obicoolnino:
Thanks for d update

you welcome sir. Thanks for keeping Faith too

CONTINUATION OF T.D.A 17.





I had barely walked a few meters from the mud house when a red colored Datsun Sunny car parked beside me on the road. I was on my way back to where the car I intend on using for escape was parked and it remained just one corner for me to get there when this Datsun car suddenly pulled beside me.

I stopped instantly and got ready for fight. I clenched my fist as the car door opened and a face I couldn't instantly recollect poked out of the top.

"Hey Mr Darous, get in!...." He commanded and pointed a pistol at me.

"You better shoot me now because I'm not going anywhere with you..." I replied standardly and continued on my tracks.

"Are you deaf?! I said you should get in!..." He shouted again but I didn't let that stop me.
I had a feeling he wants me alive, because if not, he would have shot me straight the moment he saw me. So I was hoping I'm right. I want to provoke him to come out and face me and then I will be ready for him.

"I said get in the car now!" He declared authoritatively again but I didn't flinch a bit.
I only paused to reply him.

"Whoever sent you here wants me alive, if not you would have shot me now." I said and I continued in my tracks while the man remained on the same spot. I was just two meters away from the corner that will lead me to where I planned on using the car with the hope of not meeting any trouble again, when the Datsun Sunny stopped beside me again and the man quickly got out .


"Please Mr Darous, let me help you out of here.... Please..." He spoke softly and it was then that his cool voice made me remember where I met him. He was the same guy that drove Capable, (Jarter's guy) and I away from the prison premises in the morning of that day. His name if I remember very well now is...erm...erm... I think Audley Samson or thereabout. He was a policeman and he played a part in how I escaped from prison.

"Please hurry, let me get you to a safe place...." He said hurriedly with a hand gesture as his other body remained hidden behind the height of the car.

"Why....why.... Should I follow you? You must be mad for thinking I don't know what your people wants to do to me once I set foot in that car."

He frowned his face at that as if in a confused mode. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb...you surely know what I'm talking about...." I declared frankly and tried walking away but Audley Samson quickly rounded the front of the car and prevented me from walking away. He was a few feets away from me. I waited at a very alert level just in case. This man is lanky and tall but he's not someone my boxing abilities cannot handle.

"Please try to understand this situation here, my life and career are on the line here... If I don't return you to prison now, my boss will find out about my hand in your escape and I will lose my career and even my family.... Please, I need to do this... Please...." He sounded with a sincere voice but I wasn't ready to buy that.

I blinked twice and shook my head. "What are you saying ganself? You think I will follow you willingly back to prison when there is another way for me? You are very stupid." I hissed after saying that.

He used his right hand to fold his lips while his eyes focused intently on me and I know he could see my clenched fist.

"Just get out of my way before I crush you down with one blow...." I waved my fist at his face. He seemed unfazed by that as he did something that shocked me to the bone marrow. He got down on his knees in that moment. He knelt in the cold ground in the middle of that lonely and dark place before me while his gun remained in his left hand.

"What!" I screamed in my mind.

"Please, Mr Darous, I know I have no right to ask for your help, but please, you are my...la..st...hope." His voice was already breaking by the time he finished saying that and that kind of unbalanced my emotions.

"What is all these pranks you are trying here? Eh, look here, you can't fool me you hear, I'm...."

"Please hear me out...there's no time, those people that are after you might be here any moment...please...." He pleaded with a pleading hand gesture and I could see traces of tears on his face and that finally made me to cool down a bit.
"I'm not this type of person, but I wouldn't have ventured into this kind of stuff if my daughter's life was not involved."

"What happened to your daughter?" My curiosity asked that.

"Almost a year now, she has been battling with leukemia....."

"Leuke what?" Stunned, I asked.

"Leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming tissues.... It stops the body from fighting any form of infection... My 19years old daughter is down with it now sir..."

'this is another trick na, you should be familiar with it now....' I told myself or maybe Shango did, I don't know.

"Please, trust me, I accepted this deal because I need money to get her on the next flight to India where she will get the treatment..." He was in tears at that moment and I was starting to feel sorry for him before the Anti-betrayal app that I installed in my brain kicked in again.

"No, don't fool me... No, I know this type of trick well well."

"What?"

"But you dey craze o. How dare you using an innocent girl as a trick to fool me? Ah, you dey mad."

"I'm not lying please, believe me." He said and he brought out his phone from his breast pocket. I was alert just in case he wants to do something harmful while he pressed the phone's screen. Then after a brief seconds, he turned the phone to me and truly on the screen was the picture of a very sick girl lying on hospital bed. The man kneeling in front of me was standing by her side in the picture too. The girl's appearance was so terrible that I felt a sharp pinch in my heart by merely seeing her sight. Her face was pale and white.

"Hmmmmm..." That was all I could say after seeing that.

"You see, she's all I have. Her mother died twelve years ago. She has been my wife and mother since then and losing her will mean the end of my own life too. She's all I got in this world...and... And that's why I need that money... That's why I did this....that's why I helped in your escape. They promised me 15million naira out of the 2bn you have....please believe me Mr Darous.."

(What is all these na? Just when I was about to escape this place , this situation popped up again? Ah, Wetin I wan do now?)

"Hmmm, but wait, if I go back to prison, how will you get the money you are looking for when in actual reality and according to what you just told me now, my escape is the only....."

"I know... But right now, you know that guy in your cell? Principal or what do you call him? "

"Principal? What has Principal got to do with this?"

"He has a lot. He's already threatening to expose the warders if anything happens to you. I don't know how powerful that guy is until now. I don't know what he has on those warders that's making them sweat like that."

"So it was principal that wants me returned to prison?" I asked after a brief thought.

"Yes.... And the man that led your operation wants me to return you before day break.. or else I can kiss my job a good bye and I also risk a life behind bars because they plan on making me take the fall and that will mean the end of my daughter....."

I had a brief thought on that. This man has got me. I must confess. I have a thing for the less privileged.

" Okay, I have heard you and I really feel sorry about your daughter's plight.. but why don't we do it in a way that everyone will benefit? Hun?"

"How?" He asked with a confused frown.

"Okay, here's the thing. How about I give you 30million naira and you let me escape.. how about that? Every one wins. With 30million, you can treat your daughter and still have plenty enough to start a new life?"


He pondered on my words for some few moments and then he raised his face up to look at me.

"But I will be a fugitive? My daughter too will never know true freedom... I will be giving her a life she will rather die than have.... Please I appreciate your kindness but I don't want that life for my daughter... Please...." He pleaded again and that forced me to reason with him.

This one single day I spent on the run is enough to make me have an insight of the kind of life I'm proposing to this man and his daughter.

"So now I have to follow you back to prison?"

"Sadly yes..."

"Back to those straw-carrying mosquitoes?"

"Sadly yes sir..."

"Back to short rations of food?"

"Hmmm...."


"Back to......" I swallowed the remaining as those thoughts of what I'm going to face in prison erupted inside my mind. I bowed my head and begin to weigh the options again. At the end of it all, I choose to save a life.

"I will follow you...."


"Thank you... Thank you... I will forever remain....."


"Wait, but how will that help your girl?"


"Hmmmm.... about that, I'm erm... I'm hoping..... hoping you will help me on that too..... He stammered in a shy way.

"Hmmmmm...."


"I know I have no right to ask for your help but I promise to repay your kindness one day....I promise..."

"Hmmmm....you think?"

"I promise with my life that I will repay your favour one day...I swear on my daughter's life..." He said vehemently with a sincere look that made it hard for me not to believe him.

"Okay, but the true meaning of the N.P.F on your badge is not Nigeria Police Force o, you know the meaning?"


"That's the only meaning I know Me Darous....."

"Well here's my own meaning to it.... It means No Permanent Friend... So that's to say even if I do this for you, I'm not really counting on your words... I'm just doing it out of plain humanity. You know I was once in your shoes, when my son was in need of blood, and instead of doing everything possible to stay beside him, I choose to run away. That's why I feel for you. You willing to do whatever it takes to help your daughter even if it goes against your morals, oh, I give that to you...."

"Thank you so much..soooo much.... I will never forget this Mr Darous...." He was already weeping when he finished saying that. I had to pacify him and bring him back to his feet. We both got inside the Jeep and it was there that he told me of the plan that the warders have incase Lewis or Jarter decided to probe the matter.

Before we left the scene that night, I used his phone to call Jide and after talking on the phone, I asked him to transfer 25million naira to Audley Samson's account. Jide asked me if I'm still coming to his house but the phone went off before I could answer that.

And that was how I got back to prison o. Story of my life. The distance between me and total escape from prison was just a corner away, but the test of humanity showed up at that moment to deny me that opportunity.

You know, I learn to give, not because I have the money or because I'm rich, but because I know how exactly it feels to have nothing...., So you can judge me all you want but I hope you younger ones learn a thing or two from my act of kindness.

>>>>>>BACK TO PRESENT (inside the toilet of the police station)<<<<<<



T.B.C.

Whatsapp on +2348162128141.
Facebook page.@Darousmart library.

17. THE DOG ATTENDANT.[T.D.A] by Darous Emmanuel.


The sick man's eyes was filled with nothing but total rage as he exercise all his insanity strength on my neck. I was gagging for breath and my eyes were starting to roll in their house, popularly known as Sockets or in simpler unrelated electrical terms, you can call it Extension.

His hold on my neck was so strong and if not for the little resistant he was getting from my own weak hands, he would have easily break my neck with just a little tweak.

"Werey ni everybody...." The sick man resumed in his musical jam and he suddenly started playing his fingers on my neck in form of guitar strings.

"Please...ple....Mr Man....ple...."

"Keep quiet....O ti ya were...Flank say o ti ya were ( Flank says you are mad). Ole ni e, you be thief... are we mad? We dey craze ni ba?" He voiced out angrily in the Yoruba accent but I will be telling you his words in the subtitled version.

"I'm not a thief....please...." Those are the things I struggled to say to him but he just won't let my neck go.

"Ah, you don forget Wetin Flank use to say? Eh,....?," The sick man still in 90percent possession of my neck continue ranting. "God, Send incurable disease to me, send danger to my life, send disaster to my family, send hire killer to my wife, send killer herdsmen to my in-laws, send fire to my petrol station, send death to my parents , send bomb to destroy me ah...but...." His tone was low on this part. "dear God, never ever in your life and power send a thief my way. God! Don't send a thief my way!.... I hate thief.. I will kill you.. you are a thief!.....I will kill you!!!!" He released that uproar as pain gradually envelope my whole being.

