Readersville.

At times some things in real life turn out to be like make believe stories, so was the case of Emeka and Amina. Some few months after Amina left with her new husband. Emeka her former husband was deported back to Nigeria. He got into a fight with his live in lover in The States and she reported him to the authorities who sent him back immediately since he had no papers backing his prolonged stay in the States. Obviously, he lied to his wife that he was married to Claude but this was because himself and Claude both planned to get married but things turned sour before they could tie the knot. He foolishly went to his former in-laws and demanded to see his wife and son. Amina’s parent drove him out of their house and threatened to call the authorities whenever they set their eyes on him in their compound again. They did not hesitate to tell him their daughter was now happily married with someone else. After all, his lousy bride price has been returned to his greedy family. It was with p...

Listening to Aduke by Tjan on her cd player, Roli couldn't help but let her thoughts wander....... Memories of Femi kept coming. He loved serenading her....yes, he was that romantic. She remembred the day he sent 50 cards with love professing messages. He sent them with Diana Ross's Album everyday is a new day. Her favorite song in it was Love is all that matters...... she remembered staying up all night to listen to it. Why does love go sour?! Why would something so sweet taste so bitter? Why would a feeling so strong fizzle? Whats all this talk about love not being enough that her friends keep saying? What else can be enough? Isn't it love that leads to one deciding to be committed? What exactly is love? It's so confusing out there! Everyone defining what love is, how to know what it is and it isn't! Do we learn how to breathe? Is love not something that comes to be? Isn't it like a power that takes over one's being? You get into it with no preconcieve...

It has been over a year since when Amina called her husband in the United States and got the shock of her life. A lady picked up her call to Emeka’s phone and she was taken aback when she introduced herself as his wife. She couldn’t believe her ears when Emeka himself called and told her that she should move on with her life since he has decided to start a new life in America. The pain and humiliation was unbearable she had to leave the house she and Emeka both rented. She wouldn’t have had any choice anyway since her mother in-law and her daughters were thrilled that things had gone sour between her and their brother.they happily spread the news around with abandon. They did not even bother that she took Chinedu along when she left the flat. Things were really rough with her initially but with the help of her friend Rosemary and David she got by. David... her thoughts lingered on the man that has more or less wiped out her tears. He has been there for her. It was on his shoulder th...

Phone is ringing. A lady walks in from her bathroom to pick it up. “Hello!” “Hi!” replied the caller “why did you pick my call?” “sorry?” “I said why pick this call, is Emeka not there?” “I beg your pardon! I can pick my spouse’s call if I so wish!” “What?” Amina screamed. “Whose spouse are you?” “Well....” the lady at the receiving end of the phone was about to say something when Amina heard someone walk in and say “Honey what’s that?” Amina recognised the voice to be her husband’s. “I do not know!” The lady with the phone said “But she sure sounds so rude!” she continued. Amina was still in shock when her husband came on the line, “Hello!” “Emeka! What did I hear that woman say you are to her?” “Amina! Did I not tell you not to call this line anymore! I told you I’ll call you when the need arises! He snarled into the phone. “Emeka! Do you realise it’s been over eleven months now that you’ve not called? And you have the nerve to tell me I shouldn’t have called you? Who is t...

“Rosemary, what exactly does David want from me? I really do not understand him o! Haba! I am not so stupid not to know he is seeking my attention! Doesn’t he know am married?” “Calm down! Stop shouting! Remember we are in a saloon anybody can hear our discussion and you kinow how rumours fly around this place!” Rosemary cautioned her friend. “Who cares? Haven’t you been hearing the words flying around that Emeka has ditched me?” “Amina! You of all people should know better than listening to irrelevant gist’s!” said Rosemary. “What do you mean by irrelevant gist’s? Is it not obvious that Emeka has ditched me? Nine months now he has not sent me money for this boy’s upkeep. And he knows his leech of a mother and his two greedy sisters are living with me! How callous can one’s husband get? And remember, there is no smoke without fire!” she said emphasising the word “smoke” and “fire”. “Look my friend!” Rosemary said to her. “I might not feel exactly how you do but believe me, I do un...

