THE BRIDEGROOM EPISODE 28 – 30

THE BRIDEGROOM EPISODE 28

JUDITH: Hello, my name is Judy, can I speak with Mr Ambrose, please?

Mr AMBROSE: Yes, how can I help?

JUDITH: well, your wife has just put to bed. Does that mean anything to you at all?

MR AMBROSE: Oh my God! Chioma? Where…Where is she??? When? Who are you and where do you stay?

JUDITH: she’s been living with me

MR AMBROSE: but I have been calling the number they gave me in London when I went looking for her there!

JUDITH: Oh! I lost my phone last week so I changed my number.

MR AMBROSE: I’m getting ready. Can I speak with her???

JUDITH: ermm, no. Actually, Chioma had an accident and labour was induced. She was also induced into coma…So…yeah …(starts crying)

MR AMBROSE: excuse me! Why are you crying? Is my wife alive? Hian! Which hospital is she in?

JUDITH: when you get to Abuja, give me a call

(Judith went back to where Chioma was lying and started talking to her even when she was not responding)

JUDITH: Chy, please keep fighting. You have a gorgeous little boy to nurse. Please don’t give up. Remember your daughters. I know they mean so much to you.
Refuse to die, my love please. I know you can hear me but can’t respond
Fight this, darling please. Your son needs a mother. I can’t do it, babe please. Hold on tight ???

(Mr Ambrose arrived at the hospital a few hours after speaking with Judith. Judith introduced him to the doctors and they allowed him to go see her)

MR AMBROSE: don’t tell me this is my wife! Now this is beginning to feel like a nightmare. Can I be woken up from this, now!!!!!

DOCTOR: I’m sorry sir, but you must keep your voice down. For her sake and the sake of other patients. Thanks.

MR AMBROSE: what happened to her?

DOCTOR: she was hit by a car

MR AMBROSE: and then!

DOCTOR: unfortunately, her spinal cord is broken and she also sustained brain injuries. As we speak, there is a lot of fluid in her brains and we are hoping they drain without us opening the skull. That is usually our last resort as it is not always a great idea.
We induced coma so she can be relaxed and see if the fluid drains. If by Sunday, nothing positive happens, we are going to have to carry out brain surgeries , I’m afraid.
I’m sure you know she was pregnant when the accident happened. Fortunately, we were able to save the baby. He is in the neonatal unit. Doing rather fantastic and eating a lot hehe

MR AMBROSE: (hits his head) uhhuuu! My head is spinning! I can’t make sense of anything! Is she going to be fine??

DOCTOR: ermmm, I wish I can answer that but we will do our very best. Unfortunately though, she may never walk unaided because of her spine

MR AMBROSE: I don’t care whether she walks with the aid of 10 men or becomes a vegetable all I want is the life of my wife! Give me a letter, I am flying her abroad, please!

DOCTOR: sure! If you think that is a good idea. I am a UK trained doctor myself and as you know, we are the best in the country. Ninety percent of our doctors studied abroad and we give the same quality of care they render abroad. But it’s up to you anyway

MR AMBROSE: (kneels by Chioma’s bed) baby please? life without you has been miserable. Nothing is the same anymore.
This was my fault.?????I did this to you, Chy????
I’m asking just one thing from you, stay???? stay, please baby. Stay for Shasha. Stay for Tatiana. Stay for our home. Stay for me.
I promise to treat the child like mine

Please, my girl, stay????( prostrates on the floor and began to wail)

JUDITH: that’s enough, sir please. You need to pull yourself together. Instead of crying, talk to God about your wife.

MR AMBROSE: I can’t ????? I want her to say a word to me..or just some facial expression. I want a reaction. Look how swollen she is. My wife is in so much pain!

DOCTOR: ermm, sir, after seeing the baby, I’ll like to have a word with you privately, please.

JUDITH: stand up sir, let’s go see the baby

(Judith held Mr Ambrose and took him to where the baby was. Because he was very unstable on his feet.)

JUDITH: that’s him

MR AMBROSE: ?????

JUDITH: are you okay, sir?

