The Picnic - Episode 14

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Cynthia immediately turned off the phone as she felt the room go cold. "Wetin I go do?" She muttered. "Why Rukky life dey always get bow leg ehn?"

After several thought, she picked up her phone calling a number. "Good morning Ma" "I warned you not to call my number again" the receipient sounded angry. "I'm sorry Ma but I just found out something and It will be really expensive . I mean it's going to cost you a lot"

"What?"

"Bola's phone in Rukky's room"

There was a brief silence, "Madam na airtime I dey use oh" Cynthia broke the silence. 

 "How sure are you?" She asked, "I'm positive, the issue is, how do I get this phone out without her notice." "Don't remove it"

"How would I get paid? So I just gave you free news"

"Get over here, I have some packages for you and I want you to help me do something"

"Would I get paid?"

"Definitely, I'll pay you a lot more than I a

paid you for the last job"

"Why would you be that generous?" 

"Cause I'm a generous woman" the caller replied chuckling. 

Duro had a call from Aunty Dupe, "Aunty Dupe" he called almost as though he was angry with her. "Are you sick?" She asked, "Why does your voice sound that way" "How old are the twins Taye had?" He snapped and Aunty Dupe fell into a cold silence. 

"Yeah I thought so"

"This is not a topic we discuss on phone and I'm sorry"

"I guess you didn't call me for this"

"I didn't

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-picnic

. On the contrary, i.... I tried Bola's number today and it rang"

"What!"

"Yes. I was shocked too"

"Why would you try Bola's number?"

"I still dial my dead uncle's number once in a while, it's a crazy habit okay? But it rang. I don't know if they now use phones in heaven?" She asked trying to humourous but he didn't find it funny. "It's either the killer finally put on the phone or the phone has been sold."  Duro suggested, "It wouldn't have been  sold with the sim. Have you tried it again"

"Switched off" Aunty Dupe replied. 

Rukky walked into Caroline's fashion home, she had a wide smile on her face. "Someone looks extremely happy" Caroline assumed and letting out a chuckle. 

"Is it because of Duro" she added and Rukky nodded, she held a bag up then placed it on a table. "I brought you breakfast cause I know you don't like to eat before leaving home"

"Rukky it's stressful to cook. I'd rather make me a cup of tea before i leave home"

"Is tea food?" She snapped and Caroline laughed. "Thanks dear" she appreciated hugging her. "Ever since Bola ....." She paused in tears, "You've been the only consistent person checking up on me. You're like a sister I never had" she hugged her then pulled away.

 "That reminds me" Caroline snapped her fingers rushing towards a line of clothes then picked one handing it to her.

 "It's one of my favorite design and I made it for you"

"Caroline you shouldn't have"

"Don't even try to be modest. Just say thank you Caroline you're the best" she requested and Rukky hugged her. Rukky placed it on a chair smiling at her. She felt grateful to have her as a friend.

 "So on our chat, you told me someone asked you out" Rukky recalled.

"Urgh! Is it not that crazy photographer? The one with the big head and saggy eyes" Caroline described and Rukky laughed. " This your mouth ehn!"

Toke opened the door to see Henry's lawyer Faith, waiting at the door. "If I knew you were the one, I wouldn't haven't have opened the door" "I'm not so thrilled to see you either" she retorted handing an envelope to her. "What's this?"

 "Court order to have little Charlotte taken away from you"

"That's crazy! She's my daughter"

"But you're endangering her"

"Now you're just saying rubbish"

"A drug addict is not fit to be a mother" Faith said looking into the house. "If you step in, I swear to God I'll kill you" "I think I'll have to add demented to it" 

"This is your plan right? I get the divorce and you get to be Henry's wife and Charlotte's mom.

"Oh come on Toke, you're so simple-minded. I intend to be more" she whispered. "I intend to be the mother of his many children since you only wanted one. I'll give Henry his dream children"

"I won't let you guys have Charlotte without a good reason"

"Haven't you tuned in to Juice TV today?" She whispered laughing. "It's all over the news junkie, the court had no choice"

Toke brought out her phone from her pocket quickly going on her Twitter page. She saw several racy comments about her then she scoffed.

"Screw you and screw Henry!" She cried out.

"I'll be screwing with him alright"

"What's going on?" Her mom asked from behind and Charlotte turned over to the lawyer. "What's she doing now here?"

 "Hey baby, your dad is outside waiting for you" Faith announced forcing a smile on Charlotte's face. "Seriously?" She asked then turned to her mom.

 "Why is mom crying"

"I'm crying cause your father's an asshole and I'm going to put him in his place" she rushed out of the house and everyone followed. "What's going on?" Mrs. Olarewaju asked Faith who simply ignored her.

Toke sighted Henry leaning on the car. "So you stay out here and you let your fucking lawyer do your fucking dirty job" she yelled punching him on the nose. "Geez Toke!" He moved back touching his nose. He wasn't expecting the hit. "I'm doing Charlotte a favor and you too. You can't take care of her"

"You want that bitch over there to raise her."

"Who?" He asked, "Act like you don't know Henry, I meant your damn lawyer." She shouted and her mom pulled  her back.  Henry was beginning to bleed from his nose and people were begining to watch with their phones in the air getting footages of the whole  scene. 

