The BribeGROOM Episode 31-33

The BribeGROOM Episode 31

XANDRA: good morning, sir

MANAGER: Morning, doctor Xandra. How are you?

XANDRA: I’m fine, thanks. Just wanted to ask if you could please approve my annual leave.

MANAGER: from when are you looking at?

XANDRA: from the 20th, sir

MANAGER: Really tight this time. We are so short staffed this time. Could I ask you to move it to the first week of March, if you don’t mind?

XANDRA: sir, I’ve already booked my flight ticket to London for the 22nd. Here it is (shows him her ticket)

MANAGER: ermmm, doctor Xandra. May I ask why you want to spend your leave in London?

XANDRA: that’s where I normally spend my annual leave, sir. Besides, I have the right to choose where I spend my holiday!

MANAGER: of course you do and I’ll approve your leave. You are entitled to it. Ermmm, be aware that I am aware of the conflict of interest between you and Madam Nnenna’s son.
I am also aware that she has been flown abroad. London to be precise and you gave them every supporting document for their visa application
That is all okay, but what is not okay, is for you to disclose any of your patient’s health history to a third party without the due consent of that very patient

Without decorating the sentence, the punishment for that is that you will lose your licence to practice. I’m sure you know this but I felt I should remind you just in case they are starting to escape from your memory.

XANDRA: There is nothing more than doctor patient relationship between us. I don’t know why people are assuming there is! My sister lives in London and it’s not the first time I travelling to London. I would appreciate it if I am not reminded of my professional ethics daily.
I committed it to memory five odd years ago!
This is driving sanity out of me!!

MANAGER: alright, Xandra I’ll approve your leave.

XANDRA: Thanks!
*************************************************

NINA: wow! I haven’t been here for a long time. Did you do some renovations?

CHARLOTTE: No, we only changed the curtains. What would you like to drink?

NINA: wine, please

CHARLOTTE: red or white?

NINA: red, please. So what’s up? Has Deric called to say they landed safely? I don’t even understand why he is spending that much money on a woman who is well into her seventies!

CHARLOTTE: my dear, Deric is tied to his mum’s apron strings. I think the midwives forgot to cut the umbilical cord between them at birth. You need to see how panicky he gets whenever he gets a call from that hospital.
He said they landed safe anyway.

NINA: So, how was he able to raise the bill?

CHARLOTTE: Hmmm! He went to a colleague of his who is now a politician and cried to him. He gave him up to six million naira for bill.

NINA: and you didn’t bother to get the politician’s number from him so that I’ll give him some living water ????

CHARLOTTE: hahahaha! You are wicked! How many people have you passed your living water to?

NINA: I’ve lost count, my dear. And I don’t feel bad about it. The one that made me a bit sad was this man I slept with two nights ago. He has such a lovely family but his wife just put to bed and I think she became more focused on the baby. He told me he feels pushed out. I told him I will make him feel pushed in??????

CHARLOTTE: hahaha! You are wicked!! How do you sleep at night!??

NINA: Like a baby?

CHARLOTTE: There is this man down our street that has been disturbing me for a long time now. We are going on a date tomorrow and guess where he is taking me? To a hotel!

NINA: make sure you get enough money off him and then bless his life with the living water???
So, does Deric have it now?

CHARLOTTE: hmmmm! Girlfriend! He doesn’t. I did my best. Twice we were nearly at it when he was called from the hospital and he ran off.
One night I spent the night with them at the hospital and When everyone slept and the ward was quiet, I tried my luck, dude took me outside and seriously warned me. Even accused me of not having any respect for his mum. He was right anyway!

NINA: You didn’t try hard enough! Meanwhile, I’ve got an interview on Monday in this nursery and primary school. Only kids whose parents are super duper rich attend it.
Can’t wait to grab myself a sugar daddy??? more wine, please!??
***********************************************

NURSERY TEACHER: I am Tatiana’s teacher and I heard what happened and decided to come and sympathise with you. Please sir, accept my deepest condolences

MR AMBROSE: thank you, my dear. Please have a seat.

