#TENDER_BEAUTY
EPISODE 2
The tension in the waiting room of best result hospital can be sliced with a knife. The nurses are on their toes doing one thing or the other. The waiting room is unusually rowdy and the people are busy moving from pillar to post and not even the nurses were able to calm them down. Some decided to take their burden to God, asking Him to take control.
The reason for the turmoil la-id on the be-d in the operating room with three doctors attending to him. He had been involved in a fatal accident on his way out and was unconscious. We have been told to avoid ‘one way’ in Lagos, but some people would just not listen. Best Result hospital happened to be close by so he was immediately rushed there.
Adewale rushed into the hospital like a possessed man. He say Deji’s family members and some friends and instantly knew that the news was not a frame up. “No”, he screamed. People gathered to help him and calm him down but he was violent. “No, he must not die”, he said to no one or actually everyone. “He was coming to see me, I … i …” The nurses moved him to a chair, “pls calm down young man, everything would be fine”, one of the nurses said.
Adewale held on to that statement like his life depended on it and started saying it to himself. “Can you pls be quiet?” one of deji’s close friends yelled out of frustration.
The three doctors c@m£ out after about two hours. they looked tired and sapped as they made for their offices. Doctor Richa-rd headed towards the waiting room and upon entering, everyone held on to him like a lifeline asking all sort of questions. The doctor tried to make out one question but could not. Finally, he said, “calm down everyone, he is alive”.
Everyone started talking at the same time again but this time, they were talking to God. Deji’s father went to meet the doctor and said, “thank you doctor, God bless you, e ko ni ri laburu
“yes sir. He is alive sir but he nee-ds prayers now cos he is in a coma. The accident affected his head and his survival chances are slim”, doctor Richa-rd said.
Deji’s father’s face froze and it seemed like he had seen a ghost. Adewale who had been eavesdropping suddenly went to hold the Doctor’s shi-t. “plea-se, make sure he survives doctor. He wouldn’t be on that be-d if i hadn’t insisted that he come to my place. I would not be able to bear it if he…, if he…”
Doctor Richa-rd placed his head on his table some minutes later de-eply distressed. Memories which he had tried ha-rd to blurt out c@m£ uninhibited to his mind; those were the memories that gave him consistent nightmares. A tap on his shoulders j£rked him from his demons.
“What is wrong Richa-rd ?” Doctor Tony who was Richa-rd ’s best friend asked.
“I… I am fine.”
“No, you are not. If you did not hear me calling your name, you are not fine.” Tony said looking worried.
“It is nothing.. The tension in the waiting room was just more than i bargained for.” Richa-rd said standing up.
Tony laughed a bit, “Rich, you are a doctor and you definitely have faced worse.
Richa-rd sighed, “the accident of the patient occurred when he was on his way to a friend’s place and the poor guy is almost ripping his head off in guilt”. Still not getting his point,
Tony asked, “And?”
Richa-rd glared at him, “Tony, that patient has only 20% chance of survival and i can’t watch him die. Do you remember that i know exactly what that guy in the waiting room is facing?”
Alarmed, Tony stood up, “Richa-rd , you are not still blaming yourself for what happened then, are you?” he asked. Richa-rd looked at him, his eyes haunted,
“Tony, i still have nightmares. i can’t forget. i have tried all i know as a doctor and i don’t wish even my enemy would be in my position”, he said and took a de-ep breath. “i would get some air”, he said and left the office.
**********
You know at times, you get to a T junction where you know that either way you go is going to change your life one way or the other. I thought about my discussion with Prisca and knew that going with that plan was the best thing I could do.
I got back home and met the house empty. My phone started ringing immediately I sat down and I discovered it was an unknown number. I picked it and waited until I heard a baritone voice at the other end saying “hello”.
“Good morning, pls who is this?” I answered.
“Is this Miss Belina Badmus?” the speaker asked
“Yes pls”
“My name is John, calling from Heaven’s gate Chapel. We just want to remind you of the musical concert which would be holding tomorrow” he said.
I opened my mouth as I realized that I had actually forgotten everything about that concert. Though I hadn’t produced any albu-m, I was invited by some churches to minister in songs. “I would be there, thanks a lot”.
I dropped the phone some seconds later and mentally began to search for a nice song for the programme.
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Mr Badmus entered the large compound of his friend, chief Olowodolu, and looked round jealously. Every time he entered this place, he always remembers his good old days.
He had nothing less than three buildings in the island, and one small building in the mainland, Ikeja to be precise. He had lived a life of affluence but his business crumbled after five years of marriage. He sold off his properties in the island to pay debts and moved with his family to Ikeja.
“I must be rich again”, he thought as he entered his friend’s sitting room.
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“Let us go now Richa-rd , I don’t want to be late o…” Tony and Richa-rd are inseparable friends and have been for five years. Ap@rt from them being medical doctors, they were also in the music line. Being exceedingly handsome, they were the envy of other guys and the de-sire of ladies. Tony took advantage of this and had so many girl friends by flir-ting with them but Richa-rd was the quiet type, jovial at times which made him more desirable but he could turn the heart of any girl perhaps unknowingly. Tony seemed to have arrived at his bus-st©p where women were concerned and Richa-rd had become indifferent towards them.
Tony attended a musical concert in a church some weeks ago and hadn’t st©pped talking about it, for some unexplainable reasons, Richa-rd felt he nee-ded to attend the next edition with Tony.
“For God’s sake Tony, you told me the concert would commence 5 o’clock, this is 4:20, what is the fuss about?” Richa-rd asked looking exasperated.
“If we don’t get there in time, all the good seats would have been taken and we would have to seat at the back”. Richa-rd sighed;
“Alright then”, he said leaving the movie he was watching for the be-droom.
********************
I looked at myself in my be-droom mirror and smiled. I definitely look stage worthy, I thought to myself. I took out a styling comb and combe-d my hair to perfection. Thank God for long hair, it could make you look pres£ntable even when you did not make your hair. The blue flowing go-wn I was putting on always gave me confidence and made me look dashing, even though I was worried about the numerous stares I would be receiving which always made me uncomfortable, I wanted to look my best today. I applied a little powder and l!pgloss and set out.
I alighted from a public bus and looked at the address again. Wole, who had made sure I was one of the guest artists had warned me that the church was a big church. I almost pas-sed by a very mas-sive building when I looked at the sign-board and discovered that was my destination. I opened my mouth as my heart started racing.
“Hello miss” My head j£rked round and I discovered I was alre-ady at the entrance.
“Uhhh, hi”, I said.
“Are you one of our artists, ma’am”, the guy obviously an usher asked.
“Ehm, Yes. I am Belina Badmus”. The guy checked his file and smiles at me before calling a lady to take me inside. As I stepped inside, my heart almost st©pped.
I saw nothing less than 500 people and still saw empty chairs which could easily seat close to three hundred people. The highest number of people I had sang to was 200 and I was totally afraid that day. I considered turning back as I stood transfixed. The lady usher noticed my fright and gave me a comforting smile. She looked at me from head to toe and back again and said, “I am sure you can handle it”.
WATCH OUT FOR EPISODE 3