More than a Chance

Episode 11- Surprise Visit

Adewale's mother gave him a kettle to get some water to perform his ablution, so he could join the congregation.

After they finished praying, Adewale saw one of his childhood friends in the Masjid. They both maintained silence with their hands held together tightly.

When they got outside the Masjid, they hugged each other. And their pleasantries were engrossed with excitement. They've lost contact for some time now.

His name's Maroof but his friends call him Murphy. He wasn't looking good. One could tell from his beards.

They walked together to Adewale's car, they stood and discussed for a while.

When his mother saw them, she ignored in other not to meddle into their conversation but Murphy greeted her. “How are you my son?” she asked.

“I'm good ma, thank you,” he replied.

“I hope you are coming together for lunch?” she asked Adewale.

“Yes ma,” Adewale replied.

When Adewale and his friend got home, his mother told the maid to serve them some food.

“I miss you so much mum.”

“Same here my son." Being her last child, they're fond of one another. His mother excused herself to allow them enjoy their meals.

I hoped to stay but I'm afraid I have to go back today. His mother looked back at him, I would miss you again so soon. He hugged and patted her at the back like a baby.

After they finished eating, they chilled out for an hour before Adewale declared he's leaving. “I hope you're not missing dad. I wish him a safe journey back home," he said.

“Why won't I miss my sweetheart? she said and smile. “Don't worry he would soon be back," he said.

“By the grace of God, anyways I wish you journey mercy and please don't gad around anymore. You know it's getting late," she implored him.

“Alright ma," he glimpsed at his wrist watch. It was half past the hour of four. “Let me be on my way. And please extend my regards to daddy when he comes back,” he said.

She accompanied him and Murphy to the car.

He drove away with Murphy in his car. His girl friend, Funke reside five streets away from his folk's house. His mother isn't in the support of him getting married to her. But he has found it hard to let go, their love had grown over the years.

Whenever he asked his mum, why she doesn't want him to get hitched with Funke?

“My son to be fore warn is to be fore harm. People from her pedigree background aren't good." (That's always been his mother's response. But Funke has been so great to him, that he hardly find a fault in her.)

He doesn't want to throw his mother's words away and the love he has built for some time now. (Adewale now resides in a state of dilemma). And he's always confused whenever he remembers this puzzle of his life.

He can't do with the two at the same time. So he ought to let one go. He has been held in this predicament for sometime now.

When he got to Funke's house that same day she was delighted to see Adewale. She's in front of her house with a friend. She couldn't wait for him to pull over before she rushed to the car.

“My baby, how's your trip?" she asked him with a spry smile. “It's awesome my darling," he replied.

“Good afternoon, it's a coon's age." she greeted Murphy with excitement. They both exchanged pleasantries as it's been a while since they'd seen each other.

“I came in not quite long. I just came in briefly to see my folks and my sugar,” he teased her. She wore a potent smile as the words stroked her spine.

“So what are you doing right now?” Adewale asked her.

“Nothing much, just a gisting session with a friend," she replied. He waved to her friend that stood some meters away from them. Funke called her friend to come and say hi to her fiancé.

After they discussed for another few minutes, they hugged. And then Adewale told her he has to be on his way. Funke's mood changed immediately.

“Don't worry baby I would come around next week by God's grace,” he said.

“There are some things we need to talk about,” Funke told him.

“I hope is not something serious,” he asked.

“Not really,” she replied with her head tilted sideways.

“Alright no problem,” he assured her. He got back to Murphy in the car. There are some pressing issues, he needed to discuss with him before he leaves Lagos for Abeokuta.

“Alright take care of yourself Funke,” Murphy waved to her as Adewale drove out of the street. Murphy didn't want to get down from the car because he wasn't dressing well.

He gave Murphy some money and his home address at Abeokuta. “I knew my mystery times are over the moment I saw you," he thanked Adewale for raising his hope. His eyes became welled up with tears.

