EPISODE 1 - BROKEN...OR NOT?

WELCOME TO A NEW SERIES. I HOPE WE HAVE ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON TOGETHER.

PLEASE FIND ME ON SOCIAL NETWORK:

http://twitter.com/tomi_adesina (Twitter)

http://facebook.com/moradeadesina (Facebook)

PLEASE NOMINATE ME UNDER THE WRITING CATEGORY OF THE NIGERIAN BLOG AWARDS STARTING 23RD OF THIS MONTH (SEPT)

NOW EPISODE 1 OF 'BROKEN...OR NOT?'

BROKEN….OR NOT?

EPISODE 1

The front door flung open as I pulled Tiwa with me, out of the Lagos City Hall. Tiwa struggled helplessly with me, but I didn’t loosen my firm grip on her hand. “Would you behave yourself?” I charged as I pushed Tiwa forward.

            “I want my father!” she retorted angrily.

I eyed her coldly. “Look here, you heard the Judge.” I shouted as I pressed the remote control to my latest acquisition, a black Toyota Camry 2014.

Tiwa scoffed. “I don’t like you, and you better not forget that.” She said as she kicked the car’s tyre furiously.

I raised my hand to slap her but I restrained myself knowing that we were standing right in front of the Lagos City Hall and it could instantly jeopardize my chances of having her.

            “Oh…you scared?” she asked, with a subtle but evil grin. I could see the hatred burning in her eyes. My own daughter despised me.

            “Ijeoma…Ij!”

I turned around to see Omololu as he ran in our direction panting heavily. “You don’t have to do this, Ijeoma.” He said as he bit his lower lip lightly. That was the first thing that attracted me to Omololu, his lips! And whenever he bit the lower one, I always felt excited all the way to my toes.

“You don’t have to do this.” He replied with a squint. “I know what the Judge said and all, but you don’t have to do this to us.” He continued, raising his voice slightly.

Omololu was tall with tanned brown skin colour, his mom had fallen in love with a Canadian expatriate, who had left for his country in the event of a pregnancy. Lolu was the product of their little fling. Lolu had thick eyebrows, and a baby dimple that danced around his mouth every time he smiled. He wasn’t smiling now. He was my textbook definition of first love, good looking, athletic and muscular. He simply looked like something right out of a magazine, and I was his perfect fit. I had the right features in the right places. But our love wasn’t just about the looks, it was way stronger than that.

We were poor, young and in love.

Omololu stared at me as he stood quite a distance from me. It had to be at least 10metres between us, at least till the judge said otherwise. “Please, Ijeoma.” He begged softly. I could read his lips.

I held Tiwa’s hand tightly. “Forget it, Omololu.”

            I swallowed as he said ‘us’. Yes, there was an‘us’, an ‘us’ stronger than the current of deep waters. Before we got married, every time I attended wedding ceremonies in our local church and heard the cliché ‘…for richer or poorer, till death do us part…’, I would laugh inwardly at the impossibility of me ever saying and meaning those words. However, with Omololu, I felt happy and fulfilled saying them as they came from the deepest recesses of my heart.

He swallowed and blinked. “Alright you can leave! But please, don’t take Tiwa with you. You know she’ll never be as happy with you.” he shouted.

I blinked hard and hissed at the bitter truth. “Into the car, now!” I shouted at Tiwa as I opened the car door. I turned in front of the car and stared at Omololu as I made for the driver’s seat. He had in his hand in his pants pockets, his demeanor calm as ever. I hated him for that. I stepped into my car and sped off.

*

I watched her sleek car drive off and walked down the steps. She was mine. I blinked as the dusts went up and settled in my face. Ijeoma had changed. She used to be tender, soft and easy-to-talk-to, before it all went wrong.

            “Omololu!”

I took a deep breath and turned. Only my mom and Ijeoma called me ‘Omololu’, I preferred it to the ‘Lolu’ everyone else called me, it held more meaning that way. Well, it could only be my mom calling since Ijeoma only just drove off.

            “It’s okay, son.” She said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

            “She took Tiwa from me.” I replied.

She nodded “I know, but in truth, Tiwa is hers too.”

            “Mom!” I yelled. “Don’t say that!” I shouted and walked away from her. Mom always supported Ijeoma. Sometimes I wondered if she really was my mother or Ijeoma’s.

I had taken Ijeoma home when we were just thirteen and my mother had taken an instant liking to her.

****

I threw a stone at our kitchen window and waited for ten seconds. I didn’t hear my mom shout the usual ‘Omololu, break it o’, so I could bet she wasn’t home. I held Ijeoma’s hand and took her into the house.

            “What if your mom is inside?”

I shook my head. “Never! She would have shouted when that stone hit the window.” I replied as I winked at her. “That’s my trick.”

            “Omololu, I actually don’t want your mom to hate me. I’ll come back tomorrow, its Saturday after all.”

I hissed. “Ij, why are you scared? My mom isn’t in. All we have to do is clean the house before she gets back, and you promised to help me.” I replied as I sulked.

            “I know…” she stressed.

            “Now I know you want my mom to beat me up when she returns, she said if I didn’t wash the plates before she gets back, she would beat me up.” I replied as I stared at her. “Please…stay.”

She took a deep breath. “Then we have to be very fast.”

            “WONDERFUL! Omololu! So this is what you do when I am not at home?” Mom asked as she came out of hiding. I gasped in shock and surprise while Ijeoma dashed behind me holding my shirt in fear.

