Wives Of The South. Episode 1-5
EPISODE ONE
Otonye, a coco brown lady, young and gorgeous, sits idly at the elegant dining table, starring at the busy street through her thick glass slide door of their magnificent duplex. She is preoccupied with the thoughts of the previous weeks. While the sound of a dozen cars zooming off, tearing down the road only to hit heavy traffic at the major junction,lingers.
She hears the screaming that is hers and recalls how she lifts her hands as protective covering against Obong’s hard blows.
"But did they even refrain him?" She sighs, getting up from where she is sitting and goes back into the main parlour.
She hears the doorbell ring.
‘That must be Nkeni’ she concludes and bends to pick up her phone from the parlour’s centre table. She breezes past the Bar where her husband spoils himself and also drinks to stupor. This is after he has hit at her and left her cursing him while she’s wailing on the bathroom floor.
She opens the door with a wide smile flashing her side dimples.
Nkeni exclaims as she sights her
“The madam, the madam” comes her hailing in her thick voice that can pass for a male.
Otonye admires Nkeni’s fully round face and chubby cheeks that is well accentuated with her flip side short razor cut weave and smiles,
“Keni Baby, how far?”
She watches as Nkeni moves her chubby fair body inside the gorgeous parlour, starring round at the gigantic peach curtains and white walls bearing beautiful art paintings at strategic corners. Nkeni claps as she faces her.
“Thank God you didn’t have those your…” She takes her thumb and first finger and shapes it like a phone over her ears, “… You are speaking with the Future CEO, Brittle consultant firm bla bla bla.”
Otonye rolls her eyes.
“Oh here we go again. Let’s just go. Ese would be meeting us up shay? I have been calling her yet no response.”
Nkeni nods
“Yea I pray she meets us up!” turns to face the door while Otonye dresses her curly weaves once more and they both exit the house.
EPISODE TWO
The law proceedings are ongoing in the Appeal Court room.
While sitting slightly above the court clerk, the female judge’s eyes shuttle between the legal files of the Case and the quiet and expectant audience awaiting hearing.
Ese leans in on the witness box in a sleek black skirt and sparkling white shirt. A tall, slender and smart young lady. Her silky black weave sweeping her shirt from behind her while she strives to maintain the needed eye contact with the lady witness in the witness box.
Ese paces a little away from her and now back towards her.
“So Mrs Ibekwe would you love to tell this honourable court your reasons for holding back custody of the kids from my client, Mr Ibekwe, who is their rightful father and your husband”
Mrs Ibekwe nods.
She’s a mature fashionable fair lady. Her ostentatious bangles and costume neck pieces complement her pretty cream free-fitting tunic.
“It’s for the best interest of my children. He comes back reeking of alcohol every night and he beats me.” Mrs Ibekwe confesses and breaks down in tears.
Ese rolls her eyes slightly.
“On how many occasions has this happened?”
Mrs Ibekwe covers her face partly with her white handkerchief still sobbing.
“Many times” she replies sliding her weave behind her ears.
Ese glances briefly at her client, Mr ibekwe whose look of despair is evident on his bushy brow and slightly wrinkling facial muscles.
“Can you show this court any physical injury my client has inflicted on you?”
She turns back to Mrs ibekwe.
Mrs Ibekwe is stunned.
“What do you mean?”
Her big eyes fill with shock.
Ese paces around the witness box and smiles.
“Yes, any fresh bruises?” Ese questions throwing a stern glance at her.
Mrs Ibekwe declares
“All the bruises are gone but I stand before this court and tell the truth!”
Ese faces the judge and bows.
“My Lord, that would be all for now!”
She bows again and goes to her seat.
After court proceedings.
Mr Ibekwe meets up with Ese as she walks down the stairs.
“Thank you so much, Barrister Ese . I’ll be crediting your account, immediately.”
Ese smiles and extends a professional hand shake.
“I’ll do my best so you get to keep your kids. She can elope with her lover if she likes.”
Mr Ibekwe returns the handshake and nods when they part hands
“She wants to reel me off my wealth.”
“Sure but She won’t realize what she has until she loses it! Mr Ibekwe, See you in court next week!”
They exchange handshakes again and part ways
EPISODE THREE
Ese enters into her cosy small office with her face expressionless. As she sinks into her swivel chair, her eyes settle on the first draft of her book - Rivers of Justice. She picks it up and smiles while flipping through its typed pages. She raises the book close to her nose and sniffs in the crisp smell of the white pages. The sudden buzz from her phone causes her to drop the manuscript with a thud on the table. It’s a call from her husband, Elebe.
