"Dino. What are you doing here?” Mitah  asked her voice, Shaky. Sighting him made her chest tightened, feeling sudden rush of emotions
Dino had been in a heated argument with the Security man, after which he forced himself in. Dino glanced at her keenly, she had changed considerably
“Long time no see, Mitah”. He said. “I see you are back” 
Yeah”. Mitah said swallowing hard.
"Sir...you need to leave!" The Security man ranted. He had been given instructions by Lati not to allow Dino access.
But Mitah told him to let Dino be
"I will handle it" she said
"But ma...."
"I said it's fine.. please go back to your abode"
The Security man retreated and walked away
“When did you become so heartless and secretive?. We promised each other not to keep secrets, to fight our storms together and you decided to do this? To just give up?" Dino blurted out, his eyes revealing hurt and pain
Mitah got speechless for a while before she spoke. "Dino....Dino I am trying to protect you! Please just accept the situation and..
“Accept what?!. Accept the fact that I am going to lose you or accept the fact of not being in my child's life? Which one?! How can you be so insensitive?" Dino asked and Mitah could already sense the anger in his tone
"Dino can you calm down please...."
“Look, I don't even want to argue with you right now. Where is the baby? Where have you kept him? If you won’t come back to me. At least, let me have access to him. You can’t keep him away from.me.” Dino said
Mitah looked back agitated to be sure her father was not coming
"Dino, you need to leave. My father must not come outside to meet you. Please. I will come to see you very soon. I promise" Mitah told him
"You know I can't run from your evil father"
"Dino please! This is not the time to argue. You have no idea what he can do to you if he meets you here. I will come and see you soon, I promise. We will talk" Mitah uttered trying to keep her voice low
Dino stared at her blankly for a while. "Okay" he said and immediately got out of the compound. He entered his car and drove off.
Mitah heaved a sigh of relief and walked into the house. She met her father just coming out of the room. It seemed he was ready to go somewhere
"Please don't take the key to the Corolla. You can take the Mercedes. I want to take it out this evening. I am going to shop for some baby items and please Dad, I won't appreciate anyone following me"
"At where?"
"Why do I have to tell you that?I am not free to go for shopping by myself too?! Is this some sort of imprisonment. I am not going to let you go that far!" Mitah voiced out.
Lati would always have one of his soldiers to follow her wherever she was going to, since she came back from delivery
" By asking my men to follow you, it's to protect you. At least from going astray by seeing that boy!. So stop seeing me as  your enemy. I am not"
"So what are you? You forced me to break up with the only man I have ever loved and as if that wasn't enough, you are also denying him access to his son!"
“His son?! Really, wait, do you think I don't even get angry sometimes when I stare at your child?. He is an offspring of the man I hate most in my entire Life! Paul Martins! But because of you, because of the love I have for you Mitah, I just can't and God so Merciful he helped me in that regard by making the child look exactly like you!.So I want to say that sorted out a whole lot of resentment in my heart, that he doesn't look like that Stupid Dino boy! If not I would take that child to the Orphanage! ” Lati heaved a sigh as if performing a quick meditation
"You can go out to the mall, come back quickly and make sure it is indeed that mall you are going to" He added
"Where else?" Mitah queried slight anger in her tone
There was a moment of silence after which the cry of Lucas altered the muteness. Mitah went over to carry the baby and patted him back to sleep. 
Lati got out to the entrance of his house and called one of his bodyguards at the poultry on the phone.
"Hey Bumpy. Get here very soon. My daughter will go out any time from now. Trace her car. You don't have to go with her. But follow the lead of her car. And give me reports"
"Okay. Boss" Bumpy answered
Lati faced his soldiers waiting for him. "Let's go guys"
"Yes Sir!" They said sharply giving a salutation. They opened the Van, and Lati hopped in, while the two soldiers got in after him. 
##########
Lati was at work this day studying a map with his colleagues when a junior officer reported someone was asking of him.
”He is a an officer but not from our base here”.
“What’s his name?
“He said Aloyu.. Aloyu Thomas”..Lati knew that name
“Let him in”.. He said.
The man Brigadier General Aloyu Thomas is Dino’s Uncle. Dino had complained to him about what transpired between he and General Lati's daughter. Aloyu also holds a superior post in the Army. Aloyu is the deputy General of the Country's headquarter base. Dino wanted Aloyu to use his power to make Lati Succumb to his will by letting hin access to his son. However, Dino forgot to state an important fact- His name. He just told his Cousin he is a high rank officer like him. Aloyu too did not deem it fit to ask. After all, he is from the country's headquarters. Which officer wouldn't bow to his will .
However, when Aloyu and his nephew got there, the face Aloyu saw shocked him. It was his former boss and head of the Liba Army!.. General Lati..
“Good day to you Sir!" He removed his cap, gave a salute and bowed. 
“Aloyu. It’s been ages, how have you been?” He asked extending his hand for a handshake which Aloyu took firmly.
Dino wondered what was going on. They knew each other? He didn't know if that meant good or bad, especially as Aloyu addressed him with respect
They left the office and Lati led them to a canopy on the field where they sat. They exchanged more pleasantries and Lati noticed Dino beside him. He ignored him and turned to Aloyu
”Why are you here Aloyu?"
Sir..this is my nephew. Dino Martins.  His father too was an ex-soldier and his mother is my step sister" He muttered even though he realised Lati knows him but he didn’t know what to say any longer.
“I know him”.. Lati said. ”Why is he here with you?”
Aloyu explained things to him about Mitah  and Dino.
Lati heaved a heavy sigh then asked: “Did he tell you if he is certain he is the owner of the baby?”
"The baby is mine Uncle! .." Dino said out loudly
“Keep quiet boy!” Aloyu silenced him.. ”He told me he is the father Sir and he sounded very confident"He told Lati.
