The haunted bride - Season 2 - Episode 14

4 years ago

The haunted bride - Season 2 - Episode 14

Like his friend Seun had said, George lived in an arid land. There wasn’t any sight of a house since the past thirty minutes that he’d been driving. Aniekan felt that this was the perfect place to keep the prototype; no one would ever trace it to Seun’s uncle’s underground house.

“You like what you see?” Seun noticed that his friend was quiet.

Aniekan chuckled, “This better be good and safe. I worked so hard at designing this game. My brother or anyone for that matter would not do anything to stop me.”

Seun nodded, “You are right. You worked hard for it, you deserve all of the benefits that will come. I trust Uncle George with all my life. He is an honorable man. If this chip gets into the wrong hands, you are free to sue me.”
Aniekan rolled his eyes and snorted, “Sue you? I don’t think I can afford many lawyers.” After he’d said this, both men burst out with laughter. The guffaw diminished as Seun drove towards an area with a rusty old tank. Aniekan watched his friend drive around the tank three times with keen interest and curiosity.

He’d wanted to ask Seun why he had done that, but his eagerness waned. He had to keep the prototype safe, before anyone else got to it.

Seun took off his seatbelt and pulled out his phone. He had called his uncle an hour ago; he hoped that the old man was home now.
“What is it?” Aniekan noticed the frown on Seun’s forehead.

“He isn’t taking the call. It seems that he isn’t around.” Seun pushed the car door farther and got out. He hated disappointments. He couldn’t let Aniekan down, after raising his hopes.

Aniekan got out of the car as well. A wave of fresh breeze kissed his face, and he took in the drugging fragrance of the arid land. From where he stood, he could see stunted looking trees and patches of dry grasses. Aniekan thought that Seun’s uncle was a very weird man.

“Why does your uncle prefer living far away from people?” He couldn’t keep his thoughts to himself anymore.

Seun’s shoulders fell; he was confused as his friend.

“I’ve never really asked him. He has always been the odd one out in our family.”
As both men were conversing, the old man pushed open the metallic lid, which covered the tunnel which served an entrance to his underground house upwards.

The cylindrical lid fell next to the rusty old tank.

Aniekan was the first to notice the bronze-like lid. He saw the old man waving at them both. George had a little resemblance with Seun. They had the same piercing eyes.
“I think your uncle is around,” Aniekan spun around and faced the old man.
“Aha! You both had to cut short the meeting I had with my lawyer…” George climbed out of the pit and smacked his bony hands against each other.

“Uncle George!” Seun exclaimed. Aniekan couldn’t miss the excitement in his best friend’s voice. It seemed that these two hadn’t seen each other for a very long time. They hugged like old friends who had been separated for many years.

George’s wrinkles straightened a bit as he smiled. He was pleased to meet his nephew whom he loved so much. Of all his nephews and nieces, Seun was the one that took after him in industry. The rest were small minded bigots like their parents.

“Boy, how do you do?” George pulled the young man into his arms for a hug.
Seun smiled, “You know that I am fine. I don’t need to ask you the same, because you’re glowing.”

The old man guffawed heartily. If only his nephew knew that he was about being fired.
“I am pleased to see you…” George trailed off, and glared at Seun’s friend. The man seemed younger than Seun. He had brooding eyes and the sides of his face were covered with overgrown beards. George couldn’t place the face in his head, but the face was not a new one.

Aniekan could feel the old man scrutinize him. There wasn’t time for modesty. He quickly rushed towards George and bowed his head slightly.

“Good day Sir, I am Seun’s friend and I am pleased to meet you.” Aniekan quickly introduced himself.

“Aha! Aniekan Umoh, your face now makes sense to me. You’re highly welcome. I hope you do not have a problem with underground houses, because we are about to go in.” Uncle George winked.

Aniekan flashed his set of sparkling teeth. The old man’s nature was bubbly and cheerful. He wished to be this way when he was Uncle George’s age. It also surprised Aniekan that the old man recognized who he was. Well, being a celebrity wasn’t easy. You couldn’t hide, even in the darkest of rooms.
As George led the way, he tried to connect the dots from the voice recording that he had listened on. Seun’s friend was the famous tech-billionaire-one of the youngest and wealthiest men in Africa, just like his nephew, Seun. While working with the Little Hannah Foundation, Aniekan had donated thirty million naira for the purchase of sanitary cups for less privileged women. He was a good man. The act of charity could only come from a thoughtful and kind hearted person.
He had to find a way to connect the dots. He had heard rumors of Ada being Aniekan’s personal lawyer, he had to confirm this. Even if she was, she had no right to work against her client. George’s personal interest was the man who had defrauded him many years back. He needed to find out how connected that fraudster was to Aniekan.

George climbed in first, and the friends followed. Once Aniekan was sure that George was out of earshot, he tapped his friend on the shoulder.

“Your uncle is funny and weird at the same time,” he whispered.

Seun smirked, “It’s better we see his funny side now. He talks to his rabbits. Who does that?”

Both friends giggled all the way, until they reached the base of the house. They found themselves in a well furnished living room. The walls were covered with the founding fathers of many disciplines. Their faces were ash and grim. Well, they weren’t surprised; Uncle George was not the typical Nigerian uncle.

The floor was covered with shiny red tiles. There was a table in the middle of the room. And it was stacked with plenty of books and papers, some of which sprawled to the ground.

“Make yourselves comfortable; let me get you something to drink.” George wiped the sweat that poured on his brow.
“It seems you were looking for something?” Seun pointed at the papers and books.

“Mind your business boy, what can I get you two to drink?” Uncle George carefully avoided the question. He couldn’t tell his nephew about his loss of job. He didn’t want any assistance and pity.
Seun thought the old man was being secretive. Well, whatever Uncle George was hiding was personal. He decided not to bother the old man anymore.
“I am sorry Uncle, but we are in a hurry. We just stopped to drop something with you. Do you remember what we discussed over the phone?” Seun asked.
George remembered, but he needed more. He wanted details and something that he could work with.