Babalanlord Ep 11

If you haven’t caught up on the series, you can read up to Episode 10 here.

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“Hello Stranger”, he said 

“Hey Dr Deji. Stanger ke how now?”

“Well Ms Omotola,  You have not asked of me, and I saved your friend's life, and you teach my aburo. So thought we are not meant to be strangers, it seems like we are.”

“Haha I am sorry. It is really my bad, How are you? What’s up?”

“Nothing. I actually was just calling to check on Folake. I realised I didn’t get her number. How is she doing? Is she still with you? 

"Yes she is. She’s much better. Her headaches have stopped and she doesn’t look as bruised as she was before.”

“Okay … that’s good to hear … well, I just wanted to find out and check in. I’ll leave you to it then”

… 

I wanted to say something but I did not know what to say. He had a deep, comforting voice and I wanted to hear more of it. The truth is that although Folake was feeling better, her boyfriend had not stopped coming over to beg, threaten and cajole. It was wearing me out, so I did not know how Folake was coping with it. I was also still job hunting. I knew I could not be a lesson teacher forever. Teaching is not my thing. Molade made sure to remind me every opportunity she got. I was the adult, but the girl’s attitude was so abrasive it got to me. It took me a lot of effort not to show how much it did. So I actually wanted a distraction. 

“Uhh, I am not doing much. Are you still at work?”

“No, just got home actually. No light and the diesel is finished. The landlord said he’d sort it out tomorrow, so it is about to be a boiling, candlelit night for me.”

“Haha, I forget you people hardly have such problems … well … that’s my night every night. Only I use a torch instead of a candle when I can. A fire is the worst thing that can happen in such close quarters … and I don’t have I better pass my neighbour. So I have nothing to look forward to. I don’t think NEPA counts.”

“I think its PHCN now ma”

“I think its the Eko distribution company now sir”

“Okay, okay you got me there.”

“I tried to get a job at a power company and started reading up on it … guess you can tell how that went.”

“How is that going? The last time you mentioned that you were still job hunting. I guess Molade is still giving you a hard time? She’s actually a good kid. She is just going through a lot and you are the stranger, so she figures she can take it out on you.”

“Well, it isn’t great.”

“I am sorry. Is it getting to you that much? I’ll have a chat with her.”

“No don’t. She reminds me of those babes in my class in secondary school The more weakness you showed, the more intent they were on punishing you. It is like they got some kind of high from it. I’ll handle it.”

“Okay, if you say so … so what are you doing?”

 "Well, I am walking back home from the bus stop. It’s really quiet on my street today for some reason. It usually has more of a buzz. Maybe people are tired today. It’s dark, so I guess there is no light here either, not that I was expecting it”

“Well, candlelit dinner for two then.” He laughed and then caught himself … a slightly awkward silence ensued. I felt bad and decided to break the silence before it became too awkward.

“ Hahaha well, I am not eating dinner.”

“Why? Dinner is a great meal.”

“Well … Folake went to this her pastor about her matter and he told her to fast and pray. She asked me to support her. I think it’s dumb. She just needs to leave the stupid guy. But the man just wants her to keep coming. Anyway I am obliging now so that I can bide my time while I figure out how to make her see sense. Picking my battles. Don’t tell her sha, I had some boli and epa on the bus. Mi o le wa ku jare.”

“Haahahahahahahahaha … hahahahahahahaha” He just kept laughing

“Oga hope no problem.”

“Sorry, it was just so funny. So how long is this fast lasting?” 

“It’s only three days. I was not planning to do anything more than that. I cannot cry more than the bereaved.”

“You can’t o. But you are not even really fasting.”

“Ehhh I am fasting in the morning and most of the afternoon before my stomach starts grumbling. It's suntinnnn”

“You’re right. It’s suntinnnn. So when is the last day?”

“Tomorrow, praise the lord. I am going to Iya Kawo for pounded yam after that.”

“You’re hilarious you know that ?”

“Yea yea. Anyway that one is just by the way.”

“ I guess so. Please hook me up with Iya Cow. I haven’t had freshly pounded yam in a minute.  Also did she really name her child Cow? …”

The call ended before I could respond. Irritated, I took the phone off my ear, to see that the stupid phone had died. We were just getting into a nice flow of conversation. I continued my walk back home, daydreaming about when next we would talk. It was so dark. I mean there is never light in my area, but at least people still use their candles and lamps. Then I remembered there was fuel scarcity … I am not sure how I forgot, it had cost me twice as much to get transport home. 

I got home to find Folake asleep. I hadn’t asked her when she planned to leave. I actually liked her living with me. My house is small, but it is just me, which is much better than everyone else in the compound. It was nice to have company. She heard me come in and woke up. 

“You’re back? K’abo”

“Yes o. K’ule. What’s up? How was your day? What did you get up to?”

“Well I went to Pastor Ike …” she ignored my rolling eyes “and then I helped with Nnamdi at his shop”

“What about your job? Haven’t they said anything?”

