushed to the family house. 

    The place had not changed much since I left. The security men at the gate, on recognising me, let me in. None of the family members was at home, they said. It was one of the maids, Charity, who gave me a bit of information on the situation. She said his parents were travelling with him that night to a foreign hospital.

    “We are all praying so Oga Edward will recover soon,” she said. 

    It took months before Edward had recovered enough from his injuries to return to Nigeria. And it was not a full recovery as I found out when I went to visit him at home. He was in a wheelchair, a result of the spinal cord injuries he had sustained in the accident. Though I was so happy to see him alive, I felt bad seeing the once vibrant and lively Edward sitting in a wheelchair, unable to walk. 

    That first day, I spent a long time with him and it was like old times even though circumstances had changed. He was married now, had survived a near fatal accident and was confined to a wheelchair. His wife, Cherry was hardly around as she still lived in their marital home while Edward was at the family home during his recuperation period.

    Anytime, I visited, Edward was always very happy to see me. We would spend many hours chatting, watching movies together or playing some board games like Scrabble which he loved. It got to a point that he even suggested I should move back to the house so I could be closer to him. It was in the evening and the nurse who attended to him at home, had closed for the day.

    “What about your wife? How will she feel when she hears that a former girlfriend of yours had moved into your home?” I asked. 

    He smiled wryly before stating:

    “My wife? How many times do you see her here?”

    “Maybe she is busy with her job,” I suggested.

    “What job? Cherry doesn’t work! She is probably too busy with her shopping and hanging out with her equally rich and idle friends to have time for her crippled husband!” he said with some bitterness. Besides his wife, I wondered about his parents reactions too. Afterall, it was due to their interference that Edward and I had broken up. Though to be fair to them, since my return, they had been very friendly especially seeing how my presence made their son happy and less depressed about his condition.

    Back to base

    With no objections from his parents, I moved back to the house. Truth was, I wanted to be close to him so I could help in any way in his recovery. So, I did not mind the relocation. Each day, after closing from the office, I always looked forward to going home so I could be with Edward. With time, he became almost like his old self and less prone to bouts of depression and self-pity.

    Things went on this way until about a year after I had been living there. I returned from work one evening to find Edward looking despondent. Thinking he was in pain or something, I asked if I should send for the nurse to give him some drugs.

    He shook his head.

    “I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong with me,” he said.

    It was much later I found out what had been bothering him. He told me that his wife, Cherry had filed for divorce and wanted out of the marriage.

    “Can you believe she broke the news to me by text message? She did not even have the courtesy to come here and tell to my face that she is no longer interested in the marriage. All because I’m now wheel chair bound! She says she is too young to be saddled with a husband who is virtually a cripple and can’t perform his duties as a man anymore! And that she has fallen for some one else!” I could see he was getting really upset so I tried to calm him down.

    His parents were equally shocked when they heard what Cherry had done. 

    “What kind of wife would abandon her husband in his hour of need?” said his mother one day when she was discussing the issue with a friend of hers who had come to visit Edward.

    “It shows the state of the world today. Most young people don’t take their marital vows seriously. They jump ship at the first hint of trouble. No patience at all!” the friend chipped in.

    Some months later, after the breakdown of his marriage, Edward’s mother sent for me one day. We had a long chat, with the main focus being Edward. She pleaded with me to overlook the past, particularly the shabby way her husband and herself had treated me while Edward and I were dating.

    “I realize now, we made a mistake. We should not have stopped you both from being together.  I can see that my son really loves you and you genuinely care for him. Look at the way you’ve been caring for him since his illness. You have stood by him while the stupid, so called wife has abandoned him,” she said.

    She told me that Edward had spoken to her about resuming our old relationship, that he even wants to marry me.

    “I want to plead with you to please accept his proposal when he eventually summons the courage to ask you. Chief and I can now see that you are the only one who can make him truly happy. Please, Laura, my dear, he needs you now. We are ready to do anything you want. All we ask is just be with our son and make him happy again, be his old self once more” she stated earnestly.

    True to her words, Edward proposed to me a few days after his mother spoke to me. He said he had not stopped loving me and could not imagine being with anyone now except me. I did not turn him down or accept. I simply told him to give me sometime to think about it. 

    “I’ll be travelling to the village to visit my mother. I’ll give you an answer on my return,” I told him. He did not seem to mind, stating he was ready to wait as long as ‘my answer would be favorable to him.’

    Though I still loved Edward and it would make me very happy to be his wife, I had not fully forgotten the pain his parents put me through after they broke up our relationship. Now, they are begging the same person they did not want anything to do with their son because of her poor background, to marry him. How ironic! What will happen tomorrow if Edward recovers fully and they remember my roots and want to kick me out again? The last tests by some specialists doctors who had examined Edward showed he could regain the use of his legs with time and proper care. A physiotherapist had even been engaged to work on him.

