Mark welcomed her girlfriend well. He had missed her all day.
As a caring man, he put in place warm water for her to shower. They were not blessed too much to afford a modern hot shower.
Immediately after the bathroom, Shiro was served with a cup of porridge. She sat down to enjoy it.
Mark sat next to her lover, giving interesting stories to her. He struggled to impress her as she seemed emotionally damaged.
After dinner, the two had to watch the news for a while before retiring to their bed.
At the bedside, the two held hands as they said a word of prayer to the Maker.
Then, they climbed the bed and covered themselves with a duvet.
Inside the duvet, Mark was very excited about the kind of warmth extended by the bedmate.
A conversation began. And this time Shiro was the one who started it.
"Love, do you know my friend by the name Jessy?" she asked.
Mark acknowledged knowing her in a roaring voice.
Shiro was determined to talk. "Imagine, she advised me to leave you in a desperate manner*** that I should vacate to a place where you would not find me."
Mark was really shocked. His heart was now beating at a threatening rate. The message was harsh to bear.
"Why did she say so or what was the whole conversation about" Mark inquired?
Shiro had to hide. She could not risk exposing the way it was.
"She just started the conversation, advising me to break up with you," Shiro explained.
"It seems your friend is against our success. Let us get rid of her," Mark advised.
Mark requested to talk to her at that hour of the night, though it was too late. Shiro did not object. She gave him a go ahead and called her via the phone.
Mark took her girlfriend's phone and searched through the contacts, looking for Jessy's contact. He eventually called her.
"Hello! I am Mark, Shiro's boyfriend and I am calling you to inquire about the advice you have given my lover."
"Why have you chosen to break our relationship, or do you have any ill intentions for us?" Mark asked.
Jessy struggled to express herself, obviously feeling guilty.
"If that is what will make you happy, then continue" Mark added as he hung up the call.
Shiro, on the other hand, felt to have betrayed the friend. She imagined how she would interact with her friend the following day.
"My love, do you trust our relationship will go far?" Mark expressed her affection.
"Love, something is itching my back, please scratch me" Shiro tactically tried to avoid love conversation.
Mark went ahead and scratched her on the back.
"Are you fine now?" Mark asked.
"No, scratch me on the right leg please" she responded.
Mark, as a responsible man, went ahead and scratched her.
"Are you okay now?" he asked again.
"Not really", she responded.
"What is wrong then?" Mark asked.
"I want a nice cuddle" she responded.
"A cuddle!" Mark was surprised.
"Let us have a conversation now about our affairs. We have something important I need to discuss with you."
Meanwhile, Shiro started crying. She wanted her boyfriend's attention.
To calm her down, Mark responded to her
call. Shiro was well cuddled, Enjoying the gentle touch of her man.
Afterward, Mark started a constructive discussion. He was involving the girlfriend in planning the best day to visit his parents back in the village.
Mark had to act wisely. They were to agree as it was the only way to cement their relationship. Mark was becoming worried about losing her.
"I will communicate with my parents tomorrow to share with them", Shiro eventually assured the boyfriend.
Mark became too excited. He had to ensure early planned arrangements.
"How well are you prepared for the event, if I may ask?" Shiro inquired.
"Am well-prepared dear," he replied.
"How much money have you put aside for my parents?" she insisted.
Mark tried to explain how he would get money. He promised to offer one thousand dollars as an appreciation to the girl's parents. Shiro insisted, wanting an assurance about the finances. Mark was quite sure of securing a loan for the same. A seven-year loan just to visit the girlfriend's parents? It did not sound good.
The conversation ended after they all agreed to have the event on the first day of the following month. Then they were taken asleep.
The following day, Shiro woke up early in the morning, made the necessary preparations and left to work.
At work, she was not comfortable. She felt like having betrayed her friend.
She sneaked into her office, and tried as much as possible to avoid coming into contact with colleagues.
At around noon, normally the time for lunch break, Jessy came into her office.
"Good afternoon madam", Jessy greeted her.
