candy:
Where really are you guys?

D9ty7
Harjibolar10
ruffhandu
Kingphilip
Hameenat94
Sexysapphire
Jennimma
Mariamferanmi
QueenTolpatx
zyzxx
sammyomotola,
calmdove
Rosytonia
skimpledawg
joliej
bolajJP007
MaBuk
YasirNasir
Missviva
Missmossy
debdave
tescoleps
hassan85
seunviju
tsodjete
Yinksaid
Cestmoi1
Stuff46
Whizbee
Nancydearie
Vijon
BashirAhmad1
snowangel4
Stonecoldcafe
fatalveli
Bblacky
teemanbastos
lenmafon
Thinezy
Boladex1
Amiablejudy
Plaitex
tfabu
Manuel180
gal10
telad
farheeda
MaBuk
estellar12
mohjisolah
Debbysky
booqee
fragilegal
Queenxtar
Jayminna

In MI's voice, Candy didn't invite me so I invited myself.

@D9ty7,Harjibolar10,ruffhandu,Kingphilip,Hameenat94,Sexysapphire,Jennimma,Mariamferanmi ,QueenTolpatx ,zyzxx ,sammyomotola, calmdove,Rosytonia ,skimpledawg ,joliej ,bolajJP007 ,MaBuk ,YasirNasir,Missviva ,Missmossy ,debdave,tescoleps ,hassan85,seunviju,tsodjete,
yinksaid,Cestmoi1,Stuff46,Whizbee,Nancydearie,Vijon,BashirAhmad1,snowangel4,Stonecoldcafe,fatalveli,Bblacky,teemanbastos,lenmafon,Thinezy,Boladex1,Amiablejudy,Plaitex,tfabu,Manuel180,gal10,telad,arheeda,MaBuk,estellar12,mohjisolah,Debbysky,booqee,fragilegal,Queenxtar,Jayminna,chumzypinky,Adesina12,queenitee,slimzjoe, holuwanoisy111, jupitre,bossy512, kajsa08, wizsolzy, waluga



Abeg, manage this...in place of Easter chicken


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Chapter 21


The neighbourhood surrounding Vent College was a fairly rough one, with lots of commercial activities going on around the private school. The old buildings along the main road housed businesses that targeted the students from Vent College and two other public schools within the vicinity. The buildings were shabby, and there was barely any parking space except along the road where angry store owners shouted at motorists for parking without buying anything from them. He never stopped wondering how his son could attend such a lowly school. Time for a change, he thought.

Otunba parked his grey Toyota Highlander in front of a shabby grocery store with trendy sign that read; "Bella Variety Stores". He bought a can of Malt drink and sat in his car, taking slow sips while he waited for Tobi to show up from school. He checked the time on his dashboard and frowned his face. It was 5pm and the candidates writing junior waec were already trooping out of the schools, but Tobi was nowhere in sight. He turned off the ignition and the AC died. He stepped out of the car and headed to Vent College on foot, throwing the can in the open drainage.

Just as he approached the small security post inside the school gate, he saw Tobi walking towards the school gate in the midst of his friends; he looked downcast and didn’t join his friends’ playful discussion. Tobi spotted him and walked towards him.

“Good evening sir.” He greeted his dad respectfully. His friends also prostrated before Otunba and stood aside while father and son discussed.

“Tobi, how are you?” He felt a pang of guilt in his heart; he hasn’t seen the boy in almost six months. “How are your papers?” He asked as they both walked towards the highlander. His friends left them behind when he didn’t join them soon enough.

“They are fine sir.” He answered, feeling slightly uncomfortable in his dad’s presence. He had grown to b independent of him and there was an awkward silence as he opened the passenger’s door for him.

“Get in the car.” He stepped aside and waited for Tobi to get in.

“No sir, Uncle Richard is coming to pick me in a few minutes. He’ll be worried if he doesn’t see me waiting by the gate.”
Otunba winced. Tobi cowered.

“You are my son and I’m taking you home with me. I’ll call your uncle, Richard and explain to him. Give me his phone number.”

Tobi raked a hand back through his hair as if trying to scratch loose a memory. At almost 14, he understood clearly the situation with his parents’ marriage and naturally, he was in his mother’s camp even though he still loved and respected his dad. He reeled out his uncle’s phone number and waited while Otunba dialled.

