09-15-2018, 11:17 AM
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES*
*Episode 21, 22, 23 & 24*
Eno got down on her knees and held on to the spiritualist’s legs. “Please, baba. Just tell me any amount, I will pay. I am a married woman, I can’t sleep with you, please have mercy on me”.
Spiritualist: “Of course I know that you are married, but this is the wish of the gods and not mine so I have nothing to do about this. You can choose to stay here as the gods commanded or you go and face the consequences of your disobedience. Remember your promise”.
The sight of how bad Samantha’s eyes have gone made such a huge imprint on her that she was willing to do anything to escape the wrath of the gods. She called her mother’s phone to inform her that she would be spending the night at the shrine and that she cover up for her should her husband call to ask for her. Unfortunately, her mother’s number was switched off.
Eno: “Baba, my mother’s number is switched off, can I go home and come back tomorrow? I didn’t inform my husband that I would spend the night out”. She pleaded.
Spiritualist: “If you step out of this shrine, you will be struck with the same ailment that befell your friend”.
Eno: “Oh God! What sort of problem have I gotten myself into right? Who even said I should come to this shrine for help? It’s not like the Dozie has started showing me love seff”. She reluctantly went inside the shrine after trying her mother’s number one more time.
Dozie returned home and went into his room. He noticed that he didn’t see Eno in the sitting room when he entered. After freshening up, he returned to the sitting room to watch TV and when it was evening, he expected her to come out of her room and move to the kitchen to make her favourite noodles but she didn’t come. He thought of going to her room to see her but when he got to the door, he felt reluctant to go in and he returned back to his chair.
Dozie: “I don’t care if she remains in her room forever, after all her presence profits me nothing. In fact, she can go ahead and commit suicide for all I care, I would rather be a widower than remain married to that seductress”, he thought aloud.
At exactly 7:00pm having finished watching AFCON match, he took his car keys and drove to Samantha’s house. Since the last time he went there, he had made efforts to get across to her but she had refused to pick his calls or return his messages. On his way, he stopped at a fruit vendor and bought fruits for her exactly the way she wanted it. When he got to her compound, he paused in his car and said a little prayer before walking in. “Jesus Christ!” He screamed and almost ran back when he saw Samantha’s condition in the sitting room. “My God, what happened to you baby?” He drew near to her.
Samantha: “Who is this, who are you and what are you doing here?” She asked for she could no longer see.
Dozie: “It is me Dozie your true love. Can’t you see me?”
Samantha: “So your wife has sent you here to remind me of my woes? What more do you want from me? After you dumped me for my best friend, things went from bad to worst. I had an accident that almost took my life and now I am blind for no justifiable reason”, she began to cry.
Dozie: “Do not cry my love. What happened to your eyes? How can you just go blind like that? You were so full of life the last time I saw you”.
Samantha: “Get out of my house and go back and tell your wife that I am still alive, even though I am blind, I am alive and that is my consolation”.
Dozie: “No, I can never leave you at this time when you need me. I left you before, I am not gonna leave you again”.
Samantha: “I said get out of my house. Where were you all these days that I needed you by my side? Of what use is your presence and your attention now that I am blind? Go back to your wife and leave me alone, I will be fine with my mother”.
Dozie: “Please, my Sama. Let’s keep the past behind us. I still love …”
Samantha: “Get out!” She interrupted him and grabbed her stick which was aiding her to walk about and began to wave it at the direction from which he was talking.
Dozie: “Please, baby. I am on my knees …”
Samantha: “I hate you!”, she got up and began to walk but she hit her leg on the center table and fell down with a crash. Dozie ran and grabbed her in his arms. “I am sorry, my love. I know I have hurt you but I am willing to make amends.” He pleaded with tears flowing from his eyes.
Samantha: “Just go. Leave me to go through this alone”. She began to scratch and kick and scream. “Mum, where are you? Come and take me from here to my room”. Her mother who was in the bathroom grabbed her towel and ran out when she heard her daughter’s voice. “What has happened again this time around? God help my daughter o”, she soliloquized.
Mama Samantha: “So it is you who is causing my daughter so much pain? Have you not caused enough pains already?”
Dozie ran to kneel at her feet. “I am sorry, mum. Please help me talk to her. I am willing to make amends
Mama Samantha who was irritated by his presence, softened when she saw him in tears at her feet. “It’s okay my son. As you can see, my daughter is very angry right now and it’s not her fault, she has gone through a lot recently. I will advise that you leave now and come back another day”. She told him.
Dozie: “I will be outside until she calms down. I can’t bear to see her in this condition”. He went out and sat at the corridor weeping for he felt his heart broken by what Samantha was going through.
After staying out for more than two hours, Samantha’s mother came out and pleaded with him to go home and rest and return another day since Samantha was already asleep. He accepted and drove home in silence, his heart heavy and his brain occupied with the thoughts of the plight of his beloved.
He got home some minutes past ten.
Gate man: “Welcome, sahhh”. He saluted as he opened the gate.
Dozie: “Have you seen Eno today?”
Gate man: “Eno … Eno? Who be Eno?” he asked scratching his head.
Dozie: “The woman I live with!” He thundered.
Gate man: “Oh, your wife, that na my madam. She never come back since wey she commot this morning”.
Dozie: “What! You know what, just lock the gate”.
The gateman shook his head after Dozie left his post.
Gateman: “This my oga seff, why him go dey call him wife name? I think say people of nowadays na sweet sweet names like honey, sugar, sweet dem dey call their wives. Na we wey be old school suppose dey call our wives by their names. Anyway, e no concern me, sha. Na husband and wife matter, dem go settle for bed”, he went back into his small room by the gate. Dozie went into his sitting room and dialed his mother in-law’s number. “I hope she has not been kidnapped, before her mother will come and accuse me of harming her daughter. I don’t want that woman’s trouble, I need all the concentration I can get to get back Samantha”. Mama Eno who was preparing to go to bed saw his call and quickly picked it.
Mama Eno: “My in-law, this one that you are calling me by this time of the night, I am sure that my daughter has cooked your favourite food for you this night. Tell her to take very good care of you o, remember that you people are still in honeymoon and the doctor said you should get your wife pregnant as soon as possible for medical reasons. And …”
Dozie was angry at the other end but he tried to keep his calm.
Dozie: "Can you just listen to me, ma? I didn’t call because of any honeymoon. Is Eno, erm … I mean my wife there?” He asked, eager to hear her reply that her daughter was spending the night with her so that he could go back to sleep in peace.
Mama Eno’s mind skipped a beat, she remembered that she had tried to call her daughter during the day but her number was not available.
Mama Eno: “I did not get what you said, the network is fluctuating, say that again”.
Dozie: “I said is your daughter with you there? She left the house this morning and she is yet to return. I tried to call her but it keeps saying ‘number out of network coverage’”.
Mama Eno: “Erm … I … Eno … She …”
Dozie: “I can hear you, speak up ma”.
Mama Eno quickly ended the call and dialed her daughter’s number so she will know what she would tell him about her whereabouts but the number was switched off. Suddenly, she remembered that it was the seventh day and that Eno ought to have gone to see the spiritualist. “But she should be back from the baba’s place by now, I hope she is safe o”. She was still thinking when Dozie called her back.
Mama Eno: “I am sorry, my in-law. It’s like network ended the call. Your wife is asleep here, she came into the house while I was away. I would have given her the phone so that you can talk to her but she is fast asleep”. She lied to him.
Dozie: “Okay, there’s no need for me to talk with her. I only wanted to be sure that she is safe”. He ended the call and went to sleep.
Eno stayed in a secluded part of the shrine while the spiritualist attended to other clients all day. At sunset, the man brought a white wrapper to the room where she was sitting on the floor. “Take this wrapper, remove your clothes and wrap your body with this. We are going to the supreme Ilele River to bath you there. The gods cannot touch you if you have not had this sacred bath”.
