Three generations episode 57

TITLE: THREE GENERATIONS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 57

Nwanneka had to be evacuated from the village to Lagos to be properly nursed back to health. She was still mourning her husband but her child gave her so much joy. He looked like Chike and each time he laid in her arms, she had peace.

Okey returned to Lagos after the burial. He said he came to put things in order since his brother was no more. He wanted to take over the running of the company. Nwakaego advised Nwanneka to allow him to do as he pleased but Nwanneka knew if she did, he would run down the entire business. She allowed him to manage the company while she was on maternity leave but insisted she signed off on every doc-ment.

This of course didn’t go down well with Okey. When he inquired on why she had to sign off on all financial payments, he discovered she was the only signatory to the account after the demise of Chike and she could sign alone. He was mad. In the bank, he was told she was the sole signatory.

Okey reported his findings to his mother which made her go crazy. She came down to Lagos under false pretence without telling her husband the real reason. She saw that Nwakaego was still around and used the opportunity to call for a meeting.

“Okey tells me it is not easy for him to run the company Chike left behind because every doc-ment have to be signed by Nwanneka and all withdrawals from the account had to be done through her. Now that Chike is gone, what is your plan?”

“Mama, I intend to take over the running of the company. I was under the impression Okey was helping me while I nurse his nephew. Why does he need to sign off important doc-ments and handle the finances when I am not far from the office? They bring them to me. I understand sh¡pping, clearing and forwarding business that’s why Chike allows me to handle transactions when he is away. If Okey wants to help, he has to learn the business first before he can transact otherwise the business will fold in less than a year”

“How can you, a woman, run your husband’s business when his brother is still alive? Where is it done? Hand over everything to Okey, that is how it is done. He will make sure you and the children are well taken care of”

“Someone with no experience and is unwilling to put away his pride and learn. Since he has been working there, how many times has he been to the port or wharf? How much is paid for duty to import electronics? He doesn’t know anything. Chike has two sons, Okey should go and continue his business, I can handle things from here”

“This is why you killed Chike. You didn’t believe he would be as rich as he became so you killed him to take over just as your mother killed your father to take over the property and leave the properties to her. It will not work. It is either you hand over the company to Okey or you will face my wrath”

“What is your wrath? You want to kill my sons too? Am I next? Is that the plan? I am calling a lawyer tomorrow to write my will. I am not going to argue with you, we will continue this discussion with my lawyer present. I will take your threats seriously and table them before the elders. Any loss from my family again, you are the person behind it”

“Are you calling me a witch? A killer? Mama Nwanneka, are you hearing your daughter, won’t you call her to order? I am her late husband’s mother and I demand to be treated with respect. Do you want to own everything that belongs to Chike? You want to throw us out? Our son achieved all these himself not with your help. You cannot determine for the family how things will be run”

“Mma, don’t answer her,” Nwanneka said to her mother. Then she turned towards mama Chike and said, “I have said what I said. I will inform my lawyer and the company’s lawyer. They will be here tomorrow morning with the company doc-ments and guidelines. I would want the threat to be repeated in their presence so it will be noted”

“Nwanneka, you will not win this battle. Traditionally, his brother is supposed to take over the running of his business. Okey will take over. Call the lawyers tomorrow and let us talk”

Nwanneka called both lawyers in their presence and asked them to come with all the doc-ments for the company.

The lawyers were in the house the next morning. After the greetings and introductions, Nwanneka asked the company lawyer what happens to the company now that Chike was no more.

“Chike wasn’t the majority shareholder of the business. As his business grew and he decided to make it a limited liability company. He took only 40% of the shares and gave his wife 60%. Madam is the majority shareholder of the company and has the final say”

This information came as a shock to Nwanneka, Nwakaego, Okey and his mother. Nwanneka couldn’t hold back the tears. She couldn’t believe Okey loved her so much to make her a majority shareholder in the company

Okey asked, “What happens to his 40%? It should stand for something”

“It depends if he died with or without a will”

“I doubt if my brother made a will at such a young age he died. What happens if he didn’t?”

