EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

(MY GIFT OF JOY)

The Destiny of a Promised Child

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

All rights reserved. This book is protected by the

copyright laws of the country. No part of this publication
may be republished, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying or recording
without a written permission from the publisher.
©New Birth Novels
November, 2023

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, my greatest appreciation goes to THE
ALMIGHTY GOD, MY LORD and MY GOD, the one who has
deemed it fit to count me worthy to be a vessel in HIS holy
hands and to fulfill purpose. May HIS name alone be exalted
forever more.

I appreciate my parents, Late ELDER P.N. BALOGUN & my

dear mother, MRS R.O. BALOGUN for bringing me into this
beautiful world and for their unrelenting efforts over my life. I
appreciate my dear mother for her endless prayers and words of
advice. May the Lord spare you ma and may you eat the fruits of
your labour.

I appreciate my dear husband, KEHINDE TENIOLA for his

constant support and encouragement at all times. Ministry
wouldn‟t have been this easy and my writing career wouldn‟t
have been this interesting without you. Typing wouldn‟t have
been this easy likewise. Thank you for being there for me all the
time… And my darling children, thanks for understanding me
too. Most times, I keep on writing and typing for hours that I
couldn‟t spend time with you the way you want me to. Thank
you for supporting this ministry in your own little way. I
appreciate you.
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

I want to appreciate my siblings, Olamide, Kayode, Ajibola and

Abisoye BALOGUN for their kind words of advice and support
at all times. God bless you all real good. You are the best family
I can ever have.

I appreciate all the darling sisters of VIRTUOUS WOMEN,

JUST SINGLE SISTERS and ESTEEM LADIES
FOUNDATION. Thank you all for believing in me and
supporting me. Life with you has been so wonderful. God bless
you and all that is yours.

And finally, to all my wonderful readers, thank you so much for

reading my works. Thank you for the motivation all the way. If
you wouldn‟t read, my writing would have been in vain. Thank
you so much. May God bless you and yours. Amen.

I love you all.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

DEDICATION
To the Almighty God, my source of inspiration

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

This novel is purely a work of fiction, inspired by the

Holy Spirit. Names of people, places and events are all
from the author's imagination. Any resemblance with
places or with persons, either living or dead is just a
mere coincidence .God bless you as you read.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

1
The harmattan wind whistled harshly across the street... Some of
the small chickens around the neighborhood scampered to safety
as the wind swept some debris around. It was around that time in
December when the harmattan was at its peak. It was few days
to Christmas... Preparation for the festive period was in top gear,
most especially for those who would be traveling to their
villages or hometowns to see their parents and families.

It was a Saturday morning... Adetayo rolled on her bed, reluctant

about getting out of it. She had been stressed the whole week, so
she wanted to sleep till around 9:00am that morning but
unfortunately for her, her regular alarm which she had set for
6:00am rudely roused her sleep, kicking out her plan to extend
her rest for the day...

"What the heck! Who set this alarm?" She murmured angrily at
herself as her hands groped tiredly to reach the phone where she
had kept it, with her eyes half-closed.

She switched off the alarm or so she thought... In about ten

minutes, the alarm came up again, just as she was about to be
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

transported into another episode of a sweet sleep. She reached

for her phone and with her eyes wide open this time around, she
switched off her alarm and even decided to switch off her phone.

Just before she pressed the shut down button, an SMS came in
through her phone. It was a credit alert, so she didn't waste time
to open the message, hoping that it was her monthly salary... Her
boss had promised to pay all his staff before Christmas, and he
even boasted of adding a Christmas bonus, which was quite
unusual of him... Many of his workers had doubted him because
he was the type that doesn't play around with money...

Their boss had money but he was so prudent that he nearly

started measuring the cup of water each member of his staff
would access before going home each day; always complaining
that he worked so hard to build his company and he would never
allow the wasteful spenders among his employees to ruin the
company, which he had toiled to build over the years...

Adetayo has been working with her boss for close to six years
and she could swear that he was only 'making mouth' about the
promise of early salary with an added bonus, though deep within
her, she would give him the benefit of doubt.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"You want to believe Oga (Boss) just like that? Someone that
even to spend money on himself is a big problem, talk more of
spending extra money on others... Just believe him at your own
risk o!" Ejiro, her friend had laughed over the matter at work the
day Mr Roland, their boss made the announcement in passing.

Both Ejiro and Adetayo have been friends and colleagues in that
workplace over the years. Ejiro got employed there, just two
months before Adetayo was recruited, so they have both worked
with their boss for quite a while and they could predict both his
actions and inactions...

Adetayo stared at the screen of her phone, really amazed at what

she was seeing... A credit alert of Fifty thousand Naira from
someone she wasn't sure she had met before...

"Who could this be?" She wondered as she stared at the name of
the sender which read, "Abraham Lawal."

After roaming through her thoughts for a while and she couldn't
find answers to the questions she asked herself, she slumbered
and fell asleep again...

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

When she was later fully awake in the morning, she placed a call
through to her colleague and friend, Ejiro to make some enquiry,
in case their boss was doing one "give away" package she was
probably not aware of. She was an orphan and she had no
extended family looking out for her... As at that time, she wasn't
into any serious relationship and so, she couldn't think of anyone
around her who could send her money aside her boss.

"Ejiro, good morning..." Adetayo greeted as her friend picked

the call.

Ejiro on the other hand wasn't fully awake... She had watched
her favourite Indian movie till midnight, the previous night, so
she hadn't gotten much hours of sleep.

"Gu-morni..." She replied her friend amidst her half-sleep state.

"You are still sleeping at this time! Babe, this is 9:15am ooo!"

"Hmmmm-mmm?" Ejiro grumbled tiredly.

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"Ejiro, did oga send any Christmas bonus to you? I got a credit
alert on my phone early this morning and I wondered who sent it
because the name wasn't familiar, so I said I should check with
someone else, in case he decided to surprise everyone with it."

At the mention of credit alert, Ejiro was fully awake! She

quickly sat up on her bed as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Bonus? How much did they send?"

"I don't know if it's from him but the money sent was 50k."

"What? 50k abi 5k?" Ejiro asked.

"50k! I mean, Fifty thousand Naira." Adetayo reiterated.

"Tayo, you are funny... How would you ever think that Mr
Roland would send such amount of money? I mean such a huge
amount as bonus... It can never be! I can swear with my life!"

"Well, it can happen. Strange things happen in this life every

day." Adetayo chuckled.
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"Abeg, not with someone like Mr Roland... Look elsewhere for

the sender... I didn't get the message here and I don't even need
to check because I'm sure it couldn't be Mr Roland... I need to
sleep... Talk to you later!"

"Sleep??? At past 9:00am?" Adetayo was saying but Ejiro

already ended the call.

Adetayo smiled at her friend's indolent state at the moment...

Well, it was weekend. One should get enough rest as much as
possible. She kept wondering where the money could have come
from... But whoever or wherever the source of that money came
from, it came right on time because she wanted to pay her house
rent. It's been due since a month ago and she had forwarded half
of the payment to the agent in charge of the house while she
promised to balance up before the end of that year. She didn't
want any issue between her and her house agent.

Later that day, she got a call from her boss... At first, she was
reluctant to pick the call... She wondered why her boss would
call her during the weekend. It was quite unusual. She surmised
that he probably wanted to call someone else but he mistakenly
dialed her own number... But when the call came in again, she
became sure that she was the one her boss wanted to talk to.
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"Hello sir!" She said immediately she picked the call.

"Yes... Adetayo, the 50k sent to your account is your Christmas

bonus... I just remembered that the normal staff payment
channel wasn't used, so you might be wondering where the
money came from. That account is for one of the senior staff in
my subsidiary company. I asked him to forward the bonus to
those of you who really deserve it as a result of your diligence in
the company over the years. So, expect your normal salary in a
few days from now... Enjoy your day."

"Ha! Thank you sir! Thank you! I'm grateful sir!" Adetayo was
saying before she realised that her boss already ended the call.

Adetayo was over the moon! "I told Ejiro! I said it!... But why
didn't he give Ejiro? Didn't she qualify for it?" She wondered.

The rest of the day was good for Adetayo... She was motivated
once again. Indeed, diligence pays...

Naturally, she is a woman with a cheerful spirit and so, the gift
she got from her boss that day made her extraordinarily cheerful.
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She switched on her small DVD player and slotted in one of the
video CDs of her favourite musician, "Beautiful Nubia." His
songs usually lifted her spirit, especially whenever she was
down because of loneliness or whenever she was passing
through a challenge.

She hummed to the lyrics of the track being played as she did
her weekend chores,

"Arakunrin te'ramo, te'ramo,

Te'ramo, ibere kii se onise,
Ololufe te'jumo, te'jumo,
Te'pa mo'se, ola n bo wa da!"

(My brother, keep doing it, keep working hard, successful

people are not just starters; success is always at the end...
Dearly beloved, be focused, be diligent, your tomorrow will be
beautiful!)

Indeed, diligence has brought Adetayo a long way... She has

been through so many terrible periods in her life... At age 28,

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she had passed through serious challenges over the years... She
has fought many battles...

One could say she was literally born in the midst of battles and
she had been fighting all her life before her mother finally
passed away. Her life story; especially that of her mother was
something she would never wish for her enemy... Her mother
practically went through hell!

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2
Adetayo was born into a polygamous family. Her mother, Iyiola
was the third wife and the favourite of her father. Her father
married four wives... Adetayo was the only child her mother
birthed for her father. Her mother had been fighting serious
battles with her co-wives before Adetayo finally came into the
world amidst mysterious events.

Iyiola had been barren for several years before she finally got
pregnant when she clocked 51! Everyone in their neighbourhood
thought she was struck with a strange illness when her belly
started protruding. No one knew she could still become a mother.
Even her husband found it hard to believe it!

The pregnancy journey of Iyiola was tough! She went through

many periods of sicknesses and she suffered many spiritual
attacks. She was told by her Pastor that the battles were from her
family; her co-wives didn't want her to have a child of her own.

Adetayo was in her mother's womb for three good years! Years
of pains, tears, sorrow and anguish... Iyiola almost wished
herself death many times... At last, after many series of prayers
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on the mountain, the baby was finally born. Iyiola was aged 54
already when the baby came... The baby was named Ayomikun
by her mother, meaning "My Joy is full." Her father was the one
that named her Adetayo and that was the name many people
called her.

After her birth, so many battles arose again...

A polygamous home indeed is a battle field! The fight to be their
husband's favourite and to gain favour has always been the
struggle of the women involved.

After Adetayo was born, she became her father's favourite child;
probably because her mother was his favourite wife and so, the
love was transferred to her automatically; coupled with the fact
that she was the child of her father's old age.

When she was a baby, Adetayo was an ailing child... Her mother
could count the number of times she slept in a week. Adetayo
would cry endlessly all night and she even convulsed at times.
Because she was the baby her mother had waited for all her life,
she spent all she had to take care of her. Iyiola couldn't afford to
lose her only child. She wouldn't survive it...

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There was a particular night Iyiola thought Adetayo would die.

The baby was so hot that one couldn't hold her for too long
without dropping her. After much crying and prayers, Adetayo's
temperature later came down and she slept in the early hours of
the morning.

That same morning, Iyiola went to knock on the door of the

bedrooms of the other wives after their husband had gone out...
She started pleading in tears. She was totally frustrated and
exhausted...

"E saanu mi! E je k'e mi naa s'abiyamo! (Have mercy on me, let
me be a mother too!) What is my offence that you have made
this home a living hell for me? I have never given any of you
troubles but you have made my life full of troubles. Let my baby
live! You all have children of your own. Please, let my baby
live!" She kept on wailing.

"Hehehehe! E gba mi! Taa n ni ko ma s'abiyamo? (Somebody

help me o! Who says you shouldn't be a mother too?)" The most
senior wife clapped her hands and laughed.

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"Who is saying your child should not live? Wo, o je gbe abiku
omo to bi, ko gbe lo odo awon alabe ki won ko'la fun. Elegbe
omo ni! (See, you better carry your ailing child to those who
will put facial marks on her face, so she can live... The xhild is
from the occultic world, she doesn't want to stay with you.)" The
second wife put in.

"Omo mi o kii see abiku! (My child is not cursed to die!) You
people are the ones troubling me. E saanu mi (have mercy on me)
Let me also enjoy the joys of motherhood." Iyiola pleaded
continuously.

"Hehehehe! Wahala re ooo! Sebi mo bi t'emi! (This is problem o!

But I have a child of my own)... Why would I say someone else
should not have her own children? I don't have any hand in this...
Owo mi re o, funfun ni! (My hands are totally pure!)" The
youngest wife replied.

"You don't know what is wrong with you, Iyiola! You better
carry your sick child and go and find solutions to your personal
trouble. Stop disturbing innocent people here... Or can't you see
that you are cursed? You birthed a child at a time you should be
having grand children, yet the child is not even a normal human

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being. You have terrible personal battles!" The most senior wife
spatted angrily.

"I reject it! My child is a normal human being. Olorun mi a jo

gbogbo yin loju! (My God will surprise all of you!)..." Iyiola
replied amidst tears.

She was depressed that morning; tired from several sleepless

nights she's been having because of Adetayo...

Well, in the midst of all the chaos, Adetayo grew and God
preserved her. The battles never ceased and Iyiola never stopped
praying.

One major regret Iyiola had in her life was that she had married
into a polygamous home. If she had known how hot the battle
would be, she wouldn't have allowed her parents to talk her into
it. Now, she was facing the consequences and her parents were
no more alive to support her. Her marriage automatically turned
her to a prayer warrior she never planned becoming.

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Adetayo was a gifted child... She had the gift of seeing into the
future. The first day her mother detected this gift in her was
when she was just seven years old. She was playing on her
mother's bed that day in her mother's bedroom while her mother
was arranging some of their clothes into their wooden wardrobe.

"Maami (my mother)," Adetayo called out to her mum.

"Omo mi (my child)." Iyiola replied spontaneously.

"Mama eleko (the pap seller) will soon die." Adetayo replied.

"Ha! Adetayo! Ma ko ba mi o! (Don't implicate me!) What kind

of evil talk is this? Please, don't ever say this kind of thing again.
It's not good to say someone will die." Her mother quickly
corrected her, covering Adetayo's mouth with her hand.

"Maami, it is what I saw."

"Shut up! What did you see? Who is showing you evil? O ya, lie
down there and sleep!" Her mum ordered.
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"This child wants to put me into trouble... After all the ceaseless
battles around me, she still wants to add to it." Iyiola hissed.

Two days later, Mama eleko died as Adetayo had earlier

pronounced. Iyiola was terrified when she heard the news.

"What kind of a child did God give me again? Hope this girl is
not in one spiritual group truly like this? Mo daran! (I'm in
trouble!)" Iyiola said to herself as she threw her hands on her
head in her room.

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3
Iyiola went to her pastor to explain what happened and how
Mama eleko died, true to Adetayo's words.

"Mama Tayo, your child is not an ordinary child. Akanda omo

ni (She's a special being). Don't ever think she's saying nonsense
whenever she's talking. Always listen to her... She's born with
special gifts and she is going to become a glorious child. Why
do you think they didn't want to allow her to come to the world
in the first place? They have seen the future of the child, right
from when she was in the womb, so they wanted to prevent her
birth but God won the battle. The battle is not over until you
have the total victory..." Pastor explained to her.

"Hmmmm... Agboye sir (well understood sir.)" Iyiola replied.

********

One day, when Adetayo was around twelve years old, she was
suddenly struck with paralysis. She had gone to play on a nearby
field with some of her friends that Saturday afternoon. While
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they were going back home, Adetayo suddenly screamed, fell

down and that was it... She couldn't stand up again. Her friends
were alarmed. They raced swiftly to Adetayo's mum to alert her
about the incident.

Iyiola was terribly devastated. She didn't know who to call upon
as her husband had travelled for a function in a nearby town...
She begged Adetayo's friends to help her carry her because she
was already getting old and she didn't have the strength to carry
her daughter...

Luckily for her, a young man passed by at the time Adetayo's

friends were struggling to lift her up. Iyiola quickly beckoned to
him to help her carry Adetayo. The young man did and in no
time, they were at the church Iyiola attended with her daughter.

"Daddy, e gba mi oooo! E ma je ki n ya agan ale! (Daddy,

please save me ooo! Don't let me be a barren woman in my old
age!)" Iyiola screamed loudly to her Pastor as the young man
who had helped her laid Adetayo carefully on the church altar...
The pastor heard her voice where he was praying in the inner
chamber of his church office and he quickly came out.

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"Ha! Iwo omo yi tun ni! Omo ologo ni o... Satani deyin leyin re
loruko Jesu! (Ha! You this child again! You are a glorious child!
May the devil lose the battle over you in Jesus name!)" The
Pastor said immediately he sighted Adetayo.

"Ameeeeeeeeennn!" Iyiola replied.

After some sessions of prayers, the Pastor rubbed Adetayo's

body with some prayer oil and made her to drink some of it.

"Will you take her to the hospital?" The young man who
brought Adetayo suggested to Iyiola. He had waited behind a
little while as the pastor prayed for her.

"Ha! My brother, this is not a matter of hospital... Nothing is

wrong with my daughter. She woke up this morning, alert and
active. This is an attack. It's not ordinary. That was why I
brought her quickly to this place. Some people are after my life
and that of my daughter. I don't know why they just want to
wipe us off." Iyiola cried.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Ha! May God fight your battles for you o!" The young man
replied empathically as he took his leave.

Adetayo was in the church for over three weeks... She gradually
got better. After much effectual prayers, Adetayo was healed.
Iyiola decided in her heart to move out of her husband's house,
far away from the battles. She had lost her parents and being an
only child, she had no sibling... She just had to do all she could
to save her only child from destruction. That was all she ever
lived for.

Iyiola finally moved her things to a neighbouring town one

fateful day. She didn't tell any of her co-wives about her
relocation. She has been moving her things gradually, little by
little till she carried the last bag. She needed to save her head;
most especially that of her daughter from the constant battles
that surrounded her life.

Her husband was the only one that knew the house she moved to
but she had begged him not to come looking for her, at least for
the main time, so Adetayo's father sent them money for their
upkeep regularly...

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

When Adetayo finished from secondary school, she sat for the
University entrance examination and she was lucky to be
admitted into a prestigious university, about two years after her
graduation from high school. Her mother's joy knew no bounds...

A night to the day Adetayo would be traveling finally to school,

she had a strange dream. A woman she couldn't recognize came
to confront her in that dream...

"You?? I learnt you have been given admission into the

University... Oh! Let me see how you will succeed!" The
woman said to her as she let out a wicked laughter.

Adetayo was totally frightened. "I... I... I will succeed in Jesus

name." She managed to reply the woman.

"Shut up! You dare talk back at me? It's what I say about you
that must come to pass! You have no choice!"

"I have more than a choice... In fact, over thousands of choices!

Christ is my Redeemer! He dictates what happens in my life, not
you." Adetayo regained her confidence and fired back at her.
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Really? Then we shall see!" The woman said and vanished.

Adetayo woke up panting hard. She was sweating heavily, such

that her clothes were totally soaked.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

4
Adetayo related the dream to her mother and they both prayed
about it. They prayed seriously against every evil force that
wanted to prevent Adetayo from succeeding.

Just before Adetayo left home, her mother Iyiola sat her down to
talk to her.

"Adetayo, Ayomikun... You are the only child I have. I know

you are no longer a baby. You have seen many times that there
are enemies who are really after our lives... The dream you had
yesterday is just a perfect example... Hmmmm, my daughter, as
you are going to school, please don't joke with prayers in all that
you do.

This world we live in is a very wicked world. Not all those who
smile or laugh with you really loves you. Be careful of enemies
who pretend to be friends. You are not an ordinary child; you
are a child of greatness, so please do not forget this. Adetayo,
ma da ara de'niyan o! (Do not trust anyone!) Be careful of
serpents out there. Those who use their tongues to destroy one in
the presence of one's helpers... You are the type of child that
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attracts friends and people; know how to recognize the genuine

ones and the fake ones through prayers. I pray my God will be
with you and protect you all the time."

"Amen!" Adetayo replied as her aged mother rounded off her

speech.

At school, things were going on smoothly for Adetayo. Her

father was an averagely rich man, so she never lacked material
things. Her aged father ensured he sent her money from time to
time.

She joined the church her spirit was in agreement with. She
would have joined a campus fellowship within the school as she
had earlier purposed in her heart but somehow, her spirit didn't
cleave to the place the first time she worshipped there. So, after
praying for a while, she was led to a church not too far from her
hostel off campus.

The church was happy to receive her and she placed

membership there. The pastor and his wife were nice to her.
Many of the workers were friendly...

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

The first examination she was to write after she gained

admission into the university nearly turned to a nightmare for
her. She fell terribly sick; the kind of sickness she had not
experienced in a very long time. It was a really strong headache;
like migraine... On the day of the first paper, she was rushed to
the medical centre in the school when she could no longer cope
at the examination hall. After the doctor had attended to her and
had given her some treatments, she got stabilized... She
managed to write the remaining part of her examination that day
on the hospital bed.

Later that same evening, she remembered the dream she had
before coming to school. It suddenly dawned on her that the
migraine was an attack to prevent her from writing her
examination.

She started to pray... She called her mother and asked her to
keep her in prayers. She didn't give her the details because she
didn't want her mother to be disturbed... The Lord took control
and she wrote the rest of her examination in good health.

Swiftly, the first semester holiday was over and Adetayo was
back to school for the second semester.

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*****
Two years later, precisely when Adetayo was in 300 level, she
was ordained as one of the altar Ministers in the church she was
attending at school and God was using her mightily... That was
the time another battle arose against her in the church.

She got to church very early one Sunday morning and as usual,
she started praying... That has been her usual manner. She would
pray till other people would join her. While she was praying at
the altar area, she heard someone's footsteps close to her. The
person walked past her and let out a long hiss...

