THE ORDEALS OF NNEOMA
Episode 13
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Stella was all alone in the living room and was lost in thought.
“What have I gotten myself into, at least Nneoma has lost the scholarship but the outcome is becoming unbearable for me. My husband hardly talks to me these days. If I should meet Baba again for my husband, the result may not come out as I want. But Nneoma shall remain m@d, I’ll go and check whether she’s still at Bakers Avenue in case of other plans,” Stella thought.
A few days later, Stella left the house for Bakers Avenue.
About an hour and thirty minutes later, she got to that last bus stop but couldn’t find Nneona.
She started searching around the area and asking questions. People told her she was within the place, she continued asking around for her.
She then entered a pharmaceutical shop down the street. She was surprised to see Bimbo seated there.
“Bim, what are you doing here.”
“This is my shop oo, I relocated newly here.”
“Yes, I can remember you left Hospital Road. This place is good oo.”
“Yes, it is better for me since we don’t go to work regularly. What brought you here?”
“I am looking for one m@d girl, I heard she’s somewhere here.”
“Yes, I’ve seen her not too long ago. What do you have with the girl.”
“My dear, that person is Nneoma.”
“Nneoma your daughter!”
“My stepdaughter.”
“What?! What happened to her?”
“I don’t know what happened to her. She suddenly started behaving strangely.”
“Hmmm. A small girl like this. That’s strange. Anyways, check that refuse dump down there. You will see her there.”
“Okay, thanks my friend, I’ll be right back,” Stella said and left for the refuse dump.
She then used a shawl and covered her head and some parts of her face in camouflage.
She got there and saw Nneoma searching through the huge refuse dump without even looking up.
Stella quickly turned and left the dump.
“At least I know she’s alive and stays around here all the time. If my husband’s trouble becomes too much for me, I’ll bring him here.”
While she was leaving, she followed another street so she wouldn’t see Bimbo again.
A few minutes later, Bimbo waited for her to come back but she didn’t. She went out and looked around but didn’t see her anywhere. She then went back to her shop and continued attending to a waiting customer.
A few weeks later, when school had resumed, Dera was still in bed sleeping while her parents were awake.
In no time, her father prepared and left for his shop.
Her mother went to her room to wake her up.
“You have become so l@zy lately, get up from there and go and prepare for school,” Stella said as she tapped her to wake up.
Dera woke up but was sluggish.
“Mummy, I’m just tired. I think I have malaria.”
“Tired, this early morning. Please get up from that bed.”
As she was still talking, Dera quickly got up, rushed out to the bathroom and started vomiting.
Her mother followed her but was watching her as she vomited.
When she was done, Stella took her back to the bedroom and started examining her eyes.
“Dera, did you miss your period?”
“I don’t know, I can’t remember the date. Mummy, why do you ask?”
“Let it not be what I’m thinking. You will go for a lab test.”
So Dera did not go to school day because she wasn’t feeling well.
Later in the day, Stella took Dera to a diagnostics centre to run some tests. The lab scientist collected her blood sample and left with it to their lab room. In no time, he came out with the result which showed that Dera was pregnant.
“What!! Dera you have finished me,” she started hitting her there.
“This is an office madam, take it easy,” the receptionist said.
Stella ignored her and gave Dera one more beating before dragging her out of the diagnostics centre.
Later on, Dera and her mother got to their house. Stella went into the bedroom and brought a cane.
Dera knelt and started pleading. Stella started beating her all over her body.
“So Dera you just want to disgrace me in this house, what have I not done for you?”
“I’m sorry mummy, please forgive me,” Dera said amidst tears.
“Forgiveness won’t change the fact that you are pregnant. You will take me to whoever that is responsible for this pregnancy.”
“Okay mummy, I’ll do that.”
“Oya, let’s go.”
Dera got up and was still crying. Then her mother dragged her and they both left.
TO BE CONTINUED..
