Agony of the deaf episode 13
AGONY OF THE DEAF
(Faded Feelings)
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Episode 13
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Written by Author Nath
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Waiting hurts. Forgetting hurts. But not knowing which decision to make can sometimes be the most painful. That was the state of Eniola. She stood in front of her mirror, making herself up after days of grief and tears. Though it hurts but she was ready to forget Claude for good. She also believed her tears had washed off the feelings she had for him: Tears are handy for washing away troubling and sad feelings. But when you grow up, you’ll learn that there are things so sad, they can never be washed away by tears. That there are painful memories that should never be washed away. So people who are truly strong laugh when they want to cry. They endure all of the pain and sorrow while laughing with everybody else. Yes, Eniola was growing to that stage of life.
On the other hand, in,side the living room, Ayomide, the mother waited patiently for her. She had already dressed up in a traditional Yoruba attire. Within some moments, Eniola came out from her room. She looked dashing, a beauty worthy to behold. A white canvas glittered on her feet which matched a blue tight jean trouser she knotted with a white female belt above her w–st. She also wore a white elastic long-sleeve top which she tocked in the jean. Then she allowed her hair dangle around her neck.
“Oh, my daughter, you look so beautiful!” The mother happily embraced her. “Cheer up my dear” she began encouraging her with a sign language. “When I married your father, there was nothing like love. At time goes on, I grew to love him. Never you attach your happiness with someone especially a hoodoo that gives you nothing but pains. Happiness is a direction, not a place; it depends upon ourselves; it is a form of courage and is not a goal; it is a by-product of who you have chosen to be.”
Eniola smiled and appreciated her mother. Ayomide could see her saying something contrary to the topic at hand. She seemed worried as she waved her hands, bitterly trying to get the mother understand what she was substantiating. Of course, Ayomide comprehended the sign language, therefore she said, “We’ve discussed this before. I’m not stressing myself. I want to follow you. Before we move your things from your lodge, I’ll see your head of department on how you can be transferred to the special needs department. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” she embraced her again.
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Ogechi’s perfume rushed into Eniola’s nostrils when she entered into their lodge. It reminded her of her. A good friend turned enemy. She slowly walked in,side, looking around the room like a green horn. She could remember some of Ogechi’s statements: “…madam pink…… when I came to Nigeria, my Dad said there’s a ‘him’ for me in Ghana. I’ve not met him face to face, but I kind of like him from video calls…. Guess what, Ike is in town and I’m going to see him for the first time!… Shakara babe….”
The mother touched her from behind thereby interrupting the thought. Eniola sadly turned.
“My daughter, I know the memory you shared with her is hunting you. Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody. But the memories that hang heaviest are the easiest to recall. They hold in their creases the ability to change one’s life, organically, forever. Even when you shake them out, they’ve left permanent wrinkles in the fabric of your soul.” The mother walked to the wardrobe, turned her head to her daughter and called her. “Come show me your clothes.” she signed for her.
Sooner did they park Eniola’s belongings. Before they left the room, Eniola dropped a letter for Ogechi on the bed. She dragged a traveling box along the road with her mother. Pedestrians walked helter skelter, she noticed some young handsome men admiring her. If only they knew she was deaf and dumb, they would have channelled their energy to someone else. Though music blasted from the roadside, noisy chattering from passerby was unbearable, but sadly Eniola couldn’t hear any of them. Suddenly, a young man bumped on her, she nearly fell down after the box had tasted the texture of the mudy ground.
“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!” the young man picked up the box.
Ayomide, from behind roared like a lion. “Didn’t you see her!? Are you blind!!”
“I’ve told her sorry already.” The young man looked at Eniola. “Didn’t i tell you sorry?” he asked her.
The girl didn’t reply. She watched her mother angrily shouting at the man. It got to a point when she couldn’t bear it, so she tapped her. She explained what happened to the best of her ability. The man became shocked to discover that a beautiful girl like her was just deaf and dumb. Not that he felt pity for her, but he really liked her even before he discovered her plight. So he humbled himself the more before the mother.
