Chapter Nine

"Titilola, Tolani, Tana ooo!" 

Who's shouting laidis na? 

Oh shoot! It was 9am! And all three of us were snuggled up in bed. Mummy would have our heads on a plate except for Laila though

Lemme do and become bride too... 

"Yes mummy!" I squealed. 

The speech will not finish today

"Is this how you'll act in your husband's house? "

That one would be more of Laila's question than mine and Tana's 

"My friend! Would you people hurry up and get down here!!" My mum screamed from downstairs

I'm sure her lungs would have hurt after that statement. 

Nigerian mothers! 

I found my self scurrying on my heels into the bathroom to freshen and prepare for the days work. 

I stopped at the bathroom door just as I was about opening it, I took a quick glance at the two creatures on my bed. 

They were acting like they didn't hear mummy's announcement 

Or did they? 

They were still snuggled up and even changing sleeping positions! 

I knew exactly what to do and I smirked at my sinister intentions whilst walking in to have my bath. 

  I was all dressed up but those overgrown pigeons were still sleeping. 

Lazy Nigerian youths! 

The bowl of water was in my hand by the next minute and trust me to give them sweet baptism. Their screams were epic! 

"Lola shey you want thunder to fire you?!"

"Titilola you're wicked"

"Which kind thing be this nau?"

They both kept whining but I stared back at them with a smirk, mentally prepping myself for the marathon race I'd have to run to avoid being pounced on by the wounded lions 

Lmao! 

"Ehnnn I know, you people had better freshen up before mummy will shout this house down, I'm going o" I said shifting slowly towards the door 

"So that's what you have to say after this damage you've caused, no wahala, I must deal with you today" Tana said menacingly

"Yes o Lola we die here" Laila said wiping her face and stepping out of the bed

I'd have to change those sheets later

I thought, quickly remembering the two Avengers I had on the bed. 

I ran straight for the door before Tana could get a grip, she was too slow. 

I was out the door, running down the stairs, 

I knew Tana wouldn't be behind me cause she dreaded coming out in the morning

"Never to be caught looking unfresh"

Those were her words, but I still ran anyway. 

That girl is full of surprises

Besides I had lots of work to do at the time. 

My sweet sister in-law was already in the kitchen, doing what she does best

Her cooking is bam!! 

"Sis Ima, good morning" I greeted with the sweetest grin I could muster, the tension in the house hadn't reduced much. The previous day's events had everyone on their toes 

"Sweetie, good morning" She said with her beautiful infectious smile giving me a hug. 

I sighed into her shoulder, her hugs had always been comforting. 

I always wondered how we became so close, I was cold to her at first when she was  with my brother. 

I guessed it was of the stereotypical views of ladies from the "South south" part of the country. They always came across as promiscuous and lustful about wealth. Her family background didn't help matters, they were average Nigerians, not rich but comfortable. So we all assumed she was after Travis's wealth. Mum was on her neck for quite a while but the matter soon died down when she broke up with my brother telling him she couldn't be in her family that didn't respect her dignity and integrity. My brother was miserable, he became more withdrawn than he was supposed to be,he became so unkept and disorganized which was totally unlike him and  it was the same thing with Ima, when I saw her at the mall one day she looked like a shadow of herself. It was then I believed in her and I decided to help them get back together. I loved their love. Thankfully mum saw it too and since my brother was her favorite she gave her consent, Dad of course was indifferent. And before we knew it Travis proposed and they got married, they were inseparable afterwards. They moved abroad soon after their wedding and that's where they had Tobi less than a year later. 

My brother no waste time o

Ima and I became really close and I talked to her about many things although she didn't exactly know about my dreams and how much I wanted to pursue them, I wanted to tell her at a more convenient time. 

"How was your night?" She asked sweetly

"Twas great, what about yours?" I answered mirroring her smile 

"You don't want me to answer that" She said with an exhausted sigh

"Ah what happened na?" I asked,confused

No they didn't. I gasped, giving her a wide eyed look 

She understood immediately and bursted into boisterous laughter. Making me more perplexed

"Spoilt child it's not what you're thinking, Haba nau Lola, have faith in your brother, we had kids in the room na" 

"Phew" I heaved a sigh of relief before asking

"So what na happened?"