Adetayo had to open her eyes to see who itwas and why the
person had to hiss so loudly, knowing fully well that prayer was
going on. She was shocked to see her pastor's wife... She
wondered who or what could have made her so upset early in the
morning. She continued her prayers and later rounded it up
when other workers started coming in.

At the short workers meeting the Pastor usually held with all the
workers before the service would start, Adetayo was asked to
anchor the special prayers segment during the service.
Immediately the pastor made the announcement, the pastor's
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

wife eyed her maliciously and Adetayo for reasons she couldn't
point at coincidentally looked at the pastor's wife at that time.
Their eyes met and all Adetayo could see was a deep seated
hatred.

Adetayo was destabilized... She wondered what she had done

wrong to her Pastor Mrs... The first was the loud hiss in the
morning and then the malicious stare... Adetayo was confused.
She searched her mind for possible answers to the reason her
pastor's wife had to behave that way but she couldn't find any.

One thing she knew though was that her pastor had always
asked her to anchor the prayer segments, either during Sunday
service or night vigils... This was because Adetayo was gifted in
seeing visions. Each time she started leading the prayers, she
would begin to release words of knowledge and those who are
involved in such cases usually testified about how God
miraculously attended to their cases after the prayer sessions...

It got to a point that Adetayo started feeling so uncomfortable

with the way people started mentioning her name during the
testimony time...

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"When sister Tayo released this word of knowledge, it was

meant for me and I prayed the prayers fervently. Today, the
Lord has done it..."

"I was trusting God for help in my business and my case was the
first that Sister Tayo mentioned immediately she began her
prayer session..."

These and many other testimonies have been coming up and

Adetayo would only tell those involved to give glory to God
alone, each time they come to thank her for the special prayers
that liberated them.

Adetayo sighed where she sat that Sunday morning. She knew
she had to do something, otherwise the church might become so
hot for her. She led the special prayer session that Sunday
morning and as usual, it was powerful.

After the service that day, one of the pastor's children who was
almost the same age with Adetayo pulled her aside and took her
outside the auditorium.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Sister Tayo, iwe l'ewa ka nilu yi ni, abi e wa jagun? (Sister

Tayo, have you come to this city to school or you have come to
fight battles?)" The lady called Remilekun asked her.

"What??! Sister Remi, ogun bi ti bawo (Battle as how?)"

Adetayo replied in shock.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

5
Adetayo was surprised at the question Remilekun asked her. Her
mind quickly went to the events that played out earlier that day;
the way the Pastor Mrs had hissed at her and had also reacted
when the Pastor asked her to take the prayer session.

"Sister Remi, why did you ask this question? Of course, I came
to this land to school, to serve God and not to fight battles."

"Oh... Good! If truly you haven't come here to fight battles, you
better hide yourself."

Adetayo looked confused...

"Hide myself? How? I mean, what do you mean by that? You

are talking in parables, Sister Remi, please make yourself
clearer."

"Hmmmm... Okay... Sister Tayo, there is fire on the mountain.

Some set of people in this church are seriously conspiring
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

against you. It's not what we can discuss here. Maybe I'll come
to your house later this evening to tell you more about it, if you
don't mind." Remilekun replied, looking around her as she spoke
in order to be sure that no one was listening.

"Ha! Sister Remi, you are really getting me scared. Conspiracy?

Against me? In this church? But I don't pull trouble with anyone.
I'm at peace with everyone. I go on my own, I don't look for
troubles."

"Sister Tayo, you are at peace with everyone but not everyone is
at peace with you. I'll come to your place, later today. The walls
have ears."

"Okay then. What time should I be expecting you?"

"Let's say around 5:30pm... I should have gotten through with

whatever I would be doing at home by then... My Dad will be
hosting some of his Pastor friends by 2pm or thereabouts, this
afternoon, so I will be assisting my mum with the cooking and
other cleaning up tasks... But I believe I should be done around
5 to 5:30pm."

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Okay sis... I will be expecting you."

The clock ticked by slowly as Adetayo glanced at it severally to

check the time. She was so eager to hear whatever Remilekun
had to tell her. Around 3:30pm, she slept off on her bed after
having her lunch.

*****

At the Pastor's house

Remilekun and her younger sister, Sikemi were cleaning up the
dishes, pots and other utensils used in cooking for their guests
when Sikemi started a conversation about Adetayo. Their Mum
was with their Dad and their guests in the living room.

"That Tayo girl, I tell you, mummy would not go back on her
words. She will show her pepper!"

"And why do you think she deserves some kind of pepper?"

Remilekun asked.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Because she's proud!"

"Sikemi, how? Because since the day mum has been ranting in
this house about Tayo, I'm yet to see where this girl is at fault
for crying out loud!"

"Wait, are you supporting a stranger? You are against your own
mother because of a stranger?" Sikemi asked with her eyes
opened wide.

"Rara o! (Not at all). I only asked a question... How's Adetayo at

fault in all of these? That is my question! Why is mummy
planning to fight her when it is clear that Dad is the cause of this
whole matter?"

"Okay... Let's assume Dad is the cause, but even this sister too,
she lacks common sense."

"How? Please, make me see how because I'm not getting you
yet."

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Okay... Let's assume Daddy is asking her to take up a particular

role all the time at church, can't she also decline? Even if it is
just once in a while! But No! She keeps showing off her gifts...
Is she the only one gifted in the area of prayers?"

"Hmmmm... That's true" Remilekun concurred, trying to make

Sikemi feel free to pour out her mind so that she could download
as much information as she can to feed Adetayo later in the
evening.

"Yes nah..." Sikemi continued... "Aimo'se ko orogun lo mu ko ki

ori bo omi n gbona (the turning stick had to dip its head into a
boiling water because it doesn't know how to refuse errands.)"

"Hmmmm... Wise words... So, Tayo was supposed to be

declining the tasks she is being given once in a while, right? But
wait, what excuse would she give for refusing the responsibility?
Won't that lead into something else again? That is disobedience.
She never clamoured for those responsibilities, it was Daddy
that voluntarily gave her the task each time it happened."
Remilekun replied.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

Sikemi was about to respond to her when their mother entered

the kitchen, so she kept mute.

Remilekun quickly got through her chores and she changed into
another attire. She lied to her mum that she would like to see one
of her friends down their street. She mentioned the name of the
girl to her mum. She dared not tell her mother that she was
going to visit her mother's arch enemy, Adetayo.

Remilekun got to Adetayo's place... Adetayo was already eager

to receive her... After Remilekun had settled, she went straight
to the business that brought her.

"Sister Tayo, I'm really doing this because of the love I have for
you. Whatever information I give to you today, I want you to
know that it is hundred percent genuine and I want you to treat it
with utmost importance." Remilekun began.

"Of course, I will. Thank you so much for taking this upon
yourself, Sister Remi. I don't know what I did for you to deserve
this kindness." Adetayo replied.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Like I said earlier on, it's because of the love I have for you.
That was why I chose to be my sister's keeper..." Remilekun
sighed and continued, "Sister Tayo, before you joined our
church three years ago, my mother has always been the one
leading special prayer sessions at church. I know you are aware
of this because you have seen her anchored that segment
countless times."

"Sure... I am very much aware." Adetayo concurred.

"Good! Now, since my Dad made you an altar Minister and you
have been the one leading this prayer sessions, it has been a
serious war in our home between our father and mother; I mean
between the Pastor and Pastor Mrs."

"Ha! Why?"

"My mother felt Dad stylishly used you to replace her because
he felt she wasn't doing well."

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Jesus Christ!" Adetayo exclaimed, throwing her hands on her

head. She recollected the Pastor Mrs' reaction towards her
earlier that day.

"My mother has been releasing many serious threats against you.
She threatened she would teach you a lesson because you have
come to outshine her... These things I'm telling you, many of the
church members are aware already and there are two factions as
we speak. One party sees my mother as a trouble maker; they
are supporting you, while the other party who are the majority
took sides with my mum... Some even told my mum that if she's
not careful, you might totally take her place one day, even in her
husband's heart... I overheard one of the women telling her this."

"Haaaaaaaaaaa! Jesus!!!" Adetayo screamed again. She bit her

lower lips and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration."
"Sister Remilekun, what should I do? What would you advise
me to do? Should I just go and see mummy and explain to her
that her assumptions are wrong?" Adetayo replied.

Remilekun sighed deeply... She stared at the floor of Adetayo's

room for a while before she finally replied,

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"I wouldn't advise you to see her because no matter what you
say, she wouldn't believe you and besides, if she asked you how
you got to access this information, what would you tell her?"

"Hmmmmm... So, how do I handle this? I don't know what to

do."

Remilekun sighed again... "Sister Tayo, I will advise you from a

sincere heart that wants you to be safe. Please, do not see it as a
selfish advice; it's in your interest... I think you should simply
find another church... Don't go and use your head to carry battles
you are not meant to carry... You are still too young for this...
You see those women in that church that are supporting my
mother, they are principalities oh! Don't let them waste you...
That was why I asked you that question in the afternoon that
"have you come to school in this land or you have come to fight
battles?"

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6
After the meeting Adetayo had with Remilekun, she was totally
disturbed... She remembered the words her mother told her when
she was about leaving home for school... The words replayed on
her mind for a very long time...

"This world we live in is a very wicked world. Not all those who
smile or laugh with you really loves you. Be careful of enemies
who pretend to be friends. You are not an ordinary child; you
are a child of greatness, so please do not forget this. Adetayo,
(ma da ara de'niyan o! (Do not trust anyone!) Be careful of
serpents out there. Those who use their tongues to destroy one in
the presence of one's helpers... You are the type of child that
attracts friends and people; know how to recognize the genuine
ones and the fake ones through prayers."

Adetayo sighed for the umpteenth time... She ruminated over the
issue in her heart severally. She prayed to God for guidance
about the matter. After much thought, she decided to change her
church, according to Remilekun's advice. She finally made up
her mind to do this after she had called her mother and intimated
her about the matter.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Ha! My daughter, run! You are still too young for such battles.
Leave that church for them. Let the pastor's wife take back her
position. Look for another church, please... I have fought serious
battles all my life, Adetayo. I don't want you to enter the same
shoes, please." Her mother pleaded and Adetayo agreed.

During the period Adetayo was praying over her decision to

leave the church, she had a revelation one day that the pastor's
wife ran mad and was running around the streets half naked. She
woke up frightened about the dream. She knew what she saw
would eventually happen, and so she didn't delay further about
her decision to quit the church so that when the dream finally
comes to pass, her accusers wouldn't start pointing evil fingers at
her.

That was how she stopped attending the church. The Pastor
called her several times to ask her why she decided to quit
church and Adetayo told him that she simply followed divine
instruction.

Of a truth, it really happened... About a month after Adetayo left

that church, the Pastor Mrs was reported to have run mad
suddenly.

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Adetayo was thankful to God that she was able to take the right
step at the right time, otherwise, if she had engaged in a fight
with the Pastor Mrs in the process, some people would have
concluded that the madness was her orchestration.

*****
When Adetayo was in her final year, she lost her mother to the
cold hands of death after a brief illness. It was such a disastrous
news to her. The whole of her life came crumbling down. She
travelled home and wept over her mother's lifeless body.

"Maami, you have left me alone inside this wicked world that is
full of battles! And you know I'm still very young. You didn't
even wait to eat the fruits of your labours over me! Maami, se o
da bayi? (Is that good?)" Adetayo wept helplessly.

The departure of her mother tampered with her Christian faith.

She questioned God severally. She wondered why God didn't
allow her mother to live long enough to at least see her achieve
some great feats in life. Her mother had died at the age of 74...

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

After Iyiola was buried, Adetayo's life never remained the same
again. She stopped going to church. She stopped praying... She
kept her Bible far away from her. She was simply angry with
God because to her, God was partial.

"Why would God spare all the wicked wives that made my
mother go through hell in her husband's house but had to kill my
mother first?" She lamented... "The God my mother served all
her life has failed her... Why should I continue serving Him? My
mother's co-wives are still alive, celebrating their children's
graduation, marrying off their children and living healthy even
when two of them are already above eighty years old. But my
own 74 year old mother had to die first! Poor mother... You
fought battles all your life, yet they didn't even allow you to
behold the goodness of your only child in the land of the living
and God was watching them as they killed you! For him to
permit them, God actually killed you!" Adetayo cried bitterly in
her room.

Many of her friends tried their best to reinstate her after she had
backslidden but all their efforts were abortive.

"I won't serve a God who failed to preserve the life of my

mother!" She told herself all the time.
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Years down the line, Adetayo never returned to God. She

decided in her heart to live a good life but when it comes to
religion or church, she never wanted to hear anything about it
again. In the process, she lost her gift of seeing into the future.
Everything that connected her to God was destroyed. She
became empty...

Sundays for her were meant for doing the laundry, ironing her
clothes, resting well and getting ready for work on Monday.

Few years after her mother's death, her father also passed away,
meaning she practically became an orphan. It was already three
years after her graduation when her father passed, so she had to
hustle to survive on her own. She never went back to her father's
house. She had no business seeing her mother's co-wives. She
heard the family had shared her father's properties and someone
told her she had a share too but she wasn't interested. She ran for
her dear life.

Adetayo's mother, being an only child never had any sibling too,
except for aunts, uncles and cousins who never cared about her
existence. So, she was alone in the whole wide world.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

The bitterness of her mother's death never left Adetayo... She

allowed the scar to remain permanently in her heart...

*****
Ejiro got to work very early on Monday morning... While she
was sorting out some documents on her desk, Adetayo arrived
work too.

"Tayo baby! How you dey now? Weekend was so fresh for you
o! See the way you are glowing!" Ejiro complimented her.

Adetayo grinned happily. "See the person saying someone is

glowing. See how you are sparkling! This hairstyle of yours is
one in town!"

"Abeg Abeg! Which kind one in town be that? Stop flattering

me. Is it bone straight that I used? This weave-on that is so old!
If you are not careful, you can be dreaming of evil spirits
because it's been a long time I bought it."

"Hahahaha!" Adetayo laughed out loud. "All the same, it still

looks good of you... Enh-enh, that reminds me, did you get
51
EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

Oga's bonus too? The alert actually came from him. He called
me to confirm it."

"Really! It's a lie! Oga gave you 50k???" Ejiro asked curiously.

"Were you not given too?"

"No... I didn't receive any alert."

"That's serious... But I've always known you to be hard working

also. You are supposed to qualify for the End of the Year Bonus.
I didn't expect you not to get yours." Adetayo said with concern
in her voice.

"Never mind! It is well. The God I serve will not fail me. If I
don't get it this year, I will get it next year... And moreso,
everyone knows your own diligence to work is extraordinary...
If not for the job I was mandated to do this morning, I would not
have arrived work earlier than you. You come so early to work
every day that I wonder if you don't sleep till dawn at your
house." Ejiro said.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

Adetayo laughed...
"The God you serve? Please, leave God out of this matter.
Diligence is what rewards you, not God." Adetayo replied as she
settled at her desk.

"You and this your "stop serving God" philosophy. I pray you
have an encounter with God one of these days. Adetayo, you are
too beautiful to waste away. You are too intelligent not to know
Jesus."

Adetayo laughed... "Ejiro, just focus on your work. It's too early
for preaching."

If only Ejiro knew how fervently she once served God, she
wouldn't be preaching to her.

"Someone serving God didn't get Christmas bonus but I did. Tell
me why I need to keep serving a God who doesn't come through
for those who serve Him." Adetayo hissed under her breath as
she settled at her desk to get prepared for the day's task.

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7
At the annual end of the year party usually organized at the
company where Adetayo and Ejiro worked, Mr Roland, their
boss announced the new set of staff that have been promoted as
a result of their diligence at work over the years. Adetayo and
another guy called Rotimi made it to the list.

Adetayo was extremely joyful. The promotion also came with a

transfer as she would be assisting the branch manager at their
office which was in another state.

"Congratulations, Adetayo my friend. Awwww... I will so miss

you." Ejiro chimed.

"Thanks, Ejiro. I'll miss you more."

Adetayo and her other colleague who was promoted were to

resume to their new location n January, just after the new year
break.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

Adetayo joyfully relocated to her new place of assignment. She

got an increase in salary of course with an official car among
other benefits. She was so happy!

She met Olawale at her new location. She had gone to the mall
on a weekend to get some groceries for herself. Olawale saw her
when she was getting the items she needed from the shelf. He
was done getting what he wanted to get but because he wanted
to have a word with Adetayo, he waited a little more.

He loitered aimlessly around the mall, his eyes carefully

monitoring Adetayo. Immediately Adetayo got done, she took
the groceries she got to the payment point while Olawale
followed her closely.

"Please, let me take care of the bills." Olawale offered when he

saw Adetayo bringing out her credit card.

"Oh... Never mind. Thanks. I'll pay for the goods myself."
Adetayo replied, not wanting to appear like an opportunist.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"No, beautiful! Kindly do me the honour. I insist I'll pay."

Olawale said with a smile.

"Alright then. Thank you very much." Adetayo surrendered.

After making the payment, they both walked to the parking lot,
Olawale carrying all the groceries alone. Adetayo wanted to
assist him but he insisted that he wanted to help.

"What is this one looking for like this? Men with their wahala."
Adetayo murmured under her breath as they both walked to
where she had parked her car earlier.

She opened the door of the car and Olawale dumped the
groceries on the back seat.

"My name is Olawale... Please, let me be your friend. You

actually stole my heart away immediately I set my eyes on you."
Olawale said, looking straight into Adetayo's eyes. He offered
her a handshake.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"I'm Adetayo. I‟m pleased to meet you." Adetayo said as they

shook hands.

"Lovely name! Please, can I have your number? Please, don't

say no."

"Alright... No problem." Adetayo dictated her digits.

Olawale dialed the number instantly.

"Kindly save my number. My surname is Makinde, in case you

have other Olawales on your phone."

"Oh... No problem Mr. Olawale." Adetayo smiled.

Normally, she wasn't the type that gave guys her attention like
that... As at that time, she wasn't into any serious relationship.
Not that guys weren't coming but she was just too scared about
marriage. The way people go into marriage and later jump out of
it really scared her off. For some couples around her, they were
still together but their marriages were full of stories that touch
57
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the heart, so she didn't prioritize marriage at that time. If at all

she would be getting married, she wanted to take her time to
marry a good man, not just any man but Olawale seemed to have
arrested her heart since the first day they met. The friendship
between them grew rapidly. Olawale ensured he kept in touch
every blessed day.

Exactly five months after they met, Olawale proposed marriage

to her. Adetayo was happy. Olawale was a man after her heart, a
gentle man to the core. Unlike Adetayo, Olawale went to church,
though he wasn't really a fervent Christian but he believed in
God. He attended church every Sunday…

They started the relationship officially. Olawale was a business

man who dealt in electronics. He was really doing well in his
importation business. As at the time he met Adetayo, he already
built a house of his own and another set of flats which he rented
out. He was a financially comfortable guy. Adetayo was glad
that her dream came through. She had always wanted a cool
headed and caring guy like Olawale and above all, he has money.

Adetayo started attending church again because of Olawale. She

didn't want to lose him... Olawale had said they would be having
a church wedding and normally, church weddings take place at
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

the bride's church... She was scared that if Olawale ever got to
know about her attitude towards God, he might change his mind
about her, so she quickly placed membership at a big church
close to her house...

Though she wasn't regular at church, she showed up once in a

while but she ensured she introduced herself to the pastor so that
when the time comes for her to be married, it would be easy to
process her request.

They got married a year later... Some distant cousins Adetayo

could contact from her mother's side stood in as her parents.
Ejiro was her chief bridesmaid. Almost all her colleagues at
work were present there. Adetayo also invited some of her
friends and past colleagues at school but she didn't invite any of
her siblings from her father's family, neither did she inform any
of his mother's co-wives. She didn't want to have anything to do
with them and she wasn't ready to fight battles like her mother
did.

Adetayo was Olawale's world. He loved her like his soul...

Things were going on fine for them in their marriage. Their joy
was full when the Doctor confirmed that Adetayo was pregnant;
that was just two months after their wedding...
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

*****
At Adetayo's Father's house
The most senior wife of Adetayo's father was talking to her
daughter. They were having a conversation about Adetayo in the
mother's bedroom.

"Maami, you should have wasted that girl since. Why did you
allow her to live? Now, she seems to be the most successful
among all of us! Is this the way we will spare her till she
becomes the star over all of us?" Ajiun protested to her mother.

She was the eldest daughter in the family; about forty eight
years of age. The two elder siblings she had were males...

"Ajiun, te'tisile ko gbo mi (Ajiun, lend me your ears and listen

carefully)! Wasting her when she has not laboured at all is a
total waste of time and energy... Let her work hard, let her marry,
let her birth children but when it's time for her to enjoy, then I'll
cut short her life. That is what I do! Why waste someone when
she hasn't laboured at all?"

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Hmmm... Maami, e tun ri yen so ooo! (My mother, you are

right about that ooo!)" Ajiun replied.

"Wo (look)! I have carefully laid out the strategies I will use in
dealing with her. She's going to lose everything she ever worked
for in her life gradually. But before then, I want us to do
something about that child in her womb. I checked out the child
yesterday, he's going to be a glorious child!"

"Enh enh? Really? More glorious than her mother?"

"Ha! More glorious than any child that has ever being birthed in
the lineage of his father. The boy is going to be a global voice...
Sun mo mi (come closer)... Come and take a look at this star
yourself." Iya Ajiun invited her daughter.

She stood up slowly and faced the mirror attached to the wall on
her left while Ajiun did the same. She said some incantations
and an image showed up inside the mirror.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Ha!!! Ogo yi po ooo! Kilode? (This glory is much oh! Why?)

Why is it that Iyiola is always the lucky one? Her grandchild is
going to be the most glorious child in this family again?"

"It can never happen!" Iya Ajiun replied as the image

disappeared from the screen.

"Better, maami! It must not happen! That boy must not come to
this world."

