The mad man
Episode 8
“I have a confession to make.” Nzube said. He called a meeting in his main house. Ikechi, Ndidi, and Lucy were all present. After many days of running away from reality, he decided to open up and spill the truth for everyone to hear. He was finally ready to tell Ndidi and Ikechi that he has been sleeping with Lucy and that she is in fact, pregnant for him.
“I want all of you to forgive me in advance.” He said. Nzube was setting the tone for what he was about to say so that his audience would be prepared to receive it in good fate. But all the same, he was not sure how they would react to the revelation.
“I have done something very wrong and I want all of you to forgive me. Please, do not judge me because I’m not a saint. We all have made mistakes and I don’t think anyone here would claim to be a saint.” Nzube continued to placate his audience in advance. Ndidi and Ikechi were seated in one chair, still basking in the euphoria of their reunion but also curious to know what Ndidi had to say.
Lucy was a little bit confused after seeing her mother with Ikechi holding hands like lover birds.
“What’s going on here? I have seen this man before and he called me his daughter. Madam, you know this man?” Lucy asked. She was still referring to her mother as ‘madam’, still thinking that her identity is still a secret to Nzube. But even Ndidi has concluded that she would confess the truth to her daughter and seek her forgiveness.
“Madam, this man called me his daughter. How come he is here with you?” Lucy asked again. She was battling to control herself and still appear like the house girl talking to her madam. Nzube watched her and shook his head knowingly. Ndidi was finding it difficult to open up but after a few minutes of loud silence, she decided to speak.
“Nzube, you said you have a confession to make, but please, let me make mine first.” Ndidi said. Everywhere became silent. Ikechi hasn’t said a word since the meeting began and even Nzube decided to observe things with his own heavy burden in his heart.
“I have kept this for a long time and even though it has been a burden, I have not been able to open up. I have told lies upon lies to cover up the truth. But it was not entirely my fault, it was due to the circumstances I found myself because of the absence of my husband here.” Ndidi said, holding Ikechi’s hand. Lucy was alarmed when she heard her mother referring to Ikechi as her husband in the presence of all.
Lucy wanted to talk, but she held her peace. In her mind, she was still the house girl who should not reveal too much to Nzube. But there was a lot of surprise and anger written all of her face.
“Yes, Lucy. The man here is my husband and he is your father. I mean he was the one who married me 20 years ago, got me pregnant and I gave birth to you. He ran mad and left home before I gave birth. But immediately he saw you weeks ago, his senses were restored and he started fighting to reunite with us.” Ndidi said with tears in her eyes. She was so pained that she did not know how to start expressing it. She just cried it out. Ikechi was quiet and as cold as ice water as he listened to his wife. Nzube wedged his jaws with his hands as they all watched to see how Lucy would react. Ndidi stood up from her sofa and went to where Lucy was sitting and knelt down trying to take her hand to offer her apologies, but Lucy was not ready for that yet.
Within seconds, Lucy pushed her mother away in anger and stormed out of the living room. Ndidi fell and hit her head on the center table and the bottle of wine and cups on it fell and broke. She cried so much but Lucy did not turn back as she went to her room and started crying. Nzube followed her while Ikechi buried his face in his two palms and started weeping silently. He thought of all the years when he was not there for his daughter. He thought of all the ridicules she must have gone through trying to prove that she has a father to her friends. He blamed himself for running mad and blamed himself for how things turned out in his absence.
Nzube got to Lucy’s room and found it tightly locked. He started knocking desperately and asked Lucy to open the door but she refused. He kicked it open by force, because he was scared and did not want the girl to harm herself out of depression and frustration.
“Look Lucy, I know this is very difficult for you. And to be honest, if I were you, I would probably kill myself. But we have to deal with this patiently and with wisdom too. All hope is not lost. At least, your father is not dead. He is still alive and he has his sanity intact. Please, calm down.” Nzube said.
“You are asking me to calm down? After 20 years, my real father just appears from the moon. After my mum has told lies to cover up the fact that my father was still alive? After turning me into a house help and making me sleep with you? Remember, I slept with you, and remember you are my mother’s lover. And I’m now carrying your baby and my father pops up and you are asking me to calm down? I’m losing my mind. What we did was so wrong and I can’t face anyone with it, not to talk of my father.” Lucy said while pacing around the room as if in search of answers to her questions.
“Yes, these things are crazy, but there is still hope. There is hope of a happy ending. I believe we will come out of this stronger. Please, calm down and don’t do anything rash.” Nzube said.
“Oh yes I’m about to do something very very rash. I can’t face the shame. Yes my father is alive, but how is he going to feel when he hears that I’m pregnant for the same man who was also sleeping with his wife? His wife who ruined everything with lies. I’m going to do something really rash right now.” Lucy said. Before going to her room, she had gone to the kitchen and picked a knife. She immediately brought it out and placed the tip directly on her heart. A single move of the knife will piece her heart and end it all. At that point, Nzube got really scared and knew that something has to be done. He knelt down and started pleading with Lucy.
“Look, Lucy, I slept with you because I wanted to, because I love you. Yes, I may not have known that you are Ndidi’s daughter, but, I really love you and I know you feel the same way for me. I did not sleep with you because you are the house girl. I did because you are beautiful and I fell in love with you. Find a place in your heart and forgive your mother too. She was in a difficult position. She was raped by 8 armed robbers when she was 9 months pregnant with you. That was what your father saw and ran mad. It was not his fault and it was not your mother’s fault. I think she just wanted to protect you from the ugly truth of what happened years ago. Please, drop that knife and remember you are pregnant with our baby.” Nzube said.
Lucy was still adamant but Nzube continued to plead with her until she became powerless and he collected the knife from her. When she heared that her mother was raped but still gave birth to her, her heart melted. Her respect for her mother increased and she let go of the knife.
Lucy and Nzube both hugged each other tightly and started smooching. Lucy was emotionally tired and overwhelmed with sorrow. Nzube planted a kiss on her lips and she felt so warm. The kiss was therefore soothing and like sugar her mouth. They fell on the bed and made love. It was brief but passionate, strong and it was like they used it to drain themselves of negative emotions. When they were done, they put on their clothes and came out again in the living room. They were holding hands like a couple with their minds made up not to let go of their love or the baby in Lucy’s belly.
When they came out and Ndidi saw Lucy, she rushed to meet her. Ikechi too stood up and hugged Lucy tightly. He spread his arms and Lucy and Ndidi entered and he held them so tightly.
“This is the sweetest day of my life. They day I reunited with my family.” Ikechi said.
Nzube stood by the corner and watched. Tears almost dropped from his eyes but he held it back.
“I still have a confession to make.” Nzube said and everyone turned to his direction to listen to what he had to say.
“I have been sleeping with Lucy and she is pregnant with my baby.” Nzube said. The words came out from his mouth like bomb. Ndidi and Ikechi were so shocked that the quickly withdrew to their shells. They were speechless. Ndidi was the first to leave the compound in anger and frustration. She was crying. Ikechi followed her with anger too.
Nzube and Lucy were left alone in the room not knowing what next to do.
Watch out for finale episode