 "Well, I explained to my boss what happened, and he was very understanding. Luckily it is a slow time so he says I can come back next week,”

“Nawa o, Folake, what kind of luck do you have. Which manager in this Nigeria can say that?”

“ I guess. But I would rather not be out of work because my fiancé bashed my head”

“Ootọ lo sọ. How is the thing anyway? Is he still trying to reach you? Also, please stop calling him that. He does not deserve that title or position in you life”

“Don’t know. Phone has been off the whole day and I think Nnamdi scared him the last time, so … it seems he has gone to beg my mother. She said she wants to see me. In fact it was after the call from her that I put my phone off. I was so angry. What kind of mother do I have? Do you know that woman has not once asked me how I am? She has not come to see me. She did not ask what happened. She just said she wants to see me. I am convinced she is not my real mother. It is not possible. I can’t have come from inside her womb.”

“Haba Folake don’t say that!” I agreed with her but I did not see the point in making her feel worse by helping her see what a terrible mother she had “anyway, lets forget that one for now. I have gist for you.”

“Hahaha you this babe which gist? Are you going to complain about your student again? Because that one na stale gist. If no be say I no get job for pocket wey  I fit give you, I for don say you should free the job since. Anyway, how is ‘awa favourite' student?”

“That one? Abeg that’s her own problem. She thinks she knows everything. No, guess who called me?”

“Dr Deji.”

“Ahn ahh how did you know?”

“Because you have not stopped going on and on about him. And it feels like he comes over every day to ‘check on’ Molade. Pregnant women don’t need that much checking up on. At least not everyday. I am very sure of that one.”

“Uhmmm I don’t talk about him that much. What are you saying?”

“Uhmm you do. It’s okay. He seems like a great guy. I like him for you. You have my stamp of approval. At least he won’t be a uselessity like that thing that claims he wants to marry me.”

“Hmmm I don’t. But he is nice sha. And he’s fine. I never realised how deep his voice is. Maybe it is deeper on the phone. It’s like some Barry White something. Anyway, that can never even happen sha. I just plan to enjoy it for however long it lasts.”

“Why?”

“Please look at where we are madam. Look at the kind of family he comes from. They’d never accept me.”

“They don’t know you. Educated, intelligent, kind, strong and promising somebody like you. Hian”

“Be there. Where do you think you are? A Mills & Boon novel? Abeg leave story. I know their kind very well. He’s a nice guy but I don’t believe anything will come out of this. Me I think the guy is probably even just bored. Me too I am bored, so we will be bored together.”

“You too be there deceiving yourself. Anyway, will you follow me to Pastor Ike tomorrow for the last day of fasting and prayer. I know you don’t have the lessons with your model student.”

“What are we praying and fasting for again Folake?”

“My Lord in heaven ! So you have not been praying? I need God’s guidance on this my matter. Should I go back to him or not?”

“ I haven’t said anything before now Folake, but let's be serious here. What more of God’s guidance do you need beyond the fact that he’s beating you like this now and you’re not even married yet. This is your out Folake. This last one almost caused you brain damage sis !”

“You don’t understand. I said somethings I should not have said. I mean I know he overreacted, but I have been thinking about it and i had a role to play in all this. Apart from that, he’s generally not this bad. He’s done so much for me. I even woke up to an alert this morning. I know it is the guilt, but how many guys are even apologetic when they wrong people. ”

I was close to tears at this point. I did not know how to make her see sense. So I said I will follow her to pastor Ike’s the next day. I really needed God to back me up on this one. I could not make her see sense on my own. I am sure Pastor Ike is the one that made her start blaming herself. I don’t know why Folake trusts the stupid man. He has a terrible reputation, with rumours that he also beats his wife. The worst part is that he is that silly man’s ‘pastor’ as well. Ugh ! I felt like the odds were stacked against me.

“Folake. I am all for taking responsibility for our actions in life, but in this case, you did not make him hit you. No matter what you said, even if you swore at his mother, he shouldn’t have. On no planet is this okay. You may have done or said the wrong thing - which you didn’t you were talking to him about his baby for chrissakes, but let me leave that one now. You may have said the wrong thing, but it doesn’t make it okay for any human to hit you like this. I will come with you to pray. But i firmly believe you should leave him. He is not a good person. He is not good for you. But he is also not a good person. It is wrong on both counts. Please listen to me.”

I knew I had gotten carried away with the speech, but I was desperate. She said nothing and just stared silently. 

“What if … “ she was whispering so I didn’t hear what she had said. 

“What did you say?”

“I said what if no one else loves me… I know he is not the best, I know. But nobody is perfect. Neither am I. ” 

At that point, I did not have any words. I just went to my friend and gave her a hug. “Folake mi this is not what love looks like. I have seen it, and it may have been a long time ago, but I have also experienced it. It does not look like this. Trust me. And you are right. Nobody is perfect, but you have a choice and you can choose to go with someone whose imperfections don’t include repeated attempted murder.”

She said nothing, and just started crying. At that point I fully committed to that last day of prayer and fasting. I had my own prayer points, but she did not need to know that.