The second son

Chapter eight

Jaachi had been in the interrogation room/ cell/ prison or whatever it was called for two days, hle had not brushed his teeth or taking a bath since he got there and he was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Meals had been irregular, at least they did not try to make him loose track of time by keeping him in a blacked out room, they just didn't care that much and through it all, no one had mentioned the fact that he was a prince, it was like behind these walls he was stripped of every privilege he ever had. He knew they did not believe his story, if they did then he would be worried about the kind of people the security of the East was entrusted in. He wondered what his mother would be thinking, what Lola would think and his Uncle, he had not seen the General since he was detained and he wondered if he even knew about it. He had been interrogated by a lot of people including the director but had stuck to his story as ridiculous as it sounded, he had been expecting t*****e, braced himself for it, but when nothing came he understood that being in this cell it's self was t*****e. 

   He wished he could sleep, sleeping was the only comfort he had, it was not about were he slept - there was no bed in the cell so he slept on the floor, it was about where he was transported to in his sleep. At times his sleep was empty, a black out from reality but sometimes he was at the his high schools football pitch, the day he had gotten spotted by scouters for the under 17, sometimes it was him and his father at the stadium watching their club win. Jaachi had so many dreams that sometimes he lost track in between sleeping and waking as dreams got entwined. He was still trying to sleep when the door swung open and his Uncle stood in front of him. He had never been more happy to see anyone before.

   " Get up, were leaving." His Uncle said then started leaving.

   Jaachi scrambled out of his seat and went after his Uncle. "Wait Uncle, can I ask what happened ?"

   Ejiofor halted sharply so that Jaachi who had been trying to keep up clashed against him. "No you don't! You don't get to ask anything and you have a lot of explaining to do. What is wrong with you Jaachi, is it so difficult to just keep up a good reputation and lie low, must you keep being a disgrace to the Mashi family, to the title you bare."

   Jaachi kept quiet. His Uncle had good reason to be angry and he was really greatful that he was out.

   " Just make sure you call the intelligence if you ever hear from her again."  His Uncle warned and Jaachi nodded. A limo was waiting outside, Ejiofor turned to him. " Remember this, you haven't been anywhere, you were just keeping a low profile, spending time with Lola or whatever. We can't have this in the papers do you understand?"

   " Yes... You're not coming?"

   " I'm a busy man."  He said simply, " that's your ride by the way. Try to freshen up a bit in the limo, there might be a lot of people at the palace and we don't want you smelling and looking like a POW in front of them.

   Jaachi got into the limo, there was a  complete change of clothes and toiletries inside, he did as he was told. He had been brought out from jail because of the referendum and he wondered how the whole matter was going to get swept under the carpet. That was politics for you, he had suffered because of it and he was damned if he would not enjoy the privileges it offered.

                                                                                             ***

The day the referendum was held, Rota was moved to tears by the turn out all over Shobar and the entire East Hendosia. People had come out in their numbers, not only to vote but also to encourage others. No one cajoled or bullied anybody into voting, there had been nothing of that sort, instead people wore keep-hope-alive T shirts and carried sign posts written  keep hope alive. Bands played on the streets and celebrities walked freely among the people. Some artists turned the streets into galleries while some people went about handing out packages to total strangers. In all of it, the people were passing a message, this was East Hendosia, their country, it was worth fighting for. 

   Now the day the results for the referendum were announced had been almost anti climaxing, the people had voted, they had been flattered by the fact that the country did need to hear their opinion, so they had made their opinion known. No they did not want to surrender they wanted to fight for what was theirs, yes they were in support of the drafting of a new constitution, it was high time and yes they did not mind the late Ochia's second son being King until after the war, he had proven himself to them. They had known the results before it came out, what other result could there possibly be if not what they the people had chosen and so when the results were announced, no one was taken by surprise. 

   The only thing that had been sensational on the day the results of the referendum was announced had been Jaachi's speech. Already gaining a reputation as a good orator, Jaachi did not let the people down. He managed to talk about all the good in the East, justify the secession and urge the people to keep the hope of the Mmiri people alive without once mentioning the West or trying to cast them in a bad light. 

   He talked about the history of the Mmiri kingdom, about art and culture, he talked about wars fought more than hundred years ago, about honour and bravery. He talked about roots, the Mmiri people had always been there and always would be, they were a people, a voice they had a history and were building a future. He talked about current achievements, about beauty in pain. Then he praised nature. He appreciated the whole geography of East Hendosia, the mineral resources, fertile soil, the water bodies and rocky mountains. He called East Hendosia a Nation bound together in Faith, he told the people they we're blessed to be Mmiri, that it was what fighting for. He told the people to keep hope alive. At the end of Jaachi's speech which had given in at the country's capital in Kafara, 'keep hope live' had erupted from the people all over the country, both those who had been life at the speech in Kafara and the rest of the Nation who had watched it on T.V.

   The day the results for the referendum were announced, Jaachi went home from his speech feeling elated, he had gotten into a waiting helicopter while people pushed at the security, trying to touch him, to shake him or path him on that back.

   As soon as the helicopter had landed in the palace , he had seen his mother, waiting to welcome him, with the biggest smile he had ever seen since the plane crash on her face. If that was to be the only reward he got for the speech at Kafara then he was glad. However, he had more surprises waiting for him. Wrapping his mother in a bear hug, he started inside with his arms still around her. She was so small, so fragile, he wondered why he hadn't noticed before. Vowing to himself never to neglect his mother again, he opened the door to his house.

   " Surprise !" Lola, the General , Nmaka and the director of Cyber Military shouted. He stepped back a bit startled and his mother giggled.

