CHAPTER THREE: SECOND CHANCE

When Bel died in the wee hours of 30th March, peaceful in her Nairobi Home, a lady Called Kayla in Kajiado at the exact time came back from the dead. Kayla was born in a wealthy family but because her mother came from a poor family, Ole Sanku’s family couldn’t accept her and both never got married, Kayla’s mother left with her to start a new life somewhere else, but after a few years she had to come back to her parent’s home because she was unwell and unfortunately she passed away and Mr. Ole Sanku was told his daughter had died few years back too.

Mr. Ole Sanku was heartbroken so he buried himself in his work and after so many years he built his big empire and never married or had other children. When Kayla’s grandparents heard that Mr. Ole Sanku was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and it was in its late stage when it was discovered, they felt sorry for him and decided to tell him the truth that his daughter was alive but were afraid that his family would hurt her, that’s why they lied to him and were remorseful for their actions.

It seems I did many good things in my previous life that the Heavens decided to reward me and I couldn’t ask for more in my last days on earth. Mr. Ole Sanku told Kayla’s grandparents while shedding tears of joy. At least my child will live a good life from now on.

He looked for his daughter and recognized her as his own and gave her his last name, he was very regretful for not taking care of her and getting to know her, the father and daughter spent the little time that was left together, he may not have lived the dream life he had with the woman he loved but he hoped his daughter would live it for bother her parents.

Mr. Ole Sanku, gave her daughter important documents so that she could keep them well. He transferred all his properties to her daughter’s name so that his brothers don’t get anything from him after all, it wasn’t the family inheritance that he’d want to share, he built his empire by his own sweat.

My dear child, come to your father, Mr. Ole Sanku called out, Kayla walked to his ailing father’s side and sat at his bedside, he stretched his hands and wiped tears on his daughter’s face. “Don’t cry, from now I want you to live a good life, your father has lived his life and is happy to be joining your mother, she’s been alone for a very long time. The only regret I have, is not meeting you sooner but your grandparents were just trying to protect you, please take good care of them for me.” Mr. Ole Sanku smiled at his daughter, he was at peace with himself and hoped in his afterlife he’s meet the woman he loved and live the life they were denied in this life by his parents.

Mr. Ole Sanku died peaceful at his hospital bed with his daughter and doctors by his side….. After his burial, his uncle’s started plotting against her. His father’s brothers didn’t accept the fact that a bastard child would come back and inherit all her father’s wealth and the worst part she was a girl. Their mission was to make sure she follows her father in the grave since she didn’t have anyone to protect her. Kayla suffered as a child and before she was united with her father, she didn’t have much of a life after her mother had passed away but her grandparents gave her the best they could.

Kayla was poisoned by his uncles, she was too naïve to believe, they cared and have fully accepted her into their family, she was rushed to the hospital but before they could treat her of poison, she passed away. He uncle left with her remains and quickly arranged for the burial the following day.

The wee hours of 30th of April, Kayla resurrected from dead, People ran for their lives when they saw Kayla come out of the coffin, she was left alone and confused because the person who came back to life was not Kayla but Bel. Her spirit had possessed Kayla’s body. She walked out of the living room and watched as everyone flee. She went back to the house to familiarize herself with the place, she had many questions but nobody remained to answer any of them, they hoped when they returned, she would be back in her coffin awaiting burial that afternoon.

They watched from far, Kayla pulled out the chair and sat outside as she waited for everyone to come back. When her grandmother heard the rumours, she ran over to see with her own eyes, the old woman was overjoyed, she ran and embraced her, “my child you heard my cry and came back to us, please don’t ever leave us again because I’ll never forgive you if that happens, I told you that your uncles were evil people but you never listened to me” the granny cried out.

After some time she turn and touched her pale face, she had tears in her eyes but grandma felt the Kayla who came back was different from her old Kayla, she looked confused and lost. The person who came back to life couldn’t speak or understand Maasai language, Kayla’s grandparents were not so old so they knew a bit of Swahili and English, she looked at her and believed that the person who was back was different from her naïve girl, but she was still happy even if another person took over her granddaughter’s body. She dragged her back to her place and abandoned her father’s home.

