MY ORDEAL✊✊
Episode 98.
Children were running around the compound and a lady c@m£ out from the backyard looking at us as we approached, the compound was so big with different houses still built on the land.
We met her and greeted her which she replied us with this look of,
“Who are you looking for?
“Chinyere it’s me, Uche said to her and she carefully looked at him.
“How do you know me and who are you? She asked and an elderly man c@m£ out from the house which I knew immediately that should be Uche father.
“Papa good morning, Uche greeted and he responded to him with this confused look on his face and Uche heaved looking at me.
“Its Uchenna, he dropped and the man eyes bulged out.
“Uche? He asked.
“Yes your son, he replied and he made few steps to us from where he stood and t©uçhed his face,
‘Where have you been? He asked.
“Really papa? I thought I was not nee-ded not like you looked for me, Uche said and he drew his hand inside which I slowly followed behind.
Before I could say Jack! The sitting room was filled with people as Chinyere went inside to tell them of Uche return.
“What made you say that Uche? When you left was I there? Why should you say something like that? The father asked when he made him sat down.
“Papa you never looked for me even if you were not there, and I couldn’t return because I was asked not to, he replied.
“What! By Who? His father shouted and I noticed some people there kept their face down and I suspected they know something about it.
“Uche by Who! He shouted on him again when he was quiet and Chinyere slowly c@m£ in front.
“Mama said it, she replied and he angrily got up from his chair.
I can feel the weight of his anger and I got scared of what he may do to this mama of a person if she is near.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me? Why! He shouted at them but they were quiet and he pitifully looked at Uche and sat down.
“What happened to you my son? How did you get home? He asked and Uche began to cry telling his story.
I got to know his father is a retired Army man and he wasn’t steady with his family frequently when this incident happened.
During Uche birth, a lot of controversies c@m£ up as Uche maternal family fought to make his mother married to his father but his wife stood on her ground it wont happen.
Besides Uche father only went for fun that brou-ght this problem up and to make his wife happy, he didn’t accept to their request.
Uche mother left with him and refused any help from Uche father but death c@m£ around too soon, her family members couldn’t keep up with the responsibility so they returned him back which he met a living hell with his step mother.
That fateful day he left home, she told him never to show his face else she will kill him, words like that said to a young boy made him run for his life and made him so scared to come back home.
“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry,this is all my fault but believe me you were not forgotten. You are my flesh and blood and it doesn’t matter if I married your mother or not but I really do miss you, his father kept apologizing and his siblings who were pres£nt apologized for their late mother behavior, according to them she died 3 years ago.
Uche didn’t come for trouble but for peace, he had no choice than to forgive them and the family was reconciled.
His two brothers were in the city which he’s the 2nd son, they were both put on call to know the latest development and they couldn’t wait to see their lost brother.
I was introduced to them and they were so sad the wedding is in 2 weeks time but they promised to be there pres£nt and carry what family should have done.
His father was more than joyful that he commanded food should be prepared and the goat at the backyard should be slaughtered.
I didn’t waste time to join them in the kitchen even when they tried st©pping me, I alre-ady pu-ll-ed off my outer t©p and they laughed knowing I meant business maybe they thought I was ajebota that don’t know how to use the firewood.
Before Uche and his father returned from their outing after they asked us to cook, the food was re-ady and drinks were alre-ady popping in the compound.
I got a lot of introduction as people began entering to know what the celebr@tion Is all about,
“This is our daughter in law to be o…… Uchenna wife to be o and their wedding is in 2 weeks time and all of that got me tired alre-ady.
Immediately I saw Uche was back, I just went to him to escape some things but his father drew me for a talk while Uche was kidnapped this way by the neighbors, I just laughed in my heart as I saw Uche face……….
In the process of talking with his dad, he said he knew my father and he was so happy to know I’m his daughter though he said he wasn’t around when my father died he could have attended his burial.
