Bimpe: “I am not meat in the first place Alhaji. I will like to go in now” she said and made to leave, but the man held her hand with a grip too strong for a septuagenarian. Desperation made even weak men, strong, she thought with a coy smile on her lips.
Alhaji: “I like your spirit, my life is filled with docile women who say yes to my every whim, I need your fire” he said and held her by the crotch. Bimpe was the first to see Dominic coming into the garden; she slipped a card from her gold clutch into Alhaji’s sweaty palm and walked away from him.
Bimpe: “Honey, I was just coming to look for you,I am tired, I want to go home”
Dominic: “Spend the night with me, all these flesh you put on display has left me hungry for you”
Bimpe: “Not tonight, I need to read for a test” she said and kissed him playfully. The truth was that Bimpe had no interest in school; she went to class whenever she liked, and had carryovers from the previous semesters, but she was aroused when Alhaji gripped her crotch, and she never had sex when she was sexually aroused, she loved to satisfy herself, that’s why she had sex toys in the bedside cabinet in her bedroom. That was her way of maintaining hold over her emotions. It was also her way of keeping Dominic on a leash by rationing her availability to him.
Dominic: “Come on, let me drop you safely at home” he said and they walked arm in arm to the parking lot. While they drove home, Bimpe was preoccupied with thoughts of Alhaji, she was plotting her map.
Bimpe: “If Alhaji thinks I am just going to be one of his numerous bed chamber maids, he has another thing coming” she thought within herself. She wanted something more permanent with him, and more profitable. She smiled as a plan formed in her head.
Dominic: “Why are you smiling to yourself?” he asked
Bimpe: “Just feeling content, am glad I met you” she replied. She turned and saw Dominic smile with satisfaction, he was a good man and she wished she was a good woman, but she was not, life made her so.
Dominic: “I am happy I met you too, you have brought so much sunshine into my life”
Bimpe: “I wish I met you as my first, you deserved my virginity, not Brian” she said and she meant it. She wondered what turn her life would have taken if she had met Dominic first; she blamed Brian for what she turned out to be.
Dominic: “It doesn’t matter who was your first, what matters most is who you have in your heart now” he said and kissed her hands. A single tear dropped from her eyes, she wiped it off quickly.
Bimpe: “You cannot be soft now, there is so much you have to accomplish, and being soft gets you nowhere” she chided herself.
======================
Bimpe began to date Alhaji Dambazzau, and though she teased him with foreplays, she withheld sex because, not only was she trying to wait him out, she was also always aroused by Alhaji, the man was good in bed, he knew how to touch a woman, and many times she found herself tethering on the edge of her emotions. Many times she found herself wanting to have a taste of him, but her resolve always clicked into place just at the right time. Alhaji had three wives, his first wife Alhaja Zainab found out about his affair with Bimpe. At first they dismissed her as one of the bed maids of Alhaji and assumed that as usual she would fade away after a few weeks, but they were amazed when weeks turned into months and Bimpe was still very much in his life. Their spies,who were usually the personal assistants and aides to Alhaji, told them how Alhaji cancels all meeting, whenever Bimpe called him, and how he sends money to her account on a weekly basis. They decided to hire a private investigator to dig into Bimpe’s background, but they found nothing. Bimpe was a girl from nowhere, the only thing they found out about her was her education at the University of Lagos.
One day, Bimpe was in her apartment, she had a glass of juice in front of her, the television was on, her eyes were on it, but her heart and mind were not on it. She was thinking of the people she left in Ilisan, especially her step father and siblings, she also thought of the real man who sired her but was never to be known. She was still thinking when she heard a knock on the door. She goes to open it and three burly men rushed into her apartment, they pushed her to the floor, and one pinned her down with a foot on her stomach. She was scared but she refused to show fear, her stomach ached with the weight of the foot on it, but she refused to show pain. Instead she stared them down.
Bimpe: “What do you hooligans, want with me?” she asked rudely. One stretched his hand and connected his folded palm to her jaw; blood spurted out of her mouth.
Man 1: “Ashewo, you no see who to fuck, na Alhaja husband, you no dey fear person?”
Man 2: “Small boys no reach you again abi?” he asked pushing her legs.
Man 3: “Shebi you like fuck, make we enjoy you, so that you no go see strength pursue another woman husband” They took their turns to have sex with her, hitting her as they did. They left her unconscious and bleeding on the floor of her apartment.
Dominic had a date with Bimpe that day, so when he called her severally and she did not pick, he decided to go to her apartment. On his way, he received a phone call from a colleague in his department. The colleague intimated him of the affair between Bimpe and the CEO.
Dominic: “One would think that you being a man would not be party to petty gossip, so because, Alhaji was looking at my girlfriend at the company’s dinner,does that mean she is going out with him?” The colleague tried to tell him of places they had been sighted, but he rebuffed him, and hung up. The thought was still on his mind when he got to Bimpe’s apartment and met the door open. He rushed in, and all thoughts of her rumored infidelity fled from his mind as he saw her splayed on the floor, blood pooled at her head. Without thinking, he put her on his shoulders and took her downstairs into his car. He drove to the nearest hospital in Festac. When Bimpe became conscious, she asked for a mirror, she realized that her eyes and lips were swollen, but no permanent damage. She refused to answer Dominic questions, in her mind, she plotted her next move. She swore to herself that she would make Chief’s first wife Alhaja pay for her crime.
