broken and bruised episode 37-38

BROKEN AND BRUISED

Episode 37

Janet has been furiously working her brain up thinking there has got to be something about Mel she can use to blackmail, she will turn Monica to her side and together with her help Mel shall be history, she has asked people around and no one seems to know anything about Melanie until when Someone directed her to her former house, it's after work she decided to pay the area a visit, she came close to the small house that used to be Melanie's, she makes a good use of her smartphone by taking a picture of it, she walks over to the neighbour and finds a woman seated alone

"Good evening Madame" the woman looks at her studying her properly and then says nothing, this did not discourage Janet because she proceeds to sit down next to the woman

" I have never been to this area but I'm here looking for someone"

"Someone?... doesn't he or she have a name"

"She does, actually she has been my long time friend in high school but we parted ways when I travelled to the eastern part of this country....I remember her name was Melanie but I can't remember the other name, someone directed me saying she lives around here"

"Melanie used to live around here with her mum and just recently they were joined by and aunt but they don't live here anymore"

"Oh my God! I can't believe all my efforts in trying to find her are all nothing.....do you know where I can find her"

"I don't know, but a young man has been visiting her here ever since her failed wedding"

"Failed what?.... Mel had no boyfriend when we in school"

"Apparently she fell in love with a rich minister's kid, the boy used to come here and everyone knew about their affair, everything was going on fine until the day of her wedding, she was left at the alter in the middle of saying their vows and that was it, she never came home for three days but when she did, she was accompanied by another rich kid and this time it was not long we got to know she was pregnant" Janet is loving this tale even more

"Do you remember the name of that man, I mean the minister's son"

"Ronald something..... I don't know the other name, maybe I forgot or I never really paid any attention to it" Janet starts to think more, she remembers she heard a similar story some months back, she must have read this somewhere, she even had the paper

"Miss....are you alright"

"Yes yes I'm fine.....thank you for this information, i need to be on my way"

"Wait...you didn't even tell me your name"

"That's not necessary" she collects her bag and walks away

"So you're not a saint after all Melanie..... hmmmm there is a huge possibility that Tobi not the father of that baby, I'm going to find out more about you......I still have that news paper somewhere so let the game begin".........

Melanie, her mother and her aunt have already spent a day in the Akankwasa residence, they are still trying to fit in the lifestyle and also get used to Monica's mood swings, they had spent the whole day in their rooms with their breakfast, lunch and evening tea served there.....Tobi had not been home because he needed to take care of something urgently, it's already evening and almost time for dinner when he arrived, he found Lisa in the kitchen but instead of calling her like he always does, he walks over there to talk to her

" Good evening sir.....I didn't hear you call"

"That's because I didn't call when I got in....how are you"

"I'm fine Sir, dinner is almost ready, I'm already setting the table but I don't know how many people are eating at the dinning"

"What are you saying..... don't you know how many people are in here.....how did you serve them lunch"

"They all ate from their rooms"

"And why is that"

"Your Mum didn't come down for lunch and she asked me not to set her dinning table, so I had no choice but to serve your wife and those two in their room, they all ate together" Tobi's anger is on the highest level

"That should be the very first and the last time you ever do that.....those people are a part of this family but if mum doesn't see it that way, then they are my family..... set the table and you know how many we're" he walks out and Lisa is so confused

"Oh God whose order should I follow in this house?..... I'm going to run mad" .............

Tobi had planned to go a see his people as he chooses to call them but on hearing what Lisa just told him, he decided to go to his mum first, he didn't even bother to knock so he just opens the door and finds his mum reading a novel

"You're back, how did it go with the client"

"That can wait mother.....I'm here for something else" she puts her novel down and faces him

"About what huh!.... perhaps, I'm the one who has questions that need answers but since it's you who came to look for me, I'm going to give you this Chance so go on.... what's eating you up"

"Mother, I have had it with all your pretense, I don't know what you're up to but let me warn you, you should be very careful with how you do what you do"

"You haven't even told me my offense but you're already warning me"