Ese in a high pitched happy voice responds
“Hello darling”
Elebe's voice returns hers in a stern tone
“ Ese , I called to tell you I would be travelling to Dubai today, in fact in a few minutes.”
Ese stops swirling in her swivel chair. Her voice cracks.
“Ebi, when where you going to tell me?”
“Ese I just did!”
Ese roars
“You had this all planned out and you never mentioned it to me?”
“It just came up. See I didn’t call you to…”
He takes in a deep breath.
“I called you to inform you, Ese . Take care of you and Maxwell!”
“What of when he asks of his father?” Ese questions in a faint voice that almost sounds like a whisper.
“Just tell him what I told you.” Elebe stamps.
“Ebi, tomorrow is our anniversary, and my birthday. You could just…”
“I shouldn’t answer work duties because of our anniversary. See I’ll make it up to you once I get back. Love you.”
Ese replies slowly.
“Love you too.”
The lines go off and she slowly drops her phone on her table. Tears drift slowly down her soft angular cheeks. An abrupt knock on the door causes her to pause. The door flings open before she could even say, ‘jack’. She dives under her table while she’s wiping her eyes, quickly.
Bamidele a huge handsome coffee brown man, in crisp inner white shirt and black corporate suit bolts in. His nice-manly perfume overwhelms the room.
“Ese , what are you looking for?” His firm manly voice bears some concern in it.
“My purse! I think it must have fallen” Ese struggles to speak in a clearer voice.
Bamidele’s big eyes widen as his eyes sight the soft leathery purse resting on the table.
“Your purse! You’re sure you are searching for your purse?”
Ese rushes her words
“Yes!”
Bamidele shakes his head and grips her purse on the table.
“Ok dear, when you’re done searching for your purse let me know.”
He then slides her purse to her on the floor where she’s kneeling and heads for the door.
Ese closes her eyes tight. She has been caught but has to pretend.
She flashes a confident smile and turns in his direction.
“Oh! Thank you!”
Ese picks it up and wipes her eyes. Her eyes meet his suspicious gaze.
“You’re not welcome. I’ll be calling you for lunch make sure you are ready!”
“Oh gosh!” Ese exclaims as he closes the door.
Bamidele abruptly slides in again
“By the way, your performance at court was impressive”
Ese yells
“Bami…”
Bamidele laughs.
“Point of correction, Bami Love. I want to hear you call me that more often”
Ese smiles.
“ Bami Love”
Bamidele nods
“Now you come”
Ese couldn’t help but laugh as he exits her office.
EPISODE FOUR
In the large and serene salon space, workers in green polo shirts with the customized Nkeni beauty parlour inscribed on it, attend to customers.
Nkeni is sitting on the brightly coloured salon furniture throwing in groundnut into her mouth chewing and speaking to Ese over the phone.
Her legs wide apart as she relaxes nonchalantly wearing a fancy black shorts and polo.
“So after all the ginger you couldn’t come for our Spar outing again!”
Ese, sitting in her office.
“ I’m sorry work was pressing”
Nkeni smiles.
“I’ll prefer you say book was pressing.”
Ese frowns
“See your mouth, like talking drum”
“And your head like cup!”
“I no get your strength today.”
Nkeni laughs.
“You this babe. Don’t lose the eggs while counting the chickens! You’re being too hard on yourself. Life na one bar o!” Nkeni’s eyes go wide open and she yells to one of her workers.
“Sarah where are you going? Come and finish her hair before you take your leave.”
Sarah, a smallish mature lady prostrates a little.
“Yes ma!” and she comes back to the customer’s hair, murmuring a little as she backs Nkeni and resumes weaving the customer's long dark hair.
Nkeni comes back on line to Ese .
“Sorry”
“No problem dear. I’ll try not to miss this weekend with you girls!”
“Ok oh, let me trust your word for it!”
The lines go off
Nkeni advances towards Sarah, her hands fix on her own waist.
“So where did you say you were going to again?”
EPISODE FIVE
After Dinner,
Ese is clearing the table while Maxwell rubs his tummy.
Maxwell, five-year-old. A carbon copy of Elebe, radiant umber brown shade and clipper shaped hair cut.
Maxwell in a childish voice appreciates,
“Mummy thank you”
Ese smiles and kisses his broad forehead lightly.
