LOVE AND LIES
(28 and 29)
TWENTY- EIGHT
Schools were on holiday and Nkiru had been sitting at home for few days. Judith had sent her invitation. She was getting married to Abu and Nkiru was really happy for her. She had given Nkiru the contract to sow the clothes for her bridal train. Nkiru was so much happy with that. She set to work and got busy almost all day. She reflected on her past. How she caught Kola having an affair. Men cannot be trusted. She told herself. But ever since then she hadn’t gone back again. Not that she had suddenly trusted Kola, she had refused to allow anything to steal her joy.
She worked till midday and a thought prompted her. Why can’t you visit him again? It has been a long time you did that. She agreed. She made lunch and put it in the basket and set off. She was not expecting to catch him the second time. Though Kola had apologized wholeheartedly but that did give any guarantee that he would not do that again. Nkiru thought.
Nkiru set off after dressing. She was in an Ankara gown, dancing all over her. She had lost weight and everyone complained about that even Judith. She allowed her hair to fly. Her face well made with powder, lipstick and lid.
The sun was intense. Crowd of people were seen hurrying off and on. Kola’s office was in the island and one would need to travel through the long Lagos bridge. Nkiru found a taxi and set off on her journey. Kola was happy when he saw her. He was talking with his secretary when she ambled in. They both strode into his office.
” You brought lunch for me” Kola smiled.
“Yes or has another woman brought you food?” Nkiru asked jokingly.
“No now.” Kola answered and his countenance went sullen. He suddenly remembered how he had treated Nkiru very wrongly. He sighed. Only God could forgive him. Nkiru knew he was regretting his past. She smiled at him.
“Are you ready to eat now?” Nkiru asked.
“Yes.” Kola smiled. “I am really starving.”
Nkiru dished out the food and they bought ate. She cleared the dishes when they were done.
“Nkiru I am tired of you taking taxi. I need to get you a car.” Kola said between mouthful.
“You already promised that. You need to take your time. You said the contracts aren’t coming. So where do you want to get the money?”
“Yes business is not as those days. Things have really gone bad since I was away.” Kola said regrettably. ” But I strongly believe I will. Have you forgotten you sold your car to pay up my loan?”
Nkiru could only smile. She really was a virtuous woman with a great heart. Kola wished he could do those things he couldn’t do in the past. But it seemed Nkiru wasn’t bothered. She had said it a number of times that she just wanted his man to be fine and faithful to her.
They kissed many times. Kola wanted to have s*x but Nkiru stopped him.
“That’s not good for business. You need to stop that!” Nkiru told him and laughed.
“But you are my wife. A woman I am legally married to.”
“Yes that’s true.” Nkiru agreed.” But to have s*x in your office is not good for business”
“Okay I will stop after today.” Kola promised
Kola continued, fondling and caressing her all over. Nkiru finally gave in and they had an amazing s*x. On the chair, table and on the wall. It was mind blowing for Nkiru. She left later and went to market to buy a few things. She was happy because she believed she was gradually winning the battle. She realized God sometimes uses harsh situation to make things right. She learnt it was good to be patient.
TWENTY-NINE
Nkiru was tired of staying at home during the long holiday. Though she had found love in teaching but the aspect of staying home during the holiday was really boring. Nkiru was happy she was resuming on Monday. She had missed her kids. She just looked forward to seeing them again.
She got really excited that Monday morning as she prepared for work. She made breakfast and got dressed. Kola sat on the dining eating his breakfast. He wanted to drop her off. He watched her excitedly and wondered how beautiful she looked. She was in a white shirt that was shielded by a black blazers over a navy blue skirt that sat perfectly well on her waist. Her shoes were the tall and noisy ones, clappering on the pavement.
Kola saw an usual exuberance in her that morning as she paced in and out trying to gather all the things she needed. She intended not to forget any, not the crucial ones.
“Are you ready?” Kola asked as he swallowed up the last morsel of his bread.
“Yes I am.” Nkiru answered and ran into the house again, laughing apologetically.Shaking his head, Kola gulped down the last drop of his tea and belched. He found his car key. It was a second-hand Toyota Camry Dave had arranged for him after he had lost his car to road accident. He intended to manage that till God would bless him with a good one.