“WTH.” He grumbled, “He’s not picking the calls.”

“Daddy try his number again.” Tobi said pleadingly. Uncle Richard has taken better care of him than his father has lately, and he’ll miss his cousins if he followed his dad home. Somehow though, a part of him wanted to go with his dad, especially in his big car.
Otunba considered for a moment, flipping his car key in the air with one hand at intervals. “I’ll try his number for the last time and if he doesn’t pick the call, we are out of here.”

“Hello, Richard...yes, otunba lo n so ro...Tobi is going home with me...” He said into the phone, Richard protesting on the other end. Tobi waited patiently while their conversation lasted, by then he was seated comfortably in the highlander, the AC on full throttle, cooling the exam induced heat in his brain. He had tried his best in the Yoruba exam they just finished, but he had found it a tough nut to crack. Thankfully, it was his last paper for the exam.

Otunba ended the call and put the car in drive, suddenly eager to drive away from the area.

“What did my uncle say?” Tobi asked with the innocence of a child, still enjoying the air conditioner.

“He said we can go.” He answered. Richard had pleaded with him to stay back and wait a few seconds as he was just around the corner. But he was determined to take his boy. Ella had made solid arrangement for him to go and continue his studies abroad. Richard was the strongest and most opinionated of his wife's siblings. He knew he wouldn't let him go with the boy. He had always avoided having any argument with him. Delay could be dangerous, he thought as he put the car on the road just as Richard’s Honda baby boy made its last turn before the school gate.


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Read and post a comment please, the comments are the motivating factor. Thanks.

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Ella paused to face Tobi, resting a hand on the smooth Oak dining table of their massive dining room. Turning back to Otunba, she said, “His passport will be ready today, the earlier we schedule his visa interview, the better for everybody. His new school reopens in two weeks”.

“Whatever you say, darling! Tobi is also your son.”
Tobi’s eyes filled with tears as he stared blankly at the screen of the new laptop Ella gifted him when he got home with his father yesterday. Ella had given him a warm welcome, sumptuous meal and a lovely room to himself. Ordinarily, he was overwhelmed with joy at first, then his father had told him Darasimi lived with grandma and he, Tobi could not see her. Then Ella had come up with the issue of passports and him continuing his studies abroad. He prayed his mother will return and find him before he is bundled abroad.

Otunba sensing his son’s sad mood pulled him close and patted his shoulder. “You will be fine, Tobi. You still have enough time to bid your friends goodbye and spend time with Darasimi.” He whispered. “I’m just so happy to have you home, to be part of your life again.

Tobi pulled back from him a little and made a goofy face. “What of my mum and sister Dara? How will I see them if I go live abroad? Even you, how will I see you?” He asked with the intelligence of a thirteen year old.

A tiny smile of embarrassment hooked one corner of Ella’s mouth and she rolled her eyes. “Your dad and sister will visit you all the time, even your mum.” If she ever gets to see you again, she thought to herself. Since Dino told her of the failed attempt at the airport, she had grown madder at Liz. She had intensified efforts to take away the one thing she cherished most- Tobi.

“Why can’t I just stay in Nigeria with everybody?” He asked.

“We don’t stay in Ibadan. We stay more in Lagos.” His father told him. “Besides, I want the best education for you.”

“Em, by the way, you will be chauffeur driven anywhere you are going for now. You won’t be allowed to run around town, wondering like a lost puppy. This is an estate, not your Apata. This is Bodija estate, ok?”

Tobi nodded sheepishly. He was beginning to get scared of this woman and miss his mother so badly. Too bad he had no phone to contact his uncle and grandma. He wondered if they were coming to get him. He wrinkled his nose and turned his attention back to the computer. He ran his finger over the sticker on the apple laptop. He had dreamt of having one before, when his life had been simple and his mother fed him with eba and okra soup, when he strolled freely around the street with his friends, Dayo and Efe. He shut the computer down and slipped it into the back pack he got with it and carried it to his new room.

“He will be fine.” Ella told Otunba as he watched his son’s shrunken figure disappear into the stairway leading to the luxury rooms upstairs.


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bigbauer:

In MI's voice, Candy didn't invite me so I invited myself.

You are our special guest of honour na, you got a special invite

This Ella is something. .
Poor Tobi
This otunba must suffer

Thanks for the update ma..

dupsai:
Whao, this is beautiful! I'm loving this, thanks Candy.

