Chapter 48

Sewa, Lolade and Denny all settled down inside her small room. Sewa sat down on the small stool close to her window with her daughter on her lap. She felt at ease holding her child after a long time.

"What is it you want to tell me?" Sewa asked Denny as Lolade searched through the house looking for something to do.

"Se..." Lolade's voice cut Denny off making Denny frown. "Sister mhi, is there no food in the house?" She asked looking through the cupboard.

Sewa heaved a deep sigh, "I wasn't around to prepare any and I didn't know you guys were coming," She said.

"So I won't get to eat?" Lolade asked.

Sewa stood up on her feet with her baby tiny hands wrapped around her neck. "I will go and buy you food to eat. For now I can't cook and besides I haven't eaten myself."

She suddenly regretted passing her annoyance on the food Lanre bought for her. She walked towards the door with her child in her arms to get food. "Mummy I want happy hour," Pearl requested.

"Okay." Sewa replied simply, walking out of the door with Denny following her behind. As they walked down the stairs, neither of them said anything to themselves until they reached the food vendor opposite her building.

Denny wrinkled her nose as she looked at the place Sewa wanted to get food for them for. Men and women, young boys and girls all surrounded the woman while shouting their order to get attention from the woman selling. "Mama Razaq I dey here since na, abeg answer me!" A random man shouted, complaining that he had been here for a long time but got no attention.

"Ejo, ma binu." The woman pleaded, attending to a young woman who was telling her her order. "I can't wait for this, let's go to chicken republic or KFC or mega chicken to get food, what is this?" Denny complained bitterly as she watched the environment with annoyance.

"Keep calm. Mama Razaq cooks the best food here. Forget those places you just mentioned, it's just the environment, not all are palatable to the mouth." Sewa defended.

After a while, it got to Sewa turn and they placed their order. They returned back to their room with three polythene nylon in their hands. Lolade sighed, "Finally!" She exclaimed.

"I was starting to think you lost your way," She muttered, walking to get the food from Denny's hand. "You have not changed you this girl," Denny chided, making a Lolade chuckle.

"That's why I am unique, don't you think?" She smirked, making Sewa scoff. Sewa sat down on the floor, placing Pearl opposite her. Pearl stretched her happy hour drink for her mother to open for her. "Mummy please help me," She pleaded. With a smile on Sewa's face, she did as told.

"Sewa," Denny began after they put Pearl to sleep. "You won't believe what I am about to tell you. There is fire on the mountain!" Denny exclaimed, she placed her hands on her chest as she exhaled deeply.

"Sewa I do not even know how to start because the situation also affected me." Sewa couldn't help but wonder what could be bothering Denny so much.

"Is there something I can do to help?" Sewa asked. Denny shook her head. "Babe, Madam Sandra company has fallen!" She deadpanned. Sewa heard a loud sound in her ear as she heard Denny's statement. "Eh?" She was shocked, she wondered how and what happened.

"What is it? What happened?" Sewa asked.

"Police came to raid last week and thankfully I wasn't around. All the girls were caught and taken to the station and as I speak to you now, they are still there." Denny explained. Sewa felt the urge to laugh yet she was perplexed. "What is the reason behind it?" She asked.

"It has to do with you and you will be shocked to hear the full details."

"Me? How? Why?" Sewa wondered. The skin between her brows creased as she wrinkled her nose. "Please tell me." She spoke inquisitively.

"From what I heard. There was a man who asked to sleep with Jasmine James," Denny made emphasis as she mentioned Sewa's old name. "And she promised him he'd get Jasmine James. But in return she sent Priscilla to act as you and guess what, the man found out she wasn't Jasmine James and went to search for Madam Sandra. He was so pissed that she deceived him after he paid such a huge amount of money. Guess what?"

