Rose of Numen

by Olatunde, Biola;

  The gloves were off as Babatunde stood up and indicated with a nod of his head that the conversation was over. His eyes were cold and angry but he still smiled. Prince Adewunmi stood up slowly; he was also angry but reared back, stunned, when he heard the low growl of a lion very close by. He stood still, in shock. The growl came again and he made a very hurried exit.

  Babatunde’s father heard the growl and rushed into Babatunde’s room to find his son calmly about to change into his nightwear. Both men stared at each other and the father returned to his bed.

  Chapter Eight

  Ife had one her very rare day off and she was having a lazy day in bed when her phone rang. She picked it up assuming it was Yomi only to sit up abruptly when she heard the voice of Babatunde at the end of the line. She was very surprised.

  “Hello, stranger.” She laughed into the phone and listened as Babatunde said he was in her neighborhood and invited her for lunch, adding that he was aware it was her day off. Ife felt very light and teased him that she would have him know she was a very busy doctor. She closed her eyes picturing him and enjoying that deep growl that always seemed about to break forth. They chatted lightly and Ife hung up, sitting staring for a few more seconds.

  She went to the bathroom and made ready for the date. As she was leaving she met Yomi driving in. Apparently he knew it was her day off too. Ife hesitated and explained that she was meeting an old friend. Yomi said he didn’t mind if they could have some fruit juice and he would leave as soon as her friend turns up. Ife gave him a look then she smiled and said she didn’t think her friend would mind as they could both wait for him to join them. Yomi’s brows went up at the mention of a male but he shrugged and opened the car door for her.

  Yomi took her to her usual place and they ordered fruit drinks. A shadow fell on the table and both of them looked straight into the calm eyes of Babatunde.

  “I actually was passing by when I saw you through the window.” He smiled down at her and Ife rose. She was smiling too and introduced the two men to each other. Yomi invited Babatunde to sit and he was curious to see that Babatunde waited for Ife’s permission. Ife laughed and obliged.

  The contrast between the two men was very sharp. While Yomi was tall and very slim, Babatunde was slightly taller but very powerfully built that one was likely to forget his height. There was a silence that surrounded Babatunde and Ife smiled.

  “You have grown.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Babatunde replied, inclining his head.

  Yomi watched them. Ife explained to Yomi that Babatunde was a pharmacist with a difference. “He is also our local medicine man if one can call him that. He has learnt the art of our natural medicinal ways and combines it with the modern science. He serves our people that way.”

  There was a small silence and Ife gave Babatunde a casual look as she asked in her mind if Prince Adewunmi had behaved himself since the last visit. Babatunde laughed and said that he had put the fear of the unknown in the mind of the prince.

  Ife turned to Yomi and asked him if he was a prince from his town. Yomi grinned and said he was a simple citizen. As the lunch progressed, Babatunde and Ife would suddenly laugh out loud and Yomi asked to be told what the joke was. Yomi said he was puzzled and sensed that a conversation was going on around him that he could not be part of. Ife shook her head at Babatunde in rebuke. Babatunde shrugged but said nothing.

  “I am sorry, Yomi, Babatunde and I are friends for a long time and we seem to understand things unsaid, you see. I was trying to catch up with him.”

  “I see, I think my distant third might be in the way. Besides I need to have a conference with a client, so if you will both excuse me, I have to go now. I will see you next time, Ife?”

  Ife gave him a contrite smile and said it was okay and hoped his conference with his client will go well seeing as the client was at that moment in the capital city six hours drive away. Yomi stared at her shocked but Ife simply smiled and explained that she understood. Yomi stood staring at both Babatunde and Ife and quietly walked away.

  Babatunde in a quiet voice said, “I love you.”