"It's that nephew of yours o, Ayo was just tossing and turning, waking up in the middle of night. He's obviously not getting used to the new environment" 

Aje pikin 

"He's going to sleep in your room with you and Tana, I cannot come and kill myself, I came to rest"

"Ah Sister Ima nau, you want to add to the truckload of work I have at hand" I whined 

She ignored me and her eyes sparkled like she remembered something

"Ehen, mbok (please)" She said in her language(Ibibio), it sounded so sexy whenever she spoke in her dialect. 

"Did Tolani sleep in your room last night? I went to her room to speak to her but she wasn't there"

She said with her eyes searching mine 

"Oh yeah, all three of us snuggled up in bed last night, she's enjoying her last days of single hood" I giggled

"Una no get work"She laughed shaking her head. 

I went to the sink to help her out in washing dishes, the maid in charge of cooking had been temporarily relieved of her duties, she had to join the others in cleaning along with my mom. She was trying to make everything perfect for the big day

I shuddered at the thought of the yelling they'll get while working with her. 

My mum had always been a perfectionist and if things didn't go her way, it meant trouble. 

The kitchen door came open and mummy walked in with Tana and Laila trudging behind her. Those too looked like they'd received long speeches from mum and I was right. The typical... 

"You two are going to run homes someday, you have to learn to wake up early so that you'll take care of your home,no one is going to get it done for you o, hmmmm"

I stifled my laughter as she started talking about the two lazy women she was breeding. Mum always took Tana as her daughter and I loved her for that. In fact she took all of our friends as her children as long as they were good. 

"Ima,my daughter, how are you?" She answered Ima's greeting

"Mummy I'm fine, how was your night?" She asked smiling

"It was alright, hope you all slept well?" Mum asked again

"We did o except Ayo, in fact he didn't let me sleep well, I'll hand him over to his aunts' soon"

"Ahhhhh no o, that one will wear me out, I prefer Arin" Tana butted in with a pout. 

Ayo was a handful alright but he's still so adorable

"Sharrap jor, lazy children" Mummy said making us laugh

"No I'm serious these two are too lazy, Laila you want to use the excuse that you're the bride, no wahala it's your turn. But madam Tana what's your excuse? You people should not try me o, I still spank o" She pulled their ears playfully. 

I almost chopped my finger along with the onions I was cutting as a result of the laughter pulsing through me. 

   The two culprits shot me warning glares, but I laughed all the more. 

Mum left us soon after. We were having omelets with toast bread with tea or juice. 

One of my favorites. It was a large breakfast so we needed extra hands which were Laila and Tana to help out and make things snappy. Dad didn't like being kept waiting especially not for food. 

"Oya Laila do and announce, me I cannur shout today" I told Laila with a pout 

We were at the table and after everything was set they started coming in for breakfast without Laila having to shout. 

So you people can come down without someone shouting and I wasted my energy. 

  Travis came in looking like he had  a fight with someone. Of course it was the kids, making them prepare for anything was war and without their mother to caution them with her menacing stance they become wild cats. Travis is usually strict but I guessed he was still worn out from their trip. Nigeria had become the only place they had the privilege to spank sense into their children and I for one, knew he'd utilise that opportunity dutifully. 

Dad came down and we all greeted. Breakfast went well, after which he (Dad) headed out. 

The family went about chattering about different things. 

"So Lola how's work?, I heard you have a job now" Travis asked out of the blue. 

"Oh it's...fine, good actually" I was hesitant, I felt like I was lying. I mean the job was nice but I never enjoyed it. 

"Hmm I suppose the salary is good" It sounded more like a statement than a question

"Of course" A voice boomed from the front door before I could answer. No one heard him come in

Which kin wahala be all this one

"Oh Daddy, you're back?" I asked trying to smile. The situation was about to get awkward

He ignored me. 

Chai! My chest

The living room became silent all of a sudden. How could one man's presence be such a kill joy? 

"Why wouldn't my daughter work in a place where the salary befits her standard?"

