LOVES NOT IN HER DICTIONARY

ATITTUDE CHANGE

Wearing a smug face with an 'I told y'all so'! expression rolling her eyes at her friend as well as the doctor stationed opposite them, after 2 consecutive test was carried out with a 1minute urinary pregnancy confirmation test strip kit came out negative to the surprise of Mansa. Who was now carrying a confused quizzical facade contemplating:

"was I over thinking all this time or did I really wish bad for my baby girl? I mean all the indications pointed to pregnancy! God knows I have never had ill intensions towards her nor will I ever but am sure this development is definitely going to make her look me in two ways now ..... damn! Did she seriously catch something? or is she seriously sick? As if that was not enough! I had to mistakenly rob pregnancy in her face sooooo hard! I really out did myself this time..Aaaag..Mansa!"

On the flip side the doctor had an unperturbed confident smiley frontal, not to be rude but because he was a professional with years of experience adding to his credit though with a young handsome sharp features but matured. He had encountered the rare but not non-existent case he was presently faced with more so he was kind of amused with the 2 females sitting infront of him.

First the concerned friend who was not supposed to be part of the consultation yet was there, by the insistence of her friend now worry struck. The price of being a good friend. Then his patient with an overly snobbish facial expression whom might be thinking he didn't know his job by wrongly diagnosing her after thoroughly explaining her observation and discomforts over the past few days. He bets her confidence will soon be dashed by the next series of test he was going to persuade her to undergo which was without doubt going to play up the number of his merit badges already attained in his line of duty. This in mind was the reason for his expression.

"I told y'all I wasn't pregnant! she shouted! However you wouldn't believe me. I am just sick kk! there's something seriously amiss with me! I can't feel myself but not what y'all be thinking it is. I couldn't possibly be carrying a child when my man was out of the country? On top of that, only if you'd care to know anyways! I've had my reds all these months after his departure! I mean the last time we made love, though in small quantity compared to the usual heavy flow".

The friendly compassionate smile across the doctors face was gradually bringing to surface one of the symptoms of her yet to be established condition 'irritability'. which was not her at all, in an anxious angry mode she was up saying.....

"Thanks but no thanks for not helping at all! plus wasting my time! wipe of that smile of your face! there is nothing funny here" in a fuss.

unable to see the doctor's good intentions through her foul mood....

"As a matter fact I need another doctor and a different hospital. This is why I don't do Government Hospitals both the institution including the staff is just a sham!".

Mansa tried to calm her friend down only to be brushed off rudely by Jen for the very first time! striking her astonished.

"Calm down dear".

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down!" she shouted

instantly on her feet walking towards the door only to spin around to find her close friend still seated. In a high pitched aggressive voice she asked...

"Don't you wanna get outta here? or was this a set up?"

MANSA'S POV

I have been friends with Jennifer for a very long time now, if truth be said she was like the sister I never had in my 2 female sibling's YAA and ABENA. Who were a pain in the skin all the time, with a jealous streak. I am the 3rd of 3 girls earning me my name 'MANSA'. Nothing i ever did was good in their sight. Our parent's affection towards me as the last child of the house made it worse. When we were younger they'd seize every opportunity to bash me up when our parents weren't at home and used me as the house servant though we had someone hired by our parents to do the chores in the house.

Jenn an only child, ever much so pampered, coming from a much more well to do home than myself was sooo! cool than 99.9% of the other rich kids out there I knew. They were always too full of themselves and thought they were better than anyone not within their financial status. Jenn related with everybody with respect regardless of your background or financial standing. She was totally different compared to the kids within her social class, baffling her own parents Mr. and Mrs. KUMEDZRO, in fact everybody that came into contact with her. This gained her so much love, friends capitalized with genuine respect.She had control of her temperaments. Sincerely I have learnt a great deal of lessons from her. Ever since we became friends after our hilarious meeting which was nothing close to funny back then. I nearly suffered from hypothermia in a fully air conditioned room... lols! meeting at peter pan fast foods in one of the malls. It's still very fresh in my memory as if it happened just yesterday.

FLASHBACK

On that particular day I was late to work coupled with some sorting of documents i left undone the previous day. Having so much to do at work, it was way past lunch time before I was done not having had breakfast before setting out that blessed day couldn't make it any easy on me.

I called the restaurant to place an eat in order of a full plate of vegetable fried rice with spicy marinated chicken thighs deep fried bathed in sweet sauce speckled with pees nuts with coke/ water on the sides. knowing it took about 20mins to get my order done almost the exact same time it will take for me to arrive at the restaurant for my food. As fate would have it Jen had also requested for a meal at the same restaurant over the phone of similar choice with just a few contrast. She ordered a half plate of vegetable fried rice with spicy marinated boneless chicken breast deep fried coated in sweet sauce with coke/ water. Guess what ? She is eating in too! Call it coincidence, I say it was destined.

