EPISODE FIFTY NINE
Theme: Doubting barrister Prosper
Arike’s POV
It was a very cold morning because there had been a huge downpours in the middle of the night. I woke up around 6:00am and did the necessary things in the house before getting dressed, ready to face whatever the day has in store for me.
Busayomi yawned. “Oh you have prepared breakfast for us...” she grumbled.
“Yes..I know you will be very busy today with the stuffs you want to put together for the wedding. And having to watch Iteoluwa, I don’t want you to stress yourself out.” I said.
“So are you ready to leave?” She asked rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Yes..” I answered.
“Is Bamidele here already?” She asked, yawning out loud again.
“No..not yet...” I taped on my phone to send Bamidele a message.
EPISODE SIXTYTheme: Doctor Nelson Arike’s POVA middle aged man dressed in white shirt, a white doctor’s coat over it with a pair of glasses hanging on his nose. I didn’t know we were meeting someone older than Adedayo. Doctor Nelson’s stood up to welcome us and we exchanged pleasantries.“Please take your seat.” He offered.Bamidele and I settled in the chairs facing him directly.Doctor Nelson cleared his throat. “First of all, I really appreciate your help to get Dayo out of police custody. It is a good thing that he has people like you guys willing to help out.” He said.“We have some evidences but we just need what you have with you.” I said.“A flash drive...” Bamdele added.“Dayo told you about the flash drive?” Doctor Nelson asked with his eyes beaming with hope.“Yes he told us everything that happened between he and Shalewa.” I answered.“I am glad that Aded
Theme: A meeting with Shalewa Arike’s POVI was disguised as a nurse with a face mask to hide my identity. When I got to Shalewa’s private ward, there were no guards at the entrance. Bamidele was nearby waiting to distract the guards in case they come back and I hope they are stupid enough to not suspect anything. I have just fifteen minutes to get Shalewa to confess that she framed Adedayo.I breathed in and out heavily before walking into the ward. The room was for VIP patients and it was quite expensive. And there she was sitting comfortably in bed with a blue spiral binding book in her hand, one I assumed to be a script.Unbelievable! This sly female was ready to act again in a movie amidst all this chaos she created while Dayo was suffering in the police custody. Shalewa was selfish and inhumane.I held the tray
Theme: Right or Failed plan Arike’s POVShalewa laughed out loudly. “Do you think you can fool me, Arike?” She said.And I frowned at her words. “What are you talking about?” I asked.“Do you think I will believe that you are on my side?” She laughed. “How can I believe that you are not worried about Dayo when I can read you clearly. You are in here, dressed in a nurse uniform just to see me. If you are truly worried about me then you could have booked appointed with my PA and walked in here without a disguise. Do you know how I feel right now? I feel like it a role I once played in a movie.” She laughed again.This plan is not going to work.“If anyone doesn’t believe Dayo, I am sure you will believe him and also you used to be a very skilled criminal attorney who has never lost any case.” She paused with her eyes sizing me up
Arike’s POV“My father signed the billion naira deal with Adedayo after we got married. I got to know that they used me to get what they wanted from my father. Adedayo stopped paying attention to me, he barely cames home to sleep and when he was around, he never looked at me. Several times I had to get us drunk so we could make love as couples but for how long did I keep doing that? A long time and each time he wakes up ext day, he feels irritated by my presence. Dayo made me feel worthless, so I changed up too. I slept with few men just to hurt him. I felt abandoned and useless so tell me one reason why I shouldn’t make him suffer?!” She grimaced, anger clear in her expression.“So you also didn’t accept the divorce because you wanted him to suffer?” I asked.“Yes..he can’t back out..never. We vowed forever at the altar..so I am not going to accept to divorce him.” He
Theme: Modern slavery Arike’s POVMy phone vibrated in my purse and when I took it out to check, it was an unsaved number.“Is it Busayomi?” Bamidele asked.“No..the number is not saved on my phone.” I answered.“Do you want to pick it or ignore?” Bamidele asked again.“I will pick up the call, it might be one of those police men I gave my number to at the station.” Then I swiped the green button to accept the call and put it on speaker.“Hello...” I heard a feminine voice over the phone.“Yes..please who am I speaking with?” I asked.“Arike, it is Moyosoreoluwa..do you remember me? I am Adedayo’s sister.” The voice explained herself.Recognition registered in my mind. “Oh Mrs Moyo...how have you been?” I asked.“I have been good and forgive me for calling you un