"Afternoon too", Shiro responded, although she was too uncomfortable.
Jessy went on and sat on the chair next to her. She then maintained a total silence for some time.
Shiro knew that it was not well with her. The friend was too emotional and was feared by people when angry.
"Why did you decide to betray me yesterday? Was the advice you were seeking to betray me?" sheshe asked.
"I don't care about friendship, I can beat you up, you useless girl" She threatened.
Shiro listened to the threats for quite sometime. It came a time Shiro decided to take the bull by its horn. She could no longer be threatened by a fellow woman.
"Who are you threatening? Leave my office right now" she ordered.
Jessy could not be intimidated. She ignored orders to leave the office.
Shiro quickly moved to push her out. A fight broke out. Shiro was too energetic, landing serious slaps to her colleague, Jessy who was only trying to defend herself. As she flogged the friend, she cried loud as if she was the one being beaten.
It took the attention of all the colleagues who came to rescue the situation.
The situation calmed down after they were separated. But Shiro had seriously injured the colleague. Jessy had blood oozing from all over her body.
Jessy was taken to the emergency ward where she was given first aid service. She was really in pain, having multiple injury places on her body.
It turned a crime scene. The matter had escalated beyond the hospital management considering the extend of damage.
Meanwhile, Shiro was left alone in her office.A police vehicles enters the hospital.
The police went to the crime scene, where Shiro had to record a statement. She was then handcuffed and led into the vehicle.
Also, the police went to the ward where Jessy was being attended to and wanted to have her record her part of the statement. Jessy could not even hold a pen.
The police drove away with Shiro to the station, where she was held in custody for the rest of the day.
Shiro was in great fear. She had never gotten into the hands of men in uniform before. It was her first experience.
In the cell, Shiro found other people who were still in custody. For her case, she was to be presented before the court of law the following day.
Late into the evening, Mark was worried. His fiancée was not yet home. It was not usual for her not be had arrived home at that particular time of the night.
Mark called Shiro's best friend to inquire about her whereabouts. He called Jessy but was unreachable. He had previously called his girlfriend but was not picking up the call.
Mark then made a call to the hospital manager, where he was informed that his lover was in custody after some casualty happened.
Mark was troubled. He picked up his phone and called the uncle. Mark's uncle was a senior officer in the Ministry of internal security and coordination.
Mark informed the uncle about what had happened, referring to Shiro as his wife. Maybe a wife seemed more genuine than a mere girlfriend.
The uncle assured Mark that he was following up the matter, and that he would inform him about the progress.
Mark's uncle made a call to the police commander of that particular station and ordered him to release the lady by the name of Shiro Achieng. The country was ruled by the narrative of a tall narrative.
Shiro was released but it was too late. She was escorted by police home. She arrived home at around midnight night.
Meanwhile, Mark had been informed by the uncle that Shiro had been released from custody unconditionally.
Shiro arrived home exhausted. She had gone through
the brutality let of life.
Shiro kept her mouth shut. She did not want to explain much. But mentally, she was tortured.
The more Mark tried to inquire about what happened, the more she felt hurt.
Mark really sympathized with her. He just had to give her peace of mind. They just sat quietly, each of them thinking deep.
Mark had to serve her the favorite meal she preferred. After warming up and serving the food, the lady refused to eat. It dawned on him that she was having a serious mental problem.
As usual, Mark knew how to act in such a circumstance. He tried sweet-talking to her, but she was just dull.
Mark had nothing else he could do but to go and sleep.
Mark going to sleep and leaving her on the coach pained her more. She felt like Mike had changed and didn't care about her anymore.
She started crying silently, her heart bleeding in pain. She could not even sleep that particular night.
hiro was worried. She had messed up at a place of work and did not know the next cause of action. Also, she was afraid about the legal procedure that could be taken against her for the crime she had committed.
Shiro felt life was becoming meaningless. A young girl battling the hand of the law was the worst thing to think about. But what could she have done? Was it her fault? But she was convinced that the future was predetermined.