₦airaland Forum

Beyond the Limits



Julie has to face the challenge of miscarriages in her matrimony when the re-appearance of an old lover threatens the very fabric of her home and compounds her problems. Her husband, Femi, does not fare better as he relishes secret romance with his personal assistant. Julie must overcome all obstacles to have a stable and happy home full of love and fruitfulness. With sheer determination she’s able to overcome her adversaries, human and psychological.

O Toyin



© 2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS STORY SHOULD BE USED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMSSION OF THE WRITER


THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO ALMIGHTY GOD





Beyond the Limits


Femi was always busy these days. Officially, work closed at 5.00 p.m., but he always remained in office, sometimes as late as 9.00 p.m. Tonight, for the past one hour, he had been surfing the internet on his lap top. The world-wide technological bug had caught up with him and he found himself becoming addicted to the world of the wireless communication.

He was the company secretary to an indigenous oil marketing firm, Exoss Oil and Gas. It was a prestigious job with a fat pay. At thirty-four, he was a figure that elicited envy among peers.

Right now, he was working on his fiction, which he normally did after the official closing hours. He hoped to make it a blockbuster, as fantastic as the idea was. He would like to be in the league of writers like John Grisham. It was a tall dream, but there was no crime in dreaming.

At ten minutes to six, his personal assistant popped inside his office. She had some papers with her. They were the prints out of the latest pages of his manuscript. Amanda, the P.A had been doing some overtime to get them typed and edited.

She didn’t mind the extra effort. Her boss attached some generous pecks to her efforts. Besides, Femi had recently taken more than passing interests in her. She found herself not resisting his overtures. Indeed, that was an understatement as she had actually been goading him on.

‘How far?’ he asked, his eyes still glued to the monitor.

‘All done.’ She gave him the papers which were all neatly arranged according to their pages.
She was always the efficient assistant.

‘Good,’ he said, grinning. His eyes didn’t leave the monitor. ‘Thanks,’ he added as an afterthought. She shrugged it off.

‘Another minute, and we’ll be off,’ he informed.

She didn’t say anything but sat on one of the seats facing his desk. Apart from the muffled sound from the split air-conditioning system and the soft rattling of the keys on the keyboard, everywhere was silent. After five minutes, he whistled softly and shut down the computer..


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After five minutes, he whistled softly and shut down the computer.

‘Whoosh, what a day!’ he exclaimed, looking at his wristwatch.

‘How did it go?’

‘Fine, fine.’

He stood up. Amanda was on her feet too. She removed his coat from the hanging rack and helped him to wear it.

Amanda was about twenty-seven. She had a higher diploma in Business Administration from a federal polytechnic. She was good in secretarial duties and had been an efficient and reliable P.A. She was still single and that meant she was vulnerable to her boss’ advances.

Amanda was only employed as Femi’s P.A some months ago. At first, Femi did not have any amorous inclination towards her. Then, about a fortnight ago, he practically started noticing how desirable she was and how desirous he was becoming.

He believed he still loved his wife, Julie, but … perhaps if he was discreet enough, there would not be a crime in having a fling with Amanda. Couldn’t Amanda provide the very much needed succor one needed after the office stress?

Amanda was pretty, cool and vivacious. Femi was convinced there wouldn’t be any harm in trying. For three years now that he had been married, he had never cheated his wife.

Somehow, this intending tryst gave him a secret thrill.

‘Let’s go,’ he said, quite irrelevantly as she was set to leave. She nodded as if it mattered. The office was on the eight floor of one of the numerous skyscrapers that adorned the sky of Marina, Lagos.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, they rode the elevator to the ground floor. He had to resist the impulsive urge of grabbing her and crushing her lips with kisses right there. He grinned as he refrained himself.

A security man in the lobby at the ground floor saw them to his car. As usual, Femi gave him a tip.

‘Ah, God bless, sir,’ the guy said, smiling boyishly.

Femi waved at him. The engine of the SUV roared into life. In a late hour like this, he preferred to go home in his car, rather than the official car.

