LOVE AND DIAMONDS(EPISODE ONE)

KAINENE

          A scream from the room next to mine woke me up. It was the voice of Amina, my house mate and bestie. I shared a house with two girls whom I had met during my service year in Abuja, Amina and Preye. We were more like sisters though from different mothers. We had made a decision after passing out to keep the house since we were retained in the various establishments which we had worked in during our service year.
I yawned loudly and climbed off my bed and headed to Amina's room. Her room was dark so I switched the bulbs on only to see Amina sweating and panting profusely even with the Air-conditioner on.I walked up to her sitting on her bed and asked, 'What happened?'
She heaved and in batted breath she responded, 'I had a terrible nightmare and my head keeps banging and ...
'Oh its okay. It was only a nightmare, let me get you something to calm you down. I felt her forehead with the back of my palm, 'you are obviously running temperature." Just as I was about to stand up Preye walked into the room in lazy steps. I was not surprised that she was just coming, our rooms were next to each other because the Preye I knew  was a deep sleeper to the extent that a gun fired next to her bed wouldnt wake her up. She came close and sat on Amina's bed. I told her to stay with Amina while I go to make a hot mug of cocoa for Amina. I shifted my eyes to the bedside clock, it was 3:45 a.m
.I entered the kitchen which was situated directly across the living room downstairs. I poured hot water from the flask to the mug and waited for the cocoa I had put into it to dissolve. What could be wröng with Amina? I thought because she looked very fine to me before we went to bed. We had watched our favourite serial, Hunger games usually aired Thursday nights at 7:00 gmt. I thought about how we met and our different background. Amina, a graduate of Chemical Engineering working with Tulhill Corportion. The second daughter of a Gwari muslim family. Her parents were living in Kaduna . Preye, the only daughter and the last child of her oil-magnate parents, the Ibiaris , a graduate of Information Technology, majored in web designing and computer programming from Harvard University who against the wishes of her parents to remain abroad their reason being that they do not want her to be a victim of the security challenges in Nigeria came back relocating to Abuja where she maintained a low-profile cautiously staying away from the social environment. Her reasön being that she wanted to know more about Africa, Nigerian and the community life having spent 75% of her existence abroad. She had gradually adapted to the situation in Nigeria. She was the most boisterous of us all though she could be temperamental atimes.
Switching off my reminiscing mode, I picked the mug of cocoa to meet a calm Amina with Preye still at her bedside. Adjusting her pillows behind her so she could sit up, I handed her the cocoa which she drank.
'So tell us about the nightmare', I said.
I was in the middle of a big beautiful garden adorned with trees and flowers of various kinds. I was admiring the beautiful scenery when suddenly I heared a loud scream, as I turned to locate the direction the scream came from and behold, I saw a fierce looking stocky man raising up his dagger to stab me with it, then I shouted and woke up'.
Hmmm... I sighed, "Did you have any argument with anybody?"
'No'
Anyway, just be careful. You never know who is being vengeful for no reason', I said.
'Wonders shall never end, I don't believe in dreams but this one is quite scary Amina. Thank God you weren't killed in your dream', Preye said.
I stood up from the bed, went into Amina's ensuite bathrøom to get some pain killers which she took with water. It was 5:00 a.m so we decided to stay with Amina till daybreak incase she had another nightmare. We climbed into bed with her which was big for us three, covering ourselves with the duvet, we slowly drifted to sleep..

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Grrrh...grrh....the alarm clock at the bedside went on. I suddenly jerked up from the bed, it was already 6:30a.m. I turned to my side to still discover that Preye and Amina were still sleeping. Well, I can understand for Amina but Preye, I can't leave her on that bed especially when she told me she had an important presentation this morning by 8:00a.m at work.
I shook her, 'wake up Preye, it is already late and you have a presentation by 8:00a.m'.

'Oh! Leave me alone, can,t I have some minutes sleep'.

'No butterhead you can't', I said shaking her harder and poured her a bottle of cold water I had brought from the kitchen.

'Aaargh', she shouted, 'whats the time now?'
'It's 6:45a.m already'.
'Ah Oh my God, I am finished', she quickly scampered off the bed and ran out of the room.
'Oh no, I am done for', she screamed, scattering clothes from her closet on to her bed. Meanwhile Amina was still sleeping peacefully so I decided to let her be. I covered her with the duvet then I left for the kitchen to make a light breakfast of sandwich and coffee for Preye. Some minutes later, I was done and left the kitchen only to see Preye on her way to the front door.
'Preye! Wait, won't you have breakfast? I have already made breakfast for you and I don't want you breaking down during your presentation', I said.

