Chapter fourteen
It was a chilly morning. Okunade had grown considerably thinner and more unkempt. He had been cut to size by the spell of Toun who had proven to be a first-class scoundrel. Something spectacular happened yesterday that changed his charmed mindset. He had gone to a popular eatery for lunch where he finished eating and was about leaving when, he suddenly saw Toun giggling heartily and hugging a pot-bellied, bald-headed elderly man standing beside a Mercedes Benz Jeep. From all indications, it showed clearly that the elderly man was her Sugar daddy. That very morning before he left for office she had told him she wanted to visit her mother who lives in Ogun State and that she would be back in three days time. For a long period of time he was transfixed on the same spot and was sweating like a young first offender jailed for life. His mouth was agape with shock and bewilderment nay complete sadness. He wanted to cry, but something far greater than him withheld the tears. He started shaking while moving towards her, as she was still enjoying herself with the pot-bellied man.
“Toun! Toun! Toun! Is this true? He screamed.”
“Er…er… what’s the matter? Any problem young man?” Toun said, sounding as if she had never seen him in her entire life.
“Who is that young man, Toun?” The elderly man asked.
“I don’t know him. He looks like someone out of his mind.” She spoke while chewing bubble gum in a carefree manner. At that very moment the veil of charm covering Okunade’s eyes suddenly cleared, making him realize the true situation of things for the past few weeks. He knew he had been charmed. The first thought that came to his mind was Adaobi.
“Adaobi…what’s happening?” He whispered to himself. Where could she be at this moment?” He asked again. He entered into his car and drove back to his house. He was indeed very lucky to have survived having a fatal accident owing to the absent-mindedness he suffered on the wheels. Sprawled on the floor of his luxurious parlour, he tried to remember all important events that had taken place in recent time. He could remember that he beat Adaobi and drove her out of his flat. He wondered how he met Toun. It must be through my parents who wanted me to marry a Yoruba by all means. “What kind of a bad dream is this?” He thought. How could I do this to her? A lady who was disowned by her parents simply because she was dating me; he reasoned as tears gathered in his eyes which he cleared with his right hand.
The love that existed between him and Adaobi was deep. The love was beyond tribal or cultural boundaries. Throughout that day, he couldn’t eat. The following day when he got to the office he couldn’t concentrate on anything. His colleagues in the office knew something was wrong with him, but he didn’t disclose it. He was just brooding and moody. The third day, he still could not do anything at home, he was in deep melancholy.
Desmond, Okunade’s bosom friend paid a sudden visit at home while he was in the parlour visibly battling not to explode. Desmond was clean shaven but for a neat moustache and wore a very neat and expensive looking black suit. His coming paunch and well-groomed face advertised him as a prosperous young man in his white semi-stiff collar. While the suit emphasized this impression, he had a smile, then a smirk on his well-groomed face. The signs were ominous, for he gave the appearance of annoyance, disappointment, satisfaction and arrogance all at the same time.
“To what do I owe this honour? You are welcome Desmond. What do I offer you?” Okunade rose with pain and went to have a handshake.
“I decided to visit today.” Desmond said while going to take a seat and continued: “Because your looks at the office yesterday were nothing to write home about. I have never seen you in such a debacle before. This looks confusing to me. You got to open up, because you need help. You got to tell me what’s eating you up! What’s smoldering your heart? What has reduced you to ruin? I am here to help you…whatever the matter is…I would like to know what is scattering your once blissful life into potshards…” Desmond concluded with the voice of one sucked and withered by the wind of affliction.
“Thank you for your concern. You have a way with words. Your words are like the talons of a hawk clawing on my breast. You just pierced my ears. I have already started pulling out the smoldering logs and extinguishing the fire. I am not yet defeated. Life recently displayed an insufferable drama of absurdity. But I will soon pull through! Permit me to plead against your request. For some reasons, I would like to keep the matter under the carpet for the time being. I plead for your understanding; but it’s the logic of extreme times. I must confess that I’m broken. I will be fine. The deer must defy all odds and seize the gun from the hunter! The cows must take over the narration of their own story. History will teach us. I hope that we will learn. The heralds of horror and death came with flaming brands in their talons and displaced us. But they shall be defeated. I pray that they do not suffer the indignity of unremembered graves for forcing their uncommon merchandise on me! I keep asking myself. Ah…am…I the one sprawled on the ground like this? In the dust like a common mongrel!!! But what’s the use of getting up? To go where? Or to achieve what purpose? When fate has decided to strike you down what amount of worry can help? Is there really no armour against fate? But nature is weak and my tears pour out nevertheless. Can one ever be strong enough against misfortune? In spite of our courage, disaster drains us….” Okunade stopped to regain himself as his eyes had grown wearier with tears trying to force the gateway open.
