Kalu went promptly to his room as he got home that night.
Abuchi had already asked after him for he was home long before Kalu arrived from Rosaline's place.
He knew he had to see him when he had disrobed so he hastened to meet him in his room.
After he had seen Abuchi, he went right to his room and lied on his bed without caring about dinner for he already had a belly full of the fried rice he ate at Rosaline's house.
He was trying to comprehend why Rosaline didn't introduce him as her boyfriend to the mother as he had anticipated.
"Is it that she doesn't replicate my feeling?" he asked himself.
"I don't think so!.. she had always shown me that she loves me and she cares about me...well, maybe she is scared of letting the mother know that she is in a relationship. I haven't yet known the kind of person the mother is though she seems nice to me." He slept off while harboring those thoughts.
He was seated in the same joint, at the same table where the father had always visited him, all alone.
His legs fidgeted in expectation when suddenly the door opened.
Behold it was his father again as he turned to see who it was that had arrived.
The father got seated in the same position he had always perched, opposite him.
This time, for the first time in Kalu's dreams, he was the first to introduce dialogue.
He started by asking the father the reason he had asked him not to fall in love with Rosaline.
"You are just a human, there are many things that happen in the spiritual realm which you will never understand" retorted the father. "But trust me, I will never mislead you... soon you will understand the reason I have said you should never get married to that girl." He assured.
The father stood up immediately and made his way to the door after he had said that.
Kalu needed to know every reason instantly. "Tell me the reason now!" he shrieked.
The father opened the door and walked out.
Kalu got up immediately from his seat and ran after him. But before he could get to the outside, the man had already vanished into the dark.
He peered into the dark trying to see if he could see him but his labors were to no avail.
As he stood gazing into the dark, his eyes flung open where he lied on the bed in his room.
He comprehended that it was another dream.
He peeked at the time and discovered that it's already morning and the time he normally readied for market.
He abhorred this idea of his father coming to him in his dreams to wreck his happiness.
Because to him those utterances of his father only succeeded in ruining his happiness.
"What am I going to do to deter this man from appearing to me in dreams.. even if it means I should stop dreaming at all just like before." he figured.
He recalled a time when he hardly dreamed.
He slept and woke up those days without dreaming about anything.
Even though he managed to dream, he would forget before he woke up the next morning.
Those dreams of Rose were the first dream he had and recalled so well after so many years of being in Lagos.
And it was after those dreams of Rose that he now proceeded to dream about the father.
Now that he had finally found Rose as he thought, he didn't want to dream again.
He now preferred to remain in his former state.
He managed to get up from the bed and commenced getting prepared for the market.
Each time he had that dream about the father cautioning him about Rosaline, it didn't only make him feel weak it made him feel saddening as well.
The need to see the spiritualist rose in him like a doughnut as he was seated in his shop in the market.
He had got to make excuse at all costs to visit him.
What excuse he was going to give this time was what kept his head raised to the ceiling in thought.
The impulse was strong as the one he had during the time he was still searching for Rose. When he first met her in his dream.
He had the voice of Abuchi his uncle trading courtesies with a neighbor outside and he got up from his seat and started rearranging some goods that were not suitably positioned.
Abuchi notified him as he got into the shop that he would be going to see a customer who was arguing about a particular carton of the goods sold to him.
Kalu was delighted as he heard that he would be going out, his prayer had been finally answered.
He would make use of that opening to visit the spiritualist and relate the problem of his father to him.
Abuchi told him to take some money from the drawer for his transport fare and start going forthwith so that he could be back before the market shut down for the day.
He took an amount that could cover his transport to both the place of the spiritualist and the customer.
Kalu, left soon after Abuchi had taken charge of the shop.
The customer's place was not so far from the place of the spiritualist which was a great advantage to him.
So he considered as he walked to the bus stop if he should first go to the spiritualist before going to visit the customer or if he should do it the other way round.
He remembered that he had to pay for consultation at the place of the spiritualist and he had forgotten to take enough money that could cover for that from the shop so he needed to go home first to put up with extra money for he couldn't return to the shop again.
After he had come back home and taken some money, he then decided to go to the spiritualist first for that was the most fundamental thing to him at the moment.
When he got to the spiritualist house, he didn't meet the man at home but he was asked to wait by the man's wife that the man would soon be back.
After he had seated for not so long, he told the woman that he would be back, then he left at once to the customer's place.
