#THE_MINISTER’S_SON
EPISODE 3
It was one week since i pla-yed a key role in the re-lease of Serena’s mother. I was still confused on what to do, there was no doubt I loved Serena. The problem was on how to let her know, how do I tell her? Where do I start? She would obviously be my first girl to approach for a relationsh!p. What if she says no to me? The shame will obviously be big for me to bear. I wondered whether she had admired me, did I even catch her stealing a glance on me? Hell no, Serena didn’t like me, or else she had a lover? This village girls are strange, some loose their vir-ginities as early as ten years. Would I ask her first if she is a vir-gin? She will obviously feel shy and think me foolish.’ That was what was going on in my mind as I drove towards Embu.
I knew Serena and her mother respected and honoured me, they even feared me but I nee-ded more, I nee-ded Serena in my arms. My heart yearned for her, I always dreamt of her. She never left my mind, had she bewitched me?
At exactly 11:00 hours I made a u-turn in their compound. I have been there twice and now thrice, in both of my trips there I hadn’t the courage to tell her how I felt.
Was she so thick to discover that I was in love? I wouldn’t have minded if she said “I accept you David.” Even before waiting for me to propose, I swear to God she would have saved me great.
Serena’s mother c@m£ to welcome me. It was obvious that Serena was not around. I prayed silently that she had gone to the shop so as to return shortly.
“You are welcomed my son.”
“Thank you Mom, is Serena not around?” Was there any nee-d to pretend that I wasn’t curious. She smiled at my question.
“Sit down first my son.”
“Not before I know where Serena is mom.” I meant my words.
“OK then. I will let you know.” She called her youngest son the brother to Serena, about twelve years of age, he was in the neighbour’s house.
“His name is Daniel, he was in school when you visited us but I have told him about you my son.” She introduced him. As expected he was as brown as Serena with an innocent look like his sister. He wore a dirty torn trou-ser which was ha-rd to describe its colour, his shi-t was more of a vest than a shi-t. I had seen boys of his age dressed in more pathetic clothes than his in the village during my two visits. A big percentage of them never went to school, he was just among the few lucky ones.
“Hello Daniel.” I gave him my hand but he hesitated.
“Greet him, wacha woga Dan.” His mother instructed smiling shyly. The boy gave a brief handshake but I didn’t miss to notice the ha-rd ness of his palm.
“Vaa nguo zako za shule umpeleke kwa Serena.” The mother instructed.
“Why all that mother? Let’s go the way he is, Dan, ingia kwa gari twende.” I said politely.
“No son, he is so dusty to get into your car, let him change.”She pleaded.
I insisted of going with him the way he was, it was obvious that the only clean or extra clothes he had was his school uniform. My curiosity was on where my Serena was.
As soon as Daniel got into my car, I started it and drove according to the directions he gave.
In fifteen minutes time, we got into a dusty shorping centre which seemed busy. Few words pas-sed between Daniel and I, he seemed so afraid to talk. He only said “this way, no and yes.”
I parked the car outside a certain shop as he instructed and got out, I opened for him.
“She is in this shop.” He pointed.
“She works here?”
Before he could answer, there was Serena at the door. “Sir? David?” She shouted.
“Yes Serena. Am back again.” I said walking ahead as she c@m£ so we met at the centre.
I felt like hvgging and giving him a prolonged k!ss, only to remember I had never k!$$£d.😏.
“plea-se come inside, karibu sana.” She said humbly.
“Thank you, you never told you work here.” I complained as I followed her inside. She laughed.
“I have been here for two days now, today is my third day sir.”
“Call me sir again and I will leave at ones.” I joked, I hated the term when she used it.
“Am sorry, I respect you, I bought this shop with the money you gave me. I owe it to you.” That surprised me. I was proud of her, she was proving to be very wise. She would have spent it to buy clothes and other funny things, she chose wisely.
I was about to congratulate her when I saw something that startled me, I felt as though my heart had st©pped when I saw a guy of my age in the shop arranging the stock. There was no doubt, I was right.
“You are married?” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
“David….” She seemed embarras-sed, maybe I would have been more paient.
“David, meet my cousin James.” I was embarras-sed, I guess I looked stupid but at least my mind and heart were satisfied.
“Hello James.” We shook hands though he seemed so afraid too.
