FEATURE ARTICLE


Tunde OyedoyinThursday, Janauary 8, 2004
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London, UK

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FATIMA, THE SUICIDE LOVER - FINAL PART


hat must be a joke," Aishat said from her seated position.Her eyes blinked repeatedly, hoping her sister will retract the news or confirm it was supposed to be a bad joke.

"How I wish," said Fatima."Look at the card I got this morning, this guy is wicked," she was in tears again.Aisha didn't know what to make of it, she calmed her sister as much as possible, offering her much comfort throughout the night. Aishat also slept in the same room with her,but Fatima could hardly close her eyes throughout the night.It wasn't until around 6am that she finally caved in and had an hour's rest.Later in the morning, she convinced Aishat she would be okay by the time she-Aishat-came back from work.Though she put up a window dressing appearance by mid-day, Fatima couldn't get over the thought of life without Andy.

Things didn't change much over the next couple of days, especially as he refused calling."The future's looking bleak," Fatima moaned."I never planned being a single mum, but for this mean bloke, Andy," she told a confidant who sent a text message inquring about her lover.

"Could this be true?", Aishat asked her sister when Andy never called nor visited throughout the week.By the third week, Fatima had lost considerable weight, she just couldn't get it behind very quickly .

"Live for your son," became a popular sermon preached to her by friends who heard of her plight.Aishat was very helpful, caring for her nephew, George, while Fatima was begining to get over it outwardly by the fourth month.

"I've got to come to terms with it," she told Aishat as they both went with George to a colleague's birthday party on a saturday evening. After sharing a joke with her sister and another attendee,Sri, Fatima opened up her inner world to both, saying:"I'd spent the first three months dreaming he was back with me , but Andy is gone forever and I've got to move on with my own life."

But old wounds were re-opened when,in May 2012 Fatima returned from her seven month maternity leave. The situation became quite agonising when, after returning to her routine as as a parliamentary correspondent, she heard from reliable sources that Andy was going out with a senior colleague from the National Network News,NNN.To compound things, the two were planning to wed in Manchester in August.

"Over my dead body," was her response when a colleague broke the bad news to her a week after returning to work in Westminster.

"He must be a heartless man, if that's true," she told Sri,her most trusted friend ,working as a correspondent with Politics Today magazine-a weekly publication for middle- class Britain. Taking the bull by the horns, Fatima felt she needed to confront him about the rumours that were making the rounds, if only to put the records straight.

She walked to his office during lunch hour on a Wednesday afternoon.

"So, what's been happening to you of late, Mr Brown?"

Having not invited her, it was understandable that Andy he was caught unawares.

'I've been fine, how's my boy doing?" Andy tried faking boldness, but his voice was shaky.Fatima was prepared for the show, pulling another punch ,she said:

"You should have taken time to find out before now, but he's fine." She knew she could be mistaken for wanting a second chance, but Fatima had her own game plan and she threw down the gauntlet.

"What's this rumour about a mock wedding between you and one television reporter?"

Andy hasn't recovered from the initial shock when this came , so he told her:"Its not true, but We'll talk in detail later tonight." The least thing he wanted was a shouting match.

"I'll call you on my way home. He tactfully walked her to the caf� for some refreshment, where current affairs became the subject of their 10 minute conversation. He was much relieved when she asked to be released:"I'll talk to you later," waving to her cheerfully as the two parted.

She was unimpressed ,but:"That's life. Men could be heartless and worthless,' she consoled herself.

Back in her flat later that evening, the call came through from Andy's mobile. He wasn't sounding like a lover, but more like an informant who meant serious business.

"I should have told you earlier, but maybe it was an oversight or something. Well, its no longer news as you 've probably heard. I'm already seeing someone else and we're planning to formalise it very soon."

Fatima was equally blunt, "Thanks a lot, I just felt I needed to know. All the best and goodbye," she dropped the phone immediately. Andy called back but she never answered .He tried a couple of minutes later, this time she picked it saying:"You're the most wicked man on this planet." The conversation was now turning dirty.

"That's your opinion. I do what pleases me and I don't think I've committed the unpardonable sin. This happens everyday and we all experience it sometime in our lives.That doesn't mean we can't be friends? "

"Why did you ask that we start a family when all along, you knew you were seeing another woman? I regret ever letting you into my life."

"You don't have to, Fatima. We're still on good terms and could still one day have the best of friendships.And if I may add, I'll still be responsible for George's maintenance and be a father to him. Besides, you're always welcome to have interviews, if need be."

"You may go to hell with your interviews," as she banged the phone on him.

But at his end, he was relieved that she's got the message:

"I don't think I've done something unusual," he consoled himself later. Meanwhile things were happening beyond comprehension for Fatima. Not only was she being ridiculed by some colleagues in their gossip columns, Andy and his new found lover, Shirley were at the advanced stages of their imminent wedding on the 29th day of August, 2012. To add insult upon injury, she was also sent an invitation card and inside it, the couple endorsed their golden verse:"What God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

That was the least thing she expected and Fatima took the next week off work. It was too much for a young mother, but Aishat 's shoulders were always there to cry on. She had loads of advise from friends and well wishers, but she wasn't soaking them in as they thought.

