CASSANDRA
Episode 45
The months leading to November were very difficult ones for me. One of my shops in Onitsha got burnt and I had no choice than to temporarily relocate back to the city to get my business up and running.
However the difficult period didn’t stop me from caring for Cassandra nor did it stop me from sending her enough money monthly. The money I sent to her ranged from N15000 –N25000 every month and even though I was very far from her, I made it my duty to shower her with great love. I equally made arrangements in readiness to our traditional marriage which I planned for December.
Nora on the other hand never accepted any monetary support from me. All she needed was my presence which I wasn’t ready to give. At a point she stopped answering my calls and I only had to hear about her welfare from my mother who she now took as her own mother.
Finally on the last week of October, Nora gave birth to a bouncing baby boy and I must confess the news left a great ray of joy in my heart. I really had to round up everything I was doing and head back to the city of Owerri to see my new born child. But unfortunately for me, Nora denied me the privilege of seeing my little kid.
I still clearly remember that day as if it was yesterday. Yes I still have that memory at the fore corner of my head. The day Nora revealed her plans for me..
It was precisely four days after she put to bed. I arrived at her house with my friend Chinedu with great excitement and joy. The long drive from Onitsha did not in any way affect the excitement in me. To my dismay, Nora’s sister told us without mincing words that her sister wasn’t in the mood of receiving guests as if we were strangers. An alarm instantly rang in my head.
‘’you should just go and come back next week’’ the little girl added very coldly, swiftly turning my excitement into anger.
‘’what do you mean she isn’t in the mood of receiving guests?. I came to see my son and you can’t deny me that’’ I insisted with a slightly raised tone, while Chinedu shrugged, unable to say a word.
‘’please just go. You are not welcomed here anymore’’ the young girl pushed on. I just couldn’t believe my ears. I had to try my best to calm down. Nora soon appeared with a very angry look.
‘’what’s up with the noise?. Didn’t you hear my sister?. Please just go, I don’t want to see your ugly face anymore. You had your chance with me and you blew it. I waited for you nine good months, to come back to your senses but no you preferred chasing after shadows. My kid may bear your last name due to your parent’s involvement but you will never see my baby until he grows up to decide for himself. You can however be getting his pictures from your mother. So please leave my house right now’’ she screamed furiously, leaving me extremely stunned with disbelief.
‘’no you can’t be serious’’ I protested.
‘’you can’t deny a man the right to see his son’’ I insisted strongly.
‘’oh yes I can. I guess you have forgotten my cousin, the lawyer who met you sometime back?. He will soon serve you with a restraining order. You had your chance with me and you blew it. I have already destroyed all the feelings I had for you. Let Cassandra bear you all the legitimate sons you need if she hasn’t destroyed her womb already’’ she shouted, turned and headed back to her room with her sister, leaving Chinedu and I all alone to stare at each other.
‘’did you her?. What do I do now?. Does she have the right to deny me access to my kid?’’ I asked my friend with a boiling mind. He nodded and breathed deeply.
‘’I’m afraid so. But nevertheless let’s wait for her to calm down. We can come back tomorrow or next’’ he said softly, turned and headed towards my car. I quickly ran after him.
‘’but what if she is very serious about keeping the baby from me?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’well I don’t see why you should be worried. You still have Cassandra and she can give you all the children you need. I strongly advice you start up the marriage process with Cassandra’s family immediately, because with the way things are, Nora is definitely not her old self anymore and all you have now is your Cassandra to contend with. You better hurry because most campus girl’s aren’t loyal. Especially sophisticated girls like Cassandra’’ he said seriously, sending a great fear through my heart with his words.
Episode 46
As I drove back to my apartment with a clouded mind, Chinedu tried to his best to calm my nerves.
‘’don’t get worked up brother. Just forget what I said earlier. I made the statement with anger. I wasn’t thinking properly back then. You know what I think now?’’ he breathed, throwing a quick look at me to see if I was interested in what he was saying. I nodded, urging him to continue.
‘’Nora is a good lady. I believe she will later allow you to see your son. Just give her time to be with her baby. It’s very normal for her to react the way she did’’ he said softly.
