₦airaland Forum

:::::::******:::::::

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 eclaimed 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.

Iyawo ke! @ white moss
don't worry, my immune system is strong@ Damex.
Hahahahahahah, thanks to ya all.
Hope you all spent your val's day well.

:::::::*******::::::::

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.

Thanks trixandra, splendblex, candis, and Damex. God bless.
:::::::******:::::::

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!

"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.

:::::::******:::::::
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 quarelling? 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...alll..the..."

"Ehn!" The old man screamed interrupting her

:::::*****;;;;;;

"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...they just 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.

Hmn...thanks aunty Serah! Gr8 work...sooo.....
Expecting ya update tomorrow.
#I guess that should be my val gift!#

::::::::*****::::::
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?

Sorry ooo for the delay.

::::::::******::::::.
"Ehen! 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.

:::::::******:::::::
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? You can't...

#to be continued later#

Hy dearies, m sowi for not updating, was kinda busy....

::::::********::::::::
Tony watched Lara as she tucked him bed. She've 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'l 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 aint trying to be nice just because you're ill! I'm sure when you get back on your feet again; you'l 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.

::::::*****::::::
"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, atleast, 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 quitely, 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'l 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 shold 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 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 stoped 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 se-x, 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 stoped 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 you 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.

:::::::******::::::
"Breakfast is ready..." Lara cooed as she helped Tony sit-up on his bed.
He was watching her closely, she's been supportive ever since he came back from the hospital.
He had always imagined her paying him back his evils now that he's defenceless, but she proved his imaginations wrong.
He wondered if she had forgiven him, cos he's not even asked for her forgiveness yet.

"Hope you don't mind me putting too much milk in your tea...the doctor said you should drink alot of milk o." Lara smiled as she offered him a cup of tea in a saucer.

"Thank you." he said almost in a whisper.

"Your toast is here, your boiled eggs, your potato chips, your fried plantains, your ...." Lara listed as she pushed a tray full of food towards him.

"for only me?" Tony's eyes widened.

"Yes o! The doctor said you need a balanced diet!" Lara said

Tony laughed, he never knew she had a sense of humour.
"Eat up, while I get your bath water ready..." she quipped.

"Errrm..Lara?" he searched her eyes.

"yes?" she turned to look at him.

"I...errm...I...just...wanted to say I'm sorry..for..for..all I did to you...I'm..." he stammered.

"Oh please, don't start! Stop those I'm sorry stuff!" Lara frowned.

"I don't..know....Its..just that...just that...I feel I'm not worth your kindness...." he continued.

"Now, don't talk like that, I hold no grudges against you..okay? Now eat up and take your bathe, you know your father would be here soon...remember you're seeing the doctor today...huh?" she said sweetly.

Tony held her gaze for a while before she looked away. She walked gently towards his bathroom.

avicky: D type of mother dt has never smelt wealth. Yeye mother dt can sell her dignity and her daughter's because of material gains.
I just wish Deji will teach dem all a lesson.

Bukky... Deji na man or woman? Oruko okunrin ni naw. Ayodeji abi?
Weldone dear!

deji is a female o, obirin's too answer the name.
Anyway thanks.

::::::****::::::
Lara folded her arms round her chest as she watched her mother in-law pack some fruits into a basket.
"You're going out" she said rather than asked.

"Yes, but I'll be back soon." Amara replied covering the basket with a table cloth.

"I'm coming with you..." Lara began to say.

"No..."

"I'm coming with you!" she said firmly.

"Lara, you can't come with me, okay?" Amara tried to soothe her.

"Is there anything wrong? You've been going out now for the past one week, and...and... Or is there anything you're hiding from me?" Lara said with a frown.

"Now, Lara relax your nerves, okay. Stay back, I'l buy you something when I'm coming back." Amara patted her.

"Okay then...I'l be going back to my place." Lara pouted.

"Lara! You can't..."

"I can't stay here all alone!" Lara began to cry.

Amara sighed, she knew her game is up. She need to tell Lara the truth. But how would she start? Tony would be discharged that night.

"Errm..Lara, Tony had an accident, he'll be discharged today." she said slowly.

"Accident? Tony?" Lara held her chest firmly.

"Yes, he'l be discharged today." Amara sighed again.

"I'm coming with you to see him!" Lara said huskily.

"No...I'l drop you at your place instead, you'l see him later in the day, when he's been discharged." Amara told her.

Lara felt her knee go weak, she prayed the accident isn't that bad.

::::::::********
Lara toyed with her cornrows out of boredom, her mother-in-law had called to tell her they were on their way.
She tried to imagine what Tony would look like, maybe he would wear a scowl, or perhaps bark at her.
She heard the front door open, she stood up sharply, expectantly.