U can read stories ehh...

Candy, sincerely this is unlike you. Your regular updates carry everyone along with lots of comments laced with lessons learnt from each update. But, you have slowed down and everyone is kinda affected.

I hope you gather steam again. Trust me, this place will bubble

Thiz Woman Iz Really A Evil Woman I Cant Seem To Understand Her Problems, Iz Jay Not Enough 4 Her Y Take Liz Son,

nice one swithrt

Skimpledawg:
Candy, sincerely this is unlike you. Your regular updates carry everyone along with lots of comments laced with lessons learnt from each update. But, you have slowed down and everyone is kinda affected.

I hope you gather steam again. Trust me, this place will bubble

I always know I can count on you bro...your observation is duly noted! I enjoy the steamy comments I get from readers and I promise, God willing, to post at least two updates/week. The workload should get lighter in the coming weeks. Please ya all should keep the comments coming
...me likey...

Great Work...Really Emotional. #REPECT

Evil woman. ***eyes her***. She'll die in her evil someday if she doesn't repent.

this ella of a woman sha....devil in disguise

when karma comes calling, Otunba don't beg anyone to save you.

candy:
Where really are you guys?

Sexysapphire

OMG!!! candy my boo is back! Never knew cos I haven't been as active on Nl in recent times as I used to be. I'm so sleeping on this one today. Will be back to comment properly.

Candy where av u been? Otunba is sick wat rubbish? Nice update and keep it coming

Your biggest fan is back candy I'm too shocked to even know what to say about Otunba's attitude. I expected him to tell his wife about his meeting with Ella the day he got back from Lagos but his greed came to life then, to even think that he abandoned his wife and son for her is just too crazy to comprehend. Like for real, who does that? I can only hope that he gets Hiv alongside other gifts from her as well cos he sure deserves it. As for Darasimi, I won't expect less cos an adage says, like mother like daughter and another one says, a fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. So because of money, she decided to abandon a woman that nurtured her from birth...haaa! The evils money will cause ehn, money itself won't be able to solve it. I was so mad when I read the part where she said that Liz wants to kill her, like she wouldn't have done that since if she wanted. That girl is just a bastard baby and she also deserves what she's going through, it is just a shame to see all the values and virtues Liz cultivated in her come to a waste. I'm so glad that Dr Deji had a rethink before it was too late but I still don't want him to end up with Liz cos she deserves better.
I will keep my other thoughts to myself and air them later in subsequent updates.
You're doing a good job and I love you for it candy. I don miss you die and it feels really good to be back. Ride on babe

I'm dedicating this update to my 'biggest fan' in the house; SexySapphire. Good to have you back sis.

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Chapter 22


Liz smiled as the plane finally came to a stop. She watched as other passengers struggled to get their bags from the overhead baggage compartment- some even started the struggle before the plane made its last descent, ignoring the seatbelt instruction. Scared that passengers would be ordered out giving them no time to pick their bags, she stood up and attempted to join in the struggle. Deji had smiled and asked her to sit down; the plane will still be there long after they disembark.

Deji pulled the trolley out of the arrival hall and they headed for the taxi park. “I thought you agreed with Dino to come and pick us.” Liz pointed out when no one was waiting for them outside the arrival hall.

“You know we changed our return date...” Deji reminded her. He had changed the date because of Ella and Dino. He was scared they’d be waiting to harm him on arrival, but he only told Liz he was changing the dates because of his appeal pending in the US.

“Then let me call Kunle. At least he can arrange something better than a random airport taxi.”
He lifted the suitcases off the trolley at the taxi stand, ignoring her suggestion. He stretched the kinks out of his back that had set in from sitting for too long on the plane. His gaze did a slow scan of the waiting cabs and he flashed Liz a smile when one pulled up beside them. Liz returned the smile with a mock frown, she wondered why he turned mute anytime she mentioned Dino or Kunle.

“Take us to Golden Edge Hotel.”

“4,000.” The cabbie told him.

Liz gently pulled him aside and whispered in his ears, “Why a hotel? Why not a car park where we can board Ibadan bus or something? Besides, isn’t it too risky taking the taxi to a hotel, knowing we just returned from overseas?”

“It’s ok if you’d rather go to Ibadan then.” He said, like a gentleman. “Take us to Ojota.” He instructed the cabbie as they settled in

“Still 4k.” The cabbie answered.

