Echoes Episode 8 (Finale)

 

 

The way his life had transformed overnight still baffled him.

Mofe had suddenly called to say he had to see him urgently. He had told him that he would visit him over the weekend but Mofe had insisted it had to be that very Monday. Monday wasn’t a good day for visits because it was the day Mr Badmus, their MD visited the Lagos office and whenever he was around, he always demanded his presence. No one usually knew the exact time he would come to the office so all through the day on Mondays everyone was at their best.

Mr Badmus, the man who had saved him from being among the thousands of graduate job seekers in the country. Immediately after his graduation, Mr. Badmus had worked it such that he had served in his Abuja Company and as soon as he was done with service, had retained him as a full time staff. When it was time for him to open a Lagos office, he had been the one he entrusted with heading the office. He knew that if Mr. Badmus even had an inclination of the role he played in his daughter’s disappearance, he would be a dead man. So he had kept mute and simply played the worried friend.

As soon as Mr. Badmus had discovered his daughter’s pregnancy and disappearance, he had been the first person he called.

            “Shola, where is Toju.”

            “She should be somewhere in school sir”

            “Did you know about her pregnancy?”

At that moment, he had almost peed in his pants. Shola couldn’t believe that just the second day after their discussion Toju had gone to tell her father everything without even giving him a heads up.

            “She left this letter saying she got pregnant and had to leave, did you know about this?”

“Wow! Toju didn’t tell me anything. We all noticed she has been behaving strange for a while now, but she never said anything about a pregnancy”

Toju hadn’t told her father about his involvement, he wasn’t about to.

Mr. Badmus had immediately visited their school to interview all her friends. All the while, he had been the one showing him where to go and reassuring him that his daughter would be fine. For so long, he had combed the whole of Abuja and Ile-Ife in search of his daughter. He had insisted he couldn’t involve the police because he didn’t want it to get any messier. But Mr. Badmus had been so impressed by his support all through the period that he had taken him as a son. Even before the incident, he had loved and trusted him so much that he had entrusted his daughter to him in their school. Ever since, he had ensured he did everything to further impress him. He had a deep interest in consulting and even though he graduated from Biochemistry, he was so eager to work for Mr Badmus when he was offered the chance.

            “I can’t be absent from work today Mofe, my boss is coming around”

            “Okay, you know what. We will come over”

            “We?”

            “ Oh sorry, I will come over”

            “Is it that urgent Mofe, can’t it wait?”

            “No Shola, it can’t. Text me the address please, I will be driving down now”

About 1 hour 30 minutes later, he had standing before him, his dear brother Mofe and his worst nightmare, Toju.

His brother had asked him to start explaining everything but immediately Toju saw him, right there at the reception area, she charged at him and began hitting him. Mofe had managed to control her as Shola dragged them both into his office.

            “I am sorry Toju, please forgive me”

“You irresponsible worthless beast, you are sorry? For what exactly, tearing my innocence off me and not bothering to look back or for being caught 2 years after? Which one you idiot?”

She had started screaming and his colleagues were beginning to notice

            “ Can we go somewhere to talk please, your house maybe?

Toju burst into laughter. The idiot was still trying to cover up his shame

“You are foolish Shola, it’s over now. I will stand up now and go to whoever your boss is, and I will tell him everything you did to me you rat”

“So it’s true Shola, you raped an innocent girl and abandoned her with a child. Who are you? How could we have come out from the same womb? You disgust me Shola”

            “Forgive me Mofe, I don’t know what came over me that day”

“…and you don’t know what came over you for the past 2 years too? This is the love of my life damn it. This is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, only for me to find out her son was a product of rape by my own brother, I hate you Shola, I curse the day maami birthed you”

By now, the entire staff was standing by the door listening in amazement to the pouring revelations. Even the receptionist was not on her seat when Mr. Badmus walked in. He had been surprised at how empty the whole place was, and then he heard the noise. It was coming from Shola’s office.

            “What the hell is going on here”

Everyone at the door scrambled off to their seats leaving him in more confusion. He opened the door.

            “Shola, what is going on? Why…”

Then he saw her.

            “Oh my God, Toju, where have you been? What is going on? Why are you crying? Shola, where did you find my daughter?

By now, Toju had jumped into her father’s arms, his embrace made her cry the more.

            “I’m so sorry dad, please forgive me”

            “You should never have left Toju. Shola, thank you so much for finding her, tell me how you did”

Toju burst into laughter amidst her tears

            “Finding me? Daddy, Shola was the one who sent me into hiding in the first place.”