MR AMBROSE: the Mark! The…mark? that Mark (starts taking off his shirt)

JUDITH: excuse me sir! You are undressing! Jesus what is happening!

MR AMBROSE: (pointing to his birth Mark which looks exactly like the one on the baby and is situated right on the same spot above his belly button)

JUDITH: what!!!! I knew she didn’t lie to me!!!???? Chioma, God has vindicated you! That was your prayer day and night while you were in my house!! Wake up and see the salvation of the Lord!! Chioma wake up!!!!!!!!!?????
The defender of the defenceless has defended you!
The righteous judge has acquitted you! You are guiltless! All charges dropped!
Who can condemn whom he acquits!!!
Chioma, it’s time to arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!
It is not time to lay motionless on that bed???
My friend is innocent.

MR AMBROSE: (with shakey hands, lifted the baby) Im sorry, son?? I’ll spend the rest of my life apologising to you. You are so perfect, my son. Oh your big sisters will love you! ??
You are mine. I am your daddy???? forgive me, son.
I shouldn’t have believed a lie???. Thank you for choosing me. I’ll do everything humanly possible to save mummy. May your God, the God of the innocent save mummy for your sake??

JUDITH: sir, stop bathing him with tears, please. They pick up emotions quite quick. And the doctor is waiting to see you.

MR AMBROSE: I’ll take him to the doctor’s office with me.

(Judith went back to where Chioma was and Mr Ambrose took the baby with him Into the doctors office)

DOCTOR: awwww! Isn’t he such a bundle of joy and he is the spitting image of you!

MR AMBROSE: (opens his shirt to reveal his birth Mark) Look, he got that from me.

DOCTOR: what a wonder! Nature carried out a DNA test and handed you the result. This is the most authentic DNA result. Ours is 99.9% accurate, this one is 100% accurate.

Erm, sir you need to put yourself together. I understand how difficult it is for you especially because of the things that happened before this. Please stay strong for your kids

MR AMBROSE: she is my strength, I can’t be strong when she is weak.

DOCTOR: phewww! Tough! Ermmm, when she was brought here, she was conscious for up to an hour or so. Having perfect conversation whilst we cleaned her up until she started vomiting and became unconscious.
She did ask for a pen and paper and she wrote you and the baby a letter..

MR AMBROSE: ????

**************************************************
DERIC: good morning Xandra

XANDRA: morning. How did mama sleep last night?

DERIC: not very well. Are you working here today?

XANDRA: yes. Why didn’t she sleep well last night?

DERIC: she was running temperature all night

XANDRA: I’ll bring her some tablets in a minute

DERIC: please do. Also, immigration got back to me and they have granted her visa. But my wife wants to come with us and you only wrote my name as the person she is travelling with. Is it possible to get a letter from you, naming my wife as someone mama will be travelling with too, please?

XANDRA: I will write no such letter!

DERIC: why are you full of hatred towards a woman who did nothing to you! I married her because I met her long before you!
What exactly is your problem!

XANDRA: Deric, I’m done with this conversation. I have ward round and I am going now. See you later!?‍

THE BrideGROOM Episode 29


Ambrose went back to Lagos and informed Madam Nkechi what had happened to Chioma. She insisted on going with him to Abuja to stay with her.
All his efforts to stop her was abortive, so they both came back to the hospital.
When Madam Nkechi saw her daughter, she cried her heart out but the doctors told her she would be sent out of the ward if she continued to cry.
She stopped the noise, but couldn’t stop the tears….

MR AMBROSE: mama what are you trying to do?

MADAM NKECHI: I want to give her a strip wash?

MR AMBROSE: don’t worry mama, I’ll do that but only after the doctors have have done their morning routine with her.

MADAM NKECHI: hmmmm! My strong girl is now being washed like a kid???
God!!!! The God of widows please come to my aid. Restore my daughter. I don’t want any other result??

MR AMBROSE: it’s okay mama, she’ll be fine.

JUDITH: Good morning, mama

MADAM NKECHI: good morning o! I can’t thank you enough for all you did and still doing for my dauhter. May God bless you ??

