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Adesina12:
Chaiii Darousmart TheBlessedMan of Thunder
Wonderful wow!!!!!
Sweet Popcon for you.

u are mouthed boss. I app ur presence here...thanx

127. COUNTLESS.


"and?" Joke chipped in curiously.

"let me die first before you bury me na..." The aunt flared at Joke and the latter had no choice than to let patience dominate once more.
The former, satisfied with the latter's calmness then continued. "its very simple. All they were asked to do was just to lick the contents inside this" She pointed at the calabash on the table, "this calabash three times and to say, there is no hidden secret..."

"let me guess, he didn't do it..." Joke interrupted again.

"when will you learn to let me die before you bury me?"

"maybe she's scared of losing anyone else in this family..." That reply didn't came from neither Joke nor I, rather it came from the uncle that accompanied Joke to the airport on the day Nike came back to the country with her mother's corpse and Chris.

We all turned our attention to the man, who was claded in a native ankara top and trousers. We had been so engrossed in the tensive mood of the discussion that we weren't able to hear him enter. The older aunt, Joke and I arose and greeted him before reclaiming our respective seats. The man known as Mr Akogun, walked towards aunty Comfort and sat down beside her before facing us.

"I was just about telling this children the importance of observing the 'secret cleansing ritual'... Aunt Comfort explained to the older man who couldn't spend a minute without touching his grey moustache.

The man surveyed the look on our faces before talking.

He cleared his grumpy throat and began, "everything your aunty have told you is the truth...the only reason why we are doing this is because we don't want history to repeat itself again...Joke, had your mother allowed your father to carry out the swearing on that day, the deity behind this ritual would never and I repeat, never have allowed the marriage to hold for more than seven days talkless of nineteen years of colossal fizzer..."

"sir," Joke interrupted. "what makes you so sure that that was the reason behind the failure of my parent's marriage?..." curiously, she asked.

"yes...its the only logical reason behind it, or what else do..."

"sir, even IF thats the case, underline 'if'...please what has any of this got to do with us anyway?" Just the very question I wanted to ask but Joke beat me to it so I became more eager to hear what the older people would say.

"they say, once is a mistake. Twice becomes an habit. But how do we prevent such things from happening to our children again? That was the question thats been lingering on our collective minds since your mother's death but thank the gods, last week the elders held a meeting and we were able to reach a lasting solution..."

"which is to force the contents of that calabash down our throats abi?" This time, I was able to beat Joke to that rhetorical remark. I've been silent all the while silently observing where they will land and that question I asked was the answer to it.

"you sound a bit sceptical my child..." Aunt Comfort stated referring to me.

"am I not suppose to?" I asked back but she couldn't reply. "you are asking us to swear an oath of 'no hidden secrets' just hours away from our wedding and you are blaming me for acting like this?"

"my child, what have you got to lose? Nothing...if you do it, and if truly you have no secret chamber in your mind, then your marriage will be everlasting thereby earning our respects for life, but if you don't do it, you will never have our blessing and it also means you've got bad secrets and a marriage built on lies, secrets and fallacy will never last." He ended conclusively and there was silence.

Joke and I stared at each other with both of us obviously lost in deep thoughts.

'whats the meaning of this? Something must be wrong somewhere...why is it that anytime am about to be happy, something will just pop up from nowhere to stop me from having it?

I don't believe in destiny, cos like I once said, our destiny is not written in some books from the future, we write it ourselves every day, but with everything happening right there inside that room, am seriously beginning to doubt the legitimacy of those words.

Or tell me, how do I open up and tell Joke all the dark secret I have? How will she react when I tell her that am the one that impregnated her mother. Whe I tell her I had a hand in sending her father to prison. When I tell her she's the only one left for me to complete a party in her nuclear family? When I tell her that I was once married to someone old enough to be my mother. How do I explain to her in candid statements that Chioma, a psychopath and an ex, was the one that killed Adedoyin? How do I tell her that I got my wealth as a result of her death? How do I tell her that, that...that...infact there are a lot of things that telling her my secrets will ruin. Not just this wedding, but everything including her. My family will suffer the blow and their image will falter along with it.

Telling her my secret would be stupid and suicidal.

We both engage in our comunal thoughts for what seemed like forever but eventually, aunt Comfort snapped us out of it with her next statement.

"its good to see you thinking, but remember the importance of this is to prevent the same thing that happened to my sister's marriage from happening to yours...you people have to correct the mistake of the past...unless you want this marriage of yours to end up as a failure, then you can walk away now, but don't say we didn't tell you so." She ended conclusively with a deep breath and reclined on the sofa.

Joke shifted to the edge of the cushion and settled her gaze on the elders before she began to speak calmly, "aunty and uncle, thank you for caring about us. I really appreciate your efforts, but concerning this issue you just raised, I think you don't realise how much Darous and I truly love eachother...we both love eachother deeply to the extent that am sure we can die for eachother and no amount of lie cleansing ritual can proof any better...my parents marriage might have failed but that doesn't mean ours too will succumb to that fizzer path. According to the bible, I believe love is the greatest ingredients required of a sucessful marriage and since we have that already, I see no, pardon me to use this word, no importance in engaging this primitive process..."

"your too much grammer will not save you from this and neither will your statement..." Mr Akogun said in reply to Joke's statement. "what you are doing right now further enhances the need to follow this rite..."

