Anu - S01 E02

2 years ago

Anu - S01 E02

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

Anu knows she’ll surely die tonight, but how she will die is what scared her. Her father would always beat and punish her for minute offences, let alone this that involved food.

‘ Aaah, Baba mi didn’t even lock me outside. I’m truly going to die tonight’ she said silently as she gently pushed the handle of the door.

‘E ka le baba mi’ she greeted but her father did not respond, he only continued shaking his legs which were placed on the table.

‘Who am I deceiving? Am I actually expecting him to return my greetings when I entered at almost 21:30? ‘ she was brought back to reality when her father adjusted his position which resulted in a little sound.

‘ Daddy, I know you will kill me today, but please give me the chance to explain what happened. I’m sorry I starved you and Segun. I am so sorry Baba…’ she said crying.

Her father still did not utter a word and she took the opportunity to to explain the event of the day. Tears and catarrh wouldn’t stop dropping freely as she narrated her ordeal.

Her father did not interrupt her until she finished talking. The silence is killing but, she had nothing else to say even as she has said sorry a hundred and one times while explaining.

‘ Baba mi, please say something’ she said sniffing.

‘ I have heard you, go to the kitchen now and get your food’ he said without looking at her.

‘ Sir?’ she said trying to believe what she just heard.

‘Well, may be he doesn’t want me to die on an empty stomach and my ghost disturbing him for food’ she thought.

Anu hurried to the kitchen as if a delay can cause her dad to change his mind.

She was surprised when she opened the pot and saw vegetable soup. She dished the food and ate hungrily without a moment of thought about what will happen afterwards. When she finished her food, she went to her room and prayed silently kissing her brother’s forehead who was soundly asleep.

She went to the sitting room, knelt in front of her father as she expects her final judgement.

Baba finally spoke at length…

‘I am sorry for been harsh to you and you brother. I am sorry I have not been the best father to you. This has never been any of your faults but I couldn’t help but pass the aggression on you and your brother. I wasn’t like this before, but poverty has really changed me for the bad. Look at were we are staying, thank God you weren’t so young when we moved into this place even when it hasn’t been completed. Your mother refused to join me in an uncompleted building and she stayed back without considering you and your brother, her children. It’s just too difficult for me that I usually have suicidal thoughts. I couldn’t get myself to do it because I would always thought about you and your brother.

I married your mother because I loved her, but she hurt me deeply. I heard she married our former landlord at Mushin. She had been secretly dating him and that was why they both planned I vacate the house for them.

It’s always sadden my heart when I remembered the woman I ever loved betrayed my love for her. You look exactly like Abike, your mother and I couldn’t help but dislike you for her sake. Since I couldn’t hurt her, I hurt you instead because all I always see her in you.All these and poverty made me to always beat you up at the slightest provocation.

I have realized I should learn to be happy with my children even with the little I have and I promise to stay through to this course. Never again will I lift my hands against you and your brother and I will love you more than anything and anyone.’ Baba Anu said all these with tears flowing down his cheek.

Anu remained lost for awhile in her thoughts

‘ Oh, how sorry I am for believing you hate us for no just cause, for always wishing you had left while mama stayed instead. I have always hated you, seeing you as not man enough to raise and sustain a family. I’m Sorry baba, I’m so sorry’ Anu said in her mind before rushing to hug his father who was still sitting.

‘ I’m sorry daddy, I’m sorry….’ she continued saying even as father and daughter begin to weep aloud. It was a very emotional moment for them, each thinking of how they have judged themselves wrongly.

They finally stopped crying, now sitting together as Baba Anu’s hand was on his daughter’s shoulder.

Anu was able to find her voice first and the she asked her father: ‘where did you get money for the delicious soup in the pot?’

…