            “I don’t understand”

Toju had then sat down and narrated the whole event to her father. How Shola raped her and told her to abort the pregnancy. How she had taken some money from his safe and single handedly raised her son and how Mofe had found and fallen in love with her only for them to discover he was Shola’s brother. Mr. Badmus had walked up to Shola and slapped him.

“What kind of a human being are you? You were right under my nose all this while, sympathizing with me when in fact, you were the one who chased my daughter away?”

He wasn’t the type who talked too much so he had immediately called his soldier friends to come and bundle the criminal out of his company. He didn’t like to deal with Policemen because he felt they were to slow in their discharge of duties. He wanted soldiers to lock him up and torture him in their guard room for some months before charging him to court.

So, Shola was very lucky to still be alive the next morning. The soldiers had beaten the living daylight out of him that he could still feel the taste of blood in his mouth. The room was so dark he couldn’t even see what his surroundings looked like. He knew he couldn’t sit because the floor felt muddy and he could hear rats and cockroaches running around. He couldn’t rest his back to the wall either because the few places he had touched had felt like the whole place was soaked in mucus. He was confused; he had woken up feeling so.

“Where am I? How did I get here? What kind of a place is this? Who is there? Someone please answer me”

It seemed like he was alone because despite his screams, no one answered.

            “Hello, somebody help me!!!”

And then slowly, it all came back to him…

He had succeeded in dragging himself to hell and he knew it!

                                                            **********

He blamed himself for Aisha’s death. He knew he could have done something about the signs he got years ago. He realized he never actually prayed about it for once, fear didn’t let him. He was a man of God with a strong hold in God’s vineyard, but the fear of history repeating itself kept him from taking Aisha’s issue to God, he just didn’t know how to pray about it. He had only started praying on the day of the delivery, maybe if he had talked to God about the signs he saw earlier, Aisha wouldn’t have left. The doctor said the results of the tests carried out on her before she died revealed that the leg pains had been as a result of blood clotting. Blood wasn’t circulating well in her system and after losing a lot of blood during delivery and bla bla bla. For him, it was generational and even though he had made a mistake in the way he handled his son’s case, he was ready to face and conquer it now, God had to help put a stop to it.

“Dear Lord, I am ready to fight this battle. I am sorry for not doing anything about Aisha till she dies, but this surely cannot happen again. I am ready to declare war. My generation is under new management and the devil cannot rule us anymore. It happened to my father, to me and to my son but no more! I am ready to put on the whole armor Lord, the devil will have no hold over us anymore”

The tears had started to pour and he wasn’t ready to stop. God had to intervene, he had to do something before Ifunanya and hopefully her other siblings grew up and were ripe fro marriage.

It’s been 10 months since the incident and all he had now was Aisha Ifunaya Chike. She was his reason to keep living. But for her, he really would have become a mental case. She just never stopped laughing and her laughter was exactly like his Aisha’s. She had the same beautifully prominent forehead, same eyes and that dark gum. She reminded him so much of his late wife and at first, that had made him cry, but not anymore, 10 months down the line, it was his reason for staying strong. Aisha’a mum had offered to take care of little Aisha but he just couldn’t agree to that, she was his everything. So he had told Aisha’s mum that she could visit anytime she wanted but he would never leave his daughter. He didn’t plan on being single forever like his father because little Aisha was a girl and she would need a mother’s care. But he wasn’t ready, not just yet; he needed more time to not get over Aisha (because he actually never could) but to at least get accustomed to her absence in his life.

He had threatened to sue the hospital after Aisha’s death. Despite the useless results they got form the tests they conducted, he knew their negligence had played a huge role in his wife’s death. Nigerian hospital sickened him and but for the fact that Aisha’s mum was denied visa to go with Aisha to the US, their baby wouldn’t have been born here. Aisha had insisted she wanted her mother with her and wasn’t ready to be alone in a foreign country. Now, she was gone and the hospital has even refused taking responsibility for their actions. They denied asking her to wait on the wheel chair for hours. They denied the unavailability of the consultant until very late that evening. They denied they had just taken her sample for tests that day when they should have carried out the tests a long time ago. They even denied having given her paracetamol alone the many times she had come to complain about her leg pains. His head had nearly exploded.

He planned reporting to the police and taking the hospital to court. But then he thought of the plenty rigors of the executive and judicial arm of the Nigerian system. He was too weak to withstand it. Aisha’s mum was telling him to let God judge and his father had insisted the incident was more spiritual than physical and even if it were to be another hospital, the same thing might have happened. He had eventually agreed to let it go but not after damaging some hospital equipment. If they were not guilty, they could have charged him for damages, but they couldn’t; they were just glad he had agreed to drop his charges against them.

