UNSEEN STRUGGLE
Upon
arriving in Ibadan, Diekola and his wife Layomi headed straight to the family
hospital, Preston Medical Center, where Mr. Adani Kolapo had been admitted. At
the hospital, Diekola encountered his mother, Mrs. Adani Madele, his father's
uncle Seyi, Mofeoluwa, and Mrs. Alex Lope's mother at the reception.
Overwhelmed
and worried, Diekola didn't greet anyone and anxiously asked, "Where is
daddy?" Without waiting for a reply, he hurried into the specially reserved
ward for wealthy patients, familiar with the environment, believing his father,
Mr. Adani Kolapo James, was being treated in one of the rooms.
Upon
entering the ward, Diekola saw Dr. Kelvin, their family doctor, coming out of
one of the rooms. Diekola rushed towards him and urgently inquired, "Dr.
Kelvin, where's my father?" Dr. Kelvin, dressed in his white doctor's
attire with a stethoscope around his neck, paused before responding to
Diekolaoluwa. "Diekolaoluwa, you need to remain calm”.
Your
father is in a critical condition and is currently in the intensive care
unit," Dr. Kelvin explained. He added, "You cannot see him at the
moment, but I assure you that he will be fine." With that, Dr. Kelvin
walked away from Diekola and moved towards another section of the hospital.
UNFORESEEN COLLAPSE
Three
days had passed since Mr. Adani Kolapo James was admitted to the hospital,
leaving everyone in a state of confusion. Diekola had chosen to stay in the
hospital, instructing his wife Layomi, his mother Mrs. Adani Madele, and
Mofeoluwa to go home and rest before returning. Reluctantly, Layomi agreed and
followed her husband’s instructions.
Back
home, she was surprised when her mother-in-law, Mrs. Adani Madele, asked the
cook to prepare a meal for her and requested a conversation after she ate.
After
finishing her meal, Layomi went to Mrs. Adani Madele's luxurious bedroom,
knocking on the door before entering. Mrs. Adani Madele invited her to sit and
began their conversation.
However,
Layomi had passed out without Mrs. Adani Madele realizing it. Only when Layomi
didn't respond to a question did Mrs. Adani Madele notice and shook her in
concern. Panicked, she raised an alarm when Layomi remained unresponsive.
Despite
the late hour, around 8pm, Layomi was rushed to the hospital where her
father-in-law was also admitted.
A JOURNEY OF HOPE
Layomi's
eyes fluttered open, and as she looked around, she found herself in an
unfamiliar place. Her husband, Diekola, was sitting closely beside her, while
her mother-in-law, Mrs. Adani Madele, was nearby. Confusion filled her voice as
she spoke, "What happened? Where am I?"
"Babe,
you'll be fine. You just need some rest," reassured Diekola, holding her
hand gently. Mrs. Adani Madele also moved closer, offering her support, "I
hope you're feeling better, dear. You'll be okay."
Before
their journey to Ibadan, Layomi had taken a pregnancy test that revealed two
lines on the strip, indicating a positive result. She was about to show it to
Diekola when he received a call from his sister, Mofeoluwa.
The
call informed him that his father, Mr. Adani Kolapo James, had been rushed to
the hospital. Unaware of her own pregnancy, Layomi's delay in her menstrual
cycle, which was supposed to arrive on the 14th of the month, had left her in
the dark.
Upon
reaching the hospital, Layomi was revived by the doctor. Tests, including a
pregnancy test, were conducted to determine the cause of her sudden collapse.
While her glucose levels and blood pressure were normal, the pregnancy test
came back positive.
Meanwhile,
Mr. Adani Kolapo James had been showing signs of improvement, bringing a
glimmer of hope to the family.
Two
days later, Layomi were discharged from the hospital. Unbeknownst to Layomi and
Diekola, Mrs. Adani Madele had contacted the hospital where Layomi worked. Mrs.
Adani Madele's old school friend, Dr. Bunmi Williams, owned the hospital. She
requested a one-month leave for Layomi due to her condition and arranged for
Layomi to stay with her in Ibadan so she could be taken care of.
FAMILY BOND AND HOPE
Diekola
reluctantly left for Ilesa, torn between his responsibilities at home and his
concern for Layomi and his father, Mr. Adani James Kolapo, who was now
responding to treatment at the hospital. Before leaving, he promised Layomi
frequent visits in Ibadan.
Meanwhile,
Layomi settled into her new temporary home with Mrs. Adani Madele in Ibadan.
The spacious house was different from their cozy Ilesha home, but Layomi
appreciated the warmth her mother-in-law showered on her during her pregnancy,
wondering how Mrs. Adani Madele's initial animosity had vanished.
It's
been two weeks now, the family had another reason to celebrate: Mr. Adani
Kolapo James was discharged from the hospital, bringing relief to everyone. His
recovery had been challenging, but he grew stronger each day, and his joy was
evident upon hearing Layomi's pregnancy news.
"Hello,
Daddy. How are you doing? Have you taken your medication for today? I hope your
blood pressure is not high?" Diekola uttered to his father, Mr. Adani, on
the phone. It had been two weeks since his father was discharged from the
hospital, and Diekola couldn't go a day without checking on him and his wife,
Layomi, on the phone. "Daddy, I'm so happy you're back home, and thank you
for being there for me and Layomi during our trying moments," Diekola
continued to express his gratitude to his father, who beamed with joy.
BLOSSOMING BOND OF LOVE
The
days passed steadily in Ibadan, with Layomi's pregnancy progressing well. She
often found solace in the garden of Mrs. Adani Madele's spacious house, her
hands cradling her growing belly, pondering the twists of fate that had led her
here. A phone call from the hospital had just informed her that her leave had
been extended to six months.
What
astounded her was that it was Dr. Bunmi, the hospital's owner, who had
personally called her. Layomi couldn't help but wonder about the close
friendship between her mother-in-law, Mrs. Adani Madele, and Dr. Bunmi.
Moreover,
Mrs. Adani Madele's attitude had undergone a remarkable transformation. She
pampered Layomi like never before.
One
sunny afternoon, as Layomi bathed in the gentle warmth of the sun, Mrs. Adani
Madele approached with a beaming face, a mixture of excitement and anticipation
in her eyes.
"Layomi
dear," Mrs. Adani Madele began, "I have something to share with
you."
Layomi
looked up, her curiosity piqued. "What is it, Mama?"
Mrs.
Adani Madele took a deep breath. "I've been reflecting on our family,
Layomi. It's become evident to me that family bonds are stronger than any
differences or misunderstandings. Your love for Diekola and the joy you've
brought back into our lives during these trying times have shown me that."
Tears
welled up in Layomi's eyes as she listened to her mother-in-law's heartfelt
words.
"Mama,
I've come to care deeply for you and Mr. Adani," Layomi replied.
"Despite our past differences, I've learned that family is a treasure, and
I want to be a part of this family more than ever."
Mrs.
Adani Madele smiled warmly, her eyes glistening. "Layomi, my dear, that's
all I wanted to hear. I believe that your love has brought healing not only to
my husband but to our family as a whole."
Their
bond grew stronger that day, a testament to the power of love and resilience.
Layomi's heart swelled with hope for the future as she looked forward to
welcoming her child into this family filled with love and forgiveness.
And
so, in the midst of challenges and unexpected turns, their journey continued,
guided by the enduring strength of family bonds and the unwavering power of
hope.
THE END.
Read Part 3
©2023 Ògúnsolá Olúwasayò
Comments
Post a Comment