Inseparable – Chapter 22

By Oyin Oluwatosin Emmanuel

 

 

It was 7am in the morning when Ini woke up that Sunday morning. Service in her church starts by eight o’clock and she never liked getting to church late especially on Sundays

 

 

She rushed her bath and dressed up for service. As she dressed up, she wondered why she had not seen Ama that morning. On a normal day, Ama would have come to wake her from sleep by six thirty.

 

She headed straight to the living room immediately she finished dressing up.

“Amarachi” she called as she walked gently with her high heels.

 

“Amarachi, are you still… ” she paused as she saw a strange rotating light on the centre table, she switched on the lights and was more flabbergasted with what the lights revealed.

 

“Wow! Amarachi” she screamed with joy as she admired the newly decorated sitting room and bent down to touch a set of rotating and illuminating beads vase ” how did you do this? Did you smuggle an interior decorator in last night?”

 

Amarachi came behind her smiling, already dressed for church.

 

“Come on, its not time for that. Else, we’ll be late for service. Let’s eat now” Amarachi replied and led her to the dinning room, where the food was served already.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

**12 noon

 

“Are you sure it will work perfectly? ” Sandra questioned Bola as they talked in whispers, in Bola’s room.

 

“Yes, I’m sure. Trust me, we’ll end their relationship with this” she replied

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Alright, let me send the pictures to her now”

 

“Oh! You’ve not sent the pictures since? I thought you already did that immediately Mark left here?”

 

“No, I didn’t know if it would be necessary again”

 

“Yes, of course it would. It would her appetite for the bigger birthday gift we have for her”

 

“Okay”, Sandra picked her phone and busied herself with it for some seconds. “It’s done”

 

“Good one, wait and see. She’ll call you soon”

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

 

**12 noon

 

Ini felt relieved as she took off her high heeled shoes and settled into the sofa.

Amarachi walked straight towards the room without waiting in the parlor.

 

“What do you think I can prepare now? ” Ibi asked, halting Amarachi. “Kelvin is on his way here and I have to entertain him”

 

“Ermm… I don’t know what kind of food he will like”

 

“I don’t know too. I think… ” she paused as her phone rang, she checked the screen and gave an undecided look. “Its been long I received calls from unsaved numbers”

 

“Answer it and know who it is. Calls from unknown numbers are expected on birthdays” She smiled and stood up, heading to the kitchen.

 

“Hello” Ini answered the call

 

“Hello sweety” A lady voice message rang out from the other side. “Happy birthday to you

 

“Thank you so much, but may I know who I’m speaking with?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Haba! Ini, you’ve forgotten me so soon? It’s Nike na”

 

“Nike? Which Nike?”

 

“Haba! Nike Adejumo”

 

“Wow!” Ini jumped up in excitement, “I’m very sorry, but your voice has really changed. How are you doing?”

 

“I’m good, you?”

 

“Fine o, thank God. How did you get my contact”

 

“I came into town some days ago and I’ve been trying to reach you. I just got your phone number from your facebook profile now”

 

“Eeyah! It’s very kind of you to remember me. Where are you in the city? ”

 

“I’m in a Hotel at Saro road”

 

“Oh! That’s not far from my place, would you like to come over?”

 

“Ermm…” She hesitated before she replied, “I was planning to, I think you stay around Edi lane”

 

“Yes, it’s not far from there. Just less than fifteen minutes drive”

 

“I’ll come but I also want to drop an air conditioner for someone there”

 

“Air conditioner?”

 

“Yes, that’s what I sell now”

 

“Wow! Come over, what’s delaying you?”

 

“Ermm… I didn’t bring my car and I’ve tried already but can’t get a cab straight from here and I don’t want to make it two drops”

 

“Oh!” Ini hissed, please do fast o”

 

“Or do you have a driver you can send to come pick me up?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh no! But don’t worry, I’ll come by myself”

 

“Thanks, I’ll be very grateful”

 

“You’re welcome, expect me in twenty minutes” she ended call.

