Window Love

40

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"Your son is fine; all you'll need to do now is arrange the money for the surgery. So we can commence as soon as possible." the doctor advised.

Alhaji lowered his head, and jounced his head slowly. It's saddened his heart whenever he thinks of it. It still doesn't change anything; Adnan won't be able to walk again if he doesn't get a knee surgery. His kneecap injury was diagnosed after a CT scan was conducted to examine his body, days after he got out of the coma. Hajiya weep so loud that Uncle B tried consoling her but it didn't work. She wouldn't listen. So Alhaji ordered she was taken home. Possibly, with Adnan not in her presence, she might probably not cry again.

On their leaving, Alhaji walked tardily out of the doctor's office and headed straight in to Adnan's ward, he drew out the chair kept by the corner, of the room. He sat very close to the bed looking at the sleeping Adnan calmly.

"Did you really have fall sick? You made that woman cry like that?"

"Is that fair!" Alhaji said, weeping quietly beneath his breath.

"Remember how we'd go skating together? How we'd cycle round the compound and your mom would yell we're spoiling the compound with dirt from the bicycle tires??" he chuckled.

"Man that was fun, i enjoyed it and i miss the whole fun. You know what we are, we're team. It's not going to be nice if we can't run around again."

"I don't even know why you'd be so careless to have an accident, yanzun kayi mana ah dalci kenan?" (Is that being fair to us?) He added.

"Uh, well, yeah... i miss all the fun too. And i missed you too, but you know i don't get to choose. Do i? Allah has already determined my fate so?" Adnan responded immediately, sounding like an old drunkard.

Alhaji was caught by surprise so he covered it up with laughter. Knowing he wasn't supposed to be caught crying. Normally African fathers don't weep; they'll stay strong and try to make every other person do the same too. Some are so strict you can barely see them smile around their kids. Even though Alhaji knew they would joke and play like friends, he didn't want it to look awkward.

"Hahaha. My boy, you're awake!"

"Well, that's not it daddy. Now why are you crying?"

"Me, uhmm. No. I'm not crying." He wiped his tears away in guilt, and then gave him a fake smile.

"And i know that smile too. Okay now let's just say i heard everything. So tell me."

"You did?"

"Of course i did, i wasn't sleeping. i was meditating."

"You lousy fellow, you -- ((

Alhaji's phone rang, interrupting his conversation with Adnan. Informing him that the guy who was asked to bring the hospital bill for the surgery had lost his way to the ward. So Alhaji had to leave. Few minutes later after he had collected the money from the messenger, Alhaji headed to the doctor's office.

"All i want to know is when wills the surgery commence?"

"But Alhaji you're yet to pay."

"It's all in this briefcase, doctor help me see him walk again. My family can't be fine when he's sick; you saw how his mom was crying."