An Unfortunate Child

While K was at it looking for Lanre, Lanre had called her mother. Mrs. Olayinka had jumped like a ready fighter when she saw that her phone was ringing and it was Lanre’s name that appeared as the caller.

“Iyami, are you still in Lagos? I thought you would be back by the time I woke up”. Lanre had said. But all she said was probably taken away by an unknown wave from her mother’s ears.

“Lanre! Lanre you are alive! Where are you?” The mother kept asking on top of her voice. Lanre told her she was at home.

“Emabinu ma! I did not mean to make you worry. I am at home in Ibadan”. Lanre said to her mother. The mother immediately exclaimed with a loud voice.

“My daughter is not an unfortunate child if not I would have called you that”. Mrs. Olayinka said beating her chest. “Omobirin buruku! Bad child! You decide to make me grow old before my youth is complete abi?” The mother said. One would think she was not the one crying a few minutes ago.

Mrs. Olayinka told Lanre to wait for her in the house and that she was coming for her. “An okra can never outgrow it’s owner”. Mrs. Olayinka said while putting her things in order.

“Mrs. Olayinka!” Ify’s mother called. But the woman gave her a deaf ear. Mrs. Ochuzi had to pull her by the hand in other to draw her attention.

“Why are you like a soldier preparing for war?” Mrs. Ochuzi asked. Lanre’s mother asked her to leave her alone. But after she saw that Mrs. Ochuzi won’t let her be, she told Mrs. Ochuzi her intentions.

“You were here when I was crying and rolled my body on the floor. You saw her heartbroken I was when we could not find my daughter. This girl has been in Ibadan, in my house! She could not call to tell me that she’s at home. She did not care about how her mother could be feeling. She expects me to leave Lagos when I don’t know if my daughter is alive or not!” Mrs. Olayinka said. She broke down crying.

“She is the only female child I have. Apart from her, her brother is the only thing I would have anything was to happen to her. How will I breath if she was to meet with doom? Mrs. Olayinka said. While Mrs. Ochuzi had to comfort her.

Afterwards, Mrs. Olayinka took an Uber back to Ibadan. But she did not arrive on time because of traffic.

Meanwhile, K had decided to try Lanre’s number again. This time her phone did go through and the call was answered. He did not know if it was a gleam of hope or a bid of fear, but his heart did skip when the call was answered. Then there was silence.

Lanre did not want to speak first because she did not know who it was that was calling. She did not know who because the first thing she did when she left the hall where K and Ify got engaged was to delete his contact.