More than a Chance

Episode 18 - Uninvited guests

“It's not what you're thinking sir,” Aaliyah pleaded. “It's not about what I'm thinking my dear, it's all about what I'm seeing,” colonel told her. Her mother and every other person stood dumbfounded. “You see what I told you, I knew it,” the colonel told Adijah. “I'm sorry about everything, Adijah apologised to him.

“If I had opposed not to come with you, I would have been a bad person,” said the colonel. He turned back and slammed the door. Everyone jerked at the thundering sound. Adijah followed him hurriedly but his legs were too fast for her to catch up.

The orderly had difficulty opening the car door for the colonel. There's a dent on one side of the car, but eventually, he's able to open it. She called the colonel but he entered the car without looking back. He told the driver to start the car and move without her.

Aaliyah sat quietly at one corner of the living room, she looked troubled. Nike perched beside her as she tried to comfort her. Adewale and Murphy were still befuddled. “I'm sorry, if I have put you in this mess, Adewale said. He felt terrible and he wished he could turn back the hand of time.

“I never wished everything would go like this,” Adewale added. Adijah barged into the house angrily. “What are you fools still doing in here?" she faced Adewale and Murphy. “We are sorry ma,” they said.

Adijah carried the two bowls of rice and spilled it on their heads. They yelled, the rice was still partially hot. Aaliyah raised her head, when she saw what her mother did. Her heart was disheartened the more. “Mum! Stop, you don't have to do that.”

Adewale and Murphy ran out of the living room. Pepper had entered Murphy's eyes. He screamed for water. Aaliyah rushed to the kitchen, she brought out a salt container.

She asked Murphy to put a pinch on his tongue. Murphy did and it was like a magic. A little water flowed down from his eyes and the pep perish sting was gone. “What are you still waiting for?” If you don't want me to break your windshield,” Adijah yelled.

Adewale and Murphy walked through the passage quickly. Nike felt for them, the best she needed to do was to accompany them and she did. Aaliyah's glad she did.

Adewale checked his pockets impatiently for the car keys but he couldn't find it. “I think I left my car keys on the table, can you help me get it?” he asked Nike. “Sure, let me go and get it for you,” she replied.

When she got in, she met Aaliyah and her mother arguing furiously. She took the keys and she was about to leave but Adijah asked her to hold on for a moment.

“Can you imagine how pained I am right now? We had an accident on our way coming here. It's only the grace of God that saved us. It would have been a fatal one. That's the reason we arrived lately. Now imagine what your father in law to be just witnessed,” Adijah said.

Adewale and Murphy had begun to wonder what's impeding Nike. “I think, I should go and collect the key so that we can leave in peace,” Murphy suggested. “Do you think it's advisable to go in there while her mother is still fuming?” Adewale asked. “But it's getting longer than expected, we can't hang around forever,” Murphy said and he went back.

He met Nike along the passage. “I'm sorry it took me a while," Nike apologized while she gave him the keys. “It's okay, thank you,” he said. She accompanied him to the car.

“On behalf of Aaliyah, I sincerely apologize for what happened the other time,” she gave them a napkin to clean their clothes.

“Thank you Nike, please help me apologize to Aaliyah once again for putting her in this,” Adewale said.

“Alright, I wish you journey mercy,” Nike said. Adewale ignited the car, and he drove away. Hadn't been he looked at his rearview, he would have seen Aaliyah trying to stop him. Aaliyah felt maybe he saw her but he intentionally ignored.

Aaliyah covered her face with her palms. She exhaled heavily. Nike rubbed her shoulders, while she tried to comfort her. “None of these are your fault so don't beat yourself up too hard,” she said. She removed Aaliyah's palms from her face and she saw tears streaming down her cheek, her eyes were red. When she tried to tell Nike something, words got stuck. She wept painfully. “It's okay Aaliyah, you don't need to cry.” She hugged her tight and rubbed her back. “Why are all these happening to me?” Aaliyah said. “You don't deserve any of these my friend,” Nike exhorted her.

Adijah came out of the building, and she saw Nike consoling her daughter. She came to meet them. “I'm sorry dear. I didn't mean to act that way. I was humiliated from the moment you're impeding us from entering and you're not grateful for his gesture. He had some other important things to do today but he chose to follow me just to see if you're doing good. And you broke his heart, who knows what he's going to tell Tunde? They speak on the telephone every other time now.”

