My Escapades In The North - S01 E16

Story 3 years ago

My Escapades In The North - S01 E16

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 16

Contd.

We went outside to get a bike to go to the lab. To avoid suspicious stares, she asked me to take the first bike that came while she was going to take the next one that came. I asked her to go first with me coming behind, but she refused.

I took the bike and about 10minutes later, I got to the lab. Then my waiting began. I waited for about 15minutes, factoring in the time taken to get a bike and the time taken to get to the lab. She was still not at the lab yet.

I gave her 10 more minutes, ‘Perhaps she didn’t get bike on time’, I thought. She still wasn’t there. ‘What’s happening?’, I asked myself. I then decided to call her.

I called her about 5 times. The phone rang all through, she didn’t pick.

Can you imagine!???

So many thoughts began running through my head. ‘Wait o, was she really pregnant?’ ‘Did she decide to avoid the test since she knew she wasn’t pregnant?’ ‘Why didn’t she take the first bike when I asked her to?’ ‘What kinda stunt is this?’ ‘What was she hoping to achieve?’

I was still thinking about how the whole scenario was going to play out when I called her again. Still no response. Then I decided to go to Prince’s lodge.

Prince: Papa Junior, how far na…

Me: You dey mad o..

Prince: Laughs Na me give woman belle?

Me: Stop jor…

Prince: Ehen how far na, positive or negative?

Me: The babe no show the lab na…

Prince: As how na???

Me: I say she no show, you dey ask me as how?

Prince: I don’t understand… I thought both of you were to go to the lab together…

I explained everything to him…

Prince: Mehn, that babe don jonz you o… It’s just obvious she wasn’t pregnant that’s why she avoided the test…

Me: But why would she try such rubbish on me na…

Prince: Oboy, na you know agreement wey una two sign o…

To say I was angry was an understatement. I was relieved/infuriated. Relieved that she wasn’t pregnant and infuriated that she could try such pranks on me. I was fUuucking scared! ‘What was she hoping to achieve by telling me she was pregnant???’

I decided I was going to give her space, before she tried another expensive stunt on me.

I went home to prepare for tutorials with her brother. I tried taking a nap, but I couldn’t. My mind was just concentrated on the kind of tongue-lashing I was going to give her when I saw her.

When I got to their gate, I knocked several times before the gate man finally opened…

Abdullai: Se oga! (‘Hailings’)

Me: Abu, yaya ne… (What’s up)

Abdullai: Alhamdullai oga… (Thank God)

Me: Ina Salim? (Where is Salim)

Abdullai: Walahi oga, ba kowa a gidan… (They are not at home)

Me: Ahi na za su je? (Where did they go to?)

Abdullai: Sun je asibiti… Zainabu ta kai yi accidenti (They went to the hospital… Zainab had an accident…)

Me: :o :o :o Weni yo she (When?)

Abdullai: Yau (Today)

Me: Weni hospital? (Which hospital?)

Abdullai: Epemsi… (F.M.C Federal Medical Centre)

Me: Tor, bari mu je… (Ok, let me go there)…

:'( :'( :'(

Now, here was the real issue. She obviously had an accident that was why she couldn’t make it to the lab. D--n, why didn’t I think of this. And here I was blaming her! This was my fault. I hoped she was fine. But they would definitely run tests on her and …

* :o Oh shiiit, her mum would find out… Then I’m screwed!!!

I left their house still contemplating whether to go to the hospital or not? ‘If I didn’t go, what would that say about the kind of person I am?’ Wicked and uncaring! ‘If I did go, how was I going to face her mother?’ Scary!

I decided to face her mother anyways. ‘They could not kill me; they are too civilized for that…’ I thought.

When I got to the hospital, I called her brother and he told me they were outside the emergency ward. I got there and noticed the way Zainab’s mum looked at me as I approached them.

:o Oh shiiit, she knows already!! It’s done!

I braced myself and walked up to them…

Me: Good evening ma…

ZM: Dioxidane how are you?

Me: I’m fine ma… I got to the house and Abu told me Zainab had an accident… How is she?

ZM: Tears gathering in her eyesShe is still unconscious…

Me: :o :o How come? How did this happen?

Salim: They said she was on a bike and as the bikeman was about negotiating a bend, a car came and hit them…

Me: Jeez!!! Are there injuries on her?

Salim: Just some bruises…

After several minutes, a doctor came and signaled Zainab’s mum to come with him. Salim was obviously angry/sad…

Salim: I don’t even know what she was doing on a bike. The driver was supposed to take her to school and back…

Me: Erhm, maybe she went to see a friend…

Salim: The driver should have taken her…

Me: Maybe the driver was not around…

Salim: She should have called him… She’s always proving that she knows everything…

Me: Erhm…

As we were still talking, Zainab’s mum came out and signaled us to come with a slight smile on her face.

ZM: She’s awake now…

We went in to see her and as soon as our eyes met, I mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry’ to her. She just gave a slight smile. Salim began asking her questions about where she went to and how it happened. I just stood there watching them. She was alive and fine, but the ‘issue’ was still not resolved. It was a time bomb waiting to explode.

I waited for about 20 gruesome minutes before Zainab’s mum came back from the doctor’s office. It felt like 20 hours. I was no more paying attention to what Zainab was saying anymore. I was concerned about how Zainab’s mum was going to come screaming at Zainab, ‘Who is responsible for your pregnancy????’

:o I don die be that!

The thought alone was scary. In all my years of straffing, I had never thought about such consequence, ‘cos I felt I was always protected. Now this????

I thought about going to confront her and explain what happened. But how was I going to do that?

Me: Ehrm, sorry ma, I’m responsible for your daughter’s pregnancy…

ZM: Brings out a dagger and stab my heart

Ok, bad idea! I decided against it…

I was still having those thoughts when I saw Zainab’s mum coming into the ward. She looked so dreary…

This is it!

I braced myself for any possible negative reaction. She just sat on the bed, placing her right hand on Zainab’s head…