Forbidden Love – Episode 5

FORBIDDEN LOVE – Episode 5

A story by Jochrine Kunda

NARRATED

***Word had it that Sarah had given birth to a baby boy and Mwelwa stood there looking like he’d died a thousand deaths, he got the news from her best friend who was his colleague. Work turned sour for him that day and was looking forward to lunch time, he was in his office when the siren sounded indicating that it was lunch time then he threw the pen which was in his hands and grabbed his belongings rushing out which left the teacher he shared the office with surprised. He jumped in his car and sped out of the school premises

“That’s my baby, it has to be mine”

He kept saying to himself as he drove like he was the only motorist around.

He got to his mother’s house found her knitting a jersey then she pulled him in for hug when she saw the state he was in

“My only son, what’s the problem?”

***She asked worriedly***

“Sa…Sarah has given birth to a baby boy”

“Whaaat! that barren…..”

***He interrupted her***

“I JUST SAID SHE’S GIVEN BIRTH AND NOT JUST ANY BABY BUT A BOY SO QUIT CALLING HER BARREN”

He lashed at her and she couldn’t hide her happiness and clapped her hands in the air

“The God I serve is great, after so many years of prayer he’s finally granted me a grandson”

She began singing songs of praises then Mwelwa sighed

“There’s a problem mom”

“No this is a time to celebrate and not bring up problems”

“Mom please listen to me”

She frowned looking at him then they took their seats and waited for him to speak

“There’s a big possibility that the child couldn’t be mine coz if you count properly you’ll find that……”

“Gather all those thoughts and burn them, that woman was your wife and that’s your child”

“But mom….”

“You’re going to make things right with her and we’re going to her people”

“I still think we should carry out a DNA test because raising another man’s child is the last thing I want”

“Awe Bashi Jane DNA ifinshi? That woman is strong for going through all that without our help and that’s the kind of woman we need in our family so she should return to her matrimonial home”

They both sat in silence and Mwelwa felt remorseful for what he did to Sarah, he began thinking of ways he’d have her back in his life with the baby then after what seemed like eternity he took out his phone and called her then she picked up on the fourth ring

“Hello?”

“Umm…hello”

“May I kindly know who I’m speaking to?”

That was clear indication that she’d gotten rid of his contacts and probably everything that had to do with him which really hurt but he built his courage and didn’t drop the call

“It’s…. Mwe….Mwelwa”

“What do you want?”

“I’m sorry for what I did”

***He began***

“I SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

“Can we please discuss the baby?”

***There was a bit of silence on the other end***

“What exactly do you want to discuss?”

***He heard a masculine voice on the other end take over***

“I want to discuss if the baby is mine”

“No it’s not”

“You can’t be so sure Mr”

“Well I can coz I know I don’t sh00t blanks”

“We’ll have a DNA test done then”

“I don’t mind but just don’t waste my time because I have a wife and new born baby to attend to”

That hurt Mwelwa and they made an arrangement to meet up for the test.

.

.

.

Mwelwa drove home still shocked by what was happening and found Veronica and Jane in the living room watching some cartoons rather it was the TV that was watching Veronica because she was lost in thoughts and didn’t notice that Mwelwa had returned, Jane got up and ran to him then he picked her up and approached Veronica but she didn’t move then he left going to his bedroom to get changed, when he returned he found her still in the same position and he roughly shook her snapping her out of it

“ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE ME MY FOOD OR YOU’LL JUST SIT THERE DAYDREAMING?”

“DON’T YELL AT ME MWELWA, OKAY?? I’M NOT YOUR CHILD”

***She responded in a harsh manner too***

“I still can’t believe I left a real woman for you”

“You’re talking like you’re a real man when you…..”

He slapped her hard across the face and she landed on the couch then Jane approached them while crying…

**************

VERONICA

***My life was a real mess, I had so many thoughts running in my mind and I thought I’d run mad. Mwelwa stressing me out wasn’t doing me any good because he was the last thing I ever wanted to deal with. The day I met Francis, Jane’s father at the supermarket he kept starring at her and she looked freaked out, his looks gave a clear message that he hadn’t changed at all, he was the same thug I fell in love with a few years ago

“So it was true when my guys told me you were carrying my child”

***He said in a tone that sent shivers down my spine***

“Sh…she’s…not yours”

“Say that nonsense again and I’ll make you meet your creator if you’ve forgotten who I am”

“Francis…..”

