OlaOlowo Media

“REDEEMED HEARTS” Episode 4 Tife hesitated, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Arinze sat with her holding her hands. “The reason I left so abruptly was because I received an urgent call from the medical facility informing me that my brother had fallen into a coma. He remained in that coma for six agonizing weeks, and then one morning, he passed away. It broke my heart, but in some strange way, I felt relieved because his health had been deteriorating for years. He couldn’t take care of himself, couldn’t speak, and couldn’t walk; he depended on others for everything. That’s how I found myself completely alone in this world. I realized it was time to end our little charade, so I sent in my resignation and stayed in Lagos for a few months.” Arinze’s heart arches as he listens to her story. “Tife, God, I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have gone through all of that alone. You should have come to me.” “How was I supposed to know that you genuinely cared?” Tife responded. Arinze shook his hea...

“REDEEMED HEARTS” Episode 3 As Tife poured out her painful story, Arinze couldn’t help but feel the depth of her pain. She had been just a young lonely girl, and the burdens she had carried were enough to scar anyone deeply. “I can never forget that year; that was when I truly understood what sorrow meant,” Tife began. “I had just finished high school and was awaiting admission to the university. My aunt and her family had traveled during the summer, leaving me alone with my brother and one domestic staff. The nurse usually worked from morning to evening, but my brother was having a bad day on this particular day. So, the nurse had to stay and watch over him throughout the night.” Tife’s voice wavered as she recounted the painful memories. Arinze’s heart ached as he watched her cry, wishing he could erase her pain forever. Yet, he knew that despite the hardships she had endured, she had survived. With a trembling voice, she continued, “It was late at night, and the domestic staff had r...

“REDEEMED HEARTS” Episode 2 Months had passed since Arinze last laid eyes on Tife. Destiny, as it often does, reunited them again, this time in a restaurant in Wuse 2. The sight of her seated across from an older man kindled a surge of jealousy in him, starting a chain of unexpected events. “I suppose some things never change, you mingling with well-off older men,” Arinze muttered bitterly as he approached Tife. His words oozed with accusation; his pain laid bare. “You are such a disgrace Tife, after what I believed we shared, you abandoned me. I should have realized your true worth. I don’t even know why I wasted my time on you, thinking I could change you. You bring shame to womanhood.” Tife remained composed as Arinze hurled insults at her, but her companion was shocked and angered. He retorted, “Excuse me, who are you, and what gives you the right to speak to her in such a manner?” Arinze shot back with disdain in his voice, “Indeed, just look at yourself, are you not old enough to...

REDEEMED HEARTS Episode 1 Boluwatife, a beautiful girl studying Human Resources Management, and Arinze, a law student who is every young girl’s dream boyfriend, were drawn to each other in the unlikeliest circumstances. They met at UniLag, where Arinze’s admiration for Tife, as she was popularly called, was kindled. Tife was a Jambite, and Arinze was in his final year. Tife didn’t reciprocate Arinze’s feelings; she was more interested in older, wealthy men. Arinze’s friends tried to convince him that Tife wasn’t worth it since she followed men for money; it was an open secret. Despite knowing this, Arinze couldn’t help himself; he was obsessed with her. He followed her everywhere until Tife started avoiding him. Arinze’s obsession also affected his academics, but his only saving grace was that he had good grades before then. Arinze suffered in Tife’s hand; he spent his allowance buying her gifts, taking her out and waiting for hours to see her, and when she eventually showed up, she wo...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND by Olowojesiku Deborah Iyanu Episode 13 It was a bright morning, Uloma woke up and went to the window side to receive fresh air. While at that spot, she looked out and something caught her attention. Still lost in looking outside, she felt a hand on her waist, it was that of her newly wedded husband. She smiled and allowed him to place a kiss on her cheek. They had been married for a week and it had been an awesome journey, what she shared with Dr. Kings was truly different from what she shared with Teacher Emeka. She looked at her husband’s face and bless the day she agreed to do life with him. He treated her with so much love and care, the respect he showed her was something she just couldn’t explain and that made her love him more. How Dr. Kings adores Uloma made her regret falling cheaply for Teacher Emeka. After agreeing to marry him, Dr. Kings didn’t waste time, he went to her people and paid her bride price and since Teacher Emeka was dead, there was no hi...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND  Episode 11&12 Uloma couldn’t stop pacing her room, Teacher Emeka’s death came as a shock to her, though he did so much evil to her, she never wished him dead. She had wanted him to be alive and see her succeed, she wanted to watch him crawl before her for forgiveness. Uloma brought out the three letters Mama Ada handed over to her and opened the one addressed to her and read through. Uloma, By the time this letter gets to you, I would have gone to the great beyond. I must make amends for every of my evil deed so that my soul can rest in peace. Uloma, I never had plans to use and dump you, I truly fell in love with you but then, I allowed my selfish sexual desire to get into me. I understand that you were a naive young girl, I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you. I had no plan to impregnate you, I just wanted us to have fun but then, I should have been a good father and husband when you got pregnant. Uloma, I wished I could turn back the hands of time b...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND      Episode 9&10 Uloma’s children grew rapidly and God helped her inculcate morals into them. She joined a Bible-believing Church and consecrated her life to God. Uloma took her job and training seriously and in no time, she graduated, her diligence made earned her a job in the maternity. The senior nurse advised that she can still pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor even after two kids and that she had in mind. Uloma was able to secure an apartment and there she lived with her children though, she still does a part-time job for the rich woman. Amara grew into a beautiful young lady and even though she had Teacher Emeka’s face, Uloma could see herself in Amara. She made sure she had a great relationship with her children whereby they were able to open up to her when they needed someone to talk to. When her children entered puberty, she made sure she was always available despite her busy schedule. She would always tease and ask them if...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND by Olowojesiku Deborah Iyanu Episode 7&8 Uloma wept for some minutes before cleaning up herself, she felt used and abused. She had promised herself that Teacher Emeka would never see her n@kedness again not even after trying to kill her and to think he left her to die if not for the timely intervention of Mama Chioma but here she was, unable to keep that little promise she made to herself. Later in the evening, Uloma went to the health center and explained all that happened to the nurse hoping there was something she would do for her but all the nurse did was mock her calling her a pr0stitute who was just pretending to be a victim of circumstances. Uloma left the health center feeling miserable, she wished she didn’t go to explain things to the health center in the first place. Uloma accepted her fate and continued with her business but this time around, she stopped keeping her money at home. She opened an account through a bank agent where she kept her money...

