Dunni stood up from the sofa to get to her desk when she caught sight of a gorgeous caramel skinned lady dressed in a knee-length navy blue suit. She was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with long box braids cascading down all the way to her waist.
The fact that the lady was with Moses piqued her interest. She wondered if there something beyond work as she watched their interaction. The way Moses’s eyes lighted up and the grin across his face like he was practically eating from her hands increased her curiosity. Suddenly she remembered an idea to run by Ola.
Moses stopped holding the mystery lady by her arms as he introduced her.
“Becca Williams meet Dunni Adesida, one of the principal partners. Dunni, Becca Williams, MD La Forte Designs. She is the interior designer who handled the Lekki Horizons Estate. I met her yesterday at Akin and Anu’s function. I think it would be nice if she handled the Awoyaya Gardens Project.”
Dunni stretched out her hand to shake Becca warmly and smiled at Moses neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his proposal. She excused herself to Ola’s office, leaving Moses with his guest. There was no way Becca or whatever she was called would handle her project. She already had a reliable designer. Moses could use her for his project but not hers. She fumed still in that state when she got to Ola’s office.
Ola looked up and could not hide his smile when Dunni walked in. He had wondered how long it would take her to barge into his office complaining of the new designer Moses had just recommended.
“I did not know we were shopping for new designers. I thought we were happy with the works of Exquisite Interiors and Bubbles Interior designs.”
“You will have to ask Moses. I don’t think there is any harm in introducing one more designer considering the number of projects we have to execute. He was introduced to her and requested she bring her portfolio. Who knows we may need her soon.”
“She won’t handle any of my projects,” Dunni announced Ola to disagree.
Moses strolled in whistling the song baby, now that I’ve found you by Alison Kraus. She knew the song as it was one of the soundtracks in the list of songs in his car.
Dunni rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Moses be serious. What have you found, a good designer for our projects or what?”
“She is the one,” Moses replied dreamily clasping his hands together.
Both Ola and Dunni turned to look at Moses like he had grown a horn or something.
“What do you mean she is the one,” Dunni tried to keep her voice regular, she could barely breathe as she waited for Moses to say something.
“I have finally found her. The one I have been looking for,” Moses answered.
Dunni busted out with a peal of forced laughter that sounded strange even to her ears. “See you when you get back from La la land.” She turned to Ola, “talk to him. I will not be there when it all falls like a pack of cards.”
Moses kept whistling with this look on his face Dunni had not seen since he dated Sophie Adams in his third year at university. That was the only serious relationship Moses had been in. She was not privy to why they broke up. His other relationships have been less intense. Moses breaking up with Sophie had led to her break up with Benji. She was spending more time with Moses knowing he was shaken from the break-up and wanted to help.
It was one of the worst moments of his life since they had become friends. Her heart ached for him in that period, and she felt she owed it as a friend to be with him. Benji, for some reason, had always seen Moses as a threat even when he knew Moses was involved with Sophie. She had to keep telling him then that Moses was only a friend and nothing more. Dunni called off the relationship when she could no longer take the badgering. Benji has trust issues, and Dunni could not deal with it. He was one of the few guys that got on with Moses and Ola, but somewhere along the line, he had let jealousy ruin what they had.
Moses and Dunni got closer during that season of their lives. She had not had any relationship after Benji, she still felt stung by his betrayal. It was barely a month after Dunni broke off with Benji he started dating another girl in her dorm. There has been no one after Benji. She just could not find anyone she connected with.
For a weird reason, she found herself comparing all the men that came to Moses. None of them measured to him. She wanted someone who understood her like Moses.
Dunni sat behind her desk, lost in thoughts. She was not sure how she got there. She worried that Moses may get hurt with this new relationship. At a time, she had to reprimand herself not to take Panadol for someone else’s headache as was commonly said. Who knows it may not work out like all his other relationships? Moses was a grown man she could not be worrying for him like she was his mother.
Searching for a drawing pen, she got busy on her project with a little frown on her face. Not sure why she was bothering her head over Moses relationship.
Dunni walked into the office mid-afternoon on Monday still tired from acting as a chauffeur to her mum and aunt over the weekend.
All hell broke loose when they found out that Kemi was in the hospital and had undergone a surgery. An emergency family meeting was called where the family decided Kemi was moving out of her matrimonial home until there was a change in her husband. Otherwise, the family was ready to support her to file a divorce.
Dunni sat through the meeting, wishing she was anywhere but there. The arguments got heated, and some elders were almost at the point of brawling. Insults were hurled from one end of the room to the other like a tennis ball across the tennis table.
Unfortunately, she was unable to accompany Moses to his party. She had to work on Saturday and Sunday night to meet up with her deadline. Her mother and aunt were still in Lagos.
Dunni dropped her mum off at her elder brother’s place on the mainland before heading to work. Her mother still found time to complain about how quiet Dunni’s house was and what a difference it would make with the presence of a husband and children.
It was on her lips to retort that at least it was better than the boxing ring of a house her married cousin had found herself.
******
Dunni was glad to be in her office. She made her way straight to the fridge at the right corner of her office.
Taking out a bottle of cold water, she turned the cap open and guzzled the water in one go in a bid to quench her thirst. The heat outside was unbearable, and the slow traffic did not help.
Dunni gazed through the glass window overlooking the prestigious offices of some of the Nigerian banks on the busy Idowu Taylor Street. She never got tired of appreciating the edifices, the structures were intricate work of art. Dunni was glad to be inside though, the scorching sun outside could make a perfect toast. Taking off her jacket as she felt the cooling effect of not only the water but the Air conditioner now blowing cold air over her face. She basked in the luxury of the cooling relief.
