At the Sprite Shopping Mall Madam Minister (Part Nine)
What happened to Kate at the shopping mall? Did she lose her life?
The taxi stopped by the gates. Kate alighted. And went into the premises. It was a big complex, housing stores, banks, restaurants, gym, and rest rooms.
She rushed into the shopping mall, a large room, five departments, stacked up with things. People were walking about, pushing their carts around. There was a long queue before the sales counter. She looked at their carts. Then sighed. They were half empty. The economy is flogging and biting everyone hard. Most people were loafing around, window shopping …where are they, she thought, moving toward the next-door restaurant.
She opened the door, and walked in. Their eyes met. Ndi was sitting with Andrew at Cover Seven. Slowly she raised a glass of wine to her lips, and stared hard at her. Then she smiled at the man before her, patted his arm, and got up toward Kate.
“Why are you here, she asked. Her eyes puffed up. Her lips wet and crimson, pouting.
“What are you doing here, Ndi? We are supposed to be at breakfast with your family,” replied Kate.
“You know what! You are trespassing my marriage. Please give us a breathing space. Leave my family alone.”
“Ndi, I don’t have any hands in what is happening to you. I came to help you secure your home. I came to give Soso and you some help.”
“Kate , keep away from my family. Keep your help to yourself. You are a hassle. We are sick and tired of you. Go away!”
“Soso is my only brother. I will not allow him bear alone what you are putting him through. He is a young man. Do you want him dead soon?”
“You are the nuisance here, Kate. What killed your husband, Kate? It is you. What maimed Chidi, Kate? It is you. Counsel yourself. Go away! I’m busy now.”
Tears started streaming into Kate’s eyes. “I noticed you are,” she said, looking at the direction of Andrew. “Yes, I see that clearly. You are busy indeed. A wicked woman pulls down her home. Then turns around blaming people. You are pushing away your husband. You are losing your children to the nannies. You are hurting everybody. You are becoming crazy. The ministerial appointment has got into your head? Ask those who had trod this path how far they got."
“You are the crazy woman here, Kate. Please go away before I call my aides to throw you out,” she shouted, grabbing Kate, pushing her about. Andrew scuttled up, and pulled her off. A short man in suit, coming into the restaurant, held her too.
“Ah, Madam…Minister! What is the matter,” he asked. He looked around. There were no aides anywhere. “Is she a journalist or something,” the man asked further, pointing at Kate.
Ndi was gasping, refusing to reply him.
Kate straightened her clothes, and scampered out of the place.
The man fumbled out a card, and gave to Madam Minister.
“Ma, call me anytime. My great pleasure meeting you,” he said, smiling. Then he found a table at a far corner, and order breakfast.
“Calm down, Darling,” said Andrew. Holding her hands, escorting her back to the table.
Kate got outside the shopping mall. Traffic was heavy, moving at fast speed. Drivers were reckless, blaring horns, swearing at one another. She stood on the pavement for a long time, confused on what to do next. Clammy, sweaty, yet feeling cold, in deep thought.
…killed my husband... maimed my child? How could I have done it! …when! … No, I did not. He was sick. I did everything to help him…but lost him. Then Chidi was born lame. It was not my fault. Why does she mock me! …why!
She stepped out. A fast moving truck hit her. She flew off, and crashed on a pole. Then her head landed on the road.
What happened to Kate at the shopping mall? Did she lose her life?
The taxi stopped by the gates. Kate alighted. And went into the premises. It was a big complex, housing stores, banks, restaurants, gym, and rest rooms.
She rushed into the shopping mall, a large room, five departments, stacked up with things. People were walking about, pushing their carts around. There was a long queue before the sales counter. She looked at their carts. Then sighed. They were half empty. The economy is flogging and biting everyone hard. Most people were loafing around, window shopping …where are they, she thought, moving toward the next-door restaurant.
She opened the door, and walked in. Their eyes met. Ndi was sitting with Andrew at Cover Seven. Slowly she raised a glass of wine to her lips, and stared hard at her. Then she smiled at the man before her, patted his arm, and got up toward Kate.
“Why are you here, she asked. Her eyes puffed up. Her lips wet and crimson, pouting.
“What are you doing here, Ndi? We are supposed to be at breakfast with your family,” replied Kate.
“You know what! You are trespassing my marriage. Please give us a breathing space. Leave my family alone.”
“Ndi, I don’t have any hands in what is happening to you. I came to help you secure your home. I came to give Soso and you some help.”
“Kate , keep away from my family. Keep your help to yourself. You are a hassle. We are sick and tired of you. Go away!”
“Soso is my only brother. I will not allow him bear alone what you are putting him through. He is a young man. Do you want him dead soon?”
“You are the nuisance here, Kate. What killed your husband, Kate? It is you. What maimed Chidi, Kate? It is you. Counsel yourself. Go away! I’m busy now.”
Tears started streaming into Kate’s eyes. “I noticed you are,” she said, looking at the direction of Andrew. “Yes, I see that clearly. You are busy indeed. A wicked woman pulls down her home. Then turns around blaming people. You are pushing away your husband. You are losing your children to the nannies. You are hurting everybody. You are becoming crazy. The ministerial appointment has got into your head? Ask those who had trod this path how far they got."
“You are the crazy woman here, Kate. Please go away before I call my aides to throw you out,” she shouted, grabbing Kate, pushing her about. Andrew scuttled up, and pulled her off. A short man in suit, coming into the restaurant, held her too.
“Ah, Madam…Minister! What is the matter,” he asked. He looked around. There were no aides anywhere. “Is she a journalist or something,” the man asked further, pointing at Kate.
Ndi was gasping, refusing to reply him.
Kate straightened her clothes, and scampered out of the place.
The man fumbled out a card, and gave to Madam Minister.
“Ma, call me anytime. My great pleasure meeting you,” he said, smiling. Then he found a table at a far corner, and order breakfast.
“Calm down, Darling,” said Andrew. Holding her hands, escorting her back to the table.
Kate got outside the shopping mall. Traffic was heavy, moving at fast speed. Drivers were reckless, blaring horns, swearing at one another. She stood on the pavement for a long time, confused on what to do next. Clammy, sweaty, yet feeling cold, in deep thought.
…killed my husband... maimed my child? How could I have done it! …when! … No, I did not. He was sick. I did everything to help him…but lost him. Then Chidi was born lame. It was not my fault. Why does she mock me! …why!
She stepped out. A fast moving truck hit her. She flew off, and crashed on a pole. Then her head landed on the road.
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