'No, I am already late', she replied still holding onto the door handle.
'Chilax, it's just 7:20a.m, you can still be there early, the roads are free and I can even drive you there'.
'Wow, that's so nice of you. Are you not on call this morning? She asked.
'No I am not but I will be in the afternoon. So calm down and eat your breakfast', I said as we walked into the kitchen.
'What can I do without you', she said and started eating.
' A lot', I replied, 'do you still want me to drive you down to Garki?
'No don't bother', I am already familiar with the roads so I won't get lost again'.
I laughed hysterically. She said this because on a certain day when she was still new in Abuju and just got her car, instead of driving to Garki where the company she was working for was located, she mistakenly took the road to Nyanya and by the time the made it to her place of work it was already 12 noon and her boss was cross with her for the rest of the day.

'Okay, I believe you', I said pouring hot water from the big jug into my mug. Some minutes later, she was done and I hugged her and wished her good luck.
'Thanks girl and emm.. by the way, I saw Dennis yesterday and he asked of you'.
' Okay', I said frowning not wanting to visit that part of my life which is dead and buried.

'Jeez, why did you scrunch your face like that? I only delivered a message, you don't have to take it personal', she said. I just shoved her out of the house so she would'nt make any other annoying utterances.

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RAYMOND



'Naeto, hurry up, I have an important meeting by 9:00a.m and I don't want to be late.' I called to my five year old son as I lifted my brief case from the breakfast table.

'Coming my daddy.' I heard him reply from his room upstairs.
'Naeto, hurry up young man or you will drive yourself to school this morning.' I wondered what he went up to his room to get even after his nanny/the housekeeper Lauretta had already prepared him for school.
'Naeto, I am going to ... I said as I turned only to find him looking down at me from the top of the stairs with an innocent face pouting.
'I am here my daddy', he said as he ran down the stairs to meet me. I hugged him ruffling his dark silky hair. Slowly pulling him away to look at him, I asked,
'So what held you up son?'

'Hmm... I went to get mummy's picture.' he said quietly.

'Why?'

'My teacher asked us to present pictures of our parents for the school's family album.'
'Naeto' I said bending to be at the same height with him, placing my hands on his shoulders, 'you cannot take your mummy's picture.'

'But why daddy? He frowned stomping his little feet while batting his eyelashes as if he was about to cry. 'All my friends can bring their mummy's pictures and I cannot. Its not fair dad, I will leave you and find another mummy. I don't like you anymore.'

'Hey buddy, you know it is just the two of us now because mum is in heaven watching us right now but don't worry, I will find you a mother who will love you so much.' I said as I wiped away the tears running down his chubby cheeks.
'Seriously daddy' he said to me .

'I am serious buddy and what do you say about seeing your grandma tomorrow. She is coming to visit us and she will come with lots of goodies for you.'

'Really daddy?" He asked batting his eyelashes moist from crying. I nodded. "Wow, I love you my daddy and I love grandma cos she gives me lots of toys.' he replied his eyes widening with excitement. I wondered how a person could go from hating someone to loving him within the space of a minute. I usually let him get away with so many things when Mrs Coker my late wife Olivia's mum is around. My little son has got her wrapped around his little finger. I do not mind because I want my son to have the best childhood even though I miss Olivia so much especially those nights when I feel lonely.

          Olivia, my late wife, best friend , companion,lover and the mother of my child died five years ago while giving birth to my joy Naeto. I can still recall the gory details of her death. She had a high risk pregnancy caused by pre-eclampsia during the second trimester but we were able to manage it until the eight month when she had to be admitted into the hospital. She had had an emergency surgery to save her and our baby but unfortunately she didn't survive. I felt as if my world has gone dark and there was not even a glimpse of light at the edge of the tunnel. She had made me promise even as she went into the theatre that no matter what happens to her that I would love our son, our miracle and that I would find happiness. She also told me not to grieve so much for her that she had fulfilled her mission on earth and her Creator has called her back to Him. Even as she held my hand in a tight grip and continued talking, I kept on wondering why she had leave me when we were still beginning our lives together. She was only twenty-six years. Even in pain, she had tried to cheer me up. I told her that I know she would come back to me but that was the last time we saw each other because unfortunately she didn't make it. She died one hour after giving birth to my son due to excessive bleeding. After Olivia's death, I decided to focus on my son and shower him with lots of love which I knew was what Olivia would have loved me to do instead of grieving to long for her. Olivia's parents were very helpful during those dark moments. Even though the had lost their precious daughter, they helped me take care of Naeto.      

After the burial mass held for Olivia, Chief Coker drew me aside and told me, ' It was a lovely ceremony.' I blinked away the tears pooling at the corner of my eyes. He continued, 'I know Olivia is happy wherever she is. It is very painful to lose a loved one most especially a wife. I want you to know that we are ever ready to help and support you and our grandson. My wife is willing to nurse our grandson till he is old enough to stay on his own.' I thanked him. I was grateful for having such wonderful parents-in-law.

'Lauretta!', I called the housekeeper who came in from the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. 'I will pick Naeto from school myself so don't worry about preparing lunch for him or dinner for us cos we will be eating out and we will be late.

'Yes sir, have a nice day and you too Naeto.' she said .

'Have a nice day too Lauretta.' Naeto replied.

'Thank you Lauretta.' I said. She smiled and returned to work while we left.