BREAKING POINT

Ifunanya was in her fully stocked hair shop. She was bringing out some hair extensions and sorting them according to their length and quality.

Her friend, Chioma entered and excitedly walked towards Ifunanya.

They both exchanged greetings and Ifunanya offered her a seat.

She sat and started admiring the hairs from the carton.

“Oh my God, they are so beautiful,” Chioma exclaimed as she touched them.

“Thank you.”

“Where is my own abeg?”

Chioma had ordered a wig from her after viewing samples from Ifunanya’s WhatsApp status.

So Ifunanya stretched out her hand towards the table close to her and picked a packaged hair.

“See it here,” Ifunanya said while handing it over to her.

Chioma collected it and quickly opened the package. She brought out the hair, felt the texture, and gently shook it. It was soft, shiny and full.

“Omo!, I love this!”

“I know you will love it. I trust my supplier, he sent exactly what I ordered.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You are welcome.”

Chioma set her wig aside and helped her friend in sorting the arrived goods.

Ifunanya and Chioma had been best of friends since their university days.

Ifunanya, stayed for two years searching for a job after her graduation. When she lost hope of getting a job, she got a loan and started the hair business. The business had continued growing ever since and she no longer cared for a job. She was so far one of the biggest hair vendors in the town. She imports directly from the factory and distributes them to retailers and end users.

After sorting the items, Ifunanya started taking records of those items. As she was writing, she was flashing her left hand as if there was something she wanted her friend to see.

Suddenly Chioma shouted.

“What! What am I seeing like this?”

Ifunanya was quiet and stealing a smile.

“Tell me joor, what’s going on?” Chioma continued.

“Let me finish what I’m doing first,” Ifunanya said while blushing.

Chioma was standing and waiting in anticipation.

When Ifunanya was done, she faced her friend.

“Enheeh I’m done.”

“Tell me what I want to hear.”

“My boyfriend proposed to me and I accepted.”

“Who, please?”

“How many boyfriends do I have at the moment?”

“You mean Jerry?” Chioma asked looking disappointed.

“Yes.”

“Hmmm, congratulations,” she said nonchalantly.

“What is that look on your face?”

“Nothing, I’m happy for you.”

“You can’t deceive me you know.”

“I’m just concerned about you. What does he do for a living?”

“He’s an agent.”

“Agent? Where?”

Ifunanya’s countenance changed immediately.

“Ifunanya, I’m just being a good friend. I don’t want you to make mistakes.”

“I’m not making any mistakes. We love each other and that’s what matters here.”

“Don’t you think he’s too rough for you?”

“He’s my type of man, you know that. Even while we were still at the University, I lived with guys that were like him.”

“I know but even at that you can date them but not to marry. This marriage thing is forever.”

“I’m an adult and I know what is good for me. Besides I have the money, what else do I need from a man, is it not just love? Be happy for me, please.”

She was calm, beautiful, and industrious but she loved the company of men with opposite characters. While in the university, she dated a cult!st. Amongst the guys who approached her for a relationship, it was the cult!st that she chose to date. Then, Chioma wasn’t comfortable seeing Ifunanya with that type of person but she couldn’t come in between the two. Chioma was happy when the cult!st broke up with Ifunanya even though it wasn’t funny with Ifunanya.

Presently, Chioma never knew that Ifunanya would accept to marry a person in the same category as her cult!st boyfriend.

Chioma decided to remain positive about her friend’s decision.

“So when is the wedding coming up?” Chioma asked.

“I’ll tell my parents about it first. I’ll go and see them at the weekend.”

“Okay.”

Chioma then diverted their conversation. She picked up her wig and started admiring it once again.

“I so much love this hair. How do I maintain it, I don’t want it to fade.”

“Don’t wash it often but when you do, use a good conditioner, I’ll show you the one I use. Afterwards, keep it on a wig stand, when it dries, style it with a good serum, and leave it on a wig stand.”

“Ok, I’ll do that. Thanks so much.”

“You are welcome.”

Later on, Ifunanya got the conditioner she suggested for Chioma and gave it to her.

Chioma collected it and paid for it.

She left afterwards.

A few days later, on Sunday afternoon, Ifunanya was in her one-room scantily furnished apartment dressing up.

When she was done that, she went close to her mirror to check on herself. She was satisfied with what she saw as she extolled herself for her looks.

Suddenly she heard someone knocking at her door.

She quickly reached for the door and opened it with a beaming smile.

“You are welcome, Jerry.”

“Thanks, Babe, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting?”

“Not at all.”

Jerry went and sat on the single couch beside the bed while Ifunanya went back to the mirror to give her face the finishing touches.

She’s so proud and obsessed with Jerry that whenever they go out together, she tries to look her best to please him because she believes Jerry to be a dapper.

And that time around, they were going to see Ifunanya’s family for the first time. It was enough reason to look good. Ifunanya’s family stayed in a neighbouring town with Ifunanya.

When Ifunanya was done giving the finishing touches, she put on her shoes and carried her handbag.

Jerry stood up and they left the house.

Ifunanya had earlier called a cab man who would take them to the place. They stood in front of the gate waiting and in no time, the cab man arrived.

They entered and left

About thirty minutes later, the cab man stopped in front of a compound. Ifunanya paid the fare and they alighted.

“This is my father’s house,” Ifunanya said as they walked into the compound.

The compound was housing an old bungalow, the environment was natural and calm.

They walked down to the entrance of the building and Ifunanya opened the door.

They both entered, but there was nobody in the living room.

So Ifunanya started calling her mother as she left for the bedroom.

“Mummy!”

“Yes!” her mother answered from the inner room.

Ifunanya then went into the room where her mother was.

They hugged and exchanged pleasantries.

“Where is Neche?” Ifunanya asked.

“She went to the church,” her mother answered.

“Ok. Mummy, someone is waiting for you in the living room.”

“Who is that, please?”

“Someone that proposed to me,” Ifunanya said while flashing her left ring finger.

“Really?”

“Yes, you know you’ve been telling us that you need grandchildren, they are coming soon.”

“Amen my daughter, let me go and see our visitor.”

They both left excitedly for the living room.

As soon as they got to the living room, Jerry stood up and greeted Ifunanya’s mother.

Ifunanya then went ahead to introduce Jerry to her mother.

Ifunanya’s mother wasn’t so pleased with who she saw. Jerry dressed well but he had tattoos all over his hands and wore short dread. Ifunanya’s mother detests men in dread and tattoos, it was a heavy turn-off for her.

She welcomed him and sat down.

Later on, Jerry made his intentions known.

Ifunanya’s mother smiled.

“My son, I’ve heard what you said. Are you a musician?”

“No ma.”

“You look like one with all these tattoos and dread hair.”

“Mummy,” Ifunanya said trying to hush her mother.

“They are just ways of keeping up to date with trends,” Jerry said trying to maintain relevance.

“Ok, What do you do for a living?”

“He’s into real estate mummy,” Ifunanya rebuffed.

“Ok. You are welcome,” Ifunanya’s mother said.

She stopped asking further questions due to her daughter’s reaction.

She later offered them some food and drinks.

When they were done eating, they thanked Ifunanyas mother for the hospitality.

They left for their base afterwards.

Later in the evening, Ifunanya was alone in her room dressing the bed when her phone started ringing.

She checked and it was her mother. She picked up the call.

They exchanged greetings.

“Ifunanya, my mind doesn’t accept that man you came home with today.”

“Why mummy?”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Is it because of his looks? Mummy, he loves me and that’s what matters.”

“I may not like his looks but I’m more concerned about his behaviour.”

“Mummy he’s a nice person, he has good behaviour and I know I made the right choice.”

“I’m still not okay with that. I tried my best to raise you the right way. He’s not the best man for you.”

“Is he not a human?”

“He doesn’t look like someone ready to settle down yet.”

“Was he not the one that proposed? Why are you looking for faults in this man Mummy.”

Her mother was quiet.

“Time has changed mummy. A man mustn’t look responsible to be responsible. If I don’t marry Jerry, I won’t marry any other man,” Ifunanya continued.

“Ifunanya, think about what I’ve said.”

“Ok Mum, she grudgingly said and ended the call.

The following day, Ifunanya was in her shop attending to a customer when Chioma walked in.

Ifunanya turned to her, and they exchanged greetings. She offered her friend a seat and continued with her customer.

Chioma carried the chair to a private corner of the shop and sat, waiting for Ifunanya.

Some minutes later, the customer left with the hair package, she paid for.

Ifunanya took another seat and sat close to Chioma.

“What were you saying on the phone? I didn’t hear you well, and I was close by. So I decided to come,” Chioma queried.

“Okay, I was just bothered and decided to talk to someone,” Ifunanya said, looking worried.

“Why are you bothered?”

“It’s about Jerry and I.”

“What happened?” Chioma asked inquisitively.

“We went to see my mother last Sunday.”

“That’s great. What is the problem here?”

“My mother doesn’t seem to like Jerry.”

“What were her reasons?”

“She said she doesn’t trust him and some other stuff like that.”

“What are you now saying? Do you want to go against your mother’s thoughts? Don’t you think there are some atoms of truths in what she said?”

“Chioma, I’m the one dating this guy. He’s not what people think he is. He’s a nice guy.”

“My own issue is that he’s jobless.”

“I’ll fix that.”

“What do you want then?”

“I just want everyone to accept him.”

“Ifunanya, I suggest you should let him go or better still cancel the engagement.”

“You won’t understand,” Ifunanya said, sounding persuasive.

“What is it that I don’t understand?”

“This guy get swag.”

“You are not serious. Which one is swag.”

“And again…” Ifunanya said and suddenly became silent.

Chioma was attentive to know the next thing she would say.

“He’s good in bed,” Ifunanya said, feeling very emotional.

Chioma laughed hysterically.

“It’s not a laughing matter oo, I haven’t seen anyone that can perform like him.”

“Hmm, you know what? Left for me, I would say they are not enough reason to end up with the wrong man,” Chioma said after a moment of laughter.

“He’s the best man for me.”

“OK. You don’t have any problem. Let me be on my way,” Chioma said as she stood up to leave.

“Wait, let me offer you something.”

“Don’t worry, my friend.”

As they were happily talking, Jerry walked in.

Chioma’s mood suddenly changed. She greeted him and walked out with a straight face.

Jerry noticed her countenance. He walked up to Ifunanya.

“What is wrong with her?”

“Nothing.”

“Where you guys discussing about me?”

“Not really. She is not in support of our engagement.”

“I knew it, I saw it on her face. She wouldn’t mind her business, that’s why she isn’t married yet. You should avoid those types of people. They don’t want your happiness.”

“It’s ok.”

They both sat and continued talking.

“So what’s up? I came to check on you.”

“Do you know that my mother called me and was complaining about you?”

“What did she say?”

“She said that you are not the best man for me.”

“Am I not the best man for you?”

“You are.”

“Let’s not mind the nay-sayers. Your mother doesn’t want you to start your own family. I’m sure they are getting enough money from you and scared of losing the benefits they are getting from you.”

“I don’t think that’s the problem. My mother wants me to get married.”

“Then we should marry as soon as possible. I can’t let you go. I love you so much,” he said passionately.

“I love you too. I have a plan, I know what to do to make her accept you whether she likes it or not.”

“What’s the plan, please?” Jerry said while drawing closer.

Ifunanya whispered into his ears, and his face beamed with smiles.

“Consider it done,” Jerry said excitedly.

They both laughed.

“I suggest you move in with me,” Jerry continued.

“No, not now.”

“Why?”

“What will people say? Besides, I don’t like the place you are staying. It’s not private at all.”

“Let’s look for a new apartment away from our residents, where people don’t know us well. We can live together as we await your mother’s approval.”

“I don’t know where to look for new apartments here.”

“Leave that for me. I know where to get

the best house for us.”

“Ok.”

“You would come over to the house after closing for the day, right?”

“No, that will be tomorrow. I have some clothes to wash in the night and I’ll spread them tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, I can’t wait to have you under my roof forever.”

“I can’t wait too.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Later on, Ifunanya went to a nearby bar and bought two bottles of chilled beer drink. She presented them to Jerry, and he gulped them like water.

Soon after that, he left.

In less than a week, Jerry got the new apartment. He called Ifunanya and informed her about the development and also told her to go check the place out.

Ifunanya promised to go and see the place immediately after closing for the day.

“Okay, when you are ready to leave, inform me so that I can tell you where to meet me,” Jerry said.

“Okay.”

Later that day, before sunset, Ifunanya closed her shop for the day and left with her handbag for where Jerry was waiting for her. She had earlier communicated with him and he told her where to meet him.

Ifunanya walked down her shop street towards a bar where Jerry was. Jerry, on sighting her, came out and met her. They exchanged greetings and stood there waiting for a taxi.

“It’s like the place is far,” Ifunanya said.

“No, I just don’t want you to stress yourself trekking after today’s sales.”

“Ok.”

Soon after, a cab was passing by. They stopped it, Jerry told the driver their destination, and he told them the fare.

After a little negotiation from both men, they arrived at a certain amount. Ifunanya and Jerry entered the cab and they left.

About thirty minutes later, they got to the place. Jerry paid the man, they alighted and the man drove off.

They walked towards a black gate. Jerry knocked, and a man came out and opened the gate for them.

The man greeted Jerry and gave him a bunch of keys.

