BIBI - CHAPTER 4

Bade stared at Bibi who was snoring softly on the hospital bed. The doctors were carrying out tests to determine the cause of her fainting. When he got the call from her office earlier in the day, the news had left him with a bead of sweat forming around his head.

He walked to the window and stared at the streets of Lagos Island. He gasped when it looked like one of the motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada’ was going to hit an old woman who was standing at the bus station. Thankfully, she managed to jump back just a few seconds before the motorcycle rammed into her. Lagos Na Wa! He thought.

His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He was not used to putting it in ringing mode due to disturbances when he was at work. Bibi’s mother was calling. His mum must have broken the news to her. He took another glance at Bibi and walked out of the room. He picked the call when he was in the hospital hallway. “Oyebade, how is my daughter?” She asked rapidly.

Ana waited with bated breath for Bade’s answer. “She’s okay mum. She’s conscious now but she’s sleeping.”

“Thank God!” Ana mumbled again and again. This was her only child.  “What did they say is the problem? Is it something serious?”

“The doctors are carrying out some tests. We are waiting for the result.”

“Hmmm… Nigeria sef! Everything is a long process. If you people were in the US, you would have known what the issue is by now. Are you sure that you both don’t want to move back to America?”

Bade sighed inwardly. “Ma, Bibi’s only been here for a few hours. I’m sure we’ll get the result soon.” He did not reply to her suggestion to move back to the US. He and Bibi had decided that Nigeria was home for now.

“Okay. Please take care of her. Let us know how everything goes. Peyi is anxious to know how she’s doing too.”

“My regards to dad. I’ll let you both know.” Bade answered.

“Okay then. Talk to you later.” Ana said.

His mother walked into the room just when he was ending the call with Bibi’s mother.

“Mum… Thank you for coming.”

“Really?” She asked smiling. “So, you mean I’ll hear that Bibi is sick and I’ll stay back at home? Come on son! Give me some credit.”

Bade chuckled. His mum knew how to douse the tension whenever.

“Have they said what’s wrong?” Ireti queried.

“They are running some tests to rule out Anemia, hypoglycemia, cerebral malaria and some other stuff.”

“Oh, I see,”  Ireti replied. It was on the tip of her tongue to say that maybe Bibi was pregnant.

Bade loosened the top buttons on his shirt. “I hope they’ll let us go home today.”

“Let’s hope so,” Ireti responded. “Although I don’t see any reason why they cannot let her go home and return tomorrow for any other tests they’d like to run.”

Bibi stirred. It felt like she was hearing voices. She turned to see Bade staring at her.

“Bade,” she said softly. “Mum……”  Her voice trailed off when she noticed Bade’s mother in the room.

Her head felt heavy, and she shut her eyes again.

“Babe….” Bade pulled a chair and sat beside her. “How are you feeling?”

“My head feels heavy.” She responded.

The doctor came in shortly.” The test results do not show anything is wrong. Bibi is not anemic, her blood sugar isn’t low either.” Dr Olaoti Cole said to them.

Ireti frowned. “Is she pregnant?”

“We checked that out too. She’s not pregnant.” The doctor replied.

“So, she’ll be discharged today? Bade asked.

“Yes. The MRI result should be out within the next hour. We just want to make sure that your wife didn’t sustain any head injuries when she fell.” The doctor explained graciously.

“Fantastic. Thanks, Dr Cole. So why did she faint?” Bade probed.

Dr Olaoti went on to explain that Bibi probably fainted from the migraine which she complained about earlier in the day as well as exhaustion. “Please make sure that your wife rests at home for the next two days at least. She should try to stay away from computer and phone screens. She can watch TV though.”

So, for the next few days, Bade treated her like a precious stone. He requested to work from home so he could watch her though she let him know that she was fine. He was such an amazing person. With him, she felt safe and secure. She knew that without any doubt, she had married the bone of her bones.

****

Pere walked into the banking hall at Shelton Bank in Victoria Island. He was there to see his friend, Dayo who was a Managing Director at the bank. The truth was he needed funds and he needed it badly. He was looking to get a loan for a business he was looking to get into. 

"Good afternoon. I'm here to see Mr. Dayo Apata." He said to one of the receptionists in the large banking hall. 

"Your ID, please. Is he expecting you?" She asked him. 

"Yes, I believe so."