“Let’s go.”. He was too tired to argue with Liz or the cabbie.

As the cab made its way out of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Liz brought out her Blackberry phone- a gift from Deji- and scrolled to her brother’s name on her contact list. The phone rang on the other end.

“Sister!” Richard screamed in a blend of excitement and relief. “Are you already in Ibadan?”

A big smile trembled across Liz’s mouth. “No o, just on our way to the motor park at Ojota. How is Maami, and Tobi and your family?”

“Em...they are fine.”

The hesitation was not lost on Liz. She suspected all was not well. “Is maami alright?” She asked, anxiety setting in. Richard has been like that on the phone the last time they spoke on phone.

“She’s fine. I’ll meet you at her place, since you said you’ll be going there straight.”

Exhausted, she sank lower in the taxi and sighed.

“Is everything alright?” Deji asked, his left arm around her shoulder in a warm embrace.
She shrugged him off gently but firlmy, “I’m not sure maami is fine, or can it be Tobi?” She thought aloud.

“It’s ok, I don’t think anything happened to mama.” He assured her. The cab pulled up at the popular Ojota park and they quickly boarded a taxi waiting for its last two passengers.


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“You should have been there earlier, Richard!” Liz said with tears streaming down her face.

“It was the flat tyre, sister. I waited at the gate every single day of that exam. He couldn’t have tried it in my presence.” Richard explained, downcast. He equally felt like a failure, without his sister rubbing it in.

“Well, we know one thing, Tobi is in the father’s custody in Ibadan...” Deji started to say.

“Says who?” Liz cut him off. “What if they take him abroad or something? She’s rich and powerful.” She broke down in tears again.

“It takes time to process travelling documents, my dear. If he was taken just three days ago, he’ll still be in Nigeria unless he had a valid passport with a valid visa as at the time he was taken.” Deji explained to them as mama sobbed silently in one corner.

Liz and mama had taken the news of Tobi’s ‘abduction’ badly. Tobi had to return at all cost. Liz couched on one of the plastic chairs across from Deji and Richard, knees almost touching her chin. The three sat on plastic chairs around the white plastic table that served as the dining table, fit in one corner of her mother’s sparsely furnished living room. They have all had less than five hours of sleep since Richard broke the news to her on arrival in her mother’s house the previous evening. Richard had gone home very late and returned very early, while Deji had pitched tent in a cheap guest house nearby. She had cried, threatened, apportioned blames and made phone calls to Barrister Yomi and Otunba. None of the calls had yielded any fruit. Yomi was out of town to return in the evening, Otunba simply asked her to go to court.

She stood up, blew her nose on her handkerchief and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. The last meal she had was the plantain chips she bought at the toll gate on their way to Ibadan yesterday. Her mouth had turned so dry her mouth was getting all gummy and sticky. She was willing to do anything, anything to have her son back. She missed Darasimi too, but she was learning to live with her absence, hoping she’ll come back home soon. She occasionally mourned the loss of the girl she had once been-pretty, sweet, undemanding, innocent. However, this was no time to think about Darasimi, it was time to think of how to get back the only thing she had every right to call her own.

She returned from the kitchen with a glass of water and stood by the window, the water gradually lubricating her mouth. She suddenly turned away from the window and faced the others; her eyes blazing in anger. “I’m going to get him.”

“Ni bo lo n wa won lo?” Mama asked quietly from the corner of her modest living room she has reserved for sober reflection. She sat on an old wicker chair she inherited from her late husband. “Do you know their house?”

Liz shrugged her shoulders in resignation. “I don’t know their house, but if I go to Barrister Yomi’s office this morning, he will advise me on what to do.”

“Sister, let me come with you.” Richard offered and picked his car key. Staying back and moping, doing nothing will not bring his nephew back home.

Dr Deji hesitated a moment and sighed. “Let me come with you too.” He offered.

“Don’t worry doc., you should go and rest in your house, let me go with my sister.” Richard said.

Deji quickly nodded in agreement. He was not ready to confront Ella or Dino yet, neither was he ready to do or say anything that'll jeopardize his relationship with Liz. Better stay away from Ella, he thought. “I’ll keep in touch with you guys on phone.”