Mom grinned and took her seat. “My dear…” she called. She couldn’t have been referring to me, I couldn’t be dear to her at this moment. Ijeoma peeped gently behind me and then came forward slowly with her head fully bowed expecting the worst. “What is your name, sweetheart?” she asked.

            “Ij!” I replied protectively. It was time to show Ijeoma I could stand up to anybody, even my mother for her sake. Mom eyed me coldly from head to toe and I kept quiet. She then smiled in Ijeoma’s direction.

With Ijeoma’s best smile, she replied in a shaky voice, “Ij…Ijeoma, ma.” That was the beginning of her friendship with my mother.

****

I pulled up on the order of the traffic light and stole a glance at my daughter who had her ears firmly plugged in with music from her iPod. “Tiwa.” I called. No answer! She kept looking outside through the car window. This attitude was so unlike her, she was always a bubbly chatterbox while growing up. At least, she was a lively baby. But now? She was so cold towards me. “Tiwa!” I shouted and yanked the ear phones from her ear.

            “What?!” she shouted and eyed me in a repulsive manner.

I slammed the steering. “I am your mother! Stop this nonsense!”

            “Mother?” she laughed sarcastically. “I don’t have a mother. Oh well…there is actually a woman, but guess what, she is not you! I don’t know you!”

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. “Who is she?” I asked softly.

            “Wow! You really do have a soft tone. How surprising!” She replied sarcastically.

Sudden heat flushed across my face. My heart raced fast. Tiwa didn’t seem like my baby anymore. Of course, I know growing up is necessary, but not like this? I wiped some perspiration off my forehead. Yes, I felt hot in my fully air-conditioned car.

*****

Everything was beautiful…back then. Ijeoma was my life, and even though circumstances are a lot different now, she still seems like my life. Mom hummed softly to ‘It is well’ as I drove. What could be well? Nothing was well for me. I had just lost custody of my sixteen year old daughter to Ijeoma.

            “I’m going to take Tiwa back!”

Mom smiled faintly as she stared at me. “I will miss Tiwa, but Ijeoma is her mother too, and she deserves to be with her.”

            “Deserves?” I shouted as I honked heavily scaring off the cyclist in my way. “Ijeoma deserves nothing! She is a cold-hearted woman! A brutal soul!” I chanted.

She shook her head. “She’s nothing of the sort and you know it.”

            “Really? What sort of a woman would do what she did? For goodness’ sake, she had a daughter!”

            “She loved you, Son.”

I hissed. “Love? I was a fool back then to have believed that. She never loved me. She only used me.”

            “Used? Don’t be an ingrate, son.” She replied. “Ijeoma loved you truly.”

Mom would defend Ijeoma with her life! Mom had rushed into the hospital the day Ijeoma’s parents had been involved in a car crash which eventually claimed both their lives.

***

I was too scared to go near her. She yelled like a rabid dog (The term might be harsh; but I had never seen anyone yell so violently). We had just finished writing our Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations in preparation for University when Ijeoma got a call to come over to the University College Hospital, Ibadan from her Uncle. I accompanied her there and we walked into the ever busy lounge.

Her Uncle approached us quickly. “How was your exam?” he asked, staring at her. He then stared at me. “Who is he?”

            “My name is Omololu.” I said, stretching out my hand.

He ignored it and held her hand. “Ijeoma, my dear…life is hard, but you are harder.”

            “Uncle, what’s all this? What are you talking about?” she asked, getting unsettled but still managing to maintain her usual composure.

He took a deep breath. “Walk with me.” he said and she followed.

I walked slowly behind them. My heart skipped as I watched Ijeoma punch her Uncle hard and then throw herself on the floor. I ran after them. “Ijeoma!” I shouted as I held her hand. “What is it?”

            “See how she…she is shouting.” Her Uncle stuttered. “Is she the first to lose both parents?”

I stared at him and didn’t even know when my fists pummeled his face. How could anyone be so harsh! By the time we were separated, Ijeoma was out of sight. I ran through the hospital wards searching for her. “Ij! Ijeoma!” I yelled.

            “Be quiet! This is a hospital.” A nurse shouted back.

            “You shut up!” I replied and ran across the wards. “Ijeoma!!!”, I screamed.

I stopped as I saw her seating peacefully and drinking a glass of water. I walked to her and sat beside her. “Ijeoma, I am so sorry.” I said.

She smiled and then laughed. “Why? Aren’t you happy? I won’t be going to Lagos anymore. I will stay here with you.”

            “Ijeoma, stop.” I said and tried to hug her. She leapt from my grip sending me crashing into the floor. She pushed tables, grabbed chairs and hurled them around. She approached me and kicked me so hard that I cried. I wasn’t hurting from the pain, I was hurting because she was hurting. I picked myself up and ran out. I immediately dialed my mother. I knew Mom would come.

Mom rushed in. “Where is she?” she shouted.

            “The doctors took her away.”

Mom made for the ward, but just as she was going in, Ijeoma rushed out and ran into my mother’s hand and cried. I watched them from a distance nursing my wounds.

*****

I pulled up in front of my office. “This is my office, let’s go in.”

            “I am not interested.” She replied.

I took a deep breath. “Tiwa, I just need to pick up a few things from the office, let’s go in.”

            “I don’t wanna go in! You go ahead.”

I rubbed my forehead. “I will be right back.” I said, and stepped out of the car.