    So, this time around, I want to be careful. My trip to see my mother in the village is to seek her advice on the matter. She is older and wiser and would advise me on the best decision to take. 

    I also want readers of my story to make an imput, to advise me about the issue- should I accept Edward’s proposal or not? Thank you.

    Concluded

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

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  • ‘I caught my husband in bed with his mistress’ (1)

    ‘I caught my husband in bed with his mistress’ (1)

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    • Now my home is in disarray!
    This is the story of Jessica, a lady who out of the love she had for her boyfriend overlooked his murky past, with dire consequences. She fell in love with him and believed him when he promised her paradise; but in the end, hell was all she got!
    ***
    “Everyone is inside having fun and you are here, just staring at  the garden. What’s so fascinating about those plants?” I had been so engrossed in my thoughts, I had not noticed the man who had come up quietly to stand besides me on the verandah. He was of average height, not much taller than me with a quiet confidence about him. 
    “Just taking in some fresh air. It was getting too hot in there,” I told him. It was a birthday party of a friend of my flatmate Trina and as the night progressed, the party was getting more raucous by the minute.
    “Yeah, I get you. All that loud music, cigarrette smoke and chatter of the guests can give one a migraine. I’m Kel by the way. And you are?”
    “Jessica,” I introduced myself.
    We got talking after that. He was a friend of the boyfriend of the celebrant, he told me and had been practically dragged to the bash.
    “I have a very important presentation to make at the office on Monday and I need a lot of time to work on it. But Jerry said all work and no play will make me develop premature grey hair. So here I am!” he said with a grin.
    “Same here. Today is the fifth anniversary of my mother’s death. I wanted to have a quiet time 
     for remembrance but Trina would not hear of it, stating that my Mum would not be happy wherever she is to see me so sad,” I said.
     “I think your friend is right. Life is for the living; the best way to honour her memory is to live well. And talking about living, I think it’s time we hit the dance floor. So, lady, can I have this dance?” he said. And taking my hand, he led me inside the house where the Kokomaster D’Banj’s hit tune was blasting from the speakers…
    That was how I met Kel. After that evening of the party, we became friends and began seeing each other regularly. Kel was the first man in three years I had become close to and it surprised my friend, Trina. In the past, she had set me up on dates with guys she knew but I had simply not been interested. That was until Kel came on the scene. 
    A dark past
    At the beginning, she seemed to like him too, stating that I must have been waiting for someone ‘like him’ that’s why I turned down the other men who were interested in me. Then, about four months when Kel and I began dating, she told me things she said she had heard about his past that nearly ended our growing romance.
    “I know you will say it’s none of my business, Jessy but you are my friend and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Kel is a nice guy and he’s loving too but there’s something you need to know about him,” she said one night at home. I had just returned from work and I was having a late dinner.
    “What are you talking about?” I asked her as I took a sip of fruit juice.
    She gazed at me for a while before speaking.
    “I heard he was married in the U.S when he lived there and even has a child.”
    “I know. He has told me about it. The boy is about seven years old and he lives with the mother in the States- they are divorced. So, what about it?” I queried.
    “Did he tell you why they got divorced?” she said.
     I shook my head.
    “He only told me they were having problems and he left and returned to Nigeria when he could not cope with the situation anymore,” I told her.
    “That’s not the whole story,” she noted. She then went on to give me the full gist of what happened to Kel while he was abroad, how he used to regularly abuse his wife physically to the extent that the police became involved.
