LOVE AND LIES
PART TWO (36 and 37)
THIRTY-SIX
It had been three months. Tony had really emaciated. He thought of another way out. He promised to pay Fred if they could go again for the last time. This time they were going to kidnap the boy. They got two Ak47 rifles and tranquilizer to make the boy sleep. They set out. Tony had promised to pay Fred half a million if they were successful. He would need to sell some jewellery and other things to fulfill the promise or probably when he bounced back to his conned business. But first of all, Fred had his laptop and wouldn’t let go of that.
The road was free. Few cars and trucks raced off whirring and hooting. Fred was a reckless driver especially when the road was free. Tony napped off and momentarily j**k awake by frequent violent swerve of the car by Fred. He would hiss and nap off again. He had mustered the hope to live again only if he would be successful in this mission. He thought to himself.
“Tony.” Fred called. “Are you sure we will meet them at home? Today is Sunday that woman might have gone to church.”
“She is very diabolical. I don’t think she goes to church.” Tony replied Fred from his nap. Fred sighed. He wouldn’t want anything to stop them from being successful.
” What about the market? You know we can’t kidnap the boy at the market.”
“She doesn’t go to market on Sundays guy.” Tony spoke tiredly.
“I am only asking you because if there is any f**k up. Guy I will leave you in Ibadan. You aren’t coming with me. I won’t allow you to die in my house.” Fred was nagging and hissing as he drove. Tony sighed tiredly. He was probably tired of Fred nagging, hissing and cursing every time. They were really adding to his predicament. They kept bumping and purring until Tony napped off.
They came to a stand still as traffic snaked ahead. Fred hissed angrily. He bought a drink and a pack of plantain chips. They hadn’t eaten anything all day. He looked back and found Tony slouching down into the chair. He knew he would have asked for some. He was probably as hungry as him. But he seemed to have napped off and Fred was happy about that. He ate his chips as they snailed along. He turned on the music stereo of his car and loud voice coupled with drumbeats began to rock the car. He lowered the volume to moderation before he began to nod his head. He looked back again at Tony but he was still napping, slouching off not aware of anything.
They came to a police check point and an officer stared into his car. They looked round in intent examination. The guns were not in the boot. They were hidden under the back seat where Tony sat. They had envisioned this.
“Who is this way dey sleep” One of the officers asked staring at Fred.
“My friend.” Fred looked back at Tony and smiled at the officers.
“Are you sure?” Another officer asked. “Hope you no kidnap am.”
“No.” Fred countered and burst into a short laugh with the officers.
“Why he dey sleep like that now. Wake him!”
“Tony!” Fred called.
“Tony!! He shouted and got no answer. He looked back and jerked him violently up. He shook and slouched away. He was lifeless. The police officers were scared.
“Are you sure this man is not dead?” One of the officers asked. He went back and jerked him but he wouldn’t respond. Fred was dead scared.
“Sergeant! ” One of the officer called. “It is like this man is dead. He is not breathing.
Fred jumped down hurriedly from the car. He went back and jerked Tony violently. He wouldn’t respond. He was lifeless. Fred began to cry.
“So you killed your friend and was taking him away?” One of the officer asked.
” You better confess. Where were you taking him to? How did you kill him?”Another put in.
“He has been sick. So we decided to visit Ibadan to see a man, a doctor rather.” Fred stammered.
“A man!” Another officer nodded. “Where you both agree to use him for ritual right?”
“No. The man is a doctor.” Fred stammered and cried.
“Yes now. A native doctor okpia! Another officer mocked in an Igbo accent.
“Search his car very well! ” The Sergeant ordered. They found out Tony seat was swollen. They forced it open and saw the guns and tranquilizer. Fred slouched down in defeat.
“Look at what we found sergeant!” Another officer screamed. ” I told you this man is a criminal!
Fred cried as they handcuffed him. They pushed into the car and drove him to the station. He knew as they drove him away that he had indeed reached the end of the road. The number of people he had used for ritual could not be counted. He had lost count. That’s how nemesis had caught up with him. Has he forgotten no sinner would go unpunished? He sighed as he thought. He cried and sniffed uncontrollably. He didn’t try to prove his innocence. It was of no use.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Nkiru was now heavily pregnant. She was six months gone. She had invited Judith over because she was going for scan and she wouldn’t be able to do the stress alone. Kola had been so eager to know the gender of what she carried.