When Okunade got to his parent’s house about four hours later, he opened up his repressed emotions. He felt so bad to have injured the real love of his life.
“Mum, Dad,” he said. “I really can’t understand how the girl you brought to my house that day became my live-in-lover. It’s a mystery to me! Why I am here is to let you know that I caught the said girl red-handed with a Sugar daddy. She is a harlot of the highest order. Adaobi is gone and I don’t know her whereabouts. I wouldn’t allow that harlot reduce me to ruin. This will not be the final word in the dirge. Now I believe that insanity is the drug of misery. I keep wondering, why you people prefer that harlot that stinks in her underwear to a descent girl like Adaobi?”
“Go on with your talk,” his Dad pleaded.
“We never knew that Toun could be that bad and irresponsible, that is a most horrible and detestable thing for her to do”, his mother interjected and continued: “If we had known her to be so bad and wayward we wouldn’t have forced her on you. It was a mistake on our part. It is our culture and tradition that our children marry from our tribe. We are so sorry. So, what are you going to do now? You said you can’t find her, and you once mentioned that she’s pregnant…hmm…I pray nothing bad happens to her. If you can find her we will welcome her back with our whole heart. We’ve learnt our lessons. Sorry, Okunade…my son…you look so bad, depressed and worried.”
“Don’t be annoyed with us, Okunade,” his Dad chipped in. “We are not God and so we are not perfect. You will marry your heart’s desire. If bitter kola was not bitter, it would not produce its desired result. But…where shall we see her now? Please…my son…we will be on the look-out for her and if you see her…tell her that we are in support of the relationship. It is all over now. We will go and see her parents and do the necessary things as their custom demands”.
Okunade, all this while was just shaking his head in agony. He was at a loss because he didn’t know what to do. Then, he thought of going to Adaobi’s parents to beg them for the hand of Adaobi in marriage. He reasoned that Adaobi must be at home with her parents. That was a grievous mistake on his part. The kind of anger shown by Adaobi’s parents is better imagined than described.
“Where did you put our daughter?” Papa Adaobi asked in fiery anger. “We heard she’s been with you for the past three months since we drove her out and disowned her for loving you! May Amadioha strike you dead! You must have used my daughter for money-making ritual, you wicked soul!” He screamed and started pacing nervously. “Mr. Lover-boy, listen to me: When the evil-plotter beats his drum for the downfall of the innocent, the gods will not let the drum sound!” He maintained philosophically.
“Wait sir; let me explain,” Okunade begged, “Sincerely I don’t know her whereabouts.”
“God! Hear what he’s saying? Mama Adaobi interjected with a raucous voice, “If you really knew me…you wouldn’t have come to show your maggot-ridden face. You will learn a good lesson today; I will soak you with the trouble you brewed.”
“Please…let us stop heating up an already…” Okunade said whimpering with fright.
“Shut up”! Mama Adaobi thundered “You murderer! You have the mouth to talk! You must…” She was interrupted by her younger sister Linda who had been cooking in the kitchen. She had been listening keenly to the hot words of her sister. She was clad in a wrapper, with a veil fluffing loosely about her shoulders while holding a porcelain dish and a napkin with which she had obviously been wiping the dish.
“What galls me most is wasting time like that!” Linda who looked disconsolated started speaking. “We should be more concerned with how to find her. Trading blames cannot help the serious matter at hand. I simply cannot concentrate on cooking any longer, hence I came out”. Mama Adaobi gave Linda, a long stare full of contempt, then turned and left for her room while Papa Adaobi followed her behind.
“Please...Okunade, do not be perplexed. I know my elder sister, she is such a headache”. Linda spoke to Okunade while momentarily recovering control. “Thank you for your concern. I really appreciate it”. Okunade spoke forcing a smile.
