Echoes... Episode3

 It was the d-day, the day he dreaded the most, his son against his will was getting married to Aisha and there was nothing else he could do about it. He had even taken his time to dig into her past maybe he could find something to hold against her since he didn’t have any concrete proof against her, she was clean! He knew if his wife were to be alive, she would have understood him better; she would have reasoned with him and most certainly not allowed this marriage see the light of day.

 He missed her. She was the only one who got him; she understood him like no other and always gave him a reason to laugh. She was the carefree type, the type that believed life was too short not to have some fun. He smiled every time he remembered her words when she was wheeled into the theatre room for a caesarean section to bring out baby Bryan. She had laboured for hours non-stop but was told that her cervix was still not opening and they had no choice but to go for the option of a CS.

“Sugar pie, don’t miss me too much okay, I will be back before you sneeze” she had told him

He wondered how she could even find anything funny at this time. He had been so scared when she kept screaming in tears while she was in labour. She had insisted he stayed in the labour room to take a video of the entire labour process and even though the moment she had her first long contraction, he had completely forgotten where the camcoder was, he still couldn’t leave. She held on to the rings of the bed and screamed so hard every time the contractions came and then immediately after, she would look at him and say:

“Ahn ahn, why do you have that look on your face, did you just see a ghost.”

Amidst his own tears, he would burst into laughter, his wife was crazy!

Then, after nothing less than 22 hours of labour (yea, he was counting) the doctors called him out to tell him they might have to go for the second option. He didn’t even hesitate. She was getting tired and he was ready to do anything to put her out of her misery so, they wheeled her into the theatre. By 5am the next morning, the doctor finally came out to tell him the good news; his wife had birthed a baby boy. He was overjoyed.  He had a son, an heir.

“But there is one little problem sir.”

“What is it? What is wrong with my baby?”

“The baby is fine, it’s your wife?”

“My wife, what is it?”

“We did all we could, but she gave up shortly after we brought out the baby.”

The doctor was still talking but all he could hear were bee sounds mixed with his wife’s laughter. He saw the doctor holding him that was when he realised he had fallen.

“No, this is not the day to cry“. he said as he jumped up from the chair to start getting ready for his son’s wedding.”

It has been 29 good years but it still felt like yesterday and although he had dated one or two women, none was even close to his wife; none was fit enough to take her place. He had named his son Ozoemena meaning ‘let this not happen again’. He couldn’t bear any more loss of anyone he loved. He remembered the day Bryan had come home demanding for an explanation of his name and the reason behind it.

“I don’t like it anymore dad, I don’t want to be called Ozoemena anymore.”

“So what would you rather be called?”

“Bryan. That is the English name you gave me after all.”

“Oh, so you want to go by Bryan Chukwunwike now?”

“Even Chukwunwike is too long, let’s shorten it to Chike.”

He burst into laughter. Bryan looked like his mum in more ways than one. His long surname had also been a bone of contention for her.

“Okay Mr Bryan, even if I said no, you would still do it at school. So yes to Mr Chike Bryan.”

They had burst into laughter as Bryan jumped to give his father a big bear hug. He knew he spoilt Bryan, but luckily for him, Bryan was a good boy so his spoiling him didn’t actually make him turn out bad.

It was time for this wedding. His uneasiness hasn’t eased a bit, in fact it has increased over the past week but there was nothing else he could do. Gone were the days when parents chose their children’s spouses, now all he could do was give his advice and he has done that already. But no one understood him, his lack of any concrete reason greatly contributed to that. It would be hard to explain the pool of blood he always saw Aisha in; people will simply call him paranoid.

It was time, he had given them his word; he would not go back on it.

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Who would believe her if she had said her innocence had been taken without her consent? After all, he was her boyfriend and she had gone to his house times without number. She had even been  the one who suggested they went to his house since they had just finished their exams and really needed some time alone. They had been in the room for over 2 hours just gisting, laughing and eating the food they brought with them from the Buka when Shola started acting funny. He started touching her in the wrong places and talking like someone who was drunk.

“What is wrong with you Shola?” stop touching me! She screamed and immediately stood!”

“Babe, we have been dating for about 6 months now and the most I’ve ever done with you is a kiss, just twice! Even then, you were uncomfortable.”

“I thought we already talked about this. I told you my stand as regards sex. I told you sex and its ‘companions’ are things I do not want right now.”

“Then what are you doing with a boyfriend? Don’t you know what boyfriends are for? You think they are for prayers.”

“Look, shola, we were together since morning and I know you didn’t drink any alcohol so you certainly aren’t drunk. But whatever this is, please stop it cos I’m not finding it funny anymore.”

“I want you today; I can’t hold it anymore Toju. You are so beautiful and I love you so much.”

She was smart enough to know that it was time to bolt, unfortunately, he knew what her next move would be so he reached for the door and immediately locked it. He grabbed her but she struggled and fought him hard, hit him severally with her fist, but he was stronger. In her heart, even as she struggled, she remembered her favourite scripture; Isaiah 49: 15-16 and she prayed.

“Dear Lord, you know I’ve been a good girl. I always go to fellowship, pray and study your word every day. Please save me from this, I cannot be taken like this. It’s not time yet. Remember what I promised mum, that I would keep myself till my wedding night and that is surely not now, please save me from this Lord, give me the strength to fight this  strong man or better still, touch his heart and make him stop. Please Lord, I know you never fail and I know you can never forget me especially not at this time, so please take charge Lord.”

He slapped her, pushed her to the floor and practically tore off her top. She always knew he was strong but certainly not this much. It felt like he had the strength of 10 men rolled into one. It felt like she had been attacked by a beast and of course, God was silently watching! She gave up the fight and just lay there while he forced his way into her. She didn’t even scream, the pain down there wasn’t as bad as the one she felt in her heart. This was Shola, her Shola.

They had met at the hospital. Her aunt had put to bed and she and her dad visited the hospital to see Aunty Ann.  She was in a double room and so had a neighbour who had just put to bed also. While Toju’s new cousin was a girl the other woman’s baby was a boy so they had joked that the children’s union was divine and they most certainly must get married. By midday, Toju announced she had to leave as she had to return to school.

“Awww, it was so good having you around, even though you are not my guest, you sure did put smiles on my face” the other woman gushed.”

“You are welcome Ma, don’t worry, we will surely meet again.”

All the while they had been talking; Shola had taken keen interest in her but just didn’t know what to say since he had only come to see his elder sister in the hospital as well. He couldn’t ask for her number, it would seem stupid especially because her dad was present. So when she mentioned school, he saw an opportunity for a conversation

“What school is that?”

“OAU. I’m actually just a fresher” she said shyly.”

He couldn’t believe his luck. OAU? Wow!

“That’s my school too although I’m resuming into 300level.”

The conversation had ended with them exchanging numbers; in fact, her dad had been the one to request for the exchange so he could help put her through in school. So, even though he didn’t resume school until 2 weeks after her, they became like glue immediately. They went everywhere together and before the end of that session had already started a relationship. All through their days of platonic friendship up until when they started dating, he always treated her like raw egg that shouldn’t fall. He made himself responsible for her and was always very protective of her.

Now, he was wickedly tearing her apart, taking away her precious gift without her consent. She looked down at him, saw the animalistic look on his face and the way he was sweating like a beast and at that very instant, she hated him!