I smiled as I saw Austin approach me. Austin is my colleague and friend, yeah, friend. “Hi…”

            “Heyy…you look so tired.” He said.

I nodded. “Dude, Tiwa is such a handful.”

            “Wow…seems your bundle of joy comes with extra packages.” He said as he punched the elevator’s button. “I didn’t think you would return to work today, shouldn’t you be showing Tiwa your house? That’s her name, right? Like Tiwa Savage?”

I nodded as the door closed. “Yep! She’s Tiwa…like Tiwa Savage.” I grinned.“Good thing it’s almost August, I’ll try to catch up with her before I getfull custody.”

He held my hand. “Are you sure you are ready to do this?”

            “I want my daughter back.”

He blinked. “And Lolu?”

I took a deep breath. “Omololu…” I called softly. “I don’t know.” I said as I wiped off the tear drop that rolled down my cheeks. Austin kissed my forehead and hugged me. “Come on, Ijeoma.” He said and walked me to my office. “What are you here to pick up?”

            “Just my laptop. I think I’ll be working from home tomorrow.” I said as I drew my handkerchief from my jacket.

He grabbed my laptop and placed it carefully in the bag. “Come on, let’s go. I will walk you to your car.”

            “I don’t know. Tiwa doesn’t like me, I am not so excited to go there.”

He took a deep breath. “What did you expect, babe? Look Ij, you gonna have to win her heart. Love comes slowly…just give it some time okay?”

I nodded and I sniffled. “But why won’t she just understand?”

            “Understand?…” he took a deep breath. “Ijeoma, stop it. Let’s go downstairs.” He said and walked out carrying my laptop bag with him.

*

I sank into the sofa as I threw my car keys on the table.

            “What would you like to have for lunch?” Mom asked, as she dropped her handbag.

            “I am not hungry.”

She hissed. “Omololu, not now!” she said. “What are you eating?” she shouted.

I scoffed. “Anything you cook.”

            “Better.” She said and left for the kitchen.

I brought out my wallet and stared at Ijeoma’s passport photographs. I chuckled as I stared at the one she had taken while still in high school. She had always been beautiful. She had taken over my room since her parents’ death and my mom took her in and I would stare through the window as I watched her sleep. Even in her sleep, she was beautiful, and she was mine.

            “What are you doing there?” Mom shouted as she caught me staring at Ijeoma.

I smiled faintly. “Isn’t she beautiful?” I asked.

Mom nodded. “She is…” I grinned. “Now get back to studying else you won’t make that scholarship.”

I grumbled and walked away from her.

Our lives had changed when Ijeoma came to live with us after her parents’ death. We became poorer but happier, she brought joy to our home, especially my life. Shame everything had to change. I took a deep breath and replaced the passport in the wallet.

*

            “I’m going to miss you tomorrow.” Austin said as we stepped into the elevator.

 “Yeah right” I wore a wry smile as I rolled my eyes at him

He nodded. “But really, I will.” He replied.

The elevator doors opened on the ground floor and Imustered up the brightest smile I could. The subordinates and junior employees could not see my pale eyes, even though it was pretty hard to hide. I would gladly put on the tough woman exterior. I wasn’t weak anymore, Omololu used to be my strength, but not anymore. I was an independent woman with no reason to feel vulnerable. I was my own strength.

I hugged Austin and collected the laptop bag from him as we approached the gate. “I wouldn’t want her to see us together.”

            “Why?” he asked. “I want to say hi to her.”

I took a deep breath. “You know I don’t want her to hate me more than she already does.”

He scoffed. “Then why lie to her, let her know about everything that’s been going on in your life.”

            “Austin…” I said.

He hissed and walked on to the car. I had no choice but to follow him. He walked over to the passenger’s seat with a smile and pulled the door open. I blinked as he wore a worrying look.

            “She’s gone!” he said.

STEALING TUNDE LEYE'S OYIN CLEGG

HELLO GUYS, HOPE YOU ARE WARMING UP FOR BROKEN OR NOT? IN THE MEAN TIME, PLEASE READ THIS SHORT POST ON PLAGIARISM WHICH IS SLOWLY BECOMING THE TREND. BEFORE I START BROKEN OR NOT THIS SEASON, I'LL LET YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE AUTHORIZED TO POST IT APART FROM MY BLOG, PLEASE IF YOU LOVE WHAT I DO WHICH I KNOW YOU DO, PLEASE CALL MY ATTENTION IF YOU FIND MY WORK PLAGIARIZED OR THAT OF ANY OTHER WRITER, THANK YOU.

TOMI ADESINA

NOW READ TUNDE LEYE'S REPORT. 

The fact that a work is available on the internet does not take away the fact that someone owns it. It is appalling when people resort to stealing something that they could have obtained for free with permission. My name is Tunde Leye and I’m a writer. What this means is that the greatest property I currently possess is the intellectual property I create. For the last seventeen months, I have toiled (yes toiled) to post fiction every week on my blog www.tlsplace.wordpress.com without fail. I post them as series and I have completed three, with two ongoing now. The first of the online series was Finding Hubby and it built a massive following, garnering over 500,000views. A lot of people have wondered why I put out fiction for free on the blog, but there’s a purpose – to build my personal brand and writing muscle. Thankfully, this is being achieved, as I’ve gone on to publish three books that have done quite well.