Mama Adaobi stormed out, wearing a tight jean trouser and shirt. She grabbed Okunade by his shirt and started dragging him to the police station very close to her house. Okunade knew the logic of defeat that when one is defeated by an enemy he should expect the worst. He knew it was a waste of time trying to convince them, because they did not have any respect for reason. He offered to follow them to the police station, but it didn’t stop Mama Adaobi from dragging him about in the street like a condemned criminal.
“Please…Mama Adaobi…Stop dragging him about! It is disgracing. He has accepted to follow you, stop misinterpreting his quietness for foolishness. He is innocent of all this!” Linda intervened amid tears.
“Go back to the kitchen Linda. Although, I know … you are a bad cook. I hold a cup in my hand, full of wine, foaming and spiced. He must drink it to the dregs. He must drain it”. She rebuked with pride.
Linda went back to the kitchen while Papa Adaobi followed his wife behind as she drags Okunade to the police station.
At the police station; Mama Adaobi was just sighing repeatedly with these words on her lips. “Please, help us o, please, help us o, our daughter is missing after spending weeks with her boyfriend!”
“Take it easy, Madam”, The Inspector in-charge of the case said to her, “We’ll get to the root of the matter, we are on top of the situation.”
Papa Adaobi instantly gave the Inspector the sum of five thousand naira and leveled a false accusation against the ill-fated young man, saying that he had used his daughter for money-making ritual. He was shocked when he was remanded in prison custody immediately. He broke down and wept, but the police officers further harassed and put him behind bars even while he cried that he was unjustly treated, begging them for leniency.
Two days later. Okunade’s parents heard that their son was in a police cell. They were very worried and quickly made efforts to bail him out. He had been so beaten and assaulted by the inmates of the cell that one could hardly recognise him with a swollen nose and bleeding mouth.
“You see, Okunade, what we always tell you, this Igbo people are hard nuts to crack. Their culture is too receptive to change, individualistic and highly competitive. I do not understand this kind of creatures, fearing neither God nor man. I hate their hubris, over-whelming pride and thoughtlessness, which invites envy and hatred; or even worse, which can obsess the mind with material success and dispose it to all kinds of crude showiness”. She spoke visibly worried.
“My wife, you are right. There is no doubt at all that there is a strand in contemporary Igbo behavior which can offend by its noisy exhibitionism and disregard for humility and quietness. I was at the Ikeja Airport on one of those days when all flights were delayed or cancelled for lack of aviation fuel about two weeks ago. And I tell you, when you hear a man’s voice high over a subdued and despondent multitude the chances are that he will be an Igbo who “has made it” and is desperate to be noticed and admired. And another trouble with the Igbo people is clannishness. They are always unduly favouring their kindred and running to their defense at all times. Okunade, you see how they have dealt with you. I told you but you wouldn’t listen to me!” He admonished.
“Its one of those things, Dad” Okunade replied, “I have to see Adaobi quickly. I don’t mind losing my life in the process. She’s all I want in life.”
“What’s wrong with you? It’s high time, you stopped this nonsense. You are still talking about Adaobi. Look at the mess you have found yourself in just because of a girl. You have not learnt your lessons.” Okunade’s Dad spoke while his wife watched with obvious emotional support, which could be seen from the thick layer of her eyes.
“I will, when I find her”, Okunade responded.
However, Okunade’s Dad secured a bail for him. That night when Okunade got home, he couldn’t sleep. He was full of thoughts. Where could she have gone? He thought. He remembered the only friend she always talked about who was close to her was Ifeoma, who lived in Agege, on the outskirts of Lagos. They had both gone to her place during the naming ceremony of Ifeoma’s last child. He made up his mind to trace the house. That early morning, despite the heavy rain, he set out on his mission at about 8:00 am. When he was negotiating a bend he had a punctured tyre. He got down from his car to change it. It was still raining heavily and he was soaked to his underpants in a matter of seconds while he was changing his punctured tyre. As he was about entering his car some area boys robbed him of his money and mobile phones. He considered all he was going through as a price he had to pay for his sweetheart, who God forbid, might be in serious trouble. For close to two hours he could not locate the house. He was about giving up when he saw Ifeoma alighting from a taxi cab very close to where he parked his car.
“Hello, Ifeoma,” he called out excitedly. “Do you remember me, Adaobi’s fiancée?” She was dumbfounded instantly as she remembered him.
“Please, is Adaobi with you?” he asked.
“Wow, I am surprised you came looking for her after beating and driving her out of your house,” she taunted.