"I'll trust my instinct," she repeatedly murmured to herself .

"He shouldn't break my heart for free, I'd never known or really loved any man, except him. I made myself clear about not wanting to get hurt, but see what I've ended with."

Aisha did her best to make her get over the rudest shock of her life as much as possible.

"I'll be okay," Fatima assured her. But sometimes, she just looks blank as if lost in some unseen world or in a trance.

"Nothing, really," she would say."Its good to reflect on the past and think about what the future has in stock."

Atimes, she's had to admit to her sister that she doesn't know why such a thing should be her lot of all people.I've never broken any man's heart nor cheated on anyone?"

"Fatima, bad things sometimes happen to good people." She's heard that sermon preached to her a thousand and one times over by Aishat.

A couple of days after taking another two weeks off work, Fatima stumbled across an extremist religious group in North London. Pretending to share their beliefs, she worshipped with them for four months, during which she was introduced to their jealously guided fanatical teachings.

"This is what I've been looking for, it might be useful in a personal way," she told their cell leader who gave a tutorial on suicide bombings regularly as they prepared for a new World Order. After negotiating to work on a part-time basis with her editor, she juggled her new found faith with motherhood and her career.It was obvious she was deriving immeasurable satisfaction from the religion she recently embraced.Aishat and everyone who knew her were all relieved that at last, she has found some solace in her new faith.

"I'm happy for you, Fatima," Aishat told her during one of their discussions. "I know that weeping may endure for the night, but joy always comes in the morning.I 've been told by our cell leader that there's always light at the end of a tunnel."

"That's true," her sister admitted.

"I have to move on with my life," became a regular quote of hers. But she has something up her sleeves which Aishat never knew.

Three months after Brown tied the knot with Shirley, Fatima asked for a saturday appointment to discuss the welfare of their eight month old son.

"I've promised I'll always be there for him," he replied, on seeing her note.A date was agreed very quickly. On saturday March 15th, 2013, they met at their once famous love nest at the Marriot Hotel, where he had gone the extra length to reserve a suite at her request. Brown wasn't surprised to receive the gesture, his thinking was:"It must be because I've never allowed George to lack anything, he knows his dad will always be there for him."

He looked forward to the date without knowing what to really expect. Eventually, the waiting game was over, the date was here. Time seemed to fly by and it was evening, the time he really wanted. "Who knows maybe I'll have one magic moment. who knows?" he asked himself.

When Brown breezed into the hotel lobby at 7.45pm, Fatima was already cooling off with a glass of Irish Cream, having arrived about 15 minutes earlier.

"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting," he apologised.

"No, no, no. it's okay. I was supposed to be here for 8pm, I just thought it would be better to come in earlier than running late. Besides, I was really looking forward to this occasion." Brown couldn't keep his eyes off her 'see through' silky evening wear as they shared some freshly squeezed orange juice. Within minutes,he suggested they move to the suite that was pre - booked.

"I guess you must have been taking some lessons on how to read people's mind? I was just about making that suggestion as well," Fatima replied, allowing her legs to stay wide open for a couple of minutes.

"Your wish is my command," he said, as they moved to pick the key from the reception desk. Some of the hotel staff were surprised to see them again as news of their break up was all over the place.

"Well, you can never say never, when it comes to a love affair," one of the staff told her colleagues later.

"I'm so sorry for what has happened.." Andy began to apologise as the elevator took them to their fifth floor suite he paid for.

"Its okay, I'm no longer moaning, otherwise I wouldn't have asked that we talk about your son's welfare in the first place.If need be, we may stay for the night."

"You make me melt inside with your forgiving heart," he told her as they walked into room 532.

"I'm so glad you took the initiative, I've somehow felt I let you down," he remarked.

"Let's leave all that for now, its in the past. This evening is about the present and the future of our son, not the past. We'll only remember the good old times, not the bitter past. Let's have it for ourselves, we can talk about George later in the morning."

Andy found it difficult to believe his luck:"Ooh, Fatima, what an angel you turned out to be. I know We'll still talk about George later, but I'm hitching to see more of him. "

"Never mind, Andy, you're free to come in anytime to see your lovely son. I only hope he doesn't become a politician like you."

"You're such a darling, the sunshine in my darkness. You're the one I'll always long for," he swept her off the ground, positioning her on the king size bed.

"Fatima, you're the best thing to happen to me," he planted a kiss on her lips and started to unbutton her dress.

Fatima held up his hand and said, :" Mr loverboy, I'm not asking you to leave your newly wedded wife. As long as I can have you occasionally like this, I'll be happy to be your mistress and life will go on smoothly."