“Jamoh, meet David, the minister’s son, I told you about him.” I liked every time she mentioned my name. They offered me a simple chair and a bottle of soda which I took with some cakes. I was obviously feeling hungry so I didn’t hesitate. James was a social guy and I c@m£ to like him, we conversed for more than two hours in the shop. Serena was sometimes with us but was much engaged with the customers. There was no doubt that the shop had alre-ady started doing well.
The only thing I missed was to be left with Serena, James never discovered that so he kept narrating more and more stories. He told me how he had dropped out of school due to lack of school fees after his father’s death. I promised him a job in one of our businesses in the city.
“I will be so happy sir, have never been there.” He confessed happily. I wondered whether he would help me to convince Serena.
At around 14:00hours I was re-ady to leave, I was alre-ady annoyed with James, I even doubted if he was Serena’s cousin. It seemed to me that he remained in the shop to prevent me from achieving my main goal. How could I approach her with him around?
“Serena, I want to leave.” I said standing from the chair.
“How fast? We enjoy your pres£nce and company here. Stay a little longer plea-se.” Her offer gave me some hope, did she like me? Maybe she even loves me. I smiled at the thought, she was looking at me so she laughed at my smile, I feared she might have re-ad my mind.
“Yes, i mean i do,,i,,,,i will come again, no doubts.” I was totally confused, my mind was forcing me to say ‘I love you too, i will marry you.’ She must have been shocked by my sudden state of confusion. “Where is Daniel?” I tried to change the t©pic and appear calm.
“Let me fetch him for you sir.” James offered rushing outside. The moment i had wished and prayed for, Serena and I were alone ones more, i vowed never to let that golden opportunity go. The problem was where to start.
She must have s-en-sed it coming , I saw it from the way she turned out busy, arranging and rearranging everything, she avoided my eyes.
“Serena?” I guess my voice was thick with emotions. It was time.
She turned to look at me, she seemed so weak to answer me. I moved closer to where she was standing. She looked so scared when I held her two arms so that we faced each other. Our eyes met and made vows before our mouths did. I could hear my heart and her’s exchanging beats.
Slowly our arms opened for each other and we embr@ced. I squee-zed her t–s against my che-st and wished to remain that way forever.
“I love you Serena, it have taken me days to say it but I desperately love you.” I said pas-sionately.
She suddenly pushed me away violently, as though she had remembered something. I felt so disappointed , had I said something wrong?
“Serena plea-se!”
“I can’t.” She shouted, tears forming in her eyes.
I felt embarras-sed to discover that Daniel and James had seen the whole drama, they were seated at the back of the shop.
“OK, plea-se don’t cry.”I whispered.
“I must leave now.” I felt so annoyed, so disappointed, there was no doubt that she hated me.
“Daniel? esc-rt me to the car.” The boy stood up and followed me out, I had alre-ady said goodbye to James and requested him to take care of Serena who was still sobbing.
“Take this and buy some new clothes and shoes.” I gave him four thousand shillings. I knew it was too much for a young boy.
“Thank you very much sir!” He was very excited.
“Give this card to your sister, tell her to call me anytime.”
“Okay sir, I will.”
“Goodbye Daniel.”
“See you sir, thanks, plea-se come again.” I f0rç£d a smile as I nodded my head to indicate a ‘yes’. I doubted if I was ever to step in that place again.
I opened the front door of my car and set my right foot inside.
“David?” I turned sharply to see Serena standing at the door of the shop. I looked straight in her eyes, she smiled and ran forward as I ran…..
#THE_MINISTER’S_SON
EPISODE 4
“David, I love you more than you can imagine.” She hvgged and k!$$£d myl-ips. I felt as though the whole world was my stone to step. I nee-ded no more words from her, she was all I nee-ded.
I re-moved my golden ring, of course blaming myself for not carrying a ring for my new found queen. I was not sure on which knee to kneel so I foolishly knelt both. It was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to del@yleave alone loosing. I looked straight in her eyes as I raised her left hand, holding her second from last f!nger.
“Serena my love, will you …”
“The answer is yes David, it suits me my love.” I saw tears flowing uncontrollably from her eyes. She took me up from the ground after placing the engagement ring around her f!nger, I took her into my arms, her tear drops fell on my che-st.
It was a day that completely turned my life, it was a new beginning, a new struggle and a new story. From then I decided to change the title of my autobiogra-phy from the ‘minister’s son’ to the ‘hidden secrets’.
Back into the ‘minister’s son. Serena and i exchanged more and more promises, than heavens she had st©pped fearing me. She confessed her sudden feelings for me the first day we collided in the restaurant.
