20/03/2019
BROKEN AND BRUISED Episode 26&27
STORY BY CHARITY MONTERTE OPIKA
"Start talking now....I need to know what this sneaky business is all about" Ofelia demands answers with hard straight face, Tobi knew she was going to ask him this question but he doesn't know how to answer her without sounding disrespecting, so he still keeps quiet
"I'm waiting for your answer, how long you're going to take in here all depends on your willingness to talk so start talking now
"So sorry Mum, we really had no plans of staying out this late, actually we didn't go anywhere, she was just with me in the office, I had plans of bringing her home earlier but I had clients who held me up till late....for that I'm truly sorry and I can only promise this will never repeat itself"
"I thought your relationship with my daughter was a healthy one until when she started lying to me today"
"Excuse me"
"Yes, Melanie lied to me, she said she was going somewhere brief and would not waste time coming back but only for me to wait for her in vain, she had me worried....but why would she lie about going to see you if there isn't something fishy going on between you two"
"Would you believe me if I tell you I had no idea Mel would come to my office"
"No I can't believe you"
"But I'm telling you the truth, I won't deny that we had plans of meeting in the morning but she also told me the same thing she told you, saying she had somewhere she needed to go to.... she even rejected my offer for a ride and that's it, I never insisted, I let her be and how she ended up in my office is also something I had no idea about, I just found her there.... I was going to come see her here at this time probably"
"If that's truly what happened, why didn't you two call to inform me, why did you make me so worried all day"
"Let me take the blame for that because it's true Mel told me her battery had run down but I had no idea she didn't inform you about her coming until when she told me after sometime, maybe we should have called you with my phone but that never crossed our minds"
"Of course why would it not cross your mind if all you do is" she stops herself from what she wanted to say so she composes herself
"Tobi, I know you're a good man and you have good Intention towards my daughter but I also want you to know that I'm very much aware of the fact that you're in love with her" Tobi is frozen at one place just, wondering how Ofelia knew
"My daughter has gone through a lot and still continues to do so, so I would not encourage you to get your hopes high with her or even ask her to be your girlfriend because I will not permit it, what's important right now is her health and the health of the baby she's carrying"
"I understand Mum but...."
"No Tobi, there is nothing you can say that will convince me here, Melanie is my daughter and my work is to protect her, I should have started doing it a lot more earlier, I would have avoided so many mistakes but it's not too late at all.......so like I said, you have done so much for her but you shouldn't take advantage of that fact, she's weak and still in no position to fall in love with anyone....as a pregnant woman, I don't think she's even interested in any form of intimate relationship, I don't want you to take advantage of the fact that she's so comfortable around you to think that she's in love with you, go out, look for your class and leave my daughter alone......you have already done so much for her that's why we all shall remain forever grateful, take back your job offer, give it to some one else, stop seeing my daughter and I shall forever give you the respect a gentleman that you're deserves" Tobi takes all this pain in and wants to cry but yet he can't cry in front of her, he understands Ofelia's point and yet he doesn't know why she would ask him not to see Melanie, the love he just found and he's just starting to enjoy
"It's OK mum....I will keep this in mind.....good night" it's the only thing he could say and he tries to walk out but suddenly Mel does something he didn't even have the courage as a man to do, she kicks her blanket off and gets out of the net, for a few seconds he thought she was not really pregnant, she stands facing him and ignoring her mother at first
"It's not alright Tobi..... it's not, I can't believe you're just a stupid coward"
"Melanie.... were you not the one sleeping in the car"
"Well I felt sleepy and pretended to be sleeping when we we're on our way here.......just today for the whole of today, you made me find and have a reason to want to keep and have this baby when you promised me you wanted to be part of it's growing up and here you're giving up on a one day old affair.....well not just any affair but a beautiful affair between Melanie and Tobias why...Tobi why"
"Calm down Melanie, this isn't the best way to solve this" Ofelia is still lost for words to even react
"Are you going to listen to my mother and give up on what we feel for ourselves just like that" she now turns to her mother
"Mum, you had no right to tell Tobi such nonsense..... you should be grateful and so thankful to this man that I am alive today all because of his selfless sacrifice, if you can't see that well I see, this is part of growing up and healing, I know you're my mother but if you really know what's good for your daughter's health, you will not put a stumbling block for us.....you shouldn't have asked Tobi to stay away from me because it's already too late, he's now my boyfriend, and all thanks to you, I was able to realize I love him too, so yes, I went to see the counselor in the morning and that's where I got to know I wanted to be with him, I went looking for him and found him.....he made me smile and had me feeling happy all day long" Ofelia still so shocked to talk now decides to leave the room so quietly but caught her sister celebrating this news outside ever she has been spying Mel just gave her..........back inside, Tobi is not Happy with how Mel handled everything
"You didn't have to tell her we are already seeing each other Mel"
"Why?.... so she would run you out, and you never return"
"We could have found a way to meet without her noticing it"
"That means you still don't know Ofelia.... I was only protecting this beautiful story of ours"
"I'm so sorry I created you more problems"
"That's not true, Mum has to understand a pregnant woman also has feelings"
"I should get going now, we should talk more over the phone when I get home so take care"
"I love you Tobi.... drive home safe" she escorts him out, to the car and waits till when he leaves and then goes back to meet her mum who refused to talk to her, it's only her aunt who was all smiles............
