Tag: Fiction

The Dice#38

Dunni and Lana have been holding their hands during the bus ride. They journeyed all day, stopping at intervals for the women to pee. Some were brave enough and escaped in the bushes, but one lady was not too successful, and for the second time in the same day, they encountered another lady shot in cold blood. “anyone who tries escape again will be killed,” he locked his gun, and they shuddered with fear.
The bus came to a stop, and they were asleep to file out, being stripped of every form of jewellery they had on them and led into the bush. As they walked, most women had to take off their heeled shoes as it was almost impossible to walk in the forest with them.
A cold chill washed over Dunni when the jewellery with the tracking device was taken off her. She hoped the guy taking the jewelries off them stayed with the group, they would be fine. Her hopes were dashed when he returned to the bus, and they watched the bus drive off, killing every hope of being found.
“I need to take my diabetes shot,” she heard Lana talking to one of the guys who looked at her blankly.  She pointed to her bag, removing the injection and gesturing to her upper left arm.  Another guy was screaming to keep moving, but Lana stood her ground and repeated what she said earlier. He nodded. She rolled her sleeve upwards, hitting her arm and administered the dose. “When is the next one, Dunni asked worriedly.
“Tomorrow, same time. How many do you have with you? 7 days’ worth. I always carry it in my bag. Dunni did know the obvious show of relief on her face. “We’ll be out before you know it.” She encouraged her friend as they resumed walking, rushed by the guy with them to join the others.
Dunni was struggling to remain optimistic. Every iota of hope diminished by every step into the forest.

They had walked for the better part of the day, they were not allowed to rest, Dunni could see the exhaustion on the other womens face giving her a glimpse of what hers looked like. The perfectly made face of some of the women all disappeared beneath a cake of brown powder smeared with sweat, others had trickles of black kohl forming a path below their eyes, nose and disappearing to their chin. Just about that time, Dunni felt she could no longer go on. One of the guys leading them backed the order to stop. They were approaching a settlement, and another town dog hope was rising. This could be their deliverance of escape; instead, everyone did their duties as if they had not noticed the strange entourage arriving, and the women almost dropped due to exhaustion.  He gestured with his guns that they should sit, looking around at the bare floor of red sand with no chairs. He backed, “ ku zauna”  gesticulating with his gun.  The women all sat down while a middle-aged woman from nowhere came up to them with a clay pot of water that she passed to the women, who took sips and passed it to the next, an untold understanding that the water was all they would have and the importance that everyone had some to get their strength back. Dunni looked into the woman’s eyes, wondering whether they could get any help from her. She skirted her eyes above them, looking everywhere but hers.  While she was still trying to take in the environment, looking for landmarks to know where they were, another of the men was barking at others to stand up. Dunni wondered what was happening back at home, whether her mum or siblings had heard, she could not entertain the idea that she would not make it back home and choose to keep her hope alive that not matter what they would be found and rescued.

Dunni and Lana held hands tightly during the endless bus ride, their palms slick with sweat but refusing to let go. The bus was packed with fear and silence, interrupted only by the occasional sobs of women who couldn’t mask their despair. The journey stretched through the day, punctuated by hurried stops where the women were ushered out to relieve themselves. Some, driven by desperation and bravery, attempted to slip into the surrounding bushes, hoping for freedom. But freedom came at a cruel price.

The first attempt ended with a gunshot that echoed through the trees. Now, for the second time that day, Dunni saw another woman fall. Her lifeless body crumpled into the dirt as the rest of the women stood frozen in terror.

“Anyone who tries to escape again will be killed,” the man with the gun barked in surprisingly impeccable English, his voice devoid of emotion as he locked the weapon. The metallic click sent a shiver through the group. No one dared to look directly at him, but every head nodded in terrified compliance.

As the bus finally halted again, the women were rudely awakened and ordered to file out. Bleary-eyed and stumbling, they were stripped of their jewellery—rings, necklaces, bracelets—anything that glinted. Dunni felt a cold dread seep into her bones as her bracelet and necklace with the hidden tracking device were taken. Her heart clung to a desperate hope that the man collecting the items would stay with them. But her hope crumbled when he returned to the bus, taking their last tether to the outside world. The bus roared to life and drove off, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust and despair.

“I need to take my diabetes shot,” Lana’s voice was soft yet firm, addressing one of the armed men. He stared at her blankly, his dark eyes narrowing in confusion. She pointed to her bag and mimed injecting her upper arm. Another man yelled for them to move, but Lana stood her ground. Her unwavering defiance drew a nod of reluctant approval, and she quickly retrieved the syringe, rolling up her sleeve.

