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Aluta continua says MECHEZEDEK
Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a Chevron company and operator
of the Agbami Field, in its continuous support for capacity building in
the health and engineering sectors as a strategic feed into the national
manpower pool, is offering a number of University Scholarship Awards
to qualified Nigerian students from ALL states of the Federation.
The scholarship program, funded by Star and its Agbami co-venturers,
is a major component of their Social Investment in the strategic
development of health and education in Nigeria.
Applications are invited from FULL-TIME, 100 and 200 level
undergraduates from any state of the Federation, studying any of the
under listed courses in universities within Nigeria:
- Medicine & Surgery
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Nursing
- Engineering
Application closes Midnight 6th November, 2015
Note: Multiple applications attract a disqualification penalty
To register visit this link: www.scholastica.ng
S/N DATE VENUE TIME DEPARTMENTS
Wednesday
28/10/15 PTDF CBT Exam Centre
Morning Session
1. Fine & Applied Arts
2. Fashion Design & Clothing Tech
3. Printing Tech
Afternoon Session
1. Architecture
2. Estate Mgt
3. Building Tech
4. Surveying & Geoinformatics
5. Quantity Surveying
6. Urban & Regional Planning
Wednesday
28/10/15 Auditorium CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Elect/Elect Eng
2. Civil Engineering
Afternoon Session
1. Computer Eng
2. Mech Eng
3. Agric Eng
Wednesday
28/10/15 Mass Comm CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Sci Lab Tech
Afternoon Session
1. Computer Sci
2. Food Technology
3. Home & Rural Economics
4. Maths/Statistics
Thursday
29/10/15 PTDF CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Banking & Finance
Afternoon Session
1. Insurance
2. Marketing
3. Hospitality Management & Tourism
Thursday
29/10/15 Auditorium CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Accountancy
Afternoon Session
1. Library & Inform Sci
2. Office Tech & Mgt
Thursday
29/10/15 Mass Comm CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Mass Communication
Afternoon Session
1. Bus Admin & Mgt
Friday
30/10/15 Mass Comm CBT Exam Centre Morning Session
1. Public Administration
1. NB: Supplementary examination for all candidates that missed their examination on the scheduled dates
Signed:
Anene, G. U
Deputy Rector (Academic)
Tony sat on a couch, his palms supporting his forehead. Things were
difficult. His house was filled with police men, SSS and what have
yoy, they were brought by Deji to search the house.
They still believed he had a hand in Lara’s disappearance. Perhaps
because of what he did to her in the past. He’s full of regret.
Tears clouded his eyes as remembered Lara’s word back then. She
once told him ‘the law of karma still reigns’.
That law was hunting him down.
Now she disappeared when he needed her most, when he loved her
with all his heart, when he…
“hey! Mr Ritualist, come and open the door to your study!” Deji
squealed at him.
He glared at her, and she returned the look. He bit his lower lip.
“Abi ko gbo ni? Didn’t you hear what she said?” Funke hissed.
“Tony open the door for them.” Ifiora said quietly. He was looking
frail.
“Please don’t tamper with my documents, they are vital.” Tony told
them as he opened the door.
“Vital ko, bournvita ni! You people should search every thing jare!
Who knows maybe he has some document for her kidnap.” Deji
ordered the policemen.
“Well, we didn’t see, and couldn’t find anything suspicious.” the
policemen emerged.
“Tony, where did you keep Lara’s remains?” Deji taunted him.
“We’ll take you with us, till we’re done with our investigations.” one
of the SSS’s said.
“But officer…” Ifiora protested
“Shut up! Gbe enu re soun jare!” Funke screamed at him.
“please take this ritualist out of here jor! If possible arrest his parents
too.” Deji told the police men.
Tears streaked down Tony’s cheeks, as they handcuffed his wrists.
They were about to lead him out, when the door bell rang.
“I sorry oga! Oga make I come see something.”Adamu- Tony’s
gateman walked in excitedly
“See what?” Deji eyed him in disdain.
“Hellooo…” Lara cooed as she walked in holding her baby. Jide and
his parents followed her in.
Everybody gaped at her in utter shock, nobody could speak or move.
“Lara?” Tony’s lips quivered.
“Lara, you!” Deji screamed in horror.
“Yes me!” Lara said handing over her baby to Amara who was
weeping.
“What’s going on here? Why’s everywhere in a mess?” she looked
around her.
“What’s the meaning of that handcuff?” she asked again, gesturing
towards Tony.
“I’m back home baby! Well and alive.” she kissed him as she removed
the hand cuff.
“ah mad! How comes!” Deji couldn’t believe her eyes yet.
“Not how comes, but how it went.” Lara turned to face her.
“Officer, you came to arrest my husband? No no! You are wrong. Let
me tell you who my kidnapper is.” Lara smiled at a police man.
Deji was already making her way towards the exit…
“Hold her!” Lara shouted, just as Deji opened the door.
Deji ran out of the room, with the police men following, they shot her
leg.
“Haaaa! Don’t kill me oo” Deji screamed as she held her wounded leg
“She was my kidnapper.” Lara announced.
“Its not my fault o! I was paid o!” Deji kept screaming.
“Its funke o, its funke! Its your mother.”
“My mother?” Lara’s jaw dropped.
She looked around for her mother
“Mummy?”
Funke shivered, as everybody gaped at her.
“wonderful!” Ifiora exclaimed.
“Did you say wonderful? This is just unbelievable”. A policeman said,
as they shoved Funke and Deji into a van.
“Don’t take my mother away.” Lara protested.
“I’m sorry madam, your mother isn’t above the law. See you in court.”
the police man told her, before they drove away.
“But she is my mother!” Lara screamed.
“she….she can’t harm me!
Tony held her gently as she wept. His Lara was back, alive and well,
with his child
He collected the baby from his mother, he hugged and kissed her.
“Thank you” he whispered to Lara
“Thank you for making Baby Ngozi a reality.” he hugged her.
Lara wept as her mother was led into the dock, alongside Deji. Deji
had to use crutches because of her leg. Lara looked around the court
room, Tony was sitting beside her holding baby Ngozi, Tony’s parents
were present, her father’s relatives-Baba Lagbaja and co were there
for her. Even her rescuers, Shina and his wife Ronke were present.
“stop crying” Tony held her.
She pushed him away, he expected her to stop crying, when her
mother was about to be prosecuted?
“COUURRT”
Everybody rose when the Judge walked in except Lara, she was too
weak to stand.
The judge was a female, Lara watched with keen interest as she
spoke. Her father had wanted her to become a lawyer, but there she
was without even a secondary school certificate -courtesy of her
mother.
She was deep in her thoughts when she heard the call to the first
witness, she was to go and witness against her friend and mother, she
felt reluctant. Tony nudged her.
She stood before the court, she told them her ordeal, carefully
skipping every part that involved her mother.
Tony gave her an unsatisfied look as she sat down.
She looked away, what does he expect, she still loved her mum.
The next witness was called, Lara looked up sharply she heard a
familiar voice.
“My name is Bayo Olayemi”
Bayo? Lara gasped. She hadn’t seen nor heard from him ever since he
raided her home.
“I was paid by Funke to rob OmoLara’s home, and To Molest her.”
Bayo concluded.
“Next witness..”
Tony nudged Lara the fifteenth time, she glared at him.
“Look” he whispered.
She looked up
“Sophia!” she said in a fierce whisper.
Lara wept all through Sophia’s statement, she hardly heard a word.
“Please listen,” Tony told her when the Judge was to give the
sentence.
Bayo was sentenced three years, for attempted rape and robbery.
Sophia twelve months, for arranging Lara’s kidnap.
Deji was sentenced for life, with hard labour.
Funke too was sentenced life imprisonment with HARD labour.
“No no no!” Lara jumped up.
“My mother is innocent!” she wailed
Tony held unto her firmly.
“Leave me!” she pushed him away, rushing towards her mother.
“Don’t take my mother away, she’s innocent o!” she screamed as the
police barred her way.
She passed out as her mother was led into the black maria.
::::::*****::::::
“Sorry sweerie” Tony wiped Lara’s tears with a handkerchief.
He sat beside her on the bed.
“You have to stop crying, you should be happy now, all will be fine.”
“It won’t be fine!…life won’t be the same again without my mother…
she is all I have.” she sobbed.
“Its alright” tony patted her.
“Remember, I’m here for you, our baby is here…my parents are here…
we’re gonna be one big family, ” he said in a cool voice..
“Big happy family?” she searched his eyes.
” yea baby! A big happy family, with little or no enemies.” Tony smiled
at her.
“Sure!” Lara managed a smile as she hugged him.
He was right, she’ll have a happy life after all, no more selfish mother,
Sophia out of the way, Deji cleared; there’s nothing more to fear.
Her FAITH in God made her dream a reality. She had faith that her
husband would turn to good, that she would have a child despite his
impotency, that she would not die when she was kidnapped.