Eno obeyed like one who was under a spell. The spiritualist returned with a razor and dirty water in a bowl and commanded Eno to unclad herself and sit on a stool he brought along with him. “Remove the white wrapper and sit naked on this stool or on my laps”, he said.
She obeyed and sat on the stool instead and the man began to wet her hair with the water.
Eno: “What are you doing, baba”, she asked.
Spiritualist: “Shhhh! The cleansing process has started. You are not supposed to talk while it is going on. We have to shave your hair both up and down before the gods begin the real ACTION tonight”.
Eno: “What! I didn’t bargain for this. Shave my what?”
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES
*Episode 22*
Eno: You said I should unclad myself, I have. Now you say you wanna shave my hair both up and down? What has that got to do with my being here?”
Spiritualist: “When the gods give you a pair of shoes as a gift, they will take back your legs as payment. If you had asked me about the conditions attached before going ahead to do what you did to your friend, I would have told you”.
Eno: “This is unfair. I didn’t bargain for all these”.
Spiritualist: “Nothing is fair with my master the devil. Are you ready to allow me do what I need to do or would you rather face the wrath of the gods?”
This boxed Eno into a corner and she obliged him for fear of what may befall her if she disobeyed. As an expert in that art, it took the spiritualist only few minutes to completely shave off her hair both up and down and she tied back the white wrapper and carrying the calabash containing her shaven hair, she matched to the river with him leading the way. When they got to the river, she was afraid to step in for it was dark but he dragged her in against her wish. With a local sponge and homemade black soap, he began to bathe her from her head to her toes. She noticed that when he got to her chest, he paused and peered into her eyes. Then he began to fondle her breast. She felt awful and almost pushed him into the stream to drown. Her breast was soft and in the cold of that night, her nipples hardened and she noticed the bulge forming in between his knees under the loose wrapper the spiritualist had over his body. Having fondled her to his satisfaction, he brought his black lips to her nipples and began to suck. “What are you doing old man? Get your old lips off my nipples!”
Spiritualist: “Shhh … I am only a messenger of the gods, I do what they tell me to do”.
He continued to suck hard at her nipples and she began to shed tears. Few minutes later, he continued with the ritual bath and when he got to the region beneath her belly button, he paused and peered into her eyes like he did earlier. Next, she felt his finger brushing around her clitoris, before she could protest, she felt three of his fingers inside her taking turns to scan her interior. She winced and tried to push his hand away for she was disgusted but he held on and went on his knees and to her utmost surprise, gave her his head.
That night was the worst night of her life as the spiritualist kept on making love to her irrespective of how crude and dirty he made her feel. She almost threw off when he brought his lips to hers and she had to restrain herself from smashing the calabash behind them on his head. They made love right there on the floor of the shrine and she imagined that she saw one of the idols winking at her while the spiritualist rammed his crude manhood in and out of her.
She woke up the next morning to discover that he was already awake and dressed up in his regalia. She ignored him, got dressed and picked her handbag to find her way home when his croaked voice stopped her.
Spiritualist: “The gods have accepted your thanksgiving but there is another condition. You must remember that you must never come face to face with your friend again. The day you behold her face physically in this world, that is the day her ailment will be transferred to you”,
Eno: What? That’s difficult and ridiculous. You mean after sleeping with me all night there are still conditions attached? Baba, the condition is hard”. Eno reluctantly left the shrine.
Spiritualist: “Oh, the gods say I should tell you that they enjoyed your sumptuous body last night. Hahahaha”, she heard him say after her.
Mama Samantha, Samantha and their neighbour set out early morning to visit the man whom their neighbour had alleged had the solution to all of their problems. They drove for more than an hour and Samantha who couldn’t see wondered if they were travelling out of Abuja.
Samantha: “Mum, are we travelling out of Abuja in search of solution?”
Mama Samantha: “No my dear, we are still in the outskirts of Abuja. Don’t worry, our neighbour here has assured me that you will regain your sight after we meet this man”.
They got to somewhere in a forest and their neighbour instructed their driver to stop.
Mama Samantha: “Why did we stop here?” She asked suspiciously.
Neighbour: “Because we have gotten to the place. The baba’s shrine is in that cave, the car can’t go through. We have to walk there”.
Mama Samantha: “A cave? What sort of a solution center is this right in the middle of a forest?”
Neighbour: “Oh well, the man is a powerful native doctor”.
Mama Samantha: “Native doctor! You want me to go in search of solution from the devil. There is no way that is gonna be possible. My religion is against it”.
Neighbour: “Does it matter if you go to a native doctor or the Devil himself in search of solutions? You should rather preoccupy yourself with how to help your daughter regain her sight”
Mama Samantha: “No, I am not that desperate. I would rather go to the most high God in prayers than patronize any dibia”.
Neighbour: “Let us just go in and see him, this man is very good and his powers precedes him everywhere he goes”.
Samantha: “Mum, what is going on here? Where are we?”
Mama Samantha: “We are in the middle of the forest and our neighbour says we are here to see a native doctor”.
Samantha: “If the man has what it will take to make me see again, why not? Do you know what it means to be blind? I will give anything to see again”.
Mama Samantha: “But God can make you see again. Let us go to him in prayers”.
Samantha: “Why did God allow me to go blind in the first place? What did I do to Him to deserve this?”
Mama Samantha: “There is a reason for everything that God permits to happen. Just hold on to Him and all will be well at the end of the day”.
Samantha insisted that they go into the shrine and her mother not wanting to upset her daughter agreed. When they got in, the spiritualist made some incantations and threw his cowries on the floor. “Mbanu!” He said and shook his head. He threw the cowries on the ground the second time and discovered that Samantha was the same girl Eno had afflicted with the mysterious eye ailment. “Aru! This is serious, hmmn”.
Mama Samantha: “What is it? What did you see?”
Spiritualist: “Hmmn …. I …”
Mama Samantha: “You what? Baba, what did you see that made you scream?”
Spiritualist: “Woman, the person who afflicted your daughter with this ailment went to a strong medicine man and she has completed all the process of causing your daughter grief all her life time. In fact, she completed the last process only yesterday. If only you had come yesterday, we would have done something about it”.
Mama Samantha: “So, are you saying there is nothing that we can do about it now?” She asked, eager to leave the shrine for it was making her very uncomfortable.
Spiritualist: “Of course something can be done. There is no one who seeks help from my master that goes back empty handed”.
Mama Samantha: “So, what is the solution?” She asked suspiciously.
Spiritualist: “Your daughter will have to spend 7 days and 7 nights in this shrine after which we shall perform a very expensive sacrifice that will involve the eyes of a woman who was born blind. When the sacrifice is completed, your daughter shall be made whole again. This kind of complicated sacrifice is the only one that can neutralize what has been done on your daughter”.
“What! Human blood?” Samantha and her mother chorused simultaneously.
Spiritualist: “Don’t bother about where you will find a lady blind from birth. All you need do is drop some money and I will give it to the boys as mobilization and they will search for the kind of person that we seek and kidnap her. We have done it several times, that won’t be a problem at all”.
Mama Samantha: “God forbid that I use another person child for sacrifice all in the name of looking for healing for my daughter. I can never do it”.
Samantha: “Mum, what are we still doing here? I can’t believe that we have to kill another person’s child and cause their family grief before I can get my own healing. What if it backfires? That means I will never regain my sight again and that is too bad because I know that with time God will heal me for my hands are clean”.
Neighbour: “If you ask me, I think you should consider what the baba said. Afterall, what is the stress there? You give him some money and he mobilizes some boys who would help you look for the kind of girl he wants to use for sacrifice, it is as simple as that. Shebi we use money to get what we want? How is this different? Hian”
She clapped her two hands together.
Mama Samantha: “You will not know how this is different until somebody gives some people money to kill your daughter, that is when you will know that money cannot buy life. For God sake, human being not even a cow or any other animal. Tufiakwa!”
