Three Generations episode 21

THREE GENERATIONS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 21

Onyedika came back on the 24th of December. He drove into his compound and then walked to Papa Anozie’s house. Everyone was excited to see him. He took his son Chigozie in his hands and the boy squealed in delight. It was heartwarming to watch father and son unite.

Onyedika was updated with all he had missed before he came. He had that conversation with Nwakaego in her room for privacy. He informed her of his investigation.

“The girl was a pr-stitute in Italy, that was how she made her money. She has been there since she was 20 years old. She has properties and businesses in Nigeria but those are not the source of her wealth. She is too old now to continue the trade, she has become a trafficker of girls to other European countries with a guise to get them jobs or serious relationsh¡ps. When they get there, they have to work before getting their freedom. She seizes their passport and any other doc-ments that they could use to escape. Until they pay her an amount she communicates to them, they cannot be free. She has sent a set of girls abroad just before she came back for Christmas. I am on her trail. I won’t stop Obi from making a mistake he will regret; I am more worried about Ogo and Chioma. They have both become very desperate. I’ll continue to keep a close eye on them”

“Isn’t it forced s€× slavery she is doing? She is trafficking unsuspecting young girls. What do we do about it?”

“Nothing. We will just sit back and observe. When she gets caught, Obi’s eyes will clear”

“Is that the best? Ogo and Chioma are her best allies. Are you sure she is not enticing them, with the same assurance of travelling abroad?”

“It is possible. We will keep a close eye on them so they don’t fall victim. It will teach Obi and his daughters some sense”

“Why do women prey on their fellow women? They call us weak and then we show our strength by conniving with the very men who believe we are weak to do evil against our kind? It is just sad. I was told that Amuche was harassed constantly by her brother-in-law just because her husband died and the family decided he should manage his business and properties. The man will insist on sleeping with her before he will release money for school fees. Amuche that is very beautiful, men are falling over themselves for. I told her since her parents-in-law can’t get their son to behave, she should pack her things to join me back to Port-Harcourt. She agreed. She doesn’t have any skill but I will teach her cosmetics business. It will sell because of her beauty and fair skin.”

“You think about everything and everybody. Aren’t you worried her brother-in-law will attack you for taking her away?”

“I am waiting for him. I will expose what he has been doing to his people including his wife. She is another Margaret Thatcher. He should come near me and the family will suffer. You can see the housewife men insist their wives should be is not a good idea. That’s why widows are pr-stituting; they have nothing to fall back on. They become a toy to their brothers-in-law and when those ones are tired and stop financing them, they move to other men. Every woman should acquire a skill or learn a trade”

“You are correct. It was your case that made me marry a working-class lady. Marrying her also had its own downside. See how she turned out”

“It wasn’t because Uloma was working that she became difficult, it was her character and negative influence. Many working-class ladies are good and humble. Are there no housewives that are evil?”

“I need to let you know I came home with a lady friend. Her name is Charity. She is in my apartment right now. I know you wouldn’t be happy about this but it is my decision. Since Uloma refused to behave like a well brought up girl and be a good wife to me, I have decided to move on”

“What are you saying? Uloma has misbehaved but you don’t throw away the baby with the dirty bathwater. The Uloma you fell in love with is still there but she is bitter. She felt betrayed by you too. Don’t interrupt me, I know what I am saying. Uloma messed up but taking such a drastic decision was too much. You should have sent her away for a while and then when she comes back you give her further punishment but you shouldn’t severe the relationsh¡p. If Chigozie was not in the picture, I wouldn’t have said anything, but he is. You want him to grow under a stepmother? I won’t allow that. Talk to Uloma and give her your ground rules, let her be the one to say she doesn’t want to remain married to you, then you can move on. If not, I am not with you”

“I expected you to kick against it, but am I to remain lonely while she is trying to have sense? That would mean that like Obi, I will have two wives”

“You won’t. Apart from her hatred for me and my daughter, Uloma loves you and your family. You have never complained about her that I remember. So, I will step out of the picture and allow you both live your lives. I will never accept Charity. She can be your concubine but you will never marry her and I will tell her so”

“Mama Nwanneka, why are you doing this? I know you want to keep our homes but what about our happiness? In as much as I don’t support Obi marrying Isabella, I believe he deserves better than Chinyere. She disrespects him in the open which is not acceptable by me. Likewise, Uloma, she is too stubborn. Has she apologized to you? I know she comes to see Chigozie, has she ever come there with anything to appreciate you for what you are doing for her? Has she ever thanked you from the bottom of her heart? What you are doing, many women won’t do. She has shown her true colours; she is worse than Chinyere. I won’t take her back. If you refuse me marrying Charity, then I will remain single and have children with different women.”

