THE BODYGUARD

Ariana was now recovering from terror that had shook on her destiny. She was at the Agha Khan hospital waiting to be discharged the following day. Her dear mother, Jessica , was right beside her. The only thing that Ariana ever wanted. She had just woken up from unconsciousness when her father came in talking over the phone.

" Drive my daughter safely from there and make sure you bring her straight to the hospital" said Mr Grande, Ariana's father.

Jessica stood and hugged her darling husband before they sat down next to their daughters bed.

" Thank God you are awake sweetheart. Your father and I were so worried" said Jessica caressing her daughter's cheek.

Ariana smiled and sat upright on her bed. She had a bruised forehead and left hand. Her long African hair fell on her shoulders.

" How did all this happen my child " asked Mr Grande

" I was from campus and heading to my apartment when someone came to my back and made me smell something and I lost consciousness. I woke up after I don't know how long and I was in this strange room with a small bed I was laying on. I began shouting for help but no one came" said Ariana and tears freely formed a number eleven on her well curved cheeks.

He mother hugged her and wiped her tears .

Then she continued" I was tired of screaming when I heard footsteps heading to where I was kept. Two men in black came in with other two girls. One of the girls was dressed in highschool uniform. They were pushed next to me. We were all very scared. I couldn't recognise any of them. One of them smiled exposing his tobacco stained teeth. Just then he received a phone call and I guess it was from his boss. He received orders and after that they both came closer and blindfolded us with black pieces of clothes and tied up our hands. I don't know how long we drove but i must say it was a long journey daddy."

She coughed and was given a glass of water by her father. She took a sip and returned the glass. Her hands were trembling and her mother dint let go of her.

She took a deep breath and continued" when we got unfolded...we were in a huge ship with very huge containers. It was still at the harbour by then. We were taken to one of the containers where I saw many other girls. The men in black pushed us and I fell and hurt my left arm. The girls in there were all scared and some were crying. Mummy I swear I was scared to death. I thought I'd never see you again.."

And she began crying again.

Jessica begged her to stop talking and get some rest.

Just then the ward door opened and a beautiful slender girl in a blue mini dress came in.

"Arabella! " called out Ariana

The girl dropped her bag and went straight to hug Ariana. The two hugged in tears before Arabella said hi to her parents. Yes the two were sisters. And not just sisters but also identical twins. Arabella was in a different campus from Ariana's because the two were very naughty if together in the same school. Though Ariana was older with 5 minutes, they heard the same height.

" what happened to my sister? Can anyone tell me?"said Arabella in tears . She loved her sister more than anyone in the world or anything in the world. The day they were being separated to different schools, they really cried their hearts out. Now her sister was in hospital and she was really hurt by that.

" I sensed this when I was in school. Why dint anybody tell me?" Asked Arabella

" That was why we called you here Arabella. Let your sister rest and we will tell you all about it. But you are not going back to your campus anymore. You'll have to study with Ariana from now on. This is for the safety of both of you. And you'll have to be reporting home everyday after campus. No more living in apartments" said Mr Grande and hugged Arabella tightly .

After about some seconds, Mr Grande received a call from his brother , Cameroon, saying " Bro, I have a solution to your two daughters' safety"

They talked for some time and Mr Grande was heard saying" where do I find him?"

Mr Grande left the hospital and told his driver to take him to Grande plaza hotel. It was one of his own 5 star hotels in town . He had asked his brother to meet up with him at the hotel. His driver took him there in less than an hour. He was received in great honour and taken to a private chamber in the hotel.

He sat there for about 5min then two gentlemen walked in. One was Cameroon and the other was a young man dressed in a black suit. He had broad shoulders and well shaped muscles and not forgetting the looks and his well intact body.

He was just the perfect man any lady would wish for. The two gentlemen went straight to where Mr Grande was and had their sits after salutations.

" Bro as I had said earlier on the phone, your kids need a bodyguard. Here is the man I can trust for this job. His name is Carlos. Carlos this is Mr Grande, my elder brother. "

" Its an honour to meet you sir. I've heard alot about you" said Carlos politely

" I hope you heard only good things about me" said Mr Grande and they all laughed.

He then continued" looking at you, I have a good feeling about your proffession. What made you choose to be a bodyguard? I mean with your appearance, you fit in the army or police department "

" Actually you are not wrong sir. I was once in the army and I was fully trained. But some few unavoided circumstances forced me to quit and just decided to be what I am today. Actually I have a passion in what I do " said Carlos very confident of himself.

" I must say am impressed. You talk so well" said Mr Grande

" Bro he is a capable man and guess what? He was the same guy who saved Ariana and the other girls from being sold off to prostitution. It was clearly seen in the cctv footage. He is a one man army " said Cameroon making Carlos blush.

I must say he had the best smile ever and his gently curved lips made him more handsome when he smiled.

