Hideous Truth (II)

HIDEOUS TRUTH (II)

    Thereafter, when the unthinkable news got to their respective parents, it sounded not unlike a mere dream to their hearing, particularly Ete’s.       
   The said couple Elder and Mrs Obong wouldn’t in their entire life imagine that their ‘lovable’ first son was a gay even if they in any way dreamt of it. They wondered where the young man had learnt such nauseous and pathetic lifestyle; ‘could it be during his university time or while in secondary school, or was he born with it’? These among other frightening questions surrounded their aging medulla oblongata. However, such way of life wasn’t peculiar to their lineage.

    On their part, Mr and Mrs Abang cursed the very day their daughter, Ukot came across the ‘idiot’. They felt like they had been duped or double crossed by one who disguised himself sometime ago like a suitor; no doubt, Mr Ete came to pay their daughter’s bride-price in disguise. They didn’t only cast a spell on the day Ukot met Ete, but as well cursed the latter for such manner of deceit employed by his person in the name of ‘marriage’. To say the least, they spent days without even a bolus of meal.

    Surely, if you were in the shoes of the aforementioned couples, you would definitely say far more than what they said as well as do more than what they did, because the unforeseen incident wasn’t just mind-boggling but highly astonishing and unbelievable. However, what else would they do than to accept their fate in good faith as well as seek for the way-forward?

    “I am very sorry for everything,” Ete pleaded with Ukot right in their matrimonial room, kneeling down. “I can feel all the pains I have caused you.”

    The melodrama was taking place in the morning the following day after the unspeakable incident. At that moment, Ukot who felt like a woman that just had a stillbirth was lying pitiably in their matrimonial bed, facing upwards.

    “I know I have really deceived you,” Ete rode on, still knelt down like one who had apoplexy. “In fact, I don’t even deserve you.”

    Ukot remained hopeless and speechless on the bed.

    “I don’t even deserve your presence,” he confessed, gushed out tears. “Let alone your love.”

    She unconditionally followed suit as regards the weep; hers was fathomless.

    “I am just like a monster in your life.” He frankly asserted, cried aloud. “God, why me…?” He said, looking at the ceiling.

    They actually wept like toddlers.

    Oh, they had a little weep together just like any couple in love would. The past good memories were ostensibly coming back again gradually as they sobbed endlessly. Their only solace remained the true love they once shared.

    He held her passionately while still on his knees. “Please, forgive me…” He eventually asked at the top of his voice.

    Ukot looked at him still lying down. “You killed my emotions.” She finally broke her silence sorrowfully. “You have murdered my feelings.”

    Their faces were conspicuously covered with unquantifiable tears. “I know.” Ete submissively admitted. “I am not just a monster to you, I am equally a murderer.” He ironically asserted.

    “You pierced my heart,” she continued resentfully and emotionally. “You struck the arrow right in my heart.”

    “I am sorry…,” Ete reiterated. “I have come to resurrect you.” He informed poetically.

   There was a bit silence. “It won’t happen again, I promise.” He assured.

   The truth was that Ukot was really in love with Ete; she developed a very soft spot for him during their courtship that lasted for awhile. When they were courting, Ete showered her with explicit care and anything a woman wished to behold; that was exactly when she felt complete having someone like him in her life. But unfortunately, the euphoria automatically vanished the moment they tied the nuptial knots that was long overdue considering Ete’s age.

    “You promised?” Ukot verified in a jiffy.

    Anyone around would say she was mad to have descended so low; any other lady would had wanted to employ some tactics or a reasonable delay before reconciling with him, but it was damn obvious that she couldn’t cope without him. Nature was really at work that she couldn’t resist his seemingly irritating presence; of course, taking into consideration what she witnessed at Avocado Hotel, she needn’t a counsellor to ask her to steer clear from him at least for that very moment.

    “Of course, I promise.” Ete reiterated aloud compassionately, stood up and calmly raised her head bearing plaited hairs from the bed.

    This time, she was seated on the bed alongside Ete.

    After all said and done, an absolute reconciliation took its place, though she accepted the reunion only on a condition that Ete would go for a thorough deliverance in the hands of a genuine cleric which was assented to by the man in question.

    When Ukot’s parents learnt of the reconciliation rather than divorce, they were of the view that their daughter was indeed insane. Ukot made them understand that that was when her spouse needed her presence most, claiming that God had sent her to him to make him a new creature.