Samantha: “Mum, take me out of here now!”
They left the place and drove home in silence.
Eno got home very tired that morning. She was glad when the security man told her that her husband had already gone to work that morning. She ran to the bathroom and had a thorough bath for she felt dirty after spending the night with the spiritualist. After her bath, she grabbed one of her wigs and wore it, she was determined to keep knowledge of her shaven hair from Dozie and she knew that was not going to be a problem as she had enough wigs to last her months.
After Dozie closed from work, he went to Samantha’s house and refused to leave even when she slammed the door at his face. He remained outside till late into the night, refusing to go home until Samantha’s mother intervened.
Mama Samantha: “I think you should forgive him, my dear. The young man has proven that he is truly sorry for all he did to you*********************
Will Samantha forgive Dozie? Will she regain her sight? What will be the end of evil Eno and her mother? Watch out for the last two concluding episodes.
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES*
*Episode 23*
Samantha: “To what effect, mum? What is the use of me forgiving him? After all he did to me? He is already married to my best friend and there is nothing anyone can do about it”.
Mama Samantha: “I know, my dear. But forgiveness is freedom. You will be free if you forgive him. I am not saying you should make up with him, but forgiveness is of the Lord. Now that we are praying and believing on God for your healing, I think you should let go of this hurt so that nothing can prevent your healing”.
After much persuasion from her mother, Samantha forgave him and he came back into the house.
Dozie: “Thanks for forgiving me, bae. I want to send you to a hospital in the UK for your eye treatment. I will take care of all the bills. The three of us will fly there together, you, me and your mother. We could leave the day after tomorrow if you are ready”.
Samantha: “It is a good idea but we went to see our pastor earlier in the day and he has given us some prayers and fasting to do, I think we should wait till we finish the prayers and fasting before we travel”.
Dozie: “Okay. I will join in the prayer and fasting then. Whatever it is that will cure you, count me in”.
Samantha: “Really? You fast? What will you tell your wife when she cooks and you refused to eat?”
Dozie: “I don’t have a wife. What I have is a woman leaving with me and her time is up because she lied about being pregnant, now that the pregnancy is no more, she is leaving my house as soon as I get home”.
Samantha: “How can you say she is not your wife? Are you whining me?”
Dozie: “How can I whine you? Do you know that we have never stayed in the same room since we started living under the same roof? I have never given her a peck talk more of touching her. In fact, we don’t talk and I don’t eat her food”.
Samantha: “Okay o, I have heard you”.
Dozie: “But babe, this your swollen eyes fit you o, you look sexier, I feel like kissing you, seff”. Dozie found himself falling deeper in love with Samantha despite her condition as he ran his finger on her face.
Samantha: “Go joh. You are running your mouth because I forgave you abi? Just wait for me to regain my sight, you will see what I will do to you. Kiss ko, sex ni, you better repent and give your life to God. Yeye child.” She threw the throw pillor on her chair at him.
Dozie: “Hahaha, my baby is calling me yeye child o. Okay, mummy Samantha, I have heard you. I will repent but not until I have done this”.
Samantha: “What?” Dozie drew close to her and covered her lips with a deep and passionate kiss that lasted for minutes. It was one of the longest kisses that they have had since they started dating.
They began to tease each other and Dozie was more than glad to have their days of exchanging banters back. He stayed with her long into the night before he went home.
Immediately he got to the house, Eno was waiting for him in the sitting room. She stopped him at the sitting room’s entrance door with her hands on her waist.
Eno: “And where are you coming from by this time of the night? Which married man stays outside leaving his wife till almost 11pm?”
Dozie: “Are you crazy or you are just stupid? What right have you to ask me about the time I chose to return to my home? Where were you all through yesterday? You think your mother’s lie last night is enough to keep you safe?”
Eno: “I don’t know what you are talking about. If you think you are going to use that as an escape route or looking for an excuse to cover up for your coming home late then you need to try harder. Only an irresponsible man keeps his wife waiting in the night”.
Dozie: “Don’t you ever refer to yourself as my wife again. If you must know, your time in my house has expired, the pregnancy that you capitalized on to get into my house is no more. I am not even sure any pregnancy existed but I will find out soon. Maybe it will interest you to know that I have made up with Samantha, my true love. Before I come back from the office tomorrow, I want you gone out of my life forever because I am going ahead to marry Samantha”.
Eno: “You lie! I repeat, you lie Dozie. If you think I am going to sit back and watch you bring in blind Samantha as a wife then you don’t know me. Have you seen her eyes? Do you know how that came about? Oh, because I allowed her to be alive right? Let’s see how you will go and marry her now”. She busted uncontrollably, revealing her shocking secrets.
Dozie was taken aback by her reaction. “How did you know that Samantha is blind? What do you mean by me not knowing how she became blind? Are you implying that you know something that we don’t know? In fact, what do you mean by you allowing her to be alive?”
Eno: “Erm … I … ah … I mean”. "I don’t know what you are talking about. Excuse me”. She left the door and returned to her room.
Dozie: “All I know is that your days in this house are numbered. You are leaving my house and my life for good” he shouted after her.
Two weeks later, Samantha although still battling with the eye ailment having being preached to by the pastor had given her life to God and was praying and hoping on him for her healing.
Mama Samantha: “My daughter, I am glad that you have fully given your life to God and that you now know the power of prayers”.
Samantha: “Oh mum, it feels so good to fellowship with the Lord. If only I had been very prayerful before now, I am sure this sort of calamity wouldn’t have befallen me. All the same, I thank God for His mercies, even if I don’t regain my sight anymore, the fact that I have God is alone for me and I am sure that I shall see again at the resurrection on the last day”.
Mama Samantha: “I am very sure that you will see again. My God will do it because He is the impossibility specialist. Remember that tomorrow is the round off prayers for our fasting, we shall be in church all day tomorrow calling on God for mercy”.
Samantha: “Yes o, mum. I am prepared for it, indeed a day spent in the house of the Lord is more than a thousand elsewhere”.
The next day after work, Dozie drove to the hospital where Eno was admitted when she had the miscarriage. He wanted to send her away and he was looking for a good reason to do so especially since his parents will demand for explanations before they can approve his putting her away.
Dozie: “Doctor, I came in respect of my wife who had miscarriage sometimes ago. You see, she is pregnant again and I just want to ask the cause of the last miscarriage she had so that we can work at avoiding a repeat of that”. He lied.
Doctor: “Ah, I remember you. My patient’s hot tempered husband, I remember how you angrily left my office that day even though I wanted to tell you something very important about your wife’s health status at that time. Well, about your question, I don’t know why your wife had a miscarriage because there was actually no miscarriage”.
Dozie: “I don’t understand what you mean, doctor. Are you saying my wife is still carrying that pregnancy?”
Doctor: “There was never any pregnancy. I guess she was under pressure and that is why she put up that act. Wait a minute, didn’t her mother explain all these to you? She promised to tell you everything when you calm down that day”. While he was talking, Dozie who was holding his iphone in his hand was recording his conversation with the doctor without his knowledge.
Dozie: “Thank you very much, doctor but I have to leave now”, he got up abruptly and left the office. From there, he drove straight to his parents house and after they listened to the doctor’s revelation on his phone, he left them and drove to his house. Eno was on her bed taking a nap when he kicked the door on her.
Eno: “Gosh, you scared me Dozie. I thought it was an armed robber that entered the house. Why did you bang the door like that?”
Dozie: “So, you still have mouth to talk? Not only are you a cheap prostitute and seductress, you are also a wicked and pathetic little liar. A pretender per excellence, that is what you are. God, I don’t even know what to think about your mother, to think that a woman in her right senses can mislead her own biological daughter this way is appalling”.
Eno: “Why are you calling me and my mother names? Are you drunk or something?”
