Fauziat- A true story (Part four)‎

Abdullateef had gradually grown to become very responsible and had fallen in-love with a girl. His mum was thoroughly disappointed but there was nothing she could do about it. As for me, I had scaled through being Khalid's girl for one session and was in the second session with him and couldn't wait to be his wife. It was the award night and night departmental party and the venue was just a stone throw from Abdullateef's place. He didn't want me to go initially but eventually agreed. He took me in his car to the venue but apart from the class and sophistication in it, I wanted Khalid to come and pick me so we could walk down together instead of going to turn round in a car to  a place that I could have walked through short routes. When we got there, Khalid was waiting, we were both dressed in navy blue jean pants and white shirts and because of the way we stared at each other, Abdulateef immediately knew we were in a relationship. He cleared his throat to bring us out of the stare and said, "I am Abdullateef, her brother and I can see you guys are close from the way you look at each other and the way you are dressed." Khalid introduced himself and they shook hands. Abdullateef then added, "Please take care of her. I am leaving her with you. I don't want to see a scratch on her when I come back to pick her up and please don't get her drunk." Khalid nodded his head to all the instructions and took me inside.  We sat on the same seat watching as our classmates danced to songs from J-Martins, Keffi, Timaya, 9ice, Darey and all the popular musicians at that time as they waited for the award to be given. Tolu came too with her friends but sat far away from us. When it was time to present the awards, my heart began to pound. I wanted my friends to win something at least. I watched and listened carefully nodding to the songs that played in the background. Then I heard Tobi Adekunle, 'Most brilliant girl'. I stood up, ran to the podium to join her in receiving her award and take a photograph too. We went back to our seats admiring the plaque when we heard Deborah Okafor, 'The girl with the best smiles'. We ran up the stage again, this time with Khalid to take another photograph and receive her award with her. Other students went also to receive their awards until it got to the best part. The part where they call the most handsome boy in the school, the most handsome girl, the best dressed, boy and girl, and the couple of the year. We wanted all our friends to take all the awards, we couldn't stop admiring Tobi's and Deborah's award. We were still focused on the awards in front of us when we heard Khalid Ayodeji 'Most Handsome Boy,' he stood up with smiles, took my hands and we walked together to the podium to receive his award. We took some photographs together but as we were about to return to our seats, we heard Fauziat Shaibu and Khalid Ayodeji, Best couple of the year. I couldn't believe it, "best couple, how?" I thought as I stood up with him to receive the award. The party was so interesting. It was too good to be true. This is me, Fauziat the naive girl who doesn't know anything at a party at night. I don't even attend parties, let alone attending them at night with people of same age. I felt so free and alive. It was as if I had been missing out of a lot of fun. I held hands with Khalid almost all through the party, we danced together, ate a lot and drank some stuff we had never tasted.  Before we knew it, it was already 11.30 pm and Abdullateef had started calling. I was surprised that he could allow me stay out that long but I was happy he called as I especially couldn't wait to go home and take a nap. When he arrived I was already waiting outside with Khalid. Khalid and his friends had made arrangements to stay over in one of the rooms at the hotel until morning so I knew he was safe and I was relaxed. When I got home, I went straight to bed but not without saying thank you to Abdullateef. After the award ceremony, we had our convocation; we had written our final exams, defended our projects and were full graduates. We were preparing for our youth service and I was still living with Mukhtar and Abdullateef. I got a place to serve in a company for one year. I was in the office when I received a call one day from Khalid demanding it was important we see. We were dating already for 3 years and we had not had sex. I looked at the time it was 1pm so I gave an excuse and left the office for his house. When I got there I met him watching a movie, when I got close it was an adult movie. I didn't want to see it even though I wasn't surprised. He is an adult and has a girlfriend that wouldn't sleep with him so I politely pleaded that he pause the movie until I left his room. He stood up, walked close to me and said he wasn't going to put it off. I said "okay you called what do you want, I left the office to be here." He said I shouldn't try to make him guilty that he has not gone to the office for two days because of me.  "I was also at work about three days ago and suddenly felt ill. "When I got to the hospital the doctor checked me and said I was fine but I wasn't fine. I called a friend who told me sex would heal me. I have been trying to masturbate since but it is not working that is why I called you. I don't want to cheat on you with anyone, please let us have sex." I declined and told him we have been together for so long and can make it together if we give it a little more time but he insisted. He got angry; there was rage in his eyes. It wasn't the Khalid I used to know. Something was surely wrong I thought. I pleaded with him and begged that we don't spoil what we share. "You are the only man that I have been alone with in a room and wouldn't make a move to sleep with him, why are you doing this now? I asked. Please Khalid let us work this out, we can talk about it, we can go for counselling and even visit a shrink," but he just stood there shaking his head in disagreement. "All I want is for us to have sex and let me be alright," he said. I thought of it over and over again in a space of seconds, then I decided I didn't want to lose him but I also wasn't ready to lose my virginity, not now that I have come this far. I told him I wasn't ready but he wouldn't take no for an answer as he also reached a conclusion as if he had thought of what to say if I said yes or no.  He said he was tired of the relationship, he has been thinking and he feels we should go our separate ways. My heart sunk when I heard those words. I was shocked. This is not Khalid.  I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said I "thought you were different from the others. So all you want is my body and that's why you were pretending to be sick?" He said "yes Fauziat, I have been thinking and I felt it was time we go our separate ways. We have been together for three years. I have never spent that much time with any lady and you might find another man and then jilt me so I decided I wouldn't let you go like that, you must make love to me before you go." I tried to convince him that I wouldn't do that to him; that I loved him, that he meant the world to me, that I would die without him in my life but he closed his ears to it. I reminded him I was a virgin and would keep it for him but he didn't listen; he insisted. He went to the door and locked it. He walked towards me stretched his hand and pulled me close to him. He kissed me forcefully as I struggled with him. I felt blood on my lips and continued to struggle but he was too strong for me.  I cried, I begged, I prayed that God sends someone, anyone to help me then I heard a voice in my head saying scream. I began to scream. I called on his neighbours and whoever could hear with the little strength I had left in me for help. Suddenly, we heard a knock on the door. He hesitated before opening it. It was his friend. I was so happy I was safe. I picked up my shoes, bag, everything I brought to his place and ran out of the room.  That was the last I saw of him. I couldn't go back to the office so I went home instead. My brothers were not home. I went straight to my room, cried my eyes out and slept. I regretted going to his place. I blamed myself for making a decision like that. I wished he was a bit gentle and not animalistic in his reaction. I was also happy I was safe, that I wasn't raped.    It was already 8 months into my service year, I had gotten over Khalid and wasn't in a relationship. I faced my work so much, people began to call me a workaholic. I had men swimming around me wanting to date me. Some married others single but many already in a relationship. They just wanted to have a taste of me and I wasn't ready for them. I didn't give in to any of them. I was attending the company mosque where I observed my five daily Muslim prayers. One day, as I was seated, waiting for the Imam to start the prayer, I noticed a man in front of me. I saw his back alone and tried to place him but couldn't. He looked so handsome from behind. He was sitting but was handsome. I couldn't wait for him to stand up so I could see him. "Could it be that I had fallen in love again? Could this be love at first sight from the back?" I thought, but didn't show it. The Imam came in and my attention shifted from him to the prayer. After the prayer, I traced him to his office and discovered he worked in the Administrative Department. He was so handsome. I had realised that Khalid looked too handsome to me because I loved him too much. I had begun to notice men who were more handsome than him and this man was an example.  I was seeing him more in the office these days. He was taller than Khalid, had a broader chest, his smile would melt your heart. I would imagine myself in his arms every time I thought of him. I was going to date this man, I told myself, and this time, I would marry him. I began to give him the green light. I would dress nice and make sure I passed through his office everyday for him to notice me but he didn't.  I would also make sure I didn't miss praying in the mosque for him to notice me but he didn't say anything to me, not even hi. I gave up trying to make him notice me and focused on other things.  