Three generations episode 41

TITLE: THREE GENERATIONS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 41

Nwakaego did not disclose to anyone who was responsible for Onyedika’s predicament even though they had suspicions but she refused to confirm anything. She had prayed and believed Charity and everyone involved will receive the repercussion of their actions. It didn’t take long for it to be revealed.

Uloma couldn’t believe how quickly her husband recovered. Within two weeks, he had added enough weight to resume work. He was much better and sound. How was it that a Muslim cleric could have done what her pastors couldn’t do? She knew there was more to this and believe with time all will be exposed.

The Muslim cleric came to visit Onyedika at home on Onyedika request to appreciate him. The cleric prayed in the apartment and said to uncle Onyedika, “People that stay here don’t prosper. Move out of here to a house where you will live alone in the compound. It is very important people don’t know how and when you are blessed. Go and stay where rich men stay, soon, you will buy the house of the landlord. Even when you become richer, don’t leave the house. Buy more property and rent out but remain in the house so you will always be blessed.”

Auntie Uloma went house hunting immediately. She had become a believer in the cleric now. Somebody that lived in the house had mentioned she had been stagnant since she moved in there but began to progress when she moved out. Her husband became very ill when he got promoted twice even before it was effected. All the salary went to hospital bills. Now he was better, he could resume and start making good money.

Uloma found a house at Alaka Estate. It was owned by an elderly couple who lived next door. Both of them loved the area and rushed to pay. The money they had was enough for rent but not for furnishing. Nwanneka informed her mother of their needs and she sent money to Onyedika. Onyedika refused it but Nwakaego told him, “It is a loan. Once you start making money, you can pay me in bits. Once you are settled and happy, what else do I want? Just stay alive for me.”

Nwanneka was standing at the bus stop waiting for a taxi. She was running late for work and had been standing there for almost thirty minutes. Uncle Onyedika dropped her off at the stadium so it would be easy to get a taxi.

A car stopped and reversed to where she was standing. “Hello, where are you headed” the man in the car asked.

“I’m going to Apapa, where are you going?”

“We are going in the same direction. I can give you a ride if you don’t mind. You look desperate and in a hurry”

“Thank you”

She entered the car and they introduced each other. Chike worked in Apapa too. He was into clearing and forwarding and was one of the youngest in their association if not the youngest. He spoke English very fluently but the unmistaken hint of being her Igbo brother was pronounced. She introduced herself and he insisted on calling her Nneka.

He dropped her off in front of her office and offered to pick her up at the closing time to take her home which she agreed to as they had an interesting ride to her office that morning. Chike was there at the exact time she gave him. He stood by the car parked opposite her office so he could see her when she walked out. She saw him and joined him.

That became their daily routine. On Fridays, they would chill in a beer parlour having pepper soup, isi ewu and the likes before heading home. She got home before 9pm every Friday. Chike respected her decision to leave earlier than his scheduled time. She always stopped at the estate gate and walked in.

Auntie Uloma knew about her new friend but wasn’t comfortable with the Friday hangouts. She asked questions.

“What kind of friendsh¡p is this? Has he said he is interested in you?”

“We are just friends. He hasn’t said anything about a relationsh¡p”

“What do you want? Are you interested in him? See my dear, you don’t need time wasters who will front you as a friend while blocking other guys from having access. Or don’t you want to get married?”

“I want to. But auntie Uloma, what about Nwadiuto? You know our Igbo men won’t marry a woman that had a child at home. I like Chike but the way he talks about his family; I am scared they will not accept me with a child”

‘Then don’t waste your time with him. Stop going to work with him or hanging out. Separate yourself so other men can see you and know you are available. Tell the man from the very beginning you have a child who lives with your mother. Let them leave if they want to but prepare yourself for rejection. As for Chike, he is blocking your chances”

Nwanneka thought about it for a while. Chike had dropped subtle hints of interest but had never come out straight to say anything. He called her his girl but that was it. Truly, he was blocking her way from other prospective suitors. She remembered an incident at a bar. Chike had excused himself to use the bathroom when a man came to talk to her. The guy claimed to have just come back from abroad and was speaking to her with an accent. As they were talking, Chike walked in and asked the guy to excuse them. He said, “You can’t talk to my woman when I leave my table; that’s disrespectful. She’s with me”

The guy tried to make a fuss which would have led to a fight as Chike was ready to fight the guy. Some other guys at the bar doused the tension and told the guy he was wrong. On the way home, Chike told her, “When you are with me, don’t allow another guy talk to you, it is disrespectful to me” Nwanneka didn’t argue in order not to infuriate him further.