Dunni watched as Lana administered the dose, her movements steady despite the palpable tension. “When is the next one?” Dunni whispered, her voice trembling with worry.

“Same time tomorrow,” Lana replied, stuffing the syringe back into her bag. “I have seven days’ worth. I always carry it with me.”

Dunni exhaled, the relief on her face impossible to hide. She squeezed Lana’s hand. “We’ll be out of here before you know it,” she said, her tone resolute even though her heart wavered. Lana nodded, but neither woman fully believed it.

The group was hurried along again, their captors shouting and waving their guns. The forest swallowed them as they trudged forward. For hours, they marched through the unforgiving terrain. The ground was uneven, roots and branches snagging at their feet. Many women abandoned their heeled shoes, walking barefoot despite the sharp stones and thorny underbrush.

Dunni’s legs burned with every step. Exhaustion weighed on her like an anchor, but she forced herself to move. Around her, faces that had been carefully made up now bore streaks of sweat and grime. Tears carved paths through smudged eyeliner, and the forest air clung to them, heavy and oppressive.

Just when she thought she could go no further, a barked order from the front halted their progress. They stumbled to a stop, gasping for breath. Ahead, a small settlement came into view. Hope flickered faintly in Dunni’s chest. Perhaps this was a village where they could be helped or at least noticed.

But as they entered the settlement, her heart sank. The villagers moved about their tasks as though the group didn’t exist. Women hauling water pots and men tending to livestock avoided eye contact, their faces carefully blank.

“Ku zauna!” one of the armed men commanded, gesturing with his gun. The women obeyed, sinking onto the bare, sunbaked earth. The red sand clung to their damp skin.

A middle-aged woman emerged from one of the huts, carrying a clay pot of water. She moved silently, passing the pot from one woman to the next. Each woman took a small sip, the unspoken understanding of scarcity preventing anyone from taking more than their share. When the pot reached Dunni, she hesitated, meeting the woman’s eyes. There was something there—sympathy, perhaps—but the woman quickly looked away, her expression hardening.

Dunni’s mind raced as she scanned the settlement. Were there any landmarks or signs showing where they might be? Her thoughts drifted to home—her mother and her siblings. Had they noticed her absence? Had they sounded the alarm? She couldn’t let herself think otherwise.

“Stand up!” a voice barked, dragging her back to the present. The group rose shakily, their bodies protesting every movement. As they were herded further into the forest, Dunni clung to one thought: they would be found. They had to be.

The Dice #36

Dunni feels a profound connection with Lana at the leadership conference until chaos erupts from an explosion. They face terrifying uncertainty as masked men take them away, leading to fear and despair.

It was Day 2 of the 21st Century Belle Leadership Conference, and though Dunni had given her presentation on Day 1, she was already counting down the days until she could return home.

The sessions were engaging, and every speaker brought something fresh, real, and relatable, weaving in stories from their own lives that hit home for Dunni. Yet, despite enjoying every moment, she missed the familiar rhythms of Lagos—the sounds, the streets, the comfort of her own space. The conference was thoughtful, with breaks that let her stretch her legs and chat with others, a welcome change from the typical back-to-back presentations that drained you more than they inspired. This one felt human.

She had found an unexpected friend in Lana, a strikingly beautiful woman from Lagos who, like her, had left a young child behind to attend. Lana was magnetic, the kind of woman whose beauty stopped people in their tracks—effortless, commanding attention wherever she went. But it wasn’t her looks that bonded them; it was the immediate sense of kinship, the ease of their connection like they had known each other for years.

As Dunni entered the conference hall, she spotted Lana waving her over, a seat saved with a warm smile. It brought back memories of school days when saving a seat for a friend felt like an unspoken promise of loyalty. She waved back, feeling the comforting embrace of sisterhood. They were in their early thirties now, their lives busy and complicated, but here, in this moment, the connection felt as pure as those simpler days.

Just as Dunni settled into her seat beside Lana, an ear-splitting blast ripped through the hall, shattering the tranquil hum of conversation. The noise was deafening, a sudden explosion of sound that rattled the walls and sent glass raining down like jagged shards of terror. Screams tore through the air, blending with the harsh shatter of windows as the hall erupted into chaos. Dunni’s breath caught in her throat, her heart seizing as a thick cloud of dust surged from the east entrance, swallowing the space where Lana had stood just minutes before.

Time seemed to slow as her mind struggled to process the nightmare unfolding before her. The dust was suffocating, its gritty taste filling her lungs. The cries of the wounded echoed, mingling with desperate shouts for help. She locked eyes with Lana, their shared terror flashing like lightning. They reached for each other, but their hands never met in the madness.

