Indigo (Shade of a golden heart) - Season 1 - Episode 15

5 years ago

Indigo (Shade of a golden heart) - Season 1 - Episode 15

She knew quite well that her grandfather had listened to her conversation with Moremi, he was going to need explanations.

‘I got you the inhaler.’ She pulled it out of her bag and walked towards him, hoping he wouldn’t ask her about Moremi. She was not ready to tell her grandfather the truth, that she had lost her job at the Shola residence.

The old man ignored her, he could see through her antics.
‘How do you know Mr. Hajjo’s daughter?’ Papa asked.
‘Mr. Hajjo?’ Indigo raised a brow.
Her grandfather had never told her about the man who owned the building, this was the time for it.
‘Mr. Hajjo owns the Low cost buildings, his daughter is the lady you were speaking with.’ Papa answered.

Indigo was amused, it was obvious that Moremi had lied to her grandfather. She wished she could tell him the truth about her and who she truly was. But she couldn’t, if she revealed Moremi’s background, her secret would be let loose and she didn’t want that.

‘I met her in school once, can you focus on your inhaler?’ She rushed over her answer.
‘Why did you get me this? It looks expensive.’ He narrowed his brows. He had a strong feeling that Indigo was hiding something from him, but he was not ready to pursue that. Already, there was something of greater importance on ground, he had to handle that first.

Papa, you ask too many questions, but if you must know, the doctor prescribed this for your short breaths. Anytime you have that problem, just use it.’ She sank into the chair, feeling exhausted after a long day.
The old man accepted the inhaler and put it casually into his pocket.

‘Can you believe that she wants us all to leave this building in the name of renovation? She is so spoilt and inconsiderate, she is nothing like her boss who is a very good man.’ Papa complained.

She had never heard her grandfather sound so bitter about someone. Well, she was not surprised, Moremi was a beast, and ripping people apart gave her joy.
‘I was about to ask why she had come here then.’
‘Her father is renovating these buildings and we are to pay half a million naira as rent once the changes are made.’ The old man paused as his granddaughter dropped on the floor and rolled in laughter.
‘I thought she was joking as well, but she isn’t. She means every word that she had spoken. I feel I should tell the others about what has happened, we should all assemble and fight for our rights.’ Papa was ready to stand up for himself ad for the others this time around.
His heart sank as he remembered how he had failed to stand up for himself when he had been relieved of his duties at the Forest Reserve and without a lasting reward.

‘I cannot let this happen another time, I have to do something.’ He thought.

Indigo struggled to her feet, she didn’t believe a word that her grandfather had just spoken.
‘We barely pay this current rent at the designated time, how then would we pay half a million? I think Moremi is joking, she has to be.’ Indigo pushed the thoughts of the exorbitant rent out of her mind, she was determined to enjoy the rest of the day, and nothing would ruin it.
‘Call me Nora, let her gather the rest of the tenants. I must tell them what is going on.’ Papa had to prepare himself for the worst.
Indigo was hesitant to do her granddad’s bidding. As far as she was concerned, Moremi was joking, there was no way they will be made to pay half a million Naira.
‘Don’t you think you’re going too far Papa? What if she was just messing with you? If I gather all the tenants and you tell them about this development, what happens should Moremi denounce her statement?’

The old man pondered on this line of thought for while.

‘They will make a fool of me.’ He murmured silently.
‘Of course they will. Look, I don’t know what you discussed with that woman, but from what you have told me, she is a very dishonest woman. You need your rest now.’ She moved up to him, grabbed his hands gently and led him towards his bedroom.

The old man felt at ease, ‘You know, I always feel better after talking to you darling child. You remind me of your mother…’ his eyes held a sadness that could never be forgotten and she saw it.

Indigo had never asked after her parents. Her grandfather had never shared anything with her, and she felt it rude to ask him. Maybe he was protecting her from something grave, but she was mature enough to handle anything now.
‘You always talk about my mother…’ she led him to the bed.
‘Yes.’ The old man agreed. Indigo’s mother had been his only child, he had loved her with all of his heart, but his love was obviously not enough, and she had found it in the arms of another man.

‘But you never talk about my dad.’ She knew she was treading on a dangerous path, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was the truth about her parents, especially her father whom her Papa rarely mentioned.

He hated talking about that scum that had broken his daughter’s heart, a heart that had been ripped into a thousand pieces; a heart that never found peace and that led to her untimely death.
‘Your father isn’t a Nigerian, you know part. What else do you want to know?’ Papa asked.
‘Pictures, show me his pictures. I would love to have a glimpse at his face.’ She was eager to see this man whom she had never set her eyes on.

Papa was ready to do anything for Indigo, even at the cost of his own life, but he was not ready to tell her about her father.
‘He was not a good man Indi, he never treated you like a daughter. It’s best you do not know about him.’ He knew this would hurt her, but he felt that she would understand.

Her Papa’s words cut into her fiercely, how could he deny her this one thing that meant the whole world to her?
‘I am tired of being kept in the dark. I don’t care whether he was a devil or a saint! I just want to see him!’ Angrily, she marched towards the door.

She was weary of being plunged into utter darkness, ‘Secrets would do you no good, you taught me that.’ She swirled and reminded her grandfather of his words.

He knew that she was annoyed with him, but he was doing his best to shield her from the world and from herself.

‘You are not that innocent grandchild.’ He lowered his head unto the pillow.

Her grandfather had a way with words. She knew when he was trying to send her a deep message in way no one else would understand.

‘What do you mean?’ She crossed her arms and waited for him to speak.

He laughed, ‘I am not a fool Indigo. I carried you in my arms. I kissed and prayed for you every night. I know you even more than you know yourself and I know you have been lying to me.’

Her heart jumped. No, he couldn’t know about her job loss? She had tried her best to act like she knew nothing about Moremi.