Chapter 4

The sky was flanked by whitish clumps of clouds with little droplets of rainwater emanating from its abode like sifted flour being poured into a large basin and the weary wind ragingly blowing off things at its pleasure. The large, spindly trees around swirled wearily like an old woman with broken boughs bending and dry leaves falling from its branches.Linda Solanke grumbled with distort, sighing at the intrusion of rainfall and the mist veiling her soggy windscreen in scuffle with the car's wiper which was battling with all might. She took a U-turn, her gaze pensively directed on the road. It was quite appalling when her father called at 5 in the morning, she had scrambled breathlessly under the duvet in anticipation of good news. A family meeting was one she never envisioned for she knew how the turn-out will be. With the cranky Bambi Amah Solanke and daredevil daughter, she thought. 

There would be room for ruffle due to the contrast. The tunes she and Tinu played would turn out discordant with no iota of peace. Yet the energy sapping effort vented by the great business tycoon was vivid and evident to see. 

      Subjected to diverse emotions, she swept past the houses in Melban Estate and finally stood still at a huge black gate with her hand banging her car's horn. A man in striped t-shirt and khaki trousers with an almost torn tie dangling from his long neck with adam apples revealing itself like large lumps as he hurriedly opened the gate, offering greetings and utterances after realizing the one behind the wheel was his boss' daughter; he watched the frigid Linda drive in and step out in a resplendent flayed gown with her keys dangling from her fingertips. 

           "It's oga's daughter, a good pressure to see you today. It's leally  good to see you. You were light about the incidence, that day! " he shouted, his two hands in the air while Linda nodded amidst the blaring rants of the village man who would never admit r  was different from l  and will always end up being a nuisance for exchanging one for the other. She pursed her lips, biting the lower one as she held her breathe with her gaze directed at the building's entrance.

        Linda's eyes roamed the premises; she grinned stealing a glance at the sturdy bouncers at the door next to the standing flag painted white and green and the numerous cars parked beside the flowerbeds - different brands and colour. They were indoor awaiting her presence and already grumbling with displeasure perhaps. 

           "Good day. " she answered with a scowl, almost falling.

           "Eh! Eh. Be careful thlere oh. You see, riving with lich people is the best favour Jehovah can do for His children. Rook at my appealance. I need to dress rike a secletaly too oh! Or what do you think? " Nnamdi rattled without being asked. 

        "Oh? Everyone is home right? " Linda asked.

     "Everyone is plesent! Just go in and sit down, Mimi will offer you anything you plefer" he called out after her, wondering why Linda who just dispersed was totally different from Tinu and Jim. The money he had repeatedly received from the two was enough to rent a house at Ajegunle street for a year but for 3 years since his stay in the Solanke's quarters ; it

 has been difficult to receive a dime from the first born. He sighed, closing the gate with the padlock grasped in his hands. 

            "Welcome Ma'am. " Mimi, the chief cook met her with smiles. 

            "Oh.... A good day to you. " Linda answered, settling on the couch.

             "Welcome Lin, " Bambi Amah Solanke beamed, smirking. Linda Solanke could never mistake her kind gesture as a true intent. For 16 years, she knew how deceptive the middle-aged woman could be and how the family gathering was being attended by snakes with ulterior motives. To her, they were like chalemions with many coat of colours and she was always apt to strike and vindicate herself. Linda scorned, watching her walk towards the dining table, giving orders to the other maid servants who were nodding like red lizards on rooftops of houses in Ghettos. Tinu sat - cross-legged, her fingers at work as with hurry, she quickly work on her apple laptop; stealing gaze at the sitted and dishevelled Linda. 

       Jimi Solanke, a young guy in his twenties stepped out of a room humming loudly with his head hidden under a hood and an earpiece dangling, connected to his phone which was clamped in his palms. He raised his sneakers up a bit, bending his back as his hoodie almost fall off his head then beamed, reasons surely best known to him. 

          "Yo sis! How has work been? Hope it's not been hectic. " he questioned, settling wearily on the couch adjacent to his sister. 

           "Been great.. I've to cope. "

         "And my darlings and bundles of joy are all sitted, anticipating my presence. " a voice ensued from faraway as the grey haired politician - Minister of finance and business tycoon, Chief Ronald Solanke walked down gently from the stairs like a toddler who was crawling to the place where his fancy toys are stacked and stowingly kept. 

           "Dad, hope you're now doing great and the aches are gone. "

           "Yes Linda, I'm now back to being the agile Solanke  we all know. Thanks to the doctor and my beautiful wife, Bambi. I'm glad you all decided to honor my request by being here today. How's the company, hope you're supervising the activities and everything? "

          "Yes dad, been working on some projects though. All hands are on deck and no one has time to gallivant. "

          "I trust you, Linda. Your sister has been doing her best too. I'm impressed and I hope Jimi see all this and gets inspired. "

         "Jim gat music Dude! Gonna be bored going through files and attending meetings in suit and tie. Music's my thing! " Jimi Solanke announced, tucking his mufti.

         "Yes Chief, every children has their desires and specifications. So do Jimi. " Bambi backed up her son, now plodding back to the living room. 

           "And so you say." Ronald Solanke agreed, settling down on the cushion with his legs outstretched. 

            Tinu Solanke smirked, tilting her jaw up with gaze steadingly rested on the frame of her bodily built father after casting a glance at the fluttered  Linda who was definitely avoiding locking eyes with her. 

           "At the inception of this year, we've been faced with different activities and pursuits in our respective areas. It's been hectic and it was loaded with fun also. We had less time to rest and sleep yet we strove to achieve positive results with all vitality. And my joy is having you right beside me and seeing you all doing great even though young Jimi is yet to understand what life specifically means and how one's career totally reflect what one's future and entire life would be and I hope he knows he's herein Nigeria because it's summer in the white man's land, your course should be paramount for now, I do not understand the music you acclaim. My darling Bambi's spa is the talk of the town and how Linda and Tinu rejected working together but finally succeeded overseeing my two companies even as ladies. It's all been great and as the head here, I had numerous work coupled with my trips and close adherence to medical practitioner's advice and obligation to the country. We all had a lot to do. "

           "Dad! Had a MusicFest this week too! I gat it,  will be returning back to the States soon too. " Jimi interrupted, a grin on his face. 

            "Hmmmm.. I remember Jimi. My great concern is bringing in the notion of unity which if not present in a particular relationship, the end to such relationship will ensue. We are one big family and the tie between us should stand. The power of unity is so strong. Linda, Tinu and Jimi - you should never see difference or hold on to the fact that you are from different maternal background or what do you think darling?"

          "Yes dear, I agree vehemently! " Bambi concurred with her legs, cross-legged.

               "Linda, I hope you put more efforts in the uplift of our company. I expect same from you Tinu. I've been informed of our affiliation with Blaze already."

               "Yes, father. " Tinu acclaimed with Linda, nodding. 

       A husky man stepped in, holding a note as he hurried with glinting shoes finally whispering to Chief Ronald Solanke and stepping out again. 

       " In conclusion, If we allow rift  and ruffle to interfere, we are walking towards doom. The country is full of orphans struggling to eat and survive yet the bond between them amidst hunger, anguish and dearth still stand! How beautiful this is. Do say after me, we are one and our bond is too strong to allow discord. "

        "We are one and our bond is too strong to allow discord. " they all chorused and announced, wondering if they agree totally to that being proclaimed.

@Opemiplenty