SPEECHLESSNESS
EPISODE 40
George was relaxing in Elvis’s house after a tedious day at the office, they were watching a football match but he wasn’t concentrating as he was just checking his time at every interval.
“Goalll!!!!!!!!!!!” Elvis screamed.
He didn’t rejoice with his friend, Elvis was surprised because their team just scored a goal and he didnt even notice it.
He stood up and told his friend that he was leaving
“Haba, you just arrived and you’re leaving almost immediately, where’re you going to?”
“I want to go and pick Gift from the hostel”
Elvis looked at him again,
“When did you become Gift’s driver?, last time I checked you’re not her boyfriend ”
“I’m just being a true friend, she’s been sick for some days and she needs someone around her ”
“I still don’t know what you want from that girl, if you love a girl, why don’t you open up and tell her how you feel about her”
“And you expect her to believe me, I don’t want to push her away from me, you know how much I love her, and can’t stand loosing her friendship. ”
“Are you not loosing already? She’s seeing someone else and they’re madly in love, I cant stand you having another heart break oook”
“That’s why I’m being careful, I need to fight for her love, I know I messed up, but I have to win her love”
George checked his time again and rose to go
“I need to pick her up before that Jide of a guy does that”he winked at his friend
“I wish you luck lover boy” Elvis teased him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** Thelma got herself busy at her mother’s restaurant, she helped her in running the business, the fear of the dream she had have not departed from her. Though she thinks of George once in a while but shuns it off whenever she remembered the dream. She just stayed away from Lagos.
They were preparing for her aunty’s wedding. She was happy that the threatening text message has stopped coming, she made sure she lives the house with her mum and returns with her, she was living a quiet and peaceful life.
She was enjoying her lunch with her mother when she brought up the issue of her aunty’s traditional marriage as she was not comfortable about it.
“Mum, do you know where aunty Nkeiru’s husband is from?”
“I dont have any idea, I tried asking her the last time she came, but she was so excited to talk about it, so I let her be”
She sipped her water and continued
“mum, did you notice that the marriage seems being rushed? I suspect she’s pregnant”
“She’s not pregnant, I heard her husband resides abroad and he’s making arrangements for her to join him there”
“Hmmmmm, Where did she meet this man?”
“Thelma!!, Nkeiru is old enough to know the right man for her, we should be happy that she’s finally getting married”
“yes oo, I’m happy for her” she replied
“Eat fast, we are almost late for the appointment” her mum reminded her
“I almost forgot that” she hurriedly finished her food and they drove out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
****************** Gift went to the library to drop the books she borrowed, she came out and saw George driving towards her lecture hall, she dialled his number and asked him to make a U_turn.
He turned and drove to where she stood waiting for him
“Good day George, what are you doing here?” She threw at him
“I came to pick you, I want us to go and see my doctor”
“I’ve seen a doctor” she lied
“Then I will take you home, you’re still weak, you need to rest”
“Thanks for your concern”
She opened the front door and entered the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~
SOME WEEKS LATER
*******Weeks have gone and aunty Nkeiru’s wedding had finally come. Debbie and her family travelled to the village to grace the occasion. It was a big traditional wedding. Everyone awaited her rich husband’s arrival, he finally arrived with his family after what seems like ages.The program started and it was a wedding to behold, Everyone was happy for her. Thelma who was busy later came out to meet her aunty’s husband, she was shocked at the man her aunty was about getting married to, she ran inside and called her mother and Debbie into the room panting
“What is it Thelma? Why did you drag me into the room sweating and looking as if you just saw a ghost?” Her mother asked her
“Mummy I know that man outside, he works for Chief, he can’t marry aunty Nkeiru, he wants to take her abroad for sex slavery, mummy please we must stop this wedding” she said fidgeting
“Calm down my dear, I will call the police immediately, I know what to do” her mum assured her
She made some calls and instructed her daughter to remain indoor till the police arrives, she went out pretending nothing happened
*******Minutes later, the police arrived and interrupted the ceremony
“Mr Man, you’re under arrest” One of the policemen said
Everyone was shocked, Thelma came out from her hiding and walked up to the man.
