Chapter Four: The Fall
1395 Words
Isaac and Malika ran breathlessly along the narrow village road while Isaac’s mother’s angry voice echoed faintly behind them.
Tall bushes lined both sides of the path, while banana and mango trees swayed gently in the afternoon breeze. Dust rose beneath their hurried footsteps as they continued running like fugitives escaping danger.
Not far ahead, Nadia was returning from the stream with a pot of water balanced carefully on her head. The water was meant for Isaac’s mother.
The moment she saw Isaac and Malika running toward her, confusion filled her face.
“Isaac!” she called out. “What is going on? Why are both of you running like this? Is someone chasing you?”
Isaac bent slightly, breathing heavily.
“It’s Mama,” he answered between breaths.
Immediately, Malika’s expression darkened the moment her eyes landed on Nadia.
“It’s all your fault, Nadia!” she snapped angrily.
Nadia blinked in confusion.
“My fault?” she asked. “What did I do?”
Malika folded her arms.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to Isaac’s mother to bewitch her, but she clearly hates me because of you.”
Nadia looked stunned.
“What are you talking about, Malika? I have done nothing to you.”
Then she turned toward Isaac with hurt in her eyes.
“Isaac, why are you keeping quiet? What have I done wrong? I’m only coming back from the stream. I went to fetch water for your mother.”
Malika scoffed loudly.
“Did you hear how manipulative she sounds, Isaac? I told you I don’t like this girl constantly visiting your house.”
Isaac looked lovingly at Malika and gently held her hand.
“Let’s go, my love,” he said softly.
Without another word, they walked away together.
Nadia stood frozen on the road, watching them leave.
Pain slowly filled her eyes.
“What just happened?” she whispered sadly. “Am I wasting my time loving Isaac? Why does he treat me like I’m invisible… like my feelings don’t matter at all, he even call Malika his love in my presence?”
Tears gathered in her eyes, but she forced herself to continue walking toward Isaac’s compound with the pot of water still balanced on her head.
Meanwhile, back at Isaac’s compound, his mother paced angrily around the yard.
“I can never allow my son to marry that mannerless girl,” she muttered bitterly. “Never! Isaac will not bring Malika into this house, she very disrespectful and lacks basic home training.”
At that moment, Nadia entered quietly.
She immediately noticed the older woman’s troubled expression.
“Mama, hope everything is alright?” Nadia asked with concern. “You don’t look happy are you not feeling well.”
Isaac’s mother sighed heavily.
“It’s nothing, my child don't worry.”
Nadia smiled softly.
“Okay, Mama. Let me prepare something for you to eat.”
But Isaac’s mother shook her head.
“No. Just drop the water and go home, your mother must be worried about you.”
Nadia was surprised by the cold response.
Still, she didn’t argue.
She gently lowered the pot of water to the ground.
“Okay, Mama. See you later.”
Isaac’s mother forced a faint smile.
“Send my greetings to your mother.”
Nadia nodded quietly and left the compound with tears already forming in her eyes.
Back in Nadia’s compound, her mother sat beside the outdoor kitchen hut. A black pot containing soup boiled slowly over firewood while she sliced vegetables carefully on a wooden tray.
As she worked, she muttered to herself.
“I don’t understand why Nadia keeps abandoning her responsibilities just to help Isaac’s mother,” she complained quietly. “Look at me doing all the chores alone while my daughter is busy serving another woman.”
At that moment, Nadia entered the compound crying softly.
Her mother immediately stood up in concern.
“Nadia! What happened?” she asked worriedly. “Why are you crying?”
Nadia wiped her tears quickly.
“It’s nothing, Mama,” she lied weakly. “I had an altercation with Isaac and his girlfriend… Malika.”
Her mother froze.
“His girlfriend?” she repeated in shock. “Isaac has a girlfriend, what are you saying?”
Then her expression became serious.
“Nadia… are you chasing another woman’s man? Do you want to become the third person in their relationship?”
Nadia lowered her head painfully.
“I just love Isaac too much,” she admitted softly.
Her mother sighed deeply and looked at her with pity.
“My daughter, if a man does not love you, let him go,” she said gently. “You should never force yourself into someone’s heart. There is no need hurting yourself for someone who cannot see your worth.”
Nadia sniffled.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I’ll try to let go.”
Her mother touched her shoulder lovingly.
“It’s okay. You are my only child, and I want the best for you.”
A faint smile appeared on Nadia’s face.
“Thank you, Mama.”
She picked up a broom and quietly began doing the chores she had ignored earlier that morning.
Meanwhile, Isaac was busy following an angry Malika through her compound.
She stormed ahead furiously while Isaac trailed behind nervously.
“Malika!” he called repeatedly. “Please listen to me.”
She suddenly stopped and turned toward him angrily.
“Leave me alone, Isaac! I don’t want to hear anything from you.”
Isaac looked confused.
“What did I even do wrong?”
Malika stared at him in disbelief.
“So you really don’t know?” she snapped. “You intentionally took me to your mother so she could humiliate me.”
Isaac shook his head quickly.
“No, Malika. I didn’t know she would react that way.”
“Well, now you know,” Malika replied coldly. “I warned you about Nadia. That girl has bewitched your mother.”
Isaac sighed tiredly.
“Please, my love, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ‘my love’ me,” she snapped angrily. “Your mother treated us like criminals.”
Malika entered her hut and sat down heavily on a wooden chair.
Isaac followed her inside carefully.
“I’ll talk to my mother,” he pleaded. “She will eventually accept you. Please don’t stay angry with me.”
Malika folded her arms stubbornly.
“I won’t forgive you easily.”
Isaac moved closer.
“What do I need to do to earn your forgiveness?”
A slow smile formed on Malika’s lips.
“If you truly love me, prove it.”
“How?” Isaac asked immediately.
“You can start by giving me the money you promised me… and helping me with my chores.”
Without hesitation, Isaac brought out his phone and transferred one hundred thousand naira into Malika’s account.
“I’ve sent it,” he said softly. “What else?”
Malika leaned back comfortably.
“I need water. I don’t have the strength to go to the stream today.”
Isaac nodded immediately.
“Don’t worry, my love. I’ll fetch it.”
He picked up two empty pots and hurried toward the stream.
Not long later, he returned carrying two heavy pots of water.
The moment he arrived, Malika spoke again.
“I’m craving mangoes. Pluck some for me.”
Isaac smiled weakly.
“Alright. Let me drop the water first.”
After placing the pots down, he climbed the large mango tree in her compound and plucked several ripe mangoes.
When he came down, Malika pointed toward another mango hanging higher up.
“No, not those ones. I want that particular mango.”
Isaac looked up tiredly.
“You want that one?”
“Yes,” Malika replied firmly.
Without complaining, Isaac climbed the tree again.
As he stretched toward the mango, the branch beneath him suddenly cracked loudly.
CRACK!
Isaac’s eyes widened in fear.
Before he could react, the branch snapped completely.
“Aahhh!”
He fell heavily to the ground with a painful thud.
“My leg!” Isaac screamed in agony. “My leg! My leg!”
He clutched his leg painfully, writhing on the ground.
But instead of panicking, Malika simply folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
“Stop pretending, Isaac.”
- Writer