THE SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND  Episode 5&6 I look out of the window watching the singing bird that particular hour of the morning, I looked at my protruded stomach and tears begin to drop from my face, I looked tired and stressed. It has been five months since I started leaving with Teacher Emeka’s parents and my pregnancy is already in its second trimester. Life has never been fair since I step my feet into that house. Mama Ada claimed I brought so much misfortune to her son, Teacher Emeka calls me the bad luck and he wished he never met me, I think I should be the one calling him that. Teacher Emeka’s father had been indifferent about the whole issue, I feel his wife has an upper hand in the house. Mama Ada would never stop reminding me how I brought so much gloom to her son, she would always narrate to me that her son was already making headway in life before I came into his life and the moment he met me, he lost the direction God gave him in life. Virtually everyone in the vil...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND  Episode 3&4 A month into our long holiday, I began to feel weak and sick, I was restless and would sleep at any slight opportunity. Dad got me some pills which I took but the symptoms persisted, it was then my Dad advised we visit the village hospital, something I didn’t fight. Getting to the village hospital, my blood sample was collected and a series of tests were carried out and to my surprise, the doctor confirmed that I was six weeks pregnant. I was so ashamed of myself, my Dad was more ashamed, he landed me a deafening slap not minding that we were in the hospital premises. Dad dragged me to the house and pounced on me the moment we got into the compound, Mom tried to stop him but she couldn’t, my siblings were all surprised to see my dad in such a furious state as he hardly lay hands on us. After giving me enough scars on my face, Dad broke the news to my mom and siblings, my mom screamed the moment she received the news of my pregnancy. You know,...

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND by Olowojesiku Deborah Iyanu Episode 1 As I walk to the podium to receive the certificate of my doctorate degree from Harvard University and also the award for being the best student, tears couldn’t stop falling from my eyes. At last, I was able to bag a doctorate degree as and I am now a Ph.D. holder at the age of forty-five. I watch my children smile happily as they accompany me to the stage to receive my certificate and award. Ohh pardon my manners, let me introduce myself to you. I am Uloma Ejidike but my friends call me Ulo or Oma for short and I have a story to share, a heart-touching one that might probably bring tears to your face but please, you don’t have to weep because of me, I am now a successful woman but then, I wasn’t successful with love. So, follow me down memory lane but don’t forget to pick your lessons. I got married at sixteen or should I say I fell in love at sixteen, a mistake that changed the course of my life forever. I was in SS2 when I...

CHAPTER 42 ( Final Chapter) “THE REVEREND’S SON”  ©Opeyemi Akintunde As inspired by the LIVING WORD 35 YEARS LATER--UPDATE Ademide walked out of Prison. I was there with my Family; Timothy, our Kids and my brother Peter. We went with his entire family to receive him. The joy on his face was second to none.  "Now I can retire,  and step down for you to take the place God has ordained for you." Reverend Bada said While Reverend Bada was serving his jail term , Pastor Usman Dauda handled the church perfectly and when Reverend got out, he stepped back into his office. So it was a beautiful thing to hear him say that he will step down for Ademide. Ademide had become 54 years old. He went to Hug his Mother; Reverend Mrs  Bada who had been on the Wheelchair all the while. She never recovered from the Spinal injury. He shook my brother’s hand. My brother Peter had risen to the post of a Judge in between that 35 years and has since been  attending our Reverend Bada's chu...

CHAPTER 40 & 41 “THE REVEREND’S SON”  ©Opeyemi Akintunde As inspired by the LIVING WORD It seemed like the Judge overheard my conversation with my brother because he literally said the same thing in a legal way. He applauded the Reverend for making amends like he preached and said because of that he would give them both reduced sentences.  He stated that based on the Legal System he was guilty of obstructing and preventing justice and therefore was liable to imprisonment for seven years, but based on his goodwill in the society and leading by example, he would only serve half of that time.  As for Ademide, for the offence of murder, he was liable to imprisonment for life but just like his father got Mercy, he was been sentenced to 35 years in prison. I think that was fair enough right? ***** Usman and I visited my mother after we watched the live broadcast. While watching the live broadcast, he wept... "These are the Godly parents that raised me in church, not the mon...