BEYOND REACH…
CHAPTER 11
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…..Habaaaa sister Debby, what are you talking about,that can’t be possible, you know my husband can’t possibly cheat on me, let alone having a child with another woman,and bringing her home, oh no give my husband some credit…
“what are you talking about Doris, I am your elder sister and I can not deceive you, didn’t you see the connection between your husband and that boy, there is even a resemblance between them,,,
oh my God I couldn’t believe my ears, my son looks like Mr Ben, how come,,oh my God, this isn’t happening…
My sister shine your eyes, don’t allow them make a fool out of you,,okay tell me Doris, how did that lady and her child come to your home?
well it was Ben that brou-ght them home one night and told me about it” Mrs B had said
ohhhh you see, you see,,oh my God, she’s his mistress, he brou-ght her home,they wanted to see your reaction, but because you took it lightly she decided to stay,
But sister Debbi, my husband only helped her, he doesn’t know her,,,,
says who?,,that’s the story they want you to believe, and its was made up can’t you see,,,open your eyes before you go thirsty while inside the river, is she the only helpless person on earth, why did he chosed to helped… I have advised you the way a sister would ,if you like listen, if not don’t come to me when everything goes bad…..Aunty Debbie said and left later that evening.
I didn’t know what to do, or how to handle the situation, I wanted to meet Mrs B and tell her all that her sister said were wrong, I wanted to convince her i had nothing with her husband, but how did I get to know, it will seems i was eavesdropping on her conversation with her sister, I had to relax and prayed God intervened,
But I noticed she bec@m£ moody and dull that afternoon..hours on, Mr. Ben c@m£ back with junior,,the first thing she asked was
what have you been doing out Ben?
“honey Junior just wanted to pl@ywith other kids in the park, he was having fun and I didn’t want to disturb him,,, Mr Ben replied,,,
ohh really, so because junior wanted to have fun, you forgot you have a wife,,,its weekend,the only time you are at home,and you have to share it with junior?..
Oh come oh sweetie, I am here now, there is
really no nee-d for all these Mr Ben said
oh really no nee-d right?she asked angrily
okay dear I am sorry ,Mr Ben said, I knew the words Aunty Debby said were alre-ady getting to her,, I took my child and went inside, praying to God to t©uçh her heart.
The next morning Mr Ben went out, I was left with madam, i went to her and asked her what I should make for breakfast,, she said nothing, my husband has gone out, I am not hungry yet, so don’t cook anything, this was very strange, before now, even when they didn’t feel like eating she makes sure I and junior eat anything we wanted to, but that day was different, she wanted us to starve until she was re-ady ,,I had to go and get food for me and my child outside, I knew things were changing in the Benson’s household courtesy of aunty Debbie’s wrong as-sumption.
Mrs B changed in all aspects, all I did bec@m£ wrong and annoying to her, she didn’t like seeing my son and I, when ever Mr Ben was around, she pretends a little that all is well, but once he turns his back, she becomes very angry and abusive,,I stayed despite all, because I know she’s a good person inside, she was only reacting to what has been planted in her heart…..
I didn’t st©p praying for her either, I wanted God to bless her with her own kids……
Weeks on Mr Ben had to travel abroad to buy goods,,I was left at the mercy of madam, she called Me that evening
“Chika, what’s going on between you and my husband, and who is the father of Junior? I was very shocked, I didn’t see that coming.
Ma nothing, I managed to say, I saw your husband for the first time that night, and my son isn’t his,,,I am just a victim of a wrong and abusive marriage, my son’s father is alive and here in PH, I can not cause pain to another woman, when I know the meaning and feeling of a wrong marriage, your husband loves you, and can never hurt you like this,,,,,,
so how do you Explain why my husband loves and takes care of you and your son?she asked
Mr Ben Is just been a nice man like you are a nice woman, I know it’s what your sister said that day that’s getting to you, my son isn’t your husband’s child……
How dare you, so you spy on me and my visitor’s conversation, what nons-en-se…
I am sorry ma, I didn’t do it on purpose, it was just by chance, I am de-eply sorry ma, you and your husband have been sources of blessings to my child and I, plea-se ma, I can never hurt you,,,
“Oh keep quiet, she scolded,,I am no longer comfortable living in the same house with you, you are going to go inside pack your things and leave, she said
ma, oh plea-se you can’t do this to me, I and my child have taken you and Mr Ben as family, especially my son, plea-se you can’t do this to us, I know there is goodness in your heart, plea-se ma “I pleaded
Chika, plea-se don’t let me lose my temper, kindly leave my house, you have until 12noon to leave this house, plea-se, I wouldn’t want to ask the security man to bundle you out, plea-se respect yourself and get out of my home….
