LOVE AND LIES
PART TWO (34 and 35)
THIRTY- FOUR
Lara’s mum was getting dressed for the business of the day when her native doctor stepped into the house. The man still retained his fearful look. His bald head still glowed in the sun and his moustache was still grey and overgrown. He had an Ankara Buba and Sokoto that made him stoop with age. He seemed to be chewing kolanut which he would often do in an accustomed fashion.
“Baba, how come you paid me a visit this morning?” She asked after her maid had informed her of the old man’s visit. The man was sitting really balanced on her sofa as if he had never sat on such chair in his miserable life
“When an old grass cutter senses a danger, he doesn’t remain in his hole” he spoke with a raucous voice.
“What’s the danger baba?” She asked as the old man sat up with a display of seriousness.
“Some young men are coming here tomorrow, don’t allow them to set eyes on this your grandson. You know he is all you have.”
“Some young men? Who are they baba?” She asked confused.
“You should know. They are coming to finish what they started.”
“Hmm okay. Thank you.” She smiled in fear.” I am really grateful.” She added.
“So how is the soap?” The old man asked twitching his lips.
“It is really working baba. My business is growing everyday.” She smiled. “But you should have sent for me instead.”
“Don’t worry. You see, I told you I would do a great job for you. Nothing will happen to you. You hear.” The old man assured and laughed, displaying a set of kola- stained teeth. He got up and picked his way out rheumatically. Lara’s mum walked him to a distance, waited for him to get a taxi. She later bade him farewell. She was overjoyed she had someone who sensed her troubles even before she knew it. She hurried back into the house and got his grandchild dressed up. She took him with her to shop that day.
Through out that day, she was worried. She approached one of her friends and told her her plight. That one agreed to keep him till all was over. She was happy. She went back home later that day expecting to see the worst as warned.
*****
The morning was bright. The sun was peeping out from the clouds as usual. Fred reluctantly got dressed and set out with Tony. Ibadan was an hour. They should make it before 10:00am in the morning. Tony had emaciated more. Each day the fear of death haunted him. They raced and meandered through the highway. Pockets of traffic here and there. Fred was hissing and cursing at the same time. As far as he was concerned, this is how far he can help Tony. He was thinking. He was indeed tired of leaving his own engagements and be running around with him.
The man stated the warning before the ritual was done for him. So why didn’t he make his findings? He was just being foolish. Fred cursed and hissed. Tony realized Fred wasn’t in a good mood so he didn’t bother starting a conversation with him. They drove tiredly till they got to Ibadan. They parked outside the gate of Gbagi market and began to make their findings. Finally, they found a good Samaritan that directed them. Mama show thought they were customers at first until they began to explained themselves. She showed a wicked laugh as she remembered all the warnings and later told them to sit. She went to get two bottles of drinks which she had already poisoned and set it before them.
“Tony was Lara’s boyfriend in school.” Fred began. He could speak Yoruba language and he added that a few times during the conversation.
“So he got her pregnant and she delivered but Tony wasn’t around then. Though he didn’t know why Lara didn’t tell her.” Fred added and the woman continued to smile shrewdly shaking her head in a disguised sympathy.
“Why didn’t you both agree to marry then now?” She asked with the same faked concerned.
“You know they were students now. They didn’t have the means then. That’s why Lara didn’t tell him.” Fred answered and Tony added his nod and grunt as usual to support what Fred was saying.
“But you know Lara is now dead!” She said eventually and started a fake cry. They both consoled her. She was doing all that for them to just open the drinks and take some sips. But even the duo had also been warned not to eat anything she offered. It was a game of pretence.
When she realized they weren’t going to drink. She got up and went about her business leaving them on the seat. They sent one of her apprentice to tell her they would need to tell something. She came back after wasting much of their time and stared at them. They didn’t know how to drop the bombshell of what they really wanted.
“Can we at least see our son?” Fred asked and Tony nodded and grunted again in support.
“Which son?” She asked, confused.
“The one we just spoke about.”Fred answered also confused. All this while she had sent for her friend which had taken custody of the boy. She came and started laughing. She told them to stand up, go to the main road and wait that she had to arrange few things in her shop. She promised then they would see their son. Few minutes later, she came to the major road and emptied a bucket of dirty water on their heads. She did this when she realized they didn’t take the drink she offered. Everyone in the market shouted and laughed in pity. They were drenched all over. She began to scream at them calling them all sorts of names like murderer, kidnappers etc. Fred hurried off from the scene while Tony followed suit. They were really humiliated. Eyes in the market peered at them as they hurried off. They got to the cat, flopped in and zoomed off. It wasn’t what they expected at all. It was a different ball game. Tony realized there and then that he was indeed going to die. There was no hope for him to live.