There was a modern-storey building inside the compound.

Ifunanya started looking around as they walked towards the building entrance.

The environment was quite beautiful and serene.

“This place looks nice, I can see it’s not a public compound,” Ifunanya observed.

“Yes, that’s how it is in this whole area. We are actually inside an estate.”

“Oh I see, this place must be costly.”

“Not much, it’s affordable, unlike other places that I went to. Let’s enter inside first.”

They walked into the building.

Jerry showed her around. The ground floor consisted of the living room, dining, kitchen, and store, while the first floor had three bedrooms.

“Jerry, this looks like a family house,” Ifunanya said.

“Yes, I purposely went for a family house because we are becoming a family soon.”

“Is three bedrooms not too much? We can go for one or two bedrooms.”

“I’m considering the fact that we will have kids, and as a family, our siblings may come around to stay with us.”

“That’s thoughtful of you. It never crossed my mind. How much is the rent?”

“Two million naira per annum.”

“What?! That’s too much, we can’t afford it.”

“I can, we will stay here. I want the best for us.”

“Thanks, baby,” Ifunanya said feeling elated.

“You are welcome.”

“We will move in as soon as I make payment, and that will be by next week.”

Ifunanya was super excited.

She quickly hugged and kissed him.

Soon after, they left the compound for Jerry’s house.

In the morning, Ifunanya continued with her business.

The following week, Jerry called Ifunanya on the phone as she was preparing to leave for her shop.

He sounded uneasy.

“Jerry, are you alright,” Ifunanya queried.

“I didn’t want to bother about this, but I don’t have any other choice.”

“What is the problem please?”

“You know I am supposed to pay the house rent tomorrow.”

“Yes, what happened?”

“I was expecting a pay from a deal that I’ve been following up on. But just this morning, my colleague called that our client has issues with his business and can not make the payment again today as agreed.”

“Did he specify when he will pay so we can wait?”

“Not yet, I want you to borrow me the money so I can pay before another person takes the house.”

Ifunanya was quiet.

“Babe, please do this for me. I’ll give it back to you as soon as he pays,” Jerry continued.

“Ok, I’ll pay for it.”

“Thanks, babe, what can I do without you? I can’t stop thanking God for bringing you into my life.”

“It’s ok.”

“Let me forward the account details to you.”

“Ok.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Jerry then ended the call.

Later that day, Ifunanya paid the house rent, and the following day, they moved into the apartment.

A few weeks later, on a Sunday afternoon, Ifunanya prepared and left for her family house.

Some minutes later, she got to the house. Her mother was the only one at home.

Her mother welcomed her.

Ifunanya relaxed on the sofa.

“How is business?” Her mother asked.

“Fine mummy.”

“Should I bring food for you?”

“No mummy, if I’m hungry I know the way to the kitchen.”

“Okay, I was having a quiet time with my bible when you entered. Let me continue, you can join me.”

“OK Mummy but there’s something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry Mummy, I made a terr!ble mistake.”

“What mistake?”

“I just discovered I am pregnant.”

“What! Ifunanya! What do you mean by that statement?”

Ifunanya was terrified.

“Who is responsible for that pregnancy?”

“It’s Jerry, my fiance.”

“Ab○rt it.”

“What! Mummy!”

“You did this on purpose, knowing that I don’t like that young man.”

“No mummy!”

“Shut your mouth! If it weren’t on purpose you should have cut off from him after I complained about him. You want to disgr@ce me knowing fully well that I’m a leader in the church. Do you know how I’m respected in the church? You must @bort that pregnancy.”

“Mummy @bortion is against our faith.”

“Is fornic@tion not against our faith? Why did you do it?”

Ifunanya became mute.

“You have chosen to hum!liate this family with your actions”

“Mummy let him marry me now.”

“Over my de@d body will that happen!”

“Mummy, he’s the only man I love, and nothing can change that.”

“Oh! I can see that you have grown wings. If this is what you choose to do, then so be it. I don’t want to see you or that stup!d boy close to my house again.”

Ifunanya stood up and left the house.

Her mother was shocked at her behaviour.

She came out watching as Ifunanya left the house until she lost sight of her.

Soon after, Ifunanya arrived at her place in a taxi, she alighted and paid the fare.

He walked to the gate and called the gatekeeper to open the gate. He quickly opened the gate and Ifunanya walked in.

She was wearing a long face.

As soon as Jerry heard the gate open, he came outside to meet her.

They hugged passionately and Jerry collected her handbag.

“Babe, your face looks horribl£. What is the problem?”

Ifunanya muttered incomprehensive words and grudgingly entered the apartment.

Jerry followed her.

They went into the living room and sat on the sofa.

“Babe talk to me, why are you sad,” he said while drawing closer to her.

“My mother is making me angry.”

“What happened again?”

“She’s still against our engagement, after all our plans, she said that I should abort the baby.”

“What?! My child! Is that how much your mother hates me?”

“I was shocked when she mentioned that. She even said it’s over her dead body that I should marry you.”

Jerry became silent.

He got up from the sofa and paced around a little. He stood at one corner of the living room staring off blankly into space.

Ifunanya walked up to him.

“I’m sorry about what my mother said, I will never leave you.

I know you will not but you need to start avoiding everyone who’s against our union. They are joy killers. Am I maltreating you?

“No, my love.”

“Cut off from those giving you bad advice. I’ll keep standing by you. It’s us against the world.”

“Yeah. We will prove them wrong very soon.”

“Exactly, my love. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“Babe, forget about all your mother said. Freshen up let’s go and chill somewhere. No dull moment with me.”

Ifunanya smiled.

“You see why I can’t leave you. You always put a smile on my face,” Ifunanya commended.

“I will always make you happy. You are my precious jewel, I live for you.”

Ifunanya blushed and left for the bathroom to freshen up.

Later both of them left the house.

After that day, Ifunanya stopped calling or taking her mother’s calls.

A couple of weeks later, in the evening, Ifunanya was in the living room, watching a television programme while Jerry was in the restroom.

Suddenly Ifunanya’s phone started ringing. She checked and it was Chioma her friend, and then picked up the call.

“Good evening, Chioma,” Ifunanya greeted.

“Good evening Ify, I hope you are fine?” Chioma said.

“Yes, very well.”

“Where do you now stay, you didn’t even inform me that you have moved out.”

“I’m so sorry, it was urgent.”

“Urgent? Were you chased out of the house or something?”

“Chi, I deliberately relocated to another place, I wasn’t chased out.”

“Hmmm, where is your new place located?”

“It’s inside Veil estate.”

“Eeh! Veil estate kwa. Your level has changed oo. But where you were staying before wasn’t bad.”

“Chi, I will explain everything to you when next we meet.”

“Okay oo.”

While they were speaking, Jerry walked into the living room and sat down listening to Ifunanya’s conversation with Chioma.

“I’d like to come and know that your place is,” Chioma said.

“It’s at no 3 Umunna Street. When you are ready to visit, you can come to my shop so both of us will live together.”

“That’s okay, until I come to your shop then.”

“Alright, good night.”

“Good night,” Chioma said and ended the call.

“Who was that?” Jerry asked authoritatively.

“That’s Chioma, my friend,” Ifunanya said politely.

“I don’t want to see her here.”

“It’s Chioma, the one you know.”

“Yes, I know her.”

“How can she not know where I reside? She’s the only close friend I have in this town.”

“Have you forgotten that she was talking ill about this relationship? I don’t want anyone that will come in between us.”

“Chioma won’t do that, she respects my opinion alone.”

“Stay away from her. I don’t want to say more than this.”

Ifunanya was disappointed, but later on, agreed to what Jerry told her.

A few days later, Chioma went to see Ifunanya at her shop later in the afternoon. They were both seated at a private corner of the shop and engrossed in their conversation.

Soon after, a customer walked in.

“Who dey here!?” the lady shouted, calling the attention of the shop owner.

“I’m coming!” Ifunanya answered from where they were seated.

She then stood up and left for the counters where the lady was. They exchanged greetings and further had a little conversation, and afterwards, the lady picked some hair extensions, paid for them, and left.

Ifunanya went back and sat with her friend.

“So, you mean your mother said that to you?” Chioma asked.

“Yes, I stood up and left the house.”

“Hmm, I don’t even know what to say here. Do you think you are doing the right thing?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think it’s nice leaving her that way. You should have stayed to talk out things with her. Have you gone to see her since then?”

“No, she doesn’t want to see us now.”

“You need to see her again and apologise for the way you left the house. She is your mother.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Ify, it’s your mother we are talking about here. Don’t you care about the implications of your actions. You moved in with a guy without the necessary marriage procedures being done.”

“Is it my fault that the marriage procedures weren’t done, or am I the first lady to cohabit with a man?”

“I can see that your mind is made up. I hope you won’t regret your actions later.”

“Chioma, be positive for once. I will not regret anything.”

“OK, that’s by the way. When you dismiss for today, I’ll follow you to your new apartment.”

“Eehm, I.. I won’t be leaving directly to the house after closing up for the day. I’ll go and see my doctor concerning my pregnancy.”

“Hope everything is alright?”

“Yes, I’m going just for check up.”

“Isn’t it too late to see a doctor today?”

“It’s not late. He’s my private doctor.”

“Ok.”

“Let’s leave it for some other time.”

“Ok. Let me be on my way then. I have a lot to do at home.”

“Ok, thanks for coming around.”

“You are welcome,” Chioma responded, stood up and left.

Soon after Chioma left, Ifunanya closed her shop and left for her house.

A few days later, in the house, at night, Ifunanya was in the room checking her record books and doing some calculations when Jerry walked in.

He was in an alluring nightwear and was looking sober.

Ifunanya looked at him and became worried.

“Babe, what’s the problem?” Ifunanya asked.

“I’ve been feeling like a leech ever since.”

“How? Why? Why do you feel that way?”

“This my agent work isn’t giving me money as I expected. I’m not taking care of you as I ought.”

“Babe, am I complaining?”

“No, but I feel so ashamed that you’ve been the only one providing for us. I am a man, and I will not run away from my responsibilities.”

“But you just said your agent work no longer pays. Leave the responsibilities for me.”

“Baby, I want to start my own business. I have big plans but I don’t have capital.”

“That’s impressive. I will help you in whichever way that I can.”

Jerry was elated. He went and hugged her passionately.

“Thanks love, what would I have done without you?” Jerry said gently.

“You are welcome. What’s the business you have in mind?”

“I want to be dealing in different brands of cars.”

“Cars? That’s huge. A large sum will be required for a startup, you know. Besides, do you know how to go about the business?”

“Hmm, are you doubting my capability?”

“No, babe, I was just asking.”

“I know a lot about cars, and I know people who are into it, so starting the business won’t be a problem for me,” Jerry convinced.

“Okay, but I don’t have a huge sum that can start up a car business. I only have five million to spare.”

“It’s okay then. I will manage it. I’ll check the best business that I can start up with the money as soon as I see it.”

“OK, I will give it to you tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you so much love, can I help you with the calculations?”

“I’m almost done. Let me finish it up.”

“Ok.”

Jerry went and laid carelessly on the bed.

“I’m waiting for you, I hope you are ready for me,” he said.

Ifunanya blushed and afterwards couldn’t concentrate on what she was doing again.

She quickly closed the books before her and rushed to bed.

Jerry turned off the light, and they were quickly lost in fantasies.

The following morning, Ifunanya had finished dressing up and was about to leave the house. She had earlier written a cheque of five million naira for Jerry.

So she was holding the cheque paper as she went down to the living room.

Jerry was seated on the couch watching a morning show on the television.

She went and presented the cheque paper to him.

He was so happy as he collected it.

“Thanks so much, sugar. I love you so much,” Jerry said and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“I love you too, let me be on my way.”

“OK, see you later babe.”

“Bye,” Ifunanya said and left the house.

Ifunanya felt happy within herself. Her action made her feel justified in her decision to make Jerry a better person.

“I know he would change. We would prove the world wrong. I need to let someone know about this good news,” Ifunanya said to herself on leaving the compound.

She quickly brought out her phone from her bag and dialled Chioma’s number. Chioma picked up the call immediately.

“Good morning, Chioma,” Ifunanya greeted.

“Good morning,” Chioma responded.

“Are you at home?”

“Yes.”

“I’m coming over, I just want to see you briefly.”

“OK, I’ll be waiting.”

Ifunanya then ended the call.

Some minutes later, she got to Chioma’s place. Chioma stays alone in a single room inside a public compound.

Ifunanya entered the room and they exchanged greetings. Chioma provided a plastic chair for Ifunanya while she sat on her bed.

“I hope all is well, Ifunanya?”

“Yes, I just came to tell you about some changes we are experiencing.”

“Which changes, please?”

“You know I told you that Jerry would change. He isn’t what you all thought he was. He’s nice, thoughtful, and responsible.”

“Wow, thank God. I’m happy about his recent behaviour. Is it now that you are living with him that you discovered the changes?”

“Yes, he opened up to me about his agent work. He said the work doesn’t pay as he expected and that he isn’t taking care of me as he ought.”

“Hmmm, what is his point, then?”

“He said he wanted to start a new business, he requested some money and I gave him the sum of five million naira.”

“What!? Five million naira! What type of business, please?”

“He didn’t specify the type of business, he only said he would tell me the best business that would be suitable for that sum.”