“God forbid! Are you an irresponsible man? How can you have children with different women? Uloma will have all your children no matter how long it takes. Nna, you know what is right; Uloma will come around. If you promise me you won’t marry or have a child with this Charity, I will work on Uloma”

“No need. I won’t marry Charity but I can’t guaranty not having a child with her. Uloma created the vacuum and she has to suffer for it”

“Let Chigozie spend the Christmas holiday with his mother. I can drop him off with her”

“It won’t happen. I haven’t seen him in months due to work and you want to separate us? She should come after Christmas on the 29th, I would have enjoyed him to my satisfaction by then. I want him back on the 1st.”

“How will you enjoy him when you have someone with you? Let him stay with me when he is here”

“No thank you. She can take very good care of him. I will be there too. You need a break”

“Am I complaining?”

“Let us spend time with Chigozie. Is that too much to ask? Nwanyioma, please”

The family eventually met Charity later that evening. She was a young girl, about twenty-four. She worked in a private firm. She was light-skinned, average height and had an enviable set of b-obs. That must have been Onyedika’s attraction everyone thought but then she was very reserved and clung to Onyedika. She had such a likeable personality that Nwakaego released Chigozie to her. The excitement in her eyes when she took him showed she was a good person. But, she was still an intruder and had to go.

Uloma arrived on Christmas day to see her son. She walked majestically to Chigozie’s apartment and knocked. She was dumbstruck when Charity answered her holding Chigozie by the hand. Charity too was surprised to see her as she didn’t know her.

“Can I help you?” she asked Uloma. Those words jolted her back.

“I came to pick my son. Where is Onyedika?” she asked eyeing her.

“O! Good morning. He is in his father’s house”

“Chigozie come to mummy” Uloma called out to her son.

“I can’t let him. Onyedika gave specific instructions not to release him to anyone except with his permission. You can either come in and wait for him or you can go to his father’s house and get him”

“What do you mean I can’t take my son?” Uloma said raising her voice. “Who are you to stop me from taking my child? You are the stranger here, the intruder, so you can’t tell me when to take my child.” She grabbed Chigozie and walked away. Charity walked behind her while she spoke in harsh tone reigning insults on her.

The shouting attracted the attention of those in papa Anozie’s house and they all came out. Onyedika saw Uloma with Chigozie and Charity walking behind her. Immediately Charity saw Onyedika she said to him, “She grabbed him out of my hands. I asked her to meet you here but she instead started shouting and calling me names”

“There is no problem. She’s Uloma my ex. Uloma, give Chigozie back to her so they wouldn’t witness what is about to happen”

Uloma saw that Onyedika’s eyes had turned red. She quickly gave Chigozie to Charity and began to scre-m “Mama Nwanneka, mama Nwanneka please come o”

Onyedika signalled to Charity to leave. As she turned to leave Nwakaego ran out.

“What happened?” she asked p-nting from her rush.

“Mama Nwanneka, I told you to tell Uloma to come back on the 29th to pick Onyedika. What is she doing here?” Onyedika asked.

“I haven’t seen her since then. I expected when she comes she will see me first to know if you agreed”

“She went to my apartment. Why would she go there? What was her mission? Calling mama Nwanneka out is your saving grace today because I would have beaten the demon that has possessed you out of your body. How dare you defy my instruction? She told you what I said and you still dragged my son from her? That you are who?…..”

“Onyedika, calm down. Let us go in,side and discuss it further. We have created a scene here” Nwakaego said while urging Onyedika to enter the house.

in,side the house Uloma was sober. She couldn’t believe what she just saw. Onyedika brought another woman home? How could he do that? What was he trying to say? He called her his ex; has he made up his mind to move on?

She was under the impression Onyedika couldn’t live without her but now she can see that men cannot be trusted. Since they had been separated, she had not been with another man. Suitors had come her way but she wasn’t ready to compromise and have Onyedika add that to her list of offence.

Who was that girl? She is obviously not a maid from her dressing. “See her full chest, I have made a big mistake. There was no way Onyedika will have a taste of those jugs and give it up.” She thought to herself. What was she to do? She had thought Onyedika would come back and beg her but it looks like she was just dreaming.

Why did she call Nwakaego? Nwakaego was her enemy. Why didn’t she call out for papa and mama? Onyedika wouldn’t have listened to them, he would have beaten her to a pulp. He would listen to Nwakaego, his dear Nwakaego and Nwanneka. She salvaged the situation. Was she in support of the lady being with Onyedika? How can she watch him do something like that while he was still married? She would have sworn she would never be in support of such.