NURSERY TEACHER: I learnt she passed away giving birth

MR AMBROSE: not really. She was ran over by a car. The baby luckily survived but she couldn’t…??

NURSERY TEACHER: where are the kids?

MR AMBROSE: my mum took them. They’ll be with her while I run around for the funeral preparations . She passed away in Abuja so I go there once a week to see her body. We are looking at next week for the funeral

NURSERY TEACHER: awwww! I had thought I would see them to say goodbye to them because I’m leaving and another teacher is coming

MR AMBROSE: are you serious! Why??

NURSERY TEACHER: I’m getting married sir, and my husband to be wants me to move to portharcourt so he found me a job there

MR AMBROSE: oh! They’ll miss you. She doesn’t stop talking about you. Well, I wish you well in your marriage.
Always listen to and believe your spouse above any other person.
Don’t believe any rumours even with compelling evidence.
Shut the entire world out of your marriage.
God bless your new home.

NURSERY TEACHER: awwww! Thank you, sir. I will remember all you said and I pray you heal soon. I hope the new teacher they get treats them well.

MR AMBROSE: give me a minute please.(goes upstairs and writes a cheque in the sum of one hundred thousand naira)
Erm, if things were not this horrible for me, my entire family would have sent you off properly and attended your wedding.
Though I didn’t have much contact with you, my late wife, kids and their nanny spoke so highly of you. Please take this little token on behalf of my entire family. ?

NURSERY TEACHER: oh No, sir! You can’t do this! Not this time around. Madam was such a down to earth woman. She would wait for me to get done so she’ll drop me home. This necklace I have on me was given to me by her for a birthday present last year. She was an angel. May her soul rest in peace.

MR AMBROSE: Amen. Please take this from me.

NURSERY TEACHER : (Takes the cheque ) thank
you, sir. God bless you abundantly. Thank you!?

To be continued


 THE BrideGROOM Episode 32


MR AMBROSE:???? hello, Judith. I’m five minutes away from your house. If you could please wait for me at the gate so I don’t have to drive in.

JUDITH: please come in and have a cup of coffee before we go. I beg of you.

MR AMBROSE: I had one at the hotel before leaving. Sorry, I would come in some other day.
I need to go back to Abuja this morning. My mum called to say that Tatiana has been unwell and having nightmares….

(When Ambrose got the the gate, Judith was already waiting, so she got into the car and they made their way to the hospital where Chioma passed away)

MR AMBROSE: sorry, I couldn’t come in. I’ll do next time

JUDITH: sir, I nearly did not recognise You! I understand what you are going through but you really have lost weight drastically!

MR AMBROSE: (smiles) I wish I lost weight and not Chioma. There’s never a night that she isn’t in my dreams being the normal her with me. And when I wake up and realise it was all a dream, reality disgusts me!
If not for these poor kids she left behind, I would have done the needful and bring it all to a halt!

JUDITH: Please don’t even think it. Every time I’ve seen her in my dreams, she looks absolutely beautiful and happy.

MR AMBROSE: has she said anything to you in your dreams?

JUDITH: not really but each time I’ve seen her, she had a letter in her hand. The last time I saw her which was two nights ago, she told me she was going to the post office to post a letter.
I asked after her baby, she said you were looking after him.

MR AMBROSE: hmmmm! Must be the letter we are getting today then. Gosh! Can’t believe my wife can only be seen in dreams now! (Starts crying???)

JUDITH: please sir, take it easy and stay strong for your kids. How is the boy doing?

MR AMBROSE: doing very well. Such a strong little man full of smiles like Chioma

(They finally got to the hospital and asked to see the doctor who has the letters. The receptionist asked them to take a seat while she contacts him. After about seven minutes, the doctor came to the reception)

DOCTOR: I kept looking at you from the corridor and doubting it was You! What’s going on sir! You look a mess!

MR AMBROSE: good morning, doctor.

DOCTOR: I’m worried about you, sir. Are you eating and sleeping at all?

