“Abike someone is looking for you?” Blessing said as she entered the room.
Abike was engrossed in the music she was listening to. She was lying on the bed with her eyes closed and headset on.
“Did you hear me?” Blessing nudged her.
Abike removed the headset she had on and asked, “What did you say?”
“I said one man is looking for you?” Blessing said.
“Man ke? Please describe him.”
Blessing described the man who was looking for Abike in an insulting manner.
“Oh that’s my father?” Abike said, sitting up on the bed.
“Your what?” Blessing asked, confused.
“My dad.”
“For real?”
“Yea.”
“Sorry about the way I described him o. I was thinking he is one of your father’s drivers.”
“I know. I get that a lot whenever people see him.
“So sorry.”
“Please where is he now?”
“He is standing under the tree outside the gate.”
“You did not let him into the compound?” Abike asked with eyes wide open.
“I didn’t know he was your father,” Blessing said with plea in her voice.
Abike jumped out of the bed, wore a free gown over the singlet and bum-short she had on and rushed out. Blessing scratched her head and leaned against the wall, not knowing what to make out of what just happened. She was squatting in Abike’s well furnished one-room ‘selfcon’ and had been there barely a month. She had nowhere else to go and so was worried Abike might send her out for disrespecting her father.
Abike met her father outside, standing with arms folded across his chest.
“Daddyyyyyy” she called as she hugged him.
“My baby,” he said.
“Mmmmmm,” she answered still holding him tight.
“Easy o before you suffocate me o.”
Abike laughed and let go of him.
“Daddy how are you?” she asked.
“I am fine o,” he replied.
“This one you came to see me.”
“I can’t come to see my daughter again?”
“But I was home last week. Just say you are missing me,”
“I miss you everyday.”
“You see.”
“But actually, I drove my oga to a street close by so I said I should rush and see you before he is ready to leave.”
“Ok. Come in let me find something for you to eat.”
“There is no time for that dear.”
“It won’t take time.”
“My oga may need me anytime.”
“But he has your phone number. He will call you when he needs you.”
“No oo. It is bad work ethics; to leave the car and go out. It is unsafe for the car and risky for my work.”
“If you say so daddy.”
“Besides, seeing you is enough for me. When you come to the house next time, we will have time to eat and discuss long.”
“I miss you and mum so much.”
Abike hugged him again.
“You refused to live with us,” her father said.
“I needed to be on my own so I can manage my life, school and work properly,” Abike said.
“I totally understand my dear, and I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you daddy.”
They stood for a while grinning at each other.
“Let me get going,” Abike’s dad said to her after a while.
“So soon?”
“Yes o before my oga looks for me and fires me.”
“Mcheew,” Abike hissed. “That young man you call ‘oga’ sef. You are old enough to be his father.”
“What can I do? As long as I am getting money, I will swallow the shame. Since government has refused to pay us our pension, let me manage this work. Moreover, I am still fit.”
“By now, you need to be resting and not working hard to make money like you did when you were younger. This country sef. After working for years, nothing to show for it.”
“I have you and your siblings to show for it o. At least I was able to train you the much I can.”
“I wish I am making money enough to take care of everybody so you can stop this demeaning work.”
“My dear, that time will come but for now, as long as I am getting money to cater for the family, especially your younger ones, I will not stop.”
“Daddy don’t worry, all these insults will soon be over.”
Abike put her hand over his shoulder. She was as tall as he was so it was not a challenge for her.
“Let me go back,” Abike’s father said as he moved.
“Let me see you off to the junction,” Abike said as she walked with him.
“So when am I meeting him?” Abike’s father asked her.
“Who?” Abika asked, looking at him inquisitively.
“You know who I mean.”
Abike burst into laughter.
“Daddy, don’t worry,” she said. “You will soon see him.”
“I want to start getting return on my investment in you o,” Abike’s father said.
“Ah daddy,” Abike said and gently nudged him. “I am not civil service where you invested your years of service o.”
“I can’t wait to call my kindred and tell them I am giving my daughter out in marriage, and not every week, somebody would be inviting me for his daughter’s own.”
“I feel the same way too o. I am tired of being invited to weddings by my friends. I should invite them also.”
“I don’t mean to pressure you o but…”
“I understand. You know how much I tried in the past but they kept disappointing me.”
“I know. The last disappointment made me feel very bad. I really liked Kayode as a son-in-law.”
“Well, things happen. Long story short, I am still single.”
“For now…”
“Yes for now.”
“Don’t give up on love ok. Someone who will treat you like a queen will soon come. I believe it.”
“I believe it too daddy, but for now, I am focusing on making enough money to help you pay family bills and train my younger ones in school.”
“I know but the presence of a man makes it easier.”
“Let’s keep praying and waiting then.”
They got to the junction.
“Go back now ok,” Abike’s father told her.
“Ok daddy,” Abike replied. “I will come next weekend. By then I will be free. I have school work to tidy up and some jobs I am doing till then.”
“Ok. I will inform your mother. Your favorite soup will be waiting.”
“Yeeeeeei, thanks dad.”
She hugged him and he walked briskly towards where he had parked the car. Abike turned and went back. She was not the social type so she didn’t bother greeting people she saw on the road.
When Abike got into her room, Blessing jumped up from the bed where she was sitting nervously.
“I am really sorry,” she said, “making to kneel.”
Abike rushed and held her….
{to be continued}
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