WHO IS TO BLAME

Part 10

"Rashid you believed Fatuma. Am not a goon. How can I kidnap princess? She is like my own" cried Essie who was being placed in the police jeep.

"Will you just shut up woman! You'll speak in court" said one policeman and the rest laughed. Essie's heart shattered thinking that even Rashid dint believe her. He dint even want to hear her cry. People from around were watching and some pitied her while others judged her harshly.

Rashid and Princess arrived home as Fatuma diverted to her home to change her clothes.

"I told you she is a bad woman" said Princess as they got in the house.

"Did you really see her kidnap you?" Asked Rashid

"No she blindfolded me and attacked aunt Fatuma who screamed her name. Thats how i knew it was her" explained princess in gestures.

"What if it was not her?" Asked Rashid 

"Dont defend her. The rich are not good people and you said that" said Princess and ran into her room. Rashid sat on the sofa confused. He dint know who to believe.

Essie arrived at the police station and was locked up in a cell. She cried quietly in the cell as the policemen went on with their businesses. Just then the commissioner arrived at the police station and saw Essie crying in the cell. She was all pale.

"Who arrested her? Who arrested her?" Asked the commissioner in anger and the inspector moved forward. The commissioner gave him a very tight slap on the face.

"Do you know who she is? How dare you arrest her? What did she do?" Asked the commissioner.

"Sir...someone...someone filed a case that she kidnapped a child and we got some witnesses too" said the inspector and got another tight slap.

"Release her right now! My niece can never do such a thing. She is scared of even an aunt, how can she be a goon. I said release her" commanded the commissioner and Essie was released. She went and hugged her uncle in tears.

"Whats all this my child?" Asked the commissioner 

"Can i go home? I'll tell you everything later but please dont tell dad about it" said Essie

"I understand Esther. I'll take you home" said the commissioner 

"No uncle i'll manage" replied Essie wiping het tears.

"Are you sure? Where is your car?" He asked

"I left it at school. I'll go there. I have classes this evening" said Essie

"Will you be able to take up the classes?" Asked her uncle 

"Dont worry uncle. I'll be fine" said Essie though in her heart she knew she was broken and helpless.

"Okay my dear. Take care" said the uncle and kissed her forehead. Essie left the police station after taking back her things. She boardered a rickshaw and arrived at school. She was about to get to her office when the school principal stopped her.

"Hello sir" greeted Essie forcing a smile.

"Dont hello sir me. You are a disgrace! I dint know you are a kidnapper. What example do you show to your CRE students? You are a bad influence and you are fired. Collect your files and leave" said the principal harshly and left after dropping a file for her to sign.

"S..sir...sir" called out Essie but the principal dint bother to turn nor listen to her. Tears just flowed down her eyes as she entered her office. She signed the papers she was given and left it on top of her desk.She packed her items and as she was leaving, a group of her students came to her. They were all in tears. Miss Essie wiped her tears quickly and forced a smile.

"Hey guys why are you crying? Come on wipe your tears" said miss Essie 

"Miss Essie you cant hide your tears from us" said Princess's best friend.

"Hey am not crying" said miss Essie trying to hold her tears back.

"No matter what has happened miss Essie, we believe that you are innocent. We will always support you because you are a nice person. The news about you are all over the school but we know that you cant kidnap princess. We love you miss Essie and we will all miss you so much" said one boy from 5th grade and his name was Gerald. All the students ran to hug her and miss Essie couldn't hold her tears anymore. It was such an emotional moment. At least some people believed her and that mend her heart alittle.

"Thank you so much for your care guys. I'll also miss you alot. But am not far away, you can visit me every weekend after getting your parents permission. Here is my address" said miss Essie giving out a card to Gerald tp which he showed everyone.

"We will surely visit you miss Essie" said Gerald and miss Essie pecked him on his cheeks.

"I want a kiss too" said another girl and all the students wanted a kiss. Miss Essie gave kisses to everyone as they also kissed her.

"Take care of yourselves and be good students. Dont give a hard time to your new teacher" said miss Essie and her students promised.

"Bye kids" she said

"Bye miss Essie" said the students in unison as tears formed in their eyes. A friend teacher to miss Essie came to her and hugged her in tears.

"Take care" said miss Naomi and Essie nodded. She quickly walked to her car and placed her things in. She was just about to start the car when Fatuma opened the door to her car and got in.

