HE SAID NO.
EPISODE 28
Grace and Amifel were as supportive as could be alongside Mrs. Biodun was always with her daughter in the hospital, except at night when she went home along with Tobi.
Akinwale opened his eyes a day later and his wife’s joy knew no bound. The doctor put him some medications which made him sleep like a log of wood and Mrs. Akinwale couldn’t be more delighted.
Amifel came around the hospital to check up Mrs. Grace and her husband a day after before she went to attend to one of her numerous events. Amifel wasn’t so comfortable being around Mrs. Balogun as she didn’t want to listen to lectures from the marriage counselor herself, neither was Mrs. Balogun, she now knew why her friend talked to her the way she did, the last time they met.
Grace came around later that evening, and she was overjoyed to hear that Mr. Akinwale was responding to treatment. Although she met Mrs. Akinwale’s absence, her mom was around to welcome her.
“She will soon be back,” Mrs. Balogun assured her.
“It’s fine ma, I can see her anytime, the most important thing right now is that Mr. Akinwale is getting better,” Grace smiled, looking occasionally at Mr. Akinwale who was sleeping soundly while lying face up and a drip was passed into his body.
“Thank you, my daughter, may God keep you and uphold you ehn, your husband won’t leave you at your prime in Jesus’ name,” Mrs. Biodun interrupted.
“Amen mummy, amen,” Grace giggled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I am not married ma, ”
“ Ehn Ehn! I thought as much!” She exclaimed, “You know, when I didn’t see a ring on your finger, I was puzzled but I just thought you were one of those women who don’t wear rings like myself… But why? Such a beautiful and Godly woman like you? Kilode? Time is going oh!”
“Very soon ma, very soon, God is always on time,”
“I know, but heaven helps those who help themselves, you know that women have limited time and important issues like marriage have to be settled very fast. It is the child that raises his arm that is carried oh, I am not trying to make you feel bad, you are a good girl and I am only talking from the perspective of a concerned mother. Uhmm, try and hurry up,”
“Yes ma, I understand. A lot of suitors have approached me for marriage but I have come to understand that not all men can be my husband. The number of men out there are more than the number of husbands and a lifetime empire like marriage has to be built patiently and prayerfully. Mummy, you know beautiful and long-lasting things like marriage takes time.”
“Uhmm, I agree with you, you are right. God will uphold you and bring a well befitting man your way, ”
“Amen, mummy,” Grace answered just as Mrs. Akinwale walked in, holding her son by one hand and a polythene bag, containing food for her husband with the other.
“Grace, you are here,” she smiled while dropping the food on the table beside her husband’s bed as Tobi proceeded to sit on his granny’s laps.
“Yes, Mrs. Akinwale, mummy told me you went home to do some things. “Grace smiled back.
” Yes, yes. I went to prepare something for him to eat, I didn’t want to buy food around as my mom suggested, ”
“E ma wo omo yii o, “ Mrs. Balogun said in Yoruba, meaning ‘look at this woman’.
“Mummy didn’t just want to stress you,” Grace said in her mom’s defense. Mrs. Balogun herself nodded in gratification.
“Don’t mind my mummy, Grace, thank you for coming around yet again, I just can’t thank you enough,” Mrs. Akinwale said.
“We thank God for everything,” Grace smiled.
“The pastor of the church I now attend was also here, earlier today,” she continued.
“Yes, oh Grace, that man of God comes here to check on us every single day, the same with you and Amifel. Ah, God bless all of you for us oh!” Mrs. Balogun prayed, raising both hands while rubbing them over each other.
Grace stayed with them for a while before she indicated that she was ready to leave.
“Alright my daughter, please take care of yourself,” Mrs. Balogun said jovially.
“Yes ma, I will. Thank you so much ma,” Grace smiled back. “Tobi, bye, ”
“Byeeee, ” Tobi dragged while waving his hands gently.
“And don’t forget what we talked about,” Mrs. Balogun chipped in.
“Yes, ma.” Grace chortled.
“What did you talk about with my mum,” Mrs. Akinwale asked as she locked the door behind her.
“It was nothing serious, Mummy just said I should hurry up with marriage plans,” Grace said with smiles.
“Mttchew,” Grace hissed, “Please, don’t mind her oh, take your time, don’t marry blindly or out of compulsion, “she paused a bit before she continued, “As I did,” she said sadly.
“Mrs. Akinwale, stop talking like that, “Maybe you made a wrong choice, but God specializes in working all things together for good for his children, any situation that God steps into turns around for good, I can tell you for sure that God has intervened in your marriage, and he will perfect what he has started.” Grace comforted her while holding her right hand tenderly, they were already outside the hospital.
“Amen, “Mrs. Akinwale said as she handed Grace a neatly folded white paper. “That is the letter that my husband dropped for me before he attempted suicide, ”
“Dear Adunni,
I told you I hated my father, but I never told you why. Even if I will die, I can’t bottle up something as much as this and that is my reason for writing this letter.
My father had been manhandling my mom since I could remember and it always made me sad. She had different patches of wounds littered all over her body because my Dad beats her up at the slightest provocation.
I wanted to help but I was too small and incapacitated to do anything. The hospital became my mom’s regular relaxation center, my mother never failed to visit the hospital every month to treat wounds. I later discovered that the reason why my mom had just me was that my dad’s punches would never allow her baby to stay.
This continued until one day, I went to play with my friends and on getting back, I found my dad in the sitting room sitting on my mom while throwing hard punches at her on all fronts. My mom passed out and we rushed her to the hospital, that was the last time I saw my mom alive. I was devastated and angry, I refused to go to school nor talk to my dad, until one night I stood u from my bed and went into the kitchen, took our kitchen knife, and stabbed my dad.
Everyone believed me when I said my dad committed suicide, no one could say otherwise. But I only did it for my mom.
My beautiful queen, you are my jewel of inestimable value, and marrying you is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I saw my mom in you and that endeared me to you all the more.
Beating you has never been my desire, I detest it so much but I find myself doing the very same thing. I know that God must resent me for all my numerous sins, especially treating you so badly but it is almost as if I am being controlled by some unseen force. It is strange how you find yourself doing the very things you hate.
I want you to know that I have always loved you and will always love you.
How can I live, knowing that the only woman I have loved as much as I loved my mother no longer wants to be with me?
Please take care of my son, tell him that I love him. I have left everything I own in your care. My lawyer would see you when I’m gone.
Although I don’t know where I am going, I know that whatever horror awaits me would be infinitesimal compared to what I feel right now.
I love you Grace Adunni.
Till we meet again or maybe not.
Akinwale Ajisafe.”
To be continued…
Written by Sodamade Olamide Tolulope.
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