BROKEN

BROKEN EPISODE ONE

10:45 pm, I was seated in my living room nursing my baby boy and preparing him for bed when I gpt a strange call on my phone and because Melvin was not home, I picked not because I entertain calls because he is away but because it could be an emergency. I laid the baby on the couch reduced the volume to the TV and picked the call.

Me: hello..

Voice: hello my name is Dr. Katrina and I'm calling you from St. Jude's hospital.

Me: okay... why would you be calling at this time of the night Dr. Katrina?

I asked trying to remain as calm as possible.

Dr. Katrina: we have a patient that has been brought in over thirty minutes ago and he needs surgery. According to him and the woman that brought him in, you are the one who can sign for his surgery do we would like you to come to the hospital as soon as you can.

This came in as a shock. Was she speaking about Melvin and what did she mean when she said he needed surgery? I panicked a bit but I gathered the courage to ask who the patient was and why he needed surgery.

Dr. Katrina: Melvin Dacha. He was involved in a greecely road accident along Nairobi - Mombasa high way.

Now I became worried and confused because when Melvin left, he said he was flying out of the country for a one week business meeting in Arusha Tanzania so how did he end up in a road accident?

The doctor insisted that I go and sign for that surgery because without it, he could die then when we were done taking she ended the call.

I felt a pit in my stomach and my body grew numb for a moment. I decided to call Melvin and find out if he was really in the hospital but the phone went unaswered. I had no house help because Melvin and I agreed that I would be a stay at home mum until our baby boy was old enough to go to school though he had put up a business for me and employed two ladies who took care of everything in my absence.

I called the taxi guy who always drove me around if I needed to go anywhere because I could not drive myself as I didn't have a car of my own not did I have a driver for the extra car Melvin owned. We had discussed him getting a driver to drive me around but he changed his mind and said I would be using a taxi instead. The taxi guy was old. Say about 50 years of age but from his driving I could tell he was experienced and had been in the taxi business for a while. I knew Melvin's problem from the word go. Whenever we would walk around with him, alot of guys would check me out because I'm very curvey and very attractive by the way, he would get jealous alot of time but we would talk about it assuring him that I would never cheat on him because I loved him. Melvin thought hiring a driver for me would get me closer to him since he was always away for business trips and maybe I would end up having a good time with the driver as alot of women out there did. He trusted the old taxi driver instead.

The taxi driver whose name was Ndegwa responded to my call and said he was on his way.. I wrapped my baby in a warm blanket and left the house when I heard the beep outside. It was chilly and very cold as it was the rainy season and the rains had just stopped about an hour before I got the call from the hospital though it was still drizzling.

Ndegwa: where are we headed madam?

Me: St Jude's hospital. We need to hurry.

Ndegwa nodded then after I got in he closed the door to the passanger seat and got to the driver's seat and drove off.

Ndegwa: is the baby sick Madam?

Me: no Ndegwa, the baby is fine but there is an emergency at the hospital.

I didn't feel like answering questions that night. Ndegwa was talkative and he liked to engage his clients as he drove them around but that night, I was not interested in a conversation.

As we drove to the hospital I had alot of things going on through my mind, how bad was the accident, why did he have to lie to me, who was the other woman that was with him, all that stuff was driving me crazy. "I would never cheat on you baby" he told me that so many times that it actually got stuck in my head. The bond that my husband and I shared was so strong that no one was ever going to break it..

I consoled myself that there had to be a reason why he was on that road and with that woman. I didn't call any of Melvin's family because I wanted to make sure it was really him first before I raised an alarm.

Ndegwa: we are here madam.

Ndegwa's voice cut through my thoughts and when I looked outside, we were indeed at the hospital. I requested Ndegwa to let me leave him with the baby who was asleep as I went inside to talk to the doctors, I told him he was going to drive me back home and he was okay with waiting. Be always was..

I got out of the car and hurriedly walked to the hospital in my rubber shoes and Dera trying to pull my jacket across my chest because of the cold. I reported at the reception and immediately I was directed to doctor Katrina's office.

I walked towards the office, knocked on the door then a few seconds later the door opened and there was a young lady, medium size, slim but curvey and in a white coat. She smiled at me as she ushered me into her office.

Dr. Katrina: you must be Benta,

I nodded then she showed me to a seat. I was nervous but tried to be as calm as I could be.

Me: you called..

Dr. Katrina: yes.

She replied looking through some files and pulling one from the middle and opening it.

Dr. Katrina: Melvin told us to call you. He is in bad shape and it's a good thing you responded immediately.

She said handing over the file to me.

Dr. Katrina: Melvin damaged his spine in the accident and he needs an urgent surgery. He also broke his collar bone and....

Me: okay, I get all that but the woman he was with, couldn't she do the signing?