Aaliyah wiped her tears and composed herself for the first time after the incident. “Mum, I don't understand you, are you more concerned about their happiness or mine?” She asked. “I care about your happiness both,” she replied.

“No, I don't think so. It seemed you leaned toward their side,” said Aaliyah and she walked out. Nike tried to call her back but she didn't answer. “What's my fault in this?” Adijah asked. “Nothing ma, except when you poured food on her friends' heads.”

“I knew, I overreacted but I just want to drive them away forever so that whenever they remember that moment they wouldn't come around her again.”

“I'm sorry to say this ma, but that's unfair on Aaliyah's side and her visitors.”

“So you're supporting her to ruin that promising relationship,” she queried Nike. “No, they are just casual friends. And to be honest with you ma, since I have been visiting Aaliyah, I just met them today.” Adijah raised her eyebrow, “is that what she told you to tell me?”

“No ma, besides that, you can't trust Tunde completely, who knows what he's doing over, there?” Adijah opened her hand bag angrily, and brought out an envelope which she handed to Nike. “Please kindly give this to Aaliyah, its from Tunde. I'm traveling back to Abeokuta now.”

Adewale and Murphy have been quiet for more of the time during their journey. “I'm sorry, I pushed you into this. I'm basically instrumental to this embarrassment,” Murphy apologized. “No, it's okay. It's not your fault.” Adewale told him. “But I think it's, if I had not persuaded you in the first place this wouldn't have happened,” Murphy said. “Well, it's what it was there's nothing we could do about it. Don't let's feel bad about the past but find happiness in the present and hope for the joy the future holds,” Adewale said. Murphy sighed, “You're right,” he said.

“I just felt for Aaliyah, I can't phantom how embarrassed she'd be,” Adewale added. “Yes, she was seriously embarrassed, she couldn't look up at us and the only time she did I saw it written all over her magical eyes,” Murphy said. “Anyways I'm glad to see her again but she's changed to me, she's acting awkwardly,” Adewale said.

“Maybe she's angry with you for abandoning the friendship. She was acting like a visitor in her house,” Murphy said. “Yeah, you're right. She's acting funny, Aaliyah barely looked at me throughout our stay. And we later complicated everything after being an uninvited guest," said Adewale.

“Is that her dad?” Murphy asked.

“No, her father is late. But I felt her mother's pugnacious disposition according to Danny's description,” Adewale said. “But she took things too far, she almost got me blinded with pepper," Murphy said. Adewale peeked at his eyes and he saw they're very red. “How do they look?” Murphy asked while he looked through the side mirror.

“Not that bad, but I hope you can see clearly,” Adewale asked. “Yes, and I don't feel the pepper anymore since I licked a pinch of the salt, except it itches me a little,” Murphy replied. “Sorry about that, I pray it gets better,” Adewale said and he pulled over in front of a mini-mart. “Thanks bro, I appreciate,” Murphy said. They bought two loaves of bread before he drove home.

The colonel's on a call with Tunde. “How's your journey dad?” “It's horrible,” he told him. “How do you mean sir?” He asked. “Tunde, it was full of ugly scenes,” the colonel replied. “Dad what happened, is Aaliyah okay?” “I don't want to set panic for you so don't let us talk about the journey to Lagos,” he advised Tunde.

“Dad you're beginning to make me more panic by not telling me what happened.” The colonel paused for a moment on the phone. “Hello dad, are you there?” he asked. “Yes, I am.” “Okay then talk to me, did anything happen to Aaliyah?” The colonel cleared his throat, “Since you insisted I say something, then I will,” said the colonel. The orderly showed up, he saluted him.

The colonel covered the mouthpiece of the telephone with his hand. “Yes, can I help you?” he asked the orderly. “Adijah's asking after you sir.” “Tell her to come in,” he told the orderly.

“Sorry for holding your son, Aaliyah's mother is here,” he said. “No problem sir, I thought you traveled together to check on Aaliyah,” Tunde said. “Yes, we did, and we had an accident on our way going.” “Oh my God, is everyone okay Dad?” “Yes, glory be to God, he saved us all. It would have been a fatal one.” “Thank God no casualties”. Tunde said

“Tunde, everyone was fine, can you excuse me? We'd talk about the other side of the story later,” said the colonel. “Okay sir, I will be looking forward to hearing from you soonest dad”. Colonel hung the phone. He turned back and saw Adijah kneeling.