“You have to agree on administrators of his estate and then it will be shared amicably”

“Mama, that’s what we will do. Let’s go back to the village and call for a meeting; what we are doing here is waste of time”

They left after two days for Asaba. Before they left, Nwanneka had already told her father-in-law what had happened. He advised her to stand her ground and ignore them. “Don’t worry, they will soon be disgraced”

“Papa, if you were the one who decided to run this business, I wouldn’t have minded. As long as it is Okey, I will never surrender it to him”

“I don’t need it. What Chike has done for me is more than enough. It is your business and I believe you can run it very well. His boys love and respect you and will help you make the company grow beyond what even Chike imagined. I trust you.”

Mama Chike went to report to the elders since papa Okey refused to say anything about the issue. The elders advised they wait until Chike had spent six months in the grave before the tussle for his worldly possessions begins. This didn’t go down well mama Chike. She asked Okey to go back to Lagos and ensure everything remains intact until the meeting will be held.

When mama Chike and Okey left for Asaba, Nwanneka asked that her husband’s office be securely locked and no one allowed access into it. All the sensitive files, doc-ments, stamps, forms and so on needed for the jobs were transferred to the house in the protective custody of Nwanneka. She bought a cabinet and kept it in her room. She created a small office for him to familiarize himself with the business if he was interested.

When Okey came back, he came back to the house. Nwanneka treated him like she always did. He went to the office the next day and found out what Nwanneka had done. He was furious. He came back home making noise and trying to create a scene. He repeated his mother’s words that Nwanneka killed Chike. Nwanneka told him she was going to report him to the police and lock him up if he didn’t behave himself. He threatened to beat her. He was poised to do it when Nwakaego called papa Chike and told him what was happening in the house.

“Mama Nwanneka please give him the phone”

Nwakaego gave the phone to Okey who collected it aggressively. “Okey, if you touch that girl and you go to jail, I will not bail you out? If you are angry, leave the house until you cool down”

“She doesn’t have the right to lock Chike’s office and decline me access to it.”

“Okey, what are you doing there? Don’t you know when you are not wanted? Until this case is resolved, I think you should leave that place”

“What if she steals everything? The bank refused to tell me how much is in the accounts. The boys refused to tell how much profit comes in. Everybody is reporting to Nwanneka. That is an insult to my person. Even Chike’s car isn’t in the house. Where she has hidden it, I don’t know”

“I have Chike’s car. Nwanneka said she doesn’t want to see it which is why it is not in the house. You are terrorizing this woman. She hasn’t done anything to deserve the harassment you are giving her. I have told you, I won’t make a move if you are picked up by the police”

Okey picked his things and left for two weeks. He came back and just stayed in the house eating, watching television and going out in the evening. At night he was awake trying his luck with his oyibo targets. He was determined to stay until they could all travel to the village. He was being a nuisance but Nwanneka chose to ignore him. She had one of the boys work from the house because of Okey previous threat. So there would be someone to tackle him.

Her mother, Nwakaego, had to leave at some point and auntie Chinyere came to stay with Nwanneka for a month. Auntie Chinyere being a no nonsense person was all out for Okey. Okey brought a girl into the house to spend the night. When she left the next day, things came up missing. Questions were asked and the only stranger in the house was Okey’s visitor. He claimed she wasn’t the one.

“Stop bringing these thieves you pick along the round to the house. This is a respectable Christian home and such acts of fornication are not allowed here”

“Who are you to tell me who to bring into my brother’s house? You are a visitor here, you have no say what goes on here”

“Is that so? Ok. Let’s see what happens next”

The next time he brought the same girl, auntie Chinyere, Ada and Nwadiuto who just returned from school stayed awake in turns because of her. They kept their things safe. When she was leaving in the morning, they insisted she had to be searched. Okey wanted to create a scene but they insisted. This time around, it was Okey she cleared. She stole his wristwatch, a bangle, a small phone, some cash, and they also found some ornaments she took from the sitting room only God knows when.

Okey was so embarrassed that he beat up the girl. It was Nwadiuto that came to her rescue and told her never to come to the house again. Okey was fuming as he went back into his room. You would think he had learnt a lesson.

He brought in a different girl the following night. She was so loud that it was disgusting to hear them. Luckily, Nwanneka slept with her two sons and didn’t have to endure the sound the girl made overnight.

