As he walked down the school hall, amidst glances from jealous boyfriends and girls dying to have him glance their way. Kabir drew attention wherever he went. He was just 20 and about to finish his clinical year in school.
Clara watched him as he walked towards her, he was almost 6ft tall and his silky blond hair caressed his chiseled face. She felt proud to call him her boyfriend. "Hello, Kabir." She said and dropped a light kiss on his lower jaw. "You are late." She beamed with excitement. Tonight was their first date and the whole school knew because Clara made sure they did.
"Sorry, I was caught in traffic." Kabir lied. He wasn't really into Clara but her parents were friends and both families belonged to the same class as the rich and powerful.
Kabir's father was a well known plastic surgeon, his clients were the rich and mighty, and Clara's mum was his client too.
"Let's go, shall we". He climbed into his power bike and gave her his helmet as she joined him. The whole school watched them. Kabir had dated only the hottest girls in school.
"I would give anything to spend a day with him" Vidya whispered to her friend Babara as they watched them zoom off. They both giggled and walked off to class.
***
The school cafe was filled up with which was the norm, each student sat in pairs mainly consisting of boyfriend's and girlfriends, the nerds of the school had their own corner too.
Musa walked into the cafe, alone as usual. He hadn't made many friends as he was an introvert and stammered. He didn't talk much, because they always made fun of him.
"Come and join us, Musa" Kabir called out to Musa. At first, he didn't respond thinking it wasn't him. Why should Kabir ask him to join them, the most popular kid in school?
He walked over to his seat to eat alone as usual but stopped on his track when Kabir called him out again, this time adding his surname. "Musa Bamidele, come join us." He turned and walked towards them, he felt frozen but his leg moved as if controlled by an unseen force.
Kabir's cliche of friends wondered why their friend invited this boy to their sit. Guru, the talkative of the group, asked anyway.
"He is my friend, any problem." He glared at Him. Guru knew it was time to keep quiet, a word from Kabir and he could lose friends.
***
Maya was a shy, plump girl. She was beautiful in her own way. Coming from a poor home she took her education seriously and didn't have time for relationships.
Ethan admired Maya a lot, he would love to date her. But he always met a dead end with her. "Maya, be my girl, I would cross the ocean for you." He pleaded for the umpteenth time.
"We have been through this a thousand times, I am not ready." She didn't feel love for him, she just liked him as a friend. Ethan was a good boy, he had a promising future. She felt flattered that he loved her, but she didn't want to date out of pity.
All Maya wanted was to be a school teacher, she loved kids a lot. Marriage was not on her list either, maybe someday in the future when she meets someone she loves.
She smiled at her last thought, for now, she must get a good grade if she wanted to go to the college of her choice.
***
Kabir leaned back in his chair and stretched out his long legs under the table. He had been studying for his final exams for almost 3 hours.
He had gone to the library, to avoid distraction. He loved enjoying life, women, and a good time but also loved his choice of profession.
Kabir wanted to be a surgeon, just like his father but he wanted to major in obstetrician and gynecologist. He wanted to help bring life into the world.
As he glanced up, he saw Musa walk in. He walked straight to reading and brought out his textbooks and reading materials.
Kabir watched him for a while, then packed up and left. His body was already sore from sitting in a place for so long.
***
The day was not going as planned. The weather was too hot, and the traffic was at its peak.
Mrs. Hudson, Maya's mum, had a pastry delivery to make and she was already behind schedule. Her clients were becoming worried as their guests were already starting to arrive.
She didn't want to lose this client, who had well to do friends and her connection would help her business.
As she came in with the pastries at the nick of time, she apologized for the late delivery and promised to do better
That evening she got a call to supply pastries, the order was large. She was to supply cakes, finger foods, and salads for the graduation party of the son of a well known plastic surgeon. His wife had gotten her number from a friend of hers who had used her services before.
She squealed with joy as she narrated her newest daughter and how this was the highest paying job she had ever done. "Congrats mum, you deserve every good thing." She hugged her so tight, "I love you."
***
The graduation ceremony started later than expected. The graduating students looked regal in their outfits and graduation gown.
There were lots of goodbyes and promises of keeping in touch. David won the best graduating student awards for his exceptional performance, he wasn't good looking but he was intelligent.
