UNMARRIED AT THIRTY
EP 15
“Sorry about the interruption, I’m listening” Toluwani said but George had lost every excitement and zeal at the moment. He was just like an overused rag that has only trashcan as its home. “Let’s talk about this next time Toluwani, i suddenly feel unwell” George lied trying to cover up his sadness. On their way home, George couldn’t fathom what exactly was going on between her and her security guard. George was maddened and enraged at the thought that the woman he had secretly loved for over a year now was going to be taken away by a security guard. Everything aside, George’s feelings towards Toluwani was pure and without evil, he had planned on taking the relationship further without any kind of hesitation so long as Toluwani agreed but now, his chance was getting slimer.
Within their three days travel, Toluwani had mentioned Yinka more than twenty times at the presence of George. “Oh Yinka my security guard is a very courageous man. He has good heart. He’s hard working and very responsible ” Toluwani never stopped bringing him up in their discussions.
Before 12pm, Titilayo was already standing at the gate waiting for Tolu. Jumoke and her husband were also there waiting after they were told on the phone that Toluwani was few minutes away from reaching home. The same Toluwani they had ridiculed in the recent past had suddenly become someone they were trooping to see. It’s true that instead of focusing on what the people are saying about you, it is better to focus on building yourself to a standard where even those who despicably dislike you won’t be able to laugh at you.
The moment Toluwani alighted from her car, Titilayo whom she could barely recognised prostrated flat on the dusty ground. “Toluwani please forgive me and remove the curse you placed upon my life” Titilayo said like a maniac under the influence of a potent opium as she swept the ground with her clothes. “I’m not the only woman on earth that had betrayed her friends, why do you placed a curse on me?”. Toluwani was bewildered at the unfounded accusations spewed by someone she had not seen or thought about for almost a decade. “Could she have developed some incurable mental disorder!!” Toluwani thought silently.
Seeing the chaos Titilayo was causing, Toluwani decided to raised her voice. “Titi, stop this nonsense act you’re displaying here. What’s wrong with you ” Toluwani’s voice was ear-splitting, it reverberated the universe and Titilayo was startled beyond her imagination. She abruptly stopped making any sounds. Toluwani gave her car key to Yinka to properly park the car. She walked inside like a queen as Jumoke took her handbag from her.
Toluwani couldn’t properly figure out how she actually felt, everyone who had gathered in her house that day were people who in one way or the other betrayed her trust in the past.
Immediately she took her seat, Titilayo went on her knees begging Toluwani for forgiveness. She narrated her ugly ordeals, even Toluwani felt pity for her. Tolu couldn’t believe that a fiendish person as Titilayo could be conspired against by her maids. Inasmuch as it was serious, it was funny too, the fact that she was crying for been served the same tea she had prepared and served others felt very entertaining.
“I understand your point and the assumption you have nurtured regarding me placing a curse on you but my dear, I’m not that idle to waste my time on unimportant things. To be factual with you, i have forgotten about you an eon ago. I didn’t placed a curse on you and i won’t do so on anybody. I sympathize with your predicament but it’s unfortunate that you wasted your energy on coming here.. regarding your inability to conceived, i advice you visit the hospital for a professional advice ” Toluwani told Titilayo. She blessed her and wished her the best in the future.. “one more thing, instead of constantly making marriage and giving birth alone your aim in life, i strongly suggest you engage yourself in something productive. While hoping for a good marriage, you should have something you can depend on”. Toluwani told her as she handed her the sum of ten thousand naira.
Jumoke’s husband was beyond grateful for what Toluwani had done for his family. Together with his wife they went on their knees but Toluwani quickly drew them up. “sister in-law, I’m really short of words. I can only say thank you for coming to our rescue when we needed it the most. I’m inestimably grateful to you and i promise to repay you back as soon as possible ” Jumoke and her husband were sincerely grateful for the assistant they had received. It was that day that the parents came to the awareness of what great treasure Toluwani was in their lives. The parent’s primary intentions of invading Toluwani’s house uninformed was to remind her of her age and the importance of marriage but seeing the kind of material Toluwani was made of, they swallowed their admonitions.
Jumoke and Toluwani together made a sumptuous meal for the entire family. Everyone gathered at the table and enjoyed their meals. Each spoon of rice Toluwani scooped into her esophagus, she worried if Yinka had eaten anything. She tried zealously to abort this awkward thought but it reignited itself. She stood up, went to the kitchen and dished a plateful of rice for Yinka. “And who’s the food for?”. Her mother asked wondering why she was doing that herself. The domestic staff was around. She could just ordered her to do it. “It’s for Yinka” she replied without looking back.
Yinka was seated on the stool listening to the seven o’clock news when the footsteps of her madam drew his attention. Yinka had admired Toluwani since he worked at the company head office. The only reason why he never made any attempt was the fact that he was a security guard and had almost nothing to offer. To him, it was just a dream that wouldn’t see the light of the day. Immediately he saw her heading towards him, he quickly walked up to her and collected what she was carrying.
“Good evening ma, thank you very much for the food” Yinka said placing the plateful of rice on the bench besid
TBC
I’m Victor Your Local Writer
©Oinu 2023
**** When people say marriage is not an achievement, i wonder how they learnt such deceitful knowledge.
Also, when i hear people say marriage is everything for a woman, i wonder how they learnt such misconceptions about what marriage is all about.
Marriage is great and also achievement but it’s an individual achievement, not a collective achievement.
While you wait and hope for marriage, build yourself up. Building yourself up is the best achievement.
Please what’s the difference between a drunkard and a woman in love?
