Meet Roni

Chapter 1 - My ... Husband?

On an elevator, for a ride back to the ground floor from the 10th floor of Home's Memorial Hospital. The elevator was filled with about ten people. Two mixed medical students putting on their branded lab coats stood at the front with another two outpatient visitors. An elderly woman with her young daughter of about 14 years of age stood adjacent to the students and leaned to the left wall of the elevator.

A tall young man with rough-looking afro hair, had his ears blocked with his Air pods. A bag pack hung on his left shoulder, with eyes closed and hands folded, stood behind the woman and her child. He too, was leaning his back to the wall of the elevator. To a lady’s right, was a young girl covered in a deeper lifestyle kind of dressing and behind the girl was another guy who had been passing glances at her side since they got into the elevator.

So, in a way, the lady was squashed up in the middle of the elevator in the middle of two guys. Not like it was a problem, but she just wasn't in the mood to be friendly even though the guy had started talking to her. The elevator pinged for a stop at the 7th floor, the doors opened and the two medical students stepped out and were replaced by a lady. Her arms were supporting two crutches with an amputated leg. As the doors pinged shut, the elderly lady moved herself and her daughter backward by two feet as if to avoid or give room to the lady on crutches, (whichever was the case, no one knew).

This slight movement seemed to have affected the guy behind them as he adjusted himself and straightened himself between the back and left side of the wall. This new position gave his eyes the freedom to scan the people in the room with him without moving his body. In those few seconds, his eyes skimmed the people in the room, from his front to the room's left. They continued to the right to the last person in the room but only to find her pair of eyes already staring back at him.

Neither moved nor spoke but continued to hold their gaze. A few seconds had passed between them but it felt like hours as they kept staring. The other guy by the lady’s right side had been saying something she'd barely responded to.

" ... You're not even trying to answer me but you continue looking at that guy!" He spoke in a soft tone as if he wasn't mad at her action but more curious. Her lips let out a yes before she could reason anything.

"Why? Do you know him? ... You guys haven't been acting like you know each other since we got into the elevator."

" Not like it's any of your business. But he's my...” her eyes never left his as she spoke and neither did his, her head c****d to one side and a small smirk entered her lips as she released her next words. "... My husband." Her claim made her staring partner recollect himself a little, but not before his eyes had given her mixed reactions of amusement and confusion.

The guy toasting her laughed, turning heads in their direction. " What? You think it's funny?" She turned her head to him.

"There's no ring on you guy's fingers, you don't have to lie like that because you don't want to talk to me...." Then please take a hint-she thought, but the guy continued "... You don't know where we'll meet tomorrow...

"Babe, you good to go?" She heard rightly. Her stare partner, definitely ... said that to her. At the same time, the doors pinged open again as the other guy was asking for her number. Her stare partner's hand was out of his pocket, so she took the opportunity to link his arm with hers as they walked - crushed their way out of the elevator together. A lot of people were waiting to use the lift instead of the stairs, even those going to the first floor. So, they barely waited for the occupants to come out before they rushed in. She used her side eye to see if the other guy was still following her. And to which he was. He seemed to be the type to follow her down to her cab, street area, and compound gate just for her number. She mentally was not ready for that, so she continued her theatrics with her newfound hero. She looked at their linked arms and tugged him a little to get his attention.

"So, this is how you'll let other guys steal me in your presence and I'll have to keep defending our consummation."

"Normally, that guy didn't stand a chance with you. Plus, you refused to wear a ring. I'll leave the explanation for you."

"Must I explain myself? Are we the only couple that don't wear rings? Jehovah's Witnesses and deeper lifers don't wear rings. Is that how they'd explain themselves to anyone?"

"Alright then, accept the ring and stop complaining about being compared to other married church denominations."

" Is he still following us?" the lady whispered.

" He stopped awhile back, you should have seen his face." They took a few more steps forward and stopped at the hospital's entrance. Then she slowly released her hands from his.

"I'm sorry, about .... This whole ... You know" she demonstrated with her hands.

" Naa, it's all good. Anything for my wifey." He raised both brows at 'wifey'. He had a killer's smile and his smile was contagious. She found herself smiling along with him too.

"Thanks a lot, Husband." She waved a bye at him, to which he returned and watched him take a turn to the car park while she dragged her legs to the hospital mart. He didn't ask for her number or anything which she was grateful for and a little simp about. His self and his mystery were something for sure she doubted she'd see again.

About thirty minutes later, Sapphire had gotten what she wanted from the mart and was heading back to the hospital's tenth floor. Her Friend, Mercy's dad was going to be released soon from the hospital. Mercy and her three siblings were helping their dad pack up and arrange his things while their father sat on the bed waiting for the doctor's final report and dismissal.

Since she got back from the mart, she'd helped her friend to do one or two before she sat at the window looking out in the hope of catching a glimpse of something... Or someone?

"Are you okay, Sapphy? If you're tired you can go back to the lodge."

" No, I'm fine, don't mind me. The doctor's just taking time, that's all."

" Don't worry, just take the key and go. I'll call you when we get home."

" Are you trying to chase her? She said she was fine..." Mercy's father, Mr. Godfrey butted in, putting a weak smile on Sapphire's face. " But she's right though, you've done well my dear. You've been here for almost two days. You can go home. I'm better now. Don't mind all these useless hospital delays."

"Sir, now you're the one trying to chase me, we're already done. Let's all just leave together." Mercy's father nodded his head to her response while she stood up to join Mercy's younger brother Orji to sit at the foot of the bed.

Two weeks ago, he had been rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. They had had an emergency operation, which was a scary moment for all of them as they were shedding tears and praying for a successful surgery. They had lost their mom three years before to an unknown ailment. Losing their father would have been devastating for her and her friend because he was extremely close to his children. He spoke to his children and herself like his peers, unlike the normal cultural paternal figure in Nigeria.

A few minutes later, their allocated doctor arrived and did his last checkup, questions, instructions, and scribblings for Mr. Godfrey before shaking hands with him and trading fare off words.