Episode 5
Janet gave so much thoughts to the small box her mother in-law gave her, but could not decide if it would be wrong not to go ahead with what she told her to do. Though it bothered her, she just could not see how Mrs. Asibong would want to harm her own son. “Emanuel is her son, perhaps she is right about his having issues with performing well in bed,” she mumbled under her breath. Much to her surprise, Emanuel was standing next to her. “What were you saying to yourself?” he asked, startling her. “Oh God! You had me scared! Why did you sneak up on me?” she asked, hitting him lamely with both hands. Emanuel took her in his hands and kissed her passionately. She melted in his hands and whispered, “I can’t wait for us to get to our hotel.” “Neither can I,” replied Emanuel. “I think at this moment; I am happy we decided to wait till marriage. It suddenly looks awesome,” she said in-between planting several kisses all over his face.
“I am glad we waited. It was worth it,” Emanuel said as he led her back into the bar. A few hours later, they left the bar and were driven to their hotel. With much anticipation, both of them looked forward to the night. In the heat of the sizzling passion between them in their hotel room, Janet found a good reason to slip the ribbon on Emanuel’s male organ. She had done it expertly, leaving Emanuel thinking it was all part of their foreplay. “What was that? It felt magical. Could you do it again?” Emanuel requested. She was happy to hear the ribbon left a pleasurable feeling on him and so was glad to put it back on him and left it on him as they went on with foreplay.
When she finally took it off and placed it back in the small box, Emanuel felt a pulsating strength surge through him. “I don’t know what it is, but I feel different. I feel like I can take a thousand women at once right now,” he said breathlessly. “You have to take me first before you can think of a thousand women,” Janet protested. With that, Emanuel took her on and left her in cloud nine all night long. Before morning, they took a break and dozed off. By dawn, Janet could not tell what happened to the ribbon. While they slept after consummating their marriage, something had stealthily entered the room and left with the ribbon. She was certain that she dropped it on the floor, just a little under the bed. She did not like the idea of the ribbon taking wings and flying away by night. A million and one thoughts went through her mind about the ribbon.
However, when Emanuel finally found the small black box in her bag, she relaxed a bit. Sadly, for them, the box was empty. “You know what baby; I don’t remember placing the box in my hand bag. How did it get in there and where is the ribbon?” “I don’t have a clue honey. The last I saw of it was you removing it from my body and…maybe dropping it on the floor. Don’t bother about the ribbon, we don’t need it, do we? Well, it felt good when we used it, but I think we can do without it…okay if it is important to you, we can order another one.” He had thought she bought it for their honeymoon. The fear of explaining to him how she got it made her give him the impression that it was no big deal it went missing.
By this time, she was a bit uncomfortable. “What if he doesn’t perform well? Was I meant to use it twice. What if I buy a new one and it doesn’t give him the same pleasure?” Her multiple worries were finally put to rest when Emanuel blew her away once again that morning. “I doubt anyone has ever enjoyed their honeymoon like we have so far! You are something else, baby,” Janet said gasping for breath. “I feel like I am only just beginning. Are you ready for more?” “Give me a few minutes,” Janet replied, happy her mother in-law had given her the ribbon.
All the days of their honeymoon were filled with fireworks when they were together on the bed. They had left the hotel three days later and flew to Monaco where they spent the rest of their honeymoon. The pleasures of those days would be completely forgotten when their problems would begin...
Episode 6
Gold Bank, Mrs. Asibong’s office
“Have you received the gift?” Mrs. Asibong asked Udo. “Yes Eme, the lords are grateful you obeyed them.” “I would be happy if my son is allowed to enjoy his new wife for some time before his strength begins to fail him.” “Your requests are becoming too much Eme. I think you should spend some time with the lords and make them realize how you feel about this. As for me, you are not going to hear from me or even see me for the next fourteen years. My job is done here.” And that was it. Udo dropped the call. Mrs. Asibong was not happy the way he left and so tried to call him back, but was told the number she dialed was not in existence. Udo had been using one of their magic spells to speak with her over the phone.
She ran to one of the drawers in her office, unlocked it and removed a small plastic container. She uncorked the container and poured out some white powder from it into her hand. For a few minutes she held her breath to concentrate. Then her lips began to move irregularly until her words became faintly audible. She was making some incantations. Above head, from the air conditioner vent, foggy mist began to waft into her office, then she blew the powder into the air and was gone from her office in that instant.
