DIARY OF A SINGLE LADY PART 8

I asked what the problem was… never mind I’ll sort it out with madam he said. I thought to myself, how come you’ll sort out my problems, if any, with another person. But I wasn’t a full member of this family and my approach to the doctor might be a form of reprisal to them thus I kept my shut in anticipation.

We slept in the same room: on the biggest bed I’ve ever seen, big enough to contain six adults, with a vent I tried to locate. The room was just cold and there was no air conditioner anywhere my sight. I complained in the middle of the night on how cold it was and he reduced the flow but I still didn’t see the vent. 

Lawrence had a lovely sleep, I watched him sleep but I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking. I just thought to myself, why do ladies have to go through such humiliation in getting married to a man that initially approached them. I didn’t walk up to Lawrence, he did. So why must I be at the parent’s mercy. A thought came to my head; I’ll call off the relationship at the slightest provocation from Lawrence and see if he really loves me. If he comes after me…. then….. Then what I thought. In these episodes of thought I suddenly remembered I was “AS”. Could the mother come after us with our genotype as a problem? I know Lawrence is not “SS” but if he is also “AS”, then we stand a chance of giving birth to a child that would be “SS”. I did all the permutations in my head and immediately felt like calling my friend, Dr Linda. 

It was 4.30 am and I’ve not closed my eyes for once. I needed morning to come so that I can plan my next move. I became optimistic in my thought: how would I manage the conglomerate of companies when the parents are gone to the land beyond. I would be the woman to question anyone who is interested in marrying my son in the next thirty years. The pride of the Archujes’s crown of motherhood would be worn by me. The world would know ‘there was a woman who came, who saw and conquered’.

It was Lawrence’s kiss that woke me up. I had fallen off in sleep within my thoughts. Baby lets hit the gym, the instructors just sent a word.  I dragged myself off the bed and changed to a sport wear. Just three long corridors away we were at the gym. It’s a large room with all the equipment for shaping your body, like they were shaping your future. The room was also cold and how on earth would one sweat. I asked Lawrence: was this the life you grew up in? They wake you up to come to the gym? Instructor fashions out what exercise you would do, hope they won’t bath you? We both laughed as he said no now. I thought of my house where you must sweep at least thirty minutes when you wake up, then wipe the furniture for dust, get to the kitchen and make food for the house before rushing to school. And my parent expected all distinction. Hmmm they should come and see family. We were twenty minutes into the aerobics when mummy entered the gym. She wasn’t prepared for exercise because she was wearing her robe. Two ladies always follow her to take order and dish them out to appropriate corners. 

She came with a tone of motivation and a smile as I greeted her good morning. Her smile and wave was an approved one. She hasn’t been too bad but I was just scared of her. She was in for ten minutes before she excused me out of the gym. We walked the length and breadth of the compound that looked like a stadium. She showed me everything inside the house. Anytime I don’t want to exercise fully I just walk round the compound she said. That’s enough exercise you know. I didn’t say anything, all my responses were nods. I smelt something was wrong but I couldn’t picture it. The whole memory of genotype was lost this time with the beauty of the palace I was shown.

Then she turned to one of the girls and she gave her a note. We stopped and the ladies moved back, I knew something was going on. She continued; the doctor gave me a report yesterday saying your genotype was ‘AS’ and I guess you know my son is ‘AS’ too. I asked him the implication of this and he said your child might be ’SS’. Which isn’t a good one? Do you understand, I said yes with tears in my eyes. I just felt it, I wasn’t going to be favoured. I told her I never knew Lawrence was ‘AS’, which is the truth. My daughter, men are the weakest vessels, so you learn how to manage them. I called you and not my son because it’s only me and you that can manage this situation. What should we do at this moment? From doctor’s analysis, we cannot have this child.  Are you suggesting abortion, I asked? 

She took on another long walk, with an answer not relating to the question. Tracy, you are an engineer, who has never practiced and might never practice, if married into this family. Are you aware of that? I said yes. She showed me a calendar with twelve pages, those are twelve of the companies you’ll be controlling, and there is at least 35 staff in this compound at any time. Your husband won’t have time for them, you would. Can you add a child who is a sickle cell to all these issues before you? At this moment my energy was gone, she sounded like a mother who knows everything. I didn’t know what to do again. Tears rolled down my cheeks and in all submission I fell to my knees holding her: mummy what can I do? She held me up wiped my tears and said: my daughter we are removing this particular baby. Is that alright by you? I had no other option, thus I said yes……… Lawrence walked into the long corridor and immediately I knew I’ve made a mistake.