“Uloma, why did you go to Onyedika’s apartment you haven’t seen in months? When last did you speak with him that you went there? You know Chigozie is always with Nwakaego so why go there?” papa Anozie asked.

“I wanted us to talk, that was why I went there” Uloma answered.

“So why didn’t you come to papa’s house when my woman told you to? Why take Chigozie and reign insults on her? Explain your nasty and unruly behaviour today? Because you saw a woman there you reacted by showing the reason why you are no more in my house” Onyedika asked obviously still very angry.

“What reaction did you expect from her?” Nwakaego asked. “She came to talk to her husband and met another woman in shorts and her husband’s top with her son in his house. She reacted like a woman who is still in love with her husband would. She was jealous. I didn’t expect anything less. She is beginning to come to her senses. Am I right Uloma?”

Uloma couldn’t believe Nwakaego was supporting her. She couldn’t believe she had just laid a foundation for her to build on. She looked at Nwakaego who signalled to her to cry. She threw away her pride and cried. She couldn’t talk while crying.

Nwanneka came out to watch the drama. She saw what her mother did for her and saw the signal for her to cry. She was upset. She had advised her mother not to dabble into anything concerning uncle Obi and Onyedika’s marriage but she wouldn’t listen. Why was she helping a woman who never appreciates her? She hissed loudly and walked away. Everyone turned to look at her.

Onyedika said, “Nwanneka isn’t falling for your trick. You know she is smart. I don’t need your crocodile tears. Why has it taken you almost a year to seek me out and apologise? I believe another man must have kept you happy while we were separated. Go back to him. I have found someone who makes me happy and I have peace of mind with her. The next time you attempt to disrespect her, know that you will be dealt with. Mama Nwanneka will bring Chigozie to you on the 29th and I want him back on the 1st. I have nothing more to say to you. You can leave”

Uloma was heartbroken. Onyedika sounded like he had made up his mind. She had her regrets now, she shouldn’t have waited this long. She believed Onyedika had integrity and was principled but now she has realized, men will always be men. She had to win Onyedika back before the girl with the big juggers snatches him for good.

Someone watched the wh0le drama from a distance. She saw what Nwakaego did for Uloma. She deduced that Nwakaego was an enemy and needed to be put in her place.

Later that night, Isabella called Charity aside and told her what Nwakaego did for Uloma. “She doesn’t like you and is working against you. Tell Onyedika what I said. I saw everything”

Charity talked to Onyedika about it that night. Onyedika was upset. He asked her to follow him. He went to Obi’s house and asked him to bring his new wife to papa’s house. Then he went to papa’s house and called out Nwakaego. Nwanneka followed her mother out to know what had happened.

“Charity, repeat what you said Isabella told you” Charity repeated it. “Charity, the reason why Uloma left my home was that she listened to gossip from Obi and his wife Chinyere and turned against mama Nwanneka. They exposed a family secret to the public just to pull her down. Where are both of them now? If you want to remain with me, never you come to me about anything negative concerning mama Nwanneka or Nwanneka or even Nwadiuto. Don’t try it because our relationsh¡p will end instantly. Have you heard me?” Charity nodded her head. He turned to a perplexed Isabella and said, “Isabella or whatever you call yourself, for this singular act, you will never get my support. There is no difference between you and Chinyere except that you have more money. What offence has mama Nwanneka committed against you that you have to recruit people to join you in your hate? I knew what happened. Everybody there including Obi knew what mama Nwanneka was doing. We are not stupid. She was trying to broker peace but you will never understand. Please, stay away from my family. If I see you anywhere near Charity or my son, there will be war. Don’t say I didn’t warn you”

Isabella realized she had made a big mistake. She had to make amends now otherwise she would have so much to contend with. She needed Nwakaego on her side since she could clearly see the influence she had on everyone. She went on her knees in the presence of everyone and said, “I apologise. Your explanation made me realise I don’t know everybody well. I felt she connived with the other woman but I know better now. Mama Nwanneka, I apologise. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I overstepped my boundary and I am not ashamed to confess to it. I misunderstood your intentions. Please forgive me”

Nwanneka was pissed because she could read Isabella very well. She announced, “Can we have no more drama this night? It is enough for Christmas day. Auntie, please stand up, she doesn’t hold any grudge against you. Try and mind your business and stick only to uncle Obi’s apartment. I am saying this so you won’t clash with anyone else”

“Keep quiet Nwanneka and go in,side. I accept your apology. I think we should all retire. Nwanneka is right, we have had enough drama for one day”

Tbc