    “I learnt he served a short time in prison for wife battery, domestic violence and other offences,” she added. “You know over there, the authorities don’t joke with cases like that- its a serious offence for a man to beat his wife. It’s unlike here where such incidences are often swept under the carpet and the women suffer in silence,” Trina added.
    I was shocked at her words. While Kel had told me a lot about his time in the States, first as a student, then as a staff in an IT firm, he never mentioned his going to prison for domestic violence. My Kel, a wife beater? I found it difficult to believe that the gentle looking man I had been seeing these past months was capable of beating a woman, much less his wife. 
    Trina assured me she had got the story from an authoritative source, ‘someone who knew him from his days in the U.S,’ as she stated.
    That he had spent time in prison was bad enough but keeping it from me was worse. How could he do that, I fumed.
    “He should have told me about it,” I murmured to myself feeling upset.
    “I think it’s best you ask him. I can see you like him a lot and he is obviously smitten with you. I see the way he looks at you; it’s the look of a man in love. But before you guys go further in the relationship, you need to be more open with one another. Keeping secrets can ruin a good relationship,” Trina advised.
     The following day, a Saturday, Kel came in the evening to pick me up for an outing we had. I sat him down in the living room and confronted him with Trina’s story. Initially, I thought he would deny it and call it the handiwork of ‘idle gossips’ but to my surprise, he readily admitted to serving time in prison. 
    “I know I should have told you about it, but it’s in the past, and it’s a time of my life I want to forget. Some bad things went down while I was in the States; I used to drink and smoke a lot and I did some things I’m not proud of today including doing hard drugs. But I have put it all behind me. And I want you to do the same, Jessy. I’m a changed person and have put behind me my rough past. I’m sorry for keeping it from you but I felt it might affect the way you feel about me. And I don’t want to lose you now that I have found you,” he stated.
    “No matter what my reaction might be, you should have still told me about it. I don’t feel good hearing about it from someone else,” I grumbled.
    “I know, dear. It was bad of me. Please forgive me,” he pleaded earnestly. He sounded really contrite and my resolve to take a break from the relationship, to cool things a bit, died at that moment.
    At that point, I realized I was in love with him and the thought of leaving him at that stage was unthinkable. He had become an important part of my life and I just could not leave him then. Besides, as he had pointed out, it was all in the past and he was a changed person. So, who was I to judge him based on things in his life that happened years before I met him, I reasoned.
    ***
    Instead of breaking us up, the issue of his past brought Kel and I closer. Though very busy because of his job, Kel nonetheless created time to be with me. Most times, we would go on some outings like parties or visiting friends or just stay at home chilling. At a point, I was spending more time at his apartment than in my own place and Trina began to complain about my long absence from home.
    “I never knew when you started seeing Kel that he was going to snatch my best friend away from me,” she said one Saturday morning at our flat.
    “What did you say? Who is snatching who?” I asked, looking at her wonderingly.
    “Is that not what he has done? I hardly see you these days! I’m practically living alone in this house because you are never around,” she stated.
    “Ha, ha ha! You are funny Trina! Nobody snatched me from you. You will remain my friend till eternity,” I assured her.
    “It’s easy for you to say. I don’t even see much of you now. What will happen when you two get married?” she queried.
    “Who’s talking about marriage? Anyway, wait till that time comes. Stop stressing yourself now over that,” I told her.
    “I have to. You are my best friend. Until your Kel came and has taken over your life. Now we hardly see,” she said in a grumbling tone.
    “I know your problem. You are just jealous!”
    “Jealous ke? I’m just saying the truth. And the truth is that he’s nothing but a best friend snatcher!” she declared.
    I laughed and went to my room to get my dirty clothes for washing. I wanted to finish all my chores that morning as Kel was coming round in the afternoon to take me out to some where ‘special’ as he had put it…
     Names have been changed to protect the identity of Jessica and other individuals in the story