Although life had dealt hardly with him, for his daughter’s sake he decided to put his head up high, remain strong and give his daughter the best things in life after all, he hadn’t been left without a bundle of joy.

                                                                     **********

She was still contemplating whether to get a makeup artist for her introduction or just do the little makeup she knew how to and leave the professionals for the wedding day. She had insisted she wanted it small, just in her father’s sitting room and with only their parents in attendance. Mofe had however insisted that no matter how small she wanted it to be, he was going to come with his step sister and her kids. His sister had maintained that ever since she met Toju in that hospital, she knew she would be coming into their family. Toju had finally agreed and included her in the cooking plans.

She had known she would definitely return home someday but she never thought things will play out the way they did. It’s been 1 year since the whole incident and her life has completely turned around. She had written post jamb and gotten admission into Covenant University to study Education because after the 2 years she spent at Sam Kiddies School, she had discovered how passionate she was about teaching. She had thought it impossible to continue a relationship with her son’s uncle but Mofe had insisted he wasn’t giving her up. He told her he was ready to fight for her because he couldn’t suffer for his brother’s stupidity. He had taken her to Maami and although she had been shocked, sad and weakened by the entire story, she had supported her son. According to her, Ire was still within the family and he also had Adewole as his surname. She was particularly happy that she had a grandson.

Next visit was to her father who had vehemently refused. Not just about her getting married to him but her getting married at all; she was still too young and had her whole life ahead of her. Maami had met with him and tried to convince him

“Isn’t she too young to have a 2 year old son too, but doesn’t she already have? Your daughter is already a woman Mr. Badmus, she is already a mother and so there is nothing too young about her anymore”

            “She needs to go back to school. She needs to graduate and become who she has always wanted to be”

This time, it was Mofe who spoke.

“She will sir, I will do everything within my power to ensure she returns to school. Besides, we do not even plan getting married right now, I will give her time to get back on her feet and secure admission. She is so special and precious to me sir and I intend to care for her with all that I have”

            “So what will you tell her son when he grows up? Who will be his father?

Mofe had no answer this time so it was Maami who spoke

“Ire is our son. It is so unfortunate the circumstance surrounding his birth but when Ire is old enough to understand, we will tell him everything but for now, let us take it one step at a time.”

Her father had finally accepted and Mofe had immediately gotten her a jamb form. He wanted her to go to a private school this time just so it could be faster. Being the genius that she was, she had excelled in her exams and had resumed with the next September batch.

They had finally released Shola from the guard room after three months and charged him to court for rape, assault, damages and theft. He had pleaded guilty to all charges and had been sentenced to 25 years in prison. She knew she would have to plead with her father to help him soon because at the end of the day, he was the father of her child.

            “Darling, you look so worried”

“Hmmm, my love, I am fine, was just thinking about your brother. We are going to have to talk to father soon, he has spent 5 months in there already and even though Maami is trying to be strong for us, it is killing her”

            “I know darling, but let us give Father some time, let him really calm down, we will talk to him.”

She had hated God for so long, she had blamed him for everything that happened. But right now, she realized He was the one who had stood by her all these years. How did she manage to survive the 2 years she spent in that neighbourhood, raising a son with little or no experience? She smiled as she remembered the way Mrs. Akpan had burst into tears when she had returned to pack her things. Those women taught her a lot and she will never forget them.

            “Honey, God is indeed faithful. These past years has taught me to never doubt Him because he actually never leaves His own. He saw me through the miry clay and then beyond cleaning me up when I came out of the clay, he dressed me in royal garments by giving me a man who loves me so much and is willing to accept me as I am. Thank you my king, you are my priceless gift from God”

            “Oya o oko ati iyawo (husband and wife), we are about to start o.

Maami’s voice had sweetly interrupted their precious moment.

                                                            *The End*

 

Honestly, writing this finale was quite overwhelming for me. The past month has been a wonderful experience writing this story and reading your comments. This story was inspired by real events that happened to different people and I just felt to share so I could encourage one or two people reminding them that no matter how difficult it might be right now, it’s not the end and God is still in the business of putting smiles on faces, you will certainly laugh last!

I also seize this opportunity to give my 2 cents on rape, it’s a no no so please, STOP RAPE!

Hope you enjoyed this series, another short story is loading already *winks*

PS: You have a story to share or something you want me to write about, you just holla!

 

See ya!

 

Echoes Episode 7

Toju knew Mofe was a great guy. He was responsible, hardworking and very much focused. At 29, he had managed to start his own IT Company which was doing so well. He was highly respected and the teachers in her school always sang his praise, ordinarily, but for the circumstances surrounding her, she knew Mofe was a good catch. Although she had given him a ‘no’, the past 2 weeks without hearing from him has given her enough time to think things through; she liked him a lot and would certainly want to start a new phase of her life with him. She couldn’t remain buried in her past; she couldn’t let it keep her down. But if she was going to go down this lane, he had to know the truth. Ire was her everything, the only companion she has had in the past 2 years and whoever she was going to accept into her life had to accept him too.