“Ifunanya, use your brain!”

“How?”

“Something isn’t right somewhere.”

“Were you not the one who complained about his joblessness? Now he wants to start a business and you are suspecting something.”

“Ify, you are smarter than this. What is wrong with you? Has this guy charmed you? I know you love him, but be smart in your dealings with him.”

“Why are you saying these to me?” Ifunanya said looking disappointed.

“I wish you would sit yourself down and think about the recent happenings in your life.”

“I thought you were my friend, why can’t you stand by me on my decision? Do you have something against Jerry that you are not telling me?”

“My dear friend, I’m only telling you the truth. I don’t know why you are misunderstanding me.”

“Ok, let me be on my way then,” Ifunanya said and quickly stood up and left without altering more words.

“Ifunanya! Ifunanya!!” Chioma stood by her door calling but Ifunanya didn’t look back.

“This guy had eaten deep into my friend, I’m beginning to think that this isn’t ordinary. I will never support her on this. Maybe I should just let her be because there’s no way she would understand me,” Chioma soliloquized while standing at her door.

Ifunanya was trekking back to her shop. She looks upset. She regretted going to Chioma’s place.

“If I knew that my visit would turn out this way, I wouldn’t have gone at all. I think it’s high time I cut her off as Jerry suggested. Now I know what he meant when he asked me to cut her off. Thank goodness she doesn’t know where we live. Mtcheew fake friend, enemy of progress,” she said looking furious.

Later that day, after the close of work, Ifunanya was at home alone. Jerry wasn’t at home. She had earlier called Jerry to know where he was. He said he was with a friend and that he would be home soon.

Later in the night, he came back. Ifunanya was fast asleep then. It was the sound of his knock at the door that woke her up.

Ifunanya jumped off the bed and rushed to the door. She opened it and Jerry came it.

Both of them walked to the bedroom.

“Babe, you came back late today. Where have you been? What happened?” Ifunanya asked as they were both seated on the bed.

“I thought I spoke to you earlier that I was with a friend.”

Ifunanya checked the wall clock and was shocked.

“You were with a friend till 1 am. What were you guys doing till it was this late?”

“We were discussing and planning on the way forward.”

“Way forward on what?”

Jerry smiled.

“I got a shop for my men’s clothing business.”

“Wow, so fast?”

“Have you forgotten that I’m an agent? I’ll show you the place tomorrow. It’s located at a strategic place inside the major market.”

“I’m so happy for us. We will shame our enemies soon. I’ll see it tomorrow.”

Jerry left for the bathroom to freshen up. Afterwards, they went to bed.

The following morning, both of them prepared and left the house for Jerry’s new shop.

About twenty minutes later, they got to the market.

Ifunanya followed Jerry to an empty shop space inside a shopping complex.

Most of the traders within that location deal in men’s wear.

Jerry showed Ifunanya around the empty shop space.

“I like this place, the shops here are well arranged. See how everyone is minding their business,” Ifunanya said while looking outside.

“I know you will love it. My next plan is to stock this shop with varieties of high-quality men’s wear.”

“That’s very nice. Let me leave for my shop, a customer said she will come for her wig this morning.”

“Ok, see you later.”

“OK, bye.”

Ifunanya felt so elated as she left for her shop.

A few weeks later, Jerry and Ifunanya were in the living room watching a television show and conversing.

Jerry brought his phone, opened the gallery, and was showing Ifunanya different pictures of men’s clothes.

“These are the clothes I have requested from my agent,” Jerry said.

“They are so beautiful, I pray they sell out fast on arrival.”

“I’m sure they will, I picked the trendy ones. I’m a man and I know what we want.”

“Ok oo, you know how to fix the prices, right?”

“Yes, I know how to do that. When I was a teenager, I stayed at my uncle’s clothing shop. So it’s not a new thing to me. Where do you think I got my dress sense from?” Jerry said smiling.

“Ok.”

They continued watching the show.

Two weeks later, in the morning, Jerry informed Ifunanya that the goods he ordered had arrived.

He then left the house to go and take care of the arrived goods.

Afterwards, he informed Ifunanya that he had received the goods and had put all of them up for sale.

From that day onwards, Jerry started going to his shop.

He later showed Ifunanya pictures of how the shops looked like after stocking with those arrived goods.

Ifunanya was contented.

Whenever he came back to the house, he would talk about what happened in the market, how he made so many sales, and the rest.

Ifunanya was happy that all things were working out as she planned.

As time went on, Jerry started supporting their union. He would come home with gift items for Ifunanya. They would eat out once in a while.

He changes new clothes regularly, when Ifunanya complained about it, he said he was showcasing his items and that most people buy when they see how the clothes nicely fit his body.

At intervals, he comes home very late. Most of those times, he came home when Ifunanya had slept off.

His reasons were mostly that he was having a business discussion with his friends of like minds.

As he handled his responsibilities well, Ifunanya was beginning to think she needed a break from her business. She started skipping going to her shop.

So one evening, they were both in bed discussing but Ifunanya was feeling sleepy. Jerry tapped her and she was attentive.

“I’m just tired,” Ifunanya mumbled.

“I think you have been stressing yourself too much in recent times and it’s not good for your condition.”

“I know, I wish my shop was close by, or that I had someone to manage the shop, I will just stay back until I give birth. The stress is becoming unbearable to me.”

“Everything will be alright.”

“I pray so.”

They continued discussing until they slept off.

A couple of days later, Ifunanya was alone at home, she couldn’t go to her shop because she needed some rest.

She was lying on the couch when Jerry walked in looking devastated.

Ifunanya quickly got up from the couch to meet him.

“Babe, you are home too early. You look overwhelmed. What happened?”

Jerry became mute.

He gently went and sat on the couch burying his face on his hand.

“What is it, you make me scared?”

Jerry then looked up, facing her.

“All my goods are gone!” He shouted in a shaky voice.

“What happened?”

“Customs seized my goods.”

“Is it not just clothes, why would they seize it?”

“I don’t know, before now, they say they were clearing the goods. It is just this morning that I discovered they have seized them.”

“You can still recover them, right?”

“It may not be recovered again.”

“Jesus! Have you contacted the agent that sent your goods?”

“Yes, I’ve done all that, been following it up for some days now. I didn’t know it would amount to this.”

“What kind of bad luck is this, a business that was already booming? What about the items in the shop?”

“I’ve sold out almost all the items, I only wanted to restock and this happened. All my money is gone!” He said as tears rolled down his cheek.

“It’s okay babe. When there’s life, there’s hope. Cheer up, it’s not the end of the world.”

“You won’t understand, all my efforts are gone, just like that,” he continued tearfully.

“It’s ok.”

After that day, Jerry stopped going out. He would stay indoors sulking over what had happened. He was emotionally down.

After some days, Ifunanya walked up to him where he was lying in the bed.

“Babe, I understand how you feel but you can’t continue like this. Do you need money to start all over again?”

Jerry sat up on the bed.

“No, I don’t want this to repeat itself. I’m not going back to the clothing business again.”

“I should have loved you to stay in my shop for the meantime but I don’t know whether you like it.”

“My love, I will take it. Thanks for always being by my side,” he said as he stretched his arms and they hugged.

“I just want you to be happy,” Ifunanya said.

“Thanks so much, babe.”

Jerry stayed back in the house because Ifunanya was coaching him on how best to effectively manage her shop within a certain period.

A few days later, Jerry declared that he had assimilated all that Ifunanya taught him and would like to put them into practice as soon as possible.

So the following morning, he prepared and left for the shop.

Ifunanya then stopped going to her shop. She felt relieved that someone capable and close to her had accepted to manage her business. She believed that Jerry’s presence in the shop was as good as her being there.

As time went on, Ifunanya started feeling bored with staying alone at home and was looking for an easy job that could keep her busy for a few hours.

Even though she considered staying at home better than going to her far-distance shop, she would always look out for minor jobs around the area whenever she left the house for something.

After some time, she saw a few vacancies at some mini establishments, but she was advised never to apply because of her condition. She felt really sad about that but she didn’t give up.

Later on, she saw another vacancy at a community primary school around their place. She approached the headmistress in charge of the school. After a brief discussion with the headmistress, Ifunanya was asked to come back the following day with her credentials.

Later the day, at night, Jerry and Ifunanya were in the living room conversing. Ifunanya told him about the vacant position in the community school and her discussion with the headmistress.

“Do not hesitate to take the offer, that’s the best thing for you now. You need not stress yourself there, and they dismiss early. You can even combine it with other jobs if you wish,” Jerry said excitedly.

“Okay, I’ll meet the woman tomorrow as she instructed.”

“Good.”

They switched topics afterwards.

The following morning, Ifunanya left for the school with her credentials.

When she got to the school, the pupils and teachers were in the assembly ground. She went to one corner and stood there, waiting for the assembly to be over.

Some minutes later, the pupils and their teachers went into the classrooms.

Ifunanya then left for the headmistress’ office. After meeting with her, she made some calls, and afterwards, Ifunanya was assigned a classroom.

The headmistress later directed Ifunanya to meet one of the teachers for guidance. She did as she was directed, and afterwards, Ifunanya resumed fully as a primary school teacher in that community school.

Each working day, Ifunanya and Jerry leave the house together for their different workplaces, but Ifunanya comes back before Jerry.

Once in a while, Jerry would bring home a certain amount of money from the shop’s proceeds, and they would also take care of their needs from there.

A few weeks later, around evening, Jerry wasn’t at home. Ifunanya had finished preparing their dinner and was relaxing in the living room.

Her phone, which was on the table, started ringing. She checked, and it was Jerry.

She picked up the call immediately.

“Hello babe, good evening,” Ifunanya greeted.

“Good evening.”

“Are you coming now? The food is ready.”

“No, I want to inform you that I won’t be coming home tonight.”

“Why?”

“I got a call that my mother is very sick, I want to go and see her. You know it’s only my little sisters that’s with her. My sister was just crying over the phone.”

“I’m so sorry about that. Where are you now?”

“I’m still at the shop, preparing to leave.”

“Please start going now.”

“Ok, talk to you later.”

“My regards to her. Nothing bad will happen to her.”

“Amen,” he said and ended the call.

So, Jerry didn’t come back that day.

The following morning, Ifunanya called to know how his mother was doing.

“She’s in the hospital now,” Jerry said.

“Can I come over to see her?”

“Don’t bother yourself. My little sister is with her. I’ll come home today to pick up a few things and also go to the shop. In the evening, I’ll go and see her again.”

“In case you don’t come back before I leave, I’ll keep the key for you at the usual place.”

“OK.”

Later, Ifunanya kept the key in a hidden place and left the house.

At school, Ifunanya was in the class with the pupils, and one of her colleagues came to see her.

“Teacher Ifunanya, please, did you come with my lesson note,” her co-teacher asked.

“No, I’m not done copying into my book yet.”

“Sorry I didn’t inform you earlier, something came up that required that I use the note.

Please can you get it for me? You stay around here, right? “

“Yes,” she said reluctantly.

“Let me escort you if you can’t go alone.”

“Don’t worry, I can go alone.”

“Ok, thank you. I’ll be waiting in my class,” the teacher said and left

Afterwards, Ifunanya left for her house.

A few minutes later, she got to the house and found the door open. She knew it was Jerry, so she went inside.

Jerry was in the bedroom upstairs.

She went up to the bedroom to get the lesson note.

As she was approaching the bedroom, she heard Jerry speaking with a female voice over the phone.

She suddenly became uneasy even though she couldn’t pinpoint what they were discussing.

She gently entered the room, Jerry was in the restroom and didn’t notice that someone was in the room. He was engrossed in the conversation he was having.

Ifunanya picked up the lesson note on her reading table, moved towards the restroom, and was eavesdropping on their conversation.

“I can’t wait to have you again,” Jerry said emotionally.

“Hope you are coming over again tonight?” the female voice asked.

“Sure, you are too sweet.”

Ifunanya felt shocked and betrayed, she wished it wasn’t what she was insinuating.

She was standing there speechless until she felt that Jerry was about to come out of the restroom.

She left immediately.

When Ifunanya got to the school, she went to her colleague’s class and gave her the lesson note without altering a word to her.

The lady was remorseful.

“Teacher Ifunanya, I’m sorry for stressing you. I’ll still bring it back to you. I just want to use it at the moment,” the teacher assured.

“Ok,” Ifunanya said and left with a long face.

Ifunanya tried so hard not to think about what had happened.

She took one of the children’s reader books from her table and started going through it.

She was skimming aimlessly through the book.

She stopped at a particular page and was gazing into the space. She suddenly started pondering what happened.

“What have I done to Jerry to deserve this kind of behaviour? Hmmm, what if it’s not what I’m thinking? But he was telling the person she was too sweet, can that be his mother? No, that can’t be, it’s a girl. Who is she to him? And he assured the girl he was coming tonight. Has he been lying about his mother’s health all along? He doesn’t want me to see his mother, who he claims was very sick. I know what to do.”

After that, she pulled herself together and attended to her pupils.

Around dismissal time, the teacher brought back the lesson note to her.

The teacher noticed that Ifunanya was still not happy as she collected the lesson note.

“Teacher Ifunanya, is everything alright with you?”

“Yes, I’m just having a slight headache.”

