EMMA CHAPTER SIX

Chapter Six

In their two-bedroom-flat apartment few weeks later, Emma tossed to and fro on the double-sized bed she and Mabel shared, disturbed. She had been trying to reach Aunty Nurse on phone for the past few weeks without success. Did her phone get lost? Or it got damaged? At least she would have informed her if that was the case. She swore Aunty Nurse could spell out her phone number off-hand, even in dreamland, that is if her phone was actually damaged or lost. So what exactly could have happened? Then, a thought came to her mind- calling Uncle Dapo. She felt reluctant at first, because she never really had a good rapport with the man, no matter how much she tried. Aunty nurse had always seen it as jealousy, but Emma felt there was something more to it that she herself couldn't decipher.

She shut her eyes and forced on a smile; at least psychologists say your mood reflects in your voice when you say hello, so it's better to smile before making or receiving a phone call. The smile gradually disappeared as she phone rang for the umpteenth time and there was no response. Emma flung her phone on the bed desperately. What was she to do now? Perhaps it was hightime she travelled to Lagos, it had been a long time really.

Summoning hope, she picked up her phone again and called Mabel who had had to stay late at work, informing her of the development.

'I think I'll have to travel down to Lagos tomorrow, I don't know what is going on. Are you sure that's a good idea? How about work? Oh, I have totally forgotten that. Ok...Ok, thanks dear. Bye'. She hung up, a bit relieved.

-Temi

Mabel had volunteered to escort her to Lagos tomorrow, and luckily it was weekend, so they would have enough time to sort out whatever it was that was going on. If it is that that Ijebu woman is too stingy to buy herself a new phone, we will help her out, she thought, a smile creeping into her face.
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The situation they met at Aunty Nurse's residence made Emma and Mabel send each other concerned looks as they entered the compound. The gatekeeper had left the gate open and was nowhere to be found. They strolled silently to the house. The door had obviously been locked with a key, but they were confused, as her car was carefully parked in the garage. Emma reached for the spare key in her handbag and curiously opened the door.

On getting in, they beheld Aunty Nurse in a pool of her own blood in the living room, holding a kitcthen knife to her belly! Emma gasped hysterically at the gory sight! At first, she stood rooted to the entrance where she stood, while Mabel ran to her and attempted to pull out the knife, but on second thought, felt it would be best not to, getting an ambulance first and informing the police would be the wisest, next line of action. She took out her mobile phone and began to dial all the emergency numbers she knew, barging in and out of each room in the house to see if anyone was around.

Emma ran to Aunty Nurse and fell to the ground, crying bitterly after she had pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming, as the carefully raised her mother's body to her bosom.
'No mum! Please don't do this to me! Please stay! I still need you! I love you mom, please don't go!'

Aunty Nurse writhed in agony and mumbled, 'Dapo...it was Dapo....'.

Emma shrieked at what she heard. She called out to Mabel who had just succeeded in reaching an Emergency Agency on phone.

'It is Dapo! May, Dapo did this to my mother! Oh my God! I saw this coming! I felt it! Oh God!...', she cried bitterly, holding Aunty Nurse's almost lifeless body tightly.

Mabel was dazed as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She stood speechless with mouth agape, resting her back against the solidness of the door of the living room, with her hands on her head. This was just too much to take in. They had actually thought Aunty Nurse stabbed herself. So it was her husband? Unbelievable! There had obviously been a struggle, as the living roon was in disarray, but then, the door had been locked when they came in. Definitely, the man had stabbed her and then locked her in. What a wicked fellow! She had been hearing stories of husbands injuring or even killing their wives before, but one would never have expected anything close to that with Aunty Nurse and Uncle Dapo, you would have thought their relationship/marriage was made in heaven!

Just then, Musa, the gatekeeper came in. 'Oga, I no see wetin I send me...'
'Where have you been, you fool?!', Mabel challenged, grabbing him by the collar.

