BROKEN

BROKEN EPISODE FIVE

I couldn't get access to the house so I picked my suitcase and left. I couldn't call Ndegwa because I didn't have my phone or his number off head. I had no money on me as everything was left in the house. I decided to go to Betty. Back to the orphanage even though that's the last place I would have wanted to be in. When u visited Betty earlier, I gave her the impression that everything was okay and I was only bothered by the fact that Melvin was in hospital. How was I going to explain to her that I had been thrown out of my house. How was I going to tell her that my best friend turned out to be a snake, how was I going to tell her everything?..

I lazily dragged my suitcase out of the gate as every attempt to get back in there and get my son failed. My arm was brused when Jade was pulling me on the floor so I think I twisted it or something but was in pain. Why was this happening to me I mean how unfair could the world get.

A bike guy saw me by the road and stoped his bike then asked if I was going and I shook my head because I had no money to board a bike and I wasn't just about to explain my situation to a stranger so he left and straight ahead, I saw ndegwa's cab. It was dropping off the neighbor who lived like two gates from my home.

He finished up with the neighbor then waited for me to get to him. I quickly wiped my tears so that he couldn't notice I was crying but he did..

Ndegwa: madam, where are you headed?

I stood there staring at him not knowing what to tell him and I just broke down. Ndegwa was fatherly towards me and for a moment I felt like he was God sent. He was interested in my well being and don't ask me why because I had no idea. He was like that angel that was watching over me for he was always at the right place at the right time.

He helped me to the cab then put my luggage in the back and got to his driver's seat and drove off without a word. We got to the main road and he asked me to buckle up my seat belt and I did. I was now a bit calm and he thought I could talk.

Ndegwa: where are we headed?

Me: I think I will be okay at the orphanage.

He looked at me like he didn't hear what I had said then a few seconds later he pulled over by the road.

Ndegwa: why are you going to the orphanage?

Me: I've been thrown out of my house..

Ndegwa: by who?

Me: does it even matter, I'm out here with my suitcase and my baby is left back there, all alone.

I felt the pressure build up again thinking of how Ethan was going to survive through the night. What did Jade even know about babies I mean I was the one who even taught her how to change diapers and dress Ethan. I did because I saw that she had an interest in all that baby stuff.

Ndegwa: it matters madam. You can call the police on whoever threw you out. That's your home and they can't take advantage of the fact that Melvin is not around.

Why hadn't I thought of the police, Ndegwa had a good idea.. perhaps if I went to the police station, I could get my baby back if not the house.

Me: take me to the police station.

Ndegwa: okay..

He started the car again and off we were to the police station.

While in the car I had alot in my mind, were Jade and Lorna in touch all along and why did they wait until Melvin was in no position to defend me before they kicked me out and Leo, how could he know all these and not tell me anything. He was the one person I banked on to have my back.

Ndegwa: so for how long will you be at the orphanage?

Me: I don't know.

Ndegwa: what if you don't have to go to the orphanage?

I looked at him like I didn't understand why he asked that, of cause I didn't understand. Where else was I to go?..

Ndegwa: I have a house that is not rented. It's fully furnished so you will not have to buy anything. You can stay there for a few days as you sort out your issues.

I looked at him but didn't say a word. At least not until we got to the police station..

Ndegwa was soft spoken though his voice had some authority in it. There are those questions you might sometimes want to ask but then because you think you might end up sounding rude, you just shut up. That was me though in my head I was like me, live in your rented apartments...how!

I wasn't naive. Living in an orphanage had taught me things. People think that when you grow up in an orphanage you have no proper guidance in life but I did. Betty taught us everything we needed to know about life and she also taught us that not everyone who seemed good was good. I didn't know about Ndegwa and I didn't know why he felt the need to offer me a home. What did he know about what was going on I mean he was Melvin's guy and maybe there was something he was hiding...

Was I being paranoid, I don't know but why wouldn't I be since everyone around me turned out to be a liar?..

We got to the station and Ndegwa offered to take me inside the police station. He wanted to hear me record a statement so I didn't push him away. Maybe he knew the cops and could have an influence in getting my baby.

Me: good evening?

The officer nodded as if she was deaf but because she had her eyes fixed on me, I assumed she could hear me speak.

Me: I have been thrown out of my home by two women who have taken residency in my house and have refused to give me my baby.

Officer: what is your name?

Me: Benta.

Officer: Benta cow, Benta goat, madam can you state two names for the record?

Me: Benta Hawi.

Officer: who are the two women who have taken residency in your house?

Me: my mother in law and a friend who turned out not to be a friend.

She stopped writing and looked at me.

Officer: your friend has taken over your home?

Me: yes.

Officer: and your son?

Me: they locked me out and refused to hand over my baby.

Officer: how old is the baby?.

Me: six months.

Officer: okay..

She wrote down the OB number and sent me to another officer who was dealing with such cases. Ndegwa didn't come with me and told me he was waiting outside.

I got to the officer and presented the piece of paper to her. She asked me to sit down and narrate everything like it had happened and I did.

Officer: are you sure if we go there right now we will find the two women.

Me: yes.