Auntie Uloma came to spend some time with them as auntie Chinyere was around. Okey came back home drunk one night with a pr-stitute. After being with her all through the night, there was a scuffle in the morning. Okey claimed she had stolen his money as he had no money to pay her for her services. He dragged her out of the room and asked them to search her for his money. Auntie Chinyere signal to all of them to ignore him. None of them moved. The girl held him by his private part threatening to drag it off if he didn’t pay her the money they had agreed on. It had become really noisy.

Nwanneka came out of her room in the middle of the drama. She asked what had happened and she was informed. She asked Okey to pay the girl as she had rendered the service.

“Are you insane? Didn’t you hear me say she stole my money?”

“I am not insane. What proof do you have that she stole your money?”

“I can’t find the money where I kept it”

“There are underage children here that don’t deserve to listen to this fracas. Can you take it outside and resolve with her there?”

“Is that all you have to say?” Okey asked.

“What else am I to say? I didn’t bring her for you neither did she service me. How does that concern me except it is making me uncomfortable in my house? Please pay her or take her to the police. They can search her there and if she doesn’t have your money you will pay for her services”

“Let them search her here”

“It doesn’t concern any of us. As long as the girls don’t steal from us, we don’t have business with them. Sort out your issues yourself”

“I am not leaving here until we resolve this issue”

Nwanneka entered her room and after about twenty minutes, three policemen were in the house. They took both Okey and the pr-stitute to the station. At the station, it was discovered the girl didn’t steal his money; apparently, Okey may have lost the money somehow. Okey didn’t have any money to pay the girl and also free himself. He called his mother who arranged for his release. Nwanneka requested for a police report on the issue and it was given to her.

Okey had to leave the house. He came in when he liked and left. Nwadiuto disliked his presence in the home but her mother refused her to do anything about it. She asked her to be patient.

One morning, Nwadiuto saw Okey, greeted him and as she was about to walk past him, he hit her on her buttocks and winked at her. Nwadiuto didn’t believe what she just experienced. She turned to him and asked him what he just did.

‘Don’t you like it? I see the way you look at me. I know you are not happy I bring in those girls when I can be here for you making you happy. I am available, I will wait for you tonight”

“Did you hit me on my buttocks and say this nonsense to me? Are you mad? Do I look like those girls you pick on the streets and pay N2000? Look at me very well, if you ever try this nonsense you did today again, I will make sure I break every bone in your body”

Her raised voice attracted the attention of Chike’s boy and Ada. Nwanneka, auntie Chinyere, auntie Uloma and the boys had gone to the hospital that morning for immunization and were expected back.

“Ta shatap! Who are you? Isn’t it you your mother was whoring and had at home? Who is your father? I just wanted to help your ministry because you will definitely end up like your mother.”

“God punish you and your own whoring mother. Who is your father? That she gave the pregnancy to her husband doesn’t make him your father. How can you have the same father with someone like my stepfather; it is impossible. You are a shameless he-goat and next time you touch me, you will receive what I am made of.”

‘Did you just call me a bastard? Did you just call my mother a wh-re” he asked as he landed a slap across Nwadiuto’s face.

Nwadiuto charged at him and clawed his face. She was ready to fight to finish if not that Chike’s boy carried her off him. Okey wanted to raise his hand on her again but the boy stood between them and Okey knew if he fought with this very muscular guy, he will be disgraced.

While tempers were still high, Nwanneka and co came home. Nwanneka asked what happened. Ada narrated everything that happened word for word. Auntie Uloma was shocked. She asked Okey, “Did you call your late brother’s wife a wh-re? Why? Because you made s€×ual advances at a girl your brother called his daughter and she resisted. Nwanneka, we have to take this case seriously”

‘Which case? She called my mother a wh-re; she must show me my father” Okey replied.

‘You are not even ashamed. How old is Nwadiuto, how old are you? What kind of play would a man your age be playing with an eighteen year old girl by tapping her buttocks? You’re are a pervert. I am sure you will make same advances to other girls in the house. The ones you bring in are not enough. Nwanneka, you need to inform your father-in-law about this before he rapes her in this house. I am scared for her. I will tell Onyedika so he will have a word with him”

Onyedika was in their house less than an hour after Uloma told him what happened. He wanted to pick Okey up but Nwanneka begged on his behalf. Okey was visibly shaken when he saw Onyedika. He had realized he was stepping on big toes the way he was going.

