Sisterhood episode 11

TITLE: SISTERHOOD

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

PART 11

Nkem received a call from her mother. She was excited to talk to her but, she sounded serious.

“Nkem, that man you gave my number, he came here. He left here not up to an hour ago.”

“Uncle Tobi? What did he come for?”

“He came to see me. He wanted to see what I had done with the first money he gave me. I showed him. He was happy, or will I say impressed with the work done so far. He asked how much I needed to expand the business. He was with one man and they discussed. You know our compound is big, he suggested we construct a place by the security house for the factory. He told me he can get me a better machine for palm oil production. It would mean more people can mill from here faster and make more money.”

“Uncle Tobi came there to do this? I will have to ask Funke what is going on.”

“The man he came with told me he will be back next week to begin the construction of the factory. Then they will bring the machine and train us on how to use it. I was surprised. He also said he will help us advertise so people will come to process their oil with us. It will be cheaper and faster.”

“Did you ask him why he was helping you?”

“He said he was instructed to help me. I asked by whom but he refused to say. I have been wondering if I am dreaming. He cannot be interested in me; will it be that he is interested in you?” Nkem asked her mother.

“He has never said anything to me about being interested in me. I don’t know what is going on. Anyway, Chidindu said we can sell fuel on the other side of the compound from the money we make. He can go to town to buy in bulk and then sell retail to the villagers. It is also a good business, very lucrative.”

“I have money we can use to start that one, but I want my money back. I am taking it from my business to give you. Promise you will refund my money after three months.”

“With Interest. I will discuss this with Chidindu. Now he has finished WAEC and Jamb he has to get busy before he joins a bad gang. Christmas is around the corner. The fuel will sell the most during that period. I have to settle the vigilante so boys don’t enter our house to rob us. Anyway, we should be able to give you back your money at Christmas.”

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The contractor commissioned to set up the factory came to see Mama Nkem. They signed an agreement. They were to share the profit 60% to Mama Nkem and 40% to Uncle Tobi until the money invested was paid off. Mama Nkem was very happy. The factory building was up in less than a month. It was a simple building with sections. It was plastered and painted.

The story had gotten to her in-laws that she was building a factory in her husband’s compound. The brothers-in-law who took everything from them came back to the village and to the compound to see for themselves.

“Mama Nkem, where did you see money to build this factory? What is going on we are not aware of?”

“Can’t I build a factory in my compound again? Do I need permission from you to build on my husband’s property?”

“You need permission from us until your sons come of age. Who permitted you to build this here?”

Chidindu, her first son, came out to meet them. “I gave her permission. I am eighteen years now and I can take care of my father’s property. We discussed it and I sanctioned it.”

His uncles were shocked. Truly he was a grown man now at eighteen and can take charge of his father’s estate. They asked where they sourced the money. He replied that a company in Abuja decided to partner with them. He explained they will collect their money back over a period of years.

“You are a smart boy. We will like to verify your claim. Give us the contact of the man and then we can confirm.”

“But why would you want to do that? Or do you want to discourage him from partnering with us?” Chidindu asked.

“Don’t listen to your mother; we will never do that. You see, no woman can stay in the family and sell her trade. If she wants to prostitute, she should leave the family and do as she likes. But if she is here, we must verify all the claims.”

“That’s not a problem. The man will be here next week Wednesday. You can see him then and ask questions.”

“Ok son. You have made your father proud.”

They were jealous and they were looking for ways to send Mama Nkem out of the compound so they could take over. Unfortunately, their brother’s son had come of age; they did not envisage that. They could not throw him and his brother out of their father’s house. They had to tread softly.

Mama Nkem called Uncle Tobi and explained what her husband’s family said. He asked her not to worry; he would be there. He was ready to travel from Abuja to their village to resolve issues. Mama Nkem shed a tear. “Money is good o. If only my husband was alive, we would have lived a life of luxury. My siblings begged me not to marry him because of his greedy family, but I didn’t listen. My daughters will marry rich men from rich families. My sons too will be rich. This Godsent can make it possible.”

True to his words, he came to the house on Wednesday. He met with Mama Nkem’s in-laws. Chidindu was in the meeting representing his mother. The discussions were ongoing. They did not want the factory in their brother’s compound so it does not deface the place. Chidindu said it was his compound and it does not concern them if it is defaced. There were arguments back and forth.

