CHAPTER TEN (MRS DUPE)

"Oh my, Atinuke mi." My mom called happily as she saw me. She gave me a warm and tight hug. I felt so safe in my mom's arms, I felt like a child again.

"Mom." I cried with joy.

"Come, come sit down." She kept saying as she took my hand and dragged me to one of the cushion chairs in her apartment.

"How is work? Or should I say, how is your life in general?" Mom asked as she took my hands in hers and gave me the most heartwarming smile.

"Everything is fine and I am so happy to tell you that I am very certain that i will receive a promotion at the grand party this year."

"That's very good. I wish you the very best my dear."

Suddenly Mrs Dupe remembered something.

"I forgot to tell you that omo iya alakara, Tumise from your university days is getting married this weekend."

I frozed after hearing this. Tumise was the daughter of a woman who sold akara (beans cake) by the roadside when we still lived in agege. They were a very dirty family that people only bought akara from them when they couldn't find any other akara seller and also when they didn't have a choice.

My mom was the only person who bought akara from them everyday and she also assisted Tumise's mother in getting a loan when Tumise was about to go to university.

She was a junior to me in university and mom made me promise to take care of Tumise like a big sister would.

"Who is marrying that ugly and dirty girl?" I suddenly asked.

"Ahhh, Atinuke. Keep shut, don't allow anyone to hear that from you." My mom cautioned me.

"Sorry mom." I apologised.

"I was just surprised. By the way, who is she getting married to? Do I know him?" I asked ready to hear the gist about how Tumise of all people found herself a man.

"Do you remember Segun Jacobs, your university lecturer?" Mom asked.

"Segun Jacobs?"

"The lecturer you told me was disturbing you in school. The one who wanted to date you, that you came home and told me about him."

"I still don't remember. There were quite a lot of lecturers who wanted to date me back then."

"Don't brag about it, it's the one I went to your university to warn. I asked him to leave you alone or else I will break his legs."

My eyes opened wide as I remembered.

"Segeli?" I asked.

"Yes, that's what you and your friends use to call him." My mom confirmed.

Segun Jacobs A.K.A Segeli was one of the lecturers I liked in university. I like him because of how good he was at lecturing and how he always made sure to carry everyone along.

I saw him as a role model even when he only had three pairs of pants and maybe five shirts but he degraded himself before me when he asked me, a twenty two years old girl to marry him a twenty nine year old man.

Back then, I was strong headed and so determined to become rich that I couldn't even afford to date a low class man. It really pissed me off that I told my mom about him.

"Oh my goodness. Well I am happy for her even though I am still not sure of how those two met each other because I am so certain that Segeli had already left the university before Tumise entered 300level." After I said this, mom explained it to me.

"Yes that's true. Her mom told me that Tumise met him at the NYSC Camp, he came there as one of the executives of the senator who came to visit the Camp."

"Wow, he became an executive, that's very nice. I am happy for them." I said feeling a little bit sad for rejecting him before.

"Her mom gave me an invitation card for you." Mom said and handed me a white and blue wedding card.

Tumise now also knows how to print a card, cordially invite Atinuke Demilade.

"For me?" I asked with an angry smile and mom replied.

"She said something like, since Tinuke hasn't found a man yet, she might as well find one at the wedding because time doesn't wait for anybody."

I stood still and kept watching my mom's mouth moving as she was talking. What did Tumise's mother think of herself?

"Just because her ugly daughter managed to win them a jackpot." I said angrily to myself.

"I guess she just wants you to be there as Tumise's sister." Mom said when she noticed my reaction.

"God forbid. I won't attend."

"Why?"

"I have better things to do than attend such an event."

Mrs Dupe shakes her head and said to her daughter.

"You are unbelievable."

To change the topic, i had to bring up a much better one and so I said.

"Mom, I am hungry."

"Oh dear, I didn't even offer you your food."

"It must have gotten cold by now." I said and got up, then went to the dinning area and she came after me.

We had our dinner and went to her room. I laid beside my mom on the bed and we talked until 2am the next morning, we had so much to talk about.

I also learnt that most of my classmates in secondary School or university were married, some with even as much as three kids.

"How time flies." I said to myself and also wondered when I will be successful and get married to the man I will love and be happy with.

"Then this weird people won't be able to brag about their stupid relationships anymore.

"E Karo ma." I greeted my mom on my knees when I woke up at 9:00am. I only get to sleep that long whenever I visit my mom and that rarely happens, not because I don't miss her but because I don't want her to see me like this and feel disappointed.

"I prefer to tell her that I am doing fine on the phone."

"How are you my dear?"

"Fine mom. How was your night?" I asked.

"It was great thanks to your August visit." Mom replied with a cute smile.

She was indeed happy by my presence.