₦airaland Forum

toluxad:
awnn, am happy u acknowledge thiz openly. Ego wee nor let some writers do diz. Thanq 4 eliminating boredom from me with every upd8.

I pray God should give me enough strength to remain loyal forever to u maam

SirNumeroUno:
What a great writer you are Mr Darous. This suspense no be small one. keep it up bro. you gonna rule the world of script writing for real.

Wow, am extremely happy to read this sir. I really app it. Thank u very much

Dmajor100:
In papa Ajasco's voice,
'ohjigbijigbijigbi'. Dis story dey burst my dada MR DAROUS KEEP IT UP UR HEAD DEY THERE...RIP TO UR BROTHER MAY SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE . GOD BLESS YOU

oh, so thoughtful of u. Thank u sir. I app the nice words. God bless u too sir

paqman:
Extremely flabagasted ride son of shango

thanq broda. I app it. Thanx alo

Countless 146 is honourably dedicated to the memory of my late brother, Olaniran Quadri, whose death on the 7th of November 2017 clocked a year yesterday.

How time flies, after the demise of a loved one.

My brother, continue to rest in peace. Coming to terms with your death has not been anywhere near easy... Its the hardest thing I've been trying to do this past 365days.
Nonetheless, I find solace in the great legacy you left behind during your temporary 31years on earth.

Missing you is the only task I will never get tired of doing. Your appartment in my heart will never be rented out for anyone. Rest on boda mi. Darous Misses you!


146. COUNTLESS.


The D-day (sunday) arrived just like every other day I'd ever witnessed during my 30plus years of living on this planet.

After bidding all the medical personels in the hospital a goodbye, (including the few acquaintances I met due to circumstances) I got inside my car and zoomed off of the premises of the hospital at exactly 6:43am with the strong hope of seeing the face of my wife, Adejoke and reconciling with her and Nike, her sister.

If you recall very well, you would remember that the last time I saw both of them was on sunday, 30th of May. The day that survived the 29th day of May which was my birthday and wedding day. A day also supposed to be the most happiest day of my life turned sour by the touch of Chioma's diabolical pranks. Although she wouldn't have had any weapon to ruin me with if I hadn't dwell with the devil in the past. Chioma may have been the b!tch captain that navigated a tricky period of transition of my life but it was I, with my unscrupulous way of life, who effectively sent the ship of my life heading straight for the iceberg. So its only logical that I accept everything that happened thereafter as my own fault.


While every force I applied on the accelerator takes me closer to my mansion where I hoped to find Joke, I can't help but remember all the memories of everything that transpired during my stay inside the hospital of 'NO MONEY NO TREATMENT' since over three months ago. Right from the day I first opened my eyes when a certain Nurse Faith tried seducing me to have sex with her up till yesterday when I started bidding everyone emotional farewel. I don't think I can ever forget those memories.

Mind you, the memories of the past three months can't be completed without remembering the impact of Dr Busari and Therapist Sarah on my life. Those two amazing women both contributed a larger quota of effort, time and caring attitude towards giving me this second life.

Apart from nursing me back to sanity, they also made me acknowledge the awful fact that, there's really no other way out of this situation for me unless I come clean with my wife. I still love Joke so much and according to Therapist Sarah, confessing all my lies and secrets to her is the only way I can be with her forever. She also stressed on the fact that I need to turn a new leaf, settle my quarell with Truth and end my friendship with Lie.

Dr Busari too had once told me that: we are not super heroes. The ability to remain resilient no matter the disappointment or heartbreak is the only thing that defines whether we're a loser or a winner in life.

Those advice and efforts from both of them had helped me undergone an amazing metamorphosis from being a depressive man that wants to die to become someone yarning to embrace life again.

These and many more were the kind of thoughts that strolled my mind as I was driving the car.

I took a deep breath and focused my full attention back to the road.

Ten minutes later, I switched on the car radio and it was the music of Celine Dion titled 'A new Day' that greeted my ears.

"I was waiting for so long,
For a miracle to come.
Everyone told me to be strong,
Hold on and don't shed a tear,

Through the darkness and good times.
I knew I'd make it through.
And the world thought I'd it all.
But I was waiting for you.

Hush now, I see a light in the sky,
Oh it's almost blinding me.
I can't believe I've been touched by an angel with love.

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears,
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears.
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun.
A new day, has come...

