Chapter 4 THE REVELATION

"Fola, I saw you around Gbajugba street earlier this morning when I was going to Makarfi plaza, what were you doing there?", Mr. Obed, Fola's father asked after exchanging pleasantries with his daughter.

Fola was on the couch in the sitting room reading a book titled "The Smart Money Women" when her father came in. It was a Sunday and there was no work.

Fola's father is a middle aged man of average height with a light complexion. Fola's mother on the other hand was dark in complexion. She is a beautiful woman with attractive bulging eyes, pointed nose and gap teeth.

Fola got her gap teeth from her mother and her complexion and skin type from her father. Mr. Obed was an attractive man.

Fola remembered an incident which happened during her first year in high school. The school normally organizes an open day event where parents usually visit the school and are taken to their children's respective classes to know how their wards are faring academically, before writing down their remark about the child's performance.

While Mr. Obed was in Fola's class going through her books and discussing with her form teacher, a classmate of hers named Lizzy whispered into Fola's ear: "Your daddy is a fine man" and Fola smiled proudly.

"Oh yes! I went to see Maryam", Fola replied to her father. "You know she just got married and I was unable to attend the wedding ceremony, so I went to congratulate her."

"You mean Maryam Alabi?", he asked her.

"Yes, she is the one", replied Fola

"I see. So Maryam is also married too."

"Yes o daddy, she has tied the knot with her long time sweetheart."

"What then are you waiting for?", her father questioned.

"Daddy, what do you mean by that? Maryam and I are not mates despite the fact that we graduated from high school the same year. Maryam is 25 and she is 2 years older than me. I am still young to be married na", she replied to her father and dropped the book she was reading.

"You don't know what you are saying. You are a woman and I can't keep you in my house forever. It's high time you got married", her father uttered coldly and eyed her.

Fola couldn't fathom why her father was always irritated by her presence.

'That aside, he now wants to get rid of me?', she thought.

"Daddy, I have a long way to go and I am sure you know about my dreams which I intend to achieve before getting married. For now, my education is my top priority and besides I don't even have a boyfriend", Fola completed smiling at her last statement.

"I told you I have someone for you already, have you forgotten?", he questioned.

"Daddy, I thought you were joking", Fola said with a bewildered look.

"I was not. He is someone who is ready to take up your academic expenses so you have no cause for alarm", he beamed.

"Daddy, I can't just get married to someone I don't know or love and definitely not now", Fola blurted out stubbornly.

"Do you even know what love means? You are being childish and insensible. Don't get on my nerves", he warned.

"But daddy, this is not something....."

"Are you trying to oppose me?", her father shouted.

"No dad, but...."

"Fola", her mother called from behind, interrupting her.

"Woman, talk sense into your daughter", Mr. Obed said and marched angrily to his room.

Fola looked at her mother with a sad face and Mrs. Obed beckoned to her daughter to follow.

They both entered Fola's room and sat on the bed.

"Fola, I have told you times without number to stop arguing with your father especially when he is angry. You know how ill- tempered he is and how rash he takes decisions when angry", her mother stated.

"But mummy, why is he always talking about marrying me off. It seems to me like he can't wait to just get rid of me. He is inconsiderate of my feelings."

"Quiet Fola..... You have no idea why father is doing this and that is what I intend to let you know. It is not your father's fault", Mrs. Obed declared softly, looking at her daughter before she continued.

"When I got married to your father, I was unable to conceive for 6 years. Your father was worried and desperate for a child that he decided to take a second wife after our 5th wedding anniversary. I know his decision of bringing in a second wife can destroy our family and the love your father and I shared. Your father is a man that shows and expresses his love in a hard way. I have done the showing of love since the beginning of our relationship. I love him and I know he loves me too even though he doesn't show it. Deep down, I didn't want him to bring in a new wife but because I did not want to be a selfish being, I supported him. Your father's friend, Mr. Garba, who works with NNPC and who is now a politician, convinced him from taking another wife. I remembered him telling your father that he gave birth to his only son after 10 years of marriage and that was possible because he stuck to his wife. Exactly 6 years after our marriage, I conceived and gave birth to you the following year. Your father was not content with the fact that I gave birth to a girl after waiting for years. Mr. Garba was also the one who consoled him and told him more children will come. I was heartbroken because I felt I was to be blamed", Mrs. Obed sniffed as Fola listened with rapt attention.

