?ENDLESS
TEARS?
SEASON 2
EPISODE 19
“What?” Mrs Bello gasped out weakly. “Marry you? You already have a wife and a daughter. Even though I am not your biological mother, I raised you, it would be like having my two children married. You would hurt my daughter again and -”
“I am not your son” Alex cut in sharply. “And when did you start caring about your daughter’s feelings, it is rather late for that, don’t you think?”
Mrs Bello ignored the bi-ting remark. “Why would you want to marry Amara? You have a family already”
“I don’t love Lisa, she has given me nothing but hell right from the start” he yelled. “But I… love Amara”
Mrs Bello hissed. “Love? Don’t give me that crap, I wasn’t born yesterday”
“Neither was I” Alex returned. “Listen, that is the only condition available to you. You must convince her that I am the best person for her and not that male model I saw with her”
“And what makes you think she would obey whatever I tell her? She has sworn never to forgive me”
“She will. Knowing that she isn’t my sister would help ease her anger towards you a bit, the rest is up to you. She is your daughter, you should know how to ease your way into the heart of your child”
“Since I was unsuccessful with you, I don’t see that happening with her” she said drily.
“Since I am not your child, I am not a perfect experiment” he returned.
“What if I refuse? She is my daughter and I won’t watch you hurt her again”
“I would find another way to make her mine and you would lose on both accounts because i would have her and you still won’t get to see her” he smiled smugly. “You taught me well, remember?” Mrs Bello knew that he was right, and that knowledge was the most painful of all. She had filled him with negative thoughts not knowing that a day like this would come when the tables would be turned. “What would it be mum?”
Mrs Bello’s head snapped up. It had been years since he had called her ‘mum’. She had yearned to hear it so much, and even now, after hearing that he isn’t really her child, she was stunned to realise that she still longed to hear him call her ‘mum’.
“I know I have been shitty towards you for the past few years, I just couldn’t forgive you for all you did; however” he paused. “You can make it right now. You can have my forgiveness and have your two children together with you and we would all be happy together.” He said, seeing the effects his words were having with satisfaction. “What do you say mum? Yes?”
**********
**********
A knock interrupted the silence in the office. “Come in” Amara snapped. The two security officers walked in, closing the door firmly behind them.
Amara opened her mouth to talk and Kelvin shot her a quick glance. Despite her fury, Amara strangely felt compelled to obey him. She snapped her mouth shut again, trying to contain her anger. Her staff hadn’t seen her anything but composed and Kelvin wouldn’t be the reason why that would change.
“”You sent for us ma’am” one of them said.
“Actually, I sent for you” Kelvin said instantly, sounding different to Amara.
She guessed this was the tone he used with his staff, a compelling tone which brooked no argument. “I un-derstand this company was broken into, can you please explain how that happened?”
The men frowned, looking uneasy as they stared at Kelvin. They glanced at Amara and then back at Kelvin. Amara fought the urge to come to the rescue of her staff and stared at the scene before her with keen interest.
Kelvin’s face was pa-ssive; not frowning, yet not smiling as he gazed at the two men with de-eper concentration. He looked different. He looked… like a man used to being in charge. It was no surprise that Paul and Hazzan squirmed beneath his intense gaze.
“I… don’t un-derstand sir” Amara heard Hazzan say.
“I asked a straight-forward question. I un-derstand you both are always on watch, you must have witnessed what happened right? What I want you to tell me is how it happened” Kelvin demanded.
The men shifted nervously, then Paul quickly spoke up. “I was out of the company for some hours yesterday” he quickly said. “Miss Ara asked me to drop off her car at home. When I got back I didn’t feel that anything was amiss, until… this morning”
“So you are suggesting that this happened while you were away?” Kelvin asked quietly with a slight raise of his brow.
“I am not saying that”
“Nothing happened while he was away” Hazzan quickly snapped, glaring angrily at Paul.
Amara didn’t even know what to make of what she was seeing. “So, you someone sneaked in and sneaked out right un-der your noses without your knowledge? What are you guarding this place for?” Amara asked angrily.
”Ok, even if they got past you at the gate, how did they get in? I suppose this place is always locked, isn’t it? And as security, you must have the keys, right?”
“What are you insinuating sir?” Hazzan asked pale-faced.
“We didn’t do this sir” Paul said, stunned. “How can we seek the destruction of our company?” He looked at Amara, seeking her support but finding none; Amara was too confused to even think clearly.
