Echoes Of The Ugly Past ?
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Episode 12

Ella: “For people like you abi? You dey craze for that your head, remove your eye
from oga Haliru oh”

Nengi: “Ha, I didn’t say anything about wanting him oh” she replied and walked away.

Jasmine opened her eyes and saw the white lights, she turned with confused eyes,
and saw Haliru sitting beside her, and he was still in his tuxedo.

Jasmine: “Baby, what are we doing here, what about our wedding? What happened?”
she asked in fright. All she could think about was that Bali had somehow come back
and ruined her wedding day.

Haliru: “Relax my beautiful bride, get well first and we will get married. You are the
best thing that ever happened to me and you have given me the most beautiful
wedding gift. I love you Jasmine Danlami”

Jasmine: “That sounds sweet even to my ears. So I am in the hospital, did the
doctor tell you what was wrong with me”

Haliru: “You stressed yourself too much, and almost took away our gift. You are
pregnant baby, the rest is history”
Jasmine: “I am pregnant! Oh my God” she exclaimed and made to jump up but
Haliru held her back.

Haliru: “Hey madam, you are on bed rest, no getting up, tell me whatever you want to
do and I will do it for you. You want to jump up for joy, I will do that for you’ he said
and began to jump up for joy, while Jasmine laughed uncontrollably.
The next morning, while the birds were chirping in the trees, and the leaves were
opening their veins to the coming sun, an idea was forming in Jasmine’s head. So,
as Haliru entered the room from the café where he had gone to get himself mocha
latte, Jasmine threw the idea at him.

Jasmine: “Let’s get married” she exclaimed.

Haliru: “Of course we would get married, but first, you get well”

Jasmine: “I mean, now. A civil marriage, we tried the church, didn’t go well. Let’s do
this right here”

Jeff: “If that isn’t the craziest I have heard, I don’t know what is” he said coming into country wedding dresses
the room, having overheard their conversation.

Jasmine: “It is not that crazy joh, do you even know what love is?” she teased.
Haliru: “Okay, whatever you want babe”

That was how preparations to do a customary wedding started; a judge was called
to come to the hospital, everyone dressed up, except Jasmine. The doctor did not
allow her do anything, as much as dress up. Ella did a little touch up with makeup,
and stuck a tiara on her hair.

Ella: “Now you look like a princess in distress, thank God Oga Haliru is here to save
you” she said.

Judge: “We are here to join these people, Haliru Danlami and Jasmine Umoren in
wedlock, according to the laws of the land, does anyone have any reason why these
two should not be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace” everybody was
quiet, Haliru was smiling at Jasmine, but the latter was anxious, she wondered why
the judge had to pause for so long, was he waiting for someone to speak against
the marriage?

Judge: “In absence of any objections, I shall proceed to ask the intending couple of
their will to be married”

Jasmine: “If wedding on a hospital bed is not a clear case of will, I don’t know what
is, Judge, please go ahead and marry us, we are willing” she quipped and everyone
laughed.

Judge: “Say your vows”

Jasmine: “Many couples can boast of years together even before their wedding, but I
cannot boast of that. It doesn’t mean that we haven’t been loving each other in the
little time we have known each other. My heart recognized you, even when my head
was still playing with semantics. I love you, Haliru Danlami, and I promise to be with
you through every phase of your life, even in mid life crisis, but just don’t get another
babe when my pretty legs are no longer pretty, or when this gorgeous body is
sagging with love handles, because we are in this together for better or worse. With
this I do wed” she said and turned her head away to hide the tears shining in her
eyes. Haliru was short of words as he looked at her, he had no doubt in his heart,
that she loved him, and he told himself he didn’t care about her past, or whatever
she did before this time.

Haliru: “You know me; I am not very good with words. I love you dearly, and I want
to be with you, not just in this life, but in the next. Don’t worry about counting years,
because we will have a lot of years to spend together.” He said.

Judge: “By the power vested in me, as an upholder of the laws of this land, I
pronounce you, husband and wife” he said and Haliru kissed his wife gently.

Ella: “congratulations babe” she kissed her friend on the cheek.

Nengi: “The new Mrs. in town, congrats babe” she said and blew a kiss at her friend.

While the congratulations were ongoing, Ella’s phone rang, she received it and then
brought it to Jasmine.

Ella: “The caller is asking for you, Jas”

Jasmine: “Who is it?” she asked

Ella: “Don’t know” she put the phone in Jasmine’s hand.
Jasmine: “Hello” she said into the phone

Caller: “Murderer, your sins will find you out” the caller hung up. Jasmine was
dumbfounded, she just held on to the phone tightly, starring at nothing in particular.

Haliru: “What is it?” he asked, and pried the phone out of her hand.

Ella: “Jas, Jas, what is it?”
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Continued.........