TRAPPED...Part 7.

  Armoured car, Shelling machine, Heavy artillery

  Ha enweghi ike imeri Biafra!

I watched with amusement as Dan's father sang with gusto. Dan had invited me to their family house and made me promise him I would come. I had turned down previous invitations. This time, he used Vicky to get to me. "Mummy, you promised to take us to Uncle Dan's house,"she reminded me repeatedly. I couldn't refuse.

Their Amuwo-Odofin family residence looked the same except for the slimy greenish tint on the brown fence.I knocked at the black gate. A familiar pair of eyes looked through a square opening in the gate and hastily opened it.

"Madam Stella welcome," the gateman greeted, smiling. I was surprised that Abdul could still recognize me. 'Abdul Sanu! I nakwa na?' I asked in smattering Hausa. 'Ah! Lafia.' He looked pleased. 'Kai Madam! Your pikin dem fine well well.' 'Thank you,' I said as we made towards the main house. 

Dan's father, an amiable man in his seventies, was seated on the sofa when we entered. Everyone called him 'Old Major' because of his wartime stories. On seeing me, he sprang up. 'Stella nwa m. Long time, no see." I hugged him. 'So you ran away from us, eh?' I could sense the reprimand in his voice. ' Papa, not really,' I answered, looking away. He carried Victory in his arms. She was touching his spectacles. I loosened the wrapper, my left hand deftly bringing Uche forward. 'Your kids are beautiful,' he remarked. I beamed. His love for kids was legendary. He set Victory down and carried Uche. 'Daniel went to pick something from the supermarket,' he explained. 'He will be back shortly.'

The room was unchanged save for the plasma TV hanging on the opposite wall. Picture frames were arranged adjacent to the floor on all four corners. Vicky was staring at one intently. 'Mummy, is this Uncle Dan?'she asked, visibly confused. I shot a glance at Old Majr and we laughed. 'No, Sweetheart,'he volunteered. 'That was me as a Major in the Biafran Army during the war.' 'What is war?'Vicky asked again. I was at a loss on how to explain 'war' to a four-year old. I was born long after the civil war. 'War is when soldiers fight,'I began, smiling weakly. 

Old Major burst into wartime songs. The rate at which he altered his pitch made the songs sound funny. At the end, Victory was laughing. 'It is a miracle that I am still alive,' he said. 'I almost died during the war.'

'What happened?' I asked, sitting up. 

'I was in charge of the troops sent to reclaim Umuahia when it fell. Nigerian soldiers has taken total control of the city. We had perfected plans to launch a surprise counter-attack but somehow our plans were leaked to them by a saboteur.' He shook his head, adjusting his glasses.

'They were waiting readily for us. We were beaten black and blue in broad daylight. Surrounded, there was no escape route. Bullets were flying, we were shelled from left and right. The last thing I remembered was an explosion near me. I woke up weeks later in a hospital at Ivory Coast. The doctors told me I have been found, covered by sand after three days. The rest of the troops were dead.'He had tears in his eyes.

'Who found you?'I asked.

"Some Biafran soldiers. Luckily. Usually, after a battle, some soldiers are dispatched for 'combing'. They search the dead soldiers for valuables like guns, ammunitions, uniforms. One of the soldiers tripped over the sole of my boot. He proceeded to pull me out of the sand to his surprise, I sneezed.He then saw my rank and with the help of others, carried me to safety.'

The door opened. It was Dan. Vicky ran to him. 'Finally,'he said with a mischievous grin. 'Papa, you remember Stella? I gave him a queried look.

'You mean your first girlfriend?'Old Major asked, feigning surprise. We burst out laughing. 

"Sorry I can't stay much longer," Old Major said, standing. "I am already late for a meeting." He left afterwards. 

Dan left briefly and returned carrying a tray of drinks. Uche started crying. I quickly fetched his feeding bottle.

'So how did it go? The proposal?' I finally summoned the strength to ask.

'Oh that! I haven't found the appropriate time to do that,' he replied.

'What?' I asked, somewhat amused. 'Which kain cock and bull story be that? Ehn Dan?' It really didn't make any sense to me.

'Bola just returned last week and we both have been very busy,'he said looking away. I knew that was a ruse. The Dan I knew always created time for things he deemed important.

"What is the problem?" I asked him, matter-of-factedly.

"Nothing o! No problem at all."

"Really? Then why are you dragging your feet?"

He smiled and looked into my worried face.

"I am not dragging my feet. I just want to be hundred percent sure."

"Oh really?' I asked, drawing the syllable for emphasis. "Can one be hundred percent sure? Abi you wan make devil come pour sand sand inside your garri?'

He convulsed with laughter. 

"No be laughing matter o! From all you have told me, she is a nice, caring and homely girl. And she loves you. I have seen her picture sef. She fine well well. Wetin be your problem?"

He was just relaxing on the sofa, smiling sheepishly.

"You are right," he said, standing up. "No further delays."

He brought out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Sweetheart. Come over to the house. It is urgent." He hung up.

"What are you doing?" I asked, surprised.

"The proposal, of course," he replied, with a grin. "Let me get the ring." He entered the adjoining room. 

I was speechless. A flurry of indistinct emotions coursed through me. Eight years ago, we had dreamt of happily ever after, in each other's arms. Then, life happened. The dreams evaporated. Nightmares punctuated the nights. I made to stand, but felt a little dizzy. I balanced Uche on my back.

Dan emerged clutching the ring case. He shot me a surprised look.

"I need to get going...before...before she comes,"I said with a stutter. The words were heavy and rolled out of my lips sluggishly.

"No way," he protested, carrying Vicky. "Vicky, do you want to go?" Vicky shook her head. "Bola will soon be here,"he said. "She lives down the street."

Just then, the door opened. A tall beautiful girl in a navy blue gown entered. The scent of her cologne filled the room. The surprise on her face cleared when she saw Dan. 

"Hello,"she said, waving at Vicky.

"Sweetheart, meet Stella," Dan began.

"Oh!" she said, flashing a set of pristine teeth. "Your Stella?" she asked, looking at Dan. He nodded.

"Stella, meet Bolarinwa." I tried to force a smile. We shook hands. Her hand was soft and warm. Our gaze met and lingered for a brief second. 

My heart sank.

©Kelvin Alaneme, 2015. Visit www.kelvinalaneme.blogspot.com for all you have missed.