THE GREATEST IS LOVE

CHAPTER FIVE - THE JOURNEY "HOME"

A month later, Naledi found herself waiting for a flight to Johannesburg. She learned from her father the latest update about her Nigerian Grandparents. For some sadistic reason, her mother was obsessed with knowing what was happening back home. Via her old friend that brought her to Botswana, she divorced her ex-husband three years after she arrived in Botswana. In the same year the two-storey wedding gift her parents were living in was burnt down. In the present, her father was managing a small grocery store and her mother was now paralyzed after she had a heart attack that left her immobile. After several days of fasting and prayer, Naledi contacted Isaac in Nigeria and asked him to help her find her Grandparents. The result of his search was what is leading her to the roots she did not know about. She could vividly remember her mother's words as she packed her bags.

"If you go ahead to look for those wicked and miserable people, I will disown you and cut you off completely."

"It is time to let it go Mum. You are a Christian for crying out loud. The Lord will grant you the grace to forgive them. Haven't they suffered enough? They have paid for their mistakes already!!! Mum let us go together and see them."

It all fell on deaf ears and earned her abuses and curses from her mother.

Isaac waited patiently at the Muritala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos for Naledi to arrive. The moment the arrival of his friend's flight was announced, he robbed his hands together in nervousness. Naledi was indeed a brave young woman, coming to a country with a bad reputation as far as safety and security were concerned and even worse with the Boko Haram insurgence! But what really pushed her was the fact that her grandparents were living in guilt and longing for a child that had long erased them from her heart. Isaac immediately recognized his visitor in her bright red German print dress. She wore her hair in braids and wore pumps to make her journey a comfortable one. As he walked through the crowded airport to her side, he saw how relieved she was and welcomed her with a hug. This was the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

=====

Baboloki looked from one parent to the other and shook his head in disbelief.

"What you are both telling me, is that my little sister went into a strange and dangerous country on her own" His anger was slowly building up. "You could have locked her up or something! You know she has Mum's stubbornness!"

Mr. Jeetah walked over to where his son stood in their living room,

"I was at work when she left. It was your mother that let her go." He wiped his face with both hands in frustration. He turned his gaze on his wife and said with as much control as he could muster,

"You could have reasoned with her and reached a compromise. I could have even taken leave at work to go with her." He gazed at his wife with intense sadness in his eyes,

"I feel sorry for you Grace. Our daughter was able to do what we failed to accomplish." She looked at him without an ounce of remorse and hissed.

"What is that?" She asked coolly.

"To reconcile us to your parents. To forgive and move forward." Mrs. Jeetah shook her head in disgust.

"Carry on with your sermons of doom. I do not have a daughter as from today. I will not stay in the same roof with someone like that!!!" She left the men on their own and went to prepare supper.

=====

Naledi was welcomed warmly by Isaac's family. They cooked jollof rice and Pounded yam with Okra soup. She selected the latter and ate with relish. They were all fascinated by how she chattered almost nonstop about how she loved Nollywood and the Nigerian restaurant in Botswana Isaac used to take her. When she was asked how she felt on finding out she was Half Nigerian, she simply replied,

"It felt weird at first but like finding a part of a missing puzzle, I felt complete." Her face suddenly grew sad. "I don't know if Isaac told you but I am not being unreasonable towards my mother. I just want to show a bit of humanity to my Grandparents." Isaac's mum took Naledi's hands in hers

"You did the God thing my daughter. Forgiveness is very difficult but you should be proud for you are a pace setter for your family to finally make peace with what happened." Isaac's Dad chipped in.

"So, would you like to take a tour first or get straight to business?" He asked. After a short pause Naledi answered, "I will only have peace once I meet my Grandparents and see how they are doing. Then we'll take it from there."

"You have made the Hotel reservations at Ado - Ekiti right?"

"Yes Dad." Isaac replied. Tears suddenly fell from Naledi's eyes as she pondered on her journey. What if they were already dead? What is it is already too late?

"I'm sorry," she apologized and ran to the room she would be staying for her visit.