She couldn’t help but to thank God for his love, her faith in God
turned her once meaningless life into a meaningful one. THANK U FOR READING AND I HOPE U LEARNT A LOT........MECHEZEDEK CARES
Lara lay-sprawling on the ground till daylight came, she remained
fixed to her position too weak to move. She was surprised she
survived the night.
She felt her belly; the contractions on her pelvis had stopped. Maybe
her baby is dead-she thought.
“God forbid” she thought aloud.
She won’t go through all this troubles in vain.
With difficulty, she sat up to survey her surroundings.
She was sitting in what looked like a small farm, behind a house.
She held her breathe; was she back to square one?
She saw a young boy walk out of the house to empty his bowels. She
shuffled behind some cassava plants…
The shuffling sound got the boy’s attention, he looked around, walked
towards the farm.
“Who be you?” he asked angrily.
Lara kept her eyes fastened on his, too scared to speak.
“I say who you be?” he asked again.
Lara kept mute,what would she tell him.
Her abdomen contracted painfully, she let out a shrill
The boy looked scared. He ran towards the house.
“Maami…maami…come and see o, one woman like that.” he shouted
as he ran.
“Obirin-woman? What is she doing there? Ehn?” a fat woman ran out
of the house.
“Who be you?” she asked bending to peer at Lara.
Lara couldn’t reply, she kept pointing at her abdomen as she writhed
in pains.
The woman got the message.
“Jide! Jide o! Go and call your father.” She shouted at her son
“Yee! Mo ku!” Lara screamed as she battled.
“So you be yoruba?” the woman asked quietly.
“My waist! My legs…my….yeee!”Lara screamed. She was in labour.
The woman’s husband came out, and they both helped Lara into the
house.
....
Tony gazed at their mini-gardem from his bedroom window. Another
day without any news from Lara.
He’s been having nightmares lately, everything was filed with bad
omen.
“I wonder why that girl is so ill-lucked.” he said aloud.
He hoped to see her alive.
Some noise coming from the parlour jolted him back to reality. Some
people were quarrelling.
“so after all your son did to my friend, he still had to use her for
rituals!” Deji screamed
“Useless Igbo people! Weere! Awon Olori buruku!” Funke clapped her
hands.
“Mum? What’s going on here?” Tony asked his mother.
“These people just came in and…” Amara tried to explain.
“Useless impotent eediot!” Deji spat at him.
“Produce my friend for me oooo!”
“What’s this chaos all about? This shouldn’t be happening.” Tony
tried to be calm.
“May Sango strike you down! Oshi! Who is chaos? If you know what
is good for you, produce my friend o!” Deji shrilled.
“Yes o! Deji omo mi! Show this useless Igbo people that Yoruba’s are
not cool!” funke gingered her up.
“Please, for the sake of peace, you should leave now.” Tony said
authouratively.
“Leave where? I’ll show you, I grew up in Ajegunle! It seems you don’t
know me wella, I’m the ‘Deji toh badt’, the female version of an
agbero!” Deji demonstrated before them.
“Mum please go inside” Tony told his mother who was shedding
tears.
“You are not going anywhere o! Produce Omolara o! Dead or alive, we
want her now!” Deji ranted.
Tony felt his head spin, he was too weak to face such trouble. To
think that Lara isn’t there to support him..
He slumped slowly to the ground.
“Tony…To…” Amara rushed to her son.
“you’ve not seen anything yet, Sango will strike you down, one by
one.” Deji clapped.
“Lets go!” she told Funke who followed her out of the house.
“Tony, are you okay?” Amara shook him.
He shook his head slowly in pains, sobbing silently. He just hope his
greatest fear won’t surface.
.....
“please help me…I…don’t…want…to…to…die..please” Lara pleaded with
the strange family crowded around her.
She was losing much blood already.
They took her to the hospital, the journey to the hospital was tedious-
Jide’s father had to strap her to his back cos she couldn’t walk.
At the hospital, she was taken to the intensive care unit.
“Where’s her husband?” the doctor asked the family.
“we don’t know o! We just saw her this morning.” Baba Jide
explained.
“She’ve lost much blood…it’s going to be hard for her…” the doctor
shook his head.
“please doctor help her.” Mama Jide pleaded.
“We’ll try our best, just pray.” the doctor assured, before proceeding
to the room where Lara was.
………
“Nurseeeee….I don't have strength again oooo!” Lara screamed as she
struggled.
“Please dearie….I understand, just a little push…please.”the nurse
attending to her soothed her.
Lara wished a million times Tony was with her, she craved so much
for soothing words. Here she was, struggling to give birth.
“Yes…we’re progressing, put in more effort….” the nurse urged her on.
“she’s going to have twins…” the doctor whispered to the nurse.
Lara heard them
“Twins? Haaaaa! noooo! God won’t be so wicked to me!” she
screamed in terror.
“The baby’s head is out.” the nurse announced.
“Push harder!” the doctor ordered.
Successfully, she gave birth to twins, she soon forgot her pains.
The nurse gave her a baby wrapped in some clothes.
“Its a girl!” the nurse told her.
“the other one?” Lara asked.
“It was a boy.” the nurse said sadly
“Was?” Lara queried.
“I’m sorry…he died few minutes after delivery…” the nurse explained
“Take heart.” patted her back.
Lara smiled, she couldn’t cry, why would she?
She hugged her baby.
“I’m happy to have just her.” she whispered to the nurse.
“Your family are here to see you.” the nurse told her.
“Family?” Lara looked confused.
Just then the door opened…
“Congratulations.” they chorused
Lara smiled. Family? Yes they were her new family! They brought her
to the hospital, they saved her life!
“Thank you sir, Madam.”
“o ga oo! This baby big gan!” Jide’s mother peeped at the baby.
“We didn’t have enough time to introduce ourselves earlier.” Jide’s
Father smiled.
“My name is Shina, this is my wife Ronke, and my son Jide.” he said
quietly.
“we’re from this village, kokotoro” he explained.
“My name is Omolara Popoola,” Lara began.
“I don’t know where I am, but I used to stay in Lagos with my
husband… Before…I was kidnapped” Lara explained in a tired voice.
“Kidnapped? Haaa! When? how?” Ronke shrilled.
“Its a long story…” Lara shook her head.
.....
Lara shut her eyes in pain, as her baby’s mouth took hold of her nip-
ple.
“Kpele.” Ronke said gently.
Lara nodded, they were indeed a family. The family could be termed
kindness itself. The food she ate, her baby’s clothing had been free,
she enjoyed her stay with them for the past two weeks.
“You don’t want to name your daughter ehn? You’re just calling her
baby.” Ronke complained.
“uhn” Lara grunted, as she rocked her baby.
“That’s not how to do it.” Ronke collected the child from her, and
began rocking it till it burped.
“Baba Jide and I, had a discussion this morning…” Ronke shifted
closer to Lara.
“We’ve decided to take you back to your family.”
“I suppose, you still remember your address.”
“Thank you, but I don’t know my way out of here.” Lara explained.
“Baba Jide’s friend has a car, we’ll take you when ever you are ready.”
Ronke said again.
“Thank you very much.” Lara was elated. The thought of going back
home was enticing.
“Thank you ma.” she hugged Ronke.
She imagined what it would be like to be with Tony again.
...watch out for The # FINAL part. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
The night was dark as the moon went to ‘sleep’, the crickets were
busy screeching away, there were occasional Coles from some forest
birds.
Each time a hooting sound was made, it reminded Lara that Deji and
her fetish old man would be there any moment.
Slowly she walked to the window, peeped outside- there was light
enough for her sharp eyes to see clearly. After several attempts, she
jumped out through the window- escape on her mind.
She tip toed gingerly away from the main building…
“Not so fast”
she felt a gun noozle on neck.
She froze for a moment, different plans flooding her mind.
“so you want to escape? Ehn?” a masculine man asked, his gun still
on her neck.
“No” she whispered turning to face him.
“I actually came to see you…” she said quietly.
“See me?” he chuckled.
“yea, I..erm..erm…need..to talk…to …to..you.” she stammered.
“hmn.” he grunted
“you are not smart, get back inside!” he ordered.
“please…” she edged closer to him, making the gun slip off her neck.
“I..errm…you know…I might be killed tonight…” she said slowly placing
a hand on his shoulder.
He pushed her hand away, but she brought it back to its place.
“I just want one thing from you.” she said sweetly.
“I’m sorry…I don’t ‘do’ pregnant women.” he protested trying to push
her away.
“Don’t mind my bulging tummy, just…let’s..just…savour…some…you
know….” she let her fingers run on his broad chest.
Lara smiled to herself as his breathe became faster, she edged closer
to him, her protruding belly pushing against him.
He held her close,their face touching.
Lara held him with one hand while the other hand worked out her
plans,caressing and weakening him as his heartbeat increased.
Cunningly, she let him drop his gun, she kicked it far away from them
with her legs.
Just before he recover from his gust, she gave him a sharp jab
between his legs, her knee cap devoured the ‘position’.