Stepping out of her four inches Louboutin shoes, she retrieved her flats from under her table, settling for comfort rather than a luxury. The shrill noise from her phone had her scrambling to pick the call but not without hitting her head, wincing as she rubbed her head in a bid to rub the pain away. When did her ring tone change to such a miserable sound. If not the closeness of the noise, she would have no idea it was her phone. She checked the caller wondering why Emma was calling her at this time. The last time they had a conversation, something she could not place was amiss, but she had been too busy to follow up on any of Emma’s drama.
“Oh, Emma,” she sighed into the phone.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Emma queried with a giggle, Dunni could hear over the phone line.
“Not really.”
“I have not heard from you in a while and decided to give you a call.”
Dunni rolled her eyes with a weak yes. She still remembered their last conversation and how off Emma had sounded. Still, it appeared that whatever was bothering her at the time must have gone away.
“I am fine, just being busy.”
“Yeah, Moses said so. We met yesterday at Anu’s baby’s dedication. I thought he would come with you.”
“He mentioned it, but I could not go as I had other things to attend to.”
Wishing Emma to hurry and end the call. She had a busy day ahead of her and starting late was not helping matters. Another girl chit chat call during office would set her back by days if she wasn’t careful.
“Yeah,” Dunni answered drily.
Emma usually caught up with her monosyllable answers except for this time she appeared oblivious to Dunni’s reluctance in engaging in a conversation.
“It would have been so good to catch up. I have missed you.”
“I have missed you too.” Dunni smiled as she walked around to sit on the sofa’s she used for her clients.
“What about this weekend, your place or mine?” Dunni asked. She could hear the hesitance in Emma’s voice before she responded.
“Your place, I guess.”
“Geeez!” Dunni, let out a laugh. “What is up, Emma? I feel you’ve got something up your sleeve and you have to come out with it.”
“Not on the phone, see you over the weekend. Ice cream from the Chocolat Royal!”
“See you then babe, got to go back to work or this weekend may not happen.”
Dunni stared into space with a smile on her face. That’s what happens when your girlfriend knows your weakness. You can’t stay mad for long. She tapped the keys on her phone, entering the details for Friday date night to her calendar, adding a reminder to pick up Suya and Masa on her way home.
Dunni met a dark, robust ebony woman. With glasses placed over her nose reading the chart who informed her the operation was successful and the internal bleeding had stopped. She had a broken arm and some cuts. Despite all that, she was out of danger and responding well.
Dunni heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the Nurse.
“How soon can we see her,” she wanted to see her cousin.
“Not yet,” came the disappointing response. “Your sister is resting and would not be up for visitors until later this afternoon.”
Dunni refused to correct her that the lady inside was her cousin and not her sister. She wriggled her fingers together, wanting to say more. Moses could tell she was getting apprehensive and retook her hands in his as he joined her. It was becoming natural.
“Can the hospital ensure that no visitors are allowed except us? Her husband is not allowed near her,” he requested, his look and posture intimidating.
“That should not be a problem, sir,” the Nurse assured him. “I have just told your wife that she is unable to receive visitors this morning. I am afraid you would have to come back in the afternoon.”
Dunni gazed at him thankfully. Her heart melting many times over. How could someone read another person so well? She guessed it came with the terrain of working alongside each other for many years. But hey, did the Nurse just say, wife?
She was on the verge of correcting her, when Moses, increased the pressure of his hands over hers. She looked at him, and he shook his head slightly. Dunni stubbornly removed her hand. She was about to speak when Moses explained to the Nurse how worried they were that her husband may come in to finish what he started.
“While the family is yet to decide if we want our sister to go back to him or not.We want to know she is safe here,” Moses appealed to the Nurse.
“As I said earlier, you and your wife do not need to worry. I will inform the Nurse to take over from me and put the information on her chart.”
“Thank you very much. Nurse Akoh,” he appreciated using the name he read off the name tag on her chest.
“Why did you not correct her?” Dunni asked Moses after the left the Nurse.
“She sure won’t want to be taking orders from an unmarried sister about a married sister. And she is entitled to her opinion,” Moses winked at her “Relax. It felt good to be married to you for some seconds there.”
“Oh!” Dunni groaned, “can you be serious, please?”
“Okay,” Moses replied, not without a small smile tugging at his lips.
Dunni could not but help laugh at his feeble attempt.
“Dear 60 seconds husband. I think your services for the day is ended. I am ready to go home, get some food for Kemi and I’ll be back by noon.” Dunni walked out of the hospital towards the car park and Moses followed.
“I can bring you back,” Moses offered.
“No thanks, that would be me asking too much – oliver twist . I don’t want to take any more of your time. My cousin will be fine. I am sure her mum would be on her way to Lagos by now.”
“No worries. Glad to be of help.”
“Thanks for helping me. Deeply appreciated, unfortunately, I can’t repay you.”
“I know how you can. I have a party tomorrow, and I don’t want to go alone. Would you mind coming with me?”
“Anyone, I know?”
“You may not remember him, but Akin was in Agric Economics, one of my roommates in our second year.”
“Is that Akin and Anu? Those inseparable guys.”
“Yes, they got married ten years ago while in America and only had their first child this year. They are back to the country, and it’s their baby’s first year birthday.”
“Would be nice to see them both. Gosh, how do you do it?” Dunni asked. “Keep in touch with all these people? She gesticulated. “I can barely keep up with my immediate family, and here you are taking on people that can form a whole nation.”