The Chapel, Ogun State
Mrs. Asibong appeared on the doorstep of the chapel, her face contorted with anger. For fractions of minutes, she stood on the step and looked around, there were over fifty worshipers outside the chapel. Then she stormed into the chapel, and went straight to the altar. Kneeling down, she said some prayers. At her right hand, a door creaked open and a man, dressed like a monk waved at her and she stood to her feet and hurried toward him. “All your requests have been deposited here, and the lords have read them. You must wait for their reply,” the man said. “I am glad they listened quickly,” she said as the man led her to a seat. This section of the chapel was dimly lit up and was filled with smokes. The man sat next to her and intently looked into her eyes. “Your soul is drifting from us; you are no longer zealous as you once were. Why is it so?” the man asked.
“I was made an offer of blessings, riches and peace to join you, but all I have received since that day have been losses. Tell me priest, why should I be happy with something which takes away what I have?” “This was all a test. And you brought it upon yourself in the first place. The lords had cut you some slack for the much sacrifices you had made. However, when they saw your heart had become bitter, and that you no longer visited the chapel, they asked for your son’s strength. Much to everyone’s surprise, you gave it like in old times…” Mrs. Asibong took a sigh of relief and asked, “So my son’s strength will be returned to him?”
“After you passed the test, you became rebellious. You should have waited to hear from the lords before seeking other means to help your son.” “I was not rebellious! I am a mother! Do you know what it means to give away your son’s future? When I gave you his strength, I gave away all the seeds in him!” she shot back angrily. The man regarded her for a moment and shook his head unhappily. “Do you remember that Udo told you there would be a way for your son to please his wife and have babies?” As she paused to recall that, the knowledge of it came rushing back to her. She raised her head to say something and the man touched her forehead and said, “Go back home, the lords are not happy with you. Your heart has become bitter and dark against us.” “No!!!!” she screamed as she faded away from the man’s presence. In an instant, she found herself back in her office.
Monaco, the Honeymoon
“I don’t feel like going back home yet, baby,” Janet said, resting her head on his chest as they lay on the beach. “Back home we can still have as much fun as we want, we can’t spend much longer time here.” “I know, but don’t forget we waited for this moment for a long time.” “Yes, we did. However, I feel like going home. I don’t know why, but that is how I feel. “Okay, if you feel strongly about it, we had better start going home.”
Episode 7
Muri Okunola Park, 8: 45 pm
Mrs. Asibong could not wait to hear from Janet about how things went down at their honeymoon. As soon as Emanuel and Janet were back to the country, she placed a call to have a meeting with her. Their usual joint, Muri Okunola Park, was their rendezvous point. A day after their return to Nigeria, sex was still great between the two of them, Janet could not help but whisper thanks for the ribbon her mother in-law gave her.
To be stealth about their regular meeting to the park, Janet used a taxi, while Mrs. Asibong used a rented car. Janet was all smiles when she saw her mother in-law. With a half run, she advanced toward her and embraced her happily. There was some look of dejection and discontent on Mrs. Asibong’s face, but Janet was too enraptured to spare a thought for that. “How did it go in Monaco?” Mrs. Asibong asked impatiently. “He was a tiger in bed!” an enthralled Janet replied. She was almost air borne as she spoke. Her eyes emitted joy and her tongue let out living breaths of peace. “He was something else, mommy. I don’t know what he was like before the ribbon, but I like what he is now. I look forward to night time with great expectation!”
Mrs. Asibong flashed a plastic smile, afraid to tell Janet what would soon follow. “I am happy for you Janet. Such performance in the bedroom is very important to us ladies in marriage… So, how is he? Has he complained about his health since then.” “No ma, he is healthy and strong as a stallion.” “I am glad it all worked out well, Janet… If he gets to complain about anything, do not hesitate to let me know. I will make sure I find a solution to whatever the problem may be, okay?” “Thanks a lot ma. You are one in a million mother in-law… I got you a gift in Paris. I couldn’t pass up the chance to buy you this,” Janet said rummaging in her handbag. From her handbag, she removed a wrapped gift and handed it to her mother in-law.
“What’s in the gift pack?” Mrs. Asibong asked, smiling. She could not wait, she had to unwrap the gift pack. What the torn gift wrapper revealed was a bottle of ‘Tom Ford’ deodorant. “How did you know Janet? I just exhausted my last bottle! You are such a darling.” She took Janet in her hands for a warm embrace. “I am glad you like it. At some point I was caught in-between Tom Ford and Valentino Uomo…” Mrs. Asibong lowered her head in palpable grief as soon as Janet mentioned Valentino Uomo. “Mommy what is it? Is it something I said?” Janet asked, looking very concerned.
Mrs. Asibong reached for her handkerchief and wiped off a few beads of tears in the corners of her eyes. Janet was really bothered; she could not fathom why her mother in-law suddenly became flustered. “Mommy, are you okay? What is wrong?” “It’s nothing, my child. Valentino Uomo was my husband’s favourite when he was alive. I am glad you did not buy it. It would have made me remember he died for nothing…” She stopped suddenly and looked at Janet cautiously. She had just told her a bit of what no one knew about her husband’s mysterious death. “Mommy, what do you mean by your husband dying for nothing? I thought he died in his sleep? Emmanuel told me all about it."