“You’re welcome darling”
Maxwell continues,
“So daddy isn’t going to be around for your birthday. Well, we don’t need him anyway!”
Ese ’s eyes throw wide open.
“Do you know you are talking about your father?”
Maxwell nods
“I know”
Ese frowns at him
“Maxwell! Now Go and do your assignment and don’t talk about your dad that way! Ever!”
Maxwell jubilates.
“Mummy your birthday would be good. I know uncle Bamidele would come to celebrate with us as he always does.”
He starts jumping and moving in the direction of his room.
Ese stands with her eyes wide open. She’s both disappointed and concerned. She keeps starring in the direction of his room, speechless.
***
At the coffee shop.
Wisps of steam emerge from the coffee cups on the table with croissant bread resting on a small white ceramic plate.
Ese confesses.
“Bami, what have you done to my son?”
Bamidele looks at her surprised.
“What could I have possibly done to him that I haven’t done to you. That boy is a smart boy.”
“Bamidele do you ever hear me out!”
“Ese , when is it a crime for a man to show love to a woman he’s always loved. You should have been Mrs Bamidele if not for that sniper that stole your heart.”
“I so don’t want to go down memory lane.”
Ese shakes her head and gradually sips her coffee. She inhales the fresh misty morning air while enjoying the peace of the morning by starring at a couple next to them and back at him.
Bamidele smiles at her.
“Ok. I know one day you would. Happy birthday by the way.”
Ese nods with a little grin.
“Thank you. And please try not to show up at the house today.”
Bamidele sips his coffee and laughs
“That’s not even a plea.”
Ese laughs heartily.
“I was only trying. You’re phenomenal!”
Bamidele laughs
“Hey! She’s teasing me now! I like it when you get all soft with me.”
Ese eyes him
“You know lots of eyes at the office would think we’re are having an affair. The kind of eye Faith uses to stare at us ehn.”
Bamidele wipes the crumbs of croissant off his black trousers.
“If she likes she should stare till her eyes fall off. That’s her cup of tea. You better get comfortable with that.”
Ese sips her coffee with a nod.
“How’s Belema and the baby?”
“You know, I haven’t forgotten that I’m a married man. You don’t have to keep reminding me of that. Shay, you have her mobile. Do well to call her and stop asking me”
Ese laughs uncontrollably.
Otonye, a coco brown lady, young and gorgeous, sits idly at the elegant dining table, starring at the busy street through her thick glass slide door of their magnificent duplex. She is preoccupied with the thoughts of the previous weeks. While the sound of a dozen cars zooming off, tearing down the road only to hit heavy traffic at the major junction,lingers.
She hears the screaming that is hers and recalls how she lifts her hands as protective covering against Obong’s hard blows.
"But did they even refrain him?" She sighs, getting up from where she is sitting and goes back into the main parlour.
She hears the doorbell ring.
‘That must be Nkeni’ she concludes and bends to pick up her phone from the parlour’s centre table. She breezes past the Bar where her husband spoils himself and also drinks to stupor. This is after he has hit at her and left her cursing him while she’s wailing on the bathroom floor.
She opens the door with a wide smile flashing her side dimples.
Nkeni exclaims as she sights her
“The madam, the madam” comes her hailing in her thick voice that can pass for a male.
Otonye admires Nkeni’s fully round face and chubby cheeks that is well accentuated with her flip side short razor cut weave and smiles,
“Keni Baby, how far?”
She watches as Nkeni moves her chubby fair body inside the gorgeous parlour, starring round at the gigantic peach curtains and white walls bearing beautiful art paintings at strategic corners. Nkeni claps as she faces her.
“Thank God you didn’t have those your…” She takes her thumb and first finger and shapes it like a phone over her ears, “… You are speaking with the Future CEO, Brittle consultant firm bla bla bla.”
Otonye rolls her eyes.
“Oh here we go again. Let’s just go. Ese would be meeting us up shay? I have been calling her yet no response.”
Nkeni nods
“Yea I pray she meets us up!” turns to face the door while Otonye dresses her curly weaves once more and they both exit the house.
EPISODE TWO
The law proceedings are ongoing in the Appeal Court room.
While sitting slightly above the court clerk, the female judge’s eyes shuttle between the legal files of the Case and the quiet and expectant audience awaiting hearing.
Ese leans in on the witness box in a sleek black skirt and sparkling white shirt. A tall, slender and smart young lady. Her silky black weave sweeping her shirt from behind her while she strives to maintain the needed eye contact with the lady witness in the witness box.
