Fortuna In Lagos

By Austin Anyai, Esther Esabu and Emmanuel Olusanya

Fortuna's arrival and tour to the city of Lagos, wasn't a planned visit. The goddess had escaped, from Venus heiress to the ruler ship of the planet. Chris who she meets, accommodates and fall in love with her but his fear of her immortality and desire of Ann brings an end to her stay in the city. Fortuna opts to go back and face her problems with Venus but is surprise, to meet a change of decision that eventually bring a rejection, confession and reunion that reshape event in her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716906435

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Though the gathering of the story started with me alone, it’s has ended as a book with the priceless help from so many friends, families, and mostly teenagers. It was like fresh palm wine dropping from the palm tree into the tapper’s gourd. I jaw-jaw my ideas and they help scribble it on paper.  And they all wrote from the mouth of Austin Anyai, all the words spoken from the ideas and inspirations heavenly bestowed, on a book. (Jer 36:4)

The book was formerly penned down as a film script with the help of Elizabeth Ogunbanwo  (nee Olatunji). My teenage cousin. She lived with me then and was computer literate. She also has a flare for writing which she has since abandoned for hairstyling after her wedding.

This manuscript was penciled with the help of Dare Paul Oriola, a teen who formerly lived with his parents as my next door neighbor. He did a few chapters scribbling before my neighbor Doctor ToyinAlawode took over for one week when she was on afternoon shift, and then Faith Esabu joined me when she came back from school for summer holidays. Esabu Esther participated immensely in the writing, researching, typing and editing.it was a diligent effort that can never be paid back but is well appreciated.

The inputs of my wife and treasure, Angela AgunuAnyai cannot be over-emphasized. Apart from her own role as my better half, she also catered well for all who found it worthy to ask about the manuscript. The editing was a more tiring aspect that I had to be strong about but I thank Moses Ogundimu and my brother’s wife, OgochukwuAnyai for the release of her personal laptop when my files on my desktop were corrupted.

Many priceless thanks to Idowu, my computer engineer for the tireless efforts in bringing back the corrupt and lost files that nearly caused an heartbreak for me on my work. Another great big thank you goes to Doctor Alawode for helping me locate the route to the online publishing of my first work. She’s the dental surgeon-in-charge at Hill song dental clinic, Lagos. And to the online publisher, my gratitude for  the opportunity and open arms. God reward you the great man who set up these great avenue and innovation, there shall be no disease that shall come upon your body (psa 91:10b) A thousand kisses, hugs, handshakes and money are never too much for you all.

Limitless is my full gratitude to Esabu Esther, my personal assistant who throughout the scribbling complained always of hunger and tiredness. The countless days of her church vigils and Christian camp programs that slowed down the work. Esther Esabu also runs two Facebook pages named Baes’talk and Fashionistas. Catch her on Facebook Esabu Esther. Bello OlayinkaShehu, for his untiring efforts in the search for author agent interests online. His presently with the nation newspaper as a journalist, Michael Olatunji for his last minute effort on the system at publishing this work, he is with Sterling bank Plc. Lagos.

And for the moral cum emotional support of pats on my back, hands on my shoulders, courageous and moral propelling words, Pastor Abiodun Joshua Adeleke, my aunties Patience Eyomowei (Mrs), Eunice OwodeAyokhai (Mrs), AbiodunOlatunji (Mrs), Friday Best Anyai and Esther Adewoyin (Mrs nee Anyai) my siblings. YemiAjayi, Efosa and Andrew Esabu, and my irreplaceable Uncle Sam Dada Ayokhai can never be forgotten. I thank love and appreciate you all.

And to the one who has bestowed, baptized, and blessed me with so much idea, inspiration, talents, skill, and patience is none than the most popular, most holy, God Almighty.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Austin Anyai’s talent as a writer was discovered by his teacher in the third year of his elementary school. The composition he wrote was circulated for other teachers to see how well he composed and told the story. From then on, scribbling became a hobby. The English teacher’s favorite in his high school final class, where he bought his first novel by James Hadley Chase.

Working with his uncle as editorial assistant in a local news magazine publication exposed him to his romance and lust for writing. So, he opted to study Mass Communication instead of his much desired law. He also with Voice of Nigeria(VON) and Lagos Television(LTV) in year 2000.

This is the third of three film scripts to be converted to manuscripts and all were written in early 2000. Austin Anyai was born and bred in the city of Lagos where he presently resides with his family, and has been living with glaucoma since year 2000 when it was diagnose.

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CHAPTER ONE

The hand is dipped into the river, scoops some water out, using the palms as a carriage. The goddess Fortuna is one of the residents on planet Venus. She is an extremely popular goddess on the planet. Fortuna was the first born of Jupiter. She is also known as the first mother. Fortuna controls half of the fate of a human being. The other half is the result of a person’s actions. She gives a chance and the benefactor must take for use. It is not in Fortuna’s power to give physical fortune or riches; she is restricted to the chance and opportunity giving for the conversion into prosperity.