Mrs. Asibong toughened the look of her face and stared at Janet for a few seconds. Janet felt her heart miss a few beats. Mrs. Asibong saw the look of fear in her eyes and relaxed. “It is nothing my child. Don’t bother with it. When you will have spent over twenties years with Emanuel and you wake up one morning to find him cold in the hands of death, you will understand… These days I miss him a lot. I feel empty without him…” Mrs. Asibong paused and began to cry. Janet took her in her arms and tried to comfort her. Her sobs were deep and rocked her entire body. Janet held her as firmly as she could. “Mommy I have got to take you home now. Please come with me,” Janet said and tried to lead her out of the park. “No Janet, I have a few things to do tonight before I leave for home. Go back home to your husband. I am happy it all worked out well in Monaco,” Mrs. Asibong said and left hurriedly...
Episode 8
Her behaviour had made Janet forget to tell her that the ribbon she gave to her had mysteriously gone missing in their hotel room in Monaco. “Well, I will tell her about the missing ribbon when I call her in the week,” Janet said to herself. “Humm! Something isn’t right with my mother in-law. She is acting very strange; and what does she mean by her husband dying for nothing?” Janet said, staring at her iPhone 7 as though the phone could say something back to her or even unravel the mystery for her. She knew she had to tell Emanuel about what his mother said concerning his late father. If something happened to her husband, and after over ten years of his death, she is still worried about it, then Emanuel should know about it, Janet reasoned. Janet was about to make a grave mistake, but there was no one to warn her against it.
Emanuel’s House, 9: 18 pm
Emanuel was sitting on a sofa watching a repeat broadcast of a premier league match between Chelsea and Manchester United. The football match held his attention as though it was a live match. Janet entered the living room and greeted, “Hello! I am home darli…” she paused as her eyes rested on the television. Her face creased into a frown. She walked over angrily to stand in front of Emanuel. “Is this why you didn’t call to know the reason I could not return in time?” Janet asked, looking angry. Emanuel stood to his feet and kissed her. She withdrew from him. “How can something that does not have buttocks and breast be competing with me for my husband? I don’t like the attention you give to football. It scares me!” Emanuel took her in his arms and kissed harder this time. Reluctantly she wrapped her hands around him and kissed him back with as much passion.
About half an hour later, they lay on a sofa cuddled up in each other’s arms with their garments lying on the tiled floor. “You don’t have to bother about my interest in football baby; it can’t do the things you do and can’t love me back,” Emanuel said amid heavy gulps of breath. “Okay, but sometimes when a football game is on, especially that blue team…” “Chelsea,” Emanuel filled in for her. “Yes, Chelsea. Whenever they are playing you forget me.” “No I don’t; it is just the passion of the game.” “Well I don’t like that kind of passion. It is at par with what we have for each other, and football is not a girl.” “I promise; football won’t take me away from you."
Janet looked searchingly into his eyes and responded, “Okay o! I was with mommy this evening…” Emanuel sat up at the mention of his mother. “How is she? I have called her five times since midday and she did not pick up,” he said. “She is okay, but…” “But what?” “She is bothered about something…” “She has been bothered about something even before our wedding. Something is eating her up, and sadly she will not let me in on what it is,” Emanuel interjected. “It may be about your father.” “My father? How could that be? He has been dead for about fourteen years now. I doubt it is.” “Maybe this will make sense to you… Your mother said to me that your father ‘died for nothing’. She sounded as though she was in regret.” “My father died for nothing… my father died for nothing… I can’t connect that statement to any event that can explain what she meant,” Emanuel said thoughtfully. “If there is more to that statement, it will come to light with time. Don’t bug your mind about that… What do I make for you this evening?”
“I just remembered something,” Emanuel said, looking spaced out. “What is it?” “It is still murky, but this is the part I can recall vividly. A man walked into our bedroom and took something from our bed and said to me, “It is time to take what is mine.” I do not know what he took but it made me sad. I fought him to return what he took, but I was no match for him.” “Hahahahaha!!” Janet began to laugh. “Why are you laughing? The dream was scary to me!” “Since when did you become religious? What you had was a mere dream. Forget it! What do I fix for you tonight?” “Stop trivializing my dream! What I saw was almost real! What the man took destroyed our home! It destroyed our love!” Emanuel screamed, begging her to listen. “It’s okay! It’s okay! I didn’t mean to demean your dream. I am sorry.”
Emanuel stood up and began to dress up hurriedly. “Where are you going to, baby?” “To speak with my mom!” Emanuel snapped angrily.
STORY CONTINUES...
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