"No... Let him come but we will twist his destiny and turn him
to a reproach to his parents instead. Preventing him from coming
to the world is still a waste of power to me... In no time, they
would forget their loss if a miscarriage occurs... Instead of
terminating him now, we will let him come but he will never
fulfil purpose. Instead, he will be a thorn in the flesh of his
parents, such that they will regret the day they birthed him into
this world."

"Hmmmm... Maami, you are always a step ahead of me in this

matter. I give it to you."

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Ajiun, I'm handing over this work to you... Nature can come
calling at anytime. Ensure you do not fail me even after I might
have gone."

"Hmmm... O ti ye mi, maami (I understand you, mother). You

will not even die now; you will live long enough to see your
great great grandchildren."

"By the power of those who own the lands, it shall be so...
Thank you, my daughter... So, that is what I called you for. This
work will be so easy for us... Unlike her mother, Iyiola, Tayo
has forsaken the God her mother served that saved her from our
hands, so the work will be very smooth and easy!"

"Hahahaha!" Ajiun let out a wicked laugh.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

8
Right within the estate where Adetayo and her husband lived, a
new family just moved into their house. The new house was just
two blocks away from them... Because the occupants of the
closest house to Olawale and his wife were not in the country,
the new occupant became their closest neighbour.

Olawale and his wife, Adetayo went to greet their new

neighbour one evening, just 2 days after the family arrived. The
woman who occupied the house with her three kids was very
glad to receive them.

"We are Mr and Mrs Makinde... We thought we should come

and say an official welcome to you as you join us in this estate."
Olawale introduced his family as soon as they settled in the
woman's living room.

"Awwww... That's so kind and thoughtful of you... I'm so

pleased to meet you. I'm honoured by your visitation. I am Mrs
Ikeoluwa Alfred and here are my kids, Rachel, Sharon and
Tommy Alfred... Their Dad stays abroad for now." The woman
replied.
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Wow! We are pleased to meet you... Your kids are so lovely."

Adetayo enthused.

"Thank you so much ma'am and you are so beautiful... Haven't

seen a beautiful pregnant woman in a long time." Mrs Alfred
smiled.

"Oh what a flattery!" Adetayo laughed out loud.

"I'm damn serious!" Mrs Alfred laughed. "What do I offer you

please?" She added.

"Oh please, do not bother... We just came to say hi... Some other
time, we can come to eat real food." Olawale replied.

"Oh no! You must take something." Mrs Alfred insisted.

She rose from her seat and went to get some tumblers with a
bottle of wine... After chatting for a while, Mr & Mrs Makinde
left.

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Mrs Alfred entered her bedroom after her kids had settled in the
sitting room, watching cartoon on the T.V. She picked her phone
and dialed her friend's number,
"Cynthia, you wouldn't believe who I met today!" She said
excitedly immediately her friend picked the call.

"Who did you meet?" Cynthia sat up where she was sitting in
her living room, ready for the gist her friend wanted to give to
her.

"Meeeeeeeenhhhh! I have never seen a man that handsome in

my life. I mean, the guy I'm talking about is drop dead gorgeous!
Ha! How I wish you are here to see what I'm talking about!"

"Really? Gist me, who is the person? How did you meet? Did he
ask you out?

"Easy... One question per time nah... Haha! Your body too dey
hot!"

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"Na wa for you oh! Na jeje I sidon, you bring gist com find me o!
(What now… I sat down on my own and you called me to give
me gist.)" Cynthia said.

"Hahahaha! Relax, you will hear everything." Mrs Alfred

laughed at her friend. "As I was saying, the man and his wife
stay nearby. They both should be in their 30s though the wife
looks much younger. They came to welcome me officially into
the estate."

"Oh! So, na another woman husband una dey craze for laidis??
(Oh! So, you are going crazy like this, just because of another
woman's husband?)"

"Enh enh now! No be another girl go dey craze for my husband

where e dey abroad there? (Isn't it another girl that would be
going crazy for my husband too where he is abroad also?)"

"Okay ooo! I have heard you. So, what do you want to do now?"

"My dear, this man enh, if I no chop am, make I know wetin
cause am! (If I don't get intimate with this man and make him
sleep with me, I definitely have no excuse!)"

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"Ha! Ike, the game you want to play is very risky! See, if you
want to do something, do it in a sensible way nah. Haba! Firstly,
you are 41, you said the guy should be in his 30s... Secondly,
they are your next door neighbours... Ike, I don't support this
kind of thing. If you want to get a man to roll with, please move
a bit away from your neighbourhood. Don't go and mess up
yourself. I'm not with you on this o!"

"My dear, forget that thing! If you play your game smartly,
nothing will go wrong. You need to come around to see this man
I'm talking about! Even you yourself, you will fall! I swear to
God!"

"Ha! Na wa for you o!" Well, as for me, I am not in support. So,
whatever happens, Ike you are on your own."

"Leave the game for your mama! What do you know?" Mrs
Alfred laughed as she ended the call.

"Chai! This guy too fine. Oh... I just imagine him holding me
already... Oh... Oh... This is heaven!" She fantasized.

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The sound of her phone ring tone momentarily brought her out
of her state of fantasy. She checked the caller, it was her
husband. She hissed before picking the call.

"Hello! I have been trying to reach you... How are you and how
are the kids too?"

"They are fine... Any problem?"

"Why? I can't call you to check on you?"

"No, I only asked because you call only once in a while..." Mrs
Alfred replied, ready to end the call at anytime.

She was no longer enthusiastic about her husband. They have

been separated for years, since the time her husband relocated
abroad. Year in, year out, he has been promising to move his
family to his location but he never took the step. Someone once
told Mrs Alfred that her husband had married a white woman in
his location but Mrs Alfred had no proof.

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Though, Mr Alfred has been sending money to his family

occasionally but money wasn't enough for his wife. She was
ready to look for a man that would replace her husband in her
life and as the time she was bent on this decision, Olawale had
walked into her nest.

After her husband had ended the call, she switched to her
fantasy state again... "Omoh! I'll do anything to have this guy!
I'll make sure I land him right in my bed!" She smiled
mischievously.

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9
As Adetayo's pregnancy progressed, she was no longer her
active self. She tried her best to adapt but it was beyond her.
When her boss noticed she was getting sick at intervals, he gave
her two weeks bed rest so she could take her time to rest. She
was already in the fifth month of her pregnancy at that time.

Olawale has always been a supportive husband. When she

noticed that the pregnancy was getting difficult for his wife, he
decided to get her a house help to run the errands around the
house for her. That was a big relief for Adetayo. She hastily
concurred with the idea. After their conversation that night, they
both went to bed.

******
In the midnight, Iya Ajiun summoned her cohort to an
emergency meeting. Ajiun, her first daughter was one of them
too.

"Thank you all for coming, even though the notice was short..."
She began. "For a while now, I've been monitoring what is
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going on in the family of Adetayo... I have told you all about my

finding concerning the foetus in her womb."

"Yes, Iya!" Others replied.

"Now, since then, I've been looking for a way to penetrate into
her family. Just yesterday evening, I used my monitoring mirror
to see what is going on in her house and that was when I
discovered that the husband has promised to get a house help for
her. The opportunity we need has presented itself. We have to
act fast!"

"Iya, once you are ready, we are ready. Who do we send on this
errand?" One of them replied.

Iya Ajiun replied, "O kare lai! (Welldone). We need to send one
of us and it must be someone that is not really occupied with
what she's doing at the moment… Someone who can spare at
most, three months to accomplish the task. What the person is
going there to do is not just to change the destiny of the foetus,
she will do many other things in order to prepare the events that
will come up after her departure. I'll explain in details to
whoever we are choosing to go for this assignment. Do we have
any volunteer?"
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"I will go, Iya." Alake replied, bowing her head.

"Alake, Agba ekun. O seun! (Alake, the senior Tiger, thank

you)… Come to my place tomorrow morning. We will discuss
more about the task. I hope you know you are not going in this
form?"

"Sure, Iya."

"Good!" Iya Ajiun replied. She touched the head of Alake and
said some incantations... "Opapa parada! (I command you to
change!)" She screamed and Alake was immediately
transformed into a lady of about 18 years old.

“Hahahaha!!!! O ti seese! (It is done!) This is who you are going

to transform into when you are ready for the job.”

Others laughed out loud. "Adetayo, eemo wole too wa!

(Adetayo, your doom is on the way)!"

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Iya Ajiun touched Alake's shoulder and she was transformed

into her normal state and thereafter, she dismissed the meeting.

At the Makinde's House

Someone knocked at the gate of the house continously. Adetayo
glanced at the wall clock… “Who could this person be? This is
just 10:00 am nah... How come whoever is knocking know that I
am on leave... I want to rest jare... The person will go back to his
or her house when he or she gets tired of knocking.” She told
herself.

But the knocking didn't stop. It seemed whoever was at the gate
was bent to see the occupant of the house that day. Adetayo
angrily rose from her seat and reluctantly dragged herself to the
compound.

"Who is there?" She screamed before getting close to the gate at

all.

"It's me, ma. My name is Mary." The person replied.

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"Mary? Who is bearing Mary? I don't know anyone bearing that

name." She wondered in her mind as she walked towards the
gate.

She unlocked the gate and saw a young lady standing with a
small, sack like bag in her hands.

"Yes, how may I help you?" Adetayo asked.

"Good afternoon ma." Alake went on her knees.

"Good afternoon o!" Adetayo looked at her suspiciously.

"Please, don't be angry with me ma. I com hia because I need

work ma... I dey find work... I don dey knock different gates
since morning, but all of dem don go work. (I came here because
I‟m looking for a job ma; I have knocked the gate of different
houses but they have gone to work.)”

"What kind of work are you looking for?" Adetayo asked.

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"Any work ma. I fit cook well well, wash clothes o, iron clothes,
sweep the whole house o, do nanny work, anything you tell me
make I do. Please, help me. I really need this job so I can have
money to survive. I am an orphan."

"E ya... Adetayo replied pitifully. Okay, wait here, I am

coming." Adetayo replied and went back into the house.

She picked her phone and dialled her husband's number,

"Sweetie, guess what? A young lady just knocked on our gate
now... She said she's looking for work, like house help, cook and
the likes... She seems like a good person.. I'm thinking if we can
employ her, it will reduce my stress, since we have both agreed
to get a house help..."

"Yes... But since we don't know anything about her, isn‟t that
risky? No one brought her to us. Who do we report to when she
misbehaves? How do we do that?"

"Let's give her a try, dear. I feel pity for her. She said she's an
orphan and she really needs the job to survive as she has
nowhere to go. I know what it means to be an orphan. Let's help
her please."
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"Okay... Well, the ball is in your court. You can decide to take
her in since you are comfortable with her... Ermmmm... Like
how old is she? I hope she is not a minor?"

"Not at all... The way I'm looking at her, she should be around
twenty years old at most."

"Okay then... Perfect! You can bring her in. I'll confirm what
you have said myself tonight when I'm back. Let her know your
husband would like to interview her too before she would start
work officially."

"Alright dear. Thank you."

Adetayo went back to where Alake was waiting. She asked her
to come inside. Alake went on her knees and thanked her
profusely.

"Don't thank me yet. My husband will like to see you first when
he arrives tonight. He will interview you also... Once you gain
his favour, you can start work right away."

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"Okay ma. Thank you very much ma." Alake replied.

Adetayo asked her to stay in the living room till the time her
husband would return... Later in the afternoon, when Adetayo
had gone upstairs to her bedroom to get a nap, Alake brought
out her phone and called Iya Ajiun,

"I'm in... The wife has agreed... I'm waiting for the husband to
also endorse my employment." She spoke in low tones.

"O kare lai! (Welldone!) The husband has no choice. I'll control
him from here." Iya Ajiun replied.

"Alright, iya... I just thought I should give you the update."

"You have done well. I know you will not let me down."

Alake ended the call. "Adetayo, omo Iyiola (Adetayo, the

daughter of Iyiola), your trouble has just begun.

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10
Immediately Olawale came back from work and entered the
house, Alake quickly went on her knees.

"Welcome sir." She greeted and quickly ran to collect the bag he
was holding.

"Thanks... Your name is...?"

"Mary sir." She went on her knees again.

"Merrissa?" Olawale asked.

"No... I mean, I am Mary... Sir."

"Ohh... I see..." Olawale replied and went to take a seat."I

thought you said Merrissa, I wanted to ask which country or
tribe bears such a name." He smiled.

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"Sweetie, you are back." Adetayo trudged into the living room
from the kitchen. "How was your day, dear?" She placed a peck
on his cheek.

"This your tummy is growing bigger every day! It seems it has

increased in size just between this morning and now!"

"Haba! How's that even possible?" Adetayo laughed as she

settled on the couch next to her husband.

"So, she said her name is Mary..." Olawale said.

Adetayo nodded and Olawale turned to Alake,

"Mary, we are going to employ you on trial... If you can prove

that of a truth you are of good behaviour, we will make your
employment a permanent one."

"I will not disappoint you sir." Alake replied, still on her knees.

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"Your diligence is also very important... We are employing you

because my wife needs a helping hand. So, if you start work and
you are not really effective enough to suit the purpose for which
we employed you, then your employment will be terminated
automatically.

"You can count on me sir. What else is my job, if I fail to work?

I work like anything. In fact, there is no type of work I cannot do
as long as I have a place to sleep and some food to eat."

"No problem, then. You wouldn't have any issue with us if you
stick to your own part of the bargain. However, you are entitled
to a salary, not just a place to sleep and some food to eat... My
wife will tell you more about that; so you have gotten the job.
You can start right away."

"Ha! Thank you very much sir. Thank you ma... I am so

grateful!" Alake appreciated them.

Olawale stood up and as he was about to make his way to the

bedroom, he turned again to Alake on second thoughts,

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"But who do you know that can be a contact or who can serve as
a referee between us? We need to contact at least, one of your
family members, so we can know who to call on in case of any
future situation. We can't just employ you like that."

Alake quickly searched through her mind for an answer,

"I'll bring one of my distant maternal aunts to you tomorrow sir
or any day you want. She is the only one that I know in this city
sir."

"Okay, good. You can as well give us her phone number."

Adetayo suggested.

"I don't have her new phone number ma. Let me just go and
inform her tomorrow, so that she can come with me ma."

"Alright then. It's a good option too. No problem." Olawale

replied.

*****

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In the middle of the night, Alake summoned an urgent meeting

with Iya Ajiun in the spiritual realm.

"Iya, the husband has accepted me but he insisted I bring

someone to come and stand for me as a referee before he would
finally ratify my appointment."

"No problem. I'll come around to fill that gap tomorrow. What
was your agreement?"

"I told them I would go and inform my distant aunt who stays in
this city because I don't have her phone number, so we would
come to the house together, tomorrow evening."

"Very good! O ku laakaye (You are full of wisdom.) We will

meet tomorrow at a certain point in town. I will give you the
description when I land."

"Thank you, Iya. Also, prepare a phone number to give to them

when you come around."

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"That will not be a problem either."

They ended the meeting and Alake went back to her sleeping
state in the visitor's room where she was told to stay.

She woke up very early the next morning to begin her task for
the day. She went to the rest room adjoined to her bedroom and
washed her face. She stared at her face in the mirror. Her normal
image stared back at her. She laughed...

"Iya Ajiun, thank you for choosing me for this task. I will
deliver the message beyond what you can imagine! Thank you
for helping me to get a husband for my only daughter!" She
laughed again.

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11
Since the day Mrs Alfred met Olawale, she's been brainstorming
about how to get him down. She did some background checks
about him; where he worked, what he does, etc and she
discovered that he was an entrepreneur. This made her to even
love him more.

She was a stay at home mom at that time; she was into drop
shipping business and she worked from home. She decided to
pay Olawale a visit at his office one day. She pretended as if she
came around to check out some of their products, as if she
wasn‟t aware that he (Olawale) was the owner of the outfit.

Olawale was glad to see his neighbour. He invited her into his
office and they chatted for a while. Mrs Alfred maintained a
smiling and cheerful countenance all through. She wanted
Olawale to feel relaxed around her as much as she could. She
wasn't going to rush things... She was ready to take her time till
she would finally land him in her nest.

"I hope you do hear from your husband?" Olawale asked her just
before she made to leave.
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Very well, thank you... Ermmmm... That reminds me, do you

care if you have another link abroad through which you can be
getting these goods at a very reasonable price? I have one or two
of my friends over there that can supply them... Whether, China
or U.K, I have contacts there." Mrs Alfred tried to change the
topic.

"Really? I will love that." Olawale replied.

"Oh... Good to know... I'll inform those people tonight and then
get back to you."

"Oh, thank you so much Mrs Alfred." Olawale saw her off to
where she had earlier parked her car.

*****
Alake started her work in earnest. Her number one assignment
was to tamper with the growth of the child in Adetayo's womb.
The substance she was to use had been given to her by Iya Ajiun.
All she needed to do was to be adding a little bit of it to the
water Adetayo would be drinking everyday till she would birth
her child. Alake did that effectively. She wasn't slack in

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discharging her duty. It was going to be a win-win situation for

her. She coveted the type of Olawale as a husband for her only
daughter, Omosolape.

Omosolape was a fresh graduate at that time. She just finished

her National youth service. Alake planned to ensure that Solape
takes over from Adetayo in that home in no distant time. She
would sit her daughter down and explain the strategies she
would be using in order to get Olawale as her husband... She
smiled mischievously at herself where she stood ironing her
madam's clothes as she brainstormed about her plans.

"Mary!" Adetayo called her from the living room.

"Yes ma!" Alake answered swiftly and walked to the living

room in a jiffy. She knelt down before her boss.

"Mary, how many times would I tell you to stop kneeling down
like this, each time you are being called? Are you worshipping
me? Wahala e po gan ooo! (You love too much stress)."
Adetayo remarked.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"O ti mo‟ra ni ma. (I'm so used to it ma.)"

"Wow! Please stand up and stop hurting your knees all the time...
Get me some water from the refrigerator."

"Okay ma." Alake replied obediently and went to get a cup of

chill water. She didn't forget to put in the substance she was to
add to each cup of water Adetayo was to be taking every day.

*****
In the evening of that same day, someone knocked on the gate of
the Makinde's house. Alake went to open the gate for the visitor.
The visitor was a young lady and immediately Alake sighted her,
she shivered. The fire around her was evident. She was
uncomfortable at her appearance.

"Who do you want to see ma?" Alake asked, trying to hide her
feelings.

"Is Aunty Adetayo around? I'm Brother Olawale's sister." The

lady replied.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Oh! I see." Alake replied as she quickly collected the travel box
in her hand and took it inside the house while the lady followed
her closely behind.

"Awwwwwwn! See who we have here!" Adetayo chimed as she

sighted her husband's sister.

She rose from her seat and gave her a hug. "It's good to see you,
Sister Omotara. How was your journey?" Adetayo greeted.

"It's good to see you too Aunty Tayo! You are really glowing...
My journey was fine. I thank God."

"Yes o! Your brother is really taking care of me."

"I trust my brother." Omotara boasted as they both burst into

laughter. "I didn't know you now have a house help." Omotara
said.

"Yes... She started working here few days ago, not even up to a
week now."
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Oh really! That's nice."

"Thanks dear... We had to employ her when the pregnancy

started giving me some vibes that I don't understand. In fact, I
respect every mother out there... E no easy biko. (It's not easy
please.)"

"Awwww... I understand. The Lord will make it easy for you."

"Amen... Thanks sis. What would you like to eat? I hope you are
not going back so soon? I trust you won't! At least two months!
You mustn't go on time o!"

"No... You should have said I should start living with you
permanently!" Omotara laughed out loud.

"Aaaaaaargghhhh! What has this girl come to do at this time???

She's not going to return to wherever she came from very soon?
There's problem o!" Alake thought within her. She had been
peeping behind the curtains, listening to the conversation
between the two women.

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"Mary!" Adetayo called.

"Please, cook some rice for my guest. This is my husband's

younger sister, Omotara. She and her twin sister are the last born
of the family." Adetayo did a quick introduction.

Alake knelt down and greeted Omotara very well while she
responded too after which Alake went to the kitchen to cook for
her.

"Come and take her luggage to the third bedroom." Adetayo

called her back.

"Oh! Never mind, Mary. I'll do that myself. I even want to pick
something there now." Omotara offered.

"Okay ma." Alake curtseyed.

"Are you sure she's a good person? Something seems off about
her." Omotara whispered to her sister in-law.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Oh! You mean Mary? She's really nice. She's a good person.
You will soon get to know her better."

"Hmmm... Okay..." Omotara surrendered. She opened her box

and brought out the goodies she bought on her way coming.

“My sure in-law! You are the best! In fact, it's as if you know
I've been craving for some chocolates, recently." Adetayo
replied gleefully as she collected the parcel filled with different
goodies...

*****
In the midnight, Omotara woke up to pray. She spoke in tongues
and walked the length and breadth of the bedroom she was
occupying. She didn't plan to pray that night but somehow, she
woke up and felt an unusual unrest in her spirit; so she switched
to a prayer mode. She didn't know what to pray about exactly, so
she prayed in the spirit in whispers.

Alake woke up from her sleep. She could hear and feel the
prayers in her spirit man; even though Omotara's voice wasn't
loud.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Ha! Danger is looming! This girl will destroy all our plans
outrightly! I need to call an emergency meeting!" She said to
herself.

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12
"Alake, why did you summon us suddenly?" Iya Ajiun asked.

"Iya, the husband's sister just arrived yesterday! Since she came,
I haven't been at rest. The fire around her is unbearable. She
prayed through the night... If we don't do something about her
very fast, her prayers will undo everything we have started and
also destroy our next line of action."

"Never!" The other members replied.

"That will never happen! Who dares confronts a Tiger? What is

her name?" Iya Ajiun demanded authoritatively.

"Omotara." Alake replied.