“I don’t know, its not something I do deliberately, it just happens.” Moses shrugged. Meeting people and keeping relationships was something he did like drinking water or blinking one’s eyes. You don’t calculate you just do it.”
“It’s a gift,” and that’s one of the many things I like about you. You value people and relationships.
“We all do, we just have different ways of showing it. Are you in?”
“I have some unfinished work for one of the projects I am working on” Dunni responded hesitantly torn between working and going out to have some fun.
“I could help you with that,” Moses offered.
Dunni snorted, “you have the bulk of the work to do, remember?”
Moses suggested she could come over to his place, and they could work together before setting out for the function. Dunni was quick to ask if he would be preparing his vegetable stir rice in snail sauce. Moses replied he was more than happy, but she had to be for it.
“How much, a diamond dice?” Dunni asked with mischief written all over her face.
“Must you always go there?” Moses groaned, and Dunni broke into a giggle. I am not the one who basis all my decisions on a dice.
“If anyone heard you talk about this dice, they would think it was a human and you were jealous of her.”
“No, I am not.”
“Yes, you are,” and both went on with no – yes, no – yes like two naughty children.
“Fine! “, giving up but not without a pout on her face that was so comical that Moses started laughing and Dunni reluctantly joined in.
“Come, let’s get you home,” Moses linked his arms with Dunni, and they walked towards his jeep.
They had barely driven out of the hospital when the music Ara by Brymo which Dunni used for her ring tone came alive from her phone.
“My mum,” she groaned, showing him her phone screen.
“Hello Maami,” Dunni greeted her mother over the phone.
“I am in Lagos with Kemi’s mum. We are on our way to the house. Is Kemi with you?”
Dunni looked at Moses, not sure what to tell her. They had not told them she was in the hospital. She had sent a text that she was with Kemi, and they did not need to worry.
“Yes, Maami, you can come to my house,” Dunni replied, not answering the question about Kemi’s whereabout.
“Where are you now? Do I need to come and pick you from the park?”
“No, your brother sent his driver to bring us.”
“Oh! I will meet you at my house. I am on my way home.”
Dunni cut the phone and rolled her eyes.
“What is with the eye-rolling?” Moses chuckled as he asked knowingly.
“You know my mother; the next thing is to start reeling instructions and all the drama I am not ready to deal with right now.”
“Dunni takes it easy on her, it is a mother’s love, you know….”
“Grrrrr, spare me the preaching. You would do the same if you had my mother as yours.”
Taking his hands momentarily off the wheels, Moses gestured a mock surrender.
Dunni felt guilty. She had not intended the words to come out that way.
Moses never knew his mother. He grew up with his grandma, that was as much as he let on. He rarely talked about his parents and often deflected any conversation tailored in that direction.
She stole a look at him. If he was upset or not, Moses did not let on, and she did not want to make him feel worse if he did not allude anything to what she had said, so she kept quiet.
They settled into a quiet drive that Dunni found discomforting. When she could not help it, she blurted out.
” I’m sorry for what I just said. That was not what I meant. It came out…..”
“bad…” Moses finished the sentence for her with a sad smile.
” I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have known her. I think all you who have mothers are the luckiest ones. It would be nice to be able to whine the way you all do.”
Dunni punched his right arm playfully. “For the records, I do not whine, and you can gladly have Maami.
“Too late, you know I already do. She is my number one girl.”
“Cool. No need to be jealous. Maami shoes are too big to fill in. I can t compete.
Dunni smiled, her mum doted over Ola and Moses like they were her children. That was Mami, Iya gbogbo ero – mother to all.
Dunni woke up with a start, reluctant to leave the source of her warmth. The cleaning lady was at work at the far end of the reception, working her way towards them. The smell of antiseptics making her feel sick.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty.”
Dunni sat up, abruptly wide eyes. How did she get into Moses’ arms? The event of the night before all coming back.
She covered her face too shy to look at Moses and groaned, “Did I just turn you to my bed?”
“And Pillow but not complaining. You were as light as a featherweight. Looked like you have not added a single kilogram since we left school, and that was how many years now.”
“Go away,” she playfully slapped his arms.
“It’s not like adding weight will get me a diamond or transform into money. I am happy the way I am,” she defended.
Moses turned her face so he could see her eyes, “you are beautiful the way you are and more beautiful each day”.
Dunni could feel the sincerity of the words. Even though she was plain without makeup and waking up from sleep, she looked everywhere, but Moses, wondering why the words were having such an effect on her. This was Moses for crying at loud.
He turned her to face him again. “Never forget that.” The moment was broken, he had gone big brother on her. She always hated it when they treated her like their little sister.
“And you never forget you are one hell of a guy. Can’t wait for the girl to come and take you off me,” She laughed nervously.
“You would not be the death of me. One minute you get me thinking I am the only girl in the universe. It is bad enough you keep using me to practice. I know the girl is out there waiting for you. You do not have to prove your dice is right.”
Moses sighed. How was he ever going to convince Dunni that his feelings had nothing to do with his dice and he had always loved her? There could never be any other woman for him. It just happened that his dice that was never wrong should never have been cast that night.
Dunni kissed him on his forehead and walked over to the Nurses reception, to find out about the surgery ashamed that she had slept off.
Eyes opened wide. Moses whistled. “Should my hopes be up?”
“Silly, that’s what you get when you go big brother on me,” she stopped halfway and turned back to face Moses arms akimbo.