She decided to take auntie Uloma’s advice. The next Monday, she joined him in the car and told him not to be picking her up anymore as she would be joining her uncle to work. Chike asked her what was wrong with their arrangement but she insisted and thanked him for the favours.

“Nneka, is there a problem? Is there something you are not telling me?”

“There is no problem. He wants me to join him and I can’t say no”

She didn’t follow him back that evening, she went home with a colleague.

For almost a month, she took a taxi to work and joined a colleague back. It was something she was used to doing before her almost three months break when Chike was taking her and bringing her back. She also enjoyed lifts from men. Many of them wanted mainly s€× from her and they were upfront with their request which she turned down. She decided to stop entering lift since many of them didn’t have any good intentions.

One morning, uncle Onyedika dropped her at the bus stop to get a taxi as usual. She stood there waiting for the taxi. Onyedika stopped in front of her and said to her, “Is this your office your uncle has been dropping you off?”

Nwanneka was shocked to see him. She was caught in her lies. She looked at him as he gestured to her to enter the car. She entered the car. She had missed him especially their hangouts. He had always treated her with respect while other guys made vulgar remarks and attempted to act inappropriately with her.

“Why did you lie to me? Don’t answer, we will discuss further when we close for the day. I am not happy with you and I want you to know it”

Later that day, Chike was right there to pick her up. They left Apapa together and drove into Surulere. There was very light traffic that day so the journey was fast. He drove her into an estate that had high rise buildings. He stopped in front of one of those buildings which was a block of flats at Eric Moore. They used the stairs to the first floor. He opened the door to the flat on the left and they both went in,side. It was a sparsely furnished apartment. He asked her to make herself comfortable. She sat down and on the room divider which housed the television and sound system, she saw a picture of him. This was his apartment.

“What will you drink?” he asked her which brought her back from her thoughts.

“Nothing. Is this your apartment?” she asked.

“Yes. I live here with my boys but they are not back yet. I have juice in the fridge and some chin-chin. We can have that before my boys come back”

“Thank you”

She took some of the chin chin. They shared the juice. Chike looked at her strangely which confused her. For the first time, she was scared. She was scared he would either rape her or murder her. She stopped eating and looked directly at him in order not to show her fear and said to him,

“What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You offended me. Why did you lie to me? For three weeks I watched you enter into cars of different men when you don’t get a taxi. I wondered what I did to offend you that you decided you didn’t want me again. Why did you desire other men? Is this what you do?”

“Chike, it is not that. See, we were just friends and I wanted to meet other men who might want to be in a relationsh¡p. I already have a friendsh¡p with you and I wanted a serious relationsh¡p that would lead to marriage. Was I asking for too much?”

“Friendsh¡p? Is it because I didn’t treat you like the other guys did? Why do you girls like to be treated anyhow all in the name of a relationsh¡p? I did not touch you. I wanted us to know each other well without pretence but instead, you took off. I like you; I like you very much. I believed you were a good girl until I saw you enter different cars.”

“I am sorry Chike. You didn’t make your intentions known and I couldn’t be assuming. It is what is said that is the confirmation”

“See, I had a girlfriend when we first met. After being with you for a month, I knew I wouldn’t continue. I fell for you Nneka. I tried to broke it off with her before making my intentions known and instead you took off. I was hurt when I found out you lied to me. I followed you. Baby, you hurt me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Chike stood up from his chair and joined Nwanneka on hers. He requested a hug which she granted him before they heard the back door open and noise from the kitchen. Chike took up and went to his chair.

The boys greeted Nwanneka and went about their business. Chike asked them to bring what he had asked them to buy. It was served in a big bowl and two side bowls were served with it. It was ugba made with dry fish and stockfish. It was very rich and tasty. Chike served Nwanneka and himself. They washed it down with chilled palm wine from Chike’s freezer. They enjoyed the meal together while talking. After the meal, Nwanneka asked to leave as it was getting late. She didn’t want her uncle not to meet her at home.

On their way to her house, Chike said, “Ask me anything you want to know about me to put your mind at rest”

“Do you have a university degree?”

