PEMISIRE:…A MAN’S DESTINY _ Temitope Daniel Chapter 5 RICHARD AND PEMISIRE walked into the hospital and headed to Christiana’s ward after they’ve greeted the nurses on duty. “Hey Bestie!” Richard walked in, smiling. “Bro, good morning. Good morning to you.” She greeted the two of them. “Yeah, good morning. How are you?” Pemisire asked her. “I’m good, and you?” She asked while Richard stood smiling at them. “Same here, dear.” “To cut the long story short, this is Christiana, my sister i told you about.” Richard introduced. “I don’t need the intoduction any longer, I know her already.” Pemi grinned. “And you, this is the unknown. She has failed to tell me what her name is, and said I should call her the unknown.” He laughed. “With time, she will tell me her name.” Christiana grinned. “I pray so.” Richard continued laughing. “Have you seen Doctor Kate this morning?” He asked her. “No. It’s early now.” She replied. “That’s true, but we can’t tell, she might be on the night duty but I know if she was, she’d have checked on you.” “So, Mrs Unknown, we have to wait for the Doctor to know what the next step is.” Richard smiled at Pemisire. Pemisire nodded. ——– THREE HOURS AFTER. Lawrence stepped into the balcony with his men, with a strange look on his face as he spoke to them. “Don’t you think it’s high time we called this lady?” He asked them. “I have been wondering too, we ought to have finalized all that to know what the next step would be.” One of the two guys replied. “That’s cool then. We have to call her right now.” He said as he brought out the diary and flipped some pages open, showing his men where Helen’s mobile number was. “Now, go and get across to her and feed me back.” “Yes boss.” They echoed and walked away. **** “This is Doctor Kate.” Richard smiled as he introduced Pemisire. “Good day lady.” Kate smiled as she shook her. “Yes Doctor, Good morning.” She replied. “So, she’s gonna be my donor.” He told her. Doctor smiled. “I pray so, and, is it your own donor or Chrisitie’s donor?” Richard chortled. “Anyhow. And, why did you utter ‘I pray so’?” He asked. “Blood group and other tests. Anyways, I’ll start everything today, don’t panick.” “Thanks so much, I pray everything results into the expected result.” Pemisire prayed. “Amen, let’s get to the business. The tests should begin, now.” She stood up with her stethoscope in her right hand. “Let’s go.” She said and led the way. ******* “Hey guy!” Jay said as he walked into Christiana’s ward. “How na?” He smiled on seeing Jay and Uche. “We dey oh, how are you? Christiana.” Uche asked. “I’m good.” She replied smiling. “That’s good to hear.” Jay sat down. “We found a donor already.” He informed. “Really? Where? Who?” Jay asked. “One cutie, she said she’d donate.” He replied smiling. Uche stroke his beard. “That’s good to hear but are they compatible?” “The lady is in the laboratory, I can’t tell for now.” He replied. “Where did you meet her? Or was she gotten by Doc. Kate?” Jay asked. “Leave that one for now, I just met her.” “Hmmn… what’s her name?” Uche asked. “I don’t know, I don’t know what her name is… wait… the unknown.” He laughed. “There’s a new problem oh.” Jay shifted forward and continued. “Mr man, you’ve been sacked.” “Sacked? D..Director?” He stuttered. “Yeah, just take it easy, take it easy.” Uche said. Richard’s joy turned to sadness again, why is everything this way?”He hissed. “Another news..” Doctor Kate entered. **** CHRISTIANA DOCTOR KATE WAS BRIGHTER THAN USUAL, she walked in smiling chirpily. “She’s fit.” She informed. Richard’s unhappiness turned to joy again as he rushed to his feet. “You don’t mean this.” He smiled. Doctor Kate kept on smiling, looking cheerful and giving a dazzling smile. I looked at her and smiled, I think lines are now falling in plesant places for me, I think God has finally heard me out to assist today. I pray this will be a new chapter in my life, to forget the moments of pains and agony, hatred and babbling, hysterical thoughts and berserk mood. “Really?” I asked Doctor Kate, looking happier than earlier. “Yes.” She replied me, licking her lower lip and moving closer to probably hug or shake me. “She’s now under a general anesthesia, the operation will commence soon but money must be paid.” She said as she protracted her hand, to shake me. “About the money, don’t worry.” Richard said as he stared at her. “What.. I mean how much is the money?” He asked her. “Ninety thousand naira.” She told him, blinking her eyes. “Hmmn…” He sighed and rushed out of the hospital to get the money for the operation. My only concern is that how will he get the money to pay for the operation that day? I’m pretty sure he has no money with him, it’s a big thing of concern to know where the money would be gotten at ease. “We’ll be back.” Jay said as he stood with Uche to leave. Who knows if they are going out