She may be the arbiter of one half of a person’s action, but she still leaves the other half as a chance to be taken by benefactors of her fortunes. She is favored by mortals for her power to bestow riches.

Fortuna represents the different changes in life that could range from prosperity to disaster and vice versa. She could therefore be viewed as possessing alter egos reflecting the fickle nature of chance and fortune. She has the ability to steer lives in two directions creating the fortunate and the unfortunate.

She pours the water into the other hand scrubbing them together. She is dressed in a white silk garment wrapped around her and thrown across her right shoulder, revealing some flesh on her left shoulder. The wrapper reaches down to her ankle.  The shining multicolored garment she is dressed in is a long tunic with wear colors that indicates to Fortuna what benefactors need most ,green for prosperity, blue for victory, red for success, yellow for communication and creativity, and purple for spirituality and leadership qualities. It is knotted on her belly button by a green woolen rope across her waist. Her hair is parted in the middle, flowing backwards down to her butt. On the golden brown hair lay a golden chain round like a halo.

One noticeable feature of the goddesses on planet Venus is their striking beauty. Her smile opens up a set of sparkling white dentition. Her skin is a rare sight, soft and supple, fair and only desirable to mortal beings. Her oval face is only an imagination of an artist, her eyes, nose, lips, and ears are uniquely set and shaped in the right positions. Her eye balls are white like glowing wool with a touch of deep blue pupil set upon her well carved nose, her prettiness is dazzling, and qualities only immortals possess.

Venus is the second planet from the sun. It rises and set in Lagos fairly close to the sun. By far the hottest planet in the solar system and visible around sunset only.  Venus is the only planet named after a goddess, the goddess of love and beauty. It is often said that men are from mars while women are from Venus. Only a few gods like Apollo and Helios reside on planet Venus and that because of a goddess they both love while she is a twin sister to Apollo, Artemis was also Helios’ lover. De milo the queen and her daughter Venus, Selene, Eos, and Fortuna complete the goddesses that beautify the planet.

Venus is an inferior planet from earth, so it never appears to venture far from the sun. It is a terrestrial planet and is sometimes called Earth’s Sister Planet because of their similar size, mass proximity to the sun and bulk composition. With a mean surface temperature of 735k (462degrees centigrade; 836 degrees Fahrenheit). Its surface is a dusty dry deserts cape with many slab-like rocks. Venus’ surface is a landscape with water and ocean fast evaporating leaving it with only a small flowing river. This explains why there’s an in availability of animals living on the planet. Plants are also in extinct on the land of planet Venus.

Fortuna! Fortuna!! Come quickly, a maid shouted, De Milo wants you now she looks up to the see the maid who had delivered the message as she walks hurriedly away. Fortuna thought began to fly sharing itself into different birds looking for a spot to nest. it was unusual for the De milo to call a resident of the planet. She was a goddess that lives her private life without disturbing others. This call meant there was something urgent and serious that had caused her majesty sleepless night. But why calls her, She got up straightened herself and swiftly to answer the summon of Queen Venus.

CHAPTER TWO

Friday nights in Lagos is usually a party rendezvous. After a long working week, Lagosians love to go to club to unwind, feel good and enjoy themselves.

The dancing, drinking, wooing that glitter the night appeals to the heart of fun seekers whenever they are absent for any reason at all. Ladies and guys throng the various spots at nights to give themselves a treat until the early morning crow. If you are looking to just sit around and observe wild/interesting shit you’ll get it there. If you just come to pick up women, they got that too. The dress code, especially for the ladies in any and every damn thing, and its visible, all in the clubs. They have live D.J, music and fun upstairs VIP area.

Ann walked into the Sandra night club wearing a sexy bum shot and a tube. It was one seductive combination she had thought of. The white tube also combined well with her dark complexion. The revelation of cleavage on her front was sensual. The tube pushed up her boobs and allowed a hollow wide enough for a coin to pass through. She knew she has a beautiful skin. She had taken time to spend money on its care and maintenance. Her body cream and bathing soap alone cost ten thousand naira. It made her back a sight to behold and tempting to touch. Her determination on tonight’s outing had made her purchase then outfit. The bum short was a normal jean, exactly her size, giving room for her belly button to show its place and beauty of her belly. The white canvas shoe matched the white tube and it made her look like a caramel sweet in a white nylon wrapper. 

She had a mission to attract and hold onto Johnny T, the most popular artiste in Lagos. Shaking and wriggling to the loud music blasting from the speakers as she danced through the clubbers. She didn’t want any of their sweat on her body and didn’t want to be excused or stopped for a dance. It was usual of guys in a club to ask a lonely lady for a dance. And if she dared dance with anyone, it would make her sweat, especially on her armpit. And her hair also will be roughened. It had cost her about thirty thousand naira. 

Chris is seated at the bar section of the club, waiting for the nod of the D.J to do a song for the clubbers. It was a chance to show what he could do with the microphone. He was already seated and sipping his drink as he waited for the D.J to announce him. It had taken Chris some trouble before he even got the D.J consent. He had disturbed other disc jockeys. He had visited many night clubs, both on the mainland and highland, and all to no avail. The only clubs he got the chance to perform were small time night clubs rarely frequented and attracting no big wigs.