I got a call from another writer, Dimeji Ojo on Tuesday 9th of September. His friend had brought it to his attention that she saw Finding Hubby posted on a Facebook group. Now, when I put out work on the internet, I know that it will get copied and used by people. In fact, there are some platforms like 360nobs and NaijaStories where I syndicate my work. Also, some people reach out to me to seek permission to use my stories on their blog and in every case, I have said yes, provided that they donot alter it and they give credit to me as the writer. There were some that copied and used without permission and once this was brought to my attention, I would engage them and warn them. In all cases, the work was attributed to me as the creator. Most of these platforms weren’t money making, so it didn’t make sense to request payment from them.

However, the case that Dimeji reported to me was very different from all these. The group on Facebook, Imo State Youths, with 113 thousand likes, went ahead to copy Finding Hubby (I’ve found Episodes One to Seven so far on the group). They however didn’t merely paste it. They changed the title to Chronicles of the Search and didn’t put any credits to me as the author. Clearly this was a willful misrepresentation of things, a theft of my intellectual property and representing it as theirs. They had posted the first episode April this year, a full one year after I had posted the same episode on my blog. They did a plain copy and paste, not even bothering to change character or anything – no creativity whatsoever!

Of course, a few people who knew it wasn’t their work had called them out in the comments even before I got to know, but they chose to ignore these calls and kept on plagiarizing Finding Hubby.

I was incensed. I take my intellectual property rights very seriously. I reached out to them, commenting on the first episode they posted and posting a call on their wall to remove the post. They again ignored the calls. By this time, I was extremely angry. The moment my blog readers and followers and fellow writers on twitter got wind of the matter, there was a concerted effort to bombard their page with calls to apologize and take down the posts, yet they refused.

I reported the first episode post to Facebook for intellectual property theft, furnishing them with the Imo State Youths link and the link to the original on my blog. Within thirty minutes, Facebook had shut the post on their group down, apologizing and asking if I had other such links to report. This is the link that was shutdownhttps://m.facebook.com/ImoStateYouths/posts/514083411986599

I decided not to report the links to the other episodes yet, to make one of the links available to you and then make available the original on my blog for you to compare. Here is the link to the third episode of Finding Hubby on my bloghttp://tlsplace.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/finding-hubby-episode-3/ and here’s the link to episode three of their Chronicles of the Searchhttps://www.facebook.com/ImoStateYouths/posts/514738938587713

I’m sure you see that this is a direct copy and paste.

I have decided to call them out publicly to let people understand that theft of intellectual property is no joke. Someone said writing is not difficult – it is only sitting before a computer and bleeding into it. Something that requires that kind of work to create shout not be taken with levity. I have put a lot work, along with other Nigerian writers online into creating great and diverse Nigerian writing on the internet for Nigerians at home and abroad to read and building respect for online writing. More and more writers are encouraged because of this to begin to express their craft, grow in it and eventually publish book. I will not allow some unscrupulous people to make nonsense of the work by stealing it and maybe end up discouraging others who want to begin writing online.

As for Imo State Youths, I will shut not just the posts down but the whole group if they do not apologize and take down all my work on their pages. Facebook has been cooperative and my lawyers are waiting in the wings to take this up. We, writers do not joke with our work.

Tunde Leye

DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND - THE FINALE

BEFORE YOU START TODAY'S EPISODE, 

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AFTER READING. 

HIT ME UP ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!!!

FACEBOOK PAGE: http://facebook.com/moradeadesina 

TWITTER HANDLE: http://twitter.com/tomi_adesina    @tomi_adesina

 

 

EPISODE 29 – THE FINALE

I swung the front door open and raced down the lane. It wasn’t about my wet hair dangling around my neck, or my white bathrobe or the slippers. I hadn’t thought about it for a second. Tola was in danger thanks to our negligence and maybe my David was too.

The roads were blocked. Estate security was on the patrol, I looked ahead as people gathered, chattering almost indistinctly. I caught glance of Tola’s Range Rover as I approached the police mark. “Let me through.” I shouted as I started to push them away from their clusters. Some pushed back and I was partially sandwiched as I tried to get through the crowd to the siren lights that beamed ahead, I couldn’t see a thing but I had seen Tola’s car afar off. “Tola!” I shouted as I pushed. “Out of my way!” I screamed.

I pushed myself through the last line and jumped out of the crowd – I almost stumbled as I saw a security man. “What’s going on? Where’s Tola?”

He panted. “She was just taken down that way”, he pointed. “The last hospital before the creek.”

I took a deep breath and turned left as directed. It was so dark and annoyingly sandy on the road which actually led to the creek. I walked as fast as I could in the dark as different thoughts ran through my mind. I saw a red light blinking ahead and quickly hurried on towards it. They became two, they blinked simultaneously. I gasped and smiled. My luck! Something or someone would direct me to the hospital. I smiled to myself but something made me stop dead in my tracks; there were many red lights now and they weren’t blinking simultaneously as before, but in a beautiful sequence, almost as if they were being set there on purpose. I shook the thought from my head. “Who would want to do such a thing in a place like this?” I walked on slowly and approached the beautiful red buds of lights. They were tiny but beautiful. I tried to look around in the now semi-red-dark environment and couldn’t really make out anything out.

I advanced and immediately stepped back as the sand started to glow. “What’s going on?” I said. The glow turned into letterings that came out one after the other. I blinked as I read:

                                                                        KIMBERLY, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

I gasped as I read it again. I looked up and saw David before me on one knee as he lifted a red tiffany box with a diamond ring in it. “Kim, please would you marry me?” he asked with an eyebrow raised. 