Dozie: “Before I open my eyes and close them, you have packed your things and returned back to your evil mother where you belong. You think you can trap with any fake pregnancy? Well, my instincts told me that you were lying but for the sake of my mother’s political ambition, I decided to play along. As you know, the elections have come and gone and my mother won the position she contested for. Now is time for you to leave, this so called arrangee marriage is over”.
Eno: “What! You mean because your mother is now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria you can now throw me out?”
Dozie: “No, I am throwing you out because I have confirmed that you were never pregnant for me. It was all a sham, a stunt you and your mother pulled to drag me into your miserable lives. My parents and I know and that was why we never did any ceremony with you. If you remember, we didn’t even pay your bride price, we said we would pay and do the wine carrying and marriage proper when you give birth. So, wake up, there was no marriage whatsoever between us. The doctor at the hospital I took you to when you said you had a miscarriage has confirmed that you lied about the whole thing”.
Ashamed that her deeds had been found out, Eno packed her clothes into the only box she had and made for the door.
Eno: “I am glad I am even leaving you for good. You are such a senseless and insensitive man. The two months that I have been here are the worst months of my life. I know you are chasing me away so that you can marry Samantha but I promise you that I will deal with her. She will never have you.
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES*
*Episode 24*
Eno: "She will never have you. If I can’t have you, then no one will”.
Dozie: “Get the hell out of my house. you are just bluffing, there is nothing you can do”.
The next day, Samantha, her mother with Dozie as the driver drove to church for the concluding session of their prayers and fasting session. When they got to the church premises, her mother and Dozie led her by the hand into the church where the pastor and other prayer warriors were waiting for them. The pastor instructed Samantha to kneel down in their middle and they began to sing and pray.
Eno was in her mother’s house, locked up in her room all day and despite her mother’s plea, she had refused to open the door or come out to eat. She felt bitter, having been abandoned by Dozie. Her mother’s knock on her door caught her by surprise for she was deeply buried in thoughts.
Eno: "Mum, just leave me alone, I feel like a failure and I don’t want to see you or eat anything. Just go away, please”.
Mama Eno: “Are you still sulking in there? Instead of you to get up and fight for what is yours, you are in there wasting your time. Well, I got information from a reliable source that Samantha and Dozie are in Fountain of Life Church. Who knows if they are there to tie their nuptial cord”.
“What! No! This is not possible, I will not take this”. She grabbed her bag containing the idol the baba gave her and ran out to her mother’s surprise.
“Where are you running to?” Her mother called out after her.
Eno: “To settle this score once and for all”. She grabbed her mother’s car key from her dressing table and sped away.
When Eno got to the church, the security personnel at the entrance tried to prevent her from running in but she overwhelmed them and ran into the building where intense prayers and speaking in tongues were going on. “Jesus Christ!” the pastor screamed. Immediately Eno got into the church and came face to face with Samantha, she felt her head spinning and she couldn’t stand. Then she remembered the warning that the spiritualist had given her the last time she visited him. In her anger and quest for vengeance, she had forgotten that she was told never to behold Samantha again. When the consequence of her disobedience dawned on her, she turned back and sped to the shrine. Samantha and her mother including Dozie and the members of the praying team were surprised at her unruly behaviour but they dismissed it and continued praying.
Eno: “Baba, I am in trouble o, hey I am dead and finished!”
Spiritualist: “Calm down and tell me exactly what happened”.
Eno: “I … er … em … I mean … I was in my room when I heard that my husband was with my best friend in a church, I thought they had gone there to wed and I was consumed by rage and anger and I forgot the warning you gave me. I only remembered after I had set my eyes on her”.
Spiritualist: “Arlueeh, abomination! You have committed an unforgivable sacrilege. I am afraid there is nothing we can do about it. Prepare to go blind just as your friend did”.
Eno: “Are you kidding?” she lost her temper and flared up. “Are your gods this dumb that they do not have a solution for a mistake I committed? After I did all that you asked me to do during the thanksgiving rituals? Your gods must be mad. In fact, they are impotent. Afterall, there were not even able to make Dozie love me. I curse the day I came here, I curse all these stupid deaf, dumb, blind and powerless idols. She brought out the idol in her bag and smashed it on the floor”.
Spiritualist: “Mbanu!” the spiritualist shouted. “This is the height of insults that my gods can take. This is the straw that will break the camels back. Get out of my shrine, the gods will fight for themselves”.
She drove back to the church to go and carry out her evil plans but immediately she stepped into the church premises, she was struck with madness and began to laugh hysterically and display characteristics of mad people. All the people in the church were surprised and the security men held her bound for fear that she would run away. After hours of intense prayers and praise and worship sessions, the scale fell from Samantha’s eyes and her eyes opened.
Samantha: “Mum, I can see. Pastor, I can see. My healing has come. Thank You, Lord.”
“Halleluya! God never fails”, her mother and other people including Dozie and the pastor chorused. The pastor heard the commotion outside and ran out. Immediately Eno saw that Samantha had regained her sight, a scale like object came over her face and her face began to swell.
Eno: “Hahaha, I am finished. Yes, I deserve it, I am reaping what I have sown. Look at you Samantha, I wanted to kill you, that is why I came here but I don’t know what is happening to my head. I broke the sacred idol the spiritualist gave me and insulted the hell out of the gods. Hehehe, the gods are mad. They are crazy and foolishly stupid, hohoho. I was jealous that you were getting married before me and so I seduced Dozie and hired boys to kidnap him on your wedding day and force him to cancel the wedding. Kikikikikikki (laughing in Spanish) I was never pregnant, I did that drama with my mother. Kakakkakakaka (Laughing in French lol), that woman is mad, imagine someone who doesn’t have a man of her own forcing me to get a man for myself. Mad people everywhere”, she ran forward and all those watching and listening to her confessions with their hands on their mouths ran back. “Hahaha, everybody is scared of me, I want to go to my husband place but I don’t know where he is and I know these mad people here will not help me”. She released a long fart and ran out of the church premises, the security men attempted to stop her but she maneuvered her way through and took off on her knees.
Dozie immediately got on his knees and brought out a ring and took Samantha’s hand. “I bought this ring weeks back and I promised to put it on your finger again. Please, Will you marry me? This time around, I promise not to abandon you on the altar, not for any reason in the world”.
A tear dropped from Samantha’s eyes as she remembered the first time Dozie proposed to her. “I am sorry dozie but I cannot marry you again. The last time I accepted to marry, my heart was shattered beyond repairs. A fragile heart was broken before, I don’t think it can endure another pain”. Tears trickled down her left eye. She shook her head and ran away leaving Dozie on his knees with the ring in his hand. That evening, the spiritualist lost balanced, drowned and died in the famous Ilele River when he went for his daily midnight bath.
Two Months later, Eno escaped from the psychiatrist home where she was on admission. Her mother had tried everything humanly possible including visiting native doctors and spiritual home but her daughter’s condition continued to deteriorate with her face swollen to the point that people ran away whenever they saw her. Mama Eno was in her room taking a nap when Eno ran into the house from the psychiatrist home. Her mother jerked up when she heard her door open suddenly. “What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at the psychiatrist …” before she could conclude her sentence, Eno ran into the kitchen, grabbed a sharp knife, ran back to her mother and stabbed her multiple times to death. She ran out of the house, licking her mother’s blood on the knife and she didn’t know when a trailer on top speed crushed her to death. (Hmmm …. SINNERS they say, will never go UNPUNISHED)
18 months later, after much persuasion and apologies from Dozie and his parents, Samantha agreed to marry him and they got wedded in church ceremony that was attended by friends and well-wishers. When the reporter who came to cover the event for the national television asked why the bride had no brides maid or maid of honour, Samantha replied. “In this life, there are no friends anymore. What you have are friendly enemies. Once bitten, twice shy”
THE END!
Written by Adelove Stories.
I hope you have learnt one or two lessons from the story..... There are friendly enemies everywhere. Be prayerful and very vigilant. May God open our eyes to see them and may God give us spiritual understanding, amen?? Happy new month and do have a restful night.
