Three Generations episode 11

THREE GENERATIONS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 11

Because Nwakaego had so much work to do before and during the burial, she was distracted and as long as Nwanneka was within the family compound, she was comfortable. Chidi realized this and took advantage of it.

Chidi had fallen in lust with Nwanneka. She stirred something in him anytime they were together. He had been tempted to make a move but resisted because she met and sat to talk more in the open and also because he feared her mother. Nda Nwakaego, as he fondly called her, was a nice woman but was very strict. She would deal mercilessly with anyone who would try such with her daughter. She had dragged a man by his manh-od in his compound because he passed a lewd remark about her daughter, she didn’t spare him. Nobody could challenge her.

Nwakaego had built her wealth over time but still she lived humbly. Instead, she did charity to widows especially because she received favour when she became one. This was her way of paying it forward. Chidi was one of her beneficiaries. Because she had impacted her community positively, she was loved and respected. The same love was transferred to her child. She wasn’t one to listen to gossip but when it had to do with her daughter, she doesn’t wait to confirm before moving. She would rather apologise if wrong than not address it immediately.

During the burial ceremony of her father, Nwakaego was so busy and distracted so she wasn’t monitoring Nwanneka as she does. Nwanneka also knew when not to cross her mother. Even though she was an only child, the entire family raised her. They didn’t spare the rod especially her mother. She learnt obedience and respect. She could do household chores like every other girl in the village.

On the night of the burial ceremony, Nwakaego was busy entertaining her guests that came from far and near. Nwanneka had a scuffle with her female cousins who made fun of her so she went to meet Chidi in their house to report them. Chidi asked her to ignore them and remain with him. He brought out drinks including alcohol which he and his other cousins had taken from the burial reception and fried meat which his mother sneaked to him. They ate and drank together while conversing. He gave Nwanneka alcohol to sip three times only. She wasn’t excited about the taste but Chidi assured her that only big women drink it.

It was past midnight before Chidi esc-rted Nwanneka to her house in the same compound. On the way he asked Nwanneka if she had ever been k-ssed before.

“No o!” she replied.

“Would you want me to teach you? If I teach you, you will be the best at it”

Nwanneka who was slightly intoxicated accepted. Chidi k-ssed her and taught her how to k-ss very well. In the process, he was able to fiddle with her body which was what he had always desired and he went wild with passion but had to contain himself as they were in a dark s₱0t in their compound. He asked her to visit him the next day after service.

Nwanneka had enjoyed the k-ssing she had with Chidi. She had developed feelings for him from their friendsh¡p but tonight’s experience had converted those feeling to lust. She no longer saw him as a friend but now as a lover. She liked the way he touched her body. She knew she couldn’t tell anyone about this otherwise there will be trouble. She would have to sneak out of the house tomorrow to visit him.

Chidi successfully won Nwanneka to his side. She would sneak to see him. He didn’t rush anything. He bided his time introducing her to s€×ual activities gradually. He would claim he couldn’t do certain things with her because she was a small girl. Nwanneka hated hearing that from him and expressed it. She let him touch sensitive parts of her body which she enjoyed him doing and did same to him. His reaction to her touch gave her some control over him and she enjoyed the new found power she had possessed.

She was due to return to school the following weekend. She had seen Chidi everyday of that week. The day before she was to resume, her mother travelled for business. Her cousin was instructed to charter a vehicle to take her back to school the next day. She was free as she had the privilege of staying with Chidi a night before going back. No one raised an eyebrow because they were close and most times they sat in open places. They hadn’t noticed the behind the door scenes.

That night, Chidi went for the kill. He had planned to do it this way so she would have forgotten about it before she comes back from school and he would have control over her. When she came in, they did their usual, then he told her he wanted to make her a woman.

“I want to be your first as I love you so much.” He filled her head with sweet nothings and did things to her that pleasured her that she believed everything he said to her. When she was relaxed, he told her he had to use Vaseline for what he wanted to do because initially it could be painful. She agreed. Then they did it. When he had ej×c×lated, he k-ssed her on the mouth and said to her, “you are now a woman, my woman and I am your man. I am your first as you are mine. You cannot allow another man do this to you except I give my permission. Likewise, I wouldn’t do this with another woman”

Nwanneka felt some pain and soreness from the activity. She didn’t enjoy it at all. She decided she didn’t ever want to have s€× again. Later that night, the pain increased. She was given painkillers. She couldn’t confide in anyone about the cause of her pain. By the next morning, she felt better. She avoided Chidi next before he lured her again into their act. She was determined not to have s€× again with him until she went back to school.

Nwanneka avoided Chidi even during the Christmas holiday. When he was able to corner her, she told him she was not interested in s€× as she did not enjoy it. He assured her the second time will be more pleasurable, but she refused to fall for it. She stood her ground and she was very stubborn like her mother. That was how their friendsh¡p ended. Chidi was upset about it. He felt he was used and dumped. The only consolation was that he didn’t see her with any other guy intimately although guys came to look for her, she wasn’t interested in a relationsh¡p.

A few weeks after Nwanneka resumed school, Nwakaego received an urgent message from her daughter’s school. They requested her presence in the school immediately. Nwakaego wondered what the issue could be. The school had just resumed after the Christmas and New year celebration, so what could have happened?

When she got the school, she was told to take Nwanneka had been ill for days now and she wasn’t getting better. She constantly complained of stomach pain which comes and goes. She had been treated for malaria but she still complained. The school management advised that proper medical checkup was required at this stage. She was still vomiting and looked very weak. She had also lost some weight. Her mother was very worried. “What could be wrong with Nwanneka?” she thought to herself. She didn’t like the condition she met her.

