CHAPTER 6; HOW THEY MET I; AN ACCIDENT.

Thud!!!

Mrs Nato drops on the floor and faints out of disbelief. For the past 15 years, she believed her husband had passed away due to an accident after going out to search for jobs to make their life easier.

"Get some water quickly!!!", Mr Nato yelled as he tried all efforts to revive his wife. The woman who embarrassed Muyan was held captive by some other traders as they believed she was the cause of all the drama that was going on.

Quickly, they sprinkled some water on Mrs Nato's face and fanned her so she could receive some fresh air.

Their efforts brought out positive results as she coughed and gradually opened her eyes and that was how she was revived.

*******

"You lied to me!!! All these years you made us believe you were no longer alive-"

"I'm sorry-", Mr Nato begged his family. He was happy to finally reconnect with his family after years of being apart from each other.

"Father why did you lie to us?", Jojo asked.

"I didn't lie to you all I swear. I'll tell you how it happened".

"On that fateful day I went out to search for jobs and services I could render just to get paid. I genuinely wanted us to stop living in poverty as everyone had turned me into a laughing stock"

"Then what happened?", Mrs Nato interrupted.

"Mother please stop interrupting him. At least let's hear out why he left us for so long", Ara said.

He cleared his throat and continued, "As the end of the day drew close and I hadn't made enough profit I was still determined to search maybe I would see someone who needed my help. Darkness approached and there was a heavy downpour and I got drenched in the rain. I had to stay back and eventually when the rain subsided it was already late and everywhere was even darker. And that's how I got attacked by robbers, they beat me up and collected the little profit I had made that day"

"I'm so sorry about that father", Muyan said.

Mrs Nato's anger was subsiding as she began to feel pity for her husband who desperately wanted to make ends meet for the family.

"Thanks my boy. After they left I was already getting dizzy and couldn't see well due to the beatings and injuries they gave me and at that point I just wanted to come back home. So while I was crossing the road, I didn't look properly to see that a car was coming at high speed and the last thing I could remember was that I saw instant darkness".

*******

"How can you drive so recklessly?!! Didn't you see the man?!!", Mr Woods furiously yelled at his driver for hitting a man.

He was returning from a business trip and since everywhere was already dark and the rainfall had stopped falling, his driver sped up so they could reach home.

"Tony reduce your speed before you make us have an accident. The road is slippery", Mr Woods instructed a few minutes before they hit Mr Nato.

"Do not worry boss. It's already late and there'll be few people driving, the road is free. There won't be an accident"

"Still slow down!", Mr Woods said.

Tony was still driving at a high speed when he saw someone slowly crossing the road. It was too late to divert the car elsewhere and Mr Nato ended up getting hit by Tony.

Mr Woods was frightened and ended up slapping his driver for hitting a person. He quickly stepped down and felt the man's pulse. Thank God, he was still breathing but still unconscious.

Tony and Mr Woods lifted Mr Nato and put him in the car then drove him to the hospital.

"I pray he makes it alive", Mr Woods said to himself in the car.

They arrived at the hospital that belonged to Mr Woods and he instructed that Mr Nato be taken into the emergency ward for a special treatment.

As the hours passed by, the rays of the sun shined on his face and he quickly opened his eyes.

"Where on earth am I?!", he asked. He could only remember he was crossing the road, he felt a sharp pain and an instant blackout. He tried to get up and leave but then realized that he was receiving a drip and he felt sharp pains all over his body.

The door opened and the doctor walked in, "how are you feeling now sir?", he asked.

"Who are you and where am I please?", Nato responded.

"Oh- Permit me to introduce myself, I'm Raphael a doctor working in this reputable hospital owned by Mr Woods Jeffery"

"Doctor Raphael please who brought me here? I have to go home and meet my family"

"You can't leave the hospital without your full medication. And Mr Woods brought you here"

"Mr Woods?", he thought to himself. The name rang a bell in his head. Mr Woods owned one of the biggest companies he had wished to work for and the same person that the doctor mentioned as the owner of the hospital he was currently receiving treatment at. How and where did Mr Woods see him.

"Your food will be here in a minute ", the doctor said interrupting his thoughts "I'll administer your next injection after your meal, make sure you have some rest. Good day"

Before he could ask any further question the doctor winked at him and walked out of the room gently. Hearing Mr Woods brought him to the hospital sounded like a dream to him, he probably saw him lying helpless by the roadside after he got beaten by the robbers, he couldn't wait to see him and thank him.

The door opened and a nurse walked in smiling and holding a tray.

"How are you feeling now sir? Here's your meal. Please let me know if you need anything else", she said.

"I will, thank you ma"

"You're very much welcome", she said and walked out. He opened the food and to his surprise, he was served bouillabaisse, a french exquisite dish popular among wealthy people gatherings. He was still enjoying his meal when the doctor and Mr Woods knocked and walked in.

But Doctor Raphael noticed something strange, Mr Nato and Mr Woods had an uncanny resemblance, although a few facial features differentiated them.