"how am I reacting?" Joke asked.

"the same way your mother stopped your grandfather from taking your father through this oath swearing..." The aunt replied.

"how many times do I have to say before you understand that am not my mother!" Joke voiced out her growing frustration.

"how dare you talk to an elderly person like that?" Mr Akogun fired back.

It then became a heated arguement with both parties trying to out do each other's voice.
During that, I stood up and began pacing the room furiously and deeply lost in thought.

Coincidentally, my gaze settled on the giant mirror adjacent the t.v stand and it was the reflection of the protection necklace I got from Mr Ifa -when I went to lift the hex of Adedoyin's oath- that was still hung across my neck since then that gave me a priceless idea.

"yes! That will do it..!" I lamented happily.

"your mother disgraced us all when she eloped with that pig...now you want to..."

"aunty, as from today, I cease to..." Joke was still saying when I quickly turned to them and pulled Joke closer to myself in an attempt to stop her from saying what she will later regret.

"there's no need for fighting, its not a do or die, you do it, you have our blessing, you don't, you are on your own." Mr Akogun stated with emphasis on the last five words.

"alright, we will do it.." I declared and Joke wriggled herself out of my arms. She faced me with a shockened look and said,

"you can't be serious..."

"like hell am not...what have we got to lose? Besides, whats the benefit of a marriage without your family's blessing?" I queried in a standard manner.

"they can go to doom with their blessings for all I care..." She fired.

"watch your tongue young lady!" Aunt Comfort thundered.

I grabbed Joke's shoulder and said to her, "calm down..."

"don't tell me to calm down! Why are you even siding with them?"

"obviously, he's got nothing to hide." Mr Akogun chipped in with a less concerned tone.

"Joke," I called her softly before she could retaliate at her uncle's utterances. "your uncle and aunt are right, we need to do this. Remember we've got nothing to lose. I myself, I believe there's no secret am keeping from you, right now, the only secret I've kept from you is my waec result and its because of the homosexuality of F and 9 that dominated it." She smiled and I continued. "or do you have a secret you're scared of telling me about?" I asked with a longing look into her eyes. She nodded negatively and I continue to load her brain with a lot of soothing and reassuring words until she finally agreed to do the oath with me.

With total faith placed in the protection necklace on my neck, I happily followed the instructions laid down by Mr Akogun as Joke and I performed the lie cleansing rite.

We left the place around six thirty pm, but not before Joke apologised for her earlier encounter with her aunt.

***

"see you at the alter tomorrow." Joke said as she stepped down from the car.

"bye sweetie...take care of yourself for me o.." I replied.

Nike emerged from the gate and stared at us both before I drove off. But looking into the side mirror as I drove away, I caught a sinister grin on Nike's face before she followed her sister to the house.

With everything that happened on that day, there is no sense in denying it again, its now an official truth that the devil has been fingering me for a longtime and its only a matter of time before I reach a powerful orgasm.


TBC

126. COUNTLESS.


The morning of the day after the bachelor's night, was a thursday's, its also the day preceeding the friday that will usher us into the long awaited D-day, I awoke to the sound of someone bumping into my room. I reopened the application of my eyes which I'd closed the previous night drunkily as a result of too much alcohol. I groaned tiredly as my eyes settled on the figure of my younger brother holding my phone in his left palm.

"Peter, what is it?" Still lying unclad under the duvet, I asked him.

"bro, morning." He greeted with a slight bow. I mumbled same in reply and he moved closer to the edge of the bed.

"You left your phone inside the sitting room last night and it has been ringing since..." He handed it over to me and exited the room. I checked who the caller was and I released a small happy scoff when I saw it was my fiancee. I quickly dialed but at that moment, her call came back again so I picked up.

"hello sunshine..." I said into the phone in a grumpy voice.

"hi sun ray...don't tell me you're still in bed at this time..." Came the reply from her gentle and very soft voice.

"yes...and what will you do? Will you arrest me or what?"

"nope...but I'll make sure you eat indomie throughout the first year of our marriage..."

"you'll punish me for waking up late?"

"not really....but why am I suprise ganself?, I remember you don't wake up in any hour that ends in A.M..."

"you can't blame me nau...am going to sign a life contract with you in two days time, so don't blame me for...."

"sharaaap..." She cut in softly. "don't fib joor...stop giving excuses for your laziness..."

"wait...are you indirectly calling me a lazy nigerian youth?"

"what if I did? What will you do?"

"I'll make sure I pour kerosine inside every indomie you cook..."

"and I'll cook another one."

"and I'll pour kerosine..."

"and I'll cook..."

"and I'll pour...."

"and I'll cook..."

"and I'll pour..."

"ok. ok!...alright! I won't cook indomie as punishment for one year..." She finally conceeded defeat.

"hmm..ok...me too, I won't pour kerosine for one year..."

We both busted into laughter for some minutes before she finally got to the reason why she called.

"aunty Comfort called me this morning...."

"ok...what did she say?"

"she want you and I to come to our home town unfailingly today..."

"what? Why? But am busy today na." I grumbled out.

"coming from someone that just woke up by this time? I don't think so.."

"hmmm...and you don't know if she has a skype account..."

"for what?"

"you know, instead of going there, we should just do..."

"a video call with her?" She completed for me and I replied 'yes'. "video call kor, audio call ni...if you don't come here right now..."