I smiled as I bit my lips. Cold chills ran through my body and I could feel goose bumps all over my body, the cool sea breeze also contributed to it, but it was more because of this special moment. He blinked nervously as he stared at me with a smile. I looked up to the heavens and thanked God and then looked down at him. “Yes.” I said softly.

            “Yes? Is that a yes?”         

I nodded excitedly and screamed. “Yes!!!”

He chuckled as he slipped the ring onto my finger. “I love you.” he said, softly.

            “And I love you.” I replied and smiled as he kissed my hand.

He rose to his feet and pulled me closer for a kiss. “Can we stay like this forever?” He asked as he pulled away for a second to wrap his arms around me.

            “I’d love to.” I replied. “Except that I am in my bathrobe.”

“I like you in your bathrobe.” He replied and kissed my forehead.

I scoffed. “Where are those losers?”

            “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He replied.

            “Tola and Ini? Car accident?”

He giggled. “Oh well…you fell for it, didn’t you?” he asked as he whisked me up into his arms. “Dear future wife, I won’t be able to carry you like this when you are all preggy.”

            “Really?” I scoffed. “It’s for better or worse, David, I’ll advise you to go gain a few more pounds.”

He smiled and stopped right in front of the lake. He dropped me kindly on the cloth he must have spread there earlier and took his seat beside me. He fetched a bottle of wine and two glasses from a picnic bag and filled my glass first. “Here you go.”

            “Thank you.” I said, collecting the glass. I sipped carefully and placed my head on his shoulder.

            “Are you really going to marry me, Kimberly?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes with a smile. “Unh uh…”

            “Oh God…I am so blessed.” He said and slid down slowly so that I’d rest my head on his chest. “We’ll be here together.”

I nodded. “Of course…except that you have clothes, and I don’t.” I grinned.

            “You have me.” he replied with a smile.

I stared at him with a smile. “Really?” I asked teasingly.

He blinked with a smile. “Yeah…now…and forever.”

We kissed.

**

3 weeks after…

Mirabel pushed the door open. “Henry, if you continue like this, we are really going to be having troubles.”

            “Babe, give me five minutes.”

She snapped. “I have been giving you five minutes for the past thirty minutes.” She replied angrily. “You were late for convocation, God knows what else you’ll be late for.”

            “My burial?” he replied with a grin.

She scoffed ad stared at the mirror. “Henry! I don’t like that tie and you know it.” She said and walked over to the drawers and pulled out a purple tie. “This is much better.” She added dangling it before him.

He grumbled and took off the old tie.

**

           

and left for my room. Some of us had to sleep.

**“Ini! Baby is crying!” Marcus shouted as he adjusted his bow tie. “Ini!!!”

Ini hurried into the bedroom. “Marcus, she just wants a change of diapers. Can’t you do that?”

            “Me? No way! You do it?”

She scoffed. “Why?” she asked as she tilted her aside and started to remove the old diapers. “Thank God your mom is coming over this evening.”

He nodded. “She should be here soon. She knows we have to go out.” He said as he adjusted his cufflinks. “Babe, when are you going to move in here with me permanently?”

She eyeballed him. “Are we married?”

            “Bu…but, I’ll propose to you eventually, do you know how many couples live together without getting married?”

She nodded. “Not interested.” She said as she finished with the baby’s diapers. “Let’s hurry or we’ll be late.”

            “You are the busy one. I am ready.” He replied with a grin as he adjusted his collar.

**

            “Thank you, Tola.” I said as she helped me with my necklace. “The guys should be here soon.” I said, staring at the clock.

She nodded as she applied her lip gloss. “I hope this gown isn’t too short for the ceremony.”

I stared at her. “It’s perfect.”

She nodded. “Ini should be coming in tomorrow, right?”

            “I think so. We need to plan the take off quickly.”

She nodded with a sad face. “I’ll miss this place.”

            “Me too…but I will gladly swap it for David’s arm in the cold.”

She sneered. “Na so… Let’s wait and see.”

I hissed and picked up my phone and we started taking pictures while we waited for the guys.

**

David held my hand as we walked into Liz Art Gallery. I smiled as Oyinkan approached us. “Hi guys!!!” she said with a smile and pecked me. “You guys look so cute together.”

            “Thanks, couz.” David replied. “What about Ben?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Ben? How would I know?”

            “Ta-da!!!” Ben said as he slid behind us. “Oyinkan, I have been looking for you since like forever.”

            “Later guys.” She said and excused herself.

Ben smiled at us. “Gotta go.” He said and followed her.

            “David, let’s go see the paintings on the other side.” I said, pulling him along.

**

Elizabeth welcomed some intending customers as she walked along with them.

            “Elizabeth!”, someone shouted.

She turned to see Niran and his wife, Olamide. “Hello…” she said coolly and hugged Olamide Briggs. “How are you, Olamide?”

Olamide smiled. “It’s been a while, It’s so nice to see you.”

Niran stretched out his hand out for a handshake and Elizabeth took it coolly. “Fantastic gallery you have here.”

            “Thank you.” she replied.

He nodded. “We’ll be looking around.” He said as he walked ahead with Olamide.

**

            “I like this painting.” I said as I touched a painting. “It’s so lovely, it says so much about love.”

He pulled me slightly into his grip. “Don’t I say all about love?” he asked with a smile.

I shook my head smiling. “NO…I love the painting.”

