*THE PUZZLE*
Written by Moyosore Teniola
Episode 7
*AND THEY MET AGAIN!*
She finally got to the ward where her mother was. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her poor mom had bandages all over her head. Blood oozed out from one side of her temple. A young lady was sitting beside her bed. Rose held her mom’s hand, she felt so sorry for her. Then she turned to the lady and said,
“You must be Rita, please pardon my manners, I was so worried that I forgot to say hello. Thank you so much for being a good Samaritan, if not for you, what would have happened?”
“Don’t mention madam, God be praised.”
“Ha! And that God will bless you indeed, you will never lack any good thing, you will not be left alone on the day of trouble…”
Rose continued to rain prayers upon prayers on the lady. Just then, Mrs Edwards stirred in her sleep. Roseline’s voice must have reached her. Though, she had been given sedatives to make her sleep thoroughly, but her daughter’s voice kept getting to her.
“I guess we will have to excuse her ma,” Rita said, “I think our voices are disturbing, let’s go find somewhere to sit at the reception.”
“Alright,” Rose whispered as they made their way out of the ward.
“And by the way madam,” Rose spoke, as they walked down the stairs to the reception area, your mother is recovering fast because she was quickly attended to. You have not only me to thank for this. The owner of the hospital, who is also the Chief Medical Director witnessed the scene when your mum was rushed in. He felt so much pity that he ordered his staff to attend to her with immediate effect without me dropping a dime yet. Isn’t he nice?
He is the best Samaritan! I heard he had always been like that, merciful and caring, and that is why most people in town patronize this hospital…”
“Really?” Rose replied astonished. I owe him a lot of thanks then. I must go and see him right away…”
Just then, her phone rang, it was her Dad. Rose had actually called him on her way to the hospital but he didn’t pick up.
“Hello Dad, where are you?”
“Hey daughter! When did you bankers begin to get free time at work to call your family?” He replied teasingly
“Dad!” Rose screamed.
“Yes?” Her dad replied spontaneously. He sensed the agitation in her voice,
Roseline continued,
“Please come to Fountain Hospital right away, mum has been admitted, she had an accident this morning.”
“Jesus!!! I will be there right away,” Mr Edwards responded and ended the call.
Rose decided not to call any of her two elder brothers. They are both not in town. They had both gotten married and left for greener pastures.
“Okay, Rita, please take me to the CMD’s office.”
“Alright ma, I have been there to say “thank you” not long before you came around.
AT THE CMD’s OFFICE.
The doctor was in the midst of a telephone conversation…
“Now Eliz, what exactly are you doing over there? Don’t you think it is high time you put an end to this madness and come back home? Do you know the temptations you have exposed me to all these years?”
The voice at the other end replied,
“Well, it’s been over between us the last time I checked, I won’t come back to you neither will my daughter.”
“Elizabeth, I intentionally gave you enough time and chance to have a rethink, please come back home. Let us be together again,” the CMD continued…
Then, there was a knock on the door of the doctor’s office.
“Yes? come in!” He said then spoke into the phone,
“I have to go now Eliz, will call you later.”
Rita stepped in first, followed by Roseline.
“Wow!” The doctor exclaimed excitedly as soon as he set his eyes on Rose,
“See who we have here,” he greeted “It’s good to see you again!”
“Mr. Michael? You are the CMD? The owner of Fountain Hospital?” Rose asked, surprised beyond words.
“Oh! You two knew each other? It’s indeed a small world, Rita replied.
*******
Heeeeeee!!! It’s a small world true true abi?
Episode 8
*GROWING FEELINGS*
Rose stood dumbfounded. Before she could find her voice again, Michael spoke,
“I hope all is well, you have a patient here?”
“Oh yes,” Rose finally responded. “I came to say a big THANK YOU to you. My mum is the woman, the accident victim rushed in a few hours ago. Thank you so much Mr Michael, I owe you a lot.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry about your mum’s accident,” Michael replied sympathetically.
“But, she’s getting better, all thanks to God. I never knew she is your mother, isn’t it a small world like Rita just said?”
Roseline’s cell phone rang again, it was her Dad.
“Hello Dad, please ask for the CMD’s office, I am right there…”
“Where’s my wife?” Mr Edwards demanded hastily immediately he entered the doctor’s office.
“Calm down Dad, she is responding to treatment, we left her ward some minutes back in order not to disturb her sleep,” Rose assured.
“I see, hello doctor, I am Mr Edwards, Roseline’s Dad said offering the CMD a handshake.
“Pleased to meet you sir, I am Dr. Michael.”
“So, how is the condition of my wife, I hope there were no fatal injuries? Mr Edwards asked impatiently.
“Not at all sir,” the doctor replied, she was very lucky not to have hit her head on the ground. Though there are minor bruises on her face, probably when she fell, but they will heal up with time.”
“Ha! Thank you Jesus,” Mr Edwards replied with a great relief on his face.
“So, can I see her now please?”
“No problem, the doctor said, just make sure you do not disturb her sleep.”
“Okay, I won’t” Mr Edwards assured him.
Roseline led the way to her mother’s ward while explaining the help Rita had rendered to save her mother’s life. Mr. Edwards thanked her profusely and gave her a sum of #20,000 as a token of his appreciation. She was overjoyed…
Some minutes later, they were back at the reception area of the hospital. Rita then asked to take her leave, promising to check back later.
Not long after then, Dr. Michael came around, he was about to take his leave too. It was half past five in the evening. Mr Edwards stood to appreciate and shower him prayers again for the help he rendered.
“All glory and thanks to God sir,” the doctor replied. His eyes and Roseline’s met. They were lost in each other’s gaze for some seconds which seem to be like eternity. Mr. Edwards did not notice this.
It was evident that a kind of plain likeness had started to develop between them. She followed Michael to the car park, she couldn’t believe she was doing this, it was as if Michael should not leave her, she suddenly felt lonely when Michael was leaving. Somehow, this guy had the power that made her heart pound ten times faster each time their eyes met. He is so handsome, gentle, humble and above all, caring, a total and complete package of an ideal man!
“Could it be that I have started developing some feelings for this man? Someone I just met today?Jesus! It can’t be. I rebuke the devil. What an abomination, I am a married woman for Christ’s sake, why should I be having unholy feelings about another man asides my husband?”
All these were Roseline’s thoughts as she followed Michael. As they got to where he parked his car, that sudden feeling of attraction came on her again, engulfing the whole of her being. She decided to follow her mind and take the risk.
“Just being friends is not a bad idea” she thought.
“Uummmmh! She cleared her throat and said
“Please, are you going through that same axis where you picked me up in the morning?”
“Oh yes! Madam…”
“Roseline,” she interrupted him, she didn’t like the way he called her madam.
“Okay, Roseline. Oh yes, my house is not far from that junction where I picked you, it’s about five minutes drive from there, he replied.
“Alright, can you please wait a bit? I will need to go with you so as to pick my daughter at school, she would be worried by now but before that, I will need to go pick my bag in there and tell my Dad about my movement.”
“Alright, the pleasure will be mine,” replied Dr. Michael.
He smiled at her, revealing those enchanting set of teeth again.
As Roseline turned around to enter the hospital again, she knew she had fallen for this charming man already, but being a practising and fervent Christian that she was, she concluded the best method to employ in situations like this is total avoidance. She decided to avoid Michael completely once her mum had been discharged from the hospital.
One thing she wasn’t sure of was if Michael felt the same way for her. She wished he doesn’t, if not, refusing him will be such an herculean task for her…
To be continued…
So, what do you think. Temptation oooo!