I later found out she had the same option as me, of eating in the restaurant to avoid interruption during the session just as moi! lols!

I was at the counter in my own record time to pick up my order immediately the door was swung open for me by a security guard. Beautiful garnished to make one salivate was the food. These are some of the few reasons I patronize Peter Pan Fast Foods, their customer service is unmatched though it is a self service mood of operation within the organization premises, yet someone was always at the door to ease entry by getting the door for you like royalty.

Nevertheless their neat hygienic homely ambiance with a soothing opera music always playing at the background at reasonable volume, aside that the trained cooks made your dish into an irresistible piece of art work, almost making it unbearable to cutlery through. The taste? wheeeew! An experience would be the best judge! Combined with accurate timing. To crown it all the infectious smile plastered on the faces of the front counter employees welcoming you to pick up your order. This people are really good.

Vision beclouded by hunger whiles entranced by the tray on the counter ahead of me. I reached out grabbed the tray with a transparent plastic food cover ing that added more emphasis to the cream moist perfectly cooked fried rice mixed with fresh, freshly chopped orange colored carrots enhancing the irresistible esthetics of the rice, juicy green peppers, shallot sprouts, onion in tiny bits to complement alongside golden brown crispy chicken coated with the red sweet sour sauce accompanied by a sparkling bottled water, completed by a sweating

vibrantly doodled colourful cup of iced cubed dark black coke a little melted, diluting the dark color into partial brown beneath a slightly plain outlook above surface on the corner of the square tray.

All these enticing blend of colors coming together in the customised quality paper shaped containers of variant rectangular, round and octagonal designs, made my stomach growl. I could not wait to stuff my face wit the variables, Inadvertently neglecting the body right in front of me now, more so the piece of paper tag sticking on the tray, with the assumption it was my name. Since my order was supposed to be done within that time frame. Also the fact that am a regular, well known patron by almost all the stuff in that establishment and on both our sides dealt strictly with prompt timing.

The gentle but firm opposing pull on the other side of the tray got my attention.

lifting my face off the tray with the food with a cleared mind and a focused vision on the smiley face of a beautiful young lady reeking of wealth, from the brand of cologne coming off of her body, the piece of jewelry , the clothes she had on: very simply dressed but exuding a rich aura from head to toe, however she could easily be misjudged by a novice from a humble background ignorant of few prominent designers. Don't get me wrong! I come from a well to do family too...yeah! we were able to keep our heads above some waters but there were classes and hers was way above the ladder. The only reason I could catch up quick to her status was thanks to my reasonable status and acquired knowledge from some magazines.

A bewildered look from the staff behind the counter to my embarrassment mixed with a little fear. Before I could utter an apology one of the staff Akos familiar with me preceded me with one and a directory for me .....

"Madame Jenifer! we're very sorry!"

"Aunty Mansa this is your order please come this way".

She was one of the hard working down to earth managers at the fast food joint also very accommodatingly friendly.

There were actually 2 trays on the counter. All this while mine was on the other side of Jenifer who was at that time allien to me.

Akos upon seeing me through the transparent glass door entering the room picked my food under the warmer lights and placed it on the counter where it was supposed to be clearly vissible to me. If only I hadn't been too caught up in fantasizing behind Jenifer, who was making enquiry on a smoothie she wanted to take away after her meal. The embarrassment hung heavy over me like a weighty load. The fear for the unknown was making me shudder. why? Because one had no idea of how this rich lady was going to act next! either creat a scene to draw extra nosy attention to make me feel more stupid than I am feeling right now, for allowing my hunger / love for Peter Pan Fast Foods place me in such jeopardy or even worse!.

Legs rooted to the spot unable to move in a mental shaken sweat drenched state, the heat underneath my skin was like a menopausal woman experiencing hot flush, underminding the potency of the high powered Air conditioner unit in the room. Beating down the effort of the system to cool me down physically. Almost evasive was the feeling of starvation over contemplating what my fate was going to be in the hands of the rich spoilt brat!. surmising before knowledge duh!? typical me! Gathering ample of the little strength left in me due to lack of energy boost with a thin line of courage I spoke....

"My apologies for the mix up.... I am sincerely regretful for touching your tray Miss".

With a strained weak dried throat hoarse voice I spoke out of being excessively ravenous. My bowls made a thunderous announcement of it pressing need partly a contributing factor to this chaos I caused. She must have heard the rumbling conjoined with my out of breath flustered hunger striken agitated apologetic look. In my head I was like " please don't take it too far cause I'd pass out anytime soon if you did".

still wearing that beautiful smile she replied...

