A Month Later
Elsa had used the money she got from Chester Hussain to pay for her mother's treatment. And thankfully, there were a few changes and her mother was able to talk.
"Mum! I prepared chicken porridge this morning," Elsa muttered, helping her up. She clicked a button beside the bed and a mini table showed. She placed the lunch box on it and dished little porridge out for her mother.
"Hmm... Can't I get something spicy and tasty now that I can talk? I am tired of eating this," Elsa's mother complained, squeezing her face and pouting.
Elsa chuckled and shook her head, "You know I would make everything for you if it is possible. However, Dr. Luke said that you aren't yet stable to take those meals you are craving,"
"But.. I am hale now,"
"Okay, mum. I will make sure I ask him if you can eat it once a week if I see him today. So, you have to manage this one now," She took a spoonful of the porridge and raised it to her mother's mouth, "Say Ah!"
Her mother did as she instructed and she tucked the porridge into her mouth.
They repeated this process until she finished the little porridge she dished out, she drank water and Elsa cleared the table.
"Do you want to rest now?" Elsa asked.
"Oh no! I have to let this food digest before resting so that I don't end up having a pot belly. Yunno, I need to still take care of my hot body," Her mother joked and Elsa burst into laughter.
"Hot body you say," She said amidst laughter, covering her mouth with her hands.
The laughter stopped abruptly and the ward became silent. Elsa's mother pierced her eyes into Elsa's.
"Give me your hands," Elsa's mother requested.
"What!" Elsa's eyebrows raised in a questioning manner. She stretched her hands to her.
"My dear," She started. "I appreciate your love and care for me. It's been 5 months since I have been lying on this bed and you never showed any sign of frustration or tiredness. I pray that you get every good thing in the world,"
"Amen, mum. It's nothing. You are my mother and it's my duty to take care of you," Elsa uttered in a low tone, trying to hide the emotions in her voice.
"How did you get the money needed for my treatment?" She let out and it came to Elsa's ears like a bomb. She glanced at her mom, dumbfounded.
"Don't lie, Elsa. I didn't ask all these days because I couldn't speak. I know we are short of money and you've not been going to work because of my illness. So how did you get the huge amount you used for my treatment?"
Elsa's stood transfixed. She peeked at her mother unblinkingly. Why didn't she think a day like this was going to come sooner or later? She must have forgotten her mother isn't the type who will see something suspecting and let it go without knowing the dept. She opened her mouth to say something but no words were coming out.
She cleared her throat and blinked thrice, "Mum! I... I... I worked for the money. I featured in a movie as the lead actress and was paid that so I decided to use the money for your treatment," She lied, blinking her eyes at every word.
Her mother neither flinches nor says anything. She fixed her gaze on Elsa without smiling.
Elsa discovered her mother had seen through her lies, she scratched the back of her head uneasily and swallowed hard.
"Okay... I sle....," Before she could complete her sentence, she felt irritated and nauseous. She held her belly and covered her mouth with her hand and rushed into the toilet.
"Eiiii," She puked all the breakfast she had into the water closet. Beads of sweat covered her forehead while she vomited. After some minutes, her body calmed and she strolled out tiredly.
"What happened? What did you have for breakfast?" Her mother asked, giving her a suspicious look.
"I got a sandwich from a roadside seller," She replied, cleaning her mouth with a towel.
"Maybe that's the reason,"
"I don't think so, mum. I have been having these funny feelings since three days ago. I think it is malaria," Elsa retorted calmly.
Just as she finished speaking, one of the nurses in the hospital entered the room.
"Thank God you are here, Nurse Rose. Take Elsa with you and help me run a few tests on her," Her Mother told the nurse, pushing Elsa to her.
Elsa was surprised. She wasn't expecting that from her mum. It was just malaria so why get worked up? "Mum! I only need to go to the pharmacy and get malaria drugs. It's unnecessary to spend money on some tests,"
"No! We still need to check the intensity of malaria so that the doctor can administer the right drugs," She objected.
Elsa sighed and opted to go with Nurse Rose. She knew her mother was too stubborn and would never listen to her excuses unless she did what she wanted.
Nurse Rose took her to the hospital laboratory. They took her blood and also a sample of her urine.
"You can wait here while I carry out the tests," Nurse Rose spoke and stepped into the laboratory.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into an hour. And nurse Rose walked out with the results of the tests.
She handed one of the test results to her. "This is the malaria test and it shows that you have little malaria in your blood," She explained.
Elsa glanced at the result and smiled, "I know it isn't something serious. Mom is only paranoid. Thank you, Nurse Rose. Can I leave now?" She was about to stand up but the nurse stopped her.
"Ah! I think there's something else you need to know,"
Elsa halted her actions and sat back. She glimpsed at the nurse with anticipation.
"I ran a pregnancy test and discovered you are a month gone," Rose dropped the bomb and Elsa widened her eyes, shocked and speechless.
She forced out a smile, "What! Preg... What?"
