11/04/2016
[4/6, 23:08] trudyđź’•: EPISODE 1
A FATHER’S PAIN
By Michael Dokosi
I stared fixedly at Prof. Solomon Laryea, my wife's lawyer. Perhaps, I did not hear him well, I assured myself. I felt my lawyer's hand on my arm obviously trying to restrain me from over reacting.
“Excuse me, sir. What did you just say?” I asked, still confident that I really did not hear the astute lawyer well when he made the fatal comment.
He was a short and stout man with a rich amount of white beard. He must be above 60 years. That he was a brilliant lawyer goes without saying. He was well respected by his peers. It is well known that he had taught some of the judges who were currently on the bench at the Supreme Court.
Prof. Laryea sat back in his chair, caresing his white beard as he stared back at me. Then he leaned forward slowly, with his hands on his oak-paneled desk and then spoke.
“I understand how you feel, Mr. Ofori-Mensah. But what I said is the truth. My client is ready for a DNA test at any health facility of your choice to prove her claim” he said.
My wife sat by him with an expressionless face. Even then, her beauty was not in doubt. She had a nose that will make many a beauty contestant envy her. Her big romantic eyes stared at the lawyer as he spoke. She was ignoring me for obvious reason. Seated behind her was her brother, Nana Kweku. He wore an expressionless look on his face.
No one, looking at my wife even as she sat across the table from me, would imagine that she would cheat on me. First of all, she had the innocent look of an angel. If she were to be taking part in a movie about the life of Jesus Christ, Mary, the mother of Jesus, would have been the best role to cast her in. She really looked as innocent as Mary. Her beauty makes screen goddess, Marilyn Monroe, look ordinary.
Secondly, that she cheated on me in spite of all that I had done for her will surprise many a woman. I never starved her s*xually. We made love at least three times a week. And, when it came to material things, I had made her the envy of her friends. Yet, she went ahead to cheat on me with no other person than my bosom friend, Edwin. I had caught her in the act myself.
“Excuse me sir, I did not get what you said. Can you please repeat yourself once more” I asked, though his assertion that my wife was ready for a DNA meant I had heard exactly what he said.
“Mr. Ofori-Mensah, my client here, your wife, says Peter and Pamela are not your biological children. As you know, only a mother can tell the real father of her child or children. Your wife says the biological father of the two children is another man he would name at the right time” Prof. Laryea repeated.
The lawyer's comments were like a hammer hammering at my heart. I began to tremble all over. I could feel my blood boiling inside me and my heart threatening to burst out of my chest.
“How dare you tell me this nonsense!?How dare you tell me that Peter and Pamela are not my children!?” I said through clenched teeth, my anger boiling. Suddenly, I banged my fist with such ferocity on the desk that a flower vase on it tumbled and fell. So did a pen and some books.
My wife got up and backed away in fright. I guess she had never seen me in that mood before. She had never seen me this angry. Her brother stepped protectively in front of her.
“Calm down, Mr. Ofori-Mensah” Prof. Solomon Laryea said, getting up and taking a step back to ensure I will not reach him if I lash out at him. My lawyer held me to restrain me but I knew no stopping.
“You are a stupid man to call me here to tell me this crap! If you try such nonsense with me, you'll regret it. If you try this nonsense with me, I'll kill you! You hear me!” I screamed as I swiftly leaned across the table and grabbed the front of his suit, shaking him violently even before he realized I was going to grab him.
…………..to be continued…………
[4/7, 00:05] trudyđź’•: EPISODE 2
A FATHER’S PAIN
I tightened my grip on him. My lawyer grabbed me from behind, trying to yank me away from his learned friend.
But, my grip on Prof. Laryea was so tight that my lawyer's effort was in vain.
“Stop! You are killing me!” Prof. Laryea managed to scream out. I was so much red hot with anger that it did not dawn on me I was choking him.
“Paul! Stop it! You'll kill the man!” I heard my lawyer scream. It was only then that I realized I was on the verge of committing murder. I quickly let go off the lawyer who immediately sunk to his knees, clutching at his neck and coughing.
I turned my attention towards to my wife. She was visibly shaken by my anger; she obviously had never seen me in that state of anger in all the twelve years we had been married. I took a step towards her and asked what she meant in claiming my two children, Peter and Pamela, were not my biological children. His brother, Nana Kweku, immediately stepped in front of me, blocking my path to his sister, my wife. Before he knew what was happening, I had taken hold of him by his shirt and hurled him across the room.