MR AMBROSE: sometimes…

DOCTOR: that is not good enough! You must look after yourself, sir. You really must! Aside getting really badly depressed, you may come down with anorexia if you carry on like this. You really don’t want that to happen.

MR AMBROSE: I’m doing my best. I’ll be fine. Well I hope.

JUDITH: good morning, doctor

DOCTOR: morning, Judy. Hope you are looking after yourself?

JUDITH: I’m doing my best, doctor

DOCTOR: perfect! Ermm, to the business of the day. I have to strictly stick to the rules of this very wish. We don’t and shouldn’t joke with someone’s death wish.
Mr Ambrose, your late wife instructed I read the letters to you and Chioma differently. They are two different letters anyway. So if you could please come with me. Judith, it will be your turn after him. Alright, guys?

MR AMBROSE: sure!

(Mr Ambrose followed the doctor into his office, sat down and he brought out the letter)

DOCTOR: once again, let me sympathise with you on the death of your wife. Please accept my condolences and may Chioma’s soul rest in peace.

MR AMBROSE: Amen. Thanks, doctor.

DOCTOR: here is the letter and I shall read it out for you and then hand it to you. Is that okay?

MR AMBROSE: sure.

THE LETTER
Dearly beloved husband, by the time you’ll
Be reading this letter, I will be flying with the
Angels but be sure I will be smiling at you
From heaven. I will be brief because I can
Feel life gradually going out of me. I am
Getting weak but my spirit is getting strong

I know you will realise that I never cheated on
You. I hope our son evidences that. I hope he is
The spitting image of you.
I gave Deric that money just to help him with
rent. Something you would have done for
anyone anyway.
I apologise for not telling you
You were so loving. The little problems we had
Never changed who you are to me
So dear husband, do not feel guilty at my death
You gave me a great life
But if you truly love me like you told me the night
I possibly got pregnant with Tatiana, please marry Judith my friend. Do not send Kate away
But make Judith the mother of my children.
I trust her more to look after my kids. This is
The only thing I want from you. Give me this last gift and let me rest in peace.

Stop the tears

It does no good

Stop the blames

You are blameless

Stop hurting

I hurt no more

Give me a very quiet and simple funeral
Please do not let the kids see my body
I want them to remember me with
My smiling face and not a likely
Ugly and scary face I might
Wear at death.
I love you my beloved husband.

MR AMBROSE: ???? I love you, Chioma. You have given me a very difficult task! I don’t know if I can do it??? why didn’t you stay and raise your own kids! God why!!!!!!!!!????? I don’t think i want to be married to any other woman! I have no love left to give to another woman! I can’t love again!!!!! I can’t????

DOCTOR: sir, your wife just told you not to cry for her anymore! Please respect her death wishes.

MR AMBROSE: can I have the letter, please. I shall laminate it and show it to the kids when they are old enough.

(The doctor gave him the letter and he went to the reception and Judith went into the doctor’s office)

DOCTOR: sit down please. Chioma left a letter for you and I am just going to read it out for you and then hand it over to you. Are you ready?

JUDITH: ???yes, doctor I am.

DOCTOR: well, you are not. You just started shedding tears! Do you want me to give you some time?

JUDITH: no doctor, I can’t ju….st he..l.p. it! She was such a lovely lady and my best friend and sister???

DOCTOR: I understand but she would like you to be strong.

JUDITH: I’m ready now, doctor. (Wipes the tears off her face)

DOCTOR: okay!

THE LETTER
Judy the girl!!!!
Now, wipe those tears. I know you
Will be crying your beautiful heart
Out. Come on! I am no longer in pain

Remember the story I told you about
a lady whose friend asked to marry
Her husband when she dies? Hahahaha!
It was all made up! But I just suddenly
Thought of my kids and what would
Happen to them in the event of death
Now, it looks like death has come for me
Darling, I am getting weak deep down.
Not sure I will survive this accident, but if
I do, we will laugh over this letter.
If I don’t, please treat as serious! Very serious

By the way, I forgive the man who knocked me down. If he shows up, just let him go. Do not prosecute him. Tell Ambrose

My last wish from you is that you marry my
Husband and be our children’s new mum
I know its difficult. You want your own new
Man with no kids. But Ambrose is very young
And kindhearted. He will look after you. He is a
Very loving husband. No young man out there
Will treat you better! I promise you
Don’t care what anyone says, do this for me

One more thing, Ambrose will not make the
First move, I am giving that job to you.
Get him to do it somehow. Ask him out!
Propose to him if possible. I know you
Are a church girl and won’t want to lure
Him to bed. Do It your way and make me happy.

