Rana's Revelation

The Unexpected Visit

The new year, dawned with a sense of urgency for Rana. His fingers nervously dialed Ammi's number, yet the mobile phone responded with a cold emptiness, "switched off!" Concern etched across his face, he resolved to check on her in person. Despite the weight of the impending discussion about her pregnancy, Rana forged ahead.

Ammi's mother, busy stirring a pot of simmering stew, was interrupted by a rhythmic knock on the door, baam baam baam! "Yes, come in, the door is open." She answered. The creaking hinges announced the entrance of a tall figure whose long shadow danced across the compound. "Oh Rana, my child, how are you? How is your mother?" The warmth in Ama's voice belied the brewing storm.

"She is fine, Ama," Rana replied, acknowledging the traditional term of endearment. Ama, a title of maternal reverence, resonated through the household. Known for her four sons and her social prowess, she carried the weight of familial respect.

"You are here, and Ammi is not around,"Ama hesitated, grappling with the reality of Ammi's estrangement from the family. "No, Ama, I have come to see you, "Rana assured her, bowing his tall frame in a gesture of respect before humbly squatting. "There is something I have been longing to discuss with you about our lives, I mean my life and Ammi's."

As Rana spoke, the dialogue echoed within the walls of the house. Til, lying on the sofa with his legs casually draped over the backrest, overheard their conversation. Neither Til nor Ama expected Rana to be privy to Ammi's delicate situation.

Ama's expressions conveyed divided attention, a hint of something weighing on her. Yet, she engaged with Rana, keenly absorbing his words. Tear-filled eyes locked with Rana's, his voice trembling as he confessed, "Ammi hadn't intentionally done anything wrong. I'... Ahm ...am the cause... she didn't want such a thing to happen, and it was not planned. We were obsessed... and got deluded." Rana's words were poorly pronounced, and the sentences were also broken in the middle.

"What are you talking about?" Ama interjected. "The baby, she is carrying my baby. She didn't..." Rana's breath-filled sentence stopped halfway.

Ama recoiled, her face reflecting the shock and pain that echoed in her voice. "How could you? Rana, how could you? Uuu!" The emotional turmoil painted across Ama's face mirrored the storm of feelings within her.

Before Ama could process the revelation, a sudden, violent noise reverberated through the compound. Rana's body crumpled to the ground motionless, the impact sending shockwaves through the atmosphere. The source of this abrupt interruption revealed itself. – Til, with fiery rage burning in his eyes, fueled by anger and betrayal, had seized Ama's hot stew pot. In an outburst of fury, he splashed the scalding contents onto Rana's face, the sizzling heat carrying a vindictive force. "Ahh… ahh, God, ahh!" Rana's anguished cries mixed with the potent aroma of burning flesh.

Ama, caught in the crossfire of this chaotic revelation, clutched her head with both palms, struggling to maintain her balance. Dizziness overcame her and her heavy body collapsed against the upright walls. Tears streamed down her face, intermingling with pain. Her legs sprawled flat on the ground. A symphony of cries and the scent of pepper-infused stew filled the air. The house became a crucible of emotions, entangled in betrayal, regret, and despair, each character grappling with the harsh reality that had unfolded.

Kauna Private Hospital Maiduguri

At the same hours of the day, at Kauna Private Hospital emergency ward, an inert woman lay motionless on a sterile hospital bed, her form obscured by the ominous presence of blood. Two individuals, draped in concern, stood close by, witnessing two medical professionals diligently working to connect a life-saving machinery.

Lagu, a 27-year-old man, stood resolute on the left, accompanied by four peers exuding an air of affluence. Clad in surgical attire, the doctor discussed the dire situation with a serious expression. Lagu's gaze stayed fixed on the woman, his worry evident on her features.

"Sir, I'm sorry to say, despite our efforts, her cervix remained open, we must abort the baby in order to save the mother." The doctor conveyed with a solemn tone, gently delivering the heartbreaking news.

Lagu's eyes snapped up, authority emanating from his voice, "No, try hard, do whatever it takes to save them both!" His urgency cut through the air; a plea underscored by a deep sense of responsibility.

In the midst of this solemn medical setting, a young man walked to the emergency ward, dressed in a black casual suit, complemented with black hand socks. He discreetly handed a delicate paper to a nurse, but her attention was not directed toward his face. The man began leaving before the nurse could lift her gaze, leaving only the back of his suit visible.

While he exited, the man extended his right hand, tenderly touching the bed of the woman who was brought to the hospital by Lagu. The nurse, curiously checked the paper to capture the delivered message. The yellow paper featured neat handwriting in blue ink: "Mark for daily update, 02268369650." The nurse, already acquainted with the requisition, knew precisely what steps to take.

