EPISODE SEVEN: MY LOVING LOVER 💖✨

 Two days later, Uncle Sola arrived in Lagos, Nigeria. A lot of things were now different from how they were ten years ago when he left. It's quite sad that he was home in the midst of this condition. Had it been his brother was his hale and hearty self,  they would have toured the whole of Lagos together. But, there is still hope when there's life.

He arrived in the hospital two minutes to 10am. He had been given the address and description of the hospital the previous day. He had a dislike for hospital environment since when he was a boy. He has the fear of injections and seeing nurses had always given him a scare; it still sometimes does. Only if the situation was not unavoidable does he find himself in the hospital. 

He parked his car at the general car park for patients' relatives as indicated by a billboard. Adjacent to the place was a billboard indicating the space for members of staff of the hospital. The environment was serene with flowers neatly prunned and arranged. There were also beautiful lawns barricaded by little rise pavements. There were indicators of various units, making it easy to get directions for any first timer at the hospital. The hospital is quite large, and well organized, even the tarred road for easy cruising through the hospital is clean. Security men on patrol were seen at strategic points of the hospital. He saw a group of young good-looking doctors coming out of a unit tagged "Accidents and Emergency", an elderly man, likely to be in his sixties with sharp eyes came outside afterwards. The group of doctors were talking lowly among themselves and then there was laughter. Who laughs when coming out of an accident and emergency unit. Just the mere sight of the place made his stomach tie into hard knots. He saw a nurse in a pink scrub with white sneakers walk briskly by. He felt more relaxed seeing nurses in scrubs.... something seems to have registered as scary nurses in white gown in him since childhood! He had quite a number of friends in the health profession. Odd, clearly examining it now mentally as he made his way towards the Male Medical Unit of the hospital, he discovered that he had more friends in the health profession than his profession as an architect. Before traveling out of the country, he had been a successful architect with a blooming private business. He had some connections in politics and he got recommendations for contracts. Most were his colleagues who were involved in SUG back at school. He had been his class representative then. How time flies. He felt the nostalgia of the old good times as the hot Nigerian breeze brushed his face. 

He was glad he took the risk twenty years ago when opportunity opened to fly out of the country to New Zealand. He had risked everything then. He remembered how his mother had cried saying he should stay a little longer in Nigeria, at least give him grandchildren before he left. He had told her that she will certainly get grandchildren from him, but he can't afford to lose out on this opportunity. When his mind is set to do something, he does it determinedly and with all his might. His mind was set, though well aware of the odds, there was no going back. He already handed his business over to his brother, although he knew little about architectural enterprise. He was confident his brother would manage the enterprise well. He had. Not long after he left the country, his brother called him that he found a promising young architect with some years of experience to run the enterprise as a manager.  His brother is very enthusiastic with a lot of charisma. It's a wonder he had not gone into politics, although he had a lot of friends, many of whom are politicians. His sudden sickness still baffles him. He had never seen his brother sick, talkless of being admitted into a hospital. What could the prognosis be? Bayo had sounded really worried the last time he contacted him on phone. His body suddenly grew rigid as he paused in his stride. Oh no! Could it be cancer? He stood fixed at the spot for about five seconds. It was a passing ambulance with blaring sirens that brought him back to himself. He could not bear the thought of losing his charismatic brother to the cold hands of a slow and agonizing death like cancer. It remains a plaque and a mystery. No cure had been found for the deadly ailment. He had read about cancer diseasewhen one of his co-workers had the disease. Ben had been a robust man with sanguine temperament who was lovely to work with. He was reduced to a bald, frail looking man after series of chemotherapy before he slipped away into the cold hands of death after he was diagnosed with the disease. He had cancer of the brain. He almost made a run and a U-turn at the same time, he could not wait to see his brother and hold him, and at the same time was scared that he might meet him in a condition like that of Ben. He could not bear the thought. Begunro Wale had been strong for the himself and his mother since the demise of their father. He had taken many menial jobs to get food on their table. He dropped out of school to see his brother through school. He had lived a rough life to make his brother and mother live a smooth one. Although, his brother said many times that he was not the school type. He suspected his brother hated school because of a mathematics teacher he had in form one who consistently harassed him because he got very low grades in the subject. Actually he had gotten low grades in many other subjects too. But he did very well only in Agricultural Science and Civic Education. And he did well in sports too. Three times he had won the medal for his school at relay and hurdle races, two times at state level and once at national level. Every other thing had been an Herculean task for him. He had dropped out of school at Form Five to start his apprenticeship on agrochemicals. His Physical and Health Education teacher had encouraged him to further his career in sports, that he had a bright future in sports. Wale Begunro had declined and pursued his dream in agriculture. School or no school, he was determined to make it in life. He had, though it was rough for him. Their mother was a petty trader. Their father's properties had been seized after his death by the family members. And they were thrown out of the house. Wale had cruised through his rough life with anger and determination. He had shown Sola love like a father, though he was just seven years older. Sola would never forget the night he was detained at the police station. He had been found in possession of a phone which belonged to one of the customers who patronized their shop where he was an apprentice. Their mother hap wept bitterly that day. Why had he chosen to disgrace her and bring shame upon the family. At first, he said nothing, not even lifting his gaze to meet that of his mother.  After some time, he confessed that he stole the money to pay for Sola's school fees, and to purchase his books for the new class. The remaining should be enough to buy the drugs for her mother's ailing health. She had ulcer. 

Sola had cried through the night. He couldn't bring himself to sleep when his brother who in the bid to make him pay his school fees and buy drugs for their mother had landed himself in the police custody. He was later released the third day. The customer who owned the money had dropped the charges against him after hearing the pathetic story. He had gone to their house to confirm everything the boy said, which was true. He had decided to help the family. That was the beginning of the turn around for good in their lives. The man had sponsored Sola's education and set up an agrochemical business for Wale after he was done with his training. The man had said Wale should pay him back instalmentaly. He did not collect the money again. He said he wanted to test Wale. Life had been good afterwards, although not without its challenges. Wale had gotten a wife when he just gained admission into the university. Wale had been so proud of him that year. He never stopped speaking about him among his friends. Sola had gained admission into one of the most prestigious institutions in Nigeria to study a professional course that was not easy to come by at that time. Wale had a set of twin boys delivered to hi the next year. God has been gracious. Business was doing well, his brother is studying architecture in a prestigious Nigerian university, his mother is ageing gracefully, he had gotten a beautiful wife....and he has a set of twin boys. He could never have been more grateful. 

Their mother had been so happy. She danced and danced at the hospital when she saw the twins. God has taken away her sorrows. She was now a grandmother, a golden dream that was now a reality. She had taken it upon herself to take care of the mother and the twins. She had loved Titilope like her own daughter, and she loved the twins like her own life. 

Sola had graduated with First Class in Architecture from the University. His brother had hugged him held him by the shoulder the way a father would hold his son, his eyes glowing with joy. He had never regretted dropping out of school in the bid to see his brother through school. Their father could not have been more happier. Their mother knelt down and praised God right there at the convocation hall. She had shed tears of joy.

Sola had started work with a government organization. He was exceptionally brilliant and proved capable through expertise in his vocation. He quickly made it to the top. Everything in his life was going perfectly well, until he met Lalonpe.

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Much love from Abba's heart 💖✨

Lotus 🌷