Chapter 37: Chapter 37

"What does Bimpe doesn't have a say in?" Bimpe asked again.

Ayoade wanted to ignore her like she has been doing to him but he felt he needed to tell her. Raliat was her friend. She needed to know.

"Bimpe, sit", he instructed.

"You haven't answered my question," Bimpe said, still not moving.

He looked up at her. He saw pain, hatred, courage, disgust and he saw confidence.

"I have some things to tell you."

She looked at him eyeingly and gently moved to sit.

"I'm sorry for all that has been happening between us which ought not to have happened. I have realized the gravity of my deed and I want to implore you to forgive me. I'm sorry Bimbim."

Bimpe was silent for a while before bursting into laughter. "So you've realized your mistakes after you have ruined me? You must be crazy."

"Bimpe, this is not meant to be a fight but a way to sort things out and put a stop to all of these. Also, I want to inform you that I intend to get married to Raliat as soon as possible. It seems that is the only logical solution."

"No wonder! I thought as much. I never knew it has gotten to this stage. I knew she had her eyes on you all this while. So you want to stop now that you finally got yourself a girlfriend?"

"No Bimpe, I......"

"Have you thought of how much ruin you've caused? No man has ever shown interest in me ever since all of these started. You are a very stupid brother and Raliat is a betrayal. You two deserve each other. I'm sure you will give her a piece of her own flesh too" She sniffed, trying to control her tears.

"No, Bimpe... This is the solution to our problems. I wanted to go away from here, far from you so this won't continue but I think marriage is the best. I intend to go and see her parents tomorrow and I want you to go with me. Please Bimbim."

"To hell with you two. You can do whatever you want, I don't give a damn. I regret having you like a brother", She bursted into tears.

Ayoade was speechless as he watched her cry. He felt bad but couldn't summon the courage to move closer to her.

Bimpe stood up abruptly and ran to the bathroom. She shut the door and cried out her eyes.

******

Salamat was in her bedroom with her mother. It was a Saturday and she was packing her luggages to be taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika for her final year.

Even though her mother didn't want her to go live there since it wasn't mandatory, Salamat was more than willing to leave with the promise to come back home on weekends.

She wanted to have the full experience of being a nurse "in situ", despite the several practical experiences of the course they have been getting since 200 level.

She couldn't point out a specific reason for reaching that decision. She just wanted to go. Her mother was also helping her to pack as they kept on gisting about the boy who almost killed his father after getting drunk on the eve of New Year.

Salamat was laughing uncontrollably at her mother's jokes when her phone rang. It was Saleem.

"Peace unto you, Saleem", she picked his call.

"And unto you too, my heart desire" he replied.

Salamat smiled as her mother winked at her.

"How are you doing?" Salamat demanded.

"You are such a boring girl", Mrs. Ade stated, standing up to give her privacy.

She continued as she moved to the door. "When your father and I were courting, I used to call him all sort of sweet names like honey, darling, sugarpie, and the rest of it. I can't help but ask myself if I truly birth you. I was never this boring."

"Mum!"

"What? That's the truth. Saleem darling....", she shouted as she got to the door.

"...... Hope my boring baby is not boring you with her boring talks. You have me here if you need someone to spice up your day." She chuckled to herself and slammed the door shut.

Saleem was laughing uncontrollably until they were tears streaming down his eyes.

"Why are you laughing?" Salamat pouted.

"Mum is an incredible woman", he stated, still laughing.

"She just insulted me", Salamat said.

He finally stopped laughing. "She said the truth. You are too uptight. We are one so you should feel free with me."

"I guess your ex was more of a joker like my mum."

He laughed again. "I smell jealousy in the air. I have never been in a relationship until the day I met you, my missing ribs."

"As big as you are?" She queried rhetorically

"We are on the same boat. You were never in a relationship too."

"Uhm, yeah."

"I miss you", confessed Saleem.

" I miss you too."

He smiled. "I already told every of my family members about you and they are already asking for the wedding date."

"Wedding day! Not now."

"What do you mean by not now?" He questioned.

"I'm just in my final year, Saleem. We can get married after I am done with my youth service."

"Do you even know what you are saying? That is two years from now."

"It's not too far."