He collapsed with a yelp.
Lara turned swiftly, and ran as fast as her pregnancy would allow her.
She ran blindly into the forest, she knew one way or the other she
would escape.
She heard several gun shots, they were coming after her, she
increased her pace.
The gun shots came closer, she knew they would overtake her, so she
decided to hide.
She looked around her, no where to hide.
She scrambled up a tree not minding the sharp pains on her waist.
Just as she relaxed on the tree, she saw them, many of them.
“That daughter of a b-itch!” one of them cursed.
“I’ll kill her with my bare hands.!”
Lara held her breathe, she put her hand around her mouth. Her Baby
was fluttering violently, it kicked hard against her that she felt like
screaming.
A sharp pain below her abdomen almost gave her away.
“Ouch!” she said.
“Did you hear that?” the kidnappers asked themselves,
“She’s around here, disperse and look for her, I’ll wait here” one of
them suggested.
They all dispersed in different directions, except for the one standing
beside the tree.
Lara’s eyes widened with terror as she felt something crawl on her
legs. She sat still and bit her tongue. Snake! She almost fainted.
“Haaaaa!” she screamed as she fell off the tree.
She landed on the man under the tree, he served as a cushion.
“Snake o! Snake!” the man screamed in terror as the snake wrapped
round him.
That gave Lara the oppurtunity to crawl away under some bushes to
hide. She was in deep pains, she wondered if she would die.
The pains around her waist increased in momentum.
“Wetin happen?”
the group asked rushing back.
“e be like say that girl don turn snake o” the man exclaimed in terror.
The whole group stared at the dead snake in fear.
“Make we go call Baba” they said before running away.
Lara hid herself properly under the bush, her face washed with tears.
“God please help me.” she wept silently.
Thunder rumbled loudly with lightening flashing.Lara looked at the sky
with fear, it was dark and pregnant with rain.
“Yekpa! Rain? Not yet please.” she muttered.
The rain poured heavily, Lara thought she would die. She wept and
prayed as long as she can.
“God please, not for my sake…but for this baby…please.”she shivered
under the rain.
It seemed God answered her, the rain stoped.
Lara began to crawl farther into the forest in pains, she could no
longer stand up.
She wondered what part of the world she was.
“help will come” she muttered to herself. She had faith in God.
Somehow, she suddenly felt; she won’t die in the forest…
...watch out for Part 19. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
“Baby…I’m home….” Tony called out walking into the sitting room.
“Welcome Tony” Amara greeted.
“Good day mum..” he hugged her.
“Where’s Lara?” He asked looking about the room.
“She left some time ago, that she was taking a walk, she isn’t back
yet” Amara explained.
“Why? What’s keeping her? Its late already, this is 8pm, gosh!” he said
dialling Lara number.
“I tried dialling her earlier, but she left her phone in her room.” Amara
said again.
“Excuse me.” Tony walked out of the house.
He searched aimlessly round the streets for an hour before going back
home in despair, he decided to go and check Funke’s place, perhaps
Lara should be there.
He got into his car without a word to his mother.
“ah! Tony! Its you, by this time of the night.” Funke said as she let
Tony in.
“is Lara here?” he asked.
“Lara? Its been months since I saw her o!”
Tony searched her eyes for a while, she possibly couldn’t be hiding
Lara.
He exhaled sharply
“What wrong?” Funke queried.
“She left home few hours ago and..and…she isn’t back, she didn’t go
with her phone..she…” Tony explained in a tired voice.
“Ehn! Did I hear you say my daughter is missing?” Funke squealed.
“Haaaa! Mo kpe o! Mo ti ku!”
Tony turned to leave, he isn’t in the mood to watch her drama
“Where do you think you are going?” Funke asked barring the door.
Tony blinked rapidly
“You are not going anywhere o! I want my daughter o! So you and
your family want to use her for money rituals ehn! You must produce
Omolara for me o” she ranted.
Tony’s heart missed a beat at the mention of rituals, was it that Lara
was kidnapped?
“Please madam, get off my way, I don’t have time for your drama.” he
said wearily.
“Drama! You’ll see drama! Shey you want to see drama!” Funke
screamed at him.
She locked the door with keys, threw the keys into her bra, before
proceeding to make a call.
“Hello? Inspector wale? E mi ni, its Funke o, please send me some
police men o! There’s one ritualist in my house o!” she squealed into
the phone.
Tony stood rooted by the door, he watched her with keen interest, this
woman is definitely impossible.
...........
“I swear Officer, that’s all I know.” Amara said wiping a tear.
Tony squeezed her palms, he wanted her to stop crying.
“please inspector grant them bail.” Ifiora said.
Tony brightened up, he wasn’t sure he would survive another night in
the cell, the previous night was hell.
“write your statements.” Inspector Wale pushed a book towards him.
Tony’s hand shook as he wrote, he wasn’t even sure he wrote
something good. His mind was miles away, he wondered where Lara
was, he just hoped she is fine.
.......
Lara scratched her legs furiously, mosquitoes had feasted on her the
previous night.
She had stopped crying cos her tears stopped flowing, even her baby
was silent, no more movements, she wondered if the baby was alright,
it must be weak, cos she hadn’t eaten since the previous evening.
She gazed at the only window in her ‘cell’, it was big enough to
escape through. But the question is how? The place was surrounded
by armed men.
A laughing female voice drawed her attention, she edged towards the
door…
“Don’t worry! When the money comes; I go do you well!” the voice
said amidst fits of laughter.
The voice sounded familiar.
Just then the door was pushed open; Lara almost lost her balance.
A fetish looking old man; clad in red satin walked into the room, he
was holding some calabashes.
He squatted beside examining her bulging stomach. Lara didn’t push
his hands away; she knew it’d be useless.
He shook his head disappointedly
“Madam come in” he said in a loud voice.
“so when will you take the baby out?” the woman said gingerly.
Lara’s heart was beating faster, she knew that voice so well, she
looked up sharply..her jaws dropped.
Deji smirked at her, chewing a gum noisily.
Lara felt sweat coming out through every pore on her skin
“Deji?” her lips quivered.
Deji rolled her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
“We shall take it by night.” The fetish man croaked.
“Good then! I can’t wait to be a multi-billionaire” Deji laughed.
“Deji you?” Lara shrieked as they turned to leave.
“Yea! Me! Do you think I came into this world to watch others
progressing? I need to make money, and I’m not sorry- I have to use
you and your baby.” Deji chucked wickedly.
“Deji me Lara? Do I deserve this?” Lara sobbed
“I don’t know that one o! Better prepare to meet your late father
tonight.” Deji clapped, before banging the door behind her.
Lara sat, shocked to the marrow. Her body became numb. That night
her unborn child would be used by Deji for rituals! Deji of all people...
....stick around for Part 18. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
Lara wiped a sweat off her forehead as she pushed a trolley round the
mall. She was shopping alone against Tony’s wish, he always wanted
them going out together.
He becoming a super glue! She thought. She just doesn’t want some
Adam generation hovering over.
“Nice” she said aloud as she examined a baby feeding bottle.
She threw it into the trolley,that was the tenth feeding bottle she’s
buying. Money isn’t a problem like Tony said, their baby deserves
everything in the world.
“What’s this used for please?” she asked a woman close to her.
“Ooh! Its just like a box, you can keep your baby’s feeding items in
it.” the woman explained with a smile.
“Thanks” Lara smile back throwing it into her trolley again.
She made sure the trolley was full before heading to the cashiers
desk, the security men helped take the goods to the waiting car.
She felt hungry, luckily there was a restaurant in the mall. She
excused herself from the driver, before hurrying to grab a bite.
She chewed her food slowly, till something caught her attention.
A dark woman in a blond wig!
She smiled quietly, why can’t black people understand that those
wigs made them look like black mermaids! She thought.
The woman rose from her table, and their eyes met.
“Hey Deji!”
“Hy Lara” Deji replied
“its been a long time, how have you been?” Lara walked towards her
pleased.
“i’ve been like the Deji you used to know!” Deji replied coldly.
“I’m happy to see you, so can you join me at my table!” Lara tried to
hold her.
“No I need to go now!”
“oh c’mon Deji! Are we quarrelling? You’ve been acting strangely” Lara
looked worried.
“Lara please! I beg you don’t start!”
“Okay…” Lara sighed.
“So you’re pregnant?” Deji sneered.
“so who did the job? Tony or your gateman, or your father-in-law, or
your driver or your….come on tell me!” she eyed Lara’s bulging
tummy.
“Did you suddenly forget I’m married?” Lara forced a smile
“oh no! I didn’t forget your husband is an impotent!” Deji quipped.
Lara bit deep into her lower lip.
“Deji…” her voice was low.
“You’re hurting me! Stop that! I thought you were a friend, I
mean..that was cruel…besides Tony's alright now.”
“Oh really! Let me don’t waste much of my time! Wish you all the
best.” Deji turned to leave.
“Deji tell me whats happening” Lara held her hand.
