“Oni gbese onigbese”.

That was my landlord’s voice and he was referring to me as a debtor. I have been trying to dodge him. It happened that my luck ran out that day. I turned slowly to meet him, expecting loads of insults.

“Baba landlord, good evening sir.”

“Good evening oh, I have been searching for you. I’m sure you have been dodging me. A sinner will always run even when no one is pursuing him. I wanted to inform you that your house rent have been paid. You are free for the next two years.”

“Baba, who paid the rent?” I asked but the landlord ignored me and went inside his house.

“Who could have paid this rent?” I asked in confusion.

Even if Jane has the money, she would never render such assistance; I know her very well. Suddenly, I got the answer.

“It is Johnson. But why didn’t he inform me. It could be a surprise package for me,” I concluded.

I wanted to enter the house but I had a rethink. I decided to go and thank Johnson for rescuing me. I headed for his shop but on getting there, I was informed that he has gone home. I decided to go to his house. At Johnson’s house, I met the husband and wife in a celebration mood and demanded to know the reason. As soon as Johnson sighted me, the smiles on his face vanished, leaving no trace. He became unusually quiet and refused to answer my question. He wife urged him to talk to me but he refused.

“Kel you are part of the family so there is nothing to hide. I’m just returning from the hospital. The doctor confirmed that I am two weeks pregnant,” Mary informed me, ignoring the signals her husband was giving her to shut her mouth.

I thought I didn’t hear her well. I couldn’t understand how someone who was pregnant before a wedding that took place last two months will say that she is two weeks pregnant. I decided to ask her what she said for the sake of confirmation.

“Did you say that you are two weeks pregnant?”“Yes o”, she answered in excitement.

“But what happened to the former pregnancy?”

“Kel, that cross examination is enough. Please, she needs rest. Don’t you think so?” Johnson said, trying to divert the discussion but Mary would have none of that.

“What do you mean by former pregnancy? Please I need clarification,” Mary insisted.

“I thought that you were pregnant before you got married” I asked, wondering why she should be feigning ignorance of what I was talking about.

“How can that be possible? My husband never touched me before we got married. I, that preached to others against fornication, how will I indulge in it? As a matter of fact I was a virgin before I got married. You can confirm from husband; thank God that he is here.”

“Mary, I have always known you as a good girl. But your husband was the person that told me that you were pregnant. You don’t expect me to doubt him.”

“My dear is that true?” Mary asked Johnson.

Johnson flared up in anger.

“Don’t mind this lunatic. Can’t you see that he is frustrated? He has succeeded in ruining his life and is looking for who will go down with him. When I was advising him to follow my footsteps and serve God he refused to listen to me.”

He turned to me.
“Now listen to me, you home breaker. The next time I see you around me or my wife, I will get the police to arrest you. Get out of my house,” he barked.

“Take it easy with him dear,” Mary cautioned.

“So you have been deceiving me all these while. God will judge you,” I cried out in pain.

“God will Judge you too for being a gullible fool,” he retorted.

“Get out and never come back,” He shouted, as I was leaving.

As I was about entering my house, I met my landlord again. I decided to beg him to tell me who paid the rent. At least, it was clear to me that Johnson was not the one.

“This boy, you love asking irrelevant question. You are searching for a reason to say that I am a wicked man but I will not allow it. Who else will pay the rent if not your mother? I called her on phone and informed her that I want to eject you from the house but she begged me not to. In fact, she also paid for waste, and compound sweeping. She wanted to transfer money to me so I’d help settle your electricity bill, so I asked her if your bank account is frozen. That was when she told me that she couldn’t reach you on phone. Prodigal son of a good mother!”

I never uttered a word as he rained abuses on me. You don’t have to pity me. Of course I did not even pity myself because I was receiving the goods I ordered for.

The thought of what transpired between me and Johnson took away sleep from my eyes. I was wondering how I offended Johnson that made him to ruin my life until he sent a letter to me.

Kel,

I am sorry for everything that happened. I never hated you. It is just that you were a victim of circumstance. I used you as a tool of vengeance on Mrs. Onyema and her daughters.

When I joined this church, I fell in love with Onyema’s family. The reason was Mrs. Onyema’s godly lifestyle. I decided that I will marry one of her daughters because I believed that they will take after their mother in godliness and good character. Ugomma her first daughter was my choice. She was beautiful, intelligent and respectful; to crown it all, she fears God. I know that I don’t deserve such girl because of my lifestyle but no man want to marry a bad girl.

I started off by buying all sorts of expensive gifts for her, thinking that I will win her through that but her response shocked me.

“Sorry, bro. Johnson, I don’t need these gifts. I am contented with the little my mother is doing for me. Besides, I don’t accept gift from men. Don’t feel bad about it please.”

Though the plan failed, I must confess that it increased my respect for her. It made me intensify effort to make her mine. My next step was that I started attending all services in church. I almost joined all the departments. The one that frustrated me most was the follow up team. This particular department brought me and Ugomma closer. I did not misuse the opportunity though. I tried my best to convince her of my undying love for God and I’m sure that she believed me. I decided to strike while the iron was still hot, so I proposed marriage to her.

“Ugomma, there is something the Lord has been laying in my heart for months. I decided to pray over it to get more confirmation. To the glory of God, it has been confirmed. Please, will you marry me? I want you to be the mother of my children.”

“Thanks so much for the opportunity. I will pray about it,” Ugomma answered me.

Three days later she called on phone, saying that she want to give response to the proposal. I was so happy because I thought that I already knew what the answer would be.

“Bro Johnson, there is a question I want to ask you, please give me a sincere answer. Will you do it for me?”

“I will do anything for you my angel.”

“Are you truly whom you claim to be? Are you a child of God?”

“Of course, I am a true child of God, born again and spirit filled. Is it not obvious?”

“Anyway, that is not the issue. The main thing is the marriage proposal

“You are right my dear,” I answered in positive anticipation.

Ugomma called my name, paused for a while and gently said.

“I’m so sorry, I will not marry you.”

The news left me devastated but I managed to ask her why she took such decision.

“Bro Johnson, you are not my husband. I have prayed over the proposal. My mum also prayed about it.”

“You have already told your Mum?”

“Yes, she is my confidant. Do you have a problem with that?” She asked calmly.

“No, not at all.”

It was not easy for me to give up Ugomma. So, after some days, I summoned courage and approached her mother.

“Mummy please, I want you to talk to Ugomma. I proposed marriage to her but her reply was not favorable.”

“You want me to talk to Ugomma?”
“Exactly, ma.”

“I will talk to Ugomma but I have a word for you too. You need to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. After that, every other good thing shall be added unto you.”

“I understand ma. Thank you ma.”

After the encounter with Mrs. Onyema, I intensified effort in church work and joined more departments. I also became a giver in the church; I made donation whenever fund was raised in church. All these were done in other for me to qualify to marry Ugomma.