He landed on the ground. I turned my attention to my wife only to realize she was not there. I caught sight of her escaping through the door. She had kicked off her shoes to ensure she could run as fast as she could.
I immediately dashed to the door. When I got there, she had reached the bottom of the stairs, about to step out of the building. I went down the stairs three at a time, got to the bottom, opened the door and rushed out only to collide with the security man on duty.
“ Hey! What is wrong with you?” he asked, grabbing me. I hit his hands away and ran pass him before he could stop me. My wife was already getting into her car. I recognized immediately it was too late to get her so I dashed to my car parked nearby. By the time I got in, she was far away. Nevertheless, I went after her.
My car surged forward as I stepped on the accelerator, speeding down the road. I was on time to see her about a hundred metres away, turning left at a junction. I stepped harder on the accelerator. The next five minutes saw my wife and me in a car chase, with me in hot pursuit.
We both jumped traffic lights and sped over zebra crossings. I barely avoided knocking down two market women at a zebra crossing. I saw them in my rearview mirror, screaming obscenities after me as I sped away.
Far ahead, I saw my wife also miss colliding with another vehicle. Finally, she headed for the central market square. By this time, I was only about forty metres behind her. My thoughts were all filled with the beating I would subject her to when I finally catch up with her.
I had never touched her. I had never even contemplated or attempted beating her because I loved her so much. Further, I distasted people who beat women. However, on this day, I was ready to do my worse to her for telling me I was not the biological father of my children.
She brought her car to a screeching halt at the car park in front of the market, got out and flee into the market as I brought my car to a screeching halt beside hers. But I knew having dashed into the market, there was no way I could get her again. Firstly, it would be tantamount to looking for a needle in a hay stack with the kind of crowd that was in the market. Secondly, there was no way the crowd would look on unconcerned while I beat her up. They may end up beating me.
…………to be continued…………
[4/7, 11:10] trudyđź’•: EPISODE 3
A FATHER’S PAIN
After about ten minutes, I managed to calm myself down. All around me, activities were going on. It was a typical market scene. Taking deep breaths, I drove away knowing very well my wife was hiding somewhere in the crowd, watching me.
I drove back to Prof. Laryea's chamber and found him and my lawyer standing in front of his building. Both lawyers looked worried. There was no sign of Nana Kweku. I guess he had come after me and his sister but lost us.
“Paul, calm down! You have to calm down. What you did was reckless! Where is your wife?” my lawyer asked me, coming towards me. Prof. Laryea did not follow him but he too waited eagerly for my answer. Calmly, I told my lawyer my wife escaped. I saw Prof. Laryea sigh in relief.
“Paul, you cannot take the law into your own hands. You could have gotten one of you or both of you killed or you may have killed somebody as you went chasing her. I understand your anger but you have to calm down. I am here to represent your interest and I can assure you that no one will take your children away from you” my lawyer said.
I saw Prof. Laryea take out his cell phone and place a call to somebody. I guessed he was calling my estranged wife to find out if she was truly fine. While he was talking to my her, my lawyer took me aside and told me he had just managed to talk Prof. Laryea out of suing me for assault. I told my lawyer I would not be bothered.
“Paul, you don't get it. Why get yourself jailed? Do you think you would have access to your children once you have been jailed? Think well, man. Your wife's claims will be put to scientific test and we shall all know the truth” my lawyer said.
“What do you mean we shall all know the truth?” I asked him angrily. “I don't need to undergo a test to prove that Peter and Pamela are my children. Or, is it that you too believe that my wife is telling the truth; that my children are not my biological children?” I asked angrily.
“I am not saying your wife is telling the truth” my lawyer replied. “She is taking the matter to court. The court will order a DNA test. This will prove she is lying or not.”
Of course, I knew about DNA tests. But I did not know what it had to do with me and my children. I told my lawyer I was not going to submit myself to any test to satisfy myself my children are my biological children.
We left Prof. Laryea's chamber a few minutes later. I returned home in a fit of anger and placed several calls to my wife but she would not answer. I sent text messages but she still would not reply. Since she moved out of her matrimonial home, I had been able to locate where she was living with our children.