“You felt for me yet you yelled at me?” I tea-sed.
“I didn’t recognize my feeling for you as love by then.” She smiled.
“But now you do?”
“Yes my king.” She hvgged me ones more before leading me back into the shop. I never felt like leaving for the city, unless she was to leave with me. I made a phone call to the restaurant Mananger informing him that I was to be late and that he was to take the money into the bank.
No sooner had i hanged the call than my mother called.
“Hello mom?”
“Yes Dave, where are you? Your Dad is so upset about you.”
“But ma’..”
“No son, just come now, you never even carried your male servant leave alone your driver, what’s wrong with you?” I knew she was upset. Dad must have quarreled everyone at home including her.
“Sorry Mom, i went to see my friend just near Embu, i …”
“Embu? Are you out of your mind young boy…”
“Am not a boy mother, am on my way, am sorry.” I hanged the line and turned off my phone. For the first time I was a rebel to my mother, it was obviously embarras-sing as Serena and her relatives that is James and Daniel seemed to have heard p@rt of it.
I had to make arrangements for Serena’s coming into the city.
At around 17:00hours i left for the city feeling excited but empty, i felt as though I had left my heart with Serena. On my journey all was about Serena, i even turned of the music so as to think about her well. Sometimes i would turn and see her sited beside me in the car, then she would disappear. My journey to the city seemed so short, there were so many love songs closing my mind. I wondered the type of gift I would buy for her in our next meeting. I now knew why there was a valentines day, love was not a lie. So many fake loves existed but true love was real and true. Had I not met her on a Valentine’s evening?
I drove into our compound throu-gh our main gate at exactly 19:20 hours. All the cars were alre-ady in the parking, i didn’t wait for my driver to park it, i made a u- turn and parked it.
I saw my male servant Brian coming from my house. He looked excited on seeing me.
“Welcome sir.”
“Thanks Brian, how was the day.”
“Fine, thank you sir.” I detected an something unusual in his look. Its like he tried to hide something, or else he had something to say and didn’t know how to say it.
“I will take my birth first. Take this.” I gave him my coat.
“OK sir, I prepared the bath tab sir.”
I had a feeling of going to see my mother first but i decided to take a cold bath first, so i followed Brian into my house.
Brian was not as social as he was in other days, maybe Dad had threatened to dismiss him for not knowing where I was. Was it his fault? I pitied the poor Brian, i would give him some cash, it would make him happy again.
I entered the main door and s-en-sed some strong strange perfumes. I was about to ask Brian where he got the idea of spraying the house with such a choking perfume when someone appeared from the living room.
“Hello David.” She was a fairy tall brown lady, fairy slim, she wore a white short and a red t©p. Her long b!own hair l@yon her back. I knew whom she was. I had seen her some years back but I remembered her.
“Joyce?”
“David?”
She was minister Ndegwa’s daughter.
“Surprised to see me, David?” Joyce smiled.
“Not really but yes, well, let me come.” I faked a smile and left the house. I felt like getting into the car and driving, driving, yes, driving up to the end of the world. Why was fate so unfair? I had a good day where my dream wife accepted to marry me, here now my shortlived joy was over.
I wondered why Dad would do that, bringing a girl into my house without my cons£nt , i had only one decision, to move away from the cursed home. I would use the little cash i had to settle somewhere else, i would soon marry Serena. I wanted to spend my night in the restaurant and start my exile on the following day.
Before I got into my car, a thought struck my mind, my dad would st©p at nothing in reaching me. He would do anything to achieve his wish. Running away from the trouble is only giving it time to grow bigger. The best solution is to face and fight it before it grows.
I stormed into the living room where Dad and Mom were relaxing, non of them seemed excited to see me as usual. There was some tension in the atmosphere.
“Hello Mom, hello Dad.” I greeted as i sat in their opposite direction.
“Where have you been without a driver, guard or your servant?” My mother was concerned.
Dad was staring on the telly, i knew he was furious.
“I had gone to see a friend ma’ didn’t nee-d company.” I saw Dad place his furious glare on me.
“Have you gone mad? Can you explain to us where you got the permission to go ordering police to re-lease criminals out of their custodies, in my name?!” His eyes were red. He seemed more old in his new look. His face was pale, blood vessels were clear on his forehead.
“Am lost Dad.”
“David, why are you disgracing me? In Wang’uru police station, what did you do?” I almost fainted, who could have told him about it? The police inspector?