Liz grabbed her purse and slipped her feet into a pair of cheap leather slippers. She had on a pair of black jeans and a green t-shirt with an ‘I went to Canada and all I got was this lousy t-shirt’ inscription on it. Thankfully, she had brushed her teeth and showered earlier when sleep eluded her.

“Isabella, you finally bit more than you can chew.” She said as she headed for the door.


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SexySapphire:

OMG!!! candy my boo is back! Never knew cos I haven't been as active on Nl in recent times as I used to be. I'm so sleeping on this one today. Will be back to comment properly.

Welcome on board dear, I don mention you tire!

@D9ty7,Harjibolar10,ruffhandu,Kingphilip,Hameenat94,Sexysapphire,Jennimma,Mariamferanmi ,QueenTolpatx ,zyzxx ,sammyomotola, calmdove,Rosytonia ,skimpledawg ,joliej ,bolajJP007 ,MaBuk ,YasirNasir,Missviva ,Missmossy ,debdave,tescoleps ,hassan85,seunviju,tsodjete,
yinksaid,Cestmoi1,Stuff46,Whizbee,Nancydearie,Vijon,BashirAhmad1,snowangel4,Stonecoldcafe,fatalveli,Bblacky,teemanbastos,lenmafon,Thinezy,Boladex1,Amiablejudy,Plaitex,tfabu,Manuel180,gal10,telad,arheeda,MaBuk,estellar12,mohjisolah,Debbysky,booqee,fragilegal,Queenxtar,Jayminna,chumzypinky,Adesina12,queenitee,slimzjoe, holuwanoisy111, jupitre,bossy512, kajsa08, wizsolzy, waluga, nikz, Ibunkun1, Blissfuljeff et al


Come and air your views.

The story is about to start.Ghen ghen

candy:

I'm dedicating this update to my 'biggest fan' in the house; SexySapphire. Good to have you back sis.

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Chapter 22

Thanks so much for this Sis and yes, it feels so good to be back! Will be on the watch out for more updates.

Well done, nice update

okay!!! let the battle line be drawn.....

Chumzypinky:

haba now. E neva reach lyk dat. D story is dope, tho i've not startd makin out d plot and i'm sure i'll do dat pretty soon

my bad mummi

Skimpledawg:
Adesina12, I beg to differ from your point up there. I seriously doubt Ella and her mum did more than natural to get Otunba back into their evil net.

The holy Bible succinctly stated in James 1v14."every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed..
From the little we know of Otunba, he wants the goodies of life and above all, a career lady with a banging body as described by candy in the form of Ella. Ella knew Otunba well enough to tempt him with what he wanted most in life...

My niqqa fell flat

AWW SHIT...

Stories that touch -What do you do if you are in her shoes---------find out more here - https://365dayswithoutborders./2017/03/28/the-hypocritical-dedication/

please comment saying what you will do differently
ALSO LIKE, COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE

*kneels down in the mud *Candy,my love am so sowie i had been ignoring dis masterpice 4 long.i mistakly clicked it 2day,and i cant stop reading.PLEASE forgive mi abeg.am in love wit ur tori. #ride on

Let the war begin!

candy:

@D9ty7,Harjibolar10,ruffhandu,Kingphilip,Hameenat94,Sexysapphire,Jennimma,Mariamferanmi ,QueenTolpatx ,zyzxx ,sammyomotola, calmdove,Rosytonia ,skimpledawg ,joliej ,bolajJP007 ,MaBuk ,YasirNasir,Missviva ,Missmossy ,debdave,tescoleps ,hassan85,seunviju,tsodjete,
yinksaid,Cestmoi1,Stuff46,Whizbee,Nancydearie,Vijon,BashirAhmad1,snowangel4,Stonecoldcafe,fatalveli,Bblacky,teemanbastos,lenmafon,Thinezy,Boladex1,Amiablejudy,Plaitex,tfabu,Manuel180,gal10,telad,arheeda,MaBuk,estellar12,mohjisolah,Debbysky,booqee,fragilegal,Queenxtar,Jayminna,chumzypinky,Adesina12,queenitee,slimzjoe, holuwanoisy111, jupitre,bossy512, kajsa08, wizsolzy, waluga, nikz, Ibunkun1, Blissfuljeff et al


Come and air your views.

ghen ghen, time for liz to bring out her dark side.

candy:

You are our special guest of honour na, you got a special invite

Now she makes my head swell.