THIS story started from last week when a rich father told his two sons that he had no inheritance to pass on to them. He told them that they should rather go and make their own money. Read on: The walk home was a heavy silence punctuated only by the rhythmic honking of Lagos traffic.
Oluwaseun finally broke the quiet. “So, what now?” Oluwadarasimi kicked a pebble down the dusty street, a scowl etched on his face. “I don’t know.
Dad’s crazy. How are we supposed to just..
.start over?” Oluwaseun, ever the pragmatist, sighed. “He has a point.
We’ve never had to worry about anything. Maybe this is a chance to actually find ourselves.” Oluwadarasimi scoffed.
“Find ourselves eating instant noodles every night? That’s not exactly self-discovery.” Oluwaseun stopped, a glint in her eye. “We have skills, remember? You’re good with computers, and I can speak French fluently.
Maybe we can find some freelance work online.” Oluwadarasimi raised an eyebrow, surprised by her enthusiasm. “Really? You think you can handle that?” Oluwaseun squared her shoulders.
“Dad said we have networks too. Maybe we can reach out to some of his old friends, see if they have any leads.” What about first-class travel expenses every summer? Oluwadarasimi asked in a sorrowful tone.
But we have accumulated enough travel credits and if we save aggressively we will still be able to travel, maybe not first class sha, Oluwaseun retorted with a glimpse of hope. The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. Their once spacious apartment felt suffocating, filled with the ghosts of past luxuries.
They packed their things, the once prized possessions now seeming frivolous. Using their limited savings, they found a small, shared apartment in a bustling neighborhood, far removed from their old life of privilege. One evening, exhausted but strangely content, they sat on their shared balcony, watching the vibrant city come alive with twinkling lights after their Dad passed on.
Oluwadarasimi held up a small laptop with a proud smile. “Got my first repeat client! Seems my coding skills are in demand.” Oluwaseun beamed.
“That’s fantastic! I landed a French tutoring gig for a businessman moving to Paris. He needs to brush up before his big move.” The freelance work wasn’t easy.
Hours were long, communication with clients across the globe was challenging, and the pay was barely enough to cover their rent and basic needs. But there was a satisfaction that came from building something on their own, from knowing their success or failure was entirely dependent on their own effort. They clinked cheap mugs filled with instant noodles, a small celebratory toast to their newfound independence.
They were far from rich, but for the first time in their lives, they felt a sense of accomplishment, a taste of the self-reliance their father had hoped for. Months turned into years. Their freelance work grew, their skills honed.
Oluwaseun started an online language learning platform, combining her passion for education with her tech skills. Oluwadarasimi, inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of his new neighborhood, launched a web design business. They weren’t wealthy by their old standards, but they had built something of their own, a testament to their resilience and hard work.
One day, a familiar face appeared at their doorstep. It was their father’s old friend, a kind woman named Aunty Yemisi. Tears welled up in her eyes as she embraced them both.
“Your father would be so proud of you. He told me about his decision, and I know it wasn’t easy for any of you.” She handed them a worn envelope.
“This is for you. Your father left you a small inheritance, enough to help you invest in your businesses. Consider it a seed he planted to help your dreams grow.
” Tears streamed down Oluwaseun’s face as she held the envelope close. It wasn’t the vast fortune they once expected, but it was a symbol of their father’s love and belief in them. In the end, his unorthodox approach to inheritance had proven to be the greatest gift of all – the chance to build a legacy of their own.
I look forward to reading your thoughts on this. ALSO READ: JUST IN: Oba Olakulehin gets Staff of Office as 43rd Olubadan.