“Common bro, you don't need this now and even ever, let's thank God for the gift of life. When there's life, there is still plenty of hope. Everyone has his own designated time in life to fulfill a destiny. The sky is vast enough for every star to twinkle. Your time will come very soon my friend," he encouraged Murphy.

Aaliyah was lying in bed, she was engrossed in the novel she was reading. She guessed Adewale will surprise her with a visit yesterday or probably today. Every knock on her door throughout this weekend was overwhelming. It got to a point she was angry with herself.

“Why on earth was I evening hoping he'd visit?" She thought. She put the novel beside the pillow. “I need to get rid of him flooding my thought before he perched on it. No strings attached though," she thought. She sighed. “But to be candid Adewale is a humorous guy everyone would like to be around,” she muttered.

She heard a knock on the door, she was very reluctant to answer.

“Who's it?” she yelled.

“I'm the one,” Adewale responded. She was shocked to her bone marrow, she tossed up quickly from the bed. She smooched her box hurriedly to put a gown on because she's just on her panties and bra. “Please hold on a second,” she pleaded.

“Ok no problem,” Adewale replied.

When she opened the door for him they're both confused after greetings. He wanted to hug her but he feels she might think he's stepping beyond the boundary. She wanted to shake him too, but she withdrew her hand. But fact was that they're both happy to see each other but they tried to conceal it.

“Please you can have your seat,” she offered. “Thank you,” he replied as he perched gently on the couch next to him. Aaliyah stays in a room and parlor self-contained apartment.

“Are you just arriving in Lagos or about to leave?” she asked.

“I'm about to leave,” he said.

“Oh, I see," she said. (Is she angry she wasn't on top of the list of the person he wanted to see?) Yes, I think she's but she was able to hide it with a smile.

“So what should I offer you sir?" she asked. He bursted into laughter. Why the sir, ma? he said.

“As a gentle lady, what do you expect sir?” she said with a smile.

“Hmmm, really?” he replied. And they laughed over it.

“You don't have to bother yourself, I just ate lunch at my parent's place not quite long,”

“Oh, ok so how are your parents?” she asked.

“I met only my mum, and she's good but my dad had traveled."

“Ok, I'm glad to hear she's doing good,” she said.

Thank you for your concern," he said. Aaliyah excused herself, she went out of her house. Adewale sat quietly on the couch, he glanced at the arrangement of her living room. Aaliyah's such a neat lady, everything was well arranged. She came back with a bottle of chilled “maltex” drink.

“But I told you not to stress yourself,” he said.

“This is not a stress, how could you visit me for the first time and expect me not to entertain you, no matter how small it is?” she said.

“Thank you ma, if you insist.”

“You're welcome, my son.” she said while she covers her mouth. He raised his eyebrow and looked at her with a smile. “Are you serious?” he asked.

“Yes!" she replied and they both laughed hysterically like kids.

“Look at a big rat behind you,” Adewale pointed toward her heel.

“Where?" she screamed and jumped on top of the couch. Adewale laughed at her, “look at you, and you call yourself my mummy.” She exhaled in relief, and she covered her wide open mouth.

“Do you know, you almost plucked my heart out of my chest?" she told him.

“Are you serious? So you are scared of rats.” He took a sip from the soft drink she bought for him. He tilted his head sideways, she looked at him mischievously.

“Why are you looking at me like that? he asked.

“Won't you tell me sorry,” she asked him. “Like seriously," he laughed. “Ok sorry, my mummy.” And they laughed again. It feels like they've known themselves for years.

There's a moment of silence in the room. Only God knows what the two were thinking. Aaliyah cleared her throat, “why are you quiet?” she asked him. He sighed heavily, “you remembered what I told you the other day we were coming from Abeokuta.”

“You told me a lot of things, so which one of them?” she asked and he kept quiet again.

“You know you can tell me anything though it might sound some how but trust me you can confide in me," she persuaded him to talk. He looked at her, and she looked away immediately.

“Why did you act like that?” Adewale asked.

“Nothing, just tell me what's bothering your mind," she said.

“My mother doesn't like Funke, and it has been a bottleneck for me for a long time.”