Chapter 17: Chapter 17

The end of the session was fast approaching which was the last year for Iremide in the University. The bond between him and Fola was back again and they could barely go a day without talking to each other despite Ire's busy schedules.

Ire made it a routine to tutor Fola once in a week on some of the courses she was having difficulties with.

He observed she was a slow learner and he takes his time to explain to her understanding before moving to the next.

He also helps her with assignments and handouts as examinations are fast approaching.

A month later, Fola was done with her examinations and she left for home. Ire was still in school trying to meet up with the deadline for the submission of his project work.

When Fola got home, she informed her mother of her reconciliation with Ire and her mother was glad.

Her father overheard their conversation and a few days later, out of curiosity, he asked her. "Who is Ire?"

"He is my friend", she answered with a smile.

"Friend?", he asked eyeingly.

"Yes daddy."

"I hope so. When was the last time you spoke with Olamide?", he asked

"Here we go again", she thought out aloud.

"You said what?", her father questioned.

"I did not say anything", she responded.

"I thought I asked you a question", he reminded her.

"He called me last week during my examinations", she told him.

"Good. How are things between you two?"

"Fine", she replied.

"Alright, take care. When your mother comes back, tell her I am off to see Olamide's father. I promised to accompany him somewhere", he declared about to go out.

"Daddy", Fola called. "There is something I have been meaning to talk to you about", she announced.

"What is it?", her father looked back with impatience.

"Sit down daddy. I won't take much of your time", he peered at her suspiciously before sitting down.

"Daddy I have been thinking.... Is there any business you have in mind that you want to do or do you wish to start any business?"

"Yes of course", he answered. Why do you ask?"

"I want you to stop working for Mr. Garba and be your own boss", she declared.

"Good idea but the business I have in mind is capital intensive. More reason why you should marry his son so he can help me with the capital", he said to her.

"Dad. So this is it?"

"This is what?", he asked.

"You don't need to rely on them anymore. I spoke with Bolu sometimes ago and she said something about a business her father is into which is very lucrative."

"My dear, every business needs capital and that is what I lack. Don't you get it?"

"We can ask him to help us reserve a spot in the organization just like Bolu suggested", said Fola.

"Don't you know Bolu's father is my younger brother's friend? So you mean I should go and ask for help from someone whom I am very much older than? Impossible, I can't", her father remarked.

"Bolu's father is a very nice man. If you don't want to ask him for help, we can just ask him to borrow us and then when we start making money, we pay him back. Very simple."

"I said I am not interested", he said getting up. "I can't ask for help from someone who will mock me behind my back. Nitori wipe mo fe je malu, mawa ma pe malu ni boda (Just because I want to eat cows, you now expect me to call a cow my senior). I am out of here silly girl."

"Daddy, isn't this better than selling me off? When will you get to realise you are doing the wrong thing to solve our problem. When? You will keep feeling indebted to him and it will ruin us all. I want us to get out of this safely. Don't you get it. People are calling you Mr. Garba's puppet", she yelled at her father.

Mr. Obed turned around and stared at his daughter in anger.

"Folake, what did you just say?", he asked.

Realising what she said out of anger, she kept mute as her father moved closer to her. "I asked you to repeat what you just said."

"Dad, the person that called you Mr. Garba's puppet is a colleague of mine from....."

Her father interrupted her with a slap. "How dare you?"

Fola gasped as tears rolled down her eyes. She looked at her father and saw tears in his eyes too.

"D..d..a..addy.....", she called stammering with guilt.

"Folake, you dare say this to my face and you expect me to praise you for a job well done?", he asked her grimly.

"What have I done to deserve such disrespect from you? Tell me. The money I took from him for your upkeep is still in my account. I did not touch it not because I don't need it but because I am keeping it for your future. Do you think I am stupid? I am not selfish because if I am, that money is enough for me to start up a business of my own. If my own daughter can call me a puppet, then what is the essence of all of these? Ever since I lost my job, I have been unable to provide for my only wife and daughter and I was able to devise a way to ensure their comfort but what do I get in return? Insults. Your mother has been turning you against me right?", he shouted furiously.

"No daddy, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you", Fola replied crying bitterly. "I am sorry father."

