I'm Alive

Few days later, Mr Biobaku is yet to utter a word nor clearly open his eyes but his family builds their relieve on the words of the doctor that he is responding to treatment..

The arrested robber has regained total consciousness after being treated by the nurse who also treated Mr Biobaku. For the past few days, he has been detained at the police station for proper questioning and interrogation. He has literally accepted his present fate as "Doom" for his compatriots already deserted him and he is trapped in the hands of the law.

"By the concrete information we have at hand, we were informed that on that day, you weren't the only one who visited the house of Mr Biobaku, true or false?" A police officer asked.

"Ye-ye-ye-ye-n-n-nn," the detained robber begins to stammer.

"Talk to me idiot!" The police officer smashed his two ears with his two palms.

The pain the robber derived from this style of torture offered from the police officer was too strong that it returned his voice.

"Yes sir!

True sir!

True sir!

We were two, myself and Jaiye." The robber swiftly responded to the question of the police officer.

"Oh, his name is Jaiye, I can see you're ready to corporate.

So, where is he now?" The police officer asked.

"Sir, I promise to say nothing but the truth." The robber continues fidgeting.

"Good boy, continue." The police officer replied.

The robber continues;

"That night, when Jaiye knew that my injury might cause him doom, he left me behind and fled with the money. He wanted to kill me so as to avoid him not being tracked by my confession (if I don't make it). After pointing the gun at me, the echoing voices from the neighbors who are on our trail gave a change of mind to Jaiye and the sound of the trigger might attract our hunters (neighbors) to his path. So, he threatened to kill me if I ever confess but what choice do I have now? I'm already a dead man. And sir, I was not the one who shot the man, it was Jaiye who did that.

I'll never carry a gun talk more of shooting a man;" he concluded.

"Okay, Mr nice guy.

So, how did you get to know that Mr Biobaku possesses some amount of money?

And who sent you (If any)?" The interrogative police officer asked.

"Sir, please can you do me a favor?" the fidgeting robber asked

"Yes, it might be the last you'll have," the police officer replied.

"Before I answer the question you asked me, I'll love to have the man that was shot here, I hope he is still alive. I need to confess in his presence, its important he hears this coming directly from me." The detained robber said.

"Oh, you mean the man that is still battling with his life in the hospital. What if he is dead?

Well, I'll consult his wife, her response will determine the faith of your demand. The police officer emphasized.

"For now, we are done here. Take him back into the cell," he concluded.

"Sade, you need to spend the rest of the next few days only with you books.

You need to stop coming to the hospital, its time I solely take it up from here." Mrs Biobaku said.

"Mother, you know that's almost impossible. I can't just leave you to it!

Hence, the exam ain't bigger than my father." Sade replied.

"Oh, mommy, mommy, the new king and his entourage are here," sade surprisingly said.

Kàbiyèsí oo (This is a slogan for respecting the king).

"Good day ma, you're the wife to Mr Biobaku right?" The newly installed king asked.

"Yes I'm, your highness. And this is our daughter, Sade." Mrs Biobaku replied.

"I heard about the unfortunate occurrence on your husband, I'm sorry. I should have visited few days back but i haven't been around, custom demands that I visit some pioneers of this country and this state specifically after my coronation ceremony. I'm sorry once again." The king commiserated.

He continues;

"Nurse, I hope he is responding to treatment?"

"Yes, your highness, he is." The nurse replied.

"Please, if you need anything to facilitate his recuperation, please do not hesitate to see me at the palace.

And ma, take this token (The king servant extended a hand with a white envelope to Mrs Biobaku), you might need to pay some bills, buy anything or feed the family during this dire time." The King concluded.

"Oh, your highness. We are so glad, we appreciate this humane gestures from you."

May your reign never fades" (Mrs Biobaku keeps praying).

You're welcome; replied the king.

Few minutes after the king had left back to his palace while Sade insisted on staying with her dad in the hospital while she also reads for her coming exams, Mr Biobaku who hasn't said a word for days nor have a noticeable breath took a heavy inhalation with a silent exhalation.

This spur panics and trembles the heart of Mrs Biobaku and Sade.

They both longed their voice shouting;

"Nurse!

Nurse!

Nurse!"

"Please come, he has stopped breathing" Sade who had by the speed of light reached the nurse with tears dripping down her eyes down to her chin shouted.

"My husband!

My husband!

Abefe!

Biobaku!

Ife mi!

Please don't leave me alone in this world, please don't." Mrs Biobaku who kept relentlessly grabbing her husband and calling him by different names said..

"Ma'am, please kindly give me some space and let me check on him. He was breathing the last time I checked." The nurse said.

"My father must not die

He must not die!" Sade tearfully said.

Surprisingly, Mr Biobaku suddenly opened his eyes and said "I'm Alive, that was just a joke."

They all grabbed their chest by the hand as they took a breath of relieve.

"Daddy!!"

Sade joyously said as she warmly hugged her dad while Mrs Biobaku couldn't stop being emotional seeing her husband alive again.

They all hugged together.

"That was such an expensive joke, it got me though." The nurse jokingly said.

She continued;

"We all must check the level of our blood pressure before leaving the hospital."

They all laughed.

"I heard a man talking earlier," Mr Biobaku said.

"That was the new King," Sade interrupted.

Mr Biobaku continues;

But during that time, I was just wondering if either I'm dead or alive.

But seeing you all confirms that I am truly alive.

"Where is Ayo and Aduke?" Mr Biobaku asked.

"They have both gone to school," Mrs Biobaku replied.

"Its good to be alive again," Mr Biobaku concluded.