   "Come on in Jaachi, we've been waiting for you to come before we open that expensive bottle of champagne Lola is holding." His mother said pulling him inside. She was laughing, carefree and Jaachi promised bimself that no matter what, he was going to keep her happy. She was all he had.

   As he stepped in to the sitting room, Lola set down the champagne and gave him a hug. "I've really missed you and we need to talk." She whispered into his ear and he smiled, nothing good ever came of Lola 'needing to talk', something's never changed.

   After the mini party, the General and the director of Cyber Military had congratulated him then left, Nmaka had hugged him awkwardly and also left, he had walked his mother to her own apartment in the building, kissed her forehead then left her and started for his house. He had not seen the one person he really wanted to see, Flora. Of cause he was not stupid, he knew she couldn't come, what explanation would she have had for his mother and the rest, for Lola. - she was sitting in the sitting room, smiling sadly when he came in.

   " Ah Jaachi I think this talk is over due."

   " You do?" He walked over to the bar to pour himself a shot, he might need it.

   " Look at me when I'm talking to you Jaachi."

   That halted him. He set down the bottle of whiskey without pouring the shot. " Fine Lola." He said facing her squarely, " you have my full attention now."

   " Will you tell me were you went after I left the house with Nmaka two days ago?". She lifted her hand when he started to speak. "Don't lie to me. You can either tell me where you went exactly or you just say you'll rather not tell me."

   " I'll rather not tell you."

   " Wow!" Lola fought back the sting of tears. " That was easy !"

   Jaachi drew in a breath. "Lola it's not- "

   She raised her hand again to silence him. "It's fine... So I guess you wouldn't tell me what does men wanted you for then - the men who came that night ..... Have you been helping that Maopa woman?". She drew in a breath. " I'm sorry, you made it clear that you didn't want to talk about that -"

   " No Lola, its fine. They were from warfare intelligence and some other agencies, they wanted to know if I had been in contact with Maopa. "

   " And had you ? Was that where you were that night, with Maopa? Jaachi she's a traitor, Isn't she wanted for the bombing of the former cyber military base ?" 

   " You don't know that she -"

   " Okay !" Lola raised her hands in surrender. " Whatever you say." 

   Jaachi sighed " Look Lola I know these few days have been hard on you but -"

   " Don't ." Lola said trembling slightly. " Don't patronize me. I am trying my best to be mature about this whole thing but don't play on my intelligence, we both know you don't have any feelings for me anymore."

   Jaachi walked over to the bar, this time he poured himself that shot. He poured one for Lola too and handed it over to her. "Lola don't play the victim here. You're obviously no longer in love with me again too."

   Lola fought hard at tears. " Play the victim! You think this is me being dramatic? I'm trying to be mature and I believe I'm acting the more mature of the both of us even if I say so my self."

   " Lola I'm sorry." Jaachi tried again.

   "Mmm mm! " Lola shook her head. "Go on tell me why you think I don't love you again even after Ive made so much sacrifices for this relationship to work out."

   " I know and I'm greatful you came all the way from the West just to be there for me but -"

   " And you think that's only it ! My gosh! You think that's just it." She finally lost the battle against tears, they streamed down her face. Swiping at a year with her finger, she continued. " I have made sacrifices you can't even begin to understand, but this is not about what I've done to save this relationship, it's about why you think I don't love you."

   " I didn't say you don't - like you never did." He was frustrated, he knew she would still not allow him to comfort and seeing her anguish tore at him. " All I'm saying Lola is that I'm not longer the Man you fell in love with, I've changed - grown up."

   " And you think I can't handle change?"

   " Well can you ?"

   Lola smiled mirthlesly. " It's another woman, I know. You only start to notice all these flaws in me when another woman catches your interest."

   Jaachi dragged at his hair. " Please don't tell me we're doing this again."

   " But then it has to be- and it's definitely not Nmaka, so who is it ?"

   " Lola ! I would not have this conversation with you."

   " Well then tell me why you think I cannot handle change."

   " Because you can't ! Don't you see, I'm not the man you fell in love with anymore. You said so yourself. That Jaachi, the one you fell in love with still had a father, he was just the second son - he had an older brotherto shoulder any princely responsibilities that came up. He didn't care about East Hendosia - he even refused to play for their national team. He was like you said easy going and carefree... And I mean that literally, he was without a care in the world -"

    " He was also very handsome and caring, intelligent, fun. He was super sensitive to the needs of others around him especially his girlfriend." She smiled sadly. " You're right Jaachi, you're not the guy I fell in love with. I guess I've known that for sometime but I just wanted to hold on to this.... Hope !"

   " Look Lola, you're smart, beautiful, fun -"

   " You'll find the right man for you." She finished together with him and burst out laughing. " Gosh! If anyone told me I would be the recipient of that lecture....."

   Jaachi smiled reluctantly. " I guess that was the wrong thing to say."

   " It definitely was!" Lola said still smiling a bit sadly.

   " So.... We good ?"

   " It depends."

   " On what ?"

   " Are you breaking up with me ?"

    " Lola I thought we've gone over this -"

   " Are you?"    

   " Yes Lola, it's over."

   Lola extended a hand, " then we're good. I promised myself I will never do that whole a woman scorned nonsense."

   " Hell hath no fury ?"

   " Ah aha ! You know you're idioms. Look Jaachi I want  to go out drive around a bit - or be driven around. You think you can spare your car and chauffeur ?"

   " Can I ask were you want to go ?"

   " Just drive around, probably go visit Nmaka."

  " Nmaka? That's a new one."

  " Yeah after I followed her home that day, we sort of bonded, she's actually a very nice person."

  " I know. She was Nikki's fiancee." He called his chauffeur for Lola then after she had gone he sat down to think. He too wanted to see someone but he wished he could just simply get into his car and ask his chauffeur drop him off at the place.