"ah, there we go again, with the indomie threats..."

"no..I wasn't going to use indomie this time...actually I was going to say if you don't come here right now, I'll make sure we have sex atleast five times a day throught the first year of our marriage..."

I salivated at the sound of that. My konji became instantly erect at the hearing of that. I quickly swallow down the lump of saliva in my mouth and said,

"are...are you sure?"

"yes," She answered and I salivated again.

"Sex, five times every day for one year?"

"yes!."

"like seriously? Wow!" I shouted joyfully.

"are you coming or not?" She asked.

"come ke? For where, when you just said you will give me sex five times a day for one year..."

"look at you...you better get down here right now before I use maggi chicken to swear for you...sex kor, gender ni."

'hmm, this is punishment o.' I thought out loud.

"oh...ok Joke....when are we going?" I glanced at the wall clock and its hands formed a right angle triangle.

"its nine o'clock already and am dressed already. Just waiting for you... I think its very important..."

"it had better be....or else?..."

"stop complaining and get your slouchy self over here..." She commanded.

"right away ma!" I heard her laugh just seconds before the line went dead.

*****

4HOURS LATER.

After the usual greetings and pleasantries, Aunty Comfort, as she was fondly called by Joke and Nike, ushered Joke and I into her medium sized and moderately furnished sitting room.

She offered us Hi-malts before settling down on the couch behind the wooden table medial the sitting room.

"sorry for calling you on such a short notice..." She said to us as we both settled our attentions on her ageing face.
"but, just know that I wouldn't have demanded it if it isn't really important." She paused to sneak on our attentions and seeing that they were undivided, she proceeded. "you two are inlove, I can see that, educated, I can see that, well mannered and brought up... I can see that as well...but we still need to take some measures so that what happened between my sister," She focused on Joke. "your mother and her husband will never happen to you two. I know that basta*rd Jude must be the one responsible for that pregnancy that claimed the life of..."

"han....aunty, stop saying that.." Joke cuts in. Obviously feeling uncomfortable with the direction her aunt was taking the discussion to. "we're talking about my father here...and for all we know, he might not even have any hand in this..."

Dropping a small scoff, the aunty said, "am suprised you are still calling that bush meat your father..."

"aunty...please stop...please..." Joke pleaded gently but she did a poor job at concealing the anger in her statement.

The older woman spared her with an ignorant look for a moment leaving room for the ringing of my phone to interrupt the silence.

I quickly receive the call and was through with it within three minutes. It was a call from Lewis, my best man. He had just called to inform me that the suits for me and the groom's men have arrive by courier minutes ago.

"where are we?" I asked after tucking the phone inside my brest pocket."

"Joke was just telling me what standards to follow when talking about her shameless father"

"cos I see it as an insult!" Joke fired back.

"how dare you talk to me like that?"

"erm..." I chipped in, trying to subdue the growing tensive atmosphere. "aunty, erm... I support my wife in this regard. ...you know, regardless of whatever Mr Jude has done in the past, especially against your family, lets not forget that by this time tomorrow, he's going to be my father inlaw and nothing can change that expectation...so please aunty, we beg of you...please try and desist from mentioning his name atall... I understand you can do that for us..." I gave her a questioning brow and she made an affirmative sigh. I then turn to Joke and urged her to sit down and she complied hesitantly.

Joke placed her hands on my laps and after looking at me briefly, she faced her aunty and said, "you said you wanted to see us aunty, we are here because of that reason..."

The aunt was momentarily silent, probably lost in the forest of her own thoughts or might be thinking of how best to open the application of what she wanted to say but after a little while, she cleared her throat and began to speak as Joke and I listened with rapt attention.

She bent over on her seat and started casting a frequent glance at both Joke and I as she delievered her speech.

"the reason why I called you here is of benefit to the two of you...Darous..." She focused on me and I gave her a 'go ahead' beckon. "in this family, there's a very important and sacred process every groom-to-be must take before we can fully acknowledge him as a member of this family..." She paused and I casted a confused glance at Joke who also bore a similar look on her face before I returned to the aunt.
"Darous, you're confused, you're obviously asking yourself why now? Why hasn't anyone tell you of this? And don't give your fiancee that look, she's also as confused as you....am coming please." With that she stood up and entered a room located behind us.

I turned to Joke and asked her confusedly, "Joke, whats going on?"

"I don't know o...am as confused as you are." She voiced with a worried tone.

I was about to add to my statement but the re-emergence of aunt Comfort from the room hindered me from doing so.

Joke and I watched with increasing curiousity as the older woman walked towards her earlier seat but she was now with a small clayed calabash in her left palm.

She placed the calabash on the table gently and stared at us both before talking.

"sorry for that, I just needed to get this so it can help you understand what am about to say better." She adjusted a bit on the seat and continued. "my sister, Joke, am talking of your mother, wouldn't have died such a miserable death if she had allowed the essence of this calabash to guide her marriage..."

"I don't get you aunt, what has this got to do with my mum?"

"exactly what I intend to ask...you're driving us crazy maam...please be more literal.." I stated, backing Joke's statement.

"you both need to calm down and let me land...your curiousity will only prolong this conversation my children..."