HER BABY’S SECRETTheme: No settlement except seeing in court Arike’s POVHer mouth set in a hard line. “All of our husbands knew our fathers tricked them to marry us for business purposes, so they in turn treated us like we were sold to them. My ex husband called it modern slavery.” Her eyes flooded with tears.Ex-husband? Moyosoreoluwa was divorced, my gaze traveled down to her hands and I found no ring on it.“He wanted us to protect the company that was the only reason why we all agreed to marry his business partners. We got blinded by our sense of responsibility but look at us now...all divorced after being treated unfairly by our husbands.” She expressed her pains.And I didn’t even know what to do or say to Moyosoreoluwa. I just sat there and listened to her.“None of us had the chance to do what we wanted, our greedy father never gave us the op
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SIXTY SIXTheme: Dayo committed suicide Arike’s POV •••Three Days Later•••A loud bang on the door snapped me out of my deep sleep.“Arike! Arike! Arike! Wake up!” I heard Busayomi screaming at the top of her voice.What was wrong? Perhaps was the house on fire? Thieves? What could make her scream out like that?! Many possibilities flooded my mind in a rush.I got out of bed quickly and rushed to open the door.“What’s wrong?!” I asked with a worried look on my face.Busayomi has tears in her eyes. “Arike..it is Dayo..it is Dayo...” she sobbed.My heart beat accelerated. “What is wrong with Dayo?!” I fridgeted.Cold beads of sweats broke out on my forehead and my breathe quickened at the thought of so
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SIXTY SEVENTheme: Viral Video Arike’s POVThe video stopped playing and I couldn’t help but exchanged glances with Busayomi. There was a picture of Dayo, Shalewa and Jamal pasted in the video too.“Oh...this stupid network has started nonsense now.” Busayomi complained.Some seconds later the video resumed playing.“Everybody is blaming Adedayo for a crime he didn’t commit. My brother has never raised his hands to hit any woman before and everything Shalewa Oriola told the police were all lies. We will be in court in two days time but before that I want to reveal the truth because I don’t trust our country’s judicial system. As it is now Shalewa is ready to do anything to send my brother to jail for some family related reasons which I am going to tell you now. I am sure you watching this video must know act
HER BABY’S SECRETFINAL EPILOGUE (2)Arike’s POV“Mommy..you haven’t told me who we are seeing today?” Iteoluwa jumped by my side as we made our way toward Dayo’s apartment.“Iteoluwa, I told you that we are meeting someone special to us.” I answered.“Perhaps is it grandma? She promised to attend big mommy’s wedding.” She said.Iteoluwa refused to let me help her up the staircase. My child has really changed ever since Busayomi made her realize the essence of having a mother. She was starting to do things herself without needing much of my help.We were meeting her father but I didn’t mention it to her. Busayomi had suggested that it would be fun to surprise her.“Mom..is this the place where they sell ice cream?” She asked.Iteoluwa was really anxious to know.“Baby..you
HER BABY’S SECRETEPILOGUE (1)Arike’s POVMrs Moyosoreoluwa and I walked out of the courtroom. I met Dayo exchanging a handshake with Bamidele and then he moved on to barrister prosper. No doubt, Adedayo must have made up his mind to forgive Bamidele for what he did to him in the past. And I was glad to see them reconciling after all these years.Adedayo’s eyes met mine and he flashed me a smile that was filled with happiness and endearment. Slowly he started towards me while I walked at a close run and threw my hands around him for an embrace.“Arike...” he embraced me tightly.Tears streamed down my cheeks as we stayed hugging for several seconds before Adedayo pulled away from me. He had tears in his eyes when I looked up at him.“Adedayo...” my hand shot out to his face.“Please don’t cry...” we
FINAL EPISODE SEVENTY THREETheme: A disguised sponsor Arike’s POV“Arike...” a familiar feminine voice called my name.I turned to see Mrs Moyosoreoluwa there in the court room.“I thought you didn’t attend until I saw you when I was about to leave with my family.” She folded her arms.I just nodded my head. “Where is Dayo?” I asked.“He is reconciling with barrister Bamidele, settling issues from the past.” She answered.“Alright..well I have been thinking -“ she interrupted me.“How I found out about your daughter.” She completed my intended statement.“Yes.” I said.She walked closer to me. “How did you find out about my child?” I asked.“I think about two years ago.” Mrs Moyosoreoluwa answered.My head s