    On their part, Ete’s parents couldn’t hold their joy on hearing that Ukot never sought for a divorce which was the most anticipated suitable reaction. Thus, they remained grateful to her for such rare courageous and humane gesture displayed. To them, they owed her not just a lot but the whole world.

    As God would have it, a week later, Ete was successfully delivered from the beast called homosexuality. Consequently, they became a better and greater union again.

    When the both parents learnt that Ete had genuinely turned a new leaf, they couldn’t believe their ears. It was like a fabricated tale. Who on earth would agree that the hideous truth would eventually turn to a pleasant one. Aside them, every tongue was filled with ‘God bless the god-sent Ukot’. Mr and Mrs Abang were left with no other choice than to revoke the spell they cast on the young man who once derailed.

   There and behold, few weeks later, Ukot was confirmed one-month pregnant. Consequently, nine months on, she put to bed a bouncing baby boy.

    It was celebration galore. Surely, the tongue that had earlier spoken evil had finally testified that truly the Lord remained the Alpha and Omega.   

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Hideous Truth

HIDEOUS TRUTH

    “Ete my son,” the 75-year-old Elder Obong called right in his sitting room. “We invited you home to hear from the horse’s mouth.”

    His 66-year-old wife, Mrs Obong who was seated very close to him nodded.

    Ete, a 45-year-old successful young man based in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria who worked with one of the oil servicing firms in the said state in which he also hailed from, was the first child of the above named couple. He obviously had anything money could afford. That he was still a bachelor at 45 in spite of the fact that all his younger ones had gotten married, was to say the least a thought-provoking and striking phenomenon to all his loved ones particularly his beloved parents, Elder & Mrs D.A. Obong.

    “We want to know why you are still single.” Elder Obong who was sharing with his wife one of the three-in-one upholstery chairs in the room said succinctly.

    His amiable wife nodded as usual.

    Ete who was seated directly opposite his parents in a single upholstery chair remained calm and silent. Prior to this moment, he needed not a seer to inform him the purpose of that very meeting which marked the umpteenth time a meeting would be hosted by his father for such reason.

    “You are the dream of every lady.” The old man attested frankly.

     Mrs Obong assented via a nod.

    “If anything is the matter, please kindly tell us.” He added.

    “Besides,” his mother chipped in. “Since we gave birth to you, we haven’t seen you with any woman.”

    Elder Obong concurred through a nod.

    “Not even for once.” She landed.

    “Please my son, tell us the truth,” the Chief Host continued. “What’s exactly the problem?”

    Ete noisily exhaled fathomless air, shook his crossed legs continuously and placed his left arm on his left chin. “Papa and Mama,” he finally broke his silence. “You worry yourselves over nothing.” He said, paused. “There’s nothing absolutely wrong with me.”

    “Then, why the unnecessary wait?” his father ranted, concurrently tapped his right leg on the tiled floor furiously.

    His mother slightly clapped her hands continuously indicating how amusing her son’s statement sounded.

    “I’m waiting for the appropriate time.”

    “Appropriate time…?” the old man quarrelled. “Did I hear you say appropriate time?”

    “My son,” she chipped in. “Why are you doing this to us.”

    Ete was unresponsive.

    “What have we done to deserve this?” She added.

    “How many of your mates are still single?” Elder Obong proceeded emphatically. “Answer me, how many of them?”

    “Or even at your working place,” Mrs Obong came in again. “How many of your male colleagues are single?” She reiterated.

    She was of the view that even a 20-year-old man who was privileged to secure the kind of job Ete had wouldn’t wait for a second before getting married let alone Ete, 45 despite the fact that he got the said job over six years back.

     The bombardment from the old couple continued to an extent that the interviewee couldn’t bear the tension any longer. Hence, he pleaded to take a leave; or would I say, he walked out on them. He left for Uyo that very moment in one of his private cars he came with.

     Henceforth, Mr Ete Obong thought it wise to keep a reasonable distance from his parents in order not to encounter further query. Notwithstanding, the distance never served as a deterrent to the old  but agile couple who were seriously willing and prepared to sacrifice anything towards ensuring that their first son who had turned a deaf ear to their unrelenting importunities settled down without further ado.