“Sorry, you need to rest your head,” the teacher advised, knowing fully well that it wasn’t a headache.

She knew Ifunanya didn’t want to share the problem with her at that moment.

Afterwards, the teacher left.

Later that day, around evening, Ifunanya was in the bedroom going through her pupils’ assignments when her phone started ringing. She checked, and it was Jerry.

She answered the call.

“Hello babe,” Jerry said over the phone.

“Good evening,” Ifunanya greeted nonchalantly.

“How was work today?”

“Fine.”

“I’ll be going to see my mother after closing for the day.”

“Ok, my regards to her.”

“She will hear, bye.”

“Bye.”

Jerry ended the call.

Ifunanya dropped her phone and continued what she was doing.

Around 11 p.m., Ifunanya started calling Jerry’s number, and he wasn’t picking up. She continued calling until he picked up the call.

“Hello, what is it?”

Loud music was playing hard in the background but gradually reduced as he spoke, indicating he was moving away from the source of the music.

“Where are you?” Ifunanya asked.

“Didn’t I tell you I was going to see my mother?”

“Give her the phone. I want to speak with her.”

“Hello… hello…,” Jerry said and ended the call.

Ifunanya called one more time, but he didn’t pick up. She tried again, and the phone was switched off.

“This says it all. He isn’t where he said he was,” Ifunanya soliloquized.

She went to bed but couldn’t sleep. It was a long night for her. She was insinuating and projecting images to her memory. She couldn’t boast of an hour’s worth of sleep that night.

Ifunanya didn’t call Jerry again, neither did Jerry.

In the morning, she was still in bed feeling weak. She wasn’t motivated to go to work that day.

Later that morning, Jerry came back to the house.

When he got to the bedroom, he was surprised to still see Ifunanya at home around that time.

“Babe, you didn’t go to work today. Why?”

Ifunanya didn’t reply him. She was enraged and depressed.

“Baby,” Jerry said and tapped her shoulder.

Ifunanya couldn’t hold herself anymore. She flared up.

“Don’t touch me with those f!lthy hands of yours. Where were you last night?” Ifunanya asked authoritatively.

“I thought I told you where I was going to.”

“Don’t tell me that sh!t. You are a l!ar, you were with a girl. If you are denying it, call your mother now and let me speak to her.”

Jerry turned and began to walk out of the room.

Ifunanya rushed to him and held his trousers.

“So you are walking out on me, let me see your phone,” Ifunanya requested shouting and trying to take his phone from his pocket.

Jerry pulled her hands off his trousers and slapped her hard.

“Don’t push me! Who do you think you are that you want to treat me like a kid?” Jerry warned her sternly.

“Jerry, you slapped me,” Ifunanya said as tears rolled down her cheek.

“And I will do it again if you try this n0nsense you did now. Are you my mother?! You think you have control over me, right? You must be very stup!d.”

Ifunanya was shocked at those realities.

She didn’t believe Jerry could raise his hand on her.

She went back to the bedroom and wept like a baby.

A few hours later, Jerry left for the bedroom. When he got there, Ifunanya was lying in bed, looking depr£ssed.

He went and sat close to her. After some minutes of silence, he turned to her looking remorseful.

“Babe, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry for h!tting you, I don’t know what came over me. Please forgive me.”

Ifunanya remained calm and didn’t react to his apology.

Jerry then knelt and held her hand.

“I’m sorry, I was just pa!ned that someone that I gave my heart to, could think such a thing about me. I can never love any other woman. You are my only love. Please forgive me,” he said and started shedding tears.

Ifunanya turned to him.

“Please s-t-o-p,” she begged amidst vexation.

“I can’t cheat on you. If you want to speak to my mother or access my phone, see it here. Take it and do whatever you want with it,” he said amidst tears, handing Ifunanya his phone.

“No. I don’t need the phone anymore, I trust you.”

“I’m sorry for hitting you. I couldn’t believe you could think such a thing. It was the pa!n that triggered my emotions to raise my hand on the woman I love.”

“It’s okay, please get up.”

Jerry still knelt.

“From now on, I won’t go to the hospital again. My mother was getting better the last time I was with her. I won’t go back again.”

“No, I can’t come in between you and your mother.”

“My little sister is there with her, I can call to check on them. Don’t you know that I love you more than my mother?”

“Please don’t say that,” Ifunanya said, blushing.

“I mean it.”

“Hmmm, I love you too. Please get up.”

Jerry got up and sat beside Ifunanya.

“Please cheer up, I will never do anything that would hurt you. I want you to always be happy for me.”

He held Ifunanya by the hand and walked her into the bathroom.

“I want you to freshen up, I have a big threat for you.”

Ifunanya smiled and started undr£ssing.

“Should I come and bathe you?” Jerry asked jokingly.

“Do you think I’m still a baby?”

“You are my baby.”

“No, please, I can bathe myself.”

“OK, I’m waiting.”

He went and sat on the bed.

A few minutes later, Ifunanya came out of the bathroom and dressed up.

Soon after, they left the house.

Jerry took her to her favourite bar spot.

They walked to a free table and sat.

A waiter came to take their orders.

Jerry ordered two full plates of fresh fish pepper soup and some bottles of alcoholic beverages.

The waiter left afterwards.

In no time, the ordered items were brought to their table.

They ate and drank to their fullest.

Jerry paid the bills, and they went back to the house.

They had a nice time in bed afterwards.

Ifunanya believed everything that Jerry told her. She had also closed her mind concerning what she heard Jerry saying over the phone.

The following morning, they continued about their daily activities.

Both of them prepared and left the house.

Ifunanya walked to her school while Jerry booked a taxi that carried him to the shop.

A few hours later, Ifunanya was seated inside the class during the school’s leisure time. Her colleague, whom she collected the lesson notes from, walked in.

They exchanged greetings, and the teacher drew one of the pupils’ benches close to Ifunanya and sat down.

“Teacher Ifunanya, you didn’t come to school yesterday? Why?”

“I was just stressed out and decided to rest.”

“Someone in your condition isn’t supposed to be passing through any form of stress, be it physical or emotional. You can ease them off by speaking to someone about your challenges.”

“OK, I’ve heard you. I’m fine now.”

“Ok, I didn’t like the way you looked the other day, and you didn’t come to work yesterday. So I felt I should just ask you. Thank God everything is alright. Let me go back to my class,” the lady said and stood up to leave.

“Has your husband ever hit you?” Ifunanya asked.

“No, why do you ask?” The lady queried inquisitively as she sat back.

“I just want to know whether a man can be so angry that he raises his hand on his wife.

“Any man who hits a woman when he’s angry is abusive.”

“My husband slapped me for the first time yesterday, but he later apologised.”

“He will still do it again if he wishes to. But what did you do to him to bring about the slap?”

Ifunanya then narrated the whole issue to her.

“You didn’t handle the matter well. You shouldn’t have confronted him in such a manner, but that isn’t enough reason for him to slap his pregnant wife. I want you to follow this case with wisdom,” the lady said.

“But we have settled everything,” Ifunanya said defensively.

“Even at that, he may not tell you the whole truth. Forget about what he told you and find out the truth by yourself and handle the matter the way you should.”

Ifunanya looked reluctant.

“You better do it to know your stand in that relationship. I know you trust him, but he has given you the benefit of the doubt. Open your eyes.”

Ifunanya was mute.

Her colleague stood up to leave.

“Our leisure time had almost elapsed, so let me go back to my class. Think about what I said.”

“OK, thanks for your concern.”

“You are welcome,” she said and walked out of the class.

Soon after, the pupils started coming back into Ifunanya’s class.

“I don’t know why everyone is just against our relationship. It is indeed us against the world. Even teacher Maria, who hasn’t set her eyes on Jerry, is talking ill against him. I won’t listen to her, she wants to come in between us.

Let everyone watch me bring out the best in Jerry. He will soon be a responsible father for my children. All they are suggesting is excuses for me to leave Jerry but I won’t leave,” Ifunanya soliloquized as she was arranging the pupils’ books on the shelf after their dismissal.

When she was done, she came out, locked the classroom and left for her house.

A few days later, around evening, Ifunanya was in the kitchen picking some beans from a tray for dinner. Suddenly, she heard her phone ringing in the living room.

She kept the tray aside and quickly left for the living room.

Immediately she got to the living room, she picked up the phone to check who it was.

Her countenance changed immediately when she saw it was Chioma her friend.

She then busied the call.

“N0nsense, let me even block her so she wouldn’t reach me again.”

After blocking her she kept the phone at the centre table and murmured back to the kitchen.

“Everybody wants to advise Ifunanya. Even Chioma who doesn’t know her left from her right in a relationship. Let her marry first before I will listen to her. She has all the advice in the whole world, but she’s still single.”

She got back to the kitchen and continued what she was doing.

Later that day, Jerry came back to the house. As they were having dinner in the dining room, Ifunanya told him about Chioma’s call and what she did afterwards.

“You have done well, darling. If I were you, I’d do the same thing. She’s just jealous of us, I hope she doesn’t know this place.”

“Yes, I didn’t let her know.”

“Good.”

They later switched to another topic as they continued with their dinner.

Some days later, at night, Ifunanya was pacing around the house with her phone and also looking out to see if Jerry was coming.

She had dialled Jerry’s number several times but he didn’t pick up.

She then tried the number one more time and someone picked it up.

“Hello Jerry,” Ifunanya said, panicking.

“Hello, who is this?” a female voice asked.

Ifunanya refused to speak on hearing the female voice.

“Why are you calling my man at this time of the night?” The voice continued.

Ifunanya was dumbfounded and quickly ended the call.

“What is going on? A girl calling Jerry my man and I was here thinking that something might have gone wrong because he didn’t inform me he was going anywhere. So Jerry is with someone and he has so much disrespect for me now that he gave his phone to a girl to speak to me. Hmmm, I didn’t want to start believing all that I was being told about him. Let me wait for him to come back.”

About an hour later, Jerry was in bed with a girl in a dimly lit room. He suddenly sat up from the bed and quickly checked his watch and it was 11:55 pm. He got out of the bed and started wearing his clothes.

The girl sat up and watched as he wore his clothes.

“You couldn’t even wake me up on time,” Jerry said.

“Who are you leaving me for?”

“I’m not leaving you for anyone, you know I told you I wouldn’t sleep here tonight. I have things to do in my house before daybreak.”

“Ok.”

“I’ll talk to you later,” he said and dashed out of the room.

Some minutes later, Jerry got into their compound. He walked to the entrance door and started knocking.

Ifunanya was still awake. She had been in the living room watching television just to keep herself busy from thinking about what the girl said to her over the phone.

Ifunanya on hearing the knock, went and opened the door.

Jerry walked in, and Ifunanya greeted him.

He replied to her greetings and his mouth was oozing with the smell of alcohol.

“Where are you coming from?”

“I need some rest.”

“Jerry, so you were with a girl.”

“Stop asking me stup!d questions. Can’t I hang out with my friends in peace?”

“Am I not good enough for you? Who was that girl you gave your phone to?”

“As I said earlier, I need some rest,” Jerry said and left for the bedroom.

“I should have known that you don’t have good manners,” Ifunanya muttered as he left.

Jerry suddenly stopped and walked back to where Ifunanya was.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

“You said I don’t have good manners, you think I will not hear you. It is your mother that doesn’t have manners,” he shouted.

He then pounced on her and started punching her.

When he was done hitting her, he left for the bedroom.

Ifunanya stayed back in the living room wailing.

Ifunanya slept off on a couch in the living room that night, after crying her heart out.

The following morning, she was still on the couch when Jerry walked up to her and tapped her.

She was awake but refused to turn in his direction. She felt he had come to apologise like he did the last time.

Jerry tapped her again and she still refused to turn towards him.

“Ifunanya!” Jerry shouted.

She quickly turned towards him.

Jerry had never called her by her name since they became intimate. She was shocked and filled with mixed feelings on hearing her name from Jerry in that manner.

“Are you not checking the time? Are we not going to eat this morning?”

“So, this is all you have to tell me after hitting me last night. See bruises all over my body.”

“What do you want me to tell you?”

“At least apologise for your actions.”

“Sorry, please go and prepare something for us to eat, I’m famished.”

Ifunanya got up sluggishly and walked to the kitchen.

“Simply because I corrected you last night, you are feeling like I did something wrong,” Jerry muttered as she left.

Ifunanya prepared the breakfast and they both ate.

When they were done eating, Jerry left for the shop.

Ifunanya felt so sad as he left the house.

“What have I gotten myself into, all these while I’ve been trying to make things work out for both? I’ve tried ignoring the nay-sayers just to see if things would work out. Jerry keeps getting worse by the day. No remorse at all for what he did to me. He left without asking whether I’d go to work today or not, let alone leaving together. I need to talk to someone about what I’m going through. I don’t think he will ever change.”

She reached for her phone, searched through her contacts, and dialled a number.

In no time, the person picked up the call.

“Teacher Maria, good morning,” Ifunanya greeted.

“Good morning, teacher Ifunanya, how are you doing? I hope you are coming today?” Teacher Maria asked over the phone.

“N.. No.”

“Why?”

“I would like to speak to you privately.”

“Hold on, let me move to a private area.”

“Ok.”

A few moments later, her colleague notified her that she was in a private area.

“What is the problem?” Teacher Maria continued.

Ifunanya started weeping.