We both gave her a 'go ahead' signal and she continued. "when your mother brought Jude, your father, home and presented him to our father as her fiance, although my father was no where near ready to accept him into marrying your mother but after alot of beggings and pleadings from both our side and your father's side, my father eventually complied.
But despite that, my father was still not able to trust your father fully. Their wedding date was already fixed but my father was still searching for a way to make your father earn his trust. Then just a day before the wedding day, father invited your father and your mother to his house. He then asked them both if there is no hidden secret among them. He gave them the room for some minutes to come up clean with each other and then later came back to ask if the coast is clear between them and they responded yes, but my father still suspected Jude of hiding something. So he presented this calabash..."


T.B.C

125. COUNTLESS.


"He who exercises no
forethoughts but
makes light of his
opponents is sure
to be captured by
them. Moreso, it’s very
important to
properly assess
your opponents
without prejudice
or assumption or you might end up in a state of regret." Had I done just exactly as stated in the quote above, Adenike, the younger sister of the love of my life, would not have been able to snatch away my only chance at a happy life with Adejoke.

Take a thornful seat and listen attentively as I tell you how it all went down.

***

I can't even begin to remember the last time I had sex with anybody. Although considering my past reputation as a lothario, you might find it difficult to believe, but thats the blatant truth.

Right from the day I'd started seeing Adejoke, I've never had any type of intercourse with any woman, even her gan self is not left out in this regard and the reason is very simple and not far fetched.
The only thing stronger than my cravings for sex has been my love for this one special girl called Adejoke. Am In Love with her!

Besides that, intelligence, that they say is an admirable trait in a woman, I already found in Adejoke.
Good character and understanding can also be seen in everything she does.
She relates well with my mother and siblings and my entire relatives always cherish her whenever a gathering brought us all together.

So tell me how and why I shouldn't sell my grandparents to ritualist just in the name of making her happy?.

This are the reasons why not having sex for ages since dating her felt like no or little sacrifice to me.

Although there was a day, when, you know, my body was craving for sex badly, I had asked her to let us make love, but she had told me explicitly to wait till our wedding night. I don't really buy into that primitive ideology but remembering my solemn promise to always make her happy, I'd accented to it. And if waiting for a few more weeks is all what its going to take before my Moses can login to her cannan land, then so be it. Afterall, she's worth everything and when I say everything, it means my life is included.

Just two more weeks to officially becoming Mr and Mrs, the preparations from both families have increased immensely. The venue(s), i.e, the church where the wedding will take place and the exortic hall for the reception have already been booked.

Jide, who has now become like a friend to Joke too, alongside a guy named Bosun from Joke's family have been imposed with the task of making arrangements for a popular hip-hop artist to perform at the reception.

Lewis, one of my rich friends and because of our equal heights and stature has been choosen as my best man. Jide would have fitted right in that position but the clause of being a married man hindered him from being able to.

My late dad's family and my mum's could be seen at my big mansion doing everything in their power to make the occassion of my birthday and wedding a memorable one. So without mincing words any longer, everyone was eagerly looking forward to the D-day.

***

On one fateful sultry afternoon, on my way home from office, I went to Joke's house, where Nike and Chris now lives together with Joke.
I had gone there in the name of spending some quality times with them as I've usually done dating back to their mother's burial day.

I got there around 4:30pm and after parking my car outside her gate, I walked into the compound and then straight to the sitting room. I felt a certain amount of inexpressible joy and happiness when I saw Chris, my two years old son sleeping soundlessly on the couch.

Barely seconds later, Nike ambled into the sitting room and she made me believe she was happy to see me with the warm smile that ensued on her beautiful face the moment she spotted me.

She proceeded to give me a warm embrace and after a few seconds, I asked of her sister.

"she just went out to meet with the wedding planner." She replied with a convincing look.

"wait, why's she meeting with the wedding planner again? I thought everything is being handled faultlessly." I cooed after remembering how our wedding planner have promised us beyond words that she will handle everything perfectly.

"hmm...I think its my sister that called to see her. Have you called her?"

"yes I did. But not reachable..." I answered and sat down on the couch opposite the sleeping Chris. Nike then walk briskly towards the freezer and came back secs later with a bottle of Baileys and a drinking cup. She placed both on the table before me and ambled towards the adjacent cushion.

"serve yourself..." She said and sat down. She then picked a book from the arm-rest of the sofa and got busy with it.

Taking a longful look at the encryptions on the book cover, I read out the title;

"The Dog Attendant by TheBlessedMAN."

I poured myself a cupfull of the Baileys and took a long sip.

I returned my gaze to her engrossed face and began to rack my brains for a way to pour out what has been disturbing my mind to her.


I coughed gently and saw that she was fully captured in the contents of the novel and I saw that as an opportunity to begin a conversation that will hopefully lead to whats been bothering me.

Dropping the cup on the table, I shifted my bottocks forward on the sofa and said, "that must be a very interesting novel."

She ducked the novel aside and released a smile. "I tell you eh...the author na one chronic writer...I don't even know how to describe him gan self...and yes, its very interesting..." She reclined back on the sofa and resumed to reading the book.

"erm...Nike..." I called slowly and softly.

"yes?..." She answered with a questioning tone.

"have been wanting to ask you this...but I just don't want you taking it the wrong way..." I paused to contemplate on how best to proceed. She dropped the book on her laps and focused her gaze on me expectantly.
"when you said, your mum has told you everything, please what do you mean by that word?" I folded my arms across my chest and wait for her reply.

