Truth to her word, Anu later called Bayo in her hostel, after everyone had gone out to read in the class. It was about five in the evening, and it seemed like the place was noisy sort of.
Bayo could not recognize her voice, and he rose up to go to a more serene place, thinking it was network. But it was the noises of the people who thronged the beer parlour.
"Who is on the line please? I'm Bayo…."
"Bayo! You mean that my voice is strange to the point you cannot know the caller."
"I'm sorry, maybe it's a wrong number, because I don't think I….. hold on please! Ha, is this my- my wife, Anu?" He managed to call her his wife because he was not sure. Since she left, she never called him until that day.
"At last, someone can know my voice. Don't tell me that you've forgotten all about me, or are you angry with me?".
"Oh my God" He yelled and there was silence, because he was totally broken, crying out without shame. He had been longing for Anu for so long. Several attempts were made to reach out to her but Babajide blocked him and ditto Femi.
He wrote letters of apologies again and again, but couldn't reach her, because Anu's email, WhatsApp number and phone number were changed again and again.
"Bayo, are you weeping? Stop it please. Okay I will be coming home next month. We will talk properly."
"Oh, I can't wait to see you. Thank you for calling. Now that I have your number, I will be calling."
"I know that you are in a beer parlour, if you want me to come home to you, then you have to give your life, and stop drinking. Do you agreed?"
"Yes, I will do exactly that. I should have done since, but I was discouraged. When we meet, we will talk."
"Yes of course. Take care of yourself please."
"Wow, my wife is back! Listen to me, you haters, she is back to me." Bayo yelled raising his hands up in the air.
People in the bar started to mock him.
"Haba oga Bayo, this woman will no longer return to you, she is just fooling you. Forget about her and move forward with your life." One of the regular customer in the parlour discouraged him but Bayo ignored them.
"Get thee, behind me, Satan. You are only jealous of my beautiful wife." He replied and resorted to dancing.
"Continue to play around. You are only deceiving yourself."
"I'd rather believe her. She has never deceived me before, and she wouldn't start it now."
"Well, I will advise you not to put your heart in it, Teacher Bayo. I wiill you, oh I mean, I wish, wish, you well. But remember me in your kingdom. Anytime I am sick, she will be treating me free of charge." One of the men kidded. They started to laugh and laugh.
Bayo got annoyed and left the place in anger. They pleaded but he refused to listen to anyone of them.
Responsible persons are not found in the beer parlour. What does Bayo expect? He went straight to the pastor's house, to give his life to Christ..
Pastor Joeseph had been disturbing, preaching, talking sense into him. Moreover, he had been waiting for Anu to encourage him, by returning into his life.
……………….
Weeks rolled by, as Bayo anticipated the return of his wife, Anu into his life. He was almost losing hope, because she kept on postponing her coming to Ile-Ife. Some of the lecturers had given some assignments that needed a lot of her attention.
Finally, on December 22, Anu went to the garage, boarded the vehicle going to Ile-Ife that morning. They set out on their journey by eight in the morning, and by nine they got to Ife. She took a cab to take her to Bayo's house. She had not informed him of her coming because she wanted it to be a surprise package.
On reaching the house, she saw everywhere quiet. Later she saw a young boy and asked of Mr Bayo, the Teacher.
"Oh, that Teacher that can drink out his life. I learnt that his wife left him because of his bad attitude. It serves him right. But ma, are you his sister?"
Anu kept quiet for sometime, and later nodded in agreement,
"Yes, I am. Where is he now?"
"Hmmm, maybe I should go and check him in the beer parlour. I'm very sure he will be there."
"This early morning? No, he has changed. He no longer drinks."
The boy started to chuckle, mocking Anu in the process, he kept on,until Anu got tired and snapped at him, before he became sane.
"It seems like I'm wasting my time, let me go to Mama, or Pastor." She mumbled to herself, feeling dejected that Bayo refused to turn a new leaf.
Meanwhile, Bayo was also being mocked by some of the staff in the school about Anu returning to him.
"Stop fooling yourself, Mr Bayo, that lady can never be yours again."
Bayo stood up staring into space, confused, dejected and demoralized. Maybe they are right that I have lost her forever. Anyway, that is life. Must I return to my vomit again?
He went back to SSS 3 to teach Geography, when one of the teachers shouted his name.
"Mr Bayo, Mr Bayo, your miracle has appeared."
The school had closed for the term but for the senior secondary school level three, being coached for West African Examination Council.(WAEC)
He turned around only to see his hearthrob, a lady he had been waiting for. The mother of Ayomide his son. He stood watching her moves, full of grace and beauty. His body trembled and he never knew what to do, whether to rush and hug her or weep for Joy.