After the storm

by Osar Adeyemi

  "What's this I hear about you turning down the job?" Abby, her colleague at Lavabre, asked her on the phone about a week after she had formally declined the job offer. She and Abby had become friends over the period of time that she had been at Lavabre. She was married with a young son, and Yemi liked her a lot. "I thought you liked it when you were here or…wait a minute, are you pregnant?"

  Yemi laughed. "No, not yet, at least not as far as I know."

  Abby laughed too. "But seriously, if you are not pregnant, then why did you turn down the job?"

  "I felt I should try to get used to married life before taking on a job." The excuse sounded a little lame even to her own ears. She'd probably have snorted if someone else had told her the same thing a while back. Whoa! The things a guy could make a girl do!

  "Okay…" Abby said, dragging out her response as if lost for more words. "That's fine if you're happy with it, but please don't let all those brains go to waste."

  They talked for a few more minutes before ending the call. Yemi put the phone down slowly. That was one down. She knew she would still have to answer more questions, especially from her family, but she had her own home now, and this was her decision.

  She tried to get into the hang of married life over the next few weeks. Akeem had a cook, Bassey, who was also paid extra to do some cleaning. A proper cleaner came in at the weekends. Bassey was a nice guy, and he and Yemi got along very well. She took over most of the cooking from him but assured him that his job was safe. He had been with Akeem for a long time, and Akeem trusted him around the house. She didn't see any reason to upset that balance.

  They had to attend quite a number of social engagements, and many of their weekends were filled up. Yemi used to feel intimidated by the caliber of people she met at these functions, but Akeem was very supportive of her, and she gradually relaxed.

  Sesan had travelled to England for his master's degree shortly before her wedding. Although she tried to keep in touch with him by calling him on the phone, he hardly ever called her back. After a while, Yemi stopped calling him and accepted what Teju had said. It was a new season, and she had to go with the flow.

  ∞∞∞

  Because she had so much time on her hands, Yemi decided to focus on her hobby. Part of the way she kept herself entertained when she was at social events with Akeem was to mentally dress the ladies she encountered. Some of them wore expensive outfits that did nothing for their body shapes, and Yemi found herself mentally making adjustments to what they were wearing.

  You, my lady should stick strictly to classic fits, she would think to herself as she saw well-endowed women in fitted dresses with bursting seams. And for others, she would think, A little less frills here, a little tuck there, a fuller skirt to give an impression of a smaller waistline, and a different choice of fabric to draw attention away from a not-so-flattering feature. And she would go on and on until she was satisfied.

  She had an old sewing machine but ordered a couple of more modern ones and decided to start designing and making her own outfits. She experimented with different fabrics and designs and felt satisfied with the outcomes. But she still needed to muster a lot of confidence before she could make up her mind to wear one of the outfits to an event they had been invited to, a dinner in honour of the new American ambassador to Nigeria.

  She stood in front of the mirror after dressing up, wondering if she was being foolish or not. She had always been complimented on her designs, but those were her family and friends, and they didn't exactly move in the same realm as the Kadiri family and friends.

  She examined the dress again critically. It was blush colored with ruched, sleeveless shoulders, a fitted waist, and a side-draped, floor-length skirt. She tugged at the hem of the skirt. It was appearing a little lopsided to her, and then the bodice began to look funny too. A worried frown furrowed her brows as she calculated how much time she had to quickly change into one of the dresses Akeem had recently bought for her.

  "You look good enough to eat!" Akeem said, coming into the room and wrapping his arms around her as he stood behind her.

  She turned her head to look at him. "Really?"

  His lips quirked in amusement. "You're the one looking in the mirror; what do you see?"

  She looked again and felt a little more confident. At least, he had not even noticed that it was one of her own designs. That had to be a good sign!

  Akeem was his usual confident self when they got to the function, and she found herself following his lead as they mingled with other guests. She was pleasantly surprised to see Akeem's cousin, Fadel, and his wife, Sara. Sara had a fun personality, and Yemi enjoyed her company. Fadel, Hasan, and Akeem had attended school together since they were kids. Fadel and Sara were the only members of the Kadiri family that had gone out of their way to be friendly to her.

  Yemi felt more confident after that outing. Sara had admired her dress, but Yemi felt she was just being polite. Women normally "oohed" and "aahed" over each other's dresses at such events, and Yemi felt it was all part of polite social chitchat. Nevertheless, she was glad she had not received any strange looks. She decided that she would begin to wear more of her own designs.

  Sara and Fayona soon got to know she designed her own clothes. Initially, Yemi would either give a vague answer or would subtly change the topic whenever they asked her where she bought her dress or who her fashion designer was. But she gradually began to take their compliments more seriously and finally told them she made her own clothes. She was flattered when they asked her to sew for them, but she declined. But they kept asking her until she finally gave in but told them she would supply the fabrics, and of course, the service was free too. In that way, she knew she would not feel very bad if they didn't like what she made.

  She was absolutely chuffed when she saw Fayona wearing one of the dresses she'd made for her to a wedding a few weeks later.