Sewa couldn't believe her ears, she couldn't believe Madam Sandra still used her name to lie to people to collect income. She just couldn't believe any of it. She was raged by the thought of it and somehow it brought back that painful memory; the memory when Lanre had come to her house to hurl harsh words at her after finding out the truth. Her stomach churned and her chest ached from it all.

"What happened then?" Sewa asked, ushering her to keep on with her story. Just then Lolade had to wake up. Turned out she wasn't sleeping but eavesdropping on their conversation. "It is God that will destroy that woman, in fact she will rot in prison!" She spat out bitterly. "Are they toying with her life, is she that useless to the core?" Lolade asked, clearing agitated.

"The man didn't call the police men of Port Harcourt for her case, he called from Abuja and orders were given, turned out the man had connections and they came to raid. Now madam Sewa would be charged to court for Sexual abuse, child abuse, human trafficking and so many other things that has to do with her illegal dealings for years."

"God is good! That's a good punishment for her for running the lives of so many young girls by telling them selling their body out is the way!" Lolade deadpanned.

Sewa was speechless, she was lost and confused. Her body was present yet her mind and soul had travelled far. She hugged her knees as she fought back the tears threatening to come out of her eyes. She remembered how Lanre had cut everything off with her and how she fainted after discovering that she was pregnant. The past three years have neither been the best nor the worst.

Most times she prayed Lanre came back to her, and accepted her. She remembered her sleepless nights and how that first year was depressing for her. Her past would forever be a part of her even if she has changed. Although her past wouldn't define her, it was still her memory and there was nothing she could do about it.

Just as Lanre came out of his room, his brother welcomed him. "Seems you came back really late last night," Tunji said.

"Good morning," Lanre greeted him, walking towards the fridge to get water. After dropping Sewa, he drove off to his friend, Bidemi's place. He had a deep conversation with him and asked a lot of questions. He was bothered and all his botherings had to do with Sewa.

"Tunji when will you stop visiting without awareness?" Lanre asked, clearly tired of speaking.

"Something has changed about you and I do not know what it is or how but does it have to do with Adunni?" Tunji asked.

Lanre scoffed. "Good changes or bad changes?" Lanre retorted

"Both. I can't tell. Do you not like her or have you fallen for her?" Lanre turned around to look at his brother. "We are both still getting to know each other. We haven't seen each other for the past two weeks now." He walked to the sink to rinse the glass cup.

"That's exactly why I came to see you. She called telling me you've not been answering her calls and you won't see her, what is it? You already promised to marry her so what now? Why are you avoiding her?" Tunji asked.

Lanre felt deeply bad for his actions. Adunni has been a very understanding lady and he liked her as a person. No matter how he tried, he couldn't for her reason he hated Sewa for ruining his heart. Adunni's Parents and his parents were close friends and they suggested getting the both of them married.

Lanre who had been in a very bad state did not object when his mother told him of her plans because he didn't even feel the need to feel anything. The past three years have been hard on him. He let people make most of his decision because he was badly hurt. He and Adunni met often to get to know each other and most times he would remember Sewa whenever she does some things. He hated that Sewa had his heart still even though it's been long.

"Tunji, think of Sarah instead and your unborn child, let me be." Lanre said to him, walking out of the kitchen.

Tunji finally settled down two years ago. Last year he married and he is expecting a baby soon. "At least I am taking responsibilities. Lanre it's three years now and I know it's not easy for you to move on considering how you almost liked me for that girl but remember, she might be with some man now obviously doing what's she's good at," Tunji spat out.

Lanre clenched his fist as the words Tunji said about Sewa riled him up. He didn't know why he was angry that his brother had slut shamed Sewa. "Tunji, please....don't!" He said through gritted teeth. He didn't want to imagine Sewa with another man as it is because it took months to forget the image of her and the senator's son.

"What? I'm not lying," Tunji defended.

"I do not want to talk about her, please!" He pleaded waking off to take his bath and get ready for work.

"Anyways make sure to call Adunni, she's starting to worry!" Tunji shouted from behind but Lanre said nothing in return.