Chapter Forty
VIDA rushed through the orders that has just been booked
She wasn’t supposed to be at the boutique that morning, she was supposed to go see Sharuna as promised
She had to forfeit going to see her for the moment, so she could carry out the orders before the buyers arrive
It was Saturday morning, and she was hired to provide gowns for the bridal train for the wedding that Saturday morning
It was an urgent order, hence the rush
Soon, she was done
She packed the clothes neatly into a bag and kept it on the counter
“Hey Henrietta”, she called
“Yes Vida”
“I’ve arranged the order, so once they come, give it to them. They’ve paid for it”
“Okay”
“I will be going to see my daughter now. Take care of the shop”
“As always, bye”
“Yeah”, and she left the shop, walked down to the road and boarded a cab,
straight to Mr Bennett’s
*
*
*
Vida got to the mansion and walked straight to the building
That wasn’t her first time there, so she was kinda familiar with the house and the people living there
She rang the doorbell and a maid answered it
She entered and walked through the sitting room, taking the stairs to Sharuna’s room
It looked like no one was at home, the house was quiet
She walked to her room and knocked on the door
“Come in”, her voice motioned
The door opened and Vida entered
Sharuna was sitting on the bed, going through a magazine
“Hey Mom”, she screamed in joy and stood up to embrace her mother
“Dora? My dora”, she smiled and they both embraced
“Welcome mummy. What do you care for?”, she asked
Vida laughed
“Am I a stranger?”, she asked
“But you are a visitor?”
“Neither am I”, she sat on the bed
“If you say so then”, she shrugged and sat down beside her “So mom, what’s the way forward? Any progress?”, she asked
Vida shook her head
“I’ve tried my best daughter, to make them see reasons with me. But Dr Sujit had said we shouldn’t let Priceley know of it”
Sharuna frowned
“Why?”
“He said when it all happened, it was in the past, that Priceley wasn’t there. Moreover, that might cause trouble between them and they’re best friends”
“And then make a mistake that would maim us for the rest of our lives?”
Vida shook her head
“I tried telling them”
“That’s rubbish. Absolutely rubbish, if they don’t do something then I will. I will take action”, she suddenly became angry and stood up, heading towards the door
“Take it easy dora. Where are you off to?”, she asked
“Don’t bother mom. But just know that if they refuse to do something, then I will”, and she stormed out of the room
She was still angry. What do they mean by that?
Are they the ones to tell her what to do?
Damn it. She must do something if they don’t
She angrily walked down the stairs and went outside
Then she started walking towards the garden, she stopped when she saw what she was looking for
It was Kesmanee
He was standing by the terrace
She walked up to him and fell on him instantly, crying
He was surprised and he held onto her
“It’s you I want……. I want you”, she cried
Kesmanee was stabbed in the heart, he sobbed quietly
“I’m sorry Sharuna, but it seemed we weren’t meant for each other. I’m sorry”
She cried the more, as she buried her head on his chest
“I love you Kesmanee, please let’s fight this we can”
He sighed
“Look Runa, when it all happened Priceley wasn’t there. It’s our past and we shouldn’t bring him into it okay? I love you too but…….it just seems not to be working”
She cried the more
“Let’s fight harder, we can”
He was speechless and lost for words
Suddenly Priceley came along and saw them both in an embrace
He became angry and he fumed
He walked towards them and drag Sharuna from his hold
“I can’t take this anymore…… I can’t. What’s going on?”, he demanded
furiously
“Kesmanee? This is my fiancee, and we gonna be wedded by tomorrow. So what’s all this?”, he shouted
“Calm down Priceley, I’m not eating her up. She’s still yours”, he said
Sharuna looked at him and tears ran down her face
Priceley looked at him in fury, and then walked away, taking Sharuna along with him
She turned back intermittently to look at him, she was heartbroken
*
*
*
The D-Day for the marriage finally arrived
It was carried out in a hall at the Bennett’s mansion
Soon people began arriving, friends, family, business associates and the rest of them
The hall was really filled with people
Soon, the marriage kicked off, in a typical Indian culture
All the marriage rites were carried out successfully
Then it was time for the bride to give a drink to the groom
She was scared all along
She received the glass cup of the drink with shaky hands and walked towards Priceley
One eye on Kesmanee, the other on Priceley
She was visibly shaken
She got to Priceley and knelt down in front of him
Ohh God help her
She couldn’t do this, she just couldn’t
Suddenly, the glass cup slipped from her hands and shattered on the tiled floor
The drink spilled
She stood up in a haste and ran to Kesmanee, held him in an embrace and cried
Anger filled Priceley and he suddenly became violent
He slipped out a revolver from ‘God knows where’ and pointed it towards them
He sprung into action without thinking
Before anyone could stop him, he released a bullet
The bullet missed Sharuna and landed on Kesmanee’s right arm
“Priceley yyyyyyyyyy”, he shouted and went down
And soon, pandemonium filled the hall.
Ndozi Nuellitta
To Be Continued
Sharuna really meant to do something, infact they all meant business, all of them
Love y’all
Married
Twice