"Arrxch...arrrrrrrxch....." That was me gagging for breath. I wanted to do something so bad to free myself from him but there was no strength to fight him off. But still I need to do something quickly or else I might as well start preparing my last speech.

"Ah, hmmmmmmmm" I continued whimpering and shaking.

"Pythagoras theorem is the root of all corruptional theorem ahaha Educational theorem, square root.... square branch....psychology, ahaha, weedcology, alcohology, codinehology, ahahhah, tramadology you don mad. O ti ya were.(you are mad)."

The painful and agonizing moment I was passing through did not really give me the chance to listen well to the abnormal rants of the mad man. I was just whimpering in silence.

"I will kill you..." He tightened his grip the more. "Die now...die!.. o ye ko ti ku...(you suppose to have die) All work and no play makes Flank a mad man... Ah, ! " He let out another uproar that is loud enough to draw attention to us.

"É....hhhh....eeeehhhhhhh....plleeeeaaaaaaaeeeesssseeeeeeeeess.....I'm not....ah. Am not a ....thi....ef ..." Another desperate attempt to make the sick man withdraw his grip from my neck but that seem to make him re-tighten his firm grip on my neck.

"Ole ni é.... O le ni é (you are a thief...) Ole ni e.... Ole ni e.... O maaa ku (you will die...)"

(I can't believe I survived this long only to come and end my life here.... Having survive more deadly people like, Nike, Lewis, Chioma, the robbers that invaded my house on the day Chioma came to sleep in my house when I was still living in that self-contain apartment, having survive all of Jide's revenge attempt too, not to mention all of Beatrice plan to make me pay for how I treated her at the Richton Hotel, ah, my ordeal in the hands of Beauty and Pretty, those two fat ugly applications from the devil's play store? I survived all that just to come and end it here? In the hand of this mad man?)
I was getting weaker by the minute. I remembered that the sick man had a bread in his hand when he came inside, how I wish I can just eat that bread so that I will have a little strength to fight him off.

As I was thinking that thought, another idea crept into my mind in that daring moment.
It was my boxing instinct that kicked in. I remembered one of my trainer's usual quote . "You can deliver the most damaging punch in your weakest moment. All it takes is just to find that very weak spot of your enemy."

Without wasting any more time on deliberation, I held the sick man's arm tightly with one of my weak hands and used the other to deliver a very weak punch to his stomach.

"Ahahahaha......" He rasped out with a loud laughter that can draw the attention of anyone that's within the area to us.

That must have felt like a pinprick to him as he payed no attention to what I just did and continue calling me a thief.

"Maybe he has no weak point after all... Chai I don die."

He fum hard at me, I could feel his hot raging breath on the surface of my face, he blew some foul air to my face and suddenly withdraw his grip from my neck and I couldn't help but let my body fall freely to the floor.

"Shey you will not do something now abi?" Shango said again but I paid him no attention as I was still battling with my strength.

The sick man began to pace the room frantically as if he's looking for something. I dropped to the floor at that moment as I struggle for breath.

I was so weak and tired. My stomach still aches like mad and I couldn't help but to grab it firmly to subdue the pain.
My eyes caught the sight of the bread I was talking about lying on the floor, it was just few inches away from me, but this man will just chop my head off if I try taking it.

"Ah! What do I do now?" I asked myself but before I could find an answer to that, I heard the loud sound of something like an iron being smashed against another iron. So I looked up.
Speaking of chopping a head off, I think my head is about to get chopped off. The sick man was holding a Cutlass in his right hand, he raised the Cutlass up and smiled wickedly. He began to approach me slowly.

He got to my front and dragged me up by the excess part of my rumpled garment.

I had no strength in me to do anything at that moment so all I did was just surrender myself to whatever happens next.

I had no more regrets in my life at that very moment. I have already settled with Joke and she has evidently forgave me for everything I did to her. And the ones she didn't forgive, I've paid for them already. So, I'm on a clean slate with her.

The only thing that could have made me have any regret in that short moment that the sick man was spending on arranging me to the wall like elements of the periodic table is if I had not met my child again. I'm happy I get a chance to be with him too. So, let this man just finish me off, and help me end this my life of mysery so I can eventually find peace.)

I looked at the mad man as I reached that final conclusion, he had on his face a wide grin that shows his readiness to slash my head into two with that Cutlass.

"Oh earth, I will miss you..." I said finally as I surrendered myself totally.

I closed my eyes shut for fear of seeing my own brains on the floor, the anxious expectation and trepidation of the Cutlass on my head or wherever his pilot choose to land his dangerous aeroplane on my body's airport.

"Ah, o ti ku! (You don die!)" He shouted and I could feel the breeze of the Cutlass blew past my face as he raised it up.

I was expecting it to land on my body so I subconsciously stiffened my body but just in that moment, we begin to hear voices from outside. The mad man's earlier uproar must have caused this.

"Eeeehhh?" The sick man rasped out his shock.

I opened my ears while my eyes remain shut after hearing that.
I strained my ears to ear and I was able to confirm well.

Those voices were that of those that were pursuing me earlier. Lewis crews to be precise. They were discussing on the possibility of me being inside the mud house.

I quickly got more alert and my whole being became instantly attentive to the danger and repercussions of Lewis getting me.
That would be too bad, I think.

I'd rather die in the hands of this man than give Lewis a life time satisfactory of personally getting rid of me. Tuafikwa!

Their voices were getting increasingly more louder and that meant they were fast approaching us.

"He's here!" I hear one of them shout and before I could even contemplate on what to do after opening my eyes, the sick man turned swiftly towards the entrance and strained his ears out. I watch him attentively as he gripped the Cutlass more firmer and hide himself behind the wall of the entrance.

The dark rag clothes he was putting on will make it kind of hard for anyone to notice his presence behind the wall.

Seeing the opportunity that just presents itself to me, I dropped to the floor slowly in order not to do anything that will divert the sick man's attention away from the impending Suya meats waiting outside.

I crawled discreetly to where the bread I saw earlier on the floor was lying and quickly grab it while my eyes remain focused on the mad man as he appeared to be in full concentration.


Sooner than expected, one of the Intruders poked his head in by just a two or three inches to probably check the danger inside but unfortunately for him, the mad man made sure those inches that entered felt the wrath of his Cutlass.


"Ooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
The other guy screamed out in total agony and there was scuffle and pandemonium. The mad man with no intention of sparing anyone, dashed out immediately and the next thing I heard were screams of retreat and surrender.

It appeared as if the mad man is chasing prepared to chase them to the last bustop.

Fear of what just happened before my own sight got hold of me momentarily but I knew the mad man just bought me a little time. So as the guy was wailing on the floor at the entrance, I crawled back to the other corner and began to devour the bread very fast not minding the foul smell emanating from it. I no get choice, man must survive first.

I was eating very fast as if my life depends on it, but literally, it does.

The Bible says man cannot survive through bread alone, but by the words of God, but I must tell you, this bread appears to be the combination of both as every bite I took gradually return a few strength to me. I finished the whole of a 150naira bread within the space of two minutes. I gave the room a cursory search to look for water to drink and lucky for me, I saw a half filled pure water satchet lying beside one of the T.V's.

The mad man must have drank the other half but I no send. I picked it up and cut another edge before gulping it all down.

I relaxed for two minutes. Then when I sensed that I can walk again, I got to my feet, I felt a little dizzy but still managed to hold on to the little strenght I had in me. I proceed to the entrance, the guy that was wailing before had somehow managed to get himself up and I could see him deep inside the bush trying to find his way out.

I shrugged and quickly get rid of my white garment, I threw it on the floor so I was now clad in my green prison vest and knickers.

It was dark and quiet outside but there was cool breeze everywhere so I set out of the mud house through another path.

Whether I like it or not, the mud house has served it's purpose in my life. It provided me shelter, food and water and even it's landlord helped me chase away my enemies. Everything we pass through in life has a purpose. A well built house and a sane landlord might not be able to provide me with everything that that mud house and its owner just did. A lesson well learnt.


****

dawno2008:
Weldone sir baba TBM
I throw salute!! Owo meji loke !!

Twale baba!!!!!

But TBM you be real agbaya ooo
So tey you still mention say some people want make you quick end the tory,make u summarize am
That part got me rolling on the floor,Kai you too sabi book
Thanks for this lovely update,may shango continue to oil your brain oh sorry your elbows or how dem dey talk am sef?
Weldone bro,beautiful work,Interesting all through,I truly appreciate your efforts.
E pain me say I don't get tag,if not na you for do alaga iduro on that day,but my son is planning to settle down soon,I hope you go show when he don make up him mind.
Mind you he's just 11yrs now

lol. You funny o. Eleven years old? Chai.... You are hmmm unbelievable

SmartestPopQUEEN:
we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. I know that a time is coming when this Nairaland operators will look back on this space that this Story is occupying and they will desperately wish for someone to give them even half of what this wonderful man is doing here. but sadly, their wish will never come true because they have failed to recognize this gem in the name of Darous Emmanuel.

I doubt if there has ever been a story that makes readers glued to their phone as this one. like play like play, from COUNTLESS to this one, this young man has been killing it. in saner climes like where I spent my early years, this man will be swimming in fame and millions by now. But , quite unlucky to be a Nigerian with this type of exceptional talent.

T.BM there's nothing more I can say about yhu that others haven't said yet. so, I want to seize this medium to tell yhu how lucky I am to have known yhu in this world. Yhu are a blessing my dear. yhu will never lack any good thing in life.

oh my... On a night when things were somehow not rozy...., this comment just elevated my mood... Thanks ma'am. Your HERO inspired part of this work ma. So I should be the one to feel lucky, not the other way round. How is our little girl? She suppose don reach 3years now na? Lol...

cenaman:
Nigerians why are we like this? do good complain. if there was no update now u will be shouting TheBlessedMan come and update, now u see update u are still complaining.

thank you sir

Slyvesterjosh:
Bro, try update like two more na. �

ok sir..... I'll try

kaysmart4real:
This one u drop update just few days to each other. I hope its not that you are going ön strike till 2023 General Election sha?

not cool bro... Not cool

CONTINUATION of T.D.A 16.


The wind was blowing high to signal for us that it will soon rain heavily.

Joke made sure I exhausted my curiosity before she decided to talk.
"This pregnancy belongs to you..."

I scoffed. "Me? That's the funniest joke I ever heard all my life...."

