Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty Six
Imara was quite hysterical and continued to scream. Moments late, Thounder, who had just returned from the sea, came rushing upstairs to find out what was wrong. He was shocked to find that his sweet gentle Imara had disappeared, and in her place was a screeching disconsolate woman who hurled angry, bitter words at him. “You miserable worm”, she yelled. “Get out! Get out of here and don’t come near me” she picked up the breakfast tray but Klara grabbed it.
“No! Violence has not done any good”, Klara said “young man! Wait outside for the moment”, the doctor said. “Ma’am calm down I know you’re upset. But I told you there’s a way out…..”
A much calm Imara replied the doctor. “Thank you for the suggestion. Please make the necessary arrangements, “she said. Imara was still horrified at what had become of her lovely face, this face and her lovely figure that had held men spell bound whenever she passed by.
“Right way!” The doctor responded bringing our his mobile phone. “ I suppose she’s gong with you”, pointing at Klara.
“Certainly, we’re always together”.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A couple of days later armed with the necessary papers, Imara and Klara left Maffia Island for Mogadishou enroute Port Fresco in Johnsburg.
“My darling,” I shall visit you in the hospital”, Tunde said when the call to board was made at the Mogadishou International Airport. “I love you and I’l miss you.”
“I love you too”, Imara replied, “Take care of our hotel”.
Together with Klara, they made their way through the last gate to the tarmac where passengers going to Johnsburg were already boarding.
The flight to Johnsburg aboard South Africa Airways Flight 405 was uneventful. Travelling in the business class was something of an adventure for Klara, whereas for Imara it was just one of those things. The silver bird of the South Africa Airways Fleet touched down at Johnsburg airport at exactly 6:30pm South Africa time, they had been in the air for over five hours. “Wake up”, Imara nudged Klara who has slept off shortly after a meal of Potato chips, chicken and white wine.
“Where are we?” Klara asked her trying to clear her foggy brain.
“We have landed in Johnsburg”, Imara said “and other passengers’ are getting down so let’s follow suit” Klara grunted, as she tried standing up she bumped her on the luggage compartment above. “Bend can’t you see you are very tall” Imara pointed out. Klara smiled as she followed the directives of Imara.
Grabbing their hand luggage the duo made for the front exit flight near the pilots cockpit and descended the flight of stairs from where they made their way to the arrival lounge of the Johnsburg International airport.
“Welcome to Johnsburg Republic, a land of beauty and splendor-the real giant of continent,” a voice greeted them in perfect English. “Can I get you a cab?” A man asked Imara piercing into her thoughts.
“Yes please and thank you very much,” Imara said managing a smile. Imara and Klara checked into the Precious Jubski International hotel and Towers. They had hardly settled down when Imara’s mobile phone rang, it was Thounder.
“We landed some hours ago and right now we’re in our hotel,” Imara said into the phone. “It’s Thounder, “she informed Klara.
“Alright,” Klara said. “So what next?”
“We’ll rest and tomorrow we shall go to the Mandela Specialist Hospital at Port Fresco where I shall meat Dr. Mandy who is to perform the surgery”, Imara informed her.
Shortly after a sumptuous dinner at the Precious Jubski Hotel, while Klara was busy fidgeting with the television, Imara lied on the bed while her mind did a retrospect on her past-life right from the moment she lost her father in the killing fields of Rapid Falls, no thanks to greedy rulers who cared more for themselves and less for their subjects. She reviewed how far she had come, the things she had done just to create a future of her own. She examined her relationship with Thounder-even when he went to jail for attempted murder she had stood by him but this is what she had gotten form him by way of gratitude. Men indeed were funny specie of human beings, you could never satisfy a man. No matter what you did to please a man including even sacrificing your comfort and convenience one slip and you would see their true colours.
“Posterity will judge everybody”, she said quietly wiping away tears on her face. Turning to her right, she discovered Klara was already fast asleep, switching off the light she joined her as the effects of the trip and the dinner took its effects..