to get the money too? Thank you lord for sending the unknown to help me. If I even die today, make me worthy of your side. ****** Richard parked at the front of his parents’ house and stared at the building for a while, before knocking. “I want to see my parents.” He said to the gate keeper who was on fire on seeing Richard. “They are busy, come later.” He said to him and wanted to shut the gate when Richard pushed the gate backward with full force and entered. “I think you are insane.” He said as he entered forcefully, breathing heavily as if it was a stationary car he pushed. “Oga, you can’t go in..” The gatekeeper rushed after him and held him by his brown shirt. “E be like say craze de worry your mama!” He wriggled off his hand and proceeded in his walk inside the house. “Wait, do you wish to die?” He got his shirt again. Richard wriggled off his hand again but this time turned to him and slapped him before he walked inside the house properly. The gatekepper had no other choice after receiving a thunderous slap from Richard’s heavy fist. “You go learn today.” He walked back and leaned against the gate while Richard walked to the main door and knocked. He waited patiently until his mother walked out and got the door. “Good day.” He greeted. “Yes, what can I do for you?” She asked, wearing an angry face. “She’s down again, we need money now.” He said. “Money? From who? Who’s your mother? By the way, what has come over Musa that made him let you into my compound? Now, leave!” I’m pretty sure she’s is not her biological mother, not even mine. It is not possible for a mother who carried her for nine months and backed her for years will be rebuking her now. What has come over her? It is absolutely not possible for her to be the real mother. “Do you want her to die?” He asked, looking ferociously. “Do you wish to die even before her death too? I said leave!” She shouted. “Musa!” She called the gatekeeper from the was kept staring at Richard until the gatekeeper got to her place. “Get him out of this house.” “Oga, abeg make u na dey go.” Musa said grabbing him from behind. “Are you…” He couldn’t finish the statement before his phone buzzed. “Yeah, who is this?” He asked. “It’s Doctor Kate, just come!” She said, sounding so frightened. Is she dead? What is happening? Several questions ran through his mind in microseconds. “What? What is happening?” He asked again. “Doctor Philip!” He heard Kate shouting beneath the call, probably calling other Doctors. “That’s the ward.” She told the man bwfore she replied Richard again. “Please come, it’s urgent.” She said and ended the call. PEMISIRE Why are these Doctors rushing into Christiana’s ward? What is happening to this lady? Even the Anesthesiologist left me for her ward, God please don’t do this, don’t let her die, please! My gaze swivelled over the waiting room as the ambulance doors swooshed open into chaos; beds lined in hall and each holding an accident victim, the nurses that were in blue patterned scrubs hurried up, shouting the names of the ER Doctors. The waiting room soon turned around to be filled with even some Doctors like the man who introduced himself as the Geriatrician to check what was happening, even the nurse that was with the digital thermometer had lost control as he approached them. Is the person one kind of a celeb? My ears would soon be deafened by the squeaks of rubber soles against the tiled floor, then, the grinding surgical drills had gone down and the patient were rushed into the ER ward. I can’t see the patients from where I am all, do I even look like I care? All I want is for her to be alive, I don’t wish the patients’ death too but I don’t want her to witness any pain again. I can see one, this is Richard! I shouted. **** CHRISTINA Wish to see you, wish to hear from you, wish to see you for the last time… Richard. There’s no friend like the lady you brought, you better cling on to her. As for our parents, I don’t think they are biological. JUST AFTER, Doctor Kate walked out of the ward, crying already. She could see other Doctors coming out of the ward too, with sad faces as they returned back to their various posts. She became frightened as she moved closer to Doctor Kate. “Don’t tell… me!” She looked serious, her eyes already squeezing out tears. “Let’s… let’s me in my.. my office.” She snorted as she walked to her office and Pemisire’s mouth was wide open, in the waiting room. “Doctor..” She called as she rushed after her. “Please talk, you’re crying already, Doctor what’s it?” She was shivering already. “We.. we los.. we lost her.” She finally said as she held Pemisire’s two hands, weeping like a baby. “No!” Pemisire shouted, pouring out tears as if she had known her for a while. Her mouth was moving so fast as she shivered and was sweating profusely within seconds she heard the news. “Tell me this is a