He quickly left the customer's place after he had seen the goods that the customer had complained about and conveyed the message that his uncle had asked him to deliver.
He rushed back to the place of the spiritualist, this time, the man was at home.
Kalu first dropped the money he had intended to give for the consultation before he was even asked to do so for he had amassed the experience from his first visit.
He described to him how his late father had been appearing to him in his dreams and what he had been saying to him concerning Rosaline.
Before he commenced the narration, he, first of all, confessed to the spiritualist how he had deeply fallen in love with Rosaline and how he was not ready to let go of her.
The spiritualist after hearkening to all he had to say did his incantation in his usual way of putting up his head for some time and talked verbiage.
After the incantation, he told Kalu that the spirit just uncovered to him that the man that was calling upon him, was not his father but a spirit that camouflaged like his father to deceive him.
Kalu's heart gladdened as he heard those revelations.
The spiritualist had just substantiated his belief and replenished his ear with what it had been itching to hear.
The spiritualist after detecting that he was so pleased by what he had told him, went further to tell him that he shouldn't let anyone discourage him about loving Rosaline that she was the right girl for him.
"The spirit says that Rosaline had been preordained to be your wife right before you were born. She has been prepared for you by the creator to bring light to your life and happiness as well!" The spiritualist affirmed while raising his face to the ceiling with his eyes closed.
The joy in Kalu was so great that he didn't mind about more proclamations, he was okay with the one he had heard.
He had already learned what he had come for, so there was no other justification to remain there.
He halted the spiritualist as he was still speaking so that he could be on his way immediately.
"Thank you sir!" he broken in. "I think I should be on my way now, my master is waiting for me at the shop."
He got on his feet at once and made his way towards the door.
The spiritualist opened his eyes at once and found him standing at the door, his hand already on the door handle.
"Are you going so soon?" the spiritualist asked.
"Yes, I need to go and give a report to my master" Kalu replied as he had already opened the door.
"Alright take care of yourself!" the spiritualist responded as Kalu was jamming the door close.
Kalu was enraptured as he returned to the shop. He bought some oranges and helped himself with them as he was seated on the bus.
It was already closing time before he could get back to the market. So he quickly packed for the day after he had delivered the report to his uncle.
He had failed to ask the prophet if there was any way he could assist him so that he could stop dreaming at all since he had already got what he was looking for.
But it doesn't matter to him, he had already got the information he needed whatever the man would say to him even if he kept seeing him in his dreams won't matter to him anymore.
"I have already known the actual identity of that..he is not my father so I don't have to be offended by any rubbish he says," he thought to himself as he walked to the bus stop after he had closed up his shop.
Rosaline was mesmerized by the thought of Kalu all through the day.
She could have gone to the market to meet him if she had her way.
Kalu had already lent her the description of his shop in the market though he didn't welcome the idea of her visiting him in the market.
But that wasn't the primary purpose that kept her, the mother won't permit her to leave the house without a decent reason.
She recalled the many good times she had had together with Kalu and how they had planned to get married to each other once he was free from his master.
The urge to open up to her mother about her relationship with Kalu welled up in her but she considered if it was the right thing since they were not yet ready at the time to get married.
Though Kalu had already informed her that he would be settled by his uncle in a year.
"Is it not better I leave the whole matter until Kalu is settled and we are ready before I let my mother know?" she evaluated.
There was this distant look in her eyes as she was lying on the family-sized bed in her room staring at the ceiling.
"But I have not hidden anything from my mother before... what if she finds out that I am into a romantic relationship with Kalu, how would she feel?.. What if she catches us one day kissing or romantically holding each other, what would be her reaction?" she questioned herself.
She took a deep breath and turned to face the wall.
"She would believe that I have started hiding things from her... yes! that's what she would believe... I think it's better I open up to her!.. yes that's the best thing I should open up to her" she concluded.
She got up from the bed where she was lying and headed straight to her mother's room.
The mother was preparing to go to the saloon to lose her fixed hair when Rosaline entered.
Rosaline, who had no idea that she wanted to go out, first asked her where she was going as she saw her dressed up.
Clara volunteered to accompany her after she had unearthed her destination to her so that she could instigate the discussion of Kalu while they were on their way.
Rosaline's mother willingly accepted her proposal to accompany her to the saloon.
