ADUKE…
Chapter 12.
…. Waking up,I found myself at the hospital,and felt this sharp pain on my head…
A guy who was there hurried out to get the doctor that I Was awake….the doctor did some observation,I told you she didn’t sustain any major injury,she passed out due to shock,the injury on her head,is a minor one sustained from the fall,the doctor told the guy,I was wondering who the guy was,I remembered what happened,that I was hit by car on my way from Mike’s place….
The doctor left leaving me with the strange guy,,,thank God you are awake,he said.
And who are you,I asked him,well am the younger brother to the man that hit you,he said.
So your brother isn’t a qualified driver,who gave him a license anyways,is that how he goes about knocking people down while he drives,I asked angrily…
Well that Wasn’t what I heard,I heard you walked into the vehicle and not the other way round,he defended his brother…was I expecting anything less,you are definitely going to speak for your brother,I said angrily…
He just gave a smile and didn’t say a word,,,,my heart went to my supposed introduction and my phone…
How long have I been asleep,I asked him,over 24 hours,he said.
Over what,my God,it’s already the day of my supposed introduction,I tried to get up forcefully, forgetting the drip I was receiving…
Ahe ahe ahe, you can’t do that, please gently,the strange guy said,as he assisted me to sit up right…..
Where is my phone,I asked him,I think it’s right here,he opened the drawer by the bed and brought it out…..
It wouldn’t stop ringing so I had to switch it off and kept it in the drawer,,the guy said..
What,,,are dare you,how dare you switch off my phone without permission..I asked angrily..Aha,maami,I remembered Maami would have been very worried,it was the day of my supposed introduction..I quickly put on my phone and placed a call through to maami..
Hello maami,I said as she picked at the other end of the phone…
Omomi,what happened, neither you nor your husband to be showed up, your father and kins men have all been angry,omomi what actually happened,she asked….
I wanted to tell her that Mike had called off the engagement and marriage,when I felt a pain on my head yet again, but the pain reminded me I was in the hospital and I decided to use that as an excuse..
Maami,am at the hospital,I was involved in an accident, that’s why we couldn’t make it,I said from my side…
Oluwa,ah Aduke,what happened,how mange,are you okay,hope it isn’t serious,she was asking so many questions at a time,her exclamation had attracted those around her I guess,I could hear people asking her Iya Aduke what is it, kiloshele,what happened, they must have been those who honoured the invite for the introduction…
Omomi,Aduke was involved in an accident, that’s why they didn’t show up,she said to them In tears,I could hear them asking if I was okay out of concerned from the background…
Omomi, should I start coming to imo right now,maami asked anxiously..
No no maami, Don’t stress yourself,I will be fine,more over mike is here and he’s taking good care of me,I had added, trying to make her relieved….
Hmmmm,okay,if you say so,give Mike the phone,let me thank him for all he’s doing for you,she said….
Oh mine,I didn’t see that coming,,,ehennnnnn maami he had stepped out to get me some fruits,I had said…
Okay my daughter, please take care of yourself,I will call you later to check up on you,she said,as I ended the call….
I felt better,at least for some time,let them think the accident was what prevented the introduction,I will explain to maami that Mike had ended things in due times, while I was still lost in thought,a voice brought me back….
I am actually William,and not Mike,the strange guy at the hospital said,,I was looking at him trying to get what he was saying….
I heard you told someone over the phone that Mike was here taking care of you,am the only person here,so am just telling you the exact name,he said…..
I smiled,I didn’t MEAN you, sorry,I said…
No problem,by the way I am Williams,and you are,he asked…
I am Aduke,I replied.nice meeting you,he said ,same here.i replied..
I stayed another day,and I was ready to go..
You know your brother is so irresponsible,I have stayed two days in this hospital and am about going home,he didn’t even come to check up on me,I said to Williams…
Oh no,it’s not really like that,the thing is,his wife was in labour that very day he hit you,he was rushing to the hospital,so he has been with her,and he asked me to be with you,which I have diligently been doing,he said smiling..
I guess she must have put to bed,I asked..
Oh yes, it’s a bouncing baby boy,he replied…
Thank God for safe delivery,I added…
He insisted on driving me home,I obliged,as I didn’t even have the strength to trek….
ADUKE isn’t an igbo name,so I guess you aren’t from imo, Williams asked…
Oh no,I am from Lagos, service brought me here,I said…
Oh I see,so you are a corp member,he asked and I nooded in affirmation…
We talked about so many things and life in general,soon,we arrived my place..
Thanks for the ride,I said.your welcome, please take your medication and rest,you heard the doctor right,he said.i will,thanks once again,I alighted from the car and went in,he waited for me to get to my door,I waved at him and went in…
Getting inside and alone, reminded me of my predicament,oh God,is this how my life is going to be,am I going to die an old lonely spinster,,,I wasn’t crying because I was old and single,I was 26,still in my prime,I was just curious,if Mike who I thought loved me so much could run away at my revelation, what then is the hope for me,I cried my eyes out forgetting I was supposed to be resting….
I would look at my phone a thousand time, expecting a call from Mike or text from him that we could continue with our plan,but unfortunately,that didn’t happen…
Haven waited for some hours,I decided to call him,,I called and it rang but no answer,I call for like five more times before he picked, hello Mike,I said,but there was no response from his end,hello, hello,hello, hello,I kept saying,before he responded hello,he said..
Honey am sorry, please find a place in your heart to forgive me,I love you so much,,I said,,Aduke,I hold nothing against you,there is nothing to forgive,we are still friends,but definitely can’t be husband and wife.mike but you said you loved me, Mike please.. Aduke,love is never enough, please take care,he said and ended up…
It felt as if my whole world had crumbled,I wept and continually called him all the night, until his mother picked the call and gave me the insult of my life…you shameless piece of trash, aren’t supposed to be hiding your head in shame, you’re looking for a place you don’t deserve to dwell when you are just an empty vessel,you are nothing,and of no use,so please,stop fooling your self and stop calling my sonnnnn,mom enough of all the insult,what’s this na,why would you answer my call, please Aduke is nothing like that, stop all these,Mike said,if she is a saint as you had earlier claim she is,why is she without a womb,ohhh pregnancy came from above,she must have useless herself with all kinds of men,,,mum,I may not have known what happened,but I still believe Aduke isn’t a bad person nor a wayward girl,I could hear the heated agurment between Mike and his mother,they probably thought the call had ended…
Even though I was down due to the insult from Mike’s mother,on the other hand,I was happy that Mike still defends me,even in my absence…
Mike started calling me,but I was too down to pick up,he sent messages apologising on behalf of his mother,but I didn’t reply any,I was glad that my caring and loving mike was back…
It was 7am the next day,I didn’t go to work,I had already taken permission for some days off for my supposed introduction.i heard a knock at my door so early,I knew Mike would come for me, because he loves me so much,, moreover that he defended me shows his love for me is still intact,,so I walked up happily to my door,to behold my love again, opening the door, standing before me wasssssssssss.
Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