‘’As for Cassandra, if you are really serious about her. I think now is the right time to start the first stage of the marriage process just to be on the safe side, in case of the unexpected’’ he added seriously.
‘’yes I already planned meeting her family this month. By god’s grace Cassandra will soon be my wife’’ I said with a soft smile, throwing a quick look at my friend who gasped with surprise.
‘’come on! so you kept such plans from me till now?’’ he asked with excitement.
‘’brother I kept nothing from you. The plan has been in my head for long and with the current situation of things, nothing will make me happier than marrying Cassandra this Christmas’’ I breathed strongly.
‘’hmmmm that’s great’’ he shrugged happily.
——————————–
The rest of the evening was really a very dull one for me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking of Nora and my little son. It was as if Nora stole something from me. I just felt like someone who lost a very expensive treasure.
‘’oh God help me to stop thinking of Nora. Please clear my head’’ I prayed as I thought about my future and how to live a life away from Nora, our son and his love. It really was something I just couldn’t do. The little boy deserved the love of a father but with Nora’s new attitude, I couldn’t help but imagine the worst.
To calm my nerves, I tried calling Cassandra to hear her soothing voice but to my dismay her two phones were switched off, leaving me very worried as it dawned on me that it was the second day of not getting to speak with her.
‘’what could be wrong?. Why are your phones switched off Cassandra?. This hasn’t happened before. I hope you are alright’’ I wondered.
————
Early the following morning, I headed to Nora’s house, not minding Chinedu’s advice to stay away from her for some days. I couldn’t sleep a wink the previous night and I desperately needed to see the face of my son.
Nora was extremely surprised to see me at her house very early in the day. The look on her face as she opened the entrance door to see me was very revealing.
‘’what again Dave? What do you want?’’ she asked rudely.
‘’please I really want to see the face of our child. That’s all. I beg of you. Remember I promised to give him all the care in the world. We shouldn’t be quarreling over this. Please stop being mad at me’’ I pleaded solemnly. She stared at me for some seconds, breathing deeply.
‘’I’m a very hard working lady. I have my own money. I can provide anything for my son including a new father. There was a time I was dying to feel your presence. To hear your voice, To be with you, To be your slave but you treated me like a leper. All that is now in the past. You already made it clear that you never wanted me and without me you can’t get to my child. Just forget about him, your parents are capable of playing your role. Moreover I will soon get a new father for my son and everything about you will cease to exist in me. You have Cassandra, don’t you?. Be with her. Marry her and please don’t forget to send me the wedding invitation’’ she said coldly, shutting the door on my face and giving me no chance to talk at all.
I couldn’t believe it was all coming from Nora. A woman that badly wanted my touch and love in the past. I couldn’t believe she could have the mind to deny me my son and still have the guts to tell me about getting a new father for him to my face. I couldn’t believe it all. I felt it was all a dream.
Yes I never for once knew that a woman’s spite could be this repulsive. There wasn’t any doubt she meant every word she said to me. It showed in her eyes and I knew my chapter with her has reached its elastic limit.
It was time to forget about her. It was time to kill my plans for her son and concentrate on my Cassandra. My ideal woman, My pride and my love.
Episode 47
Later in the evening, Chinedu and I discussed my future plans in his house. The day really was a very tough one for me. I desperately needed to cool off and come up with something but I found it hard getting any piece of mind. Moreover I couldn’t get Nora’s harsh behavior out of my head and I equally was yet to get my Cassandra on phone. It was now three days of not speaking with her.
‘’I plan going to Cassandra’s school tomorrow. I haven’t heard from her in three days and of course she knew I was returning to the city yesterday’’ I complained to my friend who nodded with understanding, giving me a long look.
‘’come on bro, what’s up with the face?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’you said you plan going to visit your Cassandra tomorrow in her hostel. How are you sure she will be there?. Hope you know that tomorrow is Saturday?’’ he asked, drawing out a frown from me.
‘’what are you insinuating?. She hardly travels home. That I’m very sure of’’ I answered quickly, throwing him a suspicious glance.
‘’okay but you do remember her hostel is a lion’s den. What if her boyfriend Edwin gets you there?. Have you forgotten what happened the last time you ran into him?’’ he said with a smile, bringing out more anger in me with his words.
