Contd....... I was just staring at my mum, I couldn't say anything or rather I didn't have anything to say. I couldn't believe my mum actually knew my real mother. Finally, I asked my mum,
"you didn't see the woman before she died."
My mum replied, "I didn't see her, and I wasn't told about the accident until the woman died because I was still crying over my lost child."
"Why didn't you try and contact her." I asked.
"Yemisi sincerely I didn't think of doing that, I lost a child I carried for 10months in my womb and besides I was married, going to look for her or Abdullah might not be polite to my husband so I stayed back thinking she would come back and I would tell her that I had lost the baby so Abdullah shouldn't bother about me."
"so daddy had gone to get money to save you and a child that wasn't his and on his way back he hit my real mother. so even if the child hadn't died the child wouldn't have been a true member of this family. Please tell me how does all this affect my uncle because I have been expecting to hear his name since and why does he hate me so much?" I asked.
My mum replied, "your uncle is just a nuisance. When him and your father were young, they lived an extravagant life because their parents were rich. After their father's death, they found out that their father had given them little and willed the rest to his grandchildren stating in the will that with the way they were spending he was scared that they wouldn't be able to take care of their children when they start having kids."
"Please how does it affect me?" I asked
"U see, your uncle didn't know my first pregnancy wasn't for your father but he was at the hospital when the doctor told your father I had lost the baby and he knew about the accident too. It was stated in the will that the your grandfather's remaining wealth should be shared equally amongst all the grandchildren and from our side, we have 3 and from his side he has only 1. so he wants to eliminate 1 of ours."
"Can't we wait maybe he would have more kids too and besides I don't need the money, I have more than enough. My husband left me enough that would take care of me and my daughter for years."
This time my father replied "No we can't wait for him, it was stated in the will that after 20years the wealth should be shared and its been over 20yrs now, just because we have been waiting for him, besides I am blessed with a good wife who made me a better person and with or without the money I am very okay and as for you, you can't be left out, it was a gift from your grandfather, he didn't live long to see any of you and yet he made provision for you all. Its been taken that I have 3kids and you are my first and nothing on earth would make me sign you as an illegitimate child."
I sighed heavily then turned to my mum and asked,
"do you know if my real mother had other kids?"
She replied, "yes she did, I think she had 2 or 3 boys."
My real father came with my real uncle, they were happy at the same time sad. My real father accused my dad of killing his wife and depriving him the opportunity of taking care of his only daughter. He said it had not been easy for him, taking care of 3boys alone. He didn't remarry because of the hope he had that his wife might come back home. Uncle Abdullah also blamed himself for sending his sister on the errand that took her life. My real father just kept looking at me. Later he asked me what I was doing I told him I had finished university but I didn't finish my youth service. He was about asking me why when my younger sister brought Tani to me because she was crying. My real father asked me if Tani was my baby and I told him yes and told him my husband was late. He asked how my husband died and I explained to him. By the time I finished he was in tears saying how he wished he was there to stand by me through it all. They left after we all eat dinner, before they left my father gave me his address in lagos.
2weeks later I left Abuja for Lagos not with the intention of going to my real father but I wanted to go back to my husband's house. I wanted my child to grow in the room her father had decorated for her at least for a year or two or even more depending on how soon I get my life back on track.
When we landed in lagos, my real father, Dr musa and his mum were waiting for me. I didn't know who to follow but at last I went in my father's car and Dr Musa's own was right behind us. He dropped me home and used the opportunity to know my house, I promised him I would visit him before the week runs out. Dr Musa's mother spent the night with me. She wanted to hear the whole story and she wanted to stay with Tani.
2days later Dr Musa came to pick us and we all went to visit my father. It was fun, I met my brothers and they were so happy to meet me. One would easily notice the resemblance, we all look alike. They carried Tani one after the other and my cute baby was smiling through out that day. My eldest brother was married and had a daughter who looked exactly like me. While the other two were still single.
With the help of my real father I got a job after a year, then my daughter was over one year. I still count myself lucky, because I have 2fathers, 1mother, 3elder ones and 2younger ones. I got my share of my grandfather's wealth. At 24, I was a millionaire all thanks to my lovely husband and grandfather but I was still working.
I remarried 3yrs after my husband's death to my eldest brother's best friend and had 3 kids for him.
Tanimola is 15yrs now and she cherish her father's gifts more than anything in the world. The day she misplaced one of her gifts she cried and refused to eat till she found it. To crown it all she looks so much like her father and she can also draw and paint. She is aspiring to be an architect. I try as much as possible not to show it that she is my favorite but to be sincere I love her more but I make sure I treat all my kids equally.
I am happily married and united with my family both my real and foster family.
