Shadow Of Love

Episode 31

We were through with exams and I was also done learning how to drive. I decided to travel home and see my parents.

I drove down to housing estate Onitsha where my dad built his house. I honked and the gateman opened the gate. I drove into the familiar compound and packed at an empty space. My mum’s personal assistant came out immediately and walked towards me.

Happiness: Good afternoon Pamela. How’s school?

Me: School was as it should be.

She helped me carry my bag inside while I locked the car and waved at the gateman who kept staring at me like I was a ghost. I got into the largely furnished sitting room and sat down. It was obvious mum and dad weren’t around. A lot had changed in this house because the furnishings looked different. I carried myself upstairs and went to my room. I undressed and started work immediately, dusting and changing the bed spread.

I was done and about coming downstairs when I heard the gate open. I knew immediately that it was my parents because aunty Happiness had told me they went out together.

I opened the door for them and we went into long hugs before they remembered to come in.

Dad: You look lean and bony. Do you eat at all in school?

Me: Of course I do dad. Why….

Mum: Like you don’t know young girls of today, they love to starve themselves a in the name of getting the shape of a model.

Me: Mummy. I don’t even have that in my plans. Model for who kwanu?

Dad: Ehe! So you now have a car? We saw it outside. You drove yourself?

Me: Yes daddy.

Dad: This your boyfriend, what does he do to be able to get you such an expensive car?
I dare not tell them it was a gift from his future in-laws.

Me: Uhm. He’s still a student actually but….

Dad: Chikaima. A student bought you such an expensive car?

Mum: You didn’t let her finish honey. He’s the son of their vice chancellor.

Dad: Hmmm. I don’t understand the both of you. We wanted to give you a car on your birthday but now that you have one,….

Me: Noo. Daddy you’ll get me the car o. Besides, this one is not from you.

We argued playfully for a while before I calmly explained to them the issues I was having with Franca. That was the kind of relationship I had with my parents. Being the only child, I hid nothing from them because I had no sibling to talk to. They in turn, provided me with a lot of advise which kept me going. I wasn’t raised to show off or be proud because as at the time I was born, we were poor. It was destiny who changed our story. We lived among the rich but we also love to mingle with the lower class because according to my father, we don’t always know the hand that is writing our destiny.