I could not believe that my wife will so cheat on me. Images of she and my best friend making love on our matrimonial bed as I walked into the room came to mind once again.
“Unbelievable” I heard myself say after the umpteenth call to my wife went unanswered. I took off my dress, showered and then went to sit in my study to reflect on what had had happened so far.
Thoughts of the Sunday I caught my wife cheating on me came to mind once again. She and our two children, Peter, aged 9 and Pamela, 5, had seen me off at the airport that evening. I was heading for the United States of America to attend a conference.
At the airport, we spent time at the Landing Restaurant, eating and chatting. Then at 7:00pm, I kissed her and our two children good bye and then started going through the departure formalities. There was no need for them to wait to see my flight leave because unlike the days of yore, they would no longer see me once I enter the depature hall. Neither would they be in a position to see my plane take off. At about 7:45, I was through. At 9:00pm, I received a call from my wife to say she and the children had arrived home.
As I sat among other passengers that evening, waiting to board our flight, I exchange romantic text messages as I always did with my wife. Finally, I bade her bye as we began to board the plane. I told her I would call her once I arrived in the U.S.
We never took off because of bad weather. After about forty-five minutes, we were told the weather was so very bad that it would be dangerous for our plane to undertake the journey. As result, our pilot had been advised to abandon the trip. We were told we would leave the following evening.
The airline had booked a hotel for all the passengers so they could spend the night there. But I chose to go back home and return the following day.
I did not call my wife to tell her the trip could not come on because I reasoned she would be asleep by then, believing that I was airborne. So, I got a taxi to take me home.
It was raining when I arrived home to find that the gate man was not on duty. That was strange. I paid the taxi driver off and carried my suitcase through the rain to the living room door. With my key, I opened the door gently and entered the living room. All seemed to be quiet; I guessed my wife and children were asleep. Not wanting to wake them up, I tip-toed to my bedroom door and gently turned the k**b. The door opened. I stepped into my bedroom only to find my wife and my closest friend in my bed, making love.
………to be continued………
[4/7, 11:10] trudyđź’•: EPISODE 5
A FATHER’S PAIN
I could not sleep that night. Every now and then, I found myself playing the video to watch my estranged wife and my best-friend having s*x. The images were so painful to watch. My heart ached. I wept. Even though I was a teetotaler, for the first time, I felt the desire to take alcohol. I wanted to do anything that will ease the pain I was going through.
At about 2:45am, I went to my children's room to check on them as I always did. They were peacefully asleep, oblivious of what had just happened. I stared at them, sorrow in my heart, aware that with the action I had decided to take, life will no more be the same for them again.
Their mother had broken the sanctity of their home. The father and mother they used to see together were going to be together no more. Their father and mother were going to live apart. And, though marriage was not on my mind any longer, I knew that they would one day have either a step-father or a step-mother.
I stayed in Peter and Pamela's room for close to one hour, staring at them and crying. Finally, I left them while they were still asleep. Returning to my room, I took off my clothes and went to have my bath. Then I returned to my bed and lying down, began to reflect on the drama that had happened taken place.
And Edwin! Hmmmmmm! He was my best pal. He was not only a friend, he was like a brother, one whom I had so much trust in. Though I was a medical doctor, I also ran a huge business and he was my business partner. While I was into the export of charcoal, shea butter, plantain, pineapple and pepper to European markets, he was into the importation of European goods to Ghana.
This was one man I was so close to that some thought we were brothers. I believed, at the time, that I could trust him even with my life. Yet, he was the same person I caught doing it with my wife in my house in my bedroom and on my bed. I sighed. Only God knew how long he had been having the affair with my wife.
Edwin was a widower. His wife died when he was only 33, that was two years after their marriage. She was then 25. Since then, he had remained single, dating once a while but making no real attempt at getting married again.
With his wealth, friends made attempts at getting him to marry again but he obviously was not interested. And, he didn't care either that he didn't have a child of his own.
He and I had together made several trips outside Ghana to transact business. Sometimes, I facilitate his imports and on other occasions, he helped me with my exports. On some occasions, I slept over at his house and on others, he spent the night in my house. That was how close we were. So, catching him with my wife in the act was a real shocker.
That night was the longest night ever in my life. Finally, however, morning came. I was happy to see day break. I was just getting ready to go and prepare the children for school when I had a call; it was my wife.
