Whatever It Takes…

EUNICE ANSAH-AGYEMAN

WHATEVER IT TAKES

EPISODE 52

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Mr. Fiagbe felt so helpless.

His whole life was crashing down around him and all he could do was watch helplessly.

Elorm came to the living-room just as his Mom and Yayra opened the door to get out.

“Aren’t you going to stop her? Are you going to stand there without doing anything? We can’t let her go. Please say something! Do something!” Mr. Fiagbe whined.

Elorm shrugged and looked on.

The way things were he knew there was nothing he could do or say.

His Mom was furious and, if he tried anything, he was sure things would rather get out of hand.

He also did not want to be seen as taking sides so he folded his arms and watched as his Mom and sister walked out the door.

He was sad things had gotten this far.

Mrs. Fiagbe put Yayra in the back seat and made sure her seat belt was on. She got into the car and sped off without a second thought. The gateman was surprised to see her drive like that.

Mr. Fiagbe rushed inside for his car key and hurried off in his car in a chase but by the time he got out of the gate his wife was long gone.

He drove around a bit to see if he could locate her.

She was nowhere to be found.

“Damn it. Where did she go? Maybe she’s going to the Amegashies,” he said to himself.

He changed course and headed for the Amegashies.

It suddenly dawned on him that he did not know any of his wife’s friends. He only knew about Mrs. Amegashie.

He prayed that she would go there.

He parked his car outside the gate and used the small entrance to the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Amegashie were on the balcony reading newspapers.

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Mr. Amegashie got to his feet when he saw his friend walk in.

He was surprised to see him because it had been a while since they last met.

Their last encounter on Esenam had not been pleasant and they had both stayed clear of each other ever since.

“Hello, Alfred.”

“Where is she? Where is my wife?” Mr. Fiagbe thundered.

“What are you talking about?” Mr. Amegashie asked and looked in his wife’s direction.

“She left the house some minutes ago and I thought she’d be here. She’s left me.”

“What? You don’t mean it.” Mrs. Amegashie retorted.

“Alfred, I think you should sit down and tell us exactly what happened.”

Mr. Amegashie led him to a chair and walked over to the bar in the corner. He took a bottle of gin and two glasses and set it on the table before them. He poured a quarter glass full for his friend.

“I think you should take it; it would calm your nerves.”

“No, I don’t need that. I need my Sylvia. Are you saying she is not here?” Mr. Fiagbe asked confused.

“No. As a matter of fact, I’ve not seen your wife for some time now. What exactly happened?”

‘It’s all her fault. Esenam has succeeded in separating us. Charles, our friend, came to the house early this morning with some family members. They came to ask for Esenam’s hand in marriage for his nephew and I said something, I don’t remember exactly what I said but I think I said Esenam wasn’t my daughter and that they were talking to the wrong person. Sylvia took offense and said I have accused her of infidelity before third parties. She packed a few things and took Yayra with her. I thought she’d be here that’s why I came. God, where can she be? I’ve got to find them. I need them.”

There was a long silence after Mr. Fiagbe’s explanation.

Mrs. Amegashie thought her friend did the right thing for a change. She had never liked the autocratic nature of Alfred. He was too selfish for her liking.

“I take it you didn’t know Esenam was getting married.” Mr. Fiagbe stated.

“Well, Esenam was here to tell us. Akwasi didn’t take it very well, he didn’t say a thing to us about it but we saw him talking privately with Esenam and he seemed angry. He left for town shortly afterward and came very late. I think he needs time to get used to the idea.” Mr. Amegashie explained.

“How can she hurt the poor boy so much when all he’s ever done is to love and respect her?” Mr. Fiagbe lamented.

 

“Alfred, we can’t force them to marry just because that is what we want. I blame Akwasi for all this. Esenam is a sweet girl and when I saw her yesterday, I think I understood her better. She didn’t love my son enough. That hurts but their happiness is more important to me. I hold no grudges against her. We’ve decided to go to her wedding to support her.”

“What? Are you out of your senses? Well, if you are happy she’s hurting your son, I’m not. At least your son needs your support.”

“As I said, Akwasi is partly responsible for the breakup. If only he’d been more supportive and shown a little respect to what she wanted, who knows, maybe they would still be together. We can’t cry over spilled milk.”

Mr. Fiagbe was not listening to his friend. He wanted to find his wife so badly. He asked Mrs. Amegashie if she knew where he might find her but she said she did not know.

She suggested he found Esenam, maybe she would know where her Mom would go.

Mr. Fiagbe was too proud to seek Esenam out.

He left the Amegashies with the hope that Elorm would know where his Mom went.

He called him on his way home but Elorm insisted he had no idea where his Mom and sister went.

Mr. Fiagbe was not comfortable enquiring about Esenam’s residence so he did not.

He thought of Esenam as the last option for information.

Mr. Fiagbe was lonely and very unhappy. 