***I was interrupted***

“Let’s get out of here and go talk somewhere else”

***I gave him a disapproving look because knowing Jane, she would tell Mwelwa everything that happened so I quickly came up with an excuse***

“I don’t think my husband might approve of that”

“Do I look like I care?”

***He took Jane out of the trolley and started off but I just stood there frozen***

“DON’T GET ME ANGRY WITH YOUR CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR WHEN WILL YOU GROW UP?”

He yelled when he saw that I was still at the same point and that was embarrassing because everyone shifted their attention on me so I had no other option than to leave with him.

He strapped Jane in the backseat and opened the front door for me then went to his side and looked at me

“Be at your best behaviour otherwise I’ll do the unthinkable to you, remember jail is my second home?”

***I slowly nodded and he drove away***

Francis was my junior secondary school sweetheart, I could say I was blinded by love because I knew all the bad he did, he was a member of some notorious gang. They robbed houses, attacked defenseless people, smuggled minerals, abused drugs and teenage girls sexually but I put all that aside because he meant everything to me. He was the one who took away my innocence and what everyone said about him fell on deaf ears, mom warned me to stay from him several times but I went against her and we always argued about the same issue to an extent that she once took a piece of wood as her whip because I was becoming uncontrollable. Francis was quite old to be in junior secondary more reason he wasn’t fazed by teachers or any pupils with authority, he was suspended from school on various occasions and those were the days I’d lie of attending classes while I was at his house since he lived with a friend of his in a two roomed cabin which they rented. I used to get the little earnings mom would have and pretend to be ill so I wouldn’t attend classes then cook him some “special” meal which I would take to his house. I began hating school because of his absence and my science teacher, Mwelwa who harassed me daily, I feared telling Francis about what was going on because I knew what he was capable of doing.

Francis and some of his friends were caught when they went to rob some house and were arrested, it was a time of distress for me and Blessings was the only friend I had who gave me hope. I starred into space as the science lesson was in session

“This can’t be happening, I can’t miss my monthly period and yesterday I vomited after feeling nauseous lately. I can’t be pregnant no, I cant”

***I kept saying the same thing over and over until Mwelwa startled me***

“Veronica are you in class?”

***Everyone shifted their attention to me then he sighed***

“See me in my office when lessons are over”

***I nodded and he continued teaching***

I went to his office right after classes and he told Blessings not to wait for me coz he’d drop me at home then he closed the door behind him. He told me how it hurt him seeing me with Francis because he knew how things would turn out, he promised me heaven on earth if I gave him a chance then I thought that would be the perfect chance to pin him with my pregnancy since Blessings talked me out of abortion when I told her my suspicions the previous day. I knew mom was probably going to ki*ll me when she learned that I was pregnant especially for Francis and for financial support I had to make Mwelwa my baby daddy so I gave him a go ahead and it didn’t take long before we got intimate though my mind was still on Francis….

We got to what seemed as his house which was quite big then he took Jane out and told me to follow him, he left Jane in one of the bedrooms and played her cartoons on his laptop then we went to the living room. He asked me to sit while he paced up and down

“Why did you do it?”

“She’s not yours”

***He slapped me hard across my face and I saw stars for some time before I had a blurred vision then he grabbed my hair and spoke right on my face***

“Say that again”

“Francis you’re hurting me”

***He tightened the grip***

“You were in jail and I didn’t have the chance the tell you”

“I asked you about it before I got attested, why did you deny it?”

“I didn’t know what was going on, I couldn’t tell that I was pregnant”

“So you tell my daughter that every fool you meet is her father, right?”

“N…no…I’ve never been with anyone apart from Mwelwa who is my husband”

“Is it the same fool Mwelwa I know?”

“Y…yes”

“Dammit Veronica you even have the guts to tell me that rubbish? Now listen attentively”

***He ran his hands up my legs***

“You are my creation and no idiot will ever take you away from me, ours is a dangerous love so I’m going to have you and my daughter back because that waste of breath you call your husband will be found dead within a month so warn any other dogs chasing after you to keep away otherwise you’ll know why they call me ” Psych”…

To be continued...