I give thanks to Almighty Allah for seeing me through.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
episode 23
Contd..... After I spoke with Dr Musa's mum, I just laid on the bed, Tani had slept. Ever since my husband died I had always missed him and mostly at night, I had nobody to tell my deepest secrets to, my fears, nobody to share my days activities with, nobody to cuddle me and kiss away my troubled heart. I miss my husband so much. I remembered the way my father came to take his wife from my room and I thought to myself my mother was the luckiest woman on earth. I moved closer to my daughter on the bed and slept off.
The next day, I had taken my bath and bathed Tani before my mum came to my room that morning. She was surprised I had taken care of myself and my daughter even before she woke up. I told her I was already used to it. My mum's eyes were swollen I guess she had cried all night. I didn't talk about what happen the previous night, so I ignored her swollen eyes. Even when my younger ones were asking her what happen to her eyes, I did as if I hadn't noticed the swollen eyes. Through out that day my mum did as if nothing was wrong and I played along.
Three days later, very early in the morning I had, had my bath and that of Tani's and was dressing up for Tani when my dad and mum came to my room together and told me some people would be coming to meet me that day but before they come they need to explain some things to me. My parents sat down beside me, I had finished dressing Tani so my father took her from me. My mum cleared her throat and said,
"Yemisi, I was in one of the pictures you brought home and that picture was taken 30yrs ago, 8yrs before you were born. I dated an hausa man then, his name was Abdullah Yahya. The bride in the picture you brought home was his elder sister, I attended the wedding with Abdullah. I traveled with Abdullah to kaduna all the way from ife because we were in the same university(university of ife). His sister had just finished from there while he was in his final year and I had just gained admission into the school. I didn't meet his sister until a day to her wedding. She got married to a yoruba man who was based in ife. Abdullah finished school the following year and travelled abroad promising he would get in touch with me then I was in my second year. He didn't come back until after 7yrs, I had dated other men because I didn't hear a word from Abdullah for 7yrs. At the time he got back I was dating your father who on the other hand had numerous girlfriends and wasn't ready for any kind of commitment. Abdullah was able to locate me when he came back to Nigeria because I had gotten a job in Ife after school and stayed back in Ife and he had come to visit his sister in Ife. We picked up our relationship from where we stopped, I stopped seeing your father because I knew he wasn't serious in the first place not knowing Abdullah was already married. Abdullah usually does the visiting and I visited him at his sister's place once or twice. He went back to the UK after 4months and promised me he was going to come back in a month's time. It was after he left that I realised I was 2mnths pregnant. I waited for him to come back but he didn't show up. It had been 3months since he left and not a word from him andI was 5months pregnant. I had no choice then to go and tell his sister that I was pregnant for her brother. His sister explained to me that Abdullah had gotten married that she didn't know that I wasn't aware. I asked her if he was going to be back soon and she told me no that he didn't tell her he would be coming anytime soon. she was surprised that the pregnancy I was carrying belonged to her brother. She promised to get in touch with me. The day I went there I noticed she was pregnant too.
I got back home only to meet your father, he had been waiting for me. He came to apologise to me begging me that he wanted to marry me." My mum paused for awhile.
"Ha, didn't he know you were pregnant" I asked her.
"He didn't know because my pregnancy was only making me fat and my tommy wasn't that big and as a man he didn't notice until I told him everything that happened to me. He insisted on marrying me because it was certain Abdullah didn't want something good for me. I waited for two months no news from Abdullah or his sister so I agreed to marry your father. 3months later, my pregnancy was 10months old and I hadn't delivered. Abdullah's sister showed up saying she had relocated to lagos that's why she didn't quickly get back to me. She was heavily pregnant too. She came with a letter written by Abdullah, he wrote in the letter that he was sorry that he didn't tell me he was married because his parents had paid the lady's bride price before he came back to Nigeria that's why he stayed in ife throughout his stay in Nigeria because he wasn't interested in the lady. He wrote in the letter that he had sent his sister to make all necessary arrangements so I would join him in the Uk and his parents would have to return their own bride who is already staying with them in kaduna. After I read the letter I asked Abdullah's sister to kindly leave my house. I was angry he took them this long to tell me all this. She left saying she would come back the next day that I would have calmed down.
That night and I ran into labour and was taken to the hospital. I never saw her again and I thought she had gone back to lagos and must have told her brother to forget about me. I never knew she was the one my husband had hit. Yemisi, Abdullah's sister was your mother.
Abdullah would soon be here with his sister's husband your real father."
To be contd.
The next day, I had taken my bath and bathed Tani before my mum came to my room that morning. She was surprised I had taken care of myself and my daughter even before she woke up. I told her I was already used to it. My mum's eyes were swollen I guess she had cried all night. I didn't talk about what happen the previous night, so I ignored her swollen eyes. Even when my younger ones were asking her what happen to her eyes, I did as if I hadn't noticed the swollen eyes. Through out that day my mum did as if nothing was wrong and I played along.
