"Wait! Is it me you call God forbid? Well, l have been receiving insult for two days now; I wouldn't blame you," Caroline thundered and stormed out of the house.
"Holy Mary! Was that for real? Was that really English or Latin l heard seconds ago?" l asked Blessing, widening my eyes.
"You have no respect for women, William. You just spoilt my day," Blessing said and ran after her friend.
"Please, the next time l see that thing in this house again, l wouldn't hesitate to use the cutlass,"
I shouted loud enough to ensure that she heard me.
My phone rang immediately; it was James who was calling. I was pensive for some seconds, on whether to take the call or not. I just kept staring at the phone as it vibrated on my palm. Just then, l heard Mum's raucous voice downstairs and l dashed towards the balcony.
Mum held Crystal harshly on her shirt, trying to tear it. Crystal's top had fallen off and her black bra was exposed.
"Mum, stop this, please," Crystal cried out.
"Who is your Mum? You witch! l will deal with you," Mum's voice kept rising in pitch.
Our neighbors rushed out, holding Mum back from stripping Crystal stark naked.
"Leave me alone! I say leave me alone, let me show this prostitute that killed my husband."
Mum broke into tears as she spoke.
I could see some of the neighbours murmuring to themselves, shaking their heads in disbelief. I wondered why Mum would accuse Crystal of Father's death when it was clear that Father had died of HIV.
"What, mummy William? The fact that your unfaithful husband died of HIV does not give you the guts to accuse the innocent young lady," Mummy Charles said to Mum, stressing the 'HIV' a little as she spoke.
"Mind your business, Mummy Charles; l say respect your rotten self and stay out of this," Mum fumed as her eyes darkened the more.
"I am rotten? See this good for nothing fool; this antelope. If l touch you, eh, you would forget that you ever got married to that cheat of a husband of yours," Mummy Charles thundered.
At that point, l ran quickly downstairs, because l knew Mummy Charles very well. Her next move would be to descend on Mum. I was downstairs already and, true to my prediction, Mummy had rushed towards Mum as Mum called her a hopeless widow. With a strong force, l pulled Mummy Charles away from Mum and pointed threateningly at her.
"You must be insane to even think of touching my mother," l shouted.
"Okay, because my son has gone back to school, that is the reason you ordered for backup, Mummy William? Don't worry, l will show you in this compound. Watch and see," Mummy Charles walked into her flat, without saying any more word.
Soon, the neighbours who had been there watching the two women also left for their flats.
"Mum, what is disturbing you? What is the meaning of this? Why on earth would you accuse Crystal of Dad's death when we both know that Father died of the disease he contracted himself?" l asked Mum, this time looking into her eyes.
She kept mute as if she was thinking of the right words to say next.
"And l think you should go for a test, since you are his wife. It's possible you also have the disease," l added after l had waited for her response.
"My son, you won't believe me when l say that l can't really remember the last time l slept with your father. So, l know I'm fine. And there is no accusation about what l have stated. That imbecile over there is HIV-positive and I'm sure you know that your father was having an affair with her," Mum said and began to sob almost immediately.
l was stunned beyond measure as my lips parted. Mum had confidently said that Crystal was HIV positive as though she had run the test by herself. "How on earth did you know that Crystal is HIV positive?" I stammered as hot urine ran down my legs. The sure fact that re-echoed in my head was that, if actually what Mum had said was right, that also implied that l was HIV-positive, since l had also partaken in the forbidden fruit.
"As her then, if you are calling your mother a liar. Would l just start bluffing about something l wasn't really sure of? Does that make sense?" Mum said calmly.
I gazed at Crystal as my heart pounded wildly.
l wanted Crystal to deny being HIV-positive, even if she was, to make me feel better, but she kept mute and lowered her face to avoid my intense gaze.
"Crystal can't be HIV-positive; l mean, look at her.
She doesn't even look like one who has the disease, does she?" l defended her confidently.
Mum chuckled and shook her head. "William, is this infection plastered or written on the face? I'm asking you, William," Mum roared this time and l was dumbfounded. "Before your father died of the disease, did you see HIV conspicuously displayed on his forehead? l don't understand you oh! You're behaving strange. l don't understand the both of you. Well, now l know who killed my husband, and, over my dead body, will l let it pass just like that," Mum said while pointing at Crystal. Then, she hissed and went upstairs, leaving Crystal and me all alone.
My blood went cold and l stood speechless, even though l wanted to say so much. "Are you not going to tell me if Mum's accusations are right or wrong?" l finally asked her. "Don't mind the old woman; she is just obsessed with the death of her husband." l lowered my voice and took Crystal by the hand. "It's not true, right?" l stated, nodding my head and expecting her to just utter a word.
Tears flooded her eyes and she covered her face with both hands. "I'm sorry, William, but l can't tell you anything now and you shouldn't bother about yourself, because you are not HIV-positive, unless you got it from someone else," Crystal said coolly and left the compound shortly after.