RUMOLA, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
Preye Green, a computer geek and currently an employee of one of the companies located in Port Harcourt, was seated in his work space which was at a little corner in the technical department. He was tweaking some kinks in one of the company's newly launched software. The week had been very busy for him—not just him, but also for his fellow technicians. Three of the company's software applications had been malfunctioning and it had not been good for the company's business. The stocks were rapidly dwindling, the approval rate was tapering, and the company's management had been breathing down the necks of all the technicians like a hot furnace.
But at the moment, it wasn't this software that Preye and his team were battling with that had his attention. It was the thought of his sister and mother that latched onto him.
He couldn't understand why he was getting that uncanny feeling about them. But there was one thing he knew, and that was the fact that whenever he felt troubled in his spirit about his family, it was a signal to pray for them.
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Just like some of the other previous times, he didn't get the specific prayer points. He settled for the safest option as always—praying with other tongues.
It had been a while—almost three weeks—since he had last seen his mother and sister, and with the way things were hot around the company, he knew he wouldn't be seeing them anytime soon. He made a mental note to call them after his working hours. Not that he couldn't call them now—the company permitted short duration of calls as long as it didn't interrupt their job—but he just liked to stick to professional mode while he was working.
His phone vibrated on his desk. He picked it up and checked the caller ID. Talk of the devil. No, think of the devil, and he'll show up. But, this wasn't the devil. It was his little sis, Ayanate.
Professional or not, he couldn't let her call go unanswered.
So he smiled, swiped the green circle on his phone's screen and lifted it to his left ear.
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DESTINY ESTATE, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
Nothing could explain the relief Mrs. Righteous Green felt upon driving into her home after what she thought was a depressing day for her at the Oil Mill market.
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She drove into her garage, quickly pushed open the door and did not bother off-loading her groceries as she successfully navigated her way around her car into her house. She'd bother about that later.
The house was a white one-storey building that was sandwiched between two other houses with similar decor.
A linear array of identical houses stood grandly, opposite the building. A choice of ornamental flowers and bushes sprung up like colorful balloons against a backdrop of the greenest and most well-tended-to lawn the state could boast of.
All the buildings in Destiny estate were similarly designed, giving it a monotonous outlook.
If not for the signages of street names and house numbers, any poor first-timer would be lost in this repetitive maze.
Righteous wearily made her way to the imported, four-paneled entrance door. The sound of her high-heeled shoes gave away her presence with each step she took.
She was dressed in a cherry red top and black jean trouser and was carrying a brown handbag that matched the color of her high heels.
Righteous was a tall and huge woman and her high-heeled shoes made her look taller. She was very beautiful and she still had a smiling face which she was still trying to maintain after all the hardship she'd gone through in life. However, one look at her and you'd know that Righteous was a no-nonsense woman. Even though she was nice, she carried an aura that made outsiders, especially all her employees, love and respect her at the same time.
Apart from the similarities in their beauty and kind heart, Ayanate was the direct opposite of her mother with her average height of 5 feet and 3 inches and well shaped, slender and petite body that made her look a couple of years younger than she actually was. Looking at her today, anyone who knew her five years ago would think she hadn't aged a bit.
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Righteous entered into the safety of her living room and quietly closed the door behind her. She spun around and mentally acknowledged the clean and tranquil environment.
All the upholstery, the television, home theater, dining set and the window panes had been dusted. The slightly dirty curtains and draperies had been replaced by clean ones. The cream-tiled floor was sparkling clean.
Everything was perfectly in order. As usual, Ayanate had done a commendable job.
The clean and quiet environment incessantly gave her peace and restored her sanity. The house was more like her sanctuary and that was why she loved coming home.
She could never get tired of coming to this wonderful environment that was constantly arranged and accurately managed by her daughter. Her lovely daughter.
"Oh, Ayanate, my sweet and innocent child! What have I gotten you into? A beautiful and priceless princess like you ought to be in the world, exploring and living your life to the fullest like your counterparts. You ought to be out there fulfilling your purpose, meeting new friends everyday and spending some precious time with a man who loved you dearly, whoever he might have been. But here you are, cooped up in this house all by yourself."