"Welco..." what she saw made her Tongue stick to the roof of her mouth...

Tony sat in a wheel chair, he looked so pale. Chief Ifiora pushed the wheel chair into the room.

Lara looked on, she tried to speak, but couldn't. Tony looked up at her, he held her gaze, his eyes full of regrets, sorrow and pains.

Lara looked away, tears stung her eyelids, was it real? She asked herself.

"Don't cry." Amara hugged her.

Lara wept on her shoulder, she watched her father-in-law push Tony in his wheel chair towards his room.

Tears blurred her vision. Was this the same Tony she saw few days ago? Now he is in a wheel-chair?
She hugged her mother-inlaw and they both wept holding each other tightly.

Errrmmm...Humbledbygrace...Bukky is a female o...errm...

:::::::::*******.
Tony knotted his tie whilst sipping some coffee. The night had been terrible, different night mares taunting him, he was awake 75 percent of the night.

He ignited his car, and Lara crossed his mind. Her beautiful eyes that widens when she's scared was all he could see. He's been just wicked to her, only God knows the story she's telling his father now about him.

He changed his gear and sped on the highway.
He knew his father won't spare him, he would take the company off his hand, collect all he has and worst of all disown him.

"Oh shit!" he rubbed his eyes.
He opened them lazily at first, then they popped out.

A madman was standing on the road before him, just a few yards away. He couldn't stop the car cos he was moving at a high speed.
He expertly turned the steering wheel moving the car off the road.
The car swerved beyond control, he muttered some quick prayers, he was sure he would die.
The car somersaulted throwing him out through the window...

:::::::*****:
Lara giggled as she bit into her roasted chicken, she was having lunch with her in-laws. She felt joy surge through her veins, what more could she ask for? She felt loved by them. They were doting on her, most-especially her father in-law Chief Ifiora.

"I taught your mother in-law how to cook o." Ifiora chuckled at her.

"well I taught him how to eat!" Amara said and they all burst out laughing.

Lara watched them as they laughed, they looked so much alike; happy couples she thought as she smiled.

"When I was a boy, I helped my mother in the kitchen." Ifiora said with pride.

"well that's cos you liked it." Amara replied.

"Not at all! I was an only child that's why!" he defended himself.

"Hmm...Tony Is an only child too, but can't make himself a mug of coffee." Amara chirped cleaning her mouth with a napkin.

Lara felt shivers run down her spine at the mention fo 'Tony', she saw her father-in-law cringe too.

"Talking about Tony..." Ifiora's voice became coarse.

"He couldn't even call or do something...he's expecting me to call him right?" he shook his head.

"I guess so!" Amara made a face.

"Hmm, I'm going to teach him a lesson he'll never forget!" he basked like a lizard in the sun.

"Lesson? That boy is soooooo stubborn!" Amara said with disgust.

Chief Ifiora's phone rang loudly.
"A strange number..." Amara said giving the phone to him.

"Hello?" he listened for a while.

"Yes you're speaking with Chief Ifiora..."
he listened again.

"What?!" he rose to his feet.

Lara stopped eating, she wanted to know what was happening.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming right away!" He ended the call.

"Darling get me my Jacket!" he told Amara.

"What happened?" Lara asked quitely.

"Oh, nothing really, just eat your food." he forced a smile.

"Ogini? What going on?" Amara appeared holding his jacket.

He whispered something to her in Igbo, for once Lara wished she understood Igbo.

"We need to go now! Lara take care!" Amara said throwing a scarf round her head.

"Can I come with you?" Lara rose to her feet.

"No..you just take care, okay? We'll be back soon." Amara said as she and her husband left through the exit.

Lara sighed deeply as she heard them drive out of the compound.
Definitely something is wrong some where....she fidgeted nervously.

Rotfl
Flow eeeeeeh....you wan kill pesin with laff ni? Haaaa!
Nice job! You just made my evening, thanks alot.

HumbledbYGrace: hehehe...ok this guy is good. There I said it

*hides*

#drags her out of her hiding place#

Which guy is good?

Hummingbird stop telling people my secret na! Hahahaha

Humbledbygrace...errm...unseal the lips...

::.:::.::::..:*.:*;/
"Thank you" Lara said givng some naira notes to a cab driver.

She took a deep breathe, and glanced around her.

The magnificent church was standing before her. She had brought her case to God.
She wondered if God would listen to her again. The last time she came to church was when her father was alive, she was ten yrs then...

"Good morning sir" she greeted a man in security uniform.

