[STORY] THE NIGHT BUS (Episode 03)

Episode 03.

“Love, food is ready” my wife shook me and I notice I had dozed off already.
“Thank you, let me go shower first,” I said and stood up to go but I stopped and held my wife.

“I’m sorry if I used a wrong tone earlier, it wasn’t intentional trust me” I apologized knowing it’s not fair to doubt her after doing what my sister was supposed to do for her mother.
“Sorry too if I sounded harsh, I’m surprised myself to see mama strong when yesterday she was acting like she’s dead already. She was very weak, but this morning she woke me up and was asking what she was doing in the hospital and it was not long before your call came in that you were in town” my wife said.

“Mama is a drama queen you know and a strong woman. But I’m glad it’s over and most importantly I am happy you and the baby are fine” I said touching her tummy and she smiled.
“Hurry up so the food won’t get cold okay,” she said and I gave her a peck before leaving.
I got back feeling refreshed and strong and got set to eat with my wife.

“I’ve refunded the money to our neighbor, will you see her?” She asked.
“Why? You told her I’m around?” I asked.

“Not really, but I thought you’ll thank her because she was helpful when it happened. Hey Love you need to me yesterday, I was practically running from one end to another looking for help. The fearful part was that mama was eating the food I prepared when she slumped. I was thinking its poison and I almost went crazy. I regretted why I didn’t let her cook when she wanted to so I can vindicate myself that I didn’t cook the food. I was tired of her pattern of cooking and wanted a change for my taste buds, I cried hard wishing I had let her cook the food” my wife said.
“Why should your mind go that far to such a negative thing?” I asked.

“It’s easy for you to say because you were not there. It got worst when you were not picking up your calls, it was not funny if not she came back with her children and met the scene, so I think you should thank her, if not for anything, for rushing your mother to the hospital ” my wife narrated as a very good storyteller while I smiled.
“I’ve heard you ma, I’ll do that after eating,” I said.

“Now you’re talking,” she said smiling.
My wife wanted to go back to the hospital but I stopped her,

“Let me do that. Have your rest and don’t forget your condition” I said.
“But you’re tired and also needs rest, don’t worry I can manage” she said.

“No I am strong. I guess I was missing your food that’s why” I joked and she laughed.
“Okay if you say so, then you’ll take this to mama for her breakfast” my wife said giving me a bag.

“Yea ma’am ” I said touching her cheeks.
“The neighbor is around, go and say thank you as a good boy,” my wife said pushing me to the door. I opened up and saw the woman with her son and she happily greeted me.

“You came?” She asked after giving me a brief hug.
‘Yes, I arrived this morning. My wife told me what happened so I decided to come down” I replied.

“Yes it’s necessary, your wife needed you yesterday so badly,” she said.
“I heard that!” My wife shouted inside and we laughed.

“Thank you so much for your help yesterday, I appreciate it,” I said.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyone would have done the same, I’m glad I helped. Besides how is she?” She asked.

“She’s strong as if nothing happened. That woman can be magical sometimes” I replied and she smiled.
“She’s a strong woman and I love that. Now that she knows she has a case like that, she should be careful with what she eats else it may happen again” she said.

“I just hope she learns her lessons now, thanks again,” I said to her.
“You’re welcome and my regards to her,” she said and my wife came out.

“Big belle hope you’re happy now?” Our neighbor playfully asked while my wife only shook her head smiling.
“Okay bye” I said to the woman and she smiled and left the gate with her son.

“You didn’t tell me you’ve been missing me so much” I whispered to my wife after our neighbor left and she hit my chest.
“Go bring your mother home, she’ll be waiting for you” my wife replied.

“Okay I’ll be back soon,” I said giving her a peck.
“Before I forget, where’s my kilishi?” She asked.

“Bye, see you!” I shouted running away from her.

I got to the hospital and saw my mother strolling outside her ward,
“Mama, what are you doing outside na?” I asked holding her.
“Inside was boring na so I said let me come outside. Hey! They just rolled someone and passed,” she reported hitting me.

“Eh mama people will have to die and that’s how they are rolled to the mortuary,” I said and attempted to take her away but she still insisted to stand outside.
“See as people were crying, I pity them o” she continued with her hands on her chest while I rolled my eyes.

“Yes mama people cried, let’s go in na so that you can eat,” I said taking her hand.
“Have you met the doctor? Me I want to go o” she said.

“That’s why you should come in and eat so I can meet the doctor” I tiredly said taking her to the room and giving her the flask when she got settled.
“I’ll be going to the village tomorrow,” she said.

“Tomorrow? Who is pursuing you?” I asked.
“I’ve stayed for two weeks and I’m missing my husband’s house” she replied and I heaved.

“If you want”, I said and took my phone to keep myself company and a nurse walked in. I left the room with the nurse and met the doctor, and in a few minutes, we were out of the hospital.
We got home safely and my wife welcomed us,
” Hey mama welcome back,” my wife happily said taking the bag from me.

‘Let me go and arrange my bags, I already told my son I’ll be going tomorrow” my mother said even before she sat down. My wife confusedly looked at me as I was surprised myself,
“Mama are you serious right now? I thought you were joking,” I said to my mother.

“Ah Ah! Why are you talking as if I just said an abomination? I was the one who brought myself here, you didn’t invite me or did you? Can’t I go back when I want to?” My mother asked.
“Mama not that, but I thought you earlier said you’ll stay with me until I give birth and you never made mentioned of you going back anytime soon. Why the hurry?” My wife asked.

“My dear, I’ll still come back. I just remembered there’s this meeting I should not miss that’s why, don’t worry I’ll come back oh” my mother replied touching my wife laughing.
“Okay mama if you say so” my wife said.

“I said so my dear, let me go to my room and rest” my mother said and left for her room and my wife looked at me.
“Do you know why she suddenly wants to leave?’ My wife asked.

” but you just heard her excuse, she can take care of herself anyway” I replied and my wife heaved.
“It’s sad though, just when I thought I have someone here with me. I’ll have to invite my sister home. By the way Your sister called when you left to pick mama. She was asking questions like ” how are you? Have you seen mama?” and all that” my wife said.

“Why is she concerned?” I asked.
“I don’t know but she was like telling me to open my eyes and be careful” she replied and I hissed.

“What’s her problem? I mean what rubbish is all this?” I angrily asked.
“Love calm down, you don’t have to shout” She said touching my hand.

“When next she calls, tell her I am very fine and mama is healthy and strong. If she was praying hard for that woman to die then she and her Almighty pastor should hide their faces in shame. What rubbish!” I shouted and left to my room while my wife breathed out.

To Be Continued… . . .