“What should I do to get out from the brother zone to the boyfriend zone?”
“To get out of the brother zone, stop treating me like your little sister. You know I always hate it when you and Ola did that, and I still do. I am one of the three senior partners at the firm.
And the boyfriend zone? He asked masking the hope in his voice with humour.
“Never!”
“Oh, he clutched his heart like someone who has been shot.
Dunni rolled her eyes and walked away, laughing. Muttering how incorrigible a grown man like Moses could be but secretly loving the playful side of him. While she was profoundly serious, Ola and Moses were too playful to a fault, but they could work to the bones. She loved what she had with them and would protect it fiercely. Even it if it meant never giving her heart to Moses.
Can you imagine if life’s major decisions could be made from the toss of a dice! I threw the dice today if to publish episode 5 or wait till the weekend and it fell on 5! Haha! I won’t try it next time. But seriously what is your life’s compass? That one thing that guides our decisions both big and small decisions. I would love to hear from you!
Dunni glanced nervously for the umpteenth time at her cousin who lay lifeless at the back seat of Moses brand new 2012 Range Rover.
She was barely breathing. Worry etched all over Dunni’s face as she kept wringing her hands, a sign that she was apprehensive.
Moses took his eyes off the road, momentarily alarmed. It was bad enough they had an almost dying woman in the back of his car, on the other hand, looking at Dunni, she did not seem to be faring well. She looked on the verge of passing out.
He searched for her hands, holding her left hand while he controlled the car with his other hand, wanting to reassure her and make sure she stayed with him. He could not imagine having to deal with two unconscious women before getting to the hospital.
“Your cousin will be fine,” he reassured with more confidence than he felt as the woman behind did not like she would make it through the night. It would be a miracle if she survived the ordeal without being maimed.
“What if we had gotten there five minutes after? She could have died.”
Dunni shivered, pulling her hands from his and wrapped her body like one trying to shield herself from harm.
The drive to the hospital was the longest Dunni had experienced. Lucky theirs was the only car on the road. She stole a look at Moses but could not read his expression. His eyes were focused on the way as he drove along yet sensing her, he momentarily gazed at her the grim look a while ago lost to a weary smile.
She felt guilty for disturbing his sleep and bringing him into her family drama. “I am sorry,” she mouthed a second time that night.
“For what?” Moses asked
“You know…. all this,” she gestured with her hands.
“Dunni, anything for you. You don’t have to apologise. I would have been more upset if you had to go through all of this on your own.”
Her heart did things to her when Moses was so kind and attentive, but she was not going to dwell on it. Moses was that way with everyone. He treated you special. Sadly, over the years, she had watched many ladies fall deeply in love with him, suffering from broken hearts without Moses even trying. She’d been looking for the day he’ll finally introduce a girlfriend or fiancée. She often wondered that if Moses treated random strangers this way, she could only imagine what would happen when the person was his object of affection. She could bet her life on it; he would literally worship the ground the girl walked upon.
Whatever she wanted to say died when Kemi at the back started struggling to breathe. Luckily, Moses arrived at the hospital. And Dunni ran out of the car to alert the nurses barely waiting for him to park.
A stretcher was brought to carry her while an oxygen mask placed over her nose. She had to go in for surgery immediately. The best news that night was the presence of a surgeon whose patient scheduled for surgery declined to be operated at the last minute and was still in the hospital.
Dunni signed all the paperwork scanning through the content briefly and went to join Moses where he sat.
“What next?” Moses asked stifling a yawn. It was 3:55am.
“I was not told how long the surgery will last. I’ll be here. You can go home. I will catch a taxi later in the morning.”
“I think I will wait for you—no need driving again this night.”
Dunni gazed into his eyes in a bid to be sure that this was okay with him. She felt guilty for disrupting his night and wondered if she would have reached out to him this way if he was married. She was not too sure what the wife will feel about it. On the other hand, a glimpse of Ola’s wife was an indication that things may not change. She accepted Dunni’s place in the firm and her husband’s life. They were always in each other’s company at social functions of their clients. She had an excellent relationship with Ola’s wife and hoped it continued when Moses got married.
Placing his arms around her shoulder, he pulled her toward himself, her head resting on his chest. She could hear the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat lulling her tired eyes to sleep as they sat on the hard chairs in the waiting room of the hospital.
Dunni had been trying to reach Emma all Saturday morning, but her line was not going through. She had left several voice messages for Emma to return her call.
After several more tries, she decided to call Greg, Emma’s husband, hoping he would be at home and not at the gym. Fortunately, he picked the phone on the third ring.
“Dunni, how are you doing?” Came his jovial voice over the phone
“Mowa pa o! And you?”
“I am doing great. Thanks to your friend, what more can I ask for?”
“She is the one I want to speak to. I can’t get her on her phone.”
While Greg was speaking to Dunni, Emma came into their bedroom with a scowl on her face.
“I better give it to your friend, she has this scowl on her face that may disappear when she speaks to you,” Greg tried a lame joke, handing his mobile over to his wife who did not look too happy.
“Why is she calling you? She has my phone,” sighed Emma, taking Greg’s phone from him.
“Dunni said your phone was off.”
Emma quickly checked her phone and confirmed it was off notwithstanding she was still not happy that Dunni had called her husband’s line.
“She should not be calling you,” Emma complained to her husband.
“Babe, please don’t get me in the middle of you and your friend’s squabble. One day you are upset that I am too distant from your friend and sister. Today I should not be receiving calls from her. I am no robot that you just press a button and say do this and tomorrow you press another button and say do that. Keep your friends to yourself and let me be. Please let me have my phone once you are done.” Greg stormed out of the room.
