More than the bet

Part 20 --- She's back

Steve's POV

" Are sure about what you are saying? I mean, I have never tasted Corra's food so I can't help you dude."

"Listen Dave, Corra's food tastes unique, especially her chicken. Her chapatis have these special taste and am definitely sure the ones we ate at the wedding were cooked by her." I tried convincing myself that perhaps someone else did the cooking but it was just impossible that the food would be the same.

" That food was made by Corra, she is the only chef that cooks meat that good. And these also explains the reason why Sharon is suddenly not picking our calls."  See,even Moraa,Sophia and mum agree with me. Corra's food was like a brand with a unique label, it could be identified so easily.

" Well, I have to agree with you guys that the food was awesome and if it was cooked by Corra, then I will find out."

I wasn't going to wait, I will have to find out the truth. But what if it's true, how will I face her? Of what use will it be finding out the truth, when I can't even face her? But for my heart and mind to be at peace, I had to find her. I was the reason she left and was ready for whatever comes. All I knew was that she was my life and I had to be with her no matter what.

I was consumed in thoughts when suddenly Dave announced that Sharon's wedding pictures had been posted in the WhatsApp group. I know the pictures were important but now was not the time. Dave had no idea what I was going through and that's the more reason he had time to joke.

"Are you kidding me Dave, the pictures are not going to run away. I need to find out who cooked at the wedding. I know it's her day but.."

"That's what I am trying to tell you.. Corra is back. Look at this picture, this is her."

Amongst the wedding pictures, one was that of Corra and the couple. However, the picture was not taken at the wedding venue but in a studio. Her beauty was still a sight to behold. For the first time in years, a genuine smile invaded my face. I stared at the phone for hours yet I was not satisfied. So finally, she was back.

Nonetheless, our efforts to try and reach her failed as Sharon neither picked our calls or informed us of her whereabouts. Infact she switched off her phone. This meant that for us to find out the whole truth then we had to wait for a week or atleast until the couple comes back from their short time honeymoon.

This whole excitement and confusion took me back to past. A past I'd rather not remember but I had no choice. A past made out my anger and stupidity. I wished I could turn back the hands of time and erase that part of my life but I couldn't. What was done was done and I prayed I never repeat that again.

If only I would have calm down and settled issues amicably then I would have had Corra by my side now. Anyways even though the milk was already spilt, I hoped to collect back something small. Something enough to quench my already dry throat. I was determined to fix the whole mess.

After the whole revelation from Tunu, I felt so dejected and betrayed. I let anger take a better part of me and by the time everything became clear, I had committed a mistake I couldn't correct.

Flashback

" You know that if you don't do something to stop Corra, she will keep bothering you beb. Why not take an order to stop her from coming near you."

"And why would I do that? She is still the woman I love and that's never going to change."

"Ooh please, give a break Steve, she was here because you were a cheap bet for her. Everything was fake, absolutely everything. And if you don't do something then she will continue making mockery of your name in the pretext of asking for apology."

" Let's get married."

"What? Marriage?"

"Do you want to marry me or you don't?"

"Ofcourse sweetie, I will marry you. But is this the proposal? I was expecting a bigger party with fancy and expensive things but all the same, I know the wedding will be very big."

"There will be no wedding, we'll get married at the registrar's office and that too today. Get ready and remember this stays between us. "

After we got married, my situation with Sharlette was like that of a murderer with a dead body. I was confused on what to do with her. One day into the sham we called a marriage we were already fighting. She wanted me to act like a real husband. She wanted me to introduce her to the world as my wife when she knew very well I got married to her as a way of getting back at Corra. She wanted us to move in together, engage in sexual activities and basically do everything like a normal couple but I couldn't.

To tell the truth, after I fell in love with Corra, anything about Sharlette irritated me. Not just her but getting intimate with any other girl disgusted me. Although she had betrayed me, I still love her. I was still madly in love with her and this made me even more angry. My anger led into marrying Sharlette and now I didn't know what to do with her.

Our fights became regular, with every passing day my life seemed like a nightmare. I spent days and nights in the office trying to avoid Sharlette. I had problems eating since all the foods I ate tasted so bitter in my mouth. I had grown attached to Corra's dishes such that in her absence eating any other food felt like a punishment. However what made me more depressed was the fact that I had not set my eyes on Corra.

Ever since I chased her away in the rain, I never heard from her again. There was no single day I didn't beat myself up for what I did.

"Humans make mistakes son, but forgiveness is divine. Atleast for once listen to her before you make anymore conclusions."

If only I would have listened to mom that night.. instead I let my anger control me and I even ended up disrespecting my mom. I had destroyed the second Haven I had and now the only option I thought wise enough was to run away. I disappeared from home without any communication, not even with Dave.

Running away from my problems was just like getting drunk to forget you sorrows, at the end of the day, you wake to the problems the same way you left them or maybe worse. In my case I did both, I run away and drowned myself into alcohol.

Six months later, no problem was  solved, infact what seemed like an anthill had now turned into a mountain. The companies had began to lose control and incur losses. Mom's effort to handle them failed since she was not equipped in such activities. If not for the intervention of Dave then we have been speaking a different language today.

After being in exile for six months, I decided to come back home. I received news of my mother's sickness due to all the work pressure.
Sharlette had not only introduced herself as my wife to the whole world but was also demanding a place in the company as my wife. She was part of the reason why my mom fell sick.

I knew it was time I returned home and fix everything but what I didn't know was that it was already too late. I had lost touch with the world and by the time I opened my eyes, everything was out of control. My heart was not the only thing that was shuttered, but my whole life too. At this point I didn't even know if my future was secured.

As if all of these were not enough, Corra had disappeared. Infact I found out that she left the same day I chased her out of my house. I couldn't believe that I was so much overpowered by my ego and anger that I didn't notice she was missing.

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