Three Generations episode 17
THREE GENERATIONS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 17
Uloma went back home with her father. She tried to create a scene to see her child but her father-in-law advised her against it. Chinyere also packed her things to leave with her brother. As they were leaving the compound, the women of the family gathered around them and booed them. It was such a shameful sight that Chinyere’s brother left without her. She had to find her way home.
Uloma couldn’t eat or drink or sleep for days because of the problem. She wanted to have her son with her but her father reminded her that the child belonged to Onyedika as long as he paid the dowry unless she can confidently say Chigozie isn’t his. That was how the holidays was spoilt for the family.
Nwakaego brought back Chigozie two days after the women were disgraced out of the family. She talked to Onyedika and advised him to consider his decision concerning Uloma but he was adamant.
“Then allow Uloma have her son. You cannot cope with this child alone. Let the mother take care of him while you visit”
“It is unless she wants to relocate to the village to care for him under my mother’s supervision. If not, she can’t have him”
“You met this girl working in Lagos and you believe she will give up everything for you? You must be joking. You are hurt, I know but also be reasonable. Chigozie needs both of his parents especially his mother at his formative years. Don’t take that from her. Move out of the house and let her stay there with Chigozie. But ensure Chigozie is comfortable and has all he needs. That is being reasonable. You can always visit to see Chigozie”
“I don’t want to see her. I have heard all you’ve said and I will try to comply. In the meantime, I want you to keep Chigozie. I have to get to Delta state on an official assignment that will last two weeks. Take care of him for me while I am away”
“What happened to his mother? I can’t keep the child. Take Chigozie to his mother while you are away with the understanding you will come back for him or meet her with him in Lagos”
“I don’t want to see her. If you want, you can take him to her but she must return him to me when I get back. She can’t leave the village with him. If she wants to go back, she can drop him with her parents or return him to you”
“You know Uloma despises me and you are dragging me into this. If not that I love Chigozie like my own son, we won’t be having this conversation. Why not take him to one of your sisters to care for him or send her to drop him with Uloma”
“You were the one who suggested it and therefore you will be the one who will do it. And by the way, I am not close enough with my sisters to leave a son with them. You know that. Do whatever you like, just make sure Chigozie is home when I get back”
Nwakaego drove Chigozie to his mother’s compound. Uloma wasn’t expecting her so she was shocked when she saw her with Chigozie. She ran to grab her son with tears in her eyes while her father asked Nwakaego to come in,side the house which she did.
“Thank you my daughter. I knew you will be the person who will talk sense to Onyedika. Don’t look surprised, I know you and I am aware of all you suffered in the hands of your in-laws when Anozie died. You won’t remember me; I was part of the entourage that came to marry you. We know your story. I was asking my daughter why she had so much hatred towards you but she couldn’t give me a good reply. She has been beside herself with worry especially because of her son and you have brought him to her. May God bless you. What do we offer you?”
“Nothing papa, I am fine. Uloma, Onyedika has agreed for you to keep Chigozie for two weeks while he goes to work in Warri. He said you can’t take him to Lagos during the two weeks, you have to either leave him with your parents or with his mother or with me whichever you choose. He is still upset, give him time to heal. In the meantime, abide by his instructions so other things can be done smoothly without rancor.”
“Thank you my daughter. God bless you. Look at it Uloma, she has made it easy for you. Just obey your husband’s instructions and everything will work out well”
“Obey which instructions? Isn’t he aware I am resuming work soon? I should drop my son for other people. Well, it is because he is a man that is why he can give unreasonable rules. I will go back to Lagos and take a leave. When Onyedika is tired, he will come back for me, after all, I have given birth to his first son, what else remains?”
Nwakaego advised, “Uloma, there is a way to follow a man and you will have him eating out of your palms. If you show a man you are equals, he will want to subdue you. But if you follow him with humility and give him respect, you have nothing to worry about. He will reward you with care and love. He will do your bidding. What he says he doesn’t like, don’t do them……”
“Don’t preach to me. If it worked so well for you won’t Anozie still be here? You and your daughter are the cause of my current predicament. You have turned people’s eyes from the truth and now they focus on who exposed the truth rather than you who lied. Who got your daughter pregnant? I will not rest until I find out who is responsible and expose you even more”
Her father stood up in anger and said, “Shut up! This is the reason Onyedika is determined not to bring you back to his house. What wrong has she done to you? She was just advising you and you turned against her. If not for her, do you think Onyedika would release your son to you? Continue to misbehave and you will end up divorced and alone in this house.”