Yes! He needed the big wigs, the celebrities, the stars that are established in the music industry. The already made celebrities who have made much money and wanted up and coming artiste to sign.  He also knew that record label producers also frequented these big night clubs. This D.J had given him this chance because of the embarrassment Chris exhibited before him. The kneeling, prostrating, and almost in tears begging displayed by Chris was enough for D.J to agree a three to five minutes mime. It had also taken the intervention of the club owner who pleaded on Chris behalf.

Ann walks to the barman a drink please, she told the barman whose eyes had already enveloped Ann in her sexy clothes. He had seen girls of different complexion, shapes, and beauty. Ann’s beauty wasn’t his attraction, it was her combination of her outfit and how she looked in it. Her hair to her chest was dark. Her belly, also dark was her short and her legs. He swallowed his spit. 

She sits on a stool next to Chris, constantly looking behind her towards the stage to catch a glimpse of Johnny T whenever he appeared. She was sexy alright and she knew it. Some of her friends call her sexy Ann. She knew the walk, the eyes, and the body posture and language to attract and call for attention.

As she turned after collecting a bottle of drink from the barman, Ann revealed a spotless back from the tube dress she wore. The lights of the club dazzled themselves on her bare back; the smoothness of the naked skin was enough to bring saliva to the mouth of the barman. Chris noticed the barman’s lost attention and followed the gaze of his eyes. He also saw the naked upper back.

Wow Chris mumbled. The sight thrilled him also. He did not even notice her beside him. He looked at the back again and his eyes moved on her back quickly upon noticing she wore a tube dress. His eyes fed on her lower back which was naked also following the hollow that went down to her butt. Her bum short was opened because of her bent position. He peeped in to catch a glimpse of her panties.

As Ann turned back to face the bar. He saw her face and the lust for her was aroused. He could feel it in his body. His skin as become bumpy with goose pimples. She was pretty! He thought. A kind of prettiness every guy likes to feed their eyes on and praise a guy for having such a girl as his babe.

Not deterred by the loud banging music that overshadowed all voices. Chris drew nearer and murmurs Hi she takes a look at him hello she replies with a smile. So, she thought she had finally caught the attention of a courageous guy, a guy man enough to walk up to the sexy Ann and dare to make an acquaintance. She didn’t like being approached by every guy she met. It made her feel cheap and too easy to catch. She believed every dick and harry would make attempt to woo her including those that don’t have money. In Lagos it was like an everyday thing for guys that are naira less and those that can’t compose a simple English sentence.

My name is Christopher but my friends call me Chris extending a hand my name is Ann she pauses looks at his hand, at his face then accepts. She looked at him again, well he was handsome she thought, couldn’t be more than his early twenties, Ann deliberated. Doesn’t look like a readymade guy. His clothes weren’t designers, it was evident they were bought from the popular bend down boutique in Yaba.

Chris asks so what are you doing here with his eye brows raised, smiling inquisitively. same thing you are doing now she replied as both withdraw hands, sizing-up each other trying to guess the other person’s mission at the club. Well, I’m waiting for my chance. So am I. The response throws both laughing heartily, stopping to look at each other again. I think we have something in common continued Chris, with eyes all over her.

The curve of her eye brows, the shape of her face, the fullness of her breasts, perfect Ann answers. Enjoying the attention from this handsome young man. She also stared back at his face, which carried his facial organs well, all in the right shape, size and heartwarming. He has the right words but, is he full of cash? She wondered. By the way what kind of chance is he talking about? she thought. He jolts her in quick response, firstly, may I have a dance" , but Ann’s attention is drawn to the loud noise of the clubbers, especially the ladies, to the appearance of the famous Johnny T. he had come at last, she thought. Her face lit up as she brings up an inviting smile while looking straight at Johnny T.

Shunning Chris, she stood from the stool, with her eyes fixed on Johnny T.  Wow isn’t he charming, I heard he’s so popular, he dines with governors, and so rich he can buy up the national stadium single-handedly, oh my God, he’s blowing me a kiss, She muttered to herself, elated.

Her sexy gaze on him worked. Johnny T had caught her eyes fixed on him. It wasn’t something to him. Girls always fix their gaze on him wherever he went, they all love him and his money but this particular eye from this dark-skinned, pretty lady was unique. He had deliberated thoughtfully. Her dark skin on that white tube dress was an enchantment. Her teeth and eye balls dazzled him with their whiteness.  From afar, he heard her body calling him sexually.

He puts his palm to his mouth and blows her a kiss. Somebody hold me up, she mutters again. As she begins to fall slowly feigning the act in the eyes of everyone in the club. Chris looked at her in disgust as she jumped up and down.

He had always known that girls love musicians but this Johnny T was a maverick. He was the richest artist in the city. He was sexy with his height and well-built body, the result of constant gym visitation. Johnny T was also rich. This made him a sought after talent in the industry. News about Johnny T, his spending and girls makes headlines. To crown it all,