“Tell me what the problem is.”

“He hit me again, last night.”

“Again? What did you do to him?”

Ifunanya narrated amidst tears, all that happened between her and Jerry the previous night.

“I’m sorry about that,” her colleague consoled.

“I don’t know what I did to him to deserve this type of treatment.”

“Don’t blame yourself for his actions towards you. The truth is that you can not change him, that is who he is. I advise you to give him space for a while. Go back to your parents.”

“I can’t just leave him you know. I am carrying his baby. I feel I need to know that girl he’s cheating on me with.”

“Will knowing the girl change anything?”

“Let me try and see if I can separate both of them. I don’t know how to get info about her.”

“Check his phone.”

“He hardly leaves his phone with me and if he does, I will not be able to unlock his phone. He changes passwords frequently.”

“OK, you can pay him a surprise visit at the shop or you trail his movements. But you may be more heartbroken at what you will discover.”

“I don’t care, I need to sort this out once and for all.”

“OK, remember that you are pregnant. I advise you to let this be and avoid asking him about any girl till when you put to bed.”

“I can’t wait till then. I know exactly what to do. Thanks so much for your support.”

“When are you coming back to school?”

“I have bruises on my face, I don’t want anyone to ask questions. I will not come this week. Please you will help me and speak to the headmistress, tell her that I’m sick. I will also call her.”

“OK, that means I’ll be in charge of your class and mine. Do not hesitate to call if you need to talk to someone.”

“OK. Thanks so much.”

Ifunanya then ended the call.

After ending the call, Ifunanya called the headmistress and informed her that she was very sick and that she would resume when she felt better.

Ifunanya had also made up her mind to use that period of staying at home to satisfy her curiosity concerning the girl Jerry was cheating on her with.

She stopped asking Jerry about his whereabouts and also pretended like everything was alright.

Jerry was made to believe that Ifunanya was at home because she had bruises on her face.

A few days later, around noon, Ifunanya dressed up and was about to leave her house. She wore big sunshade glasses and covered her face with a shawl. She went out and locked the house and then left for her shop.

She didn’t inform Jerry that she was coming to the shop.

Some minutes later she got to her shop.

Everywhere looked different. The things that indicate her presence in the shop were all removed. Her picture that was at the entrance was removed. Ifunanya felt sad.

She then went into the shop and saw that there were a few hair extensions on the shelves.

She looked around but didn’t see Jerry inside. There was a girl inside, she was busy on the shelves. She was arranging some hair and changing their price tags.

Ifunanya then called her attention.

“Who dey here?”

“I’m here oo,” she said and turned towards Ifunanya.

Ifunanya on seeing her, was shocked at who the girl appeared to be.

Ifunanya boldly walked into the shop and the girl followed her.

“So what are you doing here,” Ifunanya queried.

“This is my shop. Sister Ifunanya, is this you?” the girl said, smiling.

Ifunanya didn’t reciprocate the smile.

“Chidimma, I’m asking why you are here, and you are asking me silly questions. Do you think I’m here to play?”

“Sister Ifunanya, you stopped sending anything to us, and I was coming to this town to hustle so that I and mummy can feed well. Mummy’s health has deteriorated since you broke her heart and stopped taking her calls.”

“You still haven’t answered me. What are you doing here?”

“I’m coming to that sister. So I was a sales girl for someone in the major market. So one day, I met this God sent that later became my lover. He got a house and also this hair shop for me and I stopped the salesgirl job.”

Ifunanya became dumbfounded.

“Sis, are you surprised that we are comfortable? You think we can not survive without you.”

“And who is that Godsent that gave you this shop?”

“His name is Jerry.”

Ifunanya’s heart started racing.

“Chidimma, Jerry is my man!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I said that Jerry is my husband and this shop is mine. I don’t know whatever you claim that he had done for you but just know that this shop is mine. By the way, where is he?”

“Sis, you are just looking for a way to make life miserable for your family. But you see this time around, it will not work for you. Let me go and call Jerry.”

Chidimma quickly left the shop for a bar down the street.

In no time, she came back with Jerry.

They walked into the shop. Jerry on sighting Ifunanya became anxious. He never knew Ifunanya could leave the house for the shop at that period.

Chidimma only told her that a lady came to make trouble at the shop.

He walked up to Ifunanya and held her hand.

“Ifunanya, what are you doing here?” He said gently.

“I should be asking you what my sister is doing in my shop.”

“Your sister? Really? Chidimma is your sister.

“Yes.”

“Come, let’s talk outside please.”

He held Ifunanya by the hand, and they went outside.

“Jerry, what’s going on?” Ifunanya asked Jerry when they got a few feet away from the shop.

“Nothing is going on. You are just embarrassing yourself. That girl is just a salesgirl, I didn’t know that she was your sister. I was just helping her because she said she needed a job. Don’t you want your sister to work as a salesgirl?”

Ifunanya was mute.

“But she was saying something else,” she continued.

“Never mind her, just go home. We will talk about everything when I come back. It is not what you are thinking about. Please go home.”

“Ok.”

Ifunanya turned and left for the house.

Jerry then went back to the shop.

“Where is she?” Chidimma asked.

“She has left. This world is just a small place. I didn’t know that Ifunanya was your sister. She was my ex and I gave her this shop at that time. That was why she was surprised to see you here. She’s still fighting to come back to my life.”

“To come back while she’s pregnant for her fiance.”

“I don’t know her problems. Don’t listen to whatever she said about this shop. The shop is mine and I Jerry gave it to you.”

“Ok, thanks, love. I’ve heard you, and I won’t let anyone intimidate me, not even my sister.”

“That’s my girl.”

That same day, after the close of work, Jerry went back to the house.

They had their dinner together and afterwards, they were in the living room watching television. Jerry pretended like nothing happened earlier and avoided conversations that related to the shop. Ifunanya couldn’t take it anymore, she had waited all day for him to come back just so she would ask for more explanation about what transpired in the shop.

“Babe, remember there’s someone you said we would talk about,” Ifunanya spoke up.

“What was it?”

“About my sister in my shop.”

“Ok, I have told her to stop coming to the shop. I don’t want anybody to come in between us. I didn’t know she was your sister. I have even forgotten about her case.”

Ifunanya took a deep breath.

“Imagine that little brat telling me that my shop was hers.”

“You won’t blame her. Will a sales girl admit she’s a sales girl when her master is not in the shop?”

“But, why did you put a sales girl in my shop without informing me?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t inform you. You know it’s ladies’ business. I hardly get customers when I’m alone in the shop, but when I got the girl, business started booming. But now that I’ve sent her away, I’ll keep managing the shop that way until you put to bed.”

“Okay. By the way, have you stopped going to school?”

“I want these bruises to heal before I start going to school.”

“They are healed already. I don’t want you to stress yourself again by coming to the shop. That girl will not come back to the shop again.”

“OK.”

Later on, they went to bed.

Ifunanya was awake thinking about the happenings.

She was more concerned about not allowing another person into Jerry’s life. She was contemplating whether it was her sister that Jerry had been speaking to all the while or whether there was someone else.

“I never knew Chidimma was in this town. I know I haven’t spoken to her or my mother for some months now, maybe that’s why I’m not aware. Was she really a salesgirl? Why my shop? It is also possible she doesn’t know it’s my shop because Jerry doesn’t know she is my sister. Is she having an affair with Jerry?”

All those questions were popping up in her head and she kept thinking about them till she fell asleep.

A couple of days later, Ifunanya resumed going to school. She had still not substantiated who the girl was but she couldn’t continue staying at home after her bruises were healed.

Later in the day, during the school’s leisure time, Ifunanya went to see her colleague, teacher Maria.

When she got there, they exchanged greetings and discussed this at length. Ifunanya told her all that she discovered when she went to her shop unannounced.

“So that shop is yours.”

“Yes.”

“My dear, which other proof do you need to believe that he’s having something with your sister? Honestly, you disappoint me. Do you think he cannot cheat on you with your sister or what? Why are you this gullible? Why do you allow this man to deceive you?”

Ifunanya was quiet all of a sudden.

“The shop is yours and you don’t what happens there. Do you guys operate a joint account?”

“No, I have a different account solely for my business.”

“Hope he remits the sales into the account.”

“Eh-m-, yes, but I don’t check the activities on it because I know he had expenses and he provides for us.”

“How then do you know when he makes sales? He is supposed to be giving an account of the sales he makes and his expenses. Once in a while check the account.”

“I’ll do that. I didn’t consider all these before. Even though he used to pay into the account before I can’t remember the last time he did.”

“Fall in love with your head, not your heart. There’s something fishy about this your husband.”

“Hmmm, my sister I’ll try and find out.”

Soon after, the leisure time was over and Ifunanya went back to her class and continued with the class activities.

Later that day, while at home, Ifunanya brought out her phone and started searching through it to check her bank app. She opened the app, clicked on the transaction history and started scrutinising all the transactions there.

She was shocked at her discoveries, there were no recent deposits. She was surprised because Jerry never misses going to the shop.

“No money was deposited, not even that of the lady that called her last week and she had collected the hair.”

She continued scrolling through the transaction history.

“I’m sure she paid. She’s my regular customer and she is never disappointed. What is happening?”

Ifunanya made up her mind to ask Jerry about that.

So in the evening of that day, when Jerry was back, Ifunanya confronted him concerning the money while they were in the bedroom. She complained about the lady’s own but Jerry kept on denying that such happened.

“No recent payment into the account as if I don’t take care of our needs.”

“What have you been taking care of that takes up all the recent monies?”

“I don’t make sales all the time and again

When did she even leave that you are using her as an excuse? You go to the shop every day and you tell me there are no sales. My customer informed me that she came to collect a 250k hair in the shop last week and she paid in full before collection. I didn’t see her payment in the transaction history, what do you have to say about it.”

“So you are now calling me a thief.”

“I didn’t say that, I asked a simple question, what happened to the money?”

“Nobody gave me any money.”

“Seriously! Let me confirm what you said.”

“That’s your business,” he said and left for the living room.

Ifunanya followed him.

When they got there, Ifunanya brought out her phone, scrolled through it and dialled the customer’s number. The customer picked it up immediately and Ifunanya switched on the phone’s loudspeaker.

“Hello dear, good evening,” Ifunanya greeted.

“Good evening ma,” the customer responded.

“Please don’t be offended, my husband said you didn’t pay for the hair that day.”

“No ma, I paid for it before leaving with it.”

“Please can you send the receipt?”

“Yes please, I’ll do that right away.”

“Thank you,” Ifunanya said and ended the call.

In no time the lady sent the receipt of her payment. Ifunanya went through the receipt and discovered that the payment was made into Jerry’s personal account.

“Jerry! Why are you like this?! See the receipt, is this not your name?!” Ifunanya exclaimed as she showed Jerry her phone screen.

Jerry kept mute but looked arrogant.

“Who knows how long this has been going on? Jerry, I need to see my sales book,” Ifunanya continued.

“It’s in the shop.”

“Please bring it back while coming back tomorrow.”

“Ok,” he said nonchalantly.

Ifunanya angrily left for the bedroom.

The following, they prepared and left for their different stations.

A few hours later, Jerry came back to the house. He picked some items and later left with a bag.

Later in the evening, Ifunanya was home waiting for Jerry to come back. She had finished preparing the dinner and was waiting for him to come back so they could enjoy the food together.

It was getting late and he hadn’t come back or called.

Ifunanya took her phone and called him severally but he didn’t pick up. Soon after she called again and it was switched off.

She started having mixed feelings.

“I hope nothing has happened to him. What if he’s with a girl? Or is it because I told him to bring the sales book? I don’t need this kind of stress at this stage of my pregnancy. Tomorrow, I’ll go to that shop and see things for myself.”

The following day, Jerry was still not home and his phone was still switched off.

Ifunanya had finished bathing and was checking through the wardrobes to bring out the clothes she would wear. She noticed that most of Jerry’s clothes were not there. But she wasn’t worried, she believed he must have taken them to be washed by the dry cleaners as he usually does.

She then picked up a free gown, wore it and later left for her shop.

She believed Jerry would be there or if not, she could get useful information on his whereabouts.

A few minutes later, she got to the shop but the shop wasn’t opened yet. It was under lock. She took her spare keys and opened the lock.

She then opened the door and entered into the shop.

She was shocked that all the hair items in her shop were gone.

“Jesus! What is happening here!?”

Her body started shaking.

She rushed out to her neighbour’s shop panting.

“Anty Ify, what is it?” The young man who owns the shop asked.

“My market!! My hairs!!”

“Wetin happen to your market?”

“Everything is gone!”

“But your husband said you are relocating to another shop, na him pack everything comot.”

“Who? Who said that?”

“Oga Jerry.”

“Jerry! Please do you know where he is? I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”

“No, I don’t know where he is.”

“Ok, thank you,” Ifunanya said and went back to the shop.

When she got there, she sat on the floor and was looking overwhelmed and frustrated.

“What am I going to do now? So Jerry was the one who took away my items. Why? Where could he be? Am I dreaming or what? My own Jerry cleared my shop, for what? I need to talk to someone. This is too much for me to handle.”

She paused for a while.

“I don’t have any choice now than to call Chioma. I hope she will still answer me,” she continued.

She took her phone and dialled Chioma’s number. In no time, she picked it up.