He had kept to himself most of the time.

***

Two months passed since Sylvia left and she had refused to let him know where she was.

He missed his family.

He missed even the silly things they did that sometimes infuriated him so much.

Morosely, he left his bedroom sadly and sauntered morosely into the living-room.

The place was empty.

He saw Elorm at the balcony polishing his shoes.

He knew it was Esenam’s wedding day.

And he had received a letter from her the previous day.

She apologized once again for hurting him but explained she only wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes. She begged him for forgiveness and told him how things got sour with Akwasi because of some adjustments she needed to make in order to become a faithful servant of God. And she told him about how her resolve to abstain from premarital sex infuriated Akwasi so much that he tried to rape her. 

She wrote that she had forgiven Akwasi for trying to force himself on her and asked that if he doubted her he should ask Akwasi, Enyonam or their parents.

She begged him to reach out and save his marriage because she knew they still loved each other.

Esenam ended by telling him she loved him and wished he would give her away on her big day.

She enclosed a copy of the wedding invitation in her letter.

He joined Elorm on the balcony.

“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.

“Yes. Today is Esenam’s wedding. I won’t miss it for anything in this world.” Elorm replied.

‘I forbid you to set foot at that wedding. If you really want to go and further your studies abroad,” he commanded as usual.

“Oh, has it come to that? I have to choose between my sister’s wedding and my studies abroad? I won’t miss my sister’s wedding for anything. Who says I can’t make it here in Ghana? I’m not missing my big sister’s wedding. Just look at how unhappy you are and it’s all because of your ego. It’s about time you realized we are no longer kids, Dad.

The days when you made all the decisions for us are over. We are matured and can think for ourselves. Look at this house, it used to be a home filled with love and total joy. One would give anything to be home but thanks to you it’s like a cemetery now. Is it that you enjoy being lonely? You were given the privilege to be our father. You were not supposed to lord it over us as you do. Gradually, everybody is getting tired of you.

Thanks to you I don’t even know where my mother and sisters are. You should be very proud of yourself. Your loyalty to Akwasi really baffles me. Is there something we should know about? You succeeded in …

Mr. Fiagbe’s right hand came down on Elorm’s cheek before he could complete his statement.

“How dare you talk to me like that!”

“The truth hurts, doesn’t it? Thanks for giving me a reason to leave your house too. I won’t be coming back to this house after today. You can live here all by yourself. Esenam was able to live without you and she is doing just fine. I can do the same. You can’t stop me from going to my sister’s wedding. You’ll lose all of us. You can start your life afresh. Maybe you can remarry and have other kids or adopt Akwasi since he is your priority.” Elorm said, touching his smarting cheek gingerly as tears welled up in his eyes.

Mr. Fiagbe knew he was losing it.

He was everything they said he was but he had never laid hands on any of them until recently when he slapped his wife and now Elorm, his only son.

Elorm rushed inside and was out in no time all dressed up.

He left with his suitcase without saying another word to his Dad.

Mr. Fiagbe sat in the living-room.

He had lost all of them.

He couldn’t lose his son too. When Elorm decided to stay, it gave him hope that one day they would all come back and they will be together again. Now he was afraid that may never happen.

“God, I’m losing everything I’ve worked so hard for. First, it was Esenam, then Sylvia and Yayra. Now Elorm is also gone. I can’t live without them. Living without Esenam was hard enough. I love you all. I need you all in my life. Is it worth it? The Amegashies would be there. They’ve accepted the fact that Esenam wouldn’t marry their son.

Is there something they are not telling me? Did Akwasi really try to rape my daughter? Have I been a fool all these years? I can’t let my family tear apart like this. I have to do something. But what can I do? I have to go to the wedding. Yes, that will do it. I have to play my role as Esenam’s father. She is my blood. She’s my first fruit.” he talked to himself in anguish.

He heard the doorbell and got up to see who it was.

A distraught Akwasi stood at the door. Mr. Fiagbe ushered him in.

“I’ve lost her Dad! I’ve lost her and it’s all my fault.” Akwasi said almost in tears.

“No, son. It’s not your fault Esenam decided to be ungrateful. Don’t blame yourself for her actions. She made a choice.”

“It’s my fault, Dad. I blew it. If only I had been more supportive and understanding, Esenam may still be mine. If only I had controlled myself and respected her, I would not be in this situation. My heart bleeds, Dad. I do love her.”

Mr. Fiagbe took Akwasi in his arms and consoled him. He was angry Esenam could hurt him so much, but suddenly he wondered why Akwasi insisted the breakup was his fault.

“Akwasi, tell me something, did you really try to force yourself on Esenam?”

“Yes, Dad, I’m sorry. I behaved very badly towards Esenam. I was a jerk that day.”

Mr. Fiagbe slapped him so hard, his hand felt hot, and the slap deposited Akwasi on the floor.

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