I picked myself up, I wouldn’t want to face the embarras-sment of been bundled out, and I hold nothing against her, Mrs B is nice, she has been nice to us, she was only acting on what she heard, though not true, I can’t forget how she gave me clothes ,shoes and so many other things,,,,I went in and arranged my bag for about 30minutes, and I was re-ady to leave.
I c@m£ out of the mansion and headed out, with no destination in mind, but thankfully i had some money on me….
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BEYOND REACH…chapter 12
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…..walking out of the mansion i didn’t know what to do,I had many thought on my mind,,,should I go to mum, or try and get a job else where,,with so many thoughts going throu-gh my mind, I knew I nee-ded to think ,,so I lodged in a cheap h0tel with my son, after much thoughts, I felt this strong determination not to go to Enugu yet, but look for something else, I didn’t want mom feeling so sad upon seeing me, and I nee-ded to be able to get mom and my siblings things, I have been away for a year and some months,,,,
After eating, I took my son, and decided to look for something I could do,, I walked for hours, going throu-gh different streets, and lanes,trying to get something,,, but I couldn’t get any….. Towards evening we went back to the h0tel and sle-pt,,, the next morning I continued the search, and this time I decided to visit the big areas reserved for the creme dela creme of the society hoping to get a family in nee-d of a house keeper, so that I would have a roof over my head. I had walked for hours with nothing happening, I was almost giving up hope and heading to the h0tel when I saw a sign post in nee-d of a house keeper….
I knocked at the gate, and the security opened, it was a big and beautiful mansion, I was directed inside by the security after stating my reason for coming in, and after been searched to be sure I was harmless…..I went in and saw a young beautiful lady in her early 20’s, she walked up to me and said, I would be in charge of the house, and also take care of the madam who is sick, my pay would be 40thousands a month and I would be living with them,
oh my God this just seems perfect.. No problem ma, I had said,,,
one more thing,,, your son can’t be coming with you, she said, you would have to leave him at home and come alone to resume your duties tomorrow,,,,,
ma this child is all I have in this life, and I have nob©dy to leave him with here in pH, plea-se ma, I promise my son won’t be a distraction, I shall carry out my duties with all diligence ,I said,,,
“well if you won’t leave your child at home and come to work alone, am afraid you can’t work here,,you may leave, the lady said. I took my bag and was leaving,,,
Getting to the door, a voice st©pped me, st©p I heard,, turning back i saw a woman in a wheel chair been rolled out by a young man in uniforms,,
Grace no woman will be able to leave her child behind, she has promised her child won’t distract her, the woman said to the young lady,,,
okay if you say so sis, this is Mrs Raymond, my elder sister and your boss, the one you shall be taking care of.
Good afternoon ma, i said
your welcome she replied with a smile which was covered in pains and sadness….
So when can you resume?the young lady asked
ma I can resume as soon as possible, all I nee-d to do is to go to the h0tel I lodged and get my bag, that wouldn’t take up to 3 hours…
okay then you can resume, she said
thank you very much, I said to both ladies…I quic-kly went and get my bags.