Three months later
The relationship between Mel and Tobi is getting so serious but they have managed to keep it from the Media and other people, it's only a few close friends and families who were told about it, her mother has even accepted to the relationship....... Tobi has not introduced Mel to his mother yet but he's sure she's going to insult Mel from the word go but he intends to tell his mother, soon because Mel's days are drawing and seen they will be parents...... they continue to work, together with her finding it so hard to keep up with the rest of the staffs because of her condition, Tobi has asked her to stay home but she doesn't want to hear it.........
it's a Wednesday midmorning when the so busy Tobi is interrupted in his office by Melanie who has come to inform him she's going home and Tobi is surprised because her mood has changed and her morale is also down
"Babe do you feel sick"
"Just some slight headache and some fatigue I guess" Tobi even in his busy and tight schedule abandons his works and moves over to her side to attend to her himself, he touches her head and indeed there is fever
"Can I drop you Home, you really need to rest"
"No no... don't worry, I can find a cab outside, just don't worry about me I only came to inform you....it's not very serious"
"I guess this means we won't visit my mother tonight like we had planned"
"You will get to know when you pass by in the evening on your way home"
"It's alright babe....I'm so sorry I'm just so busy lately and have almost no time for you.....it's not intentional"
"And why should you apologise for that Hun...... if there is someone who understands your situation more clearly it's me Melanie"
"I love you and take care"
"Love you too Tobi"..... they hug and she leaves, as she disappears in the glass building, Tobi continues to look after her longingly asking God to protect her for him.......but he also wonders why she has refused to move in to his complete house with her mother and aunt as they wait for the baby to deliver and then they can think about their wedding, she has totally refused and they are still in their small house.....
Mel reaches the reception area, she finds Janet with a glass in hand, she didn't pay attention to what she had in the glass but since they don't really talk because even if she greets her the babe will never answer, she just put down her bag on the waiting couch and heads to the ladies room that's just in the same building but somewhere far from the other busy offices, she had the urge to p*e so she hurried in there, unknown to her the evil witch followed her, she opened the door and entered in there for close to three minute, she couldn't care less how she looks these days because she just feels heavy and so tired which becomes so irritating but she couldn't ignore the mirror in the room, she looks herself in the mirror anyways, she looked so unkept and so ugly in her own eyes, she wonders how Tobi is able to ignore her ugliness and embrace her everyday, she realises he definitely is a king especially when she remembers the fact that he makes it a point to come every morning picking her up for work, but he would kneel down on the hard floor and smear her legs with her lotion as he talks to her asking how her night was, she would be just starring at his handsome and beautiful face as she imagines how sweet his lips she has never tasted must be.......as she remembers and imagines, she becomes so excited coupled with the fact that she's finally going to meet her mother in-law today, she needs to look good and so presentable and that's why she should pass by the saloon on her way home.....she finally washes her face and comes out, she closes the door and sees no one, she heads back for her bag but she takes one step, the second and on the third one, she steps on something watery on the tiles, she tries to balance her heavy self only to fall on her tummy and hitting her face and tummy so hard on the tiles, she lets out a sharp and loud cry rolling on the floor, Janet who has been hiding somewhere runs back to her seat because she's sure Mel's cry has attracted attention....Mel continues to roll until when she stops suddenly so unable to move.......to be continued
BROKEN AND BRUISED Episode 27
Melanie's loud scream has attracted the attention of the three ladies whose offices are close to the rest room
"Did you all hear that" one asked
"Yes someone just screamed like she was in pain"
"Who could it be at this very time, was someone attacked or what"
"I need to see" one of them wants to go see herself but the two stop her
"Don't go, what if she was attacked and now the person ends up doing the same to you"
"But that scream....it was a scream of someone who needed help"
"Are you the only one in this big building, or are you the owner.....it's not our business as long as we're safe so chill...we didn't hear anything" just then Jane comes knocking at their office
"Hey Jane"
"Hi girls, did you all hear that"
"Hear what"
"Someone screaming..... I heard it from my office down and it was coming from this direction"
"Sorry we were talking and we didn't hear, maybe it's something outside this building"
"I'm very sure but it's fine.....continue with your work" she comes out of the office but she's not convinced just yet, she looks around and nothing looked abnormal, she decides to head over to the reception area where she finds Janet with an empty glass in front of her, she seems to be busy and occupied with whatever she was doing
"Hey Janet"
"What's up Jane.... need my help with something"
"I thought I heard someone scream around here, did you hear it"
"Nope....you're only being paranoid, I'm sure it was only in your head because even if someone screams from out of this building or any where around here, I would be the the first person to hear it" Jane looks at her studying her face and looks like she doesn't believe her
"What?.... why look at me like that"
"It's nothing" Jane now takes her gaze away from her and spots Mel's bag on the couch
"Have you seen Melanie around"
"Nope....why would I, you even know that woman and I don't get along with each other, we can't see eye to eye" Jane nods and understands that this girl is just so heartless and must be knowing something she's not saying.....