"You don't have to believe me, but I Sha know that you can't forget all our sexual romps,...."

"Hmmmm..." That was all I could say to that.

"Now that I have cleared that part" She squeezed her lips and waited a few seconds to continue. "you have two options now..."

"It has come to that now eh? You giving me ...."

"You give me no choice, I can't believe you can be this heartless to me even after telling you that I'm carrying your child..."

"I'm not heartless, Joke," I cut in abruptly but with a less harsh tone. "I'm just tired of letting my happiness depend on someone else... That's it..."

"You know one thing Darous....?"

"What?" I asked frankly.

"I think this is your true colors...that type of you that made me think you are worth loving did not really exist...and this realization now is hurting me. I have done a lot of stupid things in my life, things like living a fake crippled life for some years, and all sorts. But this last one I did was enough to earn me a noble price in stupidity...." She released a sigh as I listened on. "I fell for someone who never truly existed."

I scoffed out the pain of hearing that. I tried to conceal my feelings with another smile but she saw through it.

"I..." I stammered out my attempt to reply her.

"Just let me finish!" She shouted and it was my turn to listen. " Say whatever you like, but listen carefully Darous, listen to me well, If you take another step away from me by refusing to let me follow you, just know that you've lost me forever....." She paused to sniff again as my brain began a faster processing of her words. "I will let Lewis be the father of this child (she pointed to her stomach) and I will make sure every traces of your existence is erased from Chris's memory too. You will never hear him call you a father just like he never get the chance to know his real mother too...."

"You won't dare do that..." I threaten her with a pained tone.

She first of all balanced her stand before she talked back. " Then I dare you take another step away from me... Darous, call my bluff and take another step.....when you start a fire, be ready to deal with the flames...."

I bit my lips hard as tension started to develop in my body. I wanted to regret pushing her to the edge. I wanted to wish I had not push her to this particular edge.

"Just another step away Darous, I'm waiting..."

"You can't do that... The Joke I know won't do that....."

She scoffed too. "Not only you has changed. Not only you is affected by the calamity that befell us..., You have the choice now, walk away now and forget about me, or let me go with you so we can enter this storm together like a couple that we are destined to be... it's as simple as that..." She emphasized on the last words.

Her words hit me hard. I quickly begin to process her words in my brain to see if she might be saying the truth after all. I've been betrayed too much and my mind is having a hard time differentiating between lies and truth.

"Darous, walk away now, this b1tch is giving you the chance to be happy without her... take it...' I'm sure you already know where that voice came from. I don't even know where that voice has been coming from. It's very unfamiliar. Maybe Shango is the one trying to get me back to his side by calling me with a private number. No time to deliberate on that now, some people are already very eager for this my story to end quickly. They don't care if I even have to summarize it, but remember what Doris use to say? "patience they say is a great virtue".


I was still battling with those nagging thoughts of whether to leave her or take her with me when we suddenly hear someone calling her name from the other side of the bush.

"Joke!" We both heard that sound from a not too far distance away from us. I instantly recognize that voice. It belongs to Lewis. I was startled to hear that. Panick struck my heart again. Joke too wore a very disturbing look on her face as she turned around to strain her eyes in an attempt to see where the owner of the voice is calling from. She took a few steps away from me in a frantic attempt to discover the caller of her name but the arrival of the night wasn't helping matters at all.

"Joke!..."

Lewis voice roared again and multiple flashlights followed immediately. That's an evidence that he's not alone.

"Joke!" He continue to shout and I started looking for means to escape.

The night has finally arrived and the moon is kind of late. It will be hard to spot us in that bush but my white garment will create a mod version for who ever wants to play the game of finding us. In simpler un-gaming terms, the white garment I was putting on since morning will make it easy for Lewis and his cohorts to spot us.

'you see, I told you, she has been tricking you all along. She was delaying you for them and you fell for it idiot...ah, you will never learn.'

(I bit my lips very hard and tightened my fist as that strange voice finished talking to me. The feeling of being betrayed again overwhelmed my body and anger took over. No! I've had enough of all these unkind betrayals. Unlike last time when I took my frustration out on Chioma with that stray bullet, I now have the chance to take it out on Joke herself. If I'm going to go down, I'll make sure she doesn't live to tell the tale. It all ends tonight. ) Her Delilah should not have the chance to visit my Samson's grave. No! Her Judas has to die with my Jesus this night. The Titanic of our relationship has been hit with an iceberg of betrayal after that record breaking start off the shore and the story can only be counted as being worthy enough to embrace the walls of History if we both sink together with the Titanic.

I took a step out in an attempt to carry out my rage-sponsored thoughts and to catch Joke unawares but as I was attempting to take the final step that will get me to her, she turned around and what I saw in her face, plus the thing she said to me afterwards changed everything.

"You are still here? Please go now! You can't go back to prison Darous.... Please leave now!" She was almost shouting when she said that but her tone was appealing.

I didn't flinch in my stand as I keep looking into her eyes in that darkness. The moon has resumed to it's eternal duty and it came with a battery full. So I was now able to see into her eyes clearly. I saw nothing but total concern in it. I saw someone named Sincerity waving at me from the right corner of her right eye, while, Affection was smiling at me from the left corner of the same right eye. Another quick glance at her other eye, I could see Care gesturing at me to run away now and before I removed my eyes totally, I caught a fast glimpse of the image of the mother of everyone living in her body, (Madam Love) the mother of them all telling me to be safe as I decided to heed her children's warnings. 'I'll be safe Madam Love...' I replied mentally and instinctively gave Joke a quick kiss with a whisper, "I'm sorry I doubted you. I will find a way to contact you soon but if I don't , I will make sure that I go to your mother's grave yard on every occasion of your birthday... May we meet again...." I was already in tears by the time I finished saying that.

She didn't utter a single word as I gave her a final stare before turning around swiftly and begin to head in the direction of my fence.

***


The night was fully here, and if not for the moon that was doing promo on that night, my pixels wouldn't have been able to lead me out of that jungle unscathed.

I got to the other side of the street that aligned with my house and found it quiet and deserted like the jungle I just left.

Without wasting time again, I begin to head in the direction of the car I brought to the place in the morning. I was almost there when I remembered that call that Lewis had with Joke when he was still holding me and Chris inside the guest house. That part where the police told him that they found an abandoned car in the street I'm presently heading to.

Worry gripped my heart momentarily as I remembered that. There's no way I can get out of this place easily if I don't use that car.

With hope and wishful thoughts, I continue in my tracks and I got to the place where I previously parked the car only to found it there exactly the way I'd parked it.

I was extremely happy when my eyes collided with it.

Without wasting time again, I continued towards it but as I was just a few meters to it, I suddenly decide to be very cautious. Then I quickly think of something to do just incase a danger is lurking around.

Instead of approaching the car directly, I took another route,.

Just think of the road like, a 'c' road and the inside of the 'c' as the place where the tree I parked the car beside was located. So I embarked on the circumference of the 'c' and just as I was about to reach the end point, I noticed the sign of someone inside the car.

"That's it, something is going on. Thank the heavens I'm smart this time around. It will take a raining day in hell for Lewis and his guys to get me." I muffled to myself and decided to find another means to escape from ibadan and to get to my destination which is supposed to be Jide's house.

I picked up pace slowly in order not to attract attention to myself and begin to head in the other direction as every available topics on survivability dominated the front page of my troubled mind.

"Stop there!" I was jolted back to my situation by that thick voice that came from the car area.

"For where?" I didn't wait for another one of such commands to come before switching to my Usain Bolt mode and begin to run frantically like a mad man towards the only available route that made the 'c' route to form a small letter 'd'. You can relate I guess. Unfortunately for me, multiple flash lights followed my every step.

The effects of running for more than 6 minutes with nothing more than a Mango-filled stomach wasted no time in affecting my strength. I have already created some distance between myself and those that are after me. The new area I was in appeared to be a new site. I mean an underdeveloped area in the city of Ibadan. I'm not familiar with the area but when you are in a situation of life and death like the one I'm presently in, all you have to do is to be ready to do anything to survive and your brain will handle the rest for you.

I have ran past some few mud houses and I haven't seen another house yet.

I stopped abruptly when I felt a sharp Ulcer-lic pain in my stomach. The road was empty and silent. The only light in the area is the one coming from the moon and it's night crews known as Stars.

The distance I created between us is enough to earn me enough time to get out of the place uncaught but my present situation is not going to make me utilize that chance to the fullest.

"Darous, what do you do now?" I asked myself in a panick mode.

'Come on, find somewhere to hide first, and once your pursuers are gone, you can easily get out. You can't continue like this....' That strange voice with private number communed to me again. I sense a deep concern and worry in those words. Something I haven't noticed before.

"Shango, is that you?" I asked out loud as I begin to look for where to hide myself in that deserted street.

"Can't believe it took you this long to recognize my voice..." He replied.

I got to the Y-junction and was very relieved when I saw another mud house that was located behind a thick bush that span across the length of the area. I had to strain my eyes hard to the ground so I can find my way to the house.

"That way!" I heard that from those that are pursuing me. "Na that way he pass, check out those foot marks" That followed the first statement and soon after, I begin to hear their foot steps coming in my direction.

'Hurry up!' Shango's voice echoed again in my brain and that swung me into full action

Without wasting time, I plunged into the thick bush and begin to dash fast towards the mud house with the hope that I don't encounter any form of difficulty.

I got to the mud house and entered through the door space. I stopped at the entrance and poked my head out to see if I was being followed but all I could see from afar were the confused flashlights of the people looking for me. After some seconds, I heaved a deep sigh of relief when I saw those lights going in another direction.

I rested my head on the wall to catch my fainting breath and that gave me the opportunity to survey the room well.
The moon's light was shining into the room through the open doorway and that made it kind of easy to see my surroundings. It was a one room house. A lot of rag clothes were lying on the floor and the smell emanating from the room was very bad. I had to use my garment to cover my nose. Apart from the rags, there were arrays of rusted irons and mud pots in the dirty room. Lots of newspaper dominated the possession of the ground and there was a very old mat on one corner of the bare floor. Some loafs of bread were scattered on the floor too. Two TV's with broken screen were also sitting on the floor and a rope was connected to both TV. Still in a confused mode, I followed the rope back to its source and I couldn't help but smile when I saw it tied to a large empty tray hanged close to the door way. In some twisted sense of humor, that tray is supposed to serve as a DStv dish for those blind TV's.


surveyed the room again and everything I saw in there pointed to the fact that someone is living in that house and that begs for this question? Who in his or her right senses will be living in that type of horrible condition.?