            “Oh then…you are gonna be getting married to me.” he said as he planted a kiss on my mouth.

I giggled softly. “David…”

            “Yea…”

I adjusted his tie. “I’ll marry the painting.”

He giggled. “I see… In that case, I’ll buy the painting, put it in my room, and that’s where you’ll be.” He replied.

I smiled. “Am I lucky to be marrying you?”

            “No. You are blessed.”

I nodded and rolled his tie playfully.

The bright lights went off and were replaced by dim emergency lights.

            “Everyone please come to the centre!!!” Security beckoned through the voice over.

David pulled my hand and we walked back to the centre. Tola and Wole joined us. “What’s going on?” Wole asked.

            “I don’t know.” I replied as I held David’s hand.

Ini hurried to join us. “Do you think there’s a problem?” she asked. “Maybe David’s father came here to haunt us?”

We all hissed as we stared around thinking of the possibility. Ini gasped. “Where’s Marcus?”

The lights came on immediately and Marcus was standing on the podium with a microphone in his hand. “What is that idiot doing there?” Ini asked.

Marcus cleared his throat. “Hello everyone! Sorry for that hitch, but, I need to have all your attention. I am in love with the best woman on this earth.” The ‘Awww’ floated. “She is over there. She is Ini Obong.” The lights beamed on Ini. She smiled lightly and then eyed Marcus. “Ini…” he started as he walked towards her. “Ini, I love you so much, you are my life.” He said. He then got down on one knee and raised a ring box before her. “Please marry me.”

She gasped.

**

            “That was some proposal by Marcus.” I said as I closed the door after Tola and Ini.

            “YES!!!!!!!!!!” She screamed and jumped into the sofa. “I join the league of soon to be married women! Yaaaaaayyyyyyyy” she shouted as she stared at her ring. “This is so beautiful.”

Tola jabbed me lightly and I knew she was about to say something offensive or funny. “How much did you buy the ring, Ini?”

Ini frowned. “What do you mean, Tola?”

            “Just saying.”Tola replied with a grin.

I giggled. “Congratulations, sweetheart.” I said as I took my seat on the sofa. Tola and Ini joined me. “We are so blessed, right?”

            “Of course…I have got the best man in Marcus.” Ini replied. “He even staged a show. “I should have said no.” she replied, giggling.

I smiled as I wrapped my hand around them. “It’s time to plan the yard sale for this place.”

Tola nodded. “I’ll miss my bedroom.” She said as she wiped a fake tear from her face.

            “I’ll miss the kitchen.” Ini said.

Tola and I hissed. “Like you ever cooked.” I replied.

            “It’s not like I have a choice anymore, I have a baby to cater to.”

I nodded. “Yes, and a chef for a husband. Marcus is a genius in the kitchen, you shouldn’t be bothered.”

                        “I think we should call the boys to help us with the yard sale.” Tola suggested. “And our kid brother too.”

Ini yawned. “Henry, right? He was all over Mirabel, is he dating Wole’s sister?”

            “LASTMA, yes.”Tola replied. She then swerved in my direction. “And Ben Ten likes Oyinkan, unh?”

I nodded with a smile. “Seems so.”

Ini hissed. “See this thief o! Do you want to keep Ben as a spare?”

            “I haven’t said anything like that.” I replied.

Ini sighed. “You don’t have to, now, in other important news, I would move in with Marcus after the yard sale.”

            “When did you decide that?” Tola asked.

She shrugged. “What’s left?”

            “The wedding, durr!”Tola replied.

She scoffed. “Tell me you are not itching to move in with Wole.”

            “There will be time for all what you are thinking later.” Tola replied.

Ini stuck her tongue out. “Whatever.”

I left them to their banter.

**

2 months gone…

                        “Oga, you get visitor.” The warder said and opened Tunji’s cell.

Tunji stretched his muscles and slipped into his slippers and followed the warder. He dragged his leg painfully after the officer. He had been welcome to the Maximum security prison in grand style by his cellmates’ months ago, even though they were all friendly now, the scars wouldn’t leave.

            “Oga Tunji!!!” Some inmates hailed as he walked by.

He waved back as he walked on after the warder.

            “Ten minutes.” The warder said and walked away.

Tunji took his seat before his lawyer. “How are you holding up, sir?”

            “I am healthy. I have a class with some inmates by 3pm, so make it fast. Any update on Bolu?”

The Lawyer nodded. “Yes, the judge has said that he is sentenced to life imprisonment on recovery.”

            “If he recovers…” Tunji added.

The Lawyer nodded. “The chances of his recovery are however slim. “The Doctors say he has a severe case of insanity and are not sure if he would ever be sane again.”

Tunji took a deep breath and looked up. “Thank you Lord.”

The Lawyer stared at him. “Why are you thanking God?”

            “He kept me sane.” He replied with a bleak smile. “How is Kimberly?”

The Lawyer smiled. “She would be getting married next weekend.”

Tunji’s face fell. “I won’t even see my daughter marry. I deserve it anyway.”

            “Don’t be so sure.” The Lawyer replied.

Tunji stared at him. “What do you mean?”

**

I pushed the door open slightly and stared at Dad. “Hi…” I said as I waved. David walked in after me. The Lawyer stared at Dad with a smile.

Dad blinked pitifully. “How are you?”

I ran to him and hugged him. “Daddy…”

            “My girl…I am so proud of you.” he said as he stroked my hair. He then kissed my forehead. “I am so happy for you.”