Where it was dark now there's light.
Where there was pain now there's joy.
Where there was weakness I found my strenght, all..... Time is seven o'clock. Welcome to sunday morning vibes on Rockcity 101.9 fm...." That was the voice of the presenter that interrupted the cool music that was entering my brain.

Finding motivation in that beautiful song, I muttered to myself that, truly, a new day has come. A day that will hopefully usher me into an era of lie-less and secret-less period of my life. A day I hoped will bring me closer to the sunny side of life. The more cheeful days. Its only a matter of hours. I just have to see her first.

Ironically, am not even scared or worried about seeing her. The mental preparatory sessions with therapist Sarah has given me a countless amount of courage and mental strenght that made the looming task am about to face seemed like a piece of cake to me.
According to Sarah, I've nothing to lose regardless of the outcome of my meeting with my wife. Best case scenario, she forgives me and everything becomes merrier. Worst case scenario, she rejects me. Thats just it. While the former would be the best thing to hope for, its also ideal to realise that the latter also has its own advantages. I.e, I will be left with a clean mind. A clean mind that will help me find balance in the future. I can travel far away and start a new life.

Just like that!.

_


Claded in an oversized Calvin Klein grey vest and a ragged blue jeans, I got down from the car and started approaching the gate of my mansion. My appearance was a bit scruffy. My face was covered in beards and the hairs on my head had grown out of moderate proportion.
I decided to appear that way so I can subtly pass a message to her that I've not been doing fine.

The sun has already commenced its unending daily trips from the east to the west by the time I stopped in front of the pedestrian gate of my mansion.

I took a moment to survey the environment. It looked deserted and unkept which means the house has not been getting the necessary sanitations.

Nonetheless, I pressed on the knob of the gate-bell and placed the receiver close to my ear hoping to hear a reply from inside. I waited ten seconds for a reply but none seemed to be coming forth.

I repeated the same action six more times but was met with the same futile result.
I concluded that maybe no one was in the house. I casted a searching glance at the big gate again and it was then that I noticed a new padlock used to lock it. Evidently, someone else had worked a new way of locking the gate apart from the use of remote control. That someone must be Joke.

Even though I have a spare remote control that opens the gate in my car, but technically, the gate can't be opened with it without first unlocking the padlock.

I stood at akimbo and begin to consider what to do next.
"where could she be o...?" I questioned myself and thought deeply. "maybe I should check her in her own house..." I concluded decisively and entered my car.

40minutes later. I was already at the gate of Joke's fenced cottage. I parked my car beside a tree few distance to her house. This is the same house where I'd threatened her to marry me or I will kill myself.

After knocking the pedestrian gate just twice, it opened slightly and a man who appeared to be the gateman poked his head out of the little space between the gate he was holding and its pillar.

"yes?, what can I do for you Mr Man..." He queried with a questioning look. I studied his face briefly to verify if I knew him. I remembered hiring the former one who was working here before but this one's face doesn't ring a bell. Obviously, this one seemed very new.
"what do you want?" He asked with an impatient tone.

"erm...morning sir...please, is madam around?"

"madam?" He squeezed a brow at my face.

"yes...madam Joke...." I answered specifically.

He withdraw his weight on the gate after I'd spoken and stepped outside fully. He was claded in a brown khaki shorts and a white round neck vest. A very old slippers serving as solace for his legs. At a guess, the man should be around the ages of 45 to 50.

"what business do you have with her?" The man queried frankly.

"no business sir, I just want to see her...." I stated with a cordial smile.

"does she know you?"

"hurr...not really....but I know her very well..."

He pondered on my words momentarily and gently stroked his mouthstache.
"is she expecting you?" He asked with a hard glare.

Getting tired of his questions, I frowned and said, "Baba, is she around or not? Just tell me that simple answer please...."

"she's not around." He cuts in. Evidently sensing my frustration. "She done go for morning service...."

"will she be heading home straight after church?"

"I can't really say..."

I was confused at that moment. Not knowing what next to say or do.

"is that all? Cos am busy with something inside.." The man said to notify me of his readiness to lock the gate.

"wait sir..., is there any way you can help me reach her to notify her of my presence?" I stated inquisitively.

The man paused briefly. He was virtually deliberating on my statement and surveying my appearance at the same time. "ok. I'll call her for you."

"thank you sir."

He turned around and started heading inside. He stopped at the gate and turned to me. "what details should I tell her exactly?"


"erm...erm...tell her, one Mr Kelvin is here..."

"and?"

"and that he claimed to know the whereabouts of Mr Darous...she will understand..."