*Episode 21, 22, 23 & 24*
Eno got down on her knees and held on to the spiritualist’s legs. “Please, baba. Just tell me any amount, I will pay. I am a married woman, I can’t sleep with you, please have mercy on me”.
Spiritualist: “Of course I know that you are married, but this is the wish of the gods and not mine so I have nothing to do about this. You can choose to stay here as the gods commanded or you go and face the consequences of your disobedience. Remember your promise”.
The sight of how bad Samantha’s eyes have gone made such a huge imprint on her that she was willing to do anything to escape the wrath of the gods. She called her mother’s phone to inform her that she would be spending the night at the shrine and that she cover up for her should her husband call to ask for her. Unfortunately, her mother’s number was switched off.
Eno: “Baba, my mother’s number is switched off, can I go home and come back tomorrow? I didn’t inform my husband that I would spend the night out”. She pleaded.
Spiritualist: “If you step out of this shrine, you will be struck with the same ailment that befell your friend”.
Eno: “Oh God! What sort of problem have I gotten myself into right? Who even said I should come to this shrine for help? It’s not like the Dozie has started showing me love seff”. She reluctantly went inside the shrine after trying her mother’s number one more time.
Dozie returned home and went into his room. He noticed that he didn’t see Eno in the sitting room when he entered. After freshening up, he returned to the sitting room to watch TV and when it was evening, he expected her to come out of her room and move to the kitchen to make her favourite noodles but she didn’t come. He thought of going to her room to see her but when he got to the door, he felt reluctant to go in and he returned back to his chair.
Dozie: “I don’t care if she remains in her room forever, after all her presence profits me nothing. In fact, she can go ahead and commit suicide for all I care, I would rather be a widower than remain married to that seductress”, he thought aloud.
At exactly 7:00pm having finished watching AFCON match, he took his car keys and drove to Samantha’s house. Since the last time he went there, he had made efforts to get across to her but she had refused to pick his calls or return his messages. On his way, he stopped at a fruit vendor and bought fruits for her exactly the way she wanted it. When he got to her compound, he paused in his car and said a little prayer before walking in. “Jesus Christ!” He screamed and almost ran back when he saw Samantha’s condition in the sitting room. “My God, what happened to you baby?” He drew near to her.
Samantha: “Who is this, who are you and what are you doing here?” She asked for she could no longer see.
Dozie: “It is me Dozie your true love. Can’t you see me?”
Samantha: “So your wife has sent you here to remind me of my woes? What more do you want from me? After you dumped me for my best friend, things went from bad to worst. I had an accident that almost took my life and now I am blind for no justifiable reason”, she began to cry.
Dozie: “Do not cry my love. What happened to your eyes? How can you just go blind like that? You were so full of life the last time I saw you”.
Samantha: “Get out of my house and go back and tell your wife that I am still alive, even though I am blind, I am alive and that is my consolation”.
Dozie: “No, I can never leave you at this time when you need me. I left you before, I am not gonna leave you again”.
Samantha: “I said get out of my house. Where were you all these days that I needed you by my side? Of what use is your presence and your attention now that I am blind? Go back to your wife and leave me alone, I will be fine with my mother”.
Dozie: “Please, my Sama. Let’s keep the past behind us. I still love …”
Samantha: “Get out!” She interrupted him and grabbed her stick which was aiding her to walk about and began to wave it at the direction from which he was talking.
Dozie: “Please, baby. I am on my knees …”
Samantha: “I hate you!”, she got up and began to walk but she hit her leg on the center table and fell down with a crash. Dozie ran and grabbed her in his arms. “I am sorry, my love. I know I have hurt you but I am willing to make amends.” He pleaded with tears flowing from his eyes.
Samantha: “Just go. Leave me to go through this alone”. She began to scratch and kick and scream. “Mum, where are you? Come and take me from here to my room”. Her mother who was in the bathroom grabbed her towel and ran out when she heard her daughter’s voice. “What has happened again this time around? God help my daughter o”, she soliloquized.
Mama Samantha: “So it is you who is causing my daughter so much pain? Have you not caused enough pains already?”
Dozie ran to kneel at her feet. “I am sorry, mum. Please help me talk to her. I am willing to make amends
Mama Samantha who was irritated by his presence, softened when she saw him in tears at her feet. “It’s okay my son. As you can see, my daughter is very angry right now and it’s not her fault, she has gone through a lot recently. I will advise that you leave now and come back another day”. She told him.
Dozie: “I will be outside until she calms down. I can’t bear to see her in this condition”. He went out and sat at the corridor weeping for he felt his heart broken by what Samantha was going through.
After staying out for more than two hours, Samantha’s mother came out and pleaded with him to go home and rest and return another day since Samantha was already asleep. He accepted and drove home in silence, his heart heavy and his brain occupied with the thoughts of the plight of his beloved.
He got home some minutes past ten.
Gate man: “Welcome, sahhh”. He saluted as he opened the gate.
Dozie: “Have you seen Eno today?”
Gate man: “Eno … Eno? Who be Eno?” he asked scratching his head.
Dozie: “The woman I live with!” He thundered.
Gate man: “Oh, your wife, that na my madam. She never come back since wey she commot this morning”.
Dozie: “What! You know what, just lock the gate”.
The gateman shook his head after Dozie left his post.
Gateman: “This my oga seff, why him go dey call him wife name? I think say people of nowadays na sweet sweet names like honey, sugar, sweet dem dey call their wives. Na we wey be old school suppose dey call our wives by their names. Anyway, e no concern me, sha. Na husband and wife matter, dem go settle for bed”, he went back into his small room by the gate. Dozie went into his sitting room and dialed his mother in-law’s number. “I hope she has not been kidnapped, before her mother will come and accuse me of harming her daughter. I don’t want that woman’s trouble, I need all the concentration I can get to get back Samantha”. Mama Eno who was preparing to go to bed saw his call and quickly picked it.
Mama Eno: “My in-law, this one that you are calling me by this time of the night, I am sure that my daughter has cooked your favourite food for you this night. Tell her to take very good care of you o, remember that you people are still in honeymoon and the doctor said you should get your wife pregnant as soon as possible for medical reasons. And …”
Dozie was angry at the other end but he tried to keep his calm.
Dozie: "Can you just listen to me, ma? I didn’t call because of any honeymoon. Is Eno, erm … I mean my wife there?” He asked, eager to hear her reply that her daughter was spending the night with her so that he could go back to sleep in peace.
Mama Eno’s mind skipped a beat, she remembered that she had tried to call her daughter during the day but her number was not available.
Mama Eno: “I did not get what you said, the network is fluctuating, say that again”.
Dozie: “I said is your daughter with you there? She left the house this morning and she is yet to return. I tried to call her but it keeps saying ‘number out of network coverage’”.
Mama Eno: “Erm … I … Eno … She …”
Dozie: “I can hear you, speak up ma”.
Mama Eno quickly ended the call and dialed her daughter’s number so she will know what she would tell him about her whereabouts but the number was switched off. Suddenly, she remembered that it was the seventh day and that Eno ought to have gone to see the spiritualist. “But she should be back from the baba’s place by now, I hope she is safe o”. She was still thinking when Dozie called her back.
Mama Eno: “I am sorry, my in-law. It’s like network ended the call. Your wife is asleep here, she came into the house while I was away. I would have given her the phone so that you can talk to her but she is fast asleep”. She lied to him.
Dozie: “Okay, there’s no need for me to talk with her. I only wanted to be sure that she is safe”. He ended the call and went to sleep.
Eno stayed in a secluded part of the shrine while the spiritualist attended to other clients all day. At sunset, the man brought a white wrapper to the room where she was sitting on the floor. “Take this wrapper, remove your clothes and wrap your body with this. We are going to the supreme Ilele River to bath you there. The gods cannot touch you if you have not had this sacred bath”.