Three days later, very early in the morning I had, had my bath and that of Tani's and was dressing up for Tani when my dad and mum came to my room together and told me some people would be coming to meet me that day but before they come they need to explain some things to me. My parents sat down beside me, I had finished dressing Tani so my father took her from me. My mum cleared her throat and said,
"Yemisi, I was in one of the pictures you brought home and that picture was taken 30yrs ago, 8yrs before you were born. I dated an hausa man then, his name was Abdullah Yahya. The bride in the picture you brought home was his elder sister, I attended the wedding with Abdullah. I traveled with Abdullah to kaduna all the way from ife because we were in the same university(university of ife). His sister had just finished from there while he was in his final year and I had just gained admission into the school. I didn't meet his sister until a day to her wedding. She got married to a yoruba man who was based in ife. Abdullah finished school the following year and travelled abroad promising he would get in touch with me then I was in my second year. He didn't come back until after 7yrs, I had dated other men because I didn't hear a word from Abdullah for 7yrs. At the time he got back I was dating your father who on the other hand had numerous girlfriends and wasn't ready for any kind of commitment. Abdullah was able to locate me when he came back to Nigeria because I had gotten a job in Ife after school and stayed back in Ife and he had come to visit his sister in Ife. We picked up our relationship from where we stopped, I stopped seeing your father because I knew he wasn't serious in the first place not knowing Abdullah was already married. Abdullah usually does the visiting and I visited him at his sister's place once or twice. He went back to the UK after 4months and promised me he was going to come back in a month's time. It was after he left that I realised I was 2mnths pregnant. I waited for him to come back but he didn't show up. It had been 3months since he left and not a word from him andI was 5months pregnant. I had no choice then to go and tell his sister that I was pregnant for her brother. His sister explained to me that Abdullah had gotten married that she didn't know that I wasn't aware. I asked her if he was going to be back soon and she told me no that he didn't tell her he would be coming anytime soon. she was surprised that the pregnancy I was carrying belonged to her brother. She promised to get in touch with me. The day I went there I noticed she was pregnant too.
I got back home only to meet your father, he had been waiting for me. He came to apologise to me begging me that he wanted to marry me." My mum paused for awhile.
"Ha, didn't he know you were pregnant" I asked her.
"He didn't know because my pregnancy was only making me fat and my tommy wasn't that big and as a man he didn't notice until I told him everything that happened to me. He insisted on marrying me because it was certain Abdullah didn't want something good for me. I waited for two months no news from Abdullah or his sister so I agreed to marry your father. 3months later, my pregnancy was 10months old and I hadn't delivered. Abdullah's sister showed up saying she had relocated to lagos that's why she didn't quickly get back to me. She was heavily pregnant too. She came with a letter written by Abdullah, he wrote in the letter that he was sorry that he didn't tell me he was married because his parents had paid the lady's bride price before he came back to Nigeria that's why he stayed in ife throughout his stay in Nigeria because he wasn't interested in the lady. He wrote in the letter that he had sent his sister to make all necessary arrangements so I would join him in the Uk and his parents would have to return their own bride who is already staying with them in kaduna. After I read the letter I asked Abdullah's sister to kindly leave my house. I was angry he took them this long to tell me all this. She left saying she would come back the next day that I would have calmed down.
That night and I ran into labour and was taken to the hospital. I never saw her again and I thought she had gone back to lagos and must have told her brother to forget about me. I never knew she was the one my husband had hit. Yemisi, Abdullah's sister was your mother.
Abdullah would soon be here with his sister's husband your real father."
To be contd.
episode 22
Contd....... She just kept saying
"mogbe! mogbe! God pls don't let it be what I am thinking it is." She kept looking at me then she ran out of the room. I was about running after her when Tani woke up and started crying so I had to stay back to attend to my daughter.
Minutes later my mum came back with her phone, she was really sweating. I asked her, "mummy ki lo shele (what happen)."
She didn't answer me she, she was dialing someone's number on her phone. The person picked it cos my mum said,
"hello iya peju, I am sorry I am calling you at this time of the night. Ehmmm I need your help."
The person on the other end must have asked her what the problem was because my mum replied her,
"you said you saw Abdullah yahya years ago and you exchanged phone numbers please do you still have his number."
My mum kept quiet because the person on the other end was talking after a while my mother replied the person,
"Pls I need it now, I know I told you I don't want to have anything to do with him but pls send it to me."
It seem the person had asked my mum to get a paper so she would call the number because my mum started looking for paper and biro. I had to quickly pass my phone to her so she would type the number on it. The person called the number and my mum typed it on my phone. She thanked the person and said she would call the person later then ended the call. She looked at me and asked,
"yemisi what time is it?"
"10:30." I replied. But mummy what is going...........
"It's not to late to call someone, is it? My mum interrupted.
"It depends on who the person is and your relationship with the person." I replied angrily.
