Jamaica

Chapter 25

"Whatever your problem is, there is always a solution." The woman sitting next to Abisola smiled and removed her hands. "A solution is always out there, you just need to look for it." Her smile didn't get a corresponding response from Abisola who only looked at her with curious intent. The woman went back to reading the magazine that she held in her hands. But her words were enough to incite Abisola into having a conversation with her.

"As if it is easy."
"It all depends on how you go about facing the problem."

"A problem, is always a problem whether, big or small." The woman closed her magazine and sighed.

"So what is your problem, and how big or how small is it that you can't handle it?" Abisola observed  the woman carefully and felt that the woman was trying to get her to say something. But she had no interest in sharing her problems with the strange woman. Instead, she asked the woman,

"So why are you here?" The woman stared at Abisola and asked,

"What do you think?"

"Well, this is a hospital, so  you must have come maybe for a check-up or something."

"Actually I came for a routine check. What about you?" Abisola felt the need to confide in someone but wasn't comfortable confiding in anyone except Jamaica. However due to the incident at the restaurant she had nursed a deep grudge against her. The woman sitting next to her had livened her up a bit and this led her to want to confide in her. 

"My boyfriend is in the hospital."
"Ah, now I see why you look so worried. Love good, sha."
"What?" Abisola asked half paying attention.

"I mean, I can see that you are deeply in love." Abisola rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Oh, my God! With all the problems I have, are you serious?"

"I know you love him otherwise you wouldn't be here." Abisola laughed and then sighed. She looked at the woman who by now had focused her attention at the entrance into the hospital. The door opened and three men walked in boldly. They were neatly dressed, clean shaven,  and walked rapidly to the reception.

"Yes how may I help you?" Asked the receptionist as they approached her. She tried to welcome them with a smile but got a menacing stare from all three of them. One of the men leaned on the counter and said,

"A young man was brought in here a few days ago."
"Sir, everyday a lot of people are brought in..."
"No, there is one particular man." He interrupted.
"What is his name?" The man looked at the other two men and then went round the reception desk and looked into the log book that was before the receptionist. He used his hand to scroll through it, making the receptionist stand aside. She tried to make some resistance but suddenly kept quiet when the other two men gave her a life threatening stare that discouraged her.  In that instant, the woman sitting beside Abisola got up and slowly walked towards the direction of the men. There was a corridor to the left of the reception and she decided to follow it. 

"Yes," The man said, as he looked up at the other two men. "There's a Femi in room 5B." He turned towards the receptionist and asked, "Where is room 5B?" 

"Sir, are you a family member? Because we only allow family members." The man frowned at the receptionist and then told her to sit down.

"Where is room 5B?" Abisola stared in confusion as the three men ordered the receptionist to take them to the room Femi's room. She tried to argue with them but as the man standing beside her gave her a slap, she immediately knelt down and started begging him. The woman that sat next to Abisola had heard the mention of Femi's name and the room in which he had been kept. She went along the corridor and then asked for directions.