Eno obeyed like one who was under a spell. The spiritualist returned with a razor and dirty water in a bowl and commanded Eno to unclad herself and sit on a stool he brought along with him. “Remove the white wrapper and sit naked on this stool or on my laps”, he said.
She obeyed and sat on the stool instead and the man began to wet her hair with the water.
Eno: “What are you doing, baba”, she asked.
Spiritualist: “Shhhh! The cleansing process has started. You are not supposed to talk while it is going on. We have to shave your hair both up and down before the gods begin the real ACTION tonight”.
Eno: “What! I didn’t bargain for this. Shave my what?”
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES
*Episode 22*
Eno: You said I should unclad myself, I have. Now you say you wanna shave my hair both up and down? What has that got to do with my being here?”
Spiritualist: “When the gods give you a pair of shoes as a gift, they will take back your legs as payment. If you had asked me about the conditions attached before going ahead to do what you did to your friend, I would have told you”.
Eno: “This is unfair. I didn’t bargain for all these”.
Spiritualist: “Nothing is fair with my master the devil. Are you ready to allow me do what I need to do or would you rather face the wrath of the gods?”
This boxed Eno into a corner and she obliged him for fear of what may befall her if she disobeyed. As an expert in that art, it took the spiritualist only few minutes to completely shave off her hair both up and down and she tied back the white wrapper and carrying the calabash containing her shaven hair, she matched to the river with him leading the way. When they got to the river, she was afraid to step in for it was dark but he dragged her in against her wish. With a local sponge and homemade black soap, he began to bathe her from her head to her toes. She noticed that when he got to her chest, he paused and peered into her eyes. Then he began to fondle her breast. She felt awful and almost pushed him into the stream to drown. Her breast was soft and in the cold of that night, her nipples hardened and she noticed the bulge forming in between his knees under the loose wrapper the spiritualist had over his body. Having fondled her to his satisfaction, he brought his black lips to her nipples and began to suck. “What are you doing old man? Get your old lips off my nipples!”
Spiritualist: “Shhh … I am only a messenger of the gods, I do what they tell me to do”.
He continued to suck hard at her nipples and she began to shed tears. Few minutes later, he continued with the ritual bath and when he got to the region beneath her belly button, he paused and peered into her eyes like he did earlier. Next, she felt his finger brushing around her clitoris, before she could protest, she felt three of his fingers inside her taking turns to scan her interior. She winced and tried to push his hand away for she was disgusted but he held on and went on his knees and to her utmost surprise, gave her his head.
That night was the worst night of her life as the spiritualist kept on making love to her irrespective of how crude and dirty he made her feel. She almost threw off when he brought his lips to hers and she had to restrain herself from smashing the calabash behind them on his head. They made love right there on the floor of the shrine and she imagined that she saw one of the idols winking at her while the spiritualist rammed his crude manhood in and out of her.
She woke up the next morning to discover that he was already awake and dressed up in his regalia. She ignored him, got dressed and picked her handbag to find her way home when his croaked voice stopped her.
Spiritualist: “The gods have accepted your thanksgiving but there is another condition. You must remember that you must never come face to face with your friend again. The day you behold her face physically in this world, that is the day her ailment will be transferred to you”,
Eno: What? That’s difficult and ridiculous. You mean after sleeping with me all night there are still conditions attached? Baba, the condition is hard”. Eno reluctantly left the shrine.
Spiritualist: “Oh, the gods say I should tell you that they enjoyed your sumptuous body last night. Hahahaha”, she heard him say after her.
Mama Samantha, Samantha and their neighbour set out early morning to visit the man whom their neighbour had alleged had the solution to all of their problems. They drove for more than an hour and Samantha who couldn’t see wondered if they were travelling out of Abuja.
Samantha: “Mum, are we travelling out of Abuja in search of solution?”
Mama Samantha: “No my dear, we are still in the outskirts of Abuja. Don’t worry, our neighbour here has assured me that you will regain your sight after we meet this man”.
They got to somewhere in a forest and their neighbour instructed their driver to stop.
Mama Samantha: “Why did we stop here?” She asked suspiciously.
Neighbour: “Because we have gotten to the place. The baba’s shrine is in that cave, the car can’t go through. We have to walk there”.
Mama Samantha: “A cave? What sort of a solution center is this right in the middle of a forest?”
Neighbour: “Oh well, the man is a powerful native doctor”.
Mama Samantha: “Native doctor! You want me to go in search of solution from the devil. There is no way that is gonna be possible. My religion is against it”.
Neighbour: “Does it matter if you go to a native doctor or the Devil himself in search of solutions? You should rather preoccupy yourself with how to help your daughter regain her sight”
Mama Samantha: “No, I am not that desperate. I would rather go to the most high God in prayers than patronize any dibia”.
Neighbour: “Let us just go in and see him, this man is very good and his powers precedes him everywhere he goes”.
Samantha: “Mum, what is going on here? Where are we?”
Mama Samantha: “We are in the middle of the forest and our neighbour says we are here to see a native doctor”.
Samantha: “If the man has what it will take to make me see again, why not? Do you know what it means to be blind? I will give anything to see again”.
Mama Samantha: “But God can make you see again. Let us go to him in prayers”.
Samantha: “Why did God allow me to go blind in the first place? What did I do to Him to deserve this?”
Mama Samantha: “There is a reason for everything that God permits to happen. Just hold on to Him and all will be well at the end of the day”.
Samantha insisted that they go into the shrine and her mother not wanting to upset her daughter agreed. When they got in, the spiritualist made some incantations and threw his cowries on the floor. “Mbanu!” He said and shook his head. He threw the cowries on the ground the second time and discovered that Samantha was the same girl Eno had afflicted with the mysterious eye ailment. “Aru! This is serious, hmmn”.
Mama Samantha: “What is it? What did you see?”
Spiritualist: “Hmmn …. I …”
Mama Samantha: “You what? Baba, what did you see that made you scream?”
Spiritualist: “Woman, the person who afflicted your daughter with this ailment went to a strong medicine man and she has completed all the process of causing your daughter grief all her life time. In fact, she completed the last process only yesterday. If only you had come yesterday, we would have done something about it”.
Mama Samantha: “So, are you saying there is nothing that we can do about it now?” She asked, eager to leave the shrine for it was making her very uncomfortable.
Spiritualist: “Of course something can be done. There is no one who seeks help from my master that goes back empty handed”.
Mama Samantha: “So, what is the solution?” She asked suspiciously.
Spiritualist: “Your daughter will have to spend 7 days and 7 nights in this shrine after which we shall perform a very expensive sacrifice that will involve the eyes of a woman who was born blind. When the sacrifice is completed, your daughter shall be made whole again. This kind of complicated sacrifice is the only one that can neutralize what has been done on your daughter”.
“What! Human blood?” Samantha and her mother chorused simultaneously.
Spiritualist: “Don’t bother about where you will find a lady blind from birth. All you need do is drop some money and I will give it to the boys as mobilization and they will search for the kind of person that we seek and kidnap her. We have done it several times, that won’t be a problem at all”.
Mama Samantha: “God forbid that I use another person child for sacrifice all in the name of looking for healing for my daughter. I can never do it”.
Samantha: “Mum, what are we still doing here? I can’t believe that we have to kill another person’s child and cause their family grief before I can get my own healing. What if it backfires? That means I will never regain my sight again and that is too bad because I know that with time God will heal me for my hands are clean”.
Neighbour: “If you ask me, I think you should consider what the baba said. Afterall, what is the stress there? You give him some money and he mobilizes some boys who would help you look for the kind of girl he wants to use for sacrifice, it is as simple as that. Shebi we use money to get what we want? How is this different? Hian”
She clapped her two hands together.
Mama Samantha: “You will not know how this is different until somebody gives some people money to kill your daughter, that is when you will know that money cannot buy life. For God sake, human being not even a cow or any other animal. Tufiakwa!”
Samantha: “Mum, take me out of here now!”
