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FATIMA, THE SUICIDE LOVER - Part 2
(FICTION)

eally," as she threw her hands around his neck. "I'm not thinking about a pop career now, but just to give you my love. This is like a dream come true. I don't mind singing for you, but being a pop idol or whatever is not something I've ever contemplated. What more do I say, except to add that you too can make a living, hunting talent for a recording company."

They both laughed at each other as he sped off into the dark night on the streets of South Eastern London. They never realised when they got to her flat in Marylebone. Leaning over from his seat, he planted another passionate kiss on her lips.

"I can't help it," he said.

"Have I complained?"

"Uuh, you're so sweet, Fatima." Andy wore a more serious look afterwards, she thought something nasty had crept up.

"What have I done wrong, darling?"

"Nothing, but did you really know you have the voice of an angel, Fatima?"

"Hope you're not getting worried that you may not succeed in making a singer out of me at all cost? But if you insist on a singing debut, that can be put on hold. I don't intend to pursue any career outside the newsroom for now," giving out her tongue for him to taste again.

"Oh dear, you could also increase your earnings by acting. I never knew you're multi-talented. The truth is, I wouldn't mind paying to listen to you. Anywhere you choose to perform, be it on the floor of the House of Commons, the West End, the Press Gallery, or if you decide to do your recordings in the bedroom, be assured that I'll always book multiple tickets with my credit card."

"That's quite flattery, Mr Lover Boy. Why don't you arrange to premiere your own stage career at the West End next week? I wouldn't miss it, either."

"I'm only waiting for your debut appearance before putting up the adverts for mine."

"For all your efforts, expect your wages tonight."

"Meaning what?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination." Fatima tilted his jaw slightly, then used her right hand to undo a few buttons of his shirt. Andy gasped for breath.

"So, you have this much in your frame, Mister? Have you ever considered being on the catwalk for once?" Her hand worked down his mid-section, as Andy took another deep breath. His eyes lightened up. A little movement was noticeable below his leather belt.

"Anyway, I'll put you on hold for now." Fatima allowed him to fix his buttons back.

Andy got himself together, saying: "If that was meant to be a first course, it was worth waiting for. As I was saying before the break, I'm not suggesting that you're the next Whitney Houston waiting to be discovered, but anyone dull of hearing will confirm that you wouldn't need more than two minutes at any auditioning before being pulled apart for a mouth watering two album deal. If you don't mind, could you kindly do another number and listen to yourself."

"Well, I've heard it many times since I was in High School. I believe you, but I'll rather be a career mother before..."

Andy cuts in sharply, "Looking after my kids?" With eyes that wouldn't stop gazing until a response was given.

Fatima eyed him, but wouldn't say anything as they eventually went inside the house. Aishat had just come back from a night out with her boyfriend, Damien.

"Aishat, I've got something to show you," Fatima enthused, pulling her near the centre of the room.

"What is it my dear?" giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I trust you, there'll always be something to shout about when the "Smooth Operator" is around."

Check this out," displaying her engagement ring."For your information, it's less than three hours old."

She threw her arms around her, "I'm so happy for you,"Aishat said. They embraced each other and were nearly in tears before finally disengaging. "I wish you all the best,Fatima."

Turning to Andy who stayed glued to his chair, watching the show of emotion:"Please take good care of my sister, she's my only baby."

As if blushing, "I'll do my best," he said.Fatima and her sister went to the kitchen, where she informed Aishat she'll be spending the night at Andy's flat. But he didn't know what her plan was, when she yelled:"I'll be with you shortly," from her room later. She came out later, fiddling with her handbag, before producing an A4 size card.

"This is for you," she said, dropping it on his thigh He was quick to rip it open, and across it was a three letter word: "I Luv U."

Exploded with a deafening, "Oh my God," he stood up and lifted her off her feet. Fatima whispered: "You may kiss the bride tonight," as he carefully lowered her unto his lap.

"This is just too much for me," Andy confessed, almost sobbing. She stroked his cheek, before repeating the same words in his ears.

"I never knew this would happen at Christmas.Fatima, I don't think I'll ever be able to compete with you when it comes to surprises."

"Thanks for the compliments." Still, she didn't give out much about her final plot for the night.Aishat invited both to join her on the dinning table.

After having a light dinner, Andy informed them he was leaving. Instantaneously, Aishat and Fatima looked at each other, he couldn't have guessed that they said anything with their eyes. As he took his leave, hugging Aishat, Fatimat held his hand closely as they made their way out. Andy expected nothing more than a goodbye kiss at the car park, but Fatima asked that she make a quick call on his mobile. He obliged, without query. He held her by the waist, as she dialled .

"Aishat, it's me. Just wanted to tell you that I'll be going over to Andy's place tonight." Andy didn't know when the bunch of keys he was holding hit the ground. His lips also parted, allowing some cool breeze to blow down his throat. When it dawned on him this was for real, he clutched her to himself so tightly that one would have thought she would suffocate.

"I can't believe my luck," were the only words he could utter, as Aishat brought her sister's mobile phone and house keys.

"Take care of yourself, Fatima.I'll see you guys tomorrow," as she waited for him before running back to the house.Fatima placed her left hand on his lap, asking:"What are you thinking about? Will you be moving any motion tonight?"

He found it hard to do two things together and nearly drove past the red light at the last set of traffic lights leading to his flat.

"Just keep looking straight and concentrate," she advised.

"How?"