Her father slumped down on the couch closeby and hid his face in his palm.

She knew her father was crying. She cried the more as she moved closer to him.

"Daddy, forgive me for my utterances. I was thinking like a child. I am sorry", Folake pleaded.

"Ekule o (Greetings to those at home)", Mrs. Obed greeted as she entered from the front door carrying a bundle of bedspread.

Seeing the scenario of both father and daughter crying before her, the bundle in her hand fell down as she ran towards them with alarm.

"Daddy Folake, Kilo shele? (what happened?)"

Her husband looked up at her with tears and said. "Your daughter called me a puppet."

"What?", she screamed and faced Fola.

"Folake ngbo? Is that true?"

"Mummy I did not mean......"

"Shut your trash", she interrupted her with another resounding slap.

Fola sobbed.

"And you couldn't deal with her?", she questioned her husband.

"What sort of a child are you? She awa ma koe bi eni kole ni (Do you want us to build you like a home?) Do you think you are still a child? You are 24 years old for crying out loud. When will you be sensible? You called your father names? How dare you?", her mother scolded in annoyance.

"Mummy, I didn't", Fola defended herself.

"Keep shut while I am talking. You think I will believe you? Your father is here crying because of you and you can't even hide your face in shame. Don't let me curse you. In fact, get out of my sight this minute before I bounce on you."

Fola stood up with immediate alacrity and raced to her room.

"Okomi (My husband), forgive your daughter for her childishness", her mother pleaded to her husband.

"I never thought my daughter would have the guts to look me in the eyes and insult me", he muttered dejectedly.

"I never thought so too. That girl is foolish to have done so", her mother commented.

"I am doing all of this for us."

"I know."

"I am sorry for hurting any of you with my actions and that is because I don't have what it takes to be a father", Mr. Obed whispered to his wife with a forlorn look on his face.

"Don't say that my darling. Your daughter is still a child and she has no idea the amount of sacrifices you have made for her. She doesn't know how much you love and adore her because you show your love in the hard way. I am your wife and I know you so well."

"I do not blame her."

"Just forgive her and let's forget everything. Please my husband, if not for anything but for my sake."

He examined his wife closely and gave in. "She said the truth. I have forgiven her."

"She did not say any truth. Folake is such a spoilt child. Have you had anything to eat?", Mrs. Obed replied, getting up.

"No I am not hungry", he responded.

"Let's go to the room then so you can rest", she tried to help him up.

"Alright", he said rising up. "Please help me call Mr. Garba and tell him I won't be able to make it", he told his wife.

"Alright, I will do that. Just go to the room."

He walked quietly to the room and Mrs. Obed hurried to her daughter's room.

"Folake", she called.

Fola was sitting on the floor beside her bed crying softly.

"Mummy, I didn't call him that", she shouted in defense.

Her mother folded her arms and asked, "Then what did you say?"

"It was Rachel that called him that. Dad misunderstood everything", she explained.

"Even with that, you aren't supposed to say that to his hearing. I intend to beat the living hell out of you for being so silly and spoilt but I forgive you this once. If it ever happens again, you will see the other side of me", Mrs. Obed said and walked out of her room.

Fola wept.

******

Few days later, Olamide visited Fola when she was home alone and she allowed him in.

"I'm sorry for not checking up on you in school. I was busy with work", he apologized.

"It's okay Mr. Olamide Garba", she said smiling.

"Mr. Olamide Garba", she repeated. "That reminds me, is your father an Hausa man. Where did the surname, Garba originate from?"

"Oh!", he said surprised at the question.

"My father's mother is a Hausa woman from Maiduguri while my father's father is a Yoruba man. His mother gave him the name Garba but his Yoruba name is Temidayo. His father's name is Temitayo. He was registered in school with Temidayo Garba instead of Temidayo Temitayo and the name stuck since then", he explained.

"Wao! So your lineage can be traced to the hausas from Maiduguri", she demanded.

"Yes. But my own mother is a Yoruba woman from Ejigbo."

"So Mr. Olamide Garba, do you know who Rachel is?", she asked, changing the topic all of a sudden.

"Rachel? Who...is..is Ra...chel?", he stammered in pretense.