Nwakaego rushed her to the family physician in town. Nwanneka was admitted, she was infused with fluid and samples were taken for test. The doctor assured her he didn’t think it was something serious when after taking two bags of infusion, she felt better. She had to take more. Having her strength back improved her appetite a bit. She was able to eat some food selected by the doctor which wouldn’t make her nauseous.

Nwakaego was summoned to the Doctor’s office. The doctor didn’t look too happy with the results he was scrutinizing in his hands when she walked in.

“Please have a seat” the doctor offered her. She sat down wearing her worry on her face. “Mama Nwanneka, these are the tests results. There is nothing seriously wrong with your daughter but, there is a problem”

“What is it? Please tell me what it is?” Nwakaego replied in a shaky voice.

“Nwanneka is pregnant”

“Isi gini? What did you say? Nwanneka is what?”

“She is pregnant. I made them run the test outside with both blood and urine and it was the same result. She is pregnant”

Nwakaego slid to the floor from the chair in a dump. She placed her two hands linked together on her head chanting, “Nwa e gbolam o. This child has killed me, she has brought my leg outside. What should I do? Who did I offend? Which of my enemies did this? They will say I was pursuing money and neglected my child. They will make mockery of me. How will I face the world? Tell me how I will face the world again?”

“Madam, it is not by all this noise. I have checked her uterus and she is almost three months gone. It means the pregnancy is advancing. Put on your thinking cap and decide what to do. Lamentations won’t bring any solution but will compound the problem.”

Nwakaego listened to the doctor’s advice. Still in shock she went to her daughter’s hospital room where some of her relatives were present. She sent them away on different errands very far away from the hospital so she could have a private conversation with Nwanneka.

Immediately they left, Nwakaego’s face changed; she had a murderous look on her face. Nwanneka was scared. She didn’t understand why her mother had that look on her face although she knew whatever she wanted to discuss with her was grave.

“Who have you been doing mmekorita nwoke na nwanyi with? Who have you been having s€× with Nwanneka?”

“Nobody ma”

“So if I ask the doctor to check you now he will confirm to me you are still a V-rgin?” Nwanneka didn’t reply. She remembered Chidi’s words but she only allowed him that once and they didn’t do it ever again. Why was she asking? How did she know? She was now worried. “Answer my question otherwise by God, you will join Anozie and your brother in the great beyond”

“Ma, ma,” Nwakaego stood up and slapped her in annoyance. Nwanneka was so shocked at the swift slap that she didn’t know when she voiced out “Chidi”

Nwakaego couldn’t believe her ears. “Who did you mention now? Which Chidi?” she asked her with her eyes wild open.

“Mama, it is Chidi. We only did it once and didn’t do it again. I swear mama, it was only once it happened”

Nwakaego threw herself on the floor at this junction. She kept saying, “My enemies have got me. I am finished. My daughter has ruined me. What will people say? What will world people say o?”

Nwanneka couldn’t understand why her mother was over reacting. It only happened once so why was she doing all this drama? Why was she accusing her of ruining her? She was confused at her mother’s drama. It took the doctor to get her up from the floor while she was still wailing.

“Have you told her?” the doctor asked Nwakaego who shook her head in response. “Nwanneka, have you had s€× with anyone? Has anyone penetrated you before?”

“Only once and I didn’t agree to do it again. It was a mistake”

“Once is enough. And you know the person who did this?”

“Yes I do. Doctor what is the problem? Why is my mother crying?”

“Nwanneka you are pregnant; you are going to be a mother”

Nwanneka couldn’t believe her ears. She was pregnant? How? It was just once she did it with Chidi, how come it resulted in pregnancy. Now she understood why her mother was wailing and she joined her in the tears. Truly her life has been ruined. How can she be with child? She was not yet sixteen and a child too. She looked at her grieving mother and her heart sunk the more.

“What will happen to me now?” Nwanneka asked innocently.

Her mother stood up from the floor and said, “You will be an outcast. You will be subjugated to the customs of the law for incest. Didn’t you know Chidi is your second cousin? Why would you allow him lay with you? Didn’t I teach you anything? They will call me names. They will drag my name through the mud. They will say it is because I don’t have a husband and was chasing money that is why my daughter became promiscuous”

“Mama Nwanneka, put yourself together and stop making noise. Let us go to my office and discuss further. You have to use your head at this junction” the doctor advised.

Nwakaego went with him to his office. He knew her story. Everyone loved her and at the same time she had those that were jealous of her. Nwanneka was a young girl who had made a big mistake. She was also her only child. He knew what he would suggest might not go down well with her but she had two suggestions for her.

“Nwanneka has erred and she realizes it. I do not want anyone in this hospital to find out about her pregnancy that is why when I found out I went outside to run the confirmatory tests. You have two options, she can have an abortion……..”

“God forbid!” Nwakaego blurted out, “she is not having an abortion. The deed has been done. I will never be a part of shedding blood for any reason. I will never agree to it”

“Ok, we won’t consider that. But can we consider my second option?”

“Once it doesn’t involve bloodshedding, I will listen”

“Send her away. She can have a baby wherever you send her to. Nobody needs to know she had a baby and you can raise the child as your own. You can take her anywhere to achieve this but protect your reputation and hers. Nobody needs to know”

This was the best suggestion she had heard so far. She could achieve this. But where will she take Nwanneka to and she will be accepted without prejudice. Since Nwanneka wasn’t showing yet, she could take her back and allow her stay home for now. The doctor made so much sense but who can she trust with her child?

Tbc