“Nothing! Just that I think….we..we can no longer be friends! You aint
my class, you’re married and I’m not, gerrit?” Deji said carelessly.
“does that matter?” Lara whispered.
“It does! Please stay away from me!” Deji walked away.
Lara watched her friend leave, she hoped Deji didn’t mean those
words, something was wrong.
Do people change so easily? What was wrong with everyone in the
world?
Her mother changed from bad to worse, Tony changed from bad to
good, now Deji is transforming into a being she never knew…
Deji exhaled sharply as she sat in her car.
“So Lara is preggie?” she asked herself.
“Her mum didn’t tell me! I’m sure she needs me!” she wondered
aloud.
She felt jealousy and strife surge through her veins.
She, naturally was never happy ever since Lara got married.
She was beginning to earn some satisfaction when Tony maltreated
her, she definitely want Lara to be single as she is, but had to put up
some shows to cover up. Now she could no longer pretend to be that
‘caring friend’, she was now a jealous friend.
She sure is going to help Funke to make sure Lara is out of that
house.
She nodded as she thought.
She picked her cellphone.
“Hello Veejay?” she said.
“Are you in town?”
she listened for a while.
“okay, I’m coming over” she ended the call.
“I’m sorry Lara…Deji aint a true friend!” she whispered driving off.
....
Lara caressed her bulging stomach absent-mindedly, she could
percieve the aroma of the food her mother-in-law was cooking. Amara
had taken over the kitchen ever since she moved in weeks ago, Tony
had invited his mother over since she-Lara was close to delivery.
She wondered what she could have done without her mother-in-law,
she was all alone in the family. No relations, no mother, no friends-
it’s just her and her husbands people.
“here, make sure you eat it up!” Amara placed a small bowl of
steaming peppersoup beside Lara.
“Wow! Only me?” Lara asked.
“how many people are pregnant in this house? Oya eat o!” Amara
replied.
“I’m not hungry yet!” Lara pouted, she wanted some pettings.
“Please now, Lara, my one and only daughter, the mother of my
unborn grandchild, the…” Amara began.
“Hey! Enough mum! ” Lara laughed scooping some of the delicacy into
her mouth.
“Tastes great” she rolled her eyes.
“mm, I’ve heard.” Amara sat beside her.
“The back pain? How’s it now?”
“not better at all” Lara made a face.
“Sorry” Amara rubbed her back gently.
“I think I need to take a walk.” Lara said quitely.
“Okay, let me get ready now, I’l accompany you.” Amara rose to her
feet.
“Follow? No! I prefer to walk alone” Lara protested
“But…”
“Don’t worry mum, I’l be fine, just a few metres and I’d be back” Lara
assured her.
Lara dragged her feet lazily as she walked, her hand holding her waist
and the other hand caressing her stomach.
She got to the end of the street, traffic was heavy. She listened to the
hooting sounds and watched some aggressive drivers for a while
before deciding to go back.
She took a shortcut route, instead of the previous route she followed.
She walked slowly down a deserted alley, she was used to the alley,
though Tony’d warn her several times to quit taking the route.
She was halfway into the alley when she saw a car waiting at the end,
she looked behind her; a car was at the other end too.
Somehow she felt nervous. She said some silent prayers and walked
on.
Few yards to the end of the alley she felt a hand grab her from behind,
she shrieked in fear.
She saw two men trying to take her to the car she saw earlier.
Were they going to kidnap her?
She screamed with all her might.
“Let me go!” she struggled but she was overpowerd.
...
She felt something wet cover her face and…everything blacked out.
Lara gazed wearily in space, she wished a million times she would
wake up from such a night mare.
She gazed at her tied hands and legs, she would never escape. She
felt her baby flutter about in her tummy; that means she need to eat.
Food was the last thing on her mind.
Who would want to kidnap a pregnant woman? She thought.
Maybe they want to use her for rituals.
But the people who kidnapped her looked like reowned assassins, not
ritualists..
Her eyes moved around the dirty room, littered with beer bottled and
cigrattes, she suddenly felt the desire to throw up.
She tried her best not to vomit, she feared her baby might come out
through her mouth.
“Uhhhhn…uhhhhhn, gbooo.” she vomited.
“Wetin dey happen there?” a male voice said from outside.
“So you vomit?” he asked walking in.
“You do well! Na so you go siddon inside the vomit till the people
wey go kill you go come!” he told her angrily.
“Kill?” Lara’s eyes widened.
“Siddon there dey ask me!”
“Please don’t kill me…” she pleaded
“If you need money, my…my..my….husband would pay any amount
you need.” she was crying profusely.
“you dey form pesin wey get rich husband, we no need una money.
That pikin wey dey your belle go give us money wey we no fit count!”
he sneered at her before leaving the room
Lara wailed, she wondered why she had to go through all these.
She looked around her, no means of escape.
Her baby moved again.
She used her teeth to loosen the ropes around her hands after 30
minutes of trying. She caressed her stomach with her bruised hands.
“Baby…are you there? Can you hear me?” she wept.
The baby continued to move.
“I’d advice you stay still for now!” she tapped her tummy.
The baby moved faster.
She felt its love surge through her once more, she remembered how
Tony become excited each time the baby moves. She wondered what
was going on at her home; maybe they were looking for her.
They might never find her- she was deep in an unknown forest.
part 17 loading........... MECHEZEDEK
“talk to me doctor! What’s the hurry all about!” Lara said with a frown.
“We have to hurry my dear, for your life! Your mum still needs you
around her! We have to make haste while there’s yet time” Olakija
explained.
“Omolara don’t be strong headed na! I can’t lose two things o! I can’t
lose my grand child and my only child o! Follow the doctor’s advice.”
Lara shook her head rising to her feet.
“The baby has a father, the father needs to give his full conscience,
Tony has to be here, else nothing should touch his baby!” she said in
a fierce whisper.
“young lady…your husbands presence would only worsen the
situation.” Olakija tried to hold her.
“I still demand to let Tony know! He doesn’t even know I’m in a
hospital right now!” Lara pushed him away.
“What if I died in the process? Tony would never forgive me! Besides
its against my faith to kill! I can’t kill my baby!” she turned to face
her mother.
Funke thought for a while, she exchanged some looks with the doctor.
“Okay, call your husband to come now.”
Lara looked from her mother to Olakija, somehow she felt her mother
was up to something.
“Hello pumpkin” Tony said from the other end.
“Hello baby…” her voice became shaky.
“Hello…. hello…hello? Honey are you alright?” Tony sounded worried.
“Ye…no…yes!Tonyplease…can…you come over over to Anukpo
specialist hospital now? Please…”
“Hospital? Lara are you okay? Tony said again.
“Just come, now please!” Lara ended the call.
....
“Excuse me….” Tony walked into the room
“G’afnoon Doc.” Tony shook Olakija.
“Good day ma’am” he greeted his mother inlaw.
Lara hugged him weeping profusely.
“Easy now baby…don’t cry..I’m here okay?” He whispered as he
rocked her.
“Doctor, what’s wrong? I mean..what going on?” Tony asked the
doctor.
“is it that serious? How bad is it?” he asked again after Olakija
explained the situation to him.
“The situation is worse!” Olakija sighed.
“Can’t we..I mean..don’t we have time to think about it…I have to
inform my parents..” Tony was trying his best to be strong.
“Parents ke! Were your parent there when you impregnated my
daughter? Ehn?” Funke shouted at him.
“you better allow the doctor do his work o! After all you did to my
daughter you still want her dead abi? Nothing should happen to my
daughter o”
“Hope you know your daughter is also my wife!” Tony glared at her.
“See who is talking o!” Funke clapped.
“Let them do it…I don’t want to die.” Lara said amidst tears.
“You won’t die…” Tony held her tightly.
“Errm..Doctor..I think we need time to think about this…” Tony turned
to the doctor.
“Lets go home!” he helped Lara to her feet.
“There’s no time.” Olakija protested.
“There is always time!” Tony said as he led Lara towards the door.
“Where are you taking my daughter to? Ehn?” Funke tried to stop them
“To a more reputable hospital! I won’t let some quack and ill-
experienceddoctors use my wife as a sample for experiment! Besides
the hospital itself is not fit!” he shot at her.
“Tony please…” Lara began to plead.
“Lets go.” he said holding her hand.
.....
Lara rested her head on Tony’s shoulder, she was tired from crying.
Her in-laws were both there with her; sitting on a waiting chair.
The hospital was “reputable and standard” as Tony puts it.
Amara shuffled to her feet as Doctor Myles walked in.
“Sit down please.” Myles smiled taking his seat.
Lara pursed her lips, she was fighting back tears, she could hear
Tony’s heart pondering dangerously against his chest.
“Well, it still beats my imagination..I mean..what kinda doctor would
opt for an abortion just like that?” Myles adjusted his glasses as
peered at some papers.
“ermm…so…doctor, what have found out?” Ifiora said gently.
“Yes..yes, oh yes!” Myles smiled looking up at them.