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  • My best friend’s husband (1)

    My best friend’s husband (1)


    The first time I set my eyes on Eric, something told me I had met 'the one' I had been searching for. My soul just went out to him as romantic writers would describe it. Unfortunately, it was all one sided- Eric did not reciprocate my feelings. Instead, he had eyes only for my best friend, Patra. Patra and I had known each other since we were very young. Infact, we grew up together in the same neighbourhood and had attended the same secondary school. Later, her father, who worked in a government parastatal, was transferred to Abuja and we lost contact for a while. As fate would have it, she was posted to Lagos for her youth service programme and that's how we got reunited. By then, I was running my own business, a wedding planning outfit. When Patra finished the NYSC, I invited her to come and join me in the business. We have been working together for about four years and the business has grown in that period. And we have not had any personal problems, that is until Eric came on the scene. I first met him at a client's house. She was Eric's sister who had contracted us to plan her wedding. She was still living with her parents and Eric, who lived elsewhere in town, was on a visit to the family. I pride myself on being someone who is not easily carried away by emotions especially where men were concerned. But meeting Eric changed all that. I think I was attracted to him from the first time we met, which was a record as it usually took me time to get to like a guy. Anyway, after that first meeting, I did not see Eric again till some weeks later. Patra and I had finished another meeting with Sharon, his sister and were on our way out when he arrived. My heart grew warm at the sight of him, wishing he had come earlier. "I see you ladies are done already," he said as he stepped out of his car. I told him we had another session with Sharon in a few days. "I hope my sister is not giving you a tough time. She can be quite stubborn you know," he stated, his eyes all the while focused on Patra. Then lowering his voice in a conspiratorial tone, he added: "This is top secret. She has been like that since we were young. I feel sorry for the young man she wants to marry. The poor guy doesn't know what is about to hit him!" And with that, he waved at us and walked briskly towards the house, leaving us gaping after him. One day in our small office, Patra and I were going through some files on her laptop when her mobile rang. She walked towards the window and spoke for sometime on the phone, then turned to me, a surprised look on her face. "Who was it?" I asked indifferently, my eyes on the computer. "It's that guy Eric, Sharon's sister. He wants to take me out for a drink or something. He says you can come too if you are free," she said. At the mention of his name, I looked up quickly, fully interested. "Why would he want to do that?" I asked. I remembered the way he used to look at Patra the few occasions we had met him and my heart fell. God, I hope it's not what I'm thinking, that he likes Patra. He can't because I want him for myself, I silently prayed. "Who knows, Una? Maybe, he just wants to show appreciation for all the hard work we have put in planning his sister's wedding," she stated, with a shrug. Deep within me, I knew it was more than that...   Losing Eric My worst fears were confirmed during the outing with Eric. He took us to an open air garden bar by the lagoon front in the city. We sat close to the water front where some water hycinths grew profusely. That evening, it was clear to even the blind that Eric liked my friend. It was not just because he paid more attention to her, but the manner he looked and interacted with her. At a point I simply sat, glumly staring at a few boats that were speeding away on the water, leaving a trail of foamy water in their wake. Though it was a nice outing, I felt unhappy at the way things had turned out. Eric whom I liked so much had obviously chosen my friend over me. And she seemed to like him too as she confessed to me when we got home later that night. For one of the few times since our friendship began, I was angry with Patra. I felt betrayed and resentful, feeling that because of her, I had lost Eric. How can you lose someone you never had in the first place, the reader might wonder. Truth is, from the first moment I set my eyes on him, in my mind, he was already mine. Now, my friend had taken him from me! I knew I was being unreasonable but I could not help myself. I was consumed by jealousy, wondering what was so special about my friend that Eric would chose Patra over me. I kept all these thoughts to myself and never allowed how I felt about Eric to show. Even when they started dating fully, I wished her the best in the relationship. Deep inside me however, I prayed it would not last and that they would break up within a short time. My prayers stayed unanswered for with time, their relationship seemed to wax stronger and stronger. My friend had fallen in love and it showed in the glow in her eyes whenever she talked about him. She never hid anything from me concerning their relationship, both the ups and downs. Whenever they quarreled, I was the one she ran to, complaining bitterly about his 'difficult ways' and how controlling he could be. At such times, I would put my jealousy of her aside and console her as a friend. It was painful seeing them together but at least I took consolation in the fact that my friend was happy. Gradually, I began to accept the relationship, feeling they were meant to be. There was nothing I could do about it and I had to move on. But try as I could, the strong feelings I had for Eric never waned. It was to have dire consequences later as my story will show...   Names have been changed to protect the identity of Una, Patra and other individuals in the story

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  • My master’s son (4)