All uncle Onyedika said was, “Nwanneka, don’t be your mother. She allowed others to step over her in the name of customs and tradition. What is this guy doing in your house? He stays here without adding any value to you or your family instead of making s€×ual advances to your daughter. I will call your father-in-law and he has to get this fool out of this house immediately. If I come here tomorrow and he is still here, I will lock him up for good. Nonsense!”

Okey could see clearly the tide had turned against him. His father called asking what happened. He asked him to come back home immediately. Okey knew he had to leave. He packed up and left very early the next morning. He lied against Nwadiuto and emphasized more on her claim he had no father and his mother was a wh-re. Mama Chike was furious. Left to her she would have come to Lagos but Okey advised her against it. She insisted the elders get involved and resolve the issue of Chike’s possession which she claimed Nwanneka was holding on to.

Papa Chike also felt it was time for the issues to be resolved. Nwanneka didn’t need to continue to endure these two characters. The elders fixed a date for the meeting. Papa Chike invited his two daughters while uncle Onyedika, uncle Obi and Nwakaego went with Nwanneka. They also asked the lawyers to join them.

On the issue of Okey making s€×ual advances towards Nwadiuto, he denied it. He claimed he mistakenly tapped her butt and she called his mother a wh-re. Chike’s boy who was present during the fracas was called on the phone to say what happened. He told them exactly what had happened. Okey still denied and claimed they ganged up against him.

“Okey, that child is like your own daughter. Why would you make such advances? Also, why did you call her mother a pr-stitute?”

‘She said I am a bastard; my father isn’t my father. See the marks she gave me on my face”

“What did you do or say to her that made her mark your face? You called her mother a pr-stitute and told her she has no father. She said the same to you and you are offended. It hurts when anyone calls your mother names. Please leave that child alone. It is obvious she is hot tempered but learn your lesson from the mistake you made. My in-laws, please forgive him for him”

They proceeded to the issue of Chike’s properties. They started with the company doc-ments. They had hired someone to get the legal CAC doc-ments and it was clear, Nwanneka had 60% of the shares. It was shocking to most of them. As it was confirmed there was nothing they could do as she was the majority shareholder.

Then, Titus Obi joined them in the meeting. He had informed papa Chike he had some doc-ments which Chike gave to him for safekeeping. He invited him to the meeting to present them. He warned him not to mention who brought it to him as it would sound somehow. “I know better than that” was his reply to him.

When he joined the meeting, he put the briefcase on the table there. He asked if Nwanneka knew the briefcase and she said she had never seen it before. It confirmed his suspicion, Chike had everything well-orchestrated.

“I bought this briefcase for my boss, late Chike on my first trip abroad. He asked me to put the number code for him since he couldn’t think of any at that moment. I saw it in his office a number of times I went there. I even asked him if still remembered the code but he told me it was still open just as I keyed it for him. It was just the two of us that have the code if he still remembered. I was surprised when the briefcase was handed to me from Chike. I opened the case and realized it contained all his property and financial doc-ments. Why did he give it to me? Well, I discovered later in his letter to me that it was because we are from the same village and he could trust me. These are the doc-ments of all the properties. As you can see, they are all in the company’s name except the house his family lives in which is in his wife’s name. Also, he wrote how he wanted his estate shared. Nwanneka gets 20% of his share of the company while his children namely, Nwadiuto, Chidindu and the new baby will have 20%. He has a trust fund for his children both born and unborn. The money in his personal savings account should be given to his wife, Nwanneka, to help her before she resumes work. The money in his fixed deposit should be given to his father. It will be used for the running and maintenance of his home. His nephew Uju will be sponsored until university by his wife. Every other property belongs to the company and cannot be removed without authorization of the majority shareholder”

Okey had an outburst, “Rubbish. My brother didn’t write that. There is no way Chike will do a thing like this. All these are fabricated. The wife wrote this and gave it to you. You are conniving with her”

Papa Chike replied, “Actually, I have a copy. He wrote this in my presence when he discovered his health was failing. He wanted to ensure Nwanneka was well protected because he knew you and your mother will trouble her. I knew how well Nwanneka will handle you that is why I allowed you to fool yourself. Everything belongs to Nwanneka. Go and look for work to do and make your own money”

“I will challenge this in court”

“You will challenge a company in court over its property? How are you going to do that?” one of the lawyers asked.

