WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 28
By AMAH’S HEART
“All lies, maybe just a little bit of truth in there. He was the one following me around like hawk…
Mother said giggling like a little girl.
Stella laughed, while my Dad took another sip from his drink and said
“I’m glad she didn’t totally deny it. I wasn’t expecting her to agree to the whole truth but de-ep down she knows what am saying. Your mom and her sister will stand at the corridor looking out for me. She will tell her sister to alert her whenever I’m pas-sing by. I usually drive my dad’s Volkswagen then after finishing from the University, did youth service over in East before coming to join my dad’s business here in Lagos. I remember that turtle car, sky blue in color and comfy, that was my very first car. The first time I met your Mom was at her mother’s buka…food vendors. Very big, her mother is a big woman and runs this big restaurant where I usually go to eat. I went there twice it was on the third visit that I saw her. She has her mother’s resemblance. She looked at me shyly and was very friendly around me. I liked her from that day and later found out that they live two street away from us. I told my father that I have seen a woman I want to marry. And that’s how my quest began. and we later got married after much toss and turn. married for almost forty years… and she still amazes me…
Stella was grinning seriously, she turned to Mom and said.
“So Mom, you liked Dad back then but was forming ha-rd to get.
This time Mom laughed out so loud. Dad was equally grinning as he took another sip before setting his cu-p down.
“Your father was quiet a charmer. Even my Mom and sister likes him. Just like your brother Austin, he has almost every of your father’s feature when he was around his age except Austin is a bit taller and more calmer. Speaking of you, son…
All eyes turned towards me.
I knew it was going to get to this and I was prepared for anything.
Is been few days alre-ady in Lagos and mother gave me enough time to rest
I guess is time for the obvious question that I wish I can dodge right now.
My Mom continued
“….we have talked so much about other things but I was still waiting for the very thing my ears crave to hear. I will start by asking… how’s your woman… my daughter in-law to be?
Stella tries to speak in my defense but I asked her not to.
“Mom…still, no real daughter in-law yet. Let me say that I haven’t been very lucky with women. After much try, I have decided to take a break for now and rest from any form of relationsh!p.
Dad looked at me before returning his look to my Mom.
“Didi, maybe is high time you leave the young man alone with all this marriage talk. Let him take his time and be re-ady emotionally. Since he decided to visit us after many years, let’s allow him enjoy his stay in his home. Austin knows what he wants and I don’t think he nee-ds to rush or be f0rç£d to do so. Larry, his elder brother got married in his late twenties and it doesn’t mean Austin must follow in the same pattern. During my time I had people I’m far older than getting married before me and had grown kids before I got married…my father never f0rç£d me instead he encouraged me to take my time and find the one for me. If I had decided to follow the trend I wouldn’t have met you. Didi, You were around twenty an…
” aaah! you can still remember but that was wrong…” Mom interrupted as she suddenly began to laugh.
“… I was around nineteen plus, I still have about four months to be twenty and you were twenty seven when we got married…a bit too old for me but I decided to manage you like that.
Dad stood from the chair and said while walking away
“Thanks for managing me Didi but it was quiet obvious that you couldn’t do without me back then. How lucky you and your family are to have me as an inlaw…
Dad walked away before Mom will fire back at him with her own words.
Stella who couldn’t st©p grinning from their banter walked away leaving me and Mom alone.
I know Mom was only waiting for Dad to leave the table so that she can face me properly.
And now that we are alone I alre-ady know what to expect.
“Ehee! son…If you go listening to your father you will clock forty without a family of your own. You’re thirty three Austin… do you remember Ndu? Aham’s son that got married few years ago, him and his wife have a baby that is almost a year old old… time waits for no one…
“Mom…mom plea-se try to un-derstand me first, I haven’t been folding my hands and looking. I have actually tried my possible best to get a good woman but it all prove more of a disaster. Don’t make it sound I don’t want to get married or have a family…as a matter of fact I’m taking break on that. Let me rest from the whole trauma I have experience so far. It comes easy for some people but for some of us is easier said than done. I don’t mind getting upto forty, if that’s how long it takes to settle well then I’m re-ady for the ride…
My Mom snapped her f!nger in the air and replied.
“God forbids it. I reject it for you… marriage at forty will never be your portion in Jesus name… Amen. Maybe I nee-d to channel more energy into praying for you to break every power delaying you from settling down with a well deserved woman.
She suddenly gr@bb£d my hands into hers and began to cast and bound. She kept praying for about 5minutes before letting go of my hands
All I did was to keep replying with an Amen.
