The nurse tidied up the centre table and packed up the medical instruments she had used earlier in examining Yasmin and put them in the big hospital bah. It had been two weeks since she was discharged and the nurse had made sure she adhered to all the aftercare advice.
“Well, I’m sure you can’t wait to be rid of me.” Nurse Kemi said with a wide smile plastered on her face.
Though their relationship was that of a nurse and a patient and it had started that way, Yasmin had come to see the nurse as a friend. When nurse Kemi had addressed Yasmin as ‘Miss Tijjani’, the latter had told the former to discard the formality and address her by her first name as being address formally made her feel uncomfortable. Nurse Kemi had in turn asked that she called her Kemi too.
“Haba, no now. You know I like having you around. The house is usually boring without Lisa around.” She meant it. She was always glad to have Kemi around. She was different from the other nurses she had met in the past. This one was caring, understanding and attentive. She hoped that the three of them could hang out sometimes soon. “I’m glad you enjoy my company but I’ll need to go now. My shift starts soon. Make sure you eat well, drink enough fluids and also rest.”
“I will”
“If there’s anything wrong, you can call me. You still have my number right?” Yasmin wanted to say Remember, I called you some days ago but instead replied “Of course.”
Satisfied, Kemi nodded and said “Alright, I will also call to check up on you. Just follow everything I told you to the T and you should in no time be fit to resume work.” Yasmin was not sure she wanted to resume. She had had plans of taking the cook role since the eatery were in need of one since one of the two cooks resigned in order to go and join the rest of her family abroad. But since the accident her plans had changed. There was a reason she had left home for Lagos and that, she was going to pursue. So that when they finally got to her, she would have achieved something.
*****
Outside, seated at the wheels of his black Honda cr-v, Damola watched as the nurse left the apartment. His house was two streets away and this was not his usual route but some days ago, he had found out that the street was linked to the street next to his and a shortcut rather than his usual route.
He was driving by when he saw the nurse. He reversed a little and stopped two doors away from the house she was coming out from. He recognised her from the hospital even in her green top over blue jean trousers. He knew most of the nurses except a few of them. He noticed there was someone behind her. When she came to view he realised it was her. The lady he saved.
They had missed each other the day she was discharged. He had intended to be the one to drive them home and since her friend, the one he had called had asked to see him he thought to kill two birds with one stone. But on getting there he was told she had been discharged. Disappointed, he had left berating himself for not asking for specifics about her discharge from the hospital. So, this is where she lives. It was funny that he had been living here for some months but had only just discovered this street some days ago.
Just then his phone began to ring. He looked at the caller ID Shina. He let out a huge sigh. Why was Shina calling him again? He was just going to let it ring out but at the last second decided against it and picked it up. “What is it again Bro?”
“Good afternoon to you too omo mi.” It was his mother that replied. Caught off guard, Damola apologised and greeted her properly. “Come for Dinner...” Damola was about to tell he would skip because there was somewhere very important he needed to be and he would make it up to her during the weekends but the excuse died on his lips before it could get out when he heard “...your father wants to see you. It’s very important.” There was no escaping his father, when summoned, you answer. “Alright mom, I will be there soon.”
...To be continued.
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