Chapter 3

July 26, 2004.

Abaji, Abuja.

15:00 pm.

Abaji General Hospital.

"What do you mean by complications?" Chief Owolabi said, looking worried.

"Just kidding"

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!"

"Yes"

"What kind of doctor jokes with things like that?"

"A doctor that is tired of you constantly spoiling her name " then she walked away.

This Dr. Okada is a fool . But who will I ask about my wife now,I don't even know if she's okay or not. Chief Owolabi wondered. Then he saw Nurse Safiyah headed his way and said "O Nurse, Can you tell me where my wife is ?"

"What?!"

"I need to know where Akilah Owolabi is admitted in this hospital "

"Sir, you are literally standing outside the Ward "

"Oh thanks" He said as he ran into the ward.

Nurse Safiyah shook her head.

FIVE DAYS LATER

It was the baby girl's naming ceremony. The Iman said "I hereby proclaim this baby as Owolohun Lolade Owolabi. Her other names are Wuraola, A'isha,Christiana, Rolake, Innioluwa and Solade.

Everyone clapped and Chief Owolabi held his wife in his arms.

AT THE OWOLABI RESIDENCE

Chief Owolabi was combing his hair and Akilah put the child to sleep. Turning back, Chief Owolabi asked.

"Is our little princess sleeping?"

"Yes,she is" Akilah replied, rubbing her eyes.

"Are you sleepy?"

"Me? Sleepy ? No. Not at all, my husband "

Chief Owolabi gripped her shoulders.

"Don't lie to me "

"No. I am not sleepy"

"Akilah!"

"Yes. I am very very sleepy "

"Go to bed "

"I can not,my owner"

"Why not?"

"I am scared "

"Scared? Scared of what?"

Akilah kept quiet

"Akilah, speak to me, what are you scared of?"

She didn't move.

"At your age, Akilah, you shouldn't be scared of ghosts, they can't catch you, you didn't kill anybody..."

"...I am scared because of you!" She took a step back from him.

Chief Owolabi was confused. Scared of me as how?

"I am scared because I gave birth to a female child and you will hate me because of it is a male child you want "

"And who ever told you that I wanted a male child?" He asked gently.

"I am not some king that requires a male child to succeed his throne. I just wanted a child and by the way, even if I wanted a male child, you will still give birth to more children and probably a male child..."

"...That is the problem!" Akilah said tearfully.

"What is the problem?"

"A time ago, when we came to the treatment place for the second time, after that Nurse Safiyah took you to the room to run some tests on you..."

"Nurse Safiyah?"

"Yes"

"Oh...you mean Dr. Gada's slave?"

"Hmm...so she told me that I am only giving birth to one child "

"What?! Why?"

"She first said she didn't know how to explain and she collected my number and sent me a message telling me why I couldn't give birth again "

"What is the reason?"

"I don't really remember but it should be on my phone .." She paused.

"...Let me go and bring it. It is in the Dining room"

Akilah left.

After she left, Chief Owolabi wondered, why only one child,I was even planning for two children, well,let her come back.

Akilah came back with her Sony Xperia Z3 and said "it's not there"

Chief Owolabi checked the phone for messages but only saw messages from Akilah's family and a guy named Ibrahim.

"Who's Ibrahim"

"Oh" She smiled "he is my childhood friend since Arabic school. He always said I should marry him, I was about to, but he travelled away and now he's back, he's even richer than you but I love you so I can't leave"

"The message is not here "

"I told you..."

Baby Lolade started crying again and Akilah rushed to her.

THREE YEARS LATER

Lolade could now stand up and walk but her first word was "Poopoo". Chief Owolabi and Akilah laughed because she said so when her diaper was full.

TWO YEARS LATER

Lolade could now talk and she was a very cute and clever girl although sometimes troublesome.

Chief Owolabi watched as Akilah fed Lolade Akara,his favorite lunch snack and thought about his own childhood. I was the 13th of 25 children. And I sent myself to school,paid my own school fees , read my way to graduate out of secondary school. Even though I didn't go to University, i used the money I got from the Scholarship to travel to this city and got a very good job, luckily for me, they didn't ask for my University certificate, they just accepted me. I didn't even know it was possible and now, I am very rich now even though I had a very terrible childhood,only I know what I went through. He glanced at Lolade trying to eat the Akara. I will never let my only child have that kind of childhood. She must be extremely lavished with a lot of money and must never feel as if money is in shortage. Alhamdullahi that I have gotten a promotion and I will be paid 231 million naira a year Even though I spend 144 milion naira on expenses.

THE NEXT DAY

Lolade was playing with her Toy Aeroplane then Akilah came, carrying a glass of apple juice. Lolade threw the toy aeroplane and it hit the glass of apple juice and it poured over Akilah's dress. Chief Owolabi was watching what was going on from a distance, drinking chilled mineral water.

"Lolade! Why did you throw your Aeroplane on me? See my dress!" She screamed.

"Leave me alone" Lolade persisted and took her toy aeroplane from the ground and held a stubborn look on her face.

"Who do you think you are talking to like that? " Akilah said as she hit Lolade on her nose.

Lolade started crying.

Chief Owolabi sprung up "how dare you hit her!"

Akilah turned to him, looking surprised.

He held Lolade close to himself " how dare you hit my only child!" He screamed. He expected Akilah to apologize to him and Lolade but unknown to him, while he usually went to work, Akilah went to the hospital to talk with Dr. Yada who taught her how to speak good English and stand up for her rights and she put Lolade to sleep and put Shekarau (A male maid) in charge and to guard Lolade and she paid him 165,000 naira per week to do that.

"She was being naughty" Akilah said. Chief Owolabi was extremely shocked and his mouth fell open.

"She threw her toy and...wait a minute, weren't you watching? So you know why I hit her"

Chief Owolabi slapped her. Lolade shivered.

"You hit my precious darling and think you will go scot-free? No. I don't want to hear any more stories."

"So what will you do, you wicked man, will you slap me again?"

"No." He said confidently.

"Get out of my house this instant!" He thundered.