A Heartwarming Reunion

Two weeks later, the new couple returned to Hassan’s house in Lagos. Hakeemah came to pay them a visit a day after their arrival.

A Heartwarming Reunion

A Surprise Visit

“You never wanted to return? And on top of that, you made your destination a top secret,” she chided them. “So that you won’t disturb us,” Hassan replied.

The Marriage Glow

“Mtcheww! Olamide, how are you? I don’t even need to ask, I can see the marriage glow all over you.” Olamide didn’t respond. She continued to smile.

Feeling Like an Intruder

Hakeemah shrugged. “This one that you refused to talk but continued to smile is making me feel like an intruder. I think I’m interrupting you. Anyway, I didn’t plan to stay long. I just came to drop the remaining of your wedding gifts.” She said as she dropped the things she was carrying and was about to step out when Olamide called her back.

The Reason for the Smile

“Wait joor. Do you even know why I’m smiling?” She asked, smiling. “Why?” Hakeemah asked, staring at her without interest. “Come and see something,” she beckoned her to see something on her phone.

A Surprising Encounter

Hakeemah screamed afterwards. “Where did you see him?” She asked eagerly. “I saw him in Portharcourt,” Olamide replied with a twist of her body.

A Long-Awaited Meeting

“You’ve been in Portharcourt in the last two weeks?” She marvelled. “Yes. There’s this place I stumbled upon when I was serving in Portharcourt and it had been on my bucket list since then. And fortunately, my sweetheart granted my baby girl’s wish,” she said as she held her husband’s hand and stared lovingly at him. He winked at her and drew love on her palm with his finger.

The Raunchy Couple

Hakeemah shook her head. “The two of you should stop being raunchy in my presence, joor. Where did you see Adam?” She asked eagerly. “I told you I saw him in Portharcourt. In fact, immediately he saw me, he rushed to me like he wanted to hug me. My husband was even jealous before I told him to calm down that he was your die-hard wooer when we were in school but unfortunately, you played hard to get and drove him away.”

The Story Unfolds

“Story!” Hakeemah rolled her eyes at her friend. “Oya sorry. The way you screamed when you saw his picture on my phone shows you adore him. I think he still loves you too because he never stopped asking about you till we departed. In fact, he asked for your number but I said I could not give it to him without your permission. Your brother said he’s going to handle the rest because he collected his number.”

The Number Exchange

“Yes,” Hassan picked it up from where his wife stopped. “Let me know if I should give him your number.” “Give him my number, please,” she replied sharply. “See, Olamide, after that guy disappeared.”

The Disappearance

“He didn’t disappear, he graduated before us,” Olamide interrupted her friend who in return also interrupted her. “Anyhow, I didn’t get to see him again after he graduated so he disappeared in my opinion. After he disappeared, every other man looked like trash to me.”

The Spec

“Really? And you didn’t open up. You were just rejecting them like you’ve not seen your spec,” Olamide cut in. “Yes, I didn’t truly see my spec after he disappeared so please give him my number. Let’s see if we can work something out,” she replied and the couple burst into laughter.

The Request

“What’s funny? Please give him my number. I’ll be expecting his call. Let me leave you to continue your lovey-dovey,” she said and was walking away but paused and addressed the couple again. “Don’t forget to give him my number, please. It’s very important.” “We’ll not forget,” the couple chorused. “In fact, I’m sending it to him right away,” Hassan emphasised.

The Visit Request

Hakeemah thanked him and left. Hassan turned to Olamide. “Your mum called me earlier. She wants to visit,” Hassan informed her. “Not now, please!” She replied.

The Assurance

“Okay, let me know when you’re ready. Or.” “Don’t bring that question of if I’m still angry with them, please!” She cut him short. He shrugged and hugged her. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m here with you and for you. You’re not alone,” he assured her. She nodded her head and cuddled him tightly.

