ROSE

 

About The Text
The name Rose, smells so sweet. But not all that smells sweet is truly palatable in reality. The atmosphere captured in this text is about a lady who suffers as a victim of jilt.
Rose, a very gentle, friendly young woman of about 30 years of age. She got hooked up with Fleance, a long time acquaintance, in London in a mall a year ago. They became lovers afterward and had blossom affairs together. Until things got really complicated. Perhaps, she should not have accepted the offer from the suitor. What happens afterward is a matter that leaves the mouth agape, even calls for individual discretion.
The story is arranged in a chapter-like pattern starting with "The Lost Treasure", which introduces the plight of the main character, Rose.

The Lost Treasure
(Airplane engine whirling slowly to stop)
You're welcome to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport...(a female automated voice, at the airport)
Today, 15th of August, 2020, would be seventeenth month and twenty nine days Rose first came in contact with her noble man — Mathew, Kayode Fleance. By arithmetic, they became lovers exactly 14th February, 2019. They met on the Valentine Day, the lovers' day in precision. Surely, they both had pleasant and unforgettable memories of love while together. For hyperbole, people regarded them as the model of love —Romeo and Juliet. Of course, no man born of woman could contest the love affair because Rose was a kind who could never, for anything, trade the affection she had for Fleance with any man. And on this, he followed suit. The love was reciprocal. So, they deserved the appellation.
After long anticipation, she was finally here, amidst the global crisis of the pandemic. By virtue of human tendency to default, for about six months to this time, Fleance was nowhere to be found which was the reason for her incognito visit to Nigeria once again. Commitment outdoors, at today's time, was a risk, in fact, should be the last resort. Let alone leaving your country for another. The entire world was not safe enough for humans to live. Even animals. Of course, goat and pawpaw were tested positive for COVID-19 lately. Like the Yoruba maxim rightly puts, the adult that runs desperately in the pineapple plantation field, without feeling terrified of the thorns seated on each leave extension, must either be chasing something or being chased. Just her, knew what pushed her far away from home at this dangerous moment. 

Rose was born, as claimed by many, with silver spoon by Nigerian but London-based parents. Rumor had it, her father was a C.E.O. of SHELL Company at a time. Her two parents deemed it a mandate to give her the best education in life, being the only child, with total disregard for the financial implications. The question should be, would they even feel they overspent considering their possession of wealth? Definitely not! They wanted her to get her educations in Nigeria staying with their family members so as to inculcate some fundamental virtues and ethics as a Nigerian. Aftermath, she travelled oversea. So, the aura of opulence was dented on her face: the one of the five young students that had Venza model cars. She studied Medicine in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. This was where she met Fleance as an acquaintance, who was studying Law on the same campus. All this, a matter of almost ten years. But, they later met at Johann's mall in London last year — February 14th, 2019.

Today, as she alighted from Air Peace International flight conveying evacuatees from UK, she took solace in a vacant seat around the airport. For close to half an hour, she was looking blankly in the space without a second sigh let alone a word. There, she sat rooted without giving a thing her attention than the space she focused on. No doubt, things were not right for her this time. At intervals, if focused on, one would observe the constant change of her demeanor. At this time, it became evident that there were waves of thought conflicting in her mind, or say her head. In the spur, she soliloquized several expressions which the cadence of air echoed as, "Don't trust him... I tell you, Rose,... Don't... don't... treacherous... devil...It was a mistake, Christine... You did warn me." then, she soliloquized  and stopped.
But, her eyes said it all. The columns of tears rolling down her cheeks pictured her tragedy. She was in trouble. Big time! She proceeded asking for direction from pedestrians, perhaps, for her destination. She boarded several public buses. Of course, exposure to such stressful life is a thing she distastefully hated. 

After some hours on the trip, she needed to give it a rest at pedestrian seat built along the roadside. She seemed to have lost her way upon losing her mind. At the moment, she seemed to be the only one sitting on the concrete seat because she was insensitive to her immediate vicinity. The seat upon which she sat was messed up with rotten litters. Pedestrians around avoided it particularly because it was infested with flies. Varieties of them. Even drosophilas were in attendance to grace the scene, taking frequent perching on her, for either to catch fun, or examine if she was a choice for them. All this, she barely saw. Thereupon, a young man walked up to her saying,
"Hello, Angel. What's the problem?"
She suddenly stared at him as though the voice was from whom she had been expecting. For seconds, she looked, and muttered something to herself,
"Angel?... Angel... He used to say this..."
"What's the matter, honey?" the guy interrupted.
But, she was acutely passive to the question until the guy touched her for humanitarian care. Who knew if he had an ulterior motive? Maybe or maybe not, he got hot smacks on his face twice consecutively. Of course, no right thinking man would want his integrity messed with while trying to help. Out of angst, he hit her on the face and she collapsed. Perhaps, he should not have cared for her at first. Others observing the scene were afraid whether to rescue her or allow the scene to be just for the two actors. The COVID-19 pandemic was enough a reason to hold back. First assumed a minor issue, before we knew it, a suit was filed against the guy by a human right activist among the mediators that had come to settle the matter. The guy was apprehended by law enforcement officials. Very quickly, the matter was arraigned in the nearby Ikeja Magistrates' court in Lagos.