As they were on their way, Rosaline was struggling in her mind on how, after she had introduced the discussion of Kalu telling the mother how Kalu had been good to her, to hit the nail on the head.
The mother had always advised her to keep herself from falling in love with boys, just like every other African mother would instruct, to avoid early pregnancy. And that had been the reason she was finding it difficult to introduce someone to her mother as her boyfriend.
At a time when they were almost close to the saloon, she decided to be bold and let the cat out of the bag.
"Mummy please wait, there is something I want to tell you," She said gently.
She stopped while her mother continued to walk.
"Mummy please wait for Nah!" she repeated.
"let's get to the saloon first before you tell me anything" replied the mother.
Rosaline didn't want anyone to hear what she wanted to tell her mother so that if the mother would scold her for saying it, it won't have to be in the presence of people that was why she didn't want them to get to the saloon first.
She told the mother that what she wanted to say was confidential and she won't want another ear to hear about it.
It was then that the mother paused to hear her out assuming that it might be a pressing matter.
She stammered as she tried to voice out what was on her mind.
"Mummy there is something I want to tell you!" she stammered.
From her composure, the mother could understand that what she wanted to say was too heavy for her to pronounce, and being an understandable woman, she knew she needed to make her feel at ease so that she could feel free to say whatever it was.
The mother held her by the shoulder in a gentle manner "tell me what is it?" she uttered in a mild tone.
"Is about Kalu" replied Rosaline this time she was gradually gaining confidence with the gentle attention she had gained from her mother.
"What about him, is there any problem with him?" the mother asked.
"No, not at all there is no problem with him. It's just that we..."
"You slept with each other!" The mother added quickly.
Rosaline quickly shrugged off the insinuation. "Not at all!" she refuted.
"it's just that we are in..." She stammered as she wanted to pronounce the last word.
"Love!" the mother pronounced as the word seemed too choked in Rosaline's throat.
Rosaline nodded in affirmative as the mother helped her out.
She stood in panic, her stare directed to the ground, as she awaited the mother's reaction.
The mother took a deep breath as she was trying to digest what Rosaline just revealed to her.
"For how long have you been dating?" the mother asked still maintaining the gentle tone.
"We just met recently.. it hasn't been long!" Rosaline replied this time her voice softer.
All she needed was just the approval from the mother and nothing else she would say would matter to her.
"It's alright. Just make sure you are cautious about it" the mother finally advised.
"thank you, mummy!" Rosaline reveled as she hugged the mother.
She had finally earned the approval of the mother.
Now she won't have to be secretive about some of her dealings with Kalu.
The mother kept thinking about it as they progressed to the saloon.
Rosaline knew that the mother had many more things to say about it, but this approval she had given was enough for her for now.
As they got to the door of the saloon before they advanced inside, the mother paused once again in question.
"But why didn't you tell me before he came that day so that I would know how to address him and advise him as well?" she queried.
"We were still pals by then, we haven't advanced to lovers" she lied.
The mother nodded in understanding.
"When we get home, we talk more about it," Rosaline's mother said as they walked into the saloon.
Rosaline was so happy for not getting a rebuke from her mother as she had feared.
Clara was lying on the bed with the pillow over her face in frustration.
She was combating not to yield to the impulse to revisit her mother and ask her about Alex's address so that she could visit him.
As she lied on the bed in displeasure, a knock landed on the door.
Her mind exploded with joy as she heard the knock without caring to know If it was Alex that had knocked as her mind had suggested.
She leaped out of the bed immediately to answer the door.
To her greatest surprise, It was Alex that stood at the door.
Clara prevailed in constraining her emotions. The urge to hug him swelled up in her but she quickly turned and went back inside the room as she opened the door leaving it at the mercy of Alex.
Alex walked into the room and shut the door behind himself.
He sat beside Clara who was already seated on the bed frowning, in an attempt to hide the overwhelming joy that filled her up.
"Am sorry for not coming all this while" Alex, first of all, apologized "I was not feeling too fine."
From his facial look, it was easy to spot that he was still in the recovery process.
Clara had no choice but to express her sympathy. "Am sorry about that" she pitied. "how are you now?" she asked.
"Am getting better!" He nodded "I know you have been expecting me since then?"
"Not really" Clara bluffed.
She didn't want to Alex notice how much she had craved him.
"How was work today?" Alex asked.
"It was fine!" replied Clara looking away from him so that he won't notice the way her eyelids flapped from the fact that she was answering for what she didn't experience.