“But you could have aided someone right?” They both turned pale and Kelvin stood up, drawing himself to his full height. Though, not huge, he looked as imposing as a rock and his gaze became intense and pene-trating. He pushed his hands into his pockets. “If the locks were not tampered with, the person who broke in must have used keys, mind you, this office was also entered because we found something odd here. So tell me, who else holds the keys to the company asides you and your boss?”
Complete silence greeted his speech, doused a little by the continuous humming sound of the air conditioner. Then Hazzan raised his chin in the air. “We are not the only ones with the keys”
“What?” Amara bursted out.
“Yes ma. Tega also has a spare key, she asked for it recently, because she often comes too early and I got tired of always opening the door before time.”
Amara’s eyes wide-ned. “Why did you never tell me this?”
“I always wanted to tell you but it skipped my mind ma, I am sorry” he answered. “And I am sure you gave her the spare key to your office” he said, then faced Kelvin. “We don’t have the key to Miss Ara’s office. Tega might be able to give a better explanation”
Amara almost laughed. This was the most ridiculous thing she had heard so far. Tega? No! It definitely isn’t possible. She could believe anything, but not this!
“Ok, you may go for now” Kelvin said and the two men virtually vanished instantly.
“This is totally impossible Kelvin” she burst out immediately the door closed behind the men. “Tega is the last person I would point a finger at. For goodness’ sake, is it not enough that Tina’s bag was found here?” She raised her hands in bewilderment. “No! I trust Tega! She can never do this”
Kelvin almost said something but seemed to change his mind, then, he said. “Why don’t we call Tina now? We might get a bit of explanation”
“I would call” Amara said instantly. “I won’t have you accusing her”.
Kelvin came over to put his palm comfortingly on her shoulder, squeezing slightly. Amara took a de-eper breath as she dialed Tina’s number. Tina doesn’t deserve this, she reminded herself. But then, she could explain what her bag is doing here, right?
“Hello” she heard suddenly, causing her heart to skip. The voice didn’t sound like Tina’s and she paused. This voice sounded tinier and more high-pitched.
“Tina?” She questioned, looking at the number again to be sure she had dialed correctly.
“No, this isn’t Miss Tina ma’am, this is Aisha” the voice returned.
Amara remembered Tina mentioning that name as one of her staff. “What are you doing with Tina’s phone?” She asked with a frown.
“Miss Tina is in the hospital ma’am, she has been for days”
“What?” Amara jumped up. The ache in her head increa-sed drastically. “What is wrong with her?”
“She… Oh, she would kill me for telling you this” the girl responded.
“Spill it this minute” Amara ordered. “What is wrong with Tina?”
“She has… She needs a kidney transplant.”
?ENDLESS
TEARS?
SEASON 2
EPISODE 20
Amara and Kelvin got to the hospit6shortoy after the call. The nurse leading them suddenly turned towards a door and, without warning, opened it. Amara stood frozen at the doorway, too scared to go in. She had avoided serious emotions which might bring tears to her eyes for so long but she felt strongly that going in would definitely change that. She couldn’t start crying now, not when she should be rea-ssuring Tina.
Kelvin pulled her ti-ghter against his side and she raised her agitated eyes to his, which was bright with worry. “Come on” he called gently with a small squee-ze.
She nodded vigorously and took in a de-eper breath as Kelvin pushed the door wider. Amara noticed a frail form on the bed, dressed in a shabby white shapeless gown. The nurse stood by her, smiling softly and a girl who looked almost like a teenager despite her mature body sat by the bed, looking tired.
“Tina” she whispered shakily.
Tina had never looked so weak and lean, almost like she had been ill for years. Her cheeks showed more bones than flesh and her eyes seemed to have retreated further into their sockets. “Ohhhh Tina” Amara mo-an ed, took Tina’s head carefully in her arms and ran ki-ss es over her face.
“Oh, Amara, don’t tell me you are a lesbian” Tina joked weakly, managing a small smile. Amara on the other hand couldn’t find anything worth smiling about.
“I am sorry Tina, I should have been here, I should have been with you throu-ghout. Oh my God Tina! Why didn’t you ever tell me” she rushed. As Tina made to talk, Amara silenced her. “No, don’t say anything” she sobered. “I wouldn’t tell me, if I were you. I am a bad friend”
“Shhhhh… Don’t say that! You are not, you were going throu-gha phase-”
“No” Amara cut in. “Don’t make excuses for me Tina for God’s sake, I know I have been behaving stupidly. Been blowing my misfortunes way out of proportion, not even taking time to appreciate the good things those misfortunes brou-ght my way.” Her eyes watered. “I should be the one here, taking care of you”
Tina smiled. “I never wanted anyone to find out. I was diagnosed several months back with Kidney failure and I have been on drugs ever since, but instead of the drugs improving my condition, I was getting worse.” She swallowed slightly, managing a weak smile. “I was admitted three days ago” she said. “Will I be fine? I am really scared Amara” she murmured shakily.