‘What’s the plan tonight?’ she asked at last.
‘I’m a little bit tired,’ he replied casually. ‘I think I’ll just drop you and be on my way.’

He drove the car towards Obalende where he hoped to make it to Ikeja via the Third Mainland Bridge.

‘You’ve always overworked yourself,’ she reminded him. She had said it before. ‘Why don’t you just take it easy?’

He felt like laughing, but grinned instead. He was not totally ready to commit himself into this relationship. It was one in which he hoped he would not be ensnared passionately. There must never be strings attached. All the same, from all indications, Amanda was prodding him on.

‘I enjoy the work,’ he replied shortly.

‘I know.’ She loosened his red tie a bit, like a real caring lover. ‘But that’s no excuse not to relax on the job. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’

This time around, he couldn’t suppress the laughter. ‘For God’s sake, you’re sounding off like my mother.’

Was that a compliment or a reproach?

Amanda didn’t mind whatever it was. She joined him in the short laughter.



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Was that a compliment or a reproach?

Amanda didn’t mind whatever it was. She joined him in the short laughter.

‘You’ll give yourself stress if you continue this way,’ she said seriously.

He didn’t argue with her but nodded. They talked about this and that, his mind veering on and off. After thirty minutes of driving, he got to Maryland bus stop and stopped. Amanda lived in an estate around that place.

‘We’ll have a good time out tomorrow,’ he told her. It sounded like a promise and she nodded. She didn’t really like the seemingly blank promise, but managed to look indifferent. He gave her a peck just before she slid out of the car.

‘Good night, then.’

‘Goodnight,’ he replied and engaged the gear of the car. It was a few minutes to eight in the evening and he knew his wife would be looking forward to his coming home.

Despite the fact that Julie hadn’t given him a child, he still so much loved her, or so he felt.

He briefly had a reminiscence of his relationship with her. He had met her in a friend’s birthday party, fallen in love on the first sight and – barely eight months after – wedded her gracefully. She had all he wanted in a woman: she was tall, beautiful, regal and bewitching. He had called her ‘The Total Woman’.

It was a blissful affair. Besides many other good qualities, she was good at the home front. Femi had, true to his words, taken on a caring and homely one. As for her miscarriages, he believed the problem would soon be over and he would become a proud father.

His mother had expressed serious reservations about his wife’s state, most of which – unfortunately – were unpleasant.

‘All these modern girls,’ she had often said in vitriol, ‘they would end up with such problem after they had seriously messed around when single. All those abortions!’

‘Oh, no, mummy,’ he would say. ‘Don’t talk like that.’

He had tried as much as possible to dispel her insinuations, but with little success.

It was almost eight o’clock when he got to the gate of his house. He hooted the horn to draw the attention of Audu, the security man. Some seconds later, he hooted it again. Audu was becoming erratic these days. It was obvious he was becoming negligent in his duty as he was not as assiduous as he used to be.

He finally emerged in his caftan and with all the time in the world, opened the gate wide enough for the car to drive in.

Alex, one of Deji’s junior brothers, came out of the main building to welcome him.

‘Welcome, brother,’ Alex greeted.

‘Alex, you’ve come? How was school?’

‘We’ve been sent packing from the school,’ Alex explained. He was an undergraduate of Economics in a federal university in the north, and his sudden coming to Lagos was not without a surprise.

‘I tried your number but could not get through.’

‘Really?’

Alex tried a grin to shrug it off. The university authority had sent them out of the school after an imbroglio between the academic staff and the institution’s senate. In a rare show of solidarity, the students had demonstrated in support of the lecturers.





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Was that a compliment or a reproach? Amanda didn’t mind whatever it was. She joined him in the short laughter.

‘You’ll give yourself stress if you continue this way,’ she said seriously.

He didn’t argue with her but nodded. They talked about this and that, his mind veering on and off. After thirty minutes of driving, he got to Maryland bus stop and stopped. Amanda lived in an estate around that place.

‘We’ll have a good time out tomorrow,’ he told her. It sounded like a promise and she nodded. She didn’t really like the seemingly blank promise, but managed to look indifferent. He gave her a peck just before she slid out of the car.