‘’I don’t know if you are intentionally trying to make me angry or not. Anyway you are my friend and I can’t be angry with you, but please stop the silly comments.’’ I begged seriously.
‘’ will you accompany me to see Cassandra tomorrow?”” I asked hopefully. He quickly shook his head.
‘’no bro, I can’t. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow’’ he quickly answered while I smiled to his lie.
———————
By 10am the next day I was already at Cassandra’s hostel in high spirit. I had to visit so early in order to meet her, in case she had plans of going out but unfortunately I met the girl’s door locked.
‘’oh Sir Cassandra has been away for four days. She travelled.’’ A female neighbor informed me as she saw me standing in front of her door. I had no choice than to swallow my disappointment and walk back to my car. But on getting to my car, I met Edwin and two rough looking boys waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat on seeing them but I didn’t let fear take over me.
‘’hmmm I guess you came to look for my Cassandra again?. That means she isn’t with you. She definitely has left you to enjoy with another guy, hahahaha’’ Edwin laughed, while I tried my best to control my temper.
‘’I warned you to stay away from my girl but you didn’t listen. You showed up here once again and this time you are going to pay. I’m going to beat up like a dog’’ he said arrogantly as a loud thud quickly landed at the back of my head. The impact of the blow from behind by one of his men sent me staggering forward, towards him. He grabbed my neck, spat on my face and slapped me.
My head instantly boiled with great pain as I fell like a wounded Elephant. Nobody offered to help. No one came to my rescue. The quiet street quickly turned into a graveyard as Edwin and his gang took their time in hitting me with heavy sticks.
One after the other their blows landed on every part of me, wounding my flesh and tearing my soul. I couldn’t even dodge any of the blows. They came so fast and so heavily. I couldn’t even blink properly or open my eyes until they were done. It really was by God’s grace that I survived it.
‘’moron, next time it will be your sister that will pay with her life’’ Edwin threatened as he disappeared with his gang, leaving me so terribly humiliated, in full view of thousands of students peeping through their rooms.
To be continued
Episode 45
The months leading to November were very difficult ones for me. One of my shops in Onitsha got burnt and I had no choice than to temporarily relocate back to the city to get my business up and running.
However the difficult period didn’t stop me from caring for Cassandra nor did it stop me from sending her enough money monthly. The money I sent to her ranged from N15000 –N25000 every month and even though I was very far from her, I made it my duty to shower her with great love. I equally made arrangements in readiness to our traditional marriage which I planned for December.
Nora on the other hand never accepted any monetary support from me. All she needed was my presence which I wasn’t ready to give. At a point she stopped answering my calls and I only had to hear about her welfare from my mother who she now took as her own mother.
Finally on the last week of October, Nora gave birth to a bouncing baby boy and I must confess the news left a great ray of joy in my heart. I really had to round up everything I was doing and head back to the city of Owerri to see my new born child. But unfortunately for me, Nora denied me the privilege of seeing my little kid.
I still clearly remember that day as if it was yesterday. Yes I still have that memory at the fore corner of my head. The day Nora revealed her plans for me..
It was precisely four days after she put to bed. I arrived at her house with my friend Chinedu with great excitement and joy. The long drive from Onitsha did not in any way affect the excitement in me. To my dismay, Nora’s sister told us without mincing words that her sister wasn’t in the mood of receiving guests as if we were strangers. An alarm instantly rang in my head.
‘’you should just go and come back next week’’ the little girl added very coldly, swiftly turning my excitement into anger.
‘’what do you mean she isn’t in the mood of receiving guests?. I came to see my son and you can’t deny me that’’ I insisted with a slightly raised tone, while Chinedu shrugged, unable to say a word.
‘’please just go. You are not welcomed here anymore’’ the young girl pushed on. I just couldn’t believe my ears. I had to try my best to calm down. Nora soon appeared with a very angry look.
‘’what’s up with the noise?. Didn’t you hear my sister?. Please just go, I don’t want to see your ugly face anymore. You had your chance with me and you blew it. I waited for you nine good months, to come back to your senses but no you preferred chasing after shadows. My kid may bear your last name due to your parent’s involvement but you will never see my baby until he grows up to decide for himself. You can however be getting his pictures from your mother. So please leave my house right now’’ she screamed furiously, leaving me extremely stunned with disbelief.