"Don't be silly. I proposed marriage to you and not dating. My parents want to come to Zaria for the formal introduction so think about it and give me a reply by tomorrow. Make sure to inform mum and dad too. If you don't, I will have to inform them myself."

"Saleem...", she began to say but realized the call had been disconnected.

"What is wrong with you?" She almost screamed into the dead phone, in frustration.

She never planned to get married while in school. It might affect her academics and her present level was a very critical and sensitive one. Any little mistake will lead to an automatic extra year and she wasn't willing to compromise her education for anything.

She threw the phone to her side and opened her drawer. That was the mood required for her inspiration for writing to keep pouring in like rainwater. She needed to write something to calm her nerves.

She realized she had anger issues and solving them on her own was proving so hard. She didn't want to mention it to the hearing of her parents so they won't involve another therapy.

The therapy never worked for her and she disliked her therapist in Abeokuta for that. She tried to write whenever she was angry and it does work a little bit in calming her. She was willing to solve this problem herself without the help of her parents or Saleem or anyone else like she had always been doing.

She was good at that. Keeping things to herself.

Then, her phone rang again and she ignored it. The ringing of the phone persisted and she dropped the book in her hand and stretched to take a peek. It was a strange number.

"Hello", she said into the phone.

"Baby girl", the voice said.

"Please, who am I speaking with?", she demanded, trying to place the familiar voice.

"You don't recognize my voice? What a bad sister!" He laughed.

"Brother Ayoade?"

"Yep. It's me."

"Oh My God! I've been waiting for your call for decades", she was overwhelmed.

He laughed out loud and she laughed back too, at her silly joke.

"I'm sorry for not calling you earlier like I promised. I've been a little busy, that's why."

"It's ok. How is my sweet brother doing?"

"I'm great. How is mum and dad?"

"They are doing fine", she responded.

"And how is my baby girl doing?"

"I'm doing great too. What's up? How have you been?

"I've been good dear. I just need a favour from you", he told her.

"A favour? What is it?"

"I want to get married", he announced.

Salamat screamed with excitement and he chuckled. Then he continued, "The girl's father wants to see me and I don't want to go alone. Going with someone close will build up the courage to face my future father-in-law. You know how shy I can be, I don't want to mess up when I get there."

"Oh! Here in Zaria?", Salamat asked.

"Yes."

"I can talk to dad on your behalf."

"No, that won't be necessary. Your dad is a father figure and this is not the right time to go with my parents. He just wants to know me."

"Ok. So what do you suggest?", Salamat asked.

"I wanted to go with Bimpe but it seems she is not pleased with my decision to marry her friend. Since my first sister doesn't want to support me, I know my second sister will."

Salamat laughed softly. "Of course I would always be here to support you."

"Yes. I was hoping you would go with me to the house. Can I count on you?"

"Oh! When?"

"Tomorrow", he replied.

"Oh!", she said thinking of what excuse to give to her parents.

"You have an appointment tomorrow?"

"Not really. I was supposed to go to Shika tomorrow but don't worry, I can still go once we are back or probably on Monday morning."

"You have an appointment with a doctor?" He asked with concern.

"No, I'm resuming school. All final year student of Nursing are usually allocated accommodation in the University Teaching Hospital. It isn't compulsory though, but I feel it is an opportunity to gain a wide range of experience before graduation."

"That's lovely. All the best dear and sorry for ruining your plans."

"No. It's ok. Anything for my brother."

"God bless you, dear. How do we meet?"

"What time should I be ready?" She asked.

"10 am" he answered.

"Alright. I'll give you a call before then."

"Ok. At first, I thought you had a date with your boyfriend", he said jokingly.

"Come on bro. I don't do boyfriends", she laughed.

"You mean you don't have a boyfriend?"

"I said I don't do boyfriends", she repeated and laughed.

"You this girl... Don't worry, we will meet tomorrow and I will make sure you spill whatever you are hiding."

"I'm not hiding anything."

"Says the person who loves keeping secrets", he commented.

They both laughed again. "You know me so well. I miss you."

"I missed you too. We have a lot to talk about."

"Yes. See you tomorrow then."

"Thank you in advance. God bless you."

"And may He bless you too."