Tobi continues to shade tears at the foot of Melanie’s bed until when he thought he heard a car drive in, he walks to the window and sees flash light of the car, he knows Mac has arrived so he comes out to welcome him “What happened” Mac greets him with a hug “I have a case…. come with me” they enter Mel’s room and she hasn’t really woken up or move “You did well to create air way for her” Mac gets to work and checks her breathing, air circulation, he checks her pulse and says she’s OK “We should put her on drip for now….has she been stressed lately” “I don’t know just do what ever is necessary” he puts her on drip “Can we talk” “Yeah sure…follow me to my room, it’s safer there” they both walk over to Tobi’s room so as to talk “Who’s she…. the last time I checked you still had no woman in your life” Tobi gets up and paces “She’s someone I barely know” “What do you mean someone you barely know, how did she end up here, you don’t even live here” “OK Mac, you’re my friend and I’m going to tell you this but no one must know about it You can trust me….. she’s your woman right?” “She’s not….she’s someone’s bride” “Jesus…. what??” “Wait Mac before you conclude let me talk and finish, if you heard about a wedding where a minister’s son left the bride at the alter then you know what I’m talking” “Yeah I heard about it….” “I’m the reason why he did what he did” “Wait? are you telling me you were having affair with a woman engaged to be married and her husband to be found out and dumped her at the alter on the day of their wedding?….Tobi since when have you become this unruly?…..where did you get the strength to date a woman who clearly belonged to someone else” ” You’re judging me harshly without listening to my story” “No what’s there to listen more Tobi” he gets up and walks over to touch Tobi’s face “Are you nuts?…. are you really OK Tobias” “It would have been better if I was not alright but I’m very alright” “Then tell me what this confusion is all about, you’re keeping a woman who almost got married in your house and you’re telling me you’re alright… did you kidnap her” “No….I only rescued her but like I said the reason why she was dumped is because of me…..it all started on the day I celebrated my birthday” Tobi begins his ordeal and by the time he finishes, Mac can barley contain his surprised face “Tobi…..tell me what you’re saying is all false” “I wish I could…. I’m so stuck not knowing what to do, just today after what happened, she was OK…. I thought she was fine…….she even ate well but just when I thought she was sleeping, she surprised me she was trying to take her own life after setting her wedding gown on fire….I ran down to helpher and that’s when she became violent, I realised she has a kitchen knife and she continuously said she would stub herself or slit her throat if I ever got near her or touch her that’s when she fainted” “That’s a clear sign of trauma and she needs a psychological help….counselling and some therapy would do it…. but does she know who you’re” “No she doesn’t….. I would love to tell her that I’m the one responsible for her predicament but I don’t know how she will take the news, I’ve been following her everywhere and some how it became part of my daily activities, a part of me just wants me to follow her everywhere she goes and get to know what she’s always doing” “Tobi…I don’t believe you’re a bad or a horrible person but telling her you’re the reason for all her pain at this point is not something I would encourage you to do….what that girl needs right now is to get over this and I’m sure neither she nor her mother can afford it….do the right thing, I can recommend a good councillor who can help her , that baby she’s carrying will always remind her of her horrible experience and secondly it’s even a miracle a rape victim would trust a man much less a stranger after her ordeal” “Thank you for not judging me….I had not told anyone and it was killing me….the only ones who knew were those bastard friends” “Sharing is knowledge, I’m glad you told me and your secret is safe with me….just do as I have told you and the day you tell her that you’re the one, she will be broken but she shall rise up again at least she shall have a reason to believe your Story”…….they hug on that…….. TWO DAYS LATER Tobi drives Melanie to a supermarket a to pick some few things, Mac had told Mel to not stay dehydrated and drink a lot and also eat enough, Mel says he has done a lot for her already but Tobi doesn’t even want to hear it ” I’m taking you back home and I promise to be visiting you almost everyday but you need to keep up with the doctor’s instruction, the drugs you’re taking are very strong….. they finish their shopping and head towards the direction of her home in a bumpy dusty road that leads straight to her home…..he pretends not to know where she stays as she directs him seated besides himThey arrive at the road leading to the small but always neatly kept house and Mel stops him and wants to get out “You can stop here…I’m already home and I can continue on my own” “Is there something you didn’t tell me Melanie? she shakes her head and says no ” Apart from still not telling you what happened, every other thing I told you is all true” “Then let me take you home and present you to your worried mother…is it OK” “Fine… let’s go” Tobi drives his expensive car in the compound where he can clearly see four women seated listening attentively to a woman seated in the middle…..two of the women are Ofelia’s sisters who had cut ties with her when things were tough on her side but they only surfaced to attend the very lavish wedding of their niece when they heard she was marrying a billionaire’s only son….they have no idea how Mel looks like because they have never met her and Mel doesn’t also have any idea who the two women are…..the other two women are the market vendors she normally buys her things from……the five women all look at the car with hope in their eyes….. Tobi packs the car and steps down to open the door for Mel….. she comes down and runs into the waiting arms of her mother who has tears of joy in her eyes so unbelievable “My Angel…. my baby Fina, is this really you…are you really fine” “Yes mother it’s me your Fina and I’m very fine” she spots the cannular and takes her arm “Have you been hospitalised… what’s with the cannular” “Don’t worry….just clean your tears because I don’t want to start crying again….I’m tired of doing it….. this cannular is just nothing, I was only put on bed rest and I’m very fine now” “Come ……come with me” her mother leads her to where the others are but she stops her mother to ask her a question “Mother….did Ron come look for me?…. did he call at all” her mother’s heart breaks in to piecesbecause she was also in shock herself when Ron could not come in all these days “I’m sure he’s going to come… just don’t think about it” she nods “Come greet your aunties …Anita and Jessica” Mel doesn’t even understand aunties from where but she greets them anyways, she shares brief hugs with the other two from the market as they tell her how grateful they are now that she’s safe and back home…. Tobi starts to get out what they had bought and it’s at this point Mel realises she has not introduced him to her mother….. Mel comes to his side pulling her mother along “Mother forgive me for not introducing him earlier…. he’s called Tobias… the man who has been helping me all these days from that day, without him I would have taken my own life” Ofelia wants to kneel in front of Tobi as a sigh of respect…. it’s a common practice in east Africa…. Tobi catches her midway “It’s OK madam….you don’t need to do this” “Thank you for saving my daughter’s life and helping her when I couldn’t that day” “I will continue to do that as long as necessary” she wants to offer him a seat but he declines saying he will sit the next time he visits, they talk briefly and Tobi greets the other women… he gives Mel a goodbye hug and leaves to go face his tigress mother……. to be continued
To be continued…