  ∞∞∞

  Her relationship with the Kadiris did not get any better. Mrs. Kadiri rarely visited, and she preferred to go to Akeem's office to see him. Apart from Fadel and Sara, Yemi got about the same kind of treatment from other extended family members. She found out that many of them had married within their circle, so it was a case of everyone knowing every other person's family. Whenever they had to attend any family-related function and Akeem happened to leave her side, she would stand out like a sore thumb. Yemi didn't talk about it anymore with Akeem, but it didn't stop her from worrying about it either.

  About three months after their marriage, she was tidying up the second bedroom in their suite when she came across a package. Mrs. Kadiri liked a particular type of vitamin supplements that Akeem always helped her order in from England. She knew that Mrs. Kadiri had been talking to Akeem over the phone, asking him to send them over to her, but he had kept forgetting to do so. He was currently away on a trip to Abuja, and Yemi decided that she would take the pills over to her mother-in-law herself.

  She had never gone to the house alone but felt it was high time she began to do so. Moreover, she badly wanted Akeem's mother to see her as a daughter and not just as Akeem's wife.

  When she got to the house, Yemi handed the fruits she had bought for Mrs. Kadiri on her way to the house over to Nanzip, the housekeeper who answered the doorbell. Then she was shown to the sitting room, where Mrs. Kadiri sat watching a documentary on TV.

  "Good evening, Ma," Yemi said politely.

  "Hello, Yemi," Mrs. Kadiri said, looking up briefly at Yemi but as usual, that glance was enough to shoot frosty darts at her. "I wasn't expecting you. I hope you are well?"

  "I'm fine, thank you, Ma," Yemi replied. She brought out the package from the bag she had carried it in and handed it over to Mrs. Kadiri. "I brought the vitamin supplements Akeem ordered for you. I know that he meant to send them over but kept forgetting to do so."

  "Thank you," Mrs. Kadiri said, taking the package from Yemi. "I was going to send my driver over for them."

  They both turned as Nadia came
into the room. Yemi exchanged greetings with her, and Nadia sat down with the bowl of grapes she had in her hands.

  "Akeem is not with you?" Nadia asked, popping a grape into her mouth.

  "No, he had to travel to Abuja this morning. He'll be back in a couple of days."

  "Oh, I spoke to him yesterday morning, and he didn't mention it," Nadia replied.

  "It was an impromptu trip. It came up suddenly."

  "Well, you should be used to your brother doing things like that by now," Mrs. Kadiri said to Nadia. "We are the least important people to him." She pressed the buzzer by her side and told Nanzip to bring drinks for Yemi.

  The silence stretched uncomfortably. Mrs. Kadiri spoke to Nadia in Hausa, and Nadia replied back in Hausa, and that was how they continued. Apart from one or two sentences directed at Yemi in between their conversation, she was completely ignored for the rest of her visit.

  After about thirty minutes of being ignored, Yemi felt very uncomfortable and embarrassed by what they were doing. She knew it was deliberate; they could have spoken English, being fully aware that she didn't understand Hausa.

  "I'll be on my way, Ma," Yemi said, standing up.

  Another flick of those cold, haughty eyes. "Oh, all right. Thanks for bringing the supplements."

  Neither Mrs. Kadiri nor Nadia made any attempt to walk Yemi to the door.

  "Have a good night, Yemi!" Nadia called after her. "Say hello to that brother of mine when he gets back."

  Yemi felt tears of embarrassment stinging her eyes as she got into her car. She had tried over the last three months to crack the coldness between Akeem's mother and her, but had met with a brick wall every time. Nadia, on the other hand, blew hot and cold as the situation suited her. She could be nice and chatty one day, and the next time would be cold, distant, and haughty.

  She got home, still very troubled. Akeem had always waved off her fears and tried to make light of the matter, and there were times when she wondered if she was being too sensitive, but after what just happened, she had no doubts in her mind that she had been right all along.

  Chapter 7

  "Honey, what are you reading?" Yemi asked Akeem as she joined him in the study where he sat engrossed in a book.

  Akeem looked up with a smile. "It's a very interesting story about Alan Davies. Have you heard of him?"

  "No," Yemi replied, ignoring the smirk on his face. In spite of his hectic schedule, Akeem still found time to read, and she was no longer surprised why no subject matter ever seemed to throw him.

  "He is an American millionaire who comes from really humble beginnings." He paused, as if trying to decide if she was interested in what he was saying.

  She gave him a cool look as she sat beside him. What did he think she was, an airhead? "What's interesting about him?"

  He looked amused at her expression. "Well, right from when he was a kid, he believed strongly that he could do anything he wanted to do, and today he is listed as one of the richest men in America."

  "That's very commendable," Yemi said, looking at the cover of the book. "Maybe I'll read it when you're done."

  "His beliefs are very similar to mine," Akeem continued. "He believes in the power of the human mind and its ability to help you achieve anything you want to achieve. I totally agree with him."

  "There's some truth there."

  "A lot of truth, actually. I believe that battles are won or lost in the mind. It's all a question of how much willpower one has."

  Yemi didn't entirely agree with that. "But there are circumstances that will not change, no matter the willpower."

  Akeem smiled. "That's already a negative mindset. You can achieve anything you want to achieve. All you have to do is believe and go for it."

