Chapter 5 New Cindy

Yenochi

Chapter five

By Obodozie Divine Chinoye

CINDY'S POV

"Mum?" I called out shocked on seeing her drag me.

"Don't mum me. For your own good you better go down the stairs and make up with Ron"

"I will do no such thing, I and Ron are incompatible. We are complete opposites of each other and there's no way I'm going back to him. I love Bryant mum and not him, why can't you understand that?"

My mum stared at me and angrily pulled me into my room, I watched her look around the house to see if someone was there eavesdropping on our conversation when she was sure no one was there she locked my room door.

"Sit down Cindy" She said angrily.

I stared at her and sat on my bed.

"Today should be the last day you will ever talk about Bryant in this house!"

"Mum?"

"You heard me"

"Is that why you brought me here?" I asked angrily.

"If you were observing you would notice that we are experiencing financial crisis"

"How is that possible? I bring home enough monthly from my job and plus Dad's company is making profits"

"That where you are wrong. Your Dad has being going through troubles in his company before Ron came back from abroad but we chose not to tell you so you won't be worried now I can see we made the wrong decision"

My mum signed before continuing.

"Now your dad's company is about to fold up plus your salary is not enough to run this whole house. When Ron came back, we decided we give you to him because we know he's going to take care of you . Cindy unless you want to live in the streets you better marry Ron, trust me it's for your own good" My mum concluded.

"And this house?" I asked almost in tears.

"It has being mortgaged to pay for the debts we owe the bank"

"So we are in debt?"

"Yes,now you know why we want you married to Ron"

I stared at my mum wondering if she was lying so I could forget Bryant but her look proved otherwise.

Shattered I begged her to say all what she said was a joke but she never did.

*********

*What do I do now? Bryant is my life but at the same time I can't watch my family become poor. How did I not notice this? Where do I start from? Should I tell Bryant about this?*

*Wait a minute! This is an opportunity for Bryant to show my parents he is more deserving of me than Ron. I will tell him all what mum just told me and he will help. When he does, they will know he's good and that he deserves me*I concluded to myself leaving my room heading for Bryant's office.

Yenochi's POV

I tried my best to stand up but I couldn't. I stared at my hands and saw handcuffs on the both of them.

"Oh you are awake?" The same strange man I had seen yesterday said walking into the room.

"What's this? Why are my hands cuffed?" I asked staring at him.

"Oh that, it's for your own good"

"My own good? I'm not a criminal so please get the cuffs off me, I need to see Stan"

"I'm sorry but I can't. If I do you will run away to see Stan"

"Okay at least can I get water?"

"Yes you can" He replied watching me.

He came close to my bed and opened up a bottle pouring water into a cup.

He wanted to feed me but I frowned.

"No..I will like to drink it myself."

"That i can't allow you to do"

"Why? I'm perfectly fine. I can do it on my own"

"If I uncuff you, you will run"

"I won't"

"Promise?"

I stared at him and smiled.

"Promise".

He stared at me for a while before removing the cuffs.

Getting my hands free, I stood up and took the cup from him drinking the water.

"See I didn't run" I told him and he smiled.

"What's your name?"

I stared at him for a while before answering.

"Yenochi"

"Yenochi, nice name"

"Yeah.." I said remembering the day Stan called me by my name.

I stared at him and observed he wasn't paying attention.

*This was my chance* I told myself as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me out of the room.

"Wait! Yenochi!" I heard him say but I wasn't going to wait neither was I going to stay locked up in this hospital.

Stan needed me and I want to go to him.I didn't immediately run out of the hospital rather I hid into a room.

*There's no way they would catch me now* I told myself staring at a nurse uniform.

I immediately undressed and put on the nurse uniform and also took a nose mask from the pack of nose masks I saw on a table.

I wore the nose mask and walked out of the room, as I did I saw the man run out of the hospital. Smiling to myself I walked out of the hospital and entered a taxi.

As I did I saw the man look at me.

He stared at me for a while then he shouted "Yenochi!"

"Oh no!" I said to myself immediately entering the taxi.

"Drive! Drive as fast as you can!" I told the taxi driver.

The driver started the taxi and drove away. As he did I saw the man enter a jeep and he started following us.

Then on I knew I was in hot pursuit.

"Who's the man that is following you?" The driver asked looking at his side mirror.

"Just drive"

The man's car managed to over take the taxi and we were forced to stop.

Angrily the man came out of his Jeep. He opened the taxi and brought me out.

"Let go of me" I told him but he ignored me.

"Let go of her" The taxi driver said coming out of the taxi.

"No. I won't" The man said.