            “Mama Ire one fine fine bobo dey find you o”

The last person she had wanted to inform her about Mofe’s presence was Mrs Akpan because that would then mean the entire house will know that a man came to see her. That is why she had sat on a stool in front of the compound since morning waiting for him. But of course, Mofe chose to come just at the time she went in to lay sleeping Ire on the bed.

            “Okay Mrs Akpan, I dey come”

She opened her door to see Mofe, he looked so handsome.

            “Hi Mofe, come in”

            “Hi Toju, been a while. You look good.”

            “Oh thanks. Care for a drink?”

            “No Toju, I’m just fine”

“Okay then, let’s go straight to the reason I called you here. I like you Mofe, I really do and I would love to start a relationship with you”

            “Okay…”

            “Please don’t say a word until I’m done, I really need to let this out”

            “Okay. I mean, yea I won’t”

            “I… I…Ire is my son”

            “What!!! But you’re so young and and…”

            “You said you wouldn’t say a word until I’m done, please just listen to me”

            “Okay”

Toju then started from when she met Shola in the hospital, how they started dating and how he eventually raped her. He told him how she ran away from home as she could not face the shame and how she has single-handedly brought up her son. She made him realise that was the reason she had said ‘no’ the first time because she wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him or of how he would react to the news.

“Wow! This is a whole lot! What kind of man would take a girl against her own will? What kind of person will be so irresponsible as to rape and abandon a girl? Where is this guy now? How come he doesn’t partake in caring for Ire?”

“Mofe, I haven’t heard from him since the time I discovered I was pregnant and he suggested I aborted the baby. He doesn’t know where I am nor if Ire is alive and kicking”

All through the drive down here, Mofe had thought of so many things but this; rape? He didn’t know what exactly to do. At that moment he just wanted to pull her close to himself and hug her. She had gone through so much alone. Now more than ever, he wanted to be a part of her life. But then, what would Maami say about him coming home with a 20 year old girl who already had a son?

            “Come here Toju, I’m so sorry you had to go through so much”

She felt so safe wrapped up in his embrace. The tears she hadn’t cried for 2 years started flowing freely. She felt like she had finally found someone to rely on, she was actually drained and tired of being strong. She needed to be weak and she was so glad there was someone who would be a strength for her.

            “I wasn’t so sure of it until now Toju, but I love you”

She could only cry more

            “Thank you so much Mofe, thank you”

“So once again Toju, if you would have me, I would love to start a beautiful relationship with you; one I hope will someday soon lead to marriage.

The tears wouldn’t stop.

She got up to freshen up after 2 hours of weeping and talking. Mofe had insisted that she had to start thinking of returning home and also going in search of the culprit. He told her that with immediate effect, they had to find him and let him handle his responsibility. He wished they could still report him to the authorities but it’s been two years, everyone would wonder why she was just reporting the case.

Ire had woken up and when Toju saw the look Mofe gave him, she knew he would come to love Ire and for that, her heart leaped for joy.

The ringing of Mofe’s phone interrupted the precious moment.

            “Hello Shola, how far?”

“Fine o bros. where were you going to that you just rushed out of the house like that now?”

            “Don’t mind me jor, I had a meeting with bae”

“Ehn ehn, na wa o, that’s why you now forgot to go with my laptop abi? Sebi I told you I needed you to help me install that team viewer and those other stuffs you were talking about.”

“Oh, I’m sorry aburo, it totally skipped my mind. Don’t worry, I will be coming to see mumsi in 2 weeks’ time, I will pick it up then”    

“That’s not possible jor. Have you forgotten I told you I will be moving to Surulere this coming week?

“Oh, that’s true. But that would even make it easier now. You can just stop by at my place one of these days to drop it abi because you are your oga’s right hand man heading his Lagos office now, you cannot make time for that?”

“I will come o bros, will let you know the day I will be coming.”

“Okay aburo, later now”

“Yea, bye.”

“I’m sorry dear. Shola is such a pest.”

“Aren’t all younger ones so?”

“I’m sure you will get to meet him soon especially now that he is leaving that Mumsi’s village for the city”

“Can’t wait. But I’m sure he’s not as handsome or brilliant as you are”

“Hmmm, handsome well, I think I beat him in that regard because while he took all of our dad’s looks, I stole our pretty mum’s. But for brilliance, that boy is exceptionally brilliant o. He finished from a whole OAU with a first class”

“Well, that doesn’t make him exceptionally brilliant. There are some departments that are not filled with sadists in OAU and in those departments; we can still find first class students.”

