Been a while. I have been off my blog for a while. Working on a lifestyle journal with a unique team of creative minds. We are berthing the maiden edition in a coupla weeks so watch out for 'Ladies Affair'
Below is an excerpt from my fiction Column. Enjoy!
Adesuwa’s Unsung Tales: THE TRIUMPH OF DECEIT
I can remember how it all started; I have never liked my cousin’s boyfriend. The chap has an ego and is very possessive. He knew I didn’t like him because I never hid it and we just didn’t blend, but then, Adesuwa my cousin is 8 years older and I stay in her house so I had to stomach Uloko each time he came around. Beyond that, there was not much communication externally.
All that was before Adesuwa sent me to Uloko’s house one early Saturday morning three years ago. We were getting set to attend a wedding ceremony and she had a few friends who slept over. She suddenly realized she forgot some personal items at Uloko’s house and since it would take her guests some time to get ready, she suggested I drive her car to Uloko’s and pick up her stuffs for her. His place was less than 30 minutes away in mild traffic. Looking back now; I think my undoing was that I hadn’t taken my bath before leaving on that errand.
I got to Uloko’s place, picked up the items and made to leave but he craved for a few minutes so we could talk. He went on about how he knew I do not like him and how much of influence I have on my cousin, his girlfriend. He tried lightening up the mood by saying he really wished we could be better friends and do away with all the animosity as we both had a close relationship with someone that brought us together. I agreed and said okay. We got gisting a little and in a bid to lighten up with him, I told him of the full house back home and the girls getting ready. Now I wish I didn’t cross that line. Well, I guess am better informed and more experienced now. I was only 22 at the time, He quickly suggested I take my bath in his guest bathroom so I would just get dressed on getting to my cousin’s and that since Adesuwa had just one bathroom that might be a wise move to save time.
I caved in and went about taking my bath forgetting to lock the door to the guest room or even bathroom at that. I guess it slipped me because I never expected what happened next. I was in the middle of my bath session when I saw someone’s shadow behind the shower curtains. I was stunned to say the least; it was Uloko standing there with a towel wrapped around him. He then told me not to be scared that I was a big girl and should be enjoying what my cousin is enjoying and that this could all get us closer. With anger all over me, I told him to leave or I would scream. He did leave. I scurried through the bathing and got dressed to leave. I should be home now. It was almost an hour since I left the house. As I made to leave he pleaded and made me promise not to tell Adesuwa. Gullibly I consented.
I got home and we all left for the wedding. All through that noon, I was uneasy. I couldn’t keep it all to myself, needed to tell someone. Coincidentally, my close cousin Margaret who lives in Canada rang me. We confided in each other at the time. I quickly poured my heart to her and she told me not to worry about it and said she was amazed Uloko could go that extent. We talked about other personals and she hung up.
Later that evening, I didn’t see it coming. Margaret didn’t keep all we discussed, she told it all to her cousin who happens to be Adesuwa’s younger sister, in the light that she would sympathize with me. Instead, they held a family meeting that noon in Canada and Adesuwa’s younger sister was of the opinion that I had probably tried to seduce Uloko and she made the others share that line of thought. News filtered to Naija and I was placed on the hot seat. It was particularly annoying and tempestuous as Adesuwa’s girlfriends were still around. They quizzed me and concluded that I was guilty otherwise I would have told Adesuwa after I got home. I maintained my stand that I kept it from her not to cause her any heartache and to save her relationship but they didn’t believe me.
Conclusion of the matter, I was dispatched back to my parents the very next day. The night before I left Lagos was one of the worst in my entire life. I wept myself to sleep. Adesuwa even called Uloko in the presence of her friends and of course he maintained I tried to seduce him and that I was even the one who suggested I take my bath to save time. I felt greatly victimized; the only person who believed me was Margaret.
It was a trying period for me after I got to Benin because we were still on long break back at school in Lagos. I put myself together and lived on even though my folks back in Benin kept scolding me on how I allowed the whole thing happen even after I told them the whole truth.
Barely a week later Adesuwa acted on her intuition, she made Uloko ring me. I knew the call was on speaker. He was screaming loud and asking me to save his relationship and tell my cousin how I tried to seduce him because she still suspects him. I calmly told him my mind. I told him God will vindicate me and expose him for who he truly is and that Adesuwa was too nice a person to deserve a villain like him, he hung up.
Later that night at close to midnight, he rang again. This time, he spoke in a hush tone. I sensed he was trying not to be heard so I played smart and prolonged the conversation. He pleaded with me to just accept the seduction story and promised me some very large sum. We had barely been on for 3 minutes when I heard someone screaming from his background: Uloko!..........
By: Daniel Strongwill Ojadua
Culled from
LADIES AFFAIR