Confluence of the Day and the Night
"Court!" the court clerk pronounced.
Today, 17th of August 2020, marked exactly eighteenth month Rose and her lover boy met. But, for months, he had disappeared. Having searched for him around the neighborhoods in London, she decided to do a background checkup of his parents with whatever details he might have submitted during admission at the university. The whole matter was ever a mystery to her. Because, the disillusionment she was faced with following the unannounced departure of Fleance in London had not only caused her irreversible plight, but planted an ever increasing tragedy in a once successful, happy family of hers. She could have been here but the UK lockdown announced on the 23rd of March caught her unaware. Until, there was a chance for evacuation of Nigerians leaving in the diaspora. She followed the 7th batch of the evacuees flight from UK.
The stage was set. The judge and the defending counsels were seated. The spectators as well as plaintiff and defendant — Rose and the young man, later identified as Khalid — were in attendance too. Rose was on bandage tied round her head which extended almost over her sight. Report had it that she fell so heavily that day that she had to be hospitalized.
The clerk read out the proceedings. Afterward, the judge questioned Khalid whether or not he was guilty of the allegation. Being an eloquent speaker, whose articulation of words and pitch dazzled sometimes, he claimed innocence of the allegation levelled against him with words sufficient enough to prick his intent. And, of course, the judge was impressed by the stroke of brilliance. Such that he could not trace any sort of radicalism or nuisance to Khalid. Spellbound, he observed him closely peeping through the sides of his glasses. Consequently, the judge asked Rose to react to what Khalid had just said. This suit was filed by a third party who was an activist but not Rose who, as at that time, hardly could translate the situation she was into.
"My lord, this young man is innocent. I was provoked. You know, a mere displacement of anger. That pushed me to slap him. We learnt in Physics, 'an action gives rise to reaction'. Please, my Lord, just acquit him." Out of difficulty and exhaustion, she pronounced her mind.
Everyone got confused. Suddenly, a counsel sprang from his seat,
"Mai lord, objection!"
"Sustained." The judge said.
"We mustn't neglect the law protecting the interests of individuals, especially women –the weaker vessels– in this land. This young man, I mean, Khalid exploited this Miss. Had he left her alone, minding his life businesses, he wouldn't have suffered the slaps. Emotion could be that insupportable that one, sometimes, needs to enjoy staying in privacy. So, thus, by the power conferred upon me by this institution, I charge Mr Khalid liable to the allegation against him because he intruded on Miss Rose's privacy. And, he should serve as a scape goat to those who exploit women — be it their younger types or matured ones. He has violated several articles in the 1999 Constitution of this land. One, in Article 15 number 2, and Article 42,1A and B. Also, Article 2 and 3. Particularly, it's explicitly stated in Articles 17, number 1 and 2a, which concerns the recognition of women’s equal rights, equality of rights and obligations and opportunities before the law..."
Rose, from where she was seated, found familiar the voice of the speaking counsel. She was led to the court by a nurse from New Ikeja Hospital. Medical record showed her systolic and diastolic BP were on 230/190. She was experiencing exhaustion yet before Khalid smacked her in the face, the pressure of which caused her to fall unconsciously leading to the serious injury she sustained in the head. She had the bandage covering a large part of her sight. Upon intent listening, she figured the voice to be Fleance's. Ecstatically, she rid her head of the constraint. The bandage removed, she screamed,
"My lord! The matter is solved!"
Did she just say, "Solved"? The whole of spectators, the judge inclusive, lost to confusion. The outcry by her interrupted the speaking counsel. All eyes buried on her, she removed the bandage which bared the scars in her head. There seemed to be an atmospheric tension. No one but the speaking counsel was fidgeting. He quickly said,
"Mai lord, k... K... can I use the restroom?" he stuttered.
"Of course, why not? Kindly end your submission?" said the judge.
"My Lord, he goes nowhere! (Facing the counsel) This is the devil that lives in human flesh; that clads itself in human form. You, Fleance! You think you can run forever? Oh! As your hell name suggests, 'flee'. Asshole!" she lamentedly said.
"(Pointing at the counsel now) My lord, he should be the one in the dock wherein Mr Khalid stands: he is the culprit." in a plaintive tone, she added and collapsed in her seat, weeping.
Some of the spectators quickly rushed to her for rescue. Fanned for some minutes, she gained consciousness and was able to sit without inclination. The tension went down a bit, now.
"Counsel, what's it with you and your client, wasn't it you who filed this suit?" the judge inquired.
"Em... Em!.. (now, he summoned gut) My lord, counsel Ishola filed the suit. But, because he wasn't going to be here, for some reasons, today, he urged my indulgence to take it up. Besides, she was my acquaintance a while ago... No less, no more." the counsel said. 
"What's the hell you saying, Fleance?" Rose retorted.
With rapid gesticulations, she added,
"Two days past, I arrived in Nigeria. All because you left me in the lurch,... took all I inherited from my father... You miscreant! (weeping, then , turning to the judge) my lord, free Mr Khalid, he did what he did to protect his integrity. He is forgiven. Notwithstanding, this is a family matter which requires a conclave, your honour."
To get down to the brass tacks of the matter, the judge inquired the counsel, now identified as Fleance, to react to what was said by Rose. But, he ever denied it. Despite his denial, the judge was not convinced yet. He insisted in his mind Fleance was lying. Then, he took up the matter and suspended it till 20th of August, 2020.