    I quickly picked up the paper and my heart froze as I read the story. The report was about Edward. It stated that he had been involved in a car accident a few days before and that he was in a critical condition in an undisclosed hospital.
    ‘While the doctors are battling to save his life, a source close to the family disclosed that his parents are making frantic efforts to have him taken to a hospital abroad,’ I read. I stared at the paper in disbelief, not believing what was before my eyes. Edward in an accident? How did this happen? Different thoughts kept swirling through my mind. I was walking away from the vendor’s stand in a daze when the man said:
    “Aunty, you never give me money for the paper o!” I apologised, paid him and left. Throughout that day, I thought about nothing else but the accident. I kept praying that he would be alright. I longed to get an update on his situation but there was no one I could reach immediately. My mother had stopped working for the Addamsons some time ago after my grandmother fell seriously ill. She had resigned and had relocated to the village to take care of the old woman. As soon as I closed from work, I took a cab and rushed to the family house.
    The place had not changed much since I left. The security men at the gate, on recognising me, let me in. None of the family members was at home, they said. It was one of the maids, Charity, who gave me a bit of information on the situation. She said his parents were travelling with him that night to a foreign hospital.
    “We are all praying so Oga Edward will recover soon,” she said.
    It took months before Edward had recovered enough from his injuries to return to Nigeria. And it was not a full recovery as I found out when I went to visit him at home. He was in a wheelchair, a result of the spinal cord injuries he had sustained in the accident. Though I was so happy to see him alive, I felt bad seeing the once vibrant and lively Edward sitting in a wheelchair, unable to walk.
    That first day, I spent a long time with him and it was like old times even though circumstances had changed. He was married now, had survived a near fatal accident and was confined to a wheelchair. His wife, Cherry was hardly around as she still lived in their marital home while Edward was at the family home during his recuperation period.
    Anytime, I visited, Edward was always very happy to see me. We would spend many hours chatting, watching movies together or playing some board games like Scrabble which he loved. It got to a point that he even suggested I should move back to the house so I could be closer to him. It was in the evening and the nurse who attended to him at home, had closed for the day.
    “What about your wife? How will she feel when she hears that a former girlfriend of yours had moved into your home?” I asked.
    He smiled wryly before stating:
    “My wife? How many times do you see her here?”
    “Maybe she is busy with her job,” I suggested.
    “What job? Cherry doesn’t work! She is probably too busy with her shopping and hanging out with her equally rich and idle friends to have time for her crippled husband!” he said with some bitterness. Besides his wife, I wondered about his parents reactions too. Afterall, it was due to their interference that Edward and I had broken up. Though to be fair to them, since my return, they had been very friendly especially seeing how my presence made their son happy and less depressed about his condition.
    Back to base
    With no objections from his parents, I moved back to the house. Truth was, I wanted to be close to him so I could help in any way in his recovery. So, I did not mind the relocation. Each day, after closing from the office, I always looked forward to going home so I could be with Edward. With time, he became almost like his old self and less prone to bouts of depression and self-pity.
    Things went on this way until about a year after I had been living there. I returned from work one evening to find Edward looking despondent. Thinking he was in pain or something, I asked if I should send for the nurse to give him some drugs.
    He shook his head.
    “I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong with me,” he said.
    It was much later I found out what had been bothering him. He told me that his wife, Cherry had filed for divorce and wanted out of the marriage.
    “Can you believe she broke the news to me by text message? She did not even have the courtesy to come here and tell to my face that she is no longer interested in the marriage. All because I’m now wheel chair bound! She says she is too young to be saddled with a husband who is virtually a cripple and can’t perform his duties as a man anymore! And that she has fallen for some one else!” I could see he was getting really upset so I tried to calm him down.
    His parents were equally shocked when they heard what Cherry had done.
    “What kind of wife would abandon her husband in his hour of need?” said his mother one day when she was discussing the issue with a friend of hers who had come to visit Edward.
    “It shows the state of the world today. Most young people don’t take their marital vows seriously. They jump ship at the first hint of trouble. No patience at all!” the friend chipped in.
    Some months later, after the breakdown of his marriage, Edward’s mother sent for me one day. We had a long chat, with the main focus being Edward. She pleaded with me to overlook the past, particularly the shabby way her husband and herself had treated me while Edward and I were dating.
    “I realize now, we made a mistake. We should not have stopped you both from being together.  I can see that my son really loves you and you genuinely care for him. Look at the way you’ve been caring for him since his illness. You have stood by him while the stupid, so called wife has abandoned him,” she said.
    She told me that Edward had spoken to her about resuming our old relationship, that he even wants to marry me.
    “I want to plead with you to please accept his proposal when he eventually summons the courage to ask you. Chief and I can now see that you are the only one who can make him truly happy. Please, Laura, my dear, he needs you now. We are ready to do anything you want. All we ask is just be with our son and make him happy again, be his old self once more” she stated earnestly.
    True to her words, Edward proposed to me a few days after his mother spoke to me. He said he had not stopped loving me and could not imagine being with anyone now except me. I did not turn him down or accept. I simply told him to give me sometime to think about it.
    “I’ll be travelling to the village to visit my mother. I’ll give you an answer on my return,” I told him. He did not seem to mind, stating he was ready to wait as long as ‘my answer would be favorable to him.’
    Though I still loved Edward and it would make me very happy to be his wife, I had not fully forgotten the pain his parents put me through after they broke up our relationship. Now, they are begging the same person they did not want anything to do with their son because of her poor background, to marry him. How ironic! What will happen tomorrow if Edward recovers fully and they remember my roots and want to kick me out again? The last tests by some specialists doctors who had examined Edward showed he could regain the use of his legs with time and proper care. A physiotherapist had even been engaged to work on him.
    So, this time around, I want to be careful. My trip to see my mother in the village is to seek her advice on the matter. She is older and wiser and would advise me on the best decision to take.
    I also want readers of my story to make an imput, to advise me about the issue- should I accept Edward’s proposal or not? Thank you.
    Concluded
    Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator, Laura and other individuals in the story.
  • Romance with e-voting

    Romance with e-voting

    Students of the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have elected their union leaders through electronic voting, reports ABIOLA SOLANKE.

    For the first time, students of the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB) elected their leaders through electronic voting. The exercise, which was conducted by the Information and Communication Technology (ICTREC) unit of the university, was adjudged successful by students.

    The electioneering started with a debate organised by Top-Notch Writers Organisation, a literary students’ club for the nine aspiring to be the union president. The chairman of the Presidential Debate Committee, Oluwafemi Aliu, said the debate was to test the aspirants’ intellectual ability and activism.

    The debate was followed by a press conference organised by the media team of the electoral committee, where students were informed about the modalities of the election. The conference was attended by all aspirants and students.

    According to the leader of the media team, Solanke Abiola, the process would afford students opportunity to choose the best candidates freely in a free and fair process.

    The following day, a manifesto day was held for the candidates to sell their programmes to students. This was held in the multipurpose hall of the university. The manifesto was not without jeering by the audience, who booed some aspirants to disapprove their candidature.