Living with Mr and Mrs Raymond was as interesting as living with the Benson’s before the intruder c@m£,,,Mr Raymond loves his wife so very much, unfortunately she was sick, very sick, she had cancer of the blood, and had limited time left,, Mr Ray was one of the head in an oil firm, he was a very wealthy man, with a good heart, like wise mrs Ray, she had such amazing heart, I asked why such misfortune will befall them,,,the young lady I met happens to be Mrs Ray’s youngest sister who was taking care of her before her wedding months back,,,
I did àll I could to take care of the house, Mr Ray appreciated my efforts towards the home and his wife,,, I made sure she took her medications, had her bath and made her look good, there are times she wouldn’t want to, I will talk her into it,, I was very close to her, I loved her so much, I wished she wasn’t going home to rest soon…she loved my son very much, my child has such amazing spirit that he captures the heart of everyone that he sees,,
Mrs Ray too loved us both, she said she was very comfortable with me, she asked about my life, and husband, and I told her everything from the beginning to the end,,,
my God, some men are something else, he didn’t love you, he got married to you just to hurt you for been a good girl with high moral standard, hmmmmm,,,, you will get better,, God just wanted to teach you a little lesson for neglecting him before ma-king such big decision as choosing a life p@rtner, but I know you have learnt, from all you’ve said so far, I believe you un-derstand the importance of not rushing into marriage,,,there is no perfect marriage “she said
oh ma there is, you and Mr Ray are perfect, he loves you so much and you love him too,,,
yes we are, but I am dying soon, why do I have to die, we’ve been married for three years, and I have been sick for almost a year, is that perfect,,, I had some tears drop flowing down my eyes
oh no Chika, do not cry for me, for if I die today, I go to meet my maker and rest finally,,,its not the amount of years one lives on earth that matters, but the amount of lives we were able to t©uçh and influence positively,,,I am a surgeon, I have saved so many lives, but I can’t save mine,this simply means, this life is not ours, I am prepared to meet my maker,,,let’s not deviate from the t©pic at hand, it is about you,,,
there is no perfect marriage, but we shouldn’t die in trying to change an adult, your husband had a plan, you were not in any marriage, you were in a game, and all game has an end, he maltreated you because you refused to leave the game when it was over, the only thing he was interested in was seeing what was between your leg
“ma I was scared of what people would say, so I had to stay” I said
people will always talk, if he had killed you, they will still talk, now that you left him, the peace of mind you have Is better and more important than what people will say,
people talked about me ,that I must have bewitched my husband that’s why he loves me so much, others say I keep carrying myself as if I am God because I am a surgeon, some said my karma has come, that’s why I am sick, and so many others, and I know when I die, they will still talk about me, even by my grave site, people will talk, but then live your life so well that the good talks be more than the bàd ones..
And you should go visit your mother, she should be worried about you” she said
yes ma, I shall, I am only trying to save more so that I can buy her things when I go visiting…..
Okay that’s a good one, but do not worry, my husband and I shall take care of those things, she said…
Her family members were coming to see her, and they were happy to see her glow even in her ill health, I try to make her smile every time, she had her rest often too, I make good meals for her, in fact I made vegetables everyday for her to eat along her other meals, so she could stay strong with vitamins, we had good conversations, just to take her mind off things, she was more relaxed, and enjoying the little time she had left,, I, with the help of the driver, takes her to exciting places, ma-king sure she was properly covered, we just wanted her to feel life till the very last moment, we were like sisters ,she was more than a boss to me, she was my mentor,,
Every night I pray so ha-rd that I meet her alive the next morning, and at the break of dawn, I would always run to their be-droom to knock,
“good morning beautiful Mrs Ray, hope you are strong and re-ady for a fruitful day,, soon she got to un-derstand i was checking up on her, she would laugh and answer me from inside
“yes my Darling Chika ,I am alive and re-ady for the day,,,,I bec@m£ the alarm clock that wakes up the Ray’s,,,
Four days on, it was a Thursday, Mr Ray c@m£ home with a bag of rice, gallons of vegetable oil, provision and so many other food stuffs, he also bought me an android phone,,,Mrs Ray had asked him to do all that,,,i was very happy, I hvgged Mrs Ray, she said it was time I visited mom,,,, you shall be leaving tomorrow being Friday, so that you can stay for the weekend, my driver would take you tomorrow and bring you back on Monday, she said,,I knelt in appreciation..
You are a blessing to me, I had said,,,,
It was Friday morning, and i was set to leave, I went to her and hvgged her,, then she said to me
“in case you do not meet me alive, know that I love you and my God son so much, i shall be watching over you from heaven,,,
no, no promise me you will be alive when I come, else I will not go, promise me, i was in tears, her words had gotten the better p@rt of me, her sister, Grace the Lady I saw first, was so surprised as to how close we had become, she couldn’t help but share some few tears drop, she had come to be with her since i was travelling…
Madam promise me I shall meet you alive plea-se, she held my hands and said
“I PROMISE”, she hvgged junior, and me, then we entered the jeep, driving to Enugu to see MOM….
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TBC