"As if you don't know...... you have been acting up, you pretended that you wanted your grandchild next to you, you shopped and fixed a room for her and yet since yesterday you haven't set you eyes on her"

"And I don't intend to.....you really think I was accepting this futureless relationship, I was only protecting you because you have no idea how many calls you would be receiving from those low lives had they gone back to that house of theirs, the mother would call, Grandma would call, and aunty with different problems all trough out the day, even after the baby makes two weeks, calls would pour claiming the baby wants to eat this and that..... that's how poor people operate so since they wanted rich life, money, let them have it here....let them eat it with the rest of us but that's how far it goes....non of them is receiving and hard cash" Tobi shakes his head so unbelievably

"I'm so disappointed in you mother.....I came here to warn you, from this moment henceforth they are my family and therefore deserve to be treated as one.....whether breakfast,lunch, evening tea or even dinner, they all shall sit at that dinning"

"I can't share a table with those opportunists..... "

"Then it's your problem.... I'm sure it won't be a big problem for Lisa to serve you from up here" he turns to walk out of there

"I'm going to carry out a DNA on that baby, I'm so sure you're not the Father" he maintains a straight face

"Be my guest... do it, go on carry it out....do it fast" he walks out shutting the door up so loudly and Monica is very speechless.............

Tobi's next stop is in the nursery where Mira is sleeping soundly and Mel is watching her and talking to her, he was about to open the door but when he heard her speak, he stops to hear what she was saying

"Hi Angel.... I'm so ashamed to call you my Angel but yes you're...... I never thought I could love you this much but yes I do, yet I don't know how I managed to.....you're my love, I so much love you and will always do.....you came out before your time but thanks to your Dad and uncle Mac, you and I are alive..... I didn't even get the chance to give you a name but Dad already gave you one.......he says you're his miracle but guess what, he too is my miracle..... help me tell him that Mum loves him so so much would you" she continues to pour her heart out and didn't hear the door open..........

Tobi comes in very quietly..... Mel is putting on a mini black dress and in Tobi's eyes, she looked so attractive and so beautiful, he sneaks behind her and hugs her from behind, she rests her head on his as he kisses her neck, this is the very first time he's doing this and she feels so excited

"My love.... I know it's you" she says and he turns her slowly to face him, resting her back on the baby's crib.....he knows she's still not healed but he couldn't control himself so he pulls closer and uses his left arm to support her back..... they are feeling each other's breaths as they stare in their eyes

"How are my people doing..... how was the day" he's almost whispering

"We are fine.... the day was fine but not better since someone so important was missing" she weakly responds and this time their nose is touching and lips so close

"Now that the person is here what can he do for his people"

"This time he has to say his person....the other person only needs a goodbye kiss and that's it" she says biting her lips and her eyes are almost shutting

"What if I start the kiss with my favourite person.... Am I permitted" he teases her but before she could respond, the door opens so wide and they are busted

"Oh forgive me .....I didn't know you were both here" it's Mel's Mum and she wants to close the door back but Tobi assures her it's OK

"You don't have to apologize Mum, you can come in"

"I didn't know you were back" he looks at Mel who takes her gaze away immediately

"I had just arrived a few minutes back, I needed to check up on Mira..... anything the matter"

"That Lady... she's called who?..... she came to say food is ready so I was looking for Mel so we can eat together"

"Then call aunty Jessy..... we're all eating down stairs" Mel's Mum walks away and Mel follows but Tobi pulls her back slowly though

"Hey hey not so fast miss.....we were just getting started"

"Naughty boy" she hits his chest and walks away smiling, Tobi longingly watches her walk away and he lingers around long enough to kiss Mira a goof night and then run after Mel......they come down for dinner hand in hand, they find Ofelia and Jessica still not around but what surprises Tobi is finding his mother is the first person at the table

"Welcome my children.... I have been waiting for you" she looks so happy and Tobi is not even fooled by this fake appearance, he sees through it.........