"Good... We will work on her case. You just continue your work
over there. Remain focused. Don't be distracted. Remember all
I've told you. That child must not come out from her mother's
womb without a deformity!"
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"I have heard you, Iya. Just do something about this girl fast,
otherwise the plan won't work out. Her prayers would destroy all
the enchantments."

"You leave that to me." Iya Ajiun replied and thereafter

disappeared with the remaining members of her team.

In the morning, Omotara woke up and went straight to the

kitchen to get some water to drink. She saw Alake preparing the
breakfast meal for the day already. Alake didn't expect Omotara
to wake up around 6am despite her night prayers but she did.
She greeted Omotara and she murmured her response…

Omotara never liked Alake since she set her eyes on her... She
wondered why her brother and his wife were not seeing what
she was seeing. Something seemed off about her. Her spirit did
not agree with Alake, one bit!

As she walked back to the bedroom, Omotara received an

instruction in her spirit, "pray against every evil enchantment in
this house." She heard the instruction loud and clear from the
Holy Spirit and she went straight to her bedroom, bolted the
door and resumed another session of prayers.
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"I cancel every evil enchantment in this house with the fire of
the Holy Ghost. There's no enchantment against Jacob nor any
divination against Israel... And so I command every evil
enchantment that has been made against this household to
scatter in Jesus name. They are destroyed in the name of Jesus.
Any form of strange power lurking around this house, fire of the
Holy Ghost, fish them out and burn them to ashes in Jesus
name."

Alake couldn't stand the prayers anymore. She knew if she

stayed for a minute more in that house, she might give up the
ghost, so she quickly picked the trash bag, pretending to go and
dispose it inside the big trash can outside. She whimpered in
pain as she made her way out of the house.

"Ha! I'm in trouble! Mo si ise je (I have delivered the message

that would spell my doom!)" Alake mourned outside.

She curled up at one corner in the compound... The pain she was
feeling was almost unbearable for her. She managed to enter the
house and told Adetayo that she would need a day off as she
suddenly developed a fever. Adetayo, not suspecting anything
asked if she would prefer to go to the hospital but she declined.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"I'll go to my aunt's place ma. She has the right herbs that can
work for me. Injections or medicine don't seem to work in my
system and besides, I don't like taking them."

"Okay then... You can get an off for today. Come back
tomorrow or anytime you get better."

"Thank you ma." Alake replied.

She managed to enter her bedroom, picked her purse and off she
went. She reappeared in her normal form inside Iya Ajiun's
power room. She wailed in pain... Iya Ajiun heard her voice in
her spirit and she quickly found her way to her power room.

"Ha! Alake, kilode, kilosele? (Why, what happened)!"

Alake replied in pain, "I've been wounded... I have severe pains

all over my body."

"Ha! Eeeeeewooo! (Abomination!) How did it happen?"

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Alake couldn't respond. She was just grunting in pain.

Iya Ajiun brought out a calabash of water, scooped some of the
content into her hands, said some incantations and sprinkled it
on Alake. She also gave her some to drink.

"Oya mu... Ero pese... (Now, drink it, peace enters your body
now.)"

Alake drank the water and heaved a deep sigh... She rested her
back on the wall and panted slowly...

"Ha! Omotara abi kinni won pe oruko e? (Omotara or what is

your name called?) You have stepped on the tail of the serpent
and you will definitely face the consequences! Don't worry,
Alake. I will deal with her." Iya Ajiun fumed angrily.

*****
"Why don't you people pray in this house in the morning?"
Omotara asked Adetayo while they were eating breakfast.

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"Oh... Don't mind your brother; he leaves home very early every
day in order to beat the traffic... If I'm not on leave too, I usually
leave home early." Adetayo tried to cover up.

"Oh... I see... But if you are both intentional about it, I believe
you both can work it out... Please try... God will help you... You
know men at times can overlook things like this but you as the
woman should stand in gap. Remind him all the time. Start the
prayers yourself at times, he would join you."

"Hmmmm... You are right... I guess I allowed this pregnancy to

turn me to a totally lazy person altogether." Adetayo lied.

"God is your strength." Omotara replied.

But the truth actually was that during the early stage of their
marriage, Olawale usually called for morning devotions. She
was the one who usually looked for one excuse or the other... As
time went on, the morning prayer fizzled out. Iron sharpeneth
Iron indeed... Since the fire was lacking in one of the spouse, it
was eventually put out in the end.

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13
Iya Ajiun sat on the stool inside her room, brainstorming
seriously about how to get Omotara out of the way, so they
could accomplish their mission concerning the foetus in
Adetayo's womb and how they would wreck Adetayo's life in
entirety... She had visited Omotara in the middle of the previous
night and she confirmed what Alake told her. She couldn't even
move near Omotara where she slept soundly on her bed.

As long as Omotara stayed in that house, nothing could be done;

so Iya Ajiun decided to attack someone close to Omotara, so that
she wouldn't have a choice than to leave the house for them to
accomplish their mission.

Alake returned to Adetayo's house two days after she left. Iya
Ajiun instructed her not to do anything yet until she gives her
the go ahead. Iya Ajiun checked her monitoring mirror to see
those who were very close to Omotara. Her mother and her twin
sister, Omotoyosi showed up on the screen.

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"Hahahaha! Very good! The work is done already. The twin

sister is not like her. She‟s as cold as ice… Get ready for my
visitation!" She laughed.

******
Omotara sat in the living room, watching a movie on T.V when
her phone rang. She checked the caller. It was her elder brother,
Olawale. Omotara wondered why her brother had to call her in
the course of the day; it was quite unusual.

"Hello sir!" Omotara said as she picked the call.

"Hello, Motara... Has mummy called you?"

"No, she hasn't... Why?"

"She just called me now... Toyosi has been rushed to the

hospital early this morning... The cause of her illness is not
known yet but mummy told me she screamed from her sleep and
a part of her body became paralysed... She said she has tried
your line this morning, it was switched off."

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"Ha! Jesus! Yes... My phone was off before. I just charged it.
What's going on? Paralysis???"

"I don't even know what exactly the matter is all about. I just
need you to start going home now... Toyosi is at the hospital,
you need to assist mum in looking after her."

"Sure... I will... Ha! Jesus Christ! Lord, have mercy!" Omotara

jumped to her feet in fear.

"I'll send some money to you guys to take care of the medical
bills... Just go ahead and get so see what exactly the issue is. I'll
call you later."

"Okay sir!" Omotara replied.

She went straight to her room to start packing her bags... "O
Lord! What is happening? What kind of a strange illness
paralyses a twenty five year old lady?"

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"Do not go yet!" Omotara heard the voice of the Holy Spirit
speak to her. Her hands dropped from the clothes she was
folding. "Lord, what do you mean? How do I explain to my
mother that I wouldn't be able to come and check on my twin
sister?"

She didn't want to disobey the Holy Spirit, yet she didn't know
the excuse to give to her mother and her elder brother.

"The sickness is a distraction... Continue your prayers here."

The voice spoke to her again.

"Prayers against enchantments? But how is my sister‟s illness a

distraction? I don't seem to understand this."

"You do not need to understand it... Just do as I say."

Omotara scratched her head for an excuse to give to her brother.

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"Oh, perfect! I'm on my period. I'll just use my menstrual

cramps as an excuse... On a normal day, I rarely go out
whenever I'm menstruating because of the cramps."

She felt relieved that she had gotten the perfect solution that she
required to settle the matter. She dialed her brother's number
again...

"Yes, Motara!"

"Ermm... I'm sorry, I'm thinking of making the journey probably

in two days time."

"Why?"

"I'm having menstrual cramps and it usually affects me until

after the flow had stopped."

"Okay... So, when will it end?"

"Next tomorrow."
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"Okay... Alright then. No problem."

Omotara ended the call and dialled her mother's number

instantly.

"Mummy, how exactly did it happen?"

Her mother explained how her twin sister had screamed from
her sleep after which she got paralyzed all over the left part of
her body. “Even her mouth was bent, she couldn't speak well...
The doctors said it's a partial stroke.” She explained.

"Stroke??? A twenty five year old lady, suffering from stroke?

Mum, if you will agree with me, I don't think this is ordinary."

"You are right. It isn't o! I don't know who I offended that wants
to punish me this way! Who wants to use my child to torture
me?" Her mother cried.

"Mum, don't cry... instead of crying, you should be praying. I

will travel down to check on her in two or three days. I'm having
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menstrual cramps now... Mum, do you know where I kept my

anointing oil?"

"No, I don't."

"It's inside that cupboard beside my bed... Please use it to rub

her body and make her drink a part of it... Give her the phone
now."

"Okay."

"Toyosi, how are you feeling?"

Omotoyosi grumbled, as she struggled to speak into the phone ...

Her words were inaudible. Tears flowed down Omotara's face.
She began to speak in tongues loudly into her sister's ear. She
did it for about three minutes, prayed for her and ended the call.

She wondered why God asked her not to leave her brother's
home yet and why the Holy Spirit said her sister's sickness is a
distraction. She continued to pray.
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Alake peeped through the living room from the kitchen. She had
listened carefully to all Omotara's conversations over the phone.

"Ha! We are in trouble o! It seems this girl is a crazy witch!"

She murmured in fear.

Omotara continued her prayers till the following day and the
next, breaking every evil enchantment in her brother's home and
in the life of her twin sister.

Alake had to leave. She was left with no option, otherwise, she
would lose her life. She disappeared back to where she came
from without informing anyone. It was a surprise to Adetayo
and her husband. They wondered why Mary had to leave
without informing them.

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14
Two days later, Omotoyosi was sleeping on her hospital bed...
Suddenly, she saw herself in a bright space. Someone appeared
before her, holding a shining rod. He placed the rod on the left
part of her body that was afflicted and something came out of
her body immediately. It looked like a dark liquid substance. It
gushed out of the left side of her body.

"You are healed, Omotoyosi... Go and witness for me. Tell

others about the love I have for them... Preach the love of Christ
to everyone around you who cares to listen and never go back
into the world where you used to be... This sickness is a spiriual
attack that is meant to afflict and torture you for a very long
time... You were vulnerable to it as a result of your sinful
lifestyle but you have received mercy because of the constant
intercession of your sister...

When you wake up, read the following Bible passages:

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Romans 9 vs 15:
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion."

Isaiah 53 vs 4 & 5:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet
we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed."

"I have showed you mercy and compassion... I have taken your
sickness upon myself, Omotoyosi. By my stripes, you are
healed... You are made totally whole from this minute. Go and
announce what the Lord has done for you!"

The image disappeared immediately after and Omotoyosi woke

up. She realized it was a dream. She lifted up the duvet on her
body with her hands, stretched herself and yawned... She
stopped in between the process and screamed,

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"I can lift my two arms! Ha! I can talk again! Jesus! Je...sus has
healed me!"

Her scream woke her mum who was lying on a mat just beside
her bed.

"What is it, Toyosi? You scared me!" Her mother said, startled
from her sleep.

"I am healed, mum! I saw Jesus!" Omotoyosi screamed,

stretching her hands and jumping to her feet to show her mother
that of a truth, she's been healed.

"It's a lie! How did this happen? Ha! God, I thank you!" Her
mother bowed on her knees to worship God."

"Mum, let's go back home in the morning! I am healed! I

received a supernatural healing! Jesus appeared to me. He gave
me two verses of the scripture to read... That's ermmmm...
Romans 9:15 and Isaiah 53: 4&5... Yes! He said I should go and
tell others about the love of Christ. I have received mercy
because Omotara was interceding for me!"
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*****
Iya Ajiun fell on her face right in her living room. Something
strong suddenly struck her down. She screamed for help but no
one was in the house at that time. The arrow she sent into
Omotoyosi's body had come back to her. She started bleeding
from her mouth till she gave up the ghost.

*****
Alake and her cohort had a meeting that night. They grieved
over the loss of their leader, Iya Ajiun.

"I had to leave Adetayo's house for now. I don't want to die now.
My children still need me alive, besides I haven't even reaped
the fruits of my labour over them. So, I have left the house
already." Alake announced to everyone.

"Whatever you have decided is good for you. If at all we will

strike Adetayo later, we have to hold on for now till the
opportunity will present itself." The deputy to Iya Ajiun replied.

"I won't give up on Adetayo! My mother made me to swear that

I would take up the task whenever she leaves." Ajiun answered.
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"I will sit down and restrategize on how to go about it... But for
now, I'll mourn the loss of my mother." She added.

After the meeting, Alake determined in her heart to get Olawale

to be her daughter's husband at all cost... Whatever it would take
her... She was ready to eliminate anyone in the process,
including Adetayo and her child. But she had to leave for the
moment and wait till when Omotara would have finally gone
before she would launch out her plan.

The plan to deform Adetayo's baby failed eventually as the

process was aborted because of the intervention of Omotara in
Adetayo's home.

Few months later, Adetayo gave birth to a bouncing baby boy!

The joy of the couple knew no bound on the arrival of their
Prince Charming. The baby was named “EBUNAYOMI”
meaning “MY GIFT OF JOY”

Friends and families came around to felicitate with them on the

arrival of their new born. Mrs Alfred was all over Adetayo and
her baby; playing the role of a big sister that Adetayo never had.
She was always there for both the mother and the new born baby,
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taking very adequate care of them. Adetayo relaxed around Mrs

Alfred; in fact, she was an answered prayer for her, since she
had no mother and there was no one to fit into that role in her
life... Mrs Alfred took very good care of Ebunayomi like her
own son.

*****
Alake monitored all the events in the couple's home from her
mirror... Omotara has travelled to another state, far from where
the couple lived because she had gotten a job there... When
Ebunayomi clocked two months, Alake decided to embark on
her mission. She already had all her plans laid out and she was
ready to dispense them gradually. She has explained every detail
to her daughter, Solape and they had concluded on a plan
together.

"It is time to attack! Adetayo, the spiritual covering over your

home is gone! In a few months from now, get ready to receive
my daughter in your home! You didn't offend me o! You just
have to leave that marriage because my daughter must marry
your husband, whether you like it or not! Hahahaha!" She
laughed.

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*****
Ajiun on the other hand was planning on how to deal with
Adetayo's son, Ebunayomi.

"His glory can never shine beyond ours. I will make sure you
become a shame to your parents. I'll recruit more hands to do
this job. Adetayo, omo Iyiola (Adetayo, the child of Iyiola), you
will not reap the rewards of your labour in that home and that
child that is giving you joy will soon start to give you pain. Emi
ni mo so be! B'o si se maa ri niyen! (I am the one that
pronounced it and so shall it be!)"

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15
Mrs Alfred sat in the restaurant of a five star hotel in town. She
waited eagerly for Olawale who had promised to meet her there
at 3pm, the time they had earlier agreed on.

She was able to convince him that one of her uncles who stayed
abroad just came around and he would like to see Olawale in
order to discuss business, concerning the importation of
electronics...

Mrs Alfred had said to Olawale, the day they conclude about the
meeting,
"Please, do not tell anyone about this deal and kindly do not
inform anyone when coming to the venue of the meeting. My
uncle is a very private person and he's always security
conscious."

"Oh, that won't be a problem at all!" Olawale concurred.

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He left his office that day around 3:15pm and he headed straight
to the address of the hotel Mrs Alfred gave to him. He met Mrs
Alfred already waiting for him in the hotel restaurant.

"I am very sorry please. Some of my business partners showed

up at my office and we had quite a lengthy meeting that I didn't
even know time was far spent already!" Olawale apologized.

"Okay... No problem... You are highly welcome!" Mrs Alfred

replied with a smile.

"How about your uncle?"

"He is encountering some delay presently but he promised to

join us soon."

"Alright then... What would you care for? Juice, wine? Or would
you like to eat something?" Olawale asked.

"Hmmm... Well, I'll love to take anything you will be taking."

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"Hahaha! Really?" Olawale laughed.

"Yeah..."

"Okay then... I'll like to take Shawarma with some fruit juice...
Is that fine by you?"

"Absolutely!" Mrs Alfred replied.

Olawale went ahead to place the order... Mrs Alfred watched

him with eyes filled with admiration. She had a plan on her
mind and she couldn't wait to execute it soon. She had once
instructed Adetayo not to resume intercourse with her husband
until the baby would clock three months, so that her body would
heal properly... Adetayo had accepted the advice since she saw
Mrs Alfred as someone far experienced than her in child care...

"Do not let your husband know that I was the one that gave you
this advice please. You know men and their ways, he might start
severing the relationship between us and I am doing this for
your own good. Your health is very paramount; beyond your
husband's enjoyment." Mrs Alfred had told Adetayo.
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"Of course ma. Why would I betray you like that? When
actually you are trying to help here... Thanks so much for being
the mother I do not have." Adetayo appreciated her.

Mrs Alfred's plan was to ensure that Olawale was sexually

starved at home, so that by the time she would lure him into her
bed, he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation...

Adetayo's decision to abstain from sex till three months time did
not go down well with Olawale when she told him about it.
They have had countless misunderstandings about the matter but
Adetayo stood her ground… In order not to be seen like a
husband that doesn't care about the well being of his wife,
Olawale succumbed to her wish but he has been enduring...

Adetayo had earlier 'shut him out' since when the pregnancy was
around six months old and Olawale has been trying to be an
understanding partner, hoping that after delivery, everything
would go back to normal, so around a month after the birth of
Ebunayomi, he made the move to get intimate with his wife
again but Adetayo dropped the bomb shell for him.

"There months!!!!" He had screamed at her.

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"Yes... You have to wait, sweetie. My body needs to heal up. To

birth a baby is not something easy, my dear... If you really love
and care for me, you have to wait. Afterall, it wouldn't even be
forever." Adetayo had replied him.

"Plus the three months before delivery, making six good months!
Six months of no sex, when I am not a celibate! Tayo, this is
unfair!" Olawale had protested after which he walked angrily
out of their bedroom and spent the night in the living room.

Since then, Olawale stopped pestering his wife. He made up his

mind to sort himself elsewhere so he wouldn't have to disturb his
wife anymore. He planned to look for a lady to satisfy his sexual
pleasure.

As soon as he returned to the table with the refreshments, Mrs

Alfred began to discuss her personal issues with him...

"Mr Olawale, do you know it's been eight long years that my
husband left me here all by myself?"

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"You don't mean it!" Olawale expressed his shock. "He's been
gone for that long? I thought he left around one or two years
ago!"

"No... In fact, it's close to nine years already!"

"Wow! That's serious! What steps have you been taking to get
yourself and the kids to join him?" Olawale asked inquisitively.

"Huh... Steps? Don't even talk about that one again... I have tried
several times... Sincerely, someone told me from a reliable
source that my husband is married to a white woman over there;
he's just sending money to me for the children's upkeep."

"Really! Chai! That's serious!"

"It is... That is how wicked your gender can be!" Mrs Alfred
blurted out.

"Well... Not all of us though... I'm so sorry about what you are
passing through."
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Mrs Alfred sighed pitifully... "Well, never mind... I'm taking

care of myself and my children as you can see... It's just that...
It's just... Never mind." Mrs Alfred trailed off.

"What? Kindly feel free to share your worries, it makes you feel
better." Olawale urged her.

Mrs Alfred cleared her throat, "Well, it might look like

something so insensitive to say but seriously, I find it difficult to
handle it whenever I'm horny... How can my sexual life be
suffering as a married woman? I burn every day and there's no
one to quench the fire in me. It's just so sad!"

Olawale's jaw dropped... He wasn't expecting to hear what Mrs

Alfred just said; he never knew she could discuss such a highly
confidential matter with him... He quickly put himself together
and replied, "Hmmmm... I know the feeling. You just have to
stay strong."

"I'm tired of staying strong," Mrs Alfred replied.

"I understand... I pray God intervenes..."

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Mrs Alfred's phone beeped. She checked the screen of her phone
and pretended to read a message.

"Oh, that's my uncle. He said he's been trying to reach me but

my line is unreachable... All these network providers with their
useless network." She hissed.

"Oh, maybe you should call him back." Olawale suggested.

"Definitely!" Mrs Alfred replied. She pretended to dial the non

existent uncle's number.

"Hello sir! Oh... You will soon join us? Okay then... We should
go ahead to wait for you? Alright sir... I'll text the room number
to you right away." She said and ended the imaginary call. She
turned to Olawale. “My uncle said we should go ahead and wait
for him in his suite. He is going to join us soon.”

Olawale agreed and they went up the stairs to one of the

executive rooms which Mrs Alfred already booked... As soon as
they got there, Mrs Alfred resumed her conversation about her
state of loneliness and how she so much desired some intimacy
with a man.

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"Kai! Any man that crosses my path at the moment, I'll take him
to the moon and back! I would give him everything the way he
wants it till he forgets his name." She said in a seductive manner.

"Really?"

"Oh yes! I have been starved for too long. If I handle any man at
this point, I swear, he would not forget that date in history." Mrs
Alfred continued pouring out those words intentionally while
she observed Olawale closely. She noticed that the words have
started taking some effect on him. She stood up and went close
to him.

"Would you like to prove me wrong?" She placed her finger on

his lips.

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16
Adetayo was very disturbed. She had tried her husband's line
several times but it wasn't getting through. It was 8:30pm
already. She got so restless.

"Where on earth is this guy? And his two phones have been
switched off since!" She complained to no one in particular.

Ebunayomi was quietly sucking from her breast, unaware of the

worries of his mother.

At first, she was angry with her husband but later on, the anger
vanished and gave way to fear. A million thoughts ran through
her mind.

"Ebun, where do you think Daddy is? He doesn't go anywhere

without informing me!" Adetayo said to his son who only
giggled happily at her.

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He had been playing on his bed quietly, after getting satisfied

from his mum's breast. He was such a cheerful baby.

At 9pm, Adetayo strapped her son to her back and headed for
Mrs Alfred's house. She needed to offload her worries to
someone. On getting there, she met only her children watching
T.V. in their living room.

"Mum already said she might not return today. She went for a
function, so we will likely spend the night without her." Mrs
Alfred's first child, Rachel replied.