Uncle Tobi asked everyone to be quiet. He spoke, “What I wanted to do for this hardworking widow was also going to elevate the village, but you have kicked against it. The problem you have is that it would deface the compound, you might just be right. Looking at it, this is a beautiful house and it won’t be nice to deface it. Contractor, convert the building into three rooms she can rent out or give to her workers who will work with her. We have to see the king and see how we can get land to construct the factory.”

Read – He’s rich he’s poor episode 1 – 2

Chidindu was upset. But then he remembered his father had a parcel of land behind the house. It was attached to the land they were on but undeveloped. “This land extends to the back. There is vast land there undeveloped tied to this land, I have the C of O of this land and the survey plan. We can construct there and it won’t affect this building.”

Uncle Tobi watched the countenance of the men there and then he said, “I will buy land from the community so it will belong to your mother and her children. She will pay it off at the profit sharing agreed. Let me see the king and get the details.”

He asked Chidindu and his mother to get ready so they could go together. As he waited outside, Mama Nkem’s in-laws came to meet him.

“Leave this family alone. She killed our brother with her wickedness and now she is trying to trap you. I know she is a beautiful woman but don’t fall for her. Why waste money trying to help her?” one of them said.

“I have a business deal with her and so far, she has done well. I want to expand it and help build a mini-empire. She is industrious. Why would you be against such a woman? From the information I gathered, you deprived her of her husband’s possessions except for this one which your king refused to allow you to covet. I am happy it was properly registered such that you can’t take it from them. I will build the factory and go about my business. I will make my money and excess profit back within ten years. You can’t stop me.”

“We have land we can give you to build the factory, but we want in on the deal and we want to run it.”

“O, you want to sideline her?” Uncle Tobi asked.

“That’s not what we are saying. We are saying we have land and we can do our own business. Some of us are retiring home and we need to establish a business. We can go into business together.”

“If that is the case I will refer you to my company. You have to register with us and we will do a feasibility study of the village and the environment to know what will thrive here. I will get your details and send the bill before we start.”

“Wait, you are doing it for Mama Nkem; why not for us?”

“Are you a widow who was deprived of her husband’s possession after his demise? Are you struggling to train your children in school? The investigation we conducted pointed to her as the best candidate. She is morally upright and doesn’t live off people to take care of her responsibility. At least I know her daughter in the university isn’t being trained by any of you.”

They were silent. He was well informed. The villagers must have said something.

The in-laws insisted on following them to the king’s palace. When they got there, Uncle Tobi introduced himself. He came there with the contractor who was known to the king. He tabled the issue raised by men in the family. The king was disappointed to hear this. Uncle Tobi asked for land to be sold to him so he could build the factory and continue the business with the widow.

“Ndubuisi, I am disappointed in you and your brothers. We allowed you all to manage Ejike’s properties for his young family and now you stand against the widow using her husband’s compound to make money for herself. I met this young man when he first came here to enquire about mama Nkem. He wants to help her and other widows in the community. Because of this, I will give you the land opposite Mama Nkem’s house for the factory. It is my land and I will give you one plot there. Will it be enough?”

Uncle Tobi was speechless, “More than enough. Contractor, we have to go back there to see the place and start work. Since we have one plot, we will make it a bigger factory. She can do other things there.”

Mama Nkem and Chidindu lay on the floor in gratitude to the king. He had been good to them and this was a slap to the face of their family. They were not in the least happy. They could not verballybexpress their dissatisfaction at that moment, but they expressed it by their countenance.

Read – Making his cold heart soft episode 1

It took two months to construct the building and install the machinery. It was a big deal in the village that Nkem had to travel home for the opening of the factory. It was the second time she was seeing Uncle Tobi. She thanked him for all he did for her mother and the family. He told her not to thank him but be like her mother. She did not rely on others to help her rather she helped herself. Now she was on her way to being a big businesswoman.

Mama Nkem and Chidindu had consultants work with them for the factory to be fully functional. They taught them everything they needed to know.

Chidindu had gained admission into the university. He insisted on attending one in his state. The reason was so he could be close to his mother to help her. He had also been teaching his brother, Ike, the ropes of the business.

Tbc