Unlost Hope

By Udo Nwabueze Agomoh

The two main characters in this novel, Ndidi and Ndubuisi, fall
in love from the onset. Their discovery of their love is in the
simplest manner. As they grow together in love, through them
we meet a few other useful characters in the book. We also see
through them some of the evils in the society. We also see the
way both characters Ndidi and Ndubuisi climb the ladder of
success until when the hands of the clock start to tick towards
the opposite direction. The situation then becomes tricky as can
be seen on reading through the novel. One therefore wonders
what then lies in the future of these two main characters, who as
can be seen from the onset had started on a clean slate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jun 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477117125

Udo Nwabueze Agomoh

Udo Nwabueze Agomoh is a writer who has previously published two books, The Banana Skin Love Magic and Unlost Hope. The updated edition of The Banana Skin Love Magic, is soon to be republished. Poetic Symbol is her third book... a collection of poems that explore and propound many different spheres of life, drawing from the author’s first hand experiences and her vision of world crises, racism, discrimination and much more.  Just a perfect bird to listen to, her poetic prowess captures several vital issues cutting across our diverse world, globally. Just a pinch of the reflections can be found in poems such as Martin Luther King Jnr, Nelson Madiba Mandela, Barack Obama, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, British System, and many more. Another excellence joins the poetry kingdom, but this is one like never before.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Udo Nwabueze Agomoh.

Library of Congress Control Number:               2012909256

ISBN:                 Hardcover                    978-1-4771-1711-8

ISBN:                 Softcover                     978-1-4771-1710-1

ISBN:                 Ebook                         978-1-4771-1712-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

303043

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

I will like to dedicate this book to Kelechi and Ephraim

who have filled my life with love; through them my passion

to write will never end.

Chapter 1

The day had suddenly turned deadly black, and all beings according to their nature felt that all hope was gone. There was a feeling that the world had come to an end. Most probably, it could be an eclipse of the moon. There was panic, frustration, dejection, confusion, disarray, name it.

Those were the exact feelings of Ndubuisi and Ndidi, the two main characters in this book. Darkness had suddenly gone the way it had come to usher in brightness, and you could see smiles on the faces of many both consciously and unconsciously. The life of this couple, Ndubuisi and Ndidi, is quite interesting and has a lot to offer. Darkness, of course, is known to be associated with evil, evil of all kinds. Yet, in spite of its evil, there is an advantage attached to it. Ndubuisi and Ndidi having encountered their darkness endured it and were eventually raised from there to a bright world, which would be described as a world that could easily be seen as flowing with milk and honey. On observation of their lives, one could be delighted and impressed and equally wish to be like them. They were the epitome of what married life should look like. On reflection of their past life, having read through this novel, one can imagine what they have gone through. Really, it hadn’t been an easy journey, but they had arrived safely and decently.

Incidentally, what many young couples of these days might find difficult to overcome that young couple Ndubuisi and Ndidi have braved it. Generally in the world, so many important men go through a rough period before they finally arrive. The couple in this book really is an example, and it is for the young ones to emulate them. They have really shown the importance of patience, endurance, and perseverance.

Ndubuisi was from the southern part of Nigeria. To be precise, he was an Igbo man from a village known as Ohiri in Imo State. Ndidi was also from the south and an Igbo too. Her village was Umuaka in Imo State. They were both from responsible homes. Their first meeting was at a party organised by a friend of Ndubuisi. Ihekwumere, Ndubuisi’s friend, had organised a get-together party for having successfully graduated as a medical doctor, also for completing his houseman ship and National Youth Service Corp. The party took place at the Concord Hotel, Owerri, and there was a lot for people to eat. Many friends were invited, and Ndidi went with a girlfriend Chinonyerem and her boyfriend, who were amongst the invitees. That was actually her first time of attending a party at the Concord Hotel. On reaching there, she was impressed with the building and the environment. The hotel was quite a big one and of international standards. The environment could not be described in the least. There were many beautiful flowers all over the place, including attractive grasses, and all were well kept. Some of the flowers gave out a very nice scent. The place was quite spacious with different brands of cars parked all over, and different colours of bulbs hung at several places. She felt thrilled as she entered the hotel with her friend and her boyfriend.

There at the party hall they all sat while the music boomed. Ladies and men got up to dance freely to any music of their delight. Chinonyerem, her girlfriend, danced several times with her boyfriend. Ndidi had come alone, so she danced with whoever she felt like. Many people had come in pairs, but since her boyfriend was in Lagos whom she saw from time to time, she had no choice. A lot of people had an eye on her because of her beauty and carriage. So many people wanted to dance with Ndidi Abraham, and she was actually a disco cat. She danced with quite a number of people. The only person who got her interest was Ndubuisi Udeh. He preferred dancing with her most of the time and automatically liked her. At the tail end of the party, Ndubuisi sat beside her and gathered a lot of information from her. They then discussed as if they had known each other for years.

While the music still played, many danced, chatted, laughed, drank, moved about, busy doing one thing or the other. The environment was filled with a lot of fun and jubilation when Ndubuisi and Ndidi left the hall and stayed outside, expressing their love further. There were also a few other people chatting outside. Ndubuisi spoke to Ndidi in a low romantic tone. ‘Ndidi,’ he said.

‘Yes?’ she answered.

‘You know what,’ he said. ‘Sweetheart, I am madly in love with you. I have seen in you a lady I have been searching for all these years. Though we both are quite young, but you see, what I believe in is level of maturity and achievements. Please tell me, do you love me?’