He just nodded his head, but you can tell that Andy was already in another world. He couldn't resist taking off her clothes completely. "Nature has really blessed you with one of the most amazing figures on earth," he said.

"If you say so," Fatima replied. With his lips moving all over her body, Andy decided it was better to make the most of the night out. They tickled and kissed, ending with a very steamy and enjoyable round of sex. Andy had nothing to worry about, he envisaged what would happen and he's already lied to Shirley that he was attending a party dinner/fund raising event that would require him to stay over in Birmingham that night. Unknown to Shirley, it's a different kind of fund raising at a North London hotel.

"You're sweeter than honey," he told her afterwards.

"Stop flattering me," she said, resting her head on his chest.

"You're making me feel I've missed a lot," Andy told her.

"Never mind, at least you've tasted what you've been missing and you still have the whole night to spare," she reminded him.

"Your boobs are just as succulent as ever,"

"What else do you expect?"

They slept off shortly after that, but Fatima was awake about an hour later. She went to the bathroom with her handbag, inside which was an explosive she planned to detonate in the next couple of minutes.

With her hands shivering as she hid it in her night gown, "God knows, I never planned to do this to anyone, but Andy has left me with no better alternative." Her emotions were failing her, there were drops of water in her eyes.

"Who will take care of George? He's going to miss his mum, but I trust Aishat to be a mother to him." She decided it was time she went back to the room, everything would be over in the next one hour.

Andy was still asleep, she slid inside the bedsheet and started caressing him. It was like some high voltage being transmitted through copper cables, he was up and running. He was all over her, both were minutes away from death. Nobody would know the real story until probably Monday, when a letter she'd written, explaining why she decided to end everything like this- would have landed in the flat she shared with her sister, Aishat.

It was 1.22am on sunday morning , and as Andy jerked away and both were nearing orgasm, Fatima was saying:"I love you Andy, I love you.." when a very loud noise was heard all over building. He was flipped upwards, hitting the roof and landed beside the bed with his chest and face badly burnt. There was confusion in the hotel, nobody knew what had happened.

Guests were immediately evacuated, while the emergency services started converging. It was pandemonium, hotel staff and many half - asleep guests ran in different directions. Semi naked bodies ran for cover, but some were too drunk to be bothered about whether a bomb explosion had rocked the building or not.For the policemen who gathered at the ground floor, there was not going to be a clue whether it was a terrorist attack or whatever.

Meanwhile, the door to room 532 was flung open, the bodies of the two lovers laid on the floor. It appeared they were lifeless, the paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and carried them away. Some guests were shocked to their bones, quite a number were treated at ground zero, about 50 others-including foreigners- were taken to the nearby, Newham Foundation Hospital at Maida Vale.

"This is a clueless crime," a police spokesman told a News Cable Channel. "Anyone with any information should please call the numbers displayed on your screen," the 4am newscaster pleaded.

It was around 7am before Aishat heard about it on television, her thoughts were with the victims, without realising she's been seriously hit. She went about her normal routine until the first images were shown. The police had no single clue about how room 532 was the only one seriously affected.

"We're appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious on Saturday evening or the early hours of Sunday morning to give us a call," Supt John Bow, said on TV. Meanwhile, it wasn't until 8am before Shirley got to know about it. It never crossed her mind that her husband was in London, "Andy should be back anytime from now," she told herself as the news was being repeated.Meanwhile, she couldn't really explain why he never called since last night.

Two hours later, a call came to the house informing her that the police would be coming shortly.

'What is this about?" she asked.

"I'm afraid your husband was involved in an accident," the woman police constable told her.

'What are you talking about? When did this happen?.." She wasn't comfortable that the lady couldn't give much information before hanging up. Within minutes, three officers - including the female constable - were at her door. The situation was further compounded by her inability to reach Andy immediately.

"What the hell is all this confusion?"

Almost simultaneously, three officers had got in touch with Aishat after finding some information on her-Fatima- complimentary card. Despite the police whisking Aishat away to break the news, nobody would get to know until on monday, when letters written by Fatima would have reached their respective destinations.Earlier on saturday,Fatima had posted four farewell letters to - her editor, parliamentary colleagues, Aishat and Shirley- explaining her motive.In a three paragraph letter, she told colleagues"This has nothing to do with terrorists, it's the sweet revenge of a suicidal lover."

Her fifth letter was specially addressed to her son, George.

"I will always love you. Your caring mum," was all she scribbled inside. She also put a footnote:" Never break any woman's heart, son."

The contents of the one addressed to her sister, Aishat and Andy's wife, Shirley were similar. She stated her reasons for the suicide love attack as the only way out of:" The mess he put me."

"He was the first man I truly loved. I told him I never wanted to be hurt, so I hope everyone understands." Another copy had been attached to the one sent to her editor on the same day.

Shirley was in tears when she read the letter:"But why, why would Fatima do this, knowing that I'm expecting our baby?"

On her part, Aisha held George in her hands ,not knowing how the boy would react in future when he knows details of his mum's death.