I was surprised to hear from him and at the same time happy to be the one whom God used to save his life. I quickly stored his number with “Chief” and later slept off.
I was expecting him to call me the second day but I didn’t see his call. Then, I decided to follow the adages that says “if mountain refuses to go to Muhammed, Muhammed should go to mountain” which made me put call to him but which he refused to pick up. On Tuesday of that very week, I got a call from Demola…
“Hello Ore, you know what?” he curiously asked.
“I don’t know jawe, just yan me wetin happen ni jawe”, I replied anxiously.
“I pray gobe shouldn’t happen nio, because
Zainab’s father is now around and fainted when he heard about Taiwo’s death. He is now in my father’s clinic and he hasn’t recovered from the shock. Though, my dad should be able to know how to handle his case, but you still have to be very prayerful”, he broke the intimidating news.
“Thanks for the information sir”, I replied out of tension while my heart started pounding heavily and I didn’t know the next line of action to seek redress.
Then, I decided to inform my sister’s husband who told me to keep calm, saying in as much the man lives and Zainab is also alive, there will be solution. He also asked me to join him at home on Saturday.
Sequel to the issue, I requested for permission from my boss to spare me the whole of the coming week which he granted without any stress.
I got home lately on Friday and branched at my sister’s house, but her husband was not yet around.
I really pity my sister for the trouble I put her into. Her beauty has faded and she has lost weight due to the stress of the babies. I even wondered how she managed to cope.
Daddy Ope came around on Saturday and he told me to prepare myself that we were going to Ede on Sunday to sort things out. I put call to Demola to get him informed and he also told me that his father is working on the issue by telling Zainab’s father not to get mad at anybody due to his health status irrespective of what could have happened or what is happening ******
Coincidentally, my sister’s husband got a call from an uncle to Zainab’s father asking us to show up on Sunday which was our target day.
It was Sunday morning, we prepared ourselves and called Demola to get set for the challenge ahead of us. That time around, my sister and her small boy Ope went with us likewise the twins.
On getting there, we met his uncles on seat and he was called upon to join us…
As he was coming down gently through the stairs case i kept on staring at him wondering if he was the one or not. “Could this be true? I don’t think Its possible!” I kept on debating in my mind till when he finally be on a seat.
******
We exchanged pleasantries while he was staring at my sister but he didn’t utter a word. Then, my sister’s husband stood up and asked me to prostrate while Demola also joined me.
Zainab’s father (Cut in) “please o, I’m confused. Is this not Demola, my doctor’s son?” he asked anxiously.
“Yes sir, it’s me”, Demola replied and put on a smile.
“What do you have for us?” Zainab’s father asked.
“It will be presented to you by daddy sir”, he replied gently while my sister’s husband started the presentation…
Daddy Ope: I’m Mr.Abdulwasi, an uncle to Abdulafeez whom your daughter, Taiwo, (may her soul rest in perfect peace and may God take care of her children) delivered the twins to. May the God Almighty in his infinite mercy give us fortitude to bear the loss. We are really sorry for taking you to such bitter experience and all we have caused your family. Please, forgive us. We glorify God and give all adoration to him for sparing your life for us despite all the challenges you have gone through. We are very sorry once again. The issue on ground is seriously tough and tedious for me to table, but I still have to say it and please, I will really appreciate if you could accept it which ever way I presented it…
In that course, a man from Zainab’s family took over from him…
“Yes sir” I replied with tremble in my voice.
He paused for some minutes while he was staring at my sister, “Iya ibeji, your face looks familiar to me. Have we met before?” he curiously asked while my sister nodded her head to affirm his question. “Where have we met” he questioned further.
“I was the one who came to you some years back as regards my grandmother issue who was arrested and later hanged to death” she replied and busted into tears while tears started tricking down my cheek as well. The whole room became silence as graveyard while Zainab’s father was short of words. He looked at us with pity and then took a deep breath…
“What goes around always comes around, that is life. I’m very sorry for my harshness then. Please forgive and forget about the past” he pleaded while my sister nodded in affirmation and the man asked further, “hope this man (referring to me) was not the one who got my precious daughter impregnated then?”
