Mara's Classics

Chapter 11 A long time ago... "Doctor, look! She's waking." Amara stirred a little and opened her eyes. The voice of the young man that stared at her was muffled in her ears. She groaned in pain as the light disturbed her eyes. After a while, her eyes adjusted to it and the face became clearer. It was Desmond's. He was a very handsome young man. He was an undergraduate of Lagos and had come to Enugu to spend a short holiday with his aunty Beatrice and her husband, Mr Chinta. Amara finally understood the question he kept asking her, "What's your name?" "My name," she mumbled and winced as her head throbbed. She faintly heard the doctor instruct Desmond to give her some time to rest. That he did. It did her a world of good. Before the end of the day, she was seated on her bed and talking to Desmond. "Are you from Enugu?" Desmond asked as kindly as possible. "Yes." "What secondary school do you attend?" She looked to

Chapter 10 Amara stroke the cheek of her little child tenderly. She had watched her being tortured and treated wickedly for three months already. To her, it felt like thirty years. Agony has a way of making time seem longer than reality. Amara touched the bruised eye of her poor child and stifled a sob. She feared to wake the innocent. It came out anyway, in a coarse, loud voice, but the child was not disturbed. "I'm sorry," said she, "I'm sorry. I never wanted you to live this life, my life." She broke off with weeping here. "I never wanted you to feel this pain and suffering. I never wanted it for you! I wanted to protect you, to love you, to want you. You were to be mine and Desmond's. You were to have a happy life. I... I did this to you. I did! I'm suffering for it now. It's painful! It's like hell..." Amara wept. Amara wept too, in her sleep. The repentant mother looked at her child regretfully as she rolled and sobbed such in

Chapter 9 Amara sat on the floor in the backyard of her adoptive mother's house. She had just been beaten with a cane because her adoptive sister had accused her falsely before Mrs Okonji, the mother. Amara was very bitter and expressed her emotion in the language of tears. She hid her face in her knees so no one would hear her. Then she raised her head and looked at the place she called home. It bore no happy memories for her. Mrs Okonji had not adopted her to give her a happy life but to turn her into a slave. Everyday, Mrs Okonji punished Amara. The slightest offences weren't overlooked. Sometimes, there were no offenses at all. A day was just abnormal in the household if the little girl didn't get punished once. What hurt Amara more was that her siblings had imitated their mother. They hated her, for no reason at all. Mrs Okonji encouraged this and Amara became a helpless victim of hate and punishments. Amara didn't blame them much. She blamed her situation. She kne

Chapter 8 "Mosquito coil for sale! Bonanza price! Hundred naira per pack! Make all the mosquitoes for your _domot_ hear "wii!" Fine aunty, come and buy. Aunty, I dey call you!" Amara squinted at the dark skinned trader. He stared back at her and called for her patronage again. "Can he see me?" she muttered. "Aunty, na hundred naira only!" the trader said and hurried towards Amara as if she were going away. Amara leapt out of the way and watched the trader brandish his goods to an elderly woman behind her. There had been no need for the leap. The trader's footwear had brushed her leg but she had felt nothing. From the way he went about his business, Amara was convinced that he had not seen her. Amara walked on. It was strange, this new feeling. She felt so light, like air. She would bump into people and apologize, but she wouldn't even feel them and they wouldn't notice her. Time also passed strangely. It was as if a day was made of t

PART TWO Chapter 7 "Disgraceful!" Uncle Chinta breathed harshly. "I understand your displeasure, brother," was Lady McGregor's modest reply. "And to think that I honoured your household with my presence. I should never have been involved with you lot! What a tarnish to my image, just when Delew's organization is looking for another business partner!" continued Uncle Chinta. Lady McGregor clenched her fist. "If it's just that, brother, there are many other organizations that would gladly go into partnership with..." "You don't seem to understand, little sister that my reputation has been soiled!" "What about me? Eh, Ebuka? I'm the one bearing the whole burden! It was my only son, my flesh and blood that refused to listen to his mother and dispose of that bastard witch he insisted on marrying! Now, he's six feet under the ground and she is not here to pay for it! To hell with your reputation! I don't want