“Well.. It is not his Aloyu. My daughter got pregnant for another man, an Arabian” Lati said,
Dino was baffled and furious at his reply. The extent to which this man had to lie. He wanted to speak but he held his peace.
“Okay Sir but how about if a DNA is conducted, so we can be sure of the paternity of the child?” Aloyu asked slight fear gripping him as he gritted his teeth together..
"No DNA.. Aloyu!.Are you trying to imply that I  am lying? Your nephew here is just a foolish boy. I don’t want to say anything further about this”.Lati replied
Aloyu simply nodded his head.. ”Okay sir"
Then Lati further asked “ How is your wife and your little son? He must have been a teenager by now”
“They are good Sir” Aloyu answered.. Yes he is.. He is sixteen”.
.“Okay” Lati said as he rose up ”If you would excuse me now.. I still have so much work to do”.. Aloyu stood up gave a salute  and said a good bye. Dino watched him as he left..
”Uncle, aren’t you going to say anything further?.. you cant just watch him leave!” Dino protested.
“What would you have me do Dino? That man is my former boss and he helped me get my transfer to the headquarters base which automatically led to my promotion at work. Besides, I am the deputy General over there not the General. This man right here has deep connections with the Major General of my base himself.  So I cannot be rigid with him. Just get the whole situation out of your mind and move on" Aloyu said 
Dino shook his head in frustration
"If they won't release the child to you, move on and get another woman pregnant, you are a fine and wealthy man, girls would jump at you with only a flinch,  I see no reason why you should bother yourself about any girl"
"Uncle you won't understand"
"Understand what? Look if you want me to connect you to another daughter from a powerful family, let me know, But this one I am helpless about it. Meet me at the car” He said leaving. Dino hit his fist on the nearest wall and growled angrily
“Why does it have to be this way, get another woman pregnant?, As if it's that easy?! She is the one I want, no one else!" He said before realizing he was even talking to himself.“Dino!.come and start the car or I will drive along and leave you here!”,Dino heard his Uncle's voice few metres away. He hurriedly walked along murmuring some words.
#######
Mitah came out of her room looking all dressed up and beautiful. Her expression also became different. Her face radiated with glamour and positivity that Lupam had to commend her
"Ma"am, you look beautiful as always. I love how you look today. You seem relieved and Gracious. It's being long I saw you this way"
"Hmm. Thanks for the compliment Lupam" Mitah said giving her a bright smile
"I want to go out now. I need to get somewhere quickly"  She said blending her lipstick and adjusting her hair. "Please look after Lucas, I already prepared his milk in the bottle. So just add a bit of water to it"
" Alright ma, But....."Lupam looked around as if trying to call Mitah's attention to something 
"What is it?"
"The two soldiers are still outside. How will you go out?"
Mitah giggled. "Those ones? They should be in the Dreamland by now. You remember I prepared the breakfast tea this morning?"
"Yes" Lupam answered anxiously
"I put in considerable doses of sleeping pills in their Tea Before they wake up, would be by late afternoon"
"Oh....!"Lupam exclaimed in amazement "But what should I tell General when he comes back?"
"Tell him I went to Queen's place. Even though that's not where I am going but tell him that"
"Alright ma"am. Have a nice time. And thanks for the snacks yesterday" 
"You are welcome dear. And please immediately I drive out, lock the gate from inside. The Gate Security is asleep too" Mitah said with a wink
Lupam grinned and  nodded in affirmation. "Okay. I will do that"
Mitah got to the gate, gently opened it, got outside and drove off with a rapid speed 
##################
It was 7pm in the evening and Mitah just drove in. She had gone to see Dino. Even though he was still angry at her but she was relieved that anger had deviated. She was relieved she was able to talk to him and explain herself better. Her heart skipped for a while as she remembered her father would query her. But she wouldn't let that disturb her. She dismissed the thought and heard her telephone ring. She now takes it everywhere with her. It was Dino
"Hi" She said 
"You are home?" Dino asked
"Yeah. I just drove in"
"Okay...I just wanted to ask if you got home safe" 
"Yeah. Thank you" Mitah answered beaming a smile. It felt nice and relieving to hear his soft voice again. His tone had been quite impatient and disturbing whenever he called her for the past one year. Since she decided to tell him what shattered his heart. 
She dropped the phone and pressed the car horn to alert the security man. In a minute she drove in
"Welcome ma"am" The Security man greeted. 
"Thank you" Mitah said proceeding to enter into the house but he asked her
"I didn't see you drive out Ma"am?"
"And what does that mean?" Mitah asked
"I mean...ahm, don't get me wrong but when the General came back, I didn't know what to tell him when he asked of you, and that displayed incompetency" The Security man replied trying to sound polite
"Well, that's because you were sleeping when I drove out. I didn't want to wake you and I asked Lupam to open the Gate for me" Mitah answered sharply totally shoving away any form of uneasiness
"Oh. Okay ma"am" He answered retreating his steps backward giving a slight bow. 
Mitah got into the house. She met her father drinking his favourite beer and feasting on roasted fish. 
"Hi Dad" Mitah said. 
"How come no one saw you going out this morning except Lupam?" Lati asked
"What do you mean no one?" Mitah asked wearing an ignorant expression.
Lati stared at her from her head to her toes. She looked different and radiant, and Lati didn't know if he should be relieved or worried. Where was she coming from?!
"My soldiers. They didn't see you leave"
"Well, I don't know. Probably they slept off" Mitah shrugged
"They slept off including the Security too? Isn't that strange?" Lati asked narrowing his eyes 
"Look Dad, I have had a hectic day. I won't be able to answer all these questions  Where is my baby?" She asked
"Lupam put him to sleep already" Lati answered. He watched her go into her room and slightly shook his head.