Lara's Faith

Episode 3 and 4

Omalara’s Faith

*

(Episode 3)

:*

Lara’s phone rang waking her up rudely from her

nap. She squinted at her phone’s screen-

‘Mummy’ was all she could see.

*

“Hello?” she said in a sleepy voice.

you this senseless girl, what on earth is your

problem?” Funke -her mother screamed into her

ears.

“Mummy, is anything the problem?” she rubbed

her eyes.

“Nonsense!” came her mother’s reply.

“People use what they have to get what they

want in life, is anything wrong if I give my only

daughter out to a rich family?” Her sounded

aggressive.

*

Lara glanced at her phone screen again in terror,

before placing back to her ear.

“Mummy, If I did something wrong, just tell

me…” she began to say softly.

“Do I need to remind you of your deeds? You’ve

become disrespectful, you no longer cook for

your husband, you’re even threatening to leave

your matrimonial home!” her mother queried.

“But..mum…”

“No buts, sho gbo? Rubbish! And let me remind

you, don’t just come to my house if your husband

divorces you due to your stubborness.” he

mother shouted again.

Lara bit her lower lip.

“Mum….”

the line went dead.

She stared at her phone in silence, what kind of

life is this? Tony had told her mother fake stories

about her. How can her mother be this selfish?

She pondered.

“Hello…” Tony intoned behind her.

She turned sharply, her eyes widened, how did

he get there?

*

“So are you ready to turn a new leaf?” he wore a

mischievous smile.

She pursed her lips, fidgeting at her dress.

“Go make me a mug of choco.” he ordered

walking out of her room.

She swallowed hard, she felt her heart split. She

ran her fingers gently on her chest.

“It’s well, I’ll survive, somehow, anyhow, one day,

it’ll be over.” she whispered to herself as she

fought to keep back tears.

:::::::::********

Lara wiped her hands on her apron, she pushed

the flask of food away from her, before

proceeding to peel some plantains.

Tony had called her earlier, to make a meal for

two, as he was bringing a guest home.

Whoever the guest was? She shrugged.

She began setting the table when the door bell

rang, she rushed to open it.

“Welcome” she said as Tony brushed past her.

She turned to look at the guest, she almost

mistook the guest to be a male.

“Good day.” Lara said softly.

The guest was wearing a trouser suit, she was

masculine, her hair cut very low. If not for the

earrings, she could be called a male.

“Hy,” the guest said coldly.

“Errm, Sophy, have a seat, make yourself

comfortable..” Tony began to say.

“Not so fast, won’t you introduce me to her?” the

guest said with a low laugh.

“Welll…okay…, sophy, meet my Illiterate wife-

Lara, errrm, Lara meet my cutie pie-sophia.” he

chuckled.

*

Sophia laughed out loud.

“Well Lara, I’ve heard alot about you…” she

extended her hand for a shake.

Lara shook her head in pain, she didn’t take

sophia’s hand. She began counting her toes.

“Errm, sophy darling, lets proceed to the dining

area, I believe she should have set the table by

now .” Tony led Sophia towards the dinning

room..

Lara watched them from the corner of her eyes,

her eyes stung her as tears rolled down her

cheeks.

“Hmm,she cooks well…” sophia said eating in

mouth fulls.

“Oh yes! And that’s the main reason I’m still

keeping her, else, she should be in her parents

house by now” Tony said loudly.

“Oh sweerie, that was too rude…” Sophia

laughed.

Lara walked lightly into her room, she went on

her knees. Is this real? She thought.

*

She felt she needed to talk to somebody. Her

mum was out of question, Deji isn’t in town for

now. She decide to pray, though she doesn’t

belive in prayers.

“God…” she looked towards heaven.

“I know you can see all that’s happening, do I

deserve such treatments?” she sniffed.

“I have no one to talk to, nowhere to go…you are

all I have now…my father is no more…” she

sobbed.

“I heard you are a father to the fatherless, don’t

forsake me O’Lord….help me dear father….” her

body shook with sobs.

She laid on the hard floor, she liked its coldness,

it gave her some sort of comfort.

Tony isn’t a human being…she thought. He is

either a beast or the devil himself. He dared

bring his mistress into their home…he knew

there’s nothing she could do.

*

Lara’s Faith - Episode 4

Tony knotted his tie whilst sipping some

coffee. The night had been terrible, different

night mares taunting him, he was awake 75

percent of the night.

He ignited his car, and Lara crossed his

mind. Her beautiful eyes that widens when

she’s scared was all he could see. He’s been

just wicked to her, only God knows the story

she’s telling his father now about him.

He changed his gear and sped on the

highway.

He knew his father won’t spare him, he

would take the company off his hand, collect

all he has and worst of all disown him.

