FARIDA : Episode 61 – 70

FARIDA

PART 64

When the period for the election intensified, Sam was permanently in Abuja. He had a meeting with the link man and the chairman of the party. As they got there, he saw Wale leaving the link man (Alhaji)’s house as he was coming in. Sam was excited to see Wale. He excused himself from the chairman and went to meet him.

Wale was surprised to see him there. Wale greeted him. Sam extended his hand for a handshake while smiling mischievously. Wale had no choice but to take it. That was when it happened. Sam pulled Wale closer and asked,

“How is Farida?”

“She is fine. She is doing well with the kids”

Sam was all excited as he spoke which was unnerving. “I can see she didn’t tell you. That is typical of Farida; she is good at keeping secrets; she hides important information. I was told she came to you on New year’s day. I told you she belongs to me and will always belong to me”

“I don’t know what you are saying. I don’t know what it means but I am not interested”

“You want to know what I am saying? I fvcked my wife when she came visiting. I fvcked her like a wh0re. She can’t resist me; I told you so. I will keep fvcking her. The divorce is a ruse; she is not going ahead with it”

Wale didn’t know when he punched Sam in his face. The two of them began to fight. It was security that separated them. Sam had a broken nose. Wale had never been this enraged in all his life.

Sam was furious his nose was broken. He shouted continuously, “You broke my nose you b!tch. She is mine; she can never be yours. I will do her even in your own house. She is legally my wife and I can do with her as I please”

“I know my Farida; she will never have sex with your sicko like you again”

“If she didn’t enjoy it why didn’t she tell you? Why did he hide it from you? Leave my wife and children alone. Allow her come back to her responsibilities. She is staying back in the Uk because of you and your daughter. Take your child and allow my wife come back to me. I will keep fvcking her and there is nothing you can do about it”

“I think you are right. You can have her. Let me see if she will want to be with you or come running back to me. The Farida I know is a principled person. Sam, I know, is deceitful and manipulative. We will see who wins”

The chairman of the party was disappointed at Sam’s behavior and utterances. He knew it was his words that provoked the guy. Sam was threatening to press as$ault charges on him.

When they met with Alhaji, Alhaji told Sam to forget about what happened. He asked him not to press any charges against Wale since the incident happened in his vicinity. He promised to handle the matter.

Wale left there very still angry. What was Sam talking about? He suspected there was more to Farida’s attitude but she kept deceiving him. Sam had rubbed off on her. He needed information. He had to dig and get the true situation. One thing he knew, Farida would never have had s*x with Sam, he was just bragging.

Wale had to find out what happened. He had to investigate. He remembered he had the contact of one of the boys who was guarding Farida and the children when they came back. He called him and asked for a meeting.

Without saying a word, Wale dropped $50,000 on the table and said,

“I want to know in details what happened to Farida in Akwa Ibom. If you have physical evidence, let me have it. I want all the information and importantly, discretion is the word. I hope to get everything in five days”

“Consider it done”

Wale resisted the temptation of confronting Farida with Sam’s accusation. He would wait until he gets the whole information. When they spoke, he could sense the distance. He understood better. Something happened in Akwa Ibom. Whatever it was, it was terrible and he could sense it.

Sam wasn’t satisfied. He still went ahead to press charges against Wale for assault. He wanted to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately, by the time the Police moved to arrest him, he was not in Abuja. He told them he would be back in two weeks to see them.

Wale told the Alhaji he was summoned by the Police over the matter. Alhaji had wanted to know what the issue was but Wale felt he needed to have some privacy. He also knew Sam would be glad to tell the tale but it was better coming from Sam than from him. Alhaji told him not to bother going, he had resolved the issue.

Alhaji liked Wale; he was a focused young man. On the job, he was hardworking and met milestones earlier than expected. He was kind to his workers and they were committed because of him. He had an enviable team. Wale was honest and trustworthy.