"I didn't want us making a scene" Henry added looking around. "Was that why you resulted to telling Brigette about my drug addiction?" Toke answered sarcastically.

Henry had no idea what she was talking about. "We only told the court"

"You call me a hypocrite Henry, you're a bigger hypocrite"

Henry cleaned the blood stain with an hankerchief now turning over to Faith. "Dad" Charlotte called out rushing towards him. "What's going on?"

"I'm taking you away, honey we're leaving" he declared while Toke tried to move towards her. "Please don't take her away. Please" she cried and her mom held her back. They all entered into the car, Charlotte waved goodbye at her just before Henry drove off.

Muna walked out of a salon in a low cut, a big ring-shaped earrings on, see had her bag on  her left hand side as she quicky took a picture looking at it.

 "Not bad" she commented  with a smile. She didn't expect the hair thehnew look to fit her but it did.  She the drove over to the studio.

She waited till Kazeem's free time when he'll definitely be having lunch at his usual sit out. Immediately she saw him coming she blocked him. 

"Hello handsome, wanna buy me lunch?" She asked and Kazeem stared blankly at her .  She was surprised at the new haircut. "Whst has the poor hair done to you?"

"What happened to your hair?" He added and she laughed. "I took it off, I didn't need it again. I needed a fresh start. Someone that would love me for this new cut and not because that girl pretty in braids."

  "Good to know you're starting afresh. I love that word"

"I'm glad you do" she replied. "What are you doing here?"

"I miss you already... I miss your nagging okay? And I'm not here to reconcile but I'm here to save you from making a big mistake with Fatima. If someone had told me from the start that dating Bola would cause me pain, I would have pulled away. Maybe my life wouldn't be this messed up. Kazeem I've taken time to think things through an I don't want you falling into the same mess."

"What happened between you and Fatima"

"Fatima convinced me to have sex in secondary school, and then made me go through abortion. I hated myself. I wondered how she heartlessly went through countless"

"She's a different person"

"Did she let you in about what made her repent?" She snapped her voice raising up a bit. "She would skip that part, it's only righteous to skip that part. The last procedure she did damaged her womb. Fatima can never have babies and I know you would want children running around the house. I would love to see you become a father, but it would be impossible with Fatima. I'm sorry but I have to let you know" she confessed leaving KazeeWwho was yet to digest the information.

Just as Muna walked close to her car, she saw Omo coming with a school bag at her back.

"Good afternoon"  She greeted and Muna mumbled something inaudible. "I was greeting you"

"And I answered" 

"No you didn't, you just did like this" Omo paused mimicking her response. "When did it become mandatory to respond to people's greetings? For crying out loud we're in Lagos!"

"What do you have against me?" Omo shot at her, "Oh please! You're not that important"

"You don't like me, Ugo has to warn me about you when I show up unaware at the house"

"Don't worry, when I'm gone, you two would not have to worry about what I think"

"Muna I'm not dating Ugo"

"Why am I wasting my time talking to you? I thought you just started working at that supermarket"

"Yes I ...." Omo paused in thought. "Who told you about it? Don't even lie that it was Ugo. You two haven't spoken in two weeks and the only time I posted that thing was on Facebook"

Muna scoffed, she would not agree or admit to secretly trailing Omo on facebook and Instagram. "Like i said darling, you're not important and I have things I want to do"

"I was sent on an errand so I decided to stop by and say hi to Ugo.  Muna, I'm not leaving until I talk to you"

"I'll enter the car and drive off" 

"I'll enter with you"

"And I scream out that you're mad woman who wants me dead" Muna retorted now folding her hands. "Okay, fine. Just give me five minutes of your time"

"You have two minutes"

"Ugo loves you and misses you" Omo confessed with a faint smile. "He still does?" Muna asked and Omo nodded in agreement. "But you like him too"

"I do...a lot." Omo admitted . 

Ugo is every girl's wish. He's so patient and caring.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. Ugo can never be happy with anyone except you. The big question is, do you love him? If you don't, I'll have to make my move but if you do, I'll back off."

Cynthia walked into the sitting room from rukky's room where she was only to see Rukky's mom in the sitting room. "Aunty which time you come?" Cynthia asked, "Just now, I even shock when I see door open. Wetin you fine come?"

"I just say make I show face maybe I go see food chop"

"Small Banga soup remain, you don chop small?" "Yes ma. I have to go"

"No vex say things no too dey for house" Mama Rukerwe apologized. 

"Make i start to go" she announced leaving then she sighed in relief then her phone rang. "Hello Ma" she picked up, "Have you done it?" She asked, "Yes but I almost got caught"

"At least you didn't"

"What's in that box?" Cyntht asked, "No questions dear. Now I need to go to the police station and make a report against your cousin" "I can't do that, she's my cousin"

"You won't do it for 250,000 naira?"

"Are you kidding me?" She asked, "That's my ten months salary"

"I'll have it wired into your account. Promise you'll do it"

"Okay.... Okay I will" Cynthia seemed unsure. "If you cross me I'll kill you, I hope you know that"

"I'll do it... I'll do it"