OPEN HEART SURGERY

HAPPINESS IN AFRICA

'Happiness is external while Joy is internal, happiness happens by happenstance thus it is dependent on an event or a circumstance unlike Joy, which comes from within its possessor'.Nicole had heard those words from Aunt Rose. She spoke with so much wisdom and Nicole had called her 'the Gandhi of Africa', as they talked and laughed on the night she had arrived at her home.Zak had two outstanding jobs on Nicole's arrival, the first was at the hospital and the other was showing Nicole around town. The second job, although not without the help of Aunt Rose, he had to fight Dara to get it.That afternoon Zak had pulled out the Jaguar and driven out with Nicole. Abuja was hot and even Zak agreed with her. "I don't see you wearing your sweater." Nicole said.“We only do that in the mornings and in the nights when it's cold," Zak's charming smile came on his face. "Not under the heat of this Abuja sun.”“Well, I still see some of you guys walking around in suits under this same Abuja sun.”“Don't blame us, we were colonized by the whites and we remain loyal even under the sun, just as we've always been." Zak replied, and smiled. "Wow! Did I just sound like my father?"Nicole looked at him in silence, trying to figure out the direction from where he was coming and which, he was intending to lead the conversation. "So is the sun the only reason you walk around with everything almost too short and almost too light?" He continued. “But not transparent!" Nicole said, quickly.“I wouldn't mind." Zak said, eyeing her.Nicole chuckled. "I don't dress for you, Zak." “Like I said, I wouldn't mind if you did."“Don't you think you're being rude?" Nicole asked.Zak laughed. "Don't you think you're being too forward to ask me if I'm being rude?" He glanced at her, afraid he might have crossed the line. "I'm sorry for being so rude.”“I didn't say you were, I was just asking," Nicole said. "And if you were, you're forgiven.”“That's why I love you." Zak said. Nicole laughed at his quick response to her ever forgiving attitude. She knew he didn't mean that as she would have loved him to mean it.Nicole had only known him a week but she felt like she had known him all her life. She could communicate with him with the ease at which she communicated with Dara and Tasha. No other guy she had ever met in just a week had ever related with her with such simplicity and natural ease.“So what's your favorite color? Zak asked, without giving room for a dull moment.“Why don't you guess?" Nicole said with a grin.“Red." Zak replied.The manner, at which he answered, shocked Nicole more than the fact that he had guessed right. He sounded like someone had whispered the answer to him and he just echoed it, not like a guess at all.“How did you know?" She said. "You've only seen me wear red twice, at the airport and yesterday.”“It's not about how often you wear a particular color. It's about how you feel around that color." Zak said.Nicole could not believe he had found time to study her that much. "What else do you know about me?”“I know you've worn red more times than we could see, probably just hidden under some other color," Zak said, with a mischievous smile.Nicole felt naked in his presence and wanted to jump out of the moving car, he was right again. "I think this conversation on colors has gone far enough." Nicole replied.Zak drove her to Palm Tree Island, one of the finest resorts in Abuja with a stadium size swimming pool which pulled a crowd, the size of a Liverpool and Arsenal soccer final. Palm Tree Island must have gotten its name from the countless palm trees that stood on the sands of the artificial beach.“This is the closest to a beach we have in Abuja but I can take you to Lagos or Rivers, those States have real beaches," Zak said. "Which would you want to go?”“Why would you want to drive interstate just to take me to a beach?”“Each of those states is about nine hour's drive from Abuja." Zak said.“Then why would you want to fly me to a beach, when you know I'm from California?”Zak laughed. He really liked her intelligent mind. "Dara said something about seeing you without clothes on, and about you being a mermaid." Zak said, looking directly at her as they sat under the thatched roof shade.Nicole had began to feel bad at how much he seemed to push the issue of what she wore and how she would take them off. Her fears had begun to come true, she had hoped Zak would be different. She'd really appreciate it more if she could slow down the speed at which she was beginning to like him. Dara had said he was a 'stupid heart surgeon', now, she was also about to conclude that he was also a stupid player.“So which of her words did you highlight, 'without clothes on' or 'mermaid'?”“Both!" He replied. "'Without clothes on', was highlighted in red, and 'mermaid' was highlight in blue, just like the sea." Zak said.“Would you like me to take them off immediately?"