Amara hastily sat beside her on the bed, squeezing her palm ti-ghter. “You would be fine Tina, just fine” said for-cefully, with more a-ssurance than she actually felt. “Kelvin said you would and everything he says always happens” she said, rea-ssuring both herself and Tina.
Tina raised her eyes, seeing Kelvin for the first time. Her eyes wide-ned slightly, then her face took on a mischievous smile. “I was wondering who inspired the changes in you; I guess I have found the culprit”
Kelvin swept her a slight bow, with a smile enough to lift anyone’s spirit. “Kelvin to the rescue anytime, any day”
Amara scowled at him. “Is this the time to joke around? What changes are you both talking about? I am the same person”
“Thanks to your knight in shining armor” Tina grinned weakly.
“He is not MY knight”
Kelvin tou-ched his heart, bending over dramatically. “I am wounded.”
Tina looked like she might laugh but settled for grinning. The light mood seemed to be working, Amara noticed as she saw Tina’s bright face. She looked less weary. “Have you eaten?” She asked Tina.
Before Tina could form a response, the girl beside the bed, who Amara presumed was the Aisha that picked her call earlier, spoke up. “I have been asking her to eat all day but she has completely refused” she looked both angry and worried.
Amara’s face turned serious. “Well, that is not happening while I am here.” She looked at Tina squarely. “What would you eat?” Tina hesitated. “Don’t even think of saying nothing”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Oh, now I wish you never came” she murmured.
“It is too late for that wish woman, I would get you rice”
“I would get it instead. I am sure you ladies might want to have a little time to chat without me hovering over you.” Kelvin said, then smiled at Aisha. “You surely deserve the same treat”.
Tina nodded gratefully. “Yes, she must be hungry. She has been glued to my side all throu-gh, she is a darling” she smiled gratefully at her staff.
The thought of food brou-ght an obvious glow to the girl’s face. “I would go with you sir” she said bouncing up, then looked at her boss. “You would be OK Miss Tina?”
“Absolutely” Kelvin answered instead. “Your boss isn’t going anywhere, she would be bouncing out of here in a few days” he said so convincingly that everyone, including Tina found themselves believing it.
Kelvin dropped a small ki-ss on Tina’s head, and gave her a small smile. “You’ll be fine”. Tina smiled back and nodded. Kelvin turned to Amara and stunned her by ki-ss ing her directly on the li-ps. “I’ll be back” he whispered.
Amara was too stunned to answer and she blinked, watching Kelvin exit the room with Aisha following briskly. She could tell that her face was bright with embarra-ssmel.
“You love him”
“What?” Amara squealed in exclamation. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t love him”
Tina grinned wider. “You can’t hide it. It is so obvious. See this glow in your eyes, I have never seen it; not even with Alex”
“Oh no, please don’t mention Alex, I might fall ill as well.” She said frowning, then sobered. “How do you feel Tina?”
Tina grimaced. “Do you really want an answer to that?” She asked, swallowing slightly. “I hate being in hospitals, it smells like crap”
Amara managed a small smile. “If I had continued with my dream of being a doctor, I would be treating you now”
“No. You would kill me fas-ter than my decaying kidney because you would cry all over me instead of treating me” Tina said, smiling.
Amara frowned at her. “I am no longer a cry cry baby”
Tina raised her hand and traced a we-t path on Amara’s cheek. “Of course not” she said with a smile.
Amara sighed and gripped Tina’s hand. “You must be strong Tina, I can’t lose you” Tina lowered her eyes. “Look at me” Tina raised her eyes. “We would pull throu-ghthis. Together! I promise” she said strongly. Tina nodded.
“I am glad you are here Amara” she whispered.
“I would always be by your side Tina, always.”
**********
Kelvin paid for the meal and Aisha grabbed the nylons. His phone rang and he took it out of his pocket. He stared at the name on his screen for some seconds, before answering. “Hello sir” he said a bit quietly.
“Hi Kelvin, I have her” the voice spoke gently.
“Great! That is very good, although, there are new developments”
There was a brief silence on the other end. “What is wrong?”