The man squinted at my face after that statement. I was scared he would start questioning me about what I just said but apparently, he just went inside to make the call. Perhaps, he wants to leave that for his boss to do.

He came out four minutes later to tell me the result of the call he made. He said his boss has directed him to take me to the pre-sit section of the house where I can wait for her.

_


"if you need anything, you can just shout Mr Legbegbe, thats my name and I will be here." The man said to me after I'd settled down inside the familiar cushion of the pre-sit. I smiled at him and gave him an understandable nod before he walked out, leaving me inside.

Joke has promised to be back within the next thirty minutes, so that seems like enough time for me to prepare myself for what am about to face.

Firstly, am very glad that she's healthy and well again.


Secondly, the fact that she's rushing home to meet someone that claimed to know my whereabout means she's also desperate to meet me. And wherever the word 'desperate' is involved, rash decisions are likely to follow. Which means, even if she doesn't want to forgive me, the desperated part of her might lure her into doing so, and before she knows it, we are on our way to her bedroom to perform what we were suppose to have done on our wedding night.

I laughed out loud at that thought. I imagined how having a sex with Joke will be. Remember, she remains the only one am yet to have sex with in their family. Please, count Aunty Comfort out of this.

I pictured myself being alone with Joke on the bed. Where we are having sex! Oh my Gawd! It will be the most sexiest sex I ever had in my life. Having my lips on that soft lips of hers again. To feel my palms on her ample brests again. Ah! My life don better be that. To feel the comfort that comes from the closeness of her body agains mine again!

In papa Ajasco's voice, 'ohjigbijigbijigbi'. Hmmm, I'll do anything to feel the soft touch of her smooth and tender laps on my body again.

All these would belong to me once I get through the first stage of coming clean with her. I told myself with an optimistic mind.

The plasma television hanged on the opposing wall was on. And it was the highlights of the champions league matches played during the week, that was on display that caught my attention from the randy mood I was going through.

The matches were so interesting and intriguing at the same time, especially the one between Juventus and Manchester United. Gawd! That Jose Mourinho of a coach eh, he sure knows how to respond to hostility. I call him the verbal king.

While this was going on, a fizzle sound released from the gate at the enterance of the house was what returned my attention back to the room.

I rose up instantly with a tensive mind and took a peep through the curtain at the the compound.

A blue Venza which I instantly recognised drove into the compound. I swallowed hard on sighting it, because I knew it conveyed no one else but my wife.

I watched with increasing tension as the driver's door of the car opened gently and a leg covered in black slingback shoes appeared on the floor. At that moment, every fibre of my body was on fire and may likely explode if not extinguished very soon.

Instead of watching on, my apprehensive mood got to the extreme and before I knew it, I was back to my seat.

I sighed high with the aim of reducing the tension a bit, but it was futile. I tried to swallow again but unfortunately, nervousness has sahara my throat and turned it to a desert.
Nothing to swallow.

How am I going to face her in this state of mind. The chances of fainting is very high if I continue to embark on this road of apprehension and tension.

"calm down.,calm down..." The words of my Therapist came to my mind at that moment. Suddenly all the memories of the mental preparatory sessions with her started flooding to my brain.

"I can do this....I can do...." I was still muttering those words to myself when the door opened.

Instinctively, I stood up and quickly turn my back against the entrance before I felt a presence behind me. Her cologne was the first thing that saturated the whole pre-sit. I couldn't dare face her for the fear of fainting, or running mad or doing something extremely worse.

"hello, good day Mr Kelvin,...." Her voice called out softly and low but it was like hitting a sledge hammer against the iron in my tensive and petrified mind.

I still couldn't muster the right courage to face her. To hell with the whole mental preparatory thing.

Evidently, the only thing stopping her from knowing am the one standing was plainly my scruffy and untidy appearance, and maybe because I was backing her. These are the reasons why she was still standing at the entrance and not moving forward to confirm my identity.

I on the other hand was still glued to the same spot. A calender was hung on the wall I was staring at. I was staring at it but couldn't see the numbers. Just to tell you how intensely terrified I was.

"Mr Kelvin, whats wrong? Why are you backing me?" She voiced out her frustration. She paused briefly, probably to see how I would react to that. But getting none she continued. "has something bad happened to Darous?.....is it that bad that you can't even face me to tell me?"

I ignored all her words and started trying ways to reduce my tensive mood.
But before I could spend a second on that task, I heard her footsteps approaching me very fast. She stopped at my back and before I could think of doing anything, she turned me around very fast and our eyes met.