"Please is the Resident Pastor around?"

"Yes, let me tell him you want to see him." the security man replied before speaking into a telecom.

"he said you should come in."

"Thank you sir!" Lara said before walking towards the church basement.

She muttered a silent prayer before knocking.
"Come in." pastor Wilson said from within

"Good morning Pastor Wilson." she flexed her knee.

"Morning sister...please sit!"

Lara sat on a chair facing him, clutching at her hand bag.

"You came to see me?" Pastor wilson asked.

"Yes pastor, My name is Omolara Popoola.." Lara began.

"Omolara Popoola? You mean Lara the daughter of late Deacon Popoola?" Pastor Wilson asked in suprise.

"Yes sir." Lara smiled.

"Wow...how are you? How have you been?" he looked pleased.

"Fine sir..."

"God is great! You're married now?" he gestured at her wedding band.

"Yes sir,...that's why I came..."

"Is anything the matter?" Pastor wilson sensed all is not well.

Lara told him about her troubles, shedding tears in the process. He looked touched by her story.

"Its well, God is with you." he told her.

After praying with her, he gave her some Bible verses to read, before asking her to fast for just a day.
"Sister Lara, If you must fast; your faith in God would determine how your answer will be." he told her.

"I have faith Pastor." Lara assured him.

"Not just in the mouth but from the heart...and mind you, you must go back to your matrimonial home!" he told her.

"No...But..." she frowned.

"You must go back there!" he said firmly.

"Okay, thank you..." she didn't look happy.

"Take care Lara, God is with you." he waved her off.

::::::::******::::::
Lara walked into her home, she felt nervous when she walked into the sitting room.

"I thought you aint gonna come back." sophia sneered.

"I'm back!" Lara said, before walking into her room.
She's got no time to start quarelling with Sophia now, its almost time for her to break her fast.

She was in a kneeling position, rounding up her prayers when she heard a commotion in the sitting room. She paused absent mindedly to listen...Sophia was quarelling with somebody...perhaps Tony.
She ended her prayer in a hurry and tiptoed out of her room.
What she saw made her jaw drop.

"You have no right to ask me who i'm looking for!" Amara- Tony's mother shot at Sophia.

"You can't walk in like that! This isn't your home!" sophia fired back.

Just then Amara noticed Lara's presence.
"Lara?"

"Welcome ma." Lara greeted her.

"Who's this uncultured woman? Your maid?" she gestured towards Sophia.

"Errrm.."Lara began.
"Sophia, meet ...ermm..Tony's mother, and errmmm, ma please meet, Sophia- Tony's errmm..." Lara stuttered.

"So it is true?!" Amara exclaimed.

Just then Tony came back from wherever he went.
"Mum? What are you doing here?" he asked suprised letting his breifcase drop.

"What am I doing here? So what I heard is true? So its true that you've been maltreating Lara? That you even brought your mistress into your matrimonial home?" Amara shrieked.

Tony bent his head, he knew he was in trouble.

"So this is what you've turned into? A Dog?" Amara yelled.

"I know what to do...I'm calling your father right away!" She threatened picking her phone.

"No no no..please mum, don't do that...I'd be in trouble if you call dad...Sophia is leaving right away..I'l turn a new leaf..." Tony held her hand pleadingly.

He walked into the guest room, appeared carrying Sophia's bag.
"Sophia, leave now!" he shoved the dumbfounded Sophia towards the exit.

"You too, go and bring your bag, you're coming with me!" Amara told Lara who was silent.

"But...ma..." Lara's eyes widened.

"I say go and bring your bag, I can't leave you here with this beast! What if he murders you!" Amara shrieked.

"Mum..please don't take her away." Tony pleaded.

"Try to stop me!" she glared at him, dragging Lara out of the house; with her bag and all.

Yo! Aunty Serah is back! Me following ya all da way....

Hummingbird: Olori buruku iya...sm1 turnd ur daugta in2 a punchn bag when u'r stil alive...@op,u gt Tony misd up wit David again...gues ur lover bears David.. ...9c 1

Lover ke? Pls o, don't let my mother hear that one o! Sowi for the mistakes, I so much luv da name, promise to be more careful.

:::::::******::::::
Lara sat on the tiled floor, she pulled a bowl of hot water towards her, added some dettol, before dipping a face towel into the bowl.

"Easy girlie..." she soothed herself as she massaged her body. It had ached her all night.

"Ouch! Eeish!" she exclaimed as she pressed her swollen eye a little.
Her door squeaked open, she didn't bother to look up, she knew it was Tony.