“Hello babe,” she greeted her friend none too enthusiastically, angry with herself for overreacting and venting her frustration on Greg.
“Hallos Emma, gosh girl I have been trying to reach you all morning. I took a blind call on Greg’s phone and was surprised he was at home?”
“Where was he supposed to be?” Emma asked sullenly.
“Silly for you to ask,” Dunni replied.” Gym, of course, that is where he spends his Saturday mornings,” she continued all in one breathe. Very typical of Dunni to try to say as much as she wanted to say. The thought put a smile on Emma’s face.
“What’s come over you? It’s like you are in one of those your sour moods.” Not waiting for her friend to answer, Dunni went on.
“I have this movie ticket I was given, and I wondered if you and Greg would want to go. I could watch the kids if you want.”
Emma’s mood lightened. “You kidding me! What’s the movie title?” That was why she loved her friend but remembered Clara’s warning. She cursed Clara for putting doubt in her mind. She had to decline the offer.
“Be careful of your friend, Dunni. You know she is not married. The way she comes in and out of your house with ease, she may soon start doing the same to your bedroom with the same ease. A word is enough for the wise. Guard your home.”
“The last flight!” Shouted Dunni over the phone. She knew Emma was dying to watch the premiere of the movie and was so excited when she got a ticket for two.
“I will let that pass. Greg and I have decided to do something together this evening,” She lied. Not without a tinge of disappointment
“You sure you are okay?” Dunni prodded. “You sound off.”
“Tired and the hormones.” Emma forced a peal of laughter.
“Talk to you later. I have to run hubby things.”
Emma dropped the phone and turned to leave the room as she bumped into her husband.
“What was that about?”
“Nothing,” she shrugged.
“You refused the ticket to see a film you and I have been dying to see?”
Greg and Emma could be different as day and night on a lot of issues but were they agreed together on most time were films. They loved the same film genres, actors, directors and film producers.
“I have a mind to ring Dunni back and take my ticket if you don’t want to go. I could go with her.”
A knot loosed in Emma’s head.
“You would do no such thing, Greg,” she winced shocked at her own outburst. She was letting Clara’s words take seed in her mind, which was also affecting her actions.
“Why are you spoiling for a fight? If you have an issue, rather than go about in circles, let us sit down and talk about it.”
“I am sorry,” Emma apologised. She knew she had stepped out of her boundaries with Greg and was wise enough to realise she needed to retract her steps before the situation got out of hand.
She wondered how she could explain to Greg her fears. It was not something you could voice to a spouse. She’ rather keep it to herself and not talk about it.
“I think it’s just the hormones and I am a little tired,” she explained, glad he did not pursue further.
Dunni dropped the phone bewildered at Emma’s coldness on the phone. She did not believe it had anything to do with hormones or tiredness. Dunni hoped Emma was not having problems with Greg. Earlier in their marriage, it had been a war zone, especially when they started having children.
Emma focused all her attention on the children and neglected Greg, who in turn felt she did not care if he existed or not. Dunni was always the sounding board for Emma to voice all her frustrations. However, they came to a full circle after attending a counselling session, and things were more than good between them both, almost perfect.
She stifled a yawn, a signal she was tired, and sleep had come calling. It took all her will power to check the door was locked and all windows closed. Switching off her phone and lights, she climbed the stairs and fell into her bed fast asleep before her head touched the bed.
The shrill ring from the landline woke Dunni up. She wondered who was calling at this ungodly hour. Trudging down the stairs grumpily, she picked the phone not too happy her sleep was disturbed.
“Dunni!” shouted her mother through the phone line.
“Mami, are you alright?” Dunni asked, confused, half asleep and half awake.
“I have been calling your mobile. I just remembered you had a landline.”
Dunni always switched off her mobile phone when going to bed. She hated interruptions in her sleep as she most often was unable to sleep back.
She rubbed her eyes, squinting with one eye open to read the time on the large grandfather clock across the room. It was 2.00am
“I want you to go to Kemi’s house now. Ahmed ti fe pa o! Her mother just called me. You need to go and save her,” commanded Mrs Adesida.
Kemi was Dunni’s first cousin on her maternal side. Although she lived two streets away, they never visited. She was much younger than Dunni, and they really had nothing in common while growing up. She only got to know Kemi lived close by when Mami mentioned it in one of her visits and Kemi came to greet her.
Not sure what Mami meant by saving her but Dunni knew if she wanted peace of mind, she had better do as she had been told.
She quickly changed into a pair of black jeans and slapped a wrinkled pink t-shirt, removing her hairnet as she switched on her mobile phone and called Moses, who picked the call on the second ring.
“Hi Dunni, you are okay?” he asked with a tinge of alarm in his voice.
She did not blame him, who would not be when you receive a call in the middle of the night from your partner. On the contrary, she was not surprised; he picked the call. He was most likely working on one of their projects.
“Hate to bother you, please can you meet me at my house as soon as possible? My cousin, who lives two streets away, is being beaten by her husband, and mother wants me to go and rescue her. Really don’t know what she expects from me. I am neither Jackie Chan nor Bruce Lee. So before the husband beats both my cousin and me, I need a guy to intimidate him.”
Moses groaned, “I thought you have finally seen the light that I was your one and only just like my dice predicted.”
“You and your dice can jump into the Mediterranean. I am not leaving such an important decision to your dice. Shouldn’t we know by now if anything should happen between us? I have known you all my life, in between all the girls who frolicked around you and the ones you chased yourself, there seems not to be any heart left for the unlucky woman, you will end up with.”
