Happenings 24

Sequence 24
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Continues..
Angela walked into Link chemist to buy her cord clumps and gloves, she felt good to be outside. Her mother never let her go anywhere alone for fear that the child might come when she isn’t home.
She tallied around Arcades for a while as she window shopped and got a track suit for the baby from Pep. It was a lovely blue one perfect for her little boy. her phone rang just as she was leaving PEP, she checked the caller ID and it was Monica, what does she want now? Her inner voice asked. She walked to somewhere to sit and answered the phone when it had rang twice.
“Yes Monica, what do you want?” she asked coldly, after what had happened with Emmanuel she had decided to avoid her at all costs
“boi I have big news, do you have access to today’s Post newspaper?”
“No why would I read a newspaper?’ she asked her
“Just get one and go to Sangwapo, I know you would have wanted to know what was happening if you were me”
“Monica what are you talking about?” asked Angela getting irritated now
“Just read the paper,” Monica answered and cut the line before Angela could respond, what business do I have reading the Post newspaper? Angela thought to herself, as she scanned the environment hoping to see someone with the newspaper, luckily the man sited next to her had one.
“Pardon me sir, may I please see your paper?” the man looked at her quizzically then he folded the paper and handed it over to her. “thank you sir” she got it and opened it, going to Sangwapo was an understatement because there right there on the second page was a picture of Emmanuel and Maya, she had her arm intertwined in his and she was smiling brightly, she wore a black dress while Emmanuel was wearing a black suit, his expression was bleak as Angela couldn’t read it.
There was a message at the bottom, congratulations on your engagement, the caption read. “no” Angela said as she lost the sense of feeling in her legs, “what is this Emmanuel?” she asked as tears threatened to come out of her eyes
“are you okay?” the man who had given her the paper asked, he saw the photo she was looking at and he scoffed, “that poor boy has a very hard hearted mother
“You know him?” Angela asked in disbelief, “know him?” he asked and laughed, “who doesn’t know the Chishas’ in Lusaka?” he asked a rhetorical question and shook his head, “his mother is a ruthless business woman who gives her children away in marriage to possible business partners” he added
“I don’t follow” Angela answered
“That boy is marrying that girl because her parents are very influential in the oil industry; his mother is hoping their union shall bring in more money for her”
“How do you know all this?” she asked him
“because I work for her” he answered and her eyes opened wild, “if you have some feelings for that guy I would advise you to just forget about him, his future had been sealed from the time he was a kid” he patted her shoulder and got the newspaper from her. Angela was still in a state of shock as she remained sitting there in disbelief.
A few minutes passed and she saw a cab driver come her way. He told her that the gentleman asked him to come and take her wherever she was going. She didn’t answer and just got in as she gave him her home address.
“Angie what’s wrong?” her mother asked her the minute she walked in with a gloomy face
“Mother” she said as tears began to fall helplessly, “tell me its not true mother, tell me its all a dream” she begged her
“But how can I tell you that if you won’t even tell me what’s wrong?” her mother asked her as she hugged her and tried to help her keep calm but Angela just cried even more.
***
Emmanuel was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and black boots, he looked really nice in the slim fit suit his mother had chosen him, he stood by her side as they welcomed the visitors to his birthday party and engagement.
His mother was in high spirits, she was laughing happily with every guest as Maya and her mother showed the people to their seats. Emmanuel had a straight face and was very oblivious to what was going on.
“Mum” Maya came to talk to Emmanuel’s mother, “may I please talk to Emmanuel for a bit?” she asked in a very sweet voice with a smile but Emmanuel didn’t smile back
“Yes of course my dear, please do go ahead” she said as she handed Emmanuel over to Maya
“What do you want?” Emmanuel asked her the minute they were out of sight
“I wanted to say thank you for my ring?” she told him happily and flushed the silver ring with a big diamond in the middle
“What?” Emmanuel looked shocked, “I didn’t buy you a ring” he refuted
“Don’t be modest I know you did” she said and smiled
“No I really didn’t” he refused
“Today is our engagement Emmanuel,” she said and jumped up to hug him, “I shall make you happy” she kissed him on the cheek and ran away before he could react. What is going on here? He asked more to himself as he went looking for Rose, if anyone knew what was going on here it would be her.
“Sis what is going on here?” He asked Rose who seemed to be drowning herself in the wine before her
“There he is, the happy groom” she said as she laughed at him
“What is everyone talking about?” he asked her angrily, “and why does everyone keep congratulating me?” he asked her as he realised that everyone was being awfully nice to him today, he had initially thought it was his birthday but something was amiss
“Look here” Rose got the post newspaper from her handbag and handed it over to him, his eyes opened wide. ”I don’t know what you are doing bro but I wish you luck” she said as she tapped his shoulder and poured more wine into her glass and raised it to him.
“Angela” Emmanuel said when his senses started coming back to him, “I have to go” he said to rose who just looked at him and didn’t say anything.
He started to run but then stopped when he heard Bobby, Monica and Maya standing at the entrance talking about something serious, he tip toed their way and stopped behind the trees to avoid been seen.
“So did you tell Angela about the photo in the newspaper?” asked Maya
“Yes I did as you asked” said Monica
“I can only imagine what her face looked like when she saw it” Maya laughed
“Is this really necessary?” asked Monica, “stress is bad for her in her condition” she tried to reason
“Don’t you go feeling sorry for her now” interjected Bobby, “she should have aborted that pregnancy like we told her to,”
“She thought she could take Emmanuel away from me, I have no sympathy for that girl” Maya hissed, “it was a genius move by Emmanuel’s mother to put that photo in the paper” she added
“What?” Asked Emmanuel as he emerged from his hiding place, Monica almost jumped and Maya just looked at him with an innocent face, “you people are so worthless” he yelled, “This is a person’s life you are playing with. And you Bobby, there is no hope for you yet” he told him as he started to walk away but Maya tried to stop him. “Don’t you dare come near me” he yelled at her and she stopped in her tracks
“Emmanuel” Rose called out as she came running down the stairs of the entrance looking all sober when she was tipsy just a few minutes ago, she reached and gave him the phone, ‘Angela is in labour’ the message read and Emmanuel instantly broke out in a sweat
“This can’t be” he told her
“Well it is” she answered
“What is going on here?” Maya asked as she wanted to know what the two were talking about
“If anything happens to Angela,” Emmanuel pointed a warning finger at them, “I swear on my unborn sons’ life that I will make your lives a leaving hell” he told them and his voice was so filled with hatred that it sent shivers down Mayas spine. Rose grabbed him and they ran to the car.
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To be continued..