ENVY 41

"She said the child isn't mine."
The prof took time to sip his wine from the goblet, then rested on the sofa in his living room before replying. "You told me that before son, remember?"
"Yes I did, it's just that it's different this time around."
"How different? Tell me."
"I did not believe her then, I thought she only said so to spite me, coupled with the fact that the girl looks so like........emmm."
"Your mum." the prof supplied.
"Yes."
"But you believe her now?"
"She sounded so sincere, it's hard not to believe her, she said she carried out the tests in 3 different hospitals and all results were the same. I am sure she was not lying."
"So you are not going to insist on a test anymore?"
"No."
"Did you see the results of the test she did?"
"She offered to show them to me, but I don't want to push it. I don't want to antagonize her anymore."
"And you think asking to see the test results is antagonism?"
Siji did not know what to say to that. Jasper smiled. "It's just like before, you are smitten by the lady. When it comes to her you hardly think straight."
"No, I am not......well.....it's not like that.....not as you put it. I admit I still have some feelings for her, but I am not being clouded by it. I just......I just want to trust her on this."
"No problem if it makes you happy. Good thing you listened to me and didn't tell your grandma to start expecting a great granddaughter."
"Yes, I hate to think what the disappointment would have done to Ma'ami."
"How's she doing by the way?"
"She is fine, we spoke last night, she complained all through. The driver was driving too fast, the cook doesn't cook enough local dishes, the cleaner swept away her agbo leaves." Siji said, thinking of her fondly.
"She still makes local herbs?"
"No amount of persuasion would stop her. She'd always remind me she used the same agbo to train me." They both laughed at this.
"And she is right, she sure is." Said the prof "Extend my regards when next you talk to her."
"Okay, will do."
"So you are going to put a stop to your revenge mission, right?"
"Ese has gone through a lot, I don't want to add to it, and besides, I still care for her."
"She is a married woman, Siji." The prof rarely called him by his name, he would only call him by name in an attempt to talk sense into him.
"I know, I do, that's the complication. But if one is to go by the press and by the little I gathered from our discussion, the union is heading for the rocks."
"Even if it does head for the rock Siji, you shouldn't be responsible for it."
"I won't be sir. I am simply going to be a friend, nothing bad in being a friend, is there?"
Jasper shook his head in resignation as he poured himself another goblet full of wine.

                             ☆☆☆

One look at Sam as he entered his office and Victor knew he did not come with good news. But he still had to ask.
"So? Did you find her?" He asked immediately Sam sat down.
"It has been a long time sir, the house you described is not standing anymore. In its place is a bank building."
Victor breathed deeply "Anyway, I knew it might be a wild goose chase, thank you Sam..........."
"But....." Sam was saying
"But what?"
"I looked around the vicinity and just across the road, opposite the bank, is an old building. Though it has been refurbished, I could still tell that it was an old building."
"So?"
"I went in and luckily I met the elderly man who owns it. I gave him their descriptions and told him that I am a relation of theirs who is trying to locate them. He said he knows them quite well. That the mother sold local herbs just in front of the building."
"Really? Does he know where they are?"
"No, he said the mother left right after the death of the daughter."
"Tumininu is dead." Victor whispered softly
"According to the old man, she died at child birth."
"And the child?"
"He survived."
"He?"
"Yes, a male child. The mother relocated with the child. The man said it was a sad event, one that he could not easily forget. That's all I could get."
"Thank you so much Sam. You've done well. But remember, no one is to know about this."
"Of course sir." Sam left the office when he realised he had been dismissed.
Victor didn't noticed the door opening and closing behind Sam. He was deep in thought.
----So she didn't abort the baby.......poor Tumininu.....a boy! Is he alive? Where could he be now?----
He sought for answers and he got more questions.

                            ☆☆☆

Ambrose was a very busy man and it made him feel somewhat important. He believed being busy should be synonymous to being rich, and he believed he was not doing bad. Not that he would describe himself as rich, far from it, he was not rich. After all he lived free of charge with his family in a 2 bedroom apartment at the mansion's boys quarters and his four kids are schooling in public schools in Benin, everything courtesy of the Osaruwenses. With most of his basic needs provided for him free of charge, his N40,000 monthly salary was more than enough for him. No, he was not a rich man but he was living large. He only owed Angela his wife N10,000 every month and the rest was his to splurge. He was a busy man, he was only free when madam travelled out of the country or to a city far from Benin. After their trip to Ife, Madam left immediately for London, hence Ambrose was free.
As he entered the brothel he thought about reducing Angela's monthly stipend to N5,000, since she had neglected one of her wifely duties. Angela had completely lost interest in sex, but Ambrose had always been patronising brothels. Angela only gave him a justifiable reason to visit now. The brothel had a reception that doubled as a bar. Ambrose picked an empty table and ordered for two bottles of big stout, It was just enough to make him tipsy. He nursed his bottle as he waited for Maji, his regular. She must be busy with another patron. His session was to start by 10pm and it would last the whole night and cost him N5,000. It was just 9pm, he had enough time to finish his drink.
  As the huge clock on the wall in the bar hit 10pm, Ambrose stood up and walked to Maji's room. At the door he collided with a man that was coming out of her room, they both mumbled inaudible apologies then parted each other on the shoulder, before going their different ways. The small room was dimly lit. The only furniture in it was a huge bed that took about half the space, a wardrobe and a mirror. Maji was on the bed clothed in a see-through night gown. She rose up and walked towards him as he closed the door. She was a big woman, slightly bigger than Angela. Being a big man himself, Ambrose liked them big, that was why she was his regular.
"Ambrose baby." she cooed as she got to him and took him to the just laid bed. "I don miss you die. Where your madam carry you go?"
"Where she no dey carry me go? Na everywhere na, unless na abroad or far place, me na busy man you know."
"She has traveled again right?" Maji asked as she started unbuckling his belt
"Yes, to London."
"For what? To see her kids?"
"No, both of her children are in the country."
"Really? Here in Benin?" she started to pull his trouser off.
"No, her son is in Lagos and her daughter is now in........."
"Where?"
"They are keeping it a secret. Madam warned me not to tell anybody."
"So I am now anybody?" She looked pissed
"Of course you aren't my dear."
"So why won't you tell me?" she pulled off the trouser and started unbuttoning his shirt.
"Because madam......madam says...it's a secret. You know how these rich people are. She will be annoyed if....."
She raised his singlet up and rubbed his potbelly. "That's if she knows you did, it's not like I will tell anyone, who will I tell even? I hardly leave the brothel you know."
"But but but......" She pulled off his shirt. "So you can't trust me Ambrose? Why are they making it a secret even? Did she commit a crime? Are the police looking for her."
"No!" He said emphatically.
"Then tell me." she reached for the helm of his boxers.
"She is at the University in Ife, hiding from her husband."
Maji laughed as she pulled the boxers down his legs. "These rich people are funny. Why hide from him?"
"That's all I know Maji, let's get down to business, we have wasted 30 minutes already, talking. You know I'm a busy man."
Maji smiled smugly. She knew she would get the information out of him before she finished undressing him. Now she would be getting 20k from the weird man with the funny moustache. Enough to make her rest for two weeks. As Ambrose's weight rested on her, she stifled a cry as the pain on her back increased. She really needed a long rest.  At 40, she was getting too old for the job.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.