DIARY OF A SINGLE LADY PART 7

 It seems to me the world would collapse when I meet them. The prestigious Archujes would be expecting a Tracy. I knew levels have changed but I wasn’t sure I wanted this level. I became a little more prayerful and called my mum more often. She started giving me some feminine skills of dealing with mother in law and how to behave, remember the daughter of whom you are was always the concluding line like our name was on Google. My pastor in Benin prayed for me through the phone and told me all will be well. All those encouragements and counseling was about to be met with the best or worst mother in law to be in the world I told myself.

Days became faster and nights quickly faded. It seems the end was coming but I knew if I could jump this hurdle, life can never frown at me again. It was Thursday, a day to go and I started feeling I shouldn’t go see them anyways. Lawrence is practically scared of his mother. All the stories I’ve heard about her, makes her another Margaret Thatcher. Here I am, a lady that usually loves to play away in freedom, about to be tied down in matrimony of wealth and honour, thus I’ll be enslaved for life. With all these pains and thoughts roaming my mind I was supposed to be scared but I didn’t care. I was ready for the unexpected.  Worst of all, she’ll mess the whole meeting up and I’ll move on with life. I packed our things in the same box but when he came back from work he told me we have to use two boxes. I asked why that? And he said we can’t pack our clothes together except we are married. I acted as if I wasn’t surprised. I  made two boxes available.

I couldn’t sleep all through the night. I created memories of Mrs. Archuje in my mind. I totally forgot there was a father in the house. Subconsciously I was working out a rehearsal on how my behaviour would be when I meet her. All my expectations of this woman were cut short at our first meeting.

The mansion had a long lawn of pure green grass set before it. The cars were scattered and I didn’t want to stare too well for me not to be noticed. Many workers were roaming around in their uniforms till we got the entrance. We were greeted by two butlers and one mentioned my name. Is that a good sign? A bad sign? The front door was opened as we walked into the house. We met the dad with two faces i usually see on TV. It was later I knew it was Seun Otedola and Mustapha magairi. I knelt on two knees to show respect as the man told pulled me up.  My daughter welcome home he said. How was the journey? It was good daddy, still trying to pull myself together. The gesture of welcome made me know I was here to settle. But I messed up, I would have dressed better.

This is my son’s fiancée and we are expecting a grandchild soon. With the introduction I knew the family had accepted me before I even came. All they needed was a meeting. The man in sparkling white native attire (otedola) asked for my name and I told him Tracy, he went further by asking for my surname….. Just to check the background. I was not bothered as he ended up not knowing it. I walked from the lobby intro a stadium size sitting room, with five settees in different corners. The TVs were like projectors, with a chandelier denoting wealth.  Daddy’s big picture was hung on the right side and beside his picture I saw the image of the woman I’ve been scared of meeting. The whole consent of fear was now gone, with the acceptance accosted me. We walked through the sitting, opening a door to another passage and saw mummy coming down the stairs.  Immediately my sight caught up with her, I got on my knees once more to greet her and she pulled me up, with a smile saying my daughter, I’m so happy to meet you. With a soft voice, she said welcome and I suddenly felt like crying.

I have just deprived myself all the sleep in the world for a woman this loving. She gave her son a pat on the back and escorted me into the glorious dining room. All food was set like I was hungry and she held my hand as we sat next to each other. Lawrence’s mother had a regal air about her. She looks solid and dependable. She controls everything in that big mansion and it’s obvious she extends to the business. She’ll be a good mother in law I guessed. She asks Lawrence to excuse us and he willingly left the room with a wink as if it was well. She turned to me and the other door opened. 

The father stepped in and sat close to us and I knew I was about to go through an inquisition. So you and Lawrence are planning to get married right? I was disturbed by this statement. Were they expecting a no? Yes I said. You and Lawrence haven’t known yourselves that much, have you? Long enough, for us to know we love ourselves. Love, she asked with a bewitched smile as she adjusted her seat. Tracy, to be sincere to you, Lawrence’s news came to us as a surprise. And of course, he would have told you of Amina?  She continued explaining the wealth in the other family also and salted the injury she was creating in my mind. It lasted a while, till she said if Lawrence ends up with a stand it’s you he wants, there is nothing we can do about it. I said a loud thank you and breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment ended with the entrance of Lawrence and the family doctor. 

He was introduced to me and I was like what are these people doing. I just had a trip to your house and you want to do a check up the first day? The doctor called me for counseling after dinner and gave me rules of carrying a baby in Archuje’s family. From now on, no more strenuous work, he’ll come up with a diet plan and I’ll have to change my wardrobe to free the baby in the tummy. I started feeling like Princess Diana. He laid me on a bed and checked the vitals. He ended by asking for my genotype and I told him “AS”. He looked at me in surprise and shook his head in disappointment, and then I knew there was likely a problem…….