Episode 38

Early the next day, Monica who over slept is woken up by a strange phone call, to start with she has no idea who is calling her because the number is not saved so she chooses to ignore the first call..... after the first one ends, the person calls again yet she also ignores and it's the third one she chooses to pick, she's uncountably mad but she had to pretend because she has no idea who the caller is

"Hello....good morning" she says in her coolest voice possible

"Hello madam" this response and the voice makes her smell poverty from a far so she just rolls her eyes the best way she can

"How may I help you"

"I'm aware your son is living together with one called Melanie in your house and he parades her as the woman he's soon going to marry" Monica's interest is already picked and to even start with, this woman seems to be someone who knows this Melanie

"If I say yes what would you do....is Melanie not a woman like the rest of you"

"Cut out the pretense, I know if there is someone who wishes she had the power to end that God forsaken relationship, it's you"

"Who are you.... what do you know that I don't know"

"Meet me in thirty minutes time, you will get to know what I know that you don't"

"Where can I meet you, and can I really trust you"

"The trust choice is yours....but if you really want to save your son the misfortune ahead, meet me at Javas opposite centenary building.... I know there you can now relax about your security" the line went dead and Monica didn't need to think this over, she has no idea what this person must have against Melanie but since it's something she can use to rid her son of her, she's so willing to take all the risks, she didn't take long to get ready because after ten minutes, she was already headed out

"Good morning Mum... you're up Early today" she didn't want Lisa to see her but it's too late now

Lisa..... I'm going out, if my son asks about me tell him something came up" she leaves and her driver is ready to drive her but she says she wants to be the one to drive herself today.......it took Monica another ten minutes to reach at Javas, she settles in a corner where people will not pay much attention to be able to spare her a second glance,she asks for breakfast and she's served fried plantain and boiled eggs as escort...... she was still devouring her breakfast but all of a sudden she looks at someone coming, it's the last person she had prayed to meet...... the person is smiling at her but she can only stare at her in rage

"Goof morning Monica.... I can see you truly love your son" Janet makes herself comfortable in the next chair

"I should have known it's no body important but just another 'wannabe' calling me....why didn't I Remember this voice" she says to Janet she had despised with so much Passion, she has never liked her and she doesn't like her even more now

"I know that you Monica and I have never really gotten along even when you were Still the head of that company....you never liked me and I don't like you either and there is no pretense about that"

"I'm glad you have not forgotten that Janet or whoever you call yourself, you're right I have really never liked you you know why.....because I was able to see right through you.... you were never interested in that Job, you were only having eyes for my son who never even noticed you"

"And I'm not denying that fact Monica.......but you see, perhaps your son would have been a better person had he set his eyes on me instead of that leftover"

"Hahahaha I see you two know each other so well....Mel the clever one beat you up at your game and now you have resorted to blackmail..... birds of the same feather

" I wouldn't say we are birds of the same feather..... and I wouldn't say we know each other so well because Melanie knows nothing about me ......few months ago, a wedding was to take place, more like a Royal wedding but this time it was between a minister's firstborn son and another woman who really had nothing on her profile.....everyone was interested in this wedding and it was going to be a very popular one but.....it even ended up to be the most popular one when the minister's son left the bride at the alter in the middle of saying their vows...... every moment was captured by the media guys, the groom had taken off, the bride gathers courage after being filmed by a few faster ones, she also ran out of Church crying and what's more a Superman somewhere among the congregation got up and took the fight upon himself fighting tooth and nail just to defend the brides honor" Monica is trying to recall if she came across a news like this

"What has this minister's son's story got to do with why we are here"

"Everything Monica... just exercise Patience because the story is still continuing.... like I said, it all happened a few months ago and up until now, no one knows why the much waited for wedding never took place but few months down the road, this woman gives birth to a baby girl and what's more she's engaged to be married to a very wonderful man

" What are you insinuating " Monica is getting the pictures clearly but she still has some doubt buttons on her head

"What I'm saying is...that woman, the one the minister's son left at alter is non other but Melanie.... your sons bride to be"

"Noooo....this isn't true"

