Kalilah And Grant (Epi 1)

One cold harmattan morning in December. Kalilah woke up to a text message from an unknown number. She wiped her eyes as she tried to read the message the second time.

The message read thus: “Hello sweetheart, it’s been some years now. I just want to tell you, I love you.”
Kalilah couldn’t remember giving her number to a stranger recently, so she just ignored.

She was the only daughter of her parents, who were pastors of The Truth Gospel Christian Mission.
Kalilah an ebony skinned lady, tall with straight legs and gap tooth to compliment her beauty, was the desire of every young man.

Being the only daughter, she was well taken care of. Her parents trained her so well that she was the envy of all.
Kalilah got out of bed to prepare for the day’s work. Just then a call came through from an unknown number.
“Hello Kalilah, good morning to you, how are you doing?
“Hello, please who I’m I speaking with?” Kalilah asked.
“It’s me, Grant……….., yes Grant Philips”
“Oh! Grant, it’s been a long time, how are you?
“I’m fine baby, it’s good hearing from a beautiful princess today. It’s such a great way to start the day.”
“Really?, Kalilah chuckled. Well, it’s good to hear from you too. But I didn’t understand the message you sent to me.”
“Hmmmm…… Kalilah, you know I’ve always admired you. You strike chords in my heart each time I remember you.”
“Kalilah, you’re quiet…….. Ok, I’ll talk to you later” Grant said as he hung up the phone.

Kalilah stood still for a while as she thought over the text.
“Hope it’s not what I’m thinking, I already have three men asking my hand in marriage” Kalilah spoke aloud, as she paced up and down in her room.
Grant was Kalilah’s childhood friend who attended the same church.

Grant was a dark and handsome young man, tall, slim and had a well set teeth which shone anytime he smiled. Grant and Kalilah were both in the church choir.

Grant sang tenor while Kalilah sang soprano.
On a particular Sunday, Grant and Kalilah sang the duet for their Church’s anniversary program.
Since then people had always admired the duo. And made beautiful remarks of them having a beautiful union.

Kalilah dropped her phone on the table as she reached for her jotter where she wrote her itinerary for the day.
She had five major tasks aside other minor ones she needed to do before the end of the day.

She had music training to attend, then visited her friend who had fallen sick and helped her with some chores since her husband was away. It was the weekend so she needed to visit the supermarket and shop for items to stock her freezer and prepare her weekly stew.

She also had to complete a task for the online class she took and then draw the schedule for the Bible study group for that month.
Kalilah quickly said her prayers and used that opportunity to prepare the Bible study schedule.

She would then attend her music training which was just one hour and thirty minutes and thereafter visit her sick friend.
The supermarket was close to her friend’s house, she would purchase the items from there and then go home to cook.

Her online task could be completed at night, so Kalilah set off to leave the house.
Kalilah got to the church and the music training was on ‘The Key signature and major scales’. After the lesson for the day, the music director talked on choices made today that affects tomorrow.

Kalilah in particular was so careful of her relationship life that she didn’t want to make a choice now that would affect her later, especially as a singer.
Already three men had proposed marriage to her and here was Grant trying to start up a friendship with her.

The training ended, and she picked up her phone to call Violet her friend that she was heading for her house when she saw two missed calls from Grant.

“Hello, Violet. How are you? I just closed from my music training and I’m heading towards your house.”
“Ok, Kalilah, I’m expecting you. I’m fine, it’s just a little ache up my head.”
“Is your husband around?”
“Oh no, kalilah, he’s gone on a business trip this morning.”
“Ok, I’ll be there soon.”
Kalilah hung up and boarded a cab to Violet’s house.

As she sat in the cab, she thought of how lucky Violet was to have married such a kind and wealthy man. Violet isn’t so prayerful or dedicated like herself.

But why was she the one still struggling to get the best? Kalilah thought about this as the cab pulled up in front of Violet’s house.
(Knock knock)
“I’m coming” Violet responded as she got up from the sofa where she wrapped herself in her blue color duvet. She walked towards the door with a smile on her face.
“Welcome kalilah, how have you been? I’m glad to see you”
“See what malaria has done to you, ehn, you used to be very lively and active. Better get well soon.

I miss all your gyration and excitement. Anyway, Before I spend all my time talking let me quickly do some chores, and then I’ll come to listen to some gists before I go”
“Kalilah, you have not changed, you and gist”

“Ehn, you better leave me alone”, Kalilah said as she walked to the kitchen.
Kalilah walked to the kitchen to begin her clean up. She knew how much her friend loved neatness.

She wanted to help her clean the kitchen, and the bathroom and wash some clothes. Violet lived in a big house with her husband, Chris.

Kalilah recalled on how their friendship started and how Violet met Chris her husband as she schemed through the house chores.
Violet was her friend in school and they lived in the same hostel but different rooms. In their final year, Violet met Chris who later became her husband.

Violet and Kalilah had gone on a picnic with other hostel mates. It was a weekend affair, they had long planned it as a way of having fun together with memories to remember their school days.

The picnic at the beach was to last a whole day, Violet was the fun-loving type while Kalilah was not. But being Violet’s friend she had to be there all day with her.

Violet, who was sanguine by temperament, with a mixture of melancholy was quick to make friends.

Chris was just cooling off alone by the beach. Violet noticed him and she walked up bravely to engage him in a discussion. She wondered why he sat alone with no one to talk to.

Chris enjoyed her company and that was how their friendship started. It was during this period he told her about his work as a businessman and how he travels for business trips. It was after

one of his trips he visited the beach where he met Violet.
He started a friendship which later Chris proposed to her and they got married.

After doing the house chores which lasted two hours, Kalilah joined her friend in the living room.
“Thank you so much, Mon Ami. What would I have done without you”
“It’s nothing dear, after all what are friends for, I prepared food for you, please try and eat.”

“Ok I will, my husband really appreciates you, I spoke to him a while ago that you were here to help me, he sends his greetings to you”
“Oh! I really appreciate, I thought I would even meet him.”
“He actually returned last night but left again this morning to complete a business transaction.”

“It’s okay, I can always come back to visit. Violly baby, I need to leave now cause I’ll need to get to the supermarket to get some items”
“Kaly gal, you’ve not changed. You’re still very much in this your weekend shopping”
“Can a leopard change its skin?”
“Hahaha, Kalilah will not kill me oh. Ok gal, I appreciate your coming. Please take care of yourself”
“Bye”
Kalilah stepped out of the beautiful duplex owned by her friend’s husband.
She began to pray for such a man.

Kalilah remembered she had an online task to complete.
“I can’t kill myself oh, let me get myself Hollandia yoghurt “

To Be Continued…….

You Will Love Mr. Dominic An amazing story!