The Place Beyond Her Dreams by Oby Aligwekwe (100 best novels of all time .txt) 📕

I know where Ntebe is? We’re neighbors. I’m from Ide.”

“Ide! Our enemies,” I quipped, raising my shoulders in mock disdain.

He laughed and pulled out his phone.

“So, you’re my sister? Let me have your number. I’ll call you sometime to see how you’re doing.”

I took his phone from his hand and slowly punched in my number but realized midway I didn’t even know his name.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Albert Ndu.”

“Ndu? Are you related to—?”

He was nodding before I could complete my sentence.

“Ndu. The Ideme. The King of Ide,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Nice to meet you,” I hummed, offering my hand to shake and trying my best to seem indifferent. “What are you doing in Ajidi?”

“Trying to earn a living.”

“This far away from home?”

“I could say the same about you. Why did you stray so far away?”

“I attended high school in Ajidi. I’m used to the city, so it was a natural choice for University.”

He nodded and gave me a warm smile.

“Now that we’ve discovered we’re neighbors, I don’t see why we can’t be friends.”

“It depends,” I teased. “Can Ide and Ntebe really be friends?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, creasing his forehead.

I burst out laughing and gestured for him to follow me on a short stroll as I explained the joke.

“So how can I see you again?” he’d asked when we stopped in front of my hostel.

“I don’t know,” I said, a bit flustered by his request. “Classes will be over in two weeks. I’ll be going home right after my exams.”

“Alright, we’ll make plans then.”

* * *

Albert called me every day after that first meeting. At first, it was to check how I was doing. Later, after he knew I was fine, he called to say hi. At least, that’s how he put it. I started to look forward to his calls. After I came home for the holidays, he was there to see me the following day, bearing gifts. And he came every single day of the break. My grandmother became fond of him and fell for his great manners and easy charm. She had expected him to be arrogant because of his status, but he appeared sweet and gentle. Although she wasn’t one to be moved by influence and success, she thought he would make the perfect husband for me. I could tell she was imagining our potential future together every time she saw me with Albert.  The look in her eyes gave her away. But who could blame her? I had slowly developed a sweet spot for Albert, too.

With Okem still at school prepping for his finals, Albert kept me company and helped me forget how much I missed Okem. The second Sunday I was home, he invited me to his church and later to lunch at the palace.

Right in the center of Ide, the palace serves as the official residence and administrative headquarters of the King. Behind the massive wrought iron gate, there were palm trees of the Ceroxylon Quindiuense variety lining the entire circumference of the fence, and impeccable gardens and orchards. I counted five duplexes, each with a unique style ranging from medieval to modern, with entrances lined with stone sculptures that seemed to come to life if stared at for too long. Four bungalow-style homes located at the North end of the duplexes served as servants’ quarters.

Inside one of the duplexes, Albert introduced me to his Aunt, Ekema—the King’s younger sister. Ekema doted on Albert, but she also took interest in me, asking me about school, my family, and my plans for the future. After lunch, Albert and I played games and walked hand in hand in the garden, talking as though we’d known each other for ages. I couldn’t imagine the afternoon could get any more interesting, but I was wrong.

We had just returned from our walk and were relaxing with his aunt and his mother in the living room when the housekeeper announced that I had a guest. I was stunned. The only people that knew I was there were my grandmother and Ifedi, who over the years had ceased being my nanny and assumed several roles, including companion and housekeeper. I prayed there was no emergency since it was unlike either one of them to come looking for me at random.

“Ask the guest to come in,” Albert’s mother said.

I was stunned when Okem walked in.

“Okem,” I shouted, tossing my manners out of the window for a second but resisting the urge to get up and hug him. “I thought you’d be at school. I didn’t know you’d come back so soon. How did you know I was here? How did you get here?”

“Your grandmother told me you were here, so I drove from Ntebe to come and see you,” he muttered before turning to bow in the direction of Albert’s mother and aunt. “Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon,” Albert’s mother responded. “How are you, my dear? Have a seat.”

Okem smiled wryly and shook his head. “No Ma, thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, Ma,” he responded. “I have to go right away. I just returned from school and wanted to let Ona know I was back since we haven’t seen each other in over a month—”

“So you drove all the way from Ntebe just to do that?” Ekema interjected, continually rolling her eyes with disdain toward him.

“I understand you’re in a hurry but have a soft drink at least,” Albert’s mother pleaded before Okem could respond to Ekema.

“No Ma, thank you so much. I really appreciate your offer.”

“That’s alright, my son.”

“I’ll see him out?” I said, standing from my seat and walking towards the door. I felt the need to stick up for him after the way Ekema had treated him.

“It’s so nice to see you Okem,” I said as soon as we stepped outside the room. “Once lunch is over, I’ll head straight home so we can catch up. And, I’m sorry about Albert’s aunt.”

He nodded.

“Is everything okay?” I asked. “How are you? How were your exams?”

“Are you sure you care to know?”