HEART OF GOLD.
EPISODE 3
Declan ran after his wife into the bedroom, pleading with her.
Declan: “please understand with me. I already told you that my father has done more than enough for me. This is the little I can do to appreciate him”
Stacey: “oh don’t tell me that. There is nothing strange about what he did to you. He is your father and it is his responsibility to train you. These are the things that fathers do for their children so don’t even use it as an excuse” she said.
Declan: “I know but I already agreed and it would break his heart for me to go and say that I would not give him again”
Stacey: “well, at this juncture you have to chose between your wife, whom you swore to love and cherish on the altar and your father who has enjoyed his own life and who doesn’t want you to enjoy your own because there is no way I would sit and watch you make me a widow before my time” she said.
Declan: “But we didn’t leave you out of the whole thing. Remember that my father helped you to secure an Indian visa some months ago…” he started to say before his wife interrupted him.
Stacey: “yes, he got an Indian visa for me because you said we would travel to India after our wedding for sightseeing, not to give out your kidney” she interjected.
Declan: “well, he got you the visa because you would need to go with us and take care of me after the transplant because the hospital said I would have to remain on bed rest for 3 months before I return to Nigeria”
Stacey: “no, this is so unimaginable, I can’t believe that you connived with your people to deceive me. This is not marriage, it is a sham!” she said and began to weep loudly.
Declan: “I am sorry, baby. I promise that we would go through this together, the doctors have certified that my kidneys are in perfect condition and giving my father one would not affect me in any way. Believe me” he assured her.
“oh don’t tell me that. This is a medical procedure that you have never undergone before and there could be complications along the way, that is why you need to remain on the hospital bed for three months for close examination” she said wiping her tears.
Declan: “but…”
Stacey: “no buts, I don’t want to hear any more explanation from you. Do you love me?” she asked looking into his eyes.
Declan: “are you asking me that? You know that I love you even more than my life. You are my everything and I love you dearly” he said tenderly.
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The university clinic did their best to stabilize Frank who had suffered from severe shock as a result of the sudden contact his head had with the wall. When his condition was a bit stable, the medical transferred him to the state capital to another hospital for further treatment and scanning to determine if there was any internal injury and bleeding in his head.
His childhood friend and roommate went through it all with him wondering what had happened to his friend while he was away.
He had tried to call Liza whom everyone knew on campus as Franks’ girlfriend to inform her that Frank was in a critical condition in the hospital. Liza had thanked him for taking care of her boyfriend but she had informed them that she couldn’t visit the hospital because she was busy preparing for a presentation that weekend. For the two weeks that Frank stayed in the hospital, he had expected to see Liza visit him all to no avail. On the day he was discharged, he asked his friend if he had informed Liza of what had happened to him.
Frank: “Sas, did you call Liza to inform her that I was on admission?” he asked sitting up on the bed, careful not to move his head for he was still feeling some pains.
Sas: “I called her as soon as we got to the university’s clinic. I had expected her to come immediately but she informed me that she could not visit you because she had some seminars and presentations to prepare for” he said.
Frank: “seminars and presentations are enough reason why she didn’t visit me all these two weeks?” he asked rhetorically as his mind went back to how she had pushed him to the wall before he passed out.
Sas: “that girl is something else. In fact, I don’t understand her at all. I will advise that you take your mind off her for now since the doctor said you shouldn’t think too much. But tell me, what exactly happened to you? The doctor said you had a collision with a hard surface and that was why you passed out. Did you fight with someone or something?” he asked searching his friend’s eyes.
Frank: “honestly, I cannot remember anything that happened” he lied, all in a bid to protect Liza whom he loved so much.
Sas: “hmmn”, he sighed and began to help his friend pack up the things they had used in the hospital.
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Stacey woke her husband up at the middle of the night with a gentle tap.
Stacey: “Declan, do you really love me?” she asked when he was fully awake.
Declan: “of course love, I love you more than anything in the world” he assured her.
Stacey: “then prove it by going to your family house and informing them that you can no longer give your father one of your kidneys” she said.
Declan: “what!” he said sitting up as if he had been sitting on a pin all the while.
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The next morning, Declan and Stacey set out to visit his family house. The house which was located in Asokoro was about 30 minutes drive from Kubwa where he and his wife lived. It was the first time they were going to visit the family house after marriage and Declan wished he didn’t have to discuss the kidney transplant with his father.
As soon as they got to the gate housing the edifice that his father and step mother lived in, the security man on recognizing the car as that of his favourite ‘small oga” who had just gotten married opened the gate and saluted them respectfully. Declan dipped his hands in his pocket and gave him a new one thousand naira note as he always did anytime the gate keeper impressed him.
