Bimpe

The birth of a new child signifies the start of a new life, a new beginning and a new path. That was the case of the newly wedded couple. The Agbajes. Just three months after being joined together in holy matrimony, a new member of the family was added to their duo act.

Bimpe had always wanted a baby boy, her parents given birth to seven girls with she being the last of them. She watched as all her sisters grew up and got married one after the other, leaving their mother's comfort to do the bidding of their newlywed husbands, leaving behind the only identity that could be linked back to their father whilst taking up another. Their surname.   

                              

Immediately the sex of Bimpe was confirmed right after her birth, her father had advertently filed for a divorce between himself and Bimpe’s mother. He had cursed and swore as he angrily marched out of the hospital’s delivery ward. A male son was what he wanted and if Bimpe’s mother, wasn’t going to provide him with that after her seventh child birth, another woman would. His relatives and family members stood by him with his decision. They considered it a bad omen for a man to live his life and then die without leaving a male offspring to carry on his legacy. So was the tradition that has been since practised for a long time in his village.

Bimpe and her siblings were the closest thing to a companion her mother ever knew. Well apart from Nnena the house girl. All these happenings made Bimpe worry about their mother, whom after the celebration of each sister’s marriage, the number of children that returned home with her reduced by one, and this made her weak and frail. Although her mother always kept on a brave face as she said her parting prayers for whichever daughter that was being married.  There was even an occasion when two of her sisters got married a week apart from each other. Bimpe could see the idea of being alone tearing their mother apart.

"Why do you have to leave sister mi" Bimpe asked her elder sister, Kemi, who was supposed to get married the coming Saturday as they were both going through the guest list again.

"What?" Kemi asked. Acting as if she knew not what Bimpe was talking about. But she did. This act of asking the same question had been a type of ritual for Bimpe as she had asked the sisters that got married earlier.

"Why do you have to leave mama and go with uncle Femi to start living with him?" Bimpe asked more directly this time. "Don't you like it here anymore?" She added

"Bimpe...I honestly don't have a right answer to that question. You are 12 years old now. When you grow older and you meet someone you want to spend the rest of your life with you will answer that yourself. Now please add Mr and Mrs Okunoren to the new list"

The concept of meeting someone and wanting to spend the rest of one’s life with that someone baffled bimpe at her young age.

Of course Bimpe's sisters visited their mother once in a while bringing gifts of all kinds. Some came with their new family, husband and child or children. While others came alone claiming their husband was at work and the children were in school. Bimpe still tried her best to make sense out this. She didn't want her mother to be alone. She dreaded this happening to herself and thus prayed she had a male child.

As time went by, Bimpe grew into a beautiful young lady and started getting clues to the answer of the questions she had once so plagued her sisters with.

Her wedding had been a memorious event. Even though she was six months pregnant by the time of the wedding, Bimpe still looked stunning in her wedding gown. It was as if the gown was specifically made to fit the baby bump and her. She was married to Gbenga Agbaje. The only son of billionaire, Kunle Agbaje.

 As the ceremony came to its imminent end, Bimpe could see the tears take form in her mother’s eyes as she bid her final farewells to the cheering crowd and got into the jeep that was decorated from bumper to boot with wedding decorations acting like a second skin for the car. The words 'NEWLY WED' was boldly engraved on the car's number plate. As if the decorations on the car wasn't passing the message clearly enough.

A week into her new marriage, Bimpe had literally visited her mother five different times and even asked that her mother moved in with them or get a closer apartment. She flaunted her husband's wealth by stating she could get her mother a new house, bigger and better than the one she was in, with a lot more comfort and companion. But Bimpe's mother blatantly refused the offer, stating the house she was in was the only thing left of her husband’s and she was not ready to leave just yet.

"Mr. Gbenga. Hello. This is Doctor Tunde from intensive Care general practise. I just want you to know that we have in our custody your pregnant wife. She is due to deliver in few moments. If you could please come over with her baby needs that would be really helpful" the doctor said as he hung the call up after leaving his voice mail message.

"Madam, please relax yourself, I just notified your husband and he said he will be here soon"

Right from the moment she discovered she was pregnant. Bimpe had been more tense and nervous than ever. She refused to get an ultrasound of the baby because she feared it would be a girl. She preferred to rather live with the unknown than knowing what sex the baby is and doing herself and the baby damage. She didn't want a life like her mother's.

"Okay madam, we are ready. Can you kindly push with all your strength whilst doing it gently also"

Bimpe was confused at this sort of request. However as she looked up at her husband who had arrived some minutes earlier before she entered into the labour room, and as he gave her a reassuring nod stating everything would be okay, she decided to do the doctors bidding.

Breathing in and out at a fast pace followed by a very loud grunt, Bimpe continued to push the baby out of her. The doctor kept telling her what a great job she was doing and how close she was till the final push.

Two hours and thirty minutes later, Bimpe woke up to the smiling face of her husband and her attending nurses. They all looked happy.

"What happened" she asked

"You passed out after the final push honey, we were lucky the baby came out before you did" her husband explained.

"And the baby? Where is the baby" she asked eagerly and looking worried.

"The baby is fine honey, it's in the dressing room. One of the nurses have gone to get the baby" he said calmly.

A sigh of somewhat relief passed through Bimpe, then as if she was electrocuted she bolted up and looked at her husband.

"Darling, promise me one thing" she said

Startled by this act he asked "Sure honey, what is it?"

"Promise me you'll never leave. No matter what" Bimpe stated amidst tears.

"Oh dear, of course I won't. I will never leave you no matter what" he said as he drew her closer and hugged her. He knew why she was saying this.

A little while after, the nurse came into the room with the baby wrapped in a soft cotton sheet.

"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Agbaje. You have a bouncing baby girl".

The couple looked each other in the face and smiled.