lie… tell me.. tell me!” She shouted again. “Please, don’t be like this. The next thing to do is just to know how Richard will be informed. You should know it’s not going to be funny.” “Christiana… eventually.” Pemisire couldn’t stop crying and shivering along. What would be of Richard? How would he be informed? “Richard was involved in a ghastly accident.” She informed. “Really? Was he the one that was brought in? Don’t tell him anything, don’t be sad.” She tried to pet her, wiping her tears. “Is this a dream or what? Christi.. no!” “Just take it easy, we have to be very careful or else!” Doctor said, weeping too. ****** Richard rushed up from his bed and ran to the waiting room to check what was going on. He just felt better after the thirty minutes he had spent on the bed, in pain and as well thinking of his sister. To hell with drip! He said as he flung away the tube and rushed outside only to meet Pemisire seated on the brown chair in the living room, weeping. “What is it!” He shouted as he saw her. Pemisire was frightened. She rushed to her feet shivering, silent until Richard ran into his sister’s ward and met her covered up. “No!” He said softly as he approached the corpse and shivered as he touched it. He removed the cloth from her face and saw that she was dead already. Pemisire had gotten to the door then, watching him as he displayed. “Christina, talk to me.” He tapped her cheeks as he stared at her. “Christie!” He shouted. Pemisire rushed in and held his left hand. “Rich, you have to stop this!” She said. Richard was blinking already as he started crying, shivering along, he put his head on her chest and was weeping so hard. “Christina!” He shouted again, wriggling out his hand from Pemisire and went on his kneels. Seems like yesterday we used to rock the show I laced the track, you locked the flow So far from hangin on the block for dough Notorious, they got to know that Life ain’t always what it seem to be Words can’t express what you mean to me Even though you’re gone, we still a team Through your family, I’ll fulfill your dream (that’s right) In the future, can’t wait to see If you open up the gates for me Reminisce some time, the night they took my friend Try to black it out, but it plays again When it’s real, feelings hard to conceal Can’t imagine all the pain I feel Give anything to hear half your breath I know you still living your life, after death Every step I take, every move I make Every single day, every time I pray I’ll be missing you Thinkin of the days, when you went away What a life to take, what a bond to break I’ll be missing you. “Christie!” He kept shouting until Doctor Kate ran inside. “Take it easy, please.” She said as she held him. It seemed Richard was going crazy already. He ignored the deep cut he had by his arm during the accident and stood to his feet. He shook Christina continuously and kept shouting her name. All was still like a dream, all was still like a play, he felt it wasn’t the reality. “Please wake me up from my sleep, I don’t want to dream any longer.” He shouted as he held Pemisire firmly, throwing himself into the air and crying. “Richard.” Pemisire called his name, trying to calm him down but all was up to no avail. He was just spluttering. “He doesn’t exist! Yeah, he doesn’t!” Pemisire hung her head in sadness. She couldn’t get things right too, why on earth is everything like this? She knew how he’d feel to lost his sister even after several years of sicknesses of various types. “God is wicked! Heartless! No… Christie. Christina! ***** What else could be so heartbreaking like what just happened? When Jay and Uche walked into the hospital with the money for the operation, they almost fainted on hearing of her death. “God’s will, A man’s destiny.” Pemisire kept repeating as she held on to Richard as if they’ve known each other for a while. Richard jumped up suddenly and rushed outside. Jay and Uche were still down, weeping when he rushed out. “Where’s he going to?” She asked herself, wondering. She wiped her own tears and rushed after him. It seemed something had gone wrong completely. “Richard!” She kept calling him as she got outside and saw him pick a motorcycle. She stood and watched for a while, questioning herself of where he might be heading to. “She picked another motorcycle and started trailing him. **** “This is Michael.” The voice told Helen. “Michael?” She sat quickly on hearing this. She just concluded her lunch, which Michael could that be? She kept wondering. “God! Babe, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me? Helen!” The voice said again. Helen smiled. “Wao! Michael, what’s up?” She stood up. “I’m good, it’s been a while. How are you?” “I’m good, how’s everything?” She asked. The voice laughed. “You and these words of yours, I’m good sha. How’s this your friend that said I inspired her into singing?” Helen