Thorn between episode 24 – 25
TITLE: TORN BETWEEN
WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI
GROWTH 4.
Enyi, the cousin Chief trusted with his whole heart, asked the brothers about the plans they had put in place to inform Chief’s maternal family about his death. They were supposed to announce his death to them with a goat and other items. They were also to announce his death to his wife’s family. “That is omenala. I thought it was why you called this meeting, but instead, you want to castigate the widow who watched her husband die less than twenty-four hours ago. Our brother was very sick before he died, and he chose to be buried quietly so we do not incur unnecessary expenses. Should we contribute money to do the necessary things immediately or continue to look for who killed a sick man?”
“Contribute money? Our brother was rich and the wife knows how much he had before he died. She has hidden the money,” one of Chief’s brothers replied.
“Is it Chief’s money we will use to do omenala? Tufiakwa! Do you want the wife to finance something we can organise here? It is a pity Solo is not here. I informed him of Chief’s death and his instructions. He has asked me to do all the necessary things until he returns. Your sisters too are returning. I will also inform them of your accusation. At least Solo went with him to the hospital in America and knows what was wrong with him.” He turned to Flora and said, “Call your brothers for any further meeting so these ones won’t think you have nobody. Let their wives stay with you, especially because of the Umu Ada. You have to be strong and remember that your husband thought about you and all these happenings before he passed. I have called his lawyer and he promised to be here tomorrow.”
“Lawyer? Lawyer for what? We are not following any lawyer anything. We will follow tradition and that is it.”
“Listen to yourself. When the lawyer comes, he will read Chief’s will. Attempt to use tradition and watch what will happen. I am disappointed in all of you. You all sat here and watched these brothers try to alienate their late brother’s wife. Someone who helped you in one way or the other. Has Flora been anything but nice to you? She has treated everyone here with respect.”
“It is eye service,” one of the brothers replied, “You think we do not know how she treated the brothers’ wives? Especially Adim’s wife. She is not a saint. We hear these things, but as long as it does not reach our doorsteps, we keep quiet and wait for when she falls into a trap she cannot escape from.”
“Is that so? Did Adim or his wife complain to you? Whatever misunderstanding they had as a family, they must have resolved them since. My brother has never complained about his wife. He was worried about how she would cope with his death more than looking for ways to punish her. You are not God and vengeance belongs to God. Anyway, the lawyer will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, nobody can move anything away from the house. I have put a security man with a rifle in front of the house. Nobody goes in there.”
The meeting ended with Chief’s brothers left to convene their meeting with their wives. They needed them to help organise the Umu Adas.
Enyi briefed Adim about the outcome of the meeting with Chief’s family. Adim was very upset about the accusations levelled against his sister by her husband’s brothers. He was shocked they denied knowledge of his Chief’s sickness and cause of death. He understood the stigma they would experience with revealing the true cause of death but to blame his demise on his wife was disappointing. Cancer was not something anyone could inflict on another. The problem back then was a lack of understanding of the disease and families refusing to marry their sons and daughters because the family had the ‘plague’. The villagers did not know what the real sickness that killed Chief.
Enyi to Adim also that he heard from a grapevine that the Umu Adas were set to challenge Flora at her home. It was orchestrated by Chief’s brothers. Adim was angry and wanted to go there to chase them away but Eucharia stopped him. She asked him not to go and embarrass himself by exchanging words with women. She calmed him down by saying, “It is a woman’s matter. Njideka prepare let us go over there before they come.”
Njideka was scared of facing the Umu Adas. She told Eucharia to step back for the men to handle it, otherwise, they would be targeted when it was their turn. Eucharia was disappointed in Njideka. Njideka puffed and threatened but was a weakling when it mattered the most. She dressed up and went to Flora’s house.
Flora was surprised to see her there. She asked if she came alone expecting to see Njideka and her brothers, but she was alone. Eucharia said to Flora, “The Umu Adas are coming. Let the people in the house offload the things in the car. Chief was not a nobody and should not be treated as such. Call one of your girls to kill the okuko (fowls) and make pepper soup with yam. They will eat and drink before they leave. I have ordered fresh palmy and it should be here soon. Biko, do not respond to any insult they throw your way; allow me to handle them. If your tears have dried up take Robb and put it near your eyes so they will flow again.”
