"I think the new lady is here."
"Really? Why do you think so?"
"Really? Why do you think so?"
"The spare bedroom door is open."
I must have slept off after unpacking my bags.
I had put the foodstuff in the kitchen. Bless Mama. She wanted me to carry the whole of Okwu to porthacourt.
I also managed to arrange a few of my clothes and my few shoes.
I got up to check where the voices were coming from.
"Hello ladies, I'm Ifeoma, I'm here for my housemanship. I heard you ladies are house officers too."
"Hi Ifeoma". They chorused.
"It's nice meeting you. I am Toke, a graduate of UNILAG, Medicine and Surgery, obviously, hahaha," she laughed.
Toke seems to be the out spoken one. She's pretty too.
Chocolate complexion, average height, full hair, and lovely eyes.
"And I am Aisha, a graduate of Uniport, I'm pleased to meet you." She
has smiling eyes. A cool demeanour and a small hijab covering her head
to her shoulders.
She has smooth caramel skin, and I must admit, the most beautiful in the room.
She is tall, almost 6ft I must say. Long legs, slim and beautiful fingers and nails, full lips and pointed nose.
I admire women like me too much for my own good, I know. But I have no choice but to appreciate God's master pieces.
"I'm pleased to meet you both once again. I'm sure we will get along just fine."
"Have you had anything to eat?" Toke asks.
"No, not yet. I don't know anywhere and I don't know the cooking arrangements."
"Oh, about that, the gas cooker is for all three of us but we take
turns filling the cylinder as soon as the gas finishes. It's simple
really. You cook whatever you like from your supplies but of course, but
we share things with one other. "
She seems to be the chatty one, like me I must say.
I look around but Aisha is no where in sight.
"Did Aisha go somewhere?" I ask Toke.
"Hmm, no, she must be praying."
"Oh, ok. "
"It's even good you've not eaten, one of my toasters promised to take
us out for dinner. I've been trying to convince Aisha to come along.
Since you're here now, whether she follows us or not, you are coming
with."
I tried to say no but Toke wouldn't hear any of it. In The
end she made me realise neither she nor Aisha had soup to eat with so
it was a good idea to eat out.
Afterall it was a Friday evening and
coincidentally for the first time, both of them were not on duty through
out the weekend.
It's going to be a fun weekend, I imagine.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
I had a great evening and fun weekend with the girls. They were truly wonderful.
They showed me around the hospital and staff quarters, introduced me to some house officers as well.
On Saturday, we went to the market but I didn't buy much since I had to
be prudent with cash. Mama and
Papa gave me the little they had, for
which I'm grateful.
Plus, I brought lots of food items so I didn't need much.
I decided to treat the ladies to ofe owerri and they loved it.
All in all it was a great weekend.
It felt good to not be constantly reading, at least for now. I could socialise now.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
The days flew by, I guess I was having too much fun. The job was hectic, but rewarding as well.
A month has rolled by, my salary was paid.
Wow! I actually earned a real salary for the first time in my life.
I immediately sent some money to my father. I was so happy I could reciprocate his and my mother's sacrifices at last.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
"Have you met Dr. Chukwudi?" Toke asked as we made our way home from a
night shift. We met this young, handsome doctor at the hospital
corridor.
"No, I don't think I have."
"Ok, Dr Chukwudi meet Ifeoma, she's a new house officer."
"Hi Ifeoma, I'm pleased to meet you. I hope you're enjoying Porthacourt. "
"Hello Doctor, nice meeting you too." I replied.
"It seems you ladies are on your way home. Let me not take much of your time. See you around."
"Bye, thanks."
As we make our way towards our quarters, I couldn't help but replay the meeting in my head.
Dr Chukwudi is probably the tallest man I've ever seen, slim, light skinned, neatly dressed.
His shirt was crisp, his pants perfect. And oh his shoes, polished and shiny.
Let me just agree that I'm vain.
I hate tardy people.
One of the things that impress me after intelligence is neatness and a
good dress sense. You don't have to be fancy, but please just make sure
your clothes are neat and you don't go wearing colours that make you
look like a circus.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
"Is he a house officer too?" I asked Toke
"Nope, he is a resident doctor. But he is really cool. He must like
you. He hardly talks that much to anyone on the first meeting."
"Heeeee. Toookeee. You don come again with your exaggerating, what exactly did he even say to me? Abegi. "
"I'm serious. He is really nice though. One of the doctors that showed
me the ropes when I first got here. But he is ultimately a man of few
words."
"Ok. I don hear, is your key with you? Open door abeg, we
don reach house." I said mischievously as we get to our house entrance.
______________________________________
______________________________________
"Chukwudi Williams, stop eating my meat."
"Your meat? Am I a cannibal?"
The last six months have been the best of my life and I have Dr. Chukwudi to thank for that.
Ever since I started dating him, I've not had any cause to regret.
He could be annoying and quiet at times, but all in all, he is a good man.
Despite the fact that we have different personality traits, we get along so well.
"Besides, it's my party, I'm the one being sent forth, so I should be
able to eat what I like." He says as he runs out of the kitchen.
He is leaving the ... hospital as he has completed his residency, and
now a consultant. He just got a job with the popular oil company:
Chevron.
The pay is unimaginable, I am elated.
He is a good man who deserves to prosper. He has paid his dues.
When we started our relationship, he was clear with his intentions. He
wasn't ready to play around. He was ready to settle down.
He already followed me home to meet my parents and a date has been set for the wine carrying.
Sometimes I pinch myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming. Things are falling into place. Dreams do come true afterall.
#fiction
#friendship
#girlchild
#friendship
#girlchild
All rights reserved
Written By Tolulope Fakayode-Faniran
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