"Who is she to you?" Asked the driver.

"She's my wife" Came the man shocking I and the driver.

"Wife?"

"Yes"

"Then why was she running from you?"

"She saw me with a woman and thought I was cheating on her so she got angry and was running home, you know how women are; always dramatic" Came the man upsetting me.

"Madam, he's your husband you shouldn't have run away from him. You should have first asked him to know what was going on before concluding" Came the taxi driver.

I stared at the man and then the driver who just smiled about to leave.

"How much do we owe you sir?" Asked the man.

"No charge. I see it as my duty to help"

"No I insist"

"It's okay. Thank you" The taxi driver said entering his taxi and driving off.

The man stared at me and dragged me into his car. As he did I recalled the day I had run out of Stan's house and how he brought me back.

I couldn't help the tears that went down my eyes.

Where are you Stan? Please come back to me. You promised you wouldn't leave me.

He stared at me and gave me a tissue.

"I'm sorry" He said after a while.

"For what? I was the one who ran"

"I'm sorry for not listening to you. You are clearly in love with this Stan and I understand why it's hard for you to accept that he's dead"

"Stan's not dead. He's alive,don't you dare say he's dead" I said angrily.

He stared at me and started the car.

"Where are you taking me to?" I asked but he just kept mute.

After driving for a long time, he stopped the car and told me to come down.

I came down and recalled this was the place I and Stan had the accident.

I saw a car burnt badly and I could only see ashes.

"Yesterday as i was returning from work, I saw a car badly burnt to ashes. I came down from my car to see if there was anyone I could help but I didn't find any. I went round the car but I didn't find anyone just a burnt car. As I was about going I saw something or at least someone covered with leaves on the ground bleeding. I walked close to see if you were still alive, seeing you breath made me happy. I immediately rushed you to the hospital. Hearing you call Stan repeatedly yesterday made me think he was in the accident with you...But then on seeing the state of the car and not finding anyone I concluded he was dead." The man said to my dismay.

"No! No! No! Stan! Stan can't be dead! He can't be!" I said breaking down in tears.

I ran to where the car was searching for Stan.

"Stan where are you? Your Yenochi is here! Please tell me this is a lie. Please come, please Stan. Stop this joke, come out!" I said searching for him but I couldn't find him.

In tears I fell to the ground.

"Why? Why did you leave me Stan? You promised? You said you wouldn't leave me. My Stan. No! I love you Stan please don't leave me" I said crying my eyes out.

As I cried I recalled all the moments we spent together.

I recalled what happened that morning before we left the house what he said to me.

He dragging me close and kissing my cheeks. I touched my cheeks crying.

"Was it his last kiss to me? Was that the last time he would hold me close to him?"

"I love you Yenochi. I love you every single day I sleep and wake up seeing you by my side. I love your smile, your cooking, your voice, your kindness. Everything about you makes me love you more. I promise to never leave you. Promise me Yenochi, promise you will never leave me no matter what happens"

"I promise"..

Remembering all this I couldn't control the tears that fell continuously from my eyes.

"Yenochi" I heard him say as he came closer to me.

I stared at him and continued crying.

"He promised he wouldn't leave me. He's not dead, believe me he's not"

"Hmm how sure are you?"

"I can feel it in my heart. I know he's not dead"

"Yenochi..."

"Can you please leave me alone?" I asked him drifting.

He stared at me and walked away.

"Why did you leave me Stan?" I asked the ashes on the ground.

Hours later..

"It's late Yenochi, you haven't recovered fully and you need rest"

"I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay here with Stan. He needs me here"

"You've been crying for hours now, you need to eat something at least"

"I'm not hungry. Stan must have not eaten, I need to cook for him"

"Yenochi"

"Stan, I cooked your favorite food. It's really delicious" I said smiling at the ashes on the ground.

Ron's POV

*I think I need to take her to see Bryant*

*She needs help*

I stared at her as she fed the ashes smiling. I couldn't take it anymore, she obviously needed help.

I lifted her up and carried her to the Jeep.

"Let go of me! Stan needs me! He hasn't had his dinner! Let go of me! Let me go! Let me go! Stan! I'm coming! No! Put me down! " She said hitting me continuously.

I withstood the pain and carried her into the Jeep. She tried running but I held her back putting the seat belt around her.

I closed the Jeep's door and quickly entered the Jeep through the other door. I started the car and drove her home immediately.

I lifted her up and took her into the guest's room, I locked the door and immediately dialed the doctor's number.

"Yes,she is here"

"I've been trying your number since to inform you she was missing. Why didn't you tell me she was with you?"