"Mr Kel...." Her voice trailed off slowly and her palms quickly found her chest. Her eyes nearly jumped out. She was stunned beyond words, extremely flabbergasted and astonished when she finally recognised me.

What happened next?....


TBC.

Copyright of @twitter. Darous_emmanuel.

Adesina12:
Wow!!!!!
I am honored
Thanks my padi of life my co-reader of anything literature.
Welcome to the writers club, i will also soon upgrade to your level
I am also currently putting some carcars together and will land soon
Once I open my thread I won't stop until the last drop of the leave
let me help u call on few people who can assist us gather enough people to form a market square
jagugu88li, queenitee, ikombe, rachealfst, TheBlessedMAN the heir of sangoite,
Una help me perosoko for this new writer
Sweet popcorn for una
Thanks.

Lolsssssssss... Am technically humbled my brother.

manuelFORBES:
Tbm remain da bozz. Really n truly deserving of every accolades. Thebossman

Thanks to u sire

Wow! The flow really got me... Yea, Dj neptune on the beat and am hanging in d house with the one and only Honourable of Literature section....

Nice one sire...

Following

Mmuojo:
So I wrote two unpublished motivation stories and people were able to read motivational book till the end in just hours! By 'people' I actually mean my BABE.

MOTIVATION

I draw motivation from two young men here - TheBlessedMan and Gazzuzz (though I think Gazzuzz is an old man). Their individual stories motivated me to pen this down

am technically humbled boss. U are awesome. Brb to follow.

lekkxydinho:
never mention brother. Countlessly, your story has been another source of smile to my face. Countless times, I've read, and re-read this story from 1 to present and each time increases my loyalty to you. You are a talent.

Thanks bro

adamsbadoo:
i was reading this episode inside the car , on express oo ...told my dad to stop, got down and i started rolling on the floor...very funny.

...but wait, emi accountant...odindi omo science student.

Lols.... the thing pain am. Engineer for real life, but accountant for Countless....... Talk to Darousmart if you want to resign ooo

Adesina12:
TheBlessedMAN!!!!
You are sincerely blessed
I admire your sense of humour and writing skills
More wisdom and knowledge to your shangoite brain
Sweet Popcorn for u

You awesome too brotherly. God knows i love reading your comments. Thanks for staying with Countless till the end. Thanks for not abandoning your otondo writer.

pFolar:
FOURTH ED.

Don't trouble your self too much, The tbm i know will never drop it publicly. But I'll give him till next update to drop it by himself, if he doesn't drop it, then I'll drop it myself.

On the contrary ma, i will drop it. I consulted two of my bosses on this forum and the advice they both gave me was, I should drop the requested number. It's called Reaping the fruits of my sleepless nights.

So am dropping it for strictly for those that feel obligated. If you know you are not, please dont bother to.

Here it is,

Bank name= Diamond Bank.
Account name= Oluwadamilare.

Account number = 9992258890.


08162128141 or 08067966594



No amount will go unappreciated. Thanks fans.

Next update drops on the 7th of this month, a day that makes it exactly

one year since I lost my Brother, posthumously,barrister Quadri Olaniran to the cruel hands of death.

How time flies.

Thanks all.

lekkxydinho:
You see what am talking about? This dude is simply the best among the best. See how he's putting everything together one by without contradicting each other.. You be best bro.... Please, as the story is getting to an end, kindly drop your bank details for all readers, so anyone that wants to show appreciation can have a access to it.

You gave us this awesome story for free without directing us to any blog to complete it or to request money from us before completing it is what makes you deserving of every penny you get from this story.

Drop it or I'll help you drop it.

Verily verily, now i know, God has really blessed me with wonderful readers. Thanks for being one of them sir. I appreciate it.

adamsbadoo:
wow !!! ....I Can't believe my eyes when i first saw "Dedicated to the birthday boy ...."....a whole episode....

TBM, i appreciate alot.

Uwelcome bro, av fun .. But make sure you send me my own gift ooooooooooooooooooooo..

Continuation of 145.


"I think so too. A lot of questions unanswered."

"but do you trust your mum not to hide any truth from you?."

"I trust her with my life. If not for anything, atleast you heared her telling me how she doesn't like the lady one of my brothers brought home. I know her for not shying from anything called truth no matter how bitter it is." I explained.

There was temporary silence from the other end. "if thats the case, then it leaves us with one thing..."

"and whats that?" I asked curiously.

