Chapter 3 The pregnancy and make up story

When Lati got home, he placed a house arrest on Mitah. He didn't allow her to go anywhere except if she was going to school for her Projects and Lati's personal bodyguards would always follow her to school to keep an eye on her all so she wouldn't meet up with Dino.

Few months later, Mitah's convocation came and Lati was finally proud of his daughter. She had bagged a degree in Chemistry with an upper division. Though on her convocation day, Lati did allow Mitah a bit of freedom, since it was such a day of delight for her. But not without having a few soldier guards(junior officers) roaming around the arena randomly. The ceremony was held in a big hall in the institution with a lot of dignitaries, parents, honourable doctorate holders of the institution, lecturers, graduating students and parents amongst others. He allowed her some freedom whenever she needed to take pictures with her friends. Mitah finally developed a hint about how she could see Dino, as it seemed he was present at her convocation. He had informed her the day before that he would be seeing her at the convocation and would wait for her arrival in one of the rooms his cousin had rented in the school. He was glad he would finally be seeing her that day. Mitah decided to trick her father by telling him that she was going for a photoshoot with her friends in another location

"My men will escort you then" Lati said.

"No dad, don't make this seem more awkward than it is already" Mitah said," It's just a shoot I promise I will be back soon"

Lati nodded "Okay then do not stay for long".

With this she went ahead to see her lover. They had met in the intended place. Dino had missed her greatly. She rushed to give him a wild hug." God I Missed YOU...Your father is really hard on me you know.". Dino said to her.

"I'm very sorry Dino I was helpless. You won't believe the number of soldiers my father placed on me alone. Not his personal bodyguards anymore now soldiers!" Mitah said in frustration rolling her eyes

"It's okay sweet heart, I know how you must feel about it. Happy convocation. I am sincerely proud of you darling". "Thank you!"Mitah said . Mitah couldn't help but hug him one more time. His smile always attracted her and held her captive. His pleasant cologne filled her nostrils and she missed everything about him already. He brought his face closer to hers, gave her a long passionate kiss like a starved man.

"I missed you ". He groaned in her mouth caressing her bare thighs and her waist. They continued kissing each other, with Dino fondling with the buttons of her blouse, things grew more wild and they broke the vow they made to each other about waiting till their wedding night. They ended up having a passionate sexual moment together. ------------------------_--

Lati on the other hand was looking everywhere for his daughter. It's been an hour already. he ranted. He was already shouting at the men forgetting that he was the one that released her himself ". You guys are just useless! How could you let her leave your sight?

"You instructed us not to follow her Sir". The boys answered.

"Oh"... Lati replied finally realising that he was the one that gave the instruction. But where could she have gone?...

"I hope he isn't with that bastard".... He said thinking aloud. Meanwhile after Dino and Mitah's Passionate moment. They both lied down on the bed, covered in sheets. Dino gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you." He said to her

"We promised to wait" Mitah said laughing.

"I know. But I guess I am the one who couldn't control my desires. We have been apart for so long and it was killing me. I am sorry" He said caressing her sweaty hair

"I know. We both couldn't control it. So do not blame yourself. I didn't attempt to stop you". Mitah said staring at him smiling. Few minutes later, they got up from the bed and Dino presented a car key to Mitah as a convocation gift...which she accepted. But not without expressing her bewilderment.

"Wow! Don't you think this is too much?"

Come on. Nothing is too much for the woman I love." Dino said in a very cool manner.

"Thank you, I appreciate. My father must be looking for me by now. Let me get going. I love you." She said as she blew him a kiss and left.. She got to where her father was.

"Where the hell have you been Mitah?".. Lati screamed. Mitah gave a sigh and lied to him that her friend got wounded while she was taking a shoot and they had to go and treat it... "Oh and how is she?"

"She is well now"

"Thank goodness. I thought you had...Oh..never mind. Let's go home. The program has come to its end already."

After Mitah's Graduation, she had a plan to go for a diploma in Chemical Engineering. Her friend Queen came visiting her that day and they were discussing how she would go about it. Queen was her Secondary School friend, and her best friend also.

After a while, they decided to watch a movie together. They were in the middle of this when Mitah ran to the bathroom to vomit the food she just ate. She wasn't looking very fine. That was the second time she would do that. Queen noticed this and asked her when she came back from the bathroom; "Mitah is everything okay?"

