Mr. Chike Okafor was still waiting
patiently for Adanma’s arrival right in his humble abode. Only the blind would
be yet to observe that the poor man was almost losing his patience.
“Where on earth would this woman be?” He thought aloud. Deeply concerned
over her welfare. “I pray nothing bad had happened to her.” He added, still
looking pale on one of the upholstery chairs in his sitting room.
Chike’s lost of patience, which was accompanied by series of
soliloquies, came in subsequence to several aborted efforts he had made to
reach the awaited lady on phone.
Adanma was Mr Okafor’s fiancée, and their church wedding ceremony was
meant to take place in two weeks time.
Chike came across Adanma in Calabar, Cross River State barely four
months back; they were both residents of the City (Calabar). And luckily for
them, they hail from neighbouring states in Igboland, Enugu and Anambra
respectively.
Their relationship commenced jokily during one fateful weekend, Saturday
24th of August 2013 precisely, when Chike drove to one of the
hottest joints in the City to have some drinks.
Having parked his Red Toyota Camry Car at the designated spot, the moment
he walked into the bar, he abruptly sighted one fair and plump pretty damsel
clad in a blue mini-skirt, pink top and a pair of pink sandals who was seated
alone at one of the corners in the area. She was already sipping from a bottle
of Smirnoff which was accompanied with a plate of pepper soup.
Amazingly, within a twinkle of an eye, she saw a slim and chocolate
looking young man of an average height who appeared to be in his late thirties
standing right before her. He was putting on a pair of three-quarter jeans,
green T-shirt and a pair of leather slippers, coupled with a multiple-coloured
face cap.
“Hi!” He exclaimed cheerfully.
“Hello!” The lady whom seemed to be in her early thirties quickly
responded.
“I’m Chike,” He said. “Chike Okafor.” He
added, still standing.
“Ok, Adanma.” She said placing
her left palm on her chest.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Not at all”
“Can I join you?” Chike
requested.
“Suit yourself.” She replied in a very
friendly manner.
Chike joyfully sat on the white plastic seat
positioned directly opposite her. “You are really beautiful; I must confess.”
He quickly dished out.
“Thanks” Adanma gladly
appreciated.
Chike didn’t hesitate to order
for his own drink, bottle of Star to be precise, coupled with a plate of pepper
soup to balance the equation.
The conversation lasted for over one hour
after exchange of several pleasantries including phone numbers and what have
you. After all said and done, Chike gladly dropped her at her place of
residence at about quarter to seven in the evening (6:45pm).
Exactly two months after their meeting, they got engaged. On the third
month, Chike joyfully took his kinsmen to Anambra State to pay her dowry,
unknowingly to the Enugu born man that he was gradually preparing his grave
yard.
According to Chike’s faith alongside that of his family, he was not
meant to live with her after observing the traditional marriage rite until he
had successfully taken her to the altar.
That very fateful day, which marked exactly two weeks to their wedding,
Chike was anxiously waiting for Adanma’s arrival because she was already two
hours behind schedule. Both of them had earlier agreed to meet on that day at
Chike’s place by four O’clock in the afternoon (4pm) in regard to the
proceedings of their forthcoming wedding ceremony. But as at ten minutes past
six in the evening (6:10pm), Adanma was yet to arrive. The young man tried many
times to reach her on phone, all to no avail.
Having dosed off on the
upholstery seat, at about two minutes past seven at night (7:02pm), Chike’s
door bell rang.
On
receipt of the blaring sound of the bell, Chike walked reluctantly to the door.
“Who’s that?” He queried in a low tone.
“It’s me, Adanma.”
As soon as the name ‘Adanma’ was mentioned, the door was widely let
open.
“Baby, are you okay?” Chike worriedly asked. “I’ve been trying your
line, but it was switched off.”
Adanma, speechless; appeared tired and exhausted. She quietly walked to
one of the seats in the sitting room and lousily sat on it, looking pale.
Chike followed suit having closed the door. He was seated adjacent to
her. “Baby talk to me,” He urged. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Honey, I had a very busy day.” Adanma finally responded. “I worked
overtime in the office.” She lied.
Adanma had falsely informed Chike that
she works in one of the telecommunication firms in the City. And Chike having
trusted her, never cared to go for further enquiries on what she actually does
for a living.
“Oh, so sorry about that.” Chike uttered. “That’s company work for you.
They will stress you, exploit you, and at the end, you would be paid peanut.”
He added.
“Yes,
you are absolutely right.” Adanma complimented. “I wish I’m a civil servant
like you.”
Mr Chike Okafor who was a graduate of Business administration from the
University of Port-Harcourt, was a successful civil servant. He was engaged
with the Cross-River State Ministry of Finance.
Whilst, Adanma was a drop-out
from one of the Polytechnics in Nigeria. But she lied to Chike that she had a
Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing.
On that very day, she passed her
night at Chike’s place, and left for her place the following day.
After three days, which was barely eleven days to the proposed wedding
ceremony, something very terrible transpired. On that day, Chike got an
indelible and unimaginable experience in his lifetime.
After office time, he was slowly driving along one of the streets in
Calabar metropolis to purchase some fruits, as usual, for himself as well as
his fiancée at about some minutes past five in the evening. Surprisingly, he
noticed someone who appeared like Adanma, and the lady in question was walking
into a certain brothel situated along the street. He quickly stopped his car
and hurriedly walked out.
On reaching the main entrance to
the brothel, he saw a life image that gave him the greatest shock of his life.
Frankly, the lady he saw while in his car was really Adanma, and no one else.
This time, she was facing him, though from afar. She was almost nude in her
dress.
Little did Chike know that his so called bride had been a prostitute in
disguise all those while. What a bridal deceit!
He couldn’t believe his sight. It was like a dream. He stood still;
seemed froze.
On her part, virtually all her face was covered with fathomless tears
while standing like an electrocuted vulture.
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