"Your girlfriend", Fola stated.

"She was my ex", he defended sharply.

"Oh now you know her abi. Anyways she has been troubling me recently asking me to leave her boyfriend", Fola informed him.

"What?" She must be stupid for doing that. Don't worry I will warn her."

"Please do. I have to be somewhere now", Fola said standing up.

"Are you indirectly asking me to go?", he asked.

'Yes, you have overstayed your welcome', she said in her mind.

"Of course not, I was on my way out when I saw your car approaching. I had to stay behind as a sign of respect."

"Alright. I will come see you tomorrow then", he said to her.

"Sure", she gave him a fake smile and bade him goodbye.

'Idiot', she muttered to herself going into her room.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Iremide.

"Babe how far."

"I'm great."

"I'm coming to Kaduna tomorrow", he announced.

"Really?", Fola asked.

"Yes o. Mum is over-excited."

"I told you, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. So will you be able to visit so I can introduce you to her?", he asked.

"Uhmm... Let's see how it goes", she responded.

"Come on, don't give me that Folake."

"Alright, where is she staying?", she inquired.

"She stays at Malali", he answered.

"That's a bit far from here", she told him.

"Please", Iremide begged.

"Alright, give me the address", she demanded.

"R7 KamSalem Crescent opposite total filling station", he answered.

"Noted. See you tomorrow then", she said.

"Alright bye."

"Wait. Please help me with mum's number so I can give her a call once I get there", Fola told him.

"I will send it to you as sms."

"Bye", she said and hanged up.

Her conversation with Ire had just lightened up her mood. The past few days have been hell for her. Her mother was still mad at her even though her father had already forgiven her.

She was looking for ways to make it up to them and make them happy. She regretted her actions and promised never to talk back at her parents anymore.

She just wished the betrothal never happened because it was obvious it is the reason for everyone's unhappiness.

She now realised her father was doing everything for her sake and not for his own selfish reason. More reason why she wants to graduate with a good result and get a good job after school so she could give her parents the best. More reason why she needs to come out of the engagement and focus on how to be successful. She was ready to prove to her father that she is worth having.

'Would this be possible?' she asked herself. How then will she go about all of these without getting on their nerves? Without talking back at them so they could understand.

She was tired of the whole drama and she felt like giving up. She was tired of crying. She was tired of being pathetic and inconsolable. She was becoming tired of living.

She exhaled deeply and laid down on her bed which was gradually becoming a prison to her because she rarely goes to the sitting room ever since the incident.

She just wished school would resume again so she could put all of her worries behind her.

Besides, Ire will be there to make her forget her worries. She smiled at the thought and was happy they would see the next day. She couldn't wait to pour out her heart to him and tell him all that has happened.

He was her confidant and she needed someone she could talk to since Bolu was unavailable. She travelled with Biodun to the U.S to spend the holidays.

A lot was running through her mind and a few minutes later, she fell into a deep slumber.

The next day, she felt a lot better and got prepared to go to Malali. She wanted to surprise Ire by being there before his arrival.

Immediately she woke up, she called his mum and told her she would be coming by 10a.m. His mother was happy to hear from her and she told her she can't wait to see her. That also lifted her spirits and she whistled as she took her bath.

She cooked breakfast, ate and went into her parent's room to inform them of her outing.

"Daddy, good morning", she greeted as she entered but she only saw her mother.

"Good morning, mummy", she knelt to greet her mother.

"Good morning, how are you?", Mrs. Obed answered indifferently.

"I'm fine, I prepared breakfast", she told her mother.

"Really, when was the last time you even cooked in this house?", her mother asked eyeingly.

It was obvious her mother was still mad at her.

Fola was about to give her a reply when her phone rang.

"Spoilt child", her mother rebuked.

"Why are you dressed up? Are you going out?", she requested, unaware of the interruption.

"Yes, mummy. Let me take this call", she excused herself.

"Hello", she said into the phone.

"Folake", the person from the other side sobbed as she called her name.

"Mummy, what happened?", Fola questioned with fear.

"Folake, Iremide has been kidnapped", Ire's mother cried.

"What?!", Folake exclaimed as her phone crashed to the floor.