‘Good night, then.’

‘Goodnight,’ he replied and engaged the gear of the car. It was a few minutes to eight in the evening and he knew his wife would be looking forward to his coming home.

Despite the fact that Julie hadn’t given him a child, he still so much loved her, or so he felt. He briefly had a reminiscence of his relationship with her. He had met her in a friend’s birthday party, fallen in love on the first sight and – barely eight months after – wedded her gracefully. She had all he wanted in a woman: she was tall, beautiful, regal and bewitching. He had called her ‘The Total Woman’.

It was a blissful affair. Besides many other good qualities, she was good at the home front. Femi had, true to his words, taken on a caring and homely one. As for her miscarriages, he believed the problem would soon be over and he would become a proud father.

His mother had expressed serious reservations about his wife’s state, most of which – unfortunately – were unpleasant.

‘All these modern girls,’ she had often said in vitriol, ‘they would end up with such problem after they had seriously messed around when single. All those abortions!’

‘Oh, no, mummy,’ he would say. ‘Don’t talk like that.’

He had tried as much as possible to dispel her insinuations, but with little success.

It was almost eight o’clock when he got to the gate of his house. He hooted the horn to draw the attention of Audu, the security man. Some seconds later, he hooted it again. Audu was becoming erratic these days. It was obvious he was becoming negligent in his duty as he was not as assiduous as he used to be.

He finally emerged in his caftan and with all the time in the world, opened the gate wide enough for the car to drive in.

Alex, one of Deji’s junior brothers, came out of the main building to welcome him.

‘Welcome, brother,’ Alex greeted.

‘Alex, you’ve come? How was school?’

‘We’ve been sent packing from the school,’

Alex explained. He was an undergraduate of Economics in a federal university in the north, and his sudden coming to Lagos was not without a surprise.

‘I tried your number but could not get through.’

‘Really?’

Alex tried a grin to shrug it off. The university authority had sent them out of the school after an imbroglio between the academic staff and the institution’s senate. In a rare show of solidarity, the students had demonstrated in support of the lecturers.

Emboldened somehow, the lecturers too had refused to go to the lecture rooms. At the end, the situation became messy and the authority thought it was better to direct the students out of the campus in order to forestall uglier circumstances from cropping up.

Femi took his story in thoughtfully. It was one sad reality of the Nigerian educational system. He exchanged more pleasantries with his younger brother as they made their way inside the building. He made straight for the master bedroom where his wife would most likely be.



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He made straight for the master bedroom where his wife would most likely be.

‘Hello?’ he paced in, looking solemnly.

As usual, Julie was there, staring at the thirty-two inches flatscreen and already in her sleepwear. It was a very transparent and sexy one, all for dear hubby. She stood up to give him a smile and a welcome. He clasped her waist in his hands and swooped on her luscious lips with kisses.

‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ he said, just as he did the previous night. ‘It’s the work. Don’t worry, I’m going to cut down on those hours so that I can always be with my darling wife on time.’

‘You must be tired.’ She helped him out of his coat, helped him to loosen and remove his tie, and then removed his shoes and socks. That was Julie, the caring wife.

‘You must be tired,’ she repeated.

‘You’re right. Talking about those legal documents and those legal mumbo jumbos. Sometimes, I wished I hadn’t left the law chamber. Private practice could be fun, you know.’

She nodded as if she knew. ‘But you don’t have to complain, darling. The pay is good and … ‘

‘I know, I know.’ He grinned. ‘In fact, if not for the prospects, I wonder why I should be holed up in an office all day long.’

It was a standard ironic statement. In the real sense of it, Femi loved his job. Perhaps, he needed to make more biting statement to blame something on his shortcoming as far as connubial commitment was concerned.

‘Let me check if your dinner is ready,’ she put in. she always called his office just about official closing time to ask him what he would like for dinner. He had told her he wanted pounded yam tonight. As usual, the pounding machine would be on the rescue. His favorite snail-grilled egusi soup would complement the delicacy.

By the time she came back, he was already decked in pajamas.

‘It’s ready.’