    On the day of the election, students trooped en mass to the Mahmood Yakub Lecture Hall at 9am for accreditation. By 11:22am, the voting commenced at the 500-capacity computer laboratory. Students were given a code to login and vote for their candidate of choice, while agents of respective contestants monitored the exercise.

    A staff of the ICTREC, Mrs P.A. Aiyelotan described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, promising that there would be improvement in subsequent exercise.

    The election ended at 4:26pm. The chairman of the electoral committee, Olumide Ajulo, announced result a few minutes later.

    It was gathered that 3,915 voted. The electoral committee declared Olawale Olajumoke, an Animal Physiology student, as the president-elect, having polled the highest number of votes. Others elected include Oluwafunmilayo Olaoye, Vice President, Samuel Opaleye, General Secretary, Ebunoluwa Oyedokun, Assistant General Secretary, Seun Akosile, Public Relations Officer, Oluwatobi Okaigbua, Social Director, Habeeb Tijani, Welfare/Business Director, Kayode Oluwaseun, Director of Finance, and Anjola Shoge, Secretary of Treasury.

    While many students hailed the process as successful, some complained about their inability to log in with the code they were given. Solomon Ayodele, a student, decried the log in problem, saying several students may have changed their mind to vote because of the problem.

    He said: “I was in the hall for more than 30 minutes and unable to login because the page was not loading. I observed that some of my colleagues could not vote due to the wrong codes given to them. But then, the process was peaceful and free. I hope the problem would be rectified before the next election.”

  • Sorting out the bumps and rough patches

    GOOD romance can be compared to that haute couture design that you cherish so much and you feel like wearing all the time. It is personal, attractive and something that makes you the cynosure of eyes each time you step out in it. You love to flirt around in it, show off and proud to say it is yours. Conversely, an outfit that is so common and found on almost everyone feels cheap and you would definitely want to have it tucked away in the corner.

    The latter obviously depicts romance that has gone sour and brings bitter memories each time it flashes in your mind. Looking down memory lane, you almost wish you never had anything to do with it because it is not worth the while. A wonderful experience is all about creating a mood, touching the senses, cradling the heart, and mingling with each other’s souls; so, be creative.

    Romance and intimacy are important spices that are necessary to produce a lasting impression on the person you love and admire. To enjoy a relationship, whatever you are giving must be reciprocated by the other party.

    Here we are talking about the quality of the portion of love that is being doled out which must be matched with trust, mutual respect and appreciation of the good deeds. You can therefore be sure that all is well when you add all the parts together and you have a wonderful outcome.

    There are times when the affectionate lane is dull and unattractive. When you get to this emotional juncture, you sure need to fashion out ways to cross over without tears. Tears? Yes, they are a necessary part of the emotional itinerary but there is no point crying for the sake of it.

    How far you go at this point depends on your partner. You definitely need to be there for one another, no matter the odds. If it is the woman who feels like walking, then it means that she needs more attention to find her emotional bearing. Here, her better half needs to do more than cuddling just a little bit. Well, if you are the time that is not used to showing off this way, then you may just have to fake it.

    The crux of the matter is that women need to feel loved and cared for all the time. Some people believe that with age things should be different. No, it has nothing to do with age at all. From time to time, you need to give her a little pat on the back, compliment her when she’s doing some task or give her a wonderful kiss before you walk out the door.

    This certainly would help to sustain the emotional circle and renew the sparks from time to time. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not understand this when things begin to fall apart. Of course, there are a number of signs to look out for and once you come to the realisation that all is not well then it is better to mend the emotional fence before it comes crumbling down.

    The big question here is what you watch out for at this stage. Naturally, there are different phases in every relationship. You need to be on the alert when the love of your life starts to appear more interested in his friends and relatives than in you. Sometimes, there may just be no cause for alarm because it may just be that your partner needs some space.

    At that point, all he or she needs is some time to rediscover themselves especially after a period of intense intimacy. It would surely be a time to take stock and reassess the love process. It is something done to recharge and they are likely to come back better and brighter in the relationship.

    It could also be that there is an uncertainty that needs to be cleared. This could be because the person is feeling that he or she is not in the right place and is probably thinking of exploring another relationship option.

    Here it is obvious that the person is not getting fulfillment and there is an emotional vacuum that needs to be filled. The truth of the matter is that almost every relationship hits bumps and rough patches at one point or the other.

    However, if you spend quality time building special moments and memories, you will have these times to reflect back upon and those moments will certainly help carry you two over the hurdles and obstacles.

    Experts advise that keeping the romance alive is an important aspect of a relationship. You need to constantly make time for each other. You have to be willing to set aside special times for each other. The problem, however, is that couples become too busy with their everyday activities and it becomes easier to sacrifice the romance as opposed to finding and making the time for each other.

