My Dream Marriage

Court House, Sura City.

“With all the evidence presented before this court, I hereby find George Lawanson guilty for the murder of Zara Aniston and the court rules as follows:

1. The houses under Lawanson’s name are to be given back to Mrs Aniston or the next of kin in due course. That is, The Beaver Apartments, The Millennial Building and The Attic.

2. 50% of the shares of The Lawanson Group are to be transferred to Mr Brown or the next of kin with immediate effect.

3. House number 304, Summer Street which is under the name David Brown is to be given back to one Neera Brown. The defendant has to either make a bank transfer of the money that he made for the sale of the house or hand the house back.

4. Jacob Anand is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Mr. Howard Aniston and Francesca Aniston plus fifty years imprisonment for helping a murderer hide evidence of his crimes. Also he has to serve 25 years jail term for causing irreversible injuries to one Mr David Brown.

5. Edward Lawanson has to serve five years imprisonment or pay a fine of 25 million dollars for the assault and kidnapping of media personalities and causing trauma to concerned families.

6. George Lawanson is to serve life imprisonment for the murder of Zara Aniston and orchestrating the murder of Mr Howard and Mrs Francesca Aniston.

The judge strikes his gavel and adjourns the court. Aniston comes to me and hugs me so affectionately with his eyes shining and I know he is emotional. One cannot be just calm when the murderer of his parents is brought to justice so I understand him perfectly well. “It’s over now, Aniston,” I say and he wipes a stray tear that drops from his eye. I feel a pain in my stomach but I assume.

Sara, on the other hand, is crying nonstop and I think I should try to calm her down. She didn’t know that her parents were murdered so this is like a hard slap on her face.

“Sara, it’s okay,” I coerce her and help her wipe her tears off her face. “Can I just get one chance to punch that scumbag Jacob in the face?” She asks and I know she is getting over it. “I am sure the prison wardens will give him proper punches better than these soft hands of yours would,” I say and she lights up. “Yes, serves him right. That’s better.” She gets up from her seat and I hold her hand as we leave the court with Aniston and Michael behind us. “Yes Sara, I have heard that their fingers get ripped off one by one until they are finished,” Azila says and Sara smiles. Surely she couldn’t have bought that one.

I can see Piper and her family being led outside. She wipes her tears with the scarf around her neck and I sure know that they are not tears of joy but tears of defeat. I wish they could be tears of deceit and that she could know how it feels to be deceived by a close person. Edward looks at me with an emotion I have never seen but I am sure it’s not anger. He should have known better that I was one of the reasons he was having what he had. I haven’t seen Valen, maybe she had stayed back home because of her pregnancy.

I remember Aniston asking me if I wanted a paternity case against Edward but since he denied my baby since the beginning, I didn’t want anything to do with him. I don’t want us to have anything to do with relationships of any sort, like child support or co-parenting. I have more than enough and a family to give my child.

“I wanted to take you somewhere after this,” Aniston says after we are outside the court. “Am I included?” Sara asks. “Sara, all of you are invited. Can we go now?” “Oh yes of course,” Sara says cheerfully.

We are welcomed into a cozy restaurant with friendly staff with genuine smiles, not like those who just show their teeth without any emotion. We sit at a bigger table because it’s the seven of us. Me, Sara, Aniston, Michael, Earnest, Azila and Charles. Yes, Charles is now his personal bodyguard and this is the second week but he only accompanies him to public places and sometimes I am with him.

“What would you like today?” The waitress asks. “Neera, what would you like?” Aniston asks. “Spaghetti Bolognese will do.” “What about everyone else?” He asks. “Any special seafood will do,” Azila and Earnest say together and everyone turns to look at them. “You both are fans of seafood,” Sara notes and then gives out her order as everyone else does too.

“I didn’t know that you are a fan of seafood,” Earnest tells Azila when the waitress leaves. “Actually I love the ocean and everything about it. The beaches, the breeze and I also like surfing.” Yeah, she took me surfing once and I almost fainted just thinking about jumping over those unapologetic waves. “You love surfing?” Earnest asks her with interest. “Yes. You do too?”

“My number one hobby. I like them higher though and I would go further than any other surfer in the ocean.” “I didn’t know a doctor could surf,” she says and everyone chuckles. “Doctors are human beings too,” Michael says and everyone agrees. “Azila, why don’t you choose a date to find out if doctors surf too?” He challenges her. “No, you choose then let me know because you can’t bargain with a doctor’s schedule.” Oh, she understands him.

“Alright then, I will call you when I set a date but I seem to have forgotten your number, what was it again?” He is a funny guy. “That is because I have never given it to you dummy!” Sara nudges me with her elbow and whispers, “I smell something cooking.” “I know right,” I whisper back. Aniston has been acting weird since we got here and has only a few words. I turn to look at him and he nervously scratches the back of his head.

“Aniston, what is it?” I ask him in a whisper as everyone is concentrating on Azila’s conversation. “Nothing.” He is lying. “I know there is something bothering you. Tell me,” I urge him but instead of talking he pulls his seat back and goes on one knee. I did not see that coming. Everyone else in the restaurant goes silent as all the attention shifts to me. Sara and Azila take out their phone to capture the moment.