"Well I owe you my daughter's life Carlos. I don't know what to pay in return" said Mr Grande

" Its nothing sir, I was only doing my job"

" Thank you so much son. Actually your job here will be to guard my two daughters wherever they go, especially Ariana. She is still entraged by the incident that happened to her so she needs closer attendance. Anyway she is a naughty girl but not as much as her twin sister Arabella. They are Identical but their behaviour and how they talk differentiates them. I'll give you time to know them better " explained Mr Grande.

"Thank you sir I won't fail you on this" said Carlos.

Cameroon got up and said goodbye to his brother and left. Mr Grande was taking Carlos for shopping before his work began.

.....

After some hours of shopping, Carlos was taken to see Ariana. She was to be discharged the following day. He was to stay with her at the hospital until she got discharged. The driver, Anthony, was asked to deliver Carlos's belongings to the maid, sara, who would know where to place them.

Grande and Carlos entered the ward where Arabella was asleep beside her sister Ariana who was also sleeping.

Carlos took a good look and perceived that who Arabella was and who Ariana was. It was easy anyway because Ariana was the sick one.

Mr Grande asked Carlos to take good care of them until their mother returned from wherever she went to and he left. He had an urgent board meeting with his investors in his company.

He was also ordered not to let any of the two girls go out or inside the ward alone. His work had officially began. He was still in his bodyguard uniform. That is the black suit. He stood there like a statue guarding the girls. There was a licensed gun with him.

Carlos was walking around the room guarding the girls. After about an hour, Arabella woke up and saw him.

"Good afternoon maam" greeted Carlos with alot of respect

" who are you and who let you in?" Said Arabella in fear making Ariana wake up from slumber.

"Ma'am I mean no harm?" Said Carlos trying to calm the situation

"Who is he? How did he get in?" Asked Ariana trembling.

"I mean no harm ma ladies"repeated Carlos

"No harm yet you have a gun! Who are you and what do you want from us?" Asked Arabella spreading her arms trying to protect Ariana.

Just then the door to the ward opened and Jessica came in carrying two paper bags.

" What's going on here?" Jessica asked placing the bags on a table next to Ariana's bed. The bags contained extra clothes for Ariana and some snacks she had brought for the girls.

"Mummy I woke up and found this guy roaming around the room and he has a gun on his waist" explained Arabella holding her mother's shoulder.

Jessica looked at Carlos and smiled.

" You must be Carlos right?" Asked Jessica

"Yes ma'am and I mean no harm to your girls " he said

" You know him?" Asked the girls in unison.

" My princesses, he means no harm. He is Carlos your new bodyguard" said Jessica

"BODYGUARD?" The girls said

" Yes. Your father hired him for your protection. I was out to get you snacks and clothes when he called to inform me about him. Carlos, these are my girls, Ariana and Arabella" said Jessica

" Nice to meet you madams" said Carlos gently

" Mom why a bodyguard? I mean am fine and am getting discharged tommorrow. So why?" Asked Ariana

"Ariana this can repeat itself again and we don't want to lose you and your sister. We have to make sure you girls are safe" said Jessica to her daughter.

Ariana and Arabella looked at each other and were about to give their buts when Jessica asked Carlos to wait outside the room. Jessica had to discuss with the girls and tell them the importance of Carlos until they understood it.

After their little discussion Arabella called Carlos in and apologised to how they behaved with him.

As naughty as Arabella was she said" You are too cute to be a bodyguard. Right sis?"

" Bella, You are making him shy" said Ariana and the girls laughed. Their mother looked at Carlos who was now shy and facing the floor.

"It's my job madams" said Carlos and went by the door and stood there doing his job.

Jessica gave some clothes to Ariana who went to the bathroom and changed. The bathroom was inside the same ward. Arabella picked some crips and began eating.

" Mom will he just stand there all day? Come and have some snacks with us?" Said Arabella referring to Carlos

" Thank you ma'am but i dont eat with my bosses when am on duty" he replied

" Shy guy huh" said Arabella looking at Carlos fishyly.

Jessica asked her to stop bothering the poor guy. Ariana came out of the bathroom in a pink dress that showed her curves really well. It was a knee length one and Arabella had to comment

" You look stunning siz. If i was a man, I wouldn't get my eyes off you. What do you say bodyguard"

"Bella, stop it you crazy lookalike. You are making him uncomfortable " said Ariana

" Its okay ma'am. She is my boss she can say anything " said Carlos

" Mom, I must say I like this bodyguard of ours" said Arabella and they all laughed.

Jessica took a plastic chair from a corner in the ward and gave it to Carlos. She couldn't bare to see him stand all that long and she forced him to have some snacks with them.

Jessica was a woman with a kind heart and wouldn't want to see anyone suffer in her eyes.

Later in the evening Arabella and her mother left the hospital and went home. Ariana was left under the care of Carlos until she got discharged the next day. As they were leaving, Arabella dint miss a word for Carlos.

" Bye handsome bodyguard. Careful, my sis is so hot you might fall for her"