Episode 9
She could hardly sleep that night. Her supposed introduction was in a couple of days. She had not seen or heard from her fiancĂ©. His excuse was that he was tied up in a series of meetings with the board of directors of a certain company in order to secure a multi-million naira contract. She was sure he was avoiding her. On the other hand, Bankole had made himself available. He was at her every beck and call. She had refused to go on any date he tried to lure her into. She did not want to encourage him in anyway. She had gotten over him a long time ago. She was in a new and better relationship. Even if she wasnât, she would have been skeptic about giving him a chance back into her life. She missed Uwa. They needed to put finishing touches to their introduction plans. Her parents had called to find out a thing or two. She would be meeting his family for the first time on the D-day. She had spoken to them all on phone since he proposed to her. She was eager to meet them one on one. Mara had made herself scarce. She had not taken her maid of honour responsibilities seriously. It was as if she wished she wasnât getting married. They were supposed to leave for her parentsâ home that evening. What if she came up with an excuse?
God I commit my plans into your hands. Take control Lord.
She scrolled through her phone and played the Cece Winas song titled âMore Than What I Wantedâ. She could still remember the day Uwa sent the song to her phone. She closed her eyes and reminisced.
xxxxxx
Bankole met Mara in the waiting room. She had been waiting for him for over an hour. He had a lot of patients to see that evening.
âThank you for waiting.â
âYou owe me dinner.â
âFine. Where will you like to eat?â
âGolden Gate restaurant.â
He eyed her, âAre you trying to drill a hole in my pocket?â
She chuckled, âHavenât you heard of the saying that goes thus, âDonât keep a lady waitingâ?â
He rolled his eyes and pulled off his white coat, âLet us go before I change my mind.â
She started to laugh. They walked out of the building and got into his black Lexus jeep. He navigated into the major road and headed for the Island.
âWhat is so urgent that you couldnât discuss on phone?â she glanced at him.
âIt is your friend,â he kept his eyes on the road.
âDidi?â
âDo you have any other friend?â he turned to look at her and returned his attention to the road.
âWhat has the little princess done this time?â
âShe is not responding,â the frustration in his voice wasnât lost to her.
She frowned. The introduction was that weekend. They needed to stop it. Nothing must put a dent on their plans.
âIf the introduction doesnât hold, that will buy you more time.â
He nodded and looked at her. He felt relieved.
âI need your help.â
âCount me in.â
She smiled, âWe need to inject her with something lethal.â
âSomething that will keep her on a hospital bed for days,â he added.
âOr even for weeks,â she winked at him.
He grinned. He was satisfied with her plan. He knew exactly what to do.
xxxxxx
The ping sound on the phone interrupted her sleep. She opened her eyes and reached out for her phone. She checked her Blackberry Messenger chats and discovered that her fiancĂ© had sent her a song. She clicked on the âacceptâ signal and waited for it to download. Where was he? Why hasnât he visited her? If she doesnât see him that evening, she might check up on him on her way to Ikorodu. It had been torture not seeing him for almost a week. She lay on her tummy and played the song. It was a Darlene Zschech song titled âDeeply in loveâ.
âIn my life-youâve heard me say I love you-How do I, show you itâs true- Hear my heart- it longs for more of you-Iâve fallen deeply in love with you-You have-stolen my heart-Iâm captivated by you-never will you and I part-Iâve fallen deeply in love with you-You and I-together forever-nothing can stand-in the way, my love for you-grows stronger each new day-Iâve fallen deeply in love with you.â
She closed her eyes and replayed the song over and over again. Uwa still loved her. He still wanted to marry her. The song confirmed it. It doesnât matter if Bankole kept trying to win her back. No one could ever separate them. She felt a sense of peace. She was going to marry the man of her dreams, the love of her life, and her knight in shining armour.
âThank you God for bringing Uwa into my life. I am eternally gratefulâ.
She replayed the song again and again.
xxxxxx
Uwa woke up that Saturday morning with a bad headache. He had a nightmare. He saw the love of his life in a pit. He tried to pull her out, but, he couldnât. The pit kept getting bigger and deeper. He didnât like the dream. He needed to call her and find out if she was all right. He wondered if she had gotten to her parentsâ place in Ikorodu. He rolled on his side and began to pray against every manipulations of the devil concerning his fiancĂ©e and himself. His phone began to ring. He ignored the call and kept on praying. About ten minutes later, he picked the call. It was Shalewa, he had not heard from her in a while.
