Anu ran out to the pastor's house, thinking she could easily convince them. Reaching there, she met Pastor Funke, the wife. The pastor had gone to his office.
She knelt before her to plead her case.
"Ma please, believe my side of the story. I never knew the man from Adams. Bayo was the one that took me out on a date, only to walk out on me that was how….."
"Sister Anu, For Christ sake, tell the truth. A man you claim you hardly know came to arrest your husband in his house? Who does that? Do you think I was born yesterday? Please, please, look for a more sensible lie. Remember the story of your rape is still a mystery. Abi, you've finally seen the father of the child?" She mocked. It's clear she never believed her. Moreover her mind was made up.
She found it hard to believe that Pastor Funke, a wonderful woman of God,she calls her mentor will be the one to torment her now. She sees her as a role model.
Anu sighed deeply and got up, looked at her squarely in the face and proclaimed,
"Alright ma, since you have made up your mind not to see my side of the story, I will see the Pastor."
Anu turned to go away then she heard her saying, "Hmm, do you think you will convince him? If you are willing to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, then you can go, but if it's this cock and bull story you cooked up from your wild imaginations, that you want to share with a reputable man of God, you better think thrice before going. Do not say I did not warn you."
Anu left the house downcast and decided to go home, but on a second thought, she made up her mind to take her chance.She shrugged her shoulders and went to his office.
On reaching there, he met him with another man, so the receptionist told her to hold on.It took almost an hour before he left.
She entered his office and knelt pleading with him to hear her side of the story.
"Sir, may God reveal my innocence to you. I had gone home to see mommy but she failed to see my story.
Anu stated her case before him while he bent his head in deep thought.
Anu drew near and held his leg on impulse, pleading and weeping profusely.
"Please, believe me sir. I'm not lying."
Pastor Funke opened the door to the office abruptly, followed closely by her husband, Bayo.
She exclamation out of deep shock.
"Didn't I tell you that my wife has turned to a Delilah. Prostitute, sex hawker. She is here to seduce the man of God."
"Ha Bayo, Fear God! Me! Seduce Pastor?" Anu protested.
Gazing into Pastor Funke's eyes, her heart kept beating faster. Her eyes grew red, and became wild like a tiger ready to devour it's victim.
"Will you get out of this office, you low life miserable, immoral girl. So you are an agent of darkness, sent to seduce my husband. You have failed." She yelled clapping her hands in fierce anger.
The pastor, raised his head with a sober look first at his wife, as if he was passing across a message to her, then to Bayo. He opened his mouth and spoke solemnly,
" What can I do for you, Mr….." with a thoughtul expression which left Anu in awe.
"Mr Bayo sir." Bayo replied with eagerness.
"I'm happy to meet you for the very first time. I have heard a lot about you from her. I mean my wife. I decided to come over to see you about my wife's recent character, since she is one of your trusted member." Bayo continued feeling pleased with himself.
"Okay Mr Bayo, can you sit down." The pastor motioned him to sit on the visitor's seat in front of him while the wife sat on the big sofa. Anu was standing.
"Sister Anu, please go home to your house. Thank you for coming to explain yourself." The pastor uttered with no emotions at all.
Pastor Funke hissed at her and when she got to the receptionist, she eyed her, rolling her big bulging eyes up and down as if she would swallow her.
It occurred to Anu that she must have heard the accusations that she came to lure the Pastor. Hmm the whole Church will hear and see her as a useless,seductive, hypocrite. Anu thought in her heart.
Anu walked away to her house with shame and disgrace. She felt so bad that it affected her stomach. It was rumbling; before she could walk further down the road, her eyes were turning and she could not recover herself, until she slumped by the road sidewalk.
"Ha, this girl is pregnant!" One of the passer-bys yelled out clapping to attract attention to her.
"Please, help this lady to stand now!" A male voice shouted.
"Hey, I hope she is not from the house of her ritualist boyfriend. Children of nowadays. They love money too much."
"Eh, my sister, it could be a Yahoo plus guy that did this to her. Women love money eh!."
"Who know love money? Men love money die,that is why they add Occultism to Yahoo Yahoo."
Laughter everywhere. Some were caring for her while others were there to catch fun or have story to gossip about.
"Please let us take her to the hospital. Maybe she has not eaten a meal today. Country hard o"
One of the women bread seller splashed a sachet of water on her. She shook and revived. Then she opened her eyes to see herself by the roadside with a crowd.
"Thank God! Kai, this girl is lucky. Let her go and do Thanksgiving in Church."
"Hmm, is this not sister Anu, that girl that got pregnant and claimed she was a virgin?"
"Maybe another pregnancy has landed. Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus"
"Hmm, she is a faithful sister in our Church I."
"Hmm, sister indeed. Hypocrites everywhere. Please leave the road for me biko."
All these were some of the comments flying all over the place. Anu kept calm, and collected, but listening to all.
"Oh, see the Mother coming, that should be Mrs Moji, the one that lost her husband some years ago." Someone uttered.
Anu's mom pushed her way to see her daughter lying on the ground. She raised her up and called for a taxi to take them home to the relief of the people. The crowd soon dispersed after their departure.
The mom could hardly wait for them to reach the house. As soon as they stepped out, she asked Anu the question tucking her mind.
"I hope you are not pregnant please"
"Mama, I don't know. But I have not yet seen my period for this month of August.
"Ha this is not good at all, but have you seen your menses before now?" Mrs Moji demanded.
"Not really, I only saw tiny patches of blood that stained my pants twice or so. Someone told me that breastfeeding stops menstruation.
But since I weaned my child. I've not seen my normal menses. Don't bother yourself, I will go to the hospital to check or use pregnancy test. I will give you the feedback by tomorrow."
"Okay now, God please help us. She has to go to school." Mrs Moji spread her hands to heaven and raised her eyes up in earnest prayer.
"Mama, forget this pregnancy issue. I want to stay with you. I don't want to go to Bayo's house again. I'm sick and tired of him. Please mama!" Anu pleaded with her, holding her hands to get her sympathy.
"Anu! You know my financial strength. How do I maintain you, Iyin, Ayomide, and your education?" She reasoned with Anu.
"Mama mi, there is no problem. I will assist you to do this. Just don't worry, let me stay with you!" She begged.
"No way! You cannot stay with her." The voice sounded familiar from afar.