disliked,it was the hospital smell,it usually reeked of drugs and tablets,and it sometimes affect people.
She glanced at her side,the snacks and drinks sat there,she didn't make a move to touch the nylon at all.Her spittle tasted bitter and she wondered if the cause of her sleepless night would put a smile to her face.she watched as the doctor beckoned to a couple,a midddle aged man and his wife,the doctor looked uneasy as he spoke and she watched as he mouth moved fast and as he tried not to show too much emotion.The only word she could make out was "We lost her." The woman had let out a scream falling to the fall and tearing her cloth,her husband look too sad to hold nor comfort his wife,he found a seat and sat down gazing vaguely in to the ceiling,he watched absent minded as other people tried to hold his wife.
It was later she found out that those couple had just lost their only son just at twenty five,she couldn't help it as a tear trailed down her cheeks.she sighed and stared at her phone,her limbs felt heavy to press it.
It had happened last night,she had tossed and turn for about thirty minutes before finally arrived,she must have been dreaming that she heard the phone ring,but alas it was not a dream,she sluggishly picked it and was surprised when Lucy's voice came on the line,she could feel the other lady's distress from her end.Lucy had called to inform her friend that she needed help,as she was bleeding.
Jane woke her husband and rushed down to Lucy's house,it was some minutes past two when they arrived at the hospital,she was bleeding but thanks to God they had been able to stabilize her but the doctor were not saying anything.Jacob had left after asking the nurse to get her some thing to eat.Jane knew it had something to do with that of an husband she had.
But how could someone who professes to love you raise his filthy hands to strike you,it just didn't add up.she must have dozed off because when she opened her eyes Nana Aisha sat by her holding two flask of food and water with fruits in a basket.it was morning already and her kids and husband had gone to school and work respectively.
"Good morning ma." Aisha greeeted as Jane yawned covering her mouth with her hand.she looked around and asked if Aisha has seen the doctor around.she cleaned her teeth and drank some water.
"Good morning Mrs Smith." Jane heard the doctor's voice,she turned around to see him standing by her,he was wearing a white overall with stethoscope around his neck.
"Good morning Doc Kufre." Jane tried a smile.
The doctor smiled back,"Your friend wants to speak with you now,I'll be leaving her in the hands of Doc Jumbo." He said leading the way to the ward.The door creaked open and she went in,Lucy lay on the bed and water was being passed into her body,and blood on the other side,she looked pale and bruised.
"How are you feeling now?" She asked sitting by the bed.
Lucy stared blankly at her friend and nodded,"I've called your mum,she's already on her way." Jane said.
"What happened?"
Lucy nodded her head and twin tears rolled down her face,she slowly explained to her how what started as a little argument exaggerated into a big fight.Taliroyce had blown up when Lucy made some negative remarks about the baby,and how she never wanted the baby in the first place.That had gotten him angry,and as usual a heavy slap sounded on her cheeks,and instantly relying on Jane's idea to stand up to her,she had hissed and broken a vase and that was it,she was beaten blue black,all thanks to the timely intervention of a neighbour,who Taliroyce had dismissed and droven away in anger leaving Lucy and her son to cry.
Lucy had cried all evening,it was when she couldn't take it anymore that she called Jane to help her to the hospital.
Jane sighed,her friend was going through a lot of physical and emotional torture at the moment,"This is the time we can sue him,your bruises are enough evidence,Lucy please permit me to fight him." She pleaded.
"No o,don't hurt him,how do I tell my son that I sued his father,ruined his career and sent him to jail,I pray I make it out of this place." Her voice was quiet and the strain appeared on her face.
The door creaked open and an ederly woman came in,Jane recognised Lucy's mother,she embraced her and the other woman had her mouth open as she listened to Jane and stared at her daughter in bed,her prodigal daughter to be precise.It was hard to believe that her daughter had a son and was even carrying another one for a man who she was not married to.m
Lucy forced a smile when her mother with tear in her face embraced her,"I can't believe its you I'm seeing here." She sighed." And like this too."
"I'll deal with any man who has made you a shadow of yourself." Lucy's mother shouted bringing out her cell phone.
"Mother?" Lucy called quietly as her mother put the phone to her ears.
"Mother? Jane?" This time her breath was laboured and her face paler.
"Lucy!" Her mother screamed as Jane ran to get the doctor.
"Promise me you won't sue my husband."
"Impossible! I will deal with him,your brothers will see to it." Lucy's mother's voice took the air.
"Please....promise me..pleaseeeee."
"I promise I won't sue him just stay with us." Her mother cried.The doctor barged in with Jane and checked her heartbeat,she was still breathing.He asked Jane and Lucy's mother to leave the ward to which they refused,and they watched in awe as Lucy's gasped for breath.The doctor tried to stabilise her but it was a lost cause,poor Lucy breathed her last and bade the world a goodbye.