He smiled and followed her to the dining table in the large sitting-room. The food smelt delicious, and so was the taste. He enjoyed it tremendously and he made sure he passed the appropriate compliment at the right time. She ate in silence while she savored the food and his commendations.

The unexpected call she had received that evening was still giving her a lot of concern, although she had been playing it cool as much as she could. She had decided not to tell him for now. It was still better not to involve him for now.

The dinner was over and the maid servant came to clear the plates. The couple returned to their bedroom upstairs.

‘How far with your writing?’ she asked. She always showed a great deal of interest in his writing. Julie was an avid reader but his kind of writing wasn’t exactly the kind she loved to read.

She preferred the romantic stuff and would go for anything written by the likes of Daniel Steele. Femi would laugh at her choice and call it the ‘effeminate feminine’ stuff.

‘You should try some hard stuff,’ he had suggested several times. She had actually tried some of them and had decided they gave her the aches. She couldn’t simply stand the violence and the gory thrills.





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Next please.

She couldn’t simply stand the violence and the gory thrills.

On the question she asked, Femi replied that he was making good progress and was already in the tenth chapter. He reaffirmed his belief that when eventually it appeared in prints and in the market, it would be a block buster.

‘I know you’re capable of becoming a great writer,’ his wife told him encouragingly.

She always marveled at his high sense of optimism and had been careful not to be a discouraging block.

‘Just let the millions start rolling in, and I’ll get you that villa I promised in Switzerland.’

Julie laughed. He had a high sense of humor and he was at it again.

‘You said you’ve not been to the Caribbean Island, right?’ he did not wait for an answer.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll go to any place of your choice, be it the Bahamas or Trinidad & Tobago.’

She laughed shortly again.

As soon as they entered the bedroom, he lifted and they flopped on the bed together.

‘My oh my,’ she exclaimed. ‘You could’ve broken my back, great lover.’

He feigned surprise. ‘I didn’t really know you’ve got such a delicate backbone, but I’m sure we can fix it.’

‘Can you? Are you sure you can do that?’

‘Why not? Let’s say I have the Midas touch.’

‘Really?’

He was on top of her and there was an etched lustful look on his face.

‘You’ve just eaten, mister,’ she reminded him.

‘Won’t you wait for digestion?’

‘Of course, I will, doctor.’ He smiled. ‘I’m sorry I forgot all about ethics.’ He lie by her side and she placed her head on his broad chest.

‘Your heart is beating, thump, thump, thump,’ she said.

‘And how’s your own beating? Or is it not beating at all?’

‘You’re such a lousy assessor.’

‘Thanks for your compliment. How was your day today?’

She shrugged. ‘So, so.’

‘Does that mean it was good?’

‘You could say that again.’

‘I’ll give you another surprise package one of these days.’

‘I know.’

‘You did? Well, I have a surprise one for you right now.’

He didn’t give her a chance to say anything further. The kiss was long and enervating, and they short of breath when it was over. He was about to repeat the act when a telephone rang.it was Julie’s own.

‘Oh, damn,’ he swore softly. ‘Now, who could be calling at this hour?’

He picked the call before she could do. ‘Hello?’

There was silence from the end of the line.

After seconds of not hearing anything, he cut the connection.

‘Who was it?’ she asked.

‘An unknown number, and there was no response.’

Her mind dashed to the infamous call she had received hours ago. She wondered if that could be Biyi that was calling. She didn’t save the number he had used to call her. Julie became unsettled again. If it were him, that meant he was up to some terrible mischief.

She knew the kind of person he was and was not very pleased about some past deeds and misdeeds.






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Go on.

She knew the kind of person he was and was not very pleased about some past deeds and misdeeds.

But she continued to wonder how Biyi got her number in the first place. Perhaps a mutual friend had given the returnee.

Her mind hovered on telling her husband about the call, but – again – she quickly dismissed the idea. She would handle it all alone, she thought. Indeed, it seemed unfair to bring him in. she had involved herself in a mess, which – she believed – she must get herself out of, all by herself.