“No, we don't have to rush it, we will get there eventually." He replied.Nicole wanted to bite him on the lips. Did he seriously think she was ever going to sleep with him? She could not imagine where he got his guts from and the manner at which he made such severe statements sound like the joke of the century. He had a way of turning arrogant sounding words into a confident joke. "You're an ass, Zak!" Nicole said, without remorse.“Which, butt ass or donkey ass?" Zak said. Laughing at her agitation, he stood up. "Excuse me, I'll be right back." He walked away towards the counter.She wished he could just be proud and arrogant about it for a second and she would hate him with a passion. His words were fire but he could ice it with sugar and humility. Nicole was falling in love with him faster than she had anticipated but Zak had not showed her anything to make her believe he would be the perfect guy Tasha had given her a pencil to draw. Instead, he had kept talking about taking her clothes off.“Good day Madam," The voice belonged to the waiter who stood beside her with a tray of Suya, skillfully sliced, uniquely spiced, roasted beef with a little extra pepper. "The gentleman over there, asked me to bring this over here." He pointed in Zak's direction.Nicole gestured with her head for him to carry out his duties.“May I ask which country, Finland or Sweden?" The waiter asked, placing the plates cautiously on the table.Nicole had not expected him to speak such good English but in addition, he also seemed to know what he was talking about.“America!" Nicole replied.“Missouri?" The waiter said with a confident smile.Nicole wondered what was wrong with everyone, was she such an open book? Zak had indirectly told her the color of her bra and panties, and now this stranger was doing something similar to that.“Most American blonds with blue eyes are from Missouri." The waiter explained his reasoning.“My mom is a blond with blue eyes from Missouri, how could I doubt you?" Nicole gave the man her killer smile.“If all the ladies that came to Palm Tree Island were as beautiful as you, this place would be a paradise." The waiter said, smiled and walked away before she could say 'thank you'.Do all Nigerian men talk like Zak and the waiter? Nicole chuckled at the idea of Zak and The waiter which sounded like 'Tarzan and the Jungle'.Nicole thought the waiter was handsome, she liked him, or maybe she had become so desperate and would like anybody that doted on or threw a complemented her away. She could walk away from Palm Tree Island and never see him again but Zak was going to be a five months course.Nicole, you are in Africa on an assignment, if it were a vacation you would have had better options such as France and Dubai. Nicole you needed to stop acting like a dumb blond. She told herself.She was determined to stay focused. She closed her eyes, inhaled and exhaled. "Nicole you can do this" She said, opening her eyes to find Zak standing there watching her strange act.Nicole could have been embarrassed rather she was mesmerized. He stood with a bottle of wine and glasses but his shirt was missing, his six-pack was clearly six and none was missing. This doctor was a man. This was no fiction, for this man was real.She recovered from her trance and hastily withdrew her eyes from his body. "Now I see why Dara always wants to kill you, you're trouble maker!" Nicole said.Zak laughed and took his seat. "What were you praying about?”She ignored his question. "What happened to you shirts?”“I gave it to the girl at the counter.”“What!" Nicole exclaimed.Zak laughed. "I bumped into a lady and she spilled her drink on me, so -"“Yeah, you took off your shirt in front of her." Nicole said, in a tone that had traces of jealousy.Zak liked her tone. "Over sixty percent of the men in this place are walking around with no shirts and thirty percent with swimming pants only," Zak said. "So what's my crime?”“You're not swimming and you're showing off." Nicole replied.Nicole took the glass of wine from him before looking at the bottle on the table. It was a 'Moet Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose'. Nicole could perceive that there was a little more style and a little more something indescribable to this doctor than just heart surgery.Zak went after the Suya and Nicole followed, cautiously. It was her first time but she wasn't disappointed, the Suya tasted really good.“I like it but it's peppery," Nicole said, sniffled and went for her wine. "And it goes down well with the wine." She continued, aiming the arrow like Suya stick into the sandy ground. Zak watched her chew the meat with delight as he continued to smile. "Your lips are kissinspiring, like Meagan Good's," Zak said. "Are you guys related?”“She's black and I'm white, what do you think?”“How about Angelina Jolly, you must be related?”Nicole Chuckled. "I like your lab coat sense of humor, but do you always start like that? She said, and sipped her wine gently.“Would you prefer I start with, 'Nicole I love and I'll die for you'?”Her eye brows shut up straight, if he meant it, maybe she would but he didn't. "No, I'd prefer something more professional." She replied.