SPEECHLESSNESS
WRITTEN BY MAIRANNEADA
EPISODE 35
Aunty NKEIRU? What are you doing here?” Debbie asked her aunt who stood before them
“You’re the last person I expect to see in Abuja, if you’re here to disturb my peace, I wont take it like likely with you and your sibling” Her mother retorted
There was silence, Aunty Nkeiru watched mother and daughter as they talk, she saw how shocked and surprised they were when they saw her
Debbie’s mum turned to the security guard in anger
“Why did you tell me that the person at the gate looks like my daughter Thelma?” she threw at him
“But madam, you no see they resemble well well, na the resemblance confuse me, i’m sorry”
“Lock this gate and don’t ever allow her into the house”his madam warned him and turned to go inside
“Errrrm,my wife, please I’m here for peace, we are sorry for everything that we did to you, please forgive us”
Debbie couldn’t believe her aunty just apologized to her mum, she remembered how they fought them after their father’s death,
“Nkeiru, are you the one saying this?, or are you pretending? If you’re doing this because of your brother ‘s properties, I won’t fall for it”
“I’m not here for any property, I’m here to make peace, I want us to be happy as a family, I’m sorry for all that happened.“ she apologized further.
Debbie begged her mum to allow her aunt in, as she could see sincerity in what she was saying.
*************Debbie’s aunt spent some days in Abuja before returning to the village. Her mum was happy that she had finally made peace with her in-laws, she planned to visit the village to formally beg them to forgive her for her own wrong doings.
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Debbie and her hubby were all smiles as they got ready for a family picnic, they were about leaving the house when Debbie’s mum called and requested her to rush to the house, they cancelled their picnic and hurried out.
They packed their car and rushed into the house ignoring the gateman who was calling her attention, she opened the door to the sitting and was taken aback ,she opened her mouth in shock.
“Thelma……..? “she muttered
Noel rushed in too and was stilled at the sight that met him,
“Thelma, what happened to you? Why are you looking like this? “he stuttered
“What about your husband? I’m confused here, what on earth happened to you? Debbie asked
Thelma was filled with shame, she couldn’t look into her sister‘s eyes, she just sat down crying.
“Deborah, stop all these your questioning,sit down and listen to what that evil man did to your sister oo,that wicked man will never go unpunished, my God will punish him for deceiving and destroying my daughter’s life. I warned you Thelma, Thelma I warned you” her mother lamented amidst tears sitting on the floor.
Debbie managed to sit down with her eyes still focused on Thelma
“Where have you been Thelma? You never bothered to ask after your family, you shunned us out of your life, and now you return looking like a ghost,“ Debbie said
“I”m sorry Debbie, I’m really sorry, that man deceived me, I’ve been his sex slave since he took me to Kenya, he seized my passport and phone, I cried every morning and night begging God to rescue me, finally God answered my prayers as police raided their hotel and rescued us, we were repatriated to Nigeria, I couldn’t face mum, I never knew you had returned with your baby, I’m sorry for bringing Shame to you all. ”
After some moments of silence, her mother shook her head and sighed.
“I still can’t believe that my own daughter was among those girls I saw on the television, get up, you need to shower and eat good food, then we can discuss more on this, “her mother told her
Debbie helped her to her room, where she showered before coming down to eat.
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George ‘s wedding was two weeks away, he had returned from the states with his fiancee and they travelled to Abuja to pick some things for the wedding, so he called at Debbie’s house.
Debbie was over joyed to see him, he introduced his fiancee to her, they didn’t meet Noel at home because he travelled to Port Harcourt for a conference, they talked about so many things, she didn’t bring up Thelma’s issue because she doesn’t want to bring back the past, she avoided talking about her. She prepared vegetable soup and semo for them, she served the food and called them to the dining to eat.
They were about eating when her phone rang and her mother told her that she was at the gate, she instructed the gateman to open the gate for her mum.
The door opened and her mum walked in, followed by Thelma behind her. George stood up and greeted Debbie’s mum, he then saw Thelma walked in,
“Thelma!!!!!!!! “he screamed out not able to hide his surprise.
Thelma wished the ground would open and eat her up, this was the last person she ever wanted to see, she knew how badly she treated him, this was a guy that loved her with all his being, he was ready to sacrifice his own life for hers. She faked a weak smile.
