Arrested By Love

Episode 7

Grasses flogged on Daria’s legs as she
ran non-stop to their house. She pushed
the door of her room open and locked it
immediately then began to cry with
hands on her chest. Her breathing rate
changed simultaneously with the beat of
her heart. “No, this can’t be happening.
Austine can’t do this to me” she
soliloquized in tears.
*
The government were doing their
possible best to see that Ebube is
arrested or shot dead because he had
terrorized the locality seriously.
However, in the land of Obioha, the
king’s palace crowded with elders in red
cap and staffs. All were murmuring
about what Ebube has done to their
king. As the soliloquy lingered, the king
walked in angrily then all stood up in
greetings.

“This is nonsense!” the king began
without sitting on his throne. “That idiot
knelt my wife, the queen of Obioha
kingdom down and made me ride on a
common motorcycle!” he added angrily.
“Aru!” many elders chorused
“This is too much!” one of them added.
“As if that was not enough…” the king
began again. “He made me, king Lucas
Ikedi the third of Obioha kingdom walk
home on barefoot!!”
“Abomination!” the elders chorused
again.

“Something must be done about this!”
elder Ben said aloud then elder Thomas
looked at him in a way that says: COUNT
ME OUT.
“We must do something urgently” the
king concluded and sat on his throne.
*
The sun set. Shadows of trees and
human beings began to disappear. The
atmosphere was taken over by a gentle
wind-breeze, yet, Daria had not come
out from her room. Lana walked into
their compound without seeing
anybody but the parlour door was
opened. “Daria!” she called and knocked
at the door continuously before Daria
opened and returned back to her bed
sadly.

“Oh my God! Daria, are you okay?” Lana
sat with her on the bed. “You look..
hum.. you don’t look good”
“I caught Austine kissing Prisca earlier
today” Daria replied sadly with her eyes
closed as she leaned her head and back
on the wall.

“God! I told you that Austine and Prisca
were up to something”
“What have i not done for Austine” Daria
began to shed tears. “I gave him all i
could” she added then Lana consoled
her by drying her tears.
“He doesn’t deserve your tears. Stop
crying”
“But i love him so much, Lana” Daria
cried.
“He doesn’t deserve your love too”
“How can i get over this feelings?”
“You can” Lana concluded.
*

The house given to Ebube was big and
beautiful. It has a fence and black gate
which Ebube left widely open twenty-
four hours. One could see him entering
a room in the house with a bag. He flung
the bag on a bed then money pumped
out from it. He slowly walked towards a
big mirror staring at his image for a
long time. The more he stare, the more
tears dropped from his eyes through the
mask. But he suddenly turned and
brought out a paper written LUCAS IKEDI.
He stared at it for a long time too and
folded it then headed to the bathroom.
*

Still yet, Daria couldn’t bear it. She walked
to Austine’s knowing very well the day
was getting dark and met him outside
his house. “Austine?” she stood from
afar looking at him then Austine turned.
“Hi, Daria. Why are you standing far
away from me?”

“I don’t want to come closer”
“Why?”

Daria remained quiet while Austine
walked to her.
“You look worried, what’s it?”
“Austine, i never knew you were
deceiving me all this while”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you love me and i gave you my
heart. But i saw and heard everything
you told Prisca earlier today. How could
you do this to me?” her voice began to
break again.

Austine knew he had been caught red
handedly so he robbed his head with his
hand facing downward. “Daria, listen”
he looked up. “I’m sorry to say this but
it’s over between us”
Hearing that, Daria began to shed tears.
“No, Austine, tell me is a lie! I love you so
much, don’t you get it?” she held his
hands.
“I’m sorry” Austine disengaged her
hand and walked inside his house.
:
The day became not only bad for Daria
but also rendered her heartbroken. She
shed tears that night until she doze off
on her bed. She couldn’t believe herself
dreaming about Ebube for the second
time.

:
DREAM
Daria saw everywhere on fire and
people with different type of weapon
shouting victoriously. Suddenly, she saw
Ebube being carried to the fire. “No!
Please, don’t kill him!” she cried bitterly
and wanted to prevent them but Lana
held her back. She watched as Ebube
was thrown into the fire. “Nooo!” she
shouted and stretched her hand
forward then woke up in reality.

:
REALITY
Daria’s voice attracted the parents to her
room. They could see her sweating and
breathing heavily on the bed.
“Daria, what is it?” the father asked.
“I had a nightmare” Daria replied.
“It’s just a nightmare, go to sleep” the
father walked out while the mother sat
with Daria trying to hear her out as a
mother.

“What nightmare, my child?” she asked.