They left the place and drove home in silence.
Eno got home very tired that morning. She was glad when the security man told her that her husband had already gone to work that morning. She ran to the bathroom and had a thorough bath for she felt dirty after spending the night with the spiritualist. After her bath, she grabbed one of her wigs and wore it, she was determined to keep knowledge of her shaven hair from Dozie and she knew that was not going to be a problem as she had enough wigs to last her months.
After Dozie closed from work, he went to Samantha’s house and refused to leave even when she slammed the door at his face. He remained outside till late into the night, refusing to go home until Samantha’s mother intervened.
Mama Samantha: “I think you should forgive him, my dear. The young man has proven that he is truly sorry for all he did to you*********************
Will Samantha forgive Dozie? Will she regain her sight? What will be the end of evil Eno and her mother? Watch out for the last two concluding episodes.
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES*
*Episode 23*
Samantha: “To what effect, mum? What is the use of me forgiving him? After all he did to me? He is already married to my best friend and there is nothing anyone can do about it”.
Mama Samantha: “I know, my dear. But forgiveness is freedom. You will be free if you forgive him. I am not saying you should make up with him, but forgiveness is of the Lord. Now that we are praying and believing on God for your healing, I think you should let go of this hurt so that nothing can prevent your healing”.
After much persuasion from her mother, Samantha forgave him and he came back into the house.
Dozie: “Thanks for forgiving me, bae. I want to send you to a hospital in the UK for your eye treatment. I will take care of all the bills. The three of us will fly there together, you, me and your mother. We could leave the day after tomorrow if you are ready”.
Samantha: “It is a good idea but we went to see our pastor earlier in the day and he has given us some prayers and fasting to do, I think we should wait till we finish the prayers and fasting before we travel”.
Dozie: “Okay. I will join in the prayer and fasting then. Whatever it is that will cure you, count me in”.
Samantha: “Really? You fast? What will you tell your wife when she cooks and you refused to eat?”
Dozie: “I don’t have a wife. What I have is a woman leaving with me and her time is up because she lied about being pregnant, now that the pregnancy is no more, she is leaving my house as soon as I get home”.
Samantha: “How can you say she is not your wife? Are you whining me?”
Dozie: “How can I whine you? Do you know that we have never stayed in the same room since we started living under the same roof? I have never given her a peck talk more of touching her. In fact, we don’t talk and I don’t eat her food”.
Samantha: “Okay o, I have heard you”.
Dozie: “But babe, this your swollen eyes fit you o, you look sexier, I feel like kissing you, seff”. Dozie found himself falling deeper in love with Samantha despite her condition as he ran his finger on her face.
Samantha: “Go joh. You are running your mouth because I forgave you abi? Just wait for me to regain my sight, you will see what I will do to you. Kiss ko, sex ni, you better repent and give your life to God. Yeye child.” She threw the throw pillor on her chair at him.
Dozie: “Hahaha, my baby is calling me yeye child o. Okay, mummy Samantha, I have heard you. I will repent but not until I have done this”.
Samantha: “What?” Dozie drew close to her and covered her lips with a deep and passionate kiss that lasted for minutes. It was one of the longest kisses that they have had since they started dating.
They began to tease each other and Dozie was more than glad to have their days of exchanging banters back. He stayed with her long into the night before he went home.
Immediately he got to the house, Eno was waiting for him in the sitting room. She stopped him at the sitting room’s entrance door with her hands on her waist.
Eno: “And where are you coming from by this time of the night? Which married man stays outside leaving his wife till almost 11pm?”
Dozie: “Are you crazy or you are just stupid? What right have you to ask me about the time I chose to return to my home? Where were you all through yesterday? You think your mother’s lie last night is enough to keep you safe?”
Eno: “I don’t know what you are talking about. If you think you are going to use that as an escape route or looking for an excuse to cover up for your coming home late then you need to try harder. Only an irresponsible man keeps his wife waiting in the night”.
Dozie: “Don’t you ever refer to yourself as my wife again. If you must know, your time in my house has expired, the pregnancy that you capitalized on to get into my house is no more. I am not even sure any pregnancy existed but I will find out soon. Maybe it will interest you to know that I have made up with Samantha, my true love. Before I come back from the office tomorrow, I want you gone out of my life forever because I am going ahead to marry Samantha”.
Eno: “You lie! I repeat, you lie Dozie. If you think I am going to sit back and watch you bring in blind Samantha as a wife then you don’t know me. Have you seen her eyes? Do you know how that came about? Oh, because I allowed her to be alive right? Let’s see how you will go and marry her now”. She busted uncontrollably, revealing her shocking secrets.
Dozie was taken aback by her reaction. “How did you know that Samantha is blind? What do you mean by me not knowing how she became blind? Are you implying that you know something that we don’t know? In fact, what do you mean by you allowing her to be alive?”
Eno: “Erm … I … ah … I mean”. "I don’t know what you are talking about. Excuse me”. She left the door and returned to her room.
Dozie: “All I know is that your days in this house are numbered. You are leaving my house and my life for good” he shouted after her.
Two weeks later, Samantha although still battling with the eye ailment having being preached to by the pastor had given her life to God and was praying and hoping on him for her healing.
Mama Samantha: “My daughter, I am glad that you have fully given your life to God and that you now know the power of prayers”.
Samantha: “Oh mum, it feels so good to fellowship with the Lord. If only I had been very prayerful before now, I am sure this sort of calamity wouldn’t have befallen me. All the same, I thank God for His mercies, even if I don’t regain my sight anymore, the fact that I have God is alone for me and I am sure that I shall see again at the resurrection on the last day”.
Mama Samantha: “I am very sure that you will see again. My God will do it because He is the impossibility specialist. Remember that tomorrow is the round off prayers for our fasting, we shall be in church all day tomorrow calling on God for mercy”.
Samantha: “Yes o, mum. I am prepared for it, indeed a day spent in the house of the Lord is more than a thousand elsewhere”.
The next day after work, Dozie drove to the hospital where Eno was admitted when she had the miscarriage. He wanted to send her away and he was looking for a good reason to do so especially since his parents will demand for explanations before they can approve his putting her away.
Dozie: “Doctor, I came in respect of my wife who had miscarriage sometimes ago. You see, she is pregnant again and I just want to ask the cause of the last miscarriage she had so that we can work at avoiding a repeat of that”. He lied.
Doctor: “Ah, I remember you. My patient’s hot tempered husband, I remember how you angrily left my office that day even though I wanted to tell you something very important about your wife’s health status at that time. Well, about your question, I don’t know why your wife had a miscarriage because there was actually no miscarriage”.
Dozie: “I don’t understand what you mean, doctor. Are you saying my wife is still carrying that pregnancy?”
Doctor: “There was never any pregnancy. I guess she was under pressure and that is why she put up that act. Wait a minute, didn’t her mother explain all these to you? She promised to tell you everything when you calm down that day”. While he was talking, Dozie who was holding his iphone in his hand was recording his conversation with the doctor without his knowledge.
Dozie: “Thank you very much, doctor but I have to leave now”, he got up abruptly and left the office. From there, he drove straight to his parents house and after they listened to the doctor’s revelation on his phone, he left them and drove to his house. Eno was on her bed taking a nap when he kicked the door on her.
Eno: “Gosh, you scared me Dozie. I thought it was an armed robber that entered the house. Why did you bang the door like that?”
Dozie: “So, you still have mouth to talk? Not only are you a cheap prostitute and seductress, you are also a wicked and pathetic little liar. A pretender per excellence, that is what you are. God, I don’t even know what to think about your mother, to think that a woman in her right senses can mislead her own biological daughter this way is appalling”.
Eno: “Why are you calling me and my mother names? Are you drunk or something?”
Dozie: “Before I open my eyes and close them, you have packed your things and returned back to your evil mother where you belong. You think you can trap with any fake pregnancy? Well, my instincts told me that you were lying but for the sake of my mother’s political ambition, I decided to play along. As you know, the elections have come and gone and my mother won the position she contested for. Now is time for you to leave, this so called arrangee marriage is over”.