She ignored me and dialed the number the person gave her. After some minutes she said, "hello please am I speaking with Abdullah yahya?" The person replied her at the other end. it's so annoying when you are been left in the dark, like what my mum was doing. Then my mum said,
"Abdullah sorry I am calling you at this time of the night this is Mojisola Folajomi speaking."
I guess the man repeated the name because my mum then said,
"sorry, Mojisola Aluko." my mum kept quiet again then later replied,
"yes same old mojisola aluko and yes folajomi is my husband's name."
Silence again and my mum replied,
"Abdullah please I didn't call you for that, please how is your sister?"
Silence again and my mum replied,
"I know its odd that I call you after so many years just to ask of her. Please I beg you tell me where she is."
There was silence again person at the other end must have was talking my mum was silent for long then she ended the call and slumped on the bed crying. The way she slumped scared my daughter and she started crying I didn't even know who to pet my mum or my daughter. I carried my daughter and left the room to call my dad. I told my dad the drama my mum had performed since she saw the pictures. My dad followed me to my room, instead of him to ask his wife what was wrong. My father started petting his wife and took her out of my room when they got to their door my father noticed I was following he turned and said,
"Yemisi goodnight we would see in the morning."
Reluctantly I said "goodnight" and headed for my room. I was so angry, I called Dr Musa's Mum and told her everything that happened she said I should be patient and if by the next day they don't say anything I shouldn't ask them about the incident. They would tell me when they feel its right. All she wants from me is to be patient. (To be contd)
"mogbe! mogbe! God pls don't let it be what I am thinking it is." She kept looking at me then she ran out of the room. I was about running after her when Tani woke up and started crying so I had to stay back to attend to my daughter.
Minutes later my mum came back with her phone, she was really sweating. I asked her, "mummy ki lo shele (what happen)."
She didn't answer me she, she was dialing someone's number on her phone. The person picked it cos my mum said,
"hello iya peju, I am sorry I am calling you at this time of the night. Ehmmm I need your help."
The person on the other end must have asked her what the problem was because my mum replied her,
"you said you saw Abdullah yahya years ago and you exchanged phone numbers please do you still have his number."
My mum kept quiet because the person on the other end was talking after a while my mother replied the person,
"Pls I need it now, I know I told you I don't want to have anything to do with him but pls send it to me."
It seem the person had asked my mum to get a paper so she would call the number because my mum started looking for paper and biro. I had to quickly pass my phone to her so she would type the number on it. The person called the number and my mum typed it on my phone. She thanked the person and said she would call the person later then ended the call. She looked at me and asked,
"yemisi what time is it?"
"10:30." I replied. But mummy what is going...........
"It's not to late to call someone, is it? My mum interrupted.
"It depends on who the person is and your relationship with the person." I replied angrily.
She ignored me and dialed the number the person gave her. After some minutes she said, "hello please am I speaking with Abdullah yahya?" The person replied her at the other end. it's so annoying when you are been left in the dark, like what my mum was doing. Then my mum said,
"Abdullah sorry I am calling you at this time of the night this is Mojisola Folajomi speaking."
I guess the man repeated the name because my mum then said,
"sorry, Mojisola Aluko." my mum kept quiet again then later replied,
"yes same old mojisola aluko and yes folajomi is my husband's name."
Silence again and my mum replied,
"Abdullah please I didn't call you for that, please how is your sister?"
Silence again and my mum replied,
"I know its odd that I call you after so many years just to ask of her. Please I beg you tell me where she is."
There was silence again person at the other end must have was talking my mum was silent for long then she ended the call and slumped on the bed crying. The way she slumped scared my daughter and she started crying I didn't even know who to pet my mum or my daughter. I carried my daughter and left the room to call my dad. I told my dad the drama my mum had performed since she saw the pictures. My dad followed me to my room, instead of him to ask his wife what was wrong. My father started petting his wife and took her out of my room when they got to their door my father noticed I was following he turned and said,
"Yemisi goodnight we would see in the morning."
Reluctantly I said "goodnight" and headed for my room. I was so angry, I called Dr Musa's Mum and told her everything that happened she said I should be patient and if by the next day they don't say anything I shouldn't ask them about the incident. They would tell me when they feel its right. All she wants from me is to be patient. (To be contd)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
episode 21
Contd........ I thought to myself what a reunion I would have preferred seeing the devil than seeing my uncle. He kept on looking at me with disgust, I stepped aside for him to pass. He stepped outside and said,
"The prodigal bastard is back, alas she came home with another bastard. I knew you would grow up to be slut you just proved it." Then he stormed away. I didn't say a word to him. He just killed the little confidence I had in me. I turned to leave only to see me my sibblings Dupe(female 19yrs) and Oyin(male 18yrs) coming down from a cab. Immediately they saw me they ran towards me to hug me, Dupe quickly took Tani from me saying,
"sister me, whose baby is this cute girl."
