Hannah stood up to calm her sister ''You and i know that you are not classless,so why are you hurting yourself over this''
''I felt humilated this noon''
''Its ok,dinner is ready,stop crying,its all a matter of time,i believe she'll come around soon.
''Thanks Hannah''.
Things had been rosy between Jacob and Janet except for the other day,when his mother had walked out on them in the sitting room,He still remembered the ugly conversation they had that night.
''Jacob wo,omo to mu wa losan,is not someone who you should be seen with'' His mum rarely spoke Yoruba this days.
''But why''
''Thats a good question and i'll explain'' she sat upright on her bed.
''CLASS is an important thing to people in our circle,a man of authority and class like you,should not stoop low to date classless ladies,money and class go paripasu,you're a man of status,see yourself as one.And again,who are her parents in this country?what power can they yield?what influence do they have?what connections do they have? Son,tell me'' she sat down
''Janets parents are well to do,her father is a lawyer and her mum is a designer,as long as they can afford the food they eat,they are okay mum'' Jacob countered
''As far as i am concerned,omo Janet abi ki lo ti pe,ko si ni level e,and you can't date her,infact i want you to stop seeing her''
Jacob laughed''Well,thats impossible,i love her and she loves me too''
''You love her looks,she loves your money,simple! All she wants is your money,get that into your head boy''she snapped
''Janet is a beautiful lady,she's smart,and she loves me not my money''
''Senator Franks daughter is a good girl,i have introduced you to Sholange,Chief Mrs Kuti's daughter,and so many more that i cannot even remember,ki ni mo nba e fa gan,temi lo ma se,you can't date that silly and classless girl''
They had argued on and on,until Ruth came in to inform them that dinner was ready.They had a quiet dinner that night,Jackie kept looking at both,mother and son during dinner,wondering what was happening.
After dinner,Jacob had a cool shower and went straight to bed,though he couldn't sleep,it was some minutes past nine,when his phone rang,he checked the caller Id,it was Janet,he picked the call and placed the phone to his ears...he wasn't expecting what he heard.'
'Whaaattttttt?'' he screamed and jumped up
Janet had called to inform Jacob that her dad just had an accident on his way back from work,he had been rushed to the hospital where he was declared clinically dead.Janet wept her eyes out,her mum and Hannah cried uncontrollably,Jacob was there to console her,he stood by her all through,he assisted them in making the burial arrangement,Janet and her mother were grateful to him.
Two weeks after the death and burial of her beloveth father,well wishers still trooped in numbers to their house.
Mother and Children were beginning to get hold of their life again,Jane was planning to go back to school for the last stretch of her final semester,when their wall came crashing.
It was a bright Monday afternoon,Mrs Odenuga was relaxing in the sitting room,when two dark men carrying suitcase came in,she asked them in and offered them water which they turned down politely,they sat on the couch in the sitting room.
''Good afternoon gentlemen,what can i do for you''she asked them,
One of them spoke up,
''Good afternoon madam,you're Mrs Odenuga i believe,we are from CBT Bank Nigeria,/they brought out their ID card\,Ikoyi branch.
We share our condolence with you on the demise of your husband,he paused,we are here to inform you that Lawyer Odenuga obtained loan from our bank,and is yet to pay back,the payment date expired three weeks ago,we would have come earlier,but for the demise of your husband,our customer,we decided to shift it to this date''
Mrs Odenuga who was relaxed on the couch before,now sat straight on the edge of her seat.She was surprised,her husband never informed of any loan,and they didn't hid things from each other.
''My husband is not a business man,he is a Lawyer and he didn't inform me about this'' Her head was throbbing hard.
The man who spoke the other time nodded to his partner to continue.The other man placed his suitcase on his lap and opened it,he brought out some papers,he cleared his throat and started.
''Here Madam,are the documents of the loan which your husband signed,the loan was obtained for his friend,using your husbands property-this very house and his car- as collaterals to be confiscated upon failure to pay,these papers were duly signed by Lawyer Odenuga.he paused
''The bank has been considerate enough to give you a week notice to vacate this building with your belongings only,as two security men have been placed outside to ensure adherence to this''
The two men stood up at the same time,''Once again,we are sorry about your husband,we share in your grief,Goodday ma''
they left.
Unknown to them that the woman looking relaxed in her seat had just fainted.........
It was late in the evening when Janet got home,she saw her mother's relaxed form on the couch,she tiptoed to her room,to pull off her clothes and shoe,she wore a blue top on shorts.
'Mum,i have told you times without number not to sleep on the couch'
she tried mimicking her mother,but there was no reply,she moved closer to touch her,yet the older woman didn't move,she stepped back,and shouted in fear.
'Mum!mum! Someone please help me' she screamed
she rushed out,two neighbours came in to help her,they hailed a taxi and carried her to the hospital,that was just two streets away.
They filled the necessary forms,and deposited some money,immediate medical attention was given to her.The doctor informed her that,the situation was under control and if they had been ten minutes late,it would have been another story entirely.
Janet paid the bills as her mother was discharged two days later.
Mrs Odenuga finally explained to her daughter all that happened that Monday afternoon.Janet was as surprised as her mother had been,when she got the news.
Janet informed Hannah too,the family was struck in awe,she also informed Jacob,who told her to calm down,he also promised to get them settled.
By the end of the week,Jacob secured a new four bedroom apartment for the family,he also gave them money,mrs Odenuga had refused the money at first,but after little persuasion from Jacob,she thanked him profusely.
The admission list for Unilorin was out the following week,Hannah was so happy to have made it,she had her name printed bodly on the merit list.They all looked sad at dinner,who would take care of the bill?her school fee,hostel fee and other necessary fees.
Janet summoned some courage to to tell Jacob,who volunteered to take care of all the bills and expenses-well,what was she expecting,those are things that happen when you have a millionaire boyfriend-,if only his mother would just accept her,hmmm,she thought.
When she broke the news to her family,they were very happy again.Janet was so happy that things were beginning to look fine for the family again.
Janet returned to school to complete the last stretch of her final year in school.She was the envy of her friends{sharon and Zainab}they were her roommates in the hostel.Jacob came to school to see her frequently,shopped for her.They always share nice times together.
Janet completed her Hnd programme soon,she was waiting for her posting,for her Youth Service.She had returned home by now.Her friend,Zainab had called to inform her their final year result were out and she made a distinction.
She danced and danced,she thanked God for seeing her through with good grades,she called Jacob at work to announce to him,he was equally happy for her and promised to take her on a treat for this.
Janet was no longer a small girl,she was now twenty three and looked ever beautiful,her friends in school often teased her calling her a 'black mami water' if there was any thing of such.
Janet's mum had been the happiest upon receiving the news,she shed tears of joy that night,she was now working again and she was in good health,they had a new househelp.Hannah was studying happily in school.
Just as Jacob promised,he called earlier in the day to inform her that,he'll be taking her on a treat in the afternoon.Janet had dressed quite simple,she wore a pinkplait short skirt on white turtle neck blouse,he took her to the beach,Jacob had asked his secretary to pack a picnic basket of lunch for two.
They had fun at the beach,ate lunch,drank wine,she enjoyed the fruits too,they played along the water side.Janet seemed to be in a very good mood,which was because,she had goodnews.
To be continued at 2pm.