Moses laughed over the phone. He loved to rile Dunni with the issue of his dice and their marital status, she had never taken seriously. He hated to admit it, he wished she did.
“I am parked in front of your gate.”
Dunni squealed with delight. “You know why I love you?”
“Yes, for my money and my looks,” Moses replied drily.
Dunni was out in a second. Knocking on the glass of his car window as Moses unlocked the car for her to come in.
“Thank you” she mouthed as she directed him to the address.
Nothing prepared Moses and Dunni for what they met when they got to Kemi’s residence. The house was in disarray, sofa and chairs tumbled over, TV and all the pictures on the wall smashed to the ground. The scene looked like one an earthquake had raged through leaving everything broken in its wake. Dunni gasped and ran towards the woman on the floor who looked nothing like the sophisticated Lagos banker she knew.
Swollen eyes closed shut with her left arm twisted at an odd angle, blood pouring out of her nose and mouth, breathing laboriously.
“Kemi,” she gently tapped her, willing her to answer. A sign that she was still conscious. The broken woman on the floor groaned, but it sounded musical to Dunni’s ears.
From the floor where she knelt beside her cousin, she lifted her head, looking around for Moses, who was at the door with Kemi’s husband trying to calm the man. His eyes were all bloodshot and wild. He was panting and raving. He also had a gash on his head with blood that was turning dark a sign it was drying up.
Where they on a suicide mission? Both determined to kill each other before daybreak?
“Moses, please help me, we need to get her to the hospital,” Dunni’s voice shook with emotion.
“He also needs to go,” Moses pointed out.
“He is not our problem,” a small frown spreading across her pretty face.
“I will be fine, take her out of here,” Ahmed shouted gruffly.
Moses looked helplessly at the man who also needed help but left to join Dunni as they carried Kemi as gently as they could into his car parked outside.
I played with my phone while I waited for JK to finish his call but was distracted by the aroma of fresh stew coming from the kitchen. My stomach growled in defiance, and I struggled with concentrating on the email that just came in.
It was from Meena! I gazed at JK, he was still busy with his phone. I scanned the email, and the news brightened my day in two ways, money and a step towards my goal. She insisted I get paid for my service as her lawyer to start her divorce proceedings. She wanted me to draft the divorce papers, email her to sign and deliver to JK.
“Is that good news?” I almost passed out. Wasn’t he on a call any longer?
“Just an email from a client,” That was not a lie, it just wasn’t the absolute truth. I needed to get in touch with Meena if this was what she really wanted. The moment the lines were signed. I will have my chance as the next Mrs JK.”
A rumble from my stomach reminded me I had not eaten this morning. That aroma coming from the kitchen was doing its number on me. Cooking was not my thing. I left that to Meena and Sa’a. I was not leaving here without a bowl of what the witch mother or mother- devil was cooking. I would kneel at her feet if that was what it will take.
“The Private Investigator got caught in traffic and has turned back. He wanted to find out if you had had any form of contact from Meena; call, email, watsapp, liked or commented on any of your post on social media posting.”
“Are those the questions he is asking?” I asked in disbelief.
“When he should have been out there gleaning every information, he can lay his hands on. If need be, hack into phones, systems, databases etc. I began to doubt his capabilities the moment you said he was waiting on the airline authorities for the airlines’ manifesto. Where did you get such an incompetent fellow from?” I fumed and to be fair to the guy he had asked a valid question no matter how irrelevant it sounded but I was not going to tell JK about this recent email yet. I still needed to read the email properly and strategise my next line of action.
“He was recommended to me as the best in his field.”
“This is someone who has not been able to give you a clue in three months of Meena disappearance? I am not sure what field he is playing in,” I shook my head appalled at JK’ s slowness to relieve the guy of his duties if he was not delivering on the job.
“I can recommend one or two of the guys we use in my law firm,” I offered. Holding my breath if he would take up my offer. I knew just the right guy he would work for both of us and only release the information I wanted him to and when. The universe must have my back on this mission as everything I needed appeared to fall within my reach with ease.
“Send the best out of the two to my office tomorrow. I don’t have the luxury of time for interviews and a selection.”
“Not a problem, I would do that as soon as possible.”
“Hauwau,” JK called my name and paused. He appeared to be struggling with what to say. My heart lost a bit as I paused, wondering if he had finally seen the light -to see me for who I am. The woman who has been forever in love with him. My hopes are high, and the two or three seconds were like eternity.
“I know you women don’t like me now. You think I have let your friend down. I love her from the first day I set my eyes and will love her till I die. There can never be anyone for me except Meena.”
I could strangle JK right now. How blind and dumb can men be? He is professing his love for Meena who will serve him divorce papers, and here I am ready to jump at any affection he throws my way. Yet, he treats me like a piece of furniture.
“I have to be going,” I announced abruptly, ready to leave when the whiff of the aroma from the kitchen hit my nostrils.
“Can you help with a bowl of your mum’s stew, please?”
“Irresistible?” he winked at me, and my heart dropped to my feet. I was drowning in this my one-sided love affair but convincing with time, he would fall in love with me eventually. I shrugged unashamed – stew I must have o! if I can’t have the man today.
He laughed, the first I had heard since this whole Meena’s disappearance saga started. Giving a glimpse to the guy I fell in love with many years ago. I loved this part of JK and wished he could return to his old playful self. These days, he was always looking stressed and worried. Not even clinching the multi-billion telecom deal in the country, the first week Meena left could make him loosen up. He shut to prominence the week Meena left. Sadly, she was not by his side to celebrate this milestone.
