Laila's story part II

            “You send a girl for training to better her life, what does she do? She starts following men.” Aunty Zee woke up with loud complaints the next morning. “Where is she? Where is the loose spoilt girl?”

Laila went to greet her aunt.

            “Don’t talk to me, smelly girl, you gallivanting is over, no more salon work for you.”

Mrs. Olu happened to pass by that cool Monday morning. She rushed into the compound alarmed. “What is the matter? I have never heard voices being raised from this compound. We all know the families where quarrels are commonplace and it is not here.” She said.

The sisters, Pearl, Sala and Mina returned into the house. They were home for the holidays. It was always safer to be away when Mrs. Olu was around.

            “What else can a mother do? A child that wants to spoil will spoil o, whatever you do for her.” Aunty Zee said. “She is not serious with her academics, she wants to waste her life away. ‘No Mummy, I don’t want school again, I want to work in a salon’ she said innocently. Hmm! Fool like me.”

            “Who are you talking about?” Mrs. Olu asked, bemused. “All your daughters are of impeccable character.”

            “It is Laila o, Laila has decided what she wants in life and it is to follow men o, as young as she is, all she wants is Man!” Aunty Zee cried.

            “That is not Laila, never Laila. I know there is a mix up somewhere.” Mrs Olu said.

            “Ehen? So tell me Madam current, how do you explain the man that came here asking for her yesterday? He has the silly idea he wants to marry her and everyone was politely falling for the charade.” Aunty Zee said. “Is that part of hairdressing?” she turned to Laila. “Kinji, that salon thing, it is over. It is over. Be where I can keep my eyes on you.”

            “So, what will she do all day seeing as she is done with school, unlike your daughters here.” Mrs. Olu said sarcastically.

            “She is not done with school! She will go to school, books,books,books, go and read your books, the holiday is over.”Aunty Zee said clapping her hands theatrically.

Laila walked away, trying not to laugh at Mrs. Olu’s cryptic comments in the continued discussion and not to cry at the drama that was her life.

With the enhanced security, Monu had to come into the house and face the entire family whenever he wanted to see Laila. Aunty Zee chose those periods to send her on errands while she paraded her daughters with their endless legs and unblemished porcelain skin.

            “I wonder what you see in that ignorant girl, you seem like a decent young man, with nice prospects.” She said one day.

            “Knowledge is the cure for ignorance Ma, and Laila bear has a thirst for knowledge.” Monu said in reply.

            “Laila bear? More like Laila owl or Laila snake. Cradle robber.”She muttered under her breath.

Pearl, Sala and Mina were really nice to Monu. They seemed like they were on a mission. It seemed like Pearl was the one chosen by the family to overthrow Laila. She would strut and stride and tease and prod but the heart wants what it wants.

Monu and his family had to speed up the wedding process. Aunty Zee said it was because of pregnancy.

It was a quiet ceremony with both families and a few friends. The entire crew from Mrs. Bello’s salon were in attendance, the salon had to be closed, on a Saturday. Mrs. Olu was the Matron of Honour of the day, beaming from ear to ear.

            “Zee, if you don’t smile a little, people will say you are jealous because your daughters are getting old.” She whispered quite loudly to Aunty Zee.

The young couple had to relocate shortly after the wedding for Monu was transferred to another refinery. Laila started her salon and spa and the marriage was blessed with two sons and two daughters. Laila said she wanted at least eight children so the children would never be as lonely as she was. Monu had to have a vasectomy as Laila claimed she was gunning for a set of twins.

Monu encouraged her to get a University degree, for bragging rights he said. “You will teach some of those your lecturers a thing or two about business". She graduated with a Second Class degree in Business Administration.

One day, Laila got a call from Aunty Zee herself. She needed financial help. Pearl and Mina were home because Pearl had a messy divorce from her husband. Her mother in-law was the devil herself Aunty Zee said. Pearl had to leave her job and is looking for another one. Mina will soon be married Aunty Zee said.

Uncle was down with diabetes and high blood pressure and his pension could not cater for the family and his health and his special dietary needs. Sala and her husband had helped a great deal but the in-laws were beginning to butt in and pass snide remarks.

None of this was news to Laila as she had Mrs. Olu on her blackberry messenger and whatsapp contacts and got information in realtime. She even upgraded her phone for her.

Laila asked for her Uncle’s Account details and had the funds wired. Aunty Zee started calling her every day after that.

It has been two years after Aunty Zee’s first call and nothing has changed. Every month, Laila sends money to her Uncle and Mina’s wedding is always by the corner. She has been upgraded from the destitute child to the breadwinner of the family.  Laila’s eleventh wedding anniversary is next month. God is faithful.

True Story.

Credits:    OJonugwa Sapphire Abu