David stepped forward and bowed. “Good day sir.”

Dad took a deep breath. “David, I am sorry about your father.”

David smiled faintly. “You shouldn’t be. He’s getting what he deserves.”

Dad nodded and stared in my direction. “Congratulations to you…” he paused and stared at David. “You too, son.”

David nodded and handed the Invitation Card to Dad with a bow. “Sir, you are invited to our wedding.” Dad gasped as he collected the Invitation Card. A tear drop rolled down his eyes.

            “Dad, would you also walk me down the aisle?” I asked as the lawyer brought out Dad’s permit with a smile.

Dad bowed his head. “This is too much for me.” he said as he wiped his face. “Do I deserve this?”

I smiled and hugged him. “You are my Dad, now and forever…”

**

            ASYLUM:

MENTAL STATE

“Left! Left! Left! Right! Right! Right! Forward March! One-Two” Bolu chanted as he led the other patients round the block. “Tunji, lead the other men! Oya!!!” The patient moved haphazardly after Bolu as he led them round the blocks.

            Dr. Obinna shook his head pitifully. “He gets along with the others pretty fast, doesn’t he?”

                        “For a while.”

            Dr. Obinna stared at his colleague. “What do you mean?”

                        “Watch and see.”

            Bolu jumped up and crashed on the floor. The other patients surrounded him and started to hit him violently.

                        “Ah…Cane!!! Cane them all.” Dr. Obinna shouted as the other Doctors rushed towards all the patients lashing them hard till they released Bolu who sprawled in his own blood.

Bolu laughed painfully as he wiped some tears from his face. He took some of the blood and rubbed his forehead with it. “Am I a fine boy?” he asked laughing. “Get my suit, Get my tie! I am late for work. David mustn’t resume there! Oya! oya!! oya!!! Hurry up you loafers.”

Dr. Obinna shook his head sadly. “Tie him up.”

            “Sir, he gets worse when we tie him up.”

            “Really?”

            “Yes sir…he starts fighting hard and almost breaks the binds.”

Dr. Obinna nodded. “Increase his strokes, then sedate him. I know he doesn’t respond to the double doses anymore, make it triple, add anything that would instill more pain, let’s see where we get with this.”

His colleague nodded and beckoned for support as they approached Bolu who smiled at them. “Hey…Calm down, Calm down…”

**

            “Oyinkan, thank you so much for everything, my marriage has improved over the last months.”

Oyinkan smiled. “You are welcome, Mrs. Madu. All you have to do now is make things better for the family, spend more time with your husband and kids than with your friends, they are single and can’t really offer you the best advice.”

Mrs. Madu nodded. “Thank you so much.” She replied as she slipped a cheque on the table. “Thank you so much.”

            “Oh…you have to pay to the attendant outside.” Oyinkan replied

Mrs. Madu smiled. “I have done that, this is an extra showing how grateful I am.”

Oyinkan smiled. ‘Thanks a lot, I am really grateful.”

Mrs. Madu nodded and walked out. Ben walked in almost immediately with a bouquet of flowers. “Happy Anniversary, Baby.”

She smiled as she collected the flowers from him. “Happy Anniversary.” She replied as they kissed. “They are beautiful, thank you, Ben.” She said as she placed them carefully on her table. “I got a tip today.” She said, flaunting the cheque.

He smiled. “Nice, when don’t you ever get a tip? People love your job.”

            “You never pay for your sessions.” She replied.

He nodded. “I am having them with you, why should I pay?”

            “Encourage my job, pay me.”

He smiled. “I’ll do that in due season.”

She nodded. “We’ll see, how’s Millaroca?”

            “Well…Editor-in-Chief is doing fine.”

She gasped with a smile. “What? You got a promotion.”

He nodded with a smile. “Yep! That’s me, baby.”

            “Congratulations.” She replied as she walked over to him. She sat on the table with her legs crossed. “So, do we drink to that?”

He nodded with a sensual smile. “Most definitely.”

**

            “Henry, what do you think about my fashion house?”

Henry dropped his game pad. “I think it is a fantastic idea, you are too arrogant to work for anyone.”

Mirabel winked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She replied and sat beside him. “Henry, are you not nervous about work? You are gonna be teaching kids.” She grinned.

He scoffed. “It’s not so bad you know.” He blinked. “And it’s just for a year, and then the Youth service would be over.”

She nodded. “Anyway, I have to be on my way, don’t come late for the yard sale tomorrow.”

            “Of course not, I am helping out. I’ll walk you home.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

**

I adjusted the video camera in our almost empty living room. I rubbed my hand against my jeans as I stared at our house…well, almost not anymore, the yard sale was due in the next thirty minutes, but pending the time, we could use some moments alone.

Tola walked in with Ini. “Ready?” she asked.

I nodded. “The guys are outside?”

Ini smiled. “Making friends.”

**

Marcus jumped on the sofa. “I should buy this sofa.”

Wole stared at him. “You wan die?” he asked in pidgin English.

David smiled. “Ini would have your head.”

            “That babe is a handful but I love her anyway.”

Henry scoffed. “We all love her.”

Marcus eyeballed him. “Who asked for your opinion, son?”

Henry popped his collar. “Easy guys, you need me else none of my sisters would be with any of you.”

            “Really?” David asked.

Henry nodded and stared to whistle with a smile.

