It was raining cats and dogs in Laughter Estate. There was flood everywhere, washing away some dirt into the river close to the Estate. Some people were stationary in stores, restaurants, shops and malls for hours while some were already in their homes, enjoying the warmth therein.
Roger was in his building all alone. There was no one to share his feelings with. He had been ill for many months. He had been in hospital where he was being taken care of. He had spent a fortune just to recover. Thank goodness he was back on his feet. Some of his servants left him after stealing his money. The only one that remained resigned two days after Roger returned from the hospital. Asked why he wanted to resign, he said he had gotten a better offer somewhere. Roger promised to increase his salary by fifty percent. The servant turned down the offer. It then became crystal clear to Roger that the servant was not after the money but had made up his mind to leave. Roger bade him goodbye as he watched him carry his luggage, leaving his building. He would miss the servant a lot. He was loyal and committed to duties. He had clean records in the employ of Roger. Why wouldn’t he miss that kind of person? Sea of tears trickled down his cheeks. He was now alone. He would have to cook his own meals and do the dishes, laundry and so many household chores.

Millions of thoughts flooded his mind. Should he put up a notification for vacancy for the posts of a cook, a driver and a gatekeeper? Should he travel out of the country? Should he look for a new wife with whom he could converse? Should he sell his house and will his property to an orphanage and commit suicide afterwards?
The last one seemed to be the best to him. He thought his life was meaningless. He had no wife, no daughter, no one to discuss or converse with.
“What a miserable life mine is! I have no companion. All day long, I have no one to talk to. I am beginning to get cabin fever. Giving my property to an orphanage, I think, is the best option. Thereafter, I will take my own life. Roger, can you see your life? What is the essence of the wealth you amassed without happiness? What is the meaning of your life now? You are wealthy but empty. Truly, true joy is not as a result of one’s wealth but one’s contribution to humanity and fulfillment derived from doing so. How many people have I shown kindness all my life? What have people really benefitted from me? I am selfish. I am greedy. Oh, what a waste of life! I refused to help the poor and the needy. I was after my own welfare and that of my family. Mark Twain was right and is still right when he said, “Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” What kindness have I shown to the deaf and blind? I have been blind and deaf to the plights of the poor. Of what use is wealth not used for a noble cause? I regret my past life. I am ready to make amends. I am ready! But where do I start from? How do I do it? This appears a daunting task to carry out. Be that as it may, I am ready to do it anyhow. Thereafter, I will commit suicide,” concluded Roger.
He was in a pensive mood. There was a knock on his gate. He looked at the CCTV camera in his living room to see who it was. Behold, it was his beloved daughter, Juliet! Life seemed to come back to him! He was super excited. He wanted to rush to the gate, to open the gate and give his daughter a warm hug but something told him not to. Yes, to ignore his daughter who called him names. He felt weak now. He wondered why he should welcome her back. She looked old and spent. Suffering had taken its toll on her. She looked like a woman in her sixties though she was still young.
Another voice told him to go and welcome his daughter and throw his arms around her. After all he too had made mistakes earlier in life. He listened to the last voice and went straight to the gate. He opened the gate for his daughter. He closed the gate and stood, looking at her. She looked sorry and sober. Life had not been fair with her. She looked tattered a little bit.
“Father, forgive me for how I had treated you earlier,” pleaded Juliet.
“I forgave you a long time ago, my beloved daughter,” said Roger, hugging her deeply and weeping.
The daughter too burst into tears. Later, they walked hand in hand into the house. Everywhere seemed unchanged to Juliet. She looked at her father and deeply regretted her actions. Taking his seat, Roger said,
“My love, please, sit down. How is everything? What about Romeo? Hope everything is well with him. Tell him I am no longer against your union. Let him come for my blessings,” said Roger.
Juliet, stuck for words, began to shed tears again. Where would she start from? Should she tell her father that Romeo was a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Should she lie to him that he had been a good and caring man? Would lying help matters? Was it not obvious to Roger that all was not well with her? So, she decided to open up.
