NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 2.
©Miriam Edem
Agnes couldn’t believe that came out from her husband, and she hurriedly left the compound to her aunty place. Her aunt seeing her in tears couldn’t do anything until she was able to narrate what happened to her,
“What are you going to do now? This is bad and I wish your mother……… “My mother would have ended this marriage if she were to be alive, but then I love my husband aunty and I know he has been so un-derstanding, Agnes cuts in and got the water her aunty stretched to her.
“But for how long will he un-derstand with you? He loves you i know, but who does not know in this village that when it comes to his mother he can do anything for her? Agnes you don’t have time and you have to do something, her aunty said.
“Do something? Have we not visited doctors? Agnes asked.
“Ohhhhhh! All this white people thing is stupid na…….. “I’ve taken natives also, I am not barren aunty at least I get pregnant, Agnes cuts in and her aunty looked at her and breathed in.
“This girl, if you want I will take you to a place where this woman will make you conceive and you will definitely give birth, Her aunty said and Agnes shook her head.
“You are shaking your head as no ba? Look you are not serious o and you don’t know what is coming your way. Will you bear to see another woman in that house? If she gives birth automatically every love your husband has for you will be gone and think about your mother in-law, she will throw you outside, Her aunty said and Agnes sniffed shaking terribly and her aunty tou-ched her.
“Its very safe and she has helped a lot of women conceive don’t be scared, she continued.
“But how did you know? Agnes asked.
“A friend told me, and she’s not near but I’ve heard a lot about her, she replied.
“If that is so I’ll tell my husband…….. “No! You can’t tell your husband because he will tell his mother. This should be your secret because you don’t know who is who, what is wrong with you? Must you tell everything to your husband? Just arrange money and cook up an excuse that will make you travel and when she’s done with you you’ll take in and the marriage arrangements will be scattered, her aunty cuts in and Agnes was quiet.
“Okay, so how much are we talking about here? Agnes asked.
“Okay I think 300,000 naira, her work is always expensive, she replied and Agnes eyes bulged out.
“300,000 naira? Is that not too much? Agnes asked.
“Chim oo! So its 300,000 you’re shouting when your husband has lands scattered about he is renting to farmers, with palm tree everywhere he has people tapping palm wine from and he is even a hunter, yet you are shouting when you even have your own farm? Her aunty asked and Agnes scratched her head.
“Aunty when he knew I was pregnant he stopped me from going to the farm, but I’ll see what I can do to get the money, I just pray it works, Agnes said.
“Agnes you don’t have time, thank God its your shoe and you know where it is paining you so act fast, and I’ll se-nd a word to my friend okay, her aunty said cleaning her tears.
“Thank you aunty, I so much appreciate, Agnes said.
“Don’t mention, forget about that woman, when she sees you with your own baby she will be so ashamed of herself. I know she is doing all of that because she didn’t want you for her son from the very start but then just ignore her and concentrate on how to achieve this okay, I have this @$$urance that when you get pregnant again you will give birth, Her aunty said.
“Ahh I can’t wait, Agnes said and saw the time.
“I have to go now, even though I am angry with my husband but I have to give him something to eat, Agnes said getting up.
“Its true my dear, don’t worry everything will be fine. Meet me tomorrow okay if you succeed, her aunty said tapping her and Agnes gave her a hu-g before she left the compound.
She arrived home and went to the backyard gathering sticks for the firewood and she felt a prese-nce behind her. She looked back and saw her husband with a sober face and she heaved,
“I’ll get dinner prepared, she said and wanted to go in but he hu-gged her behind.
“I’m sorry dear I didn’t mean to…. I was so tired and angry when one of my workers pissed me off and when I came home I met another drama and it clouded me. I’m sorry, he said and she faced him.
“Its okay, she said.
“Are you sure about that? You were crying I know, your eyes are swollen, he said touching her face and she held his hand.
“I nee-d money, she said.
“For what? He asked.
“I heard there’s this white people and ermmm there are holding a kind of….. You know seminar or something for women who can’t give birth, but its expensive because they make sure the women gives birth, She said blinking her eyes trying to put the lies together and looked at her husband scared praying the lie should make se-nse.
“Okay, I’ll be going with you right? He asked.
“No no you can take care of your business here the problem is not with you, but I’ll go with my aunt, She replied.
“Okay, and how much is it? He asked.
“Ermmm 350,000 naira, she replied.
“350,000 naira? That’s a lot of money, he said.
“I know I know but we can’t let go of this opportunity right? Please help me, soon your mother will kick me out I have to do something please un-derstand, she said holding his hands.
“Okay okay I’ve heard you, let me see how this week will go alright, he said.
“Thank you, thank you, she said happily and hu-gged him………………
The next day, her mother in-law returned with lots of shouting and threats and Agnes was quiet while her son faced her. When she was tired and left the compound, Chinedu weakly sat down beside his wife as she only folded her arms with her legs shaking,
“I’m sorry, he said touching her hand.
“How long will this continue? She already has a woman for you and in a month time you’ll be married huh? She asked and Chinedu scratched his head.
“Do you have a mother or a dictator? I can’t believe you anymore, you watch her carry out whatever she wants for you like you’re a baby without you doing anything about it right! Agnes shouted.
“Are you hearing yourself? When I married you didn’t I do something? Didn’t I fight for you? He asked and she stood up pacing around.
“But its not enough, i cant be kicked out from this marriage like that, I have to get pregnant, she said.