Eucharia sat outside with the widow. Flora sat in a corner with her head bowed. So it was Eucharia and not Njideka that came to her rescue. She looked at Eucharia, her presence was intimidating. She could sense she was ready for war.
The Umu Adas entered the compound. They wanted to start making noise but Eucharia stopped them. She stood up and greeted them. She asked if they had come to greet their late brother’s wife or if they had come to kill her. They were surprised. The leader said to Eucharia, “This has nothing to do with you please step aside.”
“But it does. I want to know why Nda Flora would want to kill Chief. What will she gain from losing the man of her youth? The man was the breadwinner of the family, he provided for them, and he did not allow his wife to work, She was comfortable and happy with him alive, so explain to me why you have all gathered here angrily to claim she killed her husband. The men have set us women against each other. Chief’s brothers have convinced you that his wife is at fault. I know you will say she did worse to other widows, but did she know any better? Think about it! When will men stop setting us against our fellow women? What you want to do now was supposed to have been done before the burial and not after. It is too late to take action against her as they have buried her husband. You have entitlement as Umu Adas. I have arranged chairs and tables for you. Chief was not a poor man. He chose to be buried immediately after he died, he had his reasons. Even if he had no money left before his death, my husband knows omenala and he has sent me to step in on behalf of Chief who is no more with us.”
The women calmed down. The leader spoke on their behalf. She explained that it was customary to find out the truth about her involvement in her husband’s death.
“It is but Nda Eliza, did you kill your husband? Did you keep him bedridden for years so you will suffer and then he will die a miserable death? Was that your plan for your husband?”
“It was not. I did not kill him and I did not commit adultery that led to any sickness.”
“So why are you accusing Nda Flora for what she did not do? How did you feel when they did not believe you but instead subjected you to such inhumane treatment? Let us tell ourselves the truth; some women are guilty of adultery but you must have proof before you can accuse anyone. But most allegations are cooked up to deprive the wives of their husband’s wealth. It has to stop and we can all decide today to stop it.”
As they were talking the palm wine was supplied. Eucharia asked the supplier to place them on the tables. As though the palm wine announced its arrival, a big pot containing the okuko and yam was also brought out. The aroma was enticing. Flora’s maids served all the women food. They settled down to eat and drink. After the refreshment, Eucharia shared money to all the women there. They were the Umu Adas who lived in the village. They did not have much and could easily be bribed. Eucharia’s plan worked. If it hadn’t, she had plans B and C and one of them involved war.
“Eucharia, you are a good person. If you have heard all the negative things Flora said about you, you will not fight for her. She does not deserve this escape, she has subjected several widows, especially widows of wealthy men, to terrible and inhumane treatment. They used her as a weapon against our women.”
“Fine her. If she did this to others and is getting away with it, she has to pay for it. We have to look for ways to help each other. Let us look at how to use this system to help the community. If you do not want to face the Umu Adas, then pay a heavy fine.”
They all laughed and agreed it made sense. The Umu Adas were powerful but used their power as a weapon to cause harm. Eucharia suggested another way they could use their powers to positively influence their fellow women. One way was by empowering the poor widows and women in the village. They agreed that it was a brilliant idea. They left the house without talking to Flora at all. Flora could not believe it. Chief’s brothers were so disappointed at the outcome when their wives narrated what transpired at Chief’s house. An evil was averted that day.
Eucharia returned home and told them she had settled the issue without bloodshed. Adim, Peter and Njideka could not believe it. They had to visit Flora to confirm. Flora said it was unbelievable how it all happened. She asked Njideka why she did not come with Eucharia but she claimed she was not at home when she left.
Read – Stuck With An Obsessed Girlfriend episode 2 – 5
TITLE: TORN BETWEEN
WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI
GROWTH 5…
When the lawyer arrived in the village, Enyi invited Adim and his family to the compound. The meeting was held in the sitting room where Chief was buried. Chief’s brothers did not feel comfortable sitting on their brother’s grave, but Enyi insisted. He said he wanted Chief to be present at the meeting.
Before the lawyer read out Chief’s will, he explained the financial burden his illness and treatment laid on his finances to the extent he had to sell off some properties and his business. He further appreciated some specific people who stood by him during his trying times. It caused an uproar because he did not mention any of his brothers in Nigeria. They felt slighted and believed the lawyer was taking sides because he mentioned Adim and his brothers. The lawyer showed everyone he was reading from Chief’s handwritten letter. He said he was following instructions.