"someone doesn't want to expose you." She declared.

"how?"

"your mum doesn't appear to know of your past judging by your earlier conversation with her, unless, " She emphasised on the last word twice before she continued. "unless , no offence meant, she's a perfect pretender..."

"which I seriously doubt...." I reiterated furtherly.

"so, going by that claim, I think its either, your wife's younger sister, Nike, sticked to the promise she made in the text she sent you on the day you first attempted suicide, you remember?...."

"hmmm, yes...that if I know whats best for me, I should stay away from her sister and Chris...."

"perfect. It means your disappearance have made her keep the secret to herself, orrrr," She emphasised on the 'orrrr' again to catch my undivided attention.

"or what?"

"or she only told your wife about everything and they both decided to make it a secret..."

"but why would they do that? I mean why would they keep it a secret?"

"its true we women are not known for our strong suit at keeping secrets but perhaps because their mother was involved. Remember, she gave birth to your child, they will want to keep the bad side of their mother away from outsiders and I think thats enough reason."

It took the digestive part of my brain three precious minutes to fully digest everything Therapist Sarah just said. "hmmm, which means, my friends are also in the dark?"

"probably, but except that your friend that you said was at the hospital with you...."

"you mean Lewis might be aware of everything?"

"its possible...." She claimed.

"No, I don't think so. There's no way the whole thing would have remained a secret if he's a part of it. Another word for Lewis is gossip. He can't control his emotions."

"hmmm, then going by your assertion of him, and if truly, he doesn't know anything, then it means your inlaw, Nike is a master at handling situations like this. I admire her for that. How she would have managed to hide the situation of things from Lewis, when the latter would have definitely went back to the hospital the following day and found you missing? I can't even begin to think of how your inlaw would have handled the situation...."

"am not suprised o....I think I told you how she handled it when she saw me hiding under the bed in her mother's bedroom,.."

"yes, you said she gave you a thumbs up and never raised alarm..."

"that shows you how capable she is." I added.

"and such woman is capable of doing anything...." Sarah said ambiguously.

"what does that mean?"

"like how she still went ahead to sleep with you despite having a guess of what was going on between her mom, and you..."

"you are damn right. Can I call her crazy?"

"you'd be wrong unless you add 'smart' to it."

"a smart crazy woman?"

"perfect!" She remarked.

We both laughed briefly before Mtn gave me a low credit notification. I quickly ended the call and dialed 710 to purchase another 3,000naira credit.

"so, what does this latest revelation says about my re-appearance on sunday.?" I said after Sarah had picked the call the second time.

"it doesn't change anything. Infact, it only boosts your chances of getting your life back. You don't owe anyone else anything except your wife. Tell her the truth and confess to her sincerely"

"but what if Nike has told her everything?"

"it still doesn't stop you from doing your own part. And let her first hear from the horses mouth in case Nike never told her anything...chikena..."

"hmmm, how this conversation would have been more sense-making, assuming you are here...." I said with an awful tone.

"eehya...you are right...but this one too try na, except the thousands of airtime that payed for it."

"hun-hun, thats one of the advantages of being a rich man...."
We both bursted into laughter.

"see you next week when hopefully, I would have been with my wife and child." I said with optimism as I imagined what might happen next week.

"hmm, lets just hope the rain water from both your eyes will not flood your house away....."

"if it happens, I'll gladly build a new one..." I joked.

"another advantage of being a rich man..." She teased sarcastically.

I smiled at that. "take care please." I said with almost a teary eyes.

"pyne...pyne." Sarah replied in a baby tone.

I withdraw the phone from my ears and stared at the screen for twenty precious seconds unable to touch the red icon.

This is the type of person that makes pressing the red icon a difficult task.

Do you have such PEOPLE too?


TBC

Dedicated to the birthday boy. Adamsbadoo. Age more with grace.

Happy new month famz. Four more updates and the Epilogue. Countless will be over.



145. COUNTLESS.



Evidently, I was feeling queasy-like as I approached the door with a growing apprehension in all the individual components that collaborated to form my 32years old body. Mind you, this door am approaching remains the only thing standing between me and what I anticipated to be the dreadful, complicated and most delicate moment of my life.
Without mincing words, the door am about to knock literally appears to be the only thing standing between me and the task of facing Adejoke, my wi...fe, the woman I had abandoned at the hospital on the night of our wedding which (as at the time of this event) was already over three months ago. Not to mention all the bad things I'd done against her in the past.

