Wrong Injection

Chapter 63

My previous perceptions of Grandma Araba and my Ghanaian family had been utterly misguided. Dream and I were now being enveloped in a warm, unconditional love that felt like a dream come true. I was startled by a knock on the door and called out, "Granny, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me," she replied, pushing the door open.

"I didn't see you and Dream this morning, so I thought I'd come check on you both," she said, settling in beside us on the bed.

"We're fine, Granny," I said with a smile. "Dream's just being her usual self," I added, watching as Dream played with her toys. Grandma's face creased into a gentle smile as she observed Dream's antics, her eyes shining with affection.

"How are you doing, sweetie?" she asked, tickling Dream's tummy and eliciting a fit of giggles from the little one. "You have the cutest laugh ever," she cooed, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight, feeling grateful that Dream had such a loving great-grandmother in her life.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, Milani," Granny said, her expression turning serious for a moment. "I just shared the news of your extended vacation with one of your cousins, and she was overjoyed."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" I exclaimed, thrilled at the prospect of meeting more family members. The constant stream of visitors had been a delight, and I was eager to learn more about my relatives.

"What's her name?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Granny's expression turned somber, and she hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Her name is Esi, and she's the daughter of your oldest uncle." She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing, "He passed away shortly after his younger brother, your father." I felt a pang of sympathy for Granny, who had endured the loss of two children, and my heart went out to her and our family.

"What was the cause of his passing?" I asked gently.

"Cancer. It had spread to multiple organs, and unfortunately, there was no treatment that could save him." She reminisced, "Your uncle used to take you to Labadi Beach in Accra during your visits with your parents. He had a special bond with you, much like the one he shared with Esi. You two were incredibly close as children, often inseparable." As Granny spoke, I could sense the depth of her love and loss. Despite the pain, her eyes sparkled when she talked about her grandchildren, and I felt grateful for the warmth and love that filled our home.

"Wow, this is so fascinating!" I exclaimed in delight, Granny chuckled and nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"I'm thrilled to hear that Esi will be visiting us today," I added, barely containing my excitement.

"She will indeed be coming today." She confirmed.

"I just can't wait!" I responded with unbridled enthusiasm.

Granny stood up, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Come, I have a plethora of pictures and videos to share with you," she said, scooping up Dream in one gentle motion. "Would you like to see them?"

"Of course, Nana." I eagerly replied.

As we made our way to her room, Granny mentioned, "Your father was quite the crybaby." I couldn't help but laugh at the mental image, and Granny's eyes twinkled with amusement.

She retrieved a box and a laptop from her wardrobe, and I noticed that the box was filled with pictures of my father, grandfather, and other relatives I had never met. Granny took her time telling me the story behind each photograph and video, sharing fond memories of my childhood and my close bond with Esi. She also shared the story of her romance with Grandpa, recounting their love story with warmth and affection. I listened intently as she spoke of their life together and his recent passing after a battle with prostate cancer. Despite not having had the chance to meet them, I felt a deep sense of connection to my heritage and gratitude for the stories and memories that she shared.
~~~
Granny had left the house with the two maidservants to go shopping for groceries at a local mall, leaving me alone with a sleeping Dream. With some time on my hands and feeling restless, I decided to cook one of the local dishes Granny had taught me – Waakye and Shito. This popular Ghanaian dish is a favorite of mine, especially when paired with a fried egg.

I was busy cooking the Waakye when I heard a knock on the kitchen door. I turned around to see a pretty girl dressed in all black, standing in the doorway with a bright smile on her face. "You must be Milani?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with warmth. I nodded.

"Yeah, and you are?"

"Esi." She replied with a warm smiled.

"Oh, hey!" I exclaimed, happy to finally meet her. Then she walked towards me, her eyes scanning the kitchen.

"What are we preparing?" she asked, and began to help me stir the Shito.

"Waakye and Shito, obviously," I said, continuing with my cooking.

"Wow, I guess I'm right on time." She chuckled and remarked. Then we shared a laugh at her witty comment.

"Granny mentioned that we used to be great friends when we were little," I said, bringing up the past and her face lit up.

"Yes, we were super cool until you stopped visiting." She shrugged, and I nodded apologetically.

"My bad," I said.

"It's okay, it's great that you're back." I smiled, and she added, "I hope we can pick up our friendship where we left off." She extended her hand for a handshake, and I reciprocated.

"Of course Esi," I said, shaking her hand.

"Awesome," she exclaimed. "I almost forgot, I heard you're a mom now."

"Yes I am, to the cutest little girl," I proudly said, smiling. "Would you like to see Dream?" I asked, and her face lit up.

"Of course, I'd love to see her," she replied enthusiastically.

"She's taking a nap right now," I informed her as I checked on the Waakye. Esi's eyes sparkled with excitement, and I could tell she was eager to meet her cousin.

"Okay, when she wakes up then," she said understandingly. Then requested, "Can I have a napkin, please?" I handed her one, and she thanked me with a smile. "Thanks, odo," she said, using a term that caught my attention.

"What does 'odo' mean?" I asked curiously, eager to learn more about my culture.

"It means love," she explained kindly, and I nodded in appreciation.

"Granny told me we're Fantes," I asked, referring to a tribe in Ghana.

"Yeah, we are," she confirmed and I smiled, enjoying the fact that we were connecting so quickly. It was clear that our past friendship had laid a strong foundation for our reunion.