Forbidden Fruit

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

    “Can somebody say alleluia?” Pastor Afolabi urged right from his pulpit.

    “Alleluia!” the congregants chorused unanimously in a high tone.

    “Can someone shout a bigger alleluia?”

    “Alle – lu – ia!!” they reiterated in a more thunderous tone.

    “The Lord is good.” shouted Pastor Afolabi who wore white suit alongside white plain trousers and black plain shoes.

    “All the time.” They followed suit as the tradition requested.

    Pastor Ken Afolabi, a 48-year-old father of five, of the Jehovah Rescue International Church was a well-known ordained man of God who was seen by all and sundry, both within and beyond, as a man who knew his onions. Everyone including the onlookers felt elated whenever they had a glance of him; needless to state that he wasn’t just highly respected but a reputable cleric. He spent most of his time conducting deliverance among members of his church’s congregation who yearned for such as well as invariably took time to let impecunious individuals understood that the sky was their stepping stone if they so believed. This singular feature of his person made people, particularly the economically less-privileged, see him as a god-sent.

    “Good morning, Pastor.” Mrs Kemi greeted, head bent immediately after the church service.

    She had walked up to him the moment he stepped out of the church building, about entering his private car.

    “Good morning, madam…” he responded cheerfully. “Mrs Kolawole, right?” He quickly recollected, pointing one of his left fingers at her.

    “Yes Pastor.” She clarified, waist bent as a mark of respect.

    Mrs Kemi Kolawole was one of the staunch members of the church that could boast of about three hundred consistent worshippers.

    “Hope all is well?” Pastor Afolabi inquired, stylishly leaning on his ash Toyota Corolla car.

    “Pastor, I will like to see you.” She hinted, standing about a metre away from him.

    Mrs Kemi got married to her lovely husband Mr Gbenga Kolawole three years back; the couple was yet to boast of a baby’s cry, and it presumed that no pregnancy was forthcoming. They thought it wise that it was high time they sought the cleric’s intervention, spiritual wise, after series of persuasions from the affected woman. The partners, who wedded at the said church, met each other there prior to their union; so they could confide in the cleric for any kind of consultation.

    “Okay,” the resplendent Pastor Afolabi replied. “Let’s meet in my office tomorrow being Monday.”

    “Around what time, Sir?” the 37-year-old Mrs kemi enquired, stood still.

    “Would 10am be okay by you?”

    “Yes Pastor.”

    “Okay then,” he said, shook his car keys. “Let’s meet by 10.” He landed, dashed into the car.

    “Thank you, Sir.” She appreciated, majestically took her leave.

    The following day, they met as scheduled. During the meeting, having disclosed to the cleric her mission, he suggested deliverance for her which according to him would be due after a rigorous seven days fasting and prayer to be observed by the couple. In addition, he told her that while the proposed fasting period lasts, she would be expected to spend her days and nights in the church, after which she would be eligible to go home.

    After all said and done, few weeks later, Mrs kemi took in; the segment ushered in a jubilation galore in her matrimonial home. Nine months on, she successfully gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. She was named Opeyemi.

    At this time, her hubby Mr Kolawole couldn’t hesitate to disclose to everyone that came to cheer with the family that Pastor Afolabi was the brain behind the family’s emancipation.

    Subsequently, in four years time, the couple Mr & Mrs Kolawole could boast of three children – two males and a female.

    Opeyemi the first child and only daughter of the couple wasn’t academically bright, hence they considered sending her to a boarding school where she would be closely monitored towards attaining academic excellence, though the school she was sent to – Greater Children Primary School was also situated in Ekiti State, South-West, Nigeria, where her parents hailed from and lived too. When she got to 11 years, she proceeded her secondary education in Greater Teenagers Secondary School, a sister school to the former, founded by the same proprietor.

    Coincidentally, Pastor Ken Afolabi was in good terms with the Proprietor of the aforesaid schools, Chief Dan Olabiyi. So the cleric usually went to both schools, which were situated in the same compound, to counsel the pupils and students. This was one of the reasons Opeyemi’s parents sent her to the school.

    At 17, Opeyemi wasn’t living up to the expectations, most especially regarding her social life; and she alongside her peers were preparing for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE). Hence, her Principal sent her to Pastor Afolabi’s office for private counselling, and deliverance if necessary, as it was often done in the school. The cleric never knew the girl’s parental background and he wasn’t bothered to ascertain either.

    Having met the cleric, it was assumed that all her problems had been solved. Funnily enough, few weeks later, Opeyemi tested positive to pregnancy; the diagnosis, which was conducted by the effort of her school’s management, was occasioned by the abrupt weird attitudes of the teenager.

    When the news was broken to her parents Mr & Mrs Kolawole, it was like the end of the world for the family. Everything was ostensibly happening at breakneck speed.

    When interrogated by her parents right before the school’s management, Opeyemi disclosed unequivocally that Pastor Ken Afolabi was solely responsible for the pregnancy.

    “What…?” Her mother, Mrs Kemi managed to exclaim, passed out instantly.

    Everybody stared at the poor girl in silent awe.

    The untold truth remained that Opeyemi was Pastor Afolabi’s daughter; a secret only known and kept by the cleric and Opeyemi’s mum, Mrs. Kemi Kolawole. That very week 17-years back when she was placed on a compulsory one-week fasting, which made her to spend nights at the church, owing to her alleged inability to conceive, the cleric convinced her to sleep with him, stating that that was the only way she could take in; and the hidden melodrama yielded Opeyemi.

     But as God would have it, Opeyemi’s siblings were Mr Kolawole’s biological children; which implied that the couple was just impatient or in a hurry to have a child.

     Opeyemi was raped by the so-called pastor - her supposed biological father, right in his office on that very day she was sent to him by her school’s principal. She was urged by the randy cleric not to discuss the incident with anybody, unknowingly to him that the unwarranted tango would yield a forbidden fruit.

     So, are we to charge the cleric for deceit, infidelity, adultery, rape, incest, paedophilia, or what have you? Think about it!

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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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