“Well, I don’t know sha, he finished from Biochemistry, I don’t know if that one is a difficult or simple department, all I know is the boy is an efiwe.

… and slowly but surely, it clicked.

“Errm, your brother is Shola and he finished from Biochemistry department in OAU?”

            “Yes Toju, why?”

The strange look that had suddenly clouded Toju’s face confused him. She was starting to shake too.

            “Please, does that mean he is Adewole too? Olushola Adewole?

“Of course Toju, he is my brother. Same father, same mother so he is certainly Adewole. For Christ sake what is it Toju you are scaring the living daylight out of me."

She suddenly had a splitting headache; it felt like her head would fall off her neck. She became dizzy, her tongue suddenly tasted bitter.

            “Mofe, Olushola Adewole is Ire’s…

She didn't finish her sentence before she fell to the ground and fainted!

                                                  **********

The nurse held on to the baby’s head while Bryan wheeled her into the labour room. The consultant was still not in the room by the time they got in. He didn’t bother waiting for the negligent nurses to go get the even more negligent doctor, he ran to get him himself. By the time the doctor got in, the baby’s shoulder was already out.

            “Please stay outside Mr. Bryan, you can’t be in here”

“You have since lost the right to tell me what to do in this hospital. I will damn well stay wherever I please!”

He was angry and uncontrollably so.

“My son let us wait outside as we pray together. God has started his work over your wife, He will surely finish it.”

Bryan burst into tears.

He saw his Aisha struggling to push their baby out with the little strength left in her. He hated himself for everything; he wouldn’t have minded adopting a child instead of putting his Aisha through all he did. Aisha’s mother managed to drag him out. He saw his father sweating profusely, that fear still in his eyes. He felt so comforted when he gave him a hug.

“Your name is Ozoemena, meaning evil will not happen the second time. Your wife will deliver safely and she and her baby will leave here hale and healthy.”

            “Daddy, nothing can happen to Aisha. Please dad, make sure nothing happens to her.

He sat on the bare floor of the reception now. He was so scared.

            “I promise you Bryan, everything will be fine. God will take control.

Aisha was fighting real hard. The baby eventually came out but then she was having difficulty breathing. The doctor and nurses rushed to do all they could to stabilize her breathing.

No one was attending to her now, they were all focused on trying to revive her baby; she felt so weak and wouldn’t have minded one of those pain killers. But her leg felt much better, the nurses hadn’t been wrong after all, it was just because of her pregnancy. She wanted to see her Bryan. She tried talking to one of the nurses to call him in but then realized she couldn’t.

She remembered their wedding night, how happy Bryan had been. First because she was finally going to be his Mrs and secondly because they would finally get to consummate their relationship. They had chosen to remain celibate until their wedding night and as tempting as it had been for them every once in a while, they had succeeded in keeping themselves. She believed it was one of the reasons God blessed them with a child immediately, He was proud of them!

She saw the nurses clean up her Ifunanya, which meant she was fine. She heaved a sigh of relief then. The doctor came to her just as another nurse had come to clean her up. She tried to move, but realized she couldn’t. She couldn’t talk too however much she tried. She saw the worried look on the doctor’s face, something was certainly wrong.

In her mind she asked: what is it doctor? What is wrong?

Just then, her Bryan barged in. she looked at him, she had never seen him like that. He looked like a baby that needed his mother. She wanted to hug and kiss him. To let him know that she and Ifunanya had made it, to tell him she loved him and was grateful for their bundle of gift.

“Mr Bryan, You need to give us a few more minute just to clean your wife up. Everything is fine now”

He saw his wife but they wouldn’t let him hug her. But knowing that both she and the baby were fine was all he needed. He allowed his father take him out. It was over; the painful scare was all over.

Aisha realized she was getting weaker and weaker. The doctor was now barking out urgent orders, something was really wrong. She started feeling choked, like the windows were shut and there was no air. She tried telling them to open the windows as she was feeling suffocated but again, her voice wouldn’t let her.

How come you all are not feeling uncomfortable?

Why haven’t you noticed there is no air in here?

Common, open the windows!

She screamed at the top of her voice but she was the only one who could hear.

Flashes of her dear husband clouded her mind. She looked at her baby one last time, she wished they would just stop running about and let her hold her Ifunaya. The thought of her baby put a wide smile on her face; she was leaving her Bryan in good hand.

That wide smile, the one she had from just thinking about her 2 ‘babies’ was what remained on Aisha’s face even as she breathed her last.