She grinned with a scoff and positioned her legs on top of eachother.
"before I can answer that, first, I want to ask you this..."

"ok. Go on..." I prepared myself for whatever question she might have for me.

"when I came to your house to have sex with you, what kind of person do you think I am?"

I know that is a trivial question, but the fact that she's asking me that, two weeks to the wedding was what got me worried. She noticed the worriness and laughed.
"com'on, its just a question..."

"erm...I.." I stuttered and she took a squinted look at my face. "I, think you're an amazing woman..."

"and?"

"and what?"

"and what else?" She sounded eager to hear me talk.

"erm...and a...a, I don't know. I just know that you're no ordinary woman." I remarked elusively not wanting to shoot myself on the foot. When dealing with people like her, you have to be extra careful.

"hmm...its quite liberating to hear that...well, I'll answer your question..." She paused to think for a while. Then smiled and continued. "to tell you the truth, I was hurt. I came to your house to have sex with you, and I know fully well that we both enjoyed it...I was even ready to make you mine forever after that sex. I was prepared to do battle with my sister over you, but how did you treated me after then?..like I'm, like am a piece of junk....you never cared about my feelings...and it...it..." She struggled to fight back the tears already weiling in her eyes.

At that moment, I was able to realise the sorrow she has been nursing. I instantly hated myself for causing her such pains. I've done a lot of horrible things in the past and now someone else is hurting from it.

"you acted as if nothing happened." She finally continued. "You treated me as if am a piece of trash... Darous, you hurt me..and it was as if that wasn't enough. I arrived at the airport with the body of my dead mother, whom only God knows what happened between you two, only to find you with my sister....and as if that wasn't enough...you two are....." She bitted her lips together and shook her head sideways. "I need to be alone right now..." She declared and made to go away but I quickly caught her by the hand and knelt before her on one knee.

"Adenike...please I beg you in the name of your God...please find it in your heart to forgive me..."

"I already did..." She wiped of the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed. "if I hadn't, you wouldn't be getting married with my sister in two weeks time.... I love my sister and if you remember very well, there was a time she had to live the life of a cripple so we can be rid of my wicked father..." Chris coughed gently at that moment and we both studied the little lad until he embarked on another round of sleep then she continued. "I see that you make her happy, and thats enough for me to let you go. If not, I would have ruined you fair and square you won't stand a chance....get up, stop embarrasing me..." She dragged me up gently and when I was level with her gaze she added, "but know this...if you ever cause her as much as a little sadness...I will be the worst thing to ever happen to you!" She walked away very fast and I was left standing like an hediot.

After she left, I began to smile to myself as I had no other choice than to believe and assume that she really got nothing from Doris and that was the greatest mistake I ever made.

***

The week of the wedding arrived very fast like every other week. All the preparations for the D-day were already getting their finishing touches.

The bachelor's party, held on wednessday of that week also came and was filled with a whole lot of merriments.

Our collective eyes were longingly set upon the arrival of the D-day.

But apparently, the devil, or whatever spirit that has been stopping me from having happiness was also scheming something for me.

What happened on the wedding day? I could never wish on my greatest enemy.

The son of thunder suffereth again!


TBC

Eberechi24:
KARMA issa baitch, darous isn't gonna escape it.
TBM, You are good at what you are doing, well-done sir.

mention me when you start another story


am sorry for loss of your brother. mycondolence

thanx o. Will surely do

124. COUNTLESS.


I think am going to need the help of a Phd holder in English language to be able to fully describe the kind of look that dominated the possession of my face the minute I spotted Joke's questioning face and my Mum's craving demeanor - to know what could have prompted Nike to have say something like that to her supposed sister's future husband.

But let me try my best in trying to describe it to you. Firstly, Cold sweats, from nowhere began to form on my forehead. My throat became instantly dry and trying to work up saliva back to my mouth became equivalent to trying to ask Nigerian politicians to do without money. In simpler secondary school understandable terms, I was flabbergasted, shock-striken, dumbfounded, dumbstruck and...and... Well, I don't know what else to use.

Again, in simpler metaphorical terms, its the kind of look you can find on someone caught redhanded while having sex with his bestfriend's bride-to-be.

Nike on her part appeared suprisingly lackadaisical and undisturbed. She still carried that look of a she-devil on her face even when there was something like a looming palava for both of us and I think that was what provoked Joke to repeat her earlier statement.

"one of you should talk up right now!" Joke voiced out again and was met again with my utter state of dumbfoundness and the unperturbed look on Nike's face.

At that moment, I wasn't sure of what to feel. Maybe to feel relieved that Nike have decided not to talk or to be worried . But nonetheless, her silence nature got me to ask myself this questions: Is she bluffing when she claimed her mom have told her everything? And by everything, what exactly does she mean by that? Everything...every...thing?, I mean, everything? Everything, like she already knew about my sexual escapades with her mum or what? And if she knew that, its only logical of me to believe she already knew that Chris is my child.

Hmm...but wait didn't she say her main objective is to see me out of their lives totally? Then if she's truly aware of all what have stated above, whats then stopping her from going straight to her sister and tell her EVERY-THING?...atleast that would totally eradicate me out of their lives for good. Joke is in love but not stupid. If Nike should just tell her EVERY-THING she knew, am sure she wouldn't hesitate to send me and my lecherous soul parking out of her life.