  Ife looked at him in wonder and her heart opened to the wonder of a love given without question. Her eyes told him that she responded and she stretched her hand across the table to touch his, as they felt themselves melt into each other. Hands entwined, staying that way for a few seconds then Ife sighed trying to focus because a bewildered waiter stood staring at them. Babatunde put his hands in his pocket to pay for the lunch but was told the other guest had already paid as he left. Babatunde said a soft thank you. The waiter left and Babatunde returned his gaze to Ife. “I could not keep away any longer, my assignment is going through another phase and I need you.”

  Ife replied very simply, “It has been lonely without your presence. I never felt complete following you around but always wondering what was to happen next, so when are you supposed to be summoned? Even though I am not sure what next we are supposed to be doing but I miss you too.”

  “I will be expecting to enter the palace to receive the declaration of Ifa but I really don’t know when.” Babatunde stood up and stretched out his hand. Ife stood up with him and they both left the restaurant.

  For the pair, it was a day out in paradise as they went everywhere and decided to drive to the village together. They arrived at the village just before the bells sounded in their kingdoms and Ife took him to the grove.

  Babatunde was welcomed into the palace by smiling flower-clad beings who took them to a beautiful spot beside the clear light falls, and Ife led him into the water and bliss.

  Much later they slept by the light falls holding hands. Someone brought them food and they ate drinking in each other’s love and seeming to be just content together. It was the first time they openly acknowledged a love that had been there apparently through the ages. They both knew there would be time for other things, like deciding to stay together.

  “You know, I protested the idea that I had no choice in the matter,” Ife said, dreamily tracing patterns on the grass.

  “I was more afraid of being married off to the daughter of a herbalist or a mad woman,” Babatunde confessed, and they both laughed. Babatunde ran his fingers gently through her hair and she trembled with the peace of being with him.

  “I can see your skin glow from here and the soft color of your love,” she said.

  “I am trying very hard to control myself. I love you beyond me and I never understood how I could feel this way since that fantastic morning.” He threaded flowers through her hair as Ife drifted to a peaceful sleep.

  They woke up in the grove and decided to spend the early dawn in Yeye’s house. So they gently opened the door and Ife still sleepy made herself comfortable resting her head on the broad chest of Babatunde. The real dawn broke to find Yeye staring in awe at two people in her modest living room. Ife stirred and opened her eyes into the bemused presence of Yeye.

  “Stop staring, we spent the night in the grove and came here to wait for the dawn to come in properly—we tried the door and sneaked in. You slept so innocently that I did not have the heart to wake you. I hear you have been having pains of the joints. Suppose you make us breakfast then get a few things together so you can come with me to town. I need to run some tests on you.”

  Yeye gave Babatunde a deep curtsey and hurried off to her kitchen. Ife looked at Babatunde and laughed. “Your tie is askew, great Lion”

  Her eyes went wide when Sasa replied with a smile. “Excuse me, Highness, but Fancy Pants is getting dressed and will soon join you himself. The young woman would have been uncomfortable with a bare chested male in her sedate house.”

  “You are confusing him more this way, Sasa,” Ife replied, laughing as Babatunde emerged. Sasa, who now assumed his Misty as Babatunde, walked in.

  “I thought I heard you talking?” Babatunde asked.

  Ife said in a very casual way that she was talking to Sasa, watching closely to see how Babatunde would react. Babatunde’s b
row cleared and he in turn gave Ife a close look and they both laughed.

  “Okay, we know of Sasa together,” Babatude said, relieved.

  Yeye came in with boiled yam, palm oil and fresh water. They had breakfast as Yeye got ready.

  Ife knew one more link had been made as both of them could relate to Sasa. Ife felt relaxed about that bit of recognition.

  Chapter Nine

  Two weeks later, as Ife hurried to the ward after a difficult delivery, she met Yomi. He was on his way to her office. He had not come to see her since his abrupt departure. But Ife gave him a friendly greeting and led the way to her office where she collapsed into the chair very tired.

  Yomi bit his lip and watched her for few seconds and Ife became aware of his silent observation, raising her eyebrows asking him what the matter was.

  Yomi replied that he was fine but that he could see the glow around her. “I have a problem though and I hope you can solve it for me.”

