Mara finished with her drink in the eatery. It was a hot afternoon and she was out. She was thirsty and needed some refreshments. Looking around, Mara had seen the eatery and she had gone in to have a drink. Afterwards, she was done and she headed home. Mara was by the road and watched as fleet of cars passed her by. How would she get home? She was looking out for a cab. While she was there, footsteps ran after one another behind her but she knew not.
“Hey! Hey! Young Lady!” were the words that came from behind her but Mara’s attention did not catch that. All of a sudden, she felt something touch her by her left arm. Mara looked back. What a smiling face she saw!
“And what is the meaning of that?” said Mara looking somewhat irritated.
“Oh! Young lady, I am sorry. I have been calling out to get your attention but you did not answer. Perhaps, you did not know. I am really sorry!” said the guy.
“It is alright. So what is it?” said Mara.
“Actually, I was in that eatery and I saw you while you were having your drink. I had seen you leave so I followed you. The thing is, I want to talk to you.” said the guy.
Mara looked at the guy and folder her arms. “Okay, I am all ears.” said Mara.
The guy cleared his throat and smiled. Mara could already have inkling about what he was going to say. Afterwards, he eventually spoke.
“Young lady, I want to let you know that you are beautiful!” he said in such a passionate manner trying to arouse some feelings in Mara but Mara was not feeling it.
“Thank you!” Mara said in a dull, uninterested manner and faced her front, keeping a stern look. The guy was put off; but he decided not to give up. He must get this beautiful lady. He must have her!
“Young lady, I just said you are beautiful! Don’t you like it?” said the guy.
“And I said thank you! What else? And besides, you said you want to talk to me. Are you done?” said Mara.
“No, that is not all.” said the guy.
“So what else?” said Mara.
“Okay! I want to tell you that I really like you. I want us to – you know – be like this. (He ran the fingers of his right hand in between those of his left, trying to symbolize closeness. Mara could understand what he meant but she wanted him to utter it with his mouth. She wanted to play games on him)
“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand.” said Mara.
“Come on, stop acting like a kid. I mean, I want us to be together. You should understand what I am saying.” said the guy.
“I said I don’t understand. Be together, in what sense? Can you just say it straight?” said Mara.
“Why are you acting like this now? You should understand what I mean.” said the guy.
“Look here, it seems you want to waste my time. If you cannot just say what you mean straight and let me understand, please leave me alone.” said Mara.
“Okay! I mean, I want us to… to… to… to be dating.” said the guy eventually.
Mara looked at him straight in his eyes. All of a sudden, she burst out laughing! The guy was feeling somewhat embarrassed. She looked like she was making fun of him which was what she wanted to do.
“Look at you. You are not even bold enough to say your mind. Do you really think you can handle a lady?” said Mara.
“I will try. I …” said the guy.
“Look here, if you are going to try, you are not going to try with me, okay? I am not interested!” said Mara.
“Why? Am I not good enough? Okay let me tell you, there is something you may not know about me. I come from a rich family. My father is one of the rich and influential personalities in this country. If you marry me, you are coming into a rich home! I will take care of you; take you around the world. Even if you want to go out of the planet, I can take you. I will buy you diamond rings, buy you golden chains, get you expensive cars and the list goes on. I will…” said the guy.
“Hey! Mr. OBO! Thanks, you can hold on to your money. I don’t need your money, okay? I am not interested and that is it. Please, leave me alone!” said Mara.
“Oh! You think I am lying? Is it because I have not shown you the money? Okay, wait!” said the guy.
His hand went into his pocket and out did it go, bringing some currency notes along.
“This is 300 dollars. I am giving you this just for you to get calling card. You can have it; it is all yours.”
Mara looked at the money and looked at his face. She hesitated. She did not collect it. To Mara, collecting the money after how she had reacted already would make it seem like she was cheap or could be easily influenced by money. Mara was still looking at him in the face. They both gazed at each other.
“Come on, take it. Don’t be shy! Please, take it.” the guy said in a more passionate and softened tone. Mara’s heart was softened! Stretching out her hand, she eventually accepted the money. Her heart had been softened; not because of she had seen the money but the way the guy was making efforts towards having her aroused some feelings in her. She had made fun of him. She had embarrassed him. But he did not give up. He really wanted her. Mara was somewhat moved by his attitude.
“So can I have your number?” the guy said stretching out his phone to her and looking at her straight in her eyes. He looked like he was going to cry. He looked like a child – you know – like a child would ask his mother for ice cream! Mara was moved! She collected the phone and input her digits. The guy was happy as he watched her touch the screen to input her number.
“Please, may I know your name?” he asked after he had retrieved his phone from Mara.
“Mara!” she replied.
“Oh! Mara! What a beautiful name! My name is Kelvin.” So where are you heading so I can drop you off if you don’t mind?” said the guy.
