TALATU

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Talatu turned and looked at her husband sleeping. His chest rose and fell with each breath he took. She loved him, she was sure of it and she often thought of telling him everything, leaving nothing out. But she questioned, would he still love her? Would he still respect her as he did now?

Talatu still remembered the phone call on that gloomy August day. Her uncle had tried to sound bright and enthusiastic but she knew he was dead. She took the first bus to Kaduna from Minna to be with her family and she mourned her father like no other. She had always been the closest to her father and losing him was more than just saying goodbye, it was like a part of her had died with him.

When she went back to school she felt his absence even more when her mother was not able to send her monthly allowance to her. She called her siblings and relatives for assistance but the complaint was always the same. Times were hard for everyone and they encouraged her with a prayer. That was great she loved the lord, her father had served him well and had brought her up to love the Lord and she did but right now she had a big problem and God was not helping her. She drastically lost weight and her grades dropped in school because she could not afford handouts and books.

Sadiya her roommate was tall, fair and slim the type of girl that any man would look at twice. She also had a reputation of being a party girl but not your regular school party but high profile parties with important people.

“Talatu, when you go to the mammy market could you buy some bubble gum for me?”

“Sorry Sadiya I can’t.”

“Why not, I know you are heading that way.”

“I don’t have any money.” she replied frankly.

“10 naira to buy gum?” Sadiya replied sarcastically.

“Yes, Is it that impossible to believe?”

“Actually yes.” Sadiya kept quiet for a minute, looking at her intently and continued. “I have a party this evening you should come; it might actually be what you need.”

“My grades are already down the drain, what do I have to lose?”

The fancy looking chauffer came to pick them at exactly 10pm in his fancy looking car and when they arrived at the house Talatu was amazed at its size and splendor. The compound looked too calm and serene to be a party venue and the lush lawn and well landscaped garden looked like a picture from a magazine. When they walked into the door, there were three overindulged men sitting on the sofa. Their chubby hands were stuffed with rings and they all held a glass of wine. Their glassy eyes glared at them in a way that left Talatu very uncomfortable. Sadiya and the other girls looked right at home and immediately turned on some music and started to seductively dance around them. When Talatu was sure that they were all engrossed in their dancing and drinking and would not notice her absence she backed away towards the door and started to leave.

“Where are you going.” a voice asked behind her.

Talatu looked up the stairs and saw a pleasant looking man looking at her.

“It’s my birthday you know and it would be very rude for my guest to leave without saying goodbye to the birthday boy.” The pleasant looking man said calmly, smiling.

“Happy Birthday sir, she said meekly. I’m sorry I have to leave I just remembered I have to do something in school.”

“Stay for a while and I will take you later, personally.”

His charm was charismatic and she found herself spending the entire night with him.

Talatu was speechless and could not talk. She cut the line and switched off her phone and screamed.

Sambo was a senator and was married with children. His family was in Abuja but every weekend he came to Zaria to see her. He never came empty handed and he bought her food, clothing, jewelry and gave her more money than she could spend. She travelled with him whenever she had the opportunity all around the world. At first she found it strange and dis heartening especially when she remembered how she was brought but she considered it a means of survival. Both of them were happy so why rock the boat?

Years passed and Talatu was through with school and NYSC. Sambo moved her to Abuja and opened a successful Interior décor shop for her. He bought her a beautiful house in a high profile area, cars and all that money could buy but recently she wanted more. She wanted love, children and a family of her own. Many times she tried to talk to Sambo about it but he only gave her more money or bought her a ridiculously expensive gift and told her to go for a vacation somewhere exotic. Her friends were getting married and everyone was asking her when she would settle down plus her mother’s obvious anticipation for grandchildren was evident.

Talatu’s bossom friend Rose was getting married and had asked her to be her maid of honor.

“Sure, I would be honored too.” Talatu replied, genuinely happy for her friend.

“You know my fiancée best man is a really nice guy. Why don’t you try to get to know him?”

“Really, what’s his name” she asked immediately interested.

“His name is Steven, and he’s an architect” She launched into detailed description of Steven and by the time Talatu finally met him she felt like she was meeting an old friend.

The hit it off immediately and had a whirlwind of a romance. Months later he said he wanted her to meet his parents because he loved her and wanted to marry her. She was over the moon with enthusiasm but a dark cloud lingered; Sambo. She thought and prayed about how to tell him and when Sambo invited her for a weekend at Obudu Cattle Ranch she seized the opportunity and decided to tell him there.

That Friday she packed her bag and rehearsed what she was going to say and how. She paced nervously up and down the room waiting for him to come so they could catch their flight. She had not been sleeping well and all that pacing had left her exhausted, she sat down and dozed off. Hours later she woke up and discovered that they had missed her flight. She checked her phone and there were no miss calls, she called to the gate man but he said no one had come into the house. She tried calling him on his phone but they were not available. Just then her phone rang and it was his assistant, Thomas.

“Hello ma.”

“Hello Thomas, how are you?

Thomas kept silent and started sobbing.

“What is it, has something happened. Where is your oga?” She asked suddenly worried.

“We were on our way to meet you and were running late. Oga said he felt he was losing you and was looking forward to spending time with you. I was driving as fast as I could but he thought I was too slow and asked that he drive. I tried to refuse but he insisted and asked that I take a cab back to the office. He had been trying to call you to tell you that he was on his way and I guess he didn’t check the road well and immediately he got back on the road a bus hit him and smashed him into the bridge railing. He died instantly on the spot.”


Talatu was speechless and could not talk. She cut the line and switched off her phone and screamed.