"But that is not really your concern right now, you should be lucky the person is kind enough to live the entrance open for your prodigal arse..." Shango muttered to me again.

"Coming from a prodigal father, I take no offense in that...." I replied and Shango couldn't help but gasp at that.

Having surveyed the room carefully, I poked my head outside again to see if I'm still safe but as I was about to heave another sigh of relief, I suddenly noticed someone in a male structure coming towards the house from the right side of the bush.

He was humming something that sounds like a song as he approach the house.

Panick, again struck my heart like a lightening. The person was approaching very fast but there was no sign of flashlight from him.

I managed to look out again to see him clearly and that was when I got the answer to the question I asked earlier.

No one in his right senses will be living in that type of room.

As he gets nearer, his tone and voice became more clearer. This is what he was singing. "....Yahoo ni babalawo, werey ni everybody...(An herbalist is a Yahoo, everybody is a lunatic)" He was singing with full enthusiasm in that Nairamaley's soapy song. "Eni ile ba mo ba ni bugije....(anyone caught is a chronic mad man)." Etc.

I was kind of caught in trying to find the meanings of his lyrics and that ultimately hindered me from devising a proper plan on how to handle him until he entered the house and our eyes met.

"Shango, what should I do now?" I asked with a terrified voice when the sick man's dark and scary eyes collided with mine as I grabbed the wall tightly for my dear life.

"Just prepare yourself for a mad man's Xenophobia..." That was what Shango said to me before the sick man grabbed me by the neck. The same neck that Lewis had hit earlier with a pestle.

When will Trouble stop dancing Soapy with me?

T.B.C

Darousmart library on Fb. Darous_emmanuel on Twitter.
+2348162128141 on WhatsApp. And you can also call me for your building works( I mean bricklaying works). My charges are normal. A trial will convince you.

odyx:
Guy thanks for the update, i understand the input both in thinking and time to put up a story, instead of keeping ur readers waiting, you can reduce narrative part and go straight to the story, make it more brief , and conclude so that u can face ur other activities and ur readers also move on. Too much delay , short update , and so much unnecessary part make it hard for all. Well done and do the needful

you really want me to be blunt and straight forward? Wow.... I'm at your service sir. I will do that from next update. No one wants to get this done quicker than me. Summary it is then. Thanks for this

16. THE DOG ATTENDANT. T.D.A by Darousmart Emmanuel. (T.B.M)



The true test of BOYFRIENDilism, as passionately, experiencically and regrettably explained to us in GLOCOTEL by the V.C himself, Prof, Dr Shango, is not measured by the amount of restaurant you take her to, nor by the amounts of iPhones you can buy for her, and it's surely not measured by the amounts of Brazilian hair you can get on her Nigerian head, trust me, none of those can stand the test of BOYFRIENDILISM. However, it's true test is measured by how you react to this statement when she eventually says it to you. "I'm pregnant".
I know that in some cases, the way a guy reacts to such statement kind of depends on the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy. But in other cases, the account balance goes a long way in influencing how a guy reacts to these two legendary and ancestoral words....'I'M PREGNANT'.
Let me stop here for now. The topic will continue later. Class dismissed..... Lol..


Let's go back to the story.......

Joke maintained a few distance between us as I stopped abruptly in my tracks. I can't even begin to tell you what I was feeling at that moment of suspense.
It was as if I was dreaming or in a trance like earlier when I was subconsciously wrapped up in the trance of slapping her to death.

I had to kick my own legs together and let my brain confirm the reality of my present situation.

"No, I'm not dreaming..." I said to myself as the night continues to announce its arrival slowly.

I quickly gather myself together and turn around to face her.

She bowed her head in a sober look as I stood there in the bushy path that led to the back gate of my house.

"I'm pregnant and...." She sniffed hard after pausing. "I know this is not the best time to tell you this but there's nothing I can do... You deserve to know the truth Darous.... I owe you that... Not after every pain I've caused you..." She swallowed hard as I watched on, still battling with the daunting task of how best to handle the situation. " Prior to this moment, it's your face I see everywhere I go, I hear your voice in my dreams and....and... Darous, I feel the lingering sadness and loneliness that only your absence can give me....and after everything you just told me now, ... I...." She paused again to cast a brief look at me. " honey, I feel responsible... " She gestured with hands in the air. " I want to make this right....I just have to make this right....even though a life time might not be enough but, I still want to start today and right now...just please give me the chance to do this.... Please I'm begging you...."

I only sighed at that as I still don't know what to say to her in that moment. However, my face still wore that anti-intimidation look. I wasn't going to let my guard down so easily and be tricked into another dubious scheme. Everything happening now is just too fast and hazy for my shangoic brain to handle at once.
'There are more than ten places that you need to be right now....' A voice in my head told me as I continued staring at her . 'But like a fool that you really are, you are going to let this lying b1tch tie you down here with another scheme? Aren't you supposed to be wiser by now? How can she be pregnant? I can't believe you are letting the same thing that happened between you and Favour occur again.'
Then I remember that incident with Favour, (the girl that later became Jide's wife). How she told me that her 8years old daughter has breast cancer and she needs surgery. I remember how I fell instantly for that trick. Jide later told me that he was the one that told her to tell me those things she told me incase we meet again after she stole my wallet in the car. Jide said he knew that I have a thing for children in need. And here we are again, another person in the name of Joke, telling me something that involves a child.

'can't you see that this is all a plan out game to delay you till Lewis comes with the police?' The voice continued. 'Remember he called her earlier...Darous wise up and stop putting us in trouble because of your brains inability to function properly...' The voice concluded and that gave me another reason to have a deeper thinking.

(You self too think of it na, it wasn't up to thirty minutes ago that she begged me to forgive her for the role she played in how my life was ruined. It wasn't long ago that she gave me that breastfull hug that helped in changing my mood towards her. All that is happening right now are just too fast and I need to be careful. She might be playing some sort of games for all I know.)

All those thoughts finished processing in my mind and I snapped instantly. All the emotional feelings I was starting to have for her some minutes ago scattered into thin air. The slightest thought of being betrayed again by her with this pregnancy issue quickly turn my heart against her.

"No..." I mummured but she heard.

"I know it's....it's hard to believe but.... Please let me make this right by my conscience...pleaaaaasssssseeeee...." She emphasized stressfully with almost crying tone. She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"So, you think telling me that you are pregnant is the next step to take on this so called redemption trip of yours?" I asked her with a hard face.

"Yes love, I'm pregnant and I'm sorry for putting it to you like this, I mean, it's not appropriate like this, like right now.."

"Then why did you choose to tell me right now of all times? You know, you had all the time in the world to tell me about this when I was in prison but did I even see your face? Nooo, but, I'm sorry, there's a lot in my mind right now and I don't have time to edit this..." Frankly, I said to her.

"You don't have to, just please believe me and take me with you, we can discuss this later once we've gotten to a safer place..."

'thats part of her plans...don't fall for it...' That voice told me again.

"I can't imagine how my life will be like once you leave me again.. Please believe me...I don't want to live another moment of my life without you in it.. please my love..." She stopped talking after her last word. Tears were already flowing freely on her cheeks. She was swallowing the tears that fell on her lips as she stared at me in silence. She probably want to give me enough time to process this out on myself.

"What do you want me to do now? Just tell me cos I'm very confuse here....." My emotions wanted to gain access to my body again and that was the reason behind that question.

'what? Like seriously? You are considering this?' The voice said again but I paid no attention to it.

"I just want you to let me follow you to wherever you go...give me a chance to be your wife again...please.... I...." She was saying when I cut her short.

"Joke? You are pregnant?" I snapped again. " Are you really serious?" I gestured towards her stomach "How can that even be possible? Eh? Answer me na?," I took a step towards her as she looked at me with pleading eyes as my step brings us more closer. Her lips were shaking as she fumbled for what to say.

"Darous please...." She pleaded with rubbing palms.

"You can't really be serious Joke. I know you very well. I know when you are lying and when you are being sincere. Right now, every bone in my body is going against you...., you self think am na, how many months did I spend in prison? Is it up to ten months?...."

"Darous...."

"Just three months...Joke, just three (I emphasized on the THREE), just three bloody months and you are here telling me you are pregnant...pooooof... Who does that? Eh?. That's below yourself Joke..."

"Hear me Darous...." She pleaded with tears but I wasn't ready to give in to her. I was very angry at that moment.

"Don't say anything at all....let me talk...." I cautioned with an angry tone when I finally realized that she might be trying to play some games after all. It's very unusual of her to be panicking whenever she's saying the truth, so this one that she's jittery and shaking now, that means she's lying. Or so I thought.

She went mute immediately and I continued.
I cast a cursory look all over her stomach region to check signs of pregnancy but didn't see any.

"Where is the protuding stomach? Answer me! Tell me Joke, Where is the pregnancy confirmatory saliva from your mouth? You think you can decieve me with another prank?" I hissed frustratingly. "You think I don't know what you and Lewis said on the phone?"

"What?"

"Oh! you think you can tie me down with this pregnancy issue so that your boyfriend can come back here with the police and get me!?" I slammed my chest hard at that moment and bit my lips angrily.

"I'm not decieving you Darous... I'm serious, please believe me,...."She was now weeping slowly and I had to shift my gaze sideways so I don't get intimidated by her tears again. "It's hard for me to see you talking to me this way...but what is more hard is you not believing me...."


"I should believe you?" I scoffed. "I'm sorry Joke, the last time I believed you, see where that got me?"

"I thought we've move past that na? anh-anh" She grumbled amid tears.

"Maybe you have, that's understandable...you are not the one in funny clothes. You are not the one who hasn't take a proper bath for three months. You are not the one that has been sleeping on the cold floor of the prison for three months. You know how big and wicked those mosquitoes are? They are as big as your thumb Joke and this mosquitoes don't feed gently, Joke, they usually come with straws..." I paused as those memories were about to trigger my tears. "I'm sorry ... I just can't believe anything you say, I've been betrayed too much in my life... And you are certainly not the one who has lost everything.... You are......" I swallowed the remaining words as I return my gaze to the ground.

She stepped closer to me and suddenly grab my cheeks. She looked straight into my eyes. "If I lose you Darous, I'll be left with nothing.... You are my everything....." She said in a soft tone.

I refused to let that affect me one bit, so I only scoffed at her.

