Chapter 6

Tolani, Desewa's younger sister was in the kitchen

trying to put things in order before her sister and

brother arrives.

Mom what time are they coming? I have no idea

your sister should be here any moment from now,

but your brother I'm not even sure if he's coming, he

will come don't worry, a car just

drove in let me check who it is, she said stepping out,

mom it's Sewa.

She hugged her sister, Tolani how are you? she

hugged her back, I'm very fine how are you

and how's work? everything is fine, Kemi I didn't

know you were coming, she said hugging her, where's

my mother? she's inside probably in the kitchen,

look how fresh you are, I miss you soo much, look

who's talking look how big and beautiful you are now,

you didn't come to check on your sister, you know I'm

always busy I would've come to check on you and

mom, I've been really busy lately too I just

finished shooting a movie, really? that's nice, what

movie? let's go inside, I've got gist for you.

Mom, she said hugging her, how are you doing? mom

I'm fine, I miss you, sorry have not been coming here,

work has been so hectic, I understand, Kemi how are

you? how's mom and dad? everyone is fine, how are

you doing, I'm fine too, that's good.

Tola get your sisters something to drink, what do you

want? we have all kinds of drink you know Brandy or

whiskey, she whispered to them, does mom know? she

doesn't know I kept it in one of my wardrobe,

you haven't changed, Sewa said, I don't mind a glass of

whiskey, Kemi said, are you in, she asked her sister

I'm not used to drinking in the afternoon, I'll just take

small, she said laughing, I'll be right back, I don't drink

in the afternoon does this looks like your

shop Kemi said.

What have you girls been up to? her mother asked,

I'm getting more modelling jobs big ones, Kemi said,

thats awesome, what about you Desewa? my business

is growing really fast, I'm getting good and well

paying customers, is there any man in your life? mom

please not today, I keep telling you the right one will

come, where you're busy cutting and designing

clothes, oh God! mom not today, Kemi you to, you are

not getting any younger if you don't get married now

when will you start making babies, you don't have a

boyfriend?

Mom these days it's very hard to find the right one,

we're still praying ma, Kemi said, keep praying my

dear, yes ma.

Tolani!! I told you to get them something to drink,

where are you, I'm coming mommy! She brought a

tray with three glass of chilled whiskey, here you go,

she said handing it over to them, I'm entering the

room, Tolani keep checking on the girl in the kitchen,

alright mommy.

Tell me everything going on with you, Desewa said to

her sister, I just finished shooting a movie, I'm super

excited about it I've been doing other ones but this

one is the hit, I work with big actors and actresses,

I'm so happy for you, what movie is this one? it's a

seasonal movie, we just finished shooting season one,

I'm glad you're doing perfectly fine, how far the guy

you were dating I can't remember is name, Seye? we

broke up a month ago, what happened? not all that

glitters is gold, I thought I found my prince charming,

tell me what really happened, he use to hit me, I was

enduring it until I found out he has been cheating on

me, Tolani he was hitting you and you stayed with

him, I needed his connection, he helped me to where I

am today, what if you died in the process, don't try

that next time, when you see a red flag you run, it's

okay ma, I'm fine now, does mom know? She know we

broke up but she she doesn't know why, is there any

new guy, I'm not ready for another relationship i just

want to flex, please don't be like us, at what age do you

want to flex, I repeat don't be like us, don't worry

about me I'll be fine.

Tell me what's going on with you? nothing much just

my work, no man yet, I actually met a guy recently, he

asked me out already, who's he, he's one of my clients

son, he's name is Xavier Martins, he's very rich, why

haven't you said yes, you just said all that glitters is not

gold, you know you don't need his money, you have

your money he has his own, for the better, Tolani said,

we're still getting to know each other, I'm not rushing

into any relationship, but don't push him away, Kemi

what about you? I'm busy facing my modelling, I'm

not ready for any serious relationship, you too, why? I

just broke up to, you broke up with that guy, you guys

were good together what happened? he only used me,

we moved in together, I paid for the rent he gave

excuses about his place and how he lost a lot of

money blah blah, I was ready to support him I didn't

know he only used me has a cover, he was owing

some people money, they seized his house and other

things, I practically paid the money, he just kept on

asking money for contracts that keep failing, I kept on

giving him, stupid me, after he paid his debt, he just

disappeared, after few weeks he messaged me on

whatsapp and broke up officially, I was very angry

but what can I do, wait I don't get it? you left him

alone without sueing him, I can't go through that

stress and you know I don't want any attention from

the press and media, I get you, that's very bad you're

really strong I don't think I can get over it in a year,

what can I do? let me check on Sarah, should I get

you more drinks? do you plan to get us drunk, Sewa

said, I was only joking, does Sarah know I'm around, I

don't think so, I'll tell her.

Aunt Sewa good afternoon, I didn't know you were

around, how are you? I'm fine, hope you're not

stressing mom? no ma, you can get back to what

you're doing, okay ma.

Mom are you sleeping, she said entering her mom's

room, I'm not I'm sorting some things out, what's that?