Adetayo sighed in disappointment. She needed someone to

assure her that all would be well. She had tried Olawale's office
line and no one picked up. The only staff whose number was on
her phone could not tell the whereabouts of his boss.

She walked back home, laid Ebunayomi, who was already

sleeping in his bed and went to the living room. She dialed Mrs
Alfred's number.

*******
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The sound of her phone roused Mrs Alfred from her sleep.
Olawale was beside her on the bed, snoring softly as he slept
peacefully beside her. The both of them had slept off in the hotel
room after having rounds of intercourse.

Olawale was really taken to the moon and back, just as Mrs
Alfred had promised him. He tore at every part of Mrs Alfred's
body like a hungry lion that had been starved for several weeks.

"If I will continue getting this, then I have no business with my

wife anymore. You are too good! Your husband is missing a
great deal!" Olawale had confessed to her after the act.

Mrs Alfred smiled and replied, "I told you! You haven't even
seen anything... I actually came here unprepared... If I am to
handle you in a prepared state, you wouldn't want to go back
home again."

"Are you kidding me? Please, my life is in your hands

henceforth. Handle me the way you want. In fact, handle my
present and my future. Handle my destiny. It's all yours! Damn!
I've been suffering all these while! I mean, this is the real deal
when it comes to sex!" Olawale enthused.
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Mrs Alfred laughed till tears came out of her eyes...

Around 6pm, Mrs Alfred suggested that Olawale should leave,

so he could get back home on time, in order for his wife not to
be worried about him.

"Leave to where? Omoh! I'm not going anywhere until I have a

taste of you again... You are just too delicious to taste and go
like that. I want more! In fact, I can spend the night here. Today
is Friday, we can enjoy ourselves all through the night till
tomorrow. Just call your kids and let them know you wouldn't
be returning home." Olawale suggested.

"Ha! No nah! Wale, you can't finish me in a whole day! Let's do

it in bits."

"Ha! I'm not doing it in bits! Do you know how many months I
have been starved of sex? I've been enduring it all these while.
Now that I have access to it, we die here o! What am I going
back home to do? To sleep on that cold, lonely bed again when
you are here for me? I reject it o!"

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Mrs Alfred laughed out loud. She was glad that she had finally
accomplished her mission on Olawale. She was only pretending
when she said Olawale should leave. She actually wanted him
wrapped up in her arms all through the night.

"Tell me, how long have you been starved?" She asked.

"Ha! You wouldn't want to know!" Olawale replied

spontaneously.

"Really? I'm really interested!" Mrs Alfred pursued further,

pretending not to be aware of Olawale's situation.

"Five good months! I haven't had sex for the past five months!"
Olawale blurted.

Mrs Alfred opened her mouth. "You are kidding right? How's
that even possible? Your baby is just two months old, so what
are you talking about?"

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"My wife has been denying me of her body since when the
pregnancy was six months old. Three months before delivery
added to the two months after delivery, making five months!
She even said she wouldn't resume sex till our baby clocks three
months. Just imagine!"

"What! What sort of a woman does that to a very handsome and

caring man like you? Chai! Ladies of these days, enh... I don't
even understand. He that has no cap has no head… What an
insensitive decision! When I was still birthing my own kids, a
month after delivery, maximum six weeks, I have resumed my
bedroom affairs. If you take care of your body very well, sex
after delivery is not a big deal at all! And why would she even
ban you from touching her during her pregnancy?"

"Oh-ooh! You can say that again! My own wife's case is

different. She's nursing her body for three months. How does
she expect me to cope with six months without sex. I can't just
imagine... Well, if she didn't embark on her stupid mission, how
would I have discovered this gold mine, lying right on my
chest?" Olawale laughed merrily.

They both started another round of love making after which they
both slept off.
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*****
Mrs Alfred picked her phone to check the person that was
calling her. She quickly tapped Olawale,
"It's your wife! Your wife is calling me" She whispered to him.

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17
Olawale opened his eyes slowly, yawned tiredly and stretched
his arms. "What did you say?" He asked.

"Your wife is calling me."

"Oh! Really?" Olawale quickly sat up.

"Yes... Should I pick her call?"

"Oh! No, don't pick yet... Could she have suspected anything?"
Olawale asked with a worried expression.

"Relax, Sugar... Don't be worked up." Mrs Alfred said, rubbing

his chest. "I believe she probably came to my place and didn't
meet me at home. She might just want to check on me."

"Are you sure?"

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"Of course! Pick your phone and try to call her. Let her know
you wouldn't be coming home tonight. I guess you haven't done
that before." Mrs Alfred suggested.

"Oh... That is true!" Olawale replied as he quickly reached for

his phone. "Oh! I forgot I switched it off earlier on… I got
carried away!" He said.

"You see? You have gotten her so worried. She must have tried
your number severally... She probably came to my house to tell
me about it, I can guess already... Please, place a call through to
her. I'll be in the restaurant downstairs to get us some food."

"Okay... A plate of fried rice and chicken with water is fine for
me." Olawale replied. He switched on his phone and waited for
it to boot.

"Alright dear... I'll be right back!" Mrs Alfred said as she slipped
into her clothes and left the room.

*****

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Since the day Olawale and his neighbour, Mrs Alfred started
their ungodly affair, things were no longer the same between
Olawale and his wife... Olawale would keep to himself
whenever he was at home with his wife. Their relationship with
each other became so casual. Olawale changed from the very
caring and lovely husband that Adetayo had always known.

Several times, she had asked her husband what exactly was
wrong but he kept saying he was fine. Adetayo knew all was far
from well but she couldn't lay a finger on what was wrong
exactly. At first, Adetayo thought her husband was probably
affected by a business deal that didn't favour him but after
Ebunayomi clocked three months and she expected Olawale to
come for her and yet, he stayed away, she got seriously troubled.

One night, she seduced her husband so well that she thought he
would definitely give in to her moves but no way! Olawale
wasn't moved a bit. He only told her that he was tired and he
would like to go to sleep. Adetayo was alarmed! That was the
last straw that broke the camel's back! How possible would it be
for her husband to resist her even when she had seductively tried
to lure him to sleep with her. She was sure that something was
absolutely off.

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The next day, after she came back from work, she went straight
to Mrs Alfred's house. She needed to confide in someone about
the fire burning underneath her cloths and the only person closer
to her apart from her husband was Mrs Alfred. She had become
a big sister to her and a god mother to Ebunayomi.

"It's like my husband has started seeing someone else!" Adetayo

cried out to her.

"What? How could you draw such a conclusion? Your husband

is not someone like that. When I see a womanizer, I would
know."

"Aunty, what else could explain for this?"

"For what?" Mrs Alfred asked, confused.

"My husband has refused to touch me since Ebun clocked three

months... I thought he was probably angry with the earlier
decision I made to abstain from sex till our baby clocks three
months, so I made several moves, you know nah, as a woman,
so I could get him down but he never fell for any. He's been as
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firm as a rock. Our relationship has gone so cold that we only

talk casually in the house. The former fondness and intimacy is
gone! I'm sure a strange woman is at work. One lady out there is
taking my husband's attention!" Adetayo cried.

"Oh no! You cannot draw this conclusion yet until you draw
your facts... At times, when some men are passing through some
challenges that they don't want to talk to their wives about, they
keep to themselves. My husband used to do this a whole lot… It
could also be that he was only trying to let you know he is still
angry with you."

"Really? But he has never behaved this way before since we got
married. I have never seen a trace of anything like this in his
character."

"Marriage is in stages, my dear. You both have barely known

each other. Your marriage is not even up to three years yet. You
will get to know each other gradually till you get used to each
other's character... Don't entertain any negative thoughts, please.
You never can tell, whatever is eating your husband up can be
something that has to do with his work. You know the main
thing that makes up a man is his ability to provide in the home,
so whenever business is not going on smoothly, it affects them a
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lot. I'm talking from experience... Keep pampering your husband.

Cook his favourite meals, seduce him more with your body. I'm
very sure he will definitely come around."

"Okay, Aunty. I'm very grateful. Thanks so much... My mind is

at rest now."

After they had gisted for a while, Adetayo left in order to

quickly go and prepare dinner.

Mrs Alfred dialed Olawale's phone number immediately

Adetayo left her house.

"Sugar, what are you doing?"

"Baby, I'm at work... Do you need something?" Olawale replied.

"No... I mean what are you doing with your wife? Why have you
refused to touch her? You cannot say because you have found
honey, so you want to throw your sugar away!"

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"What exactly happened?"

"Your wife just left my house. She came crying that you have
refused to touch her and so she suspects that you are having an
affair... I had to allay her fears and returned her mind to another
direction so that she wouldn't start carrying out investigations
and you know what that would mean."

"Okay... I understand you."

"Good... So, please, get down with her tonight."

"Ha! Not tonight o! Tonight is for you. I'm not cancelling our
appointment because of her. Never! I'm already looking forward
to it."

"Wale, listen to me, I'm ready to forfeit tonight for her. We need
to play safe. Use wisdom nah... See, once you do it with her
tonight, you would have succeeded in confirming what I told her,
so her mind would be at rest... That way, we can enjoy ourselves
to the fullest... Let's meet tomorrow please."

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"Hmmm... Okay... You are right. But tomorrow is too far away!
My mind will not even be with her when I'm doing it. I'll have to
imagine that you are the one, even though she's not as good as
you are. She would just lie down like a log of wood! So
irritating! Chai! Baby, you are punishing me tonight."

"Don't worry, Sugar... Tomorrow is here already. I can even

come to your office to give you a quick one in the morning."

"Are you serious?" Olawale shouted gleefully.

"I don't make empty promises!" Mrs Alfred reassured him.

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18
Omosolape got down from the bike and surveyed the
environment carefully. She adjusted her face cap well and put on
her black sunshade. Her mother had given her a vivid
description of the location where Adetayo and her husband lived.
The plan was for her to fix herself in a place where she would be
able to access Olawale.

She had three options:

One, get a job at Olawale's office, two, teach in the school
Ebunayomi would be attending and three, work in their house as
a corporate maid. Of all the three options her mother presented
to her, Omosolape preferred to work inside Olawale's office but
if that would not work, she would apply as a corporate maid in
their house, since they had not gotten any other maid since her
mother, Alake left the couple's house unannounced.

Her mother agreed with her choice. All she wanted was for her
to become the wife that would unseat Adetayo and take over
Olawale's empire. She knew her daughter could do it.
Omosolape, being a very smart lady had her own personal
strategies she would use to penetrate the family.
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First of all, she needed to secure an accommodation, close to the

family, so she could monitor them for a while before she would
carry out her plan.

After about two weeks of searching, she finally got a 'one room'
apartment, not too far from Adetayo's house. She moved in and
from there, she started her undercover mission.
She noticed that Adetayo was always the first to leave home,
after which her husband would follow suit. They both drove past
her house every morning in their different cars... She wondered
where the couple usually kept their baby because she had never
seen a baby in Adetayo's car each time she drove by...

So one day, Omosolape left her house very early, around 6:45am.
She headed for the couple's house and stayed at a distance, not
too far from their home to see the exact time Adetayo would be
leaving home and probably get to know if they had a maid that
was taking care of Ebunayomi already. She used her face cap to
cover her face, in order to conceal her identity.

Very soon, Adetayo came out of her house with her baby and
headed straight to Mrs Alfred's house. She has been keeping
Ebunayomi in her house since she resumed from her postpartum
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leave... Mrs Alfred had told her not to bother wasting her money
on a daycare centre, as she was always available at home to take
care of the child. Adetayo had gladly agreed to the arrangement
because she felt her mind would be at peace with Ebunayomi in
Mrs Alfred‟s place, rather than a day care centre.

"Oh... So, she keeps the child with her neighbour everyday... I
see!" Omosolape nodded. "I'll start out with my first plan soon."
She assured herself.

*****
Since the time Adetayo had been keeping Ebunayomi with Mrs
Alfred, she wasn't bothered about the safety of her child. She
trusted Mrs Alfred so much that she preferred her son being with
her than any other care giver, not knowing that Mrs Alfred has
not been looking after her child the way she expected.

Once Adetayo leaves for work, Mrs Alfred would simply give
Ebunayomi some syrup that made him sleep for hours.

"I cannot come and kill myself over one child that is not my own.
Sleep well till your mama comes." She would always say...

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Because Ebunayomi had always been on sleeping drugs, he

became less active and he was growing thinner also. That was
because since Ebunayomi was always aslsep, Mrs Alfred would
feed him only once or twice before his mother would return
from work.

Adetayo started suspecting that something was wrong with her

child. She told her husband about it, when she noticed
Ebunayomi slept too much and was less active unlike before.
Also, he had started trying to raise his head while lying down
but suddenly everything relapsed.

"Sleeping is a sign of good health, I believe. As long as he is not

having a high temperature, he is not restless, he is not stooling,
he sleeps well... I don't think anything is wrong with the baby."
Olawale had replied.

"Yes, you are right but he used to be very active and if you look
at him closely, he's gradually losing weight. I'm just worried... I
hope he doesn't have any underlying health condition."

"Well, as for being active, children change, I believe... As they

grow older and attain different milestones, they change, but for
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the weight loss, I don't know what could have accounted for that.
I think you should take him to the hospital for a check-up so as
to be sure that he's in a perfect condition."

"Okay... I will do that definitely." Adetayo concurred.

She would have mentioned the issue to Mrs Alfred but she did
not want to sound like an ingrate to her, since the child was
always in her custody; so she kept mute about the matter. She
proposed in her heart to visit the hospital the following weekend
but unfortunately, her boss summoned all the members of staff
at her branch to an impromptu meeting that Saturday, so she had
to postpone her hospital appointment since she already had
another function to attend on Sunday.

*****
Ajiun rose from her bed in the midnight and brought out a
covered calabash inside the cupboard in her room.

"Now, it is time... I am ready to accomplish the mission my

mother failed to do before she passed on... Ebunayomi, omo
Adetayo (Ebunayomi, the child of Adetayo), you came to this

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world with a very great glory... Your star is meant to shine than
that of anyone in your lineage but you came through the wrong
family! Hahahaha!" She laughed and continued, "You cannot be
shining alone when other children in your father's house would
be slaving... No! It's forbidden! We are meant to be equal...

Ebunayomi, omo Adetayo, bi mo se n pe o ni ko ma je mi o!

(Ebunayomi, the son of Adetayo, I bid you to answer me as I
call!)"

She called out his name thrice and said some incantations. The
image of Ebunayomi's head appeared right inside the calabash.
"Good! Kaabo! (Welcome)! Now listen to me, I called you to do
just one thing and I command you to obey me. I hereby
exchange your glory. Henceforth, your destiny is no longer your
own... They named you Ebunayomi, (My Gift of Joy) but you
will not live up to that name. You will become an object of
shame and reproach to your parent.

You will not give your mother peace of mind and wherever you
get to, there will no longer be peace in such a place... Your life
will be full of troubles till your mother regrets the day she gave
birth to you… I seize your glory into this calabash and as long
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as you live, no one born of man or woman will be able to

retrieve your glory back to you... You will live a meaningless
life till the day of your death. So shall it be!"
She said some incantations again and closed the calabash.

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19
Adetayo picked Ebunayomi the next Saturday and drove to their
family hospital. Fortunately for her, the doctor was on duty.
Olawale did not go with her; he gave her an excuse that they
would be taking an inventory of goods at his office but he
actually had an appointment with Mrs Alfred. They had agreed
to meet at their usual spot... The hotel was far away from home,
so they both felt comfortable using it.

The doctor took his time to check Ebunayomi thoroughly after

she had listened to his mother's complaint and every other thing
she noticed about the child. She ran some tests too and asked
Adetayo to wait a little while for the results.

The doctor later summoned Adetayo to her office.

"Welldone doctor," Adetayo greeted her as she entered into the

doctor's office again, holding Ebunayomi in her hands.

"Thanks, Mrs Makinde. Please, do have your seat... "So, from

the results of the tests here, it shows that your son is okay... We
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did a Widal test; blood test and two other ones... Let me not just
bore you with stories; your son is not sick but he has been taking
some high doses of sedatives even at this young age. This has
accounted for his dull mood, inactiveness and loss of weight."

"What! Doctor, what do you mean by the word sedative? Is it

the same meaning I know of or there is another meaning for that
word?" Adetayo asked with a shaky voice.

"The same meaning you know, madam... Your son has been
given drugs to make him sleep and I guess this has been
happening on a daily basis... Thank God you are even proactive
enough to bring him here earlier. If you had failed to do so, his
brain might definitely shut down completely."

Adetayo's head was spinning around as she tried to process the

information the doctor was dishing out to her. "Doctor, I do not
give my son any sleeping drug or whatever. I have never done
that before!" She cried.

"Madam, I understand... Only one explanation can be given for

this... Whatever drug your child has been given was given by
whoever you have been keeping your child with every other day.
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So, I'll advise you carry out a proper investigation about this and
act fast. Don't keep your child in that place anymore. Look for
another school. The life of your child is in the hands of whoever
is handling him."

"Doctor, it's not even a school! The person is my neighbour. I

keep Ebunayomi with her every day because I trusted her. She
has been like a god mother to him ever since he was born! Ye!
I'm in trouble!" Adetayo stamped her foot on the floor.

She looked at her son again. He was just looking at the floor
absentmindedly. Tears gathered in her eyes as she watched her
once active child becoming a shadow of his former self.

"Ebun, please forgive me! I trust people too much. I have

exposed you to danger with my own hands!" She wept. "Doctor,
please I hope no damage has been done to his brain yet. Please,
the way he's looking so dull and pale these days is scaring me."
.
"No harm done yet, ma. That was why I thank God you are
sensitive enough to bring him in good time. All he needs right
now is just good food, good sleep, without taking any drugs…
I‟ll just prescribe some vitamins for him to take... I'll write the
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prescription for you so that you can get them at the pharmacy...
Within a few days from now, you will watch him bounce back
to his normal self. Please, ensure you breastfeed him more... I
mean more of breast milk than the artificial baby formula. It will
help him to bounce back."

"Okay... Thank you doctor! Thank you o! Kai! Humans cannot

be trusted! What height of wickedness! A woman I trusted so
much with my entire life!"

"Trust no one, ma'am. The wickedness of the heart of man is

great. If you do not have the spirit of discernment, you would
make your arch enemy your best friend." The doctor said as she
wrote down the prescription.

"Hmmm... Deep words! I really trust people too much. It was

the same weakness that almost finished my mother before she
learnt her lessons in a hard way when she was growing old
already." Adetayo found herself reliving her past.

After she left the doctor's office, she went straight to the
Pharmacy to get the prescribed drugs, then headed home. She
breastfed her son for a while, gave him the vitamins and laid
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him on his bed. Soon, he slept off. Adetayo headed straight to

Mrs Alfred's house. Her children told her their mother was not at
home, so she left her house and went back home.

She dialled her husband's number to give him the shocking

feedback of her visit to the hospital but he didn't pick his calls.
After trying few more times, she gave up and decided to let the
matter wait till he would return from work, not knowing that
Mrs Alfred and her husband were having a nice time together.

"As for you, Mrs Alfred, you will come back and meet me! I
swear to God, you will pay dearly for this evil act of yours! You
will definitely pay for it!" She swore in anger.

*****
Omosolape dressed in a smart casual attire and she set out for
the showroom of Olawale's company. She had gotten the
location of his biggest show room in town. That was where
Olawale's office was. He only visited the other two smaller
branches once in a while...

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Omosolape got to the showroom in no time. She moved around

to check the prices of their items... The staff were polite and
customer friendly. After moving around for a while, she
approached one of the sales attendants.

"Good afternoon, bros." She greeted. "Please, is the M.D

around?"

"You mean the boss; the owner of this place?" The guy asked.

"Yes please."

"No... He is not on seat at the moment."

"Oh... I see. When is he likely to be on seat please?"

"I hope all is well?" The guy probed.

“All is well sir.”

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"Is it official or personal? I mean your reason for wanting to see

him."

"Let's say it is both... I actually need a job... Like, I'm seriously

in need of a job right now." Omosolape replied him.

"Really? Such a beautiful lady like you wants to work here? Are
you not a graduate?"

"Of course, I am... I can do any kind of work... If it's the account
section, I can work there and if it's the casual work of a sales
attendant like you, I'm ready to do it."

"Wow! Well, I don't know if Oga (the boss) is in need of hands

at the moment but you can come on Monday morning to try your
luck. He does not usually come here on weekends, except for
once in a while. So, come on Monday morning. Anytime from
10am, you will meet him here.

"Okay. Thank you so very much for this information. I'm so

grateful."

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"You are welcome." The guy replied while Omosolape took her
leave.

She stopped a taxi that would take her home.

"It's gradually taking shape... Very soon, I will become the wife
of the owner of this big outfit. I'll become the madam.
Omosolape, you are coming into wealth soon. Your name will
work for you." She smiled broadly as she settled on the seat in
the taxi and admired the showroom she just left before the taxi
zoomed off.

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20
Olawale finally returned home around past 9pm in the evening.
Mrs Alfred had left the hotel room first. That was how they
usually arranged it. One of them would leave first and go ahead
while the other person would wait for about thirty minutes or an
hour before leaving too; just to cover up their immoral affair so
that no one would suspect them.

As Olawale drove towards his house, he started hearing some

noise coming out from Mrs Alfred's apartment. He wondered
what could have happened. He anxiously drove into his
compound and without even saying hello to his wife first, he
went straight to Mrs Alfred's house. The noise got louder... It
was obvious that there was a small crowd there.

"One of us would die today! You want to kill my child. What

did I do to you, this evil woman? Why are you wicked? E jo, e
gba mi ooo! (People, please save me!) My child must not suffer
in vain." Olawale heard someone shouting at the top of her voice.

"Why is this person sounding like Tayo? But Tayo cannot be

this crazy! What could have even happened that would warrant
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her to say words like this? It could not be my wife." Olawale

said in his mind as he approached Mrs Alfred's house.