Dr. Katrina: no. She is not family neither is she his spouse. Only those can give a go a head for the surgery to take place.

Me: where is my husband?

I asked still practicing all the patience I had in me. The doctor said he had damaged his spine, it hadn't hit me what those words really meant but I needed to see him first.

Dr. Katrina: I can take you to see him.

She said getting up from her seat and I got up too and she led the way to the ER where Melvin was.

When we got there, he was alone and was somehow asleep.

The doctor talked to me and explained his situation then left me with the forms I needed to sign and gave us some private time. When speaking to the doctor, Melvin heard us and he opened his eyes though he could not move. From the look on his face, he looked like he was in so pain..

Melvin: sweets..

He called stretching his hand to reach me but I stood there staring at him not taking his hand. I was mad, but why...I have no idea.

Me: what happened to you?

I asked moving closer but staying away from him at the same time. I had alot going on in my mind but I wanted him to confirm all my doubts and fears... I didn't care about his condition at that particular time, I just needed to know how he got on that bed and in that condition.

Melvin: I got into an accident.

He said that with a tear dropping from his eyes.. he was in pain, I could tell.

Me: I know that, how did you end up on the road Melvin..I booked your flight to Arusha and not Mombasa..

He remained silent staring at me blankly. Was that the right time to demand explanation, I didn't care. Melvin would never lie to me leave alone cheating, I had to be wrong and he must have heard a good reason, that's what I was there for.

Melvin: sweets, I need to tell you something..

He started but before he could say anything the door flew open and in walked Jade. Our eyes met and as much as she felt like running back to where she was coming from, she decided to stay probably waiting for me to do my worse. Melvin had tensed and seeing the tension between me and Jade made him want to jump out of the bed but he couldn't.

Me: Jade?

Jade: what?

That was rude coming from a friend. No let me rephrase that, Jade was my best friend of over six years and She still was two days ago when we were shopping for her clothes, you know lingerie and some sexy night gowns for the love of her life who had decided to treat her for a weekend get away in mombasa. she was also one of the bride's maids on my wedding. Was I surprised to see her there, yes I was was but what slapped me in the face so hard was her attitude towards me Wait was I helping her shop for my husband?.. what was really going on?

Jade had some stuff that I assumed were food in some bag that she put on some stand that was not far away from the bed.

Me: Jade, what's going on, were you in the same bus as he was?

She didn't respond but rolled her eyes and folded her arms to her chest.

Jade looked like she was ready for a fight but I wasn't going to give her that. My heart broke at that moment and what I felt was warm tears dropping down my cheeks..

She walked up to Melvin from the other side and sat on a chair brushing her hands on his arm so that I could see that she really didn't care about my presence there even though Melvin tried to move his hand.

Melvin: baby, I can explain..

He said trying to get up and reach out to me but he couldn't.

Jade: explain what, you want to make me look bad now huh?

She asked giving him a Stern look and looking me from head to toe trying to communicate something I couldn't quite get. Was she trying to tell me her and Melvin had been in a relationship all along?

I put the papers I was to sign on the bed together with the pen and was about to walk out when I bumped into the doctor by the door..

It wasn't Katrina but another doctor who blocked my way and asked me back inside. I was burning but I had to keep my cool, I didn't want both Jade and Melvin to know what was going on in my mind..

Doctor: Benta right?

Me: (nodding) yeah.

Doctor: I'm doctor Mila and I've taken over Katrina's shift.

Me: okay..

Dr.Mila: we need to operate on him as soon as possible. Have you signed the forms?

Me: no. I don't think I will be signing those forms.

Dr. mila: why not?

Me: let her do it...

There was silence as the doctor looked at her then at me..

Dr. Mila: I was here earlier and she cannot sign for his surgery.

Me: then let him die, I will burry him..

I walked out of the room leaving him stranded there with both of them not knowing what to do.. he followed me outside calling my name but I didn't look back. I found my way to the washroom and as soon as I got there I burst out in tears. How could they, how could Jade?

While still in the washrooms I got a call from Ndegwa telling me the baby was awake so I had to go attend to him. I washed my face and left the washrooms going straight to exit and minutes later I was getting in the back seat of the car. Ndegwa passed the baby and looked at me from the rear mirror and drove without a word.

I soothed Ethan so that he could go back to sleep but my heart was not at peace. I tried to hold the tears back but couldn't keep it from falling..

I cried thinking of the times I shared my marital problems with my best friend, I cried in her arms and she was the one whose shoulder I leaned on when it was tough. she advised me and I thought I had in her that mother i never had.. had I known she was the one who was going to destroy and make my life hell, I would have strangled her to death in her sleep..

My name is Benta and marriage made me a slave and when I realized I was to free myself from that b*****e, it was too late.. this is my story....