More To It

Chapter 7- Jumoke

Khalid

“You deceived me the entire time?“,Zaynab looks at her mother who sighs and rubs her forehead tiredly.

“I didn’t know that the person who needed my help was you Zaynab. It was only after I met you, did I realize it was you”,aunt Jumoke replies.

“What are you doing here?“,Eniola asks her.

“I was called Eniola”.

“So you were called? You weren’t called when YOUR OWN DAUGHTER nearly died in the house fire? You weren’t then abi? You were asleep then abi?“,Eniola yells.

“Eniola. Calm down”,uncle tells her but she was just glaring at aunt the entire time.

Aunt sighs and clears her throat.

“I know. I know what I did was wrong. Nothing I say would make it any better. I can only for you to forgive me. Ise esu ni (it’s the devil’s work)“.

She turns to Uncle Abdul and sighs.

“Abdullah”,she whispers then gets on her knees in front of him.

“Jumoke. Don’t, get up”,uncle sighs.

“no, let me stay like this-“.

“Jumoke. Ani it’s okay. I don’t have a problem with you personally. There’s only so much that one can take”,uncle says then he pulls her up.

“A-“.

“You tried. Me and you both know that. You couldn’t take it anymore. And I don’t blame you or resent you for it. But what you did pelu omi mi (with my child), ah, that one is unforgivable. Shouldn’t we thank God that Adelola was there in time to save her. If we not because of her, se omi ti emi ma wa wa nibi bayi? (Would my own child be here now?)“.

Aunt looks away and looks down at aunt Adelola.

“Iwo? (You?).

“Mm the person behind you”,aunt Adelola hisses then stands up.

“Wait oo. Did I not warn you before you left? Iwo. Ah IWO Jumoke. You even have the audacity to raise your tone at me. Se, if I didn’t then go in there will you have your daughter here? Omo ti iwo, ti o think about tele tele?“,aunt yells.

“Adelola. Emi loba soro bayi? (It’s me you are taking to like this?)“,aunt Adelola steps back and touches her chest.

“Mm. Were ti o wa lara re ni (it’s the madness in you)“,aunt hisses.

“Wait abeg. Abeg abeg”,aunt starts slapping her hands then she chuckles.

“I hope you’re not mad”.

“Mommy stop”,Ibrahim sighs and pulls her away.

“Mommy stop from where? Listen to this one. I was just about to start begging you and thanking you for what you did. If you were not there, she wouldn’t be here and I regret what I did. And to thank you. But Iwo.“aunt gasps.

“Wait. Is it because I came here looking and acting all calm? You know me ooo. You know what I can do. Abeg. If you’re not ready for an early death. Watch who you’re messing with”,she yells at aunt Adelola.

“You and what army? Look. Don’t threaten me. We’re both Yoruba born. If you say you’re crazy, you know am mental. Don’t even cross h-“.

“Mommy. Why are you wasting your energy on useless, unwanted things”,Zaynab pulls aunt away from her biological mother who’s eyes widens with shock.

“Emi? Me? Am the mad one?“,she touches her chest.

“I can’t believe you even have the audacity to even yell at her. After what she did? Ah. You have no shame. No shame at all”,Zaynab yells.

“I see you’re angry. That’s the only reason am allowing such disrespect from you. Because what I did, is just pure wickedness. So I understand you’re angry. But”,aunt sighs.

“Zaynab. Oko mi (basically means my husband but it’s also used as a sort of affection to dear ones). You’re angry, and you have every right to be.... Both of you”,she glances at Eniola who folds her arms and looks away.

“I see where I went wrong. It was just wickedness. Because of material things, just common wealth. I put you both and *sighs* your father to the side. I can’t tell you how much I regret it. I have everything I prayed and wanted. But it doesn’t bring me any joy. I know what I did. I can only beg for you forgiveness. Please”,she begs.

“See, if you had just left, I wouldn’t have been this hurt. But you left me there to die. You couldn’t risk your own life in there. How do you think that makes me feel? Huh?“,Zaynab yells.