I replied, "mine"
She looked at me and said, "sister me, where have you been, daddy told us what happened when we got back from school, please tell me you are back home." I smiled at her and said, "yes."
Oyin had started taking my things in. We entered the compound and I hesitated my siblings noticed they moved closer to me in an assuring way. Dupe was still carrying Tani and Oyin was with my luggage when we entered. My mum was asking my father, "what does your brother want this time around he has succeeded in chasing my daughter away?" She turned when she heard the sound of the door. The minute she saw me she froze where she was standing, my father stood up from the couch and said, "Yemisi"
I moved closer to them, knelt down before them and started begging for forgiveness, my siblings came to join me. My father pulled me up and hugged me, we were all crying.
Hours later my father was carrying Tani, I had told them everything that happened to me after I left. They were not happy that I got married without their consent but they sympathized with me on the death of my husband. They said they read it in newspaper that he died of cancer and was survived by a sister, wife and daughter and it never occurred to them that the wife was their daughter.
We all had dinner together, it was so obvious my parents were happy my father just kept smiling, my mum was just going up and down making sure everything was okay. It got to a stage my father was humming to himself and shaking his head in a rhythmic way. Then I couldn't hold it any longer I started crying, immediately they all gathered round me, asking me what was wrong with me, i looked at all of them one by one, Tani was strapped to my mother's back and then I said, "I didn't know I was this loved, look at all of you, you people are so happy to see me and my baby and I am so grateful." They all hugged me, we ought to have taken a family picture.
Later that night my mum came to my room and said she wanted to spend the night with me. I told her about Dr Musa's mum and the whole birth mark story and the pictures but I didn't tell her I saw her in one of the pictures. She requested for the pictures herself and I gave them to her. She confirmed it herself that me and the person in the picture look so much alike. She kept on looking at the pictures until she got to the one that she was in. The minute she saw herself in the picture she threw the picture down and starred hard at me then said, "ohhh my God you are his sister's daughter."
"Whose sister."I asked.
(To be contd)
"The prodigal bastard is back, alas she came home with another bastard. I knew you would grow up to be slut you just proved it." Then he stormed away. I didn't say a word to him. He just killed the little confidence I had in me. I turned to leave only to see me my sibblings Dupe(female 19yrs) and Oyin(male 18yrs) coming down from a cab. Immediately they saw me they ran towards me to hug me, Dupe quickly took Tani from me saying,
"sister me, whose baby is this cute girl."
I replied, "mine"
She looked at me and said, "sister me, where have you been, daddy told us what happened when we got back from school, please tell me you are back home." I smiled at her and said, "yes."
Oyin had started taking my things in. We entered the compound and I hesitated my siblings noticed they moved closer to me in an assuring way. Dupe was still carrying Tani and Oyin was with my luggage when we entered. My mum was asking my father, "what does your brother want this time around he has succeeded in chasing my daughter away?" She turned when she heard the sound of the door. The minute she saw me she froze where she was standing, my father stood up from the couch and said, "Yemisi"
I moved closer to them, knelt down before them and started begging for forgiveness, my siblings came to join me. My father pulled me up and hugged me, we were all crying.
Hours later my father was carrying Tani, I had told them everything that happened to me after I left. They were not happy that I got married without their consent but they sympathized with me on the death of my husband. They said they read it in newspaper that he died of cancer and was survived by a sister, wife and daughter and it never occurred to them that the wife was their daughter.
We all had dinner together, it was so obvious my parents were happy my father just kept smiling, my mum was just going up and down making sure everything was okay. It got to a stage my father was humming to himself and shaking his head in a rhythmic way. Then I couldn't hold it any longer I started crying, immediately they all gathered round me, asking me what was wrong with me, i looked at all of them one by one, Tani was strapped to my mother's back and then I said, "I didn't know I was this loved, look at all of you, you people are so happy to see me and my baby and I am so grateful." They all hugged me, we ought to have taken a family picture.
Later that night my mum came to my room and said she wanted to spend the night with me. I told her about Dr Musa's mum and the whole birth mark story and the pictures but I didn't tell her I saw her in one of the pictures. She requested for the pictures herself and I gave them to her. She confirmed it herself that me and the person in the picture look so much alike. She kept on looking at the pictures until she got to the one that she was in. The minute she saw herself in the picture she threw the picture down and starred hard at me then said, "ohhh my God you are his sister's daughter."
"Whose sister."I asked.
(To be contd)
episode 20
Contd....... I ended the call and placed my head on Dr Musa's mum's laps and continued crying. She placed her hand on my head and said, "a mother would always be a mother, you don't need to hear any further for you to know the love is still there and would always be there. Your biological father might have even remarried do you think that step mother would love you, all you need to know about your real family is who they are, you can't change your surname to theirs cos you are married now. So go back home and apologise to your parents."
"Do you think they won't be angry that I got married and gave birth." I asked.