            “We tried all we could Mr. Bryan, but your wife didn’t make it”

He saw Aisha’s mum rolling on the floor; his father had come to hold him but then he saw his world shattering right before his eyes, he couldn’t just stand there watching it crumble, he had to do something.

At that moment, he forcefully jerked his hand off his father’s and ran like he had never run before. He had to go home.

He had to go get Aisha her paracetamol.

           

 

 

Echoes Episode 6

 

“This is the reason I hate coming home mom, you will not let me be on this matter of getting married kilode (what is it?)”

“Leave me o, it is for your own good. Why will you remain a bachelor at this age, don’t you want me to carry my grandchildren before I die?

"Ahn ahn, what about Motun's children, are they not your grandchildren?"

"Of course they are, but my dear, a step daughter will always be a step daughter and her children are certainly not the same as the grandchildren I get from the 2 sons I carried in my womb"

"Maami, it is one and the same jare"

 

Mofe was fed up with his mum’s unending pressure for him to get married. It’s not like he hadn’t made attempts too but he just hadn’t met ‘the one’.

“Mum, have you forgotten that you were the reason Ijeoma left me? Were you not the one who kept disturbing the poor girl until she got fed up and ran away? Now you are disturbing me for another girl.

“How will I allow you to marry omo ‘yibo’ ehn, how? You don’t know that those ‘yibo’ girls don’t usually respect their mother-in-laws abi. You want me to allow you marry a woman that cannot even kneel down to greet me and might even refuse me coming to your house after your marriage, Olorun maje (God forbid!)

            “Eyin le mo mummy, IJ was a very nice girl”

Mofe knew his mother was actually not far from the truth when it came to IJ. She was beautiful, intelligent but very arrogant. Even when he hadn’t gotten a job, she would insist he took her to expensive restaurants and boutiques. She was high maintenance and his friends always laughed at him whenever he returned home to soak his garri after having spent all he had on her. That was why, when his mum stood against the relationship, he hadn’t really fought it, he knew it was either he left her or she sucked him dry.

“I have sha said my own, bring home a nice and well cultured Yoruba girl so that she can bear me children, I can’t wait again o”

            “I have heard you o. By the way, where is this big head boy?”

“Hmmm, that your brother ehn. Ever since he started working for that Mr Badmus, we hardly see his brake light o. He will leave very early in the morning and return home late at night when we have all gone to bed. Do you know that we have gone 4 days in this house without having the chance to talk to each other?”

            “But why is the job so demanding now? I thought you said it was a consulting firm?

“Yes now but you know it is on the Island and the traffic in the morning from Ibafo here can be so hectic plus that his boss never lets him out of his sight, he calls him his right hand man. He is even looking for a place around Surulere now just to ease the stress.

“But why is he refusing to come and stay with me now? I live alone and have enough space. I don’t know when he will stop this his ‘mummy’s boy’. Hope I will sha get to see him before I leave?

“No now, he doesn’t work on weekends. I’m sure you will see him before leaving tomorrow.

            “Okay o. My aburo has turned to oga”

“…and very soon he will be coming home with his wife, you better hurry up before he passes you

            “Maami, I thought we had gone past this topic”

Iya Mofe as she is fondly called by all would never let the matter of her son getting married rest. She wanted a grandchild, all her friends had at least 2 but her own 2 sons have completely refused to give her even one. She was getting old and she wanted one by force!

“Jor oko mi (please my son) start thinking of this matter. You need a woman in your life. You have a good job, -I mean, you are your own boss- have a comfortable apartment and a car, you need a woman to help put order into your life.”

            “I have heard you maami, I will think about it”

He actually had his eye set on someone; Toju.

He remembered the first day he saw her. He had been invited to the school beside his house to discuss the issue of installing some programs for the kids on their school computers. He had been in a 2 hour meeting with the Vice Principal Administration and the schools’s PRO. The VP had then called for the presence of the Nursery 1 class teacher and she had walked in about 5 minutes later. She was asked about the content she would suggest to be included in the software and she brilliantly gave details and why she thought the kids needed them. He was captivated by her brilliance; he knew he had to meet her. But she left before they ended the meeting since she had to attend to her kids. He tried locating the Nursery 1 class before leaving but couldn’t. He left without even getting her name that day but purposed in his heart to get to know her.

