UNMARRIED AT THIRTY
EP 13
Toluwani’s parents made themselves some fresh food with the food ingredients Yinka had brought. After the breakfast, Toluwani’s father came outside and mosey around the house. He was satisfied that Toluwani could build a house as luxurious as such, it could only be possible through hard work and determination. He nodded his head in appraisal of his daughter’s achievement. “If she could get married as soon as possible, it would have become a perfect life” he thought to himself.
Titilayo, after the ugly crashing of her first marriage was lucky to be married again after half a year of separation but unfortunately it failed again after a year and eight months due to her inability to birth a child. She was so disturbed that she became superstitious and believed it was Toluwani who had placed a curse on her. Titilayo became a shell oh herself and her flesh dried up due to excessive thinking. “What you need is spiritual cleansing and delivery. You lost two marriages because you are unable to conceived. Your two husband’s got other girls pregnant yet you’re just a barrel old woman now” Titilayo’s mother had told her out of anger.
She cried an ocean about her predicament. “I must meet Toluwani and beg for forgiveness” she told herself. The last time she checked on Toluwani after climbing mountain and hills to locate her whereabouts, she was unable to meet her.
It was few minutes after 11 am and Jumoke had just a day to the expiration of the loan tenure, in 12hrs time will be the day of their eviction. They had exhausted all their options, Toluwani who was their last straw of hope had traveled out of town. Calling her on phone might not be able to emphasized appropriately on the weight of their troubles but it was the only possible options left.
Jumoke had earlier called her other sister Fumilayo but she could only coughed out the sum of hundred thousand naira leaving them with two point one more millions to go.
She picked up her phone and dialled Toluwani’s number, each time the phone rang, Jumoke’s heart sank to her stomach. She was too nervous that she started sweating profusely.
“Hello Jumoke the married woman” Toluwani had said on the phone jokingly. Though Toluwani had reduced her relationship with her family, she never disliked them, she had long ago forgiven their ignorance to think that marriage was everything in a woman’s life. “Big sister, i — I’m —- ” Jumoke shuttered with a misty voice. She tried to tell Toluwani but the words were glued to her throat. She knew how stupidly she had embarrassed Toluwani because she wasn’t married after clocking thirty years. Toluwani got really scared hearing her sister troubling voice, she knew something was wrong. Her irrational and proud little sister wasn’t a person who easily cry or talk remorsefully.
“Jumoke, talk to me, what’s the problem” Toluwani prodded her.
” Big sister, please put aside every hatred in your heart towards me and help me. I and my husband made a wrong business adventure and we’re in huge debt. If we don’t clear off the debt before 12 noon tomorrow, our house will be taking over by the loan company ” Jumoke told her crying helplessly.
“Calm down and explain to me what needs to be done ” Toluwani said handing her files to George as she excused herself to talk with Jumoke. ” We have raised some amount but still short of two million naira. Sister, i know i have hurt you but please forgive me and help me with any amount. I will pay back, i promise”. Jumoke prayed silently that Toluwani helped her.
“Right now I’m in Abuja, I’m done with my business here and would be heading back soon meanwhile in the case that transfer doesn’t work. I will communicate with you so expect my call soon” Toluwani told her without thinking twice. She knew that Jumoke maybe a little unreasonable but she wasn’t a beggar, she must be really desperate if she was calling and begging with tears.
“Is everything alright?” George asked after reading the facial expressions on Toluwani.
“Yes, just a little family issue but it’s fine”. Toluwani tried frantically to transfer money without success. Her contenance changed and she became worried. Seeing that Toluwani wasn’t herself, he demanded to know what was the problem. “Oh i could help you with that, you pay me back when your network is back any day ” George said bringing out his phone but Toluwani refused his kind gesture. “No thanks, i will try one more time and if it doesn’t walk i will call Yinka with some instructions to my bank” Toluwani said kindly appreciating his concerns.
“Who’s Yinka?”.
“Oh he’s my security man”.
“You mean, you will call your security man with an instruction on how to take three million naira from your account?. Do you know him to trust him that much?.” George was surprised at how the tone she used while referring to her security guard.
He didn’t think much of it, a department Manager who earns about three hundred thousand naira per month definitely won’t think of having a relationship with a security guard. This thought made George not to worry about Yinka.
After the uptenth times, Toluwani was able to make a successful transaction, she sent her the sum of three million naira. “Hello Jumoke, you can check the account i have sent you three million naira, make sure to offset that loan first thing tomorrow morning. Also, two million naira out of the three million naira is a loan. You should tell your husband about it. One million naira is my assistant to you” she listened as Jumoke sang praises and heaping blessings upon blessings on her.
TBC
I’m Victor Achegbulu Oinu your Local writer.
©Oinu 2023
****When it comes to forgiving or not forgiving, it’s a personal choice but forgiveness reduce our burden therefore, learn to forgive.
Sometimes, you need to keep them at arms length even if you have forgiven them.
When those you’re in disagreement with are in a dire situation, you can also help them so long as it doesn’t endanger your life. Just learn to take life easy.