 

“Who’s that?” Amarachi who had returned from the kitchen with fruit juice and two glass cups asked.

 

“A long time friend, we did our IT in the same organization”

 

“Oh! I see, and you’re going to pick her?”

 

“Yes, any problem?”

 

“No, nothing. Just be careful, it’s better you ask her to meet you at the junction”

 

“Come on, what are you insinuating? I’ll be back soon jor” Ini picked her car key on the table and made way to leave the house. “Kelvin should be here anytime from now. Please tell him I’ll be back soon”

 

“Okay”

 

 

 

 

*********

 

Amarachi served herself a cup of juice as she watched Ini drive out of the compound.

She thought of something to do as she sipped on the juice slowly.

 

After gulping down the contents of the cup, she walked into her room to change her clothes after deciding to start baking snacks before Ini’s return and Kelvin’s arrival.

 

After about five minutes of changing into a more comfortable house wear, she return to the sitting room. She noticed that the main door was slightly opened and curtain was being blown by wind from outside. She walked to the door with, attempting to close it properly but she noticed that the doormat was unusually dirty. She took it up and dusted it outside, somewhere far away from the balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She entered back into the house and placed down the doormat, making sure the door was properly closed. She didn’t lock it because she was expecting Ini or Kelvin soon.

 

As she made her way to the kitchen, she took the pack of remaining fruit juice and her glass cup. She drank the remaining contents of the glass cup which was half full.

 

As she got to the kitchen, she suddenly remembered that she already finished the juice in the cup before she went into her room to change her clothes. Somebody else must have filled the cup again, she went back to the living room and looked around suspiciously but found traces of no one.

 

“Ini, are you back” she called out. There was no response. ‘No, Ini could not be back yet, her car wasn’t in the compound when she went to dust the doormat’ she thought to herself.

 

“Kelvin” She called out again and got no response. She began to search carefully all corners, trying to fish out the intruder. She was sure it was a close person playing pranks on her.

 

She started to walk towards the door with the purpose of locking it after finding no one around, she concluded that Ini must have filled the cup before she left.

 

But she didn’t get to door when her muscles and bones felt weak suddenly, she lost her strength within a split second and fell to the ground. Her eyes also lost the power to stay opened, it closed forcefully.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

In less than twenty minutes, Ini arrived at Rosa International Hotel along Saro Road. She looked towards the gate and noticed there was a big padlock used to lock up the place. She quickly parked beside the fence and came down to inspect.

 

She brought out her phone and dialed the number with which Nike called . It was switched. She stood with her hands on her waist, confused of what to do.

 

“Excuse me sir” She called to a man who wad passing by. “Good afternoon, please what about this hotel? Don’t try function anymore”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“No madam, dem no dey open here again” the man replied, “e be like say the man wey get am owe bank money and dem don come lock am since last month”

 

“Okay, thank you sir” she said and walked back into her car. She rested her head on the chair in confusion.

 

She had been fooled to come there, but who could have fooled her and why would the person do so.

 

For some reasons, she picked up her phone and clicked on the whatsapp notification icon. She opened all her unread messages without reading them just to clear them from the notifications.

 

She opened her conversation with Sandra and was about to close it without reading but the pictures caught her attention. There was Amarachi and Kelvin standing close to each other at a place she recognized to be Tribet Shopping Complex.

 

Was it possible that Amarachi and Kelvin had truly spent time with each other in the Tribet garden? Amarachi and Kelvin must be able to explain the pictures.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Bola hugged Frank tightly as she opened the door for him. She had been excited since she received a call from him that he was coming to her place.

 

“What a surprise visit Frank, you’re welcome” she smiled happily as she led Frank into her sitting room. “What can I offer you?”

 

“Nothing” Frank replied with a serious face, “I came to discuss something important with you”

 

“What’s that? Why are you looking so serious?”

 

“I’ve come to…”

 

“Shhh…” Bola interrupted, “Your Friend Kelvin and Amarachi have been caught cheating red handed”

 

“Red handed? What do you mean by that?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Come with me” she picked her car key and walked towards the door.