Tony stood for while watching her massage and press her body in pains. He felt his heart melt! So he was now a 'wife beater' ?

"Good morning Lara." He said gently.

"ouch!" Lara exclaimed pressing a swollen part of her arm.

"Errm....sorry..." Tony said squatting beside her.

She didn't reply, she continued her work.

"Errm..Lara, I'm very sorry for what happened yesterday..." he began

"Hmph! Did you brush your teeth this morning?" Lara covered her nose with her free hand.

He felt offended, he exhaled sharply
"I shouldn't have done what I did yesterday...my anger took better part of me..." he was trying his best to sound gentle.

Lara laughed quitely.
He peered at her face, he wondered if she heard him.
She applied some balm to her wounds before looking up at him.

"So what now? You came to kill me?" she asked.

"No...Lara I'm truly sorry for..."

"Abegi! Spare those thrash talk! Go and meet your Igbo sister and leave me alone! Who are you trying to decieve?" she interrupted him.

"Lara.." he tried to hold her but she pushed him away. Her hands moved to the bowl of water and Swoosh! She threw it at him- towel and all.

Tony looked suprised, he surveyed his drenched office clothes with his eyes.
"how dare you!" he shot at her.

"Oh yea! I just dared you! Rubbish! Because I'm not an Igbo that's why you are treating me this way shebi?" Lara rose to her feet.

"Don't you ever try that on me again!" Tony's anger let loose.

"So what if I do? You'll flog me? Ehn? Answer me! Oshi buruku!" she clapped her hands.

"You'll pay for this!" he told her walking towards the door.

"Mr Tony?" she called after him.
He stoped holding the door knob.

Lara walked slowly towards him, a smile playing on her lips.
"Tony, I just felt I should remind you, that, the law of karma still reigns!" she chuckled before walking into her bathroom.

:::::::::*****:::::::
"Hello? Mummy?" Lara placed her phone on her ears. She knew what to expect. Tony has taken her report to her mother again.

"Hello Lara? What's this I'm hearing about you?" her mother began.

Lara grimaced
"So what did you hear?"

"Lara! I want you to come over to my place now!" her mother ordered cutting the call.

"Sure...just a few minutes, and you'l see your beautiful daughter with a swollen face and wounds all over her body!" Lara said to the phone, though she knew her mother won't hear.

She walked into her mother's sitting room without bothering to knock. She looked around, the room was re-furnished. Even her mother looked furnished.

"Good day mum!" Lara threw her bag at an armchair.

"Lara? What happened to your eyes-your face?" her funke asked with concern.

"Need to see some more?" Lara chuckled showing her wounds to her mother.

"Who did this to you?" Funke asked again.

"of course my loving, sweet, adorable husband!" Lara said sarcastically.

"What?!" Funke was shocked.

"Which one is 'what' again? Shebi this is what you want? Ehn? Are you suprised?, better save your suprised look till when they bring ..." Lara said carefreely.

"How could he do such to you? I'm sure something went wrong! Was it after you poured hot water on him?" funke said ignoring her daughter's sarcasm.

Lara laughed.
"my daughter, its well, you should just go back home, I'll call Tony..." Funke began to say.

"not yet! I'm staying here for atleast two weeks! I need to rest, before going back to that dungeon!" Lara protested, before taking her bag inside.

Funke watched her daughter walk inside. She picked her phone and dailled Tony.
"Hello? My in law?"
she listened for a while

"yes! Please do me a favour, let Lara stay with me for like a week, please.." she lowered voice.

"Okay thanks, God bless you!" she ended the call

Sowi hadespark, I had a low ba3.
::::::::*******::::::::

"Haaaa! Are you kidding me?" Deji screamed at her sobbing friend.

"Dear friend that's my story.." Lara wiped a tear

"oh Lara you are too soft...she's been in this house for weeks now, and you can't throw her out?" Deji squealed.

"I think she has come to stay..." Lara began to say.

"Come to stay for where? Lara don't just provoke me o! I wonder why I wasn't in town all this while..." Deji bit her finger.

Just then Sophia walked lazily into the sitting room, she catwalked towards the fridge.

"Errm...Lara?" Sophia called out sipping from a bottle of yoghurt.

"Ma?" Lara said rising to her feet, to the suprise of Deji.

"Isn't it high time you prepare lunch? I'm starving." Sophia added authoratively.

"Okay ma, Let me..." Lara began to say.

"Shut up!" Deji cut her short.

"Who is your 'ma' ? This ingrate? This monster with a face of a donkey?" Deji chided her.

"Who are you referring to?" Sophia dropped her bottle.