Chinedu was running around in the sitting room while his grandma and aunts were busy watching a movie. Amina was seated at the dining table eating part of the cake she baked over the weekend with a glass of juice. She was deep in thoughts when Chinedu ran to her with her phone which she had left on the sofa earlier on. “Mummy, you have a call!” he said as he handed her the ringing phone. Amina briefly looked at the screen of her phone to know who the call was coming from. “Emeka!” she mouthed. She hurriedly left her unfinished snacks and went to her bedroom to answer her call. “Emeka! Is this really you?” “Hello Amina! How are you? Silence. “I am so sorry for not having been able to call for some time now. I have been kind of busy.” He said. “Emeka! Busy? You mean you have been so busy that for two whole months you could not even send a text message? Even when I take the initiative and call, you never pick up my calls instead your voicemail is activated!” Amina said, managing no...

Adanma who was in a conversation with her mother appeared excited “Mama! Are you serious?” “Yes o, my daughter!” he pleaded with me not to say anything to her, even if he had not asked me to who would bother to tell that efulefu anything!” Mrs Onwuka said. “Hmn! That is beautiful! I cannot wait to see how she will react, hia!” Adanma enthused. “That is her business! Ehn! Ehn! Have you changed the money Emeka sent me to naira? Biko! I need money for the expenses I want to make for Ndibuisi’s wife’s birthday party.” She said to her daughter. “No, I am waiting for Nkechi to come so that we’ll go together” “em.. Adanma, I am not comfortable with you telling Nkechi about this money. Have you not noticed she has been acting as if she wants to be taking sides with that woman?” “But what difference will it make Mama? It is not as if we will not give Amina out of the money!” Adanma said. “Give who what money? Did I tell you that Emeka asked me to give her part of it eh? Moreover why shou...

 HGK hotels are one of the five star hotels in Lagos. Situated at Ikoyi it catered for the high and mighty that patronised it. This was where Amina and her closet friend Rosemary work. They had gone for their lunch break and were coming back when they bumped into one of their colleagues. He exchanged pleasantries with them and Amina could be seen leaving her friend and her colleague behind. The colleague turned and watched her walk away. With a little knowing smile, he knew she left in a hurry because of him. He had felt pain and remorse when Amina got married. It was a case of not making hus intention known on time....someone else bea him to her..... “David! What are you staring at? That woman is a married woman o!” Rosemary said to him. David smiled and shook his head. “I know! But you of all people know how much this lady means to me!” “Mean to you? Look! I am not the one who asked you not to let your feelings known to her before someone else hooked her up!” “It is okay!”...

“...Can you imagine that? As tired as I was, I had to go to Chinedu’s school to get him” Amina complained to her friend Rosemary. “Calm down! I know how upsetting it is, but you know that is exactly what your in-laws want you to be, upset! But the truth is that I just can’t understand your mother in-law! How can she be so mean to her own blood all in the name of getting at you?” Rosemary asked. “I don’t know o! Rosemary! If this woman can do this to Chinedu then she can kill me o!” “Haba! What did I do wrong? Just because I married her son! Kai! I can’t even discuss this with my parents! They had their misgivings about Emeka when he came asking for my hand in marriage, how do I go and tell them all these now!” Amina lamented. “It is okay! You will do no such thing! Nobody is going to tell them anything. Just be patient, God will see you through this!” “God should see me o! He should! What have I done to deserve this?” Amina sobbed. “Is it a crime to marry someone that is not from t...

The women seated together in the living room were oblivious of the entrance of a figure that just came in; they were so engrossed with their discussion. It was Nkechi that noticed Amina’s entrance, She nudged Comfort who was closest to her and nodded towards the figure standing by the door.

Deji laid unconscious, carelessly sprawled on the couch, I was trembling from visible fear. It was as if Nath had gone beserk. He was breathing very fast and he looked so terrifying heaving loudly he was visibly angry. Raising his head up and looking towards me, he read my next move and took fast paces hitting me hard across the face and yanked my head backwards pulling hard at my hair. I had to make a desperate move, I was scared at the look in his eyes. With every strength I could muster I squeezed hard on his testicles. He dropped my hair from his grip, clutching at his groin in pains. 

It wasn't up to an hour when Dike left, I had prepared Lunch for keeps.Looking forward to reading things fall apart, it was my go to relaxation book. I think reading it that afternoon will make it the hundreth time I would read it. Osas my neighbour's son was hitting at the burglary proof by the entrance door. I peeped from the window and saw his ball at the corridor. I knew I couldn't feign not being at home. He'd keep at it till he gets distracted. I don't want to gamble with how long that will take!