“No, don’t worry. I will sort myself.” said Mara.
“Come on! Hope it is not that you are shy? Please, feel free with me. Let me take you there.” said Kelvin.
“No, don’t worry. I will sort myself. Thank you!” said Mara.
“Okay, if you insist, I will leave you now. But, I am going to give you a call. Bye for now and take care!” Kelvin said.
The guy uttered those words and turned to go back into the eatery. To him, he was making progress. He was getting her! He was somewhat happy at the development. The guy left Mara eventually, and now it was Mara all alone. Would what had happened earlier not cause Mara to think? Soon after the guy had left, Mara subscribed into contemplation. Talking about being in a relationship, Mara could relate. It was not that she had never been in there before! (Flashback) (In the living room in an apartment)
Mara entered into the living room unexpectedly to those in the house. A man was there in the living room. Mara was not a stranger; the man could recognize here very well.
“John, what is happening? You could not even say hello to me?” said Mara.
“Mara, what do you want here?” said John.
“Baby, what is happening? What is happening to us; to our relationship? You have not been picking my calls for days now which is unusual and I am here to check on you and you ask me what do I want here? What is going on?” said Mara.
“Mara, I don’t want to see you. I am really busy here and I don’t want any disturbance. So I don’t want you in this house. Just get out of here! I am going to give you a call when I am less busy.” said John.
“What? I should get out of here? When did this start? What is happening? Baby, please tell me, what have I done to you? What have I done wrong?” said Mara.
“I have not said you have done anything wrong. I don’t just want you here. Just get out of here, please!” said John.
“Baby, please don’t do that! What have I done...” said Mara.
There was a pause! Mara’s attention was caught by something that suddenly appeared in the living room. Mara controlled her eyes to have a clear view of this figure that was standing at one point in the living room gazing at her with such a stern face. Both of them stared at each other.
“John, who is this?” Mara said to John.
“And who are you too?” the lady said.
“John, please answer me. I said who is this and what is she doing here?” Mara said to John.
“And who are you too and what do you want here? For your information, I am John’s fiancée; we will be getting married soon. And in fact, I am pregnant for him. So I have a place in this house and I have come here to stay. Now, answer my question, who are you and what do you want?” said the lady.
Mara was taken by shock and bemusement.
“John, did you just hear what she said? Just tell me it is not true. Is this a joke or what?” said Mara.
“It is true!” said John.
“What? John, are you serious?” said Mara.
“Yes, I am. She is my fiancée and she is pregnant for me. We will be getting married soon!” said John.
“John, so what is going to happen to me? What will happen to us?” Mara said. Mara was feeling uneasy with the situation. It was unexpected and troubling!
“Mara, are you still asking? After what you have heard, you still don’t know your place? Anyways, let me make it clear to you if you have not gotten it. Mara, it is over between us. There is no more love! There is no more relationship! Now, please get out of here!” said John.
“Baby, please don’t do that. Don’t do this to me. What have I done? I cannot just understand. Is it that you suddenly have no interest in me after all what we have had together? Baby, please talk to me.” said Mara.
“Who is your baby? Now listen, I have no explanation to give you other than I don’t want someone like you with that history of yours in my life. Just get out of here with your past! I don’t want someone like you as my wife!” said John.
“John, what do you mean? What do you mean by my history? John, please, don’t let people feed you with some false information about me. Don’t let people come between us. (She knelt on the ground). John, please consider. Don’t call it over between us.” said Mara.
“Mara, all this your begging won’t make me change my mind. What is going to happen to this lady and her pregnancy if I decide to continue with you? Do you want me to send her away? And I cannot take two wives.” said John.
“I will never accept that. It will never be, while I am still alive! I am the one and the only one. Any other lady has no place and should get out of here. John, this is taking too long. I feel irritated seeing this lady here. Send her out of here!” said the other lady.
“You see, my baby is now angry. Please, get out of here. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to do something crazy to you. Please go in peace! Get out!” said John.
“Baby, please don’t do that! Don’t..” said Mara.
“This your talk of “baby” is even pissing me off. I said it is over. Just get out! Get out of here!” said John.
“Baby, please… Haaa! Haaa!” said Mara.
John moved closer to her and grabbed her. He lifted her up and was pushing her towards the door.
“Looks like you want trouble. I said get out! Get out! Get out of here!” said John.
“Chase her out of here! And don’t ever come back here!” said the other lady.
Mara was chased out of John’s house; her own baby’s house. It was over between Mara and John.
Mara thought about this guy who she had just met. Should she give him a chance? Was he also going to call it over between them all of a sudden; an experience that she could relate with; an experience she had had in her past? Or was the story with this guy going to be different? Mara pondered for awhile. Eventually, Mara was able to get a cab. Boarding a cab, Mara was driven off!