    As time went on, the persuasive argument which proceeded unabatedly via phone calls became so intense and severe that Ete was left with no other option than to do otherwise, perhaps just to fulfill all righteousness. In view of this, he tied the long overdue nuptial knots with Ukot Abang, 34, a young lady he came across few weeks back in the city of Uyo.

     The long awaited union brought another explicit joy to the entire family of Obong that on the day of the white wedding, the family was agog. Elder Obong who couldn’t hide his extreme gladness felt not unlike a 20-year-old man; to him, it was like a dream come true.

     Having fulfilled the expected righteousness, the newly wedded man was relieved of the endless trauma which was solely manufactured by his elderly parents. Ironically, it seemed the trauma was shifted to his innocent wife, Ukot. For several months instantly after their honeymoon, which lasted barely fourteen days, Ete hardly paid attention to her especially on issues relating to bed affairs.

      He went to work on weekdays and returned late at night almost on a daily basis, and when confronted by the wife he would tender frivolous excuses. More pitiably, at the weekends when he was meant to spend more time with her, he would prefer to hang out with his so-called friends. The melodrama lingered persistently until she decided to share the ugly experience with both her biological and matrimonial parents.

     The aforesaid couples - Elder & Mrs Obong and Mr & Mrs Abang, who frowned at the incident the moment they separately received the complaint took their precious times to enquire from Ete why he had chosen to treat his wife cruelly rather than doing the needful, even when everyone earnestly looked forward to hear the cry of a newborn baby. The defendant who claimed that his actions weren’t deliberate, therein abjured the idiosyncrasy.

     Consequently, he adjusted his lifestyle as promised for a few weeks but later reawoke his real self. This time, it was densely unbearable. Hence, Ukot made up her mind to spy on him, thus she employed an expert to do the critical job.   

     “Hello madam.” The spy called Ukot on phone as she picked the call.

      It was barely two days after she assigned the work to him.

     “Yes Bassey.” She answered.

     “Please, are you alone?” Bassey inquired.

     “What’s it?”

     “I’ve an important message for you.”

     “Go ahead.” She urged.

     “Go to Avocado Hotel right now,” he enjoined. “Your husband is about to meet his guest in Room 301.”

     “A woman…?” She exclaimed.

     “Maybe.” Bassey responded with a thick voice. “Good luck, madam.” He added, cut the informative call.

     Avocado hotel was situated about ten kilometres from their place of residence. The moment she arrived at the hotel, she went straight to the room having received a direction from the receptionist; she lied to the receptionist that she was an expected guest.

     As soon as the door was let open by starkly naked Ete on hearing a knock which he thought came from an awaited waitress, Ukot could not believe what she saw. Right in the hotel bed was a nude young man who appeared to be in his early thirties partly covered with the bedspread. It wasn’t even her fellow woman as she presumed.

    The astonished Ete was speechless, stood still at the door. Whilst the other deviant seemed paralysed as he lied helplessly in the bed.

     So, ab initio this had been the reason for his weird lifestyle? Really pathetic and astonishing.

    Therein, Ukot who couldn’t withstand the ignominy attached to the hideous truth passed out right at the entrance.

    What transpired afterwards ought to be a story for another day. Think about it! 

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Across The Border

ACROSS THE BORDER

    Anyone was liable to insinuate that he was psychologically suffering from myopia. If not, why would he abandon his workshop for an undefined odyssey simply because he yearned for a bigger venture? No wonder he had been putting on a wistful feeling ever since he founded the workshop perhaps out of weariness, having forgotten that a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a step. Nevertheless, only the 34-year-old Dapo knew exactly if such step taken by him was consequential and the needful.

    Dapo, a graduate of Electrical/Electronic Engineering who thought it wise to set up an engineering workshop after his long years of search for a white-collar job proved abortive was really an industrious and intelligent young man who appeared to be very dedicated to his professional handwork. Fascinatingly, he was receiving an encouraging patronage unabatedly because he was unarguably equal to the task. The aforementioned abrupt change of mind transpired barely eleven months after he established the said workshop with the help of his lovable parents owing to the encounter he had with his old time friend, Tunji in one of the famous joints situated in the city of Akure in Ondo State, Nigeria where he resided.

     “Could this be Tunji?” He thought as he caught sight of him in the distance the moment he stepped into the joint.

