By the time she regained her footing, her cheek was already red and swollen. Then did the unbelievable; she laughed. A cold, sinister smile that spread wide until her face was split into a grin; her eyes twinkled with a wicked glint.

I was shocked when the plump woman’s husband slapped her, but now, I was afraid. I instinctively knew that nothing good could come out of this. I wanted to run back up to our apartment but I remained rooted to the spot, excitement was flowing through my veins.

She looked them in the eye and said in a cold voice that carried a lot of promise “You’re really going to regret doing that”. Then she calmly strode into her apartment, leaving husband and wife alone at the ‘scene’ of the fight. Clearly surprised that they didn’t get the reaction they were expecting, the couple had confusion plastered on their faces. The confusion slowly gave way to fear, and they hurried into their apartments.

I’m sure they were thinking what I was thinking, that she had gone to get a weapon of some sort, or maybe even acid, to retaliate with. I didn’t want to be around when that happened, so I turned on my heel to go to our flat and maybe inform my aunt of the wahala going on.

Rapid footsteps made me turn back once again and I saw that the fair skinned lady had re-emerged from her flat. She strode purposefully to the gate, removed the padlocks there (which every occupant had a kjey to), and replaced them with two padlocks that she must have brought out from her flat.  She then turned to go back inside.

Great! We were all locked in until she executed whatever evil machinations she had planned. I didn’t want to be in the compound at that moment but aside the fact that she had locked us all in, there was nowhere for me to go.

When I got into our apartment I called my aunty to inform her of the drama that had ensued, relaying my fears.

“Don’t mind them,” was the first thing she said.

Don’t mind keh! As far as I knew someone was going to die this morning but aunty said I shouldn’t mind them.

She continued, “Ever since Mummy Japhet caught her husband lusting after that Shewa girl, she has been frustrating the poor girl. This matter didn’t start today, but Mummy Japhet and her husband have passed their boundary today. The man slapped her not really because he’s defending wife, it’s because he is angry that she snubbed his advances and even insulted him. Just stay in the flat, don’t go downstairs. They will sort themselves out”

I was still worried after the call, but at least now I knew why both husband and wife harbored animosity for the younger woman.

No sooner had I ended the call than I heard the gates open. Well, I couldn’t go downstairs, but I could watch from the balcony.

I looked down to see Shewa, the fair lady open the door. Six mean looking soldiers trooped into the compound. She directed them to Mummy Japhet’s apartment and calmly went back to hers.

As the soldiers made their way inside, each stride was taken with intent; it was obvious they meant business.  I knew I was right after all; this wasn’t going to end well.