"I'm sorry for not telling you but it doesn't matter now, she needs help"

"Hmm..her condition is getting worse. Take her to a psychiatrist"

"I will tomorrow but right now I need your help"

"With what?"

"She refused to eat or calm down. What sedative should I give her?"

"I will be there soon"..

*****

"Thanks for coming doctor"

"Where's she?"

"Here" I replied pointing to the guest room.

"I will need your help in giving her the sedative"

"Anything, I just want her to be fine"

"Hmm..Ron, I hope you aren't falling for this girl"

"Falling? Of course not. I just met her yesterday"

"I know but the way you are worried about her worries me"

"She's human and you yourself know how much I love helping people"

"Helping doesn't go to this extent. Bringing her home and wanting to help her get treated"

"Dave please stop this, Yenochi needs help and that's what important"

"Yenochi?"

"That's her name"

"I see.. Your wedding with Cindy is fast approaching"

"Cindy and I are separated"

"What? Is it because of that girl?"

"That girl has a name and she needs help right now, the main reason you are here. We can still talk about this later."

Dave stared at me for a while before entering the room.

"Stan is here Yenochi" I told her smiling as I entered into the room.

"Stan? Where's he? I knew it! He's not dead, I told you he's not dead" She said smiling.

Seeing she was distracted i signaled Dave to go for it, he stared at me and came close to her.

I held her tight while he injected her.

"Sta.. Stan" She called slowly closing her eyes.

I stared at her in my arms. I lifted her up and placed her on the bed softly.

"Will she be okay?"

"Yes, she's only going to sleep for sometime. She needs rest" He said walking out of the room.

I followed him put out of the room and into the living room.

"Here" I said handling him a drink.

"Thanks.. so tell me why did you and Cindy separate?"

"She ended things this morning at her house"

"Hmm..What happened?"

"She told me she loved Bryant and not me."

"What? After what she did a day to yours and her wedding"

"Yeah, clearly I'm not the guy for her. Bryant is"

"You didn't do anything to stop her?"

"What could I have done? I came to her house so we could start afresh but clearly it was already over to her. I was on my knees when she broke the news to me"

"I feel for you bro"

"It's okay really"

"How are you holding up?"

"Fine. Cindy and I were not meant for each other in the first place, we were literally opposites. It was bound to happen anyway, our relationship only lasted because our parents wanted it to"

"Yeah, I guess you are a free man now. Welcome to the single life"

"Feels like I never left" I told him and we both laughed.

"And that girl, Yeno...."

"Yenochi"

"Yeah..What are you going to do about her?"

"For now, keep her with me till she recovers"

"Keep her? Ron really?"

"Don't think otherwise Dave, She's like a little sister to me"

"Okay if you say so"

"I do say so"

"And her family? The least you could do is find her family"

"I will try"

"And Stan who do you think he is?"

"Probably her lover"

"She looks young to have a lover"

"These days you never can tell what's going on in young people minds"

"Exactly"

After having a few drinks, I walked Dave out of my house. I opened the door and entered the guest room.

I came close to where she laid peacefully. I sat down on a chair close to her and watched her sleep.

"She's really beautiful" I said out loud staring at her.

*Was I falling for her? No..no..Dave couldn't be right*

"Stan.." I heard her mutter slowly. She held my hand and dragged me making me fall on her.

I stared at her, my eyes adoring her beauty. I gently removed her hand from mine and moved away from her.

*Dave couldn't be right..How can I fall for her?*

"Who was this Stan?" I asked myself as she kept repeating his name.

*She hasn't had anything to eat, I need to prepare something for her* I told myself after a while.

I stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare something for her.

CINDY'S POV

"What do you mean by I can't see Bryant? I'm his girlfriend I hope you know that?" I asked Bryant annoying secretary who wouldn't let me into his office.

"Ma the boss is busy and requested not to see anyone"

"Tell him I'm here and it's urgent"

"I'm sorry ma, he strictly told me not to allow anyone in no matter who it was"

"That's ridiculous!" I said heading for his office but she stood in front of the door.

"Leave my way!"

"I'm sorry ma but I can't, he strictly warned me not to let anyone in"

"Do I look like anyone? Get out of my way?" I said angrily pushing her away.

I opened the door and entered.

"Oh no! I'm fired for sure today" I heard Bryant's secretary say.

"Cindy baby, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you or can't i?"

"Of course you can"

"I would have been here sooner but your crazy secretary just wouldn't let me in."

"I told her not to"

"Why? You don't look busy to me?"

"Well I am. Why are you here?"

"You are sweating? It's freezing here yet you are sweating"

"Oh I am?"

"Badly even. Bryant what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is there a girl here?"