"You know, 9ice said, once bitten, is twice shy...I seriously don't believe that....I see your face and you remind me of the devil... Even the devil can't treat me the way you did back then...."

"Ah...." She gasped. "This isn't you." She said vehemently with a disappointed tone. "This isn't my Darous....my Darous is smarter than this...."

"Of course..." I said as I forcefully took her hands away from my cheeks. "This is what your betrayal, Lewis betrayal and your sister's reduced me to.... This is who I am now and the sooner you start accepting it, the better for you....."

"I...." She sniffed in the tears again and brought her face down.

"See, it's night already and I have to go now...before I get caught in your trap again." I turned around and attempted to begin to walk away before she spoke again.

"Okay...." I heard her take in another deep sniff. "If that's what you want, then there is one thing you should know...." She was silent again for some seconds before my curiosity got me to talk.

"I'm hearing you..."

I stared hard and long at her as her lips continue to shake. I took another curiosity step toward her and she gave out another sigh before she talked.




WILL CONTINUE LATER....

CONTINUATION OF T.D.A 15.



I bowed my head down to think. To see if I truly deserve all the things she said to me. To see if I should honor her with a reply or just let it go. Then the latter part of her statement got on my nerves. Where she said I have been nothing but a pain to her family and her as a whole.

'no, you can't take that. You don't deserve all those blames alone. Let her feel your pains also.' A familiar voice communed to me. I chew my teeths together to decline the request of the Temper fc in me that was calling for a rematch with Pacifist Fc.

There was silence for some minutes as she tried to fight off the emotions that were trying to overwhelm her. The tears that were trying to send her crying on the ground.

My dangling legs were swinging in a Jingle-over-like-a-motor- motion as I sit on the tree. My brain was busy trying to come up with the best possible way to tackle this situation.

"Last thing I want to say is, " Her voice cuts into my thoughts. I didn't even bother to look at her anymore. "I've taken Chris and if you don't want any more trouble, anymore wahala than this one you are in, please I'm begging you again, to stay out of our lives for good. " She threatened sternly. I was again tempted to act at that moment, but my Pacifist Fc was already leading the Temper Fc by 2goals to nothing..

She suddenly turned around and begin to walk away slowly. Back towards the direction she had came from.

"I..." I struggled for words but they didn't come as a part of me was trying to keep me from calling her back.

She must have sensed that I wanted to say something so she stopped and turned back to look at me but after waiting for almost a minute without getting anything from me, she shake her head and in a regrettable manner, hissed out loud.
"If you have nothing to say to me, then let it be so. Let this be the last time I'll ever see you." She said that from a few feets away and that was when I saw the need to talk.

"Joke...." I called sharply before I will even think of not doing so again.

She turned around with a contempt filled eyes. "Yes?"

"Hmm.." I scoffed. "Joke, just do something for me please..." I said with an appealing tone.

"What is that?" She asked frankly.

I jumped down from the tree and remained where I landed.

"As you are leaving now, nothing will thrill me more than to hear about your death tomorrow morning." I dropped that outrightly.

I can't begin to explain the kind of look on her face. She was stunned, shocked, and highly horrified when those words settled in her mind. I would have asked you to borrow me more words to justifiably qualify her expression but the ones I borrowed in the first part of my story, I never return am, so you have to manage the ones I used above.

"So now....now you want me dead?" She finally said with a confused tone.

"Yes....yes....I promise, I will masturbate for 30days and 30nights if I hear tomorrow that you are dead....Joke, can you do me that favour?"

"Hmmmm" She scoffed briefly and moved closer to me so that our eyes were now meeting very close. "Then be a man and do it yourself!" She cried out. "Do it yourself you bastard!" Suddenly, she hits me on the chest with her palms and if not for the Mango-weight I'm using, I might have dropped to the floor from the effects of her hands.

I thought she would stop hitting me but she didn't. She never stopped hitting me and raining curses and abuses on me. That was the exact reaction I was hoping to see from her. I want to give her pain so her brain will be vulnerable enough to grab everything I planned on saying to her.

I got tired of letting her hit me and I gently pushed her back. She was crying and sobbing heavily and she had to bend on her knees to maintain her body from falling to the ground as her emotions continue to overwhelm her.

I let her cry for some minutes before I cleared my throat and begin to talk while she was still crying.

"You know, the thing is, Joke, all these years, I kept a secret from the world. A shred of faith. See I never believed that life, the universe, a higher power, God or whatever you want to call it, that's controlling it.....Nothing can ever make me suffer so much and then die without knowing true love...damn it Joke, that.... it'd just be too cruel. Too cruel for me to die in this life with everything that I've been through, all the pains, hustle and sorrow....." I paused when I sensed that my that tears were getting themselves ready to start driving through the borders of my eyes towards my cheeks, so I had to pause momentarily to set up a road block for them.

"And when I met you,....." I continued after setting up the roadblocks. "When I met you Joke, my faith was rewarded. I was happy. I found true love in you. Before meeting you, I know how I was living my life, I know the things I do to get to a woman's pants. I know the bad things I used to do before I can eat... But then I met you, my kryptonite, I was ready to change for you... I no longer chase after girls, but it's not my fault that they tend to find my looks irresistible. My looks got me into most of the trouble I'm in right now... I was already losing hope on myself.....but meeting you again after the times we spent apart restored my hope...." I paused to adjust the roadblocks when I sensed that my tears were trying to maneuver around it.

"Then the marriage came,...." I continued while she remained in the bending position. She was no longer crying, just occasional hiccups. "You vowed to me on the altar before your God and man that you will never leave me no matter the density of my faults. You promised to stay with me no matter what. You promised to swim with me throught the thick currents of the oceans. You never said you will leave me to face them alone. Ah, Joke, no matter how you try to justify it, I don't deserve what you did to me...no human, no matter the gravity of their undoings should have to go through such an ordeal in their lives. My world came crashing down before my own eyes. You didn't spare my mother of that horrible experience. You just decided to be the jury and executioner. You played God on my life.... You decided my fate in the most dehumanizing way...." At that moment, the tears have already bribed my emotions and they have lifted the roadblocks, hence their arrival on my cheeks. In simpler un-motoric terms, I was already weeping. My legs were shaking and I had to get into a squatting posture to sustain my weight.

Joke on the other hand was still bending down, still resting her palms on her slightly bended knees.

"I believe that this life has a way of testing someone's will, either by having nothing happen at all or having everything happen at once...sadly in my own case, Life chooses the latter. And I was hoping with you by my side, I can climb the tallest of mountains...but all you did was abandoned me at the deadliest peak of Everest. You took away my life support and left me in the open when you know that my life will be meaningless without you in it...."

There was silence again as the two of us continue to get drowned in our respective emotions.

"You know, I was truly hurt, when....when....hmmmmm.... You know, you acted on what your sister said to you that I did to her, she said I rap3d her, hmmm, and then Chioma told you that I killed Adedoyin, hmmmmm,......" I paused again. "Today, you deserve to know the truth about those things.....I will tell you in full details of everything concerning those issues...."

I took my time to explain to her in detailed pieces of how Nike and I had a consensual anal sex. Again, I went further by telling her, detail by detail of my affairs with Adedoyin, up till the circumstances surrounding her death and how Chioma played a larger role in it. I also told her of how I thought Chioma had amnesia until she showed up at our wedding. I also told her that I didn't sent her any message requesting her presence at the guest house. I told her of everything Lewis did to me and the boy and how I managed to get us free. I went further to tell her that how can I send a message to her when she know that only Lewis and Nike has her new number?

"How do I know everything you just said to me is the truth? That you are not trying to garner my sympathy so you can strike me again...." She said to me when I've finished explaining to her.

"Well, I know you always tell me not to say it but if it's what it will take for you to believe me, then I will say it..... Joke I swear to you on my father's grave...."

"No..." She tried to caution me.

"On my father's grave that everything I just said to you are nothing but the absolute truth... And if I'm found wanting in any thing I just tell you, let thunder strike the left breeast of my....."

"Noooooo..... don't go there....." She said and used her two index fingers to block her eardrums. So I had to stop. She straightened up momentarily and returned to the bending down posture. I don't know why she chose to remain in that tiring posture.

"I'm not claiming to be a saint Joke, I'm not saying I'm not at fault, but I did everything I did back then with the best intentions of not wanting to hurt you... I was scared of what I would become if you found out about my past and you decide to leave me. I had the best intentions for everything I did to you but you know one thing I earnt from watching the Legend of the Seeker is that Wizard's second rule which states, 'the greatest harm can come from the best intentions'....how so true..."

I sniffed hard and looked around. The sun was almost setting and that tells me it's time to go. Everything that just transpired between Joke and I has made me lose interest in dealing with Lewis. So I sighed and mentally prepared my last words.

"But, I must tell you Joke, there's no regret in life, just lessons learnt... Because in the end of it all, all I learned was how to be strong A-L-O-N-E." I ended with ambiguous emphasis on the last word. My last words hit her hard and the next thing I started hearing from her were plain cries if agonies. The tears were dropping to the floor subsequently and it was starting to affect me greatly.

Swiftly, I arose and turned around in a determined attempt to walk away but the next thing I hear her say was something I never expected to hear from her in a thousand years.

"I...I...I'm sorry...." She stammered out amid sniffs and hiccups and wailings.

Hearing that made my heart to melt instantly. My will power broke down and I had no choice than to make the wailing task a plural one for both of us. I dropped to my knees without turning around to face her as I begin to weep bitterly. We were weeping so hard to the extent that none of us paid attention to her phone that was ringing out loud. The phone rang for some minutes before it stopped totally.

"I'm sorry.... Darous, I'm sorry....I'm very sorry...." I heared her footsteps approaching me very quick and before I could think of standing up to avoid her, she have already wrapped her arms around my neck and shoulders from behind. I wanted to wriggle myself free of her grip but the mere fact that her breast was touching my head was enough to make my body's stubborn armed-robber to lower it's weapons.

I was just swinging gently from side to side as she remained locked to my back. She continued to express how sorry she was through her crying words and before I knew it, I was already pacifying her to stop crying. She continued to tell me all she discovered about Lewis but she was unable to do anything to it because he was the only one keeping her safe from the wrath of every beneficiary of my short term wealth. She told me about how my family members threatened to kill her if she doesn't get me released from the prison. She said that was the reason why she decided to leave Abeokuta for my house in Ibadan. She also told me that she was aware of the 2bn I have in my Diamond account but her conscience would not let her tell Lewis or even act on taking it.