"Where are you Mel" she just wonders without saying it out loud, she turns to go to the one place she had not checked and that's the Ladies room, she had not gone far from there when she thought she had seen someone on the floor, her heart is racing as she prays its shouldn't be Melanie....she increases her sp*ed and reaches down to where she's lying
"Melanie what happened" she tries to move her but Melanie is not making any move, she panics not knowing what to do, she wants to scream someone should come help her but she thought it was useless since they all claimed they never heard her scream.......she checks her coat and she's glad she'd carried her phone along, she fidgets with the phone scrawling through Tobi's name.............
Tobi has been holding a meeting with a client for the last one hour plus some minutes now, and it looks like the meeting is not about to end soon, it's not a secret to anyone in the office that whenever Tobi is having such a meeting, no one disturbs him no matter the urgency of the matter, it's always Jane to take care of any emergency that comes, even if one calls his personal cellphone he will not pause the meeting to take the call unless it's Melanie calling, so as he's in the middle of this important meeting, his personal cellphone starts to Ring, he gets it out of his pocket and it's Jane, he wonders what could be so important that she would forget he doesn't pick calls at such moments, he ignores the first call, the second and on the third one, he switches off and continues with his meeting........
Jane after the third attempts begins to get frustrated with Tobi
"Please pick up pick up Tobi.... pick the damn phone up" she tries again and it's unreachable, she puts her phone down finally and takes to her feet running towards his office, everyone in the other offices all come out in the corridor asking her what the emergency is but she has no time for them just yet, she chooses to ignore them and just run, she reaches Tobi's door and without, knocking just pushes open the door startling him and he stands up, he looks at Jane like he has seen a ghost, she's breathing heavily and trying to catch he breath
"What's wrong with you Jane.....don't you know I'm in a middle of something so important"
"I'm so sorry but it's her....it's Melanie.... she... she.... she had an accident"
"Jesus....." he drops the phone down and takes to his feet pushing Jane out of his way
"Wait for me" Jane screams but he's already on his way almost reaching the reception area, Jane decides to take off her uncomfortable shoes and runs after him.......Tobi reaches the reception and he's about to get out of the building when Jane screams
"In the rest room" Tobi changes the direction so sharply and by the time he got there, guys had just gathered and are doing nothing apart from watching the almost lifeless Melanie, Tobi pushes through them and dives landing besides Melanie
"What happened to my wife.....My love....babe what happened to you... what happened please talk to me, why did you reject my offer to drive you home" he can't control his emotion because he's already shading tears, all his employees are so dumbfounded and beyond shocked, they had suspected it but they thought it was not true, Mel and Tobi's relationship was indeed beyond the relationship between a boss and employee....they have managed to keep it from them and no one knew except Jane, this is like a bomb to them but seeing Tobi really shading tears means he truly loves her, before all of them could even react to this new developed, Jane arrives
"What are you all looking at, didn't you all say you had no ears to hear a voice in need of help, how come you all have ears to hear what was going on here....get back to work" they leave without any objection and once they are gone, Tobi who is still mentally confused turns Mel and sees blood on the floor and also on her thighs
"She's bleeding Jane....she's bleeding, she's loosing our baby" he looks scared and Jane asks him to move away so she checks and can tell more blood coming
"She's loosing too much blood, we need to take her to the hospital" they carry a bleeding Mel to the car and both of them are headed to the hospital
"What happened Jane.....what really happened"
"I don't know...."