“I understand what she tried to say because I’m a junior lecturer in special needs.” he began. “My name is Paul Ajibola. Once again, I’m sorry. Is your daughter a student here? Because I haven’t seen her in the special…”
“It’s a long story. She will soon be there.” Ayomide interrupted him. “We have to go now.” she added wanting to surge forward, but Paul stopped her again.
“Sorry, I hope you don’t mind me giving out my card to her. You know, to get in touch with her. No hærd feelings.”
Ayomide exhaled. “It’s her decision to make.” she replied as an afterthought.
Paul walked up to Eniola who had been looking at both of them. He signed and stretched the card to her. The young girl glanced at her mother. She didn’t take the card rather signed.
“She said you should rather take her own number.” The mother interpreted.
“Yeah, I actually understood that. I think I have a pen.” He placed a hand in,side his pocket…
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Under a tree, Claude spaced into the sky with two hands behind him after a long physical training for the preparation of the kumas. Though that wasn’t his worry neither was chief the cause of his wooziness.
“When a man stands alone, staring into an empty sky, his soul longs for someone” Guillaume’s voice came from behind. He finally stood beside him. “You need to let her go, son. Going back to her will only cause her more pains. Do not treat your loved one like a swinging door: you are fond of it but you push it back and forth.” he concluded with a proverb.
“But I love her so much.” Claude confessed again.
“Love, they say is painful. Don’t be so in love that you can’t tell when it’s raining.”
Claude seriously turned to him. “But, sir Guillaume, since I can’t heal her with my blood, what if any of the hugo’s blood does it?’
” Not only will your marriage be unfruitful, also it’s a sacrilege for the royal blood to lay with such a person.”
“Then I’ll be with her the way she is. I don’t care!”
“No problem. The anger of a penis doesn’t destroy the vagina. I can see you love her so much. If you can do what you said, the coast is clear. After all there’s no v×rgiπ in a maternity ward.” Guillaume concluded.
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Things began to go well between Eniola and Paul for some days. They could be seen in a restaurant in her hometown, exchanging words with signs. Eniola laughed occasionally. She really looked happy with zero worries. Sooner did the r-mantic date ended, both walked to a car where Paul, as a gentle man opened the door for her. She smiled and entered.
The SUV pulled over in front of Ayomide’s compound. Coming out from the car, Eniola stretched her sight to the door of their house to see Claude standing there with a flower. She pretended never to had noticed him. She k-sed Paul happiness, stood at a s₱0t, waving at him until he drove away.
Seeing all that, the flower fell down from Claude’s hand. Heartbroken, he began to walk away from the house. At the same time, Eniola was walking into the house. Both pretended as if none had seen the other. At the door, before clutching the knob, Eniola picked up the flower. Irritatingly, she threw it into a waste bin, clutched the doorknob and entered.
Meanwhile, Claude’s eyes had changed colour as he tried to endure the pain as a result of the heartbreak. As he was walking in slow motion, so was Ogechi reading the letter left by Eniola: “…. I’m sorry our friendsh¡p ended this way. I’ve gone. Also understand it was never my intentions. How would I have known that your Ike was my missing angel? Anyways, I just want to let you know that he’s still available for you. I’m no more with him. We never meant to be together. Both of you will rather make a good couple…” Furiously, Ogachi tore the letter into pieces and also threw it into a waste bin after which she had a long annoying hiss.
Nevertheless, Claude was still in slow motion, holding back his tears. It seemed to him the world had crashed down on him. Yes, it has. He has lost everything he fought for. All his efforts to be with the one he love had been washed down the drain. So sad he had no one to complain to. Getting back to the arid land, the slow motion vanished. He hurried into the large tent and fell on Chloe’s shoulder where he finally let the tears pour like a rain.
Poor Chloe couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know why her king was in tears but she had to play a motherly role in order to calm him down. “A man’s weakness is not his tears but the cause of the tears. Whatever it maybe, let me be your strength.” she began to pat his back. Just then, a guard ran in,side.
“The kumas are coming!” he announced…..
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TO BE CONTINUED