After months of quarell,they agreed that their son should marry her,he'd been so happy that he got drunk,she'd been so excited too.Their wedding was not a big societal one but it was a union of two people who feared God and were in Love,Biola had danced away her sorrows, When God finally blessed their union with two beautiful looking girls.She was glad that she didn't lose hope of marrying her husband.
Biola smiled while recounting the story to Janet that evening,she'd really loved her husband,but tonight was special,she was not going to cry again,she had moved over that phase of her life.
And now,she was ready to nuture her children all the way to their husbands house.
Is it not funny,how people think? The mother is thinking about her children,her daughter is thinking about her boyfriend.All the while Biola spoke,Jane was thinking of Jacob Smith.
Aunt Lade had come to inform them,that they had fixed a wedding date,She had brought the tall handsome looking man their house twice before their fathers death,the man was a doctor and he had his own private hospital.
Aunt Lade was Biola's mother's lastchild,she was finally getting married at 31:> after so many heart break from men,she thought she loved.
she had informed Jane that she was to be her best lady,her joy knew no bounds.
For Aunt Lade to have talked so much about Doc Lamide,it could only mean one thing,they were in love,interesting .
Jane had so many thoughts on her mind,most of which concerned Jacob.
The memory of that first day in his house stayed glued in her head,not even a jug of panadol could make it dissappear.
Jane knew that Jacob loved her,but what do yoruba people say about having a loving in-law was better than marrying a man whose family dislikes you.She hadn't met Jackie in person they had only spoken twice on the phone,she sounded soft on the phone,she must be a nice lady after all.
Aunt Lady had come to annouce her wedding date,when would Janet Odenuga annouce hers? When? She asked herself. A well known voice in her heart answered 'Never',she rebuked that voice,another voice whispered this time,this one was soft,it told her to take things step by step.
She preferred this other voice,anyway she still had her service year before her,maybe after that,things would have gotten better between Mrs Funmilayo Smith and the future Mrs J Smith.
'You're a joker' the first ugly voice laughed in her head.
'Mrs J Smith ko Madam J Smith ni' the voice continued laughing.
'How can you think of that,when he has not even proposed to you?' the voice went on. 'Haven't you heard about girls with class and money?' she shaked her head trying to stop the voice,but it grew loud and strong.'How much are you worth Mrs J Smith?'the voice mocked,'Who are your parents and what influence do they have in this country for you to consider yourself as a potential bride?'
Janet let the water flow in torrent,she touched her face,she couldn't feel any water,she gasped she was crying in her heart. 'I think you're worrying your poor head over nothing' the gentle voice spoke,the other voice kept quiet.She let the voices battle each other in her head as she thought about Saturday,whish was barely 12 hours away from now.
'Jane Jane Jane' someone shouted beside her,it was Biola.
Jane looked at Biola,her face was white,she looked afraid or so she thought.
'Jane,i have been calling your name,and you didn't seem to hear me' Biola moved closing feeling her forehead and arms.
'Mother,i am fine' she answered putting a fake smile on her face.
'Do you realise you've been rinsing that particular plate for ten full minutes Biola said awed.
'Well,i was just thinking.' she let out with a sigh.
Biola pulled her away to the sitting room, 'Sit down Jane,what are you worrying your poor self for' she asked holding her hands.
'Mother,i was only thinking of my life and that of yours' she lied to her.She had never told Biola of the drama that took place,the day she visited Jacob at home.
'You shouldn't worry about us,that is why you have me,let me do the worrying' Biola held her close. 'I just can't thank Jacob enough,he's doing so much for this family,i hope you won't let him down'
'Its okay mum,i'll try my best' Janet sobbed quietly. 'Am glad i have you,Hannah and Jacob'
Her mother did not cry,she only wiped Janets tears and kissed her like a lost but found daughter.
She had something important to tell her,but it could wait,till she was in a better mood to handle it.
Biola prayed that her daughters would still accept her,by the time she told them what she had been hiding from them.
Hannah stood up from the seat and walked away from the smoochers,she hurried out of the garden,walking fast into the hostel,ignoring greeting from friends.
Her feet took her inside her room,there was light and the others were cooking on an electric stove,but Rukayat was not in.
Something nice was cooking,she could perceive the aroma from Shade's covered pot.She had not prepared her own food,and she knew Shade was generous,she coughed and went over to her bed.
'Hmmm hmmm,i just hope that i'll not sleep hungry tonight.'she said looking at Shade.
'You and food sha,' Cynthia laughed. 'You're just lucky that no matter how much you eat it doesn't affect your size' she finished bending over the stove.
