I grew up from a family where there was so much love from my parents to their kids. They expressed it a lot, but in all their expressions of love towards their kids I never saw them express love towards themselves
Not until this remarkable day, in the most remarkable ways, the expression of love and how my father felt for his wife unfolded in the most remarkable ways. An incident that will etch in my memory for a long time
This story isn't about me, but I just hope I'm permitted to talk about people so dear to me and their love story.
As the usual routine has been, every morning as early as 5:30 am the family will gather In the living room for morning prayers before everyone can embark on their day's sojourn.
But on this day, my dad had appeared in the living room alone without his wife. Already we knew that mum had complained of not being strong in health recently. But with the weight of worry and pain etched on my dad's face, we feared that her illness might have gotten worse.
"Let's pray for my wife, that her health improves" dad had asked, trying so hard to mask the pain in his voice, and also as if to confirm our worries.
Later that afternoon, as the clouds gathered overhead and the chances of rain being high, I had got back from school grateful to beat the rain before it started to meet my dad in the living room discussing with the kind doctor who had been the one treating mum ever since she fell ill a few weeks ago. He had been our family doctor for a long time. I tried eavesdropping on them as I was worried too if mum will get better
"Sir, there's absolutely no reason to be worried. Your wife will be fine" the kind doctor said, his words always soothing and like a balm in gilead bringing hope to the people in need.
"But she has been like that for days now"
"I know sir, but if you're able to get these medications I prescribed now, she'll be fine In no time" the doctor assured, grabbing his bags which I suspected contained his medical tools. He stood up and made for the door.
"I better be going before this rain starts. I don't want to be drenched before I get to the hospital."
"Alright. Thank you and have a good day"
Dad stretched out his hands to meet him and with a firm handshake. He watched as the doctor got into his car and zoomed off.
Now the remedy to mum's health lay beyond our doorstep, but the gathering storm stood as an obstacle to its acquisition.
I watched as dad, a man of few words stood at the door looking up to the darkening sky. Sheer determination that can only be noticed by someone who knew the true meaning of love at that hour etched on his face. I could tell he was contemplating whether to face the consequences later and ignore the coming storm to get the drugs.
I gradually walked up to him and held his hands. He looked down to me and smiled
"Lock up the door. Tell your siblings I'll be back soon" with that he picked up an umbrella and went out the door into the coming rain.
Few hours later, I was seated in the dining room battling my quantitative reasoning homework. The sound of retreating rain and loud snores from my kid brother who was sleeping on the couch next to me was all I could hear.
Then the sound of a loud bang on the door added to it. Quickly, I got up and opened the door and it was just like a scene from a romantic movie. Standing on the other side was my dad smiling, drenched to the bone with the golden price, the drugs that will bring relief to my mum in his hands and a soaked umbrella.
"Welcome Sir" was all I could think of to say at that moment.
"Thank you," he replied, stepping into the house. "Boil me some hot water, and tell your sister to make some food for your mother immediately" he commanded me. And with that I ran off to deliver my message.
One thing I also noticed during the few days that my mum was sick. I noticed that my dad found it almost impossible to eat. He would sit down and stare at his plate of food for long without touching it. And when he did, he would claim that it had no flavour like the one prepared by my mum.
As a kid I didn't really understand why or what he meant. Not until one day I watched him barely touch his favourite meal of okra soup and fufu. Out of fear and curiosity I had to ask my elder sister as she helped me with my homework that day if dad was getting sick too because he didn't eat his favourite meal. And she laughed and asked me that ever since I was born if I have ever seen my dad eat alone without my mum.
"Even on days mum will be running late , dad will still wait for her to come back so they will eat together. He just misses his wife" She paused and looked into space for sometime. Then back to me " Oya (okay), let's continue with your homework" she added.
Well, just as the doctor had promised, mum got better in no time and was back to her normal self. She returned back to her duty of making meals for her husband and they ate together.
I might have never seen my dad profess his love for his wife verbally. But his actions during that period proved to me that he loved his wife beyond mere words. Even the storm couldn't wash it away