‘’no you can’t be serious’’ I protested.
‘’you can’t deny a man the right to see his son’’ I insisted strongly.
‘’oh yes I can. I guess you have forgotten my cousin, the lawyer who met you sometime back?. He will soon serve you with a restraining order. You had your chance with me and you blew it. I have already destroyed all the feelings I had for you. Let Cassandra bear you all the legitimate sons you need if she hasn’t destroyed her womb already’’ she shouted, turned and headed back to her room with her sister, leaving Chinedu and I all alone to stare at each other.
‘’did you her?. What do I do now?. Does she have the right to deny me access to my kid?’’ I asked my friend with a boiling mind. He nodded and breathed deeply.
‘’I’m afraid so. But nevertheless let’s wait for her to calm down. We can come back tomorrow or next’’ he said softly, turned and headed towards my car. I quickly ran after him.
‘’but what if she is very serious about keeping the baby from me?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’well I don’t see why you should be worried. You still have Cassandra and she can give you all the children you need. I strongly advice you start up the marriage process with Cassandra’s family immediately, because with the way things are, Nora is definitely not her old self anymore and all you have now is your Cassandra to contend with. You better hurry because most campus girl’s aren’t loyal. Especially sophisticated girls like Cassandra’’ he said seriously, sending a great fear through my heart with his words.
Episode 46
As I drove back to my apartment with a clouded mind, Chinedu tried to his best to calm my nerves.
‘’don’t get worked up brother. Just forget what I said earlier. I made the statement with anger. I wasn’t thinking properly back then. You know what I think now?’’ he breathed, throwing a quick look at me to see if I was interested in what he was saying. I nodded, urging him to continue.
‘’Nora is a good lady. I believe she will later allow you to see your son. Just give her time to be with her baby. It’s very normal for her to react the way she did’’ he said softly.
‘’As for Cassandra, if you are really serious about her. I think now is the right time to start the first stage of the marriage process just to be on the safe side, in case of the unexpected’’ he added seriously.
‘’yes I already planned meeting her family this month. By god’s grace Cassandra will soon be my wife’’ I said with a soft smile, throwing a quick look at my friend who gasped with surprise.
‘’come on! so you kept such plans from me till now?’’ he asked with excitement.
‘’brother I kept nothing from you. The plan has been in my head for long and with the current situation of things, nothing will make me happier than marrying Cassandra this Christmas’’ I breathed strongly.
‘’hmmmm that’s great’’ he shrugged happily.
——————————–
The rest of the evening was really a very dull one for me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking of Nora and my little son. It was as if Nora stole something from me. I just felt like someone who lost a very expensive treasure.
‘’oh God help me to stop thinking of Nora. Please clear my head’’ I prayed as I thought about my future and how to live a life away from Nora, our son and his love. It really was something I just couldn’t do. The little boy deserved the love of a father but with Nora’s new attitude, I couldn’t help but imagine the worst.
To calm my nerves, I tried calling Cassandra to hear her soothing voice but to my dismay her two phones were switched off, leaving me very worried as it dawned on me that it was the second day of not getting to speak with her.
‘’what could be wrong?. Why are your phones switched off Cassandra?. This hasn’t happened before. I hope you are alright’’ I wondered.
————
Early the following morning, I headed to Nora’s house, not minding Chinedu’s advice to stay away from her for some days. I couldn’t sleep a wink the previous night and I desperately needed to see the face of my son.
Nora was extremely surprised to see me at her house very early in the day. The look on her face as she opened the entrance door to see me was very revealing.
‘’what again Dave? What do you want?’’ she asked rudely.
‘’please I really want to see the face of our child. That’s all. I beg of you. Remember I promised to give him all the care in the world. We shouldn’t be quarreling over this. Please stop being mad at me’’ I pleaded solemnly. She stared at me for some seconds, breathing deeply.