“Chioma, please I need to see you. Please forgive me for whatever I’ve done to you.”

“Ifunanya, is everything is alright?”

“Everything is not alright,” Ifunanya shouted amidst tears.

“Where are you?”

“I’m in my shop. Please come as quickly as possible.”

“OK, I’m coming right away.”

“Thank you so much.”

Ifunanya then ended the call.

In no time, Chioma arrived at Ifunanya’s shop. Ifunanya was still seated on the floor with her legs stretched out. Her face was swollen from weeping.

Chioma quickly went to where Ifunanya was and crouched down.

“Ify, why are you sitting on the floor? What happened to you?” Chioma asked while rubbing Ifunanya’s shoulder.

“Jerry has finished me. See my shop, everything is gone!” Ifunanya replied as tears rolled down her cheek.

“Jerry? Finished you? So, you not aware.”

“Aware of what?” Ifunanya asked inquisitively.

Chioma was silent.

“Aware of what Chioma? I haven’t seen Jerry since yesterday. His phone is even switched off.”

Chioma was then looking pitifully at her.

“I know you are blaming me for what is happening to me. I would have listened to you. I am doomed. I wish I knew where he is,” Ifunanya continued lamenting.

“I know where to find him.”

“Eh! Chioma you know!” she shouted with her eyes wide open.

“Please, let’s go to the place now!” Ifunanya desperately begged

“Take it easy, I’ll take you there. You could have nipped this in the bud.”

“How will I know now?”

“I wanted to inform you about a girl I usually see Jerry with. Knowing that Jerry had taken over your shop, I didn’t come to the shop so I called but you refused to take my calls. For him to still be with the girl till now means they planned this together.”

“Which girl? Where does she stay please?”

“I know where she lives. Jerry is at her place as of yesterday.”

“Let’s go there now,” Ifunanya said as she pulled Chioma’s hand.

“You need to take things easy Ify, I suggest you involve the police here.”

“By the time the police will come, he must have gone far away. I also need to see that girl he’s squatting with, that one is not a police case.”

“Haba Ify! Are you still talking about a rival at this critical time? You should be more concerned about the goods that Jerry stole. He’s a crook and you aren’t supposed to be thinking about having anything with him again.”

“OK, let’s go first.”

“OK.”

They both stood and went outside. Ifunanya locked the shop and they left.

“The place isn’t far from my place. We can use keke because of your condition,” Chioma suggested.

“OK,” Ifunanya agreed.

They walked down the street and boarded a tricycle. They entered and left.

Some minutes later, the driver stopped in front of a compound as he was directed by Chioma.

They alighted and Ifunanya paid.

Chioma led the way as they entered the compound that housed a small multi-family apartment. The compound was quiet indicating that most of the occupants weren’t at home.

By then Ifunanya was already fuming and couldn’t wait to crush whoever was on her way. She was just waiting for Chioma to show her where Jerry and the girl were.

So, Chioma got to the entrance of one of the apartments and stopped.

“Are we at the place?”

“Yes, I want us to be mature here. I want you guys to talk things out if the need be you can involve the police, okay?”

As she was still talking, Ifunanya ignored her, rushed to the door and started banging the door.

A young lady opened the door and Ifunanya recognised her immediately.

“Chidimma! You again!”

“What are you doing at my house.”

“Have both of you met each other?” Chioma asked.

“She’s my sister, my younger sister,” Ifunanya answered.

“What!, isn’t she aware of you and Jerry.”

As they were talking Jerry opened the door to see who was at the door.

Immediately he saw them, he drew back but Ifunanya saw him.

“Jerry! Where are you running to!” Ifunanya shouted and started struggling to enter the apartment but Chidimma blocked her.

Ifunanya gave her a hot slap and a heated fight ensued.

Ifunanya forgot that she was pregnant and wanted to teach the little Chidimma a lesson. She used all her energy to punch her all over her body.

Chidimma retaliated heavily on Ifunanya and was almost overpowering her.

When Chioma saw that Chidimma was taking over she rushed to help her friend.

Chidimma quickly picked up a small wooden chair in front of the house to throw towards Chioma.

Chioma ducked it and it landed on Ifunanya’s stomach.

Ifunanya screamed in pain.

Immediately they stopped fighting.

“My stomach, Aaarrh! Aaaaarrhh!!! My stomach!!! Ifunanya shouted, holding her stomach.

Chioma held her and was consoling her.

Immediately, Ifunanya noticed some wetness in her private area. She touched the place and noticed she was bleeding. She shouted more.

Chidimma became scared.

“Sister, I’m sorry,” she said while getting closer to touch Ifunanya.

“Leave me alone! Get out of my sight!!” Ifunanya shouted at the top of her voice.

Chidimma stood aside and pitifully watched her.

Chioma rushed outside and luckily enough, she stopped a tricycle.

She came back and led Ifunanya to the tricycle.

Chidimma followed them behind but stopped at the gate as they entered the tricycle. The driver left immediately.

Chidimma stood there regretting her actions.

As all those were happening, Jerry remained inside the house and refused to come outside.

Chidimma, with deep remorse, walked back into the living room.

Jerry was seated on the couch pressing his and looked like he was not aware of what had been going on.

Chidimma sat down without altering a word.

“What happened to her,” Jerry said as he turned towards her.

“I hit her stomach with that chair,” Chidimma replied, pointing at the chair at the entrance.

“Is that why you are looking this worried? Was she not hitting you before or is hitting her back now a problem?”

“Jerry, my sister is bleeding and it’s my fault. She didn’t even let me touch her again, her friend took her away maybe to the hospital. I pray nothing happens to her and the baby.”

“Don’t worry about Ifunanya. I have always known her as someone who loves attention.”

“What if something bad happened to her?”

“Nothing bad will happen to her, trust me. I know your sister very well. Don’t forget she was my ex.”

“I wish I knew where she took her to.”

“We should be thinking of our plan not this, even if something happens to her she should bear in mind that she brought it upon herself.”

Chidimma walked gently into the bedroom.

The following morning, she woke up feeling exhausted. She still hasn’t gotten over her previous day’s act towards her sister.

She got up from the bed, picked up her phone and walked to the living room.

She dialled Ifunanya’s number but she did not pick up the calls. She tried severally but she didn’t pick up.

As she was still trying to call Ifunanya’s number again, Jerry walked up to her.

“Babe, what’s the problem? Jerry asked.

“I’m calling Ifunanya but she is not picking up her calls. I’m just worried. I don’t know how to get to that her friend.”

“I want us to talk about our plan.”

“Jerry, please we will do that some other times. I need to see my sister.”

“If you must see her then I think they would be headed to the hospital, considering what you said about her condition.”

“Which hospital then?”

“She uses St Leo hospital most times she’s sick. I think that’s where she would be.”

“That hospital around that popular eatery.”

“Exactly, I just want you to confirm that nothing is wrong with her. I want you to be at peace with yourself as we go on with our plan.”

“Thank you for this info. Let me try, I pray she’s there.”

“Ok.”

Soon after, Chidimma rushed into the bedroom, changed and dashed off for the hospital.

Some minutes later, she got to the hospital vicinity. She quickly went to the receptionist to enquire about Ifunanya’s presence at the hospital.

The receptionist referred her to the nurse’s station just before the maternity ward.

She left for the nurse’s station immediately.

When she got there, she described Ifunanya and her case to them, and luckily for her Ifunanya was there.

“She underwent an emergency CS,” one of the senior nurses confirmed.

Chidimma was shocked to hear that but she didn’t let the nurses notice her emotions.

“What is your relationship with her,” the nurse continued.

“She’s my elder sister.”

“Ok, we will take you to where she is.”

“Thank you ma.”

So one of the nurses took Ifunanya to the private ward where Ifunanya was. But when they got there, Ifunanya wasn’t in bed.

“Where is she?” Chidimma asked.

“Oh! She’s at the ICU.”

“Please what is she doing at ICU.”

“Her baby is premature. She went through emergency cs so we can save her and her baby.”

“Can you take me to the place?”

“Yes, because she’s your sister. We don’t usually allow people there.”

“Ok, thank you.”

So, the nurse led her to the ICU.

As they walked into the place, Ifunanya was seated close to the neonatal incubator, muttering some words and admiring the tiny human in there. Ifunanya didn’t look to see who it was.

The nurse left immediately.

Chidimma stood at a distance watching as Ifunanya displayed affection towards her newborn.

“Such a cute little boy. You came at the wrong time but I will not let you suffer. You remind me everything about your father but I won’t love you less,” Ifunanya muttered gently to her baby.

All of a sudden, she turned and saw Chidimma standing.

Chidimma quickly knelt and started apologising to her but Ifunanya flared up and started using strong abusive words on her.

Immediately, the nurses came and asked Chidimma to leave.

She left the ward.

Chidimma was so sad as she was leaving the hospital. She felt sorry for all the pain she caused her sister.

She then came out of the hospital and stood by the roadside. She brought out her phone and dialled a number.

“Good morning Mummy,” she greeted.

“Good morning, my daughter,” her mother replied over the phone.

“Are you at home?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I’m coming to the house now,”

“Hope no problems.”

Chidimma didn’t reply but ended the call.

Suddenly, a tricycle stopped before her and someone alighted. She looked and saw it was Chioma.

Chioma didn’t speak to her, rather she gave her a criminal offensive side eye and quickly entered the hospital gate.

Chidimma was deluged.

Afterwards, she boarded a taxi and left for her mother’s place.

Ifunanya was lying peacefully in bed inside the private ward when Chioma walked in with a big black nylon bag.

Ifunanya sat up and welcomed her.

“Were you able to get the items?”

“Yes, I left early you know. I told you that the locals bring their goods very early in the morning,” Chioma responded as she brought out smaller tied bags from the bigger bag.

She opened a few of the nylon bags and brought out varieties of fresh fruits.

She then washed and diced them into a neat plate, and gave them to Ifunanya to eat.

Ifunanya munched as they continued discussing.

“Did your sister come here?” Chioma asked.

“Yes,” Ifunanya replied nonchalantly.

“I met her at the gate.”

“Imagine, she came to apologise for what she did.”

“N0nsense, I’m more concerned about your items not even your relationship with Jerry.”

“She !rritates me so much that I don’t like talking about her.”

“But what are you going to do about what Jerry stole from you.”

“Let me recover first.”

“You have seen that I was right when I suggested we go with the police that yesterday.”

“I know I made a mistake by not going with the police but at least I now know his accomplice and even the one he’s cheating on me with. And it baffles me that the person is my sister. I have two persons to contend with now.”

“So are you going to leave your shop empty? You know you didn’t get to speak to Jerry about the missing items. What if he denies taking them.”

“He does no such thing. I now know where to find him, arresting him isn’t a problem. I want to just give myself time to recover.”

“Ok. Ifunanya, I suggest you tell your mother about your baby.”

“Have you forgotten how I left the house? And the !diot that made me behave stup!dly is now in the arms of my sister. Is it not laughable, how will I tell my mother? Let me carry my cross abeg.”

“Hmm, okay.”

They switched to a different topic and continued discussing.

About an hour later, Chidimma had gotten to the house. She was sitting with her mother and they were engrossed in their conversation.

“She came to the new place to claim it’s hers. Did you verify her claims?”

“Jerry said she was his ex. Then, he gave her the shop, but now that they are no longer together, she is coming to claim ownership.”

“But why would you date your sister’s ex-lover.”

“Mummy, I wasn’t aware they knew each other and the man didn’t know I was her sister.”

“Why would Ifunanya do such a thing?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mummy, Ifunanya later came to fight me in my house.”

“Why?”

“She wants my boyfriend, I don’t know her problems.”

“Your boyfriend? I think your sister had changed, but she had a fiance who she was pregnant for.”

“Yes, she has a fiance. I don’t understand what her problem is. I feel my sister doesn’t just want our happiness.”

“Is this why you came to see me.”

“Not just that, something else happened. That time that Ifunanya came to fight me in my house, I hit her stomach with a small chair and she was rushed to the hospital.”

“What!! When?!!!”

“Yesterday.”

“How could you? Who knows what happened to her, do you have any information about her and the baby?” She asked panicking.

“They are fine, I went to the hospital earlier today to see them but the baby was in the incubator.”

“Oh my God, that must be painful for her. Why did you do such a thing to her.”

Chidimma was calm and remorseful.

“Even though Ifunanya doesn’t want to see us again, I don’t want you to fight with her over a man. It’s embarrassing.”

“But Jerry made me understand that she was just an ex.”

“I want you to leave that man.”

“Mummy, we have big plans for the future.”

“That future looks scary to me. Things will be more complicated for you in that future, you should leave him now and save yourself the stress of what lies ahead in that relationship.”

“Mummy, I can’t just let him go. My future is bright with him.”

“What is that that you cannot let go? You are still young for Christ’s sake.”

“He will help me secure a scholarship to study abroad. Just recently, he got a shop in my name where I’ll be selling hair. Besides, he’s been the one sustaining us all this while.”

“Hmmm, I guess he’s a nice person but all those promises sound too good to me.”

Chidimma smiled.

“That’s what I was saying. How can I leave such a good man because he was Ifunanya’s ex.”

“I would like to see him.”

“Ok, I’ll tell him about it.”

“Mummy, I want to stay here for a few more days before going back to town. I want to rest my head from all the drama over there.”