“Kwame, please forgive me. I am on my knees. I don't know what came over me. Please, in God's name, forgive me. I will never repeat such a behavior again” she pleaded. I could sense she was in tears.
But, there was no way I could forgive her. There was no way she could be my wife again. I told her calmly that the sound of her voice could kill me so I would appreciate it if she does not phone me again.
“It is over between us so better start getting used to that fact,” I said. Then I hanged up. She called and called again but I ignored her, switching my phone to the silence mode so when she calls, the phone could not ring to my hearing. Then I went to wake the children up.
Preparing them for school made me realize the tedious task I had ahead because they both courteously asked me where their mother was. I had to lie to them. I said she had travelled and would soon be back. They believed me.
………to be continued………
[4/7, 11:10] trudyđź’•: EPISODE 4
A FATHER’S PAIN
My heart must have stopped beating. I starred in horror and disbelief at the two naked people on my bed. So much deep were they in the throes of lo******ng that they were not aware of my presence.
All kinds of thoughts run through my mind in those few seconds as I stared at them. I am sure if I had a gun in my hand, I would have fired and kill them without blinking an eye. I also felt the urge to run to the bed, grab Edwin and beat the life out of him. However, somehow, I restrained myself. Recognizing that this was the end of my marriage as far as I was concerned, I quietly reached into my pocket for my phone, got the video working and then started recording what was going on.
For almost twenty seconds, I filmed my wife and my best friend making love on my bed in my bedroom. The most heart wrenching of what was going on is the groans of pleasure coming from my wife and the sort of things she was saying.
She was the one who saw me first. She screamed and pushed my friend away from her the moment she did. Then with her eyes wide open in fear, she pulled the bed-sheet to cover her nudity. It was then that Edwin too saw me.
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” he kept on repeating as he stared at me. I was still recording them. I heard my wife plead with me to stop it. I ignored her. In fact, her voice was very provoking but I simply ignored her.
“Paul, please, forgive me” Edwin started saying as he made towards where his clothes were. I moved quickly to the clothes and got them before he got to there. Looking back, I can only be thankful that I didn't own a gun. Definitely, I would have killed the two if I had.
My wife was at this time crying. I switched the phone back from video and then placed a call to the police. I told them I had an emergency so I needed them within minutes. The officer who picked my call promised they will be at my place in five minutes.
Edwin went down on his knees and started begging me to forgive him. I screamed at him to shut up. The venom in my voice when I ordered him to shut up rattled him. He could see that I was in a murderous mood and if he gives me the cause, I could kill him.
My wife, on hearing that I had called the police tried to reach for her dress but I got to it and tucked it under my arm pit. She burst into fresh tears saying she still loved me and that it was the devil which had made her do what she did. I ignored her.
Soon, the police arrived. They came to the bedroom door. I let them in. They probably were expecting an armed robbery attack on me or a murder. What they saw was one they were not expecting.
“Officer, I returned home to see this man, my bosom friend, having s*x with my wife. As you can see, he is still naked because I will not let him dress up. My wife is also naked. I recorded what they were doing,” I told the Sergeant who led the police team into the room.
The police officers pleaded with me to give Edwin back his dress so they can deal with him. Reluctantly, I agreed. Quickly, a shame- faced, he dressed up. My estranged wife, Nora, was also given one of her dresses to dress up. She did so while still sitting on the bed with the bed-sheet still covering her.
Finally they were done. The police told Edwin he was under arrest and then proceeded to tell him his charge and his rights. I told the police to their surprise, and to Edwin's surprise and relief, that there was no need to arrest him.
“Pardon, sir,” the Sergeant said.
“Officer, no need to arrest him, I will not be pressing charges against him. I only wanted you to see everything yourself. Please just take this man from my house,” I said.
Edwin began to thank me, compelling me to scream at him to shut up. I told him the sound of his voice was something I did not want to hear again.
The Sergeant insisted that Nora too has to leave the house. I saw his point. He was afraid I may do something nasty to her if they allowed her to spend the night under my roof. I said I will be happy if they took her too away.
The police thus led a shame-faced but grateful Edwin as well as Nora away. The Sergeant promised to call me later. He did; she said my wife had checked into the Marriot's Hotel and that she would spend the night there. Seriously, I didn't care where Nora will spend the night. I didn't care even if she was going to spend the night at Edwin's place. I no longer had any interest in her.
………to be continued………