“In what context would you like that, occupation or style?”“I'll pick fashion." Nicole had intended to humble him by taking him along a path he might not survive for long. Only if she knew who Zak truly was, she would not have done that. "Which do you love more, Gucci or Prada?" She continued, shaking her glass gently.“I love your eyes, Niki, it's beyond any designer, Gucci or Prada." Zak replied, without his charming smile. The charm in his seriousness was more enchanting than that of his smile. He always knew what to say, how and when to say it, that was the first time he ever called her Niki.They got back to the car and headed back home, they talked more like friends and that made Nicole feel more at ease.“Dara went to an air force and you went to an army high school, why didn't you join the military?”“I went to an army secondary school." Zak corrected.Nicole grinned and pushed her head backwards with her hand. "I know! I just keep forgetting that's what you guys call it, 'secondary school'.”Zak threw a quick glance at her. "The same way you keep forgetting, and referring to Nigeria as Africa?" He said, as he drove into Top View Villa through the East gate. It was the shortest route from Palm Tree Island.“Give me one more week and I'll refer to everything as I should," She assured him. "Dara told me she would have joined the military if you had, she's really fond of you and looks up to you like a big brother.”“I didn't want to be my father, I wanted to be Zak." He said.Nicole had met Zak's father, the man everyone referred to as General Ikenna but Dara called him 'Uncle Ikenna'.Respect for elders was a tradition in Nigeria. People would bow, kneel and even lie on the floor to greet an elderly person as a sign of respect. 'Uncle', was the prefix for a familiar older male person while aunt applied accordingly for a familiar female person, even the Nursery and Primary school kids referred to their teachers as Aunties and Uncles, it was disrespectful to address or refer to an older person by their first name, thus 'Aunt Rose' and 'Uncle Ikenna'.Zak had passed the last checkpoint, drove into Ezimma Street, past his house and headed for plot 137.“How does a handsome and successful heart doctor cope with all the pretty nurses that flock around him? Nicole said.Zak smiled, quite surprised that she was finally letting him know she cared. He wound down for identification at Aunt Rose's gate and drove in. "I wonder why these soldiers have to be so thorough” Zak said, hoping Nicole would not push her question.“You didn't answer my question, Zak," Nicole pushed. "But if it's too difficult, you can choose to fail it.”“Doctors don't work on nurses, we only work with them. That's how we cope." he replied. Nicole was already getting used to the fact that he always had the perfect answers. She smiled and walked ahead of him into the house.

Aunt Rose had instructed they'd go straight to the dinning. Dara ran down stairs to join them, taking her seat beside Nicole.“I've told you not to sit facing her," Dara's words were directed at Zak. "I don't need you communicating your evil schemes into her eyes.”Nicole laughed quietly. "If he moves to the next seat, he'll be facing you, and I'm sure that would be war.”“That would be fine, I can handle his trash." Dara said.“Dara shut up! We're trying to eat." Aunt Rose spoke up from the head of the table.“Mom, why are you always in support of Zak's actions?" Dara said.“Not always." Zak retorted.“We have someone from the western world at this table, I'd be happy if both of you can pretend to be civilized." Aunt Rose said. "Where did you guys go today, Nicole?”“Palm Tree Island and we ate Suya." She announced, excitedly.“He seems to be taking you to the finest places." Aunt Rose said. "I hope he's not bothering you?”Nicole laughed. "No, he's not.”“Dara, did you just hear Aunt Rose take sides against me?" Zak said.“You don't need to be a genius to know she'd take sides with Niki over you, and you over me."Nicole was enjoying every minute of the dinner, s***h drama. "Aunt Rose, how do you cope with this cat and dog?”“My dear, you have no idea." Aunt Rose said, and walked into the kitchen with a casserole.“The same way I coped with you and Tasha!" Dara shot at her.“You and Tasha were the cat and dog, I had to be the owner.”“Zak is the dog, so there has to be a cat." Dara said, and then they continued in silence for a few seconds.“Stop staring at her!" Dara's sudden outburst startled everyone at the table.Aunt Rose returned from the Kitchen with more food. "Dara are you sure you are mentally stable?”Dara ignored her mom and continued at Zak. "How many times do I have to tell you she's not an Albino, she's white!”“I wasn't staring at her." Zak said, helplessly.“What's an Albino?" Nicole asked.Dara pointed her fork at Nicole's face. "I can't believe this white girl doesn't understand English.“I'm white, not English.”