     It was about 6:13pm on Thursday 17^th of September 2015.

     Tunji, seated at one of the corners in the joint in the company of his contemporary friend Segun of the same age bracket, looked up and also sighted Dapo. “Who am I seeing?” He thought aloud, though wasn’t heard by Dapo who wasn’t yet near.

     “What’s it?” Segun said.

     “The guy who just walked in appears exactly like one of my close pals called Dapo those days in the university.” Tunji cleared the air.

     “May be he’s the one.” Segun reasoned.

     Within a few seconds, Dapo walked closer to where they were seated. The moment he got there, he became astonished having confirmed that it was Tunji. Little did he know that he would come across him again in his lifetime. “Tunji!” He managed to utter.

     “Oh my God,” Tunji exclaimed dumbfoundedly, stood up hastily. “So it’s you, Dapo!”

     They hugged each other passionately.

     Segun smiled heavily as he observed the reunion.

     It was indeed a nostalgic moment.

     Dapo was instantly offered a seat at the round table. Prior to his arrival, Tunji and Segun had already emptied some bottles of lager beer coupled with plates of pepper soup. He was enjoined to join the chorus. “What are you doing in Akure?” He asked Tunji.

      “I came to see my friend.” Tunji replied, pointing at Segun. “Please, forgive my manners.” He asked Dapo having acknowledged that he was yet to make the needed introductions.

      “No wahala.” Dapo accepted.

      “Please meet Segun, my beloved pal.” Tunji rode on, gesticulating. “He also hails from this state.”

      Dapo being an indigene of Ondo State nodded in appreciation.

     “Segun, please meet Dapo,” Tunji continued in a similar style. “He was one of the best brains during our days in UniLag.” He enthused frantically.

     Dapo and Tunji were both engineering graduates of the University of Lagos (UniLag), Akoka in Lagos State, Nigeria.

     “He is also a son of the soil.” Tunji landed.

     Tunji was a guest in the state; he hailed from a neighbouring province, Ogun State to be precise.

     Segun quickly straight out his right hand for a handshake; Dapo complied. It was a warmth and pleasant greeting, “Nice to meet you.” Segun dished out amid the handshake.

     “The pleasure is all mine.” Dapo responded.

     Tunji smiled. “Segun and I are both residents of Italy,” He intimated. “We import goods to Nigeria from time to time.”

     Dapo nodded.

     “So, do you based here?” He asked Dapo.

     “Yea,” said Dapo. “Ever since we finished our NYSC about seven years ago, I have been here.”

     “And, what have you been into?” Tunji stylishly enquired.

     “My brother, leave matter for Matthias.” hinted Dapo who wore blue jean trousers, black polo and brown leather slippers.

     “Meaning…?” Tunji who put on black three-quarter jeans, grey T-shirt and white trainers verified.

     “Na long story, my brother.”

     Segun who clad in ash jean trousers, white shirt, black plain shoes and a white face cap shook his head in sympathy as if he already knew the yet to be disclosed tale.

     The incidental get-together lasted for about forty minutes before they departed for their various residences. Prior to their exit, Tunji and Dapo scheduled to meet the following two days at Segun’s place.

     During the said meeting, Tunji and Segun who were drug barons succeeded in winning the mind of the frustrated-looking Dapo. Obviously, the gangsters needed not many words to convince the desperate Dapo that their kind of business was the most ‘lucrative’. Therein, he willing agreed to follow suit.

     The Italian based bachelors who could boast of anything money could afford specialized in exporting such illicit drugs as cocaine and marijuana to various European nations, and at intervals they would import some goods into Nigeria. They had been into the ostensibly successful game for over four years without encountering any hitch.

     Dapo, having gotten the needed modus and operandi of the densely risky venture, made up his mind to sale off his workshop to enable him raise the required capital. He consequently lied to his parents that he was leaving the country for a European nation in search of ‘greener’ pasture. Indeed, he was psychologically myopic as being speculated by those who learnt the silly decision he had taken.            

     On the day of Dapo’s first move in the company of his accomplices Tunji and Segun, specifically on Sunday 4^th of October 2015, three of them were caught at the border with about 92.5 kilograms of cannabis by the men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

     Afterwards, they found themselves in jail in respect to a verdict, after they willingly pleaded guilty.

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