chapter 3
1067 Words
"Daddy!". He cried.
"Ah! ola my big boy! How have you been? you decided to visit your godparents today abi? that's good but why are you not in school?"
The boy brokendown completely upon hearing his father's voice. he kept on crying nonstop as Ajani patted his shoulder and tried to calm him down.
"Daddy". He cried into the phone again as he sniffed and hiccupped countless times.
"yes my boy, tell daddy what happened. you're scaring me Toriola. please stop crying and talk to me!"
"daddy when are you coming home? I miss you". He said softly.
"oh my boy!, I've missed you as well. Don't worry, I'll be home before you know it. just keep being a good boy for daddy and don't stress your mum alright? I'm going to get you many things when I'm coming back"
"ok daddy". he said reluctantly.
"that's my good boy. now give the phone back to uncle Ajani".
"daddy I need money!" he blurted out suddenly.
"you need money? didn't I just send in your allowance?"
" I - I - I". he stuttered incoherently while staring at his feet.
"alright , you'll get the money. give the phone to Uncle Ajani ".
"go into the kitchen and tell your aunt to get you breakfast " Ajani said after collecting the phone and watched as the boy proceeded to the kitchen.
"he's gone" he said to Owolabi.
"what is going on Ajani? what is happening in my home? Toriola has never once been this way. tell me Ajani. what is going on?!". owolabi demanded impatiently.
"I should be asking you that Owolabi. it is your family not mine! what is happening? it appears to me that your son is being maltreated but how am I supposed to interfere when he has refused to talk? how?"
"alright. I have a favor to ask of you. please keep him with you for the rest of the week. I'll be home this weekend. everything will be solved then".
"please, don't stay more than this weekend. do what you can and leave the rest go your assistant I beg you. I don't like what I'm seeing "
"yeah. I'll be home this weekend " Owolabi said solemnly.
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Ajani drove Toriola back home to pack his bags as he'll be spending the rest of the week with him. At first, Ewawunmi seemed reluctant to release the boy but Ajani was hell bent on taking the boy with him so she had no choice but to give in and allow him to go.
Toriola sighed in relief when they got back to Ajani's house and was left alone to take his bag to the room he always stays in anytime he visits.
Ajani dragged his wife into their bedroom and sat her down before speaking in hushed tone
"my dear, I know I didn't consult you or inform you beforehand but Toriola will be here for the rest of the week"
"that's not a problem. it's not his first time anyway. but is everything ok?"
"I hope so. please do everything I'm your power to make him comfortable. tell the kids too when they get back. do I make myself clear?"
"yes honey".
Toriola adapted quickly to life at the Benson's. it has been the same routine for the past three days; go to school with fola and Ayo, take lunch when they get home and retire into his room.
At the end of the week, Benson Ajani got a shocking news which confirm that Adekunle owolabi was involved in a plane crash which claimed his life.
Ajani was devastated. he didn't know how to break the news to Ewawunmi and Toriola. he bowed his head as hot and bitter tears soaked his shirt. His wife tried her best to console him but she couldn't hold back her tears either. A great star has indeed fallen.
He summoned the courage to go break the unfortunate news to the Adekunle's family the next day. he drove to their house with Toriola and his wife at the back of his car , and grief in his heart.
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Toriola let out a weird laughter the moment he heard of his father's death. his laughter lasted for some seconds before he went completely still, staring into space and muttering under his breath.
"Toriola, calm down my dear, you'll be fine. you still have your mother left. your aunt and I are here too. we'll make sure you don't feel the demise of your father". Ajani consoled as he hugged the boy who still refused to cry.
two days later, Owolabi's lawyer showed up to read his will.
Ewawunmi couldn't believe her ears when she heard that hee husband left nothing apart from the house they lived in and the cars in it. his other houses and companies have been used as collateral for a loan he couldn't clear before he died.
she didn't know where to start from. she was a full time house wife with two boys to cater for. how is she going to pay the chef, Gardner, gateman, maid and still cover their living expenses? the money in their joint account is only enough to sustain them for a few months. what happens after that?
she sat down on the two seater couch like a statue as her mind ran wildly around, oblivious to everything going on in her surrounding.
it was until his father's business partners came around to extend their condolences that Toriola knew the weight of what happened. that he'll never see his father again. never sit on his laps, never play with his beards, never follow him to the company again.
never see him smile, never hear his laughter and his voice calling "my boy" anymore.
No one to buy him gifts after every business trips, no one to sit and console him after every failed examination. That was when he knew that he simply has no one to call "Daddy" anymore.
"you promised. you promised to come home soon and buy me gifts". he whispered as tears slid down his cheeks. he chocked on his sob and started gasping for breath. the last thing he saw and heard before losing consciousness were his father's smiling face as he whispered "my boy" to him...
TO BE CONTINUED
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