OPEN SECRET
CHAPTER TWO
Okegbemi Ebenezer
Anita rushed down to the house of Blessing so that the two of them can go and visit the herbalist. She hides her bible in one of the corner of the house. Blessing was getting ready when she entered.
βI pray that we are able to see the end of my mother-in-law, ahh, this is one of the reasons I always pray that my mother-in-law should die before I meet the man I want to marryβ Blessing soliloquies to herself while she was applying the last touch of make up on her face.
βBlessing, donβt tell me you are not ready. I hope you know that I have prayer meetings with pastor and the prayer warriors in church today, so delay is dangerousβ Anita adjusted her scarf in the mirror as she placed her bible in a corner of the room.
βHmm, I hope things work out wellβ Blessing replied and tied her scarf. They moved out of the house in haste.
The journey to the herbalist place was far that they went through several villages and eventually moved towards the direction of a bush. Blessing was looking tired and confused.
βBut you didnβt tell me that the place is as far as thisβ Blessing questioned.
βIf I had told you about the distance, you will not want to come. Anyways, it is good we are there now, so you will have to talk with the baba and tell him what you needβ Anita said to her and smiled.
Blessing in between fear and anxiety entered into the shrine of the herbalist.
βYou are welcome my daughter. You see before your arrival to this place, my gods had shown me why you are hereβ The herbalist said to her.
βAhh, baba, it is true and β¦.β He told her to remain silent as he was trying to listen to what his gods were telling him
βI should tell her to present her mother-in-law with this white cloth as present, if she collects it, she would be affectedβ The herbalist voiced out the words of his gods.
βYou can hear the gods, go and present her with this white cloth and ensure that she collects it, you can also add some other materials to make it presentable. Once she collects it from you, she is finished. It is either she becomes paralyze or die before the wedding so put your mind at rest.β The herbalist assured her while she nods in acceptance.
Blessing thanked the herbalist and jumped to her feet as she rushed out to meet Anita who was waiting outside.
βI am sorry, I couldnβt go inside with you, I hope you know that we are fasting in the church today, so I donβt want something that would spoil my anointingβ Anita apologized to her while Blessing looked at her scornfully.
βYou!! fasting, you!!!β¦wonders shall never ends. Anyways, it went well, I am to give her this white cloth and all I wish will happen to herβ Blessing replied.
βReally, thank God for thatβ¦I wish you success aheadβ Anita prayed for her.
Anita and Blessing were friends on campus during their undergraduate days, they were best of friends that shares everything in common. Both were living a wayward life before they gave their life to Christ even though Blessing decided to go to church because of John whom she believed that she can win over to her side by being dedicated in the church and same goes to Anita. The two friends were both interested in John because of his calm nature and wealth. It took a long time of quarrel and settlement before Anita decided to let go of John because she was the one who introduced John to Blessing.
βI pray it worksβ The two friends journeyed back to the house while they pass through the long journey. βI swear I will not follow you to this place againβ Blessing said to Anita who concentrated on the driving.
βSays who? I hope soβ She replied and faced her driving.
They got home and blessing quickly changed her dress and went to her mother-in-laws houseβ¦
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John, I must say, you are a man. Do you know that it is not easy to abstain from pre-marital s*x even when you know that you are marrying the lady and only just two to three days to your weddingβ Pastor Lawrence said to him.
βYou are right sir, it was not easy but we have to obey it and concerning the pregnancy test you asked us to run, do we still need itβ John asked the pastor.
βYes, thatβs how weddings are being conducted in this church, we are strict with everything we doβ The pastor affirmed it again.
βBut sir, we did two weeks ago, so why the need for another one againβ He queried.
βYou see, it is the rules of the church and it is a must we must do it and this time it would be by the church doctor not the one you did outside. We are only doing this to make things easier and to avoid unnecessary troublesβ Pastor Lawrence smiled and gave John the look of have you engage in s3x.
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βWho is that knocking on my door like that; do you want to break it?β Mama βNonsenseβ as she is popularly called shouted from within.
βI amβ Blessing answered squeezing her face and hissed silently.
βIt is only God that is βI amβ so identify yourselfβ She knew it was Blessing that was there judging by her tone but she decided to make her suffer a bit outside the gate.
βBlessing mama, it is meβ She replied.
βOh, it is you. The bat does not walk about in the day, what brought you to my houseβ She asked without opening the door.
βI want to see you mummy and I brought a gift for youβ
βA gift, you canβt bribe me nor can you win me over, I already told you that if it remains just few minutes for you to be wedded, it will not happenβ She vowed and hissed.
βAhh, mamaβ
βWhat happen to your throat, you swallowed fish boneβ¦You of all people, you have the guts to go and get a white cloth from an herbalist to cripple and kill me. You are still a child. Oh, I am now a fool right. Blessing, you will go back and tell your herbalist that you came home but didnβt meet me because I am more spiritually fortified and let this serve as warning to you, if you try what you do today; ahhh, you will smell fireβ Mama Nonsense threatened her.
Blessing was shocked at what she heard, she was glued to the ground and couldnβt move but when she heard the other warning that followed, she jumped down from the step at the front of the house and run for her dear life.
βIf you donβt leave now and I open this door to see your face, you will not return back in peace, idiotβ
βAhh, Jesus, wahala (Problem)β Blessing shouted and ran as fast as her leg could carry her. My mother-in-law is a witch oβ¦.
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βWhy are you sweating like thisβ John asked Blessing as she entered the room.
βHmm, actually there is nothing. I went to visit a friend but forgot something so I had to rush down and pick itβ She lied and looked at the other side of the room.
John could perceive that she was not saying the truth but he let it slide since he could not tell if she was actually lying or saying the truth.
βAnyways, I have been here for the past two hours. I should have texted you about this but I felt since it is weekend I should come overβ John said to her and smiled a bit while Blessing was cleaning her face and panting.
βI went to pastor today and guess what?β He asked.
βWhatβ she asked in surprise
βHe said that we are to do another pregnancy test tomorrow and this time by the church doctorβ John said to her.
βAhh, why again now, this is trouble ooβAnita said unconsciously.
βWhat do you mean, it doesnβt take long now and I will go with you in my car, so what is the big deal, after all, It is a free day for you and Iβ John said to her
βHmm, eh!!, actually there is nothing but all this impromptu outing, you know I donβt like itβ she replied.
βIt is tomorrow ma, and you have today for you to relax and prepared. Good byeβ He hugged her and left her room.
βEh!!, I am finally going to be exposed, why pregnancy test again. Is Pastor Lawrence normal at allβ¦First, Mama is a strong witch and my charm failed now pregnancy testβ¦what should I do oβ¦I must not be disgracedβ She murmured as she picked her phone and dialed Anitaβs number to brief her but her line was switched off.
βAhh, problemββ
To be continuedβ¦
I think Anita is behind this