 

“Where to?”

 

“Just come with me” she said, reassuring him with the look in her eyes.

 

He followed her, temporarily forgetting the real reason he came.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Ini stormed out of her car immediately she parked the car. She was impatient to get an explanation of the picture from Amarachi.

 

As she opened the door, she suddenly stopped on noticing a guy’s shoe at the door.

 

She wondered why it was pulled in a scattered way with socks all over the ground.

She surged forward on remembering that Kelvin was supposed to be present already.

 

She got to the living room and met a bag on the table, she ignored it and looked around for Kelvin. After calling his name and getting no response, she proceeded to Amarachi’s room to demand an explanation for the pictures.

 

She paused suddenly as she got close to the door to Amarachi’s room, there was a trouser dropped carelessly on the floor. As she got to the front of the door, she found a shirt on the floor too. Her heartbeat speed increased by almost 800%, several thoughts ran through her mind.

 

The door was opened, she walked in quietly to confirm her greatest fear.

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Where are we going to?” Frank asked for the fifth time since Bola started driving.

 

“Haba! Won’t you allow me concentrate? You’ve been asking since, or are you scared I can kidnap you” she asked jokingly.

 

“Listen Bola, what I came o discuss with you is serious, you might not like it. So its better you allow us discuss now, so you’ll forget it quickly”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I won’t like it?” She asked mockingly, “it must be a very bad news. Well, I think you should hold it first”

 

She parked the car just beside a fenced building and put off the car engine. She came out of the car and removed her sunshade from her eyes stylishly.

 

“Won’t you come down? This is our destination”

 

“What have we come to do here?” He came down and asked angrily.

 

“Oh! Be patient boy” she taunted him. “We’ve only come for my friend, Ini’s birthday party. Didn’t Kelvin invite you for the party?”

 

“What party? He said there wasn’t going to be any party”

 

“He lied boy, he lied. He went to get things needed for the birthday party yesterday, he was assisted by someone”

 

“Come on, stop playing tricks and let’s get away from here” he said placing one leg inside the car and his arms on the door.

 

“Okay, here was who helped him” she brought out her iPad from the car and showed something on it to him.

 

“Amarachi and Kelvin went to get the party things? But he said there won’t be any party”

 

“Just follow me” she closed the door to the driver’s seat and walked towards the gate. Frank reluctantly followed.

 

As they got into the compound and got a clear view of the entrance to Ini’s apartment, they saw the backside of Ini putting on her shoes.

 

“Oh! Happy birthday dearie” Bola rushed to her, attempting to hug her.

 

She stopped as Ini finished with her shoes and turned back. Ini’s eyes were full of tears, she looked devastated.

 

“What’s the problem?” Bola asked in shock, with deep concern in her voice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ini gave no reply, but pushed her aside. She walked towards the gate, ignoring Frank who tried to stop her. She opened the gate and walked back to her car, she drove out of the compound immediately , ignoring Bola’s call and leaving the gate widely opened.

 

“What’s the matter with her?” Frank walked up to Bola and asked.

 

“I don’t know, lets check inside first. The cause of her cry must be inside”

 

They both walked in through the door which was left opened by Ini. Bola walked around the living room, trying to find if there was anyone around. She walked towards where the rooms were located and was followed by Frank.

 

They saw the trouser on the floor, creating a lead to the opened room.

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Whaaaaat? ” Bola shouted as they got inside the room. “Oh My God!”

 

There was Amarachi laid naked except for her panties on Kelvin who was in his boxer shorts, and her breasts laying bare on him.

 

The shout jeered Kelvin up, he opened his eyes and yawned. He felt like and hammer was being used to hit his head. He pushed away Amarachi who was still asleep and glanced in confusion at Amarachi who was just struggling to wake up.

 

He stared at Frank and Bola both in shock and in confusion. He didn’t know whether to demand for an explanation or to just keep shut as that would sound stupid. It was clear, he was on the same bed, naked, with Amarachi.

 

Amarachi on opening her eyes and discovering the situation picked up the blanket to cover herself,

 

“Oh God! Kelvin, what have you done to me? You drugged me” she cried.

