Living Water

5. Grudges

Ayla walked into the small building of the clinic, the anger she felt earlier has long subsided, instead it was replaced by a growing pride for the selfless work of her son. She looked behind her to see a panting Somto, beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he tried to lift the heavy fruit basket, that Ayla bought for the old man on their way to the clinic.

"Soon you children would be saying that your stronger than your parents ." She teased.

Somto dropped the fruit basket on the pavement leading to the entrance of the hospital, wiping the sweat that formed on his eyebrow he sighed in exhaustion.
"Ma, on a normal day this wouldn't have been anything for me to carry, but I haven't eaten since morning so there's no energy in me enough to lift this." He shrugged in a matter of fact manner.

"Don't worry about that, once we're done here, we'll visit one of these intercontinental restaurants."

The thought of food made Somto grow a wide happy grin, she chuckled at his reaction on hearing about food.
"Of course ma, I'd love to. How about I take this inside, it wouldn't be right for you to be carrying this heavy load when I'm here."

She stopped on her way to help him with the basket and smiled gratefully at him. Looking at the tall young man carrying the fruit basket, made her to marvel at the works of time, she has known Somto for eight good years now, and has close relations with his parents, especially the mother who has been a great emotional and financial support to the family. What amuses Ayla about Somto was his humility even though he comes from a very well to do family, the son of a senator, yet he hardly raises his shoulders about the wealth of his family, which most young people find it very hard to achieve.

"You've really grown up." She commented subconsciously to Somto who was now ahead of her, still carrying the basket in his hands.

"Um.....thanks?" He squinted his eyes unsure of how to reply to her comment.

Ayla just laughed and brought out her phone about to dial Timothy to know his whereabouts.

"Momsy!" Just in time, Timothy walked towards the waiting room were his mom and Somto stood. She kept her phone back in her mini purse relieved to not having to go through the stress of searching for her son.

"Timothy, help Somto with the basket, and show us were he is."

As Timothy was about to collect the basket from Somto, he was stylishly shoved aside. He winced from the impact.
"Don't bother! I can handle it." Somto said, still harbouring grudges about what happened earlier, which made him apprehensive of his own best friend.

Timothy looked at Somto's fair arm reddened with the imprint of the fruit basket, his hands were shaky from the weight of holding it for so long. Knowing how stubborn his friend is he roughly collected the fruit basket from him and was surprised how much a few bananas, watermelons, pineapples and apples could weigh. The gravity of the basket pulled him down but he acted against it heaving it upwards, glancing at the fuming face of his friend, he smirked in return and lifted the basket into the hospital room were Mr Yabo was still seated.

Ayla who stood there calmly, noticed the tension between the two boys, but she knew better than to intervene in their issues. Whereas they are guys, they'll eventually settle themselves. She thought.

"We are here." Timothy led them them to the clinic room were Mr Yabo was admitted. His eyes lit up in anticipation when he saw Timothy come in with an older woman and the boy he saw earlier in church.

"Good afternoon sir." Ayla greeted him as she stepped into the ward.

"Welcome dear." He smiled deeply. "Are you the mother of this young man here?" He gestured to Timothy who was arranging the fruit basket on the desk.