  "You're talking about something like faith, right?"

  "Not really. Faith implies belief in something or someone else supposedly higher than you. What I am talking about is right within your control; the power is within you." He studied her face as if deciding if he should go on or not. "I'm normally able to achieve 95 percent of all my goals because I believe I can, and that includes areas where other people have failed in the past. The remaining 5 percent that were not achieved have been because I did not desire them enough."

  Yemi was puzzled. "So if you believe so much in yourself, then where is the place of God in all this?"

  "How do you even know that God exists?"

  "Of course God exists!"

  He smiled at her vehement tone. "I just wonder what your stance would have been if you were not born a Christian."

  Yemi stared at him. She knew he wasn't overly religious, but this was a different ball game. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm a Christian, and I believe in God."

  "Many people call themselves Christians because they happen to have been born so. But you know what? I've found out that a lot of people have no idea what it's all about and can't even defend their beliefs."

  She felt uncomfortable with the conversation. Akeem sounded like Teju, but from the opposite end, and she liked his ideas even less. "All I know is that I'm a Christian," Yemi maintained. "I was born one, and I'll remain one."

  "And I shall not stop you. You're more than free to believe in whatever makes you happy."

  "But what about you?"

  "I certainly don't like being told that I'm helpless and unable to achieve anything on my own without a higher power helping me out." He looked at her bewildered face. "That's why I love books like this one," he said, raising the book up. "They prove my theories right."

  Yemi pursed her lips. "I don't think I like what you're saying, and I don't want you teaching such things to my kids."

  He laughed. "Christianity is the official religion in this house, but if the kids decide on something else when they are older…"

  "They will not," Yemi cut in.

  "Nah!" He wagged his finger playfully at her. "There's freedom of religion in this household."

  Yemi did not respond. Instead, she stared ahead like she did not hear him.

  "Are you angry with me?" Akeem asked, looking at her face. "That's why I don't like talking about my views, Okay, let's forget about everything I've said." He tried to take her hand in his, but she shrugged it off. "I'm a Christian, and I believe in everything you believe. Is that okay?"

  "Don't patronise me."

  Akeem sighed. "I can't win, can I? I expressed my opinion, and it wasn't accepted. I backtrack and accept what I've been told to believe, and yet my beautiful boss is still not happy with me. Tell me, what do I do now?"

  "I'm going upstairs," Yemi said, getting up.

  "Can I have a kiss before you go?"

  Yemi gave him an evil look, but as she made an attempt to move past him, his arm snaked out and he pulled her onto his knee. She tried to free herself, but he held on to her firmly.

  "So can I have my kiss?" he asked, tickling her.

  "Akeem, stop," Yemi pleaded, beginning to laugh helplessly. This was one of his favourite weapons since she had told him that she was ticklish. "Stop!"

  "Can I have my kiss now?" he asked again, still tickling her.

  "Stop…" Yemi pleaded. "Please…"

  He paused. "All right, are you ready?"

  She was still breathing hard. "Yes, but it's not going to be from my heart."

  "Whatever."

  Yemi tilted her head up, and her lips found his, but as she drew back, he placed a hand behind her head and deepened the kiss. She did not know when her arms went around him of their own volition.

  "Mmmm…and this is not from the heart?" he murmured against her lips a little while later.

  "I was bullied into it," she said, trying to pull herself off his knee. He kissed her again before he let her go. "Big bully!" She looked at him reproachfully as she moved towards the door.

  He winked at her. "Yeah…the only bully you're absolutely crazy about."

  ∞∞∞

  About a month later, they attended the wedding ceremony of his cou
sin, Rhea. Yemi had not been feeling too well and was not really in the mood for socializing but made the effort because she knew that Akeem would not go if she didn't. He knew she wasn't comfortable around his family members, and he tried to avoid going to as many family functions as he could, but Rhea was his first cousin, and she knew his mother would expect him to be there.

  Because of the Kadiris' attitude towards her, Yemi always tried to dress as elegantly as possible for such gatherings. She was grateful for her fashion sense, and her clothes were like an armour for her at such times.

  She decided to wear one of her own designs again. She was a lot more confident about them now. At some events she had attended during the last couple of months, she'd had strangers asking who her dress designer was, and a few had even asked if she could make some clothes for them when they discovered that she made them herself. She declined, but their requests boosted her confidence. Some other family friends, courtesy of Fayona and Sara, had also gotten to know that she could sew, and she had gotten a few more requests. Those requests she felt a little more comfortable accepting. She still declined payment but was now confident enough to ask them to bring their own fabrics, which they were happy to do.

  She finished dressing up and sat on the edge of the bed. She had taken some painkillers, but her head still had the annoying dull ache that had plagued her all day. She would need to see a doctor if she didn't feel any better in the next couple of days.

  "What's with the face? Are you okay?" Akeem asked as he came into the room.

  "I'm still feeling a bit run down," she told him.

  "Are you sure you want to come with me?" Akeem asked with a concerned expression on his face. "You don't have to if you are not up to it."

  "It's okay," Yemi replied. "Hopefully we can leave early."

  "Just let me know when you want to leave, okay?"