Later that day she visited the doctor who was still shocked and abit scared because nobody has ever resurrected before their eyes after being dead for almost half a day. All the tests were OK and there was no tress of poison that took her life before.

Back to Kikoy’s family house, Mr. Kikoy and his Mistress had moved in, in the name of taking care of Bellah who was still incredibly young and needed motherly love. Jenna stormed into her friend’s house to cause trouble again. How do you expect a mistress to take care of the child you abandoned? I promised Bel that I will take care of her daughter if anything happens and I intend to keep that promise, Jenna sigh.

You barren woman, whom are you calling a Mistress? Your friend is dead and buried and I’m the new Mrs. Kikoy of this household, after those words fell on Jenna’s ears she remembered what old Bruce said, she replied back in a calm voice, just because my husband passed away immediately after our marriage and haven’t been interested in another man doesn’t make me barren, at least I don’t go around stealing another woman’s husband. She turned around and went upstairs to get Bellah and all her things to move to her house with Erica.

Mr. Kikoy somehow felt that Jenna has lessen his burden and did not have to get stressed out all the time. Jenna continued with Bel’s tradition of reading a bedtime story to Bellah before she could tack her in to sleep, she also resumed school after a week and everyone treated her so well so that she wouldn’t feel her mom’s absence…………

Julie was so excited, six months have gone by so fast and she was looking forward to being married to the man she’s spent eight years dating, it was finally time for her to be respected as someone’s wife, and the thought of her being Mrs. Kikoy lit burning joy in her heart.

While Sam was busy planning his wedding to Julie, Bel was settling into her new life as Kayla, besides people being shocked of her resurrection, her uncles were still dumb fold on how their niece changed into a different person after coming back to life and became clever to take over her father’s business yet she didn’t go to college.

Bel sat down the old couples after few days of taking over their grand-daughter’s body and told them everything, the couples didn’t care as long as they saw their grand-daughter’s face, but they couldn’t tell a soul.  They briefed Bel about Kayla’s life and how she was meant to inherit everything that her father left behind but was killed by her uncles who wanted it all. They gave Bel all the documents they were keeping for her that her father had given her before he passed away. Bel promised the couple to get justice for their grand-daughter but first she had to claim everything that her father left behind so that she could give Kayla’s grandparents a good life.

From a naïve girl to a CEO of a business empire, everyone was still coming in terms with the sudden change, she moved to her father’s house with her grandparents since it wasn’t on the family land her uncles wouldn’t claim it.

Bel used her second chance so well, just like in her past life, she never made mistakes and her only regret even in this life was being blinded by love of a man who just wanted her status to move up, by taking over the company Kayla’s father left behind, it made it easier for her to do everything she wanted, she hired a private investigator to update her on how Bellah, Jenna and Erica were doing, what Mr. Kikoy  and his mistress were up to, her parents, she never worried about her siblings because they all had a good life and regretted to have cut ties with them in her past life.

Bel became friends with almost everyone in the Village and town where she lived in a short span of time, even the low life people there loved the resurrected Kayla, she gave them jobs, apart from helping them, she’d had less enemies on her side.

The thought of re-uniting with her daughter gave her the strength to keep living and not to let this chance in her hands go to waste. When the day ends, she goes back to her new home and the old couples who were living with her. She loved them as her own and showered them with love and attention.

What their grand-daughter had given her can never be compared to anything in this world, she was determined to see her new family happy since they treated her well despite being someone else and now even those who looked down on them gave them respect.

Rumours spread around like fire and people from the neighbouring communities and town wanted to see if what they heard was true. To fit in well, her grandparents taught her Maasai every evening, thanks for her smart brain from her past life, she was a quick learner so those who came to challenge her to prove she was someone else were all defeated, the journey was not easy but she was determine not to give up and to reclaim back what belonged to her in her past life, of course except for Mr. Kikoy.

Back in Jenna’s house was filled with happiness, Jenna was given a chance to become a mother to Bellah and her empty heart was filled with Joy. “Mummy Jenna can you help me with today’s homework? I don’t seem to understand it at all.” Bellah said as she turned to look at her, Jenna’s eyes were teary, she was speechless because that was the first time Bellah called her Mummy, Erica was seated at the dining table watching the two, not saying a word but just smiled.