Fast forward to 3 months later, he had started the installations in the school and had successfully gotten her name; Toju. They talked whenever he came to the computer lab for installations. At first she seemed distant and unwilling, but loosened up after a few weeks. He however still observed she was keeping some things away from him. For one, she never allowed him accompany her to her house neither will she come to his, it was just school. She lied her father was a disciplinarian and wouldn’t allow a guy come visiting. Then there was the boy. He was always around her and at first he had thought he was just a favourite student but realised it couldn’t be when he found out he wasn’t even in her class. He had asked her about him and she had stuttered and stammered before coming up with one story of him being a cousin’s baby. He had wondered why the cousin never came to pick him up after school especially on days when she waited till late evening talking with him, he had been confused and desperately needed things straightened out.

Matters became worse when she had given him a ‘no’ when he eventually decided to ask her out. He had been surprised because their friendship had been so cordial that he was certain he would be getting a ‘yes’. She had given him some ‘age’ excuse saying 9 years was too much of a gap between them. He knew there was something more to it; he could read it all over her. She liked him he was sure of that and they had talked so much that he knew age wouldn’t be a barrier for someone like her who was far more intelligent than her age. He had pressed for a while but eventually decided to let her go. She refused to budge and he knew he couldn’t force it.

Now, 8 weeks after, was in the bathroom getting ready to go visit his mother in Ibafo when he got a text from her

            Can you come over to my place tomorrow?

            Let me know if you can, I will send you the address

He had just decided to completely forget about her and move on, but she was actually a special girl and he was willing to give it another try. So he replied her in the affirmative and she had sent him the address. At first, he was confused because the place was in Mile12. Mile 12 is an area notoriously known for its ‘agbero’ infested nature. He never thought Toju and her family were poor, she seemed prim and proper. Well, he decided to wait for the break of dawn, he was sure all his questions will be answered.

            “Oya je ka lo jeun o Mofe (Let us go and eat)”

            “Okay ma”

He had been lost in thought, he was eagerly looking forward to his visit to Toju’s; he couldn’t wait for the new day.

                                                            **********

            “I want a CS Bryan and I want it now!”

It was the third time they would be visiting the hospital in the last 2 weeks, Aisha’s leg had worsened and the doctors haven’t stopped giving her paracetamol and telling her it was just natural and most pregnant women experienced it. But it was becoming unbearable; she could hardly stand let alone walk. She was already 37 weeks gone and although her pregnancy had been an easy and stress free one so far, the past 2 months have been entirely different. She had complained of pain on her left leg and the pain had gradually worsened as the days went by. It was about 2 weeks later she started complaining about the pain having spread to her right leg also. Bryan was tired, the paracetamols weren’t working and the hospital still didn’t think it was anything serious and maintained it was normal. She sat to do everything now. Bryan had to get a maid to assist with house chores as Aisha couldn’t do anything. Her mum had brought her ‘agbo’ the other day but that seems not to be working either plus Aisha was sceptical about using such in her condition. He couldn’t wait for the next few weeks when their baby would arrive just so Aisha can be relieved of this pain.

He remembered the first time, he was already at work that morning when his phone beeped, it was Aisha

            I am in the hospital again Bryan.

I just got here in a taxi, the pain and cramps on both legs have become unbearable,

Please come when you can.

He had immediately lost his drive for the day’s work, he was fed up; the pregnancy was tearing him apart. He had immediately rushed the day’s work doing all he could and dashed off to the hospital a few hours to the close of work telling his colleague to cover up for him. He was surprised when he got to the hospital and found that no one was actually attending to his wife. She was still sitting down and waiting to be attended to while writhing in pain

            “Why the hell will my heavily pregnant wife be sitting here waiting and no one is attending to her, what is going on here?”

            “Take it easy honey. They have attended to me but gave me paracetamol as usual. I insisted I cannot use just that this time around, I wanted something more as the paracetamol wasn’t working. But they said they cannot give me a heavier pain killer so that our baby is not affected. So I refused to go until I see the doctor. They say he isn’t on seat so I told them I am ready to wait”

            “But honey, you are in pain”

            “I know baby, but I cannot go back home like this”

He was confused and helpless; he couldn’t continue watching his wife in so much distressed.

            “Why will you say the doctor is not available in such big hospital as this?” he asked one of the nurses

“Sir, you know there are consultants that attend to pregnant women, and hers is currently not around. I have told her the pain she is experiencing is normal, she should try to be strong”

Bryan knew Aisha was strong. She was so strong that if she should say she had a headache; it was most likely because the headache had already gotten to the point of splitting her head in two.

            “Let me call mummy”

            “No no honey, I don’t want her to get worried, you know how she can be. Honey, there’s something I am thinking of”

            “What is it babe”

            “A caesarean section; let’s bring our baby out, I don’t think I can bear this pain anymore. Its 37 weeks already, I think it is safe.

            “But honey, we can’t just make such decisions. Let us at least talk to the doctors.”