“Good day George“ She said looking away outrightly
“Were you sick? What happened to you? You don’t look alright? Mummy, hope Thelma is alright?” he asked looking so concerned
“she is fine, it’s just a minor sickness”her mother lied
“ooooooh, I understand, guess your first pregnancy is dealing with you, don’t worry it’s one of those things. Please meet my fiancee, Queendaline, but I call her my Angel. Angel, this is Thelma, my …………….”the sound of Angel‘s phone disrupted his last statement, she excused herself to answer her call
“So how’s your husband? Hope he is taking proper care of you?“ he asked her
Angel walked in,and picked her handbag
“Baby, please I need to hurry to the boutique and pick my orders, they called to tell me that they just arrived, I will eat my food when I return, Debbie please save my food in the microwave, I will soon be back, “she said rushing off
“The car key!!!!!!! “George shouted
She rushed back and took the car keys, pecked him and left.
Debbie heaved a sigh of relief, she prayed that her mum and Thelma would leave before Angel returned.she returned to the dining to meet George enjoying his meal, and chatting with her mother, but Thelma was quiet,
“hope Debbie told you about my wedding” he asked Thelma, but there was no response, he repeated the question again, but there was no response, her mum tried to signal her to talk but she was deeply lost in her thought. Debbie stood by the door watching them, flood of tears fell down from Thelma’s eyes, her mum tapped her on the shoulder
“Thelma, George is talking to you!” she yelled at her
”ooooh, me? what…….eeeerrrrm……..”she stuttered wiping her face
“He said his wedding is coming up soon” her mum told her
“oooooh, that? con…….grats…..”she didn’t finish her statement as hot tears fell down her cheek, she couldn’t control her emotions anymore, she ran upstairs to her sister’s room, her mother followed her
“Debbie, you’re hiding something from me, Thelma doesn’t look alright, I know you can’t hide anything from me, ”
“Excuse me George, I will be back soon” she said and rushed to her room
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“Why are you crying over spilled milk? Why are you behaving like a child?, you think you will win him back with this your attitude, is this a tactic to gain his sympathy? You think he will fall for your trick after what you made him pass through? You better wipe away from tears and forget about him, that pretty girl you saw downstairs is his fiancee, and he loves her so much, don’t ever disgrace me again crying so shamelessly, you have brought enough shame to me” her mother yelled at her.
“Mummy please stop, you’re hurting me with your words, God knows I tried to control myself but I couldn’t, I wasnt crying to get his attention, i didn’t know what came over me, mummy please stop reminding me of my past life, I’m paying for my actions already”
“mummy please stop, you have said enough “Debbie cautioned her mum
“Remember we were to collect her lab. result today, we decided to visit you and tell you the outcome of the test, we never knew George is here with his fiancee, now look at what she’s doing to herself”
“Mum,she’s not doing this for anyone’s attention ,just leave her alone for now”Debbie chipped in
Thelma cried her eyes out, she didn’t know when her mother and sister left the room, she laid on the bed crying.
Someone tapped her and gave her hanky to wipe her face, she looked up and it was George.
“I’m sorry for not returning your love George, I was trying to live a crazy life, I’m not begging you to accept me back into your life, I just want you to forgive me, all I need is your forgiveness,”she said with all sincerity
“Your mum and Debbie told me everything ,I have forgiven you, “He said
“Thank you”
“Just pick up the pieces of your life and move on, this is not the end of the world for you,”he advised her
“Thank you”
He went downstairs to meet Debbie and her mum.
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Sleep was a far cry from George’s eye, he tossed on the bed and looked at his fiance who was sleeping peacefully beside him, they returned to the hotel late, after spending the day at Debbie’s house, they would return to Lagos with the morning flight. He went to the bathroom, had a warm shower, and returned to the bed yet he still couldn’t sleep
He woke Angel and she sat up on the bed still feeling sleepy
“Baby I promised never to hide anything from you, remember I didn’t finish introducing Thelma to you, ”
“ooooh, I already know “she said sleepily
“What do you know? “he asked
“She’s Debbie’s sister, ”
“just that? ”
“Baby can we talk about this in the morning?”
“she was my first love, the girl I told you that dumped me for a rich man”
Her eyes flung wide open, she was wide awake
“You mean Thelma was your girlfriend? “she retorted
“yes, she was, not anymore?”
“And you never told me? What did you do when I left the house, oooooh stupid me, I should have known”
“What are you talking about?”
“You must be happy to see her, no wonder you didn’t bother to accompany me to the boutique, you wanted to spend some time with your ex, so how does it feel to have your ex back, you must be feeling happy, how am I supposed to know if you didn’t have s*x with her yesterday, I can’t stand this”
“Angel stop this, there’s nothing between Thelma and I again, anything that happened to us was in the past, stop being paranoid”
“so I’m being paranoid now ,right? ,I can’t stay in this room and watch you utter more lies”
She got out of bed angrily, wore her clothes and left the room, George tried to explain to her that he doesn’t love Thelma anymore and nothing happened between them, but she ignored him and insisted on paying for another room, he let her do as she wished.
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