"Yes! You are expecting a baby. Congratulations, miss," A smile flashed across her eyes as she handed the second result over to her.
Elsa received the result with shaky hands. The result trembled in her hands as she looked at it. Tears welled in her eyes. Why didn't she think about it for once? Why didn't she ever think about the possibility of being pregnant despite being aware that it was unprotected sex?
She had kept herself away from Lauren and Chester as he had requested and had vowed never to go to them. What is she going to do now?
"This baby isn't meant to come to the world. This isn't meant to happen," She muttered absentmindedly and tears streamed out of her eyes.
She had a sick mother to take care of and the thought of adding pregnancy to her misery made her sick too. Why is life so unfair?
She stood up and walked out of the laboratory to the hospital field. She saw an empty bench and went to sit on it
"God!" She called, looking up at the sky, "How can you be so cruel? You intentionally didn't make us rich, I never complained, despite all I was thankful. You sent sickness to my mother after knowing we have no resources to take care of her, but still, I didn't say anything. I believed all fingers are not equal and accepted my fate. And now, what have you done? You made me get pregnant. How do you expect me to go to the father of the baby and explain to him that I am carrying his baby? You know this baby is forbidden. He is not meant to come into this world. No!"
Tears strolled down her face uncontrollably while she shook her head negatively.
"God! Why? Why are you so cruel to my family? Why? You just have to do something about this pregnancy. I don't know what you need to do. You can remove it yourself. Spoil it or you never make it grow," She let out loudly and placed her head on her lap. She sobbed silently.
Meanwhile, Lola Kirk, Chester's mother, had just gotten out of her car when she sighted Elsa. Of course, she knew who she was. She knew she had something with her son.
She squeezed her face when she saw tears in her eyes. What could make Elsa cry?
"Hey! Tell Dr. Luke I am already here but need to stay in the field for a few minutes," She ordered without taking her eyes off Elsa.
Her bodyguard nodded and rushed to deliver her message while she walked toward Elsa.
"Hm... Hm... Hm. Hm," She cleared her throat, announcing that someone was beside Elsa.
Elsa lifted her head after hearing the sounds. She quickly dried her face up after seeing Chester's mother although she didn't know she was Chester's mother.
"Can I sit?" Lola asked.
"Of course. I am so sorry I took the whole space," Elsa forced a smile, shifting her body so she could create a space for her to sit on.
Chester's mother sat and glanced at Elsa.
"I know you've been crying because I have been watching you from there," She pointed at the place her car was parked.
Elsa gave her a questioning look, "Nah! I am not the type who interferes in people's business but I just couldn't ignore you. Did something bad happen?"
"No, ma. Thanks for your concern," Elsa replied, trying to stand up but the woman held her hand, stopping her from standing.
"There is something. Just let it out. At least, it's going to ease the pains," Lola Kirk told her truthfully and worriedly.
With pursed lips, Elsa peeked into her eyes and saw her sincerity. She decided to open up. Since she didn't know her and they won't see each other again after today.
"I am pregnant," She confessed in a low tone, playing with her fingers embarrassingly.
Lola's face lit up with happiness. She wanted to carry her up, however, she controlled herself. She didn't want to scare her away or look abnormal to her.
"Wow! That's a good thing. Take it to the father and make plans," She said with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"That's the thing! This... This is not meant to happen. The baby is not meant to come into the world," She covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her tears.
"But why!"
"The baby's father is never going to take me seriously. He thought I am just a desperate slut and relationship wrecker," Elsa replied. Her countenance was overwhelmed with confusion and sadness.
"Why do you think so? How about you think of the positive parts? What if he decided to marry you after finding out you are carrying his child?" Lola Kirk asked, scanning her reaction and trying to read her emotions. She was praying inwardly that Elsa will agree to keep the baby.
Elsa chuckled, "I guess you don't understand me yet. I don't love the baby's father and he's never going to agree to get married to me. We literally became sworn enemies the same night we made this baby," Elsa was already getting frustrated. Thinking about it was doing no good to her.
"Whoops! I don't think it should be as bad as it seems," Lola simply muttered.
"Well, it is worse. I will just get rid of it before it grows or I'll keep it," Elsa said, getting up.
"Thank you so much, ma. I really appreciate the listening ears you gave me. I need to go back to check on my mother," She bowed respectfully and was strolling toward the hospital.
Lola called, "Wait!" She shouted.
Elsa halted and turned to face her. Lola stood up and hurried to where she was standing. "Don't make any rash decisions. Think about everything we discussed," She patted her and smiled widely at her.
Elsa smiled back, thanked her, and walked back into the hospital.
As soon as Elsa's silhouette disappeared into the hospital. Lola's face beamed with joy. She brought out her phone and dialed Chester's number.
The moment Chester picked up, she burst into laughter and said, "I am so proud of you, my son. I love you so much,"
She hung up after saying this.
Chester on the other side glanced at his blank phone, shocked at his mother's attitude.
What will he do when he finds out about the pregnancy?