I finally finished youth service and got a job with another company that was into the same business with the company where I served. I was also very judicious and called a workaholic there too. I was at work one day when the Business Development Manager, Mr. Olatunde Olamide came in and asked if I could go to the company where I served to get something for him from their library. We didn't have it there because the company was smaller. I was with them already for 10 months. I said okay, picked up my bag, car key and left. I went downstairs, got into my car and drove to the company. I met people I knew from the gate and greeted them until I got to the library. After I was done in the library, I picked up my bag, car keys and walked through the admin office then I stopped for a moment to take my mind back to when I worked there. I remembered the man I used to see there and had fallen in love with. "Was he still working here?" I asked myself as I started to walk down the stairs to leave.  I was still in thought when I heard the door of the admin office open and a male voice said, "hello young lady." It was him. It was the man I fell in love with over 10 months ago. "So he was still in this company," I asked myself. I greeted him and started to walk down the stairs again but as I was walking down the stairs he said "wait." "Where have you been? I have been looking everywhere for you. Please give me your mobile number" so I brought my phone out and gave him my number. I told him I was in a hurry to get to the office and left. He called as I was on my way to the office but I told him I was driving that he should call again. He called again but this time I was settled in the office. He asked that I forgive his manner and told me his name is Umar Inape. I told him my name too. He wanted to know a lot of things about me. He asked when I left the company and when I would be coming there but I told him I don't know because I have a lot of work to do in the office then he insisted on coming to where I live. I told him it wasn't advisable that my brothers would kill him but that he was invited to the one year birthday party of my cousin that I would be attending that weekend.  My friends were also gainfully employed. They were doing well and we were always in touch. They had frowned at the way Khalid treated me and wouldn't want to hear me speak about him. They were there throughout the period I nursed the pains of his jilting me. I had also told them about the new guy and they were excited but warned that I should be careful this time. It was the birthday of my cousin; he came to my house to pick me. I was dressed in a log pink and brown gown with belt to make it fit. I got into his car, sat in front with him and directed him on the way to the party venue. We talked about life in general and how I have been since I left the office.  He said he had a confession to make but we were already there. He parked the car and said we should talk for a while but my siblings saw me and came towards he car. We greeted and I introduced him to them as a friend.  We spent time together with family at the party and didn't have time to talk. The party came to an end.  My siblings and I  had decided that we would stay back to help with the cleaning of the things used for the party and sleep over since the next day was Sunday and we wouldn't be going to work.  So Umar had to go.  He wasn't happy, I saw it in his eyes, I pitied him but I didn't show it.  We got into the house and began to clean until midnight. We eventually finished cleaning and went inside to sleep. My mobile phone was in my bag throughout. When I woke up in the morning, I picked my mobile phone and to my surprise Umar had called 17 times. I missed his calls. I took the mobile phone inside, plugged it to a socket because the battery was low and dialed his number. He picked the call almost immediately as if he was expecting it and said, "Hello, I called you many times last night; guess you were already asleep. I just wished I would be lucky that you pick the call and say a goodnight to me. It would have caused me to sleep very well." I laughed blushingly and apologised. He asked if he should come and pick me but I said no that I was fine and my sister would drop me off. We were in contact throughout that week and agreed to see during the weekend. He sent his address to me and I went to his place on Saturday. When I got to his house, he was wearing a short and armless shirt. He was so handsome in the outfit. It was a three bedroom flat painted in chocolate and milk. The place looked so comfortable and I imagined myself in it with him and our children. He was preparing lunch at that time and the aroma coming from the kitchen was inviting. I offered to help but he refused saying he was almost done. He finished cooking and served the food on the dining table. He did it so perfectly I was impressed. "Khalid wouldn't beat this, I said to myself." After the meal, I helped clear the dish and washed them. I sat for a while longer and announced I was leaving. I stood up gave him a hug and waited for him to lead the way but he sat back down. He said "Fauziat, we have to talk. I told you I have a confession to make at your cousin's party but you didn't say anything." "I am sorry, I apologised but I have to go." He insisted I waited promising that it wouldn't take long.  I sat down and told him to make his confession. Note: Fauziat- A true story will continue next week, we are sorry we have not ended it. It is all in a bid to serve you better. With love from MedMetro. Medinat Kanabe is the author of this intriguing romance story and Demola Adefajo is the Editor. We hope you are enjoying the story. Please leave a comment in the box below.