“Neera, you have been such a wonderful person in my life and ever since I met you, I have wanted to spend my life with you. You are beautiful, smart and you have brought nothing but peace and I must say that you taught me perseverance and it made me reap the best in life. I know I will go on and on if I decide to say all about you because they are never ending. So Neera Brown, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together? Will you marry me?” He asks and all I do is nod because I can’t talk without having to cry like a baby. “I want to hear you say it,” he urges and I have no choice. “Yes Aniston, I will marry you,” I sob and he takes a small silver box from his pocket and retrieves a beautiful ring from inside. He slides it on the middle finger of my left hand. Everyone cheers as he kisses the finger and then proceeds to wipe my tears. He takes my hand in his and sits back on his chair.

“Hey guys, be sure to find this in the papers on the front page tomorrow,” Azila says. “Are you going to decide against it?” I ask Aniston but he shakes his head. “No, I want everyone to know that you are mine, unless you don’t want that.” “I am sure it’s not just the two of them with the video,” I say as I look up at the diners who mostly have buried their heads in their phones. Just then our orders are brought and everyone digs in.

“Cheers to a peaceful life ahead,” Aniston says. “Cheers,” we say in unison. Mmmh, the food is so delicious, just entertaining all the right taste buds. Everyone is enjoying themselves as well.

I feel the urge to go to the loo and when I try to stand up, I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen and I quickly sit down holding my stomach. Aniston sees this and is quick to respond. “Baby, what’s wrong?” I take in a deep breath and whisper, “I feel like going to the bathroom.” “Should I take you?” “I will be going to the ladies’ washroom, you know.” “Does it matter?” He can’t be serious.

Another sharp pain courses through me and this time around a sound escapes my mouth with how painful it is than the first one, successfully capturing the attention of everyone at the table. “Aniston,” I hold him and I can see worry written all over his face. “Baby, should I take you to the hospital?” He asks. “I think so.” I say and this time I manage to stand up but feel so heavy, I can’t even move my legs forward.

“Neera, what is wrong?” Azila asks as she comes to my side. “I feel pain in my stomach,” I say with difficulty. “Doctor, I think you have an appointment,” Azila tells Earnest. He comes to me and touches my stomach. “How do you feel?” “I feel excruciating pain but it comes and then disappears for sometime,” I say and he nods, ” it’s time Neera. Aniston, we need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible without wasting any minute.” I feel another pain and I hold Aniston’s hand tightly for dear life. “Michael, prepare the car, faster!” He barks and Michael disappears.

“Just breathe in and out, we are going to the hospital,” Earnest says as Aniston and Azila help me walk outside the restaurant. Sara takes my phone and the small handbag I was carrying.

Michael parks the car right at the entrance of the restaurant. I am helped inside and Earnest gets in together with Aniston because this calls for a professional to be beside me. He calls the hospital to prepare for my arrival. Aniston holds me in his arms as the pain gets worse as Michael speeds towards the hospital and in no time we arrive.

A wheelchair is brought and I am whisked to the maternity ward. I am all sweaty and Aniston wipes the beads off my face. I am laid down on the bed and Aniston takes my hand. The contractions are now full on and he looks at me with sympathy in his eyes, do I need that right now?

“Baby, is it so painful?” He asks and holds my face so tenderly. “I am so sorry, okay?” He says and I feel like punching him. “Doctor Earnest, please get him out of here,” I say referring to Aniston. “I was thinking about that too.” He must have seen how useless his words are on me right now. “What? I want to be with you baby, don’t you want me anymore?” He asks innocently. “Aniston, please leave,” I command. “You can stay behind the curtains for now,” Earnest offers and the nurse escorts him. He kisses me on my forehead before leaving but I have something serious to do right now.

***

“Congratulations, you have a bouncing baby boy,” Doctor Earnest announces as I try to calm my rugged breath. One of the nurses goes to fetch Aniston and he is by my side in no time. He is sweaty and I can see his eyes red, has he been crying?

“Baby? Are you okay?” He asks as he wipes my sweat. “You should wipe your face too,” I say and he does so with his shirt sleeve. The nurse brings the baby to me with his cries filling the room. He puts him on my chest and I hold him tenderly and he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. His tiny nose and tiny fists and mouth with his head covered with jet black hair just like my mother’s.

“Here, hold him,” I give him to Aniston and he contemplates for a moment before holding him tenderly and a tear falls from his eye to the baby’s face. “He is so perfect, just like you,” he comments and I agree.

“You look perfect together and love, I have never told you something,” I say and he looks at me. “Have you been hiding things from me?” “Only this one. Did you know that Edward accused me of cheating on him with you and that he was sure this baby is yours?” I say and he gasps. “He did? Then I am more than happy to have him bear my surname,” he says and this is more than what I was expecting. He sure accepts this baby. “I am proud to call him Miguel Aniston.” More of Migo. “Thank you Aniston,” I say. “Thank you Neera for making me a father and accepting to be my wife.”