The U.B.A story (Part 3)~Baby Mama

Hi there! This is a continuation of the U.B.A story. If you are new to this blog, click here to read part 1 of the story and here to read part 2. Enjoy :-)

“Get rid of it. It’s just a foetus.”

That is all it said in the text Ayanda had received from Greg a couple of days back just before he had blacklisted her number and cut off all communication with her. Now and then she would grab her phone and re-read the text, and each time the pain felt sharper than ever. There was no “How are you?”, no “I love you”; just a simple instruction that made her stomach churn with both anger and regret. She had known from the start that Greg was not dependable, but she had stuck with him for the money up to a point of recklessness. Now she was carrying his child and she would give anything to turn back the hands of time and stay as far away from him as possible.

Ayanda pulls the corner of her blanket and covers her head, face down, onto her pillow to suppress the tears that effortlessly spill from her eyes. She cannot get her mind off Taku. Taku had made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with her or the thing that was growing in her tummy, which was fair enough considering he was not the father. The last time they had talked was at the party, when she had told him she was pregnant. In all naivety, she had hoped he would accept her with open arms regardless of everything that had happened from the time they had separated.

“And you are telling me this? Why?” Taku had replied, and she too had no answer to that question.

She had never slept with Taku, and yet she still found it easier to open up to him before she had informed Greg of her situation. She still had feelings for him, and just the thought of being stuck with another guy afflicted her. After the night of the party, Taku had moved out of the room he shared with Greg and moved in with a friend. It was probably for the best to avoid any more drama. The tension between the two boys was already insurmountable.

Ayanda rolls over in her bed and the October heat intensifies her distress. All she can think of is Taku, but he, too, is no longer talking to her. She now realises that he was indeed a good one, but it is too late. She should have held on to him when she still had the chance. Amid her choked desolation, an idea strikes her mind. If she calls Taku’s best friend; Charles, there is a high chance they will be together, so she makes the call without giving it another thought.

“Charles, hi!” she is so relieved when the call is picked.

“It’s Ayanda”, she says to break the silence that had followed her enthusiastic greeting.

“I know. What do you want?”

“May I please talk to Taku. It’s important.”

On the other side of the line; Charles stares at Taku, who gives him a look of disapproval the whole time.

“Please Charles. I promise I won’t bother you or him again. I just need to talk to him this once.” there is a note of desperation in her voice.

Charles hands the phone to Taku, who hesitantly draws it to his ear.

“What do you want Ayanda?” he asks without hiding the annoyance in his voice.

“Taku! Thank God!” she speaks through tears. “I need your help. I need you to help me get rid of the pregnancy.”

“Ayanda, you know I can’t help you with that. Where is your boyfriend? He is the one you should be bothering.”

“Greg wants nothing to do with me. I know I am asking for a lot, but you are the only person who can help me.”

“We could both get into serious trouble just for having this conversation. I am sorry Ayanda, find someone else to help you. I can’t risk it”, Taku feels his heart ache as he utters those words. In as much as he hates it, he is still madly in love with her and hearing her cry eats him away.

“I am coming to you as a friend and not as your ex-lover. Please help a friend in need”, a tone of hopelessness has invaded Ayanda’s voice as she speaks and an episode of silence follows her statement.

The worst of thoughts swirl through Taku’s head. He cannot turn a blind eye to her. He knows he would never forgive himself if something bad happens to her. What if she commits suicide? After all, that is the common end point for many of the young students who fall pregnant and have no one to support them through it. He would never want that for Ayanda. Even though he knows how great a risk he will be taking, he still agrees to help her.

Taku spends the night up searching for all the illicit abortion clinics in town. He calls up a few friends who could have knowledge of such facilities and by the break of dawn he has a contact. He dials the number, and the so called ‘doctor’ says he has an opening that afternoon. Rumour has it he used to be a surgeon but lost his license for malpractice, so technically he still has the capability to assist patients. At this point, he is the best shot at getting Ayanda the help that she needs. Taku gathers up all his savings and borrows what he can from his friends so he can give Ayanda the support she needs; anything for the love of his life.

Ayanda keeps her fingers crossed, knowing very well that her fate lies in the hands of a guy whose heart she has probably broken. As she lies in bed waiting for Taku to call, the guilt suffocates her and it comes with a serving of fear. Her church and the law despise abortion and there is so much that could go wrong. All that, however, to her seems to be no match for how her parents will react if they ever find out about the pregnancy. So far she has done a good job hiding it beneath baggy clothes and heavy jerseys, but that cover will not last. She needs a permanent solution to her dilemma. When Taku finally calls her, she leaves her conscience in the room and walks out, ready for action.

They board a combi to town and neither of them speaks to the other. They both have their demons to fight and, silently, they both pray for grace. Taku leads Ayanda through shady corners until they get to a downtown hardware shop where ‘the doctor’ awaits their arrival. Behind the hardware cover is a whole other world; a rough representation of a clinic with a few personnel in scrubs. Most of the infrastructure is deteriorated beyond redemption. Decaying ceiling boards hang from above them and rats squeak from corners. Only desperation for a way out keeps them in that place.

“If anyone calls, just answer”, Ayanda speaks as she hands her phone to Taku before she is taken into the operating room. Taku seats impatiently on a wooden bench in a dusty foyer. He taps the ground with his shoe and lifts his hand each minute to check the time. After what feels like a lifetime; he is finally called in.

“Unfortunately; there was a complication,” the doctor speaks remorsefully.

“This was actually an ectopic pregnancy and Ayanda was losing a lot of blood. The best I could do to keep her alive was perform an emergency hysterectomy. I am sorry, but that means she will not be able to have children of her own. Right now, she is fighting for her life and we both have to pray she makes it through, otherwise we are screwed.”

Taku is devastated by the news. Before he can answer, Ayanda’s phone rings. It is Greg. He stares blankly at the phone for a few seconds while the ringtone echoes in the room. Nervously, he picks the call but before he can say a word; Greg bursts out, “Babe, I am sorry. I panicked. I want to be a father; to take care of my child. I love you so much and I want to be there for you and our child!”

Taku’s tongue weighs down on him. He holds on to the phone, but no words can escape from his mouth. Where can he even start?