d taken the opportunity to make three different soups Oha, Olubu and Egusi; and a bowl of tom

er to know if she was going to be home because th

agriculture, Umudike while Chigozie runs an adu

t of her gate and her gate man, peeped to see

d, "Madam, Aunty Zainab d

ch and even had to remove the 'aunty' he addressed Zainab with. Not

eaking Pidgin language in my house?" She asked. He was goi

ve dialect but it seems he was comfortable speaking the lang

nab drove in, in her dark blue 5

ickly got up from her seat to welcome her. When they were

a seat in front of Akudo. "How have you been?

u were going to come with Chigozie." A

't a lie what Zainab had said because even Akudo had no objections about it and even when they try to talk to Chigozie abou

erve bringing his wife to that hospital especially when

r you?" She said and got up from her seat to avoid the discussion

ainab left her bag on the couch and walked

aiting for a response, she responded "Thank you," before collecting the

use her things as if they were theirs and if one wa

hree of us since Ch

e voice called which caug

iling,"I thought you were

" Akudo asked,

e of mine whom I ran into on my way here." Chigozie explained as Zainab bega

tle opportunity they get to rub it in the face of we singles." Chigozie lamented

her hand in the air for a few minutes before ta

xchanging pleasantries, I started telling her about the certificates I've g

ured more of the white powdery

t hand to my face and wiggled it in front of

back her laughter ne

mediately left the kitchen to where the telephone hung on the wall and pre

he phone because of the co

and her friends became quiet but the voice t

ked her over the phone and she became silent

king the soup spoon from the rack with her right

ou to address." He informed her,"I'd appreciate it if y

on night shift today?" She

a smile crept up her face. She felt a sense of relief, knowing just how strenuous her job

he said and ended the call befor

nds who were eagerly waiting for her to

i just ca

ie said in awe while wigg

continuing what she was saying, "and he asked that

oday is our ladies day. We haven't see

ay once I'm done with whatever he's calling me for." Akudo explained "Don't lea

. Ikedi said to Akudo the mome

She wanted him to tell her why he called her as fa

to her but Akudo wondered what for, then he said, "Her husband has refused to pay her bill seeing that s

ld." Akudo said visibly annoyed."I'll be right back." She said and the moment he approve

wife, she was annoyed that he had to hurt the innocent ch

while breastfeeding one the twins as the other one was sleeping peacefull

in tears. The level of energy she had in her when she stepped into the wa

dle the child while it's little mouths succuled at her n

ving a child, she wished she could just take both children f

eyes but wiping her face of tears wouldn't wipe the

was so tiny yet so loud and Akudo found out

ock the child so that she would stop crying while she stared at her tiny

d but didn't say a word. She just looked around the room, imagining how it

her tiny fingers around her thumb, holding it tight which warmed Akudo's heart and she brought forth

the child down as she just stared at her and smiled

do while stretching her hand up to carry the child from

ile she was carrying the baby being replaced by a

Akudo said and just then, she saw a tear escape the wo

ne before her and she contemplated

sighed,"my husband

woman who immediately turned to face her and she instantly

e?" She asked the wom

soon be here."

woman out of the hospital. "I will take care of the bill."

n asked her just to be sure

watch closely the woman,"I said that

it, do you?" The woman a

rself while carrying the child in her arms and Akudo sensing what the woman was about

your heart desires." She said and tears

the woman nodded but looked at the door and then at Ak

d followed her gaze only to find Dr. Ikedi standi

what has been keeping you." He explained to her while standing erect

with a small smile before looking

d immediately. Then, she gave the woman a

stepped out of the door way and sh

was out of the r

someone say behind her and jumped

g herself,"I didn't do anything." She deni

man if she could go home alone. It was actually her faul

presence but she was so captivated by the beautiful babies and

mire what you did and you don't have to worry about the bill any longer, I'll ta

the government. Had it been it was his own hospital, it would have been a d

doctors and nurses around but some how, she was always placed to

er mind to confront him about what he had just said. She thought about dividing the bill be

of the spot she had been standing,

ed that I give this to you." She said, stretching he

inued on her way. She began to open the enve

she inserted her thumb and index fin

d to his other writings on patient folders and prescriptions. Had it not been

e proceeded to read it's conte

r A

and humble nature ha

you are to your job and to the patients. I just wanted

u could accept my invite to have lunch at my place on

your reply. Hopefu

Sinc

Ik

udo got her