Precious

Ogar skidded down the path. He raised his hand and waved at his uncle for the last time before heading on the direction of the hospital.

"Today is exceptionally bright and beautiful" he had told uncle Travis several times. I am glad to take a stroll to the hospital in this weather" he told uncle Travis.

He knew deep down that as much as he admired the weather is it wasn't the reason for taking a stroll. He caught uncle Travis smiling and watching him.

He wondered why. He dared not ask because it might lead to some more interrogation from him. His uncle was a cunning man. He couldn't tell, at the moment whether he knew about he and Minka or he didn't. One thing was sure, aunt Sheila knew. He had tried to avoid her since the commencement of their relationship. Whenever he remembered how he had received her upon her last visit to his home, shame washed over him.

She will understand, she always does. He wasn't sure what she might say. Would she be pleased when she sees him? Would she be complacent about it? His heart beat faster each time he thought about it.

He once felt warm around her but these past few days have been difficult and different

with Ramses showing up at the date for herself and uncle Travis, took himself and his uncle aback.

Ogar didn't like the he was beginning to feel. Already, a motorist had honked at him. He nearly jumped out of his skin. Only then did he realize he had ditched the walkway and strolled down the main road. Ramses understood that anyone would react in such manner. His heart raced as he sauntered past Minka's home.

The six storey building stood as one of the prominent building around the corner. In fact, it served as a landmark. A bustop, situated opposite the hospital and named after it, could be seen, littered with people. Some had trays of their heads, with which they hawked their wares. One woman sat on a paint bucket, underneath an umbrella. She had a metal grill in front of her, supported by a metal stand. She roasts the maize and Next to her was a woman who was a yam vendor.

Ogar could inhale the aroma of roast corn and pear which she displayed on the grill. The white signboard which read "Welcome to Minen Abori hospital" stood directly opposite the bus stop and in front of the hospital. Ogar pushed the glass door open and entered. He found himself facing the reception.

"How may I help you?" A female voice called out to Ogar. She had a white regalia on and a blue laboratory coat on top of it.

"I am here to see Ramses in room 109"

"Hold on please" she responded as she put a call through and after a few seconds, she got back to him.

"You can go in. Do you know how to get there?"

"Yes I do, thank you"

Ogar walked briskly and soon he was approaching the door. He could hear laughter emanating from the room. The two girls were chatting up their older brother. He visited with them in return, sitting up and demonstrating as much as he could. He stood by the door, smiling. He listened for a minute. He could hear Minka speak then exhaling, he opened the door and ventured into the room.

"Good evening all" he called out.

"Ah! Ogar! What a pleasant surprise"

Ramses leaned forward, as he stretched out his hand to shake Ogar.

Ogar's began beaming from ear to ear. He turned around only to see the two girls smiling at each other. Minka felt his eyes on her body.

Minka was soon staring at the floor.

Nkom was looking from Minka to Ogar.

"How is my favourite uncle Travis?" Ramses asked, pretending not to have noticed

.

"He is doing well" Ogar responded, turning his gaze to Minka. She at once looked in his direction.

"How are you doing today ?"

"I am alright" she replied. She had a blue overall on and a pink round necked shirt .

Goodness she seemed pleasant to look upon. Ramses smiled at his beautiful girlfriend. There was alot they could do together. Was he not just lucky ?

"Hi Nkom"

"Hello." Nkom manages to say as Ogar who stretches out his hand and offers y5her a handshake.

"How are you feeling?"

"I am doing great" she replied.

"How is your health today brother Ramses?" Ogar asked.

" I feel much better. In fact I will be discharged this evening"

"Wow! What about the books. Where you able to read them?"

"I began to read the hunt. It is a lovely book"

"Wow. Are you through yet"

",No"

"That reminds me, may I have the commissioner in charge of health's contact? I need to lodge a complaint"

"What is that?"

"The breach of the oath they swore. They promised to treat a patient regardless of whether they have paid or not."

"Oh, is that what you want to report?" Ogar asked rather religiously.

Ramses nodded in agreement.. "It just not fair to breach an oath"

"It's rather complicated you know. Sometimes after showing empathy for an accident victim, by treating then, later these same victims either delay to pay or they do not pay at all.

That is not fair"

"What has the government said about it?

"Nothing"

"Do you think this can end and things work?"

"Not really"

"You don't?" Ramses confirmed.

"Not until the school girls who were abducted in the north are returned safe and sound to their families"

"The Chibok girls"

Ogar nodded."Uncle Travis has a friend whom he met during his days in the army"

"Wow! Uncle Travis was in the army?"

Ogar nodded.

"Mother never told me that"

"Well, he had a daughter who was a toddler then. Right now she should be about sixteen"

"Oh my goodness.. don't tell me"

"Oh yes, she was taken. His friend has been prevented severally from committing suicide"

"Wow! That must be haunting!"

"Yes it is!"

"I hope those girls are released by the terrorists"

"It's been two years"

"Two years! That's a long time!"

"It sure it. I pray for him every day"

It's not fair"

"No one should loose a loved one in such a manner" Ogar said as he looked in the direction of Minka. She and Nkom had been gisting. She caught him staring.

She stared back. That moments they were locked on one another's gaze. Ramses who had taken a peek at his wrist watch to check the time, raised his gaze to see this. He rose to his feet and signalled to his sister Nkom. They both exited the room. The two young lovers walked from the opposite points of the room where they had been and held each other in embrace.

Both could feel the heat that emanated from the explosion of emotions as their bodies touched one another. Minka had never felt this way before. She relished it, especially as it was with Ogar.

"I am grateful to have you" Ogar whispered in her ears'

They held on to each other, eyes shut. Ogar could never imagine how he would feel should anything happen to Minka. He held tighter, letting her rest her head on his chest and inhaling his cologne.

The door opened."Minka?" a female voice called out.

"Mum ?" She replied as she disengaged from Ogar's embrace.