“Amara’s company was broken into, it does not look like a burglary. The whole place was a complete mess when I got there and even though she insists otherwise, I know there would have been some major damages. I am not sure if Lisa is responsible for this but I am sure someone inside her company is aiding whoever this is. No locks were broken”
“Can I… come over to see the situation of things myself?” He asked.
Kelvin shook his head as if talking to a visible person as Aisha walked ahead of him into the hospital. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Amara totally freaked out when I suggested that we inform you. I don’t think it is the right time”
Mr Sinja breathed into the phone and cleared his throat. “OK, I un-derstand. I would interrogate Lisa to see if she has anything to do with this. I really hope she does, because if not, it means, we are dealing with someone else.”
Before Mr Sinja hung up, Kelvin quickly said. “I didn’t tell you something yesterday” he said, his voice dropping to ba-rely a whisper.
“I am listening”
Kelvin took a de-eper breath. “Alex went to see Amara yesterday”
“What did he want again?”
“A reconciliation, I guess. But she told me that he said something. That… they are not siblings”
Silence followed his declaration. “That cannot be!” Mr Sinja said later.
Kelvin sighed and ran his free fingers over his hair. “My thoughts also.” He sighed again. “I have to go now, I would call later to get your feedback”
“Please take care of my girl”
Kelvin swallowed. “I am doing my best”
**********
**********
Hours later, Amara sat in the car with Kelvin as he drove them back to Ara P. She would have stayed but Tega kept calling, informing her about people waiting to see her until Tina herself convinced her to go. No one spoke as Kelvin drove. “Tega looks so small and weak Kelvin” she murmured, breaking the silence. “It is disheartening to see her in that state. I would donate my kidney if only it matches hers”
Kelvin reached over and sque-ezed her arm, controlling the steering with the other. “She would be fine. We all need to have faith in God and pray for her. We shouldn’t show her sad faces, it would only depress her. I am sure we would find a matching Kidney soon. We should have faith”
“Faith! God!” Amara almost laughed. “When has that ever worked?”
Kelvin turned his eyes off the road to look at her. “What happened to you was allowed by God for a reason Ara, you shouldn’t make the mistake of un-dermining God’s power because of it” he said. Amara didn’t respond, but turned her eyes back to the road.
No one spoke until they got back to Ara P. Kelvin scanned everywhere, noticing nothing awkward except the absence of Amara’s car. “Where is your car?” He asked worriedly.
“I didn’t come with it, all the tired were deflated” she said drily, alighting from the car.
“You didn’t tell me that”
“It is the least of my problems.” She said simply. “Don’t you have to go to the office?” Amara said worriedly. “You have been receiving calls and I know some are from the office. I am sorry I interrupted your day so much. I am so grateful for your help”
Kelvin knew that Amara was right. “You can interrupt my day anytime Ara, I would just walk you to your office and be on my way.” He said and put his hand in hers, holding her firmly as they walked hand in hand.
Kelvin’s warmth enveloped Amara, making her forget everyone around, but as they entered Ara P, the stares of her staff was impossible to ignore.
“Do you think you can let go of my hand anytime soon?” She whispered.
Kelvin smiled. “No. Everyone here should know who they are up against if they even entertain hopes stealing their boss’ heart with their perfect performance”
Amara frowned. “You are imagining things. My staff see me only as their boss, nothing more”
Kelvin stared down some guys who looked at their joined hands with disappointment written all over them. “You would be surprised sweetheart”
Amara should have told him firmly that she wasn’t his, but somehow, she didn’t want to. Sighing, she approached her office and Tega stood with a smile. “Welcome back boss. The last man got tired of waiting and promised to be back in an hour” she murmured.
Kelvin looked at Tega critically, trying to determine if someone so sweet could be a suspect.
“Thanks Tega” Amara said. Tega nodded, then, seemed to remember something. She bent to pick a letter and handed it over to Amara. “I should have given you this earlier but the whole drama prevented it. A lady came to see you shortly after you went on…” She paused, glanced at Kelvin, then quickly said “I mean, shortly after you left yesterday. She dropped this when she didn’t meet you” she said.
Amara nodded and took the letter. She turned to Kelvin. “You should leave now. Thanks so much for your help today. I am grateful.”
He nodded and drew her in for a hug, again stunning her. He placed his mouth close to her ear and whispered. “No more dates with anyone but me. I would be back to take you home” he straightened and smiled at her as he turned and walked away.
TBC ..
Aww, love in the air.