“Papa, even if Onyedika doesn’t take me back, I will find a better man”
“Won’t he make enquiries? When he finds out that you betrayed your mate out of jealousy, would he agree to marry you? You are not smart after all. Better take lessons from her and win Onyedika back. Anyway, my daughter, she is just talking, once she sees Onyedika she won’t dare talk like this. A word is enough for the wise”
Nwakaego realized Uloma still had a long way to go. Onyedika would only change his mind if he sees genuine change in Uloma which she doubted she knew. Uloma’s mind was poisoned as far as Nwakaego was concerned. She had advised Onyedika to separate her from his siblings after the wedding just like Anozie did if he wanted to enjoy her. Her frequent association with Obi and Chinyere caused this. Now Chinyere had only two months to stay with her family while Uloma would be away for a very long time. She knew she would never support Onyedika marrying another woman apart from Uloma but their reconciliation was solely between them.
Two weeks later, Uloma brought Chigozie to Onyedika’s parents. Onyedika had not returned yet and the house was empty except for the aged couple.
“You might have to take Chigozie to Nwakaego because we can’t care for him until his father returns. Nwakaego is in her village, drop him there and Onyedika will pick him up from there” Papa Anozie advised.
“I am not taking my son to the woman who used her cunning ways to destroy my marriage. I don’t know why Onyedika is insisting on involving her in our son’s life. Well, since you can’t take care of him, ask Onyedika to pick him up from my house”
“I will advise you not to do that. Leave the child here, I will send for Nwakaego; she is the only one Onyedika trusts. She will keep him until Onyedika returns”
“I am not giving her my child. Onyedika knows what to do” Uloma replied arrogantly. She left with Chigozie that afternoon.
At about 10pm that night, there was a loud banging on their entrance door. They were scared it was robbers. Finally, Uloma’s father went to open the door. It was Onyedika. Onyedika greeted him as politely as he could in his state of anger and asked, “Where is Chigozie? Where is my son?”
Uloma’s father went into room to call out Uloma. She came out with the boy and his bag, then she said, “Couldn’t this have waited until morning? Why did you have to scare us this night?”
“Can I have my child?” Onyedika asked Uloma.
“Here” she said handing him over.
“Go back to Lagos and pack out of my house, I don’t want to see you or any of your belongings when I get back. I will permit you to see your son once a month but it will be in the village, I will not separate a child from his mother no matter how useless the mother is. I wonder what you will teach Chigozie, hate? That’s why I want him as far away from you as possible. Have I made myself clear?” He turned to his father-in-law and said, “Papa, I want my dowry back. I am not marrying her again. I don’t want her anywhere near my house both in Lagos and the village. We have no relationsh¡p anymore”
“What happened son? What did she do again?”
“She refused to drop Chigozie with mama Nwanneka or my parents because they told her mama Nwanneka will take care of my son until I get back which was what was agreed. She instead continued to badmouth her in the presence of my parents. Have you seen her stubbornness has no remedy?”
“Why would you do that?” he asked his daughter, Uloma, “She brought your son so you can spend time with him but instead of you appreciating her you went running your mouth at your in-laws. Who will be the loser? Take your time” he turns to Onyedika and says, “you are angry and have every right to be. Our people say if a fly refuses to heed to the warnings of his mother, it will follow the corpse into the grave. Forgive her for this”
Onyedika was still furious but he listened to his father-in-law and left. He had to do something fast to get rid of Uloma. She had refused to learn and her hatred for Nwakaego had eaten so deep into her that she was unknowingly digging her own grave.
Nwakaego had asked him not to pick Chigozie that night but he had insisted. He had been redeployed to Seme border on a new assignment and wouldn’t be able to take care of Chigozie. He had decided to leave Uloma in the house with Chigozie while he was away to see him weekly but with what happened today, Chigozie was better off with Nwakaego and her family. Even his parents said so.
Tbc