Mild wind. A short story with lessons

Mild wind

©

Nobody could tell why Richard did not marry Felicia. Both of them were in love right from their secondary school. Even both parents were aware of their relationship. Everything began to fall apart when Richard was admitted to a university in a nearby state. This means that he will have to relocate to the state and begin his education journey. By this time, Felicia was also about to write her college examination. However, there was no hope of her proceeding to the university as her parents were not financially buoyant at the time. As the time for Richards's traveling drew near, his mother called him to her room one early morning. Richard, being oblivious to what his mother would tell him, was scared at first but summoned the courage to walk into her room. As he stepped him, his mother told him to go back and that she would call him back when she was free. Not long after, She called him back, and now his father had left the room.

“Your father was in the room, that's why I asked you to go back,” his mother said as she asked Richard to sit on the edge of the bed. She stood up from the bed and sat adjacent to her son so that he could hear her clearly. The room was spacious and had less furniture, few boxes of clothes and a wedding picture hung adjacent to the bedside. Something has told Richard that this meeting is so unusual and that it might not end well.

Speaking in a low tone she then asked “Richard, I just got information that you're dating Fecilia, how true is this?” acting surprised he responded, “Mum, where do you get this information from?”

“Are you asking me? “ the mum said.

“Ok,” he said as he smiled “I was helping her to check her college result with my phone since she doesn't have an Android phone” Richard defended.

A few days ago, their neighbor who owns a provision shop saw Richard and Felicia standing under a tree close to the city mall; she then reported them to Richard's mother who's also a deaconess in the church. Dating is not allowed in Christianity, so it is always a taboo for young people to date.

“You just had admission into the university” Richard's mum continued, “I wanted to find out from you if you're still interested in the university or you want to marry? “ she added.

“I want to go to school,” he responded with a smile. “it's alright”

Not long after that Richard left for his university education. After a period of four years, when he was done with school, he proceeded to his compulsory national youth service program in the far North of the country. Notwithstanding, Richard's love for Felicia had long gone, though they still communicated on the phone.

After his national service, Richard was employed at a university as a lecturer, he got married and started a life in Kano, a state in the Northern region of the country.

Felicia, has been around, learning trade and was becoming a professional in her catering business. On one of the holidays, Richard visited home. After so many years, he decided to see Felicia and both of them agreed to see each other in a hotel outside town.

Richard paid for the hotel and was waiting for Felicia in room 3. Not too long after she arrived and both started to recount their childhood lovey-dovey experience. They enjoyed themselves and had many rounds of sex.

At night the hotel was under attack by a deadly militant group who came to abduct foreigners who lodge at the hotel. Unfortunately for Richard, he was shot on the left arm, as he was rushed to the hospital, no doctor was on duty to attend to him, so he was rushed to another hospital, unfortunately his left hand was damaged beyond repair. That's how Richard lost his entire left hand.

He returned to Kano with an amputated hand.