It was not the same with Sam. He didn’t like Sam but he needed him to sway things in the house of reps. The young man was lousy and temperamental. He was obviously a spoilt kid who felt everyone will fall over themselves to worship him. Humility was not one of his qualities

He found out what caused the fight. Why would two men be fighting over a woman who has children. As a man, if a woman says she is no more interested and goes to another man, you can never have her back again. Why was Sam insisting on being with a woman who didn’t want him? It didn’t concern Alhaji. He made sure the police stepped out of the matter. He also called Sam to order.

Sam seemed uncontrollable which is a problem for what they do. They have to have enough dirt against him so he will do their will. He knew where and how he would get it. Sam didn’t know whom he was dealing with. He had all the information he needed for now.

Wale had to come back to Abuja to receive the information he paid for. He got everything. How the guy got the information and evidence Wale didn’t know and didn’t care. Wale understood everything. He was angry with Farida. They had talked about her keeping her distance from Sam. How could she have allowed this happen? Why the lies? Monica and her mother covered up for her. He was done. It won’t end. Sam would continue to be a problem in the relationship. He had rights to see his children. The divorce had been stalling. He couldn’t unsee what he saw. He couldn’t believe Sam could be that cruel. He was angry, disappointed, appalled and at the same time confused. He blocked Farida and Monica from communicating with him.

He took out two days to think about it and take a decision. He had decided on what to do. First, he had to get to UK. He didn’t tell any of them he was coming.

Farida expected Wale to call but it never came. She tried calling him severally, it didn’t connect. She concluded he was in a place the network was bad.

She was shocked when she got home from school to see Wale in the house. He sat in the sitting room downstairs napping. Her first concern was why he came without telling her. She wasn’t ready mentally for int!macy. He should have gone up to the room but he stayed downstairs which was strange. Did something happen?

Farida left him there and went to meet the nanny upstairs. She wasn’t even aware he was around. She called Monica on the phone and begged her to come over. She didn’t want to be agitated; Monica’s presence will calm her down. Monica came with Hugh.

It was their noisy entrance into the house that woke Wale up. He sat up. Monica tried to be all friendly but he plastered a plastic smile on his face. It was obviously fake. Farida came down to join them. He looked at his Farida. He loved her more than life itself but she chose to betray him. It was obvious the love was not reciprocated. Finally, he had the opportunity to speak still wearing the plastic smile on.

“Farida, when Tomiwa got pregnant for me, I hoped on the next available flight when I could to tell you. I didn’t deceive you, I told you everything. I am an open book to you. I became suspicious when you left Akwa Ibom suddenly and no one wanted to talk to me. Finally, she told me a tale of stomach bug. I didn’t believe it but then you have never lied to me. My suspicion grew when you lied about being on your period and then suggesting I get a girlfriend. I sensed something was wrong but even Monica lied to me. Guess who I ran into two week ago? I ran into Sam at Alhaji’s house. Sam approached me. Sam never comes close to me but he approached me and even shook my hand”

At this point Farida’s eyes had widen in fear and her heart was beating very fast. Tears began to trickle down her face. Monica hid her face in her hand. She knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. Wale continued.

“He asked me how you were cheerfully. He told me both of you have made up. You were his and will always be. He said he fucked you Farida. I could have sworn he was lying. I decided to find out what happened and I did. I have all the information. I won’t ask how he gained access to your room. I won’t ask why you hid it from me. I now know where I stand in your life. I can’t continue with you, Farida, until the divorce is finalized. It is either you get it done or you go your way. I am not going to fight over you. Sam can have you”

There was silence only sobs from Farida could be heard. There was nothing to be said. Farida knew what she did was wrong but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She knew he would be hurt when he finds out and it broke her heart hearing him talk like this. He continued.