“Oh Shtt!” he rubbed his eyes.

He opened them lazily at first, then they

popped out.

A madman was standing on the road before

him, just a few yards away. He couldn’t stop

the car cos he was moving at a high speed.

He expertly turned the steering wheel

moving the car off the road.

The car swerved beyond control, he

muttered some quick prayers, he was sure

he would die.

The car somersaulted throwing him out

through the window…

:::::::*****:

Lara giggled as she bit into her roasted

chicken, she was having lunch with her in-

laws. She felt joy surge through her veins,

what more could she ask for? She felt loved

by them. They were doting on her, most-

especially her father in-law Chief Ifiora.

“I taught your mother in-law how to cook

o.” Ifiora chuckled at her.

“well I taught him how to eat!” Amara said

and they all burst out laughing.

Lara watched them as they laughed, they

looked so much alike; happy couples she

thought as she smiled.

“When I was a boy, I helped my mother in

the kitchen.” Ifiora said with pride.

“well that’s cos you liked it.” Amara replied.

“Not at all! I was an only child that’s why!”

he defended himself.

“Hmm…Tony Is an only child too, but can’t

make himself a mug of coffee.” Amara

chirped cleaning her mouth with a napkin.

Lara felt shivers run down her spine at the

mention fo ‘Tony’, she saw her father-in-law

cringe too.

“Talking about Tony…” Ifiora’s voice became

coarse.

“He couldn’t even call or do something…he’s

expecting me to call him right?” he shook

his head.

“I guess so!” Amara made a face.

“Hmm, I’m going to teach him a lesson he’ll

never forget!” he basked like a lizard in the

sun.

“Lesson? That boy is soooooo stubborn!”

Amara said with disgust.

Chief Ifiora’s phone rang loudly.

“A strange number…” Amara said giving the

phone to him.

“Hello?” he listened for a while.

“Yes you’re speaking with Chief Ifiora…”

he listened again.

“What?!” he rose to his feet.

Lara stopped eating, she wanted to know

what was happening.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming right away!” He

ended the call.

“Darling get me my Jacket!” he told Amara.

“What happened?” Lara asked quitely.

“Oh, nothing really, just eat your food.” he

forced a smile.

“Ogini? What going on?” Amara appeared

holding his jacket.

He whispered something to her in Igbo, for

once Lara wished she understood Igbo.

“We need to go now! Lara take care!”

Amara said throwing a scarf round her

head.

“Can I come with you?” Lara rose to her feet.

“No..you just take care, okay? We’ll be back

soon.” Amara said as she and her husband

left through the exit.

Lara sighed deeply as she heard them drive

out of the compound.

Definitely something is wrong some

where….she fidgeted nervously.

Lara folded her arms round her chest as she

watched her mother in-law pack some fruits

into a basket.

“You’re going out” she said rather than

asked.

“Yes, but I’ll be back soon.” Amara replied

covering the basket with a table cloth.

“I’m coming with you…” Lara began to say.

“No…”

“I’m coming with you!” she said firmly.

“Lara, you can’t come with me, okay?”

Amara tried to soothe her.

“Is there anything wrong? You’ve been

going out now for the past one week, and…Or is there anything you’re hiding

from me?” Lara said with a frown.

“Now, Lara relax your nerves, okay. Stay

back, I’l buy you something when I’m

coming back .” Amara patted her.

“Okay then…I’l be going back to my place.”

Lara pouted.

“Lara! You can’t…”

“I can’t stay here all alone!” Lara began to

cry.

Amara sighed, she knew her game is up. She

need to tell Lara the truth. But how would

she start? Tony would be discharged that

night.

“Errm..Lara, Tony had an accident, he’ll be

discharged today.” she said slowly.

“Accident? Tony?” Lara held her chest firmly.

“Yes, he’l be discharged today.” Amara

sighed again.

“I’m coming with you to see him!” Lara said

huskily.

“No…I’l drop you at your place instead, you'd

see him later in the day, when he’s been

discharged .” Amara told her.

Lara felt her knee go weak, she prayed the

accident isn’t that bad.

::::::::********

Lara toyed with her cornrows out of

boredom, her mothers in law had called to

tell her they were on their way.

She tried to imagine what Tony would look

like, maybe he would wear a scowl, or

perhaps bark at her.

She heard the front door open, she stood up

sharply, expectantly.

“Welco…” what she saw made her Tongue

stick to the roof of her mouth…

Tony sat in a wheel chair, he looked so pale.

Chief Ifiora pushed the wheel chair into the

room.

Lara looked on, she tried to speak, but

couldn’t. Tony looked up at her, he held her

gaze, his eyes full of regrets, sorrow and

pains.

Lara looked away, tears stung her eyelids,

was it real? She asked herself.