Dominic: “What happened to you, why won’t you talk to me?” he tried talking to her.
Bimpe: “I am fine, it was just boys from my school, probably cultists, their capon wants me but I refused” she replied.
Dominic: “Were you raped?” he asked, dreading the answer.
Bimpe: “Yes, they each took turns at me” she said, deliberately describing the gory details. She wanted Dominic to be repulsed, so much that he would leave her. She was tired of the relationship; she had bigger fish to fry. But instead Dominic became sympathetic; he blamed himself for it and swore to protect her.
Dominic: “I am here for you, baby”
Bimpe: “No! Leave me alone, I am damaged, you don’t deserve someone as broken as I am, you deserve better, so go Dominic. It is over between us” she said as hot tears streamed down her swollen cheeks. Dominic left and promised to be back when she was calmer. As soon as he left, she called Alhaji, the latter rushed to the hospital, he was galvanized by Bimpe’s cry on the phone. When he saw the state she was in, he became really angry. Bimpe narrated the ordeal to him, but left out the part of the rape.
Alhaji: “You say my wife is responsible for this? I must teach her a lesson”
Bimpe: “That will only be worse for me, protect me Alhaji. I want to be with you, and there is only one way I can be with you, without fear of your wives”
Alhaji: “Tell me my princess, anything I will do”
Bimpe looked at him, then pulled his hand to her chest, and with a small husky voice, she told him what she wanted.
Bimpe: “Marry me”
Alhaji: “Adebimpe, you are always so unique, are you proposing to me?”
Bimpe: “Perhaps I am, that’s the only way I can be safe, by being your wife. Having a young wife such as me, is going to be a honour for you, your friends will envy you. Think of my whole being given to you”
Alhaji: “I had thought to stop at three wives, to make you my most prized mistress, but when you put it like that, it is interesting”
Bimpe: “Let’s get married on my 21 birthday, in a court. Your fourth marriage needs no much ado”
Alhaji: “Anything you want my jewel”
The marriage contract was signed in the presence of some close associates of Alhaji Dambazzau, in the Lagos customary court. The news of the marriage was carried on every news channel, people were shocked, they could not fathom how Bimpe made Alhaji marry him, and they also did not know where she came from. After the marriage, Bimpe moved into the big estate where Alhaji lived with his family. It was a sprawling estate that occupied 10 acres of land on the Lekki peninsula. Bimpe was taken on a tour around the estate to the consternation of the other wives. A week after marrying Alhaji, Bimpe was given shares in all his companies, as he has done for his other wives, he also furnished her with different credit cards and shopping vouchers, life was good but Bimpe was not satisfied, being any man’s kept woman was not her goal.
In her plenty, she still remembered her family back in Ilisan, she knew she had to help her father walk again. She talked to a specialist and they made arrangements to go to Ilisan and carry her dad for treatment. She refused to go with them; instead she sent one of the aides assigned to her. She had to go about finalizing her plans; marrying Alhaji DDambazzau was just the first phase of her whole plan.
In Ilisan, people had begun to forget about Bimpe, except her family. Her father prayed in his heart that she would come back someday, her brothers missed their only sister everyday and they kept asking their mother when their sister would be back. The latter would shout at them and tell them to forget about Bimpe, that she really was not their sister. As the months went by, the mention of Bimpe’s name began to reduce, they were all getting used to the fact that she may never return. So it was a surprise when an entourage visited their house and told them Bimpe sent them. They brought with them, foodstuffs, and other personal effects. There was an orthopedic specialist with them, who examined Ladejo’s legs.
Ladejo: “What do you want with my leg?” he asked
Doctor: “your daughter wants me to see what can be done about your leg” he replied. Everyone fell silent, even Basirat was astounded.
Ladejo: “My daughter? Where is she?”
Doctor: “I am not at liberty to tell you that, but I want to assure you that we will try our best to make sure you walk again” he said. He began to examine his legs, and after a while, he wrote in his little note book.
Ladejo: “What do you think doctor?”
Doctor: “Nothing to worry about, you will be fine. I will talk to your daughter”
Ladejo: “Please tell her that I am here waiting for her until she is ready to come back”
The entourage came to Lagos to report to Bimpe. The doctor intimated her about the state of her father’s injured legs, and told her the solution would be re-constructive surgery.
Bimpe: “How much will that cost?” she asked
Doctor: “About 10 million naira approximately”
Bimpe: “It is a whooping sum of money, but if my father will walk again, I don’t mind the expense” she replied
Doctor: “I think you should go home, your family misses you” Bimpe kept mute for a while, her head was down, and the doctor thought, perhaps she was crying. But as he moved to touch her, she raised her head; her eyes were dark and hard.
Bimpe: “When will you be able to commence work on my father?” she asked, her face passive, with no trace of emotion. The doctor was taken aback by her indifference; he had never met a woman, with such lack of emotions.
