by A. Achaka
The house was just by the tarred road, a big compound with a burglary proof at the part of its fence one could view on the inside, the tres and plants in there took time to develop but they gave it a shape. We got down and paid the tricycle driver and stood before the gate, the whole incident flashed through my eyes, i noticed i would have alot to cover up for, the arguement and way i left its very dramatic and here I am.
I reached out and pressed the bell by the gate, and waited abit and a male voice answered, i recognised it at once it was my younger brother, he shouted through the speaker on hearing my voice and soon I heard more than one foot steps running towards the gate, I turned to her “Get ready for my family Madness” before i could finish that sentence, the gate swing open and three of boys came out and throw themselves on me shouting, “Pino” that was my stage name and that’s the name every one call me except my dad.
We hug each other and we got in and saw the other still coming through, they welcomed me as if i were not about to be the prodigal son, though, the stunt i pulled got them thinking, if they would ever see me again and I quickly introduce Emmanuella to them, who was smiling as my sister hugged her and we proceed into the house.
My mom had gone to work, but my dad was at home, He had a huge court case with the government and he dosen’t go to work mostly. We got in through the back door and there i met him at the sitting room watching the T.V. He looks happy to see me but he was never the type to encourage cowardice, he answered our greeting as normal and looked at the girl, his face changed a bit on her sight but he didn’t say a word, my sister took her to her room while I went into the boy’s room.
I don’t i have rested enough and i heard “Daddy is calling you” in my mind I just wish it will not be another epsode of drama, i got and saw he had gone into his room, i knocked and went in, He was sitting by the table and i stood
“Good afternoon Sir” I greeted, he just murmured
“Who is that girl? Is she not the daughter of the late Deputy speaker?” I had no idea how he know but he was furious talking to me “What have you done, you are among the criminals” I can’t believ waht this man was saying, all my life since I became a senior in secondary school, he had been suspecting me heavily and today he finally voiced it out.
I felt anger ranging heavily within me but my thought went to Emmanuella and I could only squeeze my palm and let the words sink into my body. I don’t understand this man, he can never asked me a question without being judgmental, He made it sound as if i were the only bad son in the whole word, it must have fired up since I choose entertainment after studying Accounting in the university.
Still our conversation didn’t end up well, i felt like i shouldn’t have come back home but its too late for that and our next cause of action was to get Emmanuella in touch with her people. Every minute He called to ask if she had made contact already, i would just say the number was unreachable.
In the evening myt mom came back, from a distance i could hear her voice, running insid to meet her son, she hugged me tight. Emmanuella have never seen so much love between a mother and her grown up child, it felt like i have gone for years and finally got back home.
Emmanuella was getting very comfortable, she joined in our family prayer at about seven o’clock, after eating our dinner, some how our dad was a fan of eating food early to avoid too much uneasiness to sleep. Later in the night she made contact with the house and was told that her sister was at home as well, She was very excite and but cried at the new of her parent even though she felt it.
Knowing what will happen the next day we exchanged numbers and social media contacts as well and went to bed after many kisses.
Seven thirty the next day, my fathers house was flooded with police and their van and the commissioner for police, came along with them, they had a long talk with my dad and asked if i could go with them for questioning he was more than glad to let me go, because he thought i was too stubborn and they need to teach me a little lesson, In no time we were out of the compound and the neighbourhood to the police station in the town.
At the police was the first time I saw her younger sister Erica, they were locked in each others embrace, Emmanuella was crying but Erica was seriously staring at me. The police asked me to sit on a bench and they called Emmauella in, in my mind it was just questioning and since she is here everything would be alright, they came out smiling and i was up next, she told them she would wait for me but they insisted it will be for a statement and i would be free to go once after that.
Before they left Erica run to me and said “Thank you for saving my sister, she will help you too” I was startled, what has that got to do with what’s happening in the station, Emanuella came up too, “Thank you for every thing” i only noded and they left.
My thought was racing through the little girls words, it was just as my dream, ‘How will she help me?’ i kept asking myself. I was shoved by a police man and started out to the back, he lead me through a door, the room was stuffy already, it hold no window and only a single chair, i felt my heart sink “Sit down” the police man shouted, his mood changed, the next thing was a slap to my face, I fell off the chair, I thought it was suppose to be a statement, why all this, if there is one thing i know about Nigerian police, they get their statement the way they like. Another police man joined in and both of them were shouting in my ear, i could not tell what they were saying.
“Tell us the truth, and we will set you free, are you among the criminals?” I felt even I could do better interrogating a criminal, I told them what happened, and remain adamant at that.
