Three generations episode 32

Three generations

CHAPTER 32

Uloma came to Port-Harcourt to pack Chigozie’s things. Nwakaego booked a flight for them to travel back to Lagos. She advised Uloma to drop her address with Onyedika in the office so he could visit his son. Uloma wasn’t excited about that because she was worried he would harass her. Nwakaego made her understand that was the right thing to do. He should be able to see his son when he wants. She should either leave the house or pretend to be busy when he is around. But, she should not give room to be found in the wrong.

Onyedika visited Uloma a month after Chigozie moved to Lagos. She was surprised to see him that afternoon. She welcomed him. Chigozie came out to meet his father. Uloma went in, dressed up and claimed she was going to the market. She went to the market and from there she went to a friend’s place to relax. She didn’t return until very late at night. She was shocked when she still met Onyedika in the house when she returned.

“Is this how you leave your son alone for hours on a weekend? Where have you been?”

“I went to the market and stopped over at a friend’s so you can spend enough time with your son. Why are you still here?”

“I was waiting for you”

“Well, I am back now and very tired. I have to retire for the night. Than….”

“You can’t keep running away from the discussion. I only have this question for you, why did you get angry and leave the next day? I mean the night you claim we conceived this pregnancy”

“You asked me an insulting question and I didn’t think it deserved an answer and any more conversation. Just like now. Why do we have to talk about anything now? You claimed it is not yours, so there is nothing to talk about except our son which you believe is yours.”

“You are acting tough. I hope you will still be tough when you have two children to cater for all by yourself.”

“Stop worrying about me. Do what you know how to do best; jump from one skirt into another. I can manage perfectly by myself”

“What do you mean? Have you been following me or what? What are you talking about? Explain it to me”

“Onyedika, good night. I am heavy and tired. You have seen your son, allow me to rest o. I don’t want trouble. You don’t owe me any explanation and I am not looking for one. Dalu” Uloma walked into her room, locked her door behind her and didn’t come out until she was convinced he had left.

He came around the following month. Uloma wasn’t satisfied with him just barging in on them. She told him she would be out all day. She came home and he was still there. What was wrong with Onyedika? She didn’t believe he visited this often when Chigozie was in Port-Harcourt. He was looking for something. She entered her room and didn’t step out until he left.
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The following week she received foodstuffs from Nwakaego. It was much and must have cost some money. She called her from the office to thank her. Nwakaego then told her it was Onyedika who ordered them with some addition from her. He said he didn’t like her going to the market in her condition. She was surprised.

The weekend, a man came with vegetables, meat, chicken, and fresh fish. Onyedika had sent him. Uloma knew he was becoming soft towards her. She would have appreciated it if she didn’t feel he was being manipulative. She was still very hurt by his denial of her pregnancy. She was even more hurt that he brought Charity to the village after they had had such an encounter. She felt he would come after her but instead, he went to Charity. It showed where his heart was.

Onyedika visited. He took Chigozie with him for the weekend. Initially, Uloma was scared to release him but she relaxed when he promised to bring him and made her believe him when he said she needed some rest. He brought him back on Sunday evening. He came back with bags of clothes and shoes for Chigozie and then cartons of provisions. When Uloma queried him, Onyedika replied, “Chigozie is my only child, I want him to have the best. Mama Nwanneka took over his responsibility in past, now I have to do take over fully so he will know he has a father who loves him dearly”

Uloma appreciated all Onyedika did. She avoided them talking about the pregnancy. She also avoided any form of closeness with him. She either leaves or locks herself in the room each time he is around. Onyedika observed it. He stopped coming. He went further to get her mother to come in early to be with her because he believed the delivery will be sudden. Because she avoided him and conversations, he kept his distance. Also, he didn’t want her to believe he had automatically accepted the child in her womb as his.

Six weeks after Onyedika’s last visit, Uloma went into labour and gave birth to a baby girl. The girl was a replica of Onyedika’s mother. She was light in complexion with pretty red l-ips which was a signature of Onyedika’s mother. She was also tall which was also a trait in Onyedika’s family.

Two days after the birth, Nwakaego was informed. She rushed down to Lagos to see the baby. She was speechless when she saw her. Truly, Uloma was telling the truth. She prayed for Uloma and her child and went shopping for the newborn. She didn’t mention it to Onyedika as she believed he should be following up on Uloma to know when she puts to bed.

Uloma’s father decided against it. As tradition demanded, he sent a message to papa Anozie informing him that his daughter had given birth to a baby girl. Papa then sent a message to Onyedika informing him about the birth.

Onyedika wasn’t in the office when the information got there. He travelled down to Enugu to see Charity during that period. He came back to Lagos two weeks after. That was when he received the message. He knew Uloma expected him to come running but he didn’t. He sent her additional food items and congratulated on the birth of ‘her’ daughter. This infuriated her but she held on to Nwakaego’s words.

She enjoyed her three months’ maternity leave in Lagos. Chinyere came to spend some time with her. She danced when she saw the girl. “This one is ‘shut up your mouth’. Onyedika cannot deny this one. He shouldn’t come to see the baby. Once your mother leaves, go and stay with Nwakaego until your maternity ends. Let him look for you. Nne, you played this one well, very well. I can’t wait to hear what he will say when he sees her”

Uloma tried to be strong but she wasn’t. She went into post-natal depression. Her doctor had to hospitalize her and finally, she moved to Port-Harcourt to be with Nwakaego. She stayed there with her mother before her mother left.