  Ife invited him to state the problem and he replied that he was having a nightmare. He explained that he always found himself at the edge of a cliff seeming to wait endlessly for someone. He said the dream went on for a week and then in the last one week he noticed beautiful girls coming from the farm and each one would pass and offer him fruits but he refused to accept any of the offered food as he had developed a hunger for a particular fruit held by a lady. However the lady did not even look at him, and then all the girls ran away when they heard the growl of a lion. He rubbed his chin as he spoke, giving what Ife could see as a speculative glance.

  Ife stared at him when he finished. “Yomi, I am a doctor not a psychiatrist. I deliver babies and look after women. I can’t psychoanalyze you.”

  Yomi put his hand in his pocket and brought out a small jewelry box, which he studied contemplatively. “You know, I have been meaning to give you this. I went on a trip to India recently and my eye caught this particular jewelry. The lady at the shop said I should give it to the goodwill lady, and in the strangest way I felt she described you. Along with my nightmares and sense of loss, I have been seeing that same woman in my dreams who has been prodding me to reach for my dreams.” Then he looked at her. There was a wealth of sadness in his eyes and Ife felt his pain.

  “Yomi, you are being dramatic.”

  Yomi shook his head sadly and pushed the jewelry box across the table towards her. “I think I meant to propose to you, Ife.” He sighed as he continued, “I saw the last time, that it would be a foolish dream, and I was not meant to fall in love with you. That was the meaning of the dreams and it became a nightmare because it tormented me. I saw the instant rightness the day the Lion came to you, my friend. I have the very odd feeling that I met the one person who will be special to you. I know you have not told me anything but you are beginning to mean a whole lot to me and, well, I wish I can sense the same thing about you for me.”

  Ife smiled. “Please, we are friends and I tried so hard not to give the wrong impression.” There was a pleading note in her voice and Yomi returned the smile.

  “You think you can tell one of those girls to come back and I will take her fruits?”

  “Wura would be so pleased to learn that,” Ife said, then clapped her hands to her mouth in horror as Yomi stared at her in shock.

  “You know Wura?”

  “Who?”

  “You mentioned Wura just now.” Yomi was agitated.

  “I don’t know any Wura. The name just popped into my head, honestly.”

  “Don’t mess with my brain after messing with my heart,” Yomi said in real agitation. “Oh, I get it, Tinu told you about Wura right?”

  “Calm down and tell me about this person. I didn’t know how I came to mention such a name and Tinu has not said anything to me about a Wura. Who is Wura?”

  “My first girlfriend.”

  “And your real love since then—why haven’t you ever tried to get in touch with her? She has been living in this town in the last two years as a matter of fact.”

  “What? You know her?”

  Ife was exasperated not only with Yomi but with her friends who were firing rapid information at her and not giving her time to see what was happening. They were projecting too many pictures and she told them sharply in her mind to slow down. I can’t even properly read your pictures at this rate, she told them, then fixed her gaze on Yomi. “Will you quit asking me dumb questions? Do I look like a visionary to you”?

  Yomi gave her a long look, and said slowly, “Go on, keep talking, I will get to the bottom of the mystery in a minute. What kind of game is this?”

  Ife had enough and stood up pointing to the door. “Excuse me, I need my space to myself now.”

  Yomi slammed out and Ife sat down letting air out slowly.

  That was when Ndana walked in. I had not seen him for a while and was not even aware he had incarnated in my area. Numen looked at him and smiled, asking him to come and sit.

  With wide staring eyes he told her that he was supposed to have fainted in the ward and nurses were running down to come and fetch her. Ife asked him quickly what his Earth name was and he showed her his forearm where she read the name Kunle. She scooped him up and leaned over. He faded, and when the nurses came knocking, she calmly told the stunned nurse she would be on her way shortly. She silently whispered to Ndana to hurry back and she would talk with him later.

