Chapter 5 THE VISIT

"Grrr..rr...rrngh", Fola's phone rang as she was coming out of the bathroom. She picked up the phone and saw Bolu's name on the screen.

"Hello babe, how far na?", she picked the call and greeted her friend.

"I'm good. Can you please send me your registration number?", Bolu requested sharply.

"Ok, what's up? Hope all is well?", Fola asked.

"Yes, just send it to me now and I will call you back in a couple of minutes", Bolu replied.

"Ok dear, I will do that now." Fola disconnected the call and quickly imput her jamb registration number which she knows by heart as SMS and sent it to Bolu.

She wondered why Bolu requested for her registration number and quickly waved the thoughts away as she got dressed for work.

Just then, her phone rang again.

"How far?", requested Fola.

"Guess what?", asked Bolu, from the other side.

"What is it?"

"Try and guess joor", Bolu insisted.

"You know well that I am not good at guessing, so spill", Fola answered.

"Congratulations babe, you have been offered admission to study your dream course", Bolu replied and Fola screamed out of excitement.

Bolu was laughing at the other end too before Fola asked: "Babe what about yours?"

"My name was not on the list. I am hoping to see my name on the second list by God's grace", Bolu responded, with faith.

"Amen dear, we've got to rock that school together", Fola remarked, with excitement.

"Yes dear, go get ready for work. We would talk later."

"Alright, let me go inform mum and dad."

"Ok bye", Bolu said and hung up.

Boluwatife happens to be Fola's childhood friend and classmate right from day 1. Boluwatife came from a well-to-do family but unfortunately, she hardly makes her papers. She had to sit for her SSCE examinations twice and also wrote JAMB twice. Fortunately for her, she got 202 in that year's JAMB examinations while Fola got 254. Bolu couldn't help but envy Fola's intelligence and brilliance.

Fola quickly dressed up and dashed off to her parent's bedroom to inform them.

"Good morning mummy, good morning daddy", she greeted them, while kneeling down.

"Folakemi owon (My dearest Folake), good morning and how was your night?", her mother asked, as she was folding some clothes while her father was still on the bed.

"Morning dear, why are you looking so excited?", her father asked, as she stood up.

"Dad, I have been offered admission", she screamed, with joy.

"Wao! That's good news", he said, rising up from the bed to give her a hug.

"Fola, congratulations", her mother said, hugging her too.

Mr. Obed disengaged himself from the hug and in a rush, wore a shirt and a sport trouser while saying, "Mr. Garba must hear this."

Fola disengaged from her mother's embrace and questioned him. "Daddy, what for?"

Hearing her question, he shook his head sadly and stated: "Omode o mo ogun onpe lefo (Herbs are known to children as vegetables)".

"For your fees of course. He will be the one to sponsor you through your University education. Do you think I can sponsor you with the meagre salary I am earning? You know nothing."

"But daddy, I have been working for 3 years now and I have saved enough to help me through with your help and mum's help."

"My dear, I have nothing to spend on you, your mother can testify. Keep the money you have for the future and let your betrothed do his duty."

"Daddy......."

"Don't daddy me Folake, I am off", Mr. Obed said, annoyed and walked out.

Fola turned to her mother and went into her arms.

"Mummy, what do I do? The more he collects from that man, the more I won't be able to come out of this engagement, because you two will continue to feel indebted to him. What do I do?", she questioned sorrowfully.

"Cry no more, Folakemi. There will surely be a way out of every mess", her mother assured her and sat her down on the bed. "When is the resumption day?"

"January", Fola replied.

"I saved the money I got from my late father's inheritance with my sister in Edo. I will call her to send it back to me by weekend and use that to start a business by the end of the month. We won't take any money for your upkeep from your father. I want to start the business of selling bedspread and I will make sure to buy all you need before you go to school. The little proceeds that I make from the business will be sent to you weekly. What I want you to do now is for you to pay for all the necessary fees from your savings. After the payment, make sure not to take anything from the money again till the next year so things won't be rough for us. Make do with the little you have and remember the daughter of whom you are. I know my girl and I trust you to do the right thing", her mother finished.

Fola nodded and knelt down to thank her mother.

"Oya get up and go to work. Make sure to tell your madam the good news so she can pay you off by month-end."

"Yes ma", she replied and exited the room. She went back to her room to pick up her bag and off she went.

******

The next day, Mr. Obed informed his wife and daughter about the guests they would be having later that night. The guests turned out to be Mr. Garba and his son. Fola just got back from work and was in her room when they arrived.

"Fola come out now, Mr. Garba and Olamide are here", Mr. Obed announced entering her room. "Change your clothes and dress well before coming out", he said, before turning to go out.