nodded, still smiling. “Wao! So it’s been a while you heard from Pemisire too right?” She asked. “Don’t mind me, I’ve been busy with Dad’s business.” He replied. Helen cleared her throat and began wondering. “Your voice has changed a lot, and besides which Dad? You told us your Dad has died.” “Urh…. em.. Don’t mind me, I call my uncle my Dad now. I’m releasing an album soon.” The guy informed her. Helen was happy. “I must get that album! Oh! You’re talented!” She jumped happily. “I wish to see you and your friend, there’s a particular song I wish to feature you guys in.” The guys told her. “Really? I’ll tell Pemisire. She’s here with me in Ibadan, she came… she just came to greet me.” She replied. “Really? Pemisire is in Ibadan too? Send me the address to your house, I must come and see you guys!” He said. “I’ll do that right away, take care.” She jumped happily and ended the call. Michael was the one who lead an inspirational music when they were still in school and inspired Pemisire into singing and playing instruments until they became friends on campus and later lost their contacts. Helen sent the address instantly, she couldn’t wait to tell Pemisire that Michael called her. She never knew it was Lawrence and his guys that were at work. **** Richard slammed the gate as he entered into the house. “I won’t forget my words, if she dies, I die!” He muttered as he stepped into the house. Pemisire paid the motorcyclist and stood at the front of the house. She shook the gate softly but it was locked already. “What do I do? I’m sure he has gone in to harm himself.” She said, looking around to get someone to help her out but none. Richard on the other hand had entered into the house and went straight to his room. He picked Christiana’s picture on the Sony Television and started weeping bitterly until he thought of the best idea to end his journey too. What would Richard do? She didn’t know him really but she could read it in him that he was about to do something annoying. Richard on the other hand didn’t know how to start with himself. He had been thinking if he should stab himself or maybe drink something poisonous. “Christie! Oh no!” He wept more as he stared at her picture and made up his mind. “Why would I fear death? That man they call God too is a wicked man, even if I kill myself or he kills me, I’ll still surely die. Christie, wait, we are going to see that man together.” He said as he rushed to his feet and ran to the kitchen. “Stabbing myself is the quickest way.” He nodded as he picked up the knife as stared at it for a while. He didn’t know how to apply it, death too isn’t that easy, is it? He placed it on his neck and shook his head continuously, that would be a very bad place to die. He remembered the smiles on her sister’s face, the tears, the affable characters and words of advice. “Christie!” He shouted and stabbed his belly and went down instantly. **** “Boss, it’s done already.” Lawrence’s guys approached him, smiling. Lawrence’s eyes widened as he stared at them. That wasn’t enough, he had to stand up from the exhilaration reclining sofa in the living room. “Are you serious? Are you guys real?” He asked as fast as he could to express his utmost surprise and happiness. “Yes sir, she has sent her address.” “That can’t be real, I don’t… just like that? Thank God for this diary!” He grinned. “It seems they were so close when they were in school, she was fluent with us. But one thing is about the voice, she didn’t recognize the voice but I think her ecstasy has caused this.” “That’s her own business, the only thing is just that mission accomplished! Then, we move to stage two.” He grinned for a while and ended the grin with a frown. “We have to get to the study, I have some plans to work out. The work must start as early as possible.” He shook his head continuously. “But Boss, that girl… she must not live too.” One of them said. “None of them will live, by the time I’m through with them.” He laughed monstrously. **** “I see trouble.” Pemisire said as she peeped through the gate. She didn’t know what to do, she was short of ideas at that time. “God, why?” She hissed dryly and sighed. She rushed back to the junction and mounted on a motorcycle as quick as she could. She wasn’t familiar with that place but knew the motorcyclist would locate the hospital again. Immediately she rushed down from the motorcycle and paid he driver, she ran inside the hospital to check on the Doctor if she could be of help. She hadn’t met Uche and Jay so she didn’t know how to approach them until the Doctor got the guys and took her along to get Richard from the house. Pemisire was sweating. She was wondering how it happened, it was just like twenty four hours that she met Richard already and now she was running around to save him. **** Jay and Uche rushed inside the house as Pemisire stood by