            “But they are not on seat right now Bryan, for how long will I have to wait”

            “Let me take you home babe, we will be here first thing tomorrow and then we will talk to them”

            “Oh Lord Bryan, I can’t do this anymore”

He saw tears roll down her cheeks and he hated himself. He would never get her pregnant again; he would never be the cause of her pains again.

            “Please honey, we can do this. Let me take you home where you can rest, we will be back tomorrow”

He was in the kitchen about 1 week later preparing her meal when he heard her scream. He immediately rushed in and saw her lying on the floor writhing in pains.

            “Oh my God, Aisha, what do you want?”

            “I just tried to use the toilet but as soon as I stood, my legs failed me. Take me to the hospital now Bryan, I WANT A CS!!

He burst into tears. He couldn’t handle this alone, he had to call Aisha’s mum no matter what she says. He would call her as soon as they got to the hospital.

            “Okay baby, I’ll take you now.”

He managed to carry her into the car and sped off to the hospital. By the time they got in, Aisha couldn’t move again. The nurses brought her a wheel chair and that was when she started screaming for a CS.

            “Let me repeat myself nurse, I want a CS now! Take this baby out!

            Bryan was in full support of the operation now. His wife was already 38weeks gone now and it was certainly safe to bring their baby out. He ran to the nurse and asked for the consultant.

            “He is not on seat at the moment Mr. Chike. He has taken his break and wouldn’t be back until 5pm.

It was already 2pm and he saw how much pain his wife was in. but they would try to wait another 3 hours.

            “Okay can you at least get her ready so that as soon as the consultant returns he will just start work”

            “Mr chike, it doesn’t work like that. we need to carry out some tests and the consultant needs to approve the operation will take place today before we get her ready”

            “Are you okay? Are you blind? Cant’t you see the pains she’s in? you want her to remain on that wheel chair?

            We will give her something to ease her pains; we will give her paracetmol”

            Are you all crazy in this hospital? He was starting to cause a scene and he didn’t even care.

“Is paracetamol all you know?”

Just then, Aisha’s mum ran into the hospital. She immediately went to her daughter and started praying.

            “Awwww, Jesus Christ what was that? Aisha’s scream pierced through the entire corridor of the hospital’s first floor”

The nurses immediately rushed towards her.

“Okay, let us take her into the ward, she has started having contractions. We might not need a CS after all, if the cervix fully dilates and the contractions start coming at shorter intervals, we would then get her ready for delivery. Let me just inform the consultant.”

“Oh, so you haven’t even informed him before. It is a few minutes to 5 already and you haven’t informed the doctor of this case. Anyway, I will take this up with you all later, for now, attend to my wife.

Aisha was then wheeled into the pregnancy ward and put in a private room. The contractions were now 15 minutes apart. She had been given a pain killer, not paracetamol this time and it eased the leg pains a bit. In her mind, she cursed the nurses. So they had a better drug they could give than their beloved paracetamol. She saw her mum praying earnestly, what would you do without mother? She decided to always pray for her daughter too. She saw Bryan, he looked so sick. It will soon be over my love she silently whispered in her heart

            “Oh Lord….Awwww”

The contractions again.

Just then the nurse came in to take some blood samples; she said they needed to run some tests on her. She wondered what kind of test they needed to run that they haven’t done all this while during the antenatals.

It was already 7pm and the consultant had still not come to attend to her, in fact no one was attending to her anymore. She heard Bryan screaming at the nurses several times. She hated the way they treated her, it wasn’t like this during the antenatals. Both the nurses and doctor were always available and very understanding and nice but now, when it’s time for this baby to be born, the seemed to be indifferent and uncaring. Bryan’s father was there with them, he arrived about an hour ago, had come to see her in the ward and stepped out; he seemed not to be able to look her in the face. But she was glad he was around to support Bryan, their bond despite everything could never be broken.

            “The doctor is around; we need to take you to the delivery room now”

Finally

The room was on the 2^nd floor. She was on her wheel chair being wheeled by the nurse and her husband to the room. The contractions were closer now, 5-6 minutes interval. She was in so much pain and at that moment almost hated her baby.

            “Baby, I’m here with you, you will be fine. Trust me honey, we will go through this together”

“Aisha, I am here. God will give you ease inside that delivery room, the way I delivered you without stress is the way God will help to deliver this baby. We will see you both safe and sound”

They got to the elevator and just as they were about going in, Aisha gave a heart wrenching scream. They all bent to see what had happened to her; what they saw was unimaginable.

A tiny head

Her baby’s tiny head

Right there on the wheel chair, as they rolled her to the delivery room, with everyone hovering over her and the nurses barking out orders; her baby’s head popped out!