"See, the joy of every parent knows no bound the day their child gets married. I am sorry to say this you deprived them of that joy. Let's face it here you got married to kami without him paying your bride price and without the consent of your parents. Yemisi omo yoruba ni e (you are a yoruba girl) you should know better than to think going to the registry alone will do. See I can't tell you your parents won't be angry with you at first but not to worry they would forgive you as soon as they hear your story."
Two days later, Dr Musa came with his mum to take me to the airport. They helped me with my luggage. Dr Musa asked me when I would be coming back. I told him,
"it depends if I am accepted a month or two but if I am not accepted I would be back the tomorrow." Dr Musa smiled and said
"you would be accepted don't worry we will keep calling you."
When we got to the airport Dr Musa's mum said, "are you sure you don't want me to follow you."
I replied, "I would be fine and if I am not I would call you."
They hugged me and the baby, then they left.
We got to Abuja at noon, I took a cab to my house. The cab man dropped me infront of my house and left. I was still standing at the gate thinking of how to enter and what I would say. I heard footsteps then the gate opened, standing in front of me looking at me with disgust was my Uncle... (To be contd).
"Do you think they won't be angry that I got married and gave birth." I asked.
"See, the joy of every parent knows no bound the day their child gets married. I am sorry to say this you deprived them of that joy. Let's face it here you got married to kami without him paying your bride price and without the consent of your parents. Yemisi omo yoruba ni e (you are a yoruba girl) you should know better than to think going to the registry alone will do. See I can't tell you your parents won't be angry with you at first but not to worry they would forgive you as soon as they hear your story."
Two days later, Dr Musa came with his mum to take me to the airport. They helped me with my luggage. Dr Musa asked me when I would be coming back. I told him,
"it depends if I am accepted a month or two but if I am not accepted I would be back the tomorrow." Dr Musa smiled and said
"you would be accepted don't worry we will keep calling you."
When we got to the airport Dr Musa's mum said, "are you sure you don't want me to follow you."
I replied, "I would be fine and if I am not I would call you."
They hugged me and the baby, then they left.
We got to Abuja at noon, I took a cab to my house. The cab man dropped me infront of my house and left. I was still standing at the gate thinking of how to enter and what I would say. I heard footsteps then the gate opened, standing in front of me looking at me with disgust was my Uncle... (To be contd).
episode 19
Contd .... 2days to the day I was suppose to leave I called Dr Musa's mum and told her i wouldn't go back home. She came to my house that evening and said,
"Can I ask you some questions?" She said.
"Yes, sure you can." I replied.
"While you were growing up with your parents, did they at any point in time do or say something to you that you can refer to that they did or said because you weren't their child." She asked.
"No." I replied.
"You told me that you had two(2) younger ones."
"Yes"
"Did they ever treat them specially compared to you."
"No, they only say I am responsible for them because I am the eldest and whatever I do I should remember that they might want to emulate me so I should be careful, at times I get punished for their mistakes and my father would say if you are punished for their wrongs you would always remember to stop them from doing the wrong things because you know you would be held responsible." I replied.
She smiled and said, "that is how to train a child especially the eldest child, that's how I trained Musa too because he is the eldest. All his siblings are married and they still confide in their brother even more than me their mother. We parents do that to build the love between our children so that when we are not there we know the eldest would take care of the younger ones." She moved closer to me and continued,
"nobody was born perfect, we make mistakes at times and those mistakes are simply because we don't want something bad to happen to us, because they didn't want to go to jail they decided to make it a secret incident and they took you in loved and catered for you as if you were their child."
"No they felt it was the right thing to do since they killed my mother and they had lost their own child. It was like a compensation for them, they lost one and got another." I cried.
She pulled me towards her and placed my head on her chest. Then she said,
"they showered you with love."
I lifted my head to look at her and said,
"I know they did but I can't help thinking that what if their own child hadn't died what would they have done." Then I placed my head back on her chest.
She didn't say anything for awhile, she later said, "they would still had taken you in because the doctor can't take you in and he would have no choice than to report to the police and your father would end up in jail. They wouldn't want that so they would still have taken you."
I shook my head and said, "but they wouldn't have loved me this much and what would they have told people, that they had twins or what."
"Iya Tani stop thinking like that, look at it from this view. What if they had gone to the police and your father was jailed and still the woman's family did not show up, where do you think you would grow up?" She asked.
"No, they would come for me, at least they should have been that chance." I cried.
"And if they didn't show up, you would have ended up in an orphanage home." She said.
"They would have come." I cried.
"Iya Tani, when Allah allows bad things to happen to us he would definitely allow something good to happen to you as compensation to the bad that has happened so you would have cause to praise him. I am sure it has been written that your biological mother would die when she gives birth and Allah wanted the best for the child that's why he made the father you know the culprit and his wife to loose her baby so you would end up being with them and they did a great job taking care of you and he blessed them with two more kids."