“If that is what you want, you can stay as long as you want.”

Later that day, Chidimma called and informed Jerry that she was at her mother’s house and wouldn’t come back to the house that day.

Chidimma never missed communicating with Jerry while she was at her mother’s place.

They would talk at length, discussing their affairs and complementing each other.

So on one occasion, Jerry called her and they were discussing as usual. Jerry brought up the topic concerning securing the abroad scholarship for her.

“Now that you are at your mother’s house, it will be a nice thing to tell her about the scholarship,” Jerry said over the phone.

“She’s already aware,” Chidimma cut in.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Great! I spoke with my friend who connected me to the institution and he said there’s a little problem.”

“Problem? What happened?” Have they cancelled the scholarship?”

“No, he said that too many people are applying for the same scholarship and a certain amount is needed to secure it. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t pay.”

“How much is it?”

“Two million naira.”

Chidimma shouted.

“It’s not a small money oo.”

“It’s little compared to what you stand to gain after securing the scholarship.”

“Where do I get that kind of money from?”

“You are in your house now. Why are you asking as if you are still a kid? There’s no time. If we don’t meet up with the payment on time, you may not get the scholarship.”

“I reject it! Is there any deadline for the payment?”

“It’s as soon as possible because many people are rushing to pay.”

“OK, I know what to do.”

“That’s my girl. When are you coming back?”

“By weekend. Enheh! Lest I forget, my mother wants to see you.”

“Any problem?”

“No, she just wants to know the wonderful person that I’ve been speaking to her about.”

“OK, I’ll come. It’s even a nice thing.”

“Yes.”

They later switched topics and continued talking.

Later that day, at night, Chidimma went to her mother’s room to see her.

Her mother had finished dressing her bed and was about to lie down when she walked in and sat on the bed without saying a word.

Her mother sat close to her.

“Any problem?” Her mother asked, facing her.

“I need your help, Mummy.”

“What is the problem?”

“I need some money.”

“How much do you need and what do you want to do with it?”

“Two million naira to secure that scholarship that Jerry told me about.”

Telling her mother was her only option as she had thought about several other quick ways which turned out futile.

“Where have you seen people paying such an amount for scholarships?”

“Mummy, too many people want this scholarship and the only way to be sure about securing it is by bribing those directly involved with it. I’m lucky to know someone that knows them.”

“Chidimma, you know I don’t have such an amount.”

“Yes I know but we have property.”

Her mother was quiet for a moment. She then took a deep breath.

“Chidimma, you said it’s that same man that’s working towards your securing the scholarship.”

“Yes, mummy.”

“I want to see him first. I will raise the money after my conversation with him.”

“OK, thanks mummy.”

Afterwards, Chidimma left for her room. She was so excited that she picked up her phone and informed Jerry about her discussion with her mother. She told him the condition for the payment of the scholarship fee as quoted by her mother.

“Must she see me first?” Jerry asked sternly.

“Yes, just do it for me. When I come back, both of us will come and see her.”

“OK, no problem.”

Meanwhile, Chidimma’s mother was still seated on the bed engrossed in thoughts.

Some minutes later, she laid down and slept off.

A couple of days later, Chidimma prepared and left for the town.

Before she left, her mother admonished her based on the recent happenings.

Later on, Chidimma got to her apartment. She met the door locked.

“He didn’t even inform me that he was going out,” she grumbled.

She then dipped her hand in her purse and brought out a bunch of keys. In no time, she opened the door and walked in.

She then walked into the bedroom and noticed some kind of changes. It looked like a few things were not in their place.

She dropped the bag he came back with and was preparing to freshen up.

She opened the wardrobe to pick a casual cloth to change after bathing.

She was shocked to see that none of Jerry’s clothes were there, so she started checking other places.

She couldn’t find the bags that contained the hair for her new shop.

“What is going on, did he have an emergency? Was there an armed robbery incident here? No, my things are still intact, I don’t have any money here. Let me call Jerry.”

She took her phone and started calling Jerry’s number but unfortunately, it was switched off.

Chidimma sat on her bed gazing aimlessly at space. She was still confused about Jerry’s actions.

“Why would he leave without informing me? Was there an emergency? Is everything alright with him?”

She paused for a little while.

“But he carefully moved all his things showing it was a deliberate action. His phone was switched off, what could be the problem? Is he trying to play a prank on me? Anyways, I believe he will call whenever his phone comes on,” she soliloquized.

Afterwards, she stood up and left for the bathroom to freshen up.

Some minutes later, Chidimma was done bathing and dressing up. She left for the roadside food seller to buy food.

Later on, she came back with a small nylon bag containing a takeaway pack of food.

As soon as she entered her apartment, she opened the bag, brought out the food pack, opened it and started eating.

In no time, her phone started ringing.

She left her food and rushed in expectation that it was Jerry but when she checked the caller, it was her mother.

She was disappointed as she picked it up.

“Good afternoon, mummy.”

“Good afternoon, my daughter. I just want to ensure that you got there safely.”

“Ok, Mummy.”

“You didn’t care to tell me you have arrived.”

“Sorry Mum, I forgot.”

“I hope you are alright. You sound different.”

“Mummy, it’s Jerry.”

“What happened to him?”

“I didn’t see him when I got back.”

“Where, please?”

“Here in the house.”

“Chidimma, are you both living together?”

Chidimma became mute.

She had forgotten that her mother wasn’t aware that they were living together.

“Chidimma are you not the one I’m talking to? So all these while you have been cohabiting with a man.”

“It’s not what you think mummy.”

“Make me understand better.”

“He rented the place for me.”

“It is not enough reason for him to move in with you. Why are you worried that he left?”

“He didn’t inform me, he packed every single item he had and his phone was even switched off.”

“Something isn’t right somewhere. You need to leave the place as soon as possible.”

“Mummy, I want to stay back and hustle. Maybe I’ll also discover the reasons for his actions.”

“Come home first. You can do all that from here.”

“Ok mummy, I’ll come tomorrow. I can’t come back today.”

“OK, see you tomorrow then.”

“Bye, Mum.”

“Bye,” her mother said and ended the call.

Later that day, in the evening, at the hospital ward, Ifunanya was picking a few of her things and arranging them into a bag.

Chioma had carried one bag to a waiting taxi.

Soon after, she came back and carried the remaining bags.

Ifunanya carried her baby gently and they left the ward.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Ifunanya appreciated as they walked down the stairs leading outside.

“You are my best friend, I must stick with you through thick and thin.”

“Thanks so much. My God will bless you.”

“Amen.”

They got outside and entered the taxi and they drove off.

Soon after, they got to Ifunanya’s place.

That day was Chioma’s first time coming to the house.

“You are welcome to my place,” Ifunanya said.

“This place is beautiful and serene,” Chioma complimented as she looked around the house.

“Thanks so much.

Chioma moved the bags into the bedroom.

The following morning, Chidimma was in her house arranging some of her clothes inside a bag she would go home with.

When she was done, she set the bag aside.

All of a sudden, she started hearing a heavy knock on her door.

“Who dey here?!! Open this door now or I break it!!” A male voice shouted.

Chidimma became terrified.

“Who are you?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“It’s the police, open this door!” The voice commanded.

Chidimma walked to the door fidgeting. So many questions popped up in her head at that moment.

She gently opened the door.

The officer pushed the door harder.

Two police officers and Ifunanya entered.

Chidimma was extremely terrified.

“Where is he?” The officer continued.

“I– I— I don’t know about his whereabouts. He– he’s not here,” Chidimma stammered.

“Officer she knows, she’s an accomplice. They both collaborated and emptied my shop,” Ifunanya shouted.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Chidimma said.

“Officer! Search all the nook and cranny of this apartment,” the first police officer instructed the second one.

“Yes sir,” the second officer said and swung into action.

A few moments later, he came back.

“He’s not there.”

“Young lady, you will follow us to the station for interrogation,” the first officer said to Chidimma.

He then handcuffed her and led her to their waiting van.

They all entered the vehicle and left.

“Please, I am innocent sir. I don’t know about all these things you are saying. I don’t know that the shop wasn’t his. He was just my boyfriend,” Chidimma explained amidst tears.

“Shut up there! Criminal! Na una plan am! How u go live with man and you no know wetin him dey do,” Officer Gambo cut in.

“Sir, I– I-.”

“I said, shut up there,” the officer shouted, slamming his fist on the table before Chidimma.

His voice echoed heavily inside the light-deficient mini interrogation room.

Chidimma was startled.

She was scared of saying more words as he had earlier collected some blows from Officer Gambo, resulting in a few bruises on her face.

Soon after, another officer walked in. He looked calm and compassionate.

Immediately Officer Gambo saw him, he quickly gave the officer a gallant salute.

One can easily tell that the officer was Officer Gambo’s senior.

“Any progress?” Officer Frank asked.

“She no want talk.”

Chidimma started sobbing and pleading innocence.

“You can go,” Officer Frank said to his colleague.

Officer Gambo left the room immediately.

Officer Frank walked closer to Chidimma.

“I want you to cooperate with us. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“I will release you if you open up to me. Tell me where to find him.”

“Sir, I don’t know.”

“This boy is somewhere having a good time probably with another girl but you are here suffering on his behalf. Why are you hiding his whereabouts?”

“Sir, I swear to God, I don’t know where he is. I went home to see my mother some days back and I came back a day before yesterday only to find out that he had moved his things from the house.”

“Are you aware of the hair extensions he carried?”

“Yes, he left with the bag where they were.”

“What did he intend to do with them?”

Chidimma became mute.

“You promised to cooperate with me, right?”

“Yes, sir,” she grumbled.

“Tell me what he intends to do with the hair.”

“He got a shop where I’ll be selling the hairs.”

“Good. Where is the shop?”

“It is inside the major market.”

“Have you checked the shop since his absence?”

“No, sir.”

“You will take us to the place.”

“Ok, sir.”

He then turned and left the interrogation room.

He then went outside and beckoned on Officer Gambo. He instructed him to get the van ready.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged woman was speaking with one of the junior officers at the gate.

As Officer Frank turned to go back to the interrogation room, the woman rushed to him panting.

“Good day madam, can I help you?”

“It’s my daughter, Chidimma, she called to inform me that she was arrested by you people. Please where is she?”

“Madam, I’ll get back to you,” he said and turned to leave.

“Please, my son don’t leave me here.”

“We are still investigating the case. I will let you know when you can see her,” he said and left immediately.

“This is supposed to be a family matter. Ifunanya is her sister. Please let my daughter go. I will settle this issue myself,” Chidimma’s mother raised her voice on the rather deaf ears.

She sat on the entrance stairs waiting.

In no time, the officer brought Chidimma out and they were headed to the waiting vehicle.

Her mother sprang up and followed them.

“Where are you going with her? Wherever you are going with her, I’ll follow you,” she said rushing to her daughter.

“Madam, don’t disturb us. Sit down and wait, we dey come back,” Officer Gambo commanded.

Chidimma’s mother insisted on following them and she was later allowed.

Soon after, they left the station for the major market.

Some minutes later, they got to the market.

Chidimma led the way as they walked to the new shop which was located inside the men’s clothing line. Their presence created a scene and everyone was watching them from their various shops. Nobody dared come close.

As they got close to the shop, Chidimma was shocked to see a man locking the shop.

The man was equally surprised seeing the people before him as he turned to leave.

“Officer, what is the problem?” The man asked.

“What were you doing in that shop?” Officer Frank asked.

“I came to lock my shop now.”

“What do you have inside.”

“Nothing. I just came to lock it. I was getting reports that one Jerry was using it to extort money from people.”

Chidimma and her mother stood agape.

“Open the door, let’s see what’s inside.”

The man quickly opened the door and they all saw that the shop was empty.

The officer searched through it but saw nothing.

“There’s nothing my shop. It has been open for some months now and I got a report that some unscrupulous persons are using it to deceive innocent people.”

“We are here because Jerry gave the shop to this young lady.”

“Why is he not here? Let me see how he will drag the shop with me. My dear, if you gave him money, go and collect it back. That’s the only advice I have for you.”

Chidimma gazed at him hopelessly as he locked back the shop.

“Let’s go back to the station,” Officer Frank said.

“Please let my daughter go,” Chidimma’s mother pleaded.

“The person who reported the case needs to come before we do anything.”

“It’s my daughter, let me call her now.”

She brought out her phone from her purse and quickly dialled Ifunanya’s number.

It rang severally but she didn’t pick up the calls.

“Officer, wait, she will call me back later.”

“Move it!” Gambo commanded Chidimma.

Chidimma left the shop and the officer followed her alongside her mother.

When they got to the station, Chidimma was taken to the cell. Her mother refused to go back home after her pleadings fell on deaf ears. She went and sat on a big stone under a mango tree, just a few feet from the police building.”

Towards evening, Ifunanya arrived at the police premises. As soon as Ifunanya entered the compound, she quickly sighted her mother seated hopelessly under the mango tree.

She felt pity for her but was bent on fulfilling her purpose of coming.

Ifunanya quickly walked past her mother.

“Ifunanya!” Her mother shouted immediately when she noticed her.

“Good evening, mummy.”

“Ifunanya, what is going on between you and your sister?”

“Mummy, I want you to stay out of this.”

“You girls are embarrassing me. Let’s settle the matter like a family that we are.”