I prepared myself mentally and took a very deep and solemn breath. A breath I hoped will ursher into me the strenght needed to overcome the daunting task ahead.

I opened my eyes and before I knew it, the knock has landed on the door from my hand. I swallowed hard and waited for her voice to invite me in. Five seconds passed but no voice was coming forth. I became more nervous as I prepared to deliver another knock on the wooden door. I squeeze my eyes shut and sent another knock against the door, albeit louder this time around.

"come in...the door is not locked..." That came the reply from the room.

Hearing that alone was enough to make me turn around and run away from the looming warrant am about to face but just because I've already prepared my mind to see this through no matter what, therefore I was able to muster up the courage to open the door and step inside the room with a very slow step.

Little or no glancing around was all that was required of me to locate her position inside the room. There she was, evidently sitting on a chair beside the computer desk that virtually aligned with the big bed. Her face was filled with total shock, no...not shock, shock is like an understatement. Shockhorror is the rightful adopted word.

Her eyes instantly possessed by shockhorror upon sighting the idiot that has brought nothing but pain to her life and to take matters to the superlative of bad (worst), he had ran away on the said night while leaving his injured wife and child to the mercy of death.

Sighting that horrific look on her face, I swallowed hard quickly and was completely dumbstruck.

"what tha hell!?" She blurted out and dropped the mouse in her hand. She stood up and leaned against the desk so she could stare daggers directly to my face.

"am....am...am...." That was me stuttering nervously while she maintained that frightful gaze at me. "Jo...ke...Jo..Jo...ke....ple....please..let...."

"get out!" She suddenly screamed ontop her voice.
I was frozen to the spot, evidently finding it difficult to choose between complying or disobeying her order, hence I remained rooted to the same spot.

"please...am begging you to hear me out....its the devil...." I managed to tell her that after she reduced the hard look on her face.

But as I put another step forward thinking she's getting soft, she blurted out again.
"I SAID, GET OUT NOW!" She picked those words one by one and declared with a very firm tone.

"please, am begging you....let me explain....please Joke, let...."

She shook her head slowly in a pathetic way and started approaching me. She got to few inches from me and stopped.

Suprisingly, she smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder before talking.

"Mr Dare, calm down. You are still not getting it... You have to do it the way I advice you to do it, unless you don't want it to work." Therapist Sarah said in a relatively calm tone.

"how again? What am I not doing right?" I voiced out with a frustrated tone. I was getting tired of the whole mental preparatory thing. This last rehearsal makes it the fifth time we have been doing it and she keeps on cutting it midway saying am not attatching enough emotion to it.

"please, calm down,..." She stated calmly. "lets have a sit." We both settled down on the available chairs in the room.

"make no mistake, this thing we are doing is very important. You need to be very prepared mentally and very well to boost your courage and confidence to face her...."

"I know, but don't you think the fact that you are not really her, might scare me off when I eventually see her?"

"hmmm, you are right...but...."

"maybe thats why its not working."

She pondered on my claim briefly and rested her back against the chair.
"so, what do you want to do now?"

"as how?"

"should we stop or find another method to prepare your mind?"

She asked with a tone that makes me feel like she thinks am not appreciating her efforts. So in order to excavate those thoughts from her brilliant mind, I said, "hmm, maybe we should give it two more tries, and if it doesn't work...."

"then you will have to get to that bridge first and hopefully, you'll be able to cross it. " She completed for me.

"good.,..."

"lets go again." She said concludingly and we returned to the rehearsal.

_


At past four in the evening of the following day, which was a thursday, I was having my usual workout session inside the gym section of the hospital when the ringtone of my newly purchased S3x phone rang out. The sound still seemed very strange to my hearings since I'd spent the larger part of the last 3 months of my life without phone or internet. Even, it wasn't until two days ago when I started using the Atm I retrieved from my car that I decided to buy the phone and two new simcards. I still had more than fifty-five million naira in my savings account.

I had a separate account for my car dealing business. Unless my accountant, Mr Adamsbadoo, whom I had tested and confirmed to be an honest man with integrity have changed otherwise, I have a strong belief that my business will never be affected by my absence and discreet whereabouts.

"hello my awesome therapist" I said to the phone after seeing the caller I.d as T.P Sarah.

"how are you doing my wonderful client?" She asked in the same jovial tone.

"hmm, am doing gym-ically fine."

She released a small chuckling sound. "is that your way of telling me you're working out at the gym again?"

I smiled. "I admire your 5g way of thinking...."