“I’m glad to inform you all that there’s nothing wrong with this
pregnancy” his smile widened.
“Did you check well? I mean…did…did You conduct the test properly?
You’re sure there isn’t a mistake?” Tony intoned.
“All is well.” myles laughed.
“Both the baby and its mother are in perfect condition.”
“Oh my God!” Amara hugged Lara affectionately
“Are very sure doctor?” Ifiora wouldn’t believe.
“Very very sure! You can go check in another hospital to confirm the
authencity.” Myles chuckled.
“Come over here, baby…” Tony whispered as he hugged Lara.
He was relieved all was well.
He shut his eyes as he savoured her hug. That witch! He thought.
He was definitely going to deal with his mother in-law. How could
she be so wicked?!
Stay tuned for part 16 POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
Lara was at the breakfast Table, when the gateman came in to tell her,
that a letter was delivered for her.
She opened the envelope gingerly, she read it aloud.
‘ peace of the most high God be upon you.
How’s your husbands health? I hope all is well.
I saw a revelation last night about you, I don’t know if its a mere
dream, or its a warning.
You just have to be careful about the way you do things, you are
surrounded by unfriendly friends.
There is danger lurking ahead.
May the good Lord see you through. Amen.
Pastor Wilson’
she read and re-read it again, what message is he trying to pass
across.
Danger? Unfriendly friends?
She felt shivers run down her spine.
“God see me through o.” she clasped her hands in prayers.
Unfriendly friends? She thought. She’ve got a few friends, just Deji.
Could it be Deji? No it can’t be!
“But Deji had been acting strangely now!” she argued aloud.
She’ve been asking suspicious questions about Tony!
“Hmm!” she sighed aloud.
Just then her phone beeped. A text from Deji.
‘ hy bestie,
I’ll be travelling out of town, sorry I won’t be around for the dinner
with Tony as planned.
I’m really sorry.
My regards to Tony when he comes back.”
“Talk of the devil!” Lara exclaimed as she read the text.
She shook her head in suspicion.
Truly Deji is up to something, why would she travel when she knew
Tony is coming back that evening.
...
Lara dressed and redressed her dress for the twentieth time as she
leaned aaginst the car that brought them.
She wore make up for that occasion, courtesy of her mother-in-law.
She glanced her saphire wrist-watch, and shook her head.
She wondered what’s keeping Tony, their plane landed twenty minutes
ago.
“Why is it taking Tony so long to come na!” Amara complained as she
shuffled from one foot to another.
“Maybe something important.” Lara quipped.
“Hmm” came the grunt
“or maybe he’s shy!” she suggested again with a playful smile
“Shy? Tony lacks that characteristic o!” Amara laughed.
They both feel silent, as their eyes surveyed the airport environment.
Just then….
“Holly Majolly!” Amara exclaimed.
“What?” Lara asked.
“Don’t look back!” Amara tried to hold her.
But it was too late, Lara’s eyes swung left and right,then she spun
round, everything around her froze…
Tony was at a far end, locked in Sophia’s arm as they kissed
‘passionately’
Lara shut her eyes momentarily, then re-opened them, what she saw
was real!
Her vision began to get blurred, she was inhaling and exhaling
sharply.
Tony saw them, pushed Sophia away and ran hapilly towards them.
Lara saw him coming, on his own legs, no longer on the wheel chair.
She wished, she wished he never got well.
She wished… She began to slump slowly.
“Lara…” Amara said nervously as she tried to hold her.
But she passed out.
Tony stole glances at Lara as they ate breakfast, she seemed
interested only in the choco she drank, her toast was still intact.
“Madam, you are not eating…” he said without looking up.
“anything wrong?” he asked again, since she kept mute.
“What i’m thinking…doesitmatter?” Lara toyed with her scambled
eggs.
“It does, it matters to me…tell me.” Tony urged
“Do you have to go to work every morning?”
Tony smiled, he was expecting that.
“I stay at home-alone everyday, till you come back by evening, and..
And…” Lara complained.
Tony laughed.
“You are laughing? If you laugh again, you won’t go work today!” she
pouted
“you see..that’s why I said you start following me to the office, there’s
a chair for you! You could sit and gaze at me all day!” Tony said
smiling.
“No thank you.” Lara laughed.
“you said you’d be going out today.” he stated rather than asked.
“Yes, yes, I’d be going to see my mother, its been long since I saw
her.” Lara explained.
“aiit! But…be very careful.” Tony intoned picking up his jacket.
“bye baby..” he gave her a peck.
“bye…” she laughed.
...
“hehn! Omolara, so you remember me today.” Funke said as her
daughter flopped on a settee beside her.
“Mummy, don’t start o! I’m too tired!”
“so you won’t even eat in my house, ehn?” Funke gestured at the tray
she placed on a stool.
“Mum, not like that! I don’t have appetite…” Lara said slowly.
“hehen!” Funke clapped and looked her all over.
“you are looking so fresh! Enjoyment right?”
“Enjoyment ke! Mum I came to discuss something serious o” Lara sat
up.
“hmm, go on”
“Mum, I think there’s something wrong with my body, I’m becoming
fairer, changes everywhere…mybosom, my hips…my…mum you won’t
believe I now have a protuding navel…” Lara explained.
“Hmmm.”
“Seriously mum, I’ve lost taste for food, even Tony is becoming
worried.” Lara concluded.
“Wonderful!” Funke said absentmindedly.
“When last did you menstruate?”
“Errmm, I think Two months ago.” Lara informed her.
“Wow! How did you become pregnant? I thought your husband was
impo…”
“Mum please! Lets not talk about Tony!” Lara stopped her.
“I have a doctor friend, we shall go and see him.” Funke said giving
her a searching look.
“okay..”
“I’ll call to tell him we’re coming.” Funke walked into her room, to
make a phone call.
Lara watched her closely, she wasn’t expecting such kindness from
her troublesome mother.
...
“Thank you Doctor.” Funke smiled as Olakija walked into the office
carrying some papers.
“Omolara right?”Olakija asked Lara who nodded.
“From our test, you are seven weeks pregnant.” he informed her.
“Wow! Oh my God!” Lara jumped happily, hugging her mother.
“Thank you Almighty God! I’m so happy! Mum I’m pregnant! You’l
have a grandchild!” she shook her mother excitedly.
“Oh my! I need to call Tony…” her hands scrambbled through her bag
for her phone.
“Errm…there’snoneed for that.” Olakija said quitely.
“Oops! Its prohibited to make calls in your hospital?” Lara quipped.
“No…its..its just that..that..there is a complicative issue.” Olakija
sighed.
Lara’s face dropped.
“The foetus is not formed properly…”
“Yekpa! My grandchild! Haaa!” Funke threw her hands over her head.
Lara kept a straight face.
“I…I..don’t understand…this..this..” she stammered.
“Well…” Olakija exhaled sharply
“For your safety, you need to abort it, else it might get more
complicated and ..worst of all, cost you your life.”
Funke began to sob.
“what have I done to deserve this ehn? Can’t I have a grandchild ehn?
Awon Aje! Those witches are responsible.”
“I…errm…doctor…let me go home, and inform my husband.” Lara said
quitely.
“Noo…we can’t let you go now! We have to do it now, since your
mother is here. We can call your husband later. If we let the baby stay
anylonger, it might cost your life.” Olakija protested.
“Noo…” Lara began to say.
“omolara, I prefer your life to a million grandchildren o! Doctor please
help us, if possible remove her womb so that she won’t have
complicated issues again o!” Funke said holding her daughter.
Lara sensed trouble.
“but doctor…why the hurry? What if I’d not even see you today.” her
voice wavered.
....
Are you guys perceiving that funny smell? hehe.. Fasten your seat
belts.. the story has just begun!.....
Watch out for Part 15. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
“Ehn!” Baba Lagbaja exclaimed again.
“Yes o! Including the two jeeps Tony’s Father gave her, and the…”
“Wait!” he stoped her, turning to Funke.
“Funke! N gbo? You collected all that? Are you trying to sell your
daughter? You’ve sold her already I rather say!” he yelled at her.
Funke shifted uneasily on her seat.
“My daughter, sorry to have troubled you o. ” Baba Lagbaja told the
smiling Lara.
“Young men let’s go!” he said angrily and they rose to leave.
“Wait wait! I’ll pay!” Funke was desperate.
“I’l pay in installments, little by little.”
“When you sold your daughter to them, did you give her to them in
installments?” Baba Lagbara shrieked at her.
“Don’t ever come to me again o! If you do Sango would strike you
dead! ” he cursed before leaving the house with his group.
Funke was confused! How could her daughter become so mean.
“hey mum! You’ve got another plan?” Lara laughed at her dejected
mother.
“Well, I’m afraid, you’ll have to die without a grandchild o. As for me, I
can easily adopt as many children as I want o!” she jeered.
Funke threw her handbag at her in anger.
“Ouch!” Lara winced as the bag hit her belly.