Then, through the choking fog, a group of men stormed in. They moved with a chilling precision, their bodies clad in military camouflage, faces hidden behind masks. The glint of guns in their hands made Dunni’s blood run cold. The panic was overwhelming, a thick, palpable fear that hung like smoke. The men’s voices, calm yet commanding, cut through the cacophony. They ordered the women to stand and leave the hall. They claimed it was for their safety that they were being taken to a safer part of the city.

But Dunni’s gut twisted with doubt. Their tone was too calm, too rehearsed, like a predator lulling its prey. Covered in dust and trembling, she followed Lana as they were herded into a shiny, new 50-seater bus. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, mixed with the smell of dust and sweat. The rest of the women—those still able to walk—stumbled behind them, the fear etched deep into their faces.

Dunni’s heart raced as the bus doors slammed shut behind them, the sound final, like a trap closing. The distant screams from the hall echoed in her mind, growing faint as the bus pulled away. Her mind spun with a thousand questions. Was this a rescue, or were they walking straight into something far worse? She could feel Lana’s hand brushing against hers, a silent plea for reassurance, but Dunni had none to give. They were now locked in a fate neither could control, hurtling toward the unknown.

As soon as the bus rumbled to life, a tense silence fell over the passengers, broken only by the soft hum of the engine. Then, piercing through the stillness, one of the masked men barked an order, his voice sharp as a whip. “Submit your phones!” The demand echoed through the bus, leaving confusion and fear etched on the faces of the women. A murmur of disbelief rippled among them, their wide eyes darting in uncertainty.

One woman hesitated, her hand trembling over her phone. The man’s impatience snapped—without warning, a gunshot rang out, deafening and brutal, slicing through the air like a violent scream. The metallic scent of gunpowder mixed with the acrid stench of sweat and fear. The woman slumped forward, and suddenly, the cold reality crashed down on Dunni with the weight of a thousand stones. This wasn’t a rescue team. They were being kidnapped.

Seated at the very back, Dunni’s pulse pounded in her ears, her heartbeat deafening in the thickening tension. Her hands moved quickly, almost on instinct. Before she could second-guess herself, she sent the emergency code to Ola and Moses, her fingers flying across the screen. The code they had devised for life-or-death situations was simple, but she had never imagined she would need to use it. Yet, despite the terror freezing her bones, she was surprised at how clearly it came to her. A number to press on repeat.

Her fingers shook as she reached for her necklace, feeling its familiar coolness against her skin. It was still there. Relief washed over her, but only for a moment. Her bracelet—she felt for it next. Intact. She turned to Lana, sitting on her left, her eyes wide with fear. Without a word, Dunni slipped the bracelet from her wrist and fastened it onto Lana’s right wrist. Lana stared at her, puzzled, but Dunni’s voice was barely a whisper as she leaned in close.

“For whatever it is worth, don’t take it off until you are safely home.”

Before Lana could respond, the masked man loomed over them. His presence was suffocating, his gaze cold. Without hesitation, he ripped the phones from their hands, his rough touch burning like fire against Dunni’s skin.

As he moved on, Lana’s tears began to fall, slow at first, then unstoppable. Her chest tightened, her breath shaky as her mind spiralled.

“My son…” Her voice cracked, barely a whisper beneath the suffocating weight of despair that hung in the air. “He didn’t want me to come.”

Dunni reached out, gently clasping her trembling hands. No words were needed between them. Yesterday, their world had been filled with light—talking, laughing, full of life and possibilities. But now, the silence between them was heavy, thick with fear.


“You will see your son again and hold him in your arms,” she reassured her new friends, even though their grim reality suggested otherwise

The Dice #35

Dunni grapples with Moses’ absence while distancing herself from Tade, who seeks reconciliation after his dishonesty. As they reconnect over shared experiences, Dunni contemplates moving forward while navigating her emotional turmoil and safety.

Days blurred into weeks. Then they turned into months. The absence of Moses lingered in Dunni’s life like the slow, painful removal of a bandage from a raw wound. Every word, every moment, was a reminder of him. Moses seemed to be everywhere—his name would pop up in casual updates from Ola. At first, Dunni had taken his calls, but soon she stopped, and Moses, catching on, gradually disappeared until there was nothing left of their connection.

She threw herself into work, continuing her volunteering with young artists, and added volunteering at a women’s shelter she had recently found. Anything to fill the void he had left behind. One would have expected her to make up with Tade, but still, she couldn’t bring herself to answer any of his calls or see him, no matter how many messages he left. Even when she saw Toni at the art club, Dunni ensured she was always occupied with another parent when he showed up. One would think Tade would get the message, but the more she avoided him, the more persistent he became, his calls multiplying as if he could wear her down by sheer insistence.

