DREAM AND QUEST
(II)
Pondering
over the strong message dropped by his father Prof. B. O. Ola, asking him to
steer clear of his house as he (Kunle) was left alone by the couple right in
the sitting room, Kunle couldn’t fathom the reason his biological dad would
instruct him to leave his house simply because he had chosen to pursue a career
he had developed extreme passion for. Obviously, he never saw suchlike sticker
that required exegesis coming from anywhere; that was why he remained perturbed
immediately after his parents exited from the parlour.
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old chap
wasn’t deterred by the threat. Though every other person within could tag it an
‘empty threat’, he was of the deep view that even if the professor turned out
to mean his words, it would never mark the exodus of the seeming controversial
pursuit; rather, it would spur him to put in more effort toward proving to his
parents that a ‘rejected’ child could still attain greatness in life regardless
of the enormity of the challenges.
“Why did you make such pronouncement?” Mrs.
Ola queried her hubby the moment she joined him in their matrimonial room,
standing.
“What’s so strange about it?” the young don
responded as he sat on the bed.
“Everything,” Mrs. Ola quarreled.
“Everything is strange about it.”
“Everything like what?”
“How could you ask your biological son to
leave your house?” she said, stood still. “Your first child for that matter.”
“So..?”
“Can you listen to yourself?” she ranted.
“Woman, don’t come here and boggle me.”
The don warned. “I needed to make that naughty boy sit up.”
“And you think you can actualize that by
threatening him?”
“Since he has obviously lost his senses,”
quoth the don. “That was the only way I could make him realize that we are not
in any way happy with him.”
“I totally disagree with you.” she said,
sat on the bed at about half a metre away from him. “Honey, this is not the way
you can bring his senses back.” She advised tenderly.
“That boy has caused us enormous pains.” the
don frowned. “I just wanted to discipline him in my own way.”
There was a brief tranquility. “I
understand how you feel, dear.” She broke the silence. “But, all I am saying is
that you went too far.”
“Okay, okay,” surrendered the don. “I
have withdrawn my statement.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, of course.” he said. “Go and tell
him that the statement had been withdrawn.”
Mrs.
Ola smiled. “Now you are talking, my Prof.” she complimented. “Let me quickly
go out there and tender the good news.” She exclaimed, stood up and walked
towards the door.
He
smiled too, shook his head as he watched her depart. “Mothers and children.” He
thought elatedly.
When she got to the parlour, Kunle had
already left the place, thus she went to his bedroom in search of him. “Kunle,
dear.” She called as soon as she stepped into his room.
“Yes mum.” He managed to answer as he
lay in his bed, seemed deeply thoughtful.
Mrs. Ola walked towards him, sat on the bed. “I
came to give you the good news.” She announced, looking into his eyes.
“Good
news?” he said. “How?”
“Yes dear.”
“What’s the good news?”
“Your dad has retrieved the utterance.”
“Which utterance, mum?”
“Asking you to leave the house for
elsewhere.”
“Oh that?” quoth Kunle, still lying
down. “Well, I am sorry.”
“Sorry about what?”
“I don’t care about the retrieval.”
“Why..?”
“Because I have already taken a
decision.”
“A decision on what?”
“I have made up my mind to leave this
house.” He notified frankly, glancing at the PVC ceiling. “And, I am doing that
first thing tomorrow morning.”
“You are not serious,” she doubted. “Are
you?”
“Then, you watch me do it by tomorrow
morning.”
“No naow..” the mum cautioned tenderly.
“How could you think like that?”
“Because I have noticed,” he responded.
“I am no longer needed in this house.”
“Says who?”
“But dad just said it awhile ago.” He cleared
the air. “What other evidence do I need for it to be proven?”
“Common.., your daddy was only joking
nah.”
“I have made up my mind, mum.” He
insisted. “And there’s no going back.” He informed. “Sorry about that.”
“So, where will you be going to?”
“Let me
worry about that, mum.” The chap enjoined. “I would be fine, okay?” he assured.
Therein, Mrs. Ola gushed out huge tears,
felt like passing out.
The following day, Kunle left the house
as planned for a destination unknown to his parents, in spite of all the
efforts put together by the latter – particularly his mum – to discourage the
move. His abrupt departure, which created a colossal vacuum in the entire Ola’s
family, was indeed a big blow to them especially his mum and four siblings.
The family remained in the emotional and
psychological trauma for years till one fateful day when something very
fascinating transpired. On that day when the mum was watching the television at
home all alone, she was so shocked and amazed to see Kunle being interviewed on
one of the revered global television channels. The most amazing part was that
the interview disclosed that the dude, who was now 24, was based in the United
States of America (U.S.A) practising musicology.
The good news was that, after he left
home five years back, he ran into a mentor that helped him secure a visa to the
U.S.A where he was conscientized to undergo a professional programme in
Musicology. After the studies, he established a career development centre in
the country (U.S.) where he trained thousands of people with musical talents
and potentials. Within a short time frame, as God would have it, he
metamorphosed into a well-celebrated musical trainer/educator in the States
that he hardly had time for leisure activity.
The intriguing and ironical part of it
was that, rather than being on stage practising music based on his earlier
dream, he was grooming countless individuals for the job. Yes Kunle had a
dream, but his unrelenting quest to achieve the dream in question made him got
to the peak of the ladder.
It’s noteworthy that, the father,
Prof. B. O. Ola had all it takes to channel him aptly into that line but the
don was rather foreseeing a situation where Kunle would take over from him as
an academic professor, not knowing that everyone had their respective calls to
answer.
Having
seen him on the TV, the family whom was yet to hear from him since he left home,
made frantic effort to reach him via several means. Consequently, their move
became successful, thus in few weeks time, Kunle left America for Nigeria
towards having a reunion with them. Prior to this point, he had already
forgiven everyone particularly his dad who created the scene that prompted his
unscheduled departure.
FDN Nwaozor
Executive
Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri
_____________________________________
Twitter:
@mediambassador
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