“you think you are stubborn right, Just ready to go to the prision since you don’t want to confess” they gave time to think and were back, i still stood by what i told them and before they took me to the cell, i could not recognise my face any more, i was beaten thoroughly and thrown in a cell with a man i could not see his face because it was dark in there.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The doctor came out from the theatre and asked who the family of the commander was a whole bunch of people got up including the boys, he look at them for a minute, his face wasn’t as bright, they started backward but he told them news
“We were lucky, the bullet missed his heart, he is going to live” He saw the happy expression on their faces, He was one of the commander who made sure the boys under his command get, what they deserve and are trained properly. “But we have to keep him in the intensive care” He continued after they have digest the good news “But I am afraid we lost one of the men and the others are alright too, we have them in a private room, shortly you will be able to see them” and he left, Ahmed jr, Aisha and Diana hugged each other in jubilation and sat down waiting for another chance to see him.
Some minute later a nurse came and ask them to follow her, she lead them to the private ward and room nineteen which was his, he was sleeping very innocently, when they came in, they all took position to sit, Diana was beside the bed holding his hand “I know you will come back to me” she whispered and then lean and kissed his forehead and turned back to his children
“I will rush back home cook some food and get some things, ok?”
“No don’t worry, we will go, just stay with him, we will get it done and come back as soon as possible, thank you for being there for him” said Aisha, his daughter.
“Ok, just be careful” They got up and left the room and the hospital.
Aisha was on the wheel driving and while Ahmed Jr was on the passengers sit, they looked worried as they drive home, just when their dad had found happiness such a scenario happened, they drove far in silence then her phone came ringing, it was Diana she ask for a favour that she should get some things for her too and ended the call, she turn to Ahmed Jr
“You know she remind me so much of mom, loving and caring” Ahmed smiled
“I just want him to wake up, sometimes I think we have not been fare to him, we just forget sometime and I think he was lonely”
“Ye
a, we’ve been selfish, we just need to make amends”
They got to the bend to their street and turn in, almost collided with another car coming out, the driver was careless, he was making phone call while driving, they almost beat him up, if not for people who came to put a stop to it.
They got home and soon busted in laughter about the incident and started the work, Ahmed jr got their dad’s clothes and some provisions while Aisha went into the kitchen to cook.
They ate at home got everything they came for and in no time headed back to the hospital, its like they were going to visit somebody, they don’t look worried at all, may be since they heard, he had come out of the theatre breathing, all is well and it will be well. They arrive in time before the sun fully set, Diana was glad to see them, I bet she hadn’t left the chair beside him when they got in, she was praying seriously and holding his hands, she eased up and soon came to a conclusion when she heard the footstep.
He was lying painless, his face relaxed and his mouth almost smiling if you hadn’t know what happened to him you will think he was pretending, they put the things down and encourage her to eat something, she rejecting but they insisted then she moved to the other chair and set the food down to get some, it was potato porridge, mashed up with meat and fried fish, she smiled at the site of that and felt her stomach calling for it, and immediately the nurse came in to give him a shot, that will aid up the internal healing process.
The Nurse started flirting with Ahmed, she suddenly took interest in him, and they talk for sometimes until, another nurse came in to call her. Ahmed was more like his dad, when their Mom died he had no interest in women, just his school work and his business, Aisha would tease him a times but he was too adamant to being the way he was, but somehow after their conversation with the Nurse, He tarted to fancy her as well, her name tag reads Nancy
“You know she like you right?” Aisha teased him, he look at her and shy away “Don’t act like you didn’t hear me”
“He has his reasons?” Diana spoke up “Dont’ you?”
“No, since his mom died, he just lost interest in girls, he has them before, I always advice him to slow down but now am beginning to wander, if my brother is.....”
“Why must your thinking always go like that, do you think maybe i have better things to do?” Ahmed responded looking at his dad
“Well look at dad, even him has precious love sitting here” both girls smiled at each other “And you are getting old” He touched his face and Aisha burst into laughter and kept shot at the same time, when she realise it was the hospital
“So you think a girlfriend make me younger?”
“No, they make you think of people, Nancy is a beautiful girl, take advantage man, be a man” Aisha was teasing him.
“A good sister trying to match makes, her brother” He was pushing his nose at her
“You are welcome, i don’t want my brother to turn gay” Aisha said, their eyes went to her in disbelieve, what she just said and she raised her shoulders
“What, you must be out of your mind, why will you even think of something like that, yuk” He squeezed his face.
Before they left the hospital that day Nancy came back to make sure everything was alright, and left, they head out leaving Diana behind she was to stay for the night and rotate the next with some one else.
On their way home Aisha brought up the Nancy’s Issues again, telling him to reconsider at least, it will be an avenue to bring him back to their father from school. He sat quite knewing that he had lost the fight, since she had counter all his excuses. Sometimes he ask himself the question “what happened to me?” He seems to have forgotten about girls and relationship entirely, he had them running to him at all time but now he pushed them all away and uses his school and business to cover up everything, But on a second thought he agreed with his sister to give it a try with nancy.