“Please o! Be careful, Tony’s Babies are in there!” she laughed some
more.
“Lara, you’re doing this to me your mother! What’s your gain?” Funke
asked tears staining her eyes.
“My gain?” Lara looked sobber.
“My gain, is that, I can make you feel bad after all you did to me!”
Tears welled up her eyes too.
“Omolara! I’m leaving you! Continue to ruin your life!”
“Yea! I’ll continue from where you stoped” Lara spat out.
“Don’t ever come to look for me! I’m no longer your mother.” Funke
fumed heading towards the exit.
“And I’m no longer your daughter!” Lara shot back.
Funke turned round astonished.
“Lara?” she whispered.
Lara walked into her room, leaving her to stand there like an
undecided ghost.
Funke tossed and turned on her bed. She had suffered from chronic
fever ever since her last encounter with Lara.
“What have I done to deserve such treatment from my daughter?” she
asked herself.
“The child I bore for nine months, brought up at my own expense,
decides to turn against me.” she gazed at the ceiling.
She counted the ceiling for a long time.
“Hmn!” she chuckled wickedly.
“So far I’m her biological mother, she must leave that marriage!
Whether Tony gets well or not!” she said firmly.
She brazed up a plan, she pulled her cellphone towards her and
dialled a number.
“Hello, Deji ?” she said into the phone.
“Hello, eka le ma! Good evening.” Deji said in a sleepy voice.
“Deji please, come over to my place tomorrow morning. We have
something to discuss.” Funke told her softly.
“okay ma.” Deji said cautiously before ending the call.
...
“Deji eat and drink now, its your home o.” Funke said as Deji sipped
her drink shyly.
“Deji there’s something I’ll want us to discuss.” she said after Deji
finished her snacks.
“I heard of a girl back then…the girl that used to be Tony’s mistress…I
mean Sophia…” she continued.
“uhum!” Deji grunted giving her suspicious look.
“Errm..Deji, I know you and your exploits, you have this city under
your finger tips…” Funke appraised her.
“So?” she grimaced.
“So I want you to tell me where she is! I know you monitor her
movements! Please let me have her address.” Funke explained.
“just like that? What do you want with her?” she asked.
“I’ve got some business plans, and I heard she’s good in such
business…”
“Of all the business women in this city?” Deji interrupted her.
“Common Deji, just give it to me! I’ll pay any amount you need.”
funke said this because she knew Deji is a sucker for money.
“hmmn, I just hope this ‘business’ won’t affect Lara o!” Deji
cautioned.
“Nooo…not at all! You forget Lara is my daughter!” Funke laughed.
“Okay!” Deji said scribbling Sophia’s address on a note pad.
“Thank you, name your pay!” Funke smiled satisfactorily.
“no need for that! Meanwhile, I must go and see Lara now, I promised
her I’m going over.” Deji made to go.
“Okay bye, and please don’t tell her about this o.” Funke saw her off.
She waved as Deji drove away, a donkey smile playing on her face.
First mission accomplished, next target on point!
Lara smiled absent mindedly at herself, its been a month since Tony
left, he’l be back soon.
“Can’t wait!” she said aloud to the empty room. She decided to call
him…
“Hello Baby?” Tony’s voice said from the other end.
“Good morning to you.”
“morning how do you do? Hope you slept well?” Tony asked.
“Not that well, and you?” she made a face as she spoke.
“same here, missing ya loads.” he laughed.
“So you’re coming back this weekend?”
“Nooo, the doctor said I should for two weeks more.” Tony explained.
“Oooh” she groaned.
“hey hey hey! Two weeks is just like two days, no need for that okay?
I’ll be back soon. There are many thing I’d like to show you!” he said
soothingly.
“Many things? Like?” she laughed
and on and on, their conversation went till the door bell rang.
“Hey hold on! I’ll call ya later.” Lara said before ending the call.
Deji was at the door.
“ah! Ore mi atata, my friend, welcome!” she hugged Deji.
“This one you are looking fresh ehn?” Deji teased.
“You can say that again.” Lara giggled as she served her friend.
“When is the hubby coming back now?” Deji asked gently.
Lara was taken aback, Deji never referred to Tony as ‘the hubby’
before,
“Errrm, i just called him on phone, he said next two weeks..” she
explained.
“Next two weeks!” Deji echoed after her, she looked pleased by the
information.
“Yea!” lara felt a strange feeling, she knew Deji very well, that look on
her face isn’t for nothing.
“Excuse me!” deji said as she made a call.
“Hello, Lady?” she said.
“The client should be in town in the next fourteen days, yea, business
should be cool!” she smiled mischievously.
“Okay, bye, get all arrangements ready please.” she ended the call.
“The client? Next fourteen days?” Lara asked quitely.
“Yea, just some sort of business.” Deji avoided her eyes.
“Business? What type?”
“Oooh, Lara please! I didn’t come here for an interview na!” she
laughed.
“Okay” Lara sighed. Deji has been acting strangely for some time now.
She hope there won’t be troubles.
“So tell me girlie! How’s Tony? His health?” Deji shoved her playfully.
Lara laughed, some how she felt more relaxed
Stay tuned for Part 14. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
Good day!” Lara smiled as walked into the sitting room.
“Welcome.” Tony replied, he didn’t return her smile.
“How have you been? Hope I didn’t stay for too long?” she squatted
beside him.
“Fine.” he looked away.
“Are you okay?” lara noticed the worried look on his face.
“I’m okay.”
Lara watched him for a while, she knew definitely this bad mood
wasn’t cos of her, perhaps something went wrong.
“I heard your parents came alongside my mother while I was away…”
she tried again.
“Yes.”
“What did they come to do? I mean what did they say?” she asked.
“Nothing…theyjust came to say hi to us!” Tony was still avoidng her
eyes.
“thats not true!” Lara knew he was lying.
Tony bit his lower lip.
“please tell me what happened.” she pleaded patting his arm.
“your mum wants this marriage to be dissolved.” he blurted out.
She laughed quitely
“So is that why you’re moody?”
“yes…she called me names…even my parents got their share of the
insults!” the words seem to come out through his teeth.
Lara rubbed her forehead…her mother was impossible.
“Don’t mind her! Okay?” she tried to sound calm.
“Lara…its just that…I errm….don’t..don’t want you to leave me, you’re
all I have now…please…” he squeezed her palms.
“I’m not leaving” she assured him.
Their gaze locked for what seemed like eternity, till Lara looked away.
“Lemme get you something to eat, care for some fish peppersoup? I
bought fresh fish from the water side…” she tried to sound cheerful.
“I’m already salivating.” Tony rubbed his stomach.
“Now you’re joining me in the kitchen…” Lara laughed as she wheeled
him towards the kitchen
Tony’s eyes followed Lara, as she walked up and down the room,
trying to get his things ready for the journey.
His father would be there in no time to accompany him.
He sighed and sipped his heavily creamed coffee. The night had been
a tough one, he was thinking all through.
He had imagined what it’ll be like if he got treated well- how life
would be with Lara then.
He thought of the probability that he didn’t get well, would Lara
continue to stay that way…
“What are you thinking?” Lara jolted him back from his thoughts.
“Ehn?” he smiled, he had learnt that word from her.
“Your mug have been hanging halfway to your lips for a while now.”
she said zipping his bag.
“Nothing.”
“Hmm.” she looked up.
“When are you coming back?” she walked to the bed side.
“I guess three weeks minimum.” he replied.
“minimum three weeks? Maximum should be one year then.” Lara’s
eyes ogled out.
“No…not more than a month.” Tony laughed.
“I can’t stay here all alone…” she made a face.
Tony sighed, what was going to tell her? His worries?
“now c’mon, its just for a little while, okay? My mum would come to
check on you regularly, you can even call your friend Deji to come and
stay with you.” he petted her.
“Okay…” Lara sighed.
They heard a car honked!
“Your dad is here…” she helped him into his wheel chair.
“G’morning sir.” she said as her father in-law took over the wheel
chair.
“How are you?”
“Fine.” she followed them closely with Tony’s bags.
“bye and take care.” she said as they were about to drive away.
“Lara?” tony said gently.
Their eyes locked. Tears filled his eyes.
“Pray for me.” he whispered.
“I will.” her voice was weak too.
“I love you Lara, and I’ll miss you.” he sniffed, before the car moved.
Lara waved at them as they left the compound, tears streaming down
her face.
...
Lara sat, her eyes glued to the Tv. She watched the indian girls dance,
she knew she was addicted to Bollywood.
There was a knock on the door, she felt reluctant to open it. The
knock came again sharply.
She hissed, put the Tv off, before sauntering towards the door.
“Who’s there?” she asked opening the door.
“Can we come in?” Funke asked coldly.
Lara stood barring the door, her mother wasn’t alone, she came with
an old man and three young men.
“Lara can’t you see people are waiting? Let us in na!” her mother said
again.
Lara shifted for them to get in.
“So mum who are they? And how may I help them?” she asked closing
the door behind her.
