The Night Shifts Episode 9
That night after Binta was forced to leave the hospital ward, and she was left in deep pains. She became confused, not knowing how to handle the situation. She knew there was a problem. One is that she was not capable of beating up Chi Chi, so there was no question of the two of them engaging in a fight. She does not want Chi Chi to beat her and then people will laugh at her.
The second problem is that Chi Chi has successfully secured the heart of doctor Nath. There was no way she was going to make Dr Nath to do her bidding again. Another woman has picked him and cleaned him up and he is now shinning.
“It is game over for me. Another woman has successfully snatched my husband and the worst part is that I don’t even know what to do about it. If I have power, I would have beaten this woman to stupor, but she can beat me. I cannot confront her. What am I going to do to get my husband back? How am I going to recapture my husband in the cage? I have to do something quickly before I lose everything. I have invested my husband’s money in many things. But, what am I going to do with all these things if I don’t have a husband again? My husband was really my pride even though I didn’t admit it. Now, another woman has taken him because of how I treated him. It’s all my father’s fault. He misled me into milking my husband and turning him into my personal ATM. I went too far.” Binta said to herself that night. She was at the hospital’s reception area and the cold harmattan weather was teaching her a lesson. The tiles were so cold that she felt as if ‘agbisi’ was stinging her. But she had to endure it.
“If I had known, I would not have come to the hospital tonight. I would have waited for my husband to come back home before confronting him. Coming to the hospital was a huge mistake. Now, I have lost. I feel defeated and powerless.” Binta said to herself. The time was approaching 2am in the night.
That night, she did not sleep because the floor tiles were uncomfortable for her, so she just lay there to stretch her back. At 5am, Binta stood up and walked out of the hospital. She did not want anyone to see her leaving because she was ashamed of herself.
Meanwhile, Chi Chi and Dr Nath woke up feeling hale and hearty. They woke up early as well. While Dr Nath did not bother going back home to change, Chi Chi changed her clothes at the hospital ward and went to work.
That same day, Dr Nath got his first alert as a salary earner. He had changed the salary account number as advised by Chi Chi. He was so happy when he looked at his phone screen and saw the amount of money which entered his account. He started shouting in joy. He quickly called Chi Chi to share the good news with her.
“Hello Chi Chi, you won’t believe what just happened. I just received my first salary ever since I started working in this hospital. Please, I want us to celebrate this moment in a special way. Can I take you out on date after work? You deserve to be pampered because you have shown me the way. I will spend my money on you and I will never regret it. Please, don’t say no. Go on a date with me.” Dr Nath said. Actually, this was what Chi Chi has always wanted to hear from him. She has waited for him to say it all to no avail. In fact, she was even thinking of taking the initiative and taking the doctor on a date. She was just holding on and respecting herself and protecting her feminine pride.
“If you know how I have been waiting for you to say those words, you will be surprised. Yes, Dr, I will go on a date with you. I will say yes to your invitation a hundred times over. You are a good person and I’m ready to swim with you.” Chi Chi said.
“Alright, I will come to your place and pick you up in the evening.” Dr Nath said happily.
Later that evening, Dr Nath ordered an Uber ride. The Uber driver drove him to Chi Chi’s house. When they got there, she was already prepared and waiting for him to arrive. Chi Chi was overjoyed when she saw Dr Nath.
“You now have your own money. I told you that money stops nonsense. You see, those things you could not afford in the past, you can now have them.” Chi Chi said.
“My dear, I trust your judgement. I never knew I would be free from my wife’s cage. You were the one who freed me. I bless the day I met you. Please, let us go and enjoy ourselves.” Dr Nath said as he grabbed Chi Chi and they boarded the taxi and headed to a nearby restaurant.
Dr Nath ordered some ice cream for Chi Chi. She was happy that finally, a man was buying ice cream after many years.
“Thank you so much Dr Nath. I really appreciate this gesture.” Chi Chi said as she ate the ice cream with great relish. They had a lot more to eat and drink at the restaurant. When they finish eating, Dr Nath decided to execute the next thing on his agenda. He dipped his hand in his pocket, and brought out a shiny, diamond ring. He had rushed to the market to buy the engagement ring after he got his salary.
Dr Nath knelt respectfully and asked Chi Chi to marry him. Chi Chi paused and started looking at him. Dr Nath could not wait to hear her response to the proposal.
To be continued……………….