But Mitah said she was fine and almost immediately, she ran to the bathroom to have another throw up. Lati was also present in the sitting room reading a magazine. He removed his glasses and asked her friend.

"Queen, you think your friend is okay? she has been throwing up a couple of times."

"I don't know Mr Lati. Probably she is feeling nauseous" Queen also said, getting worried. When Mitah came out of the bathroom, Lati insisted he would take her to the Hospital and Mitah initially refused; saying she was going to be okay and would probably take some fever medications

"No. You are not fine, Mitah. You need to see a Doctor. Remember you complained of feeling dizzy last night too" Lati pressed on.

"Mitah, you need to visit the doctor. You can't just assume on your own." Queen also advised

"Okay" Mitah finally said. Lati picked his car key and in a minute, they headed to the hospital. Lati dropped off Queen at the nearest junction as she later got an urgent call from her boss. A test was conducted on Mitah at the hospital which and the result did not take quite long. The doctor handed over the results to her. Lati watched her keenly as she was going through the contents. She looked quite surprised and unsettled. He was about to collect the result from her hand to check when the doctor spoke.

"She is pregnant. It's Three weeks" The doctor said. Lati stared at the doctor in shock, then he stared at Mitah.

*********************

They got home and a scene was created.

"I need an explanation for this. Don't you agree?" Lati asked dropping the car key. But Mitah said she could not understand what was happening.

" What do you mean?! The Doctor said you are pregnant and you said you don't understand. Are you a kid now? When?.When did you meet with a man?!" Lati asked furiously. He hoped it was not who he was thinking. Mitah was obviously scared and she was shaking. Her father shouted at her to reply him and tell him who was responsible for the pregnancy, and she answered. "It's Dino" she said staring at the ground

Lati suddenly felt a sharp headache; He was sweating "What did you just say? You got pregnant for Dino? You just killed me

Mitah!".. He said touching his forehead. He felt a feeling like he was stabbed in the chest. "Haven't I warned you never to get close to that boy again?!.. After the house arrest?.. When did that happen?.. "He was curious enough to ask..

"On that day, during convocation and we met a week after in his house" Mitah said as she folded her fingers together

"I placed the men on you!.. How did you..." He stopped, It's of no use asking right now, he thought within himself. "You're a big disappointment.!" With this he barged inside... Mitah couldn't describe how she felt anymore. The pregnancy did not come at the right time but she loved the fact that Dino is the father of her child. But nothing but her father's reaction made her devastated and have the feeling as if she made a mistake ."What could be the reason behind this resentment towards his family? ".. She mused. Is it because Dino"s father later joined the enemy state's army Zerafi?.. She was unsure, lost in thought. She shook her head and looked across the window, shifted the blinds and watched the birds hopping across the roof top in search of preys.

Later that night, Lati was thinking deeply. Mitah was his child, he couldn't despise her because she had gotten pregnant. He called her to his room and

sternly told her to cut off her relationship ties with Dino.

"No. Dad. I can't do that. I am carrying his child and you know it.

"You got pregnant for the wrong man, you must cut off ties with him and tell him you got pregnant for another man. He must not know that the child in your stomach is his. You can't get married to him. I forbid it. I can't watch you both build a family together"

"But, you can't just ..... Mitah was cut off.

"NO but! Do as I have said or his life is in danger. You know your father well", He finally said. Mitah was confused and worried too.

"It won't take me more than two seconds to get rid of him. It's my speciality. I have been holding back from killing him all these while, he has been such a pest!.but if you try to build a family together, that would be what will break the camel's back!"Lati added

"Dad this is not fair" She said but her father had gone to the bathroom. The next day, Mitah thought hard. It would be very difficult to end things with Dino. He was her happiness, her joy her everything. She paced all over her room that night, unsure of what to do. On the other hand, She did not want to risk Dino's life, her father can be very dangerous. He doesn't make empty threats too. She loved him, but she couldn't watch him get hurt by her father. She decided to see Dino, two days later, after her father's persistence and threats. She went with an intention to tell him that they should end things, but when she got there, she did not have enough courage to hurt him that way.

They met at a restaurant. This time she was without a guard. She told his father she would break up with Dino. Dino was angry at her. He wrote more than five letters to her and she did not reply. He also wrote it in the letters that they should meet but she never came.

"Mitah, what is wrong? Are you avoiding me? I Mean, I don't understand.

"I'm not avoiding you Dino I've been busy" she said nervous, scared and confused. She didn't know where to start.