âMorning baby girl. How are you doing?â
âI am fine. Today is supposed to be your introduction, abi?
âSupposed to? It is my introduction day now.â
âAh! But I thought âŠâ
He sat up. He had a feeling that something was wrong.
âShalewa what is it?â
âDidnât Mara call you?â
âCall me? No. Why?â
âAh-han⊠Didi was rushed to the hospital last night.â
âWhat?!â His heart sank.
âAh⊠I thought you knew.
âNo, I didnât.â
âSo she didnât call you.â
âNo, she didnât.â
âThat girl sef.â
He got down from the bed. He was confused. Should he call his parents? Should he call her parents? Should they call off the introduction?
âDo you know the hospital she was taken to?â
âNo.â
He was getting frustrated, âThanks. I will call Mara.â
âOkay. Kpele, take care.â
He hung up and fished out Maraâs number on his phone contact list. Why didnât she call him last night? He dialed her number.
xxxxxx
Didi felt as if she had been drugged to stupor. She tried to move her arms and limbs. Pain attacked every part of her being. She stared at the white painted ceiling and hoped Mara would come back soon. She had gone home to prepare breakfast and bring some of her clothes to the hospital. She hoped she had called her parents. She didnât want them to panic. The introduction must have been cancelled. Where was her fiancĂ©? Why didnât he show up the other night? Did Mara call him? Where was he? She needed him. His presence was enough comfort. His voice was like a soothing balm that never failed to relieve her.
âMy loveâŠâ
She looked towards the doorway and saw him. She beamed.
âUwaâŠâ she breathed with relief.
He approached the bed and sat by her side, âHow are you doing?â
âMy tummy hurts.â
âSorry love. The doctor said you will be discharged tomorrow morning.â
She relaxed and held him by the hand.
âI have called your parents. The introduction has been called off.â
She nodded.
âYou are going to be all right,â he pecked her on the forehead. The doctor had told him that she had been poisoned. The toxic substance had been flushed out of her system, but she needed to be careful with what she ate and drank. He would speak to her about it another time. Her wellness was his concern at that moment.
xxxxxx
Mara met Bankole in the waiting room. He helped her to carry some of the things she had brought from home.
âHow is she?â
âKnocked out.â
They both started to laugh.
âWhatever you gave me to put in her drink worked like magic.â
âI am glad it bought us more time.â
She nodded and led him to the ward her friend was kept in. They found Uwa and Didi praying.
âWhat took you so long?â she eyed her friend when she saw her at the foot of the bed.
âHey! I got here as fast as I can,â she placed the bag and the basket of provisions on the small cupboard beside the bed.
âHow are you doing?â Bankole approached the bed.
âFine,â she wished he had not come. She was sure it was Mara who told him that she was in the hospital.
âI am glad that you are okay.â
Uwa cleared his throat. Bankole glanced at him.
He had a feeling that the guy wasnât comfortable with his presence.
âI made you oatmeal. I added a lot of milk and sugar.â
âGreat. I am hungry.â
Shalewa walked in.
âHey! See this stranger,â she saw her through the corner of her eyes.
She giggled and joined Uwa at the side of the bed.
âHow are you feeling?â
âI am good,â she spooned some food into her mouth.
âThat is good. Oya eat, eat, you need all the strength you can get.â
âAbi o,â Mara chimed in.
She glanced at Uwa, âOko Iyawo, kpele,â she patted him on the shoulder.
âThanks jare.â
âI want to speak with your doctor, I will be right back,â Bankole waved at her.
She nodded at him. She hoped he wouldnât return.
âI will come with you,â Mara followed Bankole out of the room.
âIs that her brother?â Shalewa watched them leave.
Didi tried not to laugh. Bankole was as fair as Mara. They had a slight resemblance.
âHe is Didiâs ex-boyfriend.â
âAh!â she looked from one to the other, âWhat is he doing here?â
âIt is a long story,â she concentrated on the bowl of milky oatmeal.
âI am all ears.â
âHmmmâŠâ she spooned more food into her mouth.
âI hope he isnât trying to ⊠doesnât he know that you are getting married?â Shalewa frowned.
Uwa hissed. He wished Bankole would disappear from their lives forever.
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