Ese paces a little away from her and now back towards her.
“So Mrs Ibekwe would you love to tell this honourable court your reasons for holding back custody of the kids from my client, Mr Ibekwe, who is their rightful father and your husband”
Mrs Ibekwe nods.
She’s a mature fashionable fair lady. Her ostentatious bangles and costume neck pieces complement her pretty cream free-fitting tunic.
“It’s for the best interest of my children. He comes back reeking of alcohol every night and he beats me.” Mrs Ibekwe confesses and breaks down in tears.
Ese rolls her eyes slightly.
“On how many occasions has this happened?”
Mrs Ibekwe covers her face partly with her white handkerchief still sobbing.
“Many times” she replies sliding her weave behind her ears.
Ese glances briefly at her client, Mr ibekwe whose look of despair is evident on his bushy brow and slightly wrinkling facial muscles.
“Can you show this court any physical injury my client has inflicted on you?”
She turns back to Mrs ibekwe.
Mrs Ibekwe is stunned.
“What do you mean?”
Her big eyes fill with shock.
Ese paces around the witness box and smiles.
“Yes, any fresh bruises?” Ese questions throwing a stern glance at her.
Mrs Ibekwe declares
“All the bruises are gone but I stand before this court and tell the truth!”
Ese faces the judge and bows.
“My Lord, that would be all for now!”
She bows again and goes to her seat.
After court proceedings.
Mr Ibekwe meets up with Ese as she walks down the stairs.
“Thank you so much, Barrister Ese . I’ll be crediting your account, immediately.”
Ese smiles and extends a professional hand shake.
“I’ll do my best so you get to keep your kids. She can elope with her lover if she likes.”
Mr Ibekwe returns the handshake and nods when they part hands
“She wants to reel me off my wealth.”
“Sure but She won’t realize what she has until she loses it! Mr Ibekwe, See you in court next week!”
They exchange handshakes again and part ways
EPISODE THREE
Ese enters into her cosy small office with her face expressionless. As she sinks into her swivel chair, her eyes settle on the first draft of her book - Rivers of Justice. She picks it up and smiles while flipping through its typed pages. She raises the book close to her nose and sniffs in the crisp smell of the white pages. The sudden buzz from her phone causes her to drop the manuscript with a thud on the table. It’s a call from her husband, Elebe.
Ese in a high pitched happy voice responds
“Hello darling”
Elebe's voice returns hers in a stern tone
“ Ese , I called to tell you I would be travelling to Dubai today, in fact in a few minutes.”
Ese stops swirling in her swivel chair. Her voice cracks.
“Ebi, when where you going to tell me?”
“Ese I just did!”
Ese roars
“You had this all planned out and you never mentioned it to me?”
“It just came up. See I didn’t call you to…”
He takes in a deep breath.
“I called you to inform you, Ese . Take care of you and Maxwell!”
“What of when he asks of his father?” Ese questions in a faint voice that almost sounds like a whisper.
“Just tell him what I told you.” Elebe stamps.
“Ebi, tomorrow is our anniversary, and my birthday. You could just…”
“I shouldn’t answer work duties because of our anniversary. See I’ll make it up to you once I get back. Love you.”
Ese replies slowly.
“Love you too.”
The lines go off and she slowly drops her phone on her table. Tears drift slowly down her soft angular cheeks. An abrupt knock on the door causes her to pause. The door flings open before she could even say, ‘jack’. She dives under her table while she’s wiping her eyes, quickly.
Bamidele a huge handsome coffee brown man, in crisp inner white shirt and black corporate suit bolts in. His nice-manly perfume overwhelms the room.
“Ese , what are you looking for?” His firm manly voice bears some concern in it.
“My purse! I think it must have fallen” Ese struggles to speak in a clearer voice.
Bamidele’s big eyes widen as his eyes sight the soft leathery purse resting on the table.
“Your purse! You’re sure you are searching for your purse?”
Ese rushes her words
“Yes!”
Bamidele shakes his head and grips her purse on the table.
“Ok dear, when you’re done searching for your purse let me know.”
He then slides her purse to her on the floor where she’s kneeling and heads for the door.
Ese closes her eyes tight. She has been caught but has to pretend.
She flashes a confident smile and turns in his direction.
“Oh! Thank you!”
Ese picks it up and wipes her eyes. Her eyes meet his suspicious gaze.
“You’re not welcome. I’ll be calling you for lunch make sure you are ready!”
