Echoes... Episode 1

For the past 2 months, we have committed ourselves to learning from women entrepreneurs who have imparted our generation and left their inerasable imprints. We still haven’t finished yet and in fact still have so many women willing to share their stories so we can learn from them. However, for the sake of those special friends who have devotedly read our entrepreneurship stories despite not being one, I have decided to branch a new route.

Many of them always read the blog and sent messages of encouragement but still implored me to do something for them since they are not entrepreneurs. So for them, I will be starting a series on a short story.

Now guys, sit back and relax as we enjoy our first short story on the blog; ECHOES….

This story is inspired by real events however; characters and places are purely a creation of the imagination of Ife Alonge and bear no resemblance to any actual persons or places living or dead.

20^th of every month has always been considered special and significant to Toju, it reminded her of the day she birthed the most precious human being in her life. Ire’s pregnancy had been a difficult one; not just from the common complications and inconveniences experienced by most pregnant women but mainly because of the psychological and emotional trauma she had experienced as a result of her pregnancy. Those 9 months and one week had been simply traumatic. She had gotten pregnant at 17 and unlike the norm these days, chose to keep it. That was her undoing; it was the beginning of the lonely and hellish life she now found herself living. Ire’s birth had surprisingly been an easy one so the nurses and midwife were confused at the ‘storm’ of tears and wails Toju seemed to be engulfed in.  Anyways, 2 days after delivery, she was discharged and it was time to face her biggest fears.

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Bryan knew better than to put up a fight against his father; he could never win. But his mind was made up, he knew who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and absolutely nothing was going to change that. His father had to agree or be left out of the whole ceremony. I mean, he was 29 and old enough to make his own decisions. He had decided to give his father another 3 months to think about it before he went ahead with or without his permission to marry his queen. The way he felt about Aisha could not be changed no matter how hard he tried – he had tried severally by the way- so he wasn’t going to keep trying. She is cautious, calm and by far the most kind-hearted human being he had ever met. She had a heart of gold, was always quick to forgive and was the calming effect that kept him sane in his crazy world. Her beauty -that’s another story entirely- in fact, everything about her captivated his heart. Her big purely white eyeballs that stared at him like she could see deep into his soul always sent his heart racing. Her caramel skin, prominent dimples, voluptuous body and beautifully protruding forehead melted his heart and that of many others. He knew he was lucky to have her. She was a naturally endowed beauty that several men like him sought for and he loved her like no other.

“Dad, please give us a chance. You haven’t given me one good reason I shouldn’t marry her, who does that? At least tell me why”

But Mr David Chukwuwike was not about to give in. For the past 6 months that his son Bryan had brought up the issue of Aisha and even introduced her to the family, he had felt certain uneasiness about her. She seemed like a very good girl; in fact he knew she was a good girl. Her mannerisms and attitude towards people; both old and young were virtues not found among most young women these days. She had completely knelt down with both knees touching the ground, she had insisted on washing the dishes after their meal and she had answered every question he asked her very intelligently. So, why was he so uneasy about her? even he couldn’t answer this question Bryan so desperately wanted him to answer. She was a good Christian; he saw this in the way she prayed before their meal. It wasn’t just the regular “Bless this food oh Lord we pray”, her prayer had been short but with such in-depth that for a minute there, she challenged his Christianity. He knew it also had nothing to do with her tribe. He had never been of the school of thought that an igbo man must marry an igbo girl, in fact he had always been an advocate for inter-tribal marriages. So why on earth wouldn’t he stop feeling uneasy anytime he thinks of his son getting married to her? Who wouldn’t want something good for his own son? He couldn’t answer these questions just yet but he intended to. In the meantime, Bryan had to forget about marrying her, at least not just yet.

“Bryan, I have told you, there is something wrong with you marrying that girl and you wouldn’t make me support such union out of my will, it is either you listen or you go on without me!”

Bryan couldn’t believe that his dad was actually proposing that he went ahead with the marriage without his consent. Over the years, his dad has been his pillar, best friend and mentor. He is the reason why he never for once felt the emptiness of not having a mother. His mother had died just few hours after his birth and for his sake, his father had remained unmarried and completely devoted his time and attention to taking care of him. Up until now, his dad has always supported his every decision. He heard stories of parents telling their children courses to read or career paths to follow, but his father was never like that. He always taught him to choose and follow his heart in making any decisions. When he told his father he wanted to study fine art in school, he had given him his full support and even bought books for him on several occasions. When he graduated and started his career as an artiste, his father gave him his full support and in fact provided funds for the setup of his first gallery. How come in making this one important decision, he is stubbornly choosing to go against him, just how come? At that moment, his phone rang; it was his sunshine.

            “Hi honey”

Just the sound of her angelic voice strengthened his resolve, it was Aisha or no other.

            “Babe, how are you”

            “I’m okay. Come, have you forgotten we are to meet at my aunt’s shop this afternoon ni?

            “Oh my, I totally forgot. I’m having a talk with dad at the moment but we should be rounding up in a bit. Would meet you there in 30 minutes”

            “Oh okay, hope it’s nothing serious sha?

Aisha had no idea what he had been going through with his dad for the past 6 months. He always made her comfortable any time she was around so she did not suspect at all that he wasn’t in support of his son marrying her, he wasn’t about to tell her.

            “Nothing serious babes, would be with you soon”

           “Just hurry up o, or are you afraid I will ask you to drop your 50 naira in my aunty’s shop, stingykoko?

They both burst into laughter.

50 naira was a joke between them; it was actually the story of how they met. She had gone out of her hostel to buy bread one afternoon on getting to mama Bola’s shop, she met mama Bola’s husband in a heated conversation with a young man. He had come to buy the same Yale bread she had come to buy. However the squabble for change was what drew her attention to him. The baba selling the bread didn’t have change to give him and that was why he was still waiting. 

“Oya oga, why you no kuku leave this change for this sisi make she use am buy her own bread”

Of course, she knew he would want to oblige and probably take that as his chance to get talking with her, she wasn’t about to let him.

            “Ah baba, if say na another day I fit drop am, but you see ehn, this 50naira dey important today, I no fit drop am”

Seriously! She couldn’t believe a guy would find it difficult to let go of just 50naira to a lady. He apologised to her, eventually got his change and then left. She was angry or maybe disgusted is the word, but that event placed him in her heart for a long time. After that day, she seemed to see him everywhere on campus. From meeting him at old buka to sitting adjacent him in Amphi theatre, their friendship became inevitable. Eventually, he approached her and they got talking. The first thing she noticed was that he was a giver. He could give everything he had to help someone else. So she quickly dismissed the initial thoughts she had of him and the rest became history. However, from time to time, she still teased him about the ‘stingykoko’ stunt he had pulled the first day they met.

“Just give me a few minutes let me round up with dad”

            “Okay dear, see you soon. Love you”

            “Yea, bye”

That was strange. Bryan has never replied her ‘I love you‘ with that in fact, he has always kicked against it. She suspected something was wrong, but then dismissed the thoughts since she was extremely sure Bryan loved her even more than he loved himself. It was probably out of courtesy to his dad.

            “I have to go now dad, Aisha is waiting for me”

            "No problem son, but the earlier you let go of that girl, the better’"

 

            “Bye"



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