On the road from Lagos 40: A melodious cry

The seven travellers all unite and tries to help the pregnant woman

EPISODE 40

EXT. IN THE FOREST- NIGHT

There is moon over them now as the pregnant woman tries to push her child into the world with a gag in her mouth with the help of Femi and Nimah. Cece watch Jamin and Oba working hard to make fire, then she looks at Remilekun still in the same position looking into the air. Then she approach her

CECE

Hello

Remilekun looks at her and looks away. Cece sits next to her

REMILEKUN

Are you there to chew me out again because I am doing a good job at it myself

CECE

Jamin told me that already

REMILEKUN

Well, he has a big mouth for a guy

CECE

Maybe he does but he happened to tell me that you hold yourself responsible for your mother’s death

REMILEKUN

He really does have a big mouth

CECE

I was surprised when he said that because I can remember clearly that your mother dead in a car accident

REMILEKUN

That was what you were told

CECE

Remile…

Remilekun replies in an angry voice as fresh tears rolls her eyes

REMILEKUN

Don’t talk about what you don’t know because you don’t know anything. She was not supposed to drive that night, my dad was supposed to drive us to the cinema but he bailed on us for his mistress. Instead of me to be grateful that my mom was fixated on making that day memorable for me, I was just bitching like the spoilt brat I am about her been the reason for my Dad’s nonappearance (she scoffs) to actually think I blamed her for that, what kind of a person am I?

CECE

Remilekun?

REMILEKUN

Had I stayed in the car that night, she will still be there with me. If I had stayed in the car, she won’t have to push me out of harm’s ways and she will be here with me today

CECE

Remilekun listen to me

REMILEKUN

No you listen to me, someone else might have hit her but I was the one that pushed her to her death. You need to accept that

Cece slaps her across the face hard, Remilekun touches the face with a shocked look

CECE

I refuse to accept that

REMILEKUN

Was that why you slapped me?

CECE

Yes because sense needs to be slapped into you. Your mom might have died in an unfortunate circumstances that involved you but have you stopped to think that maybe it was her time. Maybe it was her time to go

REMILEKUN

Her time? That is your pitch

CECE

Yes, I strongly believe that it was your mom’s time and if she had not pushed you out of the harm’s way that night, you will be died

REMILEKUN

You don’t know that

CECE

I know that your mom sacrificed herself for you so that you can live and I bet if you are in the same scenario again, she will do the same again because that is what moms do. A mother’s duty is to protect her child which your mom did successfully but do you think she did all of that to see you like this. Look at you, so full of pain, hatred and guilt. Do you think she will be happy to see you like this? The Selma I knew will probably be rolling in her grave right now because of her daughter, you need to let go and accept that it was your mom’s time. Your mom have done every good deed she can possibly do for you and every helpless person out there, it is your time to follow in her footstep and be useful but sadly you are useless the world, your family and yourself right now. You need to let go of the guilt and move on.

Suddenly Femi calls out in a loud voice

FEMI

Cece

Cece refuses to answer and continues to talk to Remilekun

CECE (CONT’D)

Please for God’s sake, you need to live your own life and fulfil your own dreams if they are more than one

Femi calls out in a louder voice this time around

FEMI

Ceceeee!

REMILEKUN

I think the doctor is calling you

Cece answers in annoyance

CECE

What?

FEMI

Come here

CECE

For what?

FEMI

Come here I need your help here

Cece turns to Remilekun

CECE

Think of what we discussed and I expect a positive response

Cece walks to where Femi is

CECE

I know nothing about delivery. So what do you need my help for?

FEMI

I need you to just put your hand here

Femi points to the vagina of the lady screaming in pain, Cece looks shocked when she sees where Femi is pointing

CECE

You want me to put my hands in her junkie

FEMI

Yes

CECE

I won’t do that, what about you and the purdah lady

NIMAH

The name is Nimah and she keeps closing her thighs together, we need to keep them apart. So that she does not harm the baby

FEMI

We just need you to hold the baby’s head but not too hard to the extent of damaging the baby’s head but steady

CECE

I won’t do it

Femi stands up and push Cece down and putting her hand in the front of the vagina, Cece tries to remove her hand but Femi hold it tight and looks at her

FEMI

if this baby’s head come down and your hand is not where it is supposed to be to protect the head, the baby’s death is your fault

CECE

What?

Femi ignores her and pays attention to the pregnant woman in groaning in pain

FEMI

I need you to please give me one more push

The pregnant woman talks with tears flowing down her eyes to her ears

YOUNG PREGNANT WOMAN

I am pain

FEMI

I know, I know that but I need you to give me that one push (the young woman push) again (she pushed again) again (she pushed) talk to me Cece, what are you seeing down here?

Cece looks so scared as she talks

CECE

I can see something black on the vagina, why is the vagina so large?

FEMI

Okay that is good (talks to the pregnant woman) we are almost here, so I need you to push with every power you have got

This time the pregnant woman pushes hard with every power she has gone. Cece looks at this woman in pain with concern on her face when she feels something warm on her hand. She looks down to see the baby’s head, she opens her mouth in surprise as the baby cries out for the first time. Oba and Jamin who supports Remilekun to walk moves closer to them. They smiles brightly when they see the baby. Cece just keeps looking at the baby with amazement as Femi cuts the placenta

FEMI

(Talking to the mother with a smile on his face) You have a baby girl, you did well today

Nimah stretches her Niqab to Cece

NIMAH

We need to wrap the baby up for the mother to see

Cece put the baby in Nimah’s hand and watch as Nimah wraps the baby up and gives her to the mother. Oba walks to Cece

OBA-ABASS

You did well today

Cece looks at him with tears flowing down her face, Oba looks shocked

OBA-ABASS

Are you okay?

CECE