Rose of Indignation
In a building in the magistrates premises, Rose, Fleance, the judge and two counsels each of whom represents the plaintiff and the defendant, now Fleance. This time, Khalid had been acquitted as directed by the plaintiff. He was lucky, kinda.
In the room, there was a centre table notable at entrance made of glass, with a clay vase bearing some colorful flowers positioned on it. A set of furniture put in the room gave the room a unique look like that of a gallery on the wall.
The judge broke the spell of silence by asking Fleance to talk.
"She was my fiancee then in London. That was when I went for a tour on a December vacation in 2018. That was how we met. I know I'm culpable..." Fleance remorsefully said.
"You still have anything to add whatsoever?" the judge inquired.
"Not at all." Fleance added.
"Young woman, can we have your words?" said the Judge.
"This guy (gazing straight at him)... He deserves nothing other than death, your honour...(silence) I've got him three things to ask. If he's able to provide me the necessary answers, I take my turn to where I'm from. Regardless of the days I might have spent in the cause. Number one, where are my father's assets: all the documents I converted to yours on stipulation?(silence)... Number two, what about the hymen you wasted when promising the lofty heaven and earth on the 14th February, 2019?(silence)... The day you stripped the robe of virginity in my world with your flimsy promises, that triggered my emotions. What about the promise of the blood?! (weeping now). And,... And, what excuse have you to claim innocence of my father's death? (tearing) The moment he heard I changed the ownership of the property bequeathed to me, he developed a chronic sickness instantly. That, I have wasted a lifelong fortune within a blink of an eye(silence)... I thought him wrong about you, at first. Not that I didn't sense you're a player. But, I've always been giving you benefits of doubt. To worsen it, before his death, he forsook me. He fucking disowned me for goodness sake! Despite being the only child. Mother too, is on illness because of his death. No less, you left me in the lurch despite your promises(tearing). Your case is boiling in the hand of the National Crime Agency" in a plaintive tone, Rose said.
"Excuse me. Miss, did you mean, counsel Mathew Fleance jilted you?" the judge inquired. (Instead of response, Rose kept weeping)
"I see! Fleance, you will regret this. Because, I have developed, now, a personal concern for this matter... But then, how come you acted so weird? Oh God! No difference between you and a convicted fraudster, Fleance. I'm sorry, I trusted you. I used to think you're morally upright, and your family should be a proud one, of course. You can't get on like this. Believe me! That's bestiality of the highest level. I need not tell you the content of Section 419 of the Criminal Code. Now! There's no need to delay justice. I'll deal with you personally. First, tell her how you will settle your debt with her?" The judge angrily submitted.
"Your honour,(silence)... my apology. I will... Okay. Concerning the financial equivalent of her father's assets, it values about $100m. I will pay back, within a span of six months unfailingly, your honour(silence)... But, for the blood,... I don't know, we just have to forget about that. Because, even before we met, I had a wife with a kid, which yourself knew about. I didn't just tell Roseline about it. And,...(sigh) I'm sorry for the disillusionment, Rose. Pardon me. I betrayed your trust, angel...(feeling apologetic)"
(Glass smashed). Before he could wind up his talk, as he was feeling sorry and so overwhelmed by his deplorable action, hence sitting droopingly on the couch, thereupon, he felt a heavy crash on himself. In the spur, his white t-shirt was speckled with redness. She smashed a flower vase placed on the centre table on him out of sheer anger. Rose of indignation fell on her. Of course, nobody knew that would happen. The two counsels quickly rushed to Rose to prevent her from doing worse than that. Without further delay, Fleance was rushed to his family hospital . Rose was to be detained but her counsel urged the judge that he would prefer her under his surveillance. Of course, she barely recovered totally from the injury she had last time. So, she would be accessible when needed, the counsel promised. Whereas, Fleance's counsel grew rather threatening that she must be detained. Finally, the judge trusted in Rose's lawyer's suggestion. Of course, the matter could not be furthered unless the defendant was in attendance, at least, got consciousness in that needed information could be obtained from him. And, the case was suspended till further notice.
"Fleance, has to pay for his misdeeds. He deserves it! 'To err is man, to forgive is Divine.' so, I'm not God. (grinning) I mistook him for goodness, when he is just a devil in himself. I thought, he came to stay for good as a young guy who needed to be helped. Whereas, he came to take just canal pleasure with me and rape my lifelong family's joy. If I hadn't seen him, he would flourish forever on my father's labour..." alone in her counsel's apartment.
In a room in the counsel's apartment, Rose was all alone contemplating how infliction could be done to Fleance. In fact, if that would cost him his life, she cared less.
Five days after the incident, as an outpatient, she was to visit her doctor at the hospital for treatment as earlier on scheduled. Not without the company of her counsel, anyways. Later know as Fahid. He policed Rose every now and then to such an extent that he would prefer her by his side and make it believable for people that she was a crouch than to let her move a budge away from him.
Together, they got to the hospital and entered to meet with the doctor. While passing by the hospital wards, they found Fleance in one of the rooms. The dramatic scene that unfolded before the two pushed up a paradoxical reaction out of them. They echoed, 'How come?!' They stood rooted. Both looking in awe. At this point, the stage seemed to be set for three players: one for Fahid, who had his integrity to protect from the imminent damage that Rose might prosecute; two, Rose, who was with alacrity to do her spite in vengeance to Fleance; and, last, Fleance wife, seated yonder, who cared so much for the safety and quick recovery of her husband. In the spur, there was a gaze wrestle between Rose and Fahid. She needed the last chance to perfect her assignment. He, however, started deploying tactics to ensure she didn't have any cause to be close to Fleance.
Fleance was in coma and so was sustained on oxygen. On getting to his area, she caught a sight of a little boy of about four years of age in company of her mother and some other people who were close to Fleance in bed. She later learnt the boy was Fleance's, the young woman, Fleance's wife and the people, his relatives.
She had her treatment and departed home with her counsel.