“That you even have a mother in law of a criminal? At my back?!” He added, knocking the TV remote against the table.
“She was innocent Dad, she nee-ded justice. Am sorry that i didn’t inform you, am ….”
“Shut up! Idiot! What do you know about justice?” He seemed so mad at me, thank God I was meters away from him. I would storm out in case he decides to threaten me.
“Not much but I know injustice when I see it Dad, i have masters in law. I did what…”
“Shame on you!” He never gave me time to complete my statements. I felt my anger grow from inside. ‘untill when will I worsh!pand fear his wrath?’ It was time. Time to break the bondage. Time to rebel, with fear, i would never fight for my marriage with Serena.
“I heard you have gone chasing village girls, having my name tainted…” He started calmly.
“I chased no village girl!” I was upset, if he was referring to my Serena then, that was a sin, a crime.
“David!”
“Yes Ma’”
“Respect your Dad.”
“Am sorry.” It wasn’t like me to be rude to my parents, moreso the fierce Dad.
“Well, seems you have grown big, big enough to shout at me David.” He said after a long silence.
” Am sorry Dad.”
“Joyce, the ministers Ndegwa’s daughter c@m£ to visit us today and she is re-ady for your marriage, she is in your house. Joyce and you have a lot to talk on where and how you want your wedding to be.” He smiled, he was confident that his news to me would make me happy.
I looked at my mother who smiled shyly and the two laughed. It was time to show my stand, time to reveal what i would die for.
“Am sorry Dad, i appreciate your concern but the issue of my marriage is personal to me.”
“What??” They asked simultaneously.
“Yes Dad, i have found a wife, her name is Serena, i love her, no word will ever contain my love for her, I will marry Serena.” I saw my Dad stand on his feet breathing ha-rd out of furry . My mother’s face was on her l@ps.
“Listen to me you stupid son!” His voice vibr@ted with anger .”I don’t care the kind of spells those witches have casted on you, or the kind of love portions they have placed on you, but you must marry Joy, period!” He sat back on his sofa.
“Dad I love Serena, i don’t love Joy, how do i leave the girl i love….”
“Stupid son! What do you know about love?” I felt agitated by his words.
“Enough to know i love Serena, Serena is my wife!” I stood up and headed for the door.
“Son! Come back here!” My mother commanded. She was following me outside. “David? Are you mad?” We were alre-ady out of the house. She had been the closest person to me, i saw her as my strength, my mother was always un-derstanding. I decided to st©p and listen to her.
“Son? Come on, i am your mother, listen to me.” She urged.
“But you guys don’t want to listen to me.”
” Not that way son, you know I love you my son.”
“If you love me talk to Dad.”
“I will son. But do me a favour as I convince your Dad about you marrying the village girl..”
“Not village girl, Serena!”
“Sorry son, do this for me and I will stand by you in that, so long as you convince me that Serena loves you as you claim to love her.” She promised, thus giving me some hope. “Which favour mother?” I would do anything to have her support .
“Don’t show any sign of rejection to Joy, be nice to her tonight, talk to her nicely, make her happy and tomorrow I will make arrangements for her to leave. She had just come for a one day visit.” It was a difficult task. Being nice, spending the night, maybe even spending my be-d with her, maybe even……devil take it!
I remembered Serena, her smile, k!ssand hvg. If that sacrifice would make our marriage happen then i was for it.
My mother informed me that food would be served in my dining room by 20:30hours. I was not to join them for super, Brian and Rozina(my mother’s personal maid) would make the arrangements.
One thing was still not clear to me, yet I couldn’t ask my mother. “Did being nice to her mean even having S-x?🙈” I had never had any, I wouldn’t have my first with other girl than Serena. How sure that was the night would tell.
At exactly 23:30 hours, i left the bathroom with a towel around my w@!st. I got into my dressing room, dressed into maroon pyjamas and headed to my be-droom. It wasn’t locked, i saw Brian walk downstairs. There was no doubt he had been ma-king my be-d.
“Goodnight sir.” He shouted on discovering that I was looking at him.
“You too Brian.”
I pushed the door into my be-droom. There she was again! Joyce, on her red pair p@n-ts and black pair of br@. She was laying flat on my be-d, staring at the ceiling, her t–s pointing sharply to the ceiling. We had talked a lot in the dining room, I had no choice than to…….
Complete the statement…..
WATCH OUT FOR EPISODE 5