"Check it out" Janet gets out the news paper and hands it over to Monica who started reading with trembling hands, it's very clear now...... she remembers the day of this particular wedding, she had seen someone in news like her own son fighting the cameramen like a lunatic, she remembers Tobi didn't come home that time for days and never said where he had been all those days..... she sees Melanie so clearly on the paper and her heart breaks, she's so sure that bastard child is not her son's, she's going to put an end to this nonsense all today, she won't share a roof with a loose woman trying to parade herself like a real lady....she gets up ready to go but she has one final word to Janet

"Don't think because you have told me this, it will change my feelings about you....you're all the same to me"

"Well the feeling is mutual, I was never expecting that anyways......." Monica walks away and Janet raises the cup Monica was using for tea

"Cheers Melanie... let's see if you're going to become Mrs Akankwasa.....you will never be able to marry any rich kid out there because your record is out there all over.....not even your innocent face and undeniable beauty will be able to save you".............

Since Monica is not around and Tobi has been told she went out, Tobi now gave orders to Lisa to serve breakfast for the four of them before he can gets going for work, Lisa didn't take long before she set the table up, the four come down for breakfast and they seem to be having a wonderful time together catching up with jokes when Monica walks in

" Good morning mum welcome back" Mel greets her and she didn't even respond buy just shoots daggers at Mel, Mel is not at all bothered knowing her mood swings so well, they all concertante on their plates but Tobi is not liking the way his mother is starring at Mel with rage and bitterness all together

"Mother.... aren't you going to join us for breakfast" he says as he gets up to pull for her a chair but she stops

"I'm not hungry" she walks past them but stops abruptly at the first step of the stairs

"On a second thought.... I will.... Lisa, bring my plate" Lisa runs quickly with the plate, Lisa has been employed strictly for food cooking but there are other workers who do different kinds of work in the house under the supervision of Lisa, she's liked by both Tobi and even Monica..... so she brings Monica's plate but instead of serving herself, she continues to stare at Mel.... the poor thing is becoming so uncomfortable so she tries to excuse herself form the table when Tobi holds her hand preventing her

"Melanie.... what plans do you have for your daughter" she asks her a question and Mel looks at Tobi who is as surprised as she

" I don't understand your question "

"Of course I should have figured out you're also dull.......so let me be a bit open with you, four years from now, what will you be telling your daughter about her routes"

"Mother what's up with all this questions" Tobi tries to save the situation

"Do you think I have no plans of making. Melanie my wife?.... four years from now both she and our daughter will be bearing my surname"

"Shut up....I wasn't asking you idiot..... you have no right and you are not obliged to marry this loose woman" everyone at the table goes cold.... the workers in the house are also listening

"Excuse me mum with all due respect, you have no right to insult me"

"Oh yes I do Melanie..... I have all the rights in the world to do so.....you think by maneuvering your way tactfully into this home through my naïve son here you would be accepted with arms wide open.....I was willing to put up with the fact that you and my son are soon becoming husband and wife until when I got to know that you're nothing but a cheap prostitute..... you have no right to be in my house much less eat my food, you thought I wouldn't get to know about your awful past"

"STOP IT!!!..... Stop it at once mother, I will not sit here and listen as you insult the woman I'm about to Marry" Monica moves to Tobi's face

"Then you will have to kill me first Tobi.... only when I'm dead will you be able to commit this grave mistake..... I will not allow you give that bastard my family name.....because you know why, it's because no Matter what name you give her, whether miracle, Alesi, Avasi (Passion), Aitasi(faith) or whatever, it will not change the fact that she's nothing, nothing but a bastard child.... a bastard child" Tobi and Mel are too stunned to even talk but they both stand up, Ofelia has had it with this Monica who is drunk with reckless words, she steps forward

"If you wanted to say we should leave your house, you should have said so without insulting us"

"Oh look who is talking, I haven't even started with you yet....and in fact don't let me get started with you, your daughter is just like you or even worse, she's the updated version of you, you think I don't know about the fact that you got pregnant in your teenage years and wanted to pin it on a young man but knowing who who really were, the young man did what any honourable young man would have done.....but now history has repeated itself, and this time you have truly played your cards so well... first it was the minister's son who was delivered by the holy Spirit and unknowingly my poor son fell right into your trap but tell you what, as long as I can breath, this is not happening.... Never".... Ofelia is still shocked