“Do you remember me?” She asked the man
The man gave her a scornful look and looked away
“Bia Thelma, what is going on here? Why did you invite the police to arrest my husband” her Aunty charged at her
“I’m sorry aunty, but I cant watch this evil man marry you, he can’t marry you!”
Her aunty gave her a thunderous slap,
“Did I commit an offence by inviting you and your stupid family to my wedding? Why have you decided to ruin my day? You invited police to arrest my husband, I swear, you and your mother will regret this” she fired at her.
”Nkeiru shut up! you should be thankful to us for saving your life” Debbie’s mum fired at her.
“Enough of all these, we don’t have time to waste here, boys let’s go” the superior officer said to his men.
The police took the man away in their vehicle.
There was chaos in the compound, the family was divided into two, some supported the action Thelma and her mother took, while some were against it, they preferred the issue be solved privately.
Thelma never regretted her action even though her aunty was angry with them rather she was happy her aunty won’t suffer what she suffered in the hands of those heartless men. they left the village immediately, spent their night in an hotel and then travelled back to Abuja the next day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*********** Gift was seated watching her aunt and uncle question her, she has been crying since the doctor told her about her pregnancy.
“Gift, is this how you want to pay me back after all I did for you? The doctor confirmed you’re thirteen weeks pregnant, all we are asking you is to tell us who the father of your baby is” her sister begged her
“You cant continue making your sister cry, why not open up and tell us who impregnated you, do you want to disgrace my wife and i, dont you think your late mother will be disappointed at you” her uncle said
“Uncle i’m sorry” she managed to say amidst tears
“This is not about being sorry, it’s about opening up, please my dear sister, even if you can’t confide in my Husband, you can confide in me” her sister said
“Take your time, you can meet your sister and tell her the truth about the paternity of your unborn baby, you must be fast in doing it, we need to act fast”
Her aunty and husband returned to their room for the night while she sat down crying, she later stood up and returned to her room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** Aunty Nkeiru’s husband to be was transferred to Abuja where he was detained awaiting trial, he later confessed of his intentions to take his wife abroad for prostitution and that this was not the first time he has been deceiving ladies with marriage and takes them for prostitution in abroad. It was revealed that Chief Odebe and Queen’s father were the ones sponsoring them. Aunty Nkeiru was so ashamed to beg Thelma and her mother for forgiveness. Chief Odebe also confessed to killing Queen. They were all charged to court for human trafficking.
Thelma finally gave her life to christ, after she learnt her lessons the hard way. She forgave her aunt for all she said to her and her mother and she continued living a peaceful and quiet life in Abuja and never stopped praying to God to send the right man for her.
************** George was surprised to see sister Chinwe brooding, he walked into the sitting room and greeted her but she didnt respond, he tapped her on the shoulder and she startled,
“Why are you looking sullen?” He asked with a concerned look
“My dear sit down, Gift has disgraced me, the doctor confirmed she is 13weeks pregnant, and she has refused to tell who the father of her baby is”
“What? pre…..gant!!!!!?” He asked with a surprised look.
“Yes, I have tried to make her talk, at first
I thought it was Jide, but she said it’s not him, as if that is not enough, she ran away from home today. My husband went out in search of her, he’s been trying to call you to inform you but your number was not connecting”
His phone peeped and it was a text message from Gift, he opened it immediately fidgeting. The text read,
“I’m sorry for not informing you about the pregnancy, but I cant bear the shame, I’m going away to nowhere in mind. I pray to start a new life there, I saved up little money which I’m going away with to start a new life. Your baby will return to you at the appropriate time, goodbye and please forgive me for making this decision without informing you first” he was sweating profusely under the Air conditioner
“Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” He screamed aloud
“What is it?”
“My baby!!!!!, I need to go and search for…………”
“Which baby? Who are you talking about? Wait oooooo, dont tell me you’ve been sleeping with my ………”
“I will be back” he cut her short and ran to his car
“Oh my God, these children will not kill me” sister Chinwe said and slumped on the couch
************ He drove straight to her best friend’s house, he thought she might be there, he increased his speed and drove ignoring the traffic rules, he was about overtaking a lorry when he ran into a truck and all he heard was a loud noise.
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