He asked of my family members and i sincerely told him I have no clue, but the only person I knew as a family member is my uncle Manfred, and immediately I mentioned his name he hissed.
“You mean Manfred? Who says Manfred is your family member? Look that idiot was adopted, I wish your father was here he would have confirmed it. I know your family very well, he dropped and I felt blood draining away from me.
“Manfred was adopted? I asked again..
‘re-ad myl-ips, that bastard was adopted and has always been a nuisance. Shocking news, you are not from that community, he dropped and i felt like fainting.
“No sir, i don’t think you are sure about that, i was born and brou-ght up there and my dad has a house there, i said and he smiled shaking his head.
“Look my daughter I’m not a small boy, if not I was an army man maybe I should have been walking with stick at my age, I am 75 and i know what i am saying.
Your village is the next village from here but your father and that idiot left because he R@p£d a girl of about 12 or 13 years then in the farm and she bled and died.
The villagers rose up and out of love your father had for his brother, he escaped with Manfred to the city before they c@m£ back with little cash to start a life where you were born when the heat was calm and forgotten.
None of them has stepped their leg in the village scared they might be killed, they didn’t even attend their father burial when he died that was why I heard the villagers also didn’t attend your father burial when he died also and they so much celebr@ted when Manfred was dead and had no place to be buried, he narrated and in the process Uche c@m£ and heard p@rt of the shocking story.
I was so speechless with intense cold hearing such a thing, in deed my parents kept so many things from me.
“Papa can we go to her village and trace her family? I hope it’s not too late? Uche asked.
“Sure I can contact my friend over there today so we can get there tomorrow, but for now I nee-d to eat, he replied
“Thank you so much sir, I said.
“You’re welcome my daughter, but don’t be scared, you’re from a good home and I’ll sure try to talk to your family to forgive your father and accept his children because he was innocent though he made a mistake to abandon his family for a stranger, he said and i nodded.
“Thank you, I said almost in a whisper and we slowly walked away to eat.
I lost my appetite with all i heard but Uche made me to eat and his sisters tried to cheer me up a bit, I was alre-ady loved by them and i thank God for that.
We we’re given a room to sleep when it was late after a lot of discussion, story and history, but i couldn’t help but start crying in the room and Uche held me.
“It hurts, that an adopted idiot is the reason for so many problems in my family yet my father still loved him dearly, but that didn’t st©p him from killing him, i said and Uche hvgged me.
“Honey you have to st©p now, don’t ruin this day plea-se and I’m grateful you reunited me with my family, if not how would you have known such a secret? he asked.
“I have always been asking why I had no grandparents, aunties or uncles and why the villagers didn’t really love or accepted us, but they never gave me a good answer, I just pray they accept I and my brothers, we are all innocent and ignorant of all that happened in the past, I said.
“They will dear they will, Manfred is the problem here not your father though he involved himself by running away just because he loved his brother. Even if they are so angry with him, their heart will be softened knowing he died by the hands of the one he loved and his innocent children are back. I promise you my dad will surely reunite you and your brothers back to where you belong, Uche said cleaning my tears and Chinwe call c@m£ on phone. Though she called earlier but i told her I’ll call her back when I’m less busy, I just had to Clear my throat and told her the shocking news which she couldn’t believe it herself…………….
The next day I woke up sweeping the place but the children got the broom from me. I heaved and was looking for what I should do but they told me not to disturb myself,
“Okay let me warm the food for break fast na, papa nee-d to eat, i insisted and i was allowed to do that.
I served Uche father and he used that opportunity to tell me he was able to reach his friend on phone, and we can come over later in the day, he said.
“What about this morning papa? I nervously asked and he laughed.
“People will nee-d to go to their farms, don’t worry everything will be settled, i said and i nodded leaving him with Uche to continue their father and son discussion, especially the wedding preparations he was concentrating on because it was like Uche is the very first son to get married and the excitednesss was so obvious……….
Tbc