Dunni tried to rationalize his actions, to understand why he’d hidden his family’s wealth from her. But no explanation eased the sting of betrayal. She had always despised being blindsided, which had shaken her to the core this time. How could she trust Tade again after this?

She reluctantly agreed to dinner with a fellow volunteer from the women’s shelter tonight. She was exhausted, her mind clouded with too much to do, but she had run out of polite excuses to cancel. While waiting for Joy, she distracted herself by scrolling through her phone, aimlessly flipping through old pictures. Then she saw a photo of her, Moses, and Ola taken in their first year together. The three looked so young, confident, and certain they could conquer the world. Her heart clenched painfully at the sight of Moses’ face. What would her life have been like if things had been different?

She dropped her phone on the table, frustrated with herself. Why was she torturing herself like this? For every step she took to push Moses out of her mind, she seemed to take ten steps backwards, dragged back into the aching void he had left behind. She had lost her best friend.

Looking around the restaurant, she saw strangers laughing and smiling, their faces bright with joy. But how many of them, she wondered, were carrying their own silent burdens, masking their pain with laughter and busy schedules?

She sighed, lost in her thoughts, when she suddenly felt a presence beside her. She looked up, and Tade was standing in front of her.

“Can I sit?” he asked.

“I’m expecting someone,” Dunni replied, her tone clipped.

“No worries. I’ll leave as soon as she comes,” Tade said, ignoring the cold edge in her voice.

It was on her lips to ask how he knew her dinner companion was a woman, but she held back. The sooner he left, the better.

“Tade, I don’t want to do this here,” she said, her voice weary.

“I’ve tried so hard to see you, and you’ve made it impossible. I didn’t realize it could be harder to meet you than the governor of Lagos.” He chuckled at his own joke, but Dunni wasn’t amused.

“I can’t be bought,” she said, her tone flat.

“I know,” Tade replied, his voice soft, filled with remorse. “I’m so sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it right.”

“You can’t just walk back into my life, apologize, and expect everything to be fine,” she snapped. “It’s not fine. I almost lost myself in this relationship, only to find out you lied to me.”

“Tade, it’s over. I can’t go back to what I thought we had.”

Tade nodded, his expression one of deep regret. “I understand. I should have told you the moment you said yes. I wanted to, but things kept happening, and then time passed, and I was scared. I could tell you afterwards if we married quickly, but that was wrong. I should never have taken that choice from you—it was yours to make.”

He paused, looking at her with a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before. “All my life, I’ve been judged by my family’s wealth, and I wanted to be known for what I’ve achieved, not for what my mother’s money could buy. I loved that you wanted me for me, not for my status. When I realized you didn’t know who I was, I wanted it to stay that way. Every day, I fell deeper in love with you.”

His sincerity and the raw emotion in his eyes chipped away at the walls Dunni had built around her heart. But she wasn’t ready to let him in. Not yet.

“I don’t know if I can return to what we had,” she whispered.

“Please, just think about it,” Tade pleaded gently. “I’m willing to wait.”

Dunni glanced at her watch, wondering out loud what was keeping Joy.

Tade hesitated, then with a sheepish grin, he confessed, “About that… I kind of arm-twisted Joy into setting this up. She’s my cousin’s best friend.”

Dunni couldn’t help but laugh at his boyish grin. “So, if Mohammed won’t go to the mountain, the mountain comes to Mohammed?”

“Exactly,” Tade said, his grin widening. “So, can I join you for dinner?”

“Do you need to ask, considering you’ve already invited yourself?” Dunni teased, a small smile playing on her lips.

Dinner was surprisingly pleasant. Tade opened up about his family, his upbringing, and how he’d built his hospital after returning from the U.S. He shared stories about his first marriage, the grief of losing his wife, and how he had struggled with widowhood. Despite his wealth and the seemingly perfect life he portrayed, Dunni realized that Tade had faced his own challenges, and things weren’t as glamorous as they appeared from the outside.

They fell into a routine, meeting for dinner once a week and catching up on life. While Tade was still trying to win her back, Dunni had moved on emotionally. She wasn’t interested in rekindling their romance—friendship was all she had to offer now.

During one of their dinners, Dunni ran into Dr. Larry B., the doctor who had delivered her as a baby.

“Good evening, sir,” Dunni said, curtsying like any well-mannered Yoruba girl.