“Yes, I schooled at Nsukka. I read Political Science. My uncle introduced me to this business during my Youth service. I worked with him for six months before I got my first deal. From there I had other deals. He asked me to leave and start on my own. This is where I am today. The business has been doing very well. I also import fruit juice and wine.”

“Interesting. That’s a plus for me.”

“Is that all?” he asked.

“That’s all. I know about other important things”

“Let us be truthful to each other at this stage. I want you to be my girlfriend. I will tell you, honestly, my girlfriend and I are still seeing each other. But with where we are now, I will end it finally. What about you. Is there something I need to know?”

“There is. I have a child, she is nine years old. I had her when I was in secondary school. My first s€×ual encounter led to her conception. She lives with my mother as her second child. I think you should know this to help you make an informed decision. I won’t deceive anybody to be with me”

There was silence in the car. Chike didn’t say a word neither did Nwanneka. She took a chance she knew might backfire. In as much as she liked him, she wasn’t head over heels in love yet. This was the best time to end it before it becomes a problem in the future.

When they got to her estate gate, she thanked him again and left.

The next morning, Chike was waiting for her at the bus stop. Nwanneka didn’t know it was written all over her that she was happy to see him. He smiled back at her. The ride to and from the office was very exciting for both of them. Since they had defined their relationsh¡p, she was more relaxed. She told auntie Uloma what happened and she was in full support.

She was a regular at his apartment, especially during the weekends. Once auntie Uloma is around, she takes off to be with Chike. She cooked and cleaned the apartment. The boys did the chore of going to the market and helping her do some of the work.

The relationsh¡p had advanced quickly. She had allowed Chike some privileges; he k-ssed her and she allowed his hand roam around her body. She knew he wanted more but she wasn’t ready to give in until she was sure where they were headed. Auntie Uloma asked her to hold out until wedding night but she had heard sob stories and wasn’t ready to take the risk. In as much as she hadn’t been s€×ually active, she knew enough about s€× to want to indulge and enjoy it frequently. The only way she could achieve this was to marry someone who would meet or exceed her expectation. After marriage, if he disappoints as she had heard, what will she do? How will she shape her mouth to tell people why she was leaving the marriage as adultery was a worse offence than fornication?

On one weekend, she was with Chike on a Saturday. They had a good time and he begged her to stay until the next day which she refused knowing her uncle and auntie would never accept it. They made out that day more than they had done in the past. She had seen and felt what would be hers after marriage. Chike begged her for them to go all the way. She was tempted but something stopped. She apologized and quickly left the room. Chike followed her out still begging but she was adamant. She asked him to drop her off. He refused and so she left knowing if she stayed any longer, it was either she succ-mbed or he did it by force.

The next day being Sunday, she attended 6:30 am mass. She felt bad about the day before and decided to see Chike and apologise. She cooked rice with dry fish and stockfish which he liked and went to his house.

When she entered the house through the back door (it was always open), she saw his boys. They didn’t greet her well. Something was amiss but she didn’t get it. She dropped the rice she brought for them, took two plates, spoons and a cooler in a tray to Chike’s bedroom to surprise him. She saw one of his boys at his door knocking frantically. When he saw her, he walked away. She knocked on the door, there was no reply. She knocked again and still no response. She dropped the tray on the dining and came back to the door worried. Before she could knock, Chike came out. He was wearing only his boxers. The surprised look on his face made Nwanneka wonder what was going on. She went towards the dining to get the tray but Chike stopped her and asked her to allow him to dress up and meet her in the parlour. That was when she became suspicious. She walked past him into his bedroom. He tried to stop her but she got in there before he could. Lying on the bed was a lady. Her shoulders were bare and she covered herself with the duvet.

“Hello,” Nwanneka said to her. “My name is Nwanneka what is yours?”

“I know who you are” the girl responded rudely.

“That’s nice. But I don’t know you. Anyways, it was nice to meet you. Sorry for the interruption. I’m leaving”

Chike jumped in front of Nwanneka stopping her from leaving. He then told the girl on the bed, “Mercy, please dress up and leave. I need to talk to her in private”

“I am not going anywhere. We have to stop this hide and seek game we are playing. You are with her from Monday to Saturday and give me only Saturday and Sunday nights. What am I to you? You left me for her but when she is not servicing you well you will call me to do the work. What do you see in this girl? An after one. I have never given birth to children and my body is intact. Chike, I don’t know what you want but whatever it is, we will decide here and now” Mercy replied.