"Too busy to see me? Dino asked.

"I am sorry Dino. You know I'm not like that..... I wanted to.....

"Wait.. Are you okay? You don't look fine to me" Dino asked worried

"No. I'm fine. There's something I want to tell you" she said.

"What's that?"

"I..... "She couldn't say it. It was too heavy too, she couldn't hurt him like that. She wasn't ready. She stopped "What is it?" Dino asked getting a bit impatient, he was worried. "Did something happen?

"No, nothing. I just wanted to tell you I want to go for my Diploma." Dino was relieved, "You scared me oh.. Diploma? That's nice. Chemical engineering right?" "Yeah" Mitah said swallowing hard. Dino thought for some seconds and remarked that was a good idea "Come on.. let's go to my place now. I promised you a good feet massage remember? I already set the equipment ready".. Dino said beaming and holding her hands, but Mitah gently removed her hand saying she couldn't. Dino was worried and surprised enough to ask the reason. "I have an appointment" she said sharply. "With my friend, Queen"

"Queen?.. Is it that urgent? "Yes Dino" She answered sharply.. Dino felt a bit awkward but all the same, he released her. I'll call your private telephone line".. Mitah said it was okay and she left

Mitah got home and made to walk into her room, ignoring her father. "Have you ended things with him" He asked "Not yet?" Lati stood up "What is keeping you? You think I'm joking right? That I can't Kill him? Or you think I'll be imprisoned if I do so? Oh,Hell I can't. I'm a soldier of this

State. If I kill anyone, It would be thought of as some protection of the citizens; so do.....

"Dad just spare me, you think it's easy to do that? What you're making me do is very difficult." Mitah cut in. Lati looked up as if in deep thought then Lati went inside and later proceeded to meet her in the sitting room clutching something at his waist that Mitah guessed was a Gun

"Bye ..off to Dino's place" but Mitah stopped him.

''Ok... Ok... Dad. I'll do it please''

"Be fast about it". Lati snapped; ''Tomorrow.... Give me till tomorrow please". She pleaded, Lati walked out, Mitah started sobbing.

The next day, she proceeded to Dino's place. She drove to the gate of his house and her tension rose. She decided to keep firm. This was for Dino's sake not anyone else. She would rather lose Dino than to let him die. Soon, the gate was opened and she entered their mansion. "Dino, I need to talk to you" she said, still standing. Her face looked sad

"Hey, Mitah.,What is wrong? "Dino asked her standing up, shocked by her approach. He was watching a football match earlier "We need to talk Dino'' She said again ''let us go to your room'' She added.

"Okay" Dino said as he stood up with a heavy heart wondering what she wanted to say.

''What is wrong Dear? "Dino asked worried

"Dino .its I.."she stammered. "What??..you are scaring me"..He said caressing her arm and cheek. Mitah tried to remove his hand

"Look, Dino stop and listen to what I have to say" Mitah said worried she might eventually fall into his arms

"I should stop touching you??..When did that start?..where is all these coming from?.what's happening??!"He queried surprised

Then she broke the news to him. "I am pregnant", she said. Dino at first, thinking it was 'good news' said in exclamation.

"Wow, I'm going to be a father then. Why were you hesitating to say that??"

"But it'...It's not yours." She finally said swallowing hard.

"What? what did you just say?"Dino felt he didn't hear her accurately

Again, Mitah repeated what she said and added: "I was raped... and I got pregnant for the guy and now I am getting married to him."

"Raped?.How did you get raped?.Who did that to you?"

"A guy,..I was just walking across and he attacked me...Now, I am getting married to him"

"I beg your Pardon!."Dino said as he stood up.."Wait, you've been babbling nonsense for the past few seconds. And this your rape story. I find it quite unbelievable. You were the one that told me your father had soldiers around you everywhere you go , so how on Earth did you get raped?!!! Besides I can sense it in your eyes. I know when you are lying and You're getting married to who?" Dino queried his eyes already filled with shock, worry and anger

"The guy that raped me. I am serious Dino. I'm sorry Dino. But I have no choice. I want to get married to him "She said walking away but Dino dragged her back forcefully.

"Come back here, Where do you think you are going Mitah?"

"Let go of me! You're hurting me can't you see?! She jerked off her arm and stormed out.

Dino thought he was dreaming. Is this his Mitah or someone else entirely? He was about going inside and he narrowly escaped his head being hit by the door. The rest of his day was un imaginable..