Eno: “What! You mean because your mother is now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria you can now throw me out?”
Dozie: “No, I am throwing you out because I have confirmed that you were never pregnant for me. It was all a sham, a stunt you and your mother pulled to drag me into your miserable lives. My parents and I know and that was why we never did any ceremony with you. If you remember, we didn’t even pay your bride price, we said we would pay and do the wine carrying and marriage proper when you give birth. So, wake up, there was no marriage whatsoever between us. The doctor at the hospital I took you to when you said you had a miscarriage has confirmed that you lied about the whole thing”.
Ashamed that her deeds had been found out, Eno packed her clothes into the only box she had and made for the door.
Eno: “I am glad I am even leaving you for good. You are such a senseless and insensitive man. The two months that I have been here are the worst months of my life. I know you are chasing me away so that you can marry Samantha but I promise you that I will deal with her. She will never have you.
*FRIENDLY ENEMIES*
*Episode 24*
Eno: "She will never have you. If I can’t have you, then no one will”.
Dozie: “Get the hell out of my house. you are just bluffing, there is nothing you can do”.
The next day, Samantha, her mother with Dozie as the driver drove to church for the concluding session of their prayers and fasting session. When they got to the church premises, her mother and Dozie led her by the hand into the church where the pastor and other prayer warriors were waiting for them. The pastor instructed Samantha to kneel down in their middle and they began to sing and pray.
Eno was in her mother’s house, locked up in her room all day and despite her mother’s plea, she had refused to open the door or come out to eat. She felt bitter, having been abandoned by Dozie. Her mother’s knock on her door caught her by surprise for she was deeply buried in thoughts.
Eno: "Mum, just leave me alone, I feel like a failure and I don’t want to see you or eat anything. Just go away, please”.
Mama Eno: “Are you still sulking in there? Instead of you to get up and fight for what is yours, you are in there wasting your time. Well, I got information from a reliable source that Samantha and Dozie are in Fountain of Life Church. Who knows if they are there to tie their nuptial cord”.
“What! No! This is not possible, I will not take this”. She grabbed her bag containing the idol the baba gave her and ran out to her mother’s surprise.
“Where are you running to?” Her mother called out after her.
Eno: “To settle this score once and for all”. She grabbed her mother’s car key from her dressing table and sped away.
When Eno got to the church, the security personnel at the entrance tried to prevent her from running in but she overwhelmed them and ran into the building where intense prayers and speaking in tongues were going on. “Jesus Christ!” the pastor screamed. Immediately Eno got into the church and came face to face with Samantha, she felt her head spinning and she couldn’t stand. Then she remembered the warning that the spiritualist had given her the last time she visited him. In her anger and quest for vengeance, she had forgotten that she was told never to behold Samantha again. When the consequence of her disobedience dawned on her, she turned back and sped to the shrine. Samantha and her mother including Dozie and the members of the praying team were surprised at her unruly behaviour but they dismissed it and continued praying.
Eno: “Baba, I am in trouble o, hey I am dead and finished!”
Spiritualist: “Calm down and tell me exactly what happened”.
Eno: “I … er … em … I mean … I was in my room when I heard that my husband was with my best friend in a church, I thought they had gone there to wed and I was consumed by rage and anger and I forgot the warning you gave me. I only remembered after I had set my eyes on her”.
Spiritualist: “Arlueeh, abomination! You have committed an unforgivable sacrilege. I am afraid there is nothing we can do about it. Prepare to go blind just as your friend did”.
Eno: “Are you kidding?” she lost her temper and flared up. “Are your gods this dumb that they do not have a solution for a mistake I committed? After I did all that you asked me to do during the thanksgiving rituals? Your gods must be mad. In fact, they are impotent. Afterall, there were not even able to make Dozie love me. I curse the day I came here, I curse all these stupid deaf, dumb, blind and powerless idols. She brought out the idol in her bag and smashed it on the floor”.
Spiritualist: “Mbanu!” the spiritualist shouted. “This is the height of insults that my gods can take. This is the straw that will break the camels back. Get out of my shrine, the gods will fight for themselves”.
She drove back to the church to go and carry out her evil plans but immediately she stepped into the church premises, she was struck with madness and began to laugh hysterically and display characteristics of mad people. All the people in the church were surprised and the security men held her bound for fear that she would run away. After hours of intense prayers and praise and worship sessions, the scale fell from Samantha’s eyes and her eyes opened.
Samantha: “Mum, I can see. Pastor, I can see. My healing has come. Thank You, Lord.”
“Halleluya! God never fails”, her mother and other people including Dozie and the pastor chorused. The pastor heard the commotion outside and ran out. Immediately Eno saw that Samantha had regained her sight, a scale like object came over her face and her face began to swell.
Eno: “Hahaha, I am finished. Yes, I deserve it, I am reaping what I have sown. Look at you Samantha, I wanted to kill you, that is why I came here but I don’t know what is happening to my head. I broke the sacred idol the spiritualist gave me and insulted the hell out of the gods. Hehehe, the gods are mad. They are crazy and foolishly stupid, hohoho. I was jealous that you were getting married before me and so I seduced Dozie and hired boys to kidnap him on your wedding day and force him to cancel the wedding. Kikikikikikki (laughing in Spanish) I was never pregnant, I did that drama with my mother. Kakakkakakaka (Laughing in French lol), that woman is mad, imagine someone who doesn’t have a man of her own forcing me to get a man for myself. Mad people everywhere”, she ran forward and all those watching and listening to her confessions with their hands on their mouths ran back. “Hahaha, everybody is scared of me, I want to go to my husband place but I don’t know where he is and I know these mad people here will not help me”. She released a long fart and ran out of the church premises, the security men attempted to stop her but she maneuvered her way through and took off on her knees.
Dozie immediately got on his knees and brought out a ring and took Samantha’s hand. “I bought this ring weeks back and I promised to put it on your finger again. Please, Will you marry me? This time around, I promise not to abandon you on the altar, not for any reason in the world”.
A tear dropped from Samantha’s eyes as she remembered the first time Dozie proposed to her. “I am sorry dozie but I cannot marry you again. The last time I accepted to marry, my heart was shattered beyond repairs. A fragile heart was broken before, I don’t think it can endure another pain”. Tears trickled down her left eye. She shook her head and ran away leaving Dozie on his knees with the ring in his hand. That evening, the spiritualist lost balanced, drowned and died in the famous Ilele River when he went for his daily midnight bath.
Two Months later, Eno escaped from the psychiatrist home where she was on admission. Her mother had tried everything humanly possible including visiting native doctors and spiritual home but her daughter’s condition continued to deteriorate with her face swollen to the point that people ran away whenever they saw her. Mama Eno was in her room taking a nap when Eno ran into the house from the psychiatrist home. Her mother jerked up when she heard her door open suddenly. “What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at the psychiatrist …” before she could conclude her sentence, Eno ran into the kitchen, grabbed a sharp knife, ran back to her mother and stabbed her multiple times to death. She ran out of the house, licking her mother’s blood on the knife and she didn’t know when a trailer on top speed crushed her to death. (Hmmm …. SINNERS they say, will never go UNPUNISHED)
18 months later, after much persuasion and apologies from Dozie and his parents, Samantha agreed to marry him and they got wedded in church ceremony that was attended by friends and well-wishers. When the reporter who came to cover the event for the national television asked why the bride had no brides maid or maid of honour, Samantha replied. “In this life, there are no friends anymore. What you have are friendly enemies. Once bitten, twice shy”
THE END!
Written by Adelove Stories.
I hope you have learnt one or two lessons from the story..... There are friendly enemies everywhere. Be prayerful and very vigilant. May God open our eyes to see them and may God give us spiritual understanding, amen?? Happy new month and do have a restful night.