Unspeakable Period

UNSPEAKABLE PERIOD

   The entire arena alongside its vicinity was thoroughly calm and cool till the hidden dog in the house, which seemed like a watchdog, eventually thought it wise to initiate an unannounced bark having woken from its slumber that could be best described as a nap. The pet was actually taken unawares that it couldn’t sense the apparently noisy footsteps of the ‘august visitor’ as he approached the edifice not until he got very close to where it was observing the abrupt afternoon nap.

    Oh, the poor pet named Vigor was without further ado shot dead with a silent bullet by the brutally looking invader, unknowingly to the gateman, Metu who was about twelve metres apart from its (the pet’s) location just as he couldn’t notice the invasion of the ‘august visitor’ alongside his accomplices via the fence.

    There and behold, a gang of three able-bodied men surrounded Adaobi in her matrimonial room as she was as well observing a siesta. The 49-year-old Mrs. Adaobi Uchechukwu who put on lingerie was the target. Her hubby had left the country for Italy, Europe the previous week for business talks and all their four children were schooling abroad. So, having sent her maid to the nearby supermarket a few hours back, she happened to be the only one at home aside Metu whose duty-post only existed at the gates.

    She suddenly woke up to see herself surrounded by three totally armed strangers who weren’t looking only unfriendly but untouchable. Fear gripped her, but she was assured by the gang leader that she wouldn’t be harmed provided she cooperated with them.

    Therein, she was urged to change her wears to something more reasonable and she hurriedly complied, though in an apprehensive mood. Quickly, they handcuffed her and left the room in her company for the house’s premises, entered into one of the cars parked at the garage with the effort of a ‘magic’ key, and headed for the gates; to them, asking the woman to get the car keys was a waste of time. When they approached the gates, Metu was inside his humble abode; hence, one of them stepped out from the car and kept the gates open. On hearing the gates’ sound, Metu dashed out only to naively observe a very weird drama; before he could comprehend what was happening, they were off.

     Oh, the helpless Adaobi had been kidnapped!

     Metu who was yet to fathom the scenario, hastily went into the main building only to ascertain that his boss’s spouse was nowhere to be found. “Oh my God,” he exclaimed at the top of his voice. “They don kidnap Madam!”

      His eyes turned red within a twinkle of an eye.

    “I am finished.” He added, fell on the floor.

     The gates were still left widely open.

     Metu confusedly grabbed his cell phone to alert his boss Chief Onyeka Unchechukwu.

     “What are you talking about?” the call recipient reacted loudly at the arrival room of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos State. “My wife, kidnapped?”

     He coincidentally arrived Nigeria the moment his wife was kidnapped. The distress call, which yielded the rhetorical questions, came in when he was boarding a flight that would translocate him to his final destination, Port-Harcourt.

     On her part, Mrs. Adaobi who found herself amidst a 5-man gang in an uncompleted building situated at the suburb of the city of Port-Harcourt where she was kidnapped, some minutes after they left her home, couldn’t believe herself. She had been hearing of kidnapping, abduction, and other forms of criminality not knowing that she would be patronized someday. A few seconds stay at the den of the lions, which seemed not unlike a jungle, was indeed hell; the room was completely covered with the thick smokes generated by the Indian helms they were respectively devouring, making her gasp for air. She was forced to seat on a folded dead black snake that was kept on the bare ground. Some minutes later, she was relieved of the handcuffs.

    Within fifty minutes, the 50-year-old Chief Uchechukwu arrived at Port-Harcourt. The moment he got to his residence, he ignored Metu as well as the housemaid Abigail who returned from the supermarket few minutes after the incident, and walked straight to his matrimonial room only to see his wife’s phone lying helplessly on the bed bearing several missed calls; that was when the reality dawned on him.

    Within a twinkle of an eye, he was out from the room. “What happened?” He asked Metu who was pitiably seated on the tiled floor of the sitting room alongside Abigail.

    “Oga, I no understand ooh,” Metu cried in Pidgin English, gesticulating. “Oga, I no understand ooh…” he reiterated.

     Abigail, who was also yet to get the gist, was looking like a soured yellowish pap that was packed in an ancient plate.

     “Calm down, calm down,” he urged Metu, stood still. “Tell me, what really happened?”

     As the confused 37-year-old Metu, who had managed to gather himself, was about narrating the astonishing story, Chief Uchechukwu’s phone rang in his pocket. “Who’s this?” He enquired as soon as he picked the call.

     “I am sure this is Chief Uchechukwu?” an unfamiliar and unfriendly masculine voice responded with a bass.

     “Yes, this is Chief Onyeka Uchechukwu,” he said. “How may I help you?”

     “I am afraid, your wife is in trouble.” The caller hinted.

     “My wife?” He inquired. “Please, don’t hurt her.” He hurriedly added having sensed the identity of the caller.

     “Well, provided you cooperate with us.”

     “What do you want?” said Chief Uchechukwu calmly. “Please, name your price.”

     “Fifty million naira, only.”

     “What…!” He subconsciously exclaimed in a high tone.

     “I can see, you are not ready.”

     “I am very sorry about that,” pleaded the victim. “Please, let me give you five million naira.”

     The caller sighed deeply on hearing the proposed amount. “Do you think we are selling crayfish here?” He said bitterly, cut the call.

     Two seconds later, the same number called back. “Hello.” answered Chief Uchechukwu as he picked the call.

     “Darling, please give them anything they asked.” His wife enjoined in a depressed tone.

      “My dear, are you alright?”

      “I am sure you have heard her voice?” responded one of the gangsters having quickly collected the phone from her. “I’m afraid, she is dying in silence.” He added frankly, cut the call.

      Chief Uchechukwu hurriedly dialed the number.

     “Yes?” another strange voice answered as he picked the call. “What can we do for you?”

     “Please, I can’t afford that amount.”

     “Make ten million naira available for us before this time tomorrow,” the voice urged. “And, make sure you don’t involve the police.” He eventually warned.

     “Okay, I will.” replied the frustrated-looking victim. “Where do I drop the money?”

     “Make the money available,” the voice said. “Then we will tell you how to locate us.”

     “Okay.”

     “I repeat,” the voice hinted. “Do not involve the police.”

     “I won’t.” He responded after a brief silence.

     “Good luck.” The stranger added, cut the call in haste.

     Thereafter, without the knowledge of Chief Uchechukwu, his younger brother who had learnt of the incident contacted the state’s Police Commissioner. Without wasting time, the Police went in search of the culprits; this was taking place that very fateful day the incident transpired.    

     First thing the following day, having captured the kidnappers at their hideout, Mrs. Adaobi Uchechukwu who appeared pale was unexpectedly reunited with her husband by the police, though the overall period, particularly a night, spent in the hands of the vandals was a moment she would definitely live to remember; the period was indeed unspeakable.

    It was undoubtedly an emotional homecoming.

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