“Orun Oun aye kun fun ogo re. (The heavens and the earth is full of your Glory)” I heard Mama Aderinto, my Grandmother sang one evening as I stopped in front of her room.
I opened the door.
I entered.
She was folding her clothes into a small leather box.
“Mama, dinner is ready. Mum and Dad are waiting for you. ” I called out as I moved closer to assist her in arranging the clothes.
“I was going to arrange it the other time but I had to quickly get in touch with my Friend who is getting married next weekend.” I explained apologizing.
“It’s alright my child. I heard your parents also talking about a wedding programme the other time. Is that your friend’s wedding they were referring to?” Mama asked inquisitively.
“Yes Ma’am. Its Damilola, one of my secondary school friends that is getting married. But by divine Providence, she’s getting married to someone very close to our family so Mum and Dad are been carried along.” I explained as Mama nodded in understanding.
“Do you remember Mr Samson ? He and Daddy grew up together.” I asked.
“Yes.. I remember, Omo Aunti Derin ( Aunty Derin’s son).” she said.
“Well, I don’t know. But I can recall you’ve called him that several times. Anyway, Damilola is getting married to his Son, Michael.”
“Henn! That’s nice oo. Se iwo ni Alarinaa ni? ( Are you the one that brought them together?)” Mama asked smiling.
“No Mama.” I replied smiling.
“It’s alright. Heaven will keep that day for them. ” Mama prayed as I zipped up the leather box.
“Amen. It’s just that Dami’s Mum is always reacting somehow to Michael like she doesn’t agree to the union. ” I said to her.
“Since the two children are believers even if their parents are not; they should pray and Damilola should try to speak to her mother.” Mama said as she suddenly stopped as if remembering something but shakes it off.
“Mama, are you alright?” I asked scared.
“I’m fine. I just had a quick flashback but I’m fine.” she said smiling.
“Alright.. Let’s get downstairs.” I replied as I assisted her out of the room.
As we had dinner, i watched as Mama picked on her food. She had been asking Mum to prepare Moi-Moi for some days but for some reasons she wasn’t eating well.
She was lost in thought.
“Mama, hope no problem?” my father asked his mother pointing towards her plate to buttress his point.
“Hmm… I’m fine. I’m just lost in thoughts.” she replied him before turning over to my direction.
“Dabira, how is preparation for the wedding going? ” She asked to my surprise.
“Grandma, we just talked about that minutes ago.” I said gaping at her.
“We did? It’s alright. Hope your friend has prayed well ?” She asked causing me to shift inconveniently.
“Yes. You know Dami now. ” I replied.
“Yes I do. The thing is each family has their own history. Aunty Derin’s has theirs too. It’s sad some actually go a long way to affect generations. ” she said shaking her head.
“Mama” I called causing her to look at me. “What history again ? I wonder how many stories I have heard of my great grandparents, you still know about Michael’s family ? It is well oo.”
“Amin!! Hmm.. O yemi!! ( I understand) ” Mama said shaking her head.
I felt worry tug at my heart.
My 70 years old grandmother could be difficult to understand sometimes but everyone in the family knew she was a serious Christian who never took her relationship with God lightly.
“Whatever is making her this worried must be serious.” I thought as I decided to ask Michael and Damilola some questions myself.
Two days to the wedding day, our house was already occupied with guests from Michael’s family who had come from distant places.
I was busy serving a guest when I felt someone touch me gently. I didn’t need a prophet to tell me who it was.
It was Mama.
“Dabira, come. Let me ask you something.” Mama pulled at my clothe to get my attention.
“Mama, do you need anything?” I asked.
“No. I want to ask you something.” She said pulling me further away towards her room.
She stopped outside her room. I watched as she looked around to see if any one was paying attention to us.
Finally satisfied, she said “Hmm!! Dabira, did Damilola confide in you about any issue?”
“Here we go again!” I thought in frustration as I said to her “Mama, let’s enter your room.”
We entered and I made her sat on the bed as I sat beside her.
“Grandma!! You’ve been scaring me with all this questions oo.” I replied really worried. “What did you see? Did God tell you anything?” I asked in whisper.
“No oo..” she replied smiling a bit; but suddenly moved closer to me and asked back in whisper. “But did Damilola mention anything as regards a curse? ”
“Curse ?” I asked baffled as Mama looked at me thoughtfully as I continued. “No. But there is no need to fear. The Bible has said the curse causeless shall not come. So no need to worry. Segbo ? (You understand? ). Let me return to what I was doing.” I said as I stood to go.
I was out of the room and was about closing the door when Mama called again “Dabira, what if it has a cause and is already in action?” She looked really troubled.
“Mama… It is well.” I said as I closed the door.
So many thoughts crossed my mind as I returned to my duty.
The Wedding day arrived and the wedding program was successful. Entertainment of guests started and I set to work after making sure Mama sat in a place where I could keep my eyes on her as Mum and Dad were busy with other things. I asked someone to serve her food but I watched with concern as Mama ate the food slowly. Her attention was on something else.
I followed her gaze.
Mama was looking at the couple who were smiling and laughing.
I returned my attention back to her to see her chock on a bite. She stopped eating and sipped from her water. I waited for her to continue eating but was surprised when she held her chest as if struggling to breathe.
I dropped the plate i was holding in panic as I walked towards her.
Her attention shifted to me.
Her face was becoming white but she gave me a weak smile. A smile that said “This might be the last time I’ll see you, Dabira.”
I moved faster as she closed her eyes and fell back against the chair she sat on.
Someone shouted “This woman has fainted!”
I reached where she was and shook her in panic.
“Mama.” I cried out in fear….
“Not today Mama… ” I cried as we waited at the Emergency Unit Waiting room while the doctors attended to her.
“It is well, Dabira. Calm down.” My mother said as the attending doctor came towards us.
“Can I speak to you Sir? ” The Doctor said to my father as he stood up and went with him. My father came back in few minutes.
“Mama is fine.” he said as I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Then what happened?” I asked.
“Her blood sugar is low. We were so busy with Wedding preparations that none of us noticed she had been skipping her meals.” He sighed rubbing his face in regret.
“Oh!! I do take her food to her room since we couldn’t get time to eat together. Those women washing the plates are the ones that do pack her plates and none ever told me she never eats.” I explained.
“She’s awake but we will be spending just few minutes with her as we have to get her fruits.” My father explained.
“OK.. No problem.” I said as we all went to check on her.
“Dabira! David! Margaret!” Mama called softly as she smiled at us.
“Mama, you scared me. What’s with you skipping meals? ” I asked smiling a bit.
“I was fasting! ” she replied softly.
“Fasting? Maami (Mother); you better be careful.” My father said to her.
“What were you fasting about? Because I don’t understand oo ” Mum asked.
“Hmm… Oro Damilola ku ni!!( It’s on Damilola’s issue) ”
I gaped at her in shock.
Grandma was fasting and praying for my Friend.
I was still trying to process that information well when a nurse came to tell us we had to get mama something to eat.
Dad agreed to go home with me while Mum stayed in the hospital.
I followed Dad out of the hospital lost in thought..
Something was definitely wrong somewhere but I had to figure that out first.
Why do you think Mama Aderinto is behaving this way?
What do you think I should do?
I’ll be waiting for your Comments and Thoughts.
Be on look out for Episode 2.
