章 2: THE PITIFUL CHILD
As the years passed, Omotolani's father, Kolapo, would visit occasionally with his new wife and daughter, Oreoluwa. While Omotolani's grandparents did their best to make her feel loved and accepted, she couldn't help but feel a sense of rejection when she saw her father interact warmly with Oreoluwa while remaining distant with her.To make matters worse, Oreoluwa's mother would often use her daughter as a pawn to taunt Omotolani, calling her a bastard and making her feel unwanted and unloved.
As Omotolani grew into her teenage years, the sting of her father's rejection and her stepmother's taunts began to affect her self-esteem. She felt isolated and alone, even when surrounded by the love of her grandparents.
Omotolani's relationship with her father became even more strained after their conversation. She stopped talking to him altogether, choosing to focus her energy on her studies and the loving relationship she had with her grandparents.
Omotolani's relationship with her father was non-existent. She had given up on any hope of having a meaningful connection with him. Kolapo, for his part, didn't make any effort to bridge the gap between them either. He was consumed by his own life and his relationship with his new family, and seemed to have forgotten about his firstborn daughter.As Omotolani turned sixteen, she felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. She was anxious about the future, but also eager to finish school and start her own life.
One day, Omotolani was sent on an errand by her grandfather, who was away on a business trip. As she walked through the busy streets of Lagos, she happened to pass by her stepmother's shop. Adenike, her stepmother, was a seamstress with a thriving business. She had a large, well-equipped shop and also sold clothing materials.Feeling brave, Omotolani decided to say hello to Adenike. But instead of receiving a warm welcome, Adenike pulled her into a corner and began to berate her.
"How dare you call my husband your father?" Adenike hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Your mother was nothing but a cheap prostitute who slept with my husband for money. You're nothing more than a bastard child!"Omotolani was shocked and hurt by Adenike's words. She felt as if the world was crashing down around her. With tears streaming down her face, she ran out of the shop, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the busy streets.When she arrived home, Omotolani's grandmother immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"Omotolani, what's the matter, my child?" her grandmother asked, a look of concern on her face.At first, Omotolani tried to hold back her tears, but soon she could no longer contain her emotions."Adenike...she called me a bastard," she sobbed, the words spilling out of her in a torrent. "She said my mother was a prostitute, and that I have no right to call Kolapo my father."Omotolani's grandmother listened to her story, her face growing more and more angry.
"How dare she speak to you like that?" Omotolani's grandmother fumed. "Your mother was a good, decent woman. Adenike has no right to spread such lies about her."As Omotolani continued to sob, her grandmother held her close, trying to comfort her."I won't let her get away with this," her grandmother said, her voice filled with determination. "I'm going to talk to Kolapo, and he will know what his wife has done."Omotolani nodded, wiping away her tears.
That evening, Kolapo received a phone call from his father."Kolapo, I'm calling about Adenike's behavior towards Omotolani," his father began, his voice tense. "She had no right to insult that girl, and you need to do something about it."Kolapo was taken aback by his father's words. He knew that Adenike could be difficult, but he didn't realize she had been treating Omotolani so poorly."I'm sorry, Father," Kolapo replied. "I didn't know Adenike had said such things.
"She told Omotolani that her mother was a prostitute, for God's sake!" Kolapo's father exclaimed. "Your daughter has been hurt enough by your actions, and now Adenike is adding to her pain. This has to stop."Kolapo listened in silence, feeling ashamed and embarrassed by his wife's behavior."I'll talk to Adenike and make sure this doesn't happen again," he promised.Kolapo's father sighed heavily. "You better make sure she understands the gravity of her actions, Kolapo.
Kolapo ended the phone call with his father and sank down onto the couch, feeling conflicted and guilty. He knew that his father was right; he had neglected Omotolani for too long, and Adenike's behavior was unacceptable.When Adenike returned home from work, she could sense the tension in the air."What's wrong?" she asked, noticing Kolapo's grave expression.Kolapo took a deep breath and explained what his father had told him about Adenike's treatment of Omotolani.
"You said what to Omotolani?" Kolapo demanded, his voice rising in anger. "You had no right to insult her like that."Adenike bristled at Kolapo's tone. "She was asking for it, walking into my shop like she owned the place. She needs to know her place."Kolapo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Her place? She's my daughter, Adenike. She deserves your respect, not your cruelty."Adenike rolled her eyes, refusing to back down. "She's not my daughter.
Kolapo felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he knew that confronting Adenike directly would only make things worse. She had always been strong-willed and opinionated, and he feared the consequences of challenging her.So instead of shouting, Kolapo took a deep breath and said, "Adenike, I know you're not fond of Omotolani, but you need to understand that she's my daughter, and she deserves to be treated with respect.
As Kolapo and Adenike's argument continued, the tension between them grew thicker."You're being unreasonable," Adenike spat. "Omotolani is nothing to me.
Kolapo tried to stay calm, but Adenike's words were like daggers in his heart."You can't treat her this way, Adenike," he insisted. "She's innocent in all of this."Adenike turned away, her face contorted in anger. "Fine. I'll stay away from Omotolani," she said bitterly. "But don't expect me to welcome her with open arms."Kolapo knew that Adenike would never change her mind about Omotolani, but at least he had managed to avoid a full-blown argument.
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