Now, based on all the stated assumptions, I don't think she knew anything atall, talkless of EVERY-THING that she claimed to have knowledge of.

Even with all this soul comforting thoughts, you will think my mood and courage should have been elated by now but that wasn't the case. Rather, I still stood aghastly at the sight of the confused Joke and my mum's curious demeanor.

"Damilare, kilo n sele? (Damilare, whats going on?)" My mum enquired impatiently.

I glanced frantically across Joke and my Mum's faces and their facial expressions both carried two words; Speak Up.

Then I began to search for an elusive trick to drop at their feet but before I could, Nike broke the awkward silence.

"sorry, what was your question again?" She asked her sister in a confident tone that further confirmed my assumptions.

Joke fumed hard at her face and said, "I can try repeating it but trust me it won't be any different the second time..." Still, she got no reply from the recipent of her words so she continued, "Nike, tell me, whats going on here?"

Nike glanced at my face, probably checking my reactions and then returned her gaze to my mum, who has been watching the whole scenario with curiousness.

"ok, sis, I think its better you hear it from Darous himself.." On that note, she motioned to one side so that Joke and my Mum's gaze were now levelling with my scared face and beckoned to me to speak up with her right hand.

"hum..hum..." I rasped. "erm..erm..." I stammered again and Joke moved closer to me. She placed her right hand on my shoulder and said,

"Darous.. Tell me, what is it? Whats going on between you and my sister? Whats going on?"

"going on?" I chuckled confidently and stared into her eyes. "nothing...Joke... Your sister is just trying to judge me based on what your mum told you two that I did.."

"you mean, the stealing accussation?"

"yes..."

"ah! Bloody liar!" Nike, caught off her guard flared up.

The next thing that followed her utterances was the sound of Joke's palm landing forcefully on her face.

"are you stewpid?" Joke's angry voice echoed out again hence prompting my mum to interfere.

"Adejoke mi, calm down." My mum said dragging Joke backwards to herself.

"you slapped me?" Nike questioned with a palm placed on the affected part of her face.

"yes! And I'll still do more if you don't start showing some manners!"

Nike mumbled inchoherently and turned to me. She took a longful look that scared me into my eyes and says, "your secret will be out soon. I bet it." She attempted to walk away but my mum quickly snatch her hands and drag her back.

I watched with agape mouth and akimbo posture as my mum walked the two sisters out of my exasperated sight.

I stood there motionlessly in deep thoughts for some moments before my mum came back.

"and you..." My mother said to me after picking her handbag from ontop the plastic chair she'd dropped it earlier. "you and I, mother to son, we have some serious talks to do when we get home." She uttered in what seemed like a command tone than a mere statement.

"alright mum. Let me go get my friends."

"you do that." She murmured in reply and walked away in the direction of my car.

***

3hrs later. After dropping Efe and Collins at their house, we were back at my house and from the moment we'd stepped inside my sitting room, my mum have been bombarding me with all sorts of questions. The few answerable ones amongst, I'd answered and the ones that could land me in trouble, I'd reacted to hedgely and elusively.

"Damilare, so you are telling me your fiancee's sister is only accussing you of killing her mother simply because of how you disappeared from their house few years ago?"

Adjusting my back on the sofa-bed at the rearmost end of the sitting room, I said, "yes mom...or you think am lying?"

"no...But I think you are not being straight for...."

"oh mum!" I cut in rudely. "You think am hiding something from you?" I rose up and let out a little scoff. "mum, the only thing am hiding from you is my phone's password and if you want it, I can give you so that I'll be clear." She shot me a sceptical look briefly and I just shook my head and reclaimed my seat on the sofa-bed. "am sorry mum, but am not happy you don't understand me."

"son...then make me understand you... Nike accused you of stealing before you left their house...lets not forget the fact that you said she also claimed her mum changed, after you left... Damilare, thats too hard for me to process....unless you open up to me, then there's only little I can do to understand."

"okay mum...what do you want to know?"

"finally, we're getting somewhere. First tell me, is her accusation true?"

"which one?"

"that you stole from them?"

"no... I didn't..."

"hmm.. I know I raised you better than that, but lets assume I believe you....that drives us to the next question..."

"which is?"

"why did you leave their house if you truly have nothing to hide..."

"you still don't believe me..."

"ofcos I do..."

"no mum...its right there in your tone...you don't believe me. But regardless of whatever you believe, I'll answer you the best I can...yes, I did left their house...but not in relation to any atrocities whatsoever...but however you might find it absurd mom, their mother doesn't want me to date her daughter. So she started telling her daughters what I'll never ever think of doing in a lifetime. So, I had no choice than to leave their house in peace." I ended and waited for her reaction.

"hmmm..." She released a long breath. "its okay son. I raised you better than that...but..." She sighed again and paused,

"but what?
I asked curiously,

"just a bit curious. Do you think she will be happy in her grave seeing that you are now with her child after she'd warned you to stay away? I'd be angry too..."

"but we love eachother mom... And I think thats what matters most... Am I right?"

"you are right." She paused to think for a while and suddenly furrowed her eyebrow and said, "but are you sure you love her?" she uttered with a prolong questioning look into my eyes.

"no no...thats not the question you should be asking mum...what you should be asking is, do I love her enough to sell my grandparents to ritualists? And my answer would have been an outright yes!"

