Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 31

4 years ago

Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 31

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~A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY~
“How are you doing, son?”
That question again. Amos really hated being constantly asked how he was doing by almost everyone who paid him a visit. He’d been behind bars for six years and still they dared ask how he was faring?
With so much sarcasm, Amos replied, “Seeing that I sleep on a comfy bed, have maids tending to all my needs and eat whatever meal I desire and at whatever time I please, I’m doing perfect!”
“Don’t be like that,” said a sad Juliet. “I know life must be rough and tough in here but you’ve come a long way and have a short one to go.”
“Easy for you to say. Do you know a day feels like a month in here, mum? And I’ve got four more f-----g years to do! That aside, this is when you decide to pay your son a visit, huh?”

Juliet hadn’t visited Amos for four months. “Life isn’t only hard for you, Amos. You think I’m leading a rosy life out there? Well let me correct you. My life is hell.. It’s been like that ever since your Dad gained full custody of Junior and now I his mother can only pay him visits during weekends. And as if that isn’t enough, Junior hates me with a passion. Only heaven knows what lies Donald feeds the boy.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Dad I know.”
“He’s like that towards me. Seems he can’t get past the fact that I’d cheated on him with his friend and now he’s hell bent on punishing me and guess what, he’s winning.”
A month after the birth of Junior six years ago, Christopher had come forward and exposed Juliet’s and David’s infidelity to both Donald and Chanda, bringing forth so much drama. Chanda had been so heartbroken that she divorced David with immediate effect while Donald promised to teach Juliet a lesson and what better way to do that than snatch what she loved most away from her? That being Donald Junior. Once Juliet had weaned the boy at the age of 1 year 2 months, Donald filed for custody and made sure he painted Juliet to be incapable of raising a child. He used her poor state to his advantage and disgraced her as a character less woman in court.
“Why are you doing this?” Juliet had asked him after the court had granted Donald full custody of Junior. He’d done some bribing and Juliet knew.
Donald had scornfully replied, “I’m just saving my son from your evil clutches.” He put the baby in his seat in the backseat of his(Donald’s)car and went to open the door when Juliet held his hand.

She was crying as she said, “I’m trying to change for the better, Donald. I know I messed up big time but haven’t I apologized already?”
“And haven’t I told you saying sorry won’t change a thing? I loved you, Juliet, and overlooked all your shortcomings but no, I still wasn’t enough for you. Of all people surely you had to sleep with David?”
She went quiet and silently shed tears. Donald shook his head. “Lubesha and Alice forgave you but sadly I won’t so just go home. See you when you come to visit Junior.” with that, he got into the car and sped off, leaving Juliet in a cloud of dust.
Juliet’s life was full of pain since. She stayed alone in a one roomed house and sold tomatoes, vegetables, charcoal and other stuff in the market to make ends meet. The capital had been given to her by Lubesha who had suggested she move in with him but Juliet had blatantly declined. She was too ashamed to go live under the same roof with someone she’d mistreated for too long.
Now in the visiting room, Amos said to her, “In my opinion, you deserve everything that’s happening to you.” he somehow partly blamed her for how his life had played out.
“Really? Then I think you do too… Me sacrificing so much to come all the way here to visit you was a waste of time and money, now I know.” She stood and pointed a finger at him. “And don’t you dare go blaming me for everything that’s happening to you because I didn’t send you to join that stupid gang nor commit murder so please grow the f--k up.”
She broke down once she was outside the prison premises. Amos’ words had hurt her.