Everyone was more interested in the arguments but Nwakaego could see her daughter coil up in,side and shed silent tears. Chike protected her and now she doesn’t need to battle with anyone.

“Nkeiruka and Ijeoma, you haven’t said a word since this argument started. Are you satisfied with the way Chike shared his possession?”

Nkeiru replied first, “Somebody said he wants his wife and children to inherit what he sweated for, why should I go against it? I have my own business and when I die, only my son Uju will inherit everything. I am not giving anything to any other person. Know it now. Why are you surprised Chike gave Nwanneka everything? I knew he would. I support his decision. It is now left to Nwanneka to know how to she wants to manage the family.”

Ijeoma added, “I support what my sister has said. If it was otherwise, I would have challenged it. We know Chike loved Nwanneka very much and she always came first. When he was sick, he told me his health was failing and his biggest worry was how Nwanneka would cope. I told him to take care of his health because Nwanneka is strong. She has proved it now, she managed my mother and Okey for how many months even when she knew their intentions towards her. Chike, your wife has made you proud”

Mama Chike was surprised hearing all the accolades being bestowed on Nwanneka. She blurted out, “How can you support your brother’s killer? What could have killed Chike suddenly? My son was not sick so how come he died like that?”

Her husband smiled while replying to her, “Your son was very sick. He had liver cirrhosis and diabetes. Later he developed high blood pressure which further complicated his condition. He was seeing a specialist which his mother-in-law got for us at UNTH. That was why he was travelling very often. He knew he didn’t have long so he told me what he wanted. I was there when he wrote these instructions. He told me he would give one to Titus Obi and gave me a copy. Nwanneka doesn’t have a hand in his death. It is quite unfortunate but that is it”

There was complete silence. Then Okey asked, “What happens to his family? Are we now at Nwanneka’s mercy?”

“Okey, go and work like Chike did and make your own money. Marry a wife who can inherit from you, none of us will fight her except your mother”

“Nkeiruka, mind yourself. Don’t mention my name on your l-ips. I wonder how much Nwanneka bribed you with to make you support her”

“Mama, where do you think my son Uju has been for the past five years? He has been with Nwanneka’s mother. He refused to join me in Lagos because of the love she has shown him. Nwanneka gave my son to her mother to care for. They have never asked me for food, or school fees or money for clothes. Her mother stopped me from sending anything for Uju. Can you see why Chike will give everything he has to Nwanneka? Nwanneka is a good person. She made me learn to love and trust again. She is the reason I send money home every month; she pays evil with good”

“So you sold your birthright just because you wanted comfort for your son. Can you imagine?”

“I agree. It was better than leaving him with you to suffer. You would have sapped me dry collecting money for everything. I choose Nwanneka any day.”

Nwanneka wasn’t interested in the arguments back and forth anymore and she told her mother she wanted to leave. She had heard enough and was very demoralized. She just wanted to be alone. The elders seeing how Nwanneka looked allowed her to leave.

Nwanneka was ready to leave the house for Okey if the problem had become more than she could handle. And also, because it brought back memories but uncle Onyedika declined and asked her to sell or lease it out instead. She realized now she could do anything with the house and no one would ask her questions. Chike had done everyone ‘shut up your mouth!’ Even Chike’s mother was still dumbfounded by what she heard. She should be ashamed of herself.

The elders allowed Nwanneka to remove her black cloth after six months. She immediately went to dedicate her son. When they were deciding on the names to call him, Nwadiuto and papa Chike said at the same time Kasiemobi. Nwanneka loved the name. Nwakaego thought it sounded feminine. Nwadiuto told them it was the name Chike wanted his son called.

“How did you know?” Nwakaego asked. She didn’t respond.

Later that night, Nwadiuto told her grandmother the encounter she had with Chike before his demise. It shocked her. Nwadiuto had also inherited the gift but hers was even before it happened. Nwadiuto was scared and worried but Nwakaego convinced her it was a special gift which they all had.

Nwakaego made Nwadiuto share with her mother that encounter. Nwanneka cried. She knew Chike loved her but didn’t know it was this much. She wished she could thank him for all he did to protect her. He never visited her. She never experienced him. She wasn’t happy about that but she appreciated his love.

Tbc