When she was set, Kola carried himself elegantly to the car and dropped in. Minutes later, he drove her off to work. The highway was unusually free that morning. Cool breezes milled in as the raced up the road. Kola drove her into the gate of her school. She could see the kids running to hug her as she ambled out from the car. They were really excited to have her back. Nkiru got her things from the car while the kids volunteered to help. Kola made a U-turn and drove off. Nkiru settled well after dusting her chair. She didn’t wait for the cleaners to come and do that. The kids began to tell her stories of how they spent their holiday. Few minutes later, the proprietress came to her and they greeted happily.
“How is the family, Mrs Nkiru? She asked
“Fine ma!” Nkiru answered with smiles.
“Please, do you know the case of Chima, the little boy in your class. The father couldn’t pay school fees for over two years now. He might bring him to school himself because I stopped the school bus from bringing him. Please don’t allow him in class. Tell the parent or whoever brought him to take him back.”
“Okay ma!” Nkiru answered.
Few hours later, the little boy dragged in. He was with a heavy lunch box and a school bag. Nkiru approached him immediately.
“How are you Chima?”
“I am fine, Mrs Nkiru.” The boy answered with a sullen look.
“Who brought you to school?”
“My daddy!”.
Nkiru stood up and ran to the gate. He found the man already arguing with the security man. They had also been told not to allow the boy into the school. Nkiru came closer to speak to him. She was surprised when she found out who it was. Nonso of all people! Her former boss at the bank. The chief Nonso himself, chairman of all Casanovas. Nkiru thought. She stared into his face. She stared harder and hoped her eyes were not playing a fast trick on her. Nonso was akso peering intently at her.
“Nkiru?” Nonso recognized her even with the fact that she had lost weight.
“Nonso! How are you doing?” ‘Nkiru was in utter astonishment.
“I am fine.” Nonso feigned a smile. He was hiding both embarrassment and regret at the same time under the cover of his smile.
“So you are Chima’s dad. Wow! I am his class teacher!”
“Really?.” Nonso asked still smiling.
“Yes.”
“Wow. That’s good! I am having little issue with this man.” Nonso pointed at the security man, hoping Nkiru would leave. He never knew she knew about it all.
“Yes I found out you have not been paying his fees for years now. Why? What happened?” Nkiru dropped him the bombshell.
A shot of sparkle flew from his eyes in an embarrassing amazement. Nonso broke down almost in tears. Nkiru walked him alittle to a corner and they got talking.
“I left lead city Bank a few years ago. I was almost jailed Nkiru. After you left I was transferred to another branch and there was when my trouble started. Some of my co-workers there were fraudsters. They implicated me when over 200 million was missing. If not of God that vindicated me I would have been in jail for many years. I was sent to 25years imprisonment before the whole secret was finally blown open. I was set free anyway but not without paying some fines which were the areas I was found guilty. I sold up everything I had and I was set free. Nkiru it is a long story. A very long story.” He concluded almost breaking down in tears again.
” That’s sad. I am really sorry for you.” Nkiru felt bad for him.
“That’s why I have been having issues paying my son’s school fees.”
“Eeya. ” Nkiru shook her head for him in pity. ” But I thought your kids were with your estranged wife.”
“My wife was never estranged.” Nonso confessed. “Those were lies those days to get you ladies. I was never separated.”
“Unbelievable!” Nkiru sighed in disbelief.
“I am sorry for all I put you through, Nkiru.” Nonso begged. ” I believe my deed is really hunting me.”
“I have forgiven you.” Nkiru told him.
“How do you intend to pay up your boy’s fees now?” Nkiru asked. She wished she could help.
Nonso sighed. His eyes bloodshot. He was almost in tears.
“To be sincere with you, I don’t know. I have lost my job for a while now and I have combed the whole Lagos I haven’t been able to get any. I hope I get one soon so I can pay up.”
“The proprietress doesn’t want to let him in.” Nkiru told him. Nonso sighed dejectedly and threw his head down in regret.
“If by weekend I can’t, then I will stop bringing him.” Nonso promised.
“I pray God will provide.” Nkiru pitied. He left and Nkiru went back to her class. She reflected over everything that happened throughout the day. Indeed nothing lasts in life, not even positions. Nkiru told herself. He would need to tell Judith he met the almighty Nonso. She smiled. Few minutes later she chatted her up via WhatsApp and told her everything that. Judith was smiling and laughing with different emojis.
She later did her work with great zeal. She chatted Judith up at intervals but later she failed to reply. She seemed to be carried away by the preparation for her wedding. Nkiru dragged herself home later that day, thanking God for a successful day.
To be continued
ยฉ Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