"You!" Deji replied rising up.
" you are the donkey! Oshi! Witch! I wonder what's wrong with this Igbo woman! Husband snatcher!" Deji added with her hands akimbo.

"Deji please don't!" Lara tried to stop her.

"Leave me jor! Abi she jazz you ni? Imagine this vegetable eating Igbo claiming oyinbo! Olori buru ku!" Deji's body shook as she spoke.

"You don't dare insult me!" Sophia glared at her.

"Insult ke! I'll beat you ni! Rubbish!" Deji pushed Sophia roughly.

Wham! Sophia slapped Deji.

"Deji..." Lara was alarmed.

"Haaaa! Yeeee! You slapped me? You dey form Igbo geh abi? I go show you say I no be yoruba geh for nothing!" Deji screamed before grabbing sophia from her feet.

They engaged in a scuffle, Deji sitting atop Sophia feeding her with punches and slaps.

"Deji please..." Lara was very frightened.
"Deji to ri Olohun, please stop!" she finally pulled Deji off Sophia.

"Allow me jor! Lemme show this Donkey!" Deji charged at Sopia again.

"No No No! Deji don't!" Lara pushed her friend into a sofa, giving Sophia the opportunity to run into the guest room.

"You have to go now!" Lara led the fuming Deji towards the exit.

"Are driving me away?"

"No...I don't want Tony to meet you here...please, I can handle it.." Lara pushed her forward.

"Ehen the Tony sef! Let him come na, lemme teach him his own lesson!" Deji ranted.

"Noooo, just go please! For my sake!" Lara pleaded with her.

"Okay! If anything should happen, call me! You hear?" Deji ordered.

"Yes, bye!" Lara rushed to her room.

She sat down at her bed's edge. She knew she was in hot soup. Tony won't spare her.
::::::*****:::::

Lara supported her aching head with her hands, she was far far away in the land of thought's and imaginations.

"Lara!"

Yikes! Tony is back! When did he come back, she must have thinked deep!

"Lara!" Tony called out again.

"Sir?" she walked out of her room, her legs were weak, her heart pounding furiously.

"Welcome!" she flexed her knee

"What did you do to her?" Tony gestured towards Sophia who was weeping profusely.

Lara's heart missed uncountable beats, her eyes widened in terror

"I...I...I....d...did...not..did..." she began to stammer.

A resounding slap landed on her right cheek, making her mouth to twist, She saw stars

"You are really proving to be stubborn! This illiterate girl!" Tony ranted as he pulled a cable off the TV set.
Lara backed away on sighting the wire he was holding.

"Come back here!" Tony ordered

She didn't obey, instead she stood by the wall staring him wide eyed.

"Okay then, let me come to you!"
Tony walked towards her, his eyes were bloodshot.

Lara shut her eyes tightly, as the cable landed on her arm. She didn't wince or let out a cry, she just stood there absorbing all the pains.

She walked quitely into her room after Tony had let her go.
She poured some cold water on her head, she thought it was on fire.

She looked up at her reflection in the mirror.
Her right eye was swollen and red, tiny lines of blood streaked throught the corner of her lips.

She let her tears flow freely, she wished her mother would be here to watch what she's going through.

:::::::::*******
"5 am!" Lara said as she rolled on her bed. She had been sleepless all night. She pulled her Bible, read some Psalms before saying some prayers of appreciation to her creator.

She washed her face, and walked slowly out of her room. She decided to make breakfast early, so that by the time 'the devil' will wake-up, she would be safe away in her room.

She walked past the guest room, Soft moans escaped the door. She stoped momentarily and listened some more.
Where's Tony? She tip-toed into his room. It was empty, no sign like someone slept there last night.
She felt like mad as she rushed back to the guest room..

She heard Sophia giggling.. David's grunts were audible now..
Yikes! He was making love to her, right inside their matrimonial home?

She tapped the door sharply, the whole place fell silent. She knocked some more before Tony opened the door.
Their eyes met, she held his gaze for a while before looking him all over. He was unclad except for the towel tied loosedly round his waist.

"Tony?" she gasped.
He didn't look at her.
He looked like he was making up his mind to do something.
"Tony you!" her voice shook.

"What do you want?" he cleared his throat.

"Honey, I'm waiting..." Sophia called from the room.

"What do I want? Tony are you supposed to be doing this?" Lara asked in fierce whisper.

"It's none of your business!" he snapped.

"True! " she swallowed hard.

"Mind you, don't ever come knocking this door again!" he warned sternly.

"Okay..." she shook her head turning to leave.

"But Tony? Have it in mind that my God will judge you...if not today...it'll be tomorrow!" she told him before running back to her room.