THIRTY-FIVE
Lara’s mum decided to visit the old man, at least to show some appreciation. She took her grand son along. The boy was now seven. He was a playful young boy, full of life . He had grown to learn to prank people mostly kids of his age. His grand mum often wondered where he had learnt all those pranks from. She took a he-goat along. The old man was happy when he saw them.
” I brought this for you to show appreciation.” Lara’s mum intoned when they had exchanged pleasantries.
” I didn’t tell you I want this.” The old man laughed. “You know what I love to eat.”
“What?” She eyed him playfully. “You know my grandson is here.”
“That is not a problem.” The old man chuckled. “Let him go outside and play with other children.”
She didn’t agree to that but the old man insisted that he would be fine. He was smacking his lips and rolling his head that the little boy wondered why he was doing all that. Finally, Junior was told to go play at the verandah with other children.When the boy was out of sight, the old began to kiss her. She sneered in disapproval. The old man hurried clicked the door shut and pulled down his trousers. A flaccid giant d**k dangled out. He began to run helter skelter, not knowing what to do. He would push the table and later changed his mind, then searched under the table as if he was looking for something. Few minutes later, she began to drag her.
“Let’s go inside now.” He chuckled, showing his kola-stained teeth.
“You know you almost fainted the last time.” She told him without pity.
“Me faint? Never!!” The old man hit his chest many times. “Let’s go in and see.”
“You mean that your bedroom that is filled with fetish things. No. I am okay here. ” She told him and eyed him. The old man began to hurry again. He dragged the centre table then looked round again for nothing. His eyes had a glint of lust flickering restlessly in them. His flaccid d**k began to nod gradually. He began to undress her. She undid her headtie and unstrapped her wrapper. A large waist with waist beads stood out. She laid out on the carpet and the old man hurriedly laid on top of her, fondling her at the same time. They began to j**k. The old man began knocking her with all the strength he could muster. He would nod his head and scratch it, snorting again. Suddenly there was a loud bang which was followed by loud crying of little children. That j**k them up. The old man caught his trousers hurriedly, dug his leg into it and hurried out. Lara’s mum swung her wrapper and followed suit.
They saw Junior with a boy crying hysterically. He had broken the boy’s head with a stone. The old man looked at it and panicked. He rushed to the house and brought out a black substance which he rubbed on it.
“What happened?” Lara’s mum asked his grandson.
“I threw a stone and it mistakenly hit his head. ”
“Why would you throw a stone?” She barked at him, before she pulled his ears wildly and gave him few slaps on his face. That sent him hysterical and the whole house was filled with cries again. Lara’s mum got her bag and bade the old man farewell in anger. The troubles the little boy had made over the few years were enough to send her to grave. She thought. Sometimes, she thought the boy was no use after all.
The old man ran after her from behind. He was chuckling. He had only his trousers on and a mat of grey hair could be seen on his chest.
“Why are you leaving in a hurry now?” The old man grunted.
“Baba let me go, we will see next time.” She replied in anger.
“Haba at least let me finish the medicine that I started. It is very powerful. You know there is no replacement!”
Lara’s mum understood what he meant. She glowed at him and hissed.
“I will see you next time baba.” She insisted.
“Haba is it because of these little children?” The old man chuckled again. “That’s how children play. You don’t have to worry yourself.”
“Baba seriously I am tired of this boy. Every day I get a complain from his school. It is always from one offence to the other.” She bawled angrily.
“Don’t worry. I know what to do about that. That is a small issue. I will give you something to always mix in his food every morning. With time, he would change.” He said and chuckled again. This time he displayed an unequal sizes of teeth stained
all over with kolanut.
“Really!”
“Yes. Look at you.” The old man chuckled again. She smiled and they both went into the house. The old man gave her the medicine and she left. She promised the old man she would visit him soon.
She got home that day and began to think.
“So Kola isn’t actually the father after all? What a world!” She sighed. She never believed Lara could keep such secret from her and she had gone to deal with an innocent soul. She had spent her money just to paralyzed Kola. She hissed. She wished she could lay her hand on Tony. He needs to pay for what he did. He really needs to pay. As for Kola there is nothing she can do. She said to herself. That’s what you probably gain from not being faithful to your spouse. She said to herself as she laid in bed, watching his grandson snore. She started debating on the proper way to deal with Tony. He needs to get a fair share of the punishment. She sighed and nodded in thought.
“But don’t you think life is already dealing with him? Don’t you see how frail he looks? Another thought asked her. She hissed. She didn’t care. All she wanted was to cut his life short.
To be continued…
ยฉ Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