All this she told me through robust crying and fat wails.

We eventually got over ourselves after some times of expressing out our deepest pains through crying and wailing.
The night was fast approaching and I saw the need to bid her farewell so I can get away fast before Lewis shows up to come and complicate things for us.

"Where will you go now?" She asked me after I've announced to her that I'm leaving.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you..."

"Why?" She asked searching into my eyes for answers.

"My safety depends on it...." I told her.

"Hmmmm..... I understand, but do you think running away is the best option?"

"Nooo... I don't think it's the best option but survival first before anything else...there are people that are already aware of my 2bn money and they will stop at nothing to get it from me...they are the ones that broke me out of jail. As I'm talking to you now, two people are dead already because of that money...believe me, walking away is the best way to keep people safe..." I explained hurriedly to her as I dust off the dirts on my garment.

She pondered on my words briefly and then looked me in the eye.

"What if I go to the police and tell them I'm no longer interested in the case?, that I want to withdraw it? Will that change your mind from running away?"

"Ahahaha....." I laughed wryly. "You got to be joking... Joke, this is no longer your case... You are more like a witness in this case... This case involves murder, attempted murder and attempted suicide.... presently, Chioma is still in the hospital....she's in a coma state and her parents are on my neck.... And only Chioma can solve this. She's the only one that can tell the police about the truth and maybe the judge will see other actions as a mere frustrated retaliation from me...maybe he might give me a light sentence in two weeks time."

"Hmmmm....so there's no way out of this than running away?" She asked again.

"Sadly, there isn't....it's for the safety of everyone that I go away."

"Hmmmm....Then if that's the case, I will go get Chris and we will follow you..."

"Is that a joke or what?" I asked confusingly.

"Like hell I am...., You think you are the only one affected by this? Remember you met me a virgin....I never had sex all through my life and you introduced me to that sexual life...I could never have wished for someone else than you to be my first love maker...and I have promised myself never to have another man in my heart... I love you Darous....."

"You can't say you love me Joke, you know I hate crowded places..."

"I know you don't believe me, but it's a good thing I now have a second chance to prove it to you...."

"What about Lewis?"

"What about him?"

"Don't you love him?"

"Darous, what are you talking about? I can't love someone like that....I don't love...." Her phone rang at that moment and she picked it from the ground. She checked the screen and scoffed before pointing the phone to me. "Speak of the devil..."

"Lewis..." I said after seeing the name on the screen.

I thought she was going to pick the call but she just switched off the phone and stuff it inside her tight jeans.

"So what do we do now?" She asked.

"Joke," I called her and cleared my throat. " As much as I would have loved to have you by my side for ever, I can't do that. I can't let you be a fugitive because of me...you will be throwing your life away and I can't let you do that..." I moved closer to her and held her by both cheeks

"No Darous, my life is beside you.. I know what I'm saying..." She countered.

"Listen to me.... Joke, you are the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me.... You have brought me the best joys I ever known...."

"And the sadness too...don't be so gentle on me Darous...."

"I wasn't planning to, but it will be harsh of me to let you do this because you feel guilty about what you did to me....no I won't be able to live with myself if God forbids, something happens to you... Joke, my life will be totally ruined. Every shred of hope of finding happiness that I'm hanging on will be gone with it if something happens to you... Please, I'm doing this for me, not for you...."

She was starting to cry again when I finished saying that to her. I wasn't ready to let her tie me down with her tears again so I quickly turn around away from her.

"Please just take care of Chris for me...please, don't let anything happen to him........" I said finally and begin to walk away. I was about to bend the last corner that will lead me to the fence of my house when I hear her voice again.

"Darous....!" She shouted at me and I wasn't ready to stop. So I planned on increasing my pace but before I could take another step forward she said something that made me froze to the spot.

"I'm....I'm...." She stammered long enough to trigger my curiosity. "I'm pregnant....!"

Okay, okay, wait guys,.....let's just pretend she didn't say that. Let us pretend for one second that I didn't just hear her say that out to me. Let's just pretend that that was her last attempt to make me stay with her.

Have we finished pretending yet? Okay. Now let us tell her to say that out again. We are all going to ask her to say it again. Okay? On the count of 1 to 3.

Ready? Guys are you ready? Okay.

1....


2!!!



3!!!!!! Go.........


"Joke come again please?" We've all say that to her.


She sighed high. "I'm Pregnant!"

There you have it, she have said it again, so now.....

WHAT NEXT?


T .B. C.

Add me up on WHATSAPP to enjoy my T.B.Mocks and T.B.Meds on 0.8.1.6.2.1.2.8.1.4.1.

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15. THE DOG ATTENDANT. T.D.A by T.B.M.



The ground stood still as we both stared at each other. Our eyes meeting again after some months since her birthday was giving me mixed feelings. She was still clad in the same cloths I saw on her earlier in the morning. Truth be told, the urge and zeal to approach her and take out my anger on her surged through my body at that moment we were alone inside that bush.

'is that her? Darous, na she be this?' A voice asked me from within. 'see her face, that treacherous face! Kai, Darous, Wetin you dey wait for? Make we beat nonsense comot for her body na? See as she stand dey look us like say she no know Wetin she do for us...abeg, wire her better slap for face make her brain receive sense small...'

'no...no beat her.....' Another voice countered. ' make we kill am ni. She deserve to die for everything wey she do to us.'

I pondered on those thoughts briefly and I feel like I should just dash towards her and give her face a correctional slap for everything she's making me go through in my life.
The slap landed on her face heavily and the complexion of the affected area changed quickly to a reddened one. She winced in pain as she grabbed her left cheeks with the left palm. Her face was filled with shockhorror. The look on her face encouraged me to make her feel my wrath again, so I plunged at her and gave her another one but with more force this time around. The force was so much that she staggered back whimpering in silence. Her lips were quavering and her hands were shaking.

She spit out the blood in her mouth spitefully. She looked at me with contempt and that got my anger to skyrocket. It felt as if I have been wasting my time by just slapping her, so I introduce another variable of punch to the equation. Being a trained boxer, I know where to punch her and will make her fall to the ground. So I clenched my fist as her beautiful eyes locked on mine. She wants me to stop, but no, I need to first take out my anger in her. I swung my right hand forward and like a thunderstorm, the blow landed on her face and her stamina succumbed to the power of my 46kg blow. A blow almost the weight of a bag of cement.

She landed on the floor on her back as the phone in her hand dropped. She was now crying but I wasn't done with her yet. I hate her now more than any living thing crawling on the surface of the earth. Chioma is already in a coma, Nike is nowhere to be found, and Lewis who is also an accomplice in my tribulations has gotten a heavy beating from me earlier even though he retaliated with something that could have ended my life but still I'm okay with the fact that I get to beat him. So , Joke should not be left out. She masterminded everything so I need to beat her to a pulp. Forget about her being the love of my life, forget about my own undoings too, she needs to feel my pains too.

Having those feelings, I pounced on her as she was trying desperately to get up from the floor. I used my hands to separate her face that she was trying to cover. I pinned her down heavily and begin to slap her face harder.

KPA! "that one is for betraying me..."

KPA! "That one is for that public humiliation...."

KPA! "That is for taking my everything away from me!"

I continue to slap her heavily on the floor. Then she started breathing very slow. She was gradually losing her strength and despite the fact that I'm aware of this, even in the innermost part of my brain, I still didn't stop dishing out the most Anthony-Joshua of slaps to her face. In simpler un-boxingful term, I was still slapping her heavily.
She was no longer trying to push me away. I never stopped slapping her as the slaps continue to terminate the contract her body has with strength. My eyes were bloodshot and rage filled. Hers too was starting to roll in their sockets. Before I knew it, blood have started to form in her eyes as I continue to dish out my slaps on her face. Her breathings begin to get ragged. Then I cried out loud in anguish as I raised my hands up in the sky more than ever and brought it down heavily on her face. She went limp immediately. She was no longer breathing. I on the other hand was breathing heavily.

Then my mind starts to settle and by the time my brain reached it's final cooling point, the ugly reality dawned on me. 'She's dead. I'd kill her!. I've kill her!.... I was saying out loud to myself but then the ringing of her phone snapped me out of my trance.

Madu, the song of Kiss Daniel boomed out of the Samsung10 lying on the floor.

I wiped my face down with the palm of my hand as I watch her bend down to pick the phone on the leave-covered ground. She stared at the phone before she returned her look to my face.
I know you are confused, but just remember what I said before the slap scene. I said I feel like I should just take out my anger on her by slapping her.
So basically or technically, or practically, or literally, or whatever word you find that ends with (Cally) that will best qualify what I said earlier is okay by me, all I just want to let you know is that everything I said about the fight was nothing but a figment of my imagination, a demonstration of how things would have gone if I hadn't control the anger welling up in me as I stood motionlessly in front of her.

The phone must have fallen off her hand when our eyes met. My eyes were hard and stern. The phone continue to ring in her hand and I was beginning to get worried that it might draw attention to us if not answered quickly. She got over herself and she picked the call.
The next thing I heard her say is, "hello Lewis,..." She said very low.

NOTE** The amount of 'eeee' you see in each SILENCE you see below, is to tell you how long she was silent on the call.

She cleared her throat before she continued. " I got it like twenty minutes ago.....( silenceeeeeee) no no Lewis, I've forwarded the message to you already, just check your phone.....he said...(silenceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee) The police?....no, they are not with me....... I only told them that my friend said Chris is with her and that they shouldn't worry anymore.... (Silenceeeee) yes..I mean no,...you don't know him like I do Lewis.... he made it clear that I should not involve the police at all... (Silenceeeeeeeee) no, I can't wait for you to get here Lewis, Chris life is at stake here....( silenceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee again.) I know the place, its behind our house...( silenceeee) noo, please don't bring the police into this... You don't understand....I think I can handle him....( silenceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee).......". The call continued as a lot of thoughts continue to sprang up in my mind.
Everything I just hear her say on the phone has somehow answered part of the questions that popped into my mind when I first hear her voice outside the door. Questions like; How did she locate that place? How did she knew we were there? Where are the police she was with some minutes ago? I mean the police that spoke with Lewis on the phone when he was still holding me inside that uncompleted guest house? Have she brought them to arrest me?, But thanks to that call, I already have a clue to most of the answers.

