Indigo (Shade of a golden heart) - Season 3 - Episode 13

5 years ago

Indigo (Shade of a golden heart) - Season 3 - Episode 13

‘Indi, what is wrong? Come and kiss me.’ Phillip’s drunken laughter filled the air.

Chalya noticed her brother wasn’t composed, he was acting out of character and it disturbed her.

‘Get away from me!’ Indigo quickly rushed from where she stood towards Chalya, who was willing to shield her from her brother.
Indigo was shocked and disappointed that he could behave this way. He didn’t have an iota of respect for her or anyone. If he did, he wouldn’t have left home, keeping everyone on their toes.

‘I have to go now. I just can’t stand this.’ Indigo dashed towards the door, she had as quickly as her legs could carry her.

Phillip staggered towards his sister, ‘Where is she? Why did you let her leave?’

Tears stung Chalya’s eyes as she watched Phillip. It was obvious that her brother was troubled. She had a feeling he had been depressed since the recent revelation that their mother had cheated and he was Uncle Usman’s son.

‘You’re drunk Phillip, come with me. You need some sleep.’ Chalya took hold of his arm, praying that he wouldn’t become violent.

Luckily for her, he wasn’t because his mind had gone far away and he considered the person holding his hands his mother.

‘I am sorry mummy; I just had to drink it away.’ He smiled and leaned on his sister’s slim frame.

‘Drink what away?’ Chalya’s brows furrowed together.

‘Moremi,’ he answered.
She quickly paid the taxi man off, and hurried towards the house, feeling downcast that the man she had held in high esteem was not as responsible as he had seemed at first.

Maybe her grandfather was right. Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted money from Phillip, what if he asked her for something in return? Something she wasn’t willing to give?
She took a glance at her surroundings, wondering why Phillip was bent on making things difficult for the tenants. She was starting to see a different side of Phillip Hajjo, maybe they weren’t meant to be after all.

She tapped the front door of their apartment firmly. She couldn’t wait to get out of her clothes and take a quick shower.

Tonight, she would bury her tears in her pillow because she really felt hurt by Phillip’s drunken display.

‘Papa?’ She called out to her grandfather, wondering what was taking him so long to open the door for her. Her best guess was that he had fallen asleep, because he was an early sleeper.

‘Indi! I am coming.’ She heard his footsteps approach.

Indigo could swear that her grandfather had been speaking to someone else. Maybe she was hallucinating, because Mallam had no friends or any living relative. He had been a loner since the death of her mother and his wife.

‘There you are dear, come on in.’ Papa pulled open the door and welcomed her with a very bright smile. Indigo could tell this was excitement, but it looked like his smile had nothing to do with her return.

She tilted her head to one side and asked, ‘Is everything alright?’ She smiled, wondering what her grandfather was up to.
He nodded.

‘Everything is fine, come inside.’

She shrugged and strolled into the house, dropping her purse on the available stool before slumping into the only couch in the sitting room. She was fatigued!

‘You look so tired Indi, how was your day?’ Papa asked.

He had told Nkosi to wait in the kitchen, so he would have more time to prepare Indigo for this meeting which was very significant for them all.

She sighed. Yes, she was very tired, but her day wasn’t bad. Phillip had only disappointed her, and that really hurt, but aside his drunken display, she was good.
‘A lot of things happened.’ She had to tell her grandfather the truth about Ms. Lucinda Paul and her true identity. She couldn’t wait to share the hospitality she had received in the Hajjo residence. Theirs’ was a home of love, peace and beauty.

Papa could see that his grandchild was genuinely happy about her outing.
‘I guess they loved your work then,’ he waited for a response.

‘Yes, the Hajjos are very nice people. They are very wealthy too.’ She smiled, and straightened on the chair. It was time to pour out her heart on everything, but she wouldn’t tell Papa about Phillip yet.

He would say the words she hated to hear most, “I told you so.”

‘Papa, do you know that Ms. Lucinda Paul is Mr. Hajjo’s daughter?’ Indigo said as she spotted the shock in Papa’s eyes.

‘Lucinda Paul? The lady that offered you the job?’ Papa couldn’t believe it. He knew Mr. Hajjo; he had seen the man once. He owned the building they inhabited.

Indigo nodded, ‘the very same. She just altered her name and identity so we will be more open with her. Her name is Chalya Hajjo and her brother is Phillip Hajjo, the man that gave me a hundred thousand naira for your albutrol inhaler.’ She explained, the coincidence not only shocked her granddad, it blew him out of his mind.

Papa had only thought this sort of coincidence took place in movies.

‘I can’t it believe it, so you worked on the house of Mr. Hajjo? Does he know you live in his house?’ Papa asked.

‘No.’ she shook her head. She had planned to tell Phillip all about herself while trying to dissuade him from rent increment, but she wasn’t doing that anymore. Phillip could go ahead and do whatever he wanted, but she was ready to stand with Chalya and fight against his plans.

Papa lowered himself to the couch and pulled her in for a hug.

‘You’ve made me very proud today. I love you so much.’ He kissed her hair gently.

Indigo felt like crying, she couldn’t describe the joy that bubbled in her veins as her grandfather spoke these words to her.

‘I love you too grandpa and I will continue to make you proud.’ She smiled and wiped the tears that were dribbling down the old man’s cheeks.

If only Phillip hadn’t walked in drunk, her day would have been complete.

‘This is just the beginning. I am glad you could make your first day count. I have a feeling other people would call you to redesign or design their homes and offices.’ Mallam Hassan smiled.

Indigo accepted his blessing.

‘I pray so Papa.’ She decided to push the thoughts of Phillip out of her mind. She had to focus on other things tonight.

‘I am sorry I came home late, I had to finish the painting.’ She rose to her feet, ready to take a bath.

Papa quickly told her that he wasn’t offended. He was only worried and anxious, but her presence had chased away every negative feeling.

‘I prepared your favorite. Why don’t you eat first before leaving for the bathroom?’ He suggested in a stutter.

Papa didn’t know the right time to tell Indigo about her father. They had just shared a very beautiful moment and he was afraid to ruin it for her.

Indigo was highly sensitive. She had lived with this man all her life, so she knew when he was himself and when he wasn’t. There was a flicker of fear, apprehension and sadness, mixed together in his dark brown eyes.

That was worry.

‘What is wrong Papa?’ His feelings were more important to her, everything else could wait.