Three generations episode 31

THREE GENERATIONS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 31

Onyedika came home for the Easter holiday. He came with Charity. Chinyere elbowed Nwakaego when she saw them. Nwakaego just smiled and looked on. Nwakaego hadn’t talked with Uloma yet. She had to be very sure the pregnancy belonged to Onyedika. She couldn’t step in to defend her if she wasn’t sure.

The next morning which was a good Friday, Uloma arrived to take Chigozie to visit with her. She looked quite different this time. She didn’t attempt to hide the pregnancy anymore. She had the pregnancy glow which made her look even more beautiful. She had thought long and hærd and had come to a decision, she didn’t need Onyedika in her life to take care of the child. If he denies the baby; the baby will never be his and she will divorce him.

Nwakaego saw her first and led her into her bedroom. She asked her to be truthful to her. “Is this Onyedika’s pregnancy? Please tell me the honest truth so I won’t stand with you and later be disgraced”

“Mama Nwanneka, I will never lie about the paternity of this child. I swear on my son’s life; this pregnancy belongs to Onyedika. If it is not Onyedika’s pregnancy, may I lose my life during delivery”

“I didn’t ask you to swear. I believe you. I just wanted a reassurance so I can fight for you”

“You don’t need to fight for me. I want this child whether Onyedika wants the child or not”

“If he is the father he has to take responsibility. Don’t act in anger; let him know. He will be shocked and might make utterances which will offend you but ignore them. When you have this child, everything will change for good. I promise you. Just be patient and don’t react at all. Everything will work out well. But I have a question, why did it take you this long to tell us?”

“I was ashamed. When I travelled, I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I fell ill and some tests were conducted on me. It was positive for pregnancy. I contemplated a quiet abortion while I was abroad but I changed my mind when a colleague told me she had a dream and saw me lying dead on a theatre table. I was petrified when she told me. How did she know what I had planned to do? I changed my mind immediately and accepted my fate. When I came back, I had started showing. I am almost six months gone. I have to convince people I am pregnant for my husband. Is it worth it?”

“Everything will be fine. Let Onyedika deny first. Let’s go back outside”

Papa and mama were sitting in the parlour when they came out. There were stares and side remarks when the pregnancy was noticed but no one spoke up. Nwakaego instructed Chioma to inform uncle Onyedika that Uloma was around to pick up Chigozie. And was also to inform her parents Uloma was around. She went on the errand with all pleasure.

Onyedika came to see Uloma while Charity dressed him up and packed his bag to leave. He wanted to be dramatic by asking Charity to bring Chigozie hoping it will ruffle Uloma’s feathers a bit but he was the one in for a shocker. When he saw her, it was the first thing he noticed and he stopped in his tracks. Obi and Chinyere who were behind Onyedika also stopped when he stopped. Obi saw the protruding tummy and was also taken aback.

“Don’t stand there, come in,side. Where is Chigozie? Why didn’t you come with him?” papa asked.

“Charity is bringing him” he replied papa and then asked no one in particular, “what’s going on here?”

“We were waiting for you to come so we find out. Uloma, what is going on?” papa asked.

“Papa, I am pregnant. Right now I am six months gone” Uloma answered.

“Who is responsible for this pregnancy?”

“Papa, Onyedika is responsible”

Charity had just come in at that time holding Chigozie. She couldn’t believe her ears. She believed she didn’t hear correctly so she asked, “What is she talking about? Who is responsible for her pregnancy?”

“Charity, keep quiet. Take Chigozie back to the house immediately”

“I am not going anywhere. Tell me what is going on here?”

“I said go back or you won’t like me. This is a family discussion and you are not part of it. Go back to the house with Chigozie” Charity wanted to argue but Nwakaego stopped her by signalling to her to leave quietly. She knew Onyedika was embarrassed and angry at this point.

“Onyedika, can you explain what is going on here?” Papa asked.

“I don’t know what she is talking about. How did I get her pregnant? When and where?”

Uloma flared up, “When was when we came back to settle Isabella’s issue. You followed me about that night. Where was in papa Ogo’s house. Should I tell you how?”

“Just once and you claim you are pregnant? Why are we just finding out?” Onyedika asked Uloma.

“I didn’t come to inform you; I came for my son. Please bring him let me leave”

“You are not going anywhere until you answer our questions. Who is responsible for your pregnancy? You are legally married and cannot be pregnant by another man. So tell me who is responsible” Onyedika asked visibly angry. He walked towards Uloma but Obi stopped him before he could reach her.

“Onyedika calm down. You will do something you will regret later. She has answered you. We need to calculate backwards to see if there is a chance she is right” Obi suggested.

“She was pregnant when we met. She can’t convince me otherwise. No wonder you were angry and left the next day. You had done what you came to do. You can’t pin this pregnancy on me. The same way you disgraced mama Nwanneka and Nwanneka that is the same way you will be disgraced. I promise you that”

“Onyedika, who followed me around the place like a dog in heat? Did I make any advances at you? Did I drag you to the room or make you climb my body? Who came back after the once? Onyedika, if I say I wasn’t expecting this reaction then I must be a fool. If you say you are not responsible, then don’t worry. Bring my son so I can spend time with him. I won’t fight you. Just know I will never release this child to you until you disgrace me as you have promised”

Papa stood up and shouted, “Everyone keep quiet. What is wrong with both of you? Onyedika, according to tradition, the child is yours if born while you were still married to her. If you don’t want that, we can request for the bride price that was paid. That settles that. Uloma, why did you wait until you were far gone to come to us?”

