48 Season Finale. You’re alone. That is punishment enough”

Jamal wanted to call someone to talk. The only person he could trust with his situation was Femi Coker but he was too busy relishing his role as house husband. Even after Femi moves into the 4 bedroom house in Garki that his parents bought as a wedding gift, Amaka would divorce her new husband before she let him entertain Jamal under their roof. After Nabila's departure Amaka's text had said one thing, "God will surely punish you."

Jamal scrolled through the contacts on his phone again, for the umpteenth time. He thought he had friends but he didn't. They only hung around because of what he could get for them, for the luxuries his position afforded. He played the role, always patronising, the way the very rich pretended to understand the plight of others. They polished his ego and he paid them for it. Suddenly a memory flickered before his eyes; the word 'ego' jogged something. Jamal sat back as the scene played in front of him like a movie. It was one of the rare occasions he and Nabila got along. He watched her rub lotion between her palms as she gisted him of the pre-nuptial arrangements abroad where wives were entitled to half of their husband's property. He saw his eyes go wide, confused at how a man could just sit back and let any woman take anything from him. But that wasn't why he remembered this moment, it was what she said before, he rewound the image... "I like Ikenna." Nabila was saying, "Most of your peers just follow you around like lap dogs but Ikenna is on an even keel. You're good for each other's ego.Maganin ka wallahi [he's your medicine]"

Jamal decided not to argue with the woman who had every right to take half but didn't. He took a deep breath and dialled Ikenna's number.

Ikenna Nwosu did not condone cheating. It was one of his cardinal sins, perhaps because he had been on the receiving end of it. It stung. The damage caused reverberated for many layers ruining your self esteem, confidence, trust and worse of all your belief in love. He would take many things over adultery; he championed divorce, trail separation, even open marriages and swingers. But behind the back cheating was a no-no in his book. Friday night however saw him nursing a Jack Daniels and listening to a man recount exactly that. And Ikenna did not feel the irritation, anger and disappointment he thought he would. Perhaps it was obvious life had already dealt Jamal Mujahid a fatal enough blow that Ikenna's harsh words would inflict no more pain than that already felt.

"So when last did you see Rabi?" He asked

"Her wedding day" Jamal sighed. He rubbed his face and looked around....Donnell Jones wafted through the speakers. Any other day he would tease Ikenna on his mushy attitude, probably make a joke about R 'n' B being too soft for his taste but oddly enough it was the right sound he needed to hear. Besides for the past few months he had been having a secret affair with John Mayer- and if that white boy wasn't mushy...

"Did you get a chance to talk to her?" Ikenna asked

"Yes" Jamal answered. He was tired; his mouth had been moving non-stop for three hours now. It was good to get everything off his chest at last, he must admit. But he had spent all day getting his belongings out of storage only to be informed his apartment was not ready yet. Luckily Ikenna was more than happy to house Jamal and his boxes and electronics,

"Let's order some food" Ikenna suggested.

"Where are we going to get food at 4 in the morning?"

"Leave it to me I know people"

"I used to know people" Jamal sighed.

"Then you know they're only good for one thing" Ikenna said

"Favours" they said in unison

"Man thanks so much for putting me up. I can't explain how you've saved my neck"

"Nah forget it. I know how important it is to keep up appearances"

"Exactly" Jamal agreed. He would remain immaculately dressed and charming. They won't see what he's going through. "Roommatesko? I've never had one"

"Me neither" Ikenna mused

"What are we going to do when women come around?"

Ikenna laughed, "Nice try but you are whipped and so am I. There will be no females here for a while yet"

"We need to get back in the game" Jamal tried to sound unflustered by the thought

"I don tire for the game jor" Ikenna refilled his glass. He had gotten back from work just a few hours ago and still wore his corporate suit.

"I'm sorry about Amaka" Jamal was shocked to find he genuinely meant it

"She's doing what's best for the kids"

"Let me guess...and for that you love her even more"

"No I hate her. I want her to understand that trusting again was a risk for me and she has ruined whatever redeeming factor love had. Just taken it, stabbed it and walked away"

"You hate her?"

"More than I ever thought I could"

"I don't hate Rabi"

"Really? If she didn't marry the old man you and she could be together right now"

"I understand now why she did it. If there was a way I could ease Nabila's pain I would. What I did was wicked and unfathomable. It was low and...You have nothing to add Ikenna? Now is your chance to say I deserve it or something" Jamal scratched his hair

"There's no need. You are suffering right now. Lost the one who loved you and cannot be with the one you love. You're alone. That is punishment enough"

Jamal figured one more sentence before they closed shop on this emotional meeting.

"Amaka doesn't love him"

"Is that so?" Ikenna said sarcastically "And how would you know this? Amaka surely did not tell you and neither did your friend. So tell me Mujahid, disgraced Government official how do you know she does not love him; the father of her kids. The one she getting married to?"

"Because I was there when she did, back then she would have died for him. Now it's FEMI that has it bad"

"You didn't have to call the name"

"This disgraced Government official felt the need to"

Comment - watch out for the Epilogue and Final Page