"Mistakes do happen Aunty Mansa, life for you!"

yes! you heard right! she captured my name when Akos called it out whiles I didn't even register hers... what hunger can do! Scanning the room suggestively she was like...

"It seems we the only ones here for now since it way past lunch time."

Peter Pan is normally fully packed at breakfast/lunch / dinner times on the daily. She ordered me but made it seem as a question knowing fully well I couldn't say no because of my earlier flaw which I had to atone for by being nice, Stressing the rhetorical question...

"Whyyyy? don't we share a table instead of being loners?" with a gleeful but an 'am not taking a No! from you' look. rolling my eyes now which I couldn't do back then.Wide eyed! preceded by thousand blinks of my eyes per second I heaved a long refreshing sigh! of comfort.

"OMG! Did I just hear her? She was not furious I touched on her food? Unconsciously though"

I had escaped what was supposed to be the fury of a female Hyena! neither scattered nor feeling sorry for my gourmand self! Rather I got a first class invitation to her table! incredible! involuntarily I had held my breath waiting to be berated only to be taken aback by this lady. I stuttered in response...

"eee...yeah! I mean sure! .... why not? better with company than alone!"

akwardly exposing my teeth in an attempt to show gratitude. A soft excited giggle left her lips with a much contented expression spread across her face to my befuddled self, pondering why? she was happy am joining her table. It was later revealed she was a lone eater due to the busy schedule of her parents she always ate alone and she was always thrilled to have company.

That said and done finally! I was glad to fill my tank. further attained a friend from an unsettling circumstances which could have gone south but produced a beautiful fruit of sisterhood in lieu of a wonderful personality. An angel who later became much more than a blood sister to me.

After proper introductions,we conversed over lunch as old friends notwithstandind the fact we were freshly acquainting. She turned out to be chatty revealing the person behind her calm , composed, understanding demeanor, her nanny!.

She is a lone child to extremely wealthy busy parents who spared less time for her unintentionally. Her only consolation was a down to earth woman employed by her parents as her nanny( MAMA B). Pertaining to how her parents found her she had no idea but was ever thankful they chose her particularly for the job.

An exceptional woman who did a marvelous job at grooming her into the remarkable young lady she was currently. She also confessed, she would not trade the experience for anything in the world! she already had everything as a matter of fact though. Because in the stead of an egotistical disrespectful, full of herself mean spoilt rich kid who would trample upon others to elevate themselves? She was a considerable loving young lady admired by many to the surprise of even her own parents not forgetting me.

"To have it all does not mean to have an inflated ego and look down on others" her favourite line.

Sincerely speaking she influenced my life positively in the past few years of our friendship. I began to possess control of my temperaments, how people intertwined with situations affected me and my response etc. This greatly aided in dealing with my senior sisters at home to their amazement. Simply put they lost the effects they had on me.

PRESENTLY

A careful introspection of retrospection on Jenn, compared to the enraged lady ranting disrespectfully in my presence now in this doctors office impatiently is a sight I could never phantom. This is not the Jenifer I know! Something is truly not right! Did she engage in hard drug activities which was now taking toll on her or what? how could I have missed it? is my sister truly losing her mind? God no! not my prejudice self again! I have a strong conviction I am in her black books for hammering the idea of her possible conception in so hard am ashamed to call myself her sister but I can't help it. I am very concerned about my dear friend, this her new personality is frightening. It just like the african saying goes 'no matter how many times the leopard bath it spots can never be washed away!'

Spaced out on my thoughts, I didn't notice when she made for the door about to exit only to turn around realising I was still pinned on the seat! compounding her snowballing rage. In a high pitched voice pulling me from the depths of my mind. She spat very painful diction in a form of a question or should I say direct speech? Confirming my concern of lost trust sending a pang of agony to my heart yet I felt deserving of it....

" Don't you wanna get outta her or was this a set up?".

Indeed! a hefty painful slap on the cheek linked to my heart. My already disoriented envisage dropped instantly to a weary dejected physiognomy, with lack of confidence I responded:

"Right behind you."

How am I ever going to make this right? Slowly getting up face down in embarrassment. Before I made it to the door the doctor spoke, this time on his feet highlighting his already blazing impressive reputation over the roof! His killer abs hugged by his dry-leave green cotton body-con army inner t-shirt like a second skin, which was hidden by his overcoat when he was seated neatly tucked-in a little below his waist into his camouflaged army pants exposing the sketch of his V-line bringing me to a standstill whiles captivating Jenn's attention. In a well composed tone and a firm but soft appearance left hand humbly placed under his chest he said:

"Ma'am! accept my unqualified apology, I didn't mean to set you off however it is paramount to note that the 1minute rapid urinary pregnancy test strip kit is not a conclusive means to determine an accurate reading. if you don't mind, non the less I would respectively like to strongly recommend a more conclusive analysis by blood(HEAMATOLOGY) which is not going to be restricted to our current topic of concern but rather a wide range of possible causes of your worry and discomforts. I employ you to give me the benefit of your doubt just one more time to clear the misunderstanding."

