Hello, congratulations. Where's the baby?"
I just heard that Dani had put to bed and I dashed to their house to greet her. I was so excited.
"We are in the bedroom, come in Ify."
"How did you know it's me?"
"I would recognise that voice amidst thousands of voices."
"Awwww. He is so cute. A true replica of Toba." I shouted. The baby was a splitting image of Toba. I was relieved.
Dani gave me the side eye. I guess she was scared my mouth might run faster than my brain. Her mother in law and her mum were with us in the room. I knew I had to behave myself of course.
"What did you expect, my son is a strong man! I expect nothing less from him. I always knew the baby would be a boy, and what's more? A replica of my husband. Toba takes after his father too, I'm sure you know."
Toba's mum was obviously excited. She was so happy and overjoyous. She is such a lovely woman who loved Dani like her own daughter.
"Hmm. I agree, your son cheated my daughter, there won't be a repeat o." Dani's mum responded jokingly.
"Ify, please get me the hot water from the kitchen and put it in the bathroom." Dani's mum said to me.
"Yes ma." I left to get the water.
You see, I had never been to the house before. The last time I visited, the couple were still living in Toba's parents' house.
On getting there, I was wowed.
I couldn't look around when I first came in due to the excitement of wanting to see the baby. But on my way to the kitchen I had to go through the living room.
The furniture looked like the ones we saw in the movies. Like those in palaces.
And they had a colour TV!!!
All my life, the few homes I had visited that actually had TVs were black and white.
They had simple art work frames and their wedding pictures, hanging on the wall. And something with light in it was on the centre table.
Then I made my way into the kitchen and boy, I couldn't find the kerosene stove.
I saw a flat stainless steel appliance with blue flames. Wow. That must be an imported stove I guessed.
Ok, I need to put out the fire, so I started pouring water on the flames but they just wouldn't die!
Hian. "Dani, I don't understand your stove o. The thing no gree die."
Dani comes into the kitchen laughing her head off.
"You are as local as mama. You people keep embarrassing me before my mother in law. That's the same exact thing mama did the first day she came here."
"No vex, I no know." I snapped.
"It's a gas cooker. You turn it off like this" she said as she turned off the knob.
"Hehehe. Oyibo."
"Bia, Dani, I couldn't talk in the presence of those mothers. I'm glad the baby resembles your husband o, it shows the child is his."
"Ehn ehn. So because you know my secret, everybody should know, abi. So it means if the baby didn't look like him, you would have said it too." She seemed angry. I didn't know why. Did I say something wrong?
"Haba. I'm sorry. I'm just happy he is the baby's father afterall. I didn't mean to get you upset. By the way, where is Toba?"
"He travelled. He has a sports engagement in Ghana. And don't refer to him that way again. He is my husband, He deserves some respect." She retorted.
I was dazed.
Is this not Dani?
The same Dani.
Oh, it must be the hormones. She just put to bed so her hormones are all over the place.
They just taught us about hormones and hormonal imbalance in school.
I apologised again and let it slide.
"Is there going to be a naming ceremony and when will it be?" I asked.
"Yes, Toba is Yoruba as you know, they name their children one week after birth. Good thing is, He will be back by then.
Don't bother coming, it will take place at his father's residence, in fact, the baby and I would be moving there tonight. I only came here to pick some things and freshen up." She seemed looking to get rid of me.
"I know the place, I visited you there after the wedding remember?"
"Yes, I know but lots of his parents friends and associates would be attending." She said without looking at me.
"Now I get it, I'm not welcome then. Mama is in town to get some wares to sell back in the village and she wants to come see you, she brought you some palm oil and vegetables.
How do we get that across to you since we are not welcome in your in law's house?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Don't worry. You guys can drop it at my parents place, not that I need them anyway."
"Alright then, I'm leaving, take care." This is when I thought she would realise she hurt me. That her words pierced my soul. But alas, I was dreaming. She said goodbye, detached.
Oh how I cried!
I could barely see through the mist of my own tears. I got to the hostel and cried some more. I cried myself to sleep in my clothes.
But there and then, I made a decision to make it in life, come what may.
I told God he had to prove to me that he is not partial, that he is truly, a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.
___________________________________
Hmmm. Life.
The incident in Dani's house triggered a lot of memories.
I remember vividly, when we were eight and ten years old and Dani was supposed to write her common entrance exam but her parents could not afford to pay the money. She kept crying day and night.
I mentioned it to my parents but they weren't financially buoyant at the time too.
Then, I came up with an idea.
I told Dani we both should go work at a cafeteria and when we get paid, we combine our earnings to pay for her.
We did find someone who agreed to allow us work after school hours. The only problem was that Dani would always have an excuse either to not show up, come late, or leave early.
The woman got angry at a point but I begged her to pay even if it was just my services alone.
We needed one naira to pay for the exam, and the woman had promised to pay us ten Kobo each per day.
This meant if we both worked for five days, the money would be complete.
But because of Danis unseriousness, it took me almost two weeks to gather the money. But I persevered. I got the money, gave it to her and she paid.
The joy on her face when she got the money was enough for me.
I was happy my friend was happy.
This and many more occasions I had sacrificed my joy, comfort and money for her. And she chose to pay me back like this?
Just because she was lucky to have a rich husband?
I told myself everyday that I would be great, not by marrying a rich man, but by being rich myself.
Mama always says: " A woman who is successful, is an asset to her husband."
I would be an asset to my husband!
#fiction
#friendship
#girlchild
All rights reserved
Written By Tolulope
Fakayode-Faniran
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