“It’s the devil’s handiwork, I couldn’t have done that if I were my true self and in my right senses. I’m sorry, please, is she okay?” he demanded. “Yes,” she said, and he followed her closely behind. He was so worried and anxious. A couple of minutes later Okunade and Adaobi were face-to-face with each other. He didn’t know what to say as he was totally lost for words. He lowered his head in guilt and started crying. Adaobi moved toward him and sobbed gently.
“Have you come to beat me, again?” she asked in tears.
“No, my dear, Okunade said in tears, you know I was possessed by something inexplicable when I beat and drove you away. How’s the baby. Are you okay dear…I miss you so much…”
“I’m okay,” she replied softly. ‘’How are your parents?”
“They are fine.Let me take you home immediately. Tomorrow, we shall leave for your house to see your parents; they thought something bad had happened to you.’’
Suddenly an ugly drama began to unfold. Some thugs hired by Chief Eze had invaded Mr. Peter’s properties. Chief Eze, a heavily built man, strong, healthy even in middle age was there watching the gory scene. He was about fifty and looks like a determined self-made businessman. He was the sort of man who liked to drink and clearly considered himself successful in his own way. In the company of good friends he will be hearty, even noisy. He wore a pair of dark grey flannel trousers and a pale blue, pencil-striped open-necked shirt. He carried a brief-case and dangled his car key on a short, heavy chromium chain with a leather tab.
“Please, I beg of you in God’s name; don’t let them pack my properties inside the rain.”
Mr. Peter begged his Landlord while prostrating on the wet ground in tears and continued pleading for mercy from Chief Eze who was as rigid and as adamant as death itself.
By all standards, Mr. Peter had been having an economic crisis having lost his job just two days after he accosted the pretty Mma in the street about a month ago. Worse still, his Landlord had snatched his wife from him. As the tragic drama unfolded, Ifeoma Mr. Peter’s wife and the mother of his two kids laughed and mocked her frustrated husband as he rolled on the floor, begging God for justice and mercy.
Mr. Peter was shocked when he first heard the rumour from his bossom friend that his Landlord was dating her wife. He later caught her red-handed on the lap of the randy man in a hotel. Akpos who is an expert in love affairs had monitored them and given the information to him to prove his expertise once again. That day, Mr. Peter went wild with anger and threatened fire and brimstone! But now, he regretted ever protesting that very day he saw them having a good time. He remembered saying:
“But…Mr. Landlord, you already have three wives! Why are you messing around with my only wife for God’s sake?”
As the thugs continued to throw his poverty-stricken properties into the rain, it could be tagged, “operation no-mercy” as the doom’s day prophet would say. His belongings were drenched with the rain water. His two children cried and cried but there was nothing their tears could do. Not even the pleadings from Okunade and Adaobi could change the mind of Chief Eze, who was determined to make life hellish for him and marry Ifeoma as a fourth wife. He had now accepted his new fate as he had been beaten black and blue and warned seriously to keep quiet by the crafty, virulent and wicked street thugs who had no sympathy for the suffering of a fellow human being.
“Honey, you can help him. I know that things are difficult in the country. Please do it for me because I took refuge here when I had nowhere else to lay my head,” Adaobi begged seductively.
“It’s okay, you know l love you,” Okunade replied enthusiastically as he planted a tender and long kiss on her. Immediately he approached Chief Eze as she watched with great expectation.
“Excuse me sir. How much does he owe you?” Okunade asked.
“Oh… forget about him he is almost ejected. If you wouldn’t mind, I will like you to leave him alone. I am determined to deal with him until nothing remains in him”. Chief Eze replied with an air of importance.
“I think this is not the right way to go about this. The issue at hand is about money and not his person,” He spoke with a voice clothed with raw anger.
“You see, my good-looking gentle young man…I totally agree with you. But come to think of it, why would you want to waste your hard earned money on a fool like him? I beg you to forget about him. Or better still…you can use some money to transport him to his hometown. I promise to take good care of Ifeoma and the children,” Chief Eze persisted.
“I’m fed up… fed up fit to burst, why can’t you listen to the voice of reason? It’s high time; someone talked sense into your head. Maybe the police will do just that. I vow to make sure you are arrested and sued to court for violation of human rights. I hope you understand the implication of that very well. That, Mr. Peter is your lawful tenant doesn’t make him your slave and a fool as you have already considered.” He reacted with a hectoring voice as he brought out his phone and started going through the directory.