The message she was talking about must surely have something to do with all the questions in my mind. I don't need to waste my time trying to find out what message she was talking about, putting one and two together, I realized Lewis must have sent that message to her when he was typing that phone earlier in the guest house. That bastard wants to set me up against Joke so she would come inside the guest house and think I'm holding Chris hostage. Although I don't know the exact details of the text but it can't be far from what I presumed it to be. Lewis main agenda is to make Joke see me as a full devil so that she won't have any reason to be regretting what she did to me, so she can fully move on with her life and hopefully for him, she might eventually say yes to his advances. Sounds like a perfect plan but the bastard didn't know that I've already gotten out of the guest house. I'm only concerned with why Joke is now lying to him that she hasn't entered the guest house yet when she have already.

"okay Lewis but don't bring the police, I will wait for you at the junction...( silenceeeeeeee) no, no,no, I am almost there but I'll go back now....okay. Just don't tell the police anymore okay....." She sighs as she ends the call and returned her full concentration on me.

"That was Lewis...." She said out but I don't know whether to give her a response or not, seeing as I was still feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sudden meeting. I need to be very careful here if I don't want to make a very costly mistake that can ultimately end my own life, both literally or practically.

"How do I handle this? Should I just turn away from her or continue to grant her audience?" I asked myself again but before I could deliberate further on that, my stomach produced a hunger-notification alert. I haven't taken anything into my stomach since the previous night when I was in the prison and being an ulcer person, I know it's only a matter of time before my worms starts feeding on my intestines.

"Darous....." Joke finally said to me. That voice was sooo cool but it's effects on my senses was the contrary.

Every fiber of my body quickly remember that tone that she just used in calling my name and they were screaming to me to run away, but a smaller part of my body that wasn't in support of running away keeps telling me to wait and talk to her and who knows, Lewis might join us in time and I might finally get my chance to unleash my full wrath on him for everything he did to me and my child in that guest house. For drugging my child and tying me down like a goat, he needs to pay for that. A good thing Joke has told him not to involve the police at all.

'make sure you don't leave him alive this time around, so he doesn't come back with something more than a pestle to finish you completely.' That smaller part of me said to me.

On the other hand, as if they were acting on their own accord, my mouth opened and this was what came out of it.
"Yessss......" I stressed the word with a questioning look as I wrapped my arms across my chest.

She begin to pace my front in a short sideway motion, probably trying to see how best to proceed in her words.
The sun was almost at it's resting zone and soothing has substituted for scorching to reduce the effect of the sun on our skins. The breeze was blowing gently and that was when my eyes caught the sight of a mango tree standing not very close to where we were standing in the lonely bush. I gave the tree a quick cursory survey and I was happy to the bone when I saw two ripe mangoes begging to be plucked on one of its branches.

"I got your message and now I'm here..." She said without missing my eyes in one second.

I wanted to ask her which message she's talking about but then I remember the call she just had with Lewis. I already know about the message so I continued on my decision to keep mute, while just staring at her and doing everything possible in my Buharific power not to call her herdsman a terrorist.


"I....I...." She stutters out and tried taking a step closer to me but I quickly stepped back.

"Whatever you want to say, please do me a favour, stay there and say it.... Please don't come any closer to me if you don't want trouble." I lashed at her and I didnt bat an eyelid.

She called my warning a bluff and attempted to move closer to me again and that was when multiple folds of anger dominated the possession of my body and the striker of clenched fist and gritted teeth started having a series of shots on target on the Pacifist Fc part of my body's goal post before the lone striker named Calmness from that Pacifist FC broke away on a counter attack and scored a late goal to win the match. So I had no choice than to give in to Pacifist Fc.


Still with clenched fist I said to her, "you hardly do whatever I tell you to do right? Just get out of my way....."
I begin to match forward in her direction and I could see it in her eyes, the fear and apprehension, as they grew with every step I took closer to her. She sighed as I walked past her and straight for the mango tree. I adjusted the dirty white garment on my body and begin to climb the tree. I first plucked the two mangoes I saw earlier and quickly ate them before I begin to search for another one.

While still on the mango plucking adventure, I will occasionally look down from the tree to check on her and surprisingly, she was still standing there. Watching everything I was doing on the tree. Somehow, I was glad she got to see me like that. For her to be seeing me in this kind of situation will leave an everlasting dent on her conscience, that's if she has any left. I'm glad she gets to see a fraction of what I'm going through. I'm glad she gets to see what she has reduced me to with her betrayal and self acclaimed vengeance.

I spent more than fifteen minutes on the tree, eating everything I plucked and when I was satisfied that my belly is okay a bit, I sat on the closest branch to the ground and rested my head on another branch. I picked another mango from my garment's pocket and took a bite.

"So, to what do I owe this unpleasant meeting?" I said to her and that was when I noticed the traces of tears in her eyes.

'No, not that again. Not those manipulative tears again. She knows that's my kryptonite and she's trying to give them to me. But no, I won't let my guard down so easily. ' I said that to myself and shifted a larger percent of my attention towards the mango in my hand.

I will not say anything again. I will just follow what Sultan, one of my inmates use to say. He use to say, "sit back and observe, not everything needs a reaction." And another one that he use to say is, " you have two ears and one mouth. Follow that ratio in every situation. Listen more and talk less." And the last one is this, " when you let people talk for long, you get to know their true feelings and intentions."

So putting all that into a handy use, I acted nonchalantly to her actions of cries, they might be stunts for all I care.

"Darous, first of all, why?" She broke out. " Why did you want to take Chris away from me? " She questioned me but I gave her no reply or signal to let her think I'm listening to her. I only chew harder on my mango.

"You know you are cruel and wicked? You know that right?...." She paused again. "After everything you did to me, you still have the guts to come here and hurt me again? Eh? Have I not suffered enough in your hands? What exactly did I do to you Darousmart, for you to be doing all this to me? Tell me!" She was almost shouting on top of her voice. I looked around from the tree to see if someone else is around the area but I saw no one.

"You know, let me be sincere, I was starting to feel sorry for what I did to you... I mean how I got you arrested and all the ...all the......" She fumbled for what to say as I strained my ears to hear what she wants to say. "Well, admittedly, you can say I went too far, I get it, but it was you, with your lies and dishonesty that left me with absolutely no choice... I just had to hit the quit button on us...." She paused and sniffed in hard. She stared long into the sky and when she eventually brought her face down, heavy tears trickled down her soft cheeks.
"Honestly, I hate everything that happened to us,....." She continued. "believe it or not, I was already regretting it, but with this one that you are doing to me now? Eh? to me again? Darous! Again?!" She hits her chest very hard with her palms. "Seriously, I hate myself for feeling sorry for someone like you.... I hate the fact that my head and brain has never worked together in any situation that involves you.... The last time they eventually came to terms on your case, that was when I was truly free.... Honestly, getting rid of you was the best thing I ever do with my brain...."


By now, you should already have a picture of how her face will look like while dropping those heavy words on my wounded doorstep.
"I don't feel sorry anymore. I've come to realize that you deserve every penny of pain or struggle you are going through in life right now..... Truly, it was I that pulled the trigger on our relationship, but it was you, with your unending lies and unrepentant character to see lies and deceit as a grand option, it was you that loaded the gun...and whatever you are going through now is of your own doing not mine.... Don't hate me for wanting to stay away from someone like you.....for wanting happiness for once in my life....you can't hate me for that..."

"Ah" I sighed out when I thought she has finished talking but that only gave her an indication to continue.

"I don't know how you did it, I don't know how you managed to escape from prison, maybe for some part of God's unquestionable reasons, this meeting was meant to happen so we can clear the air, but let me tell you clearly, I'm not saying you shouldn't run away, I won't stop you but, I repeat, if you ever come across my life again, if you try as little as hurt a single member of my family ever again!......" She declared vehemently and bit her lips hard as I listened anxiously to hear the remaining parts of her pains. "You will spend the rest of your miserable existence rueing the day you first sent me that Facebook friend request....cos I've realized that you are nothing! Nothing... but a great pain to my life and family as a whole...." Her eyes were that of a wounded lion. So fierce and full of anguish.

NzeSteve:
Dropping dis episode means u are getting stronger... We stand wit u broo.... More strength to d man wey sabi

sure boss. I resumed work fully on Wednesday. All thanks to your well wishes

14. THE DOG ATTENDANT. [T.D.A] by TBM.


The C.P stood at akimbo as my inmates fumbled for space to stand. The leg chains and handcuffs was making it kind of difficult for the policemen that marched them in to get them into orderly order.

There were murmurs and whispers going on amongst them as they ventured for comfortability in the room. They were all clad like me in the same V-neck short sleeves and knickers.

They formed a U-shape around the spacious room while the C.P, Nike, Lewis and the Chief Warden stood in front of them. Sergeant Audu and two other policemen with rifles stood at the rear end of my inmates while I remain seated on the floor in the middle of the lots.

This situation I found myself in suddenly is making blood to flow abnormally in my system. The first thing that first came to mind was to back out of the plan but they never born me well to do that. Not now that things are about to get extremely unpredictable.

Truly there was a plan going on, but still nothing is ever guarantee where ever the fate of my well being is involved, so you can understand the reason behind my unsettled apprehension.

"You all need to do our ear drums the favour of keeping quiet...." The C.P Mr Femzie Carlos announced to all of them when the murmurs and titters refused to die down in time.

Groans and Grunts which are the first symptoms of Discomfort, were the reactions that immediately met with the C.P's words to my colleagues in blue vests before one of them suddenly spoke up without minding the presence of who we were.

"Baba police, where we comot still make sense pass this one na, haba, how you tey expect make we nor talk when you pack plenty human being for inside this o n gbo na feli-feli hole (very hot) as if say we be sardine? Ah, we self be human being na. He no... ..." One of the Albinos instantly replied the C.P but before he could finish his statement, Sergeant Audu have interrupted him.

"Keep kwayet there! Where you think say you dey wey your mouth dey sing like mosquito?"

"We dey inside the place wey we no like and you dey expect make we no talk..? Make we no talk?...." Another lanky man by the name of Festus replied him.

"You all better learn to behave or else?...."Seargent Audu warned abruptly.

"Or else what? You go kill us?" Simon, a slim-prison-fit guy replied amid the ongoing murmurs.

"Silence?" The. C.P barked again. "Where......"

"Sir....." One female police with a tomboy stature like that of Sarah Connor of the Terminator film walked in with that interruptive word. She was so slim to the extent that her breast have metamorphosed to make her gender more bobrisked and complicated. I just pity her future children. Those poor souls will have a have a hard time differentiating their dad from their mum. Poor kids will have two dads. One with a vagina and the other with a diick.