“Ah, Adedunni Adesida! How are you? And how’s your mother? And your siblings?” Dr. Larry B. asked warmly.

“They’re all fine, sir. I thought you were in America?”

“I am, but I’m here for my annual free medical service initiative. How nice to see you!”

Dunni realized she hadn’t introduced Tade as he was about to leave. “Oh, Dr. Larry, meet my friend, Tade Braithwaite.”

Dr. Larry’s interest was immediately piqued. “Braithwaite, from Lagos?”

“Yes,” Tade replied, sensing the curiosity in the doctor’s tone. “My late father was Olanrewaju Braithwaite, and my mother is Molade Thomas. Do you know them?”

Dr. Larry’s face paled as if he’d just seen a ghost.

“Are you alright, sir?” Dunni asked, concerned.

“I… I have to go,” Dr. Larry stammered, his voice shaking. “My guests are waiting.”

And with that, he hurried off, leaving them both in stunned silence.

“I thought that was weird,” Dunni commented, her brow furrowing. “Do you think he knows your parents?”

Tade shrugged, his eyes scanning the bustling restaurant around them. “A lot of people know my family. I hope he isn’t one of those with an axe to grind. The business world can be ruthless, not for the faint-hearted. I didn’t know much about my father, but my mother and grandfather. They were cut from the same cloth—strictly business, no room for sentiments.”

Dunni leaned back in her chair, the candlelight flickering between them. “I’m in the business world too, remember? And it’s not as bleak as you’re making it. Sure, it’s tough, but there is always a way.”

Tade raised an eyebrow. “It depends on what that way is. Try bidding for and executing government contracts. Now, that’s a whole different beast—lucrative, yes, but it’s not just about your expertise. It’s all about connections. Friends and family turn on each other all the time. Betrayal is a currency. Sometimes, people don’t just lose money—they lose their lives. The pressure breaks them, heart attacks, strokes. It’s not uncommon.”

“Our experience at Architex Designs seems to be different.”

“You architects must have it easy. From what you’ve told me, your contracts seem to come purely from recommendations. You don’t have to wade through the murky waters.”

Dunni smirked. “Moses got our first government contract through a recommendation, yes. From a job we did for a bank. Ola and Moses used to handle the contract chasing, but now it’s all on Ola. I keep offering to help, but he always refuses.”

Tade shook his head, his tone serious. “Let him handle that side of things. You might be shocked at what really goes on behind closed doors.”

“If that was supposed to scare me, it hasn’t,” Dunni said, eyes gleaming with challenge. “If anything, you’ve just lit a fire under me. I’m going to ask Ola again.”

Tade groaned, rubbing his temples. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I can see the wheels turning in your head already. I’ve just set you on your next contract mission, haven’t I?”

Dunni bit her lip to keep a straight face, but her mischievous grin broke through.

“I’m not buying that innocent look, Dunni. I know you too well now.”

She laughed, her shoulders shaking. “You’re catching on fast. But seriously, I’ll be in Abuja next week for a conference. Maybe I’ll try my hand at some lobbying while I’m there.”

Tade’s expression shifted, concern clouding his features. “Drop the details of your conference location for security reasons. When do you leave? I’ll get a bracelet sent over, nothing flashy, but something to track your location without drawing attention.”

Dunni tilted her head. “Tade, I’m going to Abuja, not a war zone. Yeah, there’ve been some bomb blasts, but the government has it under control.”

Tade’s eyes narrowed. “What news do you listen to, baby girl? If your government has it as ‘under control’ as you say, we must live in different countries. Wear the bracelet. It’ll help me sleep better at night, knowing I can track your coordinates if anything happens. Phones can be taken or smashed, but no one notices cheap jewellery.”

Her mind flashed back to a memory—Moses had once given her a necklace with a small heart pendant embedded with a chip for emergencies. He was always cautious, especially after the abduction of foreign workers from a construction site in Northern Cameroon a couple of years back. He’d insisted she wear it whenever she travelled, citing incidents of kidnappings by MEND militants in the southern part of the country.

“I actually have something similar,” Dunni said, tapping her chin. “Moses gave me a necklace with a tracker. He was paranoid back then, too, after that kidnapping of the oil workers. It hasn’t left my drawer in years, but I think I’ll take it on this trip.”

Tade nodded approvingly. “Good. Take the necklace, and I’ll send the bracelet as a backup. Wear both.”

Dunni chuckled and raised her hand in a mock salute. “Yes, sir. Anything else, Commander?”

Tade smiled, but his eyes held a seriousness that lingered as they finished their dinner.

The Dice#9

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.

Meena’s Diary#27

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.