I was shocked and my heart started beating very fast while those on seat kept on watching the drama he was acting.
“I’m very sorry sir” I uttered, which made him look at me with hatred and that was when an elderly man from his family stood up to talk. He cleared his throat and started “hun hun! You see, this issue is just like when mosquito pearches on ones scrotum which needs alot of patience. If we refuse to forget about yesteryears saga, we won’t get a friend to play with. In the light of this, I will want us to forget about the past issue and accept them as part of our family”, he said which rendered Zainab’s father sober.
Though, he was not totally satisfied, but he accepted and later embraced me…
******
“Thanks alot for these great opportunity you have given to us to be part of your family. We really appreciate it sir. But, is not over until it’s over. We have a letter written by the deceased to her husband which also has something to do with the twins and Zainab. We will appreciate it alot if you could be of help on the issue sir”, said daddy Ope and I was instructed by Zainab’s father to collect the letter for him which I did without any time wasted. He went through the letter and felt like crying while his family members on seat were wondering what could have made him reacted that way, he then gave it to them to go through it as well.
They were all short of words and started looking at one another.
Suddenly, the cry of the twins rented the air, which caught the attention of everyone and my sister quickly attended to them but they kept on crying which made Zainab’s father stretched his hands so as to carry them. Everyone got astonished when they stopped crying. He was very happy and put on a smile…
“For the sake of these twins, I shall do justice to the letter. But the issue is just this, she shouldn’t be informed about Taiwo’s death because I can’t afford to lose her”, Zainab’s father confessed.
When I discovered that Zainab’s father has calmed down, then I used the opportunity to ask about her movement, “sir, is she back to Nigeria?” I asked like a samaritan.
“No, she is abroad managing my business. Any problem?” he asked with no sign of anger which made me inquired further, no sir, only…
I paused because I was scared to say what was on my mind.
Everyone kept on looking at me…
“Young man, speak your mind, there will be no problem. Only that what?” Zainab’s father intoned in a calm manner which made me gained confidence and spoke out.
“I received a call more than I year now from the state hospital through Zainab’s number telling me that she was involved in a car accident and I later heard from Taiwo that she was being flied out of country”, I said while blinking my eyes like analogue clock.
He looked at me and smiled, “it must be a dream Mr. man and you should have woke up from your slumber immediately. God forbid! Nothing of such has happened to my one and only treasure and it will not happen while I’m still alive. I was the one who had accident and thank God I survive it” he responded without any reaction which got me confused. Then, many questions started bubbling in my mind, but my instinct told me to keep mute which I obeyed.
Then, the elderly man left his seat to discuss with Zainab’s father in camera…
“We salute your courage for this giant step you have taken. Infact, you are very lucky because the person you are playing game with is not an easy type.
Sequel to your request as regards to the letter, you will have to give us little time to get intouch with Zainab and prepare her mind on the issue. We will contact you as soon as possible if and only if she is ready to take the responsibility”, said the elderly man.
We thanked them and left the place with peace of mind.
A month after, I was in the office when I heard my phone ringing and when I looked at the screen it happened to be the chief which made me pick up without hesitation…
“Hello sir” I said happily.
Chief: How are you Mr.Afeez
Me: I’m fine sir. How about you sir?
Chief: I’m very much okay as well. Thanks for the other day. Hope you are not annoyed at me for just calling you since I’ve promised?
Me: Not at all sir.
Chief: I’m very sorry for that, it was just because I’ve been busy. So, where are you?
Me: I’m in the office in River State where I’m serving.
Chief: That’s good of you. So, you are still a corp member?
Me: Yes sir.
Chief: That’s good of you! Hope you will not mind to be managing one of my companies when you are done with your service?
Me: (happy) I will highly appreciate it sir.
Chief: Good to hear that from you. When are we meeting in order to talk better?
Me: I will feed you back on that sir.
Chief: Alright dear, I would like to hear from you soonest. He said and hung up the call.
I was very happy to hear the good news from him and fed him back that I would be paying him the visit at the weekend, Saturday to be specific.
Though, I’ve once thought he should be the one while receiving his call but I later confirmed it when he described where he resides. It was same place where Zainab’s father resides.
******
…To be continued