    There is no straight jacket answer to relationship and the many puzzles we encounter from time to time. Problems in relationships are inevitable, yet it is possible to remain satisfied in your relationship in spite of differences.

    Your love for each other doesn’t have to be overwhelmed by your differences. The key is to continually work it out and be matured when the uncertainties come your way. It can also get better when you acknowledge that there is a problem and you both talk about it.

  • Trace of destiny (3)

    Trace of destiny (3)

    We were talking on the phone one day when Rachel said:

    “Are female visitors like girlfriends allowed in your hostel?”

    “Of course it’s allowed- we are not kindergarten, you know! But there are visiting hours,” I replied.

    Then it struck me.

    “Have you accepted my proposal?” I quickly asked.

    “Yes, Julian. I will be your girlfriend,” she stated. That day, I was so happy I went round for the rest of the day with a big smile on my face.

    “At last! Why did it take her so long to accept you?” my friend and roommate, Philip said when I told him the news.

    “Better late than never!” I rejoined smiling adding: “I don’t care how long it took as long as she has agreed to be mine!”

    “So, when is she coming to visit? I can’t wait to see this babe that has made you so happy. I’ve never seen you this excited over a lady before!”

    I simply smiled and picking up my soap case went to the communal bathroom to take a shower.

    Because of her mother, Rachel’s visit to my school which was in another town was postponed for a few weeks. Later, when her cousin Betty came to stay for sometime, Rachel was free to come. She arrived some days later and I was so glad to see her. She put up with her uncle and his family who lived in the town and after lectures, I would pick her up in a friend’s borrowed car and we would go out. We visited many fun places in town and had a very nice time.

    Time flew and soon the one week Rachel was to stay was over. The morning of her departure, I took her to the motor-park and as I stood waving as the vehicle drove away, I knew within me that I never wanted to be parted from her again. I had found my Eve…

     

    Five years later…

    Time went by, the seasons came and went. I graduated, started work and began to make plans for my future. Rachel, who had gained admission to former school, was a strong part of that future.

    Our relationship had been going well and in her final year, I proposed to her. I had made up my mind that she was the one I wanted to spend my life with, that there was no one else for me.

    As I slipped the ring on her finger that day, I said:

    “Please be my wife, my future, my everything. I love you Rachel.”

    “I love you, too, Julian,” she said as she slipped her arms round my neck. I hugged her tightly to me and kissed her sweet lips.

    My parents were happy with us when I broke the news to them.

    My mother especially liked Rachel and stated that I had picked the right ‘one’. “At least it’s not the older sister who is all over the place with different men,” she said (sarcastically) as she and my Dad sat talking about the engagement and Rachel’s family.

    “So, when are you two getting married?” Rachel’s mother asked about four months after our engagement. The woman wanted us to set a date for our wedding as soon as possible, stating there was no need to delay it.

    “Ah, Mum! It’s too soon! Besides, I’m still in school,” Rachel said.

    “What do you mean? You are both of age. I was 22 when I married your dad. And you are much older than that. The earlier you marry, the better, don’t delay too long,” she stated.

    I assured her that we were already making plans, that as soon as Rachel completed her studies, we would tie the knot.

     

    Truncated plans

    I kept to my words. As soon as she left school, we began making wedding plans. We chose a date about six months ahead so that we could have enough time to make our plans.

    It was during this period that something happened that put in jeopardy my carefully laid out plans.

    Unknown to me, Tony, my fiancé Rachel’s ex- boyfriend had returned from his base abroad. He had also contacted her and they had started seeing again. I was blissfully unaware of all these until much later when we had gone far in our plans, when I was already dreaming about our great future together.

    How could this happen, you might wonder? Why would Rachel do that to me, someone that I loved so much and I had planned my whole future around? Well, that’s life; you make plans and something you never expect comes along to truncate them. In my own case, Tony was the enemy, the villain who put a fly in the ointment of my happiness…

    •To be continued

     

    •Next week, the return of Rachel’s old flame creates an air of uncertainty round their future. Don’t miss the sizzling details!

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

    •Send comments/suggestions to 08023201831(sms only), psaduwa@yahoo.com or psaduwa007@gmail.com

  • The affair

    One quiet and cold night, Grace laid in bed and listened to the sound of raindrops that splattered on her window. Loneliness engulfed her as memories of past times with her husband filled her mind. She remembered how he used to hold her in his arms and cuddle her like a baby until she fell asleep. Those good old days existed only in her memories now.

    “What did I do wrong that made Jude abandon me without considering my feelings?” she asked herself. Though her husband, who was based in Canada, was sending large sums of money to her weekly, yet Grace was not happy. “I can’t take this anymore; I am a woman with flesh and blood running in my veins.”

    “I have been in this wretched condition for seven years like a widow without the touch of a man. I must find a solution to this before I go insane,’ she affirmed within her.