Officer: do you have anything that shows

the house in which they have taken residency is yours?.

Me: yes officer. I have the lease and a the documents in my suitcase outside.

She made a call then a few minutes later another officer came in.

They talked about my case then the officer I was taking to told me to lead the way. We were going to my place.

I didn't know how I was feeling by then. A part of me was happy that I was going to get my son, and apart of me was worried that I was still going to loose my house. If only Melvin had been around.

We got out and Ndegwa was leaning on his car. I explained to him that I was riding with the police and he said he would be behind us. I opened the door to the car, opened my suitcase and got the documents and headed to the police car where they had been waiting..

Elsewhere...

Jade went to the bedroom and took Ethan who had fallen asleep a while back and when he woke up, he cried out loudly so Jade had to check him up for a diaper change and he was also eating his fingers. She cleaned him up then carried him to the Living room..

Lorna: heh, you won't believe I was told not to hold this baby with my filthy hands from the village.

Jade: she told you that?

Lorna: yeah.

Jade: that orphan, I bathed her in money and now she can have a voice. Why is he eating his fingers though?

Lorna: he is hungry. Get his milk.

Jade left for the kitchen. She put some of the milk she had left after preparing tea and put it in his bottle then took it to Lorna who held the baby and fed him.

Lorna: the boy is very handsome.

She said smiling.

Jade: the fruit of my womb.

Lorna looked at her and Jade looked away remembering she had no womb.

Lorna: it's okay, don't be ashamed. You both created her. See I would rather have you as my daughter in law again than to have that low life woman. You should do away with her completely. Her job is done as far as I'm concerned. You should keep her as far away from Melvin as possible. That's if you still value your marriage to Melvin.

Jade nodded after listen to the advice keenly. There was a time Lorna and Jade didn't get along especially after Jade's womb was removed. It was insults after insults and that was one of the reasons, she opted into luring Benta into a trap. She couldn't stand Lorna anymore and it was a miracle they were now getting along.

Half an hour later, Jade was preparing dinner in the kitchen as Lorna was playing with the baby when they heard a knock on the door and Jade dropped whatever she was doing and quickly rushed into the living room and both their eyes met.

Jade: who is at the door?

Lorna: I don't know. Could be that psycho.

Jade: I swear if it's her I will put her in her place.

She quickly walked to the door and when she opened it and without noticing she landed a slap across the officers face then came the regrets after the officer slapped her back and she found herself down.

The two other officers got in and Lorna quickly got up..

Officer: who between you is Jade?

Lorna pointed at Jade. She was shaken by the slap Jade received and she didn't want the same on her face..

Officer: I knew it had to be.

Officer: who is the owner of this house?.

They were both silent and I felt like smiling. Where had they taken their nails those fake tigers...

Officer: I'm asking a question..

Jade pointed at me. Dragging herself up from the ground.

Officer: and what are you doing here?

Jade: officer this is my house, that woman is just my house help and she stole from me.

Me: what?

Jade: you stole twenty five thousand shillings from me then left my baby locked up in the house. If I had not gotten here in time who knows what would have happened to my baby?

I was confused, I had underestimated this b***h but she didn't know who she was messing with.

Me: officer, this woman is lying.

Lorna: is she?

Officer: and who are you?

Lorna: this woman's mother in law.

She said pointing at Jade.

I looked like the liar when Jade said she had ran late collecting Lorna from the bus stop and when they got home, I had taken the money, left the baby and went missing.

Officer: I have documents to prove that this woman is the owner of this house.

She said waving the documents in their faces..

Jade: the documents that have gone missing since last month. I looked for those everywhere when I wanted to take a loan for my business and not even my husband could trace them. You snake!

She shouted at me ready to pounce on me but the officer pushed her back. This was confusing even to them. Who was now telling the truth. Jade was a liar and she had perfected her lying skills that now I looked like an i***t before the cops. Ndegwa was left down there as the cops said they only wanted the people who were involved in the case.

The officer asked the mother in law If she knew about the missing documents and she said yes. She said I had been asked if I had seen the documents but I said no and now I was told to explain how the documents had my name on them.

I told the officer the house was a gift from my husband and both Lorna and Jade shunned me down.

Officer: where is this so called husband?

Lorna: my son is in hospital fighting for his life. He cannot speak about this otherwise he would have told you this woman is a thief.

Officer: okay, I will arrest all of you until the man is fit enough to come and claim his wife and tell us who the house belongs to. As for the kid, he will be taken to a day care. He will be there until we know who the mother is.

I started crying begging them not to take my son away and Jade was crying too going towards the baby but one of the offers took Ethan as the other two matched us out...

I couldn't stop crying and I didn't know what to do... We were helped into the police Landover and we're driven away as Lorna and Jade sat arm in arm..

I wish I had gone to Betty's as I had planned. Ndegwa said he was going to try and help but how?.

The ride was not long as the Landover went very fast.. we got to the station a few minutes later and we were all thrown in the same cell and the door was locked and as soon as the officer left, Jade burst out into a laughter..

Jade: you think you can challenge us, this is just the beginning Benta. You will never see Ethan again. Not in your pathetic lifetime....