Spoken as a true professional and a real gentleman with his patient's wellbeing at heart! very persuasive too at that! Great combo I must say.

Silent enveloped the room for about 2 minutes followed by her reply:

"On one condition! which the doctor reverted!"

"let's hear it." not knowing what was coming next

with a devilish smirk on her face, her request was laid bare:

"That you stake something valuable... mmmmmmhh! let just say your medical certificate? if it turns out you unable to find what is wrong with me, which would inturn make you incompetent, you will give up as a medical personnel."

with a conniving smile slightly visible in her countenance she inquired:

"What says you?"

Mansa utterly shocked to the core by how calculating her best friend had become over the few days of her illness to make someone pay for a supposed wrong deed. Her mouth drop voluntarily, yet kept her registration to herself as to prevent her from being the next on the chopping board of her friend. Seeing how she now went from a 100% sweet young lady to a -0% unforgiving retaliating wench! made her fearful, making Masa conclude her bossom friend was tormented by something much more than meet the eye . Jennifer her adopted sister was possessed! A demonic spirit has taken over Jenifers body making her get on the wrong side of all the right people. She needs an exorcist!

Initially the doctor showed a slight surprise bemused feature but was swift in composing himself to counteract:

"How about this?"

A genuine informed smile spread on his lips:

"I agree to your suggestions but not before you also accept my conditions either. If I was able to diagnose your condition accurately, which I am very confident I will,"

a statement that got Jenn rolling her eyes so hard with a.. really? look on her face

" I get to be your physician accompanied with all the due respect that comes along with the position and institution regardless of your reservations. Which means you MISS JENNIFER KUMEDZRO, attend a government hospital as well as become a patient of a government worker. Note! A qualified state employee."

playing on her fore demeaning comment about the government institution and it employees with full confidence.

Feeling nauseated by the hospital air now caused by her condition she abruptly agreed with Mansa as their witness. The deal was done.

The doctors hard earned profession against Jennifer's be it always existent

but covered ego now uncovered on full bloom or whatever mystery it was.

" Thanks for your co-operation ma'am ! kindly come this way "

Indicating towards the examination bed few steps behind our seats enclosed in a metallic retractable curtain holder, the reason why we didn't notice it was there all this while. Now retracting it whiles he spoke

" Have a seat on this comfy bed so I can take your samples for the analysis"

After he took enough sample of blood, he explained it was going to take 72hrs for the results to be ready. He promised to call her personally to give her the first refusal of the results. The two friends departed from the hospital with Mansa escorting Jenn home safely before leaving for her own home.

DOCTORS POV:

IN all my 8yrs of practicing in the field of medicine after becoming a fully licensed doctor, I have encountered patients of different calibers. Some of which I thought was extreme and the farthest I would see. I thought I had seen it all until this present day. For a patient to go as far as wanting my reputation which I worked for so hard impartially to earn. Surprised! is an understatement. I understand where she is coming from perfectly well 'ignorance'! Truthfully I am concerned about her health which makes me really want to help her feel better even though she has thrown a challenge at me with extremely severe consequences on me if I should fail. Because pregnancy is not a disease though it come switch some discomforts. I sympathize with her, considering it being a first time for her thus my main reason behind my non-judgemental negotiations with her.

Many factors come together to give a negative false pregnancy results. A too dilute urine after taking a lot of water palpable in her case looking at her

glutton behavioral observation, a test conducted too soon when there's not been enough implantation in the uterus to begin the production of (HCG) HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN .

(HCG) is a hormone secreted during pregnancy by the placenta for continuous production of progesterone by the ovaries. This i also doubt could be the case because I believe buttressed by all the years of experience and knowledge that I have that she is farther gone in her conception.

Also using a kit that is unable to detect lower levels of (HCG) , this I have confidence should be the case.

I am not debunking the idea of another cause of her discomfort but that is a lower % compared to her producing a low level of (HCG). A rare case in very few women , making it almost a non-existing

fact to the drop of percentage of women that experience it. Just as my present patient or may i say soon to be.... lols!

Yeah! it is a bit humorous but to be on the safer side, I sent her sample to 3 of out best lab technicians to work on separately both based on my firm assumption and other possible factors. I am not leaving nothing to chance! The accumulated results will be in within 72hrs . That done, fingers crossed! I hope I get to keep my certificate. Some feirse first time soon to be mum I have on my hands right!? ...God help me! This is just too cynical.