'Ah! Aunty Mabel...I..No o, I swear...'. He had been confused at first when Mabel grabbed him, but then it all dawned on him in a jiffy when he caught sight of the knife-thrusted Aunty Nurse in Emma's arms on the floor. 'Aunty I swear', he got down pleading as Mabel let off her hold on him, 'Na Oga I send me make I go buy recharge, and I no see for street, I con waka far far...', he produced the recharge card from his pocket as evidence, '...I no know say Madam I don die...'

'Will you shut up! So where is your Oga now?', Emma querried angrily, her voice shaky.

'Small Madam, walahi I no sabi where Oga I go, I swear...Oga I dey for house when I send me recharge...'.

It was all clear to Emma now. Dapo had killed her mother, and then sent the gatekeeper on an errand to buy himselfs enough time to escape. What a clever murderer! She knew there was something about that man that didn't augur well with her, she had always felt it. And now, here it was, staring her in the face. How she wished her mother had seen what she saw.

The ambulance soon arrived some minutes later and Aunty Nurse was transported to the nearest hospital, while Mabel and Emma followed suit in their car, bereft of hope.
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Aunty Nurse's unconscious body was bedridden into the emergengy ward, while Emma paced up and down the reception, praying with faint hope. Mabel had gone to see Dimeji, who was coincidentally currently serving as a visiting doctor in the same hospital that was owned by his friend. It was an advantage to ensure that Aunty Nurse was given proper medical attention.

Emma sat, stood and paced simultaneously. She felt restless and weary. At a point, she got on her knees and prayed; 'Lord, I know I've not been fervent enough, but I plead earnestly that You spare my mother's life, please...'

Mabel returned with Dimeji who assured her that her mother would be fine. She was already being attended to and was responding to treatment. Emma was a bit relieved, at least she was sure Dimeji would never lie to her, despite the fact that doctors do it often to encourage their clients. He smiled and gave her a consoling embrace, as he excused himself and went back to work.

'Let's have faith Emma, everything will be fine', Mabel reckoned as she took her seat beside her when Dimeji left.

'Yes, I know May', Emma forced a reserved smile, 'At least I don't expect you to say otherwise'.

'There you go again, Emma, please be positive for once'.

'Ok, Ok, I hear you'. Emma finalized.

'Well', Mabel shrugged, 'Mum sends her regards and comfort. She would have been here, but was in Ogun state attending David's convocation'.

'Wait May, aren't you supposed to be there yourself?'

'So? Is that supposed to be a question?'

Emma was quiet for a while as she thought deeply. Her friend had really sacrificed a lot for her through the years, many things, and now even her brother's graduation. She admitted that she couldn't bear to lose her, just like Aunty Nurse, she just couldn't imagine how terrible life would be without any of them. She was about to say 'thank you for everything' when Dimeji showed up with another doctor following behind him.

'Ladies, meet my friend, Doctor Emmanuel Fasanmi, the owner of this hospital and the doctor who saved Aunty Nurse's life', Dimeji introduced.

'You?!', Emma exclaimed, her heart skipping a bit when her eyes met with those of the young doctor, who had already stretched out his right hand for an handshake.

'Yes, It is me', The doctor smiled and nodded his head in reponse, as Mabel was stunned and Dimeji was totally confused.

'Have you guys met before?', Dimeji inquired, still puzzled.

'Actually, We...I...', Emma stammered.

'Yes we have', the young doctor grinned. 'Nice meeting you again Miss...?'

'Emma, Emmanuella Williams', she answered as she stretched out her hand to receive his offered handshake.

'Really? Nice name, Emma. I am Emmanuel Fasanmi. Seems we have something in common after all', he smiled as he walked away, avoiding the apology and the gratitude that he knew Emma was definitely going to render. 'Talk to you later, I've got some patients to attend to'.

Emma crashed into the chair when he left, regret written all over her face. She really had to apologize and thank that doctor.

'What is going on here?', Dimeji asked curiously.

