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!