“ehen/ the old man is ermm…the younger brother to your paternal
grandfather, his name is Baba Lagbaja…” Funke began her introduction
“These ones are you father’s cousins…errm..yes…beni, this one is
Soji,..this one is Dele, this one is errm Tunde…they are all from your
father’s village.” Funke continued.
“So what are they doing in my house?” Lara asked sternly.
“Ah ahn! Lara ki lo de! Shey an ja ni! Are we quarrelling? Serve them
drinks first now.”
Lara obliged.
“What’s your mission” she asked the Baba Lagbaja as she served him.
“They have come to take you!” Funke announced.
“Take me? How?” Lara laughed as she sat on a settee.
“Omolara my grand daughter…” the old man began.
“you are the only female child in our family, we value you alot.”.
“Yes!” tunde, soji and Dele chorused.
“You are the only one left to continue your father’s lineage, you can’t
let your father’s name die like that.” baba Lagbaja said coughing at
intervals.
“So?” Lara frowned.
“We have come to take you out of this marriage, we need children to
bear Popoola’s name.” he further explained.
Lara laughed uncontrollably.
“You don’t laugh when an elder is talking.” Tunde yelled at her.
“She’s stubborn o.!” Funke chirped
Lara ignored her mum and faced Tunde.
“You don’t yell at me, else I’l throw you out of my house.!”
“Baba…”she turned to face the old man
“I’l go with you if only you can do something for me.” she said
politely.
“Name it omo mi.” Baba Lagbaja said
“If you can return all you’ve collected from Tony and his parents, then
I’l follow you.” Lara assured him.
“What are those things?”
“To start with, my mother must return the one million naira she
collected for bride price, then all the jewelries and ornaments, then all
the clothes, the house they bought for her, all the gifts they showered
on her…all..the…”
“Ehn!” The old man screamed interrupting her,not believing his ears.
...Watch out for Part 13 & 14. POWERED BY MECHEZEDEK
Tony winced a little, he felt like easing himself, he had pressed the
beeper for more than twenty times now but Lara is yet to show up.
He wondered if she was trying to punish him, because on a normal
day, she’d have cleaned him up and served him his food..
He pressed the beeper five more times but she didn’t come.
He decided to help himself into the wheel-chair standing by his bed
side. He pushed himself towards the bed’s edge, he took hold of the
wheel chair and attempted to hop in. He lost his balance and almost
toppled over…
“Hey! What are doing?”
It was Lara, he didn’t look back, he wasn’t sure if the scowl he saw
yesterday was still there.
“Errrm…” he tried to speak as she balanced him on the wheel.
“Morning to you Tony…” she wheeeled him towards the Loo.
“I was answering a call when I heard the beeper…”
“Here…steady…sorry…easy…” were her words a she helped him into
the the bath tub.
“I’l be back in a jiffy” Lara said looking away, she could bear to see
him unclad.
Tony smiled, she’s too shy he thought.
“I want you to stay…” he smiled revealing his teeth.
“No thank you.” lara left the bathroom.
.......
“hmn Deji na wa for you ooo, that’s how you are ehn? Deji what’s
there in life that you should forget me na!” Lara queried.
“Nooo, bestie, its not like that na!” Deji laughed as she sipped her
glass of juice.
“Eh is like what? Tell me! Deji toh bad!” Lara laughed again flopping
beside her friend.
“Girlie, yan me, I heard Tony is sick?” Deji began to say in a mocking
tone.
“yes, he’s been ill.” Lara said carefully.
“I heard the only snake in his forest is dead?” Deji asked again.
“Now Deji, don’t start! That’s so cruel…”
“So cruel?” Deji mimicked her.
“You don’t know how happy I was when I heard the news! I danced
ehn!” she looked excited.
“Deji!” Lara gave her a reprimanding look.
“What? Isn’t it worth celebration?” Deji laughed
“This isn’t fuuny” Lara frowned.
“You’re happy at the misfortune that has befallen my marriage?”
“Which misfortune? When that man was fraternizing with all the
women in town, isn’t that a misfortune!” Deji made a face.
“Deji please!” Lara looked offended.
Just then the beeper made a shrill sound.
“Excuse me bestie, Tony needs me now!” she got to her feet in a
hurry.
“come o!” Deji held her dress.
“so you don turn dog wey na beeper dem dey use call you shey?”
the shrill sound came again, louder this time.
Lara pushed her friend’s hands away, rushing towards Tony’s room.
Deji watched go, she clapped her hands in gossip fashion. She
quickly tip-toed after her friend.
“I’m just tired of being in here, can you take me outside please?”
Tony pleaded peering at Lara.
Lara wished she wouldn’t take him outside, she feared Deji’s razor
tongue.
“Lara? Anything wrong?” Tony patted her arm.
“Errrm, yea…no ” Lara helped him into the wheel chair.
“okay…” Tony smiled as she wheeled him out of the room.
They were at the hall way when they met Deji’s mocking gaze.
“Good afternoon o, Mr Tony!” Deji made sure her voice was loud and
clear.
“Af’noon Deji, its been a long time.” Tony smiled.
“Yes o! I heard about your illness…errm…I mean the paralysis of your
legs and ….and…..your…” Deji replied a mischievously smile playing on
her lips.
Tony didn’t miss the message she was trying to pass across to him.
“lets go!” Lara whispered as she wheeled him out trhought the back
door.
“I’m sorry about Deji’s attitude…” she apologised as she balanced him
on the grass in the mini-garden.
He simply nodded.
“You need a snack or something?”
“No, I’m okay.” he was reading some invisible things on his palm.
“you don’t need anythin, anything atall?” Lara searched his eyes.
“Yes, you can go now, your friend is waiting.” he waved her off.
“Okay!” She sighed walking on the balls of her feet out of the garden.
“welcome back! Iya Tony!” Deji quipped as her friend walked in..
“Seriously what you did Deji was really bad! Do you have to remind
him of his problems?” Lara feigned anger.
“Atleast he got the message!” Deji bit into her meatpie.
“Deji…do you know you are too bad?” Lara squeezed beside her.
“Oh yea! You need not remind me! Anyways, we’ve gotta enjoy our
lives o.” she quipped and they laughed in unision
Lara combed her hair and oiled it properly. She had earlier on called
her hair stylist that she’d be coming that morning.
She wondered what hair style she’ll plait, she loosed shuku yeterday,
maybe this week she’d use two-step or sade…
“Lara?” Tony called out interrupting her thoughts.
She rolled he eyes
“oooooh, pesin won’t rest again ni?” she hissed.
“Lara….”
she hissed again, she was beginning to get sick and tired of Tony.
“Always Lara,Lara,Lara…na wetin sef!” she frowned.
“Lara are you there?” Tony called out again.
“Ooooh, free me jor!” she whispered.
“Yes? I’m coming!” she put in a lot of effort for her voice to become
polite.
“Here am I.” she forced a smile.
“I can see…just wanted you around me.” he was smiling too.
See this one o! When did that one start? Lara thought.
“are you going out?” he asked.
“Erm, yes, I’m going to make my hair.” she explained
“Hmmm, I’d be alone then…” he said in despair.
“Well, I need to go now.” she started walking away.
“Okay.” he sighed.
He was sure going to miss her.
....
Tony looked from Funke his mother in-law to his parents, he wished
Lara was at home; maybe she might defend him some how…
“Thank God your wife is out, so we can discuss properly.” Ifiora began
to say.
“Yes, her absence is very essential.” Funke chirped in, she personally
thanked God Lara was absent, she couldn’t bear those looks on her
face.
“Errrm..Tony, what has your wife got to say about your illness?” Ifiora
asked.
Tony looked away, what does he want him to say…
“Tony, your father just asked you a question.” Amara said impatiently
“Nothing.” Tony replied.
“What do you mean by nothing?” Funke asked eyeing him.
“I think she should be in the best positin to answer that.” he frowned.
He had never had an atom of respect for his mother in-law.
“Tony, you’l be travelling out of the country next two weeks for your
treatment…”
“I know that already.” Tony cut his father short. He wondered why
they all gathered a meeting without informing him earlier.
“Good! What matters now is Lara, we can’t keep her like this, she has
a future.” Ifiora ignored his son’s rudeness.
“What’s your point?” Tony asked grithing his teeth, he was losing his
temper.
“The point is you should divorce Lara, you fool!” Amara shot at him.
Tony held her cold gaze for a while, he wondered when he and his
beloved mother became enemies.
“I can’t divorce her!” he spat out.
“Why?” Funke sneered
“She is my wife, and I love her, our marriage is sealed. Gerrit!” He
glared at Funke.
“listen to me Tony! Love or no love, seal or no seal, you must divorce
lara! You can’t saddle her with your disability! How far do you think
she can cope?!” Amara said menacingly.
“That’s none of your business! I wonder if anyone has ever asked you
to divorce your husband!” Tony shot at her.
“You dare talk to me that way?” Amara made to slap him but for the
timely intervention of her husband.