‘’I’m a very hard working lady. I have my own money. I can provide anything for my son including a new father. There was a time I was dying to feel your presence. To hear your voice, To be with you, To be your slave but you treated me like a leper. All that is now in the past. You already made it clear that you never wanted me and without me you can’t get to my child. Just forget about him, your parents are capable of playing your role. Moreover I will soon get a new father for my son and everything about you will cease to exist in me. You have Cassandra, don’t you?. Be with her. Marry her and please don’t forget to send me the wedding invitation’’ she said coldly, shutting the door on my face and giving me no chance to talk at all.
I couldn’t believe it was all coming from Nora. A woman that badly wanted my touch and love in the past. I couldn’t believe she could have the mind to deny me my son and still have the guts to tell me about getting a new father for him to my face. I couldn’t believe it all. I felt it was all a dream.
Yes I never for once knew that a woman’s spite could be this repulsive. There wasn’t any doubt she meant every word she said to me. It showed in her eyes and I knew my chapter with her has reached its elastic limit.
It was time to forget about her. It was time to kill my plans for her son and concentrate on my Cassandra. My ideal woman, My pride and my love.
Episode 47
Later in the evening, Chinedu and I discussed my future plans in his house. The day really was a very tough one for me. I desperately needed to cool off and come up with something but I found it hard getting any piece of mind. Moreover I couldn’t get Nora’s harsh behavior out of my head and I equally was yet to get my Cassandra on phone. It was now three days of not speaking with her.
‘’I plan going to Cassandra’s school tomorrow. I haven’t heard from her in three days and of course she knew I was returning to the city yesterday’’ I complained to my friend who nodded with understanding, giving me a long look.
‘’come on bro, what’s up with the face?’’ I asked curiously.
‘’you said you plan going to visit your Cassandra tomorrow in her hostel. How are you sure she will be there?. Hope you know that tomorrow is Saturday?’’ he asked, drawing out a frown from me.
‘’what are you insinuating?. She hardly travels home. That I’m very sure of’’ I answered quickly, throwing him a suspicious glance.
‘’okay but you do remember her hostel is a lion’s den. What if her boyfriend Edwin gets you there?. Have you forgotten what happened the last time you ran into him?’’ he said with a smile, bringing out more anger in me with his words.
‘’I don’t know if you are intentionally trying to make me angry or not. Anyway you are my friend and I can’t be angry with you, but please stop the silly comments.’’ I begged seriously.
‘’ will you accompany me to see Cassandra tomorrow?”” I asked hopefully. He quickly shook his head.
‘’no bro, I can’t. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow’’ he quickly answered while I smiled to his lie.
———————
By 10am the next day I was already at Cassandra’s hostel in high spirit. I had to visit so early in order to meet her, in case she had plans of going out but unfortunately I met the girl’s door locked.
‘’oh Sir Cassandra has been away for four days. She travelled.’’ A female neighbor informed me as she saw me standing in front of her door. I had no choice than to swallow my disappointment and walk back to my car. But on getting to my car, I met Edwin and two rough looking boys waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat on seeing them but I didn’t let fear take over me.
‘’hmmm I guess you came to look for my Cassandra again?. That means she isn’t with you. She definitely has left you to enjoy with another guy, hahahaha’’ Edwin laughed, while I tried my best to control my temper.
‘’I warned you to stay away from my girl but you didn’t listen. You showed up here once again and this time you are going to pay. I’m going to beat up like a dog’’ he said arrogantly as a loud thud quickly landed at the back of my head. The impact of the blow from behind by one of his men sent me staggering forward, towards him. He grabbed my neck, spat on my face and slapped me.
My head instantly boiled with great pain as I fell like a wounded Elephant. Nobody offered to help. No one came to my rescue. The quiet street quickly turned into a graveyard as Edwin and his gang took their time in hitting me with heavy sticks.
One after the other their blows landed on every part of me, wounding my flesh and tearing my soul. I couldn’t even dodge any of the blows. They came so fast and so heavily. I couldn’t even blink properly or open my eyes until they were done. It really was by God’s grace that I survived it.
‘’moron, next time it will be your sister that will pay with her life’’ Edwin threatened as he disappeared with his gang, leaving me so terribly humiliated, in full view of thousands of students peeping through their rooms.
To be continued
Comments