JUDITH: the only blessing I need from God is to see my friend back on her feet. I don’t want anything else?

MADAM NKECHI: he has no option o! Hmmmm. Chioma you looked forward to this child, now he is here and you can’t even hold him!???

JUDITH: mama, I’ve come to pick you up let’s go to my house so you freshen up, eat and get some sleep then we come back

MADAM NKECHI: hehehe! Me eat??? Joke! I have no appetite my dear. With my little girl like this? No, nne. Thank you. I will be here looking into her face until God does something.?

MR AMBROSE: Mama, please go with her. The doctors will be here soon and they will send all of us out anyways, So they can do whatever they need to do with her and it takes about thirty minutes daily.

DOCTOR: (walks in) good morning, everyone.

MR AMBROSE: good morning, doctor

DOCTOR: ummm! Lots of sad and teary faces here! Not sure I’ve met you ?(referring to Madam Nkechi)

MR AMBROSE: she is my mother in law. She came with me on Saturday

MADAM NKECHI: (kneels in front of the doctor and held his legs) please my son, save my daughter. Her father died when she was only five and since then, she has been my only friend, daughter and the essence of my existence.
We went through a lot together.
She hawked with Me, cried with me when her uncles persecuted us so much. She lived on the streets of Lagos with me for six months before we could pay for a place.
I managed to send her abroad to study because her father always said he would send her abroad because she was very brilliant. She came back with a first class and has since then brought me nothing but Joy and fulfilment.
She gave me two beautiful grand daughters and now a grand son.
Tell me what life would be without her???
Please my son, don’t let it happen???
Don’t let my world crumble?

DOCTOR: phewwwwww! This is the part of this job I hate! Mama, I wish I can make you any promises than to assure you that I and my colleagues will do everything we can to help her. But the decision on what the outcome would be, lies in the hands of fate.

Erm, Mr Ambrose, the nurses will come around soon and get her ready for the surgery. Unfortunately, the fluids have not drained from the report I read from the doctors who worked last night. A brain surgery has become mandatory.
Just to remind you that this is a six hour surgery. So you may want to go home and get some rest and come back.
There’s no need hanging around. The baby has been washed and fed. But we will bring him to his mum and place him on her chest for at least 10 minutes before we take her to the operating theatre. This we do daily so they can be bonding. Very essential.
Yeah! So, the nurses will be here soon!

MR AMBROSE: doctor, when are you going to give me the letter she wrote then?

DOCTOR: ermmm, the thing is This, she left an instruction on what must happen before we give you the letter. She also left one for her mum and Judith.
There are two conditions to that. She said if any of those conditions are met, then we can hand you the letters. So far, none of those has happened. Sorry I didn’t read that before now. A colleague of mine who locked it away that day we couldn’t find It, told me of the conditions.

MR AMBROSE: what are the conditions?

DOCTOR: I’m afraid, I can’t tell you that. I need to go now. Please do whatever you have to do quickly. The nurses will be here Soon ?‍️

MR AMBROSE: mama, we need to leave now. Both of you can go, I’ll hang around.

JUDITH: let’s say a quick prayer?

You are the Lord, the God
Of all flesh and there is
Nothing too hard for you
I know you are able to
Do exceeding, abundantly
Above all we can think
Or imagine
Lord I present my friend
Before you. I ask for nothing
But your grace to pull through
You have answered me in the
Past. Come and do your
Miracle once again
Use the doctors, Lord!
Hold their hands as they
Operate on her
Chioma, I immerse
You in the precious blood
Of Jesus! I declare you
Shall not die but live
To declare the goodness
Of God. We shall see you
Again soon. We shall speak
With you.
We nullify every plans of the
Enemy we bring into subjection
Anything that raises its head above
The knowledge of God!
Jesus! Be glorified in her life
Jesus! Take over from this moment!
In Jesus name I pray!

MR AMBROSE/MADAM NKECHI: Amen!