JK went into the kitchen and came out with a bowl of stew, leaving my mouth opened to a perfect O. I looked behind him half expecting to see witch mother behind him with some choice words I deserved for stealing her fresh fish stew. Technically she hadn’t given me.
“How did you get Mama to release her stew? I would have gone myself; it was that easy.”
“I’ll take this away,” JK held the bowl, leaving my outstretched arms dangling. “You can go and get yours from her.”
“Not so fast, JK, I was only joking. You need to hear her words to Sa’a and myself earlier today. I swear she hates us.”
“She does not. She is only hurting like every one of us is right now, but we all have different ways of handling situations. She’s like a porcupine lashing out at others with her pines while trying to protect herself. The girls were her world.”
I am dumbfounded. It appears we were talking about two different people but hey who cares, I got my stew, and that’s cool for me. I still need her far away from her son, though.
“I have a gala night in my honour by the State Governor next weekend, you want to come? I could really help with a known face for the night,” he asked. The confident suave JK was looking so unsure.
I did not want to sound so eager, so I asked if I could think about. My dreams are all coming true.
I need to start work and speed up Meena’s divorce proceedings. But first, I must make a call to her mum. I doubt the call she mentioned to JK was Meena’s first call. I am almost sure she knew where her daughter was and had been sworn to secrecy. The attorney-client privilege afforded me the right to know all the details of my client, and mummy dearest had better start talking.
…. Is what I owe you, readers, for my long silence and inconsistent posts. I wish I could promise to do better, but I am afraid that I will fail again. What is the one story you will like me to post on more? Feedback may help me channel my creative energy. I hope you are still keeping well and safe.
During this period of prolonged silence, I finally put Omowashe Omonishe together into a book titled Fear to Fall. The book can be found on all platforms you can purchase e-books. Sadly except Amazon which I am working on and hopefully should be much sooner than expected. To read the story in one place, you may wish to get your own copy of the book, and a review will be highly appreciated.
I am renaming Tomorrow’s sunset to The Dice and working on getting that Published. I am also working on the sequel to Fear to Fall and will post the first five chapters here. I started Lock down chronicles and would be posting here in the next couple of weeks about 12 episodes.
I found an old story I wrote in 2000, titled Midnight Sun, and for a good laugh, I will be posting here with little edits. A very cheesy book with plots I cringe at now but love the story line though. I am still getting around typing it out as it was all handwritten.
I was brought back from my reverie with a nudge from Sa’a. “ Are you okay?” She asked with much concern, and I felt guilty to be a recipient of such kindness. I hated myself for what I was about to do but justified my action – something I find myself to be doing these days. It may be a way of me assuaging the guilt I felt at my helplessness for the feelings I had for JK. I thought I had successfully tamed it to non-existence. Still, it appears to be back like an unstoppable inferno threatening to consume me.
“I am okay,” I confirmed removing the Gucci glasses so she could see my face.
“I know it is so hard coming to terms with this whole drama. I hope she is safe wherever she is.”
“I hope so too,” I muttered afraid my lack of empathy will give me away.
“Can we go inside?” JK asked ushering us away from the blare of the hot scorching sun into the foyer decorated with live plants and cane furniture which gave the space a rustic but welcoming feel. I was so thirsty and could help with a glass of cold water. Still, the thought of an encounter with Mother – devil did not allow me to venture into the kitchen and help myself as I had done many times when Meena was around. Friend the word filled my mouth with bile. Traitor my rational brain taunted. I dropped my head, closing my eyes and will the headache I could feel coming.
“Are you sure you are okay?” Sa’ a asked again, worry etched on her forehead, and this time I was getting more irritated not at her of course but the guilt I felt at my betrayal.
“I’ m fine, just a headache which could be because of the heat,” I fibbed.
“Do you want cold water? please forgive my manners.” JK asked and apologised as he ushered us into the main house.
“I was focused on the latest information I have on Meena,” he explained.
“She called?” asked Sa’a with excitement, I did not share.
“Yes, she called her mum to say she was safe, and the woman should not worry. Meena used a private number, so we are unable to trace the call.
“Oh,” Sa’a mumbled, and I could feel her disappointment like a deflated balloon.
“At least we know that she is well and that is what is important for now,” I said with all the cheer I could muster.
“Yeah,” JK nodded, and I felt sorry for him but not so sorry. Who in her right sense will walk away from a guy like JK? He had made his money through hard work, it was not the Daddy hand me down riches. JK identified with people from both sides of the financial spectrum. In Nigeria, you were either rich or poor. The middle class has been long wiped off.
My brain was churning out strategic ideas. And first was to alienate JK’s mother from him. I had to build and blow her role in Meena’s disappearance out of proportion so he could see all this would not have happened without her.
“All this will not have happened if your mother had not meddled in your affairs. I am sorry to have to say this. Meena must have endured a lot from her, and just maybe she got tired of dealing with your mum. You need to keep her at arm’s length. I would have said before she wrecks your home but that warning is coming too late.
I pulled my falling veil and rewrapped it around my shoulders while I stole a glance to watch the effect of my words. Unfortunately, many times you could not read what JK was thinking. I shrugged and forged ahead to continue my onslaught.
“You need to put your mother…..”
“That is enough, Hauwau,” He barked forcing me to shut my mouth. Well, for now.