"Jesus!" She shouted with a feigned shocken expression and interlocked her fingers across her chest region. "are you saying my parents are no longer safe at home?" She asked with a sarcastic look.

"yes mom!"

"ah! You this boy..."

"mum...am no longer a boy nau..." I feigned naughtiness at her and she just laughed.

"tell that to yourself if it guarantees you heaven...but you will always remain my boy."

And it was on that lighter mood that we joked and discussed alot of things. Truly, I missed being away from my mum. But man must hustle na?

The following weeks, things got back to normal between Joke and I. Nike suprisingly started acting all kind and respectful towards me again and that gave me the sense of 'okay' needed to proceed with the wedding preparations of me and Joke.

My mum with the help of Joke arranged a meeting with Joke's family and it was there that May 29th of that year was agreed upon as our wedding day.

A day that coincidentally happens to be my birthday.

I, Joke and everyone was happy. Nike, Titilayo and Adebimpe,(their cousins) and our entire families were all looking forward to the wedding of the most loveliest couple-to-be. Even little Chris also felt it.

And for a longtime in my long shangoic life... I was truly happy.

But unfortunately, Nike has other plans for me.


TBC.

Elviswifey1:
Chai am feeling for darous ooo but that's life 4 u.at some point u must pay for ur sins even if u later changed or repented u will still pay for every damn damage.that's why it good to live it right n have self control over everything, don't sleep around bcs its easy n cheap or bcs ur hamsome,pretty or lover of sex but do so bcs ur married.in that way u have lesser problems in life.patiently waiting for the next episode.thumb up the blessed man

hmmm...its 02:41pm and I must confess, u just made my day with this comment... And for that, I say a very big thank you.. Thanx alot. I app it.

As promised. Here is the update. Countless 124 comes up on Thursday. Thanx for staying tuned.


123. COUNTLESS.



Dressed in a black Versace suit and a pair of black gucci brogues, I and two of my rich friends alighted from my blue pathfinder Jeep which was parked at the car park adjacent the building of the mighty Church.

Truth be told, two hours ago, I was really perplexed on what to do after we'd gotten home from the airport. What Nike said to me back there really got me shocked and daunted to the extent that I nearly arrive at a conclusion to run away and never come back. But the thought of leaving Joke again, the effects it will have on her at this crucial moments of her life when she practically needed me most kept me from doing so.

Not only will it crush her soul forever, but it will also mean am backing out on my promise to make her happy always. A promise I made barely three days ago.

I remembered vividly how she'd stood by me few years ago when I was still a chronic hustler. And the thought of doing the contrary to her scared the hell out of me.

I would have ran away but at the last moment, I received a call from my mum. She'd called to inform me that I should tell my fiancee that she will only be able to make it to the burial ground.

"what? She told you to come?" I'd asked her.

"look at you, which type of mother inlaw would I be if I don't attend the burial of my..."

"ok...ok..I'll tell her." I cut in. "Just don't bring too much people mum. Its just a small burial ceremony."

"ok son..."

Thats how I realise that there's no running away. The tune have already been set, and its time for me to dance to the music.

Besides, Nike, known for her silly pranks might be bluffing afterall and there's only one pragmatic way to find out. I need to get closer to her now more than I ever did.

So I'd pestered Efe and Collins to follow me to the church so that I won't feel like an outcast in the midst of those that have come to worship the name of an invisible God.

Unlike me, my friends were both claded in a pistachio collar-less top and black navy trousers.

Ironically, the last time I was in a church, someone, I mean my dad was in a casket. And now again, someone had to be in a casket before I could enter a church again. Call it gloating or whatever, but I think I've honestly served the gawd of thunder so well.

Instead of going inside, we stood outside under the scotching sun, admiring the elegant structure of the mighty church and marvelling at the arrays of classic people that were going in and out of the church.

Joke was the first to notice our presence and she wasted no time in coming to us.
She was claded in a black sleeveless gown that stops just inches below her knees. The pair of black slingback shoes and the billfold clutched within the grips of her left palm all but complemented her natural beauty. Not to mention how the modish ringle-curly hair on her head adorned her beautiful face.

Although she managed to appear unhurting but I know all she needs to burst up in tears is just a quiet and lonely space.

"hi love.." She greeted me with a polite smile and a warm embrace.

"honey, I know you're hurting but you'll be fine, trust me..everything will be okay." I whispered into her ear while still locked in the embrace.

"your presence here means alot to me Darous...I love you soo much." She replied back in the same whispering tone before she finally let go and turned to my friends.
"Efe... Collins, thanks for coming..."

"never mention. Its the least we could do...please accept our condolences." Collins remarked in his typical vote for APC voice.

"thank you so much guys." She replied him and turned to me.

"where's your sister?" I asked.

"she's inside the church with Chris."

"okay...lest I forget, my mum said she will be able to meet us at the burial ground because..."

"your mum is coming? Wow!" She screamed delightedly.

"you didn't invite her?" I asked suprisingly.

"no..I wanted to, but I forgot" She answered.

"ok. I believe the program is holding inside the church." I stated, trying to change the topic.

"yes, this way please." Joke said and ended with a follow me gesture.