HER BABY’S SECRETTheme: Victory at last Arike’s POV •••15 MINUTES LATER•••“All rise the court is now in session.” The bailiff announced.The judge entered the courtroom and sat at the bench and then she told everyone to be seated.She called out the counsels to give their closing statements. The prosecuting counsel pointed out that justice be served for his client while the defense attorney pleaded not guilty and asked the judge for a fair verdict for his client.The female judge cleared her throat. “In all things, justice must be served. I have the statements of the counsels and I have also looked into the evidences presented by the defense counsel. And this is my verdict.” The judge paused and the whole courtroom was silent.She cleared her throat and spoke up after som
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SEVENTY ONETheme: The only witness Arike’s POVA loud gasp was heard in the court from the spectators and even the prosecuting attorney was speechless. I was sure that Shalewa would be shocked to find out that I had recorded our conversation that day.“It is clear that Mrs Shalewa framed her husband just to enact revenge on him and she doesn’t feel remorseful about her deeds. My lord, with your permission I shall now call a witness to confirm the facts of text messages and test results. I call Doctor Nelson.” Bamidele said.“Doctor Nelson!” The court bailiff called out.Doctor Nelson stood up from where he was seated and went to the witness box. The court bailiff came to the front of the box.“What’s your religion?” He asked.“Christianity.” Doctor Nelson replied.The bailiff handed him a Bible and Doctor Nelson took it in his right hand.“Please rep
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SEVENTYTheme: Court in session Arike’s POVFinally the day to prove Adedayo’s innocence was here. We all hoped and believed that he would be acquitted and declared not guilty.I left home as early as 7:00am with the plan of meeting Bamidele and barrister Prosper at the law firm but I was delayed by a stand still traffic.Bamidele and Barrister Prosper had successfully processed Dayo’s bail yesterday and I was told that Mrs Moyosoreoluwa was around at the station to bring Adedayo to her home.I didn’t get a chance to talk to Adedayo yesterday because I was nervous and a bit scared. I was also bothered if Mrs Moyosoreoluwa already told Adedayo about my child.I arrived late at the court. The Lagos State Judicary High Court was full of reporters and spectators attracted by the sensational nature of this case. I managed to get into the courtroom and found an empty space at
HER BABY’S SECRETTheme: He just wants to be free Arike’s POVAfter Bamidele disconnected the call, I sat down on the bed slowly and reached out to wipe my face clean from tears.“Hey..what’s up?” Busayomi asked.“They can now process Dayo’s bail.” I answered with tears threatening to spill again.“Ah! Thank God! He will put our enemies to shame over this case!” She danced around.I just let the tears flow when I couldn’t control it and a feeling of relief washed over me.“Dayo would be free to go home.” Those words echoed on my mind.I was excited that we were getting close to rounding off this case. Tomorrow would be the day everything would end.If Shalewa believe that she has everything to fight Adedayo in court and the law was in her side, I am sure she would be terrified now. She doesn&rsq
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SIXTY EIGHTTheme: Who gave out the recording? Arike’s POVThe handful of comments by the viewers on Instablog naija still got me thinking if it was right for Moyosoreoluwa to have posted the recording online. A strong evidence we wanted to use to fight Shalewa in court and I also pondered on how she got the recording.“Omo..Arike..see comments we can’t even read it. Jesus! This reactions are hot! I need to visit Shalewa’s page..that stupid sly. Arike, this is what I suggested to you the other day. I said leak the recording online and let everybody know the true criminal but you decided to do things in a lawful way. Omo! I love Mrs Moyosoreoluwa...no dulling.” She scrolled up and down her phone.“This stupid woman didn’t post any video! Why can’t she come out now and make another video to counter Mrs Moyosoreoluwa’s video!” She hissed out loudly.
HER BABY’S SECRETEPISODE SIXTY SEVENTheme: Viral Video Arike’s POVThe video stopped playing and I couldn’t help but exchanged glances with Busayomi. There was a picture of Dayo, Shalewa and Jamal pasted in the video too.“Oh...this stupid network has started nonsense now.” Busayomi complained.Some seconds later the video resumed playing.“Everybody is blaming Adedayo for a crime he didn’t commit. My brother has never raised his hands to hit any woman before and everything Shalewa Oriola told the police were all lies. We will be in court in two days time but before that I want to reveal the truth because I don’t trust our country’s judicial system. As it is now Shalewa is ready to do anything to send my brother to jail for some family related reasons which I am going to tell you now. I am sure you watching this video must know act