“Chidimma needs to be taught a lesson. I know what I went through because of her. Now she collaborated with Jerry my fiance to steal from me. When you discovered she was having an affair with my fiance, what did you do?”

“Oh my daughter, I was not aware. I had never set my eyes on the person she was seeing. I even told Chidimma to inform him to come and see me but she went back only to discover that the Jerry had left the house.”

“Jerry connived with Chidimma to steal my goods. She must provide Jerry and my goods.”

“My daughter, please, forgive your sister. Have mercy on her. She’s suffering at the hands of those men. I don’t think she knows something about the young man’s whereabouts. Please talk to the police to release her.”

“So, I should forget about my goods.”

“No, I will sell some of our remaining property. Please, let’s sign an agreement with the police on how to pay for the worth of the goods.”

Ifunanya became quiet for a moment.

“Mummy, Chidimma knows something about Jerry’s whereabouts. I want them to provide the money, not you,” Ifunanya continued.

“I believe your sister doesn’t know where he is. You can confirm from her. I’m saying this because that man promised to help her secure a scholarship abroad but I didn’t believe it.”

Ifunanya burst into laughter, relieving the tension and grudges she had been harbouring.

“Jerry, who I was feeding, is telling someone about abroad scholarship,” Ifunanya said while giggling.

“But I never believed his claims, he made other juicy promises to your sister. I suspected foul play and then requested to see him. Till now, I haven’t set my eyes on him. Had it been I saw he was the same person you brought home, I wouldn’t have agreed to their relationship.”

Ifunanya was calm. She suddenly started considering her mother’s opinion.

“What are you now saying I should do?” Ifunanya asked.

“I suggest you release your sister but the police should continue searching for Jerry. If it’s the money, I’ll provide the one I have so you can put it in your business as the police continue their job.”

Ifunanya became silent.

“Please, my daughter,” her mother continued.

“Let me see what I can do.”

“Thank you, my daughter.”

Ifunanya headed for the entrance of that building, and her mother followed her immediately.

They got to Officer Frank’s office and were offered seats.

After a brief discussion with the officer, Chidimma was granted bail.

One of the officers left for the cell where Chidimma was. In no time, he came back with Chidimma.

She was informed that she had been released.

She quickly knelt before her sister, tears rolling down her cheek.

“Thank you, sister. I will never do anything to hurt you again. Jerry lied to me. Please forgive me,” Chidimma pleaded amidst tears.

“It’s ok, get up.”

She held her up and they went outside.

“Mummy, it’s already too late for you to start going back home and I’m sure Chidimma is not going back to that place she was living with Jerry?” Ifunanya said.

“Never will I live there again, I’ll only go there to pick up the bag I’ve already packed before the arrest,” Chidimma cut in.

“OK, we all are going to my house now. By tomorrow morning, you can go and pick up your bag.”

“Ifunanya, thank you so much. We were so occupied with this case that I forgot to ask you about your child,” her mother complained.

“He’s fine, mummy. He’s with my best friend.”

“Ok, I’m sorry for everything that happened to you.”

“Mummy, I’m only suffering the consequences of my actions.”

They discussed as they left the premises. They later boarded a cab and left for Ifunanya’s place.

Some minutes later, they got to Ifunanya’s place. As they approached the house, they admired the beautiful facade which lay exposed by the lumens from both the interior and the exterior.

“Your place is beautiful,” her mother said.

“Thank you, mummy.”

Ifunanya then pressed the doorbell and in no time, Chioma came out and opened the door.

She was surprised to see Ifunanya and her family. Their faces beaming with smiles.

Chioma couldn’t help but give them a warm welcome.

“Where is my child?” her mother announced.

“He’s already asleep, ma,” Chioma answered.

“Come and show me where he is.”

Chioma led the way and she followed her.

Soon after, Ifunanya’s mother came back carrying the child. They all sat in the living room discussing.

“Children are blessings from God. No matter the circumstances surrounding his presence in your life, he is your blessing from God. He has made me a grandmother and I will always stand by him no matter what happens.”

“Thank you, mummy,” Ifunanya said and hugged her.

Afterwards, Ifunanya’s mother and Chidimma went upstairs to freshen up and change.

Soon after, they all had dinner together.

At the break of the day, Chidimma quickly got up from bed, prepared herself and was about to leave the house. She informed her mother and Ifunanya and then left the house for her apartment.

Ifunanya provided her and their mother with some clothes the previous night. Chidimma didn’t want to bother her sister with more clothes because she knew she had some in her apartment.

Ifunanya had also promised to get their mother a few more clothes which would serve her stay.

Later that morning, Ifunanya and her mother were on the veranda discussing what they’d missed about each other. It’s been more than nine months since their communication.

Ifunanya was filled with so many regrets.

“Honestly, Mummy, I don’t know what came over me. To even think that I got pregnant just for him to marry me is crazy,” Ifunanya said irritatingly.

Her mother bent her head out of compassion.

“Mummy, I was so obsessed with him then that I didn’t know how to let him go. I was thinking I could change him.”

“Bad behaviours in adults aren’t easy to change. You are not his mother, you don’t know when he started displaying those bad behaviours. It may even be inborn.”

“I should have listened to you. I learnt my lessons the hard way. That boy is so wicked and heartless. Do you know he was beating me while I was pregnant?”

“What! Why didn’t you come home that time?”

“I was trying my best to make our relationship work. I didn’t want you people’s predictions about him to be manifested. I did all I could for him to make him a better person. I gave him access to that shop just so he would be useful to himself.”

“I thank God for your life, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We should be thinking of the way forward.”

“Jerry was such an irresponsible fellow.”

Her mother was calm.

As Ifunanya was about to say more words, her phone started ringing. She checked and it was teacher Maria. She quickly picked up the call.

“Teacher Maria, good morning,” Ifunanya greeted excitedly.

“Good morning,” Teacher Maria responded over the phone.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you back after missing your calls. I was at the hospital then. I’ve given birth.”

“Wow!! Congratulations to you. This is good news. I didn’t see you in school for some days, I asked around and someone showed me where you live. I came to the place but everywhere was locked. I called and you didn’t pick up, I became worried.”

“I’m fine now, thanks so much, my friend. I saw the calls but couldn’t pick up nor call back.”

“I’m glad you’re fine and have also given birth. To God be the glory. So you are at home now, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come and see you after school.”

“OK, thanks so much.”

“You are welcome. See you soon, bye.”

“Bye.”

The teacher ended the call. Ifunanya and her mother continued with their discussion.

Meanwhile, Chidimma was still on a bus, on her way to her apartment.

Some minutes later, she got to her destination. The bus stopped, she alighted and paid the fare.

She then walked down the entrance to her compound, she noticed a van unusually parked before the gate but she continued moving.

She entered the compound and all of a sudden, saw three stern-looking men and a young lady who looked maimed from torture, leaving the compound.

Chidimma stood and watched as they approached. She didn’t want to run because those men looked like men of authority and had already seen her. She didn’t want to implicate herself by running from what she was not aware of. She had made up her mind her to reply to them if they should approach her for anything.

It seemed they didn’t achieve their purpose of coming because they looked pissed at the young lady.

“You just wasted our time,” one of the men roared in anger towards the lady.

“But you said he lives here,” another asked.

“Yes, I’m sure,” the lady replied to him.

“But he’s not here.”

When they got to where Chidimma stood, one of the men faced her.

“Do you live here?” He asked.

“No, sir, I came to buy something at one shop outside but I didn’t see the owner of the shop outside. Someone said I should check this compound. That’s why I’m here.”

“Ok, we are looking for one Jerry who lives at that apartment,” he said pointing at Chidimma’s flat.

“I don’t know who the person is, sir.”

“Ok.”

They walked to the parked van and stopped.

“You are playing with us right?” One of the men queried the lady.

“Sir, I swear I met him here that day. Sir, I know where else he could be sir.”

The lady went ahead and mentioned another place to those men as Chidimma was still standing there.

“This girl is not serious, you think we don’t have other things to do,” another said angrily as he dragged her into the van.

They joined her and zoomed off afterwards.

Chidimma watched until their van was out of her sight.

She quickly rushed to her door, opened it and carried her bag. She didn’t care to pick any other thing from the house.

She locked it back and ran out of the compound.

As soon as Chidimma arrived at Ifunanya’s house, she told everyone around what she saw and heard.

They were all gathered in the living room listening to her.

“This Jerry is a h00dlum. Only God knows what he has done again,” Chioma said.

“My dear, wonder shall never end. I know the place the lady mentioned very well,” Ifunanya added.

“The best thing to do now is to inform the police, now that we know where he is,” their mother said.

“You can’t be sure. What if he’s not there,” Chioma said.

“Let’s confirm he’s there first, we can inform the police afterwards. I don’t think those men left for the place immediately, because they were kinda doubtful of what the girl was saying,” Chidimma said.

“Let’s go at once,” Chioma said as she stood up eagerly.

Ifunanya went inside and changed. In no time, she came out and joined Chidimma and Chioma.

“You should take things easy my children,” their mother pleaded.

“Oh,” they chorused nonchalantly.

They dashed out of the house leaving only their mother who was looking after the baby.

They boarded a tricycle and left.

Some minutes later, the girls alighted from the tricycle and walked down a settlement which consisted of some highly deteriorating structures and facilities.

Ifunanya led the way as they walked into the slûm.

“There’s a local bar down the road where he usually stays. I know he must be there,” Ifunanya said as they went down.

A few feet away, before getting to the local bar, Ifunanya saw Jerry’s back view as he was speaking to a lady in a private area.

Ifunanya quietly informed others.

They gently walked to where he was.

Soon after, Jerry handed a big bag to the lady he was speaking to and she gave him something in a small black nylon bag. Jerry pocketed it immediately.

“Ifunanya, that’s the bag he used to pack the hair,” Chidimma informed her sister in a low tone.

Ifunanya was shocked but was ready for action.

The lady carried the bag and was about to leave.

Ifunanya quickly rushed and grabbed the bag off the lady’s hand. Chioma and Chidimma rushed to the scene immediately, blocking Jerry’s way.

Jerry was shocked seeing all of them together. He couldn’t alter a word.

“Are you màd!? Why did you collect my bag?” the lady shouted while trying to collect back the bag.

“Madam, you just bought stolen items. If you know what is good for you, get your dirty hands off this bag or else you will wrought in jail,” Ifunanya threatened.

The lady gently removed her hand and moved to where Jerry was.

“Give me my money,” she said to Jerry.

“Ifunanya, what’s the meaning of this?” Jerry queried.

“Idi0t! Thi£f! Do you still want to talk? Give her the money!” Ifunanya shouted angrily.

Jerry refused to bring the money out of his pocket. He quickly turned to run but the ladies held him.

He started fighting them and they retaliated.

The lady requesting her money quickly reached out for a stick and hit him on the head and he fell. They held him on the ground and hit him with whatever they could lay their hands on and equally rained curses on him.

The lady quickly reached out to his pocket and removed her money from there. She quickly threw away her weapon and left with her money.

As the girls were still hitting him, a few onlookers were watching from a distance but didn’t dare come close.

All of a sudden, a vehicle stopped. A lady in handcuff and some stern-looking men alighted from it.

The men rushed to where the ladies were manhandling Jerry.

“Stop!!! One of them roared as they pulled the girls off Jerry.

The ladies were all panting as they got off him.

Jerry was on the ground looking helpless with brúises all over his body.

“Is he the one?” One of the men asked the lady in handcuff.

“Yes!” she shouted in overt satisfaction.

“What is going on here?” The man asked Ifunanya and others.

“He’s a thi£f!”

“He’s a tr@itor!”

“He’s a deceiver! The ladies shouted simultaneously.

“Do not take laws into your hands. You should have reported him to the police.”

“We did but he has been on the run,” Ifunanya continued.

“It’s ok, allow us to handle him.”

“Ok,” the ladies chorused.

“Mr. man, get up!” The man ordered, facing Jerry.

Jerry got up after a little struggle.

“So you are the one recruiting young women for illic!t dru.g mule.”

Jerry was quiet and overwhelmed.

Ifunanya and others were shocked to hear what the man said.

The lady in handcuff was furiously watching Jerry.

Jerry had promised the lady a job opportunity abroad. The lady after undergoing the processes of travelling outside, went to meet Jerry as he directed her. Jerry gave her a parcel to give to someone on her arrival into the country. The lady unknowingly collected the parcel and left it at the airport.

Luck ran out of her and the parcel was discovered in her possession at the airport.

She was later detained.

Jerry got information that the girl was arrested and disappeared to his hiding place without knowing that the girl had seen him around the place before.

So, the men dragged Jerry into their vehicle.

The lady in handcuff was happy seeing that he was finally caught.

As she was entering the vehicle, she saw the bruises on Jerry’s body and smiled.

“Good for you,” she mocked Jerry.

“Anty, shut up there,” one of the men cut in.

When they had all entered the vehicle, they zoomed off.

Afterwards, the girls left with the bag. They were fulfilled at the way they unleashed their anger and frustration on Jerry.

A few weeks later, Jerry and the lady were sentenced to imprisonment according to the level of their crimes.

Later on, Ifunanya got an affordable apartment where she moved in with her sister and her child. Their mother went back to her place as well as Chioma.

The family remained together in love.

THE END.