You don’t like me calling you Mummy? Bellah continued, Erica can be my big sister since we are both alone, we can just be one happy family? Jenna stretched out her hands and embraced Bellah tightly and in a low voice she replied “of course I’m happy that you called me your mummy, I know I can never be compared to your mother, but I’m just happy that you’re part of my life, I can’t ask for more than what I have, life has given me a chance to live and experience this moment with both of you.” She paused for a while then wiped her tears that were rolling down her chicks, looked at Erica and called her for a group hug.

The family of three sat down and helped Bellah finish her homework before they could have dinner together.  That night all three spent the night in Jenna’s bed and slept with smiles on their faces.

Jenna had gotten promotion at work but had not given her response back, that day when she arrived at work, she immediately accepted her new post, she told herself that she had a family to support, she also wanted to send Erica back to school since she had to drop out when both her parents died of Aids and the only way to feed herself she agreed to work as a house help as long as she was treated well and had food.

Jenna was over the moon and even her colleagues saw changes in her mood she barely talked to people, it was work and work and was exceptionally good at her job. Everyone loved the new Jenna and even people realized how beautiful she was after the death of her husband, it’s like she stopped living and after so many years, two strangers in her life have given her the reason to live, brought back a meaning to her existence.

Bel my sister, I wish you were here with us now, thank for you giving me this life, you have a wonderful daughter, very smart just like you and whenever I look at her I see you.

The family of three agreed on starting new, so they went house hunting every weekend, somewhere not far from Bellah’s school, they finally settled on a nice house, just as big as their current home but with their own compound so that they could enjoy their privacy, Jenna was a private person and the reason she stayed long in her current house was because she was still holding on to her late husband’s memories.

Their new home symbolized a new beginning for all of them and Jenna didn’t want Bellah to run into her soon to be stepmother all the time. Jenna finalized her sale for the old house and bought the house they all settled for; they didn’t waste time to move because their new house did not require any renovations. Bellah’s room was decorated just like her old room back in the Kikoy family home, on the wall next to her, study desk was a big portrait of her and Bel. Jenna wanted Bellah never to forget her mother. In the spacious living room, they had two big portraits for Bel and another one for all three hanging on the wall. It was the first thing you’d see when you stepped into their living room.

Bellah was so happy in her new home, all she needed was to work hard at school, she even forgot she had a father who was still alive, the two people in her life made sure she never lacked anything and once in a while her grand-parents visited, they promise never to repeat the mistake they did with Bel.

In the Kikoy family home, the big day was finally here, all the wedding preparations were complete and Sam was ready to finally make his mistress the woman of the house after the death of his wife Bel.

Invitations had been sent out and of course he invited his daughter Bellah and her aunt Jenna, he wanted to share this day with her too even if there were not together, well if he didn’t people will talk and it won’t look good.

The morning of the wedding was here, the day was sunny, and the sky was clear, no clouds but only the ocean blue sky. The last time people gathered, was during Bel’s funeral and now it is Sam’s wedding day. “I’m so looking forward to this day, I want to see this bastard and his mistress, if I had the power to just choke them with my bare eyes I wouldn’t even have a second thought” Jenna told herself while looking at their wedding invitation in her hands. I wish Bel were here to witness this day, little did Jenna know that Bel was attending the wedding too though in someone’s body.

People started to arrive at 9a.m, since it was a garden wedding, they wanted to start it early, by 10:30 a.m. everyone was seated, at 10:40 am Sam was standing in front looking towards the entrance, exactly at 11a.m Shania Twain Song “You’re still the one” started to sing and the bride walked in. she was dressed in a backless off white gown fitting perfectly on her body.

Jenna looked at the bride with cold eyes and her mind was busy talking to herself, she couldn’t believe that after everything this shameless woman was getting what belonged to Bel, “ how is it possible that heartless people like Mistress Julie ends up getting what she doesn’t deserve or even worked for” Jenna asked herself. I feel like pulling her hair off and strangling both of them to death, this time round her thoughts were loud that people around her heard it including Bellah, Erica, Kayla and all seated close to her, It was an awkward situation, Bellah decided to help Jenna out, I know mom is happy in Heaven and doesn’t care whether Dad marries that woman.

