THE CHAT ROOM : PART 21 – 30

PART 28

By Temi Akintade

I shivered, like a banana leaf. My heart raced and perspiration gathered under my arm. “How did you get in here?” I glanced at his mop-like hair.

It looked dirty or dusty. I wasn’t even sure if it was tinted brown or it has been out of colour due to the fact that it looked unwashed.

His faded blue shirt looked like it would rather be in the dustbin than to be worn by him. and when he spoke, the atmosphere in the room changed and immediately the air smelt like Tobacco and stale urine and something else that I couldn’t quite decipher.

Tayo’s once ebony dark skin looked faded and malnourished because he was starting to look darker and dusty.

He looked emaciated too with his collar bone fully evident. Had the drugs he has been taking done this to him? Hadassah’s cry jerked me from my reverie.

“Please hand her over. You are scaring her.” my voice shook. My throat was parched and my lips were cracked with worry.

He released a dry laugh. “why are you scared, my baby? Your mother hid you from me.” He grinned at Hadassah. She let out a pelting cry.

A frown slid into his face. “Why now? I am your father. Don’t be scared now. don’t worry I will be a good daddy to you.” He searched his pocket and produced two lollipops.

He offered it to her but she declined then he dumped her on the bed ignoring her cries while he faced me.
“You hid my daughter from me! Now she doesn’t know me!” he barked.

Tears blinded my eyes now. “No, please! You asked me to ab©rt the child and I did so this child is not yours!”

He laughed. “I know she is mine. I can see her eyes, her nose, they are all like mine. I am the handsome one, not you! She can never look like you.” He grinned like a mad man.

Then an idea dropped in my heart as I prayed. “Why don’t you let me serve you food. I know that you are hungry.” I pacified him.

He looked lost for a while, he touched his pale stomach then he grinned at me. It was then that I saw that his once immaculate white teeth had turned brown. Was this who I kssed and had sx with years ago? The sight disgusted me.

Could it be that a part of him was now in me like the psychologist said? I became disgusted again.

It was much later when he agreed for me to serve him food that I understood the reason why God detests fornication.

Sx is like a blood transfusion. And having it outside marriage with a person I thought loved me was more dangerous because he must have transferred some physical, biological, and spiritual genes to me that shouldn’t even be there.

A tear dropped down my face as he wolfed down the food. I quickly wiped the tears with the back of my hand and carried Hadassah out with my phone in hand. Then I dialed Pastor Nat’s line to reach out to him. he picked on the first ring.

“Don’t worry, I’m coming with police officers. I am almost at your place.” He ended the call.

I was surprised when he truly came with the police officers who bundled the struggling Tayo out of my house.

It turned out that Tayo’s parents have been searching for him for a long time. he has been a steady drug add!ct for years and that has cost him his mind at the same time.

“How did you know I was in trouble?” I asked pastor Nat when the police had gone and when my neighbours left the compound.

“Remember that you gave Hadassah your phone to speak to me and you placed the phone on a loudspeaker? That was when I heard him come in, and then I heard all your conversations.” He said.

“oh my God! Thank you very much, sir. I’m really grateful.” I thanked him profusely.

I noticed that his eyes strolled to my chest and then to the large towel I was wrapped in. it was then that I realized that I was still in my towel. I pvshed Hadassah into his arms when he told me to go and change.

Then I disappeared into the house and changed into a blue dress suitable enough for an evening outing.

Pastor Nat drove us to an exquisite restaurant with shimmering light along the entrance to Gwagwalada.

It was said that only the rich went to such restaurants for business dinners and other events.

Pastor Nat chose a spot that was away from prying eyes and ordered the waiter to take our orders.

It was while we were eating, that he broke the news that almost got me choking on my food.

“Sister Dorcas was caught trying to burn down my house. Early this morning. She was arrested and taken to the police station, she also admitted to burning down your shop and that of Okoro your neighbour.” He fed Hadassah with some ice cream.

“Oh my God! Please what did she say was my crime?” My head buzzed and I felt dizzy.

“She said you tried to steal me away from her. of which I was never hers in the first place.” His eyes stayed on me, expecting my next words.

“I was never interested in you sir. You are just my pastor please let her know that. I only came here to start afresh.

To begin a new life in Christ. She shouldn’t have burned my shop! She would have stolen my cake machine or something! I stressed. I felt like pvnching sister Dorcas in the face.

“Calm down Paulina. Look, she will pay back every dime she has caused and I will compensate you.

I will give you some money to start over okay?” his eyes were soft, pleading for me to accept his offer.

I was about to say thank you but somehow, I knew what I wanted. “I don’t want your money sir with due respect.

I know you wanted me to pray about what you told me about but I don’t even think I want to get married now.

I want to build my relationship with God, get to know him more, grown in my career as a baker, and grow as a good mother to my daughter. Maybe in the nearest future, I can consider us sir. Please I hope you understand.”

I wasn’t sure if it was disappointment or anger or sadness, but the expression on Pastor Nat’s face was unreadable.

I knew he wanted to say something because he stuttered and struggled with words but my mind was made up.

It was as if Hadassah perceived the atmosphere because she sat still with a gloomy face, and completely ignored the ice cream before her.

He released a nervous laugh. “This is tough for me Paulina. I mean, I know that I’m ten years older than you but I’m quite sure of what I heard from God.”

I wasn’t sure of where the boldness came from but I bared my heart out to him. “Look, I know you heard right. But I am certain that this is what the Lord wants me to say for now.”

Tears began to gather in my eyes like black clouds threatening to pour down rain. “Look if God really wants us to be together, then maybe it will be okay afterward.

But for now sir please I want to grow with God. I’ve had enough of all the men betraying me and I really want to move on this new love journey with Jesus Christ.

I really hope you understand just how much my heart has been shattered by myself and the men in my life.”

Dinner was a sour one for us. Still, I tried to be chatty with him on our way home. He dropped me by the house and placed a firm kss on Hadassah’s cheek. He waved me goodbye and I turned to leave. That night I placed a call to mama Judith.

“Why do you want to leave?” she asked.

“I want to start a new life somewhere else ma. I want a new life in Christ away from the people who once knew my past.” I said. Hadassah was already asleep.

“No problem. I have a house somewhere in Ushafa is close to Bwari here in Abuja.

However, you will pay the house rent but I will reduce the rent for you because of Hadassah.” I thanked her and she prayed with me.

Somehow, I knew that I wasn’t going to regret the decision that I made. I was certain about that.