'Na you know,i wasn't even talking to you self' Hannah said.
'I just hope you'll be able to eat this,because i added sharwama to the rice o' Shade said,adding little water on the rice.
At the mention of Sharwama,Hannah's stomach became filled kiakia,she so much hate that fish called sawa.she switched to team Cynthia.
'Cynthia,abeg cook fast o' she teased her.
'I know you,at the mention of sawa every Hannah must run' the trio burst out laughing when the door swung open,Rukayat strolled in like someone who just won a visa lottery.
She opened the nylon in her hand and carefully brought out its content,like a doctor bringing out his instrument for an operation,she placed the bread by a tin of sardine,she went to cupboard,brot out tea and milk,she mixed everything and sat down ready to devour it.
Cynthia too dished out spaghetini and egg in two plates for herself and Hannah,who attacked the food like her life depended on it.
Finally,sister Shade sharwama also dished out her own food,everyone to her plate.
Hannah was planning in her head,how to drop the bombshell to her friends without getting burnt.
She watched as her friends concentrated on their food,she cleared her throat before speaking.
'Hmmm......hmmmm...hmmmm' she coughed.
'Bless you' cynthia and Shade said in unison.
Rukayat,ate on,like she didn't hear anyone cough,pressing her phone,probably pinging,Hannah guessed.
'Eh....eh..hmmmm' she started like a real amebo.
Cynthia and Shade looked at then continued their meal.
'I saw something o' Hannah said drinking water from a glass.
'What did you see madam' Shade asked,the amebo spirit in her had woken up.
'Well,it happened in G3 garden,some minutes ago' she said putting them in suspense.
'Abeg talk now,which one is this now' Shade said.
Hannah carefully explained all that she saw in the garden,leaving out the names of the smoochers.
'So,na who and who com act this ogbonge drama,wey you just talk' Cynthia asked scooping a spoon of rice in her mouth.
'Na assignment jare,go find out' Hannah told her two listeners.
'Who and who now' Shade asked again.
'Why don't you guess' Hannah knew she was putting them on the edge of their seat.
'Na Rotimi and Pwettyolly.' Cynthia said laughing.
'Wrong answer,think hard jare'
'Rotimi and you' Hannah eyed her, 'You no dey think?'
'Okay we no know,spit am' Cynthia said getting impatient.
'If i tell you guys,promise you wont tell somebody else' Hannah said.
'Promise'
'Promise na promise o' she told them.
'See as Shade wan fall from her bed,becos she wan do amebo' Hannah said taking her time.
Rukayat,had finished her dinner of bread&Sardine,she was stepping it down with a cup of tea,pressing her Bb with so much seriousness,she pretended as if she wasn't listening when her two ears are wide open.She would have joined in the amebo section but for the quarel they had some hours ago.
'Hannah talk now,after allowing me to waste my energy,i just hope those names go make sense o' Cynthia quipped,she had finished her food now.
'Don't form names o,this one that you're taking time to mention their name'Shade added,eating her rice.
'And their names are..' She paused 'Babes relax,no go get Bp because of this tory o'
Cynthia hissed,while Shade flung a pillow at her.
'At the count of ten,if you no talk,we go beat you o' Cynthia said 'Shade you be effiwe now,abeg count for her' She picked a broom from the corner of the room,while Shade picked the turning stick.
Rukayat was looking at them from the corner of her eye,she was enjoying their little drama.
They both faced her,Shade locked the door,and counted. '1,2,3,4,5,6,.....7..............8..................9.............' she prolong the 9 very well.
Hannah knew she had been cornered,'Don't count 10 o,ah ah,u want beat me before ni'
knowing they could follow up their threat.
'Now you're talking,good girl,and their names are.....?' cynthia asked raising up the broom.
'Okay,i actually saw Pweetyolly and Habeeb in the Garden' she said like a hen drenched in the rain.
The clock stopped ticking,there was a grave silence in the room,they could hear each others breath.
Cynthia and Shade dropped their weapon noiselessly.
The four girls stared at each other.
Rukayat stared at Hannah in disbelief,she didn't know when her phone dropped on the bed,
She looked at the other girls for support. 'Is this some kind of Joke' She asked dazed.
'I thought you were not listening to us,oh oh sorry,you were eavesdropping abi?' Hannah said.
'We have to work as a team now,this is not the time for apportioning of wrongs' Cynthia said perceiving another fight.
'Which Habeeb are you talking about self' Rukayat asked concerned.
0 comments:
Post a Comment