I must admit the day was great, Sam put in his all just to make this day special for both of them, Bellah was happy for him and his new family, she didn’t feel left out because she already had a family and couldn’t ask for more. Kayla was at the wedding, but her mind was busy thinking of how happy her daughter was, she’s strong and still as beautiful as the last time she lay eyes on her.

“I wish I could run to her and tell her that mum is still alive, but at the same time I’ll scare her to death” Kayla thought to herself. She was emotional but people thought it was because of the wedding.

The day came to an end, the family of three walked to the car and left, all Kayla could do was to follow them with her eyes as they disappeared in the distance. Months looked like years since she died, but she was happy that she had someone to take care of her princess.

Kayla returned to Kajiado, when she arrived it was around 8 p.m., she found the old couple waiting for her, she ran and gave them both a hug and cried in their arms for a while. I saw my princess today, I was so near yet so far, and she looked happy in the company of my old friend Jenna, could it be that she has already forgotten about me? Kayla said in a low voice.

“My child, the time is not yet right, your girl is still very young, as long as you could see her from far should be good enough, don’t waste the chance you’ve been given, everything happens for a reason and you being brought back has it's reasons too, for now concentrate on your work, one day you’ll be together again even if it’s not as mother and daughter but fate will surely give you that chance” lamented grand-mother, she loved Bel as much as she loved Kayla and it broke their hearts whenever they saw her sad, they were helpless but they tried to be strong for her.

Bel buried herself in work, her companies were doing really great and many people were impressed, she had surpassed the old man’s achievement, many companies wanted to partner with her, she put all her pain, strength, loneliness in her work, she had marked her territory and made a name in the Maasai land.

Days were moving so fast, it’s my death anniversary already and Bellah’s 10th birthday, is just around the corner. I cannot believe that this man can’t pretend to even have loved me a little and buy me even flowers. Bel complained.

This time round she came along with her new family to visit her grave. They watched at a distant, Jenna, Bellah, Erica and her parents had come to visit her and brought her so many flowers. You worry for nothing, your girl hasn’t forgotten about you, you’re just jealous, the old couples said with smiles on their faces.

After her family left, they waited until the disappeared, the came out of the car with flowers too and visited Bel’s grave which now belonged to Kayla when Bel took over her body. After they left Bel treated them for a meal in a five-star hotel in the CBD before they went shopping, both were in their late fifties. She went and bought Bellah a gift for her 10th birthday and left it with the manager in charge to deliver it on the same day and tell the family that it was bought early last year but was to be delivered today, of course she had to pay more for the manager’s silence.

After a day in Nairobi the family of three returned back to their normal life in Maasai Land at least they all had smiles on their faces, Bel was happy she got to see her family and that they haven’t forgotten about her and her daughter was getting along with her parents too.

She was thankful for the new family she had and didn’t take it for granted. If they were bad people, they could have sold her out. Bel got used to being Kayla, her Maasai language had improved and was great and spent time with her grandparents talking in Maasai and participating in many other Maasai cultures.

Each year they visited Bel’s grave together, Kayla continued to monitor her daughter and everyone in her life, each of those years, Bellah received birthday presents from her late mother, when she received her 10th birthday present she was told her mother made orders for her so she will receive birthday gifts until she’s eighteen years old but they can’t tell her in advance what it was, so each year she looked forward to a gift from her late mother.

Kayla purchased a house next to them where she spent time with her grandparents whenever they were in the city but she never revealed herself to them, not even an introduction as neighbours, she didn’t want to be part of their lives yet. She had promised to get justice for Kayla’s death and so fulfilled that promised and let Kayla rest, she took her time but she finally caught the initiators of her attempted murder and were sent to prison.

Sam continued to live in the Kikoy family house with his mistress and their son. They never had another child, Julie was a trophy house wife who only knew how to spend money shopping, Sam worked hard to keep the company running but he never kept his promise of taking care of Bellah or send her any money yet she had shares in the company that her mother left for her. It’s like he had erased Bellah from his memory.

Jenna never went to Sam to ask for any help in raising Bellah, she took up the responsibility of a mother and cared for her and Erica, who by the way went back to school and was doing well too. Bel’s parents helped occasionally.