Judith came in dressed in a neat pair of blue jeans with a red pleated shirt to match. She looked smart and beautiful. She had packed her long stands of Bob Marley in three bundles. Two bundles were seen across her shoulders. Her face was well made with a patch of powders and lipstick. She sat elegantly on the couch. Ever since she got married she had equally added weight. She waited for Nkiru who later dragged herself out.
She was in a large gown that shielded her large stomach. She couldn’t carry herself properly. Judith began to laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” Nkiru asked her with a funny sneer on her face.
” Don’t tell me pregnancy has made you become lazy like this.”
” See I am over lazy.” Nkiru admitted. “Thank God for Kola that does a few things for me.”
Kola came out few minutes later. He was with a crutch. It seemed to help him balance alittle on his own. He was gradually gaining strength and very soon he would be fully back to his normal life. He was smiling behind as Judith and Nkiru joked. Judith sighted him later and they exchanged greetings.
“Your own is coming soon. We will see what you will become.” Nkiru teased Judith.
“Abeg I will be my old self.” Judith countered.
“I hear.” Nkiru sneered at her and laughed. “You will be the one to drive o?”
“So you can’t drive the car again.” Judith mocked jokingly.
“I can’t drive o. Not now that you are here.” Nkiru laughed heartily again.
They both laughed and walked away. They got to the hospital and met the nurse. She had been the one attending to her ever since she started her antenatal. She had been so caring and friendly. Nkiru prayed God would bless her. The doctor invited them in when the scan result came out.
“You have a boy inside you but he isn’t in a good position.”
“How?” Nkiru asked worriedly.
“We call it cephalic occiput posterior.” The doctor began. “This is when your baby is head down and facing your belly. This can lead to a longer and more intense labour because the baby cannot easily get through the pelvis.”
“So what do we do doctor?”Nkiru asked in fear.
“You need to pray because you might need a caesarian during your childbirth.”
Nkiru stared at Judith in shock. She had heard of caesarian and she never prayed to have her first baby that way. She sighed dejectedly. Judith consoled. The doctor advised her on the kind of exercises she should do and what and what not to eat. She picked her bag and Judith held her by the hand. They both left. She was heaving and sighing in thought. She knew that was the devil again. But no she would not believe such report. Her baby is fine and wouldn’t go through knife at birth. She prayed as Judith drove her home…
********
Judith drove her into the compound. She stepped in just to drink a glass of water but she was surprised when Nkiru told her Kola had made lunch. She didn’t believe it. Kola had indeed become a changed man. She made Wheat and Egusi soup. Nkiru set it on the table. Kola didn’t join them as they ate. Judith knew Kola wasn’t the one that made the soup. He probably brought it out from the freezer. But she could see Kola feeling big when she praised the person that made the soup. Nkiru kept quiet. Judith ate and later left.
Nkiru changed her clothes and came to sit with Kola in the living room.
“How was where you went?” He asked. “Hope the news is good?”
“Yes.” Nkiru answered. She could see an expectant look on Kola’s face.
“It is a boy.” Nkiru broke the news. Kola screamed in excitement. He was a chronic sexist as if girls are not children also. She thought and eyed him thoughtfully.
“The doctor said the baby is not in good position that I might need a caesarian during birth.” Nkiru added and watched Kola’s reaction.
“And you believed that?” Kola asked. Nkiru was amazed. Kola was actually becoming what he wanted. If it were to be those days he would have begun to panick. But since he was stricken down with stroke, he had started listening to gospel messages and prayed more.
Kola touched her stomach. He smiled heartily.
“He is fine.” Kola remarked in strong belief. ” The battle has already been won.”
“Yes it has been won.” Nkiru echoed and almost burst into tears. They hugged and kissed
Finally both of them burst into tears. It had been a turbulent marriage. The devil had fought them here and there. The arrows had pierced and the spikes had hurt and the knifes had also stabbed. But God took the pains for them all. Both of them prayed and believed they wouldn’t need a caesarian. God is honest enough to see them this far. He will not leave them. They both agreed.
To be continued…
ยฉ Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
Tony and Fred serves you right