the gate and watched until she heard the guys shout. She was filled with tension instantly, what was going on? She was still wondering until the guys brought Richard out of the house, all panting and crying along. “What?” She asked them, the rate of her pulse was on a very high speed. “He stabbed himself.. just get that gate opened.” “Stabbed?” Pemisire rushed to the gate but couldn’t get how it was being opened. Uche joined her and opened the gate. They flew to the hospital. **** PEMISIRE. This same day, he lost his sister, he had an accident and even his job. He hasn’t recovered from the shock of the accident when he got to know his sister has kicked the bucket too. I am quite sure he was discombobulated by the sadness, loosing a sister, hopeless. I believe when there is life, there is hope.But, no matter what happens, you must give thanks. Anaemia is baleful, kidney failure is very revolting too! He’s the awesome one, isn’t he? I pray you uphold the one you sent me to, I’m sure you sent me to this guy, I am sure!” **** Pemisire tilted her head, thinking as she sat at the waiting room. She remembered the little time she spent with Christiana before he sudden death. It was still like a shock to her too, wondering how she could just die when a donor showed up. Her head was aching her already, she couldn’t tell if her stomach was aching her or if she was hungry. Doctor Martins who had been attending to Richard walked out and called them into his own office to tell them about the latest development. “Did you say he stabbed himself?” He asked them. “Yes, he did.” Jay replied. “His situation is not really a challenging one but i pray nothing has happened to his Vasculature, solid organs and hollow viscus.” He rested his back and swiveled the chair a bit. “What’s all these about? Doctor, don’t tell me Richard won’t..” “No!” Doctor cut in instantly. “He’s going to be fine but we have to get him operated. At first, this can lead to a term called peritonitis where stomach acids and bile will poison the system. ***** After some hours of the wait and patience, Doctor Martins that lead the surgery came out of the theatre with a knackered look. It wasn’t easy: tearing, cleaning, administering and enclosing. He walked to meet Pemisire and the guys and smiled faintly as he approached them. “It was successful.” He said after the guy had bombarded him with puzzling questions. Pemisire heaved a sigh of relief as she sank into her seat again. It had been a thing of concern to the guys on how she could be ride herd on the person she just met. She was really nice and congenial. Why wouldn’t she? It was a sharp pain in her life, loosing her sister and father in the same hour. She also couldn’t tell if she wouldn’t join them soon because she had started hearing rumours concerning the attaché case with her. If Lawrence got hold of her, it might be her end. Relaxing her back, she licked her lower lip and glanced at the Doctor. Past memories started flashing back her mind again, remembering how she cried on Pemisayo’s corpse and how Richard was shaking Christiana unremmitingly. To loose someone close to one’s heart might make one loose control totally. She had got engulfed so much that nothing could change her mind about God. Yeah, some people might shoot off their mouths and pop off about his wickedness, but to her, she felt it was a man’s destiny. Since she met Richard now, their first conversations had kept her stewing over frequently. She had always wanted a chance to get hold of someone to talk to about life, that was why she had been thinking God really sent her to him because of his problems. “He is resting and blood transfusion is also going on.” Doctor Martins said and left them for his office, perhaps to relax and eat dinner. “Thanks so much, sister.” Uche faced Pemisire, looking glad and at the same time unhappy. It was a normal mood for them then, at least the two siblings didn’t pass on the same day. “I don’t have to be thanked, all glory to God.” Pemisire smiled. “But, it’s still a thing of surprise to me, do you know him before?” Jay asked as he just picked his seat, since the Doctor left. “No, I don’t.” She still smiled, thinking Richard was lucky to have the friends he had. “Today is a bad day that can never be erased away from my diary. If I had my druthers, I’d bring that bright lady back to life.” Uche said. “Diary..” Pemisire repeated keeping her head down and woolgathering where her diary might be. She sighed and raised her head again. “Richard must really be hurt, he is lucky to be alive, after piercing his skin that much.” Soon, a nurse walked out and informed the three about the Doctor’s wish to see them. The three hurried to meet him instantly. •••Sheyifunmi•••
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 09:09:54 +0000
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