“Oh Agnes……. “Yes! And I have to attend this seminar and if I succeed to get pregnant I know I will give birth. Please buy me time I beg you, try to push this wedding forward a little, maybe pretend that you’ve accepted her offer and pla-y along just do something. When they know I am carrying a child insist I have to give birth but if the pregnancy gets terminated again then go ahead with the wedding I won’t stop you I promise, Agnes said holding her husband and he breathed out.
“Okay okay, I’ll arrange for the money tomorrow, tell your aunt to get ready then, and Agnes make sure this works because I won’t do anything to help you again, He said.
“It will, I promise you it will, thank you, Agnes said breathing ha-rd and ran out immediately to tell her aunt…………..
2 days later, Agnes and her aunt was set to leave.
“Please, don’t tell your mother or anybo-dy about this, if she asks about her, you can say your wife left to calm her head in your aunty place, Her aunty said to Chinedu.
“I un-derstand, come back safe okay, Chinedu said hu-gging his wife and the bus they were took off.
Agnes breathed out and fearfully looked at her aunty,
“I’m scared, Agnes whispered to her.
“Why? Don’t worry put your mind to rest, nothing is going to happen, Her aunty replied.
After some hours of driving, her aunty told the driver to stop and they came down from the bus. Agnes looked around and saw bushes at both side of the road,
“Is it here? Agnes asked but her aunty was equally looking around and when she saw there was no vehicle coming she held Agnes hand into the bush.
“Ahhhhh aunty! Agnes shouted.
“Shhhhhh be quiet, just follow me its safe, her aunty said leading the way while Agnes fearfully followed behind as they walked throu-ghthe bush and met a building beautifully built that shocked Agnes.
A woman came out on white with a veil immediately from the house and they greeted her,
“Welcome, but I wanted to have my rest, the woman said.
“Sorry white mother, but my niece has a problem……… “I know, you don’t have to tell me. Tell her to come in, the woman cuts in and got in while Agnes looked at her aunty.
“Are we to go in? Agnes asked.
“Come in does she look fearful to you? Her aunty asked p-ulling off her shoes and Agnes did same.
Agnes looked around not believing her eyes with all the sparking lights shining round the place,
“Sit down, the woman said to them after looking at Agnes admiring her place.
“Your place is beautiful, Agnes said to her sitting down but she only smiled.
“You keep having miscarriages, the woman said and Agnes nodded.
“For good……. “5 times, I know you more than you know yourself, the woman cuts in and Agnes looked at her aunty surprised.
“So are you ready to carry your baby? The woman asked.
“Ahhhh yes please that’s why am here, I nee-d it desperately please help me, Agnes replied and the woman laughed.
“I am the mother who gives children, you don’t have to beg for it because I find plea-sure giving out children. Don’t worry, that animal won’t eat your babies again, the woman said.
“Animal? Agnes asked confused and the woman laughed.
“That’s not your problem, you’ll be pregnant and this baby can’t be eaten because I gave it to you. Where’s the money? The woman asked and her aunty brou-ght out 300,000 naira from her bag.
‘How much is that? The woman asked them.
“Ermmm 300,000 naira, her aunty replied.
‘That’s too cheap, I give babies for 2 million naira and above, that is very cheap, The woman said and Agnes looked at her aunty mouth opened.
“Please white mother help her out, it was not planned because she will be kicked out of her husband house but We will come back with more money when it works, her aunty said.
“When it works? Are you doubting me? The woman angrily asked.
“No white mother I…….. “Drop that money there, I will prove to you that I keep to my words, drop the money there! The woman shouted pointing at a calabash and her aunt shakily kept the money there. The woman stood up from the floor she sat to a shelf where different sizes of bottles and colors are and brou-ght out a bottle with a purple color and a native egg.
She stood in front of Agnes and asked her to stand up which she did. She dropped a black substance on the egg and asked Agnes to open her mouth,
“My mouth? Don’t tell me I am to swallow this? Agnes asked.
‘Swallow! The woman shouted and Agnes fearfully opened her mouth and the woman dropped the egg and with her eyes closed she heavily swallowed but didn’t feel like she swallowed something and the woman burst out laughing.
“Drink this, the woman said giving her the purple substance and she gulped it down and kept a face that showed it was not sweet in the mouth.
“You can go, I am done with you, the woman said.
“Just that? Agnes asked.
‘I said you can go! The woman shouted and they quickly thanked her and left the place.
“I can’t believe this, I thought I swallowed an egg but it was my saliva I swallowed and this woman is harsh, are you sure it will work? Agnes asked her aunt on the way.
“Don’t say that, I messed up by sounding as if I was doubting her, it was my fault but let’s see how it goes. Just believe it will work out, Her aunt replied.
They arrived the village late and her husband welcomed her,
“I prepared something for you to eat, how was it? Her husband asked.
“It was good, though what I was given to drink was bitter, Agnes replied and Chinedu smiled,
“You know that is always the best, her husband said.
“Thank you so much for your support, you know I get my strength from you, Agnes calmly said and Chinedu hu-gged her.
“Before i forget, Your friend came to see you, Chinedu said and Agnes hissed.
“I hope this is delicious? Agnes said opening up the food to forget about Amara.
That night as Agnes sle-pt, she had a dream where she was in the farm and she saw a big snake coming out from the bush. She tried running but she could not and she fell, but the snake p@$$ed throu-ghher legs and she screamed waking up.
“What is it? Her husband asked holding her but she felt something moving in her belly……………
TBc