***

"God giveth and he taketh at will. He is the giver of life and also he taketh it whenever he feels like doing so. He's not a cruel God but who are we to question his ways.
The decease have reached her bustop and have alighted from the bus conveying you and I in this journey of life." He paused momentarily and focused his gaze at Joke and Nike who were sitting inches from my right side respectively. Their eyes are red and full of tears but mine was the contrary. The little ambiguous statement Nike said to me at the airport have dried out the reservoir of tears I've planned to shed for that moment.
"now to the children of the decease..I want to implore you in the name of God to be strong...your mother have lived her life in accordance to the will of God and you doing the same will not only make her proud in her grave but so people can see you and say, 'yes, this are the children of the living God'..."

At that moment, I couldn't help but argue with what the pastor was preaching about Doris in my head. 'you don't know what you are saying. If she's not a she-devil, how can she in her right senses tell Nike about what was supposed to be a carry-to-grave secret? Or maybe she wasn't thinking straight. Her sickness must have gotten to her head. Ah gawd! If that b!tch spits to her sister, this will surely spell doom for me.'

"Darous are you alright?" Joke asked me after tapping me on the shoulder. I glanced over at her shoulder, to see Nike and she was also looking at me.

"well, ignoring his dry face, he looks fine to me..." Nike pouts in grazing my face with long and hard looks before she readjusted the head of Chris who was sleeping comfortably in her arms.

"am fine." I said to Joke with a shrug. "what of you? Are you okay?"

"her mum is about to be lowered into the ground below and you're asking if she's okay?....pathetic and..."

"Nike, whats wrong with you? Why are you being so naughty?" Joke had fired back at her sister but in a rather soft tone.
I just stared at Nike furtively with a state of total perplexity.
She's really prepared to ruin my life.

"sshhhhh...you people are making noise." Came a voice from the row behind us. I turned my neck towards the direction and was met with a stern look on the saddened face of Doris's aunt. Seated close to her were my friends. They also had this questioning look of 'whats going on' plastered across their faces.

"you people should be the least expected to be making a noise here today. What will your uncle say if he finds out?..."

"com'on aunty." Nike stressed in. "we are grown ups now."

"why don't you start behaving like one?" The aunty said.

"we are sorry aunty Comfort. Pardon us please." Joke chipped in with a low pleading tone.

"sorry for yourselves." The aunt stated in a typical yoruba mother's reprimanding tone and she shifted her attention back to the pastor who was still giving out his perpetual sermon at the alter.

"Nike behave yourself. And Darous, just ignore her till we're done here. I'll deal with her later." Joke declared without looking at either of us.

Nike murmured something in retaliation but Joke proved maturity by ignoring her.

***

2HRS LATER.
AT THE CEMETRY.

Don't let me bother you with the details of what happened before Doris's coffin was lowered into the ground. It entails the expected cries and wails.

The daughter's paid their mother her last respect by pouring sand three times ontop her coffin. Even little Chris was not spared from that primitive task.

But trust the slay queens and slay mamas. Instead of crying, they had their Ipads and Iphones out. Taking the picture of what will one day happen to everyone.

Gradually, people began to disperse from the grave yard and I took the opportunity to approach the just covered grave to say something from my disturbed mind.

"Doris!, may your snitching soul rot for eternity in hell, you this..."

"what did you just say?" came a voice from behind me.

Scared to the bone at the slight thought that someone have heard my unhealthy statement, I turned around swiftly and was met with the face of aunty Comfort. She was looking at me with a squinted and confused look that got me thinking she was expecting me to repeat my statement.

I was already sweating hard and trying to come up with a perfect lie before I discovered that she has a phone placed on her right ear.

Still, the fear didn't leave me until I heard her say, "the network here is bad. I can't hear you atall. Tope, call me later." She ended the call and began to walk away.

I released a sigh of relief and let out a small chuckle.
"oh boy! That was close..."

"yes...the day you will join her is getting closer if you don't leave my family alone right now." Yes, you guessed right. That was Nike's voice. Chris was no longer with her.

I was a bit statled for her interruption but I quickly pulled myself together. I glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention to us.

"hmm...Nike..."

"you know, you've got some nerves coming here today...didn't you get what I told you at the airport?"

"ofcos, I heard you.."

"and you're still here? Aren't you suppose to have vanish or do something than being here?" She stressed.

"and why would I do that? A clean conscience fears no accusation.." I stated trying to sound bold.

"see this bastard!"

"eh, Nike please watch your tongue.." I warned.

"my mum is dead because of you and you have the guts to threaten me?"

She moved closer to me and pointed a finger at my face.
"You killed my mum and you know it!" She declared and before she could continue, we were interrupted from behind.

"Nike, what did you just say?.."

We both looked up and was met with Joke's questioning face and the confused look on my Mum's.

Initially, I thought I could face the tempo of the music, but apparently, Terry-G have taken over the turn table and beside him stood Awilo who's also ready to take over from him.


TBC.

Kaycee9242:
Wow TBS am very happy dt u are back, tanx for not abandoning us. Pls mention me wen u start d new story.

Wat if Nike mum told her every oda thing apart from d boy's paternity issue.

abandon? I'll neva do dat. Thanx 4 staying loyal boss

Hurklan:
two days to Sunday...

thats right. I promise

Faspen:
Busted ha ha ha ;DBusted ha ha ha nice update

thanx boss.

Elviswifey1:
No problem the darous man.pls tag me immediately once the dog attendant begins.na me n u for this nairaland

funny woman. Sure...will do. Watchout.