 

“No… I don’t…” Kelvin tried to talk but was interrupted by Frank who had been watching in uttermost disgust and disappointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You guys are a bunch of shameless fools” He said and stormed out angrily followed closely by Bola who eyed the duo wickedly before leaving.

 

“Oh my God! I’m done for” Amarachi wailed, ” I’m done for”

 

“I don’t… don’t understand what’s going on here”

 

“Shut up Idiot” Ama screamed and got off the bed, still covered with the blanket. “You don’t understand what?”

 

“How did …”

 

“How did what? You drugged my tea and had your way with me. You’re a shameless he goat”

 

“I didn’t…”

 

“Get out!” She screamed.

 

“My shirt, my …”

 

“Get out now or I’ll hit this mirror on your head”

 

“It’s okay, I’m leaving”

 

He walked out of the room immediately, he picked his shirt and trouser on the way. He hurriedly wore his trouser before getting out of the house and wore his shirt as he got into the compound and headed for the gate.

 

Ama broke down on her knees. Ini had done a lot for her and didn’t deserve to be paid this way. She thought of how Ini would feel when she finds out, not knowing Ini had returned earlier. She also wept as she thought of how evil Bola would increase Ini’s pains with her discovery.

 

She wept bitterly, thinking of how wicked Kelvin had drugged her even when she believed with no doubt that Kelvin truly loved her friend.

 

She remembered the disappointment and hurt she found in Frank’s eyes before he stormed out of the room. The disappointment and hurt that Ini would feel will be nothing compared to his, it will be far greater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But why did she always have to hurt those who loved her? Why did she always have to disappoint them? How was she stupid enough to take the juice? No with this incident, she would hurt not only Ini and Frank, but Dennis and even her parents would be highly disappointed in her.

 

She suddenly stood up and walked into the kitchen. She looked around searching for an object with tears in eyes.

 

After a moment of sobbing around meaninglessly, she finally found the knife.

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Woman, what’s all this rubbish ? Come on get away from road and let others pass” A middle aged man banged angrily on the door to the driver’s seat.

 

Ini was jerked off to reality; she suddenly remembered that she was driving. She was so lost in thoughts that she didn’t know when the road was free from traffic. Other road users who struggled their way by already started cursing and pointing fingers to her as they passed.

 

She started the car engine and drove for two minutes before she got to Erinsic Restaurant. She drove in there since she was driving to nowhere in particular.

 

She walked into the restaurant and sat on one of the chairs, mopping her face with the handkerchief as tears was flowing down uncontrollably. To avoid drawing the attention of others around. She rested her head on the table.

 

Tears flowed down more and even her nose ran as she thought of all that happened. It was like someone had used a dagger to pierce through her heart. She cursed the day she met Amarachi, she cursed the day she became friends with her.

 

Amarachi had always caused her pain, but this time it was the height of it. She stabbed her at the back and even carried out the act right in her house.

 

She couldn’t take the pain of thinking of Kelvin whom she trusted, cheating on her. It was unbelievable that Kelvin who always acted innocent and trustworthy could cheat on her and more also with her best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Madam, Madam. I said what would you like to take?” The waiter who had been standing by her side lost her patience and tapped her gently, interrupting her thoughts.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Damn!” Frank cursed as Bola drove them home.

 

“Take it easy Frank”

 

“How could Kelvin have slept with her?”

 

“Oh! Are you still surprised? Didn’t I tell you I once caught them kissing in the hospital?”

 

“But why is Kelvin doing this? Why can’t he stick to his girlfriend?”

 

“Some men are just cheats in nature, they never get contented with their partners”

 

“I feel like getting a gun to sh00t that guy right now, I feel like going to strangle him”

 

“No, you won’t do that. You won’t ki*ll anyone”

 

“Why shouldn’t I ki*ll him? If he could do this, I feel he could also ki*ll me”

 

“No, don’t think of killing anyone. Just leave them alone, let God judge them”

 

“Damn! And even Amarachi could stoop so low to sleep with her best friend’s boyfriend”

 

“That girl is a whore, I never trusted her from the first day I set my eyes on her”

 

“I can’t believe this”

 

“Believe it honey, people would always betray their friends”

 

“I wonder how Ini would be feeling now. She must be so troubled”

 

“Yes, I just pity the poor girl”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank shrugged and bent his head, looking so frustrated.