“Oh…young man, you don’t have to do that. Do you have the sum of forty thousand naira with you?” He asked in an abstracted manner. Okunade left him for his car, opened the briefcase and counted some money out.
“Take, this is forty thousand naira. Get your boys to take his properties back immediately”. He commanded as he handed the big wad of naira notes to him.
Chief Eze grabbed the money and commanded his busy boys to stop and enter his car immediately. He drove out. Mr. Peter who was now clad in rags and smelt like a mad man moved to meet Okunade.
“Thank you very much. Thank you for your good heart. How can I ever repay you?” Mr. Peter said in tears.
“Oh…don’t mention! Thank you too for being grateful. Gratefulness they say is the least of virtues while ungratefulness is the worst of vices. Take…this is the sum of ten thousand naira for your hospital bill. You must go to hospital immediately for treatment for the internal injuries you must have sustained. You have to go back to your wife and ask for forgiveness. Adaobi has just told me the whole story. You will agree with me that she was an angel before you started maltreating her because of that Mma of a girl. I have no power to forgive you. Only God… and of course your wife and children whom you rejected can forgive you. I sincerely hope you can make your family happy again.” He spoke to the satisfaction of everyone present. “I promise to make all things new again!” Mr. Peter spoke with a solemn voice.
The atmosphere was lit up with a sudden happiness. There was an abundant exchange of pleasantries as Adaobi put her belongings together for departure. When they were utterly disgorged from the inexhaustible warehouse of ecstasy, Okunade and Adaobi started cutting slow steps to the car. The little kids, Uche and Ikechukwu followed them very closely while Ifeoma and her husband weren’t left out although they were far apart. On reaching the car, he buried his hand into his suit and brought out the car key and carefully opened the door for his fiancée as is the tradition of polished men. She, with his help entered with some difficulty due to the heavy pregnancy. Now in the driver’s seat and with the seat-beat well-fastened, he called the children for a chat.
“Uche, Ike, listen to me…I want the two of you to take your studies very serious. Be obedient to your Mummy and Daddy. And when you go to school… be obedient to your teachers and never make noise when a teacher is in class. Aunty Adaobi told me that you are wonderful children. I was very…very happy to hear that. I was also told that you-Uche came second in the last term examination and you-Ike came second in the last term examination too. That is very good. It shows that you are very intelligent children. Now, I want the two of you to take your studies more seriously. Just get the first position. I have already promised your Mummy that if you come first in the forthcoming examination, I will come and take you for your third term holiday. I know that you will like to spend some days in my house. Then, I will take you to the Bar Beach. I know you will like to go there, it’s a good place to visit.”
“Yes…yes…Uncle. We have read about the Bar Beach in our English reader. It’s very…big water. Even…Toochukwu my friend has gone there. I would like to go there too. I must come first in the next examination. I will read my books…very…very well.” Uche spoke while breathing fast because of the hope of ever visiting the Beach.
“Me…too…I will go with my brother. I will tell Mummy to follow us to the Bar Beach,” Lara added.
Okunade who had been enjoying the moment with Adaobi continued: “Alright…I like your determination. Just get the first position. And one more thing…what would you like to be when you grow up Uche?
“Er…Uncle, I would like to be a footballer. I like to play ball a lot in school. Whenever…I score a goal, people usually call me C. Ronaldo. I like Messi too. My friend Toochukwu told me that C. Ronaldo has a lot of money and a fine house. I will like to build a very fine house for Mummy but Daddy said, I should be a banker”. He spoke with uncommon maturity that enticed everyone.
“I see…Uche, you like football. That’s okay. And you Ike?” Okunade asked.
“Uncle…when I grow up…I would like to be a pilot. I like aeroplanes a lot. I used to make aeroplanes in school during break. When I become a pilot…I would carry only Mummy to America. I will not carry Daddy. He used to make Mummy cry all the time. He hates Mummy. He hates us…” He maintained.
Everybody was surprised at the girl’s reaction. Her parents were ashamed. They could not find enough hands to cover their face.
“No…my little angel Lara, it’s not true. Daddy loves Mummy and he loves you and John too! Is that okay?” Adaobi spoke, hoping to convince her otherwise.
“Okay!” She answered.
Minutes later, the children waved s