He heard the voices of some people talking excitedly in the

compound. At last, with quick strides, eager to unravel the
puzzle ahead of him, he arrived at Mrs Alfred's compound. He
needed to save her from whoever was harassing her and
constituting such a nuisance in her house. Olawale was shocked
when the security light in Mrs Alfred's compound revealed his
wife's face. His earlier suspicion was eventually true.

She held her son with one hand and held on to Mrs Alfred's
cloth with the other hand while some neighbours tried to
separate them.

"Tayo, what are you doing here? And why are you screaming
like this?" Olawale barked at her.

"Ha! My husband is back! Thank God!" She released her grip on

Mrs Alfred and walked to her husband. "Sweetheart, I have tried
your number several times but you failed to pick it."

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"Let's leave that for now. What's going on here?" Olawale tried
to put up some boldness. He hoped his wife hadn't found out
about his secret sexual escapades with their neighbour.

"I visited the hospital today and the cause of Ebunayomi's

sudden body changes was revealed."

"Okay... What did the doctor say?"

"She told me, based on the result of the tests she did, the medical
report showed that Ebunayomi has been given a constant daily
overdose of sleeping drugs for many weeks now... And that if
not that I was sensitive enough to bring him for a check-up, the
unthinkable would have happened!"

"Na wa ooo! I still find this hard to process!" Somebody among

the other neighbours exclaimed, interrupting Adetayo.

"She will pay dearly for her actions!" Adetayo screamed again.
"She's the only one I keep my child with. Asides my husband,
she's the only one that has access to my child!"

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Mrs Alfred was crying... Despite all Adetayo was saying, she
was pleading gently that she was innocent of the accusation.

"Woman, will you keep quiet for once?" Olawale shouted at his
wife. "At least, I am here, you should allow me to talk!"

"I will not keep quiet! What are you telling me? We are talking
about a whole child here! My child! I am highly disappointed at
you! I expected you to stand for your child and defend him."

"I'm not saying I won't defend my child! We have to take things

easy. Yes, the doctor has given you a report, you couldn't have
concluded on your own that it is this woman that perpetrated the
evil." Olawale replied and faced their other neighbours, "Or
what do you people think? Someone offered to be of help to us
to take care of our baby. She volunteered to do so out of her
passion for the boy and she has been taking care of him. Before
one could accuse someone who has been that kind to you, one
has to be very careful. Patience is needed to get to the root of the
matter."

"Hmmmm..." The other neighbours sighed, not knowing who to

support.
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"Olawale! That is all you can say? Tell me, where else do we
keep this child? Who else have access to him whenever we are
not around him? Please answer my questions!"

"Tayo, I'm not saying we wouldn't investigate this matter. I'm

just saying we should patiently approach the issue so that we
would not have accused an innocent person. We are neighbours,
remember! Once this beautiful relationship we have with each
other is ruined, then it's ruined forever, so let's be careful."

"I don't care if it's ruined forever! My child is my life, my future,

my everything. Every other relationship comes after him. You
are such a disappointment and Ebunayomi will be disappointed
in you in future if he later heard the story of how you couldn't
stand up for him when his right was abused!"

“I didn't give him anything! Believe me, I take care of him like
my own child.” Mrs Alfred pleaded in tears again.

"Will you shut up, woman! See, I am not moved by your

crocodile tears... You might be using that to attract pity from my
husband or any other person here but for me, that joker would
not work! It would not! Don't worry! I know what to do!"
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Adetayo said on a final note and stormed angrily out of the

compound with her son.

Adetayo made the house hot for Olawale that night.

"You are not a good father and I'm so disappointed with the way
you handled that issue out there! Wale, I will never forget this
role you played in the life of our son!" She kept ranting...

"Will you keep quiet and allow me to have peace?" Olawale

thundered at her when he could no longer bear the incessant
ranting from his wife.

"I will not keep quiet! I will not! When it comes to my child, I
would not give you peace. Who gets peace in the midst of a
storm? Where would you get that? This is a storm and until it is
over, you will not have peace in this house!"

"Then, you get ready to go back to your parents' house... Oh you

are an orphan, so get ready to leave my house and carry your
storm to wherever you so desire, since you do not want peace."

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"Olawale, what did you just say?"

"I believe you aren't deaf!"

"Ha! Let me assume it wasn't you that just spoke now. Maybe
they once did a surgery on your head when you were young,
which makes you to utter irrelevant words once in a while. Just
maybe!"

"Are you normal? Whose head was operated? You better watch
your tongue tonight!" Olawale warned her.

"Wale, if you are not insane, if they have not sutured your head
in the past, you wouldn't be choosing a neighbour over your own
son! You were expected to stand up for your son but you were
behaving like a vegetable over there! You are not a man! I
thought I got married to one!"

"I'm giving you the last warning! Watch your tongue, woman!"

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"Or else you would do what? Beat me? Good, beat me for her.
It's not enough that you couldn't stand for your son, now you
want to beat me for an ordinary neighbour. Beat me and make
your madness complete, useless man!" She hissed and walked to
the bedroom. "Don't worry, I'll assume my son does not have a
father, I'll take up this matter myself!" She said on a final note
and slammed the bedroom door.

On Monday morning, Adetayo did not go to work. She had sent

a message to her boss in the early hours of the morning that her
son was weak and she needed to take care of him. She had a
plan and she needed to execute the plan very soon.

*****
That same morning, Mrs Alfred just had her bath. She changed
into a light wear and sat in front of the T.V in her bedroom to
watch her favourite show. She was free for that day since
Ebunayomi would not be with her. She had laughed at Adetayo's
stupidity the night she had confronted her. Her crocodile tears
had attracted sympathy from Olawale and their other neighbours.
Now, Adetayo was the wicked person who has shown to be an
ingrate.

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Mrs Alfred hissed as she remembered all that happened that

night…
"Idiot, are you paying me to be a nanny? What is wrong with
giving a child drugs to make him sleep. Some mothers do it once
in a while…. I only doubled the dose and I gave him every day
because the child is too active. He wouldn't allow me to rest!
Should I die because of another woman‟s child? Foolish
woman… If you give me too much stress, I‟ll have to delete you
totally so that I can have your husband all to myself, since you
are not willing to cooperate."

There was a knock on her door. She checked the time, it was
11am. "Who could that be? I don't have an appointment with
anyone." She wondered.

She walked to the living room and opened the door. Adetayo
barged in with two hefty police officers behind her.

"Officers, here is the woman. Please do your job!"

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21
"What? Mrs Makinde! You want to arrest me?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? You don't know anything.
You think you can just cheat on my child's right and go scot free?
If you have been doing it to others before, mine would be an
exception! Officers, please get her arrested!"

"Madam, you are under arrest. When you get to the station, you
can write down your statement."

"I am not guilty of this offence!" Mrs Alfred pleaded.

"You are not the one to tell us whether you are guilty or not. We
will be the one to determine that." One of the police men replied.

Mrs Alfred was bundled into the police can waiting outside her
apartment. Adetayo was resolute on teaching Mrs Alfred a
lesson. She would stop at nothing to get justice for her child.

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Mrs Alfred was allowed to contact her people before her phone
was later collected from her. She contacted Olawale and
explained to him that his wife had gotten her arrested. She had
sent him a message after she had tried his number and it wasn't
getting through.

*****
Omosolape got dressed in a smart orange shirt and black skirt.
She allowed her long dark hair to dangle freely on her shoulder.
She was tall, slim and graceful in appearance. She was a good
looking lady at twenty six... She checked out herself in her
mirror again. Satisfied with her look, she sprayed her perfume
and put on her black heel sandals.

She wanted to meet Olawale that morning and she wanted to

appear in her best form. Her mother had told her that she had
prepared the way for her, so it was time for her to go ahead. She
got to Olawale's office and asked to see the Managing Director.
The same guy she saw when she came two days ago saw her.

"Oh! You are back this morning." He greeted her.

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"Yes sir. Please, is he around?" Omosolape asked eagerly.

"Yes. He is around but he is busy with some high profile

customers in his office at the moment, so you have to wait or
better still, you can see the manager; I mean the man that is in
charge of staff recruitment."

"No please, I will prefer to see the M.D himself. What if the
manager says they don't need someone. I really desire to work
here." Omosolape replied.

"Okay then... You have to be patient."

About thirty five minutes later, the M.D came out with those
people he was in a meeting with... Omosolape quickly stood up
at the corner where she sat.

"Hey you! Call me the manager!" Olawale said to one of the

boys. They all waited till the manager came around while
Omosolape watched them from afar. She was close to the
entrance of the showroom.

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As soon as the manage came out, Olawale gave him some

directives and he started walking towards the entrance of the
building, close to where Omosolape was waiting. He saw her
standing there and approached her,

"Hello madam! How may I be of help please?" The manager

asked her politely.

"Good day sir... Actually, it's the M.D I want to see."

Omosolape replied.

"Oh... Is he aware that you are coming? Do you have an

appointment with him?"

"No sir. I'll be meeting him for the first time today."

"Really? Is it official? We can attend to you."

"It's more of personal sir..."

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"She's actually looking for a job." The guy Omosolape spoke

with earlier interrupted her.

"Looking for a job? We don't have any vacancy here!" The

manager said.

"That is why I want to see the M.D sir. I wish to work here in
any capacity; even if it's a casual job, I don't mind." Omosolape
pleaded.

Olawale and his guests were already approaching the entrance at

that time...

"I said there is no vacancy here, Miss. Even if you get to see the
M.D, he would still have to refer you to me. I am the one in
charge of staff recruitment in this company and presently, there's
no vacancy; whether casual or non-casual job."

"What's going on here?" Olawale demanded before Omosolape

could react.

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"Sir, she said she needs a job and I'm just explaining to her that
we don't have a job vacancy for now." The manager said,
pointing to Omosolape.

Olawale observed her for a while and said, "Let her wait for me.
I'll be right back." He led his guests out of the building while
Omosolape sat back on her chair happily.

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22
Few minutes later, Olawale was back.

"You can bring the young lady to my office." He instructed one

of his attendants.

Omosolape was glad to hear that she would finally get to meet
Olawale in person. Her permutations were gradually falling into
place.

She followed the guy to Olawale's office. After she had entered,
the guy left.

"Yes, you can have your seat." Olawale said to her.

"Thank you sir." Omosolape curtseyed in gratitude.

"Your name is?"

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"Adediwura Omosolape."

"Okay... Which of them is your name; Wura or Solape? The two

names sound feminine to me."

"You are right sir but Adediwura is actually my surname.

Omosolape is my name."

"I see... Okay... I learnt you are in need of a job."

"Yes sir. I am seriously in need of that job and I really desire to

work here sir."

"Okay... Your qualification?"

"B.Sc Accounting sir."

"Wow! Great! So, why did you come looking for job in this
outfit when there are many white collar jobs out there?"

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"Well, I felt there might be a vacancy in your Accounts section

and if not, I might as well be a sales attendant. I'm tired of job
hunting. I'm just so desperate to get employed. I can also fit into
the role of a P.A sir. I can discharge my duties with all
efficiency and carry out instructions effectively."

"Hmmmm... Now that you talked about it, I think I'll create that
office already. I need a P.A and I think I like your person. Let
me have your C.V please."

"Okay sir." Omosolape replied gleefully. As she rummaged

through the folder she was holding to get her C.V, Olawale's
phone beeped. It was the message from Mrs Alfred that came in.

"What!!!!" Olawale screamed out in shock while Omosolape

shivered wondering what the problem was all about.

"Please, excuse me! I need to attend to something urgent."

Olawale said and then, dialled his wife's number immediately,

"Adetayo! What the hell did you just do? Are you normal at all?
How could you??? You got Mrs Alfred arrested without my
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permission? Now, listen! Before I close and open my eyes, go

back to that police station now and bail that woman, otherwise
the unexpected will happen to you!" He fumed over the phone.

*****
Alake was monitoring her daughter's movement that morning
with her mirror. She watched everything that was happening
right from where she sat in her room. When Olawale received
the call from his wife and he spoke angrily to her, she wondered
what could have transpired between them that could warrant
such a reaction from him.

She made a mental note to switch over to Adetayo's location

after her daughter's meeting with Olawale in order to know what
exactly was happening to the couple.

"Olawale ooo! mo pe o l'eekan si! (Olawale!!! I call you one

more time)! I decree that henceforth, let all your heart desires be
towards my daughter, Omosolape. Let all she does please you.
You begin to desire to see her always. Let everything about her
appeal to you; no other woman including your wife will occupy
your heart. Only my daughter, Omosolape will always be your
heart desire. You won't sleep until you see her. Whatever she
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does is right in your eyes. You will never go after any other
woman until you finally make Omosolape your wife! So shall it
be!" Alake pronounced.

"I'm really sorry for the interruption." Olawale apologized. He

held his forehead and grunted.

"I hope all is well sir?" Omosolape asked.

"Oh... Not at all... I'm fine... I guess it's just stress." Olawale
replied. He fixed his gaze on Omosolape and continued looking
at her with admiration till Omosolape started feeling
uncomfortable.

"Solape, has anyone told you how beautiful you are before? I'm
enthralled with everything about you; especially this black,
natural hair of yours."

"Thank you sir. I'm really honoured by your words." Omosolape

replied, glad that her mother's spell was already working.

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"Okay... Like I said earlier, I'll like to create the office of a

Personal Assistant and I am quite sure you will fit into that role
perfectly."

"Oh! Very well sir. Hundred percent!" Omosolape assured him.

"Good! So, you can resume tomorrow."

"Really??? Thank you so much sir!" Omosolape replied

excitedly.

"You don't care to know your remuneration?" Olawale smiled.

"I know it will be a good one." Omosolape replied.

"What if it isn't good enough? Would you reject the offer?"

"Oh! Not at all! I'll definitely start from somewhere."

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"Alright then... Let's say... Ermmmm... You are a young lady,

you don't have much responsibility, let me start with One
Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira for you."

Omosolape could not believe her ears. "What??!!!" She

whispered in unbelief, mixed with excitement... "Six figure
salary???"

"Yeah... But I want you to keep your lips sealed about this,
okay... Even my Manager, a married man whom you saw earlier
on earns a Hundred Thousand Naira per month; meaning your
salary will be above his own. I just want to make you feel happy,
that is why I'm giving you this offer."

"Wow! Thank you so very much sir! I'm so delighted right now!
I will not abuse this opportunity, I promise."

"Alright... So, see you tomorrow right? Resumption time is

8:00am. Don't be late. I'll instruct the manager to take you to
your office."

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"Sure! I'll definitely be here before that time sir." Omosolape

replied and skipped excitedly out of the office.

Her mother has indeed introduced her to a good life. She has
never in her wildest dreams imagined earning that kind of salary
and above all, she would become the madam of Olawale
Makinde's empire very soon. She couldn't contain her joy. She
placed a call through to her mother immediately she got out of
the office building.

"Maami! Mo ti r'owo yin! (Mum, I have seen your hand)!"

"O kare, omo mi! Abiyamo gidi l'emi... (Welldone, my daughter!

I'm a good mother)... I'm with you on this journey and I will
make sure you get the best of things in this life."

"Maami, you are the best! I have been asked to resume

tomorrow."

"Good! He has no choice."

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"My salary with be 120k!" Omosolape announced joyfully.

"You haven't seen anything my daughter. By the time you take

over from that rascal at home, you will enjoy more money!"

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23
Alake switched her monitoring mirror over to where Adetayo
was... She found her frantically pacing around in her room,
trying to put a call through to someone... Alake listened
carefully to her conversation over the phone,

"Hello! Ejiro! A serious fire is burning in my home presently...

You know the woman I told you about yesterday; that has been
drugging my son to sleep, that neighbour of mine... I got her
arrested this morning..."

"Ha! Tayo... You should have just overlooked this matter nah,
since she has been exposed already and thank God your son is
still alive, you should have allowed sleeping dogs to lie, for the
sake of peace in your neighbourhood... At least, you once said
this woman has been nice to you and your family."

"Ejiro, I can't let sleeping dogs lie, just like that! For her to do
this, then I believe her niceness was never genuine in the first
place. Who knows if she was even after my son's life; maybe she
has been pretending all along. I need to teach her a lesson so that
she wouldn't think she can just get away with it!"
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"Hmmm... But I feel you should have just allowed God to be the
judge. Sincerely, this is not going to be good for your reputation
in your neighbourhood."

"See, Ejiro, nothing is wrong with my reputation... And I'm not

allowing God to be the judge. God does not fight for His own, if
He does, He wouldn't have allowed my mother to die when she
did. Just forget it... What I even called you for is a different
matter... Do you know my husband just called me and
threatened that I should go to the police station right away and
grant that woman's bail."

"Really? Haha??? I don't understand. Your husband is not in

support of the woman's arrest? Meaning you didn't carry him
along before you executed that action?"

"Why would I carry him along? Someone that was even against
the fact that I went to confront the woman. If I had carried him
along about the arrest, he wouldn't have supported it."

"Na wa o! You are just creating more problems for yourself,

Tayo. If you know what is good for you and you want peace in
your home, you better obey your husband."
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"So, you are also supporting him right? You don't see anything
wrong in what my husband is saying?"

"Why would I support you, Tayo? If I support you to go against

your husband's wish, then it means I am a fake friend and I don't
want your marriage to stand but I love you and I want your
home to be in peace; so please don't let the issue of this woman
cause a problem between you and your husband. That's my own
piece of advice."

"Okay... I'll think about it and get back to you."

Alake laughed at what she just witnessed... "This is so good!

The tree we are trying to plant has sprouted out itself. This
misunderstanding is an avenue for me to cause a separation
between you two... Adetayo, the daughter of Iyiola! Your heart
is hardened against your husband's wish. Henceforth, the spirit
of stubbornness takes over you until you lose your place in that
home. Nothing you do will please your husband anymore and
there will be no more peace in that home until my daughter takes
over!"

******
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Adetayo refused to drop the charges against Mrs Alfred, despite

all her husband's threats. Their home which used to be a happy
and peaceful place virtually became a battle field... The two
were always fighting... Olawale went to visit Mrs Alfred at the
police station and he promised her that he would ensure her
release very soon. Mrs Alfred couldn't contact her husband.
They have not been in good terms since she started her extra
marital affair with Olawale...

After several pleas from neighbours, Adetayo reluctantly agreed

to drop the charges against Mrs Alfred. The neighbours had
pleaded to her to consider Mrs Alfred's kids who have been
trying to survive on their own for the past one week that their
mother has been trapped in the police net.

Things never remained the same between Adetayo and her

husband, ever since. Apart from Adetayo‟s stubbornness
towards Mrs Alfred's issue, the presence of Omosolape in
Olawale's life has dissolved his love for Adetayo. He had
professed love to Omosolape, few days after she resumed work
and she had accepted right away.

Olawale and his wife no longer shared any intimacy. Adetayo

still nursed a serious anger against her husband for the role he
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played in the case of their son with Mrs Alfred while Olawale
was infuriated by her stubbornness and lack of submission to his
orders.

Olawale and Mrs Alfred still met once in a while for their sexual
escapades but it was no longer as frequent as it used to be.
Omosolape had taken over the heart of Olawale, such that he
found it difficult to commit himself to any other person... At
least once in every week, he spent the night at Omosolape's
place. The love between the both of them was growing rapidly.
Mrs Alfred on the other hand wasn't yet aware about Olawale's
relationship with Omosolape... She thought Olawale was
avoiding her because of the conflict between her and his wife.

Adetayo registered Ebunayomi at a Daycare center near her

place of work. It was easy for her to drop him when going to
work and to pick him when coming back home... When
Ebunayomi clocked two, Adetayo registered him at pre-school.
The school was close to their estate. Ebunayomi stayed with one
of their neighbours after school hours before his mother would
return from work to take him home.

At school, Ebunayomi became a serious bully. He beat all his

colleagues at school to the extent that they all started avoiding
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him. The day he used his fork to injure one of his classmates, the
school management had to summon his mother. Adetayo
apologized to the parents of the child involved in the accident
and things went back to normal.

A week after, Ebunayomi used the sharp mouth of his pencil to

pierce the skin of one of his friends and blood gushed out of the
girls arm. This time around, the school made his parents to sign
an undertaking that if any incident like such happened again,
they would have to withdraw their child from the school.

The same events happened at the neighbour's house where

Ebunayomi usually stayed after school hours. The woman had to
tell Adetayo one day that she couldn't cope with her child's
violent nature any longer. Adetayo pleaded with her to give her
time but the woman refused.

"Is it until he kills one of my daughters? Madam, I don't want

trouble. The father of my girls must not even hear that I'm
harbouring such a bully in my house!"

Adetayo was pained... She didn't know how else to handle her
son's matter. Ebunayomi was gradually becoming a terror to
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others and a thorn in her flesh, even at a young age. She walked
home with a heavy heart. Her mind was wandering around. She
didn't know what was happening to her child. She felt it was
highly abnormal for a child of 2 years plus to be violent in this
manner.

Olawale got to know about the girl whose arm Ebunayomi

pierced with his pencil through Ebunayomi's teacher. He got
home that evening and shouted at his wife,

"You can see that your son has inherited your stubbornness and
violent nature. We are not violent like this in our own family.
When it is time, you will carry that useless child of yours to his
father because I am definitely not the father of such a violent
child!" He threatened and left the house to spend the night at
Omosolape's place as usual.

Adetayo burst into tears...

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24
A year later...
Ebunayomi was later withdrawn from his school because he got
into a fight with one of his class mates and the boy was badly
wounded. The parents of the boy didn't take the matter lightly
and so, during the PTA meeting at the school, ninety percent of
the parents supported the fact that Ebunayomi was a threat to the
safety of their kids.

Some of them even threatened to withdraw their kids if

Ebunayomi remained in that school. The management had to
take a decision in order to save the good will of the school.
Ebunayomi's parents were asked to withdraw their son, so that
the peace of other learners would not be threatened.

