Fate of love

Embraced with a devastated mood in a cold-comfort situation, Atanda returned from office loosen his tie right immediately he shut the door behind him in anger hating what the atmosphere had brought on him. Esther wasn’t in the sitting room, she was arranging the bedroom. As he walked up to his wife in the room, moving daintily with his eyes clouded with tears. All that churn in his head was the incontrovertible fate that has befall his family. Wow, Esther was flabbergasted when she saw her husband because it was obviously too early for him to be back such a time. She helped him take off his suit before introducing the conversation. What brings you back this early she asked in fear after reading the expression on her husband’s face. Like an ascetic my heart wander around, there’s wind beneath my feet nothing to hold me down. I left the shore far behind to go as far as I can with the tides, but all was in vain. The days keep passing by, where will fate take me this time? Well I know the road may end but not the journey. He shook his head staring at his wife closely. Nice one Atanda, but can you please explain your parable to me. He held Esther closer to himself wrapping his hands around her to give her a tight hug. Tears rolled down his eyes and he whispered to her ear all will be fine. Yes I know she patted him caressing him in comfort. Still you haven’t told me what brought you back this early and the reason for your parables. Happiness caught up with in tayo’s heart, he was returning from the cyber café where he had gone to check and print his West Africa Examination council result. Kicking an empty plastic bottle on target while walking and talking to himself has been tayo’s habit of keeping himself occupied while going home. But this time while performing his normal routine, he also added a rehearsal of how he will hand over his result to his mother. He was over whelmed with joy, after kicking the bottle he will bounce switching his legs one after the other but unaware of the sudden turn around fate had brought on his family. He opened the door gently noticed his mother wasn’t in the sitting room so he tiptoe to her room to bring into reality what he had rehearsed on the way. He was about to open the door while he heard his father’s voice. I lost my job, finally the multifarious tears morass in his socket poured out furiously while he hold tight unto his wife. Flinch in shock. Why, what actually happened? What did the manager complained about? He didn’t complain anything actually, the secretary just came to my office this morning and handed over the letter to me, after checking the content I immediately ran to the manager’s office. When I got there to beg him, all he said was “Atanda, you are really hard working but you see, you aren’t competent for this job anymore that is why I sent a letter for you to resign. He said they are going to pay me two month salary. Uncontrollable tears rolled down Tayo’s eyes, he turned back to go to the sitting room but his elbow fell a jug. Who is that? Atanda and Esther echoed. Esther immediately dropped Atanda’s cloth to join Atanda at the door. That must be Tayo, he’s back from the cyber café where he went to check and print his result she said in a shivering voice hoping Tayo didn’t hear their conversation. Esther hid her fear behind her and composed herself with a brave act. Oh Tayo my lovely son, you’re back already so where is the result? Atanda joined his wife. Tayo who had lay on the couch to find comfort and console himself with a throw pillow also play the legerdemain game with his parent. He greeted his dad so nicely that even a spirit being would be convinced. After he had greeted his dad, he sluggishly lifted himself from the ground. Esther cut in, idobale on se iwa (laying to the ground is not a sign of good character) where is your result? Tayo raised his head with a smile jumped at his mom with a camaraderie hug and shouted I passed with a good grade but all were prestidigitation act because within him, he knows that the conversation of his parent he had will definitely affect his education. Atanda hid his pain with a smile, that is my son you see he took after me. The atmosphere covered in a maudlin lie embraced with inexorable effort. Multifarious thought run through Atanda’s mind, what will be the panacea? Like a neophyte, Atanda magnanimously called his wife. “let me go to that Maggie piece where I as called for an interview. Who knows, I can get a job as one of their marketer. He smiled giving the atmosphere love and laughter to embrace. Esther hugged him feeling the warmth of his embrace, may the Lord be with you. Filled with joy, Atanda left home knowing sufficiently well that his wife blessings are with him. Smiling lavishly and lost in the love his wife had for him not minding his present predicament, unknowing to him he had already gotten to the middle of the zebra cross then a stolen car fleeing away burst into him. As he dodged the car, he got knocked down by a police bike chasing the car. Darkness overshadows the earth. All went blank, his ear went deaf as he roll to the other side of the road. Some seconds later he was crowded by people. “Are you alright sir, call the ambulance” all this words fly by him as he could only understand it while reading their lips, after a while he got back to his senses, all he said was “I am running late for my interview” he tries to pull himself off the ground then he notice his kneel bone is not in position. A police man said to him Sir please relax, you have to be hospitalized. You are not in a good condition to attend any interview. No I have to go, I have to attend the interview my sons education depends on it he cried out. Everyone around emotions where crimped, even a nefarious person felt his pain but there’s nothing they can do about it. Languid by pathos tears accompanied with pain, everything around seems to be unfair to Atanda. Why is life so vicious? Yet it is incontrovertible Atanda cried out on the sick bed, looking at his leg that is being hung above him. Esther wiped his tears with her wrapper, holding back her tears. Be strong I know God has something good install for us, all are working together for our good. Now I know God has shut his eyes on me if not, He wouldn’t have let this happen. You know that was our only chance of send Tayo to school. I know but still it’s a privilege that you are alive, we should give thanks for that. You are suffering from prosopagnosia you can’t get a job with your illness, now who will employ a man above 50 with a broken leg? His eyes red as if they were rubbed in pepper, tears rolling down like he washed his face with onion water. Tayo walked into the ward with lunch he had prepared for his dad with so much love and effort. Good afternoon dad he longed to hug his dad, Esther adjusted herself to give room for Tayo and Atanda’s hug. He peck his mum, I brought lunch he wore a smile then brought out the lunch flask in the bag. I prepared jollof rice, I’m very sure you’ll love it. Esther assisted him to put Atanda’s food in a plate then served him, wow this aroma is going to take me on a journey she added. My mouth is watering already, can’t wait to eat now. Esther assisted Atanda to rest his back on a pillow, easy, easy your food is not running away from you she smiled. After putting a spoon of jollof rice in his mouth, tears rolled down his eyes. Immediately Esther noticed, she asked “what is wrong?” Is the food spicy? No!!! just too delicious that it makes me wonder how and what Tayo actually did to make it this delicious. I just cooked it the normal way mum does it and… he cut is words making it look as if he has a secret to spit out. Esther and Atanda with a long face expecting Tayo to tell them the secret behind his delicious meal. And nothing he said with a wide smile. Ops, caught by surprise really? Yes nothing more. They all laughed.