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Two days after arriving Johnsburg Republic, Imara moved to Port Fresco and was admitted into the Mandela specialist hospital to undergo plastic surgery. While in the hospital awaiting to undergo surgery Thounder breezed in one fine Friday morning unannounced. “Whoa, look who’s here”, Imara said very excited as both of them embraced. “How far, how was your trip to this part of the world?” Imara asked.
Thounder continued smiling like a suitor just meeting his bride for the first time. “My trip was okay-though we ran into a serious air pocket which rocked the air craft”, Thounder replied. “otherwise the flight was great”.
“How’s our hotel and who’s in charge?” Imara asked her husband
“First I don’t intend to stay long and then I put Kelly in charge,” he said. “I hope that’s okay?” Imara shrugged her shoulders “it’s okay. I think Kelly is very reliable”.
“The major reason why I’m here is to ask for your forgiveness,” Thounder said pausing to let the words sink in.
“I’ve forgiven you,” Thounder began, “I promise to always be there for you, we shall start our family the moment you return….”
“Really?, Imara asked cutting him off. “That’ll be really fantastic. I can hardly wait to carry my first child. We’ll go to Itharkar to show him to mother.”
Imara was indeed ecstatic as she hugged and kissed Thounder repeatedly only stopping when the nurse on duty came in to take her vital signs in preparation for her forthcoming surgery.
“Which doctor is performing the surgery?” Thounder asked after the nurse had gone.
“The doctor?” Imara repeated. “Well I was told a Dr. Mandy will do it and he has been here to look at the place”.
“Well, I hope he does a good job, “Thounder added.
Thursday morning began like any other day, except that suddenly there was much activity in Imara’s room. Klara was asked to wait outside while Thounder was grudgingly allowed to stay at Imara’s insistence. A couple of minutes later Imara was ready for the theatre, Thounder fought back the tears that were threatening to come down.
“May the Lord be with you,” he said kissing her on the lips and on the forehead.
“Remember your promise and wait for me”, Imara said as the trolley operator wheeled her away towards the theatre.
“Is she gone to the theatre?” Klara asked on sighing Thounder in the hospital lobby.
“Yes! Everything’s gonna be alright”, he said patting her on the shoulder. “By the way I’m going back to Maffia Island this afternoon”
“ Waoooooo!” Klara exclaimed. “Why the hurry? I thought you’ll wait to see her”
“No”, Thounder said shaking his head. “I’ll call and then I’ll return in three days time okay? Just take care of her”
Klara frowned. “You don’t have to tell me” she said” I’ve been doing that since you injured her”. Thounder ignored her last remarks and hailed a taxi to take him to the hotel to pick his luggage for his trip back to Maffia Island.
While Thounder was airborne aboard a Bravo Airways Flight to Mogadishou, Imara was wheeled into her room four hours later. The surgery as promise by Dr. Mandy was a huge success. Though still partially sedated, Imara was still able to ask for Thounder.
“He left late this afternoon for Maffia Island” Klara replied.
“Ooooh”, Imara groaned” Thounder why now? You promise you’d wait for me to come back from the theatre”.
Klara immediately rush to her bedside. “No! don’t take it like that ,” she said “recall your discussion he has gone back to prepare the hotel for your return’.
Imara was silent for a while, “But he should have waited for me,” she said.
Klara was at a loss over what to say next and fortunately for her Imara still covered in bandage drifted off to a peaceful and exhausted sleep.
As the Fokker 27 carrying Thounder and other passengers’ prepared to land on the Islands air port, Imara was already awake and looking forward to having the bandages removed. Then the phone rang. It was Thounder calling from Maffia Island.
“Thounder you promised to wait for me”, Imara queried after they had exchange greetings” “No! sweet heart, remember our discussion?” Thounder Said. “I came back to prepare the hotel for your return….”
Imara laughed heartily into the phone, “I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “The surgery was a complete success, my recovery rate is fantastic according to the doctors..”
“So when’re you leaving the hospital?” Thounder asked anxiously. “Not just the hospital, in fact I shall be coming down to bring you home myself”
“Really?” Imara asked. “That will be very romantic- it will be like us returning from a holiday overseas”.
