Kemi had a frown on her face as everyone smiled at the photographer. Her mum looked at her briefly and nudged her. “Smile. The pictures have to look perfect.”
As Kemi opened her mouth to respond, she saw her father’s face and immediately dropped the idea. She faked a smile and looked at the photographer her dad had paid to cover her graduation.
*****
Ten minutes earlier, her father had told her to start preparing to go for her PhD. She was sick and tired of being controlled by her father but she could not bring herself to stand up to him.
Her father was the reason why she had studied Mechanical Engineering for her first degree. He was also the reason why she was graduating today with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. She had discussed with her mother the previous night about following her passion which was creating art but she had been told that her father must not hear of it.
She was reminded by her mother that her father had said his two children must be inventors in the field of engineering.
“Mummy, if you are after inventions, I will be an inventor as I create art.”
“Gbé ënu ë sóhùn jàre. Kí lo mò.” (Keep your mouth shut. What do you know?) Your father wants the best for you and your brother.
“And what if his best is not good enough for me, mum?”
“Kemi, of all the things to think of; it is colouring, when you are not a baby. Whatever your father says is final. I want to go to bed. Tomorrow is your graduation.” Kemi’s mother had concluded.
*****
Kemi felt disgusted as she thought about her discussion with her mum and her father’s PhD proposition. The thought of spending about four years doing her PhD when she could be following her passion upset her. The thought of not being allowed to be independent in her decisions at almost twenty-five annoyed her.
As she lay on her bed later that evening, she began to detest herself. She began to hate her parents and her life began to lose meaning to her.
Will Kemi eventually decide to stand up to her father and pursue her own happiness?
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Photo Credit: https://www.healthbeatblog.org