Was he trying to rub it in that Travis defied his order to work for him and went for graphic designing instead of being an engineer which he had studied to be whilst in the university. At least I wasn't the only one planning to be rebellious. 

"Hmmm" Travis pursed his lips and turned to his phone. He was obviously not in the mood to exchange words with Dad. 

And before Dad could say anything, Travis's phone started ringing, he picked up immediately

"Hey dude... Oh really?... Get an Uber ... why not?... Oh okay... I'll see you in a bit" He dropped his phone

He looked around as if he was preparing to say something and indeed he was. 

"Grey just arrived and I'm going to pick him up, he doesn't want to take a taxi"

Dad smiled for the first time that day, He obviously loved Grey aka Femi more than he did Tolu. I wondered why. 

Femi and Tolu were quite close but I never knew they were on the basis they were now . As I had mentioned before, we were just cordial towards each other, no special bonds and all... 

"Would anyone like to tag along?" He asked, going over to the shelf at one end of the room to get a car key. 

Tobi and Ayo squealed jumping all over the place. Of course, they'd always love to go out at any opportunity they had. 

"Okay fine but don't misbehave while we're out there cause I won't hesitate to spank you" He said sternly adjusting his glasses and walked out with them. 

   Dad had walked out of the living room with mum following soon after. It was just us ladies(Arin included) sitting down in the living room talking about anything and everything. 

What to do? 

"Arin mbok go and meet your aunties,me I'm tired" Ima complained as her daughter was clinging to her. Arin was her mother's replica, looks, brains and all

"Haba, she loves you now, hashtag mother and daughter goals" Tana said and we all burst into laughter

"Abeg come jor, I'm looking for daughter people that have are doing shakara" Laila said and laughed again. 

Arin immediately moved straight into her arms and started playing with her hair. 

It's like this one wants to be hair dresser. 

Now it's my turn to tease

" Ah Laila don't worry, wedding nor for again, in nine months time we'll come visiting" I said the last part in a sing song manner (Listen to Ada by Flavour). 

   If she was white she would've definitely been as red as a tomato. 

Thank God for melanin ooo

   "Titilola you've started abi?" She said shooting me a playful glare. I had just opened the floor for more teasing. She literally ran up to her room feeling "shy".

The okoro actually went to call her fiancee. 

The laughter at the realization of Laila's actions sent us into a bout of boisterous laughter. We laughed till our tummies ached. 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

" Shey he said he was going to pick him up, it's over two hours now o" Ima said looking at phone, pouting her lips, showing concern. To be candid, she looked cute. 

See love o

"Oluwa provide the one that I'll worrying for laidis nau" 

I teased and she glared at me before looking at her phone again. 

"You sef chill, maybe it's traffic" I pacified her

"I'm just worried about the kids, their father can do what he likes, e no concern me" She obviously lied, she was blinking too much

Sister Ima, not worry about her husband. Tufia!! 

"Hmmm I hear you, and you've been texting" Baby where are you?" You didn't mention kids o"

Tana said giggling

Ima blinked severally, she had no words. She'd obviously been caught. 

"Here they are" Laila announced looking out the window

Indeed they were outside laughing like we hadn't been fussing about their arrival. Grey was holding Ayo in one hand and his luggage in another. Beside him was a pretty young lady. Travis was busy shining his thirty two as Grey said something which had to be funny. My brother looked different. 

Bottom line is he's fresh.... 

Before I could say anything Ima rushed outside leaving the rest of us shocked as she ignored everyone else including her kids to go and hug her husband. 

Their love never gets old

The husband kukuma hugged her tight and went as far as kissing her. 

Wehdone ma and sir, I sense another baby on the way. 

After their moment, she welcomed the others. Tana, Laila and I were outside already. I quickly gave Grey a welcoming hug and said hello to his "friend" named Igho. 

Remember I said she was pretty, scratch that, she's beautiful! 

We sha have fine women in our family

Who said she's part of the family now? Oversabi

I was busy battling with my thoughts as we all trudged into the house

We certainly had a very eventful week ahead of us  all thanks to the wedding.