“Uhm,” The lady said, raising one of her brows. He wondered what the attitude was about. He gave her his ID card. She gave him a once-over and picked up the phone. He guessed she was trying to call Dayo.

"Okay, Sir. The elevators are to the left. Mr Apata's office is on the 14th floor."

“Thanks so much.” He said to her.

“You're welcome.” She replied curtly. 

Pere prayed that the loan of 90 million Naira which he was seeking would be given to him. It would change things for him. 

“My man!” Dayo greeted him excitedly on seeing him.

“MD! I greet you!” Pere saluted his friend.

“Pere, long time no see man! I was surprised when you buzzed me saying that you needed to see me.”

Pere sighed. “I am in a fix, and I need your help desperately.”

Dayo furrowed his brows. “Would you like a cup of tea? Coffee?”

“I’m fine,” Pere stated, fiddling with his fingers.

“Come on, take something,” Dayo said and dialed his secretary.

Ten minutes later, with a cup of coffee in his hands, Pere narrated the story that had almost led to his having a heart attack.

****

Adesua sat at Sit & Chop Restaurant waiting for her friend Ebika to arrive. She looked through the menu that featured a list of pricey food. The truth was she couldn't afford the luxury called expensive dining at the moment. Things were unbelievably rough.  She was a lavish spender and barely had enough in her account.  Pere had sold their two properties at Magodo and invested the money in his business. He had been promised a handsome return by his business partners. Sadly, those business partners had turned out to be nothing but crooks. They had cleared Pere’s business account and EFCC was still investigating the fraud.  

She'd chosen to be a stay-at-home mom and hadn’t seen a reason to have a 9 to 5 job when her husband made so much money.  Now she regretted her decision. Maybe she should have started a small business on the side. She couldn't believe that they would not be traveling abroad on vacation this year. She needed new wigs and new clothing especially for the Sokari wedding which was only a few weeks away.

Resentment for Pere filled her heart. How could he have been so dumb? Why didn’t he manage his business better? This was not what she had bargained for when she married him. She was not used to the life which she was currently living at all!

She glanced at the menu again. Ebika was going to have to pay for whatever they ate. 

“Girl!”

Adesua looked up to see Ebika swaying towards her.

“You and this your American ‘hazent’!” She laughed.

“Girl!!” Ebika said again, bending to hug her where she sat.  “Adesua, I swear down, I have missed you like a mad man misses the point!”

“Who have you been rolling with Ebika? So much drama!” Adesua rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, babes. I don't have the money for this expensive restaurant you have brought me to o!”

“Shu! What happened? A whole you Adesua Brisibe?”

“If only you knew. Things have been topsy turvy for me and Pere o. He fell for some wire-wire scam. They wired most of the funds for the business away.”

“Eewo!” Ebika screamed. “And you people did not involve EFCC?”

“My sister, we involved everyone. You know this country. It's been story on top of stories.”

“Hmmm,” Ebika said thoughtfully. “Your Romeo is around. I hear he's big now.”

“Who?” Adesua asked, squinting. 

“Wole Adefarati.” 

“Oh!” Adesua exclaimed. 

“Yes, oh! You know he's been abroad since after our youth service. He's so wealthy! Adesua, I'm beginning to wonder why you ever left him. Jaiye told me he's been asking after you.”

Ebika arranged the rings on her finger. “Adesua, check out my bling-bling.”

“Wait! You got engaged?”

“Yeah... I finally did after all this while.”

“Emeka proposed?”

“Yes oh! After all my efo riro cooking.”

“Vegetable soup on fleek!” Adesua said giggling. 

“Thank God o!” Adesua lifted her hands to heaven. “Congratulations my friend.”

“I know. He was so commitment-phobic. But I guess he realized he couldn't live without me.” 

“Wow! Babe! I'm happy for you.”

“Let's eat first. Then I'll try and link you to Wole's friend. You should try to go and see him. Never know the good it'll do you in these trying times.”  Ebika gestured with her hands.

“Hmmm,” Adesua muttered, lowering her lashes. The truth was that she had walked out on Wole because she didn't think he could become more than a civil servant. He didn't fit into her social class. She wasn't proud of him in public. But she couldn't deny that sex between them was what one would call hot! That's why she had stayed with him for so long even when she knew that he was broke and she would never marry him. He had been shattered when she broke the relationship between them.

Ebika was asking her to go and see him. No way!