Aisha was dncing on the steering wheel and almost ran them into a ditch, if not for the high the pavement, it would have been a tragic situation, so they continued justlistening to music all the way home.
Ten thirty in the morning the next day, they were already at the hospital to relieve Diana, they doubt if she slept at all, she was looking exhausted and her eyes were falling. Aisha had her go home to rest and had a birth, and she took over alone because Ahmed was called by his employees, about the supplier, who brought the goods and and is demanding the payment, he left them to make payment through the bank.
Nancy came for the morning dose and check up, Her face went low as she didn’t see Ahmed in the room it was only Aisha, they greeted and she proceeded with the duty but wasn’t excited, when she had finished and got up to leave
“He just went for a duty call” Aisha told her, because she notice the sadnedd in her face, Nancy turned and smiled
“Thank you” and she left the room.
Just at the reception they almost collided together, while she was talking to her collegue and walking forward, She came calm when she realise it was Ahmed, she was smiling uncontrollably
“Morning” he greeted, she was smiling with her face down
“Good morning, i was just coming from” she couldn’t complete the statement
“How was your night?” He jump in to save her
“My night was ok and yours?”
“Was good, so i was wandering, if at any time you are off work we could grab a bite” She wanted that, and was smiling, he could see her dimples and beautiful looks
“Ok, my lunch break is twelve”
“Ok, see you then” He headed towards the private ward, she stood there watching until he disappeared and she turned and saw a Nurse in front of her
“What?” she asked
“You know, it’s against the policy” She frowned
“He is not a patient and please don’t patronize me, you get to do that even with patient but because am a junior staff, i can’t get someone?”
“Just stay off him” the other nurse said and turns to leave
“Or what will happen?” then she left her standing there
Ahmed was now in the room and before he could settle down Aisha told him that his date had come in looking for him and her face was down, when she realised he wasn’t in but she encourage her, that He had not gone to the moon, just duty calls, he told her he saw her at the lobby and as a matter of fact he have a lunch date with her these afternoon, Aisha jumped up and hugged him
“Oh yes my brother is not gay”
“Please stop that, you know that is a strong word and am not there” she was laughing
For a while they sat down reading or playing with their phones, they didn’t realise how far the time had gone not until Nancy came in, that he looked at his wrist watch, it was five after twelve, he apologize and they head out for lunch.
In a fancy restaurant opposite the hospital, it was half full and mostly with doctors and nurses eating, when they entered, everybody turned looking at them as they settle in a table, a lady came and took their order and left.
At the far end of the restaurant, were some group of Nurses, they were staring at them in anger, it seems they have a competition going on in the hospital, who would get the cute and rich men that comes to the hospital. The group by the corner were called the senior nurses, they were mostly in the habit of having sex with patien at odd hours, they had a rule for the younger once to stay clear of every young man or well to do patient that are in the hospital.
They had their eyes on Ahmed when Nancy got his attention. Nancy was a cool calm girl, fresh out of nursing school and immediately got employed because she was the overall best in her set, very dedicated to her work but she was lonely when she met Ahmed and fell for him, she honestly don’t know what was really going on among the nurses, she had been out of their way since she arrived because she no eye on any one until Ahmed showed up.
Their lunch was a good one, she had never felt like that before and him for a while, they chatted and almost forgot she has a job to go ba
ck to. They rose and left after paying for the service they enjoyed, then back to the hospital, she was welcome by the very group of Nurses at the restaurant. Ahmed left her with them and went to meet his sister, who was sleeping in one of the chair, the book she was reading was on the floor and her reading glasses was almost out of her of her face.
“Sis you are one hell of a sleeper, just less than an hour and you are in a dream world” She throw herself to a sitting position, looking like she had gone to fight a giant
“When did you come in?”
“Just now why?” he went closer to his dad and sat by the bed
“I was just dreaming, that you and Nancy girl went home”
“What? Did you smoke or something, now i think you should be on the bed not dad” she pushed her lips aside looking at him
“Well sooner or later it will happen, so i might as well dream it now”
“Just go back to sleep or read your books” she look around on the chair for the book but didn’t see it, then she shifted her leg and pushed it aside
“Oh here you are, how did the lunch go?” she asked him
“Went well, she’s a good one”
“I told you so, make sure you keep these one” He raised his eye brow and pick up a magazine to read.
Three days later Diana was still at watch in the night, he hadn’t make any sound or noise or even turn, but she kept up hope, the military personnel had visited him during the day, they promise not to proceed with any further investigation or revealing until he opened his eyes, she almost burst into tears as they talk good about him. A very respectable man, among his peers, the only lieutenant-general who doesn’t stay at the Federal and still educate younger once. They left in the evening and so were his children, she told them to go home early to take a rest for the day.
Diana prayed during the night and prayed until she was interrupted by a nurse who came to give him his shot and when she had left, she went back to her prayers.