"Girl? Cindy I won't have you accuse me"

"I didn't accuse you, I only asked you a question"

"There's no girl here"

"Really? Why then are you sweating? Why was your secretary preventing me from coming into your office? I know you Bryant you can't stay a day without satisfying your urge. Spill it where's she?"

"I told you Cindy there's no girl. You have no right to accuse me without prove"

"Oh spare me that trash Bryant! If there wasn't any girl here what's a lady's bag doing here?"

"My secretary must have forgotten her bag here"

"Then she forgot her panties too" I told him throwing the girl's underwear on him.

"I don't know how that got here"

I stared at him disappointed.

"Don't go there Cindy!" He shouted as I walked close to his file cabinet.

"Why shouldn't I? Is it because your tramp is there?" I asked angrily as I opened the door.

"You can come out now" I told the naked girl in Bryant's cabinet.

She stared at me scared and then she ran out with her clothes in her hands.

"Where are you going to? You better put them on" I told her angrily.

I watched her put them on, after she was done I handed her bag and underwear over to her.

"This should be the last time I should see you here or close to him, the next time you won't have your legs to help you run out of here. Now leave!" I said angrily.

Hearing what I said she took to her heels.

"She's pretty" I said staring at Bryant.

"Well.."

"Well what? I thought you said I was accusing you. Bryant you should be ashamed of yourself, aren't you satisfied? I try my best everyday to make you happy yet you still run after girls like the dog you are"

"Oh spare me the preaching Holy Theresa. You really are something you know? You talk about shame when you lack one yourself. You are no different from me you know? You cheat on your boyfriend and I do the same with you so I committed no sin"

"You sicken me Bryant. I thought you said you loved me"

"You tell that boyfriend of yours you do yet you are always in my bed so what wrong did I do?"

"I can't believe I broke up with him for you."

"That was your mistake sweetheart not mine"

"I hate you!"

"I think it's time for you to leave, get out of my office tramp"

"How dare you?"

"I said it, you heard it! Isn't that what you are?"

"Bryant I loved you, I gave you my all. I fought my parents for you. I should have listened to them"

"You should have. Now just like you told that girl, do the same. Leave and hopefully don't come back, I'm done with you"

"You will pay for this. I will make you pay"

"Get out of my office Cindy before I call the security"

I stared at him angrily leaving, I walked out of the office.

Walking out of his office I couldn't hold the tears anymore, I ran out to the car park where my car was parked.

I opened my car and sat down closing the door.

"Arrghh! I hate you Bryant! I hate you!" I said hitting the wheels. My tears flowing continuously as I cursed Bryant with my every breath.

"I hate you! I hope you die and rot in hell you dog!"

I continued hitting the wheels until I started bleeding but I didn't care, I wanted to get rid of the anger in me and this was the only way I could think of.

"Em ma'am" I heard someone say.I turned to find a guy standing close to my window staring at me.

"What do you want?"

"I need you to drive your car, mine is behind yours"

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

He stared at me and then at my eyes.

"Crying won't solve the problem. Believe I once tried"

"You have no idea what the problem is so I don't think you will know the solution"

"I know I don't but no matter the problem crying won't solve it. It will just be you wasting your precious tears"

"Precious? My tears aren't precious"

"If they are from your eyes then they are indeed precious"

"Hmm"

"Is anything wrong? You can share it?"

"I rather not talk about it."

"Why can't you? Who knows I might be of help?"

"I have been handling things on my own before I think I can handle this. Thanks for wanting to help" I said opening my car door.

"It's no problem really, we all go through tough times and we also need others to help go through them"

"Thanks"

"Thank God"

"God?"

"Yeah"

"Why? Others say you are welcome then why did you say thank God?"

"He made me to be here and also willing to help so why shouldn't I thank Him?"

"You are different"

"Different? Not at all, I'm just an ordinary person"

"No I meant how can you offer to help someone you don't know?"

"Like I said before, we all go through tough times and we need people to help us go through them. I was once in pain just like you are today"

"What healed you?"

"Jesus, He was merciful enough to"

"Jesus?"

"Yes"

"Why was He merciful and who is He? A friend?"

"He is more than a friend, He played the role of my mum, my dad, my comforter, my friend and my lover. "

"Wait! Is He gay? Are you gay?"

"No..no.. Jesus is among the three Trinity, God the Father, the son and the Holy spirit. He is the son of God that came to die for you and I so our sins will be forgiven and forgotten. He isn't gay, He is merely a God who is a friend and a comforter. He lives around us and remains the same no matter the passing of time."

"Ohh, He is God. Why then was He merciful?"