I don't know how but what Dr Musa's mum said touched me. Dr Musa's mum continued,
"Iya Tani I love you so much but I can never love you more than my kids, this people would always be your parents and they would always love you and the family you want to look for, if you find them they would accept you but you would always be a stranger to them."
"Are you saying I shouldn't look for them?" I asked.
"No my child you have to try and look for them for your sake and that of your children's sake. As you are now you would still get married again because you are too young to remain a widow, don't look at me that way, u will get married again and it is better you find your parent so you don't marry your brother or your child doesn't end up with one of your family. So you have to go back home and apologise to your parents. I would follow you if you want."
"Would I still ask my mum about the picture."
"Yes you would but that would be after you have apologised to them."
"Do you think they would accept me back."
"Of course they would accept you because they still love you no matter what."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am, okay let's put your mother to test. Call her now, pretend as if something his wrong with you let's see her reaction. Wait a minute didn't they call you after you left."
"They did but I changed my sim."
"Okay call her now and let's see her reaction."
I picked my phone an dialed my mother's number she picked on the second ring and said,
"hello"
I paused for awhile and replied, "hello"
Immediately my mum said, "yemisi."
"Ma"
"Haaaa where have you been, please forgive us and come home. Your father has not been well ever since you left please come home."
I started crying on the phone. (To be contd)
"Can I ask you some questions?" She said.
"Yes, sure you can." I replied.
"While you were growing up with your parents, did they at any point in time do or say something to you that you can refer to that they did or said because you weren't their child." She asked.
"No." I replied.
"You told me that you had two(2) younger ones."
"Yes"
"Did they ever treat them specially compared to you."
"No, they only say I am responsible for them because I am the eldest and whatever I do I should remember that they might want to emulate me so I should be careful, at times I get punished for their mistakes and my father would say if you are punished for their wrongs you would always remember to stop them from doing the wrong things because you know you would be held responsible." I replied.
She smiled and said, "that is how to train a child especially the eldest child, that's how I trained Musa too because he is the eldest. All his siblings are married and they still confide in their brother even more than me their mother. We parents do that to build the love between our children so that when we are not there we know the eldest would take care of the younger ones." She moved closer to me and continued,
"nobody was born perfect, we make mistakes at times and those mistakes are simply because we don't want something bad to happen to us, because they didn't want to go to jail they decided to make it a secret incident and they took you in loved and catered for you as if you were their child."
"No they felt it was the right thing to do since they killed my mother and they had lost their own child. It was like a compensation for them, they lost one and got another." I cried.
She pulled me towards her and placed my head on her chest. Then she said,
"they showered you with love."
I lifted my head to look at her and said,
"I know they did but I can't help thinking that what if their own child hadn't died what would they have done." Then I placed my head back on her chest.
She didn't say anything for awhile, she later said, "they would still had taken you in because the doctor can't take you in and he would have no choice than to report to the police and your father would end up in jail. They wouldn't want that so they would still have taken you."
I shook my head and said, "but they wouldn't have loved me this much and what would they have told people, that they had twins or what."
"Iya Tani stop thinking like that, look at it from this view. What if they had gone to the police and your father was jailed and still the woman's family did not show up, where do you think you would grow up?" She asked.
"No, they would come for me, at least they should have been that chance." I cried.
"And if they didn't show up, you would have ended up in an orphanage home." She said.
"They would have come." I cried.
"Iya Tani, when Allah allows bad things to happen to us he would definitely allow something good to happen to you as compensation to the bad that has happened so you would have cause to praise him. I am sure it has been written that your biological mother would die when she gives birth and Allah wanted the best for the child that's why he made the father you know the culprit and his wife to loose her baby so you would end up being with them and they did a great job taking care of you and he blessed them with two more kids."
I don't know how but what Dr Musa's mum said touched me. Dr Musa's mum continued,
"Iya Tani I love you so much but I can never love you more than my kids, this people would always be your parents and they would always love you and the family you want to look for, if you find them they would accept you but you would always be a stranger to them."
"Are you saying I shouldn't look for them?" I asked.
"No my child you have to try and look for them for your sake and that of your children's sake. As you are now you would still get married again because you are too young to remain a widow, don't look at me that way, u will get married again and it is better you find your parent so you don't marry your brother or your child doesn't end up with one of your family. So you have to go back home and apologise to your parents. I would follow you if you want."
"Would I still ask my mum about the picture."
"Yes you would but that would be after you have apologised to them."
"Do you think they would accept me back."
"Of course they would accept you because they still love you no matter what."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am, okay let's put your mother to test. Call her now, pretend as if something his wrong with you let's see her reaction. Wait a minute didn't they call you after you left."
"They did but I changed my sim."
"Okay call her now and let's see her reaction."