"After your birth, we could hardly feed because your father was retrenched from his place of work. We began to depend on Mr. Garba for almost everything. At a point, we had to sell some of our assets including the gold I was given from home and my little car. We were left with only this house which your father almost sold but I was totally against it. We pleaded with Mr. Garba to help your father secure a job which he did but the pay was little. We were unable to recover our lost asset and your father refused to allow me to seek employment. When we became fed up with everything, we asked Mr. Garba to help your father get a better job but he claimed he had helped us enough. The last help he did was giving your father the car he is still using till the moment."

"4 years after your birth, I conceived again and our hopes of giving birth to a boy were high. That hope was shattered when I gave birth to a girl who we lost to measles at the age of 2. During your sister's birth, I had some complications so the doctor advised me to stop childbearing or I would lose my life. Your father became irritated with everything I do but he stuck with me because of Mr. Garba."

"One fateful day, Mr. Garba, his 13 year old son, Olamide and his late wife visited us. Your father purposely sent me on an errand and before I came back, they were gone . Your father briefed me on their visit. You were 9 years old then and he said Mr. Garba told him that since I haven't been able to produce an heir for him, he should consider Olamide as his heir on the condition that you will be betrothed to him. Your father agreed to it without asking for my opinion. I was devastated and I questioned him for taking such a rash decision which resulted in a fight between us that almost led to a divorce."

"What?! I am betrothed?", Fola lamented.

"Yes, you were engaged as a child to Mr. Garba's son. It is more like a promise that is meant to be fulfilled, no matter what", replied her mother.

"Is that why he calls me his wife?", requested Fola.

"You mean Mr. Garba? Yes, he took a liking to you ever since you were born. His late mother's name was Folake just like yours, maybe that's why."

"Mum, so you mean you two choosed a future husband for me when I was a child without my consent?", she stated, more like a question.

"Your father did and I had no choice but to go with it. The promise had been sealed and there is nothing we can do about it. I am so sorry for keeping it away from you all this while. I never liked the idea and I have thought of different ways to break the vow your father and Mr. Garba made to each other", her mother answered.

"Why will father do such a thing?", Fola sobbed, moving closer to embrace her mother.

"It is because he feels indebted to Mr. Garba. Like I said, you shouldn't blame your father."

"Have you been able to come up with something?", Fola asked curiously.

"Maybe giving birth to a male child can help break the engagement in the sense that we would jointly tell Mr. Garba that your father doesn't need Olamide to be heir, but the more I think of it, the more absurd it sounds. It is obvious Mr. Garba is doing this for another reason and not for the fact that he wants your father to see Olamide as his son."

"Mummy, I don't want this", Fola weeped unable to control the anger within her.

"I know my dear, that was why I was against it right from the beginning. Maybe I should give childbearing a try", her mother responded sorrowfully.

Alarmed, Fola looked up sharply, "No mum, don't do that. Your life is at risk here, don't even think of it."

"I know but I want to do this for you."

"Mum, it's okay, I would rather go along with it than lose you", she replied wiping her tears with the back of her palm.

"Hmm", Mrs. Obed sighed and continued: "Thinking of this issue from a different perspective, Mr. Garba was in a way working in my favour because this engagement was meant to stop your father from taking a second wife but I keep asking myself what he stands to gain."

"What is the way out?", asked Fola.

"Actually, your betrothed has grown into a fine young man. The last time I saw him was when he graduated from the University and that was before he went to the U.S for his Masters program", Mrs Obed replied grinning.

"Mum?!", Fola exclaimed.

"What?", her mother asked smiling.

"Don't tell me you want to start supporting your husband."

She laughed and said: "Of course not but I think you two should get to know each other.... who knows maybe you can start developing feelings for each other", she commented.

"Mum?", Fola called out in frustration while her mother laughed out loud.

"Come here dear", she said to Fola and engulfed her in a motherly hug.

"Let's just pray to God for the best. I know you don't believe in love like I do but it exists."

"Just like it exists between you and dad right", Fola replied sarcastically while her mother hit her on the arm playfully.

"Ouch! Mum, that hurts. I was joking."

"Silly girl. Your father and I love each other. If Ola is meant for you, you too will get along well enough and you will learn to love each other but if he is not, you will find true love in a good soul. That is my prayer for you dear."

"Thank you mummy."

"So don't let it bring you down. Take it as part of life's challenges and keep praying for the best. Also, be strong and ready my dear. Your father's persistence and recent pressuring is for a reason and I sense some things are about to unfold."

"Yes, mummy", Fola replied.

"Be good my dear and God bless you", her mother prayed silently.

Fola smiled and whispered. "Bless you too mum. I love you."

They smiled at each other and embraced.