"Yes Faith, what's it?" The C.P turned to her as she found her way to him, brushing aside the disgruntled prisoners in the process.

"No push us na?" The albino she made contact with grunted.

"Abi who be this ganself?" Saipon chipped in too.

Faith got to the front of the C.P and saluted him.
"Sir, D.C.P is back in the office sir, with the governor's people." She announced in almost whispers but I was able to hear her loud and clear because of the C.P's relative closeness to my location.

Mr Carlos first wore a frowned look on his face before he spoke back. ".C.P and the governor's people ke ?"

"Yes sir......" The said Faith replied sharply as we all listened on in silence trying to pick pieces of what they were saying.

"But the meeting was slated for tomorrow Monday , why are they here today?" In another whisper, the C.P said again.

" I don't know sir...but I can tell them you are not around if that's okay sir..." Faith replied in whisper too.

"No...no...they have already seen my car,....the D.I.G must have called them...."

"You mean my Dad is aware of my situation already?" I hear Lewis say to the confused man in almost whispers too.

Mr Carlos gave him a hard glare and ignored Lewis before returning his face to Faith. "How many of them?"

"Answer me na, is it my dad? I've been calling him.simce but not picking my calls..." Lewis voiced out again to the man in authority here.

"Young man, not everything revolves around you...so please stay out of this..." He said sternly and beckoned Faith to speak up.

"Four sir, plus the D.C P sir...." She replied standardly.

He shook his head briefly as if in a thinking mode before he then settled his gaze on the standing lots. "I don't like this...." He muffled under his breath. "Tell them I will be there shortly. "

"Okay sir..." Faith saluted and exited the room.

"Audu, come here..." The C.P called the Sergeant. "Take down their names for me before I come back. But if I'm not back in the next 30mins, you know what to do....." He instructed in an explicit tone that's devoid of noise.

"Yes sir." Sergeant Audu stiffened his body at once and saluted the man.


"And you..." Mr Carlos faced Lewis. "Don't you have an appointment to catch?"

"No, I will meet my doctor later..." Lewis answered defiantly without giving the man a glance.

"But still, You two have no business here for now, so follow me." The C.P told Lewis and Nike before he motioned to Audu again.

Lewis wanted to counter him again but Nike spoke up. "He's right, we need to check on Chris, he might be already looking for us...." They both exited the room immediately.

The C.P stopped in front of me and called Audu to come again.

"Take him from this place and lock him up somewhere in the toilet, we don't want him intimidating his friends....." The C.P pointed to me as he gave Audu that instruction.

The moment he finished talking, Audu dragged me up gently and led me to the wooden door by the rear side of the spacious room. He opened the door and gently shoved me inside.

He made me sit on the closet while the other corporal that followed us inside worked on getting my handcuff locked to the burglary proof. They exited the restroom after making sure there's no way I can escape from that place.

I bowed down my head exasperatedly as I begin to think again about how I got back into custody. Thinking if o actually made the right decision.l

Meanwhile, I can still hear what is going on outside the door but let me first tell you how I got back to prison when I'm supposed be on my way to Jide's house to claim my 2bn money and be out of the country even despite the fact that I did not have my child with me anymore.


>>>>>>>HOURS AGO<<<<<<<


My eyes flew open when the absence of my child was staring at me in the face. I couldn't believe I was still that stupid to the extent of leaving him all alone in that lonely and dark passage all because I don't want him to see me when I'm looking for what I will use in opening the door. Still because I don't want him to discover my lie as an angel.
'What if Lewis have got him?' That possibility question sprang up in my mind in that instance of fidgetability but before I could ponder more on it, I heard Joke's voice from the outside.

"is he inside?" Her voice queried and I instantly switched off the torch in my hand. I was stunned to hear her voice in that environment.

"Who mummy?" That was Chris voice.

"The man inside with you...." Joke said again. "Did he hurt you? Why are you sweating? Did he hurt you anywhere? Come over here....come here....." There was a brief silence after that before Chris spoke.

"Mr Zeus?" I heard Chris say that out and I was left to wonder when I suddenly became Mr Zeus.

"Who is that? Who is Mr Zeus?"

"Mummy, you don't know him?”

" of course I don't know any Mr Zeus..."

" Mummy, mummy, he disappeared to my room and said he want to take me to my daddy..he said bad Uncle Lewis is not my daddy......"

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Let's get you to safety first..." That was the last thing I heard from Joke shortly before the sound of her footsteps followed.

I waited two minutes before I concluded on what to do. I gently open the door and stepped outside into the open. The day was very sunny and windy. The environment was bushy and fenced with blocks to an eight course height. A small house still under construction was situated closely to the big gate. The walkway path to the gate was narrow and littered with used pure water sachets and empty plastic drinks.

I contemplated on going out through that gate or just scaling the fence so as to avoid any collision with Joke in case she plans on returning to the place.

Scaling the fence is dangerous seeing as I don't know what lies outside it, but passing through the gate is also risky but I have to take that risk.

Then, I begin to proceed out gently towards the gate with all my sense organ working in unison to alert me of any approaching danger.

I got to the gate and peaked out first. The outside was almost as bushy as the inside but I saw one big WINNERS CHAPEL signboard that suddenly gave me a priceless clue of where I am. I'm still in Ibadan, also in the street behind my house that Joke got from me illegally.

I quickly pondered on which road Joke must have taken. The polygamous motorable road or the divorced bushy one that leads to the back gate of my house? I know about the road because when the builders were building my house, it was through that place that they use to get to the other street whenever they want to go and buy something to eat.


I don't know if Joke knows about that road or not but remember that the back gate was locked when I got there earlier, so it's only logical to presume that Joke must have taken Chris through the polygamous one.

I stepped outside fully and begin to walk straight with the aim of taking the shortcut that leads to the back gate of my house, with the hope of rounding my own fence to get to the other street that will lead me to where I parked the car I brought to the place. Remember that car belongs to Jarter's men, late Lovelyn's husband. I plan on using it to get to Jide's house.

I was now walking very fast along the bushy way that leads to my fence. All sense was on red alert to get out of that place uncaught.

I saw the black colored gate and took a pause. The pestle knock I got from Lewis , coupled with the fact that I never chop anything since the previous day was starting to affect my strength so I decided to catch my breath a little.

I bent down and rested my hands on my knees. "I will overcome this...that's for sure..." I said to myself and got up again. I formed saliva in my mouth so as to alternatively quench the thirst in my mouth.

I proceeded in my steps but as I was about to round the left corner of my fence, a voice called me from behind.

"Darous...." The voice was grumpy so I wasn't able to identify the owner. The earth stopped in it's rotation when the voice called me again, but now with a less grumpy tone. "Darous, is that you?"

Slowly, I turned around, it felt as if the earth has resumed in it's endless rotation and my neck begin to spin faster when my eyes settled on that familiar face.

In Carl Sagan's voice when he was describing the Earth as a Pale Blue Dot, he says, " that's her, that's she, in her lies, every joy I've ever known, and every mountain of sadness I ever passed through. Standing before me in that tiny spot enveloped in that cosmic bushy arena.

Finally, She's truly the aggregate of all my Joys and Sufferings.


T.B.C. This update came from the sickest part of my being while I was in the hospital. In simpler unhospitality terms, HELP ME MANAGE AM.

Asek1:
Welcome back bro but this your marriage na werey o as someone said up there
Meanwhile drop the update as e dey hot mbok

I go soon drop am bro, just waiting to tally the events together so they don't get more confusing for all of us. I've been trying a lot but the sleeping pills and injections in my system is not making it easy. Any five minutes I spent staring at my phone always end up in deep sleep for me. So right now, the Treatment I married is pregnant with Sleep and by the time it delivers, I hope it should be a good bouncing baby Health.

More.....

More.......

More...

LawizzyAh:
There He Goes Again Making Me Uncomfortable Till The Next Update. Thumbs Up Bro.There He Goes Again Making Me Uncomfortable Till The Next Update. Thumbs Up Bro.There He Goes Again Making Me Uncomfortable Till The Next Update. Thumbs Up Bro.

lol....but no worry. Like I said earlier, the next update is presently under surgery.

chisiudeh:
I use God.beg you, save darous from this impending gbas gbos coming his way cos e no go funny atall if e fall on him.

he be like say you don forget say na something wet don happen tey tey na in the old man dey narrate to us.......so whatever happens to Darous I beyond my doing.

Adesina12:
The BlessedMan, the heir of Sango
I don dey laf tired
Just be calm you will be freed soon
Your enemy are plenty and more than your Ota
Sweet popcorn for you

Baba popcorn.....longest time....I dey feel you brother mi

arfezces:
More wisdom bro... You just a blessing to this generation... I pray sango will be on side this time o cuz the whole kasala is about to boast

I'm humbled . Thanks bro

darniejay:
wow. . .honestly ur writing skills is outta this world what am I even saying, after all you attended GLOCOTEL and you are the heir of sango. more grace and skills

awesome this oooo... I'm happy beyond words...... thanks

dawno2008:


Baba TBM you just made my byday a lovely day,I was feeling blue,imagine on ma byday,I just checked literature section,and viola,an update,you really made ma day

God bless you as you continue to make people happy through your writing
Thank you so much,from the bottom of ma heart I say thank you.
It's gonna be a good"Happy day"to everyone out there.

hbd to you bro oooo.......I'm very happy to be a part of this oooo.....just do the needful by requesting for thunder services.....you are striked with blessings from the ultimate thunder altar bro

kaysmart4real:
TBM you no go kill us with suspense. Abeg make una no delay the next episode too much ooo. More Grease to your Elbow More Ink to your pekn

amen brother......

cenaman:
Thumb up TheBlessedMan, nice update but i hope the suspence wont be too long?

hopefully not. The 14th episode is already undergoing surgery....

hatchetman:
GLOCOTEL send dis guy-TBM go excursion...
dat means more wisdom wen him go return...d jonzing don weak me finish..
ehen! b4 i 4get.. TBM u 2much.. ororo 2much 4 ur head..d kind entertainment wey u dey gve us 4 free..na so blessings and mercies and favours and good health(i gas add am make e no b lyk say na gels i dey wish u) more SHANGOISTIC BIC ink 2 every pen in ya life...
HATCHETMAN WISH U WELL

THE appreciation is well appreciated bro.......it's a morale booster