Ella's exhibition was in a few days time. She was
so excited. Finally, her dream had come true. The title of her exhibition was
"TANGOS OF A FLAME." Her work depicted mostly African abstract,
echoed and beckoned to you, mocking and soothing. Staring at her work, you got
a glimpse into the mind of the painter.
But then, you realize its glimpse into your soul
and get to interpret the works with a name, which fits what you personally
think the painting says. She was crazily happy, having gotten the British
embassy to sponsor her. She was finally becoming a star, the star she had
always dreamt she would be.
Three days later, she looked spotty in an attire
bell-bottom trouser and top with flared sleeves. It was her day. She hadn't
expected such a large turnout of guests. Almost all her works, were sold.
"Ella, how are you?" she swirled round
and came face to face with Emeka. Her heart beat very fast in her breast. She
stared at him hungrily, drinking in the sight of him. He looked so handsome.
"Emeka, how are you?" she murmured,
looking at him.
"I see you finally became a star," he
said, smiling sadly.
"Yes," she replied. "How are
you?" she asked again. "Funny, for asking how I am, Ella. Do you
really care?" he said.
She frowned as if in pain, and raised her hand in
the air. "Please don't start.”
"What? Don't start what? You started it and
ran out on me" he cut in.
"Dr. Emeka! Long time, so you came?"
exclaimed Latie, coming to meet them.
She thanked God for Latie; she quickly made an
excuse and dashed off. Latie saw the pain in his eyes.
"Why is she treating me like this Latie? Is
she okay?
I've gone out of my mind wondering what had
happened to her. A friend of mine stumbled on the news of this exhibition in
the paper with her name and picture. That's how I got here," he explained.
"Emeka, please take it easy, let me get you
something to drink first, then, I'll explain things to you, perhaps you'll
understand her situation then" she said and they walked away.
********************************************************************
"Jumbo, its time to execute this job,"
Obe said. He was Iying on the bed, smoking a joint. Take your time this week
and study our man's artinary. I want to know where he goes and when he comes
in. When he eats when he goes to the toilet, when he drinks water, takes his
bath and makes love, right?"
"Okay, oga Obe, consider it executed,"
Jumbo replied, wondering why all this ceremony. He would have preferred a
straight cut killing, instead Obe was thinking of a crucifixion.
The next two weeks saw jumbo tailing Tamie and
knowing his schedule. Piece of cake, he thought. The guy must be a clean guy
sha," he wondered why their evidence wanted the guy hit. He didn't poke
anyway, it wasn't his business. All he cared about was his cut. He would submit
the dozier on their man and a neat crucifixion would take place in a few days
time.
************************************
Chief was mad. He was angry; Justice had never
seen him so upset. He placed the study up and down.
"What a worthless son I have!" he
lamented. "How could you have killed her, how could you, you fool. Did I
not warn you?" he retorted.
"Dad, I don't know ... it was ..a
mistake," Justice stammered.
"Shut up!" chief ordered. "You
fool! Useless boy! Animal! You slaughtered that poor innocent girl. Do you know
whose daughter you killed? Do you know?" he shouted. "I feel like
strangling you with my bare hands," he threatened.
Justice cowered in a corner. He felt ashamed. He
knew he was finished. Now the old man knew his worst secret drugs! But perhaps
he still had one trump card. Just maybe if he succeeded in killing Tamie, the
old man would forgive him.
He would promise to be a changed person, he
reasoned, Right now, he would take the insults, after all he deserved it.
"You killed Major General Aluko's only
daughter just because her car got spoilt and she had the misfortune of entering
your car. You animal! Now get out of my house now! Out, I'm finished with you.
Useless, weasel!" he barked.
Justice stood up, deeply embarrassed as he walked
out of the room.
************************************
Ella, Latie, Nanny Lulu and Tamie finally drove
down to Benin. Aunty Edna was so happy to see Ella. She hugged her over and
over. She was alone at home, her kids where all grown up and her husband dead.
Nanny Lulu asked her about Ella and she narrated the story, describing the
accident and all that happened and how she named Paula Ella.
Tears of joy flowed. Finally it was over. Ella
couldn't believe it. She had a brother, and she was from a family. Her dreams
had come true at last.
Tamie promised to take her abroad to see their
grandparents. She stared at Latie, whose eyes seemed to say, I told you, didn't
I? She owed it all to her, or rather Julie, whose death had reunited her with
Latie who had reunited her with her long lost family.
Few weeks later, she accepted Emeka's hand again
in marriage. At least she now had a name and was by right a wealthy woman,
wealthy beyond her wildest dream.
************************************
Three weeks later, three men stole into Tamie's
compound. They tied up the frightened gateman and made their way into the
house. It was a week to his wedding. He was woken from his sleep by the men.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he
asked. "Shut up! Man, shut up!" Jumbo hissed, it was dark.
The other men stood by the door, their silencer
pointing at Tamie. One of them switched on the light.
"What! Bros Tamie!" someone screamed.
Tamie's eyes narrowed, staring at the strange man.
Slowly, Obe dropped his gun and slumped on the
floor holding his head.
"God! God, what is this?" he lamented
while his partner looked on, confused
"Don't shoot, jumbo. Please don't," he
cautioned his partner, and then turned to a perplexed Tamie. "You don't
remember me again? We were roommates. You were ahead, I was in year two. My
name is Phillip ... "
"What! Phillip its you!" exclaimed
Tamie. "What are you doing here? From the look of things, its obvious my
life is in your hands," he said.
"Yes, bros Tamie, we were sent to kill
you," Obe said gently.
"Who sent you?" Tamie asked as a chill
filled his body.
"A man called Justice." Shocked filled
Tamie."Justice? It can't be, he's my friend and cousin, he's supposed to
be my best man next week at my wedding" he said.
Obe looked mocked. "Your cousin?" he
shook his head. "He paid us 5 million to kill you," Obe said.
Tamie sighed, still in shock. "But tell me
Phillip, why did you go into this way of life?' he asked.
Slowly, Obe told his story, hiding nothing.
Few weeks later, Tamie got married and Emeka was
his best man. He got a job for Obe, now reformed in his company since he was a
graduate. He cut off all links with Justice and banned him from his wedding.
***********************************
Six months later, Justice was at a drinking spot
when a young woman walked up to him "Can I join you?" she asked,
taking a seat before he could even agree. "I like you," she said.
"Young lady, I'm not in a mood for a
prostitute," he hissed. The lady talked and cajoled and thirty minutes
later, they were leaving the joint. As they got into his car, she pulled out a
gun.
"What rub .... " He never finished as
she pulled the trigger one two times and he slumped, still clutching his car
keys.
She let herself out of the car and joined two guys
waiting for her.
"How's he?' one of them asked. "Having
his everlasting sleep," she replied and they entered into a jeep and sped
off.
"A clean job was what chief had asked for
and he got just that," the other guy said.
Some months later, Chief got involved in a fatal
car crash that landed him in the hospital.
He sustained severe injuries to his head and
spinal chord. It left him a vegetable for life and paralyzed from the waist
down. His time was up. The law of karma had taken it's due course ...
THE END
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