"Yes He is. He was merciful because I was a great sinner"

"I'm not sure you committed worse than I did"

"Well I don't know what your sin is but I could tell you mine was great."

"Great? What was your sin?"

"I was once an assassin"

"Assassin? Wow"

"Yeah. I lived a life that wasn't worth saving, I killed for money,raped for jewelry and had multiple affairs for fun"

"Wow,you really are brave"

"Brave? How?"

"You having the courage to tell me about this"

"Jesus gave it to me and that to for free"

"I hope to meet and know this Jesus someday because I don't have this courage"

"Well you can"

"How?"

"2Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.". All you have to do is give your life to Christ"

"I should give Him my life? How?"

"Accept Him into your life"

"How?"

"Let's pray" He told me holding my hands and then he closed his eyes.

I watched him wondering what to do next. I copied him and closed my eyes.

"Dear Lord, your son and daughter are here before you to ask that you forgive your daughter here of all her trespasses(wrong doings) and you accept her and write her name in the book of Life. Lord please help her change and learn to love you. Thank Jesus for answering our prayers, for in Jesus name we prayed. Amen.

"Amen" I said and we both opened our eyes.

"Now all you have to do is join a Bible believing Church"

"I'm not a church goer"

"You can be"

"Why should I go to a church when I'm even holier than those who go"

"Faith isn't determined by how holy you are. God doesn't look at how holy you are or claim to be than another but how clean and pure your heart is that's what will be measured when rapture takes place"

"How clean my heart is?"

"Yes. So you shouldn't be surprised when a prostitute makes it to heaven and you didn't. It's the heart that matters not the mind."

"Hmm..This is deep"

"Going to church doesn't mean you are holy or high spirited neither is it a criteria to go to Heaven. Don't misunderstand me, going to church doesn't mean you will go to heaven but going to church is better. A church is you and I not the building so going to a building everyday won't make you a candidate for heaven but who you are when in church and when not in church. But mind you going to church is important especially a Bible believing Church, in a church people with different spiritual knowledge gather and that's where you get to learn things you may not be able to learn all by yourself. God explains and teaches in ways a man can understand. My way of understanding something may be different from yours so that's why it's advised to go to church"

"You are really Holy"

"I'm only passing a message across just like He did with me"

"I have no idea what church I should attend"

"You can attend mine. Here" He said offering me a tract which he brought from his pocket.

"It was given to me today but I believe you need it more than me"

"Thank you" I replied collecting it.

"Thank God" He said smiling.

"Yeah" I replied smiling non-stop.

"You are smiling. Thank God, your smile is really beautiful"

"Thanks. You made me smile"

"I think God did through me"

I smiled hearing this.

"So can you please move your car?" He asked me smiling.

"Of course, why not?" I replied about to start the car when I noticed I was still holding on to his hand.

He stared at me and then at my hand.

"Oh I'm sorry" I replied removing them.

He smiled and said.

"No problem, I'm glad I was able to help"

"Me too.. I didn't ask for your name?"

"I'm Stan"

"Stan? Nice name. I'm Cindy"

"Nice meeting you Cindy"

"The pleasure is mine really"

"Okay then" He replied going close to his car.

I started my car and drove it out of the park.

"Bye" I told him waving.

"Bye" He said and we both drove off.

I couldn't stop smiling as I drove home, today's encounter with Stan was really good for me.

Now I got to know there is someone who is willing to be my friend and love me unconditionally.

I didn't know what to do about my family current situation but I was sure just like God helped me find a way to get better after being hurt, He would do the same with my family problem.

I drove home straight.

"Where were you Cindy?" My mum asked me as I walked inside.

I ran to her and hugged her tight.

"Mum, I'm sorry. Can you forgive for everything I did. You were right about Bryant" I told her crying.

She didn't say a thing,she just hugged me tight.

After hugging me, she sat me down.

"What happened?"

I began narrating everything that happened to her sparing no detail.

"Stop crying darling, he doesn't deserve you nor you crying for him"

I stared at her and tried smiling.

"Cheer up Cindy, there's good news"

"Good news?"

"Yes"

"What happened?"

"Your dad got a call this afternoon from a friend abroad. He told him everything that happened to his company and his friend has promised to help, he said it was his way of repaying your dad for everything he has done for him"

I smiled and went on my knees thanking God.

My mum watched me in awe.

"Cindy? Is this really you?"

"What do you mean mum?" I asked sitting next to her.

"I don't think this is my Cindy, someone must have taken you and exchanged you with someone else"

"I'm still your Cindy mum but better"

"I think I love this new Cindy"

"I'm glad you do"