MADAM NKECHI: Amen!!!!???
(Touching her face) my beautiful, you must come out alive for mama, alright? You remember all out plans, right? We will go on our holiday in December. Don’t make mummy Sad, o nwam? Remember, mummy will be left alone in this whole wide world if anything happens to you.
Kick death on the butt and come back to mama. Same way you used to beat up other kids when you were a kid. Remember your kids eh? Tatiana will ask questions and I can’t answer them. You must….

NURSES: hello! Sorry we need to get her ready for surgery

MR AMBROSE: (bends over her and kissed her) I love you, baby. You got This, yeah. I’ll be outside the theatre waiting to have you back. I love you.?

JUDITH: (kisses her forehead) Chy, don’t keep me waiting for too long. Love you.?

MADAM NKECHI: (Hugs her) ????? take me in there with her!!!????

NURSES: sorry, ma’am but you all have to leave now.

(Ambrose held her by her arm and they all Walked to the car park)

MR AMBROSE: drive carefully, Judith and do get some rest yourself

JUDITH: please come with us. You can come back after you’ve had coffee

MR AMBROSE: nah! I’ll be alright?

JUDITH: and you need to be strong. The more mama sees you like This, the more she cries!

MR AMBROSE: I’m strong..??
Bye!?‍️

THE BrideGROOM Episode 30


When Judith and Madam Nkechi left, Mr Ambrose sat by the door of the theatre. After a while, he decided to ring Kate to find out how the kids were doing but he didn’t have enough airtime on his phone to make the call, so he decided to walk down the road to get some

On return, he saw one of the six doctors that went into the theatre for the operation by the gate smoking.
He didnt make much of it since it was just one person out of six. He thought maybe he needed a break.
Also, it wasn’t the doctor they had been dealing with so he didn’t bother asking him the situation of things.
But as he walked towards the hallway to the theatre, he saw the doctor they had been dealing with. He had no gloves on and was not wearing his coat….

MR AMBROSE: doctor! How is she? Are you done? How was it? Successful, right?

DOCTOR: ermmm, please come with me to my office

MR AMBROSE: I’ll come of course but tell me the situation of things? Why are you all out? It’s not six hours yet? I only went down the road to get some credit to check up on my kids in Abuja. How is my wife?

DOCTOR: ermmm, she is resting. Please come to my office.

MR AMBROSE: she is resting….oh! That sounds great! Meaning the surgery was successful and she is resting. Phewww! Now I can have a glass of water. I knew she would pull through! Never seen a woman so strong yet so soft! Can I see her?

DOCTOR: you will, in a moment but please can I have a word with you in my office, first?

MR AMBROSE: sure! (Follows him to his office)

DOCTOR: please take a seat.

MR AMBROSE: (sits down) thank You, doctor! I must say you guys are the next most powerful set after God!…

DOCTOR: you see Mr Ambrose, since the day your wife was brought in, I noticed what a wonderful family you have, and when you told me your story, I felt quite bad because I know the trauma and guilt you must be passing through

MR AMBROSE: doctor, I’m happy it’s all coming to an end now. As soon as she wakes up, I’ll ask for her forgiveness and when she is discharged, we will go somewhere nice to renew our wedding vows?

DOCTOR: phewww! This is gonna be hard!

MR AMBROSE: what’s gonna be hard?

DOCTOR: ermm, Mr Ambrose, I’ve been in this profession for 39 years now and believe me, I’ve seen so much deaths and given so much death news, but right now, it feels like the very first time I am doing it

MR AMBROSE: sorry? I…I didn’t understand the last thing you said. Death? News? How?

DOCTOR: phewww! Mr Ambrose, your wife gave up in the middle of the operation. Her heart just stopped. We did CPR for over 30 minutes to no avail. She slept peacefully

MR AMBROSE: heheheh. She slept peacefully? She….she….her heart….she slept peacefully?…..she is resting…none of these make any sense to Ambrose. Now, let’s get serious, shall we! Where is my wife!!!???