Shortly after Thounder hung-up, Imara was still ecstatic and talking with excitement. Klara was amazed at the transformation that had come over her mistress. But at least thank God next week we’ll be out of this funny looking hospital, she said within her.
But around the world a lot of other activities were taking place, while man planned the forces of nature were about to unleash havoc on humanity
Back in Maffia Island at the close of business, Thounder had closed for the day and gone to his room as usual. He still harboured hopes of finding Fefah and making him pay for trying to sow seeds of discord between him and his sweet wife. “When I get him I’ll inflict severe pains on him, “he vowed as sleep took him.
But in far away Indozia, while Thounder slept an underwater volcanic eruption had just occurred. . The eruption also triggered tidal waves which came on shore consuming villages and towns, taking everything in its wake. The devastating waves which were known as tsunami, consumed Plouket a tourist resort in Tungaland touched other Asian countries and also washed away islands, towns and villages near Zomaliland and Kenyarh. Maffia Island situated off the Zomaliland coast was not spared as the tsunami consumed the entire Island, the Abude hotel and Towers was not spared either as the tsunami swept it away. With the outbreak of the tsunami, reactions from other parts of the world was spontaneous. As the news filtered in that Maffia Island near Zomaliland had been swept away. Calls were being made by loved ones amongst whom was Thounder’s mother and Jemima who had married her pilot fiancé and had relocated to Dubai
Thounder’s mother continued calling from time to time while praying to God to spare her son from this enormous disaster “please God let my children not be part of this disaster” she said flipping from one satellite channel to the other to get the latest news on the tsunami. She picked up her phone and dialed Thounder’s mobile number but it said switched off and the land line rang but no response-then the tears began to roll down her cheeks “Thounder please pick now” she prayed silently.
At the Mandela specialist hospital, Imara’s face had been unbandaged and she was in her hospital room with Klara who fidgeted with the Television remote control, Suddenly BREAKING NEWS flashed across the screen and was followed with news of the devastating tsunami that has ravaged Asia and parts of Africa.
“Hey Klara leave it on that channel” Imara ordered. “What is this about tidal waves or tsunami?”
Klara merely looked at her, she too as blank as her mistress. Listening to a more detailed version they were both shocked to hear that Maffia Island has been swept away by the tsunami.
“My God no-o-o-o”, Imara screamed. “Please bring my phone and let’s call Thounder to be sure he’s alright” Klara was shocked and dumb founded.
Imara stood up from her bed immediately, “Thounder, Thounder,” she said shivering, “you were supposed to wait for me…”
“Calm down, I’m sure he’s alright,” Klara tried to console her.
But it was not possible, “Thounder you promised to come and take me home-Klara please go and check may be the nurses are not allowing him to come in” she said pushing Klara.
“He has not come yet”, Klara said confused” remember he went tp prepare the hotel for your return from hospital”.
“No-o-o, it’s not true please go and find out “ Imara cried pulling her friend Klara. “Oh Thounder we were suppose to start our family – where are you?” Imara’s screaming brought in the doctor and nurses who were already abreast with news of the tsunami and its devastating effect on Maffia Island.
“Madam calm down”, one of the nurses said. “Is it possible to calm down when the waves have consumed my husband”, Imara replied, “We’re about starting a family together –I must be there with him…..”
When the nurses saw that, Imara could not be calmed, at Dr. Mandy’s orders they sedated her to calm her down.
For the past weeks, after her discharge from the hospital, Imara had been shut off from the rest of the world, thinking only of Thounder who was no longer with her- a victim of the tsunami. But gradually now, seeing the tears pouring down Klara’s imploring face, the words began to penetrate the barrier that had detached her for so long, and a strange sensation seemed to travel from Klara’s strong hold across to her own body. Slowly Imara began to hear the singing of the birds and the mute colours of the grasses and flowers around them.
“So where do we go from here? Klara asked watching her friend and mistress keenly, who still wept silently for her lost lover. I hope that criminal and rapist was swept away too, Klara prayed silently.
“Home”, she replied. “Home my friend” As they left the hospital lobby” .