I'm trying to buy new fabrics but I don't have much,

the fabrics are too expensive I'm thinking of

borrowing money, why do you want to buy these

fabrics? the fabrics are very nice, unique and heavy,

some of my customers have been asking for it, so you

don't have any money to buy it, I just restocked my

shop last week, the money with me is not enough,

how much are we talking about, for the start I want to

get like 15, mommy how much, one is 500 thousand

naira, I need 7.5 million naira that's a lot of money, is

that what you want to borrow, I can't let you not all, i

have 4 million that I can add, do you really need to

buy this fabric, it's trending , I'm getting double of

what I'm spending, mommy are you sure, who's the

distributor, he's my distributor, he can't scam me,

have you done a bigger deal than this with him, of

course, if not because I just restocked, I could have

bought more instead of 15, alright mom I'll give you 4

million naira, I don't really have much too, but don't

borrow any money, don't worry, I'll get the rest, thank

you so much, you don't have to thank me.

How have you been? I'm fine mommy, work is just

tiring, Adesewa, are you not thinking of getting

married at your age your mate are busy making

babies you've been single for the past two years, mom

I'm still searching don't worry very soon, are you

sure? I met my friend's son few days ago, he's not

married too, the guy is cool should I introduce him to

you, mom no, I don't want I'll find my man myself,

please no more talk about marriage, when I'm ready

I'll bring a man home, I've heard you.

How's business? she asked her mom, business is fine,

it's getting late already is your brother not coming?

He told me he's coming, someone just drove in he

should be the one, mom why did you change your

gateman? he got a better offer i had to let him go, I

don't like the face of the new guy, why? he's very nice,

and responsible, if you say so, let me check who came

in.

Simade, Desewa said hugging her brother, how are

you doing? I'm fine, where's mommy? she's in her

room, where's your wife and kids, don't tell me you

didn't bring them, they're outside, let me greet mom,

I'll be right back.

Mom, he said opening the door to her room, Simade,

how are you? I'm fine mom, how are you, I'm okay,

why are you in your room, I just came to relax,

where's Joke? she should be in the living room, I

thought you'd come earlier, I really wanted to be here

before 4 so the kids can spend more time here but I

had an emergency at the hospital, it's alright, it's very

important not to let your wife feel lonely, create time

for her, I do mom I'm trying, that's good, let me see my

grandchildren.

Good evening mommy, Joke said how are you?, I'm

fine ma, how are you and how's business? we thank

God, my babies, she said hugging her son's kids, Taye

and Kehinde.

Tolani tell Sarah to set the dinning, alright mom.

How's business my dear? she asked Joke, fine ma, just

a bit slow these days, things will get better, let's go to

the dinning table.

It's been a while we've gathered like this I know if I

didn't plan this you guys won't think of coming to see

your mom, mom it's not like that, Desewa said, you

don't have to give excuse I get it you all are busy but

at least once in a while you should come around

especially you Simade, when last did you come here?

last Christmas Simade what month are we in, October,

almost a year already and you didn't bother to check

on your mom i know you call sometimes but I'll prefer

to see you not just calls and you Joke even if your

husband is too busy to visit, what about you and the

kids, I really don't have any excuse, but mommy I'm

promising you at least once in a month I and the kids

will come around, I will love that, let's these kids

know me well and be free with me, alright mommy,

I'm really sorry, its alright my dear, let's eat.

After dinner, they sat in the living room to talk and

catch up, Desewa sat next to her brother, how's the

hospital? you don't want to know, if I didn't tell the

ED(Emergency Department) not to call me until

tomorrow I won't be here this long, but you are

not the only neurosurgeon in the hospital, I'm good

at what i do that's why they call me, I hope you have

time for your family not just your patients, you have

to balance it, yea, I'm trying, how far have you gone

with your hospital, it's still under construction, almost

done, alright, so how have you been? any man now?

nothing serious yet, you know you're not getting any

younger, you're starting to sound like mom, she's

been talking about me getting married since I got

here, I will get married when the time comes, I don't

want to rush, alright take your time, I've got your back

what time are youleaving it's almost 10 and your

place is far from here? She asked, anytime from now,

what time are you leaving? he asked, I'm leaving now,

I need to design a dress before I sleep, can't you

do that tomorrow, i have to do it tonight and

start working on it tomorrow you're more busy than I

am, you think so I sleep when I want to, I eat when I

want to and I can go out when I want to but you can't,

she said laughing, let me tell mom we're leaving.

When next am I seeing you Adesewa, mom don't

worry, when I'm done with the dress I'm working on

at the moment with I'll come spend the weekend

here, I'll be expecting you, I'll send the money

tomorrow, thank you so much, good night, she said

hugging her, Tolani take good care of mommy and

don't stress her, alright, she said hugging her sister,

won't you give your little sister something before

leaving, you're a big girl now, there's no big girl when

it comes to money, don't worry I'll send something to

you when I get home, alright thanks in advance, I love

you, love you too, she said entering her car.