“I have always loved you and only one person supported the love; my father. He told me you will be mine eventually but I did not have to fight for. He asked me to free you and you would come back to me. You did. You fell in love with me without much prompting from me. Now, I am not fighting for you. When the time is right and you really want; you know where to find me. In the meantime, I am taking Morenike back with me”

“No! please don’t take Morenike with you. She loves me as much as I love her. Please, I beg you, leave her with her siblings. It will break my heart if you take her”

“I can’t leave her with you. On what grounds? I am calling off the relationship until I am sure you really want it. Should I leave my child with you when we are not involved? You are not her mother”

Farida’s eyes opened wider as he spoke. She was not her mother? When did Wale start talking like this? Because of what happened? “I can’t believe you are saying this. I am no longer her mother? Because Sam raped me, now I am not worthy to be her mother? Is that what you are saying? You didn’t just say that. I can take every other thing you said but I can’t take this”

“We are no longer in a relationship as long as you are still legally married to Sam. He is never going to leave you alone. We fought, I hit him first when he tried to describe what both of you did. I don’t need an explanation; he is your husband. I only came for my daughter. She needs to be with me”

“I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I was ashamed of what he did to me. I haven’t healed completely but I am getting better. We are pushing for the divorce to be finalised. Monica’s dad is helping out”

Monica chipped in, “We are sorry Wale, we didn’t want to hurt you. My father has disowned Sam and he is helping with the divorce. There is nothing we can do as it is spousal rape which is not recognized in Nigeria. Morenike can’t survive without her Farida and her siblings. Leave her, give a time frame for the divorce to go through or you come for her. Give us like two years to sort it out. Sam has been bribing the judge that’s why it has not progressed. We have petitioned against the judge and it has been moved to an incorruptible judge. We have a hearing date soon. Just give us time as it is like starting over. I know you are angry and disappointed but like you said, you love Farida and she loves you too. See how she is begging to keep your child for you not even for herself. We will do as you say”

Wale was moved by their reaction. He was still upset with Farida and Monica but then was it not punishment to take Morenike away? The punishment would be more on the child. He decided to leave her.

“I will leave her for now. I will like to see my child when I come around, Kufre will bring her to see me. I will send money for her upkeep. I don’t even know if we can be friends for now. I need time to heal too; I don’t know how long it will take”

“Please Wale, can we talk in private? In the room, please”

Wale didn’t want to go with her. His heart was broken. He had blocked his mind to think of certain things. She begged him some more and he went up with her.

She went on her knees and begged him to forgive her. Not telling him was wrong; she accepted. Everyone had asked her to tell him but she refused because she was ashamed and afraid. She told him she loved him and wouldn’t want them to separate. All she needed was time to heal from the hurt. Morenike makes her believe he is with her. She asked him to leave her out of it and punish her instead.

Wale told her he wasn’t punishing her but had decided to wait for her for two years. Right now, they were separated. They can consider coming back together if the divorce comes through. Farida accepted. As for Morenike, she would stay back until the time he gave.

Wale saw the children and played with them for a while. Then he left for a hotel. It hurt Farida he refused to stay in the house with them. He told her since he couldn’t do anything with her why would he stay and be tempted? It would hurt him more if she repeats what she did before. It was best they wait until she was free and ready for the relationship.

Monica had some explaining to do. Hugh had been kept in the dark too. He kept saying, “I knew it! I knew something was wrong”

Monica refused to give him the details but he knew Sam raped Farida. He was shocked that spousal r@pe was not considered a crime in Nigeria. Monica had to call her father and let him know what Sam did. The sooner the divorce is finalized, the better.

Sam did everything to frustrate the case from going further until he also petitioned the judge saying he was in favour of his wife. He hardly showed up at hearings without giving notice. It was frustrating. That it was obviously a deliberate act made it even more annoying. The judge promised to do something about it.

The elections came. Sam won. It was a landslide win for him. There was jubilation in his hometown but his father’s house had nothing to jubilate about. People who came to celebrate with the family met a locked gate. His father reminded them he had no son by the name Sam. It hurt Sam terribly. His father was still against him even with his success. He wondered how he could get him to move on. The man is very stubborn. His mother had lost her hold him. It was only his stepmother the man listens to. He called her and asked her for a private meeting. She went but didn’t go alone; she went with Idara. Sam could not be trusted; he could claim anything against her.

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