Anuri worked hard and efficiently throughout the next three weeks. She really impressed her boss and many clients of the company were endeared to her.
Anuri stepped into the accounts department, heading for the manager's office. He was a man in his early fifties. She met him talking with someone. 'Excuse me briefly,' he told his guest. 'Hello, Anuri.’She smiled. 'Good morning, sir. I have come for those documents.’He snapped his fingers. 'Oh, yes, they are here.' He pulled out his drawer and offered a file containing papers to her. 'The other report, I'll send to him myself.' 'Alright.' She received it and left the office. She went downstairs, humming a song to herself. Suddenly, her right foot slipped off the step. 'Aw… ' It all happened in a split of a second. Anuri fell, hitting her ankle, waist and elbow on the staircase. Pain registered in her brain and travelled backwards, spreading her nerves with great intensity. 'Aw&Anuri visited James and his family on Sunday evening. His children were very glad to see her. She gave them a bag bearing some provisions and some books. As usual James' wife was aloof to her. She had not changed. Anuri did not let that demoralize her. She had a good chat with James before taking her leave.Back at home, Anuri found herself longing to be with Jerome and his children. She wondered what they were doing at that particular moment. Was he thinking of her now? Was it wise to have refused his date? She could not tell. Betrayal had made her too wary of almost everything.On Monday morning, Anuri arrived at work feeling calm. She was dressed in a black suit beautifully designed and the dark colour contrasted beautifully with her complexion. Jerome was already at his desk. When it struck eight o'clock, she reported to his office. He was going through some files.‘Good morning sir.'Jerome looked up. Their eyes met. He smiled, his eyes appraisin
Daddy! Daddy! Welcome, daddy!' Jerome's children chanted as he drove into his compound the next day. It was around 5:10pm. The children were at the verandah with Mrs. Onyenso and another boy of fourteen years. They jumped up and down excitedly as they drove in. It was drizzling with rain, so the children could not run out. Moreover, Jerome had warned them not to run towards a moving vehicle for whatever reason. A friend of his had nearly killed his kid who had run out excitedly to greet him. The child had come in the way before he could swerve. Luckily, the child had not died but he was injured. That had made Jerome warn his kids seriously against such excitement and they are obeying him.Anuri looked at him as the car came to a halt. 'Umu gi alola.’'Yes,' he breathed, resting his head on the seat base with his eyes closed. He looked tired, she thought, feeling the impulse to touch his cheek and massage his neck. She collected her thoughts, willing the thoughts away
A knock sounded at the door. Leaving the textbook she was studying, Anuri stood to answer the call. It was Jerome.‘Hello,' she greeted lightly, stepping back.‘Hi.' He patted her cheek. He was his usual handsome self, clad in a short-sleeved white shirt over a pair of black trousers. 'I will not sit down, Anuri. My mother and two of my sisters are around. I want you to come and meet them.' His eyes met hers.'Oh…' She nodded slowly. 'I heard a car drive in. I didn't know it was them.' She looked at her dress.He took her hand. 'I mara mma. Come on, let's go. They are waiting.''They know you came to call me?''Yes, they do.'Together, they left her apartment. Jerome took the back door into his house. She was silent as he led her through the kitchen corridor towards the living room. There was a hush as they came in and then silence. Anuri gazed at Jerome's family for the first time, feeling pleased and sel
On Thursday evening, the following week, Jerome came to see how Anuri was spending the evening. It was two hours since they came back from work and he desired her company. He found her in the living room, relaxed on the settee, holding a book. She looked up as he came in. 'Hello,' she smiled warmly.'Hello, how are doing?' He sat down beside her, gazing at her fondly.‘I’m fine… And you? Have you eaten?' She touched his cheek gently.I have.' He patted her hand 'Were you reading?''I was about to.' She returned her attention to her book.'What's the name of the book?’'It's a collection of short stories entitled 'A Battle of will'.''A Battle of Will,' he repeated, taking the book from her. 'Have you read it before?’'I have, it's very interesting.' She said enthusiastically.'Really?’'Very Much.’'Mmh, can you rea
Anuri sat in front of her house, doing her Saturday laundry. Suddenly, she heard approaching footsteps. Jerome was not at home. He had gone to see a business associate and only ten minutes had gone. The footsteps were distinctly feminine. Expectantly, she looked in the direction of the sound wondering who it was. May be Mrs. Onyenso's visitor. Just then, a figure appeared round the bend and halted a few feet from her. It was a woman in her early thirties. She was very pretty and had an air of strong sophistication around her. She was a bit dark complexioned, clad in a beautiful emerald satin suit. Anuri was surprised. She did not know the lady. And… why did she regard her so?...Anuri raised her eyebrows, 'Hello.''Keep your greeting to yourself,’ the lady spoke with vehemence, moving closer to her.'You are Anuri Uchechi, aren't you?''I am and how can I help you?' she asked sharply.'You can help me by leaving Jer
Twenty-five months later 'Sweetheart! Our fair lady is yelling,' Jerome exclaimed, his voice rich with joy and satisfaction.Anuri laughed from the adjoining room. 'I'm coming. Let me finish with Ola.'Anuri, now Jerome's wife had given him through the grace of the Light, a very beautiful baby girl. Their joy was tremendous. Kelechi and Ola were equally excited and jubilant over the arrival of the new one.Still involved in the affairs of Golding Cosmetics Limited, Anuri served as one of the supervisors of the firm.Presently, she stepped into their cozy bedroom, holding Ola by the hand. The latter was angelically dressed in a pink lacy gown, her feet adorned in black glossy shoes. Her hair was beautifully braided and decorated with fancies. She was very pretty. They were preparing for an outing. Ola relinquished Anuri's hand and ran to
Activities were aflame in the campus, students walked to and fro the lanes, some hurriedly, some seriously and some lackadaisically. Occasionally, cars sped by leaving a cloud of dust behind. It was the penultimate month of the year; everyone was preparing for the first semester assessment tests which would take place first week of December.Nneoma and her closest friend, Gladys sat comfortably in the campus library studying their textbooks and solving mathematical sums. The well stocked and arranged library was quiet except for the hums from the air conditioners in the spacious hall. Students went in and out of the library from time to time, most laden with seriousness.Nneoma loved the silence of the library. It afforded her the opportunity to assimilate her works more easily.'Nneoma,’ Gladys whispered.She barely looked up from her book. 'Hmm?''Will you go to the theatre with me tonight?''Don't you realize we are in the library?' Nneom
The assessment tests had commenced. It was the third day since it begun. As usual everyone was excited. Nneoma sat at her desk, summarizing her works. It was an hour to commencement time which was 10:00 N.T.Nneoma was still reading when suddenly she heard a deafening gunshot! Pandemonium broke loose. Everyone scrambled to his feet and ran helter-skelter, seeking for refuge.Nneoma shot up from her seat, gathered her books and fled. It was the noisome cultists again. The grotesque sight which met her in front of their classroom sent vibrating shocks of horror down her spine. There on the floor, lay her course mate, Rufus, cold dead, cold dead in his own pool of blood!Trembling, Nneoma ran off. 'Goodness, goodness, goodness!' she cried hugging herself in absolute shock. Was Rufus a cultist? Or was he a victim? Such a fine young man! Nneoma thought grilled with terror.The killers had disappeared in a twinkling of an eye, leaving others aghast and bemu