'It's nothing Dee', Mabel answered, putting an end to his bewilderment. 'We met him few weeks ago in Ibadan, and Emma wasn't very nice'.

'Oh, I see', Dimeji nodded his head in understanding, he already got the message. 'Well, this is a good chance to amend things. And Emmanuel is a very nice person, just like you Emma', he added and smiled as he walked away.

What a small world! Emma mused as she recalled the little drama that ensued that day. She hadn't meant to be harsh, but what would you make of someone who soiled your dress on your special day and found it hard to apologize? What he did that day was wrong, nevertheless, she would apologize when next she saw him, after all he had made up for what by saving her mother's life.
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Tears flowed as Aunty Nurse relayed her ordeal to Emma who sat on a chair beside her bed. She was already getting better but had not yet been discharged, as the doctor said she had serious internal bleeding and needed to rest in order to recover properly, so Emma had stayed back in Lagos, while Mabel had to return to Ibadan due to the nature of her job, and had promised Emma to help her take care of the running of the institute.
Aunty Nurse had discovered that her so called husband- Dapo, already had a wife and three kids overseas. She challenged him, and he had angrily hit her on the face, calling her an empty barrel, and declared that his marriage to her was null and void, and that he was only using her to pass time in Nigeria, he had never loved her. When she had wept profusely and almost cried her eyeballs out, she decided to talk to someone, to ease her of her agitation, but she discovered that Dapo had taken her phone, destroyed the sim card and disposed the handset. As if that was not enough, he locked her in the house for two weeks.

Aunty Nurse had been seeing signs of his preparation to travel and leave her locked up, so she had tried to get out, but unfortunately for her, Dapo caught her unawares and stabbed her in the belly, thank God Emma and Mabel came just in time.

'I knew within me that something was just not right with that man, right from the start! I just pray that murderer is caught soon, he will pay dearly for all he did to you!', Emma vowed, fury written all over her face.

'It's ok Enitan, that is the least of my concerns for now. The police are after him, and I'm sure nemesis will catch up with him soon. God is a just God, he will fight for us'.

'Sure he will', Emma agreed. 'I'm just glad you are alive now', thank God for Emmanuel, that doctor that saved your life'.

'Yes, he really did a great job, I really appreciate his efforts. And I heard he owns this hospital, yet he didn't take a dime for my treatment'.

'He didn't?', Emma asked, surprised.

'No Enitan, he didn't. I guess all Emmas are wonderful, that way', Aunty Nurse smiled. Emma smiled back and there was silence for a while.

'Enitan', Aunty Nurse broke the silence, 'Do you ever wonder why I call you by that name?'.

Emma shook her her head in response.

'Well', she continued, I think it's hightime I told you what you need to know'. She coughed and adjusted in her bed while she narrated her life experience to Emma, the way she grew up and all she went through.

'Oh, don't cry for me Enny', she smiled as she wiped the tears flowing down Emma's cheeks. It's all been settled on the cross. I know my sins are already forgiven. I just feel I should let you know, so you won't make the same mistakes'. She coughed again. 'But there is something I must tell you, and I really hope you are going to forgive me...', this time, the coughing had become more frequent.

'Please mum, you should rest, you can always tell me another day. I'm not anxious, sincerely speaking', Emma said as she helped her raise the pillow behind her and tucked it well for support.

'I know my dear, but it's something you have usually been anxious to know, and I think now is the best time to say...', now, the coughing had become very psrsistent and Emma fearfully tried to get out to call the attention of a nurse, but Aunty nurse took her hand, holding her back.

'I...I'm no...not you...your mother Enitan, I'm sorry...I...', she managed to say as she breathed her last.

'No!', Emma screamed. 'Please don't do this! Please come back! Mum! Please I beg of you! Please don't leave me! You are my mother! I swear you are...'. Emma shook her lifeless body violently as if it would juggle her back to life, as the nurses who had heard the screams hurried in and led her out of the ward.