“She studied history, not pigmentation." Zak Said.Nicole lit up. "Were you referring to Albino? It's pronounced 'Al.bai.no' not 'Al.bi.no'," Nicole said, and pointed her fork at Dara's face in retaliation. "I can't believe your Oxford brain never got the pronunciation right.”They all laughed and chatted on, endlessly. The week had been one of the best weeks of Nicole's life. She loved these people and they loved her, she was treated like a queen, the center of everything. She would not be in a hurry to return to the States if every week of her five months in Nigeria would be this good. "Africa is more fun than I ever imagine." Nicole said.Aunt Rose gave her a serious look. "Nicole, Africa is a continent. You might have to be more specific, as this is Nigeria, one of the many countries in Africa.”“I have told her that countless times." Zak said.“I'm sorry. It's not so easy to erase that picture, that anything black is classified as Africa.""What do you mean by anything black?" Aunt Rose asked. "The images they created on our minds left the people with only a color." Nicole said.Zak and Dara had schooled abroad, they had an idea what she was talking about but Aunt Rose had refused to. "What images?" “They were Images of a class of people with black skin, synonymous with poverty, sickness and hunger, Africa." Nicole said, sadly counting her words."The stories of Africa you were told could be true but not complete," Aunt Rose said, "Because there is more to Africa than poor black sick hungry people. They should have given you a map instead of a single sided story which created incomplete images of Africa on your poor, white, sick and hungry minds.”Dara nudged her on the side. "That serves you right.”“Nicole darling, I'm not scolding I'm just saying, you could be an American, a Canadian or Mexican but no one constantly calls you a North American. It just doesn't make sense." Aunt Rose explained further.Zak pointed his fork at her. "I hope you understand, because the next time you call a country a continent, you will be punished." Zak said, making a face at her.Nicole laughed. "What will be the nature of the punishment?”“A kiss from me will do!" Zak said. There was a moment of silence, and then laughter followed.Nicole had not been so happy in a long while, she was a long way from home but it felt like home, she had found a new family, one with much more fun than her biological one.Her elder sister, Kiara was married to John and they had three kids already, her parents lived in Mendota an almost hundred percent white dominated city of Fresno county, California. Although she lived in Orange County she seldom visited them. They loved her and she loved them, she was her father's angelic girl and her mother's baby girl but she hated how her mother displeased herself to please her father.She also hated the push and pull of 'when is it going to be'? 'How is he'? 'Where is he'? 'Is there any one yet'? Most times she left Mendota angry when they pushed too hard.Here she was laughing with a sister, a brother, a mother and maybe Uncle Ikenna would play the father someday whenever he took off his uniform. "I think I'm falling in love with Africa." Nicole said, in excitement.Silence filled the room, all eyes on Nicole, she had made the mistake again and her execution was now and Zak was the executioner. They could not be serious, she thought. That was certainly a Joke, and Aunt Rose was present at the table, which meant the presence of a much older person. It would be disrespectful for him to kiss her in her presence when they were not yet married. Aunt Rose's presense would be her saving grace.“Kiss her Zak!"Aunt Rose said.Nicole could not believe her ears. Zak and Dara caught the Joke and laughed excitedly. Nicole laughed as well, although partially unsure of what would happen next. "Zak, I'm sorry, I won't do it again." Nicole pleaded. "Recall I forgave you at the airport." She begged as they all laughed some more.“Fine, I'll forgive you but don't test me." Zak said.“I won't." She laughed. He never would have done it, Aunt Rose was present, it was only a threat and that was the joke coming from Aunt Rose. But what if it was just the both of them? Nicole had begun to nurse the idea of intentionally making the mistake when she was alone with him.Dara stood up to assist Aunt Rose clear the table. As Zak stood to leave, he gently touched Nicole on the back and she gasped. "I'm sorry," Zak said. "What's our plan for tomorrow?”“I'm starting work tomorrow." Nicole informed him.“I can drop you off.”“Thanks, but it's my first day and Aunt Rose wants to go with me, so I'll be going with her." She stammered.“Alright then, see you tomorrow." Zak said."I don't know, maybe." Nicole retorted.Zak touched her again gently, and whispered into her ears. "Niki, I think I'm getting addicted to you." He had called her Niki again, he had also touched her again, she wanted him to, but her countless fears only drove her away from him and hastily into the kitchen, she ran.