8 A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

Mrs Anderson hired a private investigator a week after the party, she was eager to solve the mystery behind her daughter's recent episode's on going against the decisions she made concerning her.

" I will do my best as always", said the voice at the other end of the call.

" I will love for you to be as discrete as possible, call me only when you have something concrete to inform me about", She put down the phone, there was a sudden knock on the door.

" Who is it?" Mrs Anderson asked irritatedly.

The house keeper opened the door to Mrs Anderson's private relaxation chamber in the mansion and walked in, " Sorry for the intrusion, your therapist is here to see you".

" let her in immediately, I don't want my husband or daughter getting curious on who she is and why she is here. This visit must be kept discrete. From today onwards, when you see her, bring her directly to me".

The house keeper hurriedly walked out of the room in order to attend to the guest.

A few minutes later Mrs Anderson was in her chamber alone with the therapist.

" What seems to be the cause of your worries?, It has been over a year since we last had a session, moreover this is the first time you are making a house call", the lady sat directly in front of Mrs Anderson, with a curious gaze locked on her patient.

Mrs Anderson was unsure on how much of her past she wanted to speak about or try to remember, she felt uneasy.

" I have been repeatedly dreaming the same dream, for the past two weeks. At first it seemed like a random dream, but it has been occurring nonstop".

The lady took some notes down in her pad, " okay, so what is this dream about?".

" Huh...well it's a dream about my past, something I haven't thought about in a very long while", she stared at a picture of her family placed on the wall of the room, they looked like a happy family in the picture. She knew too well, she had never been a happy woman from the very start of her marriage.

" Ah, so I see it's not just a random dream, if this is related to your past. We will have to get in your head, then see how it has come to affect your dreams", the therapist spoke and wrote in her note pad simultaneously. She could tell Mrs Anderson bottled up resentments towards something or someone. A recent occurrence in her life triggered her memory, it was likely to be a memory she really wanted to forget.

Earlier in the day the sun shone at its brightest, leaving everyone drenched from the heat and constant outburst of sweat pouring out of their skin. The sky grew dark as gloomy clouds filled the sky, dust rising as the heavy wind blew against open eyes. The sudden clap of thunder sent chills down Sandra's spine, she ran to find shelter. There was heavy rainfall for almost an hour. Sandra Adebayo is a eighteen years old girl with a lot of dreams and ambition. She was on her way home from the local market. A few minutes later the intensity of the unexpected rain storm died down, she got out from under the shade she took refuge in and started walking down the edge of the road, in order to avoid the puddles of water caused by the rain. She heard the sound of vehicles from a distance behind her, she turned back to see a convoy of five expensive looking white car's, all of the same brand. They zoomed past her with no regard or awareness of the portholes filled with water, the next minute she was drenched with generous amount of dirty water. "Are you kidding me!!!!", She was completely soaked, dirty and furious. The convoy never stopped to make an apology, it almost seemed like the convoy never existed, as she walked home in annoyance, observing herself from head to toe, with no car in view.

Mr Adebayo, sat in his living room eagerly waiting for his guest. This was a once in a life time opportunity and he wasn't going to miss it for anything in the world. Sandra is his only child, he felt she owed him a lot. His precious wife died giving birth to Sandra who against all odds survived. Luckily for him she was blessed with the beauty and features of her mother.

" Good day Mr Anderson", Mr Adebayo welcomed his guest joyously.

Mr Anderson observed the tiny Living room before taking his seat. He instructed his guards to wait outside the house, while he discussed with his friend privately. Mr Adebayo began to wonder why Sandra was yet to return from the market since she left in the morning, " I do hope for her sake, it is not that stupid boyfriend of her's she is with", he thought angrily. Suddenly a guard walked into the living room with Sandra, she looked puzzled. At the moment she seemed angrier than she was after the splash incident, both men wore different expressions on their faces, her father looked utterly embarrassed,while Mr Anderson was confused as to why his bride to be looked like trash.

"What is the meaning of this rubbish?!", He was on the verge of slapping his daughter before Mr Anderson stopped him from doing so.

" You shouldn't do that to the young girl, she looks like she had a bad day. Please go in and wash up my dear", he had to admit she looked beautiful in this messy situation. Sandra ran into her room, closed the door quietly before bursting out in tears, all she wanted was to attend university, get a decent job and have a lasting relationship with her twenty five years old boyfriend Tobi, whom she cherished dearly. Instead all life gifted her was a father, whom she very well knew blamed her for the death of her mother. He had no intentions of sending her to the university. Ever since the day she clocked eighteen, all he talked about was marriage.

" Heaven knows the day I hear of any proposed marriage, I am running away from this house". Sandra pondered on who the elderly man with her father was, she was absolutely sure the cars parked outside were the one's that drove past her earlier on.

" Imagine him getting mad at me, when his friend is clearly responsible for my looking this way. It may be the reason he saved me from my dad's macho show off", she took off her dirty clothes and walked into the bathroom.

A few hours later she could hear the men laughing in the living room.

" Sandra !!!!", her father requested for her to be present with them in the living room.

She shook her head in disbelief, " what have I done now". She walked out of the room, stood directly Infront of her father and his guest, this time she was neatly dressed. The guest looked at her lustfully and her father was happy he did.

" Meet my course mate from my days back in the university, Mr Anderson your husband to be..". Sandra stared as both men smiled like they just announced something worthy of commendation. Her world began to crumble before her very eye's, she felt a great sense of despair at the thought of not being with Tobi because of this old big headed man.

" Husband?, I am really sorry but he his too old for me and you you know very well, that I am in love with someone else", tears filled her eye's for she knew there was no fighting her way out of this.

" I am very sorry Mr Anderson", he pleaded with his friend for the insult rendered by his daughter. " Are you insane!, if I ever hear the word boyfriend again, I will personally get him locked up, go inside that room and pack your things. Mr Anderson who is seated here, just paid five million naira for your bride price and gave me a key to one of those car's parked outside, so you best comport yourself".

Mr Anderson was aware he was far older than she was, being the wealthy man he is, he made sure to get what he always wanted. Sandra was number one on his bucket list, he was patient enough to agree with her father on waiting for her hand in marriage, till after she clocked eighteen.

" There's no need for her to bring anything from inside the house, I will see she lacks nothing. As a man of class, I do not like my woman looking shabby", he called in one of the guards and asked them to escort Sandra into the car. She was powerless to the event taking place before her very eye's, what was she going to tell Tobi?, how was she to survive in the hands of an old man she had never seen before?. It was her life yet she had no say on how she was to live, love or be loved.

" Mrs Anderson....Mrs Anderson?", A faint voice repeatedly called out to her, it became more audible as she gained consciousness sluggishly, before opening her eye's. She fell into despair and tears rolled down her eye's nonstop.

The therapist was marveled at what had been revealed, through hypnosis, " take a deep breath and try to stay calm". The section was over for today as they where yet to hammer the nail on the head, concerning her past and dream.

Mrs Anderson gained control of herself, " I will call you once I am ready for the next session. Your fee will be transferred to your account or willy you prefer a cheque?".

" I am fine with the transfer".

Erica had a bad day at work, Harry was absent at work today and the day before, she badly wanted to see him.

" I feel like I lost something that was never mine", she said to her friend on the phone.

" Girl don't be such a looser, call him!"

Erica watched a slender looking lady walk out of the mansion, she took no interest in her, for she had bigger problems on her mind.