"She was just in my office before this happened, I wish I had insisted more on taking her home.....I just hope she's alright and nothing happens to my child too"
"I'm sure nothing will happen just have faith because you're a good man but right now I just want you to calm down and and drive in clear mind so we can save her and the baby"
"We were just at the doctors office the other day and he assured me that Mel and our baby were doing fine, I was so happy that in a months plus some days time I would become a father"
"Calm down Tobi..... have you called her mother"
"I couldn't even think about it....please help me, I left my phone behind"...........
Ofelia and her sister are at home doing nothing after coming from the garden, they have just arrived home and thinking of what to cook as they also discuss the Melanie and Tobi relationship
" I'm very sure Tobi loves our daughter but I'm also sure his family will not allow this relationship to continue" Ofelia tells Jessica
"And why would you think that would be the case"
"It's the case Jessica, I'm so worried someone will tell his family about Mel's past and that's not something good"
"What past are you even talking about, is it the fact that she almost married that wrong element or the fact that she's pregnant"
"Both my sister, what if they get to know that the baby she's carrying is not Tobi's"
"And who's going to tell them about it....stop this negative thinking but rather convince Melanie to accept moving into the house he offered us because when she gives birth, this small house will not be enough"
"Jessy, I will not meddle because that's Mel's decision to make not ours, I will not ask her to do something she's not in agreement to" her phone starts to ring and she picks it
"Hello.......what?... what happened and where is she..........OK we're coming" she gets up but stops to tell her sister
"We have to get to pioneer"
"Pioneer.... which pioneer, what's there"
"Hospital.... Mel had an accident and Tobi is driving her over there"
"Jesus what happened.... what accident"
"I don't know.... let's get ready and go"............
Tobi and Jane arrive at the hospital and find the medics were already out waiting for them, he had called them on their way so they never really wasted time to get her out of the car and wheel her in, Tobi and Jane who is still barefoot follow inside but they were stopped and asked to wait at the reception area, Tobi is just a shadow of himself just pacing up and down
" Calm down Tobi.... she's already in safe hands and she shall be alright "
"How can you say that Jane, didn't you see her state.... I don't want to loose her or my baby.... what really happened Mel, your shoes couldn't have been the reason why you stripped and fell, did you faint or what"
"Come....sit down with me and I explain" Jane leads him to the chair
"I'm sure she didn't just faint because I heard someone scream from my office, I came out immediately and asked the guys with offices around but non of them said they heard anything.... I then went to the reception area where I found Janet looking so busy, I asked if she heard any one scream but she too said she didn't so that's when I saw her bag on the couch in the reception area, I knew she had not left the building so I had only one place to check and that's the rest room" he's so hurt
"You mean those guys all claimed they never heard her Voice"
"Non of them but that's not important, let's just focus on the most important thing that she's here and being attended to by the Doctor" ......the Doctor comes out asking Tobi to come with him to his office, he follows without wasting any time
"Mac how is she....how is my wife...tell me she's fine"
"Calm down brother, Melanie experienced contraction and had a placental abruption"
"What the hell is even that...is it something serious"
"Yes I won't lie to you, it's a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from inside of the womb wall, it usually causes stomach pain, sometimes there is no blood but in Mel's case there was blood, and I mean plenty of it"
"Oh my God"
"Like I said the placenta has detached from the wall of the uterus either partly or totally... she's bleeding profusely and I'm afraid the bleeding may interfere with the baby's supply of oxygen and nutrients..... without prompt medical treatment, a severe case of placental abruption can have dire consequence for the mother and the unborn child"
"That serious"
"Yes....including death it can be harmful both to the both of them because there was a direct trauma to her abdomen which led to loss of amniotic fluid.....she must have landed down so hard..."
"Is there really nothing you can do to keep the baby....I mean up to it's due date"
"I could if the bleeding had stopped but right now there is nothing I can do, she's loosing too much blood and she also seems to have high blood pressure, if left unattended to, the complications include decreased oxygen to the baby which can lead to brain damage, maternal blood loss leading to shock.... the bleeding in Melanie can not be controlled because we have failed to so brother that leaves us only with one option"
"Which is...."
"We need to deliver this baby early... I mean today"
"But is it not risky"
"I can't tell you it is because I would be lying but if the bleeding doesn't stop she might not make it alive out of this"....... Tobi remains sp*echless so unable to even move, his tears do the talking.......
