"What do you mean I should stay far away? Why?" Dino asked
"Just for your safety.. because of my father"Mitah answered in a soft tone
"And what about him? I can't run from anyone Mitah. Liba is my town. My life is there. My pharmaceutical industries, philanthropism, a lot of people over there depend on me" 
"I know, but you can as well....."
"Mitah, what's the problem? Are you tired of our relationship, why not tell me?' he asked looking into her eyes
"No....I just, you know what, it's fine. Like I said, I will stay till tomorrow if you wish" She muttered fixing her gaze back at the TV
***†*******
Mitah yawned tiredly as she stepped into her father's house. He met Lati watching one of his favorite programs on TV
"Hi. Dad" She uttered bluntly trying to avoid his gaze, and proceeding to her room but Lati stopped her
         “Have you ended things with him” He asked
"Him?" Mitah asked surprised wondering how he knew she went to meet Dino
"Don't you dare lie to me Mitah, I called your friend Queen and she told me you were not at her place. So where else could you be?. And besides you are now pregnant! You went to tell him the good news isn't it?" He asked with a mischievous smile and afterwards, a dead stare, possible to make one shake in fear. 
Mitah swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure
"I didn't tell him about the pregnancy" she responded
"So.. Did you end things with him then?!"
"No No I didn't! What you are asking me to do is very difficult. Dino is the only man I have ever loved. And now that I am pregnant with his child, I should end things with him?" Mitah blurted out. 
Lati stood up  furiously. "It seems you are under rating me young lady. You think
I am joking right? That I can’t Kill him? Or you think I’ll be imprisoned if I do so? Oh, Hell I can’t. I’m a soldier of this State. If I kill anyone, It would mean I am simply doing my Job as an Officer of this State to put an end to a menace. Do not worry. I don't know why I am wasting my time to tell you the implications anyways." Lati said, dashing into his room.
Mitah watched her father leave, agitated wondering what he was about to do. A minute after, Lati was outside with his gun “Start thinking of how to get him a nice coffin" 
Mitah glanced at him horrified as he tried fixing the gun appropriately, but then she thought that he wouldn't even meet him at his house. He is presently in Freti. But what if he tracked him down. She spoke up; 
"No. Don't do this...Okay.. Okay.. I’ll do it please. I will tell him" 
          “When?! Do not waste my time. Lati snapped; "You need to tell him you got pregnant for another man, with that he will leave you alone. So when are you...."
’Tomorrow.... he is currently not in town. He will be back tomorrow. Just don't hurt him please", Mitah pleaded . 
Lati looked at her, his gaze signifying a warning. He picked up the gun to put it back from where he took it from. 
Mitah sighed in frustration. She immediately felt resentment towards her father and puzzled of the exact reason why he was trying his best to ruin her lovelife, and her happiness. She fixed her gaze towards the direction of the room he just entered, her eyes fuming and gleaming with unshed tears. 
*******
 The next two days, Mitah proceeded to Dino’s place with a heavy heart. She drove to the gate of his house and her tension rose. She decided to keep firm. She had thought hard about this. This was for Dino’s sake not anyone else. She would rather let go of Dino than let him die. 
She entered Dino's mansion. “Dino, I need to talk to you” she said, still standing. Her face looked sad and unwelcoming, as if she came for a strict conversation and Dino wondered what was going on 
",Hey, What is wrong? ”Dino asked her nervously as he rose up worried by her approach.
“We need to talk Dino’’ She said again ‘’Let's go to your room please"She added.
“Okay" Dino said as he stood up, troubled. 
"What's wrong babe? "Dino asked settling down on his bed, Mitah did the same. 
"It's. I...Uhh....."she stuttered."Oh God". She really did not think she can do this. 
“What??..you are scaring me”..He muttered worriedly gently touching her arm but  Mitah tried to remove his hand
“Dino stop and listen to what I have to say" Mitah said worried that she might eventually fall into his arms
“I should stop touching you??..When did that start and where is all these coming from?.what's happening??!”He queried baffled
Mitah sighed heavily and gathered some courage  “I am pregnant”, she said. 
 “Are....you serious right now?  You are carrying my child?" Dino exclaimed
Mitah stared at him with no response. 
"Why were you hesitating to say that. It's good news! My topmost wish is to build a family with you" He said excitedly. He felt like jumping up for joy. But then he didn't know his heart was about to be shattered
"But…It's not yours.” Mitah finallyaid swallowing hard. she immediately shut her eyes.