I picked my phone an dialed my mother's number she picked on the second ring and said,
"hello"
I paused for awhile and replied, "hello"
Immediately my mum said, "yemisi."
"Ma"
"Haaaa where have you been, please forgive us and come home. Your father has not been well ever since you left please come home."
I started crying on the phone. (To be contd)
episode 19
Contd.......I kept looking at the picture for a while trying to see if she was the one or not. My mum (the mum that raised me) had shown me the pictures she took in the 1980s and that was exactly what she looked like.
I asked Dr Musa's mother if she knew the person standing next to her room mate in the picture. She said no that the person must have been another guest at the party.
I told her that the person looks like the mum that raised me. Dr Musa's mum took the picture and looked at it very well. She shaked her head and said,
"its been long, I can't remember her or her relationship to the bride, we were about taking picture when she joined us I think but I am not sure. Haa its been over 30yrs."
I didn't know what to think or say the hausa lady looks so much like me but I have heard and seen people who look alike yet they are not related but the birth mark couldn't have been a coincidence and to make matters worse what was my mum doing in the picture.
Tani had slept off in Dr Musa's mum's hands, so the sitting room was silent. Dr Musa's mum asked, "what do you intend doing?"
"I still don't know" I replied and added "tell me about your roommate."
"What exactly do you want to know about her?"
"Her name, any thing u remember and want to share."
"Haven't I told you her name?" She asked.
In truth she had told me the name but then I was still doubting so I didn't really get bother about the name.
"Yes you have but I can't remember.' I replied.
She relaxed on the couch, still carrying Tani she said, "Its alright her name was Halimah Yahya. Halima was studying economics while I was studying business administration. She was the quiet and very blunt type. She hardly talks but when she does she says what's in her mind not minding whether you like it or not. She met the man she married in school, they started dating when she was in her 2nd year and he was in his finals, by the time she was in her final year he had proposed to her or maybe she got pregnant I can't remember. But I know she was pregnant before they got married, I wish I could remember the man's surname because I know I use to tease her with it. she called me once after she got married to tell me she had given birth and I remember she said it was a boy and I told her that her Aisha would have to wait because she had always said she would name her daughter Aisha which is my own name, that's all I remember about her for now."
"Interesting, so if this Halimah happens to be my mother then I won't be her first child and if I am her first daughter my name ought to be Aisha." I said.
"so what do you intend doing?" she asked me again.
"I still don't know." I replied.
Before Dr Musa's mum left that day she was able to persuade me to go back home, if not for anything but to find out the relationship that was between Halimah Yahya and the mother that raised me. We mapped out a plan and in that plan I would leave for Abuja 2weeks after the day we had the discussion because of Tani's clinic appointments. (To be contd)
I asked Dr Musa's mother if she knew the person standing next to her room mate in the picture. She said no that the person must have been another guest at the party.
I told her that the person looks like the mum that raised me. Dr Musa's mum took the picture and looked at it very well. She shaked her head and said,
"its been long, I can't remember her or her relationship to the bride, we were about taking picture when she joined us I think but I am not sure. Haa its been over 30yrs."
I didn't know what to think or say the hausa lady looks so much like me but I have heard and seen people who look alike yet they are not related but the birth mark couldn't have been a coincidence and to make matters worse what was my mum doing in the picture.
Tani had slept off in Dr Musa's mum's hands, so the sitting room was silent. Dr Musa's mum asked, "what do you intend doing?"
"I still don't know" I replied and added "tell me about your roommate."
"What exactly do you want to know about her?"
"Her name, any thing u remember and want to share."
"Haven't I told you her name?" She asked.
In truth she had told me the name but then I was still doubting so I didn't really get bother about the name.
"Yes you have but I can't remember.' I replied.
She relaxed on the couch, still carrying Tani she said, "Its alright her name was Halimah Yahya. Halima was studying economics while I was studying business administration. She was the quiet and very blunt type. She hardly talks but when she does she says what's in her mind not minding whether you like it or not. She met the man she married in school, they started dating when she was in her 2nd year and he was in his finals, by the time she was in her final year he had proposed to her or maybe she got pregnant I can't remember. But I know she was pregnant before they got married, I wish I could remember the man's surname because I know I use to tease her with it. she called me once after she got married to tell me she had given birth and I remember she said it was a boy and I told her that her Aisha would have to wait because she had always said she would name her daughter Aisha which is my own name, that's all I remember about her for now."
"Interesting, so if this Halimah happens to be my mother then I won't be her first child and if I am her first daughter my name ought to be Aisha." I said.
"so what do you intend doing?" she asked me again.
"I still don't know." I replied.
Before Dr Musa's mum left that day she was able to persuade me to go back home, if not for anything but to find out the relationship that was between Halimah Yahya and the mother that raised me. We mapped out a plan and in that plan I would leave for Abuja 2weeks after the day we had the discussion because of Tani's clinic appointments. (To be contd)
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