Chapter 1

June 18, 2004.

Abaji,Abuja.

19:08 pm.

Owolabi Residence.

In a very beautiful and furnished mansion, Chief Owolabi started pacing around in the ninth sitting room looking tense.

He paced around for a while and started sweating even though the fancy Air conditioner was blowing at maximum, cooling down the whole room but Chief Owolabi didn't seem to care.

Akilah,his wife entered with a tray full of Tuwo Shinkafa and oily soup alongside a glass of beer, Chief's favourite dinner. Upon seeing her husband's troubled countenance,she dropped her tray and put her arms around him.

"What seems to be bothering my dear lord?"she asked.

Chief Owolabi glared at her.

"Get your filthy hands off my garment,You barren creature" he screamed .

Akilah's eyes turned red as she slowly withdrew her arms. Chief Owolabi turned to face her and screamed.

" This is our first year of marriage and despite how many times we have mated, you haven't even fallen sick once,is that how a marriage is meant to be? In most ideal marriages,within three months the woman is already two months pregnant "

Akilah closed her eyes and tears dropped from them as her husband continued lambasting her.

"But you?, No. We are already approaching our 49th week as husband and wife but you..." He paused and paced around for a while then said.

"I honestly feel like I am at crossroads,I am extremely frustrated,tired and sick of this. I think that at this point we should just go and see a doctor...Yes! That's it. We are going to a doctor tomorrow to check why you are not still able to procreate "

He sighed and was about to walk away then saw the food and said calmly.

" I have lost all appetite for eating. You can tell Isma'ilu (the gate man) to give it to our guard dogs"

He took the glass of beer and left to his room in the west wing of the mansion.

Akilah,teary eyed , called for Isma'ilu with a wobbly voice.

THE NEXT DAY

Chief Owolabi woke up with a start. He had barely been able to sleep because he was busy thinking about his present predicament. He glared at Akilah who was sleeping beside him.

She's the cause of all my problems but she is still sleeping. He thought and hissed.

He stood up and took out his appointment book and saw that he had an appointment with the doctor today and he smiled.

At least the doctor will tell us why this woman hasn't been able to conceive. He sighed and decided to go to work, return then he and Akilah would go to the hospital.

A FEW HOURS LATER

Chief Owolabi and Akilah entered his black Lexus-ES 350 SUV and Dan Kaka (his driver) entered the front seat while Chief Owolabi and Akilah sat at the backseat.

"Dan Kaka"

"Sir"

"Take us to Abaji general hospital and be quick about it"

"Sir" Dan Kaka nodded and drove out as Isma'ilu opened the huge damask gate.

AT ABAJI GENERAL HOSPITAL

Chief Owolabi and Akilah were in the office of Dr.Yada, a very specialized doctor and very useful to the hospital. She was specialized in many areas of Medicine.

"Good morning,Chief and Mrs Owolabi,what seems to be the problem?" She asked.

" Good morning Dr...." Chief Owolabi didn't know her name.

"Yada" She smiled.

"Yes. Good morning." He didn't return the smile." I and my wife here have been married for nearly a year but she hasn't put to bed yet. So is there anything I can do?"

Dr. Yada wanted to laugh so badly.

So this man wants to run mad just because of a few months of marriage. I don't understand why nowadays most men want to build a family within months . Patience is the key and it is 2004! Men should have wised up now. We are not in the 80's anymore. She thought.

"Umm...I will have to run some tests on two of you to be sure what's wrong. So after a few days, you both will come back for the results,is that okay?" She enquired.

"Hmmn" Chief Owolabi agreed while Akilah slowly nodded.

"Fine then" Dr Yada said.

"My assistant will take you to Ward 212E. Safiyah!" She intoned.

A Nurse arrived.

"Take them to Ward 212E for tests" Dr Yada gestured.

"This way,Sir and Ma" Nurse Safiyah led them away.

Dr. Yada smiled. Thank God my husband is not like this man or else I would have ended up becoming a petty trader. Well, I have to go and run this test then operate on that boy with sickle cell anaemia. She stood up and left.

5 DAYS LATER

Chief Owolabi and Akilah were once again back in Dr. Yada's office.

"Good morning,Dr. Dada, I am sure you remember me,Chief Owolabi,we were here on the nineteenth of this month, remember? Because my...this woman here couldn't produce a baby for me" He said.

I remember you all right, Dr. Yada thought.

"Yes, and my name is Yada not Dada"

Akilah managed a weak smile. She had gone through hell throughout the five days. Dr. Yada noticed that but didn't say a word.

"I remember very clearly and about it, There is a reason that she hasn't conceived for you though"

"What's the reason,is it that she's infertile or that she has an infection ". Chief Owolabi glared at his wife.

"No,no,no. The problem is not with her" she said.

"What do you mean? " Chief Owolabi asked, looking genuinely concerned .

"When we reviewed your wife,we discovered that there is nothing wrong with her. Her fallopian tubes and ovaries are working perfectly. We were confused but our head doctor suggested that we take another test so we did. We took seven more tests but we still discovered no fault with her. However, immediately we ran a test on you, we found out that you have a genital tract blockage"

Chief Owolabi placed his hands on his head while Akilah looked confused.

" What's that?" She managed to ask because she didn't go to western school at all. She only went to Arabic school from 2 years old to 13 years of age.

Dr Yada smiled and said " A genital tract blockage is ..."

She was interrupted by Chief Owolabi's panting.

"So does that mean that I will never be able to get her pregnant?"

"Actually no. It can be corrected with a simple operation..."

" Then what are we waiting for? Let's proceed with the operation."

Dr. Yada smiled "Okay then, Safiyah!"

Nurse Safiyah came in and Dr. Yada said , "Take this man to Ward 156L and call Doctor Omar and give him this paper" She handed her a piece of paper.

"This way Sir. "

They both left.

Dr. Yada faced Akilah "Do you have a phone ?"

"Huh?"

"A phone, you know, a piece of metal that you use to snap pictures and play games"

" Oh yes"

" What brand?"

"Huh?

" What's the name of the phone?"

"Oh,I call him Mirror "

"Oh no"

"What happen"

"What was written on the carton when you bought it"

"Sony Xperia Z3"

"Wow"

"Huh?"

"Nothing "

"Okay "

"I will need your number so that I can tell and educate you about certain things "

"Okay, i will write it for you now"

"I have something to tell you about your husband " Dr. Yada whispered.

"What is it ?" Akilah curiosly asked.