*****
Omosolape had gotten pregnant for Olawale. The pregnancy
was already five months old. Olawale had assured Omosolape
that he would kick out his wife and bring her in... The process
was too slow for Omosolape, so she had to consult her mother
about it. She placed a call through to her one evening,

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"Maami, Wale has said he would kick out his wife and bring me
in but it's taking so long. I don't want to take chances."

"Solape, I'm solidly behind you. I'm already preparing

something. Don't worry, the news will get to you soon. Tayo
would leave that house completely and you would take over."

"Are you sure maami?"

"Haha?? Have I ever disappointed you? Don't bother yourself;

just eat well, rest well and stay strong for yourself and your baby.
You will see the result of my action very soon."

"I trust you, maami. I know you will not let me down."

******
One midnight, Olawale woke up from his sleep panting hard. He
just had a terrible nightmare. Adetayo was trying to strangle him
in the dream. He struggled for his life until he woke up.

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"What sort of evil dream is this? Tayo, trying to kill me?" He

asked himself.

He pondered on the dream for a while before he went back to

sleep. He no longer slept in the same room with his wife; they
had separated their bedroom for a long time.

The next morning, Olawale left home and went straight to his
office. Of late, he has developed a very irritating attitude
towards his wife. She was no longer attractive to him. Their
intimacy has gone down the drain. The only item they ever
talked about was their son, Ebunayomi and since the time the
school management has asked them to withdraw him, he no
longer delighted in his son. Every day, he looked forward to the
time Omosolape's pregnancy would come to full term and he
would welcome his son; a better child than Ebunayomi in his
own words...

The dream he had about Adetayo, his wife disturbed him. After
the first one, he had two other dreams again within the space of
two weeks. In one, Adetayo was pursuing him with a dagger in
her hand while in the other one, she had pushed him into a big
river. As he tried to swim to safety in order to survive, he

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couldn't. Adetayo kept laughing at him till he woke up. He had

to consult one of his friends for advice.

"Why does she want me dead?" Olawale lamented to his friend.

"You don't know anything… It‟s obvious that she‟s possessed...

I am hundred percent sure that she is already aware of your
relationship with Omosolape and therefore she wants to finish
you before you would finish her. That is the truth my brother."

"Wait... Are you suggesting that my wife has probably gone

fetish on me?"

"Yes or she is even a witch herself... If she's not one, why has
she been pursuing you around in your dream? You have to be
very careful with her. If you would have to bring Solape to your
house, then she must leave; must in capital letters."

"Ha! What have I gotten myself into? Do you know I should

have suspected this girl a long time ago?"

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Really? Why?"

"Person wey no dey go church! As you see her so, she no even
believe in God. (Someone that doesn't go to church. She doesn't
even believe in God.)"

"Really?"

"I'm telling you the fact, my brother... When I first met her, she
coded everything for me. She was attending one church like
that... It was in that church of hers that we had our wedding...
After we got married, I noticed that I usually force her to pray
but as time went on, my own zeal for God also fizzled out... Me
that I'm not standing firm before; I thought my spouse would
help me but I guess she influenced me indirectly with her
lackadaisical attitude towards God... Later, she told me she
doesn't believe in God anymore because of something that
happened to her, bla bla bla... It's a long story sha... Well, since
the first year of our marriage, I have also stopped going to
church. So, you can see that her lifestyle has rubbed off on me.

"Heheee??!!! This is strange! Who doesn't believe in God at this

time? I am sure she's using whatever excuse she gave you to
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cover up. There's nothing you would tell me to make me believe

that she is not possessed."

"I agree with you. She is... Even the child she birthed for me is
nothing to write home about. The boy brings disgrace to me all
the time. Very stubborn and violent; always causing trouble."

"Chei! My brother you are going through a whole lot o! That

woman has to leave for your life to have peace."

"Definitely! She has to but I don't know how to drive her away
because she's not an ordinary person. Won't she harm me really
as I have been seeing in my dreams?"

"Hmmm.... That's true... One has to be careful and discreet about

this... Don't worry. I have a solution. I'll take you to a prophet
that I know very well. He's a powerful man of God. He's going
to fortify and protect you, such that when you decide to chase
her out of the home, she wouldn't be able to harm you or your
new wife."

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25
Olawale agreed to go with his friend to a spiritual house. They
told the prophet that Olawale's wife is a witch and he needs
fortification so that his wife would not be able to harm him by
the time he would throw her out of the house.

The prophet told Olawale that the fortification power is

expensive and so it would cost him Two Hundred Thousand
Naira. Olawale agreed to pay. He transferred the money into the
man's account immediately and the man told him to come back
in seven days time.

"Within those seven days, make sure you do not eat whatever
kind of food she prepares and you must not sleep with her also,
otherwise the preparation I'll be giving to you when you come
back would not work." The man instructed him.

"Okay sir." Olawale agreed.

"The substance I'll be giving you is going to destroy her powers,

so she wouldn't be able to harm you at all."
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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

"Thank you Baba. That is exactly what I want sir."

Olawale and his friend thanked the prophet and left the prophet's
place. Olawale followed the man's instruction. He stopped
eating the food Adetayo prepared in the house.

Adetayo challenged him on the evening of the third day,

"Wale, why haven't you been eating my food? I prepare food for
you every evening but you go straight to bed once you come in.
Same thing in the morning; you would refuse to take breakfast
before leaving; even if it's just to drink the tea and leave the
bread... What's going on?"

"Nothing! I just lost the appetite to eat." He replied her

nonchalantly.

"Really? Okay. No problem." Adetayo simply replied.

She wasn't concerned about whatever was eating him up. Since
the day Olawale told her to take Ebunayomi to his father, she
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had been hurt; the words were so hurtful. She had expected her
husband to apologise but he never did and so she found it
difficult to forgive him.

She carried Ebunayomi who was already asleep into her

bedroom with her and they both slept.

On the evening of the seventh day, Olawale brought home the

substance the prophet gave to him; including some candles. The
prophet told Olawale to pour the substance into his bathing
water and bath with it. The two candles are to be lighted while
he was bathing and he must not leave the bathroom after bathing
until the two candles had been totally burnt. He spent close to
seven hours in the bathroom. He slept off severally and woke up
again. At last, the candles finally melted off and the fire was out.
He left his bathroom and went to bed.

The following morning was Saturday. He called his wife

Adetayo into their living room and told her that he wanted to
have a word with her. Adetayo thought Olawale had finally
realized what he had done wrong and was ready to apologise but
she got the shocker of her life.

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"Tayo, I know this might sound somehow to you but I have

thought about it very carefully and I have come to a reasonable
decision... This decision will favour the both of us and give us
peace."

"Okay... What decision?"

"I want a divorce!"

"A what? Wale, please say that again. I don't seem to understand
you."

"Read my lips, I said I want a divorce!" Olawale repeated

himself.

"Wow! Really? And you think it's that easy? Divorce on what
grounds? What exactly is my offence? You were the one who
offended me by raising a false allegation against me and my
son!" Adetayo protested.

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"There is no offence but we are not compatible. If I keep living

with you in this house, I'll only be spending the rest of my life in
a „bondage like‟ marriage."

"Wow, really! Now, we are suddenly not compatible! I used to

be your everything; your world, your happiness, your love and
your sunshine! Whatever happened to those qualifications?"
Adetayo sighed sadly, tears forming in her eyes.

That which she had feared all her life has finally come to her.
She had always been scared of getting into a union with a man
because of the terrible experiences of her mother and that of the
couples around her and finally, her own marriage was about to
crash too.

"Those periods are gone. I no longer feel the same way I used to
feel for you before... I don't know why but I just realised that the
both of us do not reason alike and we get into misunderstandings
too often than a couple should.

"I see! No problem..." She simply replied.

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"Enh? Thank God oh! Baba's medicine is working. The witch is

not protesting at all." Olawale said within himself.

"You have just three days to move your things out. I'll ask my
lawyer to prepare the documents."

"Three days??? Where exactly do you want me to move to

within three days with a toddler? I don't have any house rented
anywhere for me to stay in!" Adetayo protested.

"See, Tayo, I'm intentionally having it with you in a peaceful

manner; don't let it get to a point when I'll be flinging out your
bags myself! If you cannot get an accommodation in three days,
lodge yourself and your son in a hotel. Don't worry, I'm going to
give you enough money that will help you stay in a hotel till you
get an accommodation to stay on your own.

"Really? Olawale! You want to throw your family away, just

like that! Your wife and your son! You are trying to pay me to
stay off my own marriage? This is unbelievable!"

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Olawale did not respond... He focused his attention on his phone.

After a moment of silence, Adetayo spoke,

"Don't bother about bringing any document from any Lawyer.

I'll just leave you and start my life all over again. I do not have
the energy for court appearances, adjournments, child custody
and the rest." She said and went to her room.

Olawale hit his fist in the air in jubilation. He went to his

bedroom and dialled his friend's number.

"Hello, I swear to God, Baba's concoction worked. I tell you...

She just accepted without raising any dust... I even gave her an
ultimatum of three days! She first of all protested about it but I
told her I'll give her enough money for her to book a hotel room
for as long as she would be staying there till she would get an
accommodation... I tell you, my guy... I couldn't believe the
whole thing would be this easy! All thanks to you bro! Let her
leave before she would kill me abeg. I must not die now. Wale's
mother has not reaped one-third of the fruits of her labour!"
*****
Adetayo got into her room and sat down on her bed, depressed.
"Something is really off about this guy! What's happening?
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What's going on in my marriage? How could my husband

suddenly wake up one morning and request for a divorce? It's
quite abnormal... I'll play along with him and move out of the
house but I will definitely carry out my own investigation. I'll
dig into the root of this matter. I really suspect a foul play
somewhere." She sighed sadly.

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26
Adetayo moved her things out of her husband's house in three
days. She remembered how her mother had left her father‟s
house with her when she was young… Tears trickled down her
face as she recollected the memories…

She was already fed up with all that was happening in her own
marriage. She never really wanted marriage in the first place;
she just thought she could give it a try with Olawale. A week
after she started staying in a hotel room with her son, she got an
accommodation close to her place of work.

Despite the fact that she had moved out of her marriage,
Adetayo was still interested in knowing what would happen next
in Olawale's life. She was a hundred percent sure that another
woman was involved; otherwise, Olawale wouldn't have
abandoned her that way.

She explained all that had happened in her life in the past few
days to her friend, Ejiro... Ejiro was totally surprised and at the
same time highly disappointed in Adetayo. She reprimanded her
seriously,
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"Adetayo, you wouldn't cease to amaze me! Your husband asked

you to leave his house; that he wanted a divorce and you left
him just like that? What sort of a wife does that?? So, there is no
one you could call to beg him on your behalf? You couldn't
involve his mother, sisters or any other person he would listen to!
What sort of a wife does that? Like... Who... Oh my God!" Ejiro
exclaimed over the phone.

"Ejiro, look I'm not ready to start begging a man to stay in his
life... The way I'm looking at it, there is a woman in Olawale's
life already that is dictating her terms and conditions. It's already
glaring that this is not the Olawale I married... So, if a woman is
truly involved (though I will do my findings later in order to be
sure), then I have to leave for real... I have experienced first
hand war in a polygamous home. The memories are still very
fresh. I do not want my son to grow up in the midst of battles the
way I did. No! So, it's better I leave because if I didn't, I'm very
sure he would bring that woman home and I am not ready for
that... I have my job, Ejiro... I am an independent woman. I'll
rather be fine as a single mom, than be married and be fighting
battles.

"Hey God! Tayo, I am so sorry for all you are passing through
right now. I'm really sorry. I just pray God will see you through
this phase of your life. He will carry you through." Ejiro prayed.
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"You and always fixing God in the midst of all our

conversations... I don't have the energy to argue for now but just
leave God out of the whole matter... I have given up on
marriage... Let me just focus my attention on my son."

"Without God, there is no success in this world, Adetayo. You

have to open your heart to Jesus and allow him to fix your life
for you. Let him re-mould you according to His will."

"Enough, Ejiro! I guess I'll have to call you later; excuse me."
Adetayo ended the call.

"Ha! Jesus! Please, save this girl! Let her know that life outside
you is full of troubles. Had it been she knows the Lord, this
entire crisis would not have befallen her." Ejiro lamented as she
rose up from her seat and headed for the kitchen to prepare
dinner before her husband would arrive.

*****
Mrs Alfred and Olawale met at their usual spot the weekend
after Adetayo moved out of her husband's house. Olawale broke

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the news of his wife's departure to Mrs Alfred after they got
done with their bedroom adventure.

"What?!!! How come? She left just like that? How were you
able to do that?"

"Well, I simply told her I was tired of the union and of a truth, I
am! So, I told her I wanted a divorce and gave her an ultimate to
leave within three days."

"And she did?

"Of course! She had no choice! I'm tired of the boring marriage
and I guess she was too."

"Hmmm... Wow! I don't know how to react to this... I mean, is

this not good news? Her departure will make us have more time
with each other!" Mrs Alfred replied as she rubbed Olawale's
chest.

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Olawale sat up and moved to the edge of the bed with his back
against Mrs Alfred and said,

"Baby, I'm sorry it won't happen that way. Just as I ended my

marriage with Adetayo, I'm ending this relationship too... Today
is the last day we are going to be together like this."

"What! What are you talking about, Wale? Hey! Face me, look
at me, what are you trying to say? Did I also offend you or I
have not been giving you the way you want it? Tell me what you
want me to do, please!"

"Baby, you didn't offend me in anyway... It's just that I have

found the love of my life and I will be settling down with her
soon. The lady in question is already carrying my baby and she
will be moving in with me soon."

Mrs Alfred laughed, "Wait... You are joking right? Which love
of your life did you suddenly find? Since when, from where?
Please, stop this joke, my friend!"

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"It's the reality... I've been in a relationship with her for close to
a year already..."

"Hey! Wait! Are you trying to tell me that this is not a joke for
real? Are you kidding me?"

"It's not a joke ... I want to be faithful to my new wife... I don't

want to engage in any other affair... And besides, she's gotten all
I ever want in a woman, unlike Tayo. This lady is everything in
one. Even her bedroom skill is second to none... Please, let's end
it here. You can as well look for another man to be taking care
of your sexual needs."

"Oh really?? So, after sucking me dry, you want to dispose me.
After I had taken care of your sexual urge, which your wife
failed to do, now you know a woman that is better than me! See,
Wale, don't try me o! Don't even go there at all. If I am not done
with this relationship, you cannot be done!" Mrs Alfred replied
angrily.

"It's not possible." Olawale laughed. "It's a free world... A

relationship is not a do or die affair. We started it together; now

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that I'm no longer interested, I am free to make my choice. I

have the right to do so."

"You lie! You are going nowhere. You saw another lady, so you
want to dump me... Dump me to where and for who? See, you
better don't cause trouble for yourself. Just know how you would
be servicing us separately, otherwise there will be trouble!"

"There won't be any trouble anywhere! I have made my stand

known, so it's left to you. Excuse me!" Olawale said. He put on
his cloths and left the hotel room, leaving a shocked Mrs Alfred
behind him.

"Ha! I pity the girl you are bringing to that home. She's playing
with fire. If Olawale is really serious about his decision, then the
family of that lady should get ready to cry over her. I will stop at
nothing to uproot anyone who wants to take Olawale away from
me!"

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27
Omosolape finally achieved her long orchestrated vision; that is,
to be the madam in Olawale's empire. She moved into the house
and they started living together as a couple. The only thing that
remained was to seal the marriage officially. Olawale told his
family already that his marriage with Adetayo had hit the rocks
as she has already moved out of the house.

Adetayo had no one to intervene on her behalf, so it was only

Olawale's family that called to question her about her decision to
leave the marriage. The first person to call her was Omotara,
Olawale's younger sister. She was so shocked to hear the news,
so she dialed Adetayo's number immediately,

"Aunty Tayo! What is this that I'm hearing? You moved out of
your husband's house? For what?" Omotara interrogated.

Adetayo smiled dryly, "Was that the only thing Olawale told
you? That I suddenly moved out of my husband's house, making
it look like I was the one fed up with the marriage, hunh??"

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"That was all he told us... He didn't even give any explanation to
support the reason for your actions; that was why I decided to
call and investigate the matter further."

"Sister Tara, thank you... It was your brother that sat me down
one day and told me that he wanted a divorce. I was really
shocked because I didn't see it coming... Though we have had so
many rough moments for several months, since the time Ebun
was still under one year old but we have been managing to
cope... Later on, I noticed he stopped talking to me... He asked
me to take Ebunayomi to his father because of his violent nature
at school... He stopped spending the night in the house, and so
many other changes...

My sister in-law, many waters have passed under the bridge. I

can't say it all... But one thing I am sure of is that he was tired
about the marriage because there was someone else... I don't
want to force myself to stay in a place where I am no longer
needed, so since he said he wanted a separation, I had to leave...
As you know, I have no one looking out for me in this world, so
I have to take care of myself and my son."

"Ha! And you didn't deem it fit to inform anyone of us about

this. Aunty Tayo, you didn't do well at all."
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"I'm sorry about that but I saw in your brother's eyes that he was
resolute about the matter. He has left that marriage long before
he finally voiced it out. Life is too short than to stay in a place
where I'm not wanted."

"Aunty Tayo, why are you talking like this? It is marriage we

are talking about o! Why do you want to give up just like that?
What happened to prayers? Someone somewhere took captivity
of your husband and you just surrendered to her?"

"My sister, see, your brother is not a baby. I believe the option
he chose suits him the most. How would I be forcing myself on
a man?"

"Jesus! Do you know that not all cases like this are ordinary? It
might be that he wasn't even the one talking; maybe he is under
the influence of some strange powers. You never can tell!"

"That is what I even fear most! See, I have witnessed spiritual

marital battles, live and direct since when I was young; battles
between women in a polygamous home... I came from a home
where wives buried their children to settle scores, so when it
comes to anything spiritual powers or anything diabolical, I run
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for my life. I must not repeat the pattern of my mother. She went
through a lot. I'll rather remain a single mother and live
peacefully than live to fight marital wars."

"Ha! God! This is a serious matter... Where do we even start

from? No problem, I'll call you back, Aunty Tayo." Omotara
said and hanged up.

Omotara and her twin sister, Omotoyosi tried all their best to
talk to their elder brother about his wife but he didn't want to
hear of it. Omotara confirmed her suspicion when her brother
told her that Tayo has become his past and he will be bringing
his new wife to see them soon...

Their mother was indifferent about the whole matter. According

to her, whether, Tayo or another lady, her son should choose the
woman that would give him peace of mind and since he has
decided to choose Solape, she had no problem about it.

*****
Adetayo moved on with her life when she discovered that what
she assumed was right after all. Four months after she left her

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husband's house, Olawale did a low key traditional marriage

with Omosolape… She gave birth shortly after the wedding,
meaning that she was already pregnant for him. It was one of her
neighbours back at the estate which used to be her home that
gave Adetayo all the information... She cried that evening till
she finally slept off. She concluded that she wasn't probably
destined to be with any man, so she decided to face her job and
take care of her son.

Ebunayomi did not change from his violent ways; in fact, it got
worse that in the space of three years after Adetayo had left her
husband's house, she had changed Ebunayomi's school about
five times! There was always a negative complaint about him in
every school he got to...

Someone passed a comment about him one day, not knowing

she was the boy's mother and Adetayo overheard the person. It
was during the school's Christmas party. Ebunayomi had gone to
pull down the Christmas cake that was carefully laid on the high
table when no one was watching. The cake was spoilt that day
and it couldn't serve its purpose.

"What sort of a child is this? Everyone is always complaining

about this boy! It seems the mother probably went to beg for the
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boy from an idol because a normal child doesn't behave so

irrational!" The woman who sat close to Adetayo said.

A lady sitting close to the woman quickly tapped her as a sign

that the boy‟s mother was close by.

"Ha! Na wa ooo! A ni si omo bi ooo! (May we not birth the

wrong child o!)" The woman said and hissed.

Adetayo couldn't speak to defend her son. She was tired already.
She simply bowed her head in shame. Most times, she didn't
want to identify with her child in public because of the many
embarrassing episodes he had put her through...

When it was time to see the Santa Claus, (also called Father
Christmas by little children), each child was taken to the Father
Christmas inside his little room, Ebunayomi unknowingly to her
mother had picked a small knife he found on the floor on the
school field which was used to cut ribbons by those who
decorated the canopies on the school field, earlier on.
Immediately Santa Claus put him on his laps, Ebunayomi
stabbed him on his side and he started bleeding.

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It was a terrible day! Adetayo had to escape with his child, in

order to save him from the angry crowd. The guy who modelled
the Santa Claus at the school party was rushed to a nearby
hospital and he was quickly attended to.

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28
Adetayo never stepped her feet into her son's school again since
the incident that happened during the Christmas party. That was
her last time. The Proprietress already sent her a message never
to bring her child to their school anymore as he was a terrible
menace to their learning environment.

Adetayo was devastated. She placed her child before her and
cried,

"Why Ebunayomi??? A child is supposed to be a blessing! I

named you Ebunayomi (My Gift of Joy), why are you bringing
sorrows to me?" Adetayo had cried uncontrollably on the
evening of that ugly incident.

******
After Omosolape's marriage to Olawale, Mrs Alfred kept
disturbing him. Olawale told her countless times that he didn't
want to have anything to do with her again as he wanted to focus
on his new family but Mrs Alfred wouldn't take that from him...

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After pestering him continuously and he didn't yield, Mrs Alfred

decided to make use of another strategy.
"If Olawale would not come back to me, then I will rather
scatter that marriage once and for all." She assured herself.

She visited Omosolape one evening before her husband returned

from work. Omosolape had her son, Olaposi, strapped to her
back while preparing dinner in the kitchen. She went to get the
door and there was her neighbour, Mrs Alfred.

After the usual pleasantries, Mrs Alfred told her that she came to
see her for something important.

"I'll just go straight to the point... You see, before you married
Olawale, he was having an affair with me. We have been dating
each other for a long time and his wife never suspected
anything... After his wife left, he told me he was no longer
interested in our relationship, even though we still had sex a
couple of times before you finally moved in..."