His step mother was watching a series on Zee World when the young couple entered.
Mrs Ogar: “look who we have here” she said as soon as she saw them.
Stacey went on her knees immediately and greeted her respectfully. Declan bowed courteously. Ever since his father married her when he was barely ten years old, his step mother had taken a dislike for him and he could not explain why she hated him that much. The only time she smiled at him and spoke to him with love was when they had visitors in their midst, therefore he was not carried away by the outburst of emotions for he knew that she was just trying to put up appearances before his wife like she had always done.
Mrs Ogar: “come here and hug me, young man. Don’t you know how much I have missed you?” she said and spread her arms. Declan had no choice but to hug her. She went to Stacey and hugged her too, turning her all over, in feigned motherhood expectation.
“I hope I get to come around for omugwo soon?” she asked her.
Stacey: “by God’s grace, ma” she said with a little sense of embarrassment.
Declan: “where is my dad” he asked unconsciously looking upstairs.
Mrs Ogar: “oh, he is in his room” let me get him for you” she said and made to turn around but he stopped her.
Declan: “don’t bother yourself ma. I will go to his room and see him, I have something to discuss with him, part of the reason why we came” he said and ran upstairs before she could even think of asking what it was that he wanted to discuss with his father.
“So, tell me our wife, have you missed your period yet? Has my grandchild entered your womb?”
Stacey: “not yet, ma.” She said shifting uncomfortable in her chair.
Declan met his father sitting before his computer in his room.
Mr Ogar: “ah, my son is here” he said getting up and hugging Declan.
Declan: “Good afternoon father. I must say that you are looking very strong today. I hope you have been getting enough rest and sleep as advised?”
Mr Ogar: “we are trying. The white man doesn’t know that I was not brought up to sleep and rest during the day. If I had been sleeping and resting during the day all these while, how would I have been able to acquire all that I have?” he asked rhetorically, going back to sit on his chair.
Declan: “well, you have acquired the properties and money and so you can afford to sleep now. Remember that the advise is for the good of your health”
Mr Ogar: “I will try. I have been trying, haven’t I? Anyway, how are you and your wife?”
Declan: “she is fine. We actually came together. She is downstairs”
Mr Ogar: “You left her downstairs without bringing her here to see me? Well, if Mohammed doesn’t come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammed. I am going down to see her” he said and made to get up but his son stopped him.
“Not yet, dad. I left her down purposely because I have something to discuss with you” he said taking the available chair close to his father.
Mr Ogar: “what is the problem? Are you having issues with your wife already? I mean you just got married last month. Well, you have to be very patient and understanding. That is what I have been doing with your step mother ever since I married her. I guess women were specially designed to trouble men” he said in one breath.
Declan shook his head. “It is not about my wife, father” he said.
Mr Ogar: “then what is the problem?”
Declan: “it is about this forthcoming India trip. I mean the scheduled kidney transplant”
Mr Ogar: “oh that, don’t worry about it. It will go well, the hospital is good enough, trust me” he assured his distressed son.
Declan: “it is not about the capability of the hospital. I am no longer interested in giving up one of my kidneys anymore, dad”
Mr Ogar: “what! What did you just say?” he asked again.
Declan: “I said I have thought about the whole thing and I don’t think I am willing to give up my kidney anymore”
Mr Ogar: “so what happens to me? You want to abandon your father to die? Is that it? After all that I have done for you after your mother died and left you in this cold and wicked world?” he asked.
Declan: “father, you have to listen to me please. You have come a long way in terms of age, education and achievement. You have seen your children and by God’s grace you will live to see your grandchildren even before this one kidney that you are depending on fails. But look at me, I just got married. Do you want me to die in my prime without seeing my children? Think of my wife, what happens if I die now and leave her?” he asked, stress veins appearing on his forehead.
Mr Ogar: “who wants to kill you, my son?”
Declan: “you cannot be too sure that there will not be side effects after I give out my kidney. Some healthy people did that and their lives were never the same afterwards. Just think about it father” he pleaded.
Mr Ogar: “at this juncture I think we need to get somethings straight. To say that I am shocked about your refusal to help me life again is an understatement. I give you two options, Declan. It is either you donate one of your kidneys to me and save my life or I disown you and you lose out your inheritance. Make your choice now!” he barked and Declan’s feet began to quiver.
Question: Can a father ever do this to his own son? What do you advise Declan to do?
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