Femi forgot the unanswered call and made passionate love to his wife. He was always good in that. Unlike him, she was only pretending to be enjoying the act. Her thinking was distant and troubled.


* * *


It wasn’t until ten o’clock the following morning when Biyi called again. Femi had left for office about four hours ago and Julie was alone in the house apart from the maidservant. Femi’s brother had also gone out.

When her phone rang, she could see that it was an unknown number which turned out to be Biyi’s own.

‘Were you the one that called last night?’ she asked tersely, uptight There was a short laugh.

‘Yeah. I just wanted to hear your voice.’ ‘Why are you doing this to me?’

He became all serious again. ‘That’s why we’ve got to talk.’ He allowed a brief silence. ‘Do you know the Accordia Hotel?’

She had heard of the name, but she couldn’t place where it was. ‘I think I do.’ He gave her the address. ‘Let’s meet there in the lobby at 11.00 this morning.’

‘What kind of mischief are you up to?’

‘There’s no mischief. We’ll only talk, okay? That’s the rendezvous.’

She thought briefly. ‘Okay.’

The line was disconnected. She felt a little bit feverish. An hour to go, she thought, musing over the person she was to meet. Something told her she should not go on with it, but – on a second thought – she shrugged it off. No harm, she thought. If ever he was preposterous in what he was going to say, she could easily tell him to go to hell.

Biyi was her first love, her heartthrob during her under-graduate days. They were in the same department, doing the same course and striving to excel in the study of linguistics. Julie could not avoid being enamored to his handsome and vivacious mien.

Besides, he had an easy smile and laugh that were infectious. She liked his idea of romanticism.

He had given her the name, Princess. Effusive as ever, he had described that she was greater than Cleopatra and Mona Lisa combined. In his words, Julie was like Venus who diffused aura of love, affection and passion. So, he called her Princess of the universe. Not that she minded, though.

Trouble had started in the third year. She had been hearing that he was fraternizing with one secret cult or the other on the campus, but there was no way those fleeting words could be affirmed. Then, one day, she had challenged him about it, demanding for nothing but the absolute truth. He confirmed her worst fears, but promised that in a matter of short time, he would renounce the damnable thing.

He never did. Rather, he went ahead to become ‘the capo.’ All the while, he didn’t stop effusing words about his endless love for her. She was in a serious quandary but her mind urged her to play along. The hammer finally fell on him when he was rusticated from the university.

She was in a serious quandary but her mind urged her to play along. The hammer finally fell on him when he was rusticated from the university.

It was a bitter aftermath of a bloody clash some belligerent factions of the group had been causing. The school had been forced to close down and after some inquiry had been made into the cause of the hullabaloo, the authority had taken some drastic steps.

Biyi and some crazy hard-nuts had been thrown out of the university system. Some of them had made threats of vengeance and reprisals, but they had to go. Biyi had dismissed the whole episode as farcical, while Julie was terribly let down. Nothing to worry about, he had told her.

Despite all his assurances, she remained perturbed. What would he do? Would he start his university education all over again, or what?

Worse still, he didn’t seem to be perturbed. Unknown to her, he had been making a grand plan about travelling abroad. He had made connections and had decided to execute his plans.

Therefore, when he told her of his imminent departure from Nigeria to South Africa, she had expressed surprise. He would go to S.A, he had said and would settle there.

Then, after some time, he would send for her, or come and ‘pick’ her. Julie had been amazed. She wanted to know if he was making a kind of joke or whatever, but he had said he was dead serious.

He went on to swear that his love for her would remain as fresh as the lily of the valley forever. Julie felt like laughing. He had sworn more. He would love her forever, he asserted. He would travel but would definitely come or send for her. She nodded as if she understood and believe him perfectly.

Tears were in her eyes when she saw him go. She had seen him off at the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Ikeja, and was so sorry about his exit, in addition to the feeling of helplessness. She wasn’t really consoled with his promises. Hadn’t some men made such promises before without fulfilling them?

Her fears were confirmed when she only heard from him twice. The first was when he had landed in Jo’burg and the second was some months later when he called to tell her that he was combining schooling with some jobs. He never disclosed the nature of job he was involved in. Since then, there had been no further communication. Until now.