The Painful Past

It seemed being around her parents still hurt her and she didn’t allow them to visit her nor visit them either. But they spoke on the phone and that was it. Six months later, Hakeemah got married to Adam in a glamorous wedding.

The Labour Room

Four months after Hakeemah’s wedding, Olamide was in the labour room, about to give life to her first child with her loving husband, Hassan. Hassan was with her. She continued to shout. She wasn’t cooperating with the nurses. Hassan turned to one of the nurses.

The Caesarean Section

“I think I’ll go for a caesarean section. I can’t bear to see her in pain. She can’t bear the pain either,” he said to the nurse. “Relax, she’s a first-time mum. Her body is still alien to the pain of labour, that’s why she’s shouting. And besides, her contraction started just five hours ago,” the nurse was trying to explain to Hassan when Olamide snapped at her.

The Pain

“You call five hours, ‘just?’ Did you just call five hours, ‘just?’ Five hours is not ‘just.’ I’m in pain. I can’t bear this pain again,” she shouted amidst tears. “Nurse please do something, she can’t bear the pain again. Let’s go for a caesarean section. How many hours left before she delivers, if I may ask?” He asked the nurse.

The Waiting Game

“Like I said, she’s a first-time mum, it may take like 12 hours or less or higher.” Olamide screamed again. “You’re very mean, you this nurse! You mean I’ll still spend up to 12 hours in this pain? Hassan, please call my mum. Call my mum. Is this what she went through when she had me? Is this how she experienced a near-death when she had the three of us? Please call her to come. I want to tell her something. I want to tell her I’ve forgiven her wholeheartedly. Is this what mothers go through? Hassan please call my mum,” she shouted.

The Call

He quickly picked up his phone and called her mother who came running down to Lagos immediately. Before her mum arrived in the evening, she had already given birth to two beautiful princesses, both looking like their dad. The nurses teased her endlessly while she rolled her eyes at them.

The Joyful Moment

Her husband cuddled the three of them tenderly; Olamide and his baby girls. “Alhamdilillah Rabil’Alamin. Of all the things my hands have held, my girls are by far the most beautiful,” he said happily. “What did you just say?” Olamide challenged him. “Your hands have been holding me before the girls, so I’m not beautiful?”

The Tease

He laughed. Her mum also laughed. “Someone is jealous of her daughters!” He teased her. “Leave me, joor. With the near death that I had, you should still be all over me with ‘sorry my darling.’ Is it not too early to start doting over the girls while ignoring me?”

The Apology

“I’m sorry. Sorry my darling. You’re a fighter. You put up a good fight. Thanks for birthing my beautiful princesses,” he appreciated her with a kiss on her forehead. He turned to his mother-in-law. “I’ll be right back, ma’am. Let me discard the placenta,” he said and walked out of the ward.

The Hot Tea

Olamide’s mum made her a hot tea and fed her. “You should drink this tea to regain your strength.” “Thank you, mummy,” she hugged her mother affectionately.

The Labour Experience

“Labour is not a sweet experience, mummy. I wasn’t informed. I couldn’t help forgiving you when I experienced this near-death.” “Shhhh. Stop calling it a near-death. It’s a beautiful experience every woman prays to go through. And I beg Allah to grant beautiful children to every waiting parent. Now you have your babies in your arms and the pain is gone, has it not?”

The Joy of Motherhood

“It has. I’m so happy seeing my babies that I forgot the pain I went through immediately,” she grinned as she looked at the tiny creatures in her arms with so much love and appreciation. “That’s the spirit, my darling. Let me put the babies in their cot. I want to pray Maghrib,” the woman said as she brought out a Hijab from her bag and wore it.

The Surprise

Olamide was surprised. “Mummy, you now pray? Even with Hijab?” She marvelled. “Yes, my darling. I now pray my five daily prayers without fail. Even your daddy and Olamiposi. We all have embraced the prayer. Kolawole too is picking up little by little. He introduced his fiancée to us last week.”