Please do not wear black to my funeral and remind your new husband that I do not
Want a flamboyant funeral.

Just one thing, jazz music must be playing
When I’m being lowered.
I am resting in peace already. No need to tell me that.
The cry don do. You never cry enough? Abeg!
Love you so much my best friend and sister
Many many thanks!

(Mr Ambrose dropped Chioma to her house and none of them said a word to the other about the letters..)

To be continued




THE BrideGROOM. Episode 33


NELLY: Judy,is everything okay? Still mourning your friend?

JUDITH: I’m okay.

Nelly: sure?

JUDITH: I’m just so confused, Nelly! My friend has asked me to do something incredibly difficult!

NELLY: and what is that?

JUDITH: She’s asked me to marry her husband and this is a man who never makes common eye contact with me. Hasn’t even stepped a foot into my house. The other time, I asked him to come have coffee he blatantly refused!
He has never picked up the phone to call me and when I do, he sounds as if he cannot wait to get rid of me from the line.
Worst of it all is that I recently started talking to this absolutely amazing man!

NELLY: well, how could you tell he is absolutely amazing if you just recently started talking to him. It is called beginner’s high!

JUDITH: hahaha! You always have a name for everything. Well, so far, he’s been great and a perfect gentleman. Never been married before, no baby mama, God fearing, tall and handsome, has a decent job. Just your perfect gentleman!

NELLY: They are all perfect at the start of the relationship. Then after a while, they bring out their true colours. Anyways, if your late friend told you that, I see it as an honour. She trusts you to uphold her home in her absence. Don’t betray her trust.
You can start by constantly calling the husband and you know, encouraging him. Go over to Abuja and spend the weekend with them.

JUDITH: I’ll be going tomorrow because my friend’s funeral is on Monday. After the funeral, I’ll spend a week before I come back

NELLY: great! And you can also use what your mama gave you to get him to be loyal. You know what I mean. There is power in the vagina to break every man!?

JUDITH: no way!! Heck no! That is so low. The lowest of the low! I will never do a thing like that. Common!

NELLY: well, just giving you different options nothing more. So don’t consume me like fire. Anyway, if you need any tips, I’m just a phone call away! Stop talking to Mr amazing and focus on this very man. Remember, the dead watch over us from heaven. Your friend is looking at you as we speak

Judith: oh gosh! You are really scaring me now!

NELLY: when are you going home?

Judith: I am waiting for my Uber.

NELLY: alright. I’m going now. Take care of yourself

(Whilst Judy waited for her cab to arrive, she decided to give Ambrose a quick call)

MR AMBROSE:??? hello, Judy, how are you?

JUDITH: Very well, thanks. Yourself?

MR AMBROSE: still alive

JUDITH: how are the children?

MR AMBROSE : well, I’ve brought back Shasha and Tatiana but I left Sampson with my mum. I don’t think Kate can look after all three.

JUDITH: that’s okay. Has Tatiana gone back to school?

MR AMBROSE: that’s actually what she was telling me before you called. She said she hates her new teacher and doesn’t want to go to school anymore. I asked if she would like me to register her in another school. She said she doesn’t want to leave her friends in her school.
I don’t know how I am expected to move all her hundreds of friends to her new school. The kind of dilemmas I do not like to get into! I used to leave it all to Chioma. Now, reality just dawned on me!!

JUDITH: oh bless her! Did she say exactly why she doesn’t like Her?

