CHEATED : EPISODE 1 – 20
EPISODE 7
“I’m back to the place I left out of shame and feeling of rejection” He soliloquized with a sigh as he stopped to stare a little before knocking on the gate.
“Who’s there?” He could here his mother’s voice.
“It’s me Mama.” He replied in a low tone as she opened the gate.
“Ehn…. Kingsley my son, is this you?” She asked with happiness written all over her face.
“It’s me Mama.” He said as he gave her a tight and loving hug.
“My son where have you been? I’ve missed you so much. We’ve all miss you. But why did you leave us without a trace of how to contact you?”
“I’m so sorry Mama. I felt I was a shame to my family and Papa too didn’t want me around any longer. Remember he said…..”
“Nna forget what he said; he didn’t mean those words of his. He only said all that out of frustration and dashed hopes.” She said and there was a short pause.
“Anyway, I’m so glad you’re back. No one is home and I was even about heading out. I’m sure they’d be so ha…..” She said and paused in her tracks as the gate opened and Mr. Nwankwo, Kingsley’s dad, walked in.
“What are you doing here? I thought I told you I never wanted to see your face until you’ve had your life sorted out?” He thundered on seeing K.
“I…Good day Sir.” Kinsley greeted in shivers as he let out a smile.
“Good day my son, we’ve missed you. I remember those were my last words before your sudden disappearance.” He said calmly.
“Yes Sir.”
“I’m guessing you’ve had it all sorted out now. At least that should be why you’d have the guts to step into this house again. I can’t feed you any longer.” He said calmly but sternly as Kingsley gave no response.
“Sir, I came because I have something to discuss with you and Mama.”
“Oh that’s alright. Come in and let’s discuss then.
“So that has confused me ever since. I thought you’d know a thing or two about it so this puzzle could be solved.” He narrated as his parents went into deep thoughts.
“Hmmm…..my son I don’t know what it means o. I remember being in the same ward with a wealthy woman in that hospital.
The people you described that were poor are your father and I when we were much younger. I had slight difficulties giving birth to you but eventually did.
I later woke up with you in my arms so I don’t know how the matter of the wealthy people came into it.” Mama said innocently as K nodded at intervals, but his father was silent all through.
“Papa you’re not saying anything. Is there something you know about this?” Kingsley asked on noticing how quiet and deep in though he was.
“Nna say something na, or is there anything to hide?” Mama urged.
As the wait for Papa to make his own contributions was getting longer, Kingsley grew suspicious.
“Papa you definitely know something and I’m running out of patience. Don’t you pity me? I’ve been frustrated all my life and went into prayers. I even attempted sulclde and some point but God’s mercy prevented me.
Now He has given me tips to get out of this frustrating life through a puzzle I’m quite sure only you can solve and you’re keeping quiet.
Papa talk now o, before I do something unimaginable.” Kingsley said, his voice almost at the shouting level as you could feel his frustration in it.
“How did he know all these?” Kingsley’s dad thought to himself, as he thought of the right words to say.
“Papa I have a question for you, a very straight forward one and I demand an honest and sincere answer.” Kingsley as there was pin-drop silence.
“Papa, what happened on the day I was born?” He asked as his father said nothing.
It was not too long after Kingsley spoke that he went in and came back with a very sharp cutlass in his hands.
“Jesus! Kingsley what’s that for?” Mama shouted on sighting him.
“See Mama I’m not gentle here o; and don’t bother, it’s not for you.” He said and turned to face his father.
“Papa if you don’t tell me what you know this minute, I’d behead you right away?”
“What? Your own father?” Papa said, dazed.
“Is a man who is responsible for the predicament of his own son a father? Is a man who knows the solution to his son’s useless life but doesn’t proffer it a father?”
“And who said I’m responsible for your…..”
“Papa start talking now!” He thundered as he sliced the already sharp cutlass against the floor, causing Mr. Nwankwo to quiver.
“I mean business here as you can see.” Kingsley said sternly.
“Okay…okay my son. Drop that thing down first. We can settle this amicab….”
“There’s no gentle way Papa. You better start talking now or kss this world goodbye.”
“My son I…..”
“At the count of 10.”
“Papa Kingsley say something na, does it have to be like this.” Mama called out from where she was hiding behind the chair.
“Please calm down and I’d explain”
“One!!!” Kingsley vegan to count, not caring about anything any longer. He just couldn’t understand why someone, most especially his father, would know the reason behind his predicament and still wouldn’t want to help.
“Two!!!”
“Chai Chineke. Speak nw, Papa Kingsley. Don’t you want your first son to succeed?”
“Will you keep quiet woman!”
“You better face what’s facing you, you’re shouting at me.”
“Eight!!!”
“Is this how you want to die????? Ehn Papa Kingsley!”
“Allow me to think woman!”
“There’s nothing to think about. Tell your son what you know!!”
“Nine!!!!”
“Talk to your son this man.”
“Shut up, he’s not my son!!! Just shut up!!” He said and gasped as there was pin-drop silence.
“Kingsley is not our son Teresa.” He said in hot tears as Kingsley’s grip loosen on the cutlass, causing it to fall. He just couldn’t believe his ears.
“Taaa….what do you mean he’s not my son. I gave birth to him myself after a lot of pain and you’re here saying rubbish. It can’t be possible. Stop lying and say the truth!!!!” Mama said after a long pause.
“I’m not lying Teresa.” He said calmly and in tears as he turned to face Kingsley.
“Kingsley this is not your family. You are not Kingsley Nwankwo; that is not your real name.” Papa said and paused for a while as he shut his eyes tightly.
“Kingsley Ochiabutor is who you really are.” He said as his words weakened both Kingsley and Mama.
“Ochiabutor??? Was that not the most wealthy man in this town before his demise?” Mama asked as Papa nodded painfully.
“Chai Nwankwo egbuo m o (Nwankwo has killed me).” She wailed bitterly, placing her hands on her head.
“So now, where is my child? Where is the child I gave birth to that very day?”
“The child couldn’t make it, and Mrs. Ochiabutor gave birth to twins then. The doctor said the chances of you concieving was slim so….”
“So you exchanged my child with one of the twins. Chai, I am finished. I am finished o. Ike gwuru!! Ike gwuru o!”
“I did it because the Doctor said you may not have a child again. I thought since she had twins, we could…..and she would give birth again…..so I…..I’m sorry.” Papa said. Kingsley himself didn’t understand what to say or do.
“I don’t understand. I’m a twin?” He asked as Papa nodded.
“So where’s my family?”
“They died few months after giving birth.”
“Wait….my whole immediate family is wiped off?” He asked as Papa nodded in positive.
Mama however kept crying and lamenting as the two men discussed.
“So how do I find my extended family?” The confused Kingsley asked.
“I do not know son, I don’t know. The family is a wealthy one so they don’t stay amongst we low class.” He said as Kingsley felt his world crumbling around him.
First, his parents are not his parents;
Second, his real parents are dead and their relatives are not known;
Third, he’s a twin;
And lastly, he’s from a wealthy background but has been suffering ever since.
All these were just to new to him to comprehend and digest easily.
“I’m so sorry my son. I did what I did because I was scared my wife wouldn’t bear me a child, and I presumed your mom would still be able to concieve.”
“Oh shut up! Shut up!!! Didn’t I later give birth to two other children apart from him???” Mama shouted.
“I didn’t know you would be able to…..” The two kept arguing as Kingsley left for his room to take a break and understand what really was going on.
CHEATED : EPISODE 1 – 20
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