She finished muttering to herself and laughed humourlessly.
She got to the archway that led to the dining when she started hearing a faint sound of a television from the direction of her daughter's bedroom upstairs. She instantly knew that her daughter must be in her room. Then she made a mental note to drop by for their usual little conversation before finally making her way to her room.
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Dressed in her yellow tank top and black skirt, Ayanate sat cross-legged on her queen-sized bed as the call to her brother's began to go through, the dialing tone tingling in her ear.
He answered after the fourth ring. She could hear his voice on the other side of her phone.
"Hello, baby," her brother's stressed but cheerful voice greeted.
She groaned and slapped the side of her bed in frustration. "Oh, jeez, I thought I told you to stop calling me by that name. I am twenty-one years old for crying out loud and you are just three years older than me, so when will you and Mum stop calling me baby? I'm not your baby anymore. I'm a grown up now."
"Well, good afternoon to you too," her brother quipped, grinning from his end at his success at annoying her.
"This isn't time to be sarcastic, Preye," Ayanate deadpanned.
"Okay, tell me, what time is it, little bird?"
"Oh no, you've just called me yet another annoying name in your archive."
"Uh-oh! I didn't know. I'm so sorry about that."
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She could hear her brother softly chuckling on the other side of the phone. He was evidently enjoying her discomfort.
"Stop it now. It's not funny."
"Alright, baby."
"I said you should stop... Ugh... Just wait till I get you."
Her brother swiftly changed the topic. He knew his limit.
"So, how are you?" he inquired softly.
The question made her smile. Now, this was the caring brother she knew.
"I'm fine. I was just missing you so I said I should call."
"That makes the two of us. I was planning to call you in the evening."
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"Okay, so will you come and take me to church this Sunday? It's been a while since you came home for the weekend and I'd really love to go to church with you on Sunday."
"Oh sis, I'd like nothing better, but there is so much to do around here and I'll be as busy as a beaver for the next two weeks. Please bear with me for now and when I come home in a fortnight, we'll go to church together, okay?"
Her shoulder slumped in disappointment. She mumbled a halfhearted "Okay."
Ayanate checked her time using her phone's screen-reader and realized it was almost time for her favorite television program.
Her attention was momentarily divided and didn't hear the question her brother had posed to her.
"Sorry, what did you say?"
"I was just asking if all is well with you over there."
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"What about Mum? Is she okay as well?"
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Just then, the door to her room was yanked open and she immediately perceived the soft and pleasant fragrance of her mother's familiar perfume.
"Talk of the devil," she gushed.
Her brother cackled on the other side of the phone. "What did you just say? I hope she didn't hear you?"
Ayanate felt a bit scared as she waited for her mother to react to her using a phrase that even bordered on profanity. Her mother was very firm against that. Her mother sat, either too tired or unaware of what she'd said.
Thank goodness.
Then, to her brother, she quickly decided to set him straight.
"I didn't say anything... I only meant it as a figure of speech."
"You didn't say anything, yet you meant it as a figure of speech." Her brother guffawed.
The television programme had finally started, a perfect excuse for her to disconnect the call.
"I have to go now. The TV show I was waiting for has finally started. Goodbye, bro."
"Goodbye, baby girl. Tell mum that I'll call her after working hours."
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Ayanate tossed her phone gently on the bed, greeted her mother out of respect and focused on the ongoing television program.
Her mother, who didn't care that she was watching one of her favorite programs, tried to engage her in a light discussion. Ayanate wouldn't let that happen.
"We'll talk later, Mum. The pastor is about to start preaching," Ayanate said, her attention and focus still glued to the TV.
Righteous was quiet for a while. It was obvious her daughter didn't want to talk to her.
"If she doesn't want to talk to me, fine. Let her suit herself. She can watch that boring TV show for the rest of the day for all I care." She hissed under her breath.
She abruptly stood up with a deep sigh from the couch where she sat, spun on her heels and made for the door.
She swung the door open, crossed the threshold and closed it with a loud bang.
Ayanate looked up, startled. What was wrong with her Mum?
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