She had tried as much as she could to hear or read from him, but it appeared the communication chain had been broken. As for the social media, he was elusive. That was six years ago.

She had waited, still believing that he hadn’t forgotten her; that in a matter of time, he would contact her again or perhaps make a sudden return. Two years after being in the limbo, she was beginning to believe in the futility of his words. He had failed her terribly, she realized.

Then, she had met Femi at a friend’s party. He was the charming, young lawyer who diffused magnificent aura. He wasn’t slow in showing serious interest in her, and she wasn’t lethargic in embracing his gesture. Hadn’t she played the fool for over two years, waiting for a fugitive lover? Must she continue to hope against hope?

Femi had been given the chance of proving his passionate mettle. He succeeded, without doubts, and she was swept off her feet. Now, Biyi had made a sudden and dramatic return and wanted to see her.

Now, Biyi had made a sudden and dramatic return and wanted to see her.

Some minutes to the appointed time, she was dressed up and ready to meet him. Her Honda Civic car, a gift from her hubby, was shining in the morning sun. she seldom used it and obviously, it still looked new. As a full house wife, Femi had restricted her movement, so to say.

You could work later, but not now, he had stated. Julie could not understand his misgivings about a working wife. After a hot argument on the propriety of what he desired, she had let him have his way.

He would open a supermarket for her, he had promised. Or a beauty saloon. Or a …. Femi was never short of making promises. She didn’t really doubt him, but his promises were too many. He was the sort that could promise a paradise right here on earth.

Some minutes after eleven, she parked the Honda Civic on the parking space of Accordia Hotel at Ikeja. The three-star hotel was quite conspicuous and she didn’t have much problem in locating the place.

Biyi was already waiting for her at the lobby. He stood up and smiled as she approached. He had changed a great deal, she could observe. He was now beefy and his chest seemed broader.

Could he be doing body-building? There was no single hair on his head while his right ear adorned a tiny gold ring.

‘My baby,’ he said, grinning from ear to ear.
Your babe? She asked in her mind. That was ancient history.

They exchanged short greetings and he invited her to the bar for drinks. She refused his offer of drinks, then he set the ball rolling.

‘Things have not been exactly easy over there as some guys want us believe over her,’ he said. ‘I mean there are hassles and you really have to work up your ass to live comfortably. Combining that with schooling is one of the hardest things in the world.

'Your schedules are tight, and you’re busy from morning till night. All those factors plus others which I cannot dwell on here are what are responsible for the long silence from me.’

Julie nodded, but said nothing. It wasn’t time to talk yet.

‘Four years ago,’ he continued after another sip from his beer, ‘I made a solemn promise. A vow, really. I’ve come home now to fulfil my promise.’

She felt like bursting into laughter, but instead kept a straight face. He must be out of his mind, she thought, to think that she would still be waiting for him and some goddamned promises.

He expected her to say something. When she did not, he continued: ‘I’m here in Nigeria because of you, and I’ve brought the good news that after settling down comfortably over there. You can now come and join me.’
She chuckled. ‘So, in your little mind, you still expect me to be waiting for you, right?’ ‘I made a promise and – ‘

‘You didn’t fulfill it,’ she interrupted heatedly. ‘Barely five months after you had gone, there wasn’t any communication from you. All my attempts at making a contact met with brick wall. Even the e-mails I sent to you were never replied. I neither had your telephone contact nor have any other means of contacting you. I didn’t know how to contact you, but you certainly knew how you could get in touch. You failed to make any contact. I asked your friends and relatives, but their answers were blank.

‘I waited for years. Solid years of apprehension and anxiety. It was like living the life of a nun. Well, all that is now history. Forget your pet dream about me. I’m now happily married.’
She showed him the wedding ring on her finger to drive home her point. He ought to have seen it, but in case he had not, here it was. His eyes only flickered to it and he shook his head. She didn’t know what that gesture meant.

‘Julie, I’ve come to fulfil my promises.’

‘Too late.’ She was cold and rather brusque. ‘It’s too late. I’m happily married.’