Aunt frowns and sighs with tears in both her and Zaynabs eyes.

“I hope you understand that I would be dead. I wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t there to save me. She didn’t care if she got hurt or not. And she’s not even my real mother. You, mommy. You, you ran away. All for what?“,she yells.

“Zaynab. Please. Am begging you. I know what I did was wrong. Please, I can’t change what I did. But I regret it. I’ve been repenting all these years. I couldn’t face you, your sister or your father after what I did, that’s why it took me so long to come. Please”,she begs Zaynab who looks away with tears literally running down her face.

“Eniola. Please na”,she whispers.

“You shouldn’t have left. You shouldn’t. You spent all your time with me, took care of us. Then without a warning. You suddenly left. I was how old? And Zaynab was only 2 months mommy. 2 months. Daddy, that was already suffering mentally, had to take on working while also taking care of us. If not because of mummy Adelola, she stepped in, not only as a savior for Zaynab, as a helper for us and mother. You totally lost your title. Let me not lie to you, looking at you right now. I wish you were the one in that fire”,Eniola says.

“Eniola”,her father whisper yells.

Aunt Jumoke wipes her tears and sighs.

“Abdullah”she whispers.

Uncle looks at her and hums.

“Ibrahim”,she calls.

Ibrahim steps up and stands beside her.

“Ibrahim is your son”,she whispers.

“What?“,gasps instantly fills the entire room. What the heckkkk. No wonder he was staring at Zaynab and Eniola. He already knew they were his sisters.

“How’s that possible?“,uncle looks at Ibrahim then at her.

“I was 2 weeks pregnant when I left. He’s your son”,she repeats.

Ibrahim looks at him and bites his lip.

Uncle looks at her and frowns.

“Am sorry. For everything. It would mean everything if you forgave MW but am just glad I finally gathered up the courage to face y’all and apologize”,she whispers then she glances at Ibrahim who nods.

She looks at Zaynab and Eniola then walks past me.

“What about your son? Don’t we need to talk about it?“,Ibrahim asks.

“Go. We don’t need her help”,Zaynab hisses.

“So you have a way to save him?“,Ibrahim asks her.

“No. We’ll find a way”.

“Okay sure. Do what you want. Regardless of what mommy did. She regrets it. That doesn’t and shouldn’t give you the right to insult her like you did. You’re madx I get it. Am angry too. I had to stay away from the rest of my family. The one one I knew was her. She repented. Prayed, fasted, did everything and Noe she begged for forgiveness. The only reason she took this occupation was because of her guilt, that she couldn’t save her own daughter, so she now takes it as a chance to help others that are helpless. You’re basically her inspiration, might be in the most sickest way, but she’s trying at least. She’s human either way. We all f**k up. It’s what we do. The important thing is she realized her wrongdoing, repented and begged for forgiveness. If you don’t forgive her, that’s your own”,Ibrahim says.

“And, don’t insult her”,he turns to aunt Adelola.

“You were there. You helped. Okay. And she’s grateful. She may not have made the right decision then, but she’s still a mother. Either way, she’s still their mother. Not you. So before you go about yelling and hurling insults about her parenthood and wisdom. Search for yours. Because, in Islam, as far as am concerned its not advisable to label yourself as another child’s mother when their biological mother is still alive. No matter what. No disrespect but take this however you want”,he shrugs.

“And daddy, I hope we can get to know each other. Apart from all that mommy’s told me about you. I’d love to spend time with you”,he tells uncle who smiles a little.

He looks at Zaynab.

“You formed a bond with her already. If you don’t take our help. Then you are the biggest hypocrite on earth. Your son is with someone that could damage his future but out of anger, you don’t want to get him our of there. Face it, mom is the only one that can actually help you in this case and she’s been the only one actually helping. She’s done her part. Its your decision. But besides that. Nice to finally you two”,he nods at both his sisters before he picks up his work hat.

He walks out of the room leaving everyone speechless.