When the storm settled, the lawyer read the distribution of what was left of Chief’s property as he had instructed. Chief left to his brothers in Nigeria the four flats in Ikenegbu, Owerri. The brothers were not happy about it. They already resided in those flats without paying rent so it did not have an added advantage to them, except they wanted to sell it.
The lawyer continued. Chief left the house he lived in Lagos to his wife and children. He left the house in the village where he was buried belonged to his first son but he must accommodate his siblings there. The other parcels of land in the village belonged to his children. All the shares Chief had (they were listed) he willed to his wife and children.
Chief retained the services of the Lawyer. He instructed the Lawyer to continue to manage his two commercial buildings. He stipulated a monthly allowance his wife was to receive. At the demise of Flora, his wife, the commercial building and the saved proceeds from it will be inherited by his grandchildren. He also willed the balances in all his accounts to his wife. Chief had invested in the names of his children and the lawyer was to hand over those investments to them when they turn twenty-one.
Immediately after the Lawyer made the last pronouncement, the three brothers stood in anger and said, “No, we will not take this! Chief would not have done this. This lawyer is Flora’s lover and she has connived with him to present this rubbish as his will. We will challenge this.”
“I have not finished,” the lawyer replied, “Chief also instructed that his wife, Flora, should remain in the village for a total of seven days only after his burial. She is to move in with her brother, Adim and his family for five years. It is after she complies the house in Lagos will belong to her and her children.”
“A woman in mourning should stay with her family? Why should she do that? I do not understand what our brother was thinking. I said he was losing his mind but you all did not believe me. Our tradition is different from what our brother has exhibited. We need to see the king and elders to resolve this.”
Unfortunately for the brothers, more than ten witnesses stood up to confirm that the will the lawyer read was Chief’s desire. They said Chief told them to make sure everyone abided by his wishes. He wanted his wife to live with her brother for five years for a reason. After several arguments, they brought up the issue of the car. Chief did not mention anything about the car in his will.
“But it is my only means of transportation,” Flora replied.
“Your husband did not give it to you. You are only entitled to the things he gave you.” The Eze explained to her.
It settled it. Flora spent the remaining alone in her husband’s room and mourned him. She wondered if she deserved his love and his commitment to her. It still baffled her the way he fought to ensure she was safe. He prevented so much evil from happening to her. It was surprising to her that he loved her this much. She cried for days and even stopped eating. It dawned on her that a phase of her life was over.
When it was time to leave, she packed up her personal belongings. She did not complain about going to Eucharia’s house as she would have done in the past; instead, she was glad she was going there. She owed Eucharia for fighting for her and other widows. She was not excited about what the future held for her. She needed to leave the depressing village and see if she would feel better. She did not think she would ever recover from the sadness that had enveloped her. She had a strong urge to speak to her children; she missed them. So many things were running through her mind but she felt confident as she left the house that everything would be alright.
Njideka was in the compound when Flora came to see her parents. They were not allowed to attend the burial of a younger person. Her mother held her only daughter close to her chest as she wept. Her father stroked her head in consolation and shared words of affirmation. He reassured her that she would be fine and her decision to go with Adim was the wisest decision she had made.
Adim and Eucharia backed up to leave with Njideka and Flora. Peter returned to Port-Harcourt the day before. The journey back was silent. No one said anything. Flora leaned against the door of the car and was in deep thought as tears dropped from her eyes. She wondered what the rest of her life was going to be like. How was she going to cope on her own? Chief was her shield and protector, who would do that for her now? She cleaned the tears dropping from her eyes with her handkerchief. Njideka wanted to move close to her but the eyes Flora shot at her, she moved back and kept quiet.
When they arrived at Port-Harcourt, Adim drove to Njideka’s house first to drop her off. She thought Flora would move in with her but Flora remained in the car focused on her sorrow. Njideka said to her, “Nda Flora are you not staying with me?”
“No, she is not,” Adim replied.
“If that is the case let me drop my bag and join you to your house. I want to help her settle down.”
“There will be no need for that. Settle your children who have not seen you in days. You can come with Peter later today or tomorrow. We are tired and I would want her to be by herself for now. She has been through a lot.”
Flora did not raise her head during the conversation. She was not interested in anything Njideka had to say. She had heard from some in her family that Njideka chickened out of fighting the Umu Adas because she did not want to be victimised when it was her turn. She could have sworn Njideka had her back but she could see she only did eye service.