"It seemed like you closed early from work today?" Alex continued.
"Yes!" she lied.
She could have told Alex the truth about not going to work but what to lend him as a reason was the question.
So to her, it's better she responded that way so that there won't be any need for further questions about that.
All Clara needed at the moment was for him to introduce the issue of Rose by himself not those inquiries.
She needed an urgent idea on how to go about the demand of the police.
"It's like he has forgotten the reason I asked him to back," Clara thought to herself as Alex was still busy with the narration of how his day had been "..maybe I will introduce the issue by myself"
"Alex, the last time you came." Clara started and was cut short by Alex instantly.
"Clara please there is something I want to say before you continue!" he interrupted.
Clara paused to hear him out first before she could go on.
"please is concerning what I have been asking of you all this while," he let out in a mild accent.
Clara was fast enough to discern where he was heading to but she needed to let him land before she could say what she already had in mind.
Alex got on his knees at once in front of Clara, a move that raised Clara's eyebrows.
Since Alex had been disturbing Clara about this marriage issue, he had been pleading with her about it but he had not got to the extent of kneeling before her.
Even if he had done something like that, it had already escaped Clara's memory for she was not interested then, so nothing he performed matter to her.
"Clara please, could you give me a chance in your life, please!" he begged while kneeling.
Clara knew that there was no more time for pretense, she knew she had to open up to him about the criteria she had set for any man to win her heart.
But not that she was going to tell him bluntly that she had set criteria, she would indirectly go about it.
"Before I say anything concerning what you are asking for, I want to, first of all, ask you one question and I want you to be real to me in answering the question" she requested.
"Go on with your question, a promise to be real in answering your question" Alex guaranteed.
Clara cleared her throat before progressing.
"Are you willing to assist me in recovering my sister Rose?" she asked "you already know the story!" she added.
"Yes, I am willing to do that," Alex responded without wasting time, staring deeply into Clara's eyes.
Clara took a deep breath and gripped the two hands of Alex, in an attempt to lift him.
Alex got back seated on the bed, he already knew that he had finally won.
And to say yes to his proposal, Clara clutched him in a hug.
"Thank you so much!!!" Alex repeated as they were holding each other tight in a hug.
Clara was happy for she had finally found a companion in her mission to retrieve her sister's body.
While Alex was so glad that his heart desire had been granted, he had been finally authorized to love the woman his heart had been hungering for.
After they had let go of each other, Clara started narrating to him her encounter with the police concerning Rose's issue cutting him short from expressing how he had felt for the chance she had given him.
Alex promised to go with her to the police station the next day. Though Clara couldn't afford to miss her work for another day.
Maybe she could try to come back early if the situation permitted.
Alex needed to go home for his medication so he couldn't discuss much with Clara that evening.
Both of them were strolling hand in hand as lovers as Clara saw him off to the bus stop.
The exhilaration in Clara escorted her to the bed. And as she slept that night, Rose visited her in the dream.
Clara was surprised as she was seated in her room still rejoicing over her chat with Alex, to see Rose walked into the room looking so big.
"Rose!" she exclaimed as she was approaching with her face rounded in a smile.
They exchanged formalities as they had always done.
Clara stared at Rose in awe as she appeared more beautiful and chubby. She was not in a hurry to ask her the reason for her sudden change in appearance.
They, first of all, discussed the family issues. Clara always updated her on the recent happenings in the family each time she came.
Clara couldn't withhold her curiosity to ask her about the alteration in her appearance, she couldn't believe what she was trying to imagine that Rose was pregnant.
Rose had detected what was going on, in Clara's mind from the way she stared at her in assessment.
She could notice that Clara's interest in all their discussion was so superficial unlike her who always wanted to hear more of all Rose had to say.
She opened up to Clara before she could even open her mouth to ask.
"I am pregnant!" she disclosed.
Clara was flabbergasted, she didn't know what to ask about it.
"How!" she finally managed to say after some moments of staring at Rose in skepticism.
Rose detailed to her how she became pregnant by Kalu.
She had earlier confided in Clara about Kalu and how she was in love with him.
It was then Clara came to believe.
Rose didn't seem to be regretting being pregnant for Kalu so there was no need for Clara to do the same.
Clara just advised Rose to take good care of herself after she had learned that she was coping fine with the pregnancy.
Then they continued with the other conversations.