Eka’s story - Season 1 - Episode 44

Episode 4 years ago

Eka’s story - Season 1 - Episode 44

Sitting on a sandy beach, Eka’s mother rested her head on her husband’s broad chest. The events of the past months had changed them completely. The things which hardly mattered to them had suddenly become important. Looking into her husband’s eyes, Eka’s mother asked, “Shouldn’t we give making another baby a try? Living by ourselves is cruel. Eka is gone. A baby boy will be just fine.” “Are you sure you can handle the stress? I really do want another child, but I feel for you.” “I will take that for a yes. We will pray and ask God to give us a boy, who someday will grow up and give us children who will be with us in our old age.” Mr. Effiong leaned closer and planted a kiss on his wife’s lips. The two of them started laughing awkwardly. “It feels a bit strange when we kiss, doesn’t it. I had forgotten these things. Who thought we could get to love each other again.” “You are right, it feels odd. If you noticed I had to look to know if anybody was watching us before kissing you.” They laughed again, this time very hard.


FOUR MONTHS EARLIER
Simbi and Sammy were in a restaurant dinning out one evening. It was no special evening for either of them. They had been out in such evenings far too many times for this one to be viewed differently. However out of the blue, a blast was coming and Simbi didn’t have a clue about it. In-between their chat Sammy would glance at his watch. It seemed something else was on his mind. Simbi was too much absorbed with their conversation to have noticed. When Simbi’s phone rang, Sammy almost jumped out of his skin. For a moment it appeared he had done something wrong. Still Simbi didn’t notice. The call was from Eka’s mother. “Simbi! Simbi! Eka is dying! She started vomiting excessively about thirty minutes ago! Please come over she needs prayers. Everyone who can pray is here now!” Eka’s mother was hysterical. She probably said a million words in a minute. Simbi could not wait for her to finish talking. The shock and suspense had thrown into a panic mood. Grabbing her purse she jumped to her feet and made for the door. Sammy had to follow behind her wondering what had happened. “Simbi! What is it?” Simbi could not talk; her tongue was already moving rhythmically in prayers.
Sammy had to ask again, “Simbi talk to me! What is going on?!” With tears in her eyes, she managed to say, “Eka is dying. It was her mother who called to inform me that Eka is sick.” “Which hospital is she at?” Simbi looked at him blankly. She had not bothered to ask Eka’s mother. Reaching for her phone she dialed her to ask which hospital Eka had been admitted to. “Mama, which hospital is Eka in?” “Elton’s Clinic!” “I am coming there now!” Sammy had to drive like a madman to get to Elton’s Clinic, an upscale hospital. To receive medical care there cost quite a fortune. The moment Sammy pulled up in the parking lot; Simbi leapt out of the car like a soldier and ran into the hospital. As if the nurses were waiting for her arrival, as soon as she entered the receptioned and inquired about Eka, she was led straight to the hospital room where she was. Simbi was too much in a haste to have noticed that Sammy did not enter the hospital building with her. He had unexplainably stayed back in his car. Something else was going on.

In the hospital room Eka was lying on a bed and covered with a white sheet. The sight jolted Simbi’s heart. With her legs suddenly felt heavy, she slowly moved toward the bed. Everyone in the room was looking at her. Eka’s parents were in a corner of the room looking indifferent. Simbi’s parents and Dr. Gerry all sat looking sad and lost. Simbi looked behind her and there was no Sammy. That moment it dawned on her that Eka had passed on. She let out a cry and lunged toward the bed, pulling back the white sheet which covered her friend’s body. What she met was two bright eyes and a glowing face smiling back at her. Eka was alive and well after all. She turned with her heart beating heavily and asked in anger, “What silly game is this?!” Looking around the room, there was still no sign of Sammy. She grabbed Eka by the collar of her clothe and pulled her up from the bed. “Ekaette what is this?! I had concluded you were dead!” The next thing which followed her words was deep seated, heart-wrenching sobs. She was releasing the negative emotions which had built up inside of her. Still smiling, Eka took her into her arms and said, “Simbi, it is alright. I am fine. This show is for you and it only has just begun.” While Eka reached under her pillow, Simbi wondered what was going on; looking from face to face to hazard a guess as to what they were up. Turning back to Eka, Simbi saw her holding a glistening diamond engagement ring. She held her breath, and looked completely frozen.


“Simbi, Sammy wants to know if you will marry him,” said Eka. “That is the reason we all have gathered here. He is right behind you now. He wants to know if you will spend the rest of your life with him.” The switch of emotions left Simbi flustered. She cried, laughed and tottered on her feet. Turning around she saw Sammy walking into the room and smiling happily. She made a dash toward him and crashed two hot slaps into his face; one on his left cheek and one on the right. Briskly she walked back toward Eka, giving the impression she was going to giver her a taste of the slaps too. Eka braved up for them and turned her cheek for her. Instead Simbi too the engagement ring and walked back to Sammy and said, “Now I want you to propose to me like you should have. You almost killed me today with that silly game you pulled off!” Sammy took the ring from her, dropped on one knee and asked, “Simbi, will you marry me?” Simbi moved closer, took his head in both arms and kissed him intensely. When she was done, she said with tears in her eyes, “Yes! I will marry you Samuel!” A raucous round of hand claps and shouts rang out from the room and doctors and nurses ran into the room. Some were holding flower bouquets while others had cameras, snapping and filming the scene in the room.

Simbi’s parents could not help shedding a few tears. Eka was overcome with blissful emotions; she cried a river as Sammy slowly slipped the ring on Simbi’s finger. Dr. Gerry walked over to the bed where she sat and put his hands around her. Giving her a light kiss, he whispered, “I will make sure ours wedding is pleasantly memorable. I am now thinking of throwing in a little of such extreme surprise for you on that day.” Eka looked at him and said pleadingly, “Please make sure you don’t put me through the sort of suspense Simbi went through today.” “I am afraid I can’t promise you that.” Eka stiffened herself and prepared for the worst.