“Did you tell Onyedika I am here?” Uloma asked Nwakaego.

“Why will I? I am waiting for Christmas when everyone will be home. That is when we will present this angel to papa and mama. Since Onyedika denied her, they will name her. I bet you, once Onyedika sees this girl, his heart will melt. You don’t believe me? Let us bet it. Onyedika is mama’s last born and she loves him so much. Likewise, Onyedika loves his mother. Haven’t you noticed he doesn’t challenge her much? Don’t worry, your family will be united”

“When? Since last year, I have been waiting. When will I be free?”

“Last year you conceived for your daughter. The healing started then. It is about to conclude. How would you explain him sending foodstuffs to you regularly? A man that doesn’t care, would he do that? Is it Chigozie that will eat the azu ndu (fresh fish) he was buying? Read between the lines. He will come running back to you when he sees his daughter”

“What of Charity?”

“Who is that? I don’t know what you are talking about”

When Uloma resumed work, she was nominated for a transfer to head the branch office in Ondo state. That was part of her promotion. She requested for time to decide since she just had a baby. She was given until the end of the year to make a decision. This was a good move for her. She would be given an official residence with domestic staff, an official car and would have a private office. But, she couldn’t decide on her own. Onyedika had to be involved.

Christmas came very fast. Uloma came home for the holiday. She stayed at her parents’ home waiting for when Onyedika would return. When she got the signal he was back, she came to the family house very early in the morning two days later.

“Uloma, is this you? You do not look like someone who just had a baby. Nne come in.” Papa offered. “Let me call mama to see you. This is quite early”

Mama came out. She hugged Uloma without looking at the sleeping baby in the pushchair. “My daughter, we thank God for safe delivery. Where is my baby?” Uloma brought the baby out of the pushchair. Immediately mama saw the baby she exclaimed loudly “Olololooooo! Death is near. How can I be reincarnated while still alive? Papa Anozie, have you seen this child. How is this possible?”

“This is our blood. Look at her nose, she didn’t escape it. Truly, this child came this way to prove Onyedika wrong. Nwunye m, she is your carbon copy. Call Onyedika and Obi. There is no denying this child”

“No need papa. I wanted to present her to you. Since Onyedika claimed he is not her father, he cannot see her until he restitutes for his utterances. Mama, you supported me this is why I brought her to you. Onyedika should go and look for his child elsewhere”

Before she could leave, Obi came into the house. He saw mama carrying the baby. He too couldn’t hide the amazement at the striking resemblance to the woman who carried her. He asked Uloma to remain so Onyedika could see the baby but she refused. Obi went to get him. Before they got back, Uloma had left.

“If you are sure of what you are saying, why would she run away? She wants to trap me but it won’t happen”

“What are you talking about? Trap who? I saw the child and so did mama, papa and other people in the house. You have made a big mistake which you have to repent from so God won’t punish you. That child is yours, you can’t deny her”

Onyedika initially wasn’t interested but when everyone talked about it all the time, his interest increased. He didn’t talk with Nwakaego about it because he knew he will hit a brick wall. He had to see Uloma but he didn’t want her to believe he came to see the baby. He thought of an excuse to see her. Chigozie! He was the perfect excuse. He would claim he wanted to take Chigozie for the holiday and use that opportunity to see the baby.

Charity had tried everything possible to conceive but it wasn’t happening. There was a time she monitored her cycle very closely and came to meet Onyedika in Lagos so she could conceive but that too failed. She was depressed when she found out Uloma had a child and it was a girl. She had the first son and first daughter. That wasn’t fair.

She knew Onyedika had refused to see the baby since she was born. She was happy about that. He seemed more committed to her which made her glad. They hadn’t talked about marriage but he saw her more often which pleased her.

She was shocked when she was informed Uloma came to the house to present her daughter to papa and mama. She also heard the child looked so much like mama so all doubt had been thrown out of the window. She was pained and hurt. She knew it was a matter of time before Uloma would want to steal Onyedika back. If they met often without the hindrance of pregnancy, anything could happen. She was very insecure from that moment.

Onyedika became preoccupied in his mind by the birth of a child who they claimed he could never deny. He had a strategy in mind. He bought fresh palm wine and hot drink. He went to Uloma’s home to see her father. While he was discussing with her father, he never mentioned her or the child.

Before he left, he asked his father-in-law if he could take his son away for the holiday and bring him back a day after the New year.

“You don’t need my permission; he is your son. You can take him” he called out to his wife to get Chigozie ready to leave with his father. When Chigozie came out, he came out with his nanny and his luggage. Uloma didn’t step out. He continued, “by the way, congratulations on being a grandfather again”

“What can I say? God has been gracious” Uloma’s father replied.

It wasn’t what Onyedika had expected. He was well-received but the very pressing topic to be discussed wasn’t mentioned. What were they up to? He felt defeated when he left Uloma’s house. His pride was completely deflated. If this girl was truly his, wouldn’t Uloma rush out with the child to prove him wrong? So, why was she nonchalant? Is it possible his people were wrong?