Chapter 6  Desmond pulled his gear and zoomed through the express in his car. It was late in the evening. He was on his way home. As he drove, he thought of Amara. He missed her. It was the reason he was returning two days early from his trip. He smiled as he remembered how Amara had called him, a few minutes after he had begun his journey. "Desmond, there's something I have to tell you," she had said in a shakey voice. "Yes, darling?" "I... Ro... Did you forget your suitcase?" Desmond laughed and deemed himself lucky to have a wife as loving and faithful as Amara. He hadn't made a mistake to defy the wishes of his parents. He hadn't flinched when his friends accused him of marrying a nobody. He had only showered his love and care on her, and she had never given him a cause to regret it. Desmond's phone beeped. He picked it up. He wouldn't have if it wasn't a message from his beloved. She had sent a picture. Strange, he thought. It

Chapter 5 - Falling First day. "Welcome, sweetie. Thank you for honouring my invitation. Don't worry, I'm not a bore. We're going to have a fun time!" Amara smiled and let Laila lead her to a lush room. Quietly, she sat in the well made bed and the soft sheets reminded her of her home. She missed it already. She joined Laila for dinner in the evening. The door opened and she looked agitatedly towards the door. It was just one of Laila's friends. Second day. She and Laila spent the day chatting. Amara liked her company quite well. She was so much like a sister she could tell everything. They shared experiences and gossips. Laila liked to talk about her married friends but Amara didn't say much. She simply listened as Laila pointed out their faults and gave many advices. Amara took it all with a pinch of doubt. Besides, Laila had been divorced twice. The best part was when Laila brought out her family album and shared her happy childhood with Amara. Amara sm

Chapter 3 The party cont'd  Desmond said, "I was telling Amara what good friends we are, earlier this evening." Robert cut in, "Friends? I'd say rivals. You were always trying to take what rightfully belonged to me." Desmond laughed but Amara didn't see anything funny. "I don't think those awards had your name written on them initially," Desmond retorted. "There's a lot of things you have that should have my name written on them," Robert said. He added quietly when Desmond laughed, "And people." Amara pretended not to have heard him and tugged Desmond's hand. "Honey, it's time to dance," she said. "I'm sorry, my sweet, but I promised dad I would meet him right after the toast."  Take me with you, she was about to suggest but he added firmly, "Why don't you dance with Rob? He's an excellent waltzer. He once waltzed Prima Grace Jo." Desmond didn't wait for her reply

Chapter 2: The Party "Good evening, Madam Okonji. I hope you are having a pleasant time." Amara said as she greeted a large elderly woman with a kiss on the cheek. Madam Okonji was normally critical but this time, she was kind and answered Amara's greeting with a pleased laugh and a "Very much, Mrs McGregor. How d'ye do?" "How d'ye do?" Amara responded and Mrs Okonji smiled. Desmond had taught Amara that Mrs Okonji, the owner of Bedazzle Spa, greeted everyone using those words and expected them to be replied properly. He had also taught Amara how to make a good appearance before all the guests by speaking right. Many of Desmond's friends and family all had accents due to their exposure to the western influence. Amara had grown up in a poor environment but had very good diction. Still, she had to speak slowly and pronounce every letter of her words in a grand manner. That would make up for her lack of accent. So, throughout the night, Amara

PART ONE Chapter 1 Amara startled slightly and gave out a gentle gasp as she awoke. Slowly, her consciousness returned to her luxurious bedroom. She lifted her head from the dressing table and stared at her beautiful fair face in the mirror. She saw the deep blue sequin dinner gown she was wearing and remembered what the evening held for her. Another party. She gave a little moan and a sigh as she stretched her supple arms and sat upright. The door opened. "Amara... What's this? Did my little wife fall asleep while making herself up? What a creature." The voice was most affectionate but somehow it failed to ignite that joy of being loved like it always did, before yesterday. "Desmond," Amara said as she reluctantly glided to the beckoning arms of her husband. "Desmond," she repeated with more affection now. She had not forgotten that the arms that held her had lifted her from a pitiable childhood and set her in the company of princes. The same hands ha