Chapter 1
Love In The Middle Of Abuja
Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
Dedication
For those who believe in love in unexpected places, and for every heart daring to take a chance.
Chapter One
The clock on the wall struck 12:01 a.m. Obinna sat slumped in his office chair, his back sore and his eyes heavy after hours in the theatre. The emergency heart surgery had taken everything out of him. For a moment, he didn’t move. The quiet sound of the air conditioner filled the room, accompanied by the soft, steady glow of the overhead lights.
Outside, the New Year had begun. Fireworks cracked in the sky, lighting up the dark with colour. From a distance came voices chanting, ‘Happy New Year!’ Shouts, songs, laughter. The city was alive with celebration.
Jamal, his assistant, entered quietly and set a tray on the desk. ‘Happy New Year, Doctor,’ he said with a warm smile before stepping out.
Obinna glanced down. A glass of chilled zobo and a few warm pieces of okpa sat on the tray, exactly what he needed. It was a simple meal, but it brought comfort. This was what he had asked Jamal to get, something soft to help him settle after the long, tiring day.
His eyes drifted to the divorce papers on the desk. Vanessa had been the one to file, and she had signed her copy earlier that week, making a show of it outside the courthouse in designer sunglasses, surrounded by flashing cameras. Obinna, meanwhile, had waited. His signature came days later, now, in the quiet of his hospital office, far from the media glare.
He picked up his fountain pen and signed with a graceful flourish. There was no sadness, only relief. The marriage had faded long ago. Vanessa had made her choice, and now, so had he.
He took a sip of the zobo. The tangy sweetness cooled his throat. He bit into the okpa, soft, warm, filling. His shoulders loosened a little, the tension slowly lifting from his body. For the first time in five or six years of marriage, he didn’t feel drained by thoughts of Vanessa. There was only peace and a quiet sense of relief.
He turned his gaze to the screen on the wall. A live camera feed showed his daughter, Erimma, dancing around the living room in her pyjamas, her little arms waving as music blared in the background. Her laughter carried through the speaker.
Obinna smiled, his heart swelling. They had spoken earlier, just before midnight. She had begged him to come home soon, and he had promised he would.
At 1:00 a.m., Obinna stepped out of the hospital and into the night. The streets were far from quiet. Fireworks still shot into the sky. Neighbours gathered around fires, music echoed from every direction, and the aroma of suya and roasted chicken filled the air. Children ran barefoot across pavements, holding sparklers and shouting joyfully.
It was still dark, but the night felt alive, lit with celebration and filled with the hope of a new beginning.
Obinna drove through the glowing streets of Abuja, his windows down, letting in the cool breeze and distant sounds of cheer.
By the time he got home, it was nearly 1:20 a.m. The compound was alive with soft music and twinkling fairy lights draped elegantly over the pillars and hedges, celebrating the New Year in grand style. A servant, standing ready by the door, opened the large entrance quietly as Obinna approached.
‘Happy New Year, Sir,’ the servant greeted him with a warm smile and a slight bow.
Obinna stepped inside to find Erimma fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket, the remnants of her excitement still lingering on her peaceful face. He crouched beside her and gently gathered her into his arms.
‘You’re back,’ she murmured, half-asleep.
‘Yes, my darling,’ he whispered softly.
He carried her to her room, tucked her in, and kissed her forehead. She held his finger for a moment before drifting back into a deep sleep.
Obinna stepped back into the living room and looked around. The tree lights blinked gently. A few leftover sparklers lay on the floor. The house was calm now, but still carried the warmth of the New Year spirit. He knew the house would come alive again by morning with music, food, laughter and fireworks, but for now, there was quiet and peace.
He walked to the window and watched fireworks burst in the distance, their colours faint but beautiful against the night sky.
‘I’ll always take care of you, my darling daughter,’ he said quietly.
And standing there, in the stillness of the early hours of the New Year, Obinna felt a deeper peace. Maybe it was the finality of the divorce from Vanessa. Maybe it was the quiet presence of his adoring daughter, sleeping peacefully in her room. But one thing was certain: he felt lighter, as if something good was on the way, like the promise of the coming sunrise.
***