" You can insult me but not my daughter, your own son here is so painful for you and my daughter too is not any different for me....Mel never asked for what came her way" the employees are gathering for this shouting match even the gateman and the driver are at the door peeping through

"Why wouldn't I insult your daughter, first it was the minister's son and everybody knew about it especially when the poor boy came to his senses and abandoned her at the alter.....my son the ever generous young man he is, tried to save the situation by helping her but only for him to end up in the dangerous toxic web you and your daughter have created" Ofelia is trembling and comes closer

"This Melanie you see here is not a loose woman, your son came helping her because he wanted to became no one asked for his help, we didn't know him either....that minister's kid wouldn't have abandoned Mel if she had not met her ugly fate...she never called for those rapists" Tobi's heart skips as the room goes cold

"Hahahaha..... bravo..... very beautiful, it never took you so long to come up with the perfect excuse.... but guess what, this will never change the fact at hand, she can't marry my son because this disqualifies her even more" she turns to Melanie who is just starring at no one in particular

"Look here Melanie, or Mel or whatever you call yourself.... you and your bastard daughter are not my son's people.... giving her his last name will not change the fact that she's a bastard.... in fact she's nothing but a rapist's daughter...... a rapist's daughter" Mel covers her ears with her hands and takes off heading upstairs....... Tobi who was also starring at his mother takes on after her.....Ofelia is crying and it's only Jessica who looks so determined to carry on with the fight..........

Tobi catches up with Mel at the end of the stairs but he can tell she's about to relapse

"Calm down.....breath breath Mel, try to control your breath" he continues to say this as Mel continues to struggle with all the voices in her head, voices of mockery and some are blaming her as usual and what's more one of the loudest voices is that of Monica's reminding her continuously that Mira is nothing but a bastards child, she rubs her head scattering her beautiful held pony....Tobi moves closer and tries to hold her

"Don't touch me...." she pushes him and he lands hard on the floor hitting his leg so painful, he let out a scream and Mel runs to her room shutting the door behind and once inside, she sits down on the floor and her brain is functioning so fast with options.....

Tobi runs back downstairs just in time to witness the very hot slap Jessy gives to his mother that sits her down at once but Monica gets up so fast

"Now let's face it off you little miss perfect" Jessy says but Monica strikes charging towards her, she raises her arm and she's about to slap Jessy back but her hand in caught in the air, she turns and it's her own son.....shocked beyond measures, she takes off to her room upstairs

"You have ten minutes, ten minutes to vacate my house or else the police will not come here alone but the media guys too.....Tobi is not done with her, he runs after her

" If you are here to beg me to change my mind just make use of the door because it's not working.... it will only make it worse.....it was you who brought those freeloaders in my home"

"I'm not here to beg you Monica but rather to warn you and tell you to your face that I'm so ashamed to have you for a mother..... I wouldn't mind having a poor mother if all rich ones are like you but guess what, I'm beginning to doubt if you're really my mother because we're too different people.... we are nothing alike " she slaps him

"You have no right to talk to me in that manner.....you're fighting tooth and nail to see those people stay in here forgetting this is a very big risk you're taking.... this will bring scandal even more if the media gets to know that the woman my son is about to marry is the same woman that was dumped by minister Pope's son...I don't even want to imagine the faces of my opponents but do you even know the interesting part, this time Melanie and her mother have a story to backup that stupid bastard you want to Father..... so I want them out"

"Fine we shall all leave here today so you can have peace"

"You're not going anywhere with them because I won't let you..... you can't take responsibility for another man's child and even more so, for a rapist's daughter" this word brings the shit out of Tobi and he doesn't know how he did it but he did it shouting at his mother

"Yes mother....Mira is a rapist's child as you call her and for that reason she has every right to be in this house because this is where her father the rapist is......because her rapist father is here" he shoots daggers and Monica is looking lost........

To be continued