"Fatuma?" Exclaimed miss Essie 

"Hello Essie. I never thought i'd find you here. I thought you were in jail but i guess i was wrong" said Fatuma

"What do want from me Fatuma? I've already lost my reputation and my job. What else do you want from me?" Asked miss Essie

"Rashid. Stay away from Rashid else you wont even be able to drive this car of yours" said Fatuma 

"If you love him so much, why don't you tell him about your feelings? Rashid is not my boyfriend for God sake. He is just a friend and you've destroyed that friendship too. Fatuma let's just end this. I will never talk to Rashid anymore nor will i come close to princess. They are always yours. Here, i've deleted his number. Are we done now?" Asked miss Essie so irritated.

"Good. Now you are acting like a really good person. Sorry you went to jail sweetheart. You may now go and enjoy joblessness" said Fatuma and laughed as she got out of the car happily. Essie sat there for a while in tears and then drove her car away very fast. She arrived home in no time and found Mercy in the living room.

"Hey Essie, i saw your note. Why are you home early? And whats with the files?" Asked Mercy but Essie just watched in tears. She dropped her things on the sofa and hugged Mercy in tears.

"Hey whats wrong?" Asked Mercy 

"Just hug me Mercy. I badly need this hug" said Essie and Mercy hugged her worryingly. The maids around came to see what was wrong with their friend.

"What happened to miss Essie?" Asked one of the maids.

"Just let her be for now" said Mercy helping Essie sit down on the sofa.

"Is mom and dad home?"Asked Essie wiping her tears.

"No they'll be coming tommorrow. They called to confirm it" replied the chief maid.

"Oh okay. My life is a mess!" Said Essie falling back on the sofa.

"What happened to you girl? Tell us" said Mercy looking worried. Essie looked up at the ceiling as tears flowed down her cute chubby cheeks. There was silence for some time before Essie began to narrate everything.

"That Fatuma of a woman is wicked" said the chief maid and the rest agreed.

"Are you okay Essie?" Asked Mercy once again but Essie took her phone and dialled her father's contact.

"Hello my darling daughter?" Said his father on the phone.

"Dad... i want to start working as a doctor" said Essie as tears flowed. She dint even hear what her father was saying happily. She hang up and ran upstairs to her room.

"She is so heartbroken and that Rashid wont even believe her" said one of the maids.

"Lets just let Essie be for now. Prepare some chicken soup for her" said Mercy picking Essie's things and went upstairs. The maids murmured abit as they embarked to their work. The house was dull that day. Essie refused to drink or eat anything. She kept crying in her bedsheets. Ann also came to see her and the friends never left her side. Thats all that Essie needed at that moment; a shoulder to cry on.

"__Though they broke your heart so many times oh 

you cant forget 

and they made you cry so many times oh

You still regret

To make enemies wasnt the goal but you lost your friend long time ago

Am just here to let you know, that its time to let it go

(Please forgive oh: onye jin madu chukwu meya ah)×4 if you hold person you hold yourself too 

Halle ooh halle __ " sang Ann beautifully playing a guitar that Essie had in her room. The song touched Essie so much and the three friends hugged in tears.

"I'll remain strong for my two bestfriends. I wont cry anymore. I will live my life just like how i used to before i met Rashid. My life will be good again" said Essie wiping her tears and hugged her best friends.

Fatuma on the other hand was heading towards Rashid's home when a man pulled her to a corner. It was already evening and the day was dull too in Rashid's home. He was so stressed. 

"You!" Exclaimed Fatuma when she noticed that the man who pulled him was the butcher guy.

"What do you want from me? Let me go" yelled Fatuma

"Relax beautiful girl. I'll go straight to the point. I know that you are the one who kidnapped princess and framed miss Essie" said the butcher guy and Fatuma got scared.

"Stop your nonsense butcher man. You have no proof" said Fatuma wanting to leave but the guy pulled him back once again.

"I have proof. Here" said the man and gave Fatuma some photos of her kidnapping princess. Fatuma teared the pictures into pieces.

"Now you have no proof" said Fatuma and laughed.

"Not so fast ma lady. I have videos and more pictures hidden safely in my house as proof. I can show them to Rashid any moment and you'll get arrested" said the butcher guy smiling.