“Papa, I had travelled before I discovered I was pregnant. To be honest papa, I wanted to terminate it, I knew how Onyedika would react. It was either he denied the pregnancy or he would claim I tried to tie him down with pregnancy. I got a message that I shouldn’t attempt it or I would lose my life. I was away for four months; I was outside the country. What was I to do? I have come back and this is what I am facing”

Mama tapped papa and said, “Nnanyi, let me say my piece. Onyedika, Uloma is stubborn but not promiscuous. You met her at home even though she lived in Lagos. I know for a fact she wouldn’t lay with another man because she has made efforts to reconcile with you. The old stubborn Uloma changed when she saw you with another woman. She may have trapped you with this pregnancy; if I were her, I would have done the same. But to claim the pregnancy belongs to another man, I don’t believe that. I am your mother and I know these things more than you do. This pregnancy is yours, don’t deny it. Be responsible. If in the end, the child isn’t yours, then you know you took a chance. You won’t live to regret not being in the life of your child. This is a simple matter which will be resolved in a few months.”

Everyone nodded in agreement while Onyedika looked sternly at Uloma who didn’t seem to care. That confidence that got him that night was what she was exhibiting now. It wasn’t alluring anymore. How did she get pregnant from that encounter? Just once, one encounter and she claims to be pregnant. He wanted more information but he knew he would never get it out of Uloma.

Obi drew his attention when papa was saying, “Onyedika, let Uloma go with her son. Since she is pregnant, it will be good she bonds some more with her son. The nanny that has been taking care of Chigozie will go with him to Uloma. This will help her a lot. Since you are in Lagos, you can see your son whenever you want”

“She didn’t want me to know where she lives before she took in, now she is heavy she is willing to give me her address? She can’t take Chigozie with her. He remains with mama Nwanneka”

“I will be away for a while. Nwanneka has IT. It is best he stays with his mother for now. I agree with papa. Let him stay with his mother”

“I can see you have plotted against me with papa. Chigozie will stay in Enugu with Charity……..”

“Over my dead body will my son stay with your concubine. It will not happen Onyedika. I will take Chigozie or you will take him. I will do something terrible if ……”

“Tempers are rising unnecessarily. No, need to quarrel over a simple issue. Chioma, go and get Chigozie. He will spend a few days with his mother. When Nwakaego wants to travel, the right thing is to either drop him with us or with his mother. His mother will be a better alternative”

Obi concurred, “Papa is very correct. You can’t keep your son with a woman you haven’t married. It is not even safe; your first son. I don’t see any issue here. When Uloma puts to bed, we will know whose child it is”

Uloma left with Chigozie. She didn’t look in Onyedika’s direction for a second. Onyedika watched her excitement when she saw her son. He watched her hug him so tightly. She left without acknowledging him. He was angry. Papa spoke with him for a while and then gave him his advice. Mama told him to bring Uloma back.

“The one you have been bringing here has not taken in for you. Any wise woman will use pregnancy to trap you, but she hasn’t gotten pregnant. This one you touched just once, according to you o, has conceived. Better take her back. That is the only advice I will give you”

Onyedika wasn’t finding the wh0le scenario funny. It was his turn for his matter to be tabled. Were they conspiring against him? If such was going on, then Nwakaego was in the know. She must have planned this to embarrass him. Uloma should have seen him privately and told him. Why did she have to be dramatic? This smelt every itch Nwakaego.

He went into her apartment. She was there with Chinyere. He asked her why they decided to disgrace him instead of calling him privately to tell him.

“You should ask Uloma that”

“Mama Nwanneka, we both know nothing happens without you. Tell me the truth about this pregnancy”

“It is yours; I believe Uloma. Mama believes her. Mama Ogo believes her. What else should I say?”

“But it was just once”

“And it was at the right time. Allow Uloma to have peace. Don’t trouble her. Once she has the baby, we will know the father”

“I don’t believe her”

“She swore to me she hasn’t been with any other man. She said if the child isn’t yours, she will die during delivery. What other proof do I need?”

“How is that proof? You are gullible. I will wait until she has the baby. It is Chigozie I am worried about”

“He will be fine with her. She is his mother”

“How would Nwadiuto cope without Chigozie?”

“She will adjust with time”

Charity did not return to the apartment on the day of Uloma revelation. She heard the entire argument and was heartbroken. She realized, just like Isabella, she was not liked. She knew if Uloma was actually pregnant for Onyedika, she had lost out. This brought her to tears.

When Onyedika returned, she didn’t ask him anything and he didn’t say anything to her. The next morning, as early as 6am, she woke Onyedika up and asked him one question.

“Onyedika, do you want to be with me or not?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“Answer my question”

“I want you”

“I want to have a child with you. Maybe your family will accept me when that happens.”

“What are you talking about? I have Uloma with her pregnancy claim and you want to add yours. Please, I don’t want another child and not from a different mother. Leave this pregnancy issue, I don’t want to have more children and that’s it.”

“So, I am here to be a nanny to your son? You must be joking. I am going to have a child by you whether you want to have one or not”

“I don’t want a child. What I need from you is companionsh¡p. One child is more than enough. Uloma’s drama is distracting already, let us not talk about this further”

“I have told you what I have told you”

“Is this a pregnancy competition or what? What do you stand to prove by getting pregnant?”

“Your mother called me barren and I will want to prove to her I am not. Onyedika, you met me at home too. Did you tell your family? You are the only man I have ever laid with. I won’t allow you deceive me and then abandon me. It won’t happen. Where I am from, you can do that to a maiden. I asked you what you wanted before we started. I know you want to reconcile with Uloma; you can’t deceive me. You lied to me you didn’t sleep with Uloma but you did and now she is pregnant”

‘I am not sure the pregnancy is mine. I don’t want her child or any other child. Charity, I just want to have peace”

“Your family calls me your concubine. Onyedika, if you leave me, you will live to regret it. That’s all I will say”