  Drips were set up as Ife arrived at the scene of a crying mother and a still young boy in the net covering his bed. Ife became very business-like as she linked up with Ndana asking him to brief her what his mission was and what he was doing throwing his mother into a panic.

  A subdued mother watched Kunle anxiously as Ife took notes and tried to calm the mother. A drip was set up and Kunle was rubbed down to bring his temperature down. Ife noticed that there was a small tattoo on the forearm of the boy. The mother explained that the boy was born with it and he was regarded as some kind of a mystery. Ife understood and patted the mother in a reassuring manner.

  According to the mother, Kunle had a habit of disappearing into the farm at odd hours, never frightened by anything, and had once spent a whole night by the forest of the spirits. The mother was always in a state of perpetual anxiety. Ife gave Kunle a lecture at the earliest opportunity.

  “Reincarnation is a gift, Kunle, don’t abuse it by making it feel it is something extra special. It is the Creator’s gift to help you understand and give you time to learn and grow. Remember how you need to move from one class to another as you acquire knowledge in the lessons given to you. Life is very much like the same thing. It is not about your religion or lack of it but the laws that fulfill themselves as we move from one life to another. I see you remember your immediate past existence almost vividly. It is nothing special. It is to make you acutely aware of the lessons you are to learn because you have an urgency in this present life. Do you understand?”

  Kunle nodded his head solemnly. “Yes I do,” and he gave a chuckle of an old man and Ife sat up in surprise, a questioning look coming into her eyes. Her uncle Agbo seemed to be looking at her through the eyes of Kunle.

  Would he remember her? she wondered, as she stared at Kunle. Does he remember? She so badly wanted to welcome him and she was not really sure if that was truly her uncle. What if he freezes me with those eyes of his and tells me I am speaking rubbish?

  Ife stood up in agitation and started pacing. Is Kunle my uncle, and if so, why didn’t he incarnate in the family? Besides, my paternal grandmother was not back yet. What was the turn-around time for incarnations? She had learnt from conversations with her friends that turn-around varied. Some spanning hundreds of years while it could be months for others.

  She remembered one they called ‘Spatako’.

  ~~~

  Spatako was a commercial driver plying the Lagos routes in her village. Quite popular, but given to drinking while not on his route. Ife remembered that Mother always hesitated to take his bus because of the drinking. He had been on a motorbike retur
ning from the beer parlor when he drove under an oncoming truck. He died instantly throwing the whole town into shock and grief.

  The truck driver was not lynched, as would have been the case because everybody knew that Spatako was destined for such an end.

  What was surprising was the way Spatako went round to see his brothers and sisters after his passing. He visited his brother in Lagos days after his passing and asked his brother to help him deliver a message to their aged father. Spatako was reported to have told his brother that he was on a trip to the North and might be away for days. He told his brother to assure their father that he was fine but needed to go on that trip as it was urgent. He also added one for his wife that she might put to bed before he arrived in a few days’ time. The wife was not even pregnant at that time, at least she was not aware of being pregnant then, it was going to be their first child and she had no morning sickness or pregnancy symptoms.

  An annoyed older brother had arrived home, and testily gave the message but was consternated when the mother heard the message and promptly fainted. In the ensuing pandemonium, a bewildered brother was shown the grave of his brother. He sat on that grave for hours, uncomprehending.

  Ife was home at that time and witnessed all that had happened. Days later she saw Spatako in his misty form wandering round the home of his wife. She had tried to talk to him but he never heard her and would follow his wife around. Ife was too scared of her mother’s reaction to ask for help. Naturally when the wife put to bed it had been a girl and Ife wondered if it was Spatako that had come back as a girl.

  She remembered asking Mae if it had been Spatako. She had laughed that reincarnations followed certain processes and that the girl had reincarnated on a different thread configuration.

  ~~~

  She shrugged and supposed Kunle would not have been her uncle Agbo returning then. Sometimes she felt lonely just learning about some of the questions of life and existence and feeling lost in a world of superstitions, myths and ignorance.