Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Habib woke up with a start and heard voices coming from the verandah. He stood up from where he was laying in his room and went out to see his sister in tears.

'Wao! The almighty iron lady is crying, what could be wrong?', he asked himself amused.

He couldn't even remember the last time he saw her in tears, she was indeed an iron lady. He was about to go back inside when he heard his mum's voice, from outside lamenting like a woman who had just lost her husband. Habib quickly went out of the door to see his parents coming in.

"Mum, what happened?", he asked but got no reply. He followed his parents quietly as they entered the sitting room.

Habibah seeing her parents coming into the sitting room quickly dashed to her room still crying.

Habib's mum slumped down and continued lamenting. "Habibah has put me in trouble. Where will I start from? What have I done to deserve this?"

"What have you done to deserve this? Do you want me to answer that for you? Okay I will, you deserve more than this. Every step that you have taken right from your youthful age had always been wrong. You over-indulge these children and see what it has led to", Mr. Ladi said eyeing her. "Like mother like daughter."

"Daddy, what is wrong?", Habib asked his furious dad, who looked back at him and answered.

"Your beautiful sister has been going to the hospital for abortions and her last attempt has destroyed her womb. She can't conceive again", he explained to Habib.

"What? Mum is that true?", Habib inquired, from his mother.

"I am finished!", she exclaimed, in response.

"You haven't seen anything. This is just the beginning, you wicked human being. You call yourself a mother yet you don't know how to care for your so-called children, all you care about is how to dress gorgeously for occasions that don't even concern you."

He hissed and continued, "You cheat and gold digger. You think I don't know what you and your mother did because I kept quiet all along. I am not that foolish dearest, I know everything and even the fact that these children are not mine."

"What?" Mother and son chorused.

Habib's shout was out of surprise while his mum's was out of fear.

"Yes, I am not your father", Mr. Ladi uttered looking at Habib. "Your mother never loved me, she and her mother pushed the pregnancy on me using my weakness. I thought she would change and return to the woman I fell in love with. She married me because of my money and to cover up her shameful act. When she gave birth to you and your sister, I fell in love with you two. Occasionally, I feel sad thinking of the whole issue but I stopped myself from taking action because of the love I have for you and your sister. You won't believe even after our marriage, your mother was still having an affair which I know of."

He faced his wife and said. "I have had enough of your stupidity and I don't think I can take this any longer. I have my own real family somewhere else so I would appreciate it if you can just pack your belongings and leave", he said and made for his bedroom then changed his mind and made for the door.

"My love, don't do this. Please don't put me to shame. Forgive all my mistakes and I promise to change", she said with tears streaming down her face.

"After 24 years of deceit and hypocrisy, you want me to forgive you now?", he turned back to face her.

"That's impossible because not all men can endure that much. I have had enough so please go away, I don't want to set my eyes on you by the time I am back", he said and made for the door. He got to the compound and drove away.

Mrs. Ladi started crying hysterically while Habib stood transfixed trying to process the fact that the man he knew as a father all his life was not his blood. He was hurt and disappointed at his mother's actions but after a few minutes of consoling himself, he stood up and moved close to his mother.

She was sitting on the bare floor with her clothes scattered all around her, she was almost half-naked. Habib picked them up and wrapped her body with it and then engulfed her in a hug. She was surprised at his calm behavior and before she knew it, she started crying all over again.

"Forgive me, son, I am sorry", she said.

Habib withdrew himself from the hug and stared at her before asking, "Mummy, is everything true?"

She was ashamed of herself and she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye when he asked the question. She blew her nose with her wrapper and answered, "Yes".

"Ok then, stand up let's start packing before he comes back", Habib said picking her up from the floor.

"Habib, you are not mad at me?", she asked and Habib wondered if she was making a comment or asking a question.

"Of course I am but that does not mean I will leave you too just like he has done, though it's on the condition that you will change for the better. I know of what you and Habibah did, I know it's unforgivable and you both don't deserve another chance but you are my mother and she is my sister. This is when you need me the most, I can't leave you to the sidewalk of life", he said and he started for his room.

He looked back and saw her still standing and he said, "Come on mum, let's get out of here. We will talk better when we find somewhere to stay."

He moved closer to her and dragged her to her bedroom before going to his to pack his belongings.

He was very angry at his dad for the sudden behavior. 'Why accept us in the first place when you know you will eventually send us away someday', he asked himself.

He pushed the thoughts out of his mind and concentrated on packing his stuff. He was done packing 10 minutes after and he decided to go into his sister's room to hasten her up. He was sure she heard all of their conversations and already knows they were moving out.

He entered the room and saw that it was empty. He was about to go out and check her in his mum's room when he noticed the shower was running.

'That means she's taking a shower, let me wait for her', he told himself and sat down on her bed. 'Even though she is bad, rude, and harsh, she is still my sister and will always be. I just hope she changes for the better, he soliloquized and kept his luggage beside the bed.

They haven't been on good terms for a long time, so he rarely enters her bedroom except when the occasion demands.

A wave of nostalgia hit him as he remembered their childhood days and how close they were. They used to be inseparable and they do virtually everything together. Growing up had put a wide gap between them and before they knew it, they drifted apart with each passing day. His eyes roamed the room and fell on a sheet of paper that was on her study table, beside the bed. Thinking it was one of her funny write-ups, he picked it up and read it aloud.

Dear younger bro, I know you will surely be the first to read this. Guess how I know?..... My foresight and instinct. I know I have wronged you and our parents and I know you are disappointed in me. I want to make a confession that led to all of my actions. I just realized how bad and unfair I have been to people including you but that was meant to cover up the pain I was feeling. I don't know if you remember Femi, my first boyfriend, the one you fought with when we were in JSS2. During his friend's birthday which I attended, he spiked my drink and raped me. Ever since then, my life hadn't been the same. I hated myself so much and also my life because it wasn't going the way I envisioned. I felt worthless and I wanted to make life worth living. After that incident, I became a sex freak.

I envied Salamat so much because I felt she has all that I didn't, including your attention. When you told me about her circumstance, I decided to use it against her just so I can have your attention and affection back. I know you are the only one in the world that loves me unconditionally, even mum doesn't love me the way you do.

As for dad, I know already that he is not our biological father. I got to know a week ago which led to this abortion. I had an affair with our biological father that's why I decided to abort the baby. Habib, my life is ruined. What then is the essence of living when life itself from the scratch is full of pain? I know I will eventually be stigmatized and the trauma would not let me be. And I know no man born of a woman will want a dirty and worthless lady like me. That's why I decided to take my life because all hope is lost for me. Take care of mum and you, remember I love you more than you can imagine. Goodbye till we meet to part no more.

"No", Habib screamed and ran to the bathroom door which was locked.

"Habibah, don't do this", he kept shouting as he banged on the door. He tried pushing it all to no avail.

"Habibah", he screamed again. The shower was still running and the noise attracted his mother who was coming out of her room. Habib pushed the door with all his might.

"What's the matter?", Mrs. Ladi asked entering the room.

"It's Habibah", he said still hitting the door with his legs.

"What..........?"

But she was interrupted by the sight in front of her as Habib succeeded in pushing the door open, with his legs.

Habibah was slumped beside the bathtub with white foams coming out of her mouth. Habib screamed with tears streaming down his eyes and ran to her side while Mrs. Ladi collapsed.