    As she wallowed in her misery, the urge to be with a man and to feel the warmth of her husband filled her soul; the feeling grew stronger when she thought of how Jude used to make her feel like a woman. “I’m still young yet living like this though I have a husband who is enjoying his life in Canada,” she thought.

    In the past, many advisers had urged her to remarry with some even introducing her to all sorts of men. But she never took their advice until the desire to be with a man began to torment her.

    In the beginning, she took to drinking which made her situation worst. “This is not working, I am going to find myself a man and I don’t care what people will say; this is my life and mine alone. Afterall, since my husband has been in Canada, am I sure he has been faithful to me?” she said, shaking her head. These thoughts went on in her mind until she fell into an uneasy asleep.

    ****

    Jude left the country for Canada in search of a better life when Grace was pregnant with their second child who was now seven years old. She could remember how he had promised to send for them once he had settled down. Grace waited and watched as days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.

    “Sweet, I am trying my best to see that I send for you and the children…the way things are done here is different from the way things are done back home. Just give me some time, I promise to come for you and the children,” he promised her during one of their many phone conversations. However, the promise never came to pass and her husband never sent for them as twelve years elapsed. This made Grace to look for an alternative.

    On her search for male company, Grace dated both young and old men whom she spent money on. Then, she met Melvin whom she fell in love with eventually. Melvin was jobless, homeless and a no body but handsome. He lost all he had due to a fire-out-break that razed the shopping complex where his shop was situated.

    When they started their affair, Melvin only came over to Grace’s home at weekends. Later, he moved in to live with her.

    “Grace, who is this stunning looking young man I saw leaving your house?” asked Felicia, a friend of hers who paid her a visit unannounced.

    “Oh! That’s Melvin…he is my husband’s brother who just finished his Youth Service and he is here in search of a job,” she lied.

    “Can you introduce him to me?” Felicia asked. “Why?” Grace queried. “I think I like him,” she revealed.

    “Please, don’t go there,” Grace warned her. “Can’t you see that he is a small boy who is just looking for a job?”

    “I don’t mind. I can help him with his quest of getting a job in my office if he can play by the rules,” she offered.

    “Don’t bother, good Samaritan! He will be going for an interview at Landover Bank on Monday,” she said.

    It was in the middle of their discussion that Melvin walked into the living room and called Grace, ‘Baby’, which got Felicia dumbfounded; she wasn’t sure if she had heard him right. She waited patiently as the exchange of kisses from one person to another ended and she could hardly wait for Melvin to leave the living room before she popped the question.

    “I thought you said he is your husband’s brother?” Grace beckoned on her to be quiet because her children might over hear them.

    “I will explain later,” was what she said.

    “That’s my friend!” Felicia hailed her but warned her to be careful.

    Return of Jude

    As Grace continued her love affair with Melvin, she threw caution to the wind. She did not even care what her children felt about the strange man who had taken over their father’s position; though they called him uncle, they knew very well that he was not their uncle but they dared not ask their mother if the stranger which was the name they tagged him with was really their uncle. Melvin, on his part, tried all his best to see that the children saw him as their uncle.

    On a fateful Saturday morning, Jude arrived at his doorstep in Nigeria after sixteen years without informing his wife that he would be coming home to get her and the children. His joy was shattered when a man wearing boxers opened the door and asked him who he was looking for.

    “I am looking for Grace, does she live here?”

    “Yes and who are you?’ Melvin asked the intruder who he thought might have missed his way.

    “I am her husband,” he replied with seriousness and disappointment in his tone which changed to rage when he heard his wife say:

    “Darling, who are you talking to?”

    Melvin was subdued, drained and short of words because Grace told him that her husband had died years back.

    “It’s a man who says he is your husband,” he replied.

    Grace panicked on hearing his words. Before she could reach the door, her husband had left, entering the cab that brought him. She ran after him to plead.

    “Jude, please let me explain,” she said anxiously.

    “Explain what!” he asked impatiently. “Is this what you have been doing since I left?”

    As they exchanged words, the children came out wondering what was going on. Jude’s attention shifted from Grace to the children whom he didn’t know were in the house with her lover.

    “How could you be this callous? You brought another man into our home, in the presence of the children; what kind of a mother are you? What example are you setting for these children? I am ashamed of you and regret having you as a wife and the mother of my children,” he stated angrily.

    Later, Jude took his children who were happy to see him and left while Melvin stood still, confused, not knowing what to say or do about the situation.

    “Jude, please, its the devil. I am sorry,” Grace begged and begged but her husband never looked back. He left with his children and never came back; so did Melvin whom she had invested so much on.

    “What have I done to myself? I have brought shame to my children, my husband and my family.”

    Grace regretted her actions for the rest of her life…

    •Contributed by Udemma Chukwuma

    •Names have been changed to protect the identity of the characters in the story.

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