“…I will still nee-d to do more prayers for you in pri-vate. But you also nee-d to be praying.
“I do pray Mom” I replied calmly.
“…I really don’t know what I’m not doing right. I can’t tell what exactly I nee-d to do differently because I have tried all measure and it never works. Mom, did you know When I was twenty eight years, I followed my friend to a village for traditional wedding. I met a girl there, about eighteen years then. I fell in love with her, as funny as it may it may seem I wanted to marry her but the issue was her parents insisted that she must finish university first. they were struggling family. Mom, because of the level of my love for this p@rticular girl I was determined to marry her. I took up the responsibility of training her…
My Mom looked at me weird, like I wasn’t serious.
“….yes Mom. I trained her for three and half years in school before the whole relationsh!pscattered. I don’t want to go into much of her details but only to let you know the level I have gone in getting a reasonable woman to settle with. There’s nothing to my un-derstanding that I haven’t done. I might have done one or two mistakes in the process but I never intentionally hurt a woman. The case with the girl I was training is two years pas-sed mom. I have moved on, met few others even the one I fell de-eply for recently but it ended in hurt. Stella is aware of the recent one and that’s my reason of taking break with women. My coming to Lagos is to breath in a different air Mom…
My Mom g@sped
“I’m sorry son, it will all work out for your best at the end. I can see that you haven’t really been folding your hands when it comes to future p@rtner. I have someb©dy, a friend’s daughter… her mother is a disciplined woman and brou-ght up her children uprightly. The girl is not always around but the little I have seen and observed her she is well behaved. Will you like to go with me tomorrow in visiting her Mother and also you will get to meet the girl?
I shakes my head as I made attempt to stand.
“No Mom, I don’t want to jump into another woman or even a relationsh!pyet. Thanks but I will rather pas-s… hmmm! I will love to go to my room now Mom.
She nooded as I stood and retuned back to my room upstairs.
I had so many missed calls.
Chuka, Angela, two other different numbers.
I called Angela immediately and found out she only wanted to check up on me and nothing serious.
I called chuka
We went on and on talking. I told him I was in Lagos to see my parents and will be back soon. Anytime I travel back to Abuja we will get to see.
I called the first unknown number and it didn’t go throu-gh.
I called the second unknown number and someb©dy picked and didn’t say a word.
I called back thinking is bad network. The person whom I found out was a lady. But she only gets to say hello and refused saying any other thing before ending my call.
I decided to go and join my Dad in his pri-vate sitting room to watch the wildlife station which was one of his favorite shows.
We get to gist while watching the television but it was nothing serious.
After a week and three days in Lagos pas-sed, I decided to take a walk alone around the neighborhood.
From our street I crossed into another. I remember every street in our housing close.
With my headphone and music I continued my sight seeing which was over an hour alre-ady.
I was tired and decided to st©p at a mini shop within one of the street to buy a chilled bottle water.
I was about paying for my water when another customer stepped in, a lady.
She greeted the shop owner like a well known person to her.
I turned and looked at her abs£nt minded before opening my water to drink.
Just then the shop owner stretch hand to hand my balance over to me and at the process collecting it the opened bottled water spilled out with uncontrollable speed, some poured on my b©dy, on the ground and on the lady standing beside me
“Oh $h!t… I’m so sorry!
I quic-kly apologise to her
“No problem, i know it wasn’t intentional… but it could also be that you are probably looking for a means to get my attention…
The shop attendant started grinning just as the Lady was.
She looks a little bit familiar, like I have seen her before. But since I don’t reside in Lagos that will be impossible except maybe during my growing up days in Lagos.
She was really beautiful and well endowed but I will be the last person at this stage and level of countless painful drama with women tries to get her attention.
“No dear, I wasn’t. Like you said it was never intentional. I apologise ones again…”
I asked the shop owner to give me another bottle water.
Since the first one spilled I did not feel like taking it again.
After paying for the second one, I turned to leave.
“Excuse me, I have seen you before… your face looks familiar.
I waited hoping she will tell me because I felt I had seen her before too.
She mentioned schools and event asking if I attended any I told her no that I didn’t.
She said her name was Amanda and I told her that mine was Austin.
I couldn’t wait anymore. I waved her goodnight and left.
I had another moment with my Dad within my stay. He asked if I will like to travel out to Join my brother or maybe to a different country of my choice.
I will travel out only for a visit or vacation not to base there.
I have a successful company i intended expanding in the nearest future and I’m doing quiet well for myself.
I see no reason in running off.
I told my Dad that I was alright and don’t want to.