Doctor: “As soon as the funds are ready”
Bimpe: “Expect it as soon as possible. I will call you when am ready” she replied and walked away without another word.
Bimpe was patrolling the grounds of the estate, thinking of how she would raise the money for her father’s surgery, her account had just about two million naira, and she didn’t want to tell Alhaji about her father, after all Ladejo was not really her father. She was lost in her thoughts, such that she didn’t realize Alhaja Zainab was approaching. They almost bumped into each other but the latter shoved her aside, and because she was putting on heels, she tripped and fell at Alhaja’s feet.
Alhaja Zainab: “Yes, that is where you truly belong, on the floor, at my feet like a slave. Where did you even come from, you little tramp” she said. Bimpe felt humiliated, she almost crawled back into her hole, she was just a little girl of twenty one after all, even though her physique belied her age. Almost…
She stood up with agility and walked up to Alhaja, her face up in Alhaja’s face, her eyes boring into hers.
Bimpe: “I am going to let this slide, just this once, but next time, you will feel the touch of my palms”
Alhaja: “You gold digging tramp, if you think Alhaji is going to die soon so you can inherit his wealth, you are in for a long ride. Soon he is going to get tired of your smelling cunt, and when he does, he will abandon you. Mind you, as his wife, you are not allowed to keep small boys, what will you do when your bed gets so cold and you forget how it feels to be a woman?” she sneered at Bimpe.
Bimpe: “That is for me to worry about. I also know about the little stunt you pulled with those men you sent to my house, I have not forgotten and at the appointed time, you shall have your reward”
Alhaja: “How did you feel when they took turns at you, well watch your back. I do not back down from a fight”
Bimpe: “We shall see” she spat and walked away briskly. She felt vexed by Alhaja and she promised herself she would have her revenge, what form it would take she didn’t know yet.
That evening, she pampered herself with a long bath in scented waters, laced with relaxing oils. After which, she wore a lacy black lingerie, oiled her body with her favorite Egyptian oil, and donned a furry jacket over it. She walked from her house in the estate to Alhaji’s house, which was just beside hers. Alhaji was in the living room with his bodyguards and some of his business associates, when Bimpe strutted in, with her polished feet clad in a nude colored pair of louboutins. Alhaji made to dismiss her, but Bimpe dropped the fur jacket she was wearing, leaving only the lacy lingerie. Everyone had their mouth wide open, and their eyes popping out of the socket.
Alhaji: “Everyone out, this meeting is postponed” he ordered and everyone left the room.
Bimpe: “You want some?” she asked as she walked to the kitchen and brought out a jar of ice cream.
Alhaji: “I don’t regret marrying you, you are good for my heart rate” he said as he undressed. They frolicked throughout the night; Bimpe was surprised at his energy level.
That fateful day, the day that would be remarkable in Bimpe’s life, she woke up very early before the sun. She looked at Alhaji still snoring away and went out pulling on her fur coat; she walked to the extreme part of the estate close to the water embankment. The sea, she saw, was peaceful, but inside her, there was a raging storm. The phase two of her plan was solidifying in her mind, anything could go wrong at this moment. She slipped out her phone from the pocket in her fur coat and dialed a number.
Bimpe: “Is it done?” she listened for a moment and slipped the phone back into her phone. She walked briskly to her house; it was daybreak by the time she reached her house. She could see Alhaja at the balcony of her house. At that moment, she remembered that today was Alhaja Zainab’s turn to be with Alhaji Dambazzau.
Bimpe: “What would this fat cat do in bed? Roll around?” she chuckled as the imagination made her giddy. She went in, took her bath and dressed up, it was time to play student. She instructed her driver to take her to University of Lagos.
By the time she got back, she met a gift wrapped elaborately in pink wrappers, she picked it up and read the note, and it was from Alhaji. He was a generous man, but not generous enough to give her ten million naira without explanations. She really needed to give the man who gave her a surname, his life back. She was still looking at the gift when something caught her eye, she turned and saw Alhaja Zainab looking at her, and leaning on the balustrade. She gave Bimpe the stink eye when their eyes met.
Bimpe: “She would kill me, if she had the chance” she sighed and entered her house.
That same night, at midnight, a loud cry rent the peace and serenity of the estate. Its inhabitants rushed out of their houses, in their sleeping garb, everyone but Alhaja Zainab. Bimpe rushed out of her house, people were gathered in front of Alhaji’s house. Bimpe rushed down, and pushed everyone to get to the front. There on the staircase was the housekeeper, a middle aged woman, she was crying profusely.
Bimpe: “Why are you crying, where is Alhaji?” she yelled. The housekeeper kept crying, and pointing to the living room. At that moment, Alhaja Zainab came out of her house, she was wearing a jalabiya which she usually used for sleeping.
Alhaja: “What is going on here?” she asked and rushed into the house, the other wives, including Bimpe went in with her. There on the staircase leading to the bedrooms was Alhaji Dambazzau, splayed on the floor, in the midst of his own lifeblood, with a dagger buried halfway in his chest. It was obvious from where they were standing, that he was dead.
No comments:
Post a Comment