“Oh gosh!” Ese exclaims as he closes the door.
Bamidele abruptly slides in again
“By the way, your performance at court was impressive”
Ese yells
“Bami…”
Bamidele laughs.
“Point of correction, Bami Love. I want to hear you call me that more often”
Ese smiles.
“ Bami Love”
Bamidele nods
“Now you come”
Ese couldn’t help but laugh as he exits her office.
EPISODE FOUR
In the large and serene salon space, workers in green polo shirts with the customized Nkeni beauty parlour inscribed on it, attend to customers.
Nkeni is sitting on the brightly coloured salon furniture throwing in groundnut into her mouth chewing and speaking to Ese over the phone.
Her legs wide apart as she relaxes nonchalantly wearing a fancy black shorts and polo.
“So after all the ginger you couldn’t come for our Spar outing again!”
Ese, sitting in her office.
“ I’m sorry work was pressing”
Nkeni smiles.
“I’ll prefer you say book was pressing.”
Ese frowns
“See your mouth, like talking drum”
“And your head like cup!”
“I no get your strength today.”
Nkeni laughs.
“You this babe. Don’t lose the eggs while counting the chickens! You’re being too hard on yourself. Life na one bar o!” Nkeni’s eyes go wide open and she yells to one of her workers.
“Sarah where are you going? Come and finish her hair before you take your leave.”
Sarah, a smallish mature lady prostrates a little.
“Yes ma!” and she comes back to the customer’s hair, murmuring a little as she backs Nkeni and resumes weaving the customer's long dark hair.
Nkeni comes back on line to Ese .
“Sorry”
“No problem dear. I’ll try not to miss this weekend with you girls!”
“Ok oh, let me trust your word for it!”
The lines go off
Nkeni advances towards Sarah, her hands fix on her own waist.
“So where did you say you were going to again?”
EPISODE FIVE
After Dinner,
Ese is clearing the table while Maxwell rubs his tummy.
Maxwell, five-year-old. A carbon copy of Elebe, radiant umber brown shade and clipper shaped hair cut.
Maxwell in a childish voice appreciates,
“Mummy thank you”
Ese smiles and kisses his broad forehead lightly.
“You’re welcome darling”
Maxwell continues,
“So daddy isn’t going to be around for your birthday. Well, we don’t need him anyway!”
Ese ’s eyes throw wide open.
“Do you know you are talking about your father?”
Maxwell nods
“I know”
Ese frowns at him
“Maxwell! Now Go and do your assignment and don’t talk about your dad that way! Ever!”
Maxwell jubilates.
“Mummy your birthday would be good. I know uncle Bamidele would come to celebrate with us as he always does.”
He starts jumping and moving in the direction of his room.
Ese stands with her eyes wide open. She’s both disappointed and concerned. She keeps starring in the direction of his room, speechless.
***
At the coffee shop.
Wisps of steam emerge from the coffee cups on the table with croissant bread resting on a small white ceramic plate.
Ese confesses.
“Bami, what have you done to my son?”
Bamidele looks at her surprised.
“What could I have possibly done to him that I haven’t done to you. That boy is a smart boy.”
“Bamidele do you ever hear me out!”
“Ese , when is it a crime for a man to show love to a woman he’s always loved. You should have been Mrs Bamidele if not for that sniper that stole your heart.”
“I so don’t want to go down memory lane.”
Ese shakes her head and gradually sips her coffee. She inhales the fresh misty morning air while enjoying the peace of the morning by starring at a couple next to them and back at him.
Bamidele smiles at her.
“Ok. I know one day you would. Happy birthday by the way.”
Ese nods with a little grin.
“Thank you. And please try not to show up at the house today.”
Bamidele sips his coffee and laughs
“That’s not even a plea.”
Ese laughs heartily.
“I was only trying. You’re phenomenal!”
Bamidele laughs
“Hey! She’s teasing me now! I like it when you get all soft with me.”
Ese eyes him
“You know lots of eyes at the office would think we’re are having an affair. The kind of eye Faith uses to stare at us ehn.”
Bamidele wipes the crumbs of croissant off his black trousers.
“If she likes she should stare till her eyes fall off. That’s her cup of tea. You better get comfortable with that.”
Ese sips her coffee with a nod.
“How’s Belema and the baby?”
“You know, I haven’t forgotten that I’m a married man. You don’t have to keep reminding me of that. Shay, you have her mobile. Do well to call her and stop asking me”
Ese laughs uncontrollably.
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