"thats good of you...clap for yourself..."

"I'll do that later, one of my hands is presently busy...."

"see you. You can't just stop being funny, can you?..."

"gawd knows I tried to stop, but it just keeps happening, sadly, its out of my control..." I replied with an arrogant tone.

"I know you'll say that...."

"are you saying you have the ability to see what will happen before it happens?"

"seriously you are damn right. Infact, I admire your 5g way of reasoning." She said in a tone that means she's using my own words against me.

"perhaps you can tell me what will happen on sunday when I eventually meet my wife..."

There was a pause from the other end. She was probably caught unawares by my question.
"you want my candid opinion on that?"

"yes, I want to hear the opinion of Sarah and not the Therapistical one...."

"okay,...." She paused. I quickly changed the phone to the left hand and sat down on the divan beside the entrance while anticipating her reply. "unequivocally speaking, I think....I think there will be multiple rainfall on that day..."

"like seriously?"

"yes o, thats the candid possibility."

"hmmm...."

"except this time, the water will not be falling from heaven..."

"ahahah, see you, you don spoil am. Where does rain water come from if not heaven? Abi na from inside fish pond?"

She laughed at that before talking. "to be precise, the rain water will fall from the eyes of two beloved lovers namely Adejoke and Oluwadamilare...."

"hun, abi Adejoke and Oluwadarousmart...."

She laughed again. "Oluwadarousmart Ko, Satan-darous-dull ni..."

"chai, see remix..."

"you better start acknowledging your real name before you get to heaven and they tell you Darous is not registered with them."

"thats not a problem na? And I will quickily do affitdavit right there..."

"who go do am for you? Besides who told you that they are doing such in heaven?"

"they are doing it. All I need is just 500 copies of inter-heavenal passport and a permanent voters card with my WAEC result and the Inec in heaven will declare me qualified to enter heaven...."

"ah....this is serious. Lets assume you are right, who will do the affidavit for you?" Her question carried a great sense of humor that confirms she's equally enjoying this conversation.

"who dey do affidavit for heaven?" She asked again after noticing my hesitation to reply.

"who dey do am before? No be the same same angel Uriel wey do am for Saul before he became Paul still dey do am?...."

"ahahahahahah....no kill me with your unbiblical blasphemous laughter ooooo...."

And that was the statement that signalled the begining of the two minutes of laughter that followed.

The laughter eventually died down before she changed the topic to the reason why she called.

"Mr Dare, which of your friend's number do you remember off hand?"

"which of them?"

"any of them...."

"why do I need to remember any of their numbers?"

"ok. I was thinking if you can atleast call one of them to verify whats going on in that part of the world so you can have a hint of what to expect before going there on sunday..." She explained comprehensively.

I got into thinking mode after her sensitive explanation to try to see if I can remember any of the said numbers. But after spending more than twenty seconds of uninterrupted silence on it, my brain told me to give up. The only numbers that were popping up in my brain were just the crammed plate number, engine number and chasis number of the car I parked outside. And they are un-diallable numbers.

"any one?" Sarah's voice jolted me back to the present.


"none at all..." I replied disappointedly.

"not even that of Jide? Your closest buddy?"

"I remember..."

"then..."

"I mean I only remember the 080 but I can't remember its remaining
desciples..."

She laughed again.
"poor you. You remember Jhesus, but you can't remember any of his desciples...."

"don't blame me na, atleast I remember the line inside the phone those spider thieves stole from me... I dialled it yesterday ganself but it was switched off..."

"you say?"

"The line was switched off when I dialed it." I repeated.

"thats of no use. my airtime is about to finish, let me get airtime and call you back... Use that chance to think of any other number that can be useful to us." She said.

"what of my mummy's number can it work....?" I said when I suddenly remember it.

"hmmm, yea, lets try that...."

"let me call you back. I still have enough credits to read the whole contents of Edet lives in Calabar to you."

"funny you..." The line went dead after that.

I called her back and she told me to make a conference call to my mum so she could also listen on the conversation and below was how it all went down after my mum had picked the call.

"hello..." I said with a scared tone cause I don't know how much damage Nike has done in my absence.

"hello, ta lo n soro?(who is talking?)" My mother replied in the local dialect.

I paused briefly to prepare myself.
"its me mum, Damilare...." There was a sudden shout of joy from her when she heard the introduction.

