Contract husband

” It’s me Omar!!….. Omar your elder sister!!…. it’s me!!” Omar said breaking into tears.

The woman widened her eyes.

” Omar!!..…Omar!!…. Omare!!” she kept calling with her mouth agape, she drew closer to have a closer view of Omar’s face.

” Is this really you?” She asked shakily.

” Yes….. yes it’s me Grace!!…”

Grace broke down in tears and ran back to the building as she announced loudly.

” Omar is back!!!….. Everybody come out o!!…. Omar is back!!!” Grace announced continuously.

Then there was silence.

Five minutes elapsed before the door suddenly opened and they came out.

Her mother, Grace and Mary.

Omar stared at her family with bated breath, as tears flowed freely from her eyes.

” Omar!!” her mother whispered softly.

” Yes it’s me mother.”

She opened her arm stretched wide and beckoned on her for an embrace.

They all embraced tearfully and expressed how much they had missed her.

” Omar I’m sorry…. I’m so sorry…. I was ignorant to have agreed with your father.” The mother said tearfully.

” It’s ok mama…. It’s all in the past now.” Omar replied, still locked in her embrace.

“Let go inside my child.” Her mother was saying when they noticed Ife standing a few feet away from them.

” Is that your husband?” she asked Omar.

” Yes Mama….. that’s my husband and my baby.” Omar replied.

Ife greeted them all and they embraced him as well.

Omar’s mother cried more when she held Ayanfe in her hands.

” She’s so beautiful..” the mother commented, wiping away the tears from her eyes.

” Aunty Omar, let us go inside.” Mary the last born said and carried her luggages.

Omar nodded and they all went in.

A man was seated on the chair with his head slightly bent, when they entered.

” That’s your father Omar…. go and greet him.”

Omar walked towards him and went on her knees to greet him.

He raised his gaze and looked at her. There was tears in his eyes.

” My daughter….. you are welcomed home.” He said and embraced her.

***************

Richard sat by the bedside of his father, in the ICU unit, watching the heart monitor beep continuously.

He had been visiting ever since the accident issue occurred some months ago.

He sighed.

Life was really a teacher, which had taught him a lesson even beyond his capacity to learn.

He glanced once more at his father.

Mr Coker was wrapped up in bandages almost from head to toe, with his legs hung up.

The doctor had said his chances of survival were quite slim due to the fact that most of his vitals were badly damaged.

Richard exhaled and shook his head sadly, suddenly feeling the heat of loneliness overwhelm him.

He was alone and very miserable.

Barely a few days before the accident, his wife had accused him of having extra marital affairs after she found out she had been infected with the hepatitis B virus.

She became very bitter against him and threatened him with a divorce and ever since then, she hadn’t failed in giving him the silent treatment.

But thank God he had completed the treatments and was totally cured from the virus.

He cursed under his breath, blaming Judith for the mishaps that had befallen his marriage.

Judith was the only woman he was seeing as at then, and if there was anyone who had transmitted the virus to him, it must definitely have been Judith.

He ran his fingers across his hair, while he anxiously tapped his feet.

Reflecting on the life he had lived over the past few years of his life. His thoughts suddenly drifted to his mom as he felt the pang of guilt wash over him.

If only he had known better.

If only he could turn back the hand of time and had listened to his mom’s advise.

It had been ages he last saw her since their last disagreement.

Memories of the life he shared with her, came flooding in, and choking back the tears which had taken over his emotions. Perhaps, if he had remained with his mother, his life would have taken a different shape.

But right now! He desired to be wrapped in her loving arms again and hear her soothing words, telling him everything will be okay.

He really needed her comforting words of encouragement because happiness was slowly becoming a façade to him, leaving him longing desperately for a shoulder to lean on.

” I must go and see my mom.” He said to himself soberly.

” What is her name?” Mr Edeh asked, as he carried his grand daughter in his hands.