 

“Come on Frank, you don’t need to worry about this too much. I’m here for you and I love you so much” she consoled him, rubbing her palm on his lap as she horned at the gate.

 

After about two minutes of fruitless horning, the gate man, Emmanuel finally opened the gate.

 

Bola drove in angrily, she came down after parking the car properly and angrily landed a slap on the gate man cheeks.

 

“Why did I have to horn several times before you came to open the gate?”

 

“No vex Madam, na sh*t I go sh*t”

 

“Idiot, is that why you’re sweating like this?”

 

“Walahi Oga, na beans I chop this morning”

 

“Nonsense” she left him and walked into the house to meet Frank who didn’t wait to watch the drama between her and the gate man.

 

“Would you like to take something cold?”

 

“Yes, please”

 

Bola hurried into the kitchen and came back with a cup of cold juice.

 

“Here’s it Frank”

 

“Thank you” he made an attempt to drink it but stopped as the cup touched his mouth. He dropped the juice and stood up . “I have to be on my way now”

 

“On your way? I thought you wanted to tell me something important before”

 

“That would be some other time”

 

“Okay, but at least. Finish the juice before you leave”

 

“No, sorry. I don’t really like taking fruit juice” he said and walked out of the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Where’s Frank? ” Kelvin asked as he walked into the house.

 

“He’s not home yet?” Bode replied without looking at Kelvin as he was busy watching a season film. ” He said he was going to see Bola”

 

“Awwww! I’m in a really big mess. I’ve been trying Ini’s number since, she’s not picking her calls”

 

“What mess are you talking about?” He paused the video with the aid of the remote control and turned to Kelvin.

 

“What’s the matter? You look so stressed out” Bode inquired, showing great concern.

 

“I must see Frank now, I must explain things to him” Kelvin stood up. “Ini must not find out about whatever happened”

 

“What happened?”

 

“Don’t worry, when I come back” Kelvin replied as he searched for his car key.

 

“Did you guys fight again?”

 

“Don’t bother till I return” he said and stormed out after taking the key.

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Is anything the matter?” The gentleman sitting beside her in the bus asked again.

 

“Nothing” she replied, although it was obvious that something was wrong as she couldn’t hold back the water dropping uncontrollably from her eyes.

 

“See, a problem shared is a problem solved” the man continued, “don’t keep it to yourself, I can be of help”

 

“Don’t worry, thank you” she said and cleaned her face dry with her handkerchief and rested her head against the glass window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Okay, if you say so” ,the man gave up and continued to mind his business.

 

Ama couldn’t stop crying as tears began to drop from her eyes again. She didn’t know what to give them at home as the reason for returning after less than a month of working. She wouldn’t even be able to hide the truth for a long time before her mum finds out.

 

She had to pack few of her things and head to her hometown because she couldn’t wait to see the look on Ini’s face after finding out what happened. Tears dropped more speedily when she remembered that Ini would never believe her again. Nobody would believe that Kelvin had poisoned her drink, she had no witness.

 

She recalled holding the knife and contemplating suicide before she changed her mind again. Committing suicide, especially in Ini’s house would had more to the problems she had caused her already.

 

She also remembered her Dad, the news of her death could send the man to his grave instantly. She decided to go home and plan on starting an entirely new life to please her parents.

 

She planned to forget about Ini and everyone she met in Etyle city, including Dennis whose phone calls she had refused to pick since he had been calling after the incident.

 

Just before getting to the nearest bus stop, she remembered a friend she had during her youth service, Tola. She dialed her friend’s phone number immediately.

 

“Hello Tola, please I’m close to Ikire. Can you describe your place for me?”