“No darling, you can’t do that, look at his condition” Ifiora forced his
wife back into her seat.
“We’re here to rule out some case, not to fight. Tony, Lara’s mum
came to us, she wants you to divorce her daughter…” Ifiora gestured
towards Funke.
“Yes o! Be ni! You must to divorce my daughter o! My daughter can’t
marry an impotent man o! Lai lai!” Funke started to rant.
Amara exchanged looks with her husband.
“I meant it o! Its me Funke that talk it! I need grand children, and they
don’t fall from heaven shey you know that! A man must to perform ni,
and when you can’t perform, we’ll look elsewhere.” Funke’s body
shook as she ranted, her gold bangles making chiping sounds.
Tony bit his lower lips. Life could be cruel sometimes.
“that’s so rude! We are not quarelling here!” Amara tried to pacify
Funke.
“Robb ke! Mentholatum ni! The quarell has just begun niye o! Tell
your impotent son to divorce my daughter o!” Funke turned to face
Amara agressively.
“Please calm down.” Ifiora told her.
“See who is talking! Like father like son! Who knows maybe you too is
an impotenti?…”
“You don’t dare insult my husband!” Amara shot back at her.
“How can you become this lousy? Is it how you yoruba’s behave?”
“Behave ke! You will soon see behaviour! Let me go and tell her
fathers people that’s when you’ll see the real Yoruba behaviour.
Oshi!” Funke yelled at her before stamping out the room.
Amara gaped at her. People change so easily, could this be the same
woman whom they lavished so much money on?
...Watch out for Part 12 powered by MECHEZEDEK
“Good morning sir!” Lara greeted her father in-law as she wheeled Tony towards the waiting car.
“Hope you slept well?” Ifiora said as he helped Tony into the car.
“Fine sir.” Lara smiled.
“Errm…I’l be going to see my mother, she asked me to come over.” Lara told Tony.
“Okay, then, see ya later.” he waved at her.
She waved and watch them drive away. She suddenly wished Tony won’t ever get on his feet, at least, so that he would continue to be nice.
...
“Mum you asked to see me.” Lara said with a frown, she was getting irritated by her mother’s silence.
“Yes Lara, my daughter. Hmm.” Funke said with a sigh.
“So?” Lara’s frown grew deeper.
“hmm, Lara omo mi, you know I love you, you are my only child…” Funke began meditatively.
Lara laughed quietly, this woman didn’t call her over to tell her that.
“Meanwhile, how’s Tony’s health?” Funke didn’t look happy.
“They just left for the hospital this morning, he’ll be better soon, he'll be flown to Cairo next three months.” Lara explained.
“Shey you know, his spinal cord was affected during the accident?”
Funke said in a faint voice.
“yes I know, that’s why he’s on a wheel chair, and he’ll be better soon..” Lara said impatience creeping into her voice.
“Let me talk Lara and stop trying to defend Tony’s illness!” her mother shot at her.
Lara fell silent, was she defending Tony..
“Lara you have to end this marriage.” Funke said carelessly.
“Which marriage?” Lara’s eyebrow creased
“Tony is not worth you! You should file a divorce, you can’t hook yourself with a disabled for life…” Funke explained.
Lara rolled her eyes.
“Mummy what did you drink this morning?” she laughed.
“Are you trying to insult me?” Funke’s voice rose.
“Noo…just that, Tony used to be your favourite.” Lara explained still laughing.
“What I’m saying is that you must divorce Tony, you can’t saddle yourself with such a burden, this was a man who was maltreating you…”
“ehen! Mum you are so incredible!” Lara interrupted her.
“Where were you when he maltreated me? What did you do when he turned me into a punching bag? Aren’t the same person who rocked the boat of the marriage cos of money? You made me go through hell!” Lara said.. anger creeping into her voice.
“Hold on! And let me talk!” Lara rose up when her mother tried to speak up.
“Do I look like some commodity you can use to trade? Now that Tony is ill, you feel he can no longer fulfill your selfish needs, you want me to divorce him right? Perhaps you want to marry me off to someone else again abi?”
“No Lara! I’m only concerned about you and myself! You must divorce Tony. I need a grandchild!” Funke shot at her.
“What has a grandchild got to do with Tony’s illness?” Lara fired back.
“Tony isn’t only crippled, he’s impotent! The accident rendered him impotent!” Funke screamed.
Lara stopped momentarily, what’s her mother trying to say.
“I beg your pardon…what did you just say?” her voice was low.
“oh yes! The affected spinal cord did not only affect his legs, it affected his manhood! Your husband can’t perform anymore!” Funke shrilled.
“Perform as in how?” Lara couldn’t help asking.
“He can’t make love to you! Can you go on like this? No sex, no child bearing…no…..no…. Lara, try to understand me!” Funke explained.
“Mum…you mean..you mean…” her voice trailed off.
She felt sweat trickling down her face.
“You see, my daughter, you can’t go on like that. Even if he gets on his feet again, there’s no possibility that he would be able to perform anymore.” Funke said triumphantly.
Lara thought for a while, she began pacing up and down the room sweating profusely. She stopped abruptly facing her mother.
“Well, Tony had never made love to me, so even this isn’t a new development..” she began to say.
“Haaa! Lara please don’t do this o! I need a grandchild! You want your father’s name to be wiped off the earth?” Funke held her daughter.
Lara smiled mischievously, she had wanted an opportunity to get back at her mother, this was a chance.
“Well, mum, I don’t think you need a grandchild, if you did, you wouldn’t have made me suffer all I suffered. This is what you want, you must live with it. Continue to enjoy more money!” Lara sneered.
“I need to leave now!” Lara picked her bag.
“Lara please..” Funke tried to hold her.
“Take your hands off me!” Lara pushed her away.
“I hate you!” Lara told her, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“You hear me? I said I hate you! I would never forgive you! You ruined my life…” Lara sniffed, before storming out of the house.
...
Tony watched Lara as she tucked him bed. She has not been herself ever since she went to see her mother two weeks ago. No more the cheerful-smiling Lara, the old Lara seem to be creeping back in place.
“Good night.” she whispered turning to leave.
“Lara?” he called out, just as she held the door knob.
“Yes?” she didn’t look back.
“Can we talk?” his voice was low.
“Can’t wait till morning?” she asked irritated.
“Please…” he sounded desperate.
With a sigh, Lara turned and walked up to him.
“so?” she said crawling up the bed beside him.
“Lara…” he began, taking her hands.
She pulled away, he expected that too.
“Errm, I just wanna ask if you’re alright? Ever since you came from your mother’s place You’ve been moody….errrmm, is anything wrong?” he said in a cool voice.
Lara looked away. Why’s he asking her that? He cares?
“I’m fine.” she sighed.
“I know you are, but deep within you are troubled, talk to me
Lara…” He said soothingly.
She looked at him briefly, he doesn’t sound like Tony at all, did the illness change him?
“Is there anything the doctor said about your health apart from your legs?” she asked.
Tony felt his heart beat increase.
“Your mother told you right?” his voice was faint.
“she did, and I wonder why you never told me that…” she replied getting off the bed.
“Lara…I just felt you shouldn’t know, I know it'll hurt you..”
“It hurts more that I heard it from someone else…” her voice was rising.
“I’m sorry, its just that….errmm…
Lara please, understand me….” he looked confused.
“Understand you? Of course you know Lara is daft! An Illiterate can never understand!” her voice became harsh.
“No Lara…what I mean is that, I would be treated, and everything would become fine…” he tried to explain.
Lara shook her head slowly.
“Your legs will be treated not your ….your…your…Impotency!” she replied angrily.
Tony’s eyes narrowed, he looked hurt. He wore a painful look that made Lara regret her words.
“That’s not true Lara..its just that…that…some things got complicated…once my spinal cord gets back in place, I’ll normal again…” his voice was shaky.
“Normal again? Were you normal before?” Lara made a face.
“When you were busy sleeping around Sophia…have…have …you ever thought if…if…if…I’m human with needs?” tears filled her eyes.
“This marriage is almost two years now..and…and…” sobs choked her.
“Lara please, I know I’ve wronged you…but please…” he was crying too.
“I guess you want me stay right? But how am I sure you ain't trying to be nice just because you’re ill! I’m sure when you get back on your feet again; you'll become the real Tony, and I’ll no longer be Lara but a daft-illiterate girl!” Lara said angrily, before turning to leave the room.
“Lara please wait” he called after her.
But she left banging the door behind her.
Tony stared at the door in horror. He knew he was doomed, should Lara decide to end the marriage.
He was at her mercy.
“God help me!” he clasped his palms in prayer.
Maybe she was right, that if he gets on his feet, he might not regain his manhood! Perhaps the doctor lied to him? The doctor told him, all would be well…
“Tony you are in deep mess:” he muttered fighting back tears.
If Lara should leave him, he won’t survive it. He might lose his life, cos he was madly in love with her.
..This is just the beginning watch out for part 11