..............
.....
Adetoun glanced at the screen of her phone,she touched the silent button and continue to stare at the ceiling fan,She sat propped up on the bed her arms on her leg,she wore her hair down,with minimal make up on her face.If she was thinking it wasn't obvious due to the way,the magazine was spread on her leg.
She turned the pages absent mindly,staring at the pictures and the words,she saw her phone blinking again,she didn't pick the call for loss of what to say to her caller.
Priye had been calling non stop and he was beginning to get on her nerves with his frequent calls,she picked her phone and switched it off,she looked up when the door open.It was Rekia ,she was wearing a blue pinafore over a white fitted top,on her feet were a pair of flipflop.
"Babe." She called coming to seat by her on the bed,she brought out a set of necklace from her purse,stretching it towards her friend.
Toun collected it and examined it,"This is beautiful." She said fixing it around her neck,they were a necklace,bangles,earring made of delicate white stone."And I'm sure this must cost a lot,you don't have a job and yet you buy the most expensive things money can afford."
Rekia smiled,"All thanks to God and my late parent,anyway that's a story for the Gods o.How about we do lunch?"
Toun declined the offer on flimsy excuses to which her friend did not agree,after some persuasive words she surrendered.Rekia located a new African kitchen that opened of recent where they had a sunptous meal of pounded yam and egusi soup with palmwine to step down,the restaurant looked good,classy just the way she liked it and their meals palatable.They were about to leave but another car was blocking theirs.They had to inform the attendants who announced the plate number so that the owner could move it so as to make way for theirs,it was a surprise when Ade sauntered outside,he looked quite handsome in a brown tailored material and shoe to match.
He embraced Adetoun and carefully explained why he had not call,which was because he got robbed at gunpoint later that evening,his car,phones and other accesories were snatched from him,stating this as an excuse he quickly produced a phone from his pocket.Adetoun saw that it was a new one,which made her believe his story and why would he tell a lie anyway.she stored Hannah's number first and then hers.
"I know you have a lot of question to ask,but this is not the place to do that." Ade smiled,embracing Adetoun again before driving out his car to make way for theirs.He waved as the ladies zoomed off.If only he could back the hands of time,his heart raced quickly at the thought of a name that rang in his heart.Hannah.
Adetoun made good use of the journey home to gist rekia,not leaving out any detail on how things existed between Hannah and Ade and how things finally collapsed.Rekia only contributed a word or two,they were almost home now.
.........
It was a very bitter friday when the remains of Lucy was placed in the heart of mother earth,her parents and family were there all clothed in black and shades.But Taliroyce was no where to be found.Even though she couldn't find him among the wellwishers,she knew he would be somewhere crying out his heart.She looked at Lucy's baby standing quietly beside her grandmother and she felt nothing but pure pity for the boy.Jane had cried more than the bereaved,this was because,she thought she could and should have helped her friend a long time ago.
But what could she do when Lucy denied her offer of assistance,she wept day and night after the incidence and this was beginning to get at her husband who had tried to comfort her to which his effort were not appreciated.She sniffled again,wiping the back of her palm across her nose,she picked the kleenex by the bedside.Everywhere she went,all she saw was Lucy pleading with her to speak to her mother not to punish her husband.
It sounded odd and it was beginning to drive her crazy the things she imagined,she needed to speak with Lucy's mother as soon as possible,and she didn't want to bother the grieving mother.she felt a tap lightly on her shoulders,she must have dozed off again,it was her husband.He was draped in his pyjamas.he held a tray containing bread jam,pepper ketch up,tea and a piece of watermelon in his hands.he placed it on the bedside stool,his eyes not leaving his wife.
"You should eat something now." He said,his eyes were cool and his hands gentle on her skin as he helped her out of her clothe.Jane was surprised to see her kids at the other end of the bed,fast asleep.Eve had her legs all over her brother's body.She got into the shower,and the warm water did a lot to soothe her heavy heart.By the time she was out,her kids had been carried to their room.Jane had a silent dinner in bed.
She heard voices or so she thought,but then she listened again,she couldn't have been mistaken,she pulled a shirt on and hurried down the flight of stairs.alas she was right,the voices had been coming from the sitting,her husband and one other man,Toye.
"Hey dear." Toye made to cross over the space between himself and Jane,but Jacob would not let hik,he kicked the stool and it stopped in front of his wife,his eyes throwing daggers at his wife.
"Toye this is a bad time,maybe later." Jane said forcing a smile.she placed her hands on the rail of the stairs,eyes closed.
