TWENTY-ONE
Nkiru wondered what kind of place this could be. A cluster of bushes here, then few baobab trees there which were led by a pathway. Something like a watermill was beating from a distance then cascading into a river that ran metres away into the cluster of bush. Nkiru found herself at a crossroad. She was confused. She didn’t know where to go. Darkness gradually descended upon the earth. She would need to make her decision before nightfall. She debated taking the pathway but it led further into the bush. She stared over the river. She could see a house ahead. She thought someone might be there to offer help. So she got ready to sail.
Kola was behind her bereaved of strength, sulking alone, and undecided. Nkiru was stronger. She held him by the hand. His feet were really weak, too weak to walk. She wanted to carry him but had no strength. She made him lean on her shoulders. He was snorting, breathing heavily and gradually slouching to death. She would need to get help if not he would die. Nkiru told herself. She hurriedly dug a leg into the river. Something told her it was deep, too deep for her to cross.
A thought told her to take back her leg and just give up, yes give up the effort and wait for death on that solitary place. She refused. She dug the other leg and dug it in deeper. She found the earth and the water reached her knees. She was ready to walk through the water. Kola tiredly slumped in the process, gasping for breath. Nkiru was confused. She dug her legs out from the water and retired her wrapper hurriedly. Another thought again warned her to give up, that she wasn’t going to make it. She refused. She got out and held Kola up trying to back him. He slouched on her back, breathing with his mouth open. She held his leg up and pushed him further up her back just the way a mother backs her child. But Kola was too big and too heavy for Nkiru alone to carry. She was panting. She hoped she would get some help from someone. She wished someone could show up. She sniffed, ready to launch into the water again.
Darkness was getting thicker. Sinister voices and rattles twitched and prattled from a distance. Nkiru decided to hold it on. She was ready. She dug the first leg tirelessly again and the burden of Kola behind her sapped out her last strength. She suddenly went crashing into the river with him again. She got up first, eagerly and quickly. She wasn’t going to give up. No and never . Kola was in the water. He had drunk enough to make him get heavier, before she pulled him out. He heaved heavily, then went into a bout of coughs. She made him sit on the river bank first of all before she later held him up to her chest. She slouched totally on her. There was this glint of hope in her eyes. It was a glint that held her last strength and reminded her of the need to survive.
“My creator, my God. I need your help.” Nkiru prayed. She began to drag him along in the water, trying to make it to the other side.
“Why do you keep trying when you simply can’t make it on your own?.” A voice rang out from behind. Nkiru looked back hurriedly. There he saw an old man. His face was not familiar. He wore a regalia like a village chief. He was pot-bellied as if he had taken a lot from life. He was smiling radiantly.
“Who are you?” Nkiru asked still holding Kola to her chest.
“Does that matter? Was it not help you need?” The old man asked her and smiled. He walked forward with determined agility.
“See I have watched you for a while now. You are resilient. You are a good woman with a good heart. But next time don’t fight alone. Call out for help when necessary. This battle is not for you alone.”
“I have fought so hard to make sure we survive.” Nkiru said, gasping for breath.
“Yes but next time do not fight alone.” The old man said and held Kola up.
“Hold him at the other side. The water is deep!”
Nkiru held Kola at the right side while the old man was at the left. Kola rested his head on the old man while they dragged their way through the water.
“Can’t you see it is alittle easier for you now?”
“Yes.” Nkiru answered and smiled. They walked through the water with an apparent ease.
Nkiru woke up suddenly. She had been dreaming! Kola looked at her. She had slept off after she had brought some food for Kola in the hospital. It had been stressful. She had resumed as a teacher at her new place of work only to return to make some food for him then go through the Lagos traffic to get it delivered.
“Hope everything is fine?” Kola asked Nkiru who was busy smiling at herself.
“No, just a dream.” Nkiru yawned and stretched. She wanted to tell Kola all about it but another thought told her not to.
“Hope it wasn’t scary?” Kola smiled at her.
“No…” Nkiru smiled back.
“Tell me about your new job.” Kola told her and sat up.
“Just fun. The kids are great. I am really getting along with them. ”
“Good I am happy you like it. “Kola said and laid back.
“You need to go home and rest. ” Kola told her after a while. ” Dave will be here later in the evening to stay with me.”
“Really?”
“Yea” Kola nodded.
“OK. Let me go home then.” Nkiru got her bag and was ready to go. Kola pulled her closer and gave her a kiss. Nkiru eyed him playfully and shuffled out of the hospital.
********
“Hello! Hello!! Hello Dave. Can you hear me? Hello! Shit!” Kola spoke on his phone.
“Hello.” Dave’s voice rang out at the other end.
“Can you hear me Dave?”
“Yes I can.”
“You said you were coming. Ki lon sele now.”
“Yes I am on my way.” Dave hoarse voice rang out again.
“Abeg come. There is something very serious we need to talk about. ”
“Really?”
“Yea. In fact Dave I am finished!” Kola muttered in regret.
“Alright I will be there soon.” Dave hung up.
Kola did the same and stared at his phone. Lara was online. He refused to chat with her. She also did not care to say hello. Kola was eager to find out if actually what he was told was true. Dave came in few minutes later. He was in a red polo shirt over a black pair of jeans. He looked smart.
“Guy you come dey call me inside traffic like that.” Dave said to Kola as he approached his bed.
“You won’t believe what I heard today. ” Kola said, eager to drop the bombshell.
“What’s that?” Dave sat closer to him. Kola turned to meet his face, cautious not to hurt his leg at the same time.
“Lara’s friend came here today. She disclosed a secret to me.”
“And what’s that?” Dave was eager to know.
“That I am not the father of Lara’s child.” Kola said in whispers. “Could you believe that?”
“Jesus!” How did she know?” Dave’s mouth was wide open in shock.
“You are asking how she knew. She is her friend of course and they share their secrets.”
“Oh my God! This girl has done a great wickedness to you. ”
“I haven’t been myself since she told me.” Kola sighed. ” See, Dave I need you to go to Ibadan and bring the boy here for DNA. I have already spoken with the grandmother. She knew I had an accident because of him. So she said it is not bad if he is brought here to see me.”
“That’s good. I will go and bring him”
“Thanks Dave. Please you need to go early tomorrow. I am dying here.”
“I pray this is true. You can then start a fresh life with your wife. ” Dave put in and showed a laugh.
“But what about everything I have lost?” Kola asked with a voice choked with tears.
“Forget what you lost. God wants to use this to bring you back to your senses.”
“If this is true, I swear I will take back everything I gave to that witch, especially the car I bought for her.”
“Kola! So you bought a car for her? That’s bad. While your wife sold hers to help you with your loan. Kola you have really fucked up. ”
“You won’t understand Dave. I was really in love with her. I wanted to divorce my wife for her.”
“This will teach you a great lesson.”
“I hope so Dave.” Kola put in.
“See I know that girl. I have understudied her. Once you find out the truth, forget about her and move on. She will not give you back anything you bought for her. Just move on. Don’t make any trouble with her. Move on bro and have the faith that your wife will have her own baby.”
“That’s my plan Dave. Even if she doesn’t give birth. She is an example of true love. I will never hurt her again.”
Kola laid back. He was eagerly waiting for tomorrow. But if actually he wasn’t the father, then he was just reaping from what he did. It was just Karma catching up with him.
To be continued……
©Emmanuel Erondu,2019