"Damilare mi, eh, Adigun iko, omo olokun ola, omo kinikan, o fi kinikan...." She continue to voice those primitive euologising address to the website of my head. I didn't have the luxury for that but since I've known her, there's no way of stopping her once she has entered that mode unless she coughed. I don't have any choice than to listen and pray she coughed very soon.

"sorry ma..." She eventually coughed and I heaved a deep sigh. I started formulating ways of asking her questions that will make her reveal the situations on ground for me before she shocked me with the next thing she said.

"oko mi, (my husband) se o de daa bee? (is it good like that?)"

Geez! Thats it. Nike and Joke have told her everything. How am I going to handle this now?'

I could hear the low breathing sounds of Therapist Sarah from the other end. Evidently, she was also affected by what my mum just said.


"erm...erm..." I fumbled for what to say to my mum but couldn't find anything until my mother spoke again.

"bawo lo se maa travel lale ojo igbeyawo e, nitori business? Too maa fi iyawo e sile nikan? (how can you travel on the night of your wedding because of business?, that will now make you leave only your wife at home)" She said with a concerned tone.

At that moment, my mind was in a very confused state. It was as if I was in a frenzy. I don't know what to say or do at that tensive moment. But as I was still ensnared in that situation, I heard a silent whisper saying 'BEG HER.' I instantly knew it came from Therapist Sarah.

"am..am sorry ma...." I said slowly, still not sure of what to expect from her.

"sorry for yourself. Se ko sa kin se pe tori obinrin mii lo se travel? (hope you didn't travel in the disguise of business to meet another woman?" She asked.

"ah, rara o..(no oo). It was strictly for business ma..." I answered.

"hmmm, a fi ko yaa je bee...( it has to be like you say)"

"bawo lawon aburo mi?(whats up with my siblings?)" I intend to change the topic with that question.

"they are doing fine o. Dare, do you know that Ayobami brought one Oloju yoboro girl to me last week that he wants to marry her, I don't like that girl one bit. She can't dress decently and she doesn't have respect atall. To greet person na wahala...."

"how is Eniola? have she finished her Masters?" I said that to cut her off, since there is a third party listening to our conversation.

"Eniola? She's writting her final papers next month o. I pray she pass out in flying colours."

"what of walking colours?" I chipped in teasingly.

"o tun ti bere? (you don start again) ma je ki owu se e lese...(don't let jealousy to kill you)." That was how we started our usual mummy and son comical jests.

That Eniola is the most brilliant of us all.

She was still in Js1 when she first helped me to solve the logrithim assignment I was given in ss2. She always run away whenever I offered to help her do hers.

In our house, we always tell anyone Eniola can't help with assignment to consult the oracle.

"so, se o de ti de bayi? (so are you back?)" My mum asked along the line of our conversation. That question caught me off-guard, as I don't know what reply to give but as fate would have it, Sarah was on standby to bail me out.

"erm, yes, thats why I called you..." I answered back.

"then let me speak with your wife. I've not been able to reach her this past month. Her number is not going. Is she there?"

This time around, I didn't need any Sarah to feed me what to say. As an experienced liar myself, I was able to reply her convincingly and the call was annihilated thereafter.

"hmm, I think something is going on." That was Sarah's voice after I'd ended the call with my Mum.

Shelyklose:
I guess TheBlessedman na amaka.. Em don keep us waiting sotey we don dey lose weight for his "updating soon"

keep calm bro, am updating soon... And that soon surely expires today. Am still typing it as at the time of this comment. Keep calm and await the update that will shorten the life span of this story to only three episodes. Thankssssssssssss

adamsbadoo:
TBM, today is my birthday, drop update for me abeg..

wow! Happy birthday 2 ya little under-40years old self. May God grant u all the necessary strenght to desist from all those thing that will stop u from witnessing more 180 versions of this days inWhateverYOUbelieve's name. Amen. Cheers bro.

Updating soon.

cenaman:
monitoring spirit, TheBlessedMAN how do u know he is a first time commenter?

Lolsssssssss...just by checking all his previous posts...

TemiGURL:
You are truly theblessedman. You are the best dear. I love u

Awnn, am technically flattered dear.. Love you too

Yemike:
Oh my gawd! I just don't know what to type right now. You're just so so amazing.

Coming from a first time commenter, am humbled

PrinceOFprince:
God bless you 4 thiz upda8. It made me remember that exciting season film. Merlin. Right now, i feel like watching that movie again and again and again like a 500times like Darous. interesting is how yhu managed to relate that wonderful episode to Countless. Yhu are indeed a genius. Pure talent.

Am technically humbled bro