Her father went to sit beside her, telling her to wipe her tears and explain things to him.
“Father, Romeo is fine! But I am not fine. Our relationship isn’t either. He always goes after girls. He brings his mistresses home. He has turned me into a punching bag. I am no longer the woman he used to love. We are strangers sharing the same bed. He started doing that when he discovered I am now skint. In a nutshell, he didn’t love me. He is a gold-digger. He was after my wealth. I subscribe to the poem of one man which reads thus:
Build not your love on something
If the something vanishes there appears nothing.
True love truly has no definitions
Love balanced on definitions heads for destruction
Father, he loved my money while I loved his physique. I regret the steps I took. I even insulted you because of him. He promised me heaven and earth. What has he done for me? I thought I could handle the situation. In fact, I called myself a tough cookie at the time. I thought I knew it all. I never knew I was suffering from Dunning-Kruger effect. Father I have suffered a lot. Do you think you can forgive me?” cried Juliet.
Weeping profusely, he said, “My daughter, I love you and will always do. I forgave you a long time ago. You mean that idiot did all of those things to you? Oh my goodness! I had foreseen things like this, though I never knew much about him but something deep down was telling me he was a misfit for you. I will get him arrested so that he will pay dearly for his barbaric actions,” said Roger in anger.
“Let him be, father! He will soon be caught in the web of vengeance,” assured Juliet.
“I can’t take this! What nonsense!” shouted Roger.
“Let him be, father. I gave him the ground to do so. I made myself cheap before him. I put my pearl on the ground for him to trample upon. He is a swine, he can’t appreciate something precious. He will soon be sorry for himself, father,” assured Juliet again.
“Okay! No problem,” said Roger but still annoyed.
“Thank you very much for forgiving me, sir. I won’t take you for granted anymore!”
“You are welcome, my beloved daughter. I love you,” expressed Roger.
“Í love you more, my daddy – you are one in a million,” claimed Juliet.
Her father brought out his will and gave it to her.
“This is for you, my daughter. I will make some amendments to the will. I will have to give some of my property to orphanage and the poor and the destitute around us. The property accruing to you automatically makes you a billionaire,” revealed elated Roger.
“Wow! Thank you very much, father. You have no idea how much this means to me. It is going to change my life. Thank you, sir,” appreciated Juliet bursting into tears as she hugged her father.
“My daughter, you need not thank me. Everything belongs to you. I worked very hard to give you the best in life. You are a blue-blooded woman but you made yourself a commoner in the name of lust peddled as love. Now that you have learnt your lessons, teach others coming behind you so that they won’t repeat your mistakes,” advised the father.
“Thank you, sir! I won’t forget all that you told me. Live long father to enjoy the fruits of your labour. By the way, have you taken your meal?” asked Juliet.

“No!” answered Roger.
“Why?” asked Juliet.
“I have no one to cook for me. I just recovered from an illness. I was discharged from the hospital not quite long,” informed Roger.
“Really? I am very sorry for everything, father,” said Juliet.
“You don’t have to,” said the father.
“Where are yours servants?” asked Juliet.
“They have all left,” said Roger.
“Left? But don’t worry! You will explain that to me later. Let me enter the kitchen now and cook your favourite meal. Hope there are foodstuffs in the kitchen.”
“Yes! My cook bought me some foodstuffs before bidding me goodbye,” said he.
“Okay! Just calm down. Have fun while I enter the kitchen and prepare your favourite meal. Love you, father!” said Juliet.
“Love you more, my daughter,” said Roger, feeling on cloud nine. He decided to watch television. He took the remote control and switched on the television. Then, he tuned to his favourite channel to watch news. What can be compared with joy and peace - peace with oneself and others?
Roger was beginning to feel like a complete human after his unexpected reunion with his estranged daughter.
Truly, human beings are social animals. No one is independent of other fellow human beings. All of us are interdependent. We all need a relationship – a fruitful and meaningful relationship, no matter our status.