DOCTOR: I’m afraid she didn’t make it. Calm down please

MR AMBROSE: Chioma!!! Didn’t make what? I’m not even gonna believe this nonsense you are talking about!
Do you know that she has two other little girls at home aged five and one???
Do you know that she has an aged mother?
Do you know that she has a baby boy who is barely two weeks??
And a husband who did not believe her when she said she was innocent?
Do you know that she tried severely to make peace with me before she came here???
Do you know that I arrested her when our kid went missing?
Do you know that…..
where is my wife?????? Chioma!!! Chioma!! Chioma!!!!!!!! Chioma!!!!!!
No!!!!!! Doctor, No!!!!!!! Jesus No!!!!!!!! Somebody help me!!!! No!!!!!!!!
Tatiana, No!!!!!!!! Shasha!!!!!!????????(lies flat on the floor being rather inconsolable)

DOCTOR: oh dear! You need to take this easy, sir. She tried. Please get up

MR AMBROSE: bring her back!!!!!!?????doctor, bring her back, Please!!! We can’t cope without her. We have kids together!!!! Chioma, Please!!!!!

DOCTOR: sir, you must put yourself together. Very soon your aged mother in law will be here. I’m not even sure I can give her the news seeing how she already was before the surgery. Please you don’t want her to have a heart attack, please sir.

MR AMBROSE: what did you say happened to Chioma? The wife of my youth! My friend, the sister I never had, the mother of my kids! How do I explain this to my children??? Nah! Doctor, I want to speak with her!

DOCTOR : You mean you want to speak to the body?

MR AMBROSE: she is not a body! She is my wife! Don’t you dare! Stop it!

MR AMBROSE: phewww! Okay, I’ll take you there

(They both went into the theatre where Chioma’s body was lying covered in a white sheet. Mr Ambrose quickly removed the sheet over her face)

MR AMBROSE: doctor?

DOCTOR: yes…I’m sorry but we tried

MR AMBROSE: please, leave us now.

DOCTOR: you..you mean you want to spend some time with her?

MR AMBROSE: get out and shut the door behind You!!!

DOCTOR: alright. But please don’t hurt yourself. I’ll be right at the door. (Leaves and shuts the door, but stood right by the door.)

(The doctor could hear Ambrose apologising to Chioma’s body and pleading with her to come back. As he stood there waiting, he saw Judith and Madam Nkechi coming towards the theatre so he quickly walked to them to prevent them from hearing Mr Ambrose’s voice as he was crying quite loudly)

MR AMBROSE: hello, ladies

MADAM NKECHI: ah! Already??? Jesus thank sir! Where is she?

JUDITH: doctor is everything Okay? How was the surgery?

DOCTOR: she is resting. Please come with me to my office.

MADAM NKECHI: thank You, Jesus. My son, well done! Please we brought her food. Can she eat now?

DOCTOR: ermm, No mama.

JUDITH: where is Mr Ambrose?

DOCTOR: he must be somewhere around the compound, but I’ve spoken to him

JUDITH: oh great! Because he has been very worried. Oh! Thank you Jesus!

(They followed the doctor into his office and he asked them to give him a moment to get something. Having no intentions of being the one to break the news to them, he went to another of his colleague who was part of the team to ask if he could do it)

DOCTOR: Peter! I need You, man! Stop smoking too much cigarette!

DR PETER: what do you need me for?

DOCTOR: her mother is here and honestly, I cannot deal with that woman. Could you please come and break the news to them?

DR PETER: So na me you want make the woman die for him hand abi? She was your patient. Do your job. Come on! Since when did you become a weakling? You’ve seen thousands of deaths! Stop acting like one of those annoying student doctors we get

DOCTOR: this is different. I don’t know how I got myself emotionally attached to them. I can’t remember the last time I cried but I have been unable to stop the tears since it happened. They are seated in my office already thanking God! Phewww! Please help me out!

DR PETER: Okay. I’ll come with you(follows him into his office)

MADAM NKECHI: ewo! This doctor is also one of you, right? Very handsome and intelligent young men!
Thank you my sons for saving my daughter o! I will come back and cook for all of You!we thank God!?‍️

DR PETER: ermm, it’s probably not the news you were expecting, but she actually passed away in the process of the surgery. I’m so sorry

JUDITH: excuse You???????

MADAM NKECHI: **slumps!**

To be continued

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