“My mom is the least of all our worries. I suppose you will have been digging for information and going down memory lane if Meena gave any indication of her plans. You’ve been friends right from your campus days.”
“And you will know too that Meena only told you what she wanted you to know,” I retorted.
“I have to be going. I must pick the kids from school. Please JK can you ring us when you have any news or if the Private investigator has any questions we can answer on the phone.” She said to JK who is busy texting on his phone. I think he was trying to reach the PI while Sa’a and I chatted away.
Sa’a threw her gaze at me as she had spoken for both of us both. However, I was not done yet, not even the mother from hell inside could stop me.
“I’ ll be going later. I will wait for the meeting with the private investigator?”
“I have to go now, you know how Salima and Raliama hate to be the last kids to be picked. And…”
“Yes, mummy,” I teased Sa’a.
I knew that look. If there was one person who you could read like a book, that would be Sa’a. Her facial expressions gave her away even before the words were formed. She would make a terrible lawyer.
“Don’t go all lawyer on him, the guy is already going through so much.”
I chuckle at her reference to ‘lawyer’ before responding. “I have no intention of doing any of that. Although, I would love to see JK squirm under my scrutiny.
“I heard that!” He snapped and moved away to pick a call that came through.
“I have to take this call,” he waved his phone as he stepped a few meters away.
“Whatever evil, you have planned for him. Remember he is our friend’s husband. And until she gives you the go-ahead to take him to the gallows, we must respect him.”
“Sa’a, there is a reason I am not with my husband. All this talk of respect bores me,” and I stifle a yawn.
I am cynical like that, and it’s a wonder I am with ladies who love their husbands to death. Well, one of us still does, and I hugged her with a speak to you later and waved while I waited for JK to finish his call.
November 2019
The earliest case was detected 17 November but the world did not wake up to the reality of how coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, will change our lives forever.
No, it was far away in Asia, Wuhan to be precise. Lagos was too far off the radar to be affected or so we all thought.
The year was coming to an end, and I was struggling the vamp up my excitement level for the coming new year.
A lot still needed to be done at work and Christmas was about 5 weeks away.
December 2019
Three days to Christmas shared drinks and gifts to the last set of neighbours I must have missed. Christmas trees lit up three weeks before Christmas. I congratulated myself my Christmas tree always went up a few days to Christmas but took longer to remove. The task of dismantling and storing was not something I looked for but must be done.
December came to an end finally. There is a mention of Wuhan, a town in China in the news again. January 2020
There is another mention of Wuhan a video saying it is more severe than the world thinks. I shrug my shoulders. They can deal with their problem, after all, Africa dealt with Ebola. On 30 January, The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
February 2020
Anyone with a symptom of cold was joked to have caught the Wuhu flu. Then it started picking up in Europe; Spain and Italy. It sounded close but appeared too far away from the African continent. Not until 27 February and Naija’s first case was recorded.
March 2020
March 11, WHO recognised coronavirus as a pandemic. Please what is the difference between pandemic and epidemic? The beginning of my personal research.
Reality check. Like a light bulb moment, the severity of what the world has to battle with is on our doorsteps. This is World War 3 without guns, but no one is saying so. The soldiers are the medical staffs, the affected, are the wounded and the dead are the casualties of the war. We are up from our slumber but a little too late.
Girl this thingy is no longer far o. They say wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow, and the list goes on. What about do not fear, stop the panic, and we will overcome. Films like Contagion and Outbreak became the most viewed. People were searching for answers. Exodus and Revelation became books that were no longer abstract. The story of the Passover in Egypt made sense.
Lockdown has become a 2020 term. Countries are locking down to stop the spread. Chai! No summer holidays!! My thoughts in a global crisis. Ah! Uncle Jide’s 70th birthday bash next month. Kai! I bit my finger. The length I had gone to represent my fashion ancestors and descendants o boy! O.Y.O lane ni mo bosi.
I thought about Lola’s wedding in June, a destination wedding on an island somewhere. Maybe this will help me save more. I was not sure I could afford the flight ticket and hotel.
When I thought about the kids! Ahhh how do I entertain 6 and 9-year-olds with no dangling carrots of taking them out for ice cream or grandma’s house in Ibadan?
I am palpitating at the seriousness of this lockdown. Hubby and I in the same house, 247. Well, that’s one thing to look forward too.
As I get to the economic implications of lockdown on the nation. I am in panic overdrive.
Oya o! Is okay. I can not come and kill myself. One day at a time. It’s the man who is alive that can complain he has not eaten. Take it slow I admonished me. Jejelaiye o! April 2020
Three weeks lockdown! How did I survive? It’s almost over. But alas! Another two weeks. Desperate time calls for drastic measures. I am hoarse from shouting stop! I ‘ve watched as much cartons that PHCN will allow that I now see them in my dreams. Compulsory siesta if I have to rest but stopped when going to bed at night became a war with the kids.
My lockdown bucket list from today:
The kids Stories of Nigeria’s beautiful history Yoruba history and Folklore Then work my way to what life was in the 70s, 80s, 90s
Moi
Need to connect with God.
Quality time with Olowo orimi
Manage the 3 projects I am handling in addition to working from home, a working tempo worse than working from the office. Sadly, working from home is not as glamorous as it sounds.
Workout – skipping X100 is enough. All those who want to be size 8 after lockdown. I will be watching from the sideline with envy.
Beauty regime. I will cross that need to work on my patience. I need that skill to be able to put on the layers and layers of make-up myself.
Reading cannot be diminished in lockdown. Kindle and Okada books o kare meaning well done.
21stcenturybelle 