Acrimony
"Miss, you'd concede with me, I told you from the onset, your ovary wall is flexible. Perhaps, we shouldn't have carried out the abortion exercise... I must confess, there was an accident in the cause of the surgery..."  A thought of what was said to her at the hospital previous year as to her tendency to barrenness after the abortion of the pregnancy for Fleance loomed in her mind. Where she sat, smoking cigarette, Rose kept picturing what had transpired between her and Fleance which had enforced her a new lifestyle and ill-fate after the dump. She would not stop thinking about how she failed her father. And, the mother too, was down with schizophrenia because of her husband's untimely death. This ailment was the curse of her mum. Perhaps, because the mother displayed her trauma in Fleance's presence, he resolved to abscond. She thought. Rose used to be obedient and chaste in character until she met the old acquaintance. She thought about the unfulfilled promises he made to her which gave her wrong assumption that he had come to stay for good, particularly, because the day they met was the symbolic day of love. The true-lies on that very day, lured her into sexual intercourse with him. All these thoughts moved her to tears. This time, the lawyer had trusted her such that he would go to office leaving her alone without surveillance.
"He deserves death!" she lamentedly said.
On the eve of Friday, 28th of August, Rose complained of a poignant headache possible emanating from the injury she sustained in the head and requested for an admission in the New Ikoyi Hospital. While detailing her health status with Fahid, she suddenly collapsed onto him. Shocked, he quickly took her out of the apartment and drove her to the hospital. Of course, she was, at that time, an outpatient.
On arrival, they met with the physician, Dr Ayowade. He admitted her. Counsel Fahid decided to stay with her throughout the weekend. Whereas, Rose was not responding to any question from Fahid. Does this mean she was comatic? Maybe, or maybe not, she knew what her condition was like. Exactly on Sunday, Rose became conscious and could perceive the presence of the doctor and counsel Fahid.
"How do you feel now, Miss?" Ayowade said.
"Doctor... thank you for everything... I'm better, sir." Rose responded reluctantly.
"I seem she is responding now? I juss..." Fahid was interrupted by her.
"Lawyer, I'm grateful. I owe you." Rose remarked.
Her ward was adjacent to Fleance's. At times, Fleance's little boy would play around peeping in each ward from the opening on the door. On occasion, he would enter upon some of the patients in the wards. Like this, he became an acquaintance to Rose. Oh! Like father, like the son.
On the 31st of August, of course, that was on a Monday morning, Fahid was set for office. Looking at the critical state of Rose, he confined in her to stay put in her ward without stepping an inch close to Fleance's. He left for work. But, put her under the doctor's watch.
1st of September, Tuesday, he came to see how she was fairing in the morning. In the evening, Fahid was again at the hospital with a pack of gift. At first, she was not in her bed. Then, he went for the nurses at the reception asking for Rose's whereabout. They searched everywhere; the restroom, back and front sides of the hospital.
"What on earth? How come she left her bed without you people knowing? I'm disapp..." Fahid paused, the moment he saw her at the hospital main threshold.
On the sight of her, Fahid sank in the seat behind him.
"Alhamdullilah(Glory be to God), you're back. Where did you go?" He nervously said.
"Pardon me, Lawyer. I needed to attend to something out there." she replied.
Suddenly, Fahid caught sight of a little boy beside her.
"Excuse me! Who's there?" he confusingly inquired.
"Oh! This? He's just a loyal little child of a patient around." she said.
"Okay." he responded, grinning.
Well, she seemed better than before, and he hoped her quick recovery then presented the gift.  Afterward, he left because he had commitments at home from office.
On the 4th of September, when Fahid was done in the office for the week, he headed straight to the hospital with a couple of gifts handy for her. On arrival, he saw her ward bed was empty. Obviously, he thought she could have been out for some other commitments. For about thirty minutes and no sign of her coming, he decided to move to the passage perhaps she could be seen around. He glanced at the bed once more wherein lied a piece of paper. He hesitantly picked it and checked the content;
The brevity she left for her lawyer.

