SWEET OLEANDER

Chapter 19

Mr Travis Ojong jumped up from where he had been seated. He began to bang the chair and drag it.
The security officer who went about routine checks snapped his lamp on and strode sharply in the direction of the noise.
"What is the matter, sir?", he requested in a rather shrill voice. His smallish frame placed him slightly below Mr Travis Ojong's shoulder. He had a handful of wrinkles on his face
"Is this the teaching hospital, or are my eyes deceiving me, eh? My wife has an emergency and now this?"
There was a sudden flash of light and the room was illuminated. The receptionist sat, adjusting the rechargeable lamp on her desk.
"We are taking care of the --", the security officer started. He didn't have the chance to finish his statement. Mr Travis Ojong walked off.
Mr Travis Ojong reappeared in front of the receptionist's table
"What just happened with the light situation, eh? Are you people aware that my wife is undergoing surgery?"
"The situation is under control, sir?" said the receptionist.
"How? There is no light anywhere, but you said it's under control,l," Aniebiet challenged.
The receptionist nodded. "They are working on it"
"Who are they that couldn't do something about this earlier? Is this how you will treat someone who is on life support? Someone using oxygen?" Mr Travis Ojong continued.
"Please calm down sir"
"Are you asking me to calm down? Will you calm down if the tables are turned?
The receptionist said nothing but heaved quietly.
If your loved one is in there will you respond in the same way?"Mr Travis Ojong lowered his pointed finger to the receptionist's forehead.
"What happened?"Bachot asked.
"It's the diesel generator. It seems to have developed a fault", the receptionist said,
"But this is a hospital. A whole teaching hospital in Onoyo for that matter ?", Mr Travis Ojong spat.
Mr Travis Ojong placed his phone to his ear."Beji, ya people have started oo. No light, Beji, no light and Ifiok is still at the Theater oo; in fact, it's not been long since she was wheeled in. I don't understand what is happening at all. They say their generator is giving Problem; I don't know the kind of problem it will be giving at this time when there is a patient undergoing surgery " Mr Travis Ojong's voice was öpuder with each sentence. There was a pause. He heaved, the phone remained on his left ear. He nodded his head. "Okay", he replied and pressed a Button before placing the phone in his pocket.
"I tried to reach her earlier. What did she say?", Bachot asked
"Ya wife said I should wait so that she will call them. Hmmm," he folded his hands and tapped his feet on the ground. His lips protruded forward. Aniebiet perambulated with his hands behind his back.
Within 30 minutes, the electrical power was restored.
     It was 11 pm in the night. While Aniebiet managed to sleep for a few hours, Mr Travis Ojong watched the fan stow like one whispering precious secrets to another till about 6:00 am the next morning. Mr Travis Ojong's children arrived from Beji and Bachot's residence where they slept.
"Ah, Officer," a voice called out. It belonged to a lady the female version of Nkim. Bachot accompanied her. She sauntered towards Mr Travis Ojong and saluted. He managed a smile. The receptionist raised her head and observed. She greeted Dr. Beji. She looked up at Mr Travis Ojong and greeted him as well, adding "sir" for the first time.
     Mr Travis Ojong gave her a blank stare as he wondered how somebody who had asked him to calm down when his wife was stuck in the surgery ward without electrical power had become suddenly respectful.
"N ko bo," she said.
"Ogbu ga?" He replied
"Ehn. E le lan?"
"Dum chang""
" My inlaw good morning oo," Beji greeted Aniebiet.
"Ah Doctor. Good morning madam," Aniebiet replied
"How are you doing today naa?"
"We thank God. As long as Ifiok is okay we are well" Aniebiet replied." Thank you so much for all you have done.
Beji smiled. "What have I done? I played my part that's all. Your sister will be well again. She was wheeled out of the surgery room late last night and might still be unconscious"
Mr Travis Ojong gasped.
" You both look tired. You will need some rest. I brought some food as well," She lowered the bag on her shoulder to the bench.

Mr Travis Ojong travelled back to Ekparabong after a few days with all his children except his eldest daughter, Ekorie.
She stayed back to assist her mother Ifiok. Ifiok recovered and attended physiotherapy sessions and checkups. The orthopaedics observed the fractured leg and changed the case, Splint, and bandage whenever they had to. Only her facial expression alerted Ekorie of the painful sensation Ifiok felt from the massage. Ifiok managed to hold her tongue from groaning.
She limped about with her crutches when she had to move about. The plastic bag connected to her body by a pipe for passing urine dangled down.
"Are your drugs still available?", the orthopaedic on duty asked Ifiok. She nodded. He frowned as he observed her file, the he nodded after a moment.
"You will be due for drug replenishment upon your next visit", he said.
The physiotherapist also helped Ifiok to straighten her leg and encouraged her to place it on the ground with time. "You need to swing your leg back and forth", he said.
"It's like learning to walk all over ageing. It takes time, but with constant practice, it is doable", he said.
Ekorie assisted Ifiok by placing Ifiok's hand on her shoulder when she wanted to defecate. The tiling in the toilet was too slippery to use crutches on.
"Mummy sorry, easy", she would always say with each limp her mother took.
Ifiok would nod and mumble a "Thank you", then try to reposition herself by holding onto something in the environment, then keep moving towards Ekorie so she can assist her.