It was 5 pm and Raliat was in her room packing a few things and the foodstuffs her mother packaged for her the day before. She went to knock on her mother's room earlier but the woman was not ready to face her daughter.
Raliat was sad and happy at the same time. She intended to go back to school the next morning as early as possible because of the 9' o'clock test she was having the next day.
They had just resumed for their level 3 and they were already having tests. This was the second test they would be having within two weeks.
Her department was only for those who can survive the difficulties of the pains and frustration that comes with studying medicine.
It seems to her like the lecturers were doing it on purpose, just so students will lose interest in studying medicine.
She hadn't read well for the test but she intended to do TDB (Till Day Break) so she could cover before the time of the test or probably call Bimpe to explain some parts to her. She was sure Bimpe must have finished reading everything. Her friend was a genius.
She thought of calling Ayoade to ask if he had gotten home already. It was two hours since they left. She stood up to pick her phone from her locker when her father came in.
He smiled at her and she smiled back.
"My baby girl", he opened his arms wide enough to invite her for an embrace.
"Daddy", she said excitedly and ran into his arms. The hug was significant to both of them. To Raliat, the hug meant acceptance and that was all she wanted.
"Your husband-to-be is a fine man", Mr. Usman grinned.
Raliat laughed out loud. "Just like my daddy. I'm happy you like him."
"I'm impressed. He is a very intelligent, young, and calm man. As much as I love having you around and seeing your face, I just have to let go", he said sadly.
"Come on daddy. Getting married doesn't mean we won't see each other again."
"He lives in the West", he asserted.
"You mean he would want us to reside there after our marriage?", Raliat asked.
Her father nodded in response.
"I don't think so. Besides, I see no reason why he would want us to move if he succeeds in getting a job over here."
"What did he study?"
"Accounting."
"Ok. If he can work in my company, I will gladly employ him. That is if he is willing to work for his father-in-law. Some men hate depending on their wife's relatives for anything. My manager has been acting suspicious of recent, so I can replace him with Ayoade."
"Really?"
Yes, dear."
"Thank you", she hugged him, again.
"Inform him as soon as you can so he can start work immediately, that is if he is interested."
"I'm going to school now to inform him."
"I thought you said you would be leaving tomorrow."
"Yes. I had a change of mind. I need to inform him in person and also I have a test tomorrow."
"Alright, dear. I'll credit your account before nightfall."
"Thank you, daddy."
"Go and inform your mother of your intentions to go back to school today", he instructed.
"Ok."
"Please let me know his response tonight. I might travel within the week to South Africa to meet Johnson concerning the company's expansion and I would love to introduce him to the other staff members before I leave."
"Alright, sir", they both stood and went out of the room. Raliat diverted to go to her mother's room while Mr. Usman went to join his last son, Ja'afar in the sitting room, where he was watching nickelodeon.
Mr. Usman took a hold of the remote control and changed it to Al-Jazeera. Ja'afar grumbled beneath his breath while his father ignored him.
Raliat got to her mother's door and knocked twice but there was no response. She turned to go but had a change of mind.
She moved closer and said, "Mum, I know you are in there and you can hear me. I just want to let you know that I am going back to school now so I can prepare for tomorrow's test. I love you and take care."
She waited for a while with the hope that her mother would come out. She shrugged and went to join her father in the sitting room. "Dad, your wife still needs space. She refused to open the door for me."
"Don't worry about her. She will come around soon."
"Where is Kaka?"
"She's sleeping in her room."
"Alright. Ja'afar", she called the little boy who was engrossed in his small phone after having lost interest in watching the TV his father changed from his favorite channel.
"Ja'afar", she called again. "Come and help me with my bag."
Ja'afar heard her but refused to answer her. This provoked Raliat to move closer and grabbed the phone from him. "I gave you this phone so you can use it for browsing not, for games, spoilt brat."
Ja'afar cried out to her so she could give him back the phone but Raliat wouldn't budge. Their father finally intervened, "Go and help your sister bring her things out. Don't be stubborn."
He grumbled and walked briskly toward her room like a pregnant woman.
"I'm not going to give you this phone till I come back home after my exams", she shouted after him, with a wicked smile.
This got his attention and he turned around. " Ya Raliat, sorry."
"No, I won't", Raliat stood her ground stubbornly.
He pleaded once again before hissing at her and ran into her room so his father wouldn't see him.
"Should I call Ibrahim to come and drive you to school?"
"Don't worry, dad", she said and went into her room to take her handbag. Ja'afar was still struggling to carry the bag as she walked past him back to the sitting room.
"Love you, Dad, see you next week", she hugged him again
"Love you too darling. Take care of yourself."
"Sure, I will. Ja'afar, join me outside", she shouted as she walked out of the house, proud of the fact that she was the eldest and with her parent's instruction, she could send her brothers on any errand she wanted
Mr. Usman watched the drama and chuckled lightly.