Fate of love

The Turn Around

Very early in the morning, Esther was set already to make some fries for some early costumers and most especially students going to school. She gathered fire woods into the local iron wood pot, added little kerosene then lightened it. She placed her frying pot on it then poured some ground nut oil into it. Tayo called out to his mother to help him put down the grinded beans he had gone to collect, she immediately left the yam she was peeling to help her son. After putting it down, Tayo took and excuse he want to use the toilet then he left. Esther adjusted herself on the bench to stir the grinded beans to fry them. From a distance she heard a gunshot, quickly carried her mixture to a safe place at the balcony. She could have gotten a help but Tayo that could have helped her was in the toilet. She returned to carry her peeled yam soaked in water, about to leave there, then some cultists escaping from the other antagonizing members burst into her hot groundnut oil and spilled it on her leg. Jesu!!! Esther shouted in pain, the bowl of the soaked yam fell from her. She laid on the ground shouting on top of her voice “ Aiye mi, temi ba mi. Tayo! Atanda! Please come o!”

Esther’s voice awakens Atanda from the couch where he was sleeping. He quickly grabbed his crutches then rushed to go out. When he got to the entrance of the door, he fell hitting his leg against the ground. He wouldn’t mind the pain because all that runs within him was the fact that Esther needs help, and he didn’t know what has happened to her that made her scream so much. At length, he got to where Esther was laying. How did it happen? He rushed to help her walk into the room. Tayo assisted his dad to help his mother. Esther could not alter a word. She just folded her hands looking at the ceiling fan like there’s something on it. Tears won’t stop rolling down her eyes, this got Atanda very scared. Esther please say something you’re really scaring me now. Tayo’s eyes were clouded with tears already the piled up grief he had held within him could not make him hold back his tears, as he speaks his pain would not allow his voice come out clear mum please say something his pain embraced and got hold of him multitudinous thought runs through him but he got morass in an ineffable.

The weather could picture Tayo’s grief the cloud changed all of a sudden and cried on Tayo, after a while it became sunny again. The reflection of the ray of light pointed directly to him like one on stage performing in a moving stage light, but Tayo would not mind it because he wasn’t in control of his thought, even the bottles by the road side could see the change in him, Tayo has been their means of transportation and a playmate. But this time, he just walk straight moving his leg daintily like he his scared of stepping on the ground. Walking round the street won’t help the situation he felt within him, so he headed back home.

After some few days later, Esther was getting better already she could move round with her legs just the irritating skin that is yet to heal. Atanda stepped out of the room to the sitting room then he saw Esther resting her leg on the stool, he stared at her in grief, his heart was bombarded with millions of thought but seeing his lovely wife in pain and couldn’t help or do something to comfort her had spill more trouble and grief to his sorrow basket. After a while he screamed and fell to the ground his crutches had found its way to the wall. Atanda! Tayo! She screamed erratically and rush to her husband. Tayo heard his mother scream while he was closed to the door step so he immediately rushed to see for himself what has happened inside. Tayo help your dad get up please, pain runs through Esther’s body if one could mention is it that of her leg or the fact that she is not feeling too well? It’s none of that but that of her husband lying on the ground helplessly. She was mindless of her pain.

Esther was quietly seated but every of her thought was on Atanda and probably waiting to hear from the doctor. Tayo moving to and fro in the hospital with multitudinous thought which are ineffable to his parent kept in bay walked up to a nurse that was assisting the doctor in his father’s ward “nurse please, how is he? The nurse would not even let him land before killing him, please have your seat and wait for the doctor. When exactly is the doctor going to be out? Soon she replied rapidly. Finally the doctor steps out of the ward, Tayo was about to rush to the doctor while Esther called him. ”Tayo come please, help me get to the doctor, Tayo immediately held his mother by her arm. “No need for that ma, I can walk up to you” the doctor said feeling very sorry for the family. Esther sat back but longed to the doctor, Thank you doctor but how is he? Tayo jumped in too, yes doctor how is he doing? He had a stroke, but it’s just the minor stage he is out of danger. Can we check on him now? Esther said in a shivering voice one could have thought she’s carrying the whole world on her head which made her face look pale and tiring but she hold unto Tayo as a source of strength and made him a pillar to lean on. Yes you can he gave a loving smile then walked to give a nurse some files after which he headed to his office. Tayo helped his mother get up then they headed to the ward.

A month later, Tayo arose very early to have a discussion with his mother. Mum, I’ll be going out today to get myself a job so I can meet up with some of our needs and if fate has a good chapter installed I can further my education. Esther was happy but the negative thought of how her husband had lost his leg baffles her so much. You are being wise my son, but do you think getting a job is that easy like you have said? She tries to convince him but looking at the situation on ground had gone beyond her so she comforted him “may he Lord be with you” she hugged him tightly.

The sun is mad at everyone but Tayo wouldn’t mind it state because he was on a mission of now or never, he had forgotten all of his shame at home so he can overcome his shyness. like a vagrant, he wandered around the street in search of a vacancy but all turned into an aborted effort still he wouldn’t give up instead, he hold unto the word “persistence is the key” this kept him pressing forward. Depleted and weak, Tayo sat at a corner to rest. What is this inexorable storm of calamity Lord? We prayed so hard for Your protection and provision but still You took my Dad’s leg from him, yet we did not relent particularly my mother but still You made her spend her all treating herself. What have we done so bad, was it our sins that brought this upon us? Please have mercy Lord, do not hide Your face away from us please. Tears poured out of Tayo’s eye like a roaring flood. After few seconds, Tayo mustered up strength, adding to the laconic strength remaining in him to continue his search. I know you are not asleep and that you are listening to every word that I have said. Please just get me a job to feed my family, his eye got clouded. He adjusted himself then arose from the ground.

After walking miles, Tayo stopped to buy water; good afternoon ma, I want to buy pure water. How many do you want? Just one ma; I hope you are with the exact money because I don’t have change she said adjusting herself away from her chair. She headed out with the sachet water, as she was about to stretch out the water she saw the face of the person standing in front of her shop; oh Tayo, it’s you, I thought it was one of those boys that use to trouble me with change all the time. They are so funny, they might bring #500 for #20 pure water but where are you coming from that the sun has made you dark? How is your mother doing, hope she is better now? Yes ma, thank you ma, Tayo gulped the water in second then he stretch out a #10 note to her. It baffles the woman; don’t worry about the money, is that one enough? Yes it is, thank you ma, he continued his journey.