☆☆☆
Alice was out shopping with her boyfriend for two years whom she’d met at her workplace the first day she’d reported for work two years ago. She now worked as a Secretary for the Hunan Resource Manager at a reputed company. Her boyfriend Frank was an IT specialist at the same company. Their love was what you’d call love at first time. They had locked eyes for a second and then clicked. Soon they were talking on phone and texting until wee hours. They went on a couple of dates and later began courting which they were still doing but now Alice wanted more. Just a few days back, she and Frank had attended Alice’s friend Bertha’s wedding.
“When will that be us?” She had asked Frank.
“Soon,” Frank had assured her.
How soon? Alice had wanted to scream but had kept calm now that her plan was in motion.
In the mall, she said to Frank, “Lemme grab some vanilla ice cream for Junior and then we can head out.”
“Finally,” sighed Frank with relief. He hated shopping.
They were heading out of the mall with all the stuff they’d bought stacked in a trolley which Frank was wheeling when Alice pretended to be light headed and staggered.
“You okay?” Frank abandoned the trolley and rushed to her side.
“I’m feeling dizzy,” Alice lied. “I think I need to see a doctor.”
Frank thought of how she’d almost thrown up during breakfast that morning and agreed she did need to see a doctor so from the mall, they went straight to the nearest health facility where tests were ran on Alice.
“Congratulations,” announced a short and fat female doctor. “Your wife is pregnant.”
“Actually, she’s my-” he was about to say ‘girlfriend’ but stopped short when he realised the doctor had said Alice was pregnant which meant he was about to become a father. He wasn’t certain if he was ready for such a huge commitment though.
Alice was inwardly hoping her plan of trapping Frank into marrying her was going to work. Bertha the queen of bad advice had told her to deliberately fall pregnant for Frank which she(Alice)had done and now she had to wait for the aftermath.

☆☆☆
Lubesha received a text from the girl he’d taken out on a date the previous night.
‘I loved that date..can we have one this weekend?’ the text read.
‘Maybe. Will chat later, I’m driving,’ he texted her back. They’d come across one another on a dating site and truth be told, he had been looking forward to their date but the girl’s talkativeness had turned him off.
His love or dating life s----d, no lie. He had a house, car, job and money but still had no girlfriend. He’d had his fair share of lovers but couldn’t just seem to find someone permanent. Could it be he still loved Tracy and tried to see her in every girl he was interested in? Whatever the case, he knew he needed a partner asap. He was 29 and being single at that age can be suspicious sometimes lest people deem him a Satanist or drug smuggler or worse, homosexual maybe.
The girl didn’t text him back and he cared less so he just drove to his destination where he was going to conduct an interview with a politician’s daughter. He was going to write an article about her.
Lubesha checked the address he’d been given and honked once at the mansion. A guard rushed to his window.
“Is Miss. Sandra Mulimba in?”
“Yes,” the guard was hesitant. “You have an appointment with her?”
“Yes,” Lubesha flashed him his ID. “I’m here to interview her.”
“Just a minute.” the guard left him there and the gate opened two minutes later.
Lubesha drove in and couldn’t stop himself from admiring the house, cars, lawn, everything about the place amazed him.
He was ushered to the living room by a house help who offered him a glass of water as per his desire after she’d asked what he’d take.
“Miss. Sandra is dressing up, she’ll see you shortly.”
“Thanks,” replied Lubesha coolly.
An hour later, Sandra was nowhere to be seen and Lubesha was beginning to lose his patience so he stood and was about to walk out when he heard the click of heels on stairs and there she was, looking like a picture straight out of a beauty pageant magazine.
“Sorry I kept you waiting,” said the epitome of beauty, extending her hand in greeting. “I’m Sandra Mulimba though I’m sure you already know me.”
Of course he knew her. She was the founder of an orphanage which was why he was here to interview her right now.
“Nice to meet you,” He shook her hand. “I’m Lubesha Pondamali.”
She ushered him towards the swimming pool where they sat under an umbrella sipping on wine.
His life was about to change for good.

☆☆☆
THE WEDDING DAY.
Mark who was Lubesha’s best man asked his friend as he was helping him get dressed, “Why are you marrying this girl if you want nothing to do with her whatsoever?”
“Because I owe her Dad, that’s why. I promised him I’d marry her.”
“Come on, promises are meant to be broken. Just because you promised some old corrupt politician you’d marry his daughter doesn’t mean you should throw your life away by marrying that nightmare.”
“Sandra isn’t really that bad,” said Lubesha.

Mark scoffed. “So says someone who got stitched up because the crazy b---h had smashed a bottle on his head. What exactly is going on, Lubesha? Why are you marrying Sandra? I want the truth, man.”