The invigilator prompted his colleagues, and they all moved to Doreen’s position. They asked her to surrender the foreign material.
There was nothing she could do because she was caught red-handed. The invigilators called for the services of the police and Doreen was apprehended. She was taken to the police station immediately.
Doreen was taken to the counter-back at the police station. She was asked to write her statement, and she did. The headmaster of the school was also invited by the police to give a statement. News reached Mame Pokua that her daughter had been arrested due to examination malpractice. She immediately went to the police station to see her daughter.
Meanwhile, the officers at the West African Examination Council had heard of the incident that took place in the school. They had been looking forward to apprehending someone in the act and punish the person accordingly due to the hike in examination malpractices that had eluded them. They wanted to use Doreen as a scapegoat to deter others from following her steps.
When Mame Pokua reached the police station, she coincided with the Examination Council officers. She saw how fierce their countenance was and moved in to settle the issue amicably with them. “Hello Officers, can I please have a minute of your time?” Mame Pokua asked, unsure whether her request would be granted.
They all turned and looked at her sternly. Upon incessant persistency from Mame Pokua, they went over to where she was standing. “Good day officers. Please, I am the girl’s mother.” Mame Pokua said. “So?” One officer interrupted her in an unfriendly manner. Mame Pokua knew the situation was almost getting out of hand. She needed to act fast before something tragic happens to her beloved daughter.
“Please, don’t be angry. I want to find out if there is no other way of handling this issue. I will really appreciate it if this issue is settled amicably without the intervention of the police.” Mame Pokua continued to persuade them. “See woman, we are not here to settle anything amicably. Students like your daughter have given the Examination Council a bad name. We are taking your daughter to the court. The only advice I can give you will be to look for a good lawyer because the Council will not take things easy on your daughter. Excuse us, we have things to do inside.” Another officer said while leading the way to enter the police station.
Mame Pokua was speechless. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know whom to turn to. She was resented by her own family because of her frowardness. There was no one to call unto except herself. She had to gather her strength to save her daughter. Oh! Her lovely daughter. She was now in the midst of criminals and there was nothing she could do about it. Lost in thoughts, she shuffled towards the counter-back to see her daughter and get a hint of what the Council was up to.
Meanwhile, Araba was loved by everyone in the house. She worked harder than even the maidservant although Rose’s mother had told her severally to reduce her workload. “Madam.... Sorry, Mom, I have worked like this my entire life. I am used to it so don’t worry.” Araba said when Rose’s mother confronted her about how she stressed herself with chores. As it stands, the nature of Rose’s mother was full with the milk of human kindness towards Araba.
Within some months of staying with Rose’s family, Araba’s shrouded beauty had begun to manifest. Araba was now enjoying a luxurious life.
One evening, Araba was in the house alone. Everyone had left the house except for the Nana Akua and herself. She was in the hall enjoying her movie when a rap sounded at the door. She didn’t hear it initially because she was much concentrated on the movie. She heard the sound when the rapping became persistent. She got up and ambled towards the door. She unlocked the door and swung it open.
She was amazed at whom she saw standing behind the door. It was Daniel! Rose’s fiancée. Daniel visited Rose in the evening only to meet her absence. Rose had left for an impromptu meeting and didn’t inform Daniel.
Daniel was shocked to learn Rose wasn’t in the house. He had told her earlier, he would pass by that evening. “Can I wait for her?” Daniel asked Araba humbly. “You can. Come inside and make yourself comfortable. Araba led the way to the hall. She offered Daniel a seat and left to take drinks from the fridge.
Daniel noticed something unusual about Araba. The last time he saw her, she was tattered and looked impoverished. But, she was looking different now and Daniel started to see her in a different way. Naturally, he had a soft spot for light-skinned ladies. He had settled for Rose because her family’s affluence, but wasn’t attracted to her. Seeing Araba filled his heart with lust. Little did he know that, oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us over with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequences.
Daniel had allowed the truth about him not being attracted to Rose to darken his morals and was now thinking of the imaginable. He was thinking of how to approach Araba. He knew Araba respected him very much and saw him as the fiancée to her adopted sister. He knew there was no way Araba would want to hurt Rose, and that rankled him.
Araba came back with the drink and offered it to Daniel. “Please I have prepared rice and beef sauce. I have served it on the dining table. You can eat when you are done with the drink.” She said as she sat down to continue her movie.
Daniel was hungry, but not for food. He was hungry with lust towards Araba. “Araba, when is Rose returning?” He asked Araba. “I don’t know, Sir. She didn’t tell me” Araba replied, still engrossed in the movie. “I want to take a stroll on the compound. I will be back soon.” Daniel told Araba and headed outside the hall.
He looked around the compound to see who was around. He got to know that, there were only three people in the house. The gateman, Nana Akua and Araba. The gateman was at the post which was far from the hall and Nana Akua was at the boys’ quarters snoring as she slept. Daniel knew the coast was now clear to put into action the plan he had been scheming for the past thirty minutes.
When Daniel got to the hall, she found Araba asleep on the sofa, although the movie was still playing. He took advantage of her frailty and went into action. He wanted to rape her. He grabbed Araba and wanted to have his way with her.
Araba got up from her sleep and fought back with all her strength. She wrestled with Daniel till both sustained bruises. Daniel knew that was his only chance and didn’t want to back down. He wanted to knock Araba off, but the young girl was strong. Her servitude in the village had made her very strong. Araba managed to hit Daniel in the abdomen. He screamed with pain and fell to the ground like a bag of rotten potatoes. Great was his fall and great was his shame.
Araba ran upstairs and locked herself in her room. She took a phone to call Rose to inform her of the situation, but decided against it. “Sister Rose is in love with him. If I should inform her of this, it will break her heart. I don’t want to see her cry.” Araba thought as she placed down the phone.
Daniel with his failed attempt to rape Araba, took his car keys, went into his car and drove off. He had to save his face. If Araba should spill out the beans, he would be in great trouble. He needed to find a permanent solution to his impediments.
To be continued….
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
© 2016
Contact on:
Twitter: ldldee
Like on Facebook: http://m.facebook.com/lewisdampson1
Blog: http://kofibless.blogspot.com
Sign up here with your email