If I wanted to I would have done so long time ago and not now
On the following Sunday, mom said she invited some people for after church lunch.
She has a female cook who as-sisted her in the kitchen.
Stella who was ma-king arrangements to travel for her master program help out in the kitchen too.
I was trying to get something casual to wear after returning from church service with my Dad when Stella knocked on my door, informing me that mom was calling me to come down and say hello to the visitors.
I told her that I was coming.
I changed up and as I was leaving my room, I saw my Mom coming.
“I s£nt your sister to call you since. Lunch is served and we have visitors. My friend c@m£ with her two daughters. The older one I told you about and youngest one who just got into university…
I turned to her and said.
“Mom…we talked about this. I told you that i nee-ded time before having anything to do with a woman. I spre-ad it all out to you…
She sl@pped my shoulder ha-rd .
“Keep quiet. Did anyb©dy die…? why are you acting as if you’re mourning. Those ladies in the past that left is their lost not yours. You’re a charming young man. I raised you well and never had cause to worry over you. Don’t allow any woman to determine your happiness. If it didn’t work out with the first that doesn’t mean it won’t work with another. You want to keep punishing yourself for nothing…free up your mind and be re-ady to love another worthwhile. Beside I didn’t say much about you to them… only that my second son was around. C’mon… let’s go and put on a cheerful face….
I followed her downstairs to the dining room.
I was grinning from ear to ear as my mom wanted.
I suddenly paused and looked at the older girl who also turned and was staring at me.
“You again?..
She exclaimed smiling and ex-posing her fine set of teeth.
She was the lady from the shop that I spilled water on.
My Mom and hers where surprised.
“Oh, you two have met before? My mom asked excitedly.
“Yes, few days ago…in a shop where I went to buy a bottle water” I replied.
I greeted her Mom and the girls before taking my seat.
Mom and her friend went on and on talking about us when we were little and other stuff that I think wasn’t necessary.
I know what my Mom was trying to do I just wish I wasn’t on the same table with them
I looked over at the girl who’s name happens to be Amanda.
Our eyes met and i curved a smile, she blu-shed and looked away.
I stood from the table and left my half eaten lunch because I wasn’t comfortable or hungry.
I moved to the general sitting room leaving them to continue gisting and laughing.
Amanda joined in no time. Is probably my Mom or hers that pushed her to come and sit beside me.
“Can we take a short walk, away from this elderly women’s scrutinizing eyes.
She asked and I obliged.
Immediately we were out of hearing, she sl@pped my hand ha-rd .
I turned to her shocked
“Is you… you are the guy in that restaurant.
I raised an eyebrow confused.
“… you’re the ghost guy. You were ghosting for us and forming all mute. knew it. I knew that I will definitely figure out where I have met you and I finally did. Me and my friend Kachi met you on our way back to Lagos…at a filling station park where we went to eat….
She went on and on explaining, I quic-kly recollect.
She was the porridge yam lady while her friend is the fried rice lady.
“Oh yeah…I remember. Uhmmm… I’m sorry about that day. I wasn’t in a very good mood to converse.
She smiled and nodded.
“Wait until I tell my friend, Kachi that I met the ghost guy. She will be shocked.
We got talking a little bit more before going back to the house.
She later left with her Mom and sister but that was after we exchanged numbers.
Mom was eager to know how we connected.
I told her that we’re just friends, there’s no real connection for me. But she’s cool to be with.
After few days, I got another missed call from the same unknown number.
This was ma-king it five times in two weeks.
Who is the Lady that kept calling without saying anything.
It makes me wonder even as I got re-ady to travel back.
I received chats from Amanda a day before traveling back to Abuja.
After asking how I was doing, she went ahead to inform me that she will love to see me off to the airport and also Promise to visit me in Abuja.
She ended with love emojis.
After replying her chat and dropped my phone, the unknown number called.
This time I picked the call and spoke harshly to whoever it was. There was a lot of noise in the background.
“, St©p calling this line madam or whoever you are. If you can’t speak then s£nd a message. St©p calling my number and acting dumb. I will block you straight up if I get another…
“Is Meee….me….plea-se don’t block. you’re no more living in your ap@rtment in Abuja? plea-se I nee-d to see you…. ” The unknown caller said quic-kly.
“, You who… who are you…?
I asked. She ended the call.
That voice, could it be Eziaku? No, Eziaku was married. But the voice seem similar to hers.
Wait a second, it sounds like that of Oby.
Oby wouldn’t dare call me in her entire life.
I try calling back but the line was switched off.
Tbc