Ndidi smiled. Ndubuisi, who was holding her arms, drew her nearer towards him and looked deep into her eyes. Ndidi felt she was going to melt like ice if such a stare from Ndubuisi should linger a little more. The next minute they were in their own world with Ndubuisi kissing her, and she reciprocated unknowingly to herself. A few moments later, when she recollected herself, she pushed him away as she said, ‘No! No! That’s not proper, Ndubuisi. Of course, you know it is too early for us to engage into such act.’

Ndubuisi smiled and said, ‘Honey, there is just nothing wrong, for acts like this mustn’t be timed. You know, there is always a difference in love relationship once it is one you truly love. I don’t regard you any less because of this and you wouldn’t either.’

Once more they became conscious of their environment and could hear the sound of beautiful music. Ndubuisi then told her that he had a master’s degree in microbiology. She told him she had her first degree in law and had just completed her youth’s service. She was yet to be employed, but she was doing a part-time job in Barrister Nkem’s chambers. After a little discussion, the love magnet carried them one more time. Ndubuisi said, ‘Honey, you know one thing. I love you a great deal. Really, we’ve just met, but the difference is clear with all others I have met before you. You are to me like a shadow that goes everywhere with a person. I want you to be my partner, my better half. Tell me one more time, do you really love me?’

Ndidi, who was listening with all her attention, happiness, and excitement, replied, ‘I know we’ve just met and we are young and have fallen in love. I have also met few others before you, but you seem to have touched my heart. I sincerely would want a man like you besides me always and share all with me.’ She laughed.

The next second, Ndubuisi hugged her and laughed too. Then he started romancing her, and Ndidi just couldn’t resist Ndubuisi’s love approach. Ndubuisi drew his mouth close to her ears and started to caress her ears with his tongue. Meanwhile Ndidi was melting away fast. Suddenly, Ndubuisi came to a stop. And still with his mouth to her ears, he started to talk to her. ‘My little girl,’ he said, ‘nothing is unusual about accepting me now or later. What really matters to me is that the winner takes it all. Don’t you believe that whatever will be, will be. I will be patient enough until the day you’ll give me your wonderful hand in marriage.’

There they were gummed together and were kissing each other hotly when a V-boot Mercedes car came towards them, horning and flashing light. They both disengaged themselves, although they weren’t blocking the road for the V-boot man. They went back to the party hall. Everybody was still as busy as ever dancing and chatting, though not as active as before. It was inside the party hall that they discovered they had spent more than two hours outside. They joined the others to dance and chat until the very early hours of morning. Ndidi joined her friend Chinonyerem and boyfriend in their car, having received a goodbye kiss from Ndubuisi. Ndubuisi left the party premises almost immediately; as so many others were also driving away. Ndidi arrived safely at Umuaka that morning, and Ndubuisi arrived safely too at Ohiri.

Ndubuisi had just come to spend the weekend with his parents as he was staying in Aba. He had just begun to set up a soft drink Industry. He was twenty-five years of age and had worked for an oil company for five years, and in that period, he had engaged himself in different types of contract jobs and supplies. He had resigned from the company three months ago and had travelled several times to foreign countries. That was in order to purchase some equipment for the industry. Really, that was good evidence that he was going to be successful in life. The company had not really taken off, but with his efforts, within six months to one year, all the teething problems would end. He drove down to Ohiri in his BMW car. He loved to visit his old parents any weekend that he was not so occupied. Surprisingly, he found himself still awake on his bed despite the fact that he hadn’t slept since the night. Each time he would be carried away with thoughts of the lady whom he had met in the party at the Concord Hotel. All that transpired between him and Ndidi throughout the party kept disturbing his sleep. He felt really happy and excited until he finally fell asleep.

Meanwhile at Umuaka, Ndidi lying down on her own bed in her bedroom was also having a similar experience. She couldn’t sleep due to thoughts of Ndubuisi. She saw his handsome face and remembered his peculiar smile and his romantic voice, and that blocked her efforts to sleep off. She knew she was in love and began to think of how she was going to inform Chijioke Igwe who was an experienced barrister and her suitor that it wasn’t meant to be for both of them. She realised that her reflection of all that had happened between her and Ndubuisi at the Concord Hotel was giving her special joy. She saw in him the kind of man she would want as a husband, a mentor, and a friend. Really, with those qualities which were rare to come by in a man, she decided once she proved that beyond reasonable doubt she would just give in to Ndubuisi’s request. She had that thought of Ndubuisi until she slept off. Much later in her sleep as she was deep asleep, she dreamt of being held in Ndubuisi’s hand, while he used his other hand to push in an engagement ring on to one of her fingers. During that period, she was smiling, feeling very happy, and she said, ‘Ndubuisi, honey, I knew it would be you, so it’s you at last. There is no hope lost.’ Meanwhile Ndubuisi was smiling, and she woke up even before she had finished her statement. She heard herself speaking when she woke up, and part of the statement she completed in reality before she became fully conscious. She left her room and greeted her parents. She had her bath and a late lunch. She felt very refreshed.

Ndidi had been staying at home at Umuaka very often for the past two months, since after her youth service. She intended to set up her own chambers or company in future. Meanwhile due to lack of experience and capital, she chose to work for Barrister Nkem for a short while, knowing in future she would get good employment or something more tangible. She went to Barrister Nkem’s chambers from Monday to Friday each week.

That day, a day after the get-together party at Concord, was a Saturday, so she had enough time for relaxation. During her relaxation hours, she would be either busy reading her law books or magazines or watching videos, and many other times she