“Chike, let me go. I don’t want to hear what she is saying so it doesn’t provoke me. Why did you lock the door? Open it, I want to leave” Nwanneka insisted.

Mercy continued, “Open it let her go. See who you chose over me. You saw her and because of big h¡ps and bombom, you left me. Now you can see there is nothing in this thing only shit”

“Chike, open this door. I won’t fight my fellow female over a man” she turned to Mercy, “Nne, I don’t need him. I have relinquished all rights to him to you. I can’t fight you over him; he is all yours. Stop calling me names. I have a child which I told Chike. You can’t shame me with that. Tell Chike to allow me to leave here before all hell will be let loose”

“Allow her to go.” Chike wore his clothes. “Chike where are you going that you are dressing up? You want to leave with her? It will be over my dead body.” She stood up from the bed completely unclad and gathered her clothes to wear.

Chike quickly opened the door before she could put on her clothes and Nwanneka rushed out. She took her cooler on the dining table and the empty cooler for the boys and left through the back door. She didn’t look back to see if Chike was following her or not. She rushed to the back gate so he wouldn’t catch up with her and luckily a taxi just dropped someone off. She entered the taxi and went home.

Chike had it hot with Mercy that morning. He was angry at her utterances. Why would he confide in her about something bothering him and she would use it against the person? He was so disappointed in her that he asked her to leave immediately. Mercy tried to play the victim but seeing the anger in his eyes, she left.

“Why did Nwanneka come there this morning? She doesn’t come on Sundays so why did she come today? Was she suspicious?” he asked himself.

He laid on the unmade bed after Mercy had left. He was confused about everything. Since Nwanneka told him about having a child outside wedlock, he had been uncomfortable. He confided in one of his close friends to who he hadn’t introduced Nwanneka. His friend asked him to introduce Nwanneka to him since he had doubts. Since then he refused to introduce her knowing he could lose her to his friends who are sharpshooters.

All his friends knew Mercy and they believed she was in the relationsh¡p for money. When they all hang out, she made outrageous demands. She drank only wine and expensive ones at that. She wanted only imported things. She lived in Olodi Apapa so where did she acquire such high taste? It showed she had been around town.

As men, they talked. They asked Chike to dump Mercy but Chike was finding it difficult because she was a tigress in bed. He enjoyed her company strictly for that and she took advantage of it. She was lazy, wasn’t willing to work but wanted a rich husband to take care of her needs while she fulfilled his wildest fantasy.

When Nwanneka started stirring the lust in him and wouldn’t allow him to go all the way, he rekindled his s€×ual relationsh¡p with Mercy. He picked her up every Saturday night and put her in a taxi early Monday morning. Nwanneka set him on fire while Mercy quenched the fire.

He had told Mercy during one of his vulnerable moments that Nwanneka had a child. It bothered him but he still loved her. Why did she tell Nwanneka? What did she stand to gain from this? He made it clear to her they were just having s€× and nothing serious. Knowing he was serious with Nwanneka, why didn’t she just dress up and leave? She made the wh0le situation challenging for him.

Nwanneka refused to cry in the taxi until she got home. At home, Uncle Onyedika and his family were back. She dropped the coolers in the kitchen, went into her room and locked the door. That was when the tears flowed. Why were men like this? She kept wondering. He was in bed with another woman after spending time with her the day before. She was grateful she didn’t allow him to go all the way; it would have been more humiliating.

She was tired. This was her second attempt at loving a man which ended in disaster. Why was she attracted to men who were in relationsh¡ps? Why did their girlfriends always have to create a scene? She made up her mind never to date again. Men couldn’t be trusted. Chike she had fallen in love with was deceiving her all along. She confided in him about her child and he told his girlfriend. It made her feel bad about herself after building her confidence over the years. “So it is true, no man will want me with a child,” she said to the air. She won’t be loved and appreciated, only deceived. That was what happened now.

She didn’t tell anyone what happened. She nursed her broken heart herself. She changed where she dropped off to take a taxi to work and joined a colleague who parked his vehicle on the premises to go home. This way, Chike couldn’t stop her on the way.

Tbc