         “What did you say?"Dino asked. He felt he didn't hear her well. Oh definitely he must have misheard her. But Again, Mitah repeated what she said and added:
“I was raped by this guy some weeks ago and now, I am  pregnant for him". She lied
 Dino's heart thudded in his chest. For few seconds, he wondered if he was dreaming. But then he realized this is reality. “Are you on some cheap drugs Mitah?!" He asked her, rising to his feet.
"Dino..you won't speak to me like that" Mitah said with widened eyes
"I will speak to you like that because it seems like something is wrong with you!" Dino blurted out. His gaze fuming with anger as well as agitation. 
"Dino, I am telling you the truth. I was raped! and now I have to get married to the rapist. I don't have a choice. I don't wish for any of this to happen" 
Dino laughed so hard that Mitah wondered what was wrong with him then he gave her a dead stare that made Mitah's heart beat so fast. 
"I am sorry but Wait, you’ve been babbling nonsense for the past few seconds.  You’re getting married to who?”  
“The guy that raped me. I’m sorry Dino. But I don't have a choice. I don't want my child growing up without a father." She said rising to her feet
"And you expect me to believe this crap of  a story?. We met three days ago, why didn't you mention that you were molested?" Dino queried staring into her eyes
"I didn't want to hurt you. Alright?"
"So what are you doing right now?"
Mitah exhaled and told Dino she had to go but Dino dragged her back forcefully. “Let go of me! You’re hurting me!" She jerked off her arm 
"Mitah, if you really want to break up with me, you could have put in more efforts. What kind of a tale is this?!" Dino asked her his voice was cracking already at the fear of losing his lover.
But Mitah only stood up, picked her bag, car key and slammed the door. 
 Dino stood there dumbstruck. He wondered if she was actually serious or pranking him. He got out of his room and narrowly escaped his head being hit by the door. 
***""""*
Minutes after leaving Dino's house, Mitah was driving with mixed feelings. She felt guilty and miserable. But she loves Dino and wouldn’t want her father to hurt him. Unsettled, she halted her car and reversed to park somewhere safe.
Abruptly, she felt she hit a car.  She stopped and came down worriedly..
“Oh my God" She uttered. "I am really sor...."  She was shocked at the face she saw exit the luxurious Car. 
“Nopaz?”, she called. Her facial expression changed immediately and disappointment was evident on her face.
  “Hello … dear”, Nopaz replied grinning seated at the wheel, he was driving himself this time
  “Oh … I’m sorry. I’ll pay for the damages”.  Mitah said getting quite angry. Nopaz did nothing but disturb her for an affair everytime.   
Nopaz highlighted from his car and walked up to her.  His designer shirt fitted perfectly on his body with grey trousers to Match.  
   “Pay for the damages?” He scoofed, his hands tucked in his pockets.  “Do you have any idea how much this car costs? You just scratched the back and broke one of the bulbs dear.”           
“How much does it cost to repair the damages” Mitah asked impatiently
’Oh no dear.  Don’t bother. You really think I’ll ask you to pay? I was only pulling your legs"
"I insist I want to pay"
Nopaz stared at her keenly. "You look stressed"
Mitah gazed at him fluttered. How the heck did this Jerk know. Either way, she has not got his time
"Can I leave now?" She asked
"Oh. no dear, not yet, Let’s go out for a drink, if you don't mind. We should talk”. He muttered her hands running down her arm. A gesture that made Mitah furious
  “I don’t want to talk to you Nopaz. Just leave me alone! I am presently not even in the mood for any disturbance. Especially from you" She uttered, she walked quickly to her car, took some cash and dropped it on his car bonnet 
“This is √7,000. It should be enough for whatever damages.”, she said entering the car and speed off.
 Nopaz glanced at the money on the floor and grinned  “So, this silly girl really thinks I need her money."
Co incidentally he saw some ladies dressed like strippers pass by and he threw the money at them making the girls giggle cheerfully. 
********
Few days after, Mitah had a short siesta and woke up with her head banging from a headache. She had been recently stressed. She needed to take a medication to relieve her symptoms. She remembered her father took the painkiller some days ago. 
She stepped into Lati's room and met him searching for some documents in the drawer. She requested for the medication
“I have a headache” she added.
“Oh...Sorry about that" He said but he  suddenly remembered something.
"I forgot to shut down the tap in the bathroom, Let me do that”.. He said hurrying as he could hear some burbles. ”Check the drawer there for the medicine.”
Mitah was searching the drawer when she felt she dropped a picture.. She bent down to pick it.. It was an old picture stained with avocado peels. The faces she saw there alarmed her.