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martins18:
I see, sorry if it bothers you. just ignore OK

martins18:
I would love it if you mention more readers, it's a great story

martins18:
The wrath behind the order Martin was given to hand the phone to David was frightening and David, fully aware of the heart-stinging words awaiting him, refused to speak with them. That made his inlaws angrier and David could only imagine the blazing speed at which they were most likely driving to the city. David’s relationship with them had never been ideal from the beginning. They felt he wasn’t the right person for their daughter and even considered him a gold digger due to his poor background. David always remembered the warning Keren’s father gave him after she had pushed hard for their marriage: “Should anything happen to my daughter; I swear I will make you wish you had never met her.”


As he expected a violent confrontation, he promised himself that he wasn’t going to panic when his in-laws arrived and no matter what happened, he was ready to embrace it. Nevertheless, when he heard the beeps of the car horn outside the gate, his heart flipped. They grew louder and more relentless. Nadesh sat up and turned, shifting the curtains aside.


“A black Land Cruiser,” she announced, still looking.


“It’s them,” David’s lips trembled as his hands automatically came together on his chest. “Please open the gate for them.”
Before any of the three could think of stepping out to open the car gate, the walkthrough gate pushed open and a tall and dark man appeared in the gateway. He dragged the driveway gate open himself before hurrying back ran into the car and driving it into the yard. Apparently, those in the car had grown so impatient, their chauffeur had had to open the gate himself.
“David,” Martin said quietly, touching David’s lap. “Take it easy with them, okay? I don’t think they mean whatever they are coming to say, it’s just overwhelming emotions.”
David didn’t move a muscle in his posture. Immediately after the car’s doors banged shut, they heard a growling feminine voice rapidly approaching the door amid loud footsteps. Martin was prepared to try and calm down Keren’s parents whom he felt might do something nasty.


“Where is he?! Where is that murderer?!”


The door swung open and seconds later an enormous woman with swollen red eyes stormed inside, heading towards a cringing David.


“Where’s my granddaughter?!” Aya croaked in tears, grappling David by the shirt and yanking him up to his feet effortlessly. Martin got up, unsure of how to calm down this woman whose blood was probably boiling as hot as the sun. Rocking the frail David back and forth, she yelled in his face,
“Where is my beautiful granddaughter?!

Where’s my daughter’s princess?”


As Martin cautiously inched closer behind the woman’s back, David sobbed, “I’m sorry, Ma-”


“Fool!” A swift and loud stinging slap on his face cut David’s words short and he collapsed into his seat, his hand covering his left eye as he panicked to sit up, his knees knocking against each other. Martin backed off in shock and he and Nadesh exchanged looks of sheer terror.

Nevertheless, he made an effort to plead on his friend’s behalf from behind Aya,


“Aunty, please take it easy.”


The woman didn’t seem to have heard him as she hauled David back to his feet again and grappling the shirt off his helpless son-in-law like he owed her money, she growled in tears,


“Give me back my granddaughter, Ampofo! Give me back Akuba!”


“I’m so sorry, Ma,” David sobbed like a child, as tears streamed down his face.


“I am not your mother!” she raised a hand. “You bastard!”


“Aunty,” Martin touched Aya’s arm. “Please calm down.”


Slowly, the trembling woman soaked in sweat turned around with David still in her grasp, and warned Martin with partially closed eyes blazing with fury, “Young man, stay out of this!”


Martin saw the glare on her face, like a lioness seeking her lost cubs, and knew that she meant it but he remained there, humbly pleading with palm in hand,


“Please, Aunty, please …”


Aya stared at Martin with lips pursed and jaws clenched, speechless and panting as tears kept streaming down her face. It was then that Keren’s father finally walked in, turning all heads in his direction. He stopped midway across the living room and scowled at David. David couldn’t hold his gaze. The man in his seventies inched closer to the side of the wall where a large photo of Jasmine hung. He stared at the picture of his beautiful grandchild. Taking off his glasses the grey-haired man wiped his eyes before taking a seat in the loveseat.
David was finally released as Aya then took her seat beside her husband and folded her arms, staring at the photos hanging on the wall and shaking her head slowly. Martin also took his seat and a moment of silence followed with David fidgeting with his fingers and trying to avoid eye contact with his in-laws.


“David,” Ackah spoke up in a low tone, looking at David.


“Sir,” David forced himself to look at Ackah albeit fleetingly.


“What are you going to tell my daughter when she comes back and asks about Jasmine?”


David swallowed hard without a word.
“Answer me!” Ackah barked suddenly.