SHADOW OF THE PAST

01 Mr And Mrs Martins

---

It's a sad morning in the condominium of Mr. and Mrs. Martins. The couple has been nagging at each other since midnight, over the issue of sharing rooms.

"We are in this together, refusing to fast and pray along with me or ignoring me won't bring back the dead. When last did we go intimate as a couple? You refused to share the same room with me, so how is that possible. I noticed the changes in you since we arrived from the New Year's festive we spent with your family. Femi, this is unfair and I'm going crazy about this situation." Tomisin kept on ranting over her calm husband 'Femi' in the living room.

The heated argument had started at midnight and Femi was getting pissed off over the whole scenario his wife had been pulling out.

Tomisin was sick and tired of sleeping in separate rooms and her husband also refused to cooperate with her for more than two years since their only child 'Nifemi' died.

Nifemi was going to be thirteen years in two days before she died. She died in a ghastly accident with three other pupils and a teacher, while heading back from the school's quarterly excursion. And, other pupils including the driver sustained injuries.

Before their daughter embarked on the journey, Femi wasn't in support of their child going for the excursion. So, he had forewarned his wife not to pay for their daughter's trip to Esie Museum.

Femi had a strange feeling that something terrible might happen and was also contemplating the far distance from Abuja to Ilorin.

"They are going through flight Honey, what's the big deal in refraining our child from exploring. Nifemi is going and nothing will happen to her. The shuttle bus will take them to the airport from school and the director of the school has also made necessary arrangements for another bus to take them to the Museum. So, why give yourself high blood pressure over nothing?" his wife had nagged him over the issue, and with Nifemi's facial expression of willing to go, he'd grudgingly accepted that their daughter should go for the excursion.

Immediately after their daughter had gone for the trip, Tomisin had traveled down to Kano State alongside her employees for an event.

Tomisin is a renowned caterer. She's diligent in what she does and has a lot of clients and referrals. She also has a big restaurant where local foods are prepared for the consumption of customers. She also has dispatch riders who transport food to those who are lazy enough to cook.

Femi Martins is the Vice President of Starters Pharmaceutical Company. Its headquarters is located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. They had branches in over twenty-six countries. Chief Olamide Martins (Femi's father) is the founder and chairman of Starters Pharmaceutical company.

Tomisin is one of the most popular caterers in the Federal Capital Territory. She studied Food Technology at the University of Miami, where she met Femi Martins who had studied Medical Laboratory Science. She has a big restaurant in Wuse District, Abuja. And she's well-known for what she does for a living.

Tomisin arrived in Abuja from Kano to receive the sad news that her daughter died in a ghastly accident on their way to the airport. Tomisin was so devastated to also receive the news that her former employee which she sacked due to carelessness was the man behind the wheels of the truck that hit the shuttle bus. She made sure that justice prevail for the innocent souls and her late child. Femi was not willing to take up the case but Tomisin's reaction made matter worse. He wasn't happy that she wouldn't let go and forgive his former employee. The former employee was sentenced to life imprisonment under the court of law.

A few weeks after their daughter's death, Tomisin started accepting jobs and attending events has nothing happened. This nonchalant attitude of hers made Femi detest his wife so much.