“Hey Kayode” was all I could bring myself to say, he
stared at me for a long time as I did he; it always was a staring game – like
the ones we all grew up with; where you’d stare till the loser blinked. I held
his hands and wept. I cried because I remembered how Kayode had gotten to this
stage; his mother had always despised me and she had all the reason to; I was
bad luck – I had to commence a monthly ritual where I snuck in to visit him and
drop him flowers at the Johnson Memorial Hospital, Lekki where he had been admitted
after that terrible accident that broke us up – I destroyed him with my love
and I hated myself for it.
That
night after my visit to the hospital, I sat and stared at the mirror, I traced
my face with my little fingers as I stared blankly at the mirror, struggling
hard not to cry. That old man had warned me to stay away from Kayode but I let
love deceive me into momentary happiness; I traced my hands on the dresser till
I felt a scissor; I stared at my long dark hair, I didn’t deserve such beauty
anymore, I didn’t deserve happiness, I began to cut it and cut it while crying
into the night.
***
I jogged down the street and into my compound, I was
glad to be back home. All the years at the hospital gave me nightmares and that
accident had unhealed scars left behind. I jogged every morning to clear my
head. I remember how I had to be taken to India for some surgery and how I had
to stay there for 4 years till I got better.
Surprisingly
my company was still waiting for me when I got back and in perfect condition
too; my dad did a good job keeping things afloat and I couldn’t wait to get
back on board later today. The doctor said I had lost my memory but I was glad
it didn’t affect work sensitive aread; I still felt as sharp as I did before
the accident. Unfortunately, I forgot the events that led to the accident – It
felt as if a part of me died the day of the accident; there was an emptiness in
my heart every day and I often felt like running mad because of that unfilled
void.
***
“Good
day I am here to see Mr Kayode Ayodele” I said looking around as I slid some
money to the front counter; I usually had to bribe the nurses so they could let
me in to see him – his mother had warned that I never come back; but I couldn’t
leave until he I was sure he was responsive. Still looking around to check if
the coast was clear, I felt the hand of the nurse pushing the money back into
my hand, I turned to look at her in surprise “Sade he has been transferred to
India for his operation, I am sorry” I couldn’t seem to understand what she was
saying “When did he leave?” “Yesterday night.” I crouched down there and then,
my world began to spin, I began to feel dizzy - I blacked out.
“Glad
to know you are okay” It was the familiar voice of one of the doctors I heard
when I finally opened my eyes, I found myself on the hospital bed. I wanted to
get up but the doctor said “It would be advisable not to stress yourself so
much” I began to cry as I lay back down “Sade, what is it again?” Mr Durojaye
said sitting on the stool close to my bed “Kayode was taking for surgery…” I
let out a sniffle “… I am happy but now it’s surreal that I may never get to
see him again” I enclosed my face in my tiny palm. “True, especially knowing
you are pregnant” “Pregnant?” “Yes Sade, pregnant. I thought you knew. You should
be two months pregnant by what we were able to read in your blood-work” I
couldn’t stop crying at the mention of this very confusing topic but I mustered
up some strength to ask “How did you find this out, doctor?” “When you fainted,
we had to do a full body check-up, don’t worry about the bill, I will cover
that.” “It is not about the bill Femi, it’s that I am pregnant for Kayode and
now my life just got drained” Doctor Femi Durojaye was my best friend from my
University days; I remember at a point being madly in love with him but I got
over it and we have stayed best of friends ever since. I mustered up the
strength to sit up on the bed; once up, I looked around for my hand bag. “Femi
thank you so much, I need to leave to go figure this out” Femi sighed but
didn’t say a word, I gave him a long hug and pecked him before leaving.
Anyone
who saw me walking on the road would probably have thought I was mad, I felt I
was getting there anyways; ‘How did this happen’ was what sank deep in my
heart, this news had complicated things for me now but in a twisted way I was
happy that I got to keep a part of Kayode with me forever. I didn’t need time
to think any more; it was settled, I was going to take up that transfer to
Ghana I was offered at work some days ago and never have to be in Nigeria
again. I needed to start afresh and hope Kayode stayed alive to start afresh
too.
***
After
three months of sleepless nights and constant progress at work, I felt quite
fulfilled enough to take a break. I had planned to go to the club that night to
go chill with some of the ladies when I got a call from a very important
investor who wanted us to meet at a venue of his company’s choosing at Ghana
the next day – I sat on my bed with my packing half way done and thought about
how I was going to handle this transaction; I had to get it right.
The
next day I was already boarded on the plane and in a few hours we had touched
down in Accra, Ghana. The place was indeed beautiful and I stepped out of their
Airport to a car already waiting to pick me up. Once in, we were driven to the
hotel where I was to lodge - the meeting was to hold in the evening around 5pm.
I manage to relax a bit in the hotel room before leaving for the venue by 4:30
in order to catch up with time.
At
the venue’s conference hall, I sat quietly as I waited for my investors to
troop in. I made a few calls from time to time before finally at 5:30 they were
all seated. We began, we discussed topics on how my company’s marketing
strategies would be beneficial to their strategic planning and I explained how
their investments would be a two way benefit thing for all parties involved. This
were going smoothly, the deal was almost done; I sighed as I sat down and let
them discuss some more.
***
“Sade, can you go deliver the presentation we both
worked on last week at the meeting holding today. I would into be able to make
it and the CEO is asking for it” my director said as she handed out some files
to me – I was the assistant director at my company’s firm and I understood the
meaning of impromptu. I immediately rushed to the parking lot where my car was
parked and headed to the venue. I kept checking my wristwatch hoping I wouldn’t
be too late for the presentation.
Once
parked at the venue, I bolted through the front doors, up the stairs and into
the conference room. The door flew open and eyes darted in my direction, I
apologized and went to take my sit. I began bringing out my notes and arranging
all my materials on the table as the meeting continued “We would like to thank
Mr Kayode Ayodele for being a part of our vision for the benefit of the world
market” People began to applaud but I couldn’t hear them cheer; all I heard was
Kayode Ayodele, I looked around and saw him rise beside me and take a bow. My
hands flew over my mouth
(TO
BE CONTINUED)
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