"So??? My husband did the normal thing a sensible man should

do, so please go straight to the point. I was cooking dinner when

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you entered." Omosolape answered her, unperturbed by the

information.

Mrs Alfred was thrown off balance. "Has Olawale told her about
me?" She wondered. She picked her confidence again and
resumed her speech, "Anyways, to save my precious time, I am
just here to tell you about it and also to let your husband know
that if he doesn't want trouble, he had better cooperated with me,
or else..."

"Or else what?" Omosolape calmly interrupted her.

"I will ruin everything he ever worked for in this city. He can't
just use me and dump me that way except if I am done with him.
We had an agreement! Now he's backing out! No one toys with
Ikeoluwa, omo Asabi... Absolutely no one!"

"Good... Thank you for that information... Ikeoluwa omo Asabi...

Nice one." Omosolape said in her mind as she watched Mrs
Alfred rant on... Then, she interrupted her,

"Have you no shame?"

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"Why?" Mrs Alfred asked angrily.

"At your age, you are dragging a man with a lady that should be
your child had it been you had given birth early in life. Of
course, it's obvious that you are shameless! The energy you are
pouring into this, why don't you divert it to working on your
marriage and bringing your husband back home? Instead of
fighting me, why not face the strange woman that has held down
your husband for many years in a strange land? Your children
are there, you are supposed to divert this energy to training and
guiding then so that they wouldn't grow up becoming
unfortunate like you in life but no! You are here fighting over
another woman's husband! You are a shameless old fool!"

"You are very stupid for insulting me this way! You mannerless,
untrained kid from the gutter! What is the difference between us
both? Is this your marriage? Thief! You have come to reap
where you didn't sow! Idiot!"

"You are so pathetic! My case is better than yours. Afterall, I

never confronted anyone to leave her husband's house. She left
on her own accord and her husband had to marry me. Did I
pursue her? But you are here spilling trash! Of all the men out
there, you can't pick the one that would suit your lustful desire,
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it's a young boy, the age mate of your younger brother that you
are sleeping with. Shameless, old fool!" Omosolape fired back at
her.

"Me??? Ha! It's very obvious now that you are fearless. I can see
that you are very bold! I pity those who gave birth to you
because they will cry very soon. I'll show you the stuff I am
made of!" Mrs Alfred boasted and walked out of the house.

Omosolape quickly went to her matrimonial bedroom, picked

her phone and dialed her mother's number. She explained
everything that transpired between her and Mrs Alfred.

Alake simply laughed. "She has stepped the tail of a serpent...

She will definitely get what she wanted. You said her name is?"

"Ikeoluwa, the daughter of Asabi."

"Very good! You will hear from me... Whoever doesn't want my
daughter to have peace in her home will go down for her."

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"I trust you, maami." Omosolape said and hanged up.

When Olawale came back from work, Omosolape did not

mention anything about Mrs Alfred's visit. She attended to him
as usual by serving him dinner and massaging his body after he
had taken his bath. They discussed about his activities of the day
before they both finally slept off.

The following morning, Mrs Alfred was reported to have died in

her sleep. It was a sad day in the whole estate.

Omosolape smiled secretly. She sent a message to her mother,

"Maami, mo ti r'owo yin (Mum, I have seen your hand), thank
you for being there for me. I trust you... You don't ever miss
your target."

Olawale on the other hand was shocked beyond words when he

heard the news of Mrs Alfred's death...

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29
10 years later...
Ebunayomi was already fifteen years old and was in his final
year in secondary school. It's been a whole lot of one trouble to
another. Adetayo had lost so much weight. Depression has taken
over her life entirely. She had lost her job when Ebunayomi
clocked eleven. Her boss suddenly sacked her for no justifiable
reason and since then, she had been shuttling between low paid
jobs, trying to make ends meet in order to cater for herself and
her son.

Ebunayomi remained a thorn in her flesh. She had to change her

location from time to time because Ebunayomi would always
cause trouble for her. At school, he had been suspended not less
than five times. He would indulge in exam malpractice, pilfering,
bullying and all sorts of evil vices.

There was a day he was caught with three of his colleagues

watching porn on a phone in an uncompleted building beside the
school premises while classes were still going on. The principal
got them punished and suspended the four of them for three
weeks but Ebunayomi never changed.
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Adetayo was terribly devastated is an understatement. At times,

she wished she had been barren, instead of having a child like
Ebunayomi. Several times, she would sit Ebunayomi down in
her room and kneel down for him, begging him to be well
behaved and make her proud as a mother for once.

What usually confused Adetayo was that each time she did this,
Ebunayomi would cry, saying it wasn't his fault. He would just
find himself doing those things and he couldn't help it... It
sounded strange to Adetayo. She didn't know what to do or who
to talk to...

Someone once told her to take Ebunayomi to a Psychiatrist

Hospital. It was the woman who owned a provision store beside
her house.

"A normal child doesn't behave this way, Mama Ebun... Is it

until this boy kills someone on your neck one day? You better
be proactive before it would be too late." The woman who was
in her fifties had advised her.

Ebunayomi had beaten up a child in their neighbourhood that

evening and people had gathered together to beat him up too but
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he took cover in the woman's shop. The woman had to quickly

intervene by pleading with the aggrieved parties… Adetayo was
frustrated when she came back home that evening and the
woman gave her the news.

"My child is not mad. Please, don't pronounce any negative

thing on him." Adetayo had replied the woman in tears.

"I'm not saying he's mad... Don't misunderstand me, Mama Ebun.
I'm also a mother... I just want you to take action over his case.
It's absolutely abnormal for a child to behave this way... Don't
see my advice like me trying to label your child a mad person.
Not everyone who visits a Psychiatric hospital is mad, actually.
Some of them just need a little period of therapy and
administration of necessary drugs... Maybe there is an illness
your son is suffering from; probably something that has to do
with the brain... That was why I suggested you do something
about it before he would grow up into something else."

"Okay ma... Thank you so much. I'll do something about it."

Adetayo replied her.

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"Please do... Wa jeun omo lagbara Oloun. (You will eat the
fruits of your labor over your child by God‟s grace.)"

"Amen ma." Adetayo replied.

As she was about to leave the woman's shop, the woman called
her back.

"Mama Ebun, I‟m sorry to say this but my spirit is telling me

however that this boy's case is a spiritual one... You can still
give him medical attention though; that does not stop you but
the way I'm seeing it, it might be a case of a spiritual
manipulation."

"Spiritual? What do you mean by spiritual ma?"

"Hmmm! You don't know many things... Aye a maa fi omo se

adanwo fun niyan (Wicked people at times intentionally make a
child a source of trouble and sorrow to his mother)"

"Enh enh???" Adetayo turned to the woman with rapt attention.

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"Beeni mo so (it's the fact!)... This usually happens in different

instances. At times, it might be that the person offended
someone, so they would think of a way to punish that person and
so they ensure she doesn't have peace over her children. At
times, it might also be a lineage curse in the family... and at
times, it could be that they have seen what the child is going to
become in future, maybe he has a glorious destiny, won a wa so
igba omo naa d'ogbun (they would now twist the destiny of such
a child.)"

"Ha! Hmmmm... People are wicked!" Adetayo replied.

Fear gripped her heart. She decided to listen to the woman

because she was tired about Ebunayomi already. She needed a
solution so that the continous trouble and shame Ebunayomi was
bringing to her would come to an end.

"I'll advise you seek spiritual solutions too. Don't sit back and
watch this child like this... Don't let his life be destroyed."

"Thank you so much ma... I'll take a step towards it..."

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That night, Adetayo couldn't sleep, the words of the woman who
spoke to her about her son kept filtering into her ears... It was as
if something literally shifted in her as she remembered those
words again and again... The woman had said,

"At times, it might be that the person offended someone, so they

would think of a way to punish that person by ensuring she
doesn't have peace over her children. At times, it might also be a
lineage curse in the family... and at times, it could be that they
have seen what the child is going to become in future, maybe he
has a glorious destiny, won a wa so igba omo naa d'ogbun (they
would now twist the destiny of such a child.)"

These words reminded her about her childhood and all the
battles her mother fought while she was growing up. She sat up
that night and wept on her bed as memories of her dear mother
filled her heart. She began to soliloquize...

"Maa--aami, you just left me alone to suffer in this world. No

father, no mother, no sibling, no friend... It's indeed true that it's
a wicked world like you have always told me... I have suffered
enough... I can't do this again. Maami, Iyiola, omo Opomulero
(My mother, Iyiola, the child of a strong pillar), the God you
served all your life couldn't give you a long life to at least see
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your grandchild. Your God failed you... I really wish you stayed
a little bit more... I don't have anyone to talk to here. No
husband, no confidant... The only child I have is a thorn in my
flesh..." Adetayo wept endlessly...

Her mother Iyiola, suddenly appeared to her. She placed a hand

on her daughter's shoulder. Adetayo raised her head sharply and
saw her mother. She was looking so beautiful and graceful.

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30
"Maa--aami... Why did it take you so long to come for me? See
how beautiful you look! Maami, a lot has happened to me since
you left me alone in this world. I can't cope anymore. My child
is frustrating my life... I feel like ending it all."

Iyiola sighed,

"Adetayo Ayomikun, you wouldn't have suffered like this if you

didn't forsake God. The God I called upon all my life is enough
for you. He can save you... You were not supposed to be
suffering in the hands of the wicked ones like this. They were
able to get you because you left the God that would have
protected you." She cried.

"Maami... The same God that couldn't make you live long...
Your co-wives died in their 90s... Why couldn't God preserve
you to live longer than you did? Your departure from the world
really affected me. I can't forgive God for doing this to me!"

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"No! Don't say blasphemy against God, Ayomikun. God is not a

man. He is our maker; He does as He pleases. It was His will
that I left when I did. No one can question Him. He took me to a
better place when my pain and sorrow was much... I
intentionally did not tell you then because I wanted you to
concentrate on your academics; I was constantly falling sick
before I later passed on... God took me to Paradise, a far better
place, free from troubles...

Listen to me, Ayomikun, because I called on God, that was why

you could survive all those storms when you were young;
otherwise you would have died even when you were a baby.
God saved you and saw you through so many battles because I
called on him in prayers... Do you remember the dream you had
just before you left for school? God fought a lot of battles for
you and you were never defeated. You would have gotten the
same victory over Ebunayomi, if you had served God the way I
did... The enemy wouldn't have been able to tamper with him...
You would have fought them and overcome just like I did...

The battle you are fighting over your son now is as a result of
the fact that his glory has been exchanged... You were supposed
to be his protection in the place of prayer but you were
sleeping…

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Matthew 13 vs 25 says:
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among
the wheat and went his way.”

There are so many tares in the life of your son right now that
needs to be uprooted in the place of prayer… You have slept
long enough, Ayomikun. It's time to demand for that which
belongs to your child and take back his glory. He is a glorious
child. Rise up, Ayomikun and take back the glory of your child.
Go back to the God of your mother. Jesus is waiting for you...
Run back to the Lord… Call on Him, He will save you… He
will by no means cast you away… All those spiritual virtues you
lost in time past can be restored. Your child's life can be
reshaped. Go back to your God, Ayomikun, Go back! Do not let
the wicked win over you!"

Adetayo woke up, seriously frightened. It had been a dream all

along. She checked around her room to see if her mother was
still there but she was gone

"Maami!!! Oh! Maami!! Why did you go? I miss you so much!"
She resumed her tears again.

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She picked her phone and downloaded a Bible App. She no

longer had a physical Bible with her. She opened to the Bible
verse her mother quoted. She read it again and sighed loudly.

"Where do I start from? How do I even get used to warfare

prayers again? Iron sharpeneth Iron... I need to seek a place of
worship where I will be sharpened."

She went on her knees and began to ask God for mercy...

"Lord, I am back! Life outside of you is indeed useless afterall...

It's been full of one crisis or the other over the years... Lord,
please accept me back... I'm back into your arms, just like the
prodigal son. Lord, please receive me. I'm tired of these
troubles... Life outside of you is so useless! All that I have
achieved over the years without you are all gone. My marriage is
gone, my job is gone, my peace is gone and even my son is
something else! Lord have mercy on meeeeeeee!" She cried.

*****

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Few days later...

Adetayo felt led to a particular church in town. She had seen the
flyer for a particular crusade that was to hold in the church two
days later. She decided to attend the revival with her son.

On the day of the programme, Ebunayomi suddenly developed a

strangefever. Adetayo gave him some pain relief tablets but he
didn't get better. As the time for the crusade approached,
Adetayo wondered where she would keep Ebunayomi because
she was desperate to be at that programme and she even wanted
her son to be there.

"Lord, what do I do about this boy? I want us to attend this

programme. I really desire it."

"Lay your hands on him and pray for him." Adetayo heard the
voice in her spirit. It's been many years she heard that still small
voice of the Holy Spirit.

With joyous strides, she walked to Ebunayomi where he sat in

their small living room, laid her hands on him and prayed for
him. Within a few minutes, his temperature was normalized. She

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realized the devil wanted to use the sudden illness as a means to

prevent them from going to the crusade ground.

"Ebun, we are going to that crusade together; so go and wear

your cloth."

Ebunayomi complied... Within an hour, they were at the venue

of the programme. It was a massive one! Adetayo didn't
envisage such a big crowd at the venue which was an open field.
She pulled her son and looked for a comfortable spot to sit.

She prayed like she never did all her life that night...

While the man of God was ministering, a lot of miracles began

to happen. As he released words of knowledge, Adetayo was
seriously expectant that the man would mention her son's case
but he didn't. She was totally sad when the man of God started
to bring his ministration to a close. Then suddenly, the man of
God paused for about two minutes, then he cried out,

"I was taken into a trance right now! There is a woman here!
Listen to me everybody, I'm talking about one single person, so
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before you step out here, be sure you are the one... I was
showed that you used to have a particular gift that God gave to
you right from when you were born; this gift was to help you
navigate through life successfully but unfortunately, you lost
that gift because something happened to you at a point in your
life that made you get angry with God and you stopped serving
Him... The problems you are facing right now are in your life
because you lost that virtue; otherwise you wouldn't have
entered into those troubles... If you are that woman, run to this
podium, I need to pray for you... For clarity sake, you are with
your son... Yes! The woman I'm talking about came with her son.
Come out, I want to pray for you and that gift will be restored
tonight.”

Just like blind Bartimaeus did after Jesus called him to come,
Adetayo jumped up where she sat. She gripped Ebunayomi's
hand and raced to the front, hot tears streaming down her face.
She knew beyond every doubt that she was the one the man of
God was referring to.

The Pastor laid his hands on her and started praying for her.

"I command a double fold of every gift and virtue you have lost
in the past to return back to you right now in the name of Jesus."
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"Amen!" Adetayo screamed.

The Pastor prayed for her for a while then turned to Ebunayomi.
"Young man, what is your name?"

"Ebunayomi." He responded.

"Jesus Christ!" The Pastor said then turned to one of the

Ministers behind him, "Get me my anointed mantle."

He laid his hands on Ebunayomi and started to pray in the spirit...

I command that evil calabash where your glory was kept to be
broken right now in the name of Jesus. I enter into that evil room
where your glory has been kept for years; I destroy every
enchantment therein by fire!!! By fire!!! By fire!!! Receive back
your glory! Ebunayomi, you are not the one here. The real you is
in that evil room and just like Jesus called forth Lazarus out of
the grave, I call you forth out of that evil room that represents
the grave where your glory was kept... Ebunayomi, come forth
in the name of Jesus!

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The Pastor stretched his hand to hold Ebunayomi and used the
anointed mantle on the other hand to touch his forehead,

"Ebunayomi, I return you to Eden right now, where the Lord

originally formed you, where your glory was formed at the
beginning and I decree unto you, take up your glory and begin to
manifest in glory! Your oppressors and the oppressors of your
mother, wherever they are right now, they receive the judgment
of the fire of the Holy Ghost!"

"Amen!" Adetayo screamed with all her might.

Ebunayomi fell down unconscious. Adetayo tried to hold him

but the Pastor stopped her.

"Leave him! The Lord is working on him! You don't touch a

man who is undergoing a surgery in the theatre room except you
are the physician... The angels of the Lord are working on him
right now! The great Physician is here! He will be free as soon
as they are done. He is a shining star and his glory was stolen
from him but tonight, I congratulate you because he has been
restored."

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"Hallelujah!" Adetayo shouted joyfully and started to roll on the

floor of the crusade ground in appreciation to God.

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31
Ajiun's house was engulfed by a strange fire that same night,
some hours after the crusade was held... It happened in the
midnight precisely. She was trapped in the fire and she couldn't
escape. She was the only one in the small bungalow house. She
was totally burnt to ashes before she could get help. By the time
people were able to break into the house, she was already burnt
beyond recognition... Her house was razed down by the fire
which no one knew exactly how it started.

Alake on the other hand ran mad the following morning. Before
anyone could hold her, she was already parading the streets half
naked, screaming and telling stories no one could understand...

*****

Adetayo and her son returned back home from the crusade, a
new person. Ebunayomi told her mother how he felt something
strong leave his body that night when the man of God prayed for
him. Adetayo was excited beyond words. She was grateful to
God who restored her virtue and delivered her son from the
bondage of the wicked ones.
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******
Two days after the crusade, Omosolape suddenly ran out of her
bedroom. She kept shouting "fire!" Olawale was confused. He
tried to hold her but he could not.

"The fire is burning me! Ha! I'm doomed! The rewards of my

sins have come!" She screamed.

"What fire? Which sin?" Olawale asked.

"Ye! Help me! The fire is much! Yeeeee!" She screamed and
fled from the house without putting on her cloths, leaving her
two kids behind.

Olawale raced after her but before he could get her, she collided
with a car coming at a top speed from the other side of the road
and she died instantly.

Immediately, something fell off Olawale's eyes. He shook his

head and rubbed his face with his palms.

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"What am I doing here? Who is the woman I was just pursuing

now?" He asked himself. "Where is Adetayo? I guess she's at
home?" He wondered.

He got to his house and met his two kids whom Omosolape
birthed for him before he realized all that has happened to him.
He had been in captivity all along but his eyes were just opened.

EPILOGUE
Olawale looked for his wife and reunited with her. It was a
glorious reunion the day he finally went to pick her and their son,
Ebunayomi. Adetayo could not contain her joy. The Lord has
indeed returned all her captivity.

Olawale and Adetayo took care of the kids Omosolape left

behind.

Olawale rededicated his life to Christ. He and his wife became

very fervent Christians... The Lord used Adetayo mightily, just

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as He used to do before she lost her gifts. Her ministry was

established again and the Lord used her to liberate many lives.

Ebunayomi was no longer the troublesome and dull child. He

became a genius in his academics. Few years after he graduated
from the University, he went to study at a Theological Seminary.

Ebunayomi became a world renowned evangelist. His glory and

fame shined globally as the Lord used him and his ministry to
mould many lives. He became a gift of joy indeed to his parents
because he travelled all around the world, Kings bowed to him,
Presidents sought his presence and he got to places that have
never being reached by anyone in his lineage.

THE END
Thanks for reading! I hope you have been blessed? I pray for
you, that which the Lord has spoken concerning you or your
children will come to pass. The wicked shall not swallow your
glory. Every virtue the enemy has taken captive in your life shall
be restored. Wherever your glory has been kept, the fire of the
Holy Ghost will visit the place right now and recover your glory
for you. You will fulfil your destiny in Jesus name. Amen!

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A SPECIAL LOVE NOTE!

Dear reader, what burden of sin have you been carrying
around you over the years? Come to Jesus Christ today, He
is patiently waiting for you, don’t procrastinate! He died for
your sin; He took them all on Himself at Calvary… He is the
only one that can give you peace from all the troubles of this
world. He alone can give you light to chase away your
darkness and joy to take away your sorrows. No matter how
terrible your past is, He alone can wipe them off and give
you a beautiful beginning and a brand new life.

Accept Christ today and you will be free. Tomorrow may be

too late.

John 14:27- “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;

not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus loves you.

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Written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by

Moyosore Teniola

To read more inspiring stories by the author, follow her on

her Official Facebook Page @Moyosore Teniola

For questions and counseling, contact the author via any of

the following:
Mobile: +234-8062087777
Facebook @Moyosore Teniola
Instagram@moyosorenewbirthnovels
WhatsApp: +234-8062087777
Email: [email protected]

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

OTHER NOVELS AUTHORED BY MOYOSORE

TENIOLA
 HUSBAND‟S HOUSE
 THE PUZZLE
 MY LIFE PARTNER
 THE AGONY OF BEAUTY
 THE HONEYMOON
 OMOSHALEWA
 PRECIOUS THAN GOLD
 EHIMWENMA
 WHISPERING HOPE
 THE DIARY OF A SINGLE SISTER
 THE CHILDREN CHURCH PART 1
 THE CHILDREN CHURCH PART 2
 PASTOR MRS ALBERT
 THE FIRST PERSON YOU MUST FALL IN LOVE
WITH
 AREWA MY DAUGHTER
 TEARS OF A LONELY SOUL
 PAINS BENEATH MY SMILES
 THE UNWANTED UNION

INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS AUTHORED BY MOYOSORE

TENIOLA
 DEAR LADY CRY NO MORE
 THE JOURNEY OF A NIGERIAN GRADUATE
 WRITE AND EARN

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EBUNAYOMI -- MY GIFT OF JOY

This novel is written through the inspiration of the Holy

Spirit to bless lives. Feel free to share with your friends but
do not edit, copy or tamper with any part of the storyline. Do
not reproduce this story into any form without an express
written permission from the copyright owner. Plagiarizers,
BEWARE!!!

If you are led to donate money to help this ministry, we

would appreciate your gift of love. Kindly send your gift
through the account details below:

BALOGUN ELIZABETH MOYO

2020424658
POLARIS BANK.

God bless you and enlarge your coast. Amen.

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