The Doctor responded to Lagu. Recognizing the need at the moment, assured Lagu, "We will exhaust every avenue to revive her." With a pause, he continued, revealing the harsh truth about the woman's condition, "Your wife has suffered severe internal injuries affecting her womb and pelvic bones. Even if we keep the child, she may not be able to give birth or walk again."

As the doctor explained, his words felt heavy in the room, the air filled with the struggle between the medical reality and Lagu's strong wish to salvage what remained.

Lagu approached the pharmacy counter, his concern etched on his face. "Excuse me, could I get a copy of my hospital bill?" He asked politely.

The female accountant nodded and swiftly printed out the document. "Here you go, it amounts to 130,000 Naira," she informed him."

Lagu, nonchalantly scrolling through his mobile phone, glanced over the bill. "I've transferred 200,000 Naira; the remainder should be kept for any unexpected emergencies before I arrive," he stated calmly.

The accountant, seemingly unfazed, locked eyes with him. "Uh-huh, drop your personal mobile number for quick contact in case of an emergency," she suggested, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

"Sure," Lagu responded, handing her a complementary card with his contact details. She delicately accepted it, holding the card with the tip of her fingers. "Thank you," she said, purposefully maintaining eye contact as a gesture of appreciation.

Stepping out of the hospital, the air was laden with a mix of relief and unanswered questions as Lagu and his four friends navigated their way the out of the Hospital. Breaking the silence, one friend couldn't resist the inquiry, "Hey, Lagu, why do you keep the doctor in the dark, about her not being your wife?" The question, edged with playful skepticism, echoed in the corridor.

Another friend, eyes widening with a mix of surprise and humor, interjected, "Pregnant?!" "Haah haah haah!" The revelation sparked a round of laughter, temporarily lightening the mood.

Persisting in the line of questioning, the third friend probed, "Lagu, why do you stay silent?" Lagu, feeling a bit on the spot, responded swiftly, "Like what? ...Announce to the doctor she's not my wife and complicate things? What matters is she gets the medical attention she deserves."

A lighthearted jest from another friend added to the banter, "Well, you've already complicated things. The hospital probably thinks you're her father now!" "Ha ha ha ha..." Laughter erupted once again, punctuating the hallway.

As they continued their exiting, the group playfully discussed the peculiar way the accountant had interacted with Lagu. Teasing, laughter, and gentle shoves became an unintended part of the farewell routine.

Even though Lagu tried to ignore the teasing, he started to look a bit different. The laughter kept going, but his face changed, showing that he felt a bit uneasy. Each friend, in their own way, stepped back from the joking vibe, leaving Lagu to deal with his feelings.

As the 5 departed on the road, Lagu told his friends he wasn't upset, but they picked up on the subtleties and sensed there was more to what he said. They bid him bye for the day.

Ring ring, Lagu's phone chimed, and he answered, "Hello, father!" The voice from Abuja resonated warmly. "How are you? When are you returning home? It's been two weeks since you embarked on your journey to Maiduguri."

Lagu responded, "Yes, father, today is only the 1st of January. I'll be back after the New Year celebration." "And how long will that celebration take?" His father, curioussly inquired. Lagu, enveloped in a thoughtful pause, responded with a subtle silence.

"Okay, my friend heard you've returned to Nigeria, and she's eager for you to meet with her Executive Director to discuss your new position." His father continued but Lagu attempted to wrap up the conversation, saying, "It's okay, father, I'll call her right away." With a final, "Yes, good day," his father ended the call.

After conversing with his father, Lagu called Mrs. Collins to discuss the business, but she refferred him to Caty.

"Lagu and Caty knew each other during their time in secondary school before Lagu departed Nigeria to pursue studies abroad. He earned a degree in Fashion Design and Theater Arts, with a Ph.D. in Theater Arts. His father, Mr. Jones and Caty's mother, Mrs. Collins, had been a longtime friends. Mrs. Collins was a retired Justice and the owner of Lizco Fashion and Music Industry. Caty studied Law and took on her mother's industry.

Kauna Private Hospital Maiduguri

"Hello!" At Kauna Private Hospital in Maiduguri, a deep voice answered a nurse's call beside the emergency ward. "Sir, the woman is still in a coma; her baby is unharmed, but her womb may not be able to contain the baby for an extended period due to life-threatening internal injuries." It was the same nurse who had received the yellow card earlier, now relaying details to the person in charge.

"Good, keep monitoring the situation, and do not allow the sonographers to scan her womb!" the unidentified man instructed. "Yes, sir!" the nurse promptly affirmed.