Toye kicked the stood away furiously,and quickly grabbed Jane,"What happened to you? Did he harm you?" He asked in anger looking Jacob.
Jane disentangle herself from him,"I'm fine." A fine tear escaped down her face.Jacob must have done his calculations right,as two hard punches landed on toye's face breaking his nose in the process,blood streamed down his lips.jane came in between the making Toye to miss the third punch.
Jacob was fuming,"How dare you touch her." He shouted,his face was hard and his fist curled in a punch.
Toye looked from an angry husband to a wife who's eyes pleaded for mercy,he wiped the blood away from his lips and walked out with Jane running after him,she was pleading with him not to get mad.
At that instant,Jacob looked at his fist and rained heavy blow on the wall,he rushed up the stairs and grabbed his car key,charging down blindly,he rushed out and kick started the car,he was out in a minute almost hitting his wife as he drove away.
.........
Hannah carefully opened the blind to peep at the person knocking,she was surprised to find two men at the door,she quickly ran inside to call Rekia,who also peeped at the two men.
"What could have happened?". Hannah whispered into Rekia's ear.the other let out a silent hiss pulling her shorts tighter,"How can I know?this is strange to begin with,I'm not even prepared for a brawl this evening."
Another knock came on the door,it seemed the callers were growing impatient now,as one of them gently stamped his shoe against the ground."But Hannah informed us that it was Priye who asked to see her."
"What do you think we should do?" Rekia asked folding her hands across her chest.
Hannah sighed,"You open the door,while I get Toun,I think she's even ready." She put her words to action,while Rekia ushered the men in.It was quite an awkward moment when Toun arrived the sitting room,wearing a brown leggings over long white blouse and white sandals clutching a purse.she looked from one brother to another in surprise,it had been Priye who asked to take her out for a chat,how come he came with his brother?This question throbbed gently in her heart as she tried to find her voice.
"You,,,,you,,,came ..I ." Toun stammered.
"Hey babe relax."Priye sent her a assuring smile,he walked towards her and held her by the hands briefly ."We're taking you out." His eyes travelled to Kelvin who had his hands behind him.And just like a rehearsal Kelvin brought his hands forward to reveal a beautiful bunch of rose flowers.Toun's eyes flustered in surprise.Kelvin nodded his head when she looked at him.
Hannah and Rekia giggled softly while exchanging a knowing look.
...............
She was cold and she shivered slightly pulling the cardigan closer to her body,the heater was on,but something deep inside made her tremble,she glanced at the wall clock and it was some minutes past eleven,the fact that her husband could have found solace in the arms of another woman made her shiver.
But it was unlike him, he should have come back.He had made her angry tonight,he hit her friend in anger and that annoyed her so much.she got up from the bed and began to pace around the room.What was wrong in asking after a friend,she was very offended with her husband's action tonight.
Clutching at her chest,she rushed to the bathroom,she needed her strength not this sickly nauseacious feeling down in her.she washed her face and returned to check her children,they were sleeping peacefully.
But sleep had eluded her own face,she knew she should climb in bed and try her eyes at sleeping,but that seemed a hard task to pursue.
............
Jacob knew his head would break,the way it was spinning,as much as he tried to get the image of that silly neighbour off his mind,the more it glued.and it had taken him more than self control not to break the 's head.He picked the glass that contained his drink and swallowed hard.And to think his wife had rushed after him,oh poo,he banged the table,he just wouldn't accept it.
When the second bottle of vodka landed on the table,he knew he was a goner from that moment.He saw ten ladies walking towards him,and he made to grab them together.The female attendant let out a tiny whimp as she stepped back.
She had walked up to inform him that they were past closing time when he suddenly stretched out his hands to grab her."Excuse me sir." She said,pointing at the wall clock."We are closed for the day."
Jacob let out a bewitched laughter,"Good,is that why all of you want to carry me?" He asked,the attendant looked around,the other attendant was aleady closing the fridge who else was he referring to,but past experience had thought her that men in his situation could see hundred girls in one,his breath stenched of alcohol when he belched loudly.
It took the two attendant a whooping 30minutes to lead him to his car.they opened the driver's door and pushed him in before closing the door.
........
If anything at all,the sound of hammering filled his head,he sluggishly forced an eye opened,his nose came awake to the odour of vomit.His eyes became clearer and his head woke up too.
What was he doing in his car at 6am in the morning,he couldn't find a place for his foot ,a banging sound erupted from his head.The event of the past evening flashed in his brain,so he took his time to analyse what had happened.
He ignited his car and found himself at his gate after an hour of driving,his kids were about leaving for school,he couldn't even plant the regular'Goodbye daddy' kiss on their cheeks.he waved at them,quickly he gave orders for the car to be washed immediately and he disappeared into the bathroom.
TBC.......
