NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 3.
©Miriam Edem
Her husband hearing the sounds coming from her belly quickly stood up to bring her a cu-p of water which she quickly gulped it down,
“A bad dream? He asked when she was done.
“I think so though I can’t remember, she replied.
“Are you sure? He asked and she nodded.
“Are you okay now? He asked and she nodded.
“Don’t worry it was just a dream, rest your head, he said laying her down and left to return the cu-p.
The next day Chinedu mother returned but met her son in a different mood, just as Agnes advised him to pla-y along, he didn’t bother to argue with her but rather praised her for making a good choice. His mother looked at him and shook her head,
“Is this some kind of pla-y or what? If that is so let the marriage preparation begin, she said.
“No mama not too fast, please give me some time to be with my wife. You know soon it won’t be us anymore, let’s have this short privacy just us please, Chinedu said.
“Chinedu so the privacy for 5 years is not enough ba? After all she will still be here na, she’s not leaving what are you talking about? In fact since you are praising me this well I want it in 2 weeks time and thats it, her mother said and his eyes bulged out.
“Mama I don’t like this na, can’t someone do something to please you again? After all I have accepted right? Let it be at my own time stop forcing me always! Chinedu shouted and she burst out laughing.
“I said it, you are just pla-ying with me maybe that witch told you to pla-y games and you think this white hairs on my head are for fancy right? You think I didn’t use people heads when I was young huh? Chinedu look at you, your childhood friend wife just gave birth to the third child and you’re looking for privacy from a barren witch. Shame unto you! His mother shouted and he only looked at her.
“Mama I am not him, has he achieved or has the money I have? Chinedu asked.
“Yen yen yen, you are br@gging of the wealth I acquired for you right? She asked.
“How many lands did you give to me? Didn’t I hustle and doubled it? Haven’t I achieved something I should br@g of? He asked.
“br@g of children Chinedu! How long will you live to stay and enjoy them or will you start bearing children in old age? I nee-d vibr@nt grandchildren, stop wasting it on her! She shouted.
“Mama please I have accepted, you gave me a month before right? Let it be that one month stop disturbing me, Chinedu said and sat down.
“Good, so when are you seeing her parents? She asked and he looked at her.
“For what na? He asked.
“Chai! What has this woman done to my son? Chinedu you are asking me for what? Hear what a grown up man can ask me! She shouted.
“Look mama I am very tired, please just let me rest before I’ll die without seeing the child you are shaking me sef, mama let me breathe! Chinedu said and went in leaving his mother to continue talking to herself outside.
He saw Agnes sitting down at the backyard and he tou-ched her shoulders,
“Are you okay? He asked.
“I don’t think so, she replied.
“If its about what my mother said just forget about her, he said sitting down.
“I’m not worried about her, but am feeling so uncomfortable, she said.
“Is that so? I’ll go get herbs for you then, maybe you’re just stressed up you know, he said.
“Yea maybe, so is she gone? Agnes asked.
“I don’t know, I left her outside and the plan didn’t work out, she knows we are planning something, he replied.
“Its alright, I don’t want to bother myself anymore, something must surely come up, Agnes said and he heaved.
“And if it doesn’t? How will you cope if you see me with another woman? He asked and she weakly looked at him,
“If that will make you happy I’ll be fine, I don’t want to act selfish anymore, she replied.
“Oh dear, everything will be fine I promise you, Chinedu said and hu-gged her…………
3 weeks after that, the wedding preparations became more serious. Chinedu had to meet with the lady family while Agnes sadly left to her aunt place,
“Have you mate with your husband yet? Her aunt asked.
“Oh aunty how is it possible to get pregnant that soon? Don’t forget I just had a miscarriage, she replied.
“Madam what are you saying? Is it not more than a month? And who told you that you can’t get married? At this point even if you’re a day pregnant is very important and a very good reason to keep this marriage thing to hold don’t you un-derstand! Her aunty shouted and Agnes shook her head.
“Aunty am tired already, let him just get married and have a child, he’ll be 50 next month without a child, Agnes replied.
“Was it you that told him to waste time in getting married? How is that your fault? Why are you even blaming yourself for everything? Oh this girl! Take a look at me, I have 3 girls and how did my husband treat me when the second woman gave him a boy? I had children o and was treated as if i have none, how will your story be then? If you like don’t fight for your marriage, Her aunty said and Agnes sniffed covering her face.
“How can I stop it now? They have gone far, Agnes said and her aunty stopped her.
“Just be pregnant and I’ll take over, I will so shake them including that your mother in law, for once someone has to speak up, Her aunty replied and Agnes worriedly ru-bbe-d her head confused.
That evening she returned home and met her husband waiting for her,
“Where are you coming back from? I’ve been here for more than two hours, Chinedu said and she slowly sat down.
“Welcome, she said not looking at him and he heaved.
“Don’t tell me you’re sad? You were the one who told me to go ahead with it remember? He asked.
“Yes because I had no choice and my ears wanted rest from your mother screams, what do you want me to say to you now? Congratulations? Agnes asked back.
“Are you blaming me now? Stop making things more difficult for me! Chinedu shouted and left the house and Agnes tummy began to roll again. She leaned her head on the wall with her eyes and gently tou-ched it,
“Whats going on? Why I do keep feeling something moving in me? She asked herself……….
Just a day to the wedding, Agnes couldn’t keep it to herself anymore, she had to share it with her aunty that early morning.
“How long has this been happening? Her aunty asked.
“When we returned from that woman place, she replied.
“Does it mean that you’re pregnant? You know its more than a month already, her aunty asked.
“Aunty please don’t let me be anxious for nothing. I can’t even see my husband anymore to discuss this with him, he has become extremely busy and its getting me disturbe-d, Agnes replied.
“What’s the nee-d for the discussion? He is running around for his business can’t you find out whats wrong with yourself? Agnes I told you already to just get pregnant, don’t tell me you haven’t mate with your husband after your miscarriage, her aunty said.
“That’s not possible, my husband is a highly s-xual man, she replied.
“And that settles it, Hurry up we are going for a test now, tomorrow is the wedding don’t forget that, Her aunty said tying her head tie strong.
“But aunty what if…….. “Agnes stand up! She shouted dragging her up and they quickly left to the hospital which was quite a distance.
Before they could meet with the doctor to discuss with him, it was already 12noon and the test was done.
“But doctor why the rumbling sound? Agnes asked.
“When the result comes out I will know what to do, the doctor replied.
“But we can still have it today