“Don’t cry.” Amara hugged her.

Lara wept on her shoulder, she watched her

father-in-law push Tony in his wheel chair

towards his room.

Tears blurred her vision. Was this the same

Tony she saw few days ago? Now he is in a

wheel-chair?

She hugged her mother-inlaw and they both

wept holding each other tightly.

OMOLARA’S FAITH EPISODE 5

“Haaaa! Are you kidding me?” Deji screamed at

her sobbing friend.

“Dear friend that’s my story..” Lara wiped a tear

“oh Lara you are too soft…she’s been in this

house for weeks now, and you can’t throw her

out?” Deji squealed.

“I think she has come to stay…” Lara began to

say.

“Come to stay for where? Lara don’t just provoke

me o! I wonder why I wasn’t in town all this

while…” Deji bit her finger.

Just then Sophia walked lazily into the sitting

room, she catwalked towards the fridge.

“Errm…Lara?” Sophia called out sipping from a

bottle of yoghurt.

“Ma?” Lara said rising to her feet, to the suprise

of Deji.

“Isn’t it high time you prepare lunch? I’m

starving.” Sophia added authoratively.

“Okay ma, Let me…” Lara began to say.

“Shut up!” Deji cut her short.

“Who is your ‘ma’ ? This ingrate? This monster

with a face of a donkey?” Deji chided her.

“Who are you referring to?” Sophia dropped her

bottle.

“You!” Deji replied rising up.

” you are the donkey! Oshi! Witch! I wonder

what’s wrong with this Igbo woman! Husband

snatcher!” Deji added with her hands akimbo.

“Deji please don’t!” Lara tried to stop her.

“Leave me jor! Abi she jazz you ni? Imagine this

vegetable eating Igbo claiming oyinbo! Olori buru

ku!” Deji’s body shook as she spoke.

“You don’t dare insult me!” Sophia glared at her.

“Insult ke! I’ll beat you ni! Rubbish!” Deji pushed

Sophia roughly.

Wham! Sophia slapped Deji.

“Deji…” Lara was alarmed.

“Haaaa ! Yeeeeh ! You slapped me? You dey form

Igbo geh abi? I go show you say I no be yoruba

girl for nothing!” Deji screamed before grabbing

Sophia from her feet.

They engaged in a scuffle, Deji sitting atop

Sophia feeding her with punches and slaps.

“Deji please …” Lara was very frightened.

“Deji please for God's sake, please stop!” she finally pulled

Deji off Sophia.

“Allow me jor! Lemme show this Donkey!” Deji charged at Sophia again.

“No No No! Deji don’t!” Lara pushed her friend

into a sofa, giving Sophia the opportunity to run

into the guest room.

“You have to go now!” Lara led the fuming Deji

towards the exit.

“Are driving me away?”

“No…I don’t want Tony to meet you

here… please, I can handle it..” Lara pushed her

forward.

“Ehen the Tony sef! Let him come na, lemme

teach him his own lesson!” Deji ranted.

“Noooo, just go please! For my sake!” Lara

pleaded with her.

“Okay! If anything should happen, call me! You

hear?” Deji ordered.

“Yes, bye!” Lara rushed to her room.

She sat down at her bed’s edge. She knew she

was in hot soup. Tony won’t spare her.

::::::*****:::::

Lara supported her aching head with her hands,

she was far far away in the land of thought’s and

imaginations.

“Lara!”

Yikes! Tony is back! When did he come back, she

must have thinked deep!

“Lara!” Tony called out again.

“Sir?” she walked out of her room, her legs were

weak, her heart pounding furiously.

“Welcome!” she flexed her knee

“What did you do to her?” Tony gestured towards

Sophia who was weeping profusely.

Lara’s heart missed uncountable beats, her eyes

widened in terror

“I…I…I….d…did…not..did…” she began to

stammer.

A resounding slap landed on her right cheek,

making her mouth to twist, She saw stars

“You are really proving to be stubborn! This

illiterate girl!” Tony ranted as he pulled a cable

off the TV set.

Lara backed away on sighting the wire he was

holding.

“Come back here!” Tony ordered

She didn’t obey, instead she stood by the wall

staring him wide eyed.

“Okay then, let me come to you!”

Tony walked towards her, his eyes were

bloodshot.

Lara shut her eyes tightly, as the cable landed

on her arm. She didn’t wince or let out a cry, she

just stood there absorbing all the pains.

She walked quietly into her room after Tony had

let her go.

She poured some cold water on her head, she

thought it was on fire.

She looked up at her reflection in the mirror.

Her right eye was swollen and red, tiny lines of

blood streaked through the corner of her lips.

She let her tears flow freely, she wished her

mother would be here to watch what she’s going

through then.