It was the security personnel that rescued Uloma from the dogs. She quickly ran out of the compound.

The wounds on her body was much and the pain was unbearable. She sat on a stone near the compound crying. She was so confused . The security personnel later came out and helped her to get a bike that took her to the hospital for treatment.

When Uloma got back to her house, she knocked on the door for some minutes but there was no response. She concluded that Itohan must have gone out. She tried calling her on phone but it was switched off.

“What I’m I going to do now. Why did I forget to go with my keys. Only God knows where Itohan must have gone to or could she be fast asleep? Itohan “Uloma called aloud.

Almost immediately, she felt someone touch the door from within and it opened.

“Sorry. I didn’t know that you were the one knocking. ” Itohan apologized.

Uloma looked at her and noticed that she was crying.
“I.T what is the matter”

It was as if Uloma has awakened a sleeping child and Itohan started weeping again.

Uloma moved closer to her and started consoling her.
“I.T is okay please dry your tears and tell me what the problem is.”

“Stanford” she spluttered in tears.

“What about Stanford? I hope he is fine?” Uloma asked in agitation.

“He said that he is putting our relationship on the hold for now.”

“God forbid it. That is not your portion,” Uloma declared.

” It is my wish that God will forbid it o. Ah! Stanford want my enemies to laugh at me,” Itohan cried the more.

” But what exactly happened? Did you guys have have a misunderstanding?”

“Yes. Actually since he lost his job. He has not been himself. He gets angry at the slightest provocation. I have tried my best to be nice to him. I don’t just understand him.”

“I.T don’t worry . Just pray about it. God will handle it. She helped Itohan to wipe her tears.

It was at that point that Itohan noticed the wounds on her body.

What happened to you? Where you involved in an accident!”

“Yes” Uloma answered and kept quiet.

“How did it happen?”

“My sister let loose her dogs to attack me.” She spluttered in tears.

“It’s that a joke or what?”

“I wish that I am joking. But alas, it is real. Ujunwa told my mum to invite me to wash clothes for her. When I got there, Ujunwa could not even greet me. Even when I greeted her, she started insulting me. I got angry and decided to come home but Ujunwa released her dogs to attack me.”

“So the reason that your mother invited you to come urgently is to wash clothes for your younger sister,” Itohan asked.

Uloma nodded her head.

“How can Ujunwa agree to such? Did she drink alcohol? Is she the first person to get married before her elder sister?”

“My dear that is my situation. But I know that God will not abandon me. He will wipe my tears,” Uloma said firmly.

“Have you seen it? That was what I thought too but Stanford want to disappoint me,” Itohan cried .

“Don’t worry yourself. Just hand it over to God in prayer. God does not tell lies. You contacted him before entering this relationship. He will not allow you to be put to shame”

**********

After few days, Uloma came back and met IT talking on phone with someone. The way her face was beaming with smiles made Uloma to conclude that it was Stanford.

She waved at Zina who was sitting beside Itohan, quitely sat and was listening to Itohan’s responses.

“I have heard you, but you have to give me time to think and also pray about it,” Itohan told the person.

“Girls, we like pretending . What is she thinking and praying for again. We have been praying that God should touch his mind to come back. Now that he has come back. Why not accept him with open arms,” Uloma thought. She continued listening to the conversation again.

“I understand. Even me, I don’t want long courtship” Itohan said again.

Uloma gave her a thumbs up. Afterwards, she went over to Zina who was smiling sheepishly and gave her a high 5.

Immediately Itohan ended the call, Uloma ran to hug her. “Babe congratulations. God has answered our prayers.”

Itohan smiled and kept quiet.

“But why are you delaying him again. This is somebody we have been praying about. Now God has answered our prayers,” Uloma asked

“It’s not Stanford,” Itohan answered quietly.

“So who is that?” Uloma asked with a frowned face.

“It’s Eric.” Itohan said.

“I.T you don’t need distraction now. I strongly believe that this is distraction. Remember that you prayed and was convinced Stanford is to be your life partner. Whatever is happening now is temptation. It will surely pass. Stanford will come back to you.” Uloma advised.

“When is he going to come back? It’s already 1 week . You don’t expect me to go and be begging Stanford to marry me. ”

” I didn’t say that you should go and beg him. Just wait on God. Pray before you take any step. What is God saying concerning this situation? Is he saying that you should move on? What did God ask you to do? Did he say that you should forget about Stanford and marry Eric?” Uloma advised.

“The truth is that I am confused at this point. But then, I have to be careful so that I don’t miss Eric while Waiting for Stanford who may never come back to me,” Uloma answered.

As the conversation was going on, Zina was trying to endure Uloma. At a point, she couldn’t keep quiet again.

“Uloma, I don’t understand you. I hope you are not jealous of of I.T?”

Uloma was taken aback by the accusation. She turned to face Zina.

“Why would I be jealous of her?”

“It’s obvious that you are not happy for her good fortune. If not why would you be giving her this kind of advise. You should be happy that a rich and handsome man like Eric want to marry our friend. This is the same Eric, who all the girls, including you are dying for. Why are you discouraging her. You advise her to wait for Stanford who is living in one room. My dear, you are a wicked and unfriendly friend,” Zina accused.

“Point of correction, I am not among the girls dying for Eric. I have the qualities I look out for in a life partner. Unfortunately, he does not have the most important ones,” Uloma informed her.

“Shut up my friend. Quality kor quality ni. Look at this one that market has rejected. If you like, don’t go and beg somebody to marry you. Even at 31, no one is pricing you.”

“Ha! Zina , that was too harsh. I don’t like the way you are talking to her.” Itohan cautioned Zina.

“This is just the beginning. I will tell her more. She is an enemy of progress. You better avoid her for your own good. She is not happy that men are trouping in to ask for your hand in marriage. Afterall, you are not the cause of her misfortune. ”

“Zina you are not my God. I will marry at God’s appointed time by the grace of God. I am a princess and a prince, meant for me will come at the right time.”

“You are right. Your appointed time could be when you are already 60. But please, allow the people that their time is now to marry . Dont block their way.” Zina fired at her.

She turned and faced I.T”Listen to me. Avoid Uloma by all means. She is not a good friend. Don’t be telling her what you are doing. I am saying it in her presence so that you will know that this issue is a serious one. She is bitter because no man have ever asked her ‘how are you’ not to talk of proposing marriage to her. She want everyone around her to be like her”

“Are you mocking me? ” Uloma asked with smiles.

“No, I am praising you. I.T please, come and see me off. Zina snapped.

Itohan followed Zina. Immediately they came outside the house. She said,

“Zina, I am totally disappointed at what happened in there now. The way you talked to Uloma is not acceptable at all. You know that she is not our mate. That she humbled herself to be our friend should not make us to insult her.”

“She got what she asked for. Why would she give such advise. If she was asked to choose between Eric and Stanford, would she choose Standford?”

“What is wrong with Stanford?” Itohan asked.

” Poverty is wrong with him. Then, he is proud too. How can someone be poor and proud too. The two doesn’t go together ”

“Zina you are wrong. Stanford is not proud. Whatever is happening between us is the devil’s handwork.”

” Whatever? I don’t care. But let me advise you, you need to secure your future and that of your unborn children. One of the way you can do that is by marrying a rich man. Eric is rich, marry him and secure your future. Marrying him will also help you to win back your parents love.”

Watch out for the next episode.