Dear Counsel Fahid,

I'm sorry. I betrayed your trust, Counsel. You deserve all the honorable treatment a noble man must get. Not the disappointment I've given you. I'm gone for good. Never bother looking anywhere for me.

The goal is achieved yet. I think that's more befitting for him than waiting forever to pay his debt. Obviously, he can't revive my father from the tomb. I would rather let him kiss the dirt too. I forsake him the assets.

Done. Not by me, but by his own blood. He has his blood to blame, of course. Only suggestion did I make to him to detach the clip of the oxygen that sustains his father's life when his mother was away in the lavatory. 

His demise should approach soonest. He should say me well to my father. He can't flee forever, I once told him. He was wrong to think that my name smells pretty sweet. Even the rose flower has a league of thorn seated around its stalk. Not all that glitters is gold. 

If we still meet again in countless times in future, he will experience death at every interval. Trust me!

Honour, to the end.                                                           

Yours affectionately.

Roseline.

While reading the end part of her letter, the present fell from his grasp. He collapsed into the seat behind him. Suddenly, somebody screamed from another ward in the hospital which jerked him up the seat. He, however, dashed to the word where he found the reality of the letter he had just read. Some nurses attending to Fleance's dead body. The woman tossing herself on the floor, wailing bitterly. The paroxysm of her cry peaked the tragedy. Fleance's lifeless body lied still in the bed. He saw the little boy holding on to the clip attached to the oxygen hose which enabled Fleance to breath until it was removed. Shortly the clip was removed as directed by Rose, Fleance's soul was snuffed out.
Fahid saw all. The reality was bourn before him. He, however, was kinda left in a complication considering which side of the divide to stay. Should it be Fleance's, his colleague? Or the victim of jilt and many unwarranted tragedies, Rose's? Or protect his own integrity from the imminent damage resulting from Rose's action? Or should stand by the law, and its agencies in search of the criminal? But wait! Who is more criminally minded between Fleance and Rose? All this remains the unanswered questioned tussling in Fahid's mind. He was lost for the right cause of action.
Fahid could not help than tear. Then muttered something to himself,
"You're... Rose,... You're justified. I feel your plight."
Then, he left for the nearby police station to detail the unfolding crisis.
Nobody knew her whereabout, even till date, she disappeared into space. Everywhere was searched by the law enforcement agencies, not a single pin could be used to locate where Rose took her abode. Either on this land or elsewhere. The little thing known about her was that she was an elegant, bit robust, good looking, fair-skinned, and, now, lethal young woman.