"I am coming this way dad. If he doesn't like me this way, then he can go to hell", she said, stubbornly.

"What rubbish are you saying? You better do as I say before I beat the living hell out of you", he said and went out.

"Your father doesn't know you took your stubbornness from him", Mrs. Obed said, appearing from nowhere and smiling. She entered Fola's room and said, "I have told you not to argue with your father again so do as he said."

But mummy, if he doesn't like me this way.........."

"Fola", she interrupted softly. "I know your father more than you do. I have known him half of my life. Your consent in a way matters because you are an adult already but if you continue being stubborn, you might be forced into something you will regret in the long run. Use your head in this matter and when you go out there, talk reasonably so they can reason with you. A word is enough for the wise", she finished, and went out.

Fola sighed in frustration and hurriedly changed her cloth, packed her long hair in a bun before heading out. She wondered what her husband-to-be would look like and if she would eventually fall for his charms since her mother said he was good looking. 'No matter how much I think of this, I still wish this decision was never made', she thought loudly.

Her father was laughing heartily with Mr. Garba when she got to the sitting room and her mother was nowhere to be found. She scoffed seeing her father showing off his teeth in a childish manner. 'This is what money can do', her subconscious said.

"And here comes the bride", Mr. Garba said, standing up as Fola walked slowly to where they were seated.

There was a plate of fruit salad made by her mother opposite Mr. Garba and a bottle of coke in front of her so-called groom who was engrossed in his phone and unaware of her presence before his father's announcement.

He raised his head up to take a look at his wife and Fola gasped seeing his face.

Olamide's face was expressionless at first before his face broke into a smile

"Come my bride", Olamide's father said, and commented on her looks. "This is Olamide, my son, he just came back from the U.S a month ago. Olamide, this is my friend's daughter, Folake who just got admitted into Ahmadu Bello University to study Mass Communication", he did the introduction. "How have you been my dear?"

"I am very good, sir", Fola replied, politely.

"We were just talking about your childhood days when you came in. Your father told me you scored 254 in your jamb exam."

"Yes that's right", she said, and looked at her father who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Impressive, I am proud of you my dear."

"Olamide just finished his Master's degree program in English and Linguistics. We were just talking about your wedding plans so we want to hear your opinion. When do you want it to be dear?", he asked.

"Sir, I really admire you for that and considering the fact that your son is already a graduate, I know you must have great passion for education. I really wish to have my degree before getting married.....", Fola replied. She finished while eyeing Olamide "....To your son."

Olamide smiled evilly while her father's grin vanished.

"I like your courage dear but you should consider your groom when making decisions like this. Olamide will be 28 by January and being my only son, I want him to be married before 30. In fact, I want my grandchildren to be running round my courtyard by the time he is 30", he said, laughing.

Fola smiled and replied, "I understand you sir so when do you propose?"

"Next year."

"That's too early sir, marriage needs good and proper planning and a year wouldn't be enough since I am about to start schooling. Next 2-3 years will be fine by me", she said, and Mr. Garba looked at her with admiration before saying, "Done. The two of you can take a 2 minutes stroll, I need to discuss it with your father."

Olamide who was silent all along stood up to go out while Fola followed.

"My wife-to-be, Fola am I right?.... Is a potential liar who told me her name is Zahara", Olamide started, when they were right outside the house.

They were walking side by side with Fola folding her arms around her.

Fola fired back in a sarcastic manner. "I never knew I was betrothed to someone this pompous and arrogant. Can life be any better?"

Olamide snorted and boasted, "That pompous man will be your husband soon and he will also be the one to sponsor your University education. You better learn some manners and swallow your pride."

"Maybe your father forgot to tell you that your betrothed wife is not a lazy girl. She is very hard-working and she worked for 3 years to save up for her education. My pride is what makes me who I am and I won't stoop so low to take a dim from you for my education. As long as I have my hands and legs, I will be a graduate in the next four years even if it means hawking sachet water", she retorted back, dropping her arms and standing in front of him.

"I know your type. That is how you girls behave but at the end of the day, you will come crawling and begging for help."

"Anyways, I will always be here for you, dear future wife", he replied, with an evil grin.

"I am too expensive to be bought and I am different from other girls. You can think whatever, I don't give a damn", she answered, moving away.

"Whether you like it or not, we will be married soon. I can't wait for the D-day dearest wife", Olamide stated, mockingly.

Fola walked back to where Olamide was standing with his hands in his pocket and looked him straight in the eye. "You are not worthy of a woman like me so I can only be your wife in your dreams and not in reality", she said to him and walked away, leaving him utterly speechless and with mouth agape.