EPILOGUE
ALESSANDRO
I sat on my seat, my mind moving through the memories of the past year. Time indeed flew. To me, it felt like just yesterday that I left Abidjan to pursue my dreams. I wonder how she was doing now?
I hadn't dared to call her in the past year, the fear of hearing that she had found someone better had been bugging me so badly that i had to spend countless nights awake.
The reason i was in this very plane, was because of the persuasion from my mother to go and visit her. She had been nagging me for the past year and I had given her so many excuses but now that I no longer had anyone, I had summoned courage and decided it was time to face my past.
"Attention passengers, buckle your seat belts as we prepare for landing." The voice of the pilot came over the speakers. I silently buckled my belt allowing my mind to travel yet again towards Sita. I had texted her on my way to boarding my flight telling her that I was returning to Abidjan. She had replied to me almost immediately, but I was too anxious to open it and talk less about replying.
I alighted from the plane with my suit case in my hand. As I made my way to the reception, I scanned the crowd hopefully waiting to see Sita. I walked quietly towards a cab, my face a form of disappointment. Just as I was about to enter the cab, I heard a familiar voice call my name.
"Alessandro!" I turned around and saw Sita running towards me. She jumped and hugged me tightly and I returned the hug.
"Sita, I missed you so much," I said as I pressed a kiss on her lips gently.
"Come on let's get going." She dragged my hand forgetting completely that I'd brought luggages. Though I had wanted to remind her of my clothes, I nevertheless followed silently.
We entered a black RAV 4, Sita started the engine and we drove off. The drive to Sita's apartment was done in silence except for the occasional glances from each other and the smiles that spread on our faces.
Sita pressed the horn before a black gate that stood between us and the beautiful mansion within. A man rushed and opened the gate. Sita drove in slowly and parked her car in the parking lot located at the end of the walks beneath the car canopy.
We entered the beautiful mansion. The air inside was in total contradiction to the humid outside. While I stood amazed at the interior décor of the house, I saw a little boy stagger towards Sita. I stared at her in confusion. Could it be possible that she is married?
"Sita, what…"
"I'll explain everything to you. First, you must be hungry. I made your favorite. Attiéké with fried plantain. I know you must have missed it." Sita interrupted as we headed to the dining. A young girl came and began serving us food. There was no need to deny the fact that I had missed it. I ate like three plates before my stomach was certain it had already filled.
Sita led me to the sitting room which was well furnished with milky cushions positioned in a quadrilateral shape with a large plasm TV sitting as the center of attention no matter where one stood in the sitting room.
"Sita, who is that baby I just saw now?" I inquired after the awkward silence began to thicken.
"That's… your son…", I stared at her in complete disbelief.
"My son? How? When?"
"That's your son. After you left for the US, I discovered that I was pregnant for you. I tried telling you several times but your line never seemed to connect. That always left me with the worst-case scenario of you being with someone else." I could feel a growing pang of guilt.
"I was scared that if I called you, I was going to make promises that I might end up not keeping. I'm sorry." I said as I knelt down with tears flowing freely from my eyes.
"You have nothing to apologize for, you had a responsibility over there too but I'm glad that you were able to come back to us." She hugged me tightly as her tears dripped on my jacket.
"So, what's his name?" I asked after we had both gotten ourselves back.
"Gervais."
"That's a beautiful name. I wish I was there to watch his first steps with you."
"There are a lot more memories which we are going to make together as a family. Let not the thoughts of missing a first step worry you so much, ok?" I nodded silently. "So, now that you are back, what's the next step for you?" she asks.
"I've always wanted to have a hospital where I could help those who have been rejected by many hospitals and those whose cases have been diagnosed as incurable. Those are my dreams for everyone living in this country."
"I'm willing and ready to support you in any way I can," Sita said with a broad smile spreading on her face.
"Where do we start?" Sita asked.
"The best thing is to inquire how to register a hospital. I won't want to have an illegal means of helping others."
"I agree with you."
"I'm planning to go to the Ministry of Health tomorrow. The earlier we start the better."
The drive to the ministry's office was filled with excitement. Just like i had told Sita, I had a really good feeling about this.
I stepped into the grand lobby of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene in Abidjan. The building, with its polished marble floors and high ceilings, bustling with activity, resonating with the echoes of conversations and the rhythmic clicking of shoes on the well-polished marbles. I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. This was the first step toward realizing my dream of opening a hospital in Côte d'Ivoire.
Approaching the front desk, I was greeted by a smiling receptionist.
"Bonjour, monsieur. How may I assist you today?"
"Bonjour," I replied warmly. I couldn't remember the last time I had utilized my French for official purposes. "I'm here to inquire about the process for opening a hospital." The receptionist nodded, understandingly.