**

            “My name is Ini Obong.” Ini started. Tola and I giggled. She then swung at us. “Stop it.” Tola and I stopped giggling but we managed to pull faces at her. “Okay, whatever…I am Ini. Model, hottest of the three, when you see the other two, you’ll understand. However I am a mother too early, my baby is a beautiful girl, I hope I can be a great mother too. Oh well…I am not gonna be a model anymore, maybe in the next two years, I need to take care of my baby.” She paused and smiled. “Marcus is the man I am gonna marry, my ever invisible best friend turned out to be the love of my life.” She said and paused to blink. I smiled and Tola gave the ‘Awww’…we then giggled. “My own life lesson, never thought I would be a wife, not to talk of a mother, never saw myself as the perfect fit for anyone, but today, I can say I am on my way to being that woman you want.” She said with a huge smile. “Or not.” She concluded.

Ini smiled as she came to us. “That’s mine. Tola, you are next!”

            “Me? Why not Kimberly?”Tola asked.

Ini scoffed. “Oh come on, you are next and that’s that. Why does everything have to be a big deal with you?”

Tola rolled her eyes and took her seat before the camera. “My name is Tola Matthews, I work in Real Estate, and contrary to Ini’s opinion of her having the nicest body among the three of us, I say no. you see…I actually have Omotola Jalade’s shape, yes, seriously, well not exactly…but almost, just a little more work…work in progress.” Ini and I giggled. She flipped her hair over shoulder and continued. “My life has not been really perfect, and my biggest imperfection was holding on to nothing.” She said and took a deep breath. “A reserved apology to Tolu’s future wife if he ever gets married, but, Tolu was my biggest mistake, sometimes we have to always let go and let the right man in. By the way, the next time you slash my car tyre Wole, you are getting me the latest ride in town…Ahan! What kind of man are you? Na to dey slash tyre you sabi and bring toothpaste and toothbrush as Breakfast in bed for person! Anyway, I love you with my life, not like I have a choice; you are my life, Wole.” She said with a smile. “Wole gave me a reason to smile, a reason to live and a reason to love, he became the reason and that’s why life won’t be life without you, Wole.” She said and took a deep breath. “Life lesson?” she asked and stared at Ini. “Why did you even say that nonsense?”She asked. Ini shrugged. Tola swirled back before the camera. “Okay, Life lesson, if you have a Tolu Scott in your life, please throw him out, no lady deserves such a man. Gracias!”

Tola curtsied as she approached us. “Madam, it’s your turn.” She said staring at me.

I took a deep breath. “I already recorded mine.”

            “What?!” they shouted and pounced on me.

I screamed out.

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

Dear Future Husband,

            I am just a young girl with life, love and more love for you. I was already married to you before I met you. (Our Fathers’ wish) but, looking back at their decision, I am glad they brought us together.  David, I could never imagine my life with anyone else but you. I met Ben, but, (smiles) he wasn’t it. I just knew it. I knew I would wait, I would wait for you.

            I was afraid of you. I was scared of being David Coker’s wife, but I knew I didn’t have any choice then, but now, I would be scared and afraid if I was not your wife…well almost. The thought of being a mother terrifies me right now, but, I bet we would make terrific parents. I am optimistic.

            David, I hope we don’t have to face storms in our marriage but even if we do, we’ll come through it all together, I hope we don’t have to fight. (Deep breath) Who am I kidding? These things happen…sometimes or always, but I hope that in every argument I find love in your eyes, in every pain or anger I can still feel our love so strong. (Smiles) I hope in every of fear we find strength to go through it all.

            Mom swears that she is through with Dad, he is really sorry, but what can I say? I hope she could one day forgive him. Maybe you could talk to her on his behalf?

            I hope we raise the finest kids. Kids who will fear the Lord and that would be proud of us and we would be proud of them also. (Wide grin) I hope we have a girl first. What would I call her? Hmmm….we’ll think about that later. But I’ll call our son George, I absolutely love that name. (Blows kiss)

            David, I hope and pray that I never lose you, not to death, and even when we would die, we would be old, rusty and still and love. We would have our graves next to each other and who knows, God might just have our mansions close to each other in Heaven. I don’t know how it is over there, but I can’t wait to see you there too.

            David, you have my heart as your home, your haven. I am not going to leave your side; I’ll be a sister, friend, wife, mother and lover. I am yours.

            David, my love, I pray God blesses us and we forever stay in love.

            David, I’ll love you with everything I have and everything I am, now…and forever. (Smiles)

            I am Kimberly Bankole, your future wife.

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

                      Thanks for reading #DearFutureHusband. It’s been amazing!

                        Now and forever, I love you all,

                        Tomi Adesina.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: It is highly expedient that you all ‘SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL’ to this blog  (You can do this by accessing the web version; if you use the mobile version) Subscribing will enable you to receive notification on the new episodes for our next series.) I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TWEET AT EVERYONE BECAUSE OF THE TIME EXPENDED INTO IT AND STRESS OF CLOGGING YOUR TIMELINES WITH MY NUMEROUS TWEETS ON IT, THEREFORE, PLEASE ‘SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL’ I WILL HOWEVER MAKE GENERAL TWEETS AS USUAL.

NEXT SERIES: The Next series is starting on the 18^th of September, 2013. (It’s not long, it’s two weeks, Please bear with me, Thanks).

*Drum roll* The Title for the next series is: “BROKEN…OR NOT?”

Pending the time, join our social networks and engage in discussions, questions and answers and networking.

Thank you all and God bless!!!!!!!!!! *curtsies*