Biyi looked like he could not really understand the import of what she was saying.

Biyi looked like he could not really understand the import of what she was saying.

‘Divorce him,’ he blurted out. ‘Divorce him. Tell him your real husband – your real love – has come to take you away.’

'Are you serious?’ Again, she felt like laughing. He made it sound so simple as if he was instructing her to listen to R & B music. No way.

‘Biyi, you have to be realistic. I’ve been married for about two years now and I must confess that my husband and I love each other. So, you need to be realistic.’

'It can’t be,’ he spluttered. ‘You can’t be in love with him, or any man, for god’s sake.’

His tone was caustic.Now, she was getting exasperated. ‘That’s one fact you have to live with. Princess, I promised you love and unaffected affection. I promised to love you forever. I still stand by my promises and I’m here to manifest them. You always professed your love for me, too, and I believed you. I still do, so I don’t believe you’re in love with any other man.’

Now, he sounded like a desperate lover. 

‘Listen, Biyi, why’re you complicating issues? I was in love with you, but it didn’t work out. Let’s leave this love thing behind us. It’s gone and we have to face the new reality. That reality is the fact that I’m married. Go ahead and find yourself a new babe. I understand South African ladies are very beautiful.’

'No one can replace the love I have for you,’ he stated. His voice rose slightly ‘I love you and I’m not going to lose you.’ 

'Lower your voice,’ she chided him. A couple by a table not far from theirs had paused in their conversation and was staring at them.

Biyi glared around and continued, but this time in a controlled voice. ‘Julie, I’m sorry for the long loss of communication. Why can’t you forgive me?’

‘I have forgiven you. What is gone is gone, that’s the fact. You must also face the fact that I’m the wife of someone else, now.’

'You mean you don’t want me again?’

She became impatient and annoyed. ‘What’s gone over you, for God’s sake? Can’t you face a very simple fact?’

He became silent, brooding. Julie was thoughtful too. Her mind went over his asinine suggestion: divorce him. What a crazy thing to contemplate! He must be crazy to think that she would now jump to her feet, hug him and be so overly joyful over his proposal.

‘So, how are things in South Africa?’ she asked, just for the sake of saying something. The silence had become unnerving.

He grinned. ‘The place is cool. You need to see our little home in S.A. You’ll love it.’

'When are you going back?’

'You mean when are we going back? It all depends on you. A couple of weeks should be enough to arrange everything and be ready. What d’you think?’

She felt dizzy. Something struck her mind and she stood up. ‘I wish you the best of luck during your stay.’

He hurriedly stood up too. ‘Where’re you going, Princess?’

'Home.’ Her answer was tart. ‘Goodbye, Biyi.’

‘Hey, not so fast. We’re still talking.’

She was now totally repulsed by his presence and the only thing she needed now was to get away. She snatched her hand from his and hurried out of the bar. She didn’t look back to see that he remained on the same spot, mouth ajar, looking stunned by her behavior and the abruptness.

She didn’t want to see him again.Still flustered, she swiftly opened the door of her car and gunned it out of the premises. She checked the rear mirror to see if she was being followed. She had read a lot about being followed, trailed or stalked. Now, it was ironic that she found herself in a situation where one of these was happening to her.

Life was whimsical, wasn’t it?In her amateurish mind, she decided that no suspicious motorist or vehicle was trailing her. Was she very harsh on him? Was she very unfeeling, or had she acted the right way by being frank with him? Her mind weighed his words and her responses. She justified her actions.

She was right in treating him the way she had done.For God’s sake, he was as crazy as his proposition. He must be batty to think that he would jump at his offer. She didn’t drive home straight.

She had some shopping to do. Besides, her very good friend, Nike would be celebrating her birthday the following week and Julie would like to buy a little, nice and befitting present for her.It didn’t take her long to complete her shopping and she soon driving home. She hoped she had got rid of Biyi for good. But she was wrong.

Her phone rang and he was the one on the line.

'Why did you walk out on me?’ he demanded, sounding angry. 

‘What is it you want?’ she parried, matching his tone.