MR AMBROSE: from what I reckon, she is probably being too nice to her. Maybe trying to win their love and trust and overdoing it. Tatiana is very smart, she knows when you are trying to patronise her and she doesn’t like it.
She told me that the new lady keeps asking her how is your daddy, how is your mummy, do you want me to feed you your lunch, what car does your daddy drive. I mean I understand she is trying to be nice, but you don’t need to overdo it. Kids don’t like that. Judy, honestly, I am fed up!

JUDITH: hmmm! She’ll warm up to her. Kids are usually like that with strangers. Were you able to get the jazz music person?

MR AMBROSE: yes. Everything is ready except me. I am not ready to let Chioma go. Not ready to see her in a coffin, not ready to see her lowered in the grave. I am not ready!

JUDITH: you may never be ready. Just take each day as it comes. I just wanted to ask if it’s okay to come tomorrow?

MR AMBROSE: sure! Please do. I am going to pick up my mother in law this morning and my parents will be here tomorrow’s evening.

JUDITH: okay. See you tomorrow then

MR AMBROSE: please let me know your arrival time so I could ask my driver to pick you up from the airport

JUDITH: alright. I’ll let you know. Thank You, sir.
**********************************************

XANDRA: oh my God!!!! Look at you, Deric! You look like a Londoner already!!

DERIC: hahahaha! This is a very beautiful country just too cold! (Hugs her really tight and swung her around)

XANDRA: hahaha drop me! You make me feel like an airbag! Wow! London looks great on you! Where is mama!

DERIC: She’s inside the ward. I bet she cannot wait to see you! Keeps asking of you. When did you arrive?

XANDRA: 6.am this morning. A very smooth flight too! I have missed you!

DERIC: did you?

XANDRA: not really?

DERIC: (holds her back and comes right to her face) Now, swallow your pride, throw away your certificate and accept the truth, you missed Deric. Didn’t you?

XANDRA: hahahaha! Please go away! What’s there to miss about you? The nasty and rude attitudes? I did not miss Jack! Please take me to mama. My very good friend!.

(Deric held her hand as they walked to madam Nkechi’s hospital ward)

XANDRA: Wow! Mama!!

MADAM NKECHI: my darling!!!

XANDRA: (Hugs her) oh I am so happy to see you looking restored! What a difference!!

MADAM NKECHI: my daughter! These doctors are marvellous! The only person they cannot save is someone who has been earmarked to die!
They are spirits! They can explain your symptom to you like they are right inside your body! My daughter, I am so grateful to you and I have been praying for you daily. I can fight and defeat 10 men now

DERIC: ten male mannequins, you mean?

XANDRA: hahahaha! I’m so glad to hear that! How do you like the food?

MADAM NKECHI: my dear, that is one thing I don’t like. They serve us flower here o! Different colours of flower. Chai! Nothing beats a well cooked okazi soup!

XANDRA: hahahaha!!! Flower indeed! Those are vegetables mama, and they are actually good for you.??…

(Xandra spent about an hour at the hospital chatting with Deric and his mum. Then went out with Deric for lunch. They both went to a nearby Nandos and as they ate their perperi chicken and fries, Xandra decided to have some serious conversation with him????????????)

XANDRA: how do you like it here?

DERIC: i sincerely don’t even want to go back anymore

XANDRA: That is possible..

DERIC: how?

NELLY: my sister’s husband owns a company here. I can get him to employ you and you apply for a stay. With his help, you are likely to be granted a visa.

DERIC: This sounds good!

XANDRA: what about your wife? Won’t you miss her?

DERIC: I will of course but it’s for our benefit.

XANDRA: true. Can I ask you a question?

DERIC: go ahead.

Xandra: if your friend is going out with someone who has HIV, and you know it, would you let your friend know and lose your job or would you not tell him and keep your job?

DERIC: are you actually asking this question??? Why do we place material things above human life! Damn the stupid job! I’ll tell my friend the very minute I find out! What are friend for!

XANDRA: hmmm! A colleague of mine is currently in that situation and has asked for my opinion

DERIC: tell him to call his friend now and save a life…

To be continued