Shaking his head as he brought the car to a halt at the space allocated for residents only, "You really took me unawares, Fatima. Getting you to come over for a night is number one on my wish list, but I didn't want to put pressure on you in any way. I still don't know if this is a movie or real life."

"It's a matter of minutes," she said.

"Why didn't you move the motion all this while?"

"I didn't know if there'll would be a seconder," pointing to her - as he opened the door of his two bedroom posh apartment.

"This looks nice," she said, dropping her phone and bunch of keys. Fatima took an imaginary tour of the living room with her eyes while he put the central heating system on.

Moving over to switch on the television: "Wine, tea, coffee, water or whatever, name it and I'll serve them in seconds. You're guaranteed a five - star treatment and the waiting time wouldn't exceed 20 seconds. Where else would you get that?"Andy boasted

"A glass of water should be okay for now," she replied seductively. Andy made for the kitchen, not knowing that she would tiptoe to the same venue almost immediately.

"One sec," he yelled. But Fatima was right at his back, putting her arms around his neck.

"I think you deserve more than your mere wish list tonight. I've been impressed by you not rushing me to have sex, now my body belongs to you. You can actually feel the bride tonight. I'm yours for the taking," as she went for his lips. Andy acted on his instinct, sweeping her off her feet and straight to the living room. It took minimum effort for her to get his clothes off. He didn't lag behind either, ripping hers apart in seconds.

It started from there and they ended up on the floor, gasping for breath after nearly 20 minutes of passionate love making. They had another round after having coffee and she stayed over until 7am on boxing day. There was no stopping them afterwards and seeing the two together almost everywhere was now common sight. When his party won the next general elections, he reiterated his commitment that they would be signing the dotted lines on the third anniversary of their going out. At the same time, Andy was rewarded with a junior ministerial in the Foreign Secretary's office and Fatima threw a lavish party in his honour at the Marriot Hotel in Golders Green-where they had their first "Out of office" romance.

After a month in his new role, he asked that they start a family. "Our wedding is just four months away, so why don't we get started. I'll want to be one of those politicians who became a father while at Westminster. I don't think fatherhood and ministerial appointment are parallels, what's your opinion, Fatima?"

That sounded good in her ears: "It's something we've always wanted anyway. But promise me, I won't be the only one changing the baby's nappies at night."

They both laughed at the teaser."I won't wait for you to ask for it before I take six months paternity leave. Trust me. I'll be working from home twice a week."

She broke the news of the year to him three weeks later when a home pregnancy test confirmed that her monthly cycle that was recently missed implied that she was pregnant. Another joint visit to their GP settled the matter convincingly. They left the surgery holding each other's hands and anyone with a little imagination to spare would have guessed rightly that they could be prospective parents.

When some three months later, Andy asked that they postpone their wedding until after the baby was born, Fatima had no idea it was the beginning a heartache. The prophets of doom could be right afterwards, but that thought had long been discarded. The symptoms weren't just there for her to notice. But Andy had something that would shock her and would also confirm what Rebecca had told Fatima earlier that:"Many hearts had been broken in the Parliament."

Andy had started to see someone else, but he kept it to his chest and never acted suspiciously. He still pretended to be the faithful partner she knew, but he was using every opportunity to slip over at another woman's flat.

As expected, everything went well during the pregnancy, culminating in the baby's arrival three days earlier than the Expected Due Date, EDD. But four months later, the bombshell came out of the blues, when Andy asked that they needed time from each other so that:"I can concentrate on my ministerial career. I hope you understand as well as I do, that this is a crucial time for our party, but most especially, me. I'll speak to you soon," was the last line of the brief letter posted to her by special delivery.Fatima initially thought it was due to a minor argument they had when he last visited.

"He's probably stressed," Aishat suggested when she heard about it.

But there was sweat all over her when her heart was finally ripped apart days later. A beautiful card, posted to her flat had these words: "I'll Miss You,' boldly written across the cover. Inside, he wrote:

"Please take care of the baby,

"All the best,

Andy Brown, MP

She reached for her phone and called his mobile.

"Someone is trying some dirty tricks, this can't be Andy." Her call went straight to his voicemail, but she left this message:"Andy, please give me a call when you get this,Fatima." She struggled to get every negative thought out of her mind:"I've never thought of any future without him. No, it can't possibly be."

He didn't return the call until the next day. Instead of his usual jokes and enquiries about George, their baby, he was rather cold and brief.

"I just think we need some time from each other, that could probably be helpful to you, not just me. I've got a few catching up to do on my work and I'll also want to reflect a bit on everything," he told her over the phone.

Still unable to reconcile what she was hearing to the same Andy who had promised never to walk out on her, Fatima asked: "What's all these you're talking about? Have you been drinking or what's going on?"

"Its nothing to do with alcohol, you know very much I don't gulp many pints at a time. I just need time to sort a few things out about my life and career."

Fatima was sobbing, "Andy, Can you look into my eyes and repeat what you said over the phone?"

"I haven't really said that's the end, what I'm saying is, I need some time to reflect on this relationship."

Fatima was in tears: "Oh, my God. Why would you do this to me? Why, why me?" before he dropped the phone with these parting shot: "I think we'll speak some other time, if you don't mind. I must attend a cabinet meeting shortly."

Fatima's eyes were red when she returned to the living room, where Aishat was playing with her little nephew, George.

"What's going on?," she asked.

"It's Andy, he's decided to walk out on me." Fatima had hardly got the last word out when Aishat slumped in her seat, screaming:"Oh, my God."

N:B Apologies for the long wait between the first and second parts. The concluding story should be out by the weekend of January 10th.