He worked really hard in school, he had an almost nonexistent social life. Being the best in the class had given him an automatic appointment in any good hospital of his choice as an obstetrician
Clara unfortunately didn't graduate, she had spent most of her time shopping and partying. All she dreamed of was to get married to a rich man, maybe have a kid and throw parties just like her mother.
Her father was disappointed, but her mother didn't think much of it, after all, they were rich, and Clara had her own trust fund worth millions of dollars.
"Goerge; come off it, she is still young." Maggie scolded her husband. "She can still get a degree, maybe not medicine this time." She said she had a party to plan, she was hosting her husband's colleagues tonight.
After the graduation ceremony in the school. Kabir's guests followed them home for the party, the whole house was decorated with lights that change colors per second. Flowers and balloons were hung on walls and entrance doors. The whole house was beautiful.
"Thank you all for coming to my son's graduation." Salman Devgan spoke into the microphone "what you all don't know is that this party is a two in one celebration." He smiled at his wife.
"Where is Kabir? He should be here for this announcement." The guards went in search of him. Kabir, however, had gone to the guest room with Shelby, she was a sister to one of his friends and had always had an eye for Kabir.
Shelby always got what she wanted and she wanted Kabir, he didn't mind though. He took her to the guest room where they had sex, Kabir was rough and she liked it. Clara who had gone to look for him saw them emerging from the guest room.
She knew what had happened, her eyes became moist with tears as she hid from them. "Kabir keeps breaking my heart, but it's not his fault those shameless girls are to blame." she thought. Clara adjusted her cloth, wiped her tears, and walked towards the hall with her usual fake smile splattered all over her face.
Ethan was seriously in love with Maya and was not happy she kept putting him off. "She just wanted to be friends." He fumed inwardly."I make good grades, am tall, handsome, and dress well." He thought as he admired himself in the large mirror screwed into his room wall. He was becoming obsessed with her, he wanted her for himself.
Ethan left home two months after his mother's death. Living with his stepfather had been a nightmare filled with emotional and physical abuse. His stepfather had shown no remorse as he vented his anger on him.His father had died when he was just a little boy, he couldn't even remember his face. All he knew about him was the stories his mother told him, and the pi
Char was the only child of her parents, She lost them both before her eight birthday.Her mother died when she was three years old. She had more memory of her father who died when she was eight going to nine.
Watch your steps, keep your wits about you. Salman yelled at his son.Despite knowing his son was a licensed obstetrician and gynecologist he still talked to him like a child.
Veronica stood at the window watching the husband of her youth walk away. She gripped her window blind to stop her tears from flowing.He entered his car without looking up as he used to years back.
************************************5 months ago************************************&nb
************************************Kabir's Graduation Party.************************************The s
Maya had completely forgotten she had planned another date with Ethan. She had been so engrossed with work and school.She was in her final year and didn't want to lose focus and end up losing her scholarship.
Kabir went straight to the airport from Maya's home, the flight to Florida was smooth without hassles and he arrived in Florida before it was too dark to make out where he was. He logged into a hotel close to the airport as this was his first time here and he didn't know his way around town. He had not eaten the whole day so he went to the hotel restaurant for a quick dinner of mashed potatoes, gravy and steak, before retiring to his room. He didn't come with any luggage either, his plan was to get whatever he needed at the mall, especially some change of clothes.
*******Maya********
Maya was awake early on Saturday morning. This was the day Kabir would be coming over to teach Mark how to ride his new bike. Mark had been excited about it and so was she, though she didn't know whether her excitement was seeing her son learn to ride or if it's because she will get to see Kabir again.She brewed coffee for herself and her mother then made pancakes and scrambled eggs for her son. Maya still lived with her mother, it was more convenient for both of them and they needed each other now more than ever before.Mark was also as excited as his mother, he was going to learn how to ride a bicycle today."Mum has uncle Kabir come yet., '' Mark said as he entered the kitchen and walked towards his mum, his face puffy from sleeping."Not yet honey." She bent over and gave him a light kiss on the cheeks before putting him on his highchair. "Eat your food okay, and be a good boy." She placed his meals in front of him and watched him eat. Her heart swelled with love for him.It was p
****************Kabir felt lost, the woman he had come to love with all his heart had left him forever. Theirs wasn't a perfect love story but somehow they found love and peace in their imperfection. The night has become cold and lonely and the warmth of her body against his is gone. It was almost a month since Clara died but the vacuum she left in his life and heart was indescribable.Going home after work had become torture for him that he spends most part of the day at the hospital and whenever he comes home he is too tired and goes straight to bed. He worked extra hours and took shifts as he would rather be anywhere but home. Home reminded him so much of Clara, and her memory was everywhere.Everything Kabir did became mechanical, he didn't put any feeling into what he did and operated like a robot from his waking up till the day was over.He was on his desk one morning and going through some files on the desk when a small piece of paper fell off from a file he just opened, he pi
"What do you mean by, you are dying Clara," Kabir asked, trying to control his temper. She looked at her husband trying to gauge her words."I have stage 4 cancer and the chance of survival is very slim Kabir." She replied her voice inaudible from her emotions."Okay, assuming that what you just told me is true. Then tell me, how long have you known about this?""When we came back from France, I went for the test before we traveled as I had cramps and bloody stool. ""And you are just telling me now, ma chérie," Kabir said his voice mixed with pain and anger"I didn't want you to be worried until I was sure of what was happening to me.""You have hurt me again Clara, my heart bleeds from this pain you have inflicted on me for the second time."Clara's nose was already red and swollen from the tears her eyes glassy from the tears that filled it and spilled down her cheeks, she stared at Ethan in confusion.Kabir watched her stare at him looking uncertain and thinking of how she had hur
Clara walked into the doctor's office like a zombie, she didn't know how she was able to drag her heavy cold feet towards his office. She was scared beyond words and when she sat down facing him, the first word that escaped her mount was "I'm going to die, doctor, ain't I.""Don't say that you don't know your diagnosis yet, allow me to explain to you what is happening to your body and also the treatment you need to get better.""I'm sorry doctor, what is wrong with me." The doctor opened her file in front of him and read through, Clara tried to watch his facial expression to know if she could read it and probably guess if it's good or bad news. But the doctor's face was unreadable."From your test result Clara and your symptoms, you have Stomach cancer."Clara froze and was left speechless but the doctor continued.There are usually no symptoms of stomach cancer early on until later, and since you have started developing serious symptoms already I have to run some more tests on you to
"I want us to go for a mini-vacation to any location of your choice," Kabir said to his wife after they had made love and laid down cuddling."Are you serious right now.""Yes, I want to make up for our honeymoon that was cut short and I also have some free time.""That would be great. Do you have a particular place in mind for the vacation.""Hmmm….I want you to make your choice. This vacation is especially for you." He said smiling down at her."I would go anywhere with you Kabir, it doesn't matter the place as long as you are there."Kabir looked at his young wife, she had stopped dying her hair blond at his insistence, her hair was originally red and it suited her more, she looked her age now and had also started eating healthier and more food. She looked happier than he had ever seen her and so did he. "Let's go to the city of love," Kabir suggested."Then you have to learn how to say I LOVE YOU in French. So you can tell me that every morning while we are there.""I can start no
Maya found herself being so emotional lately, she cried at unnecessary things and her mother had told her it was just the pregnancy hormones, she assured her it would stop after delivery.Even at work, she had gone to the school restroom to cry whenever the emotions hit her up on several occasions.Her baby bump had grown bigger and round that everyone knew she was pregnant, she couldn't hide it anymore. They didn't ask about the father but you would notice their stares and whispers, they judged her without knowing the truth.Maya remained positive in all this and tried as much as possible not to allow people's opinions about her matter too much. She did not owe anyone an explanation, her only concern was her child. She didn't know the gender yet, as she had asked her doctor not to reveal it to her. She wanted to know the gender only after birth.************Hospital*************Maya walked down the hospital corridor, tugging at the hem of her maternity top and thinking that her mo
The day started with a heavy downpour, you could hear the splattering of the rain on the rooftop. As a child, Maya had always loved it when it rained because she was sure of an offering of cookies and some hot cocoa by her mum. Life had been simpler those days, she had little or nothing to worry about. Growing up had not been all that rosy with an absent father and the little resources available to them, but somehow they survived it all especially her mothers' power to provide her with what she needed to have a better future.Now it was her turn to ensure she provides her own baby with what it needs, getting pregnant at her age with no husband was not the future she had envisioned for herself but life happened. She had choices to make but she believed that she took the best decision and would live by it.Her baby bump was already showing but only when she took off her clothes, her outfit to work or church was still able to conceal it but it was a matter of time before people started no