MY HUSBAND AND I PART 12

...
Good day!” Lara smiled as
walked into the sitting room.
“Welcome.” Tony replied, he
didn’t return her smile.
“How have you been? Hope I
didn’t stay for too long?” she
squatted beside him.
“Fine.” he looked away.
“Are you okay?” lara noticed the
worried look on his face.
“I’m okay.”
Lara watched him for a while,
she knew definitely this bad
mood wasn’t cos of her, perhaps
something went wrong.
“I heard your parents came
alongside my mother while I was
away…” she tried again.
“Yes.”
“What did they come to do? I
mean what did they say?” she
asked.
“Nothing…theyju st came to say
hi to us!” Tony was still avoidng
her eyes.
“thats not true!” Lara knew he
was lying.
Tony bit his lower lip.
“please tell me what happened.”
she pleaded patting his arm.
“your mum wants this marriage
to be dissolved.” he blurted out.
She laughed quitely
“So is that why you’re moody?”
“yes…she called me names…even
my parents got their share of the
insults!” the words seem to
come out through his teeth.
Lara rubbed her forehead…her
mother was impossible.
“Don’t mind her! Okay?” she tried
to sound calm.
“Lara…its just that…I
errm….don’t..do n’t want you to
leave me, you’re all I have now…
please…” he squeezed her palms.
“I’m not leaving” she assured
him.
Their gaze locked for what
seemed like eternity, till Lara
looked away.
“Lemme get you something to
eat, care for some fish
peppersoup? I bought fresh fish
from the water side…” she tried
to sound cheerful.
“I’m already salivating.” Tony
rubbed his stomach.
“Now you’re joining me in the
kitchen…” Lara laughed as she
wheeled him towards the
kitchen
Tony’s eyes followed Lara, as she
walked up and down the room,
trying to get his things ready for
the journey.
His father would be there in no
time to accompany him.
He sighed and sipped his heavily
creamed coffee. The night had
been a tough one, he was
thinking all through.
He had imagined what it’ll be like
if he got treated well- how life
would be with Lara then.
He thought of the probability that
he didn’t get well, would Lara
continue to stay that way…
“What are you thinking?” Lara
jolted him back from his
thoughts.
“Ehn?” he smiled, he had learnt
that word from her.
“Your mug have been hanging
halfway to your lips for a while
now.” she said zipping his bag.
“Nothing.”
“Hmm.” she looked up.
“When are you coming back?”
she walked to the bed side.
“I guess three weeks minimum.”
he replied.
“minimum three weeks?
Maximum should be one year
then.” Lara’s eyes ogled out.
“No…not more than a month.”
Tony laughed.
“I can’t stay here all alone…” she
made a face.
Tony sighed, what was going to
tell her? His worries?
“now c’mon, its just for a little
while, okay? My mum would
come to check on you regularly,
you can even call your friend Deji
to come and stay with you.” he
petted her.
“Okay…” Lara sighed.
They heard a car honked!
“Your dad is here…” she helped
him into his wheel chair.
“G’morning sir.” she said as her
father in-law took over the wheel
chair.
“How are you?”
“Fine.” she followed them closely
with Tony’s bags.
“bye and take care.” she said as
they were about to drive away.
“Lara?” tony said gently.
Their eyes locked. Tears filled his
eyes.
“Pray for me.” he whispered.
“I will.” her voice was weak too.
“I love you Lara, and I’ll miss
you.” he sniffed, before the car
moved.
Lara waved at them as they left
the compound, tears streaming
down her face.
...
Lara sat, her eyes glued to the Tv.
She watched the indian girls
dance, she knew she was
addicted to Bollywood.
There was a knock on the door,
she felt reluctant to open it. The
knock came again sharply.
She hissed, put the Tv off, before
sauntering towards the door.
“Who’s there?” she asked
opening the door.
“Can we come in?” Funke asked
coldly.
Lara stood barring the door, her
mother wasn’t alone, she came
with an old man and three young
men.
“Lara can’t you see people are
waiting? Let us in na!” her
mother said again.
Lara shifted for them to get in.
“So mum who are they? And
how may I help them?” she
asked closing the door behind
her.
“ehen/ the old man is ermm…the
younger brother to your paternal
grandfather, his name is Baba
Lagbaja…” Funke began her
introduction
“These ones are you father’s
cousins…errm..y es…beni, this
one is Soji,..this one is Dele, this
one is errm Tunde…they are all
from your father’s village.” Funke
continued.
“So what are they doing in my
house?” Lara asked sternly.
“Ah ahn! Lara ki lo de! Shey an ja
ni! Are we quarelling? Serve them
drinks first now.”
Lara obliged.
“What’s your mission” she asked
the Baba Lagbaja as she served
him.
“They have come to take you!”
Funke announced.
“Take me? How?” Lara laughed
as she sat on a settee.
“Omolara my grand daughter…”
the old man began.
“you are the only female child in
our family, we value you alot.”.
“Yes!” tunde, soji and Dele
chorused.
“You are the only one left to
continue your father’s lineage,
you can’t let your father’s name
die like that.” baba Lagbaja said
coughing at intervals.
“So?” Lara frowned.
“We have come to take you out
of this marriage, we need
children to bear Popoola’s
name.” he further explained.
Lara laughed uncontrollably.
“You don’t laugh when an elder
is talking.” Tunde yelled at her.
“She’s stubborn o.!” Funke
chirped
Lara ignored her mum and faced
Tunde.
“You don’t yell at me, else I’l
throw you out of my house.!”
“Baba…”she turned to face the
old man
“I’l go with you if only you can do
something for me.” she said
politely.
“Name it omo mi.” Baba Lagbaja
said
“If you can return all you’ve
collected from Tony and his
parents, then I’l follow you.” Lara
assured him.
“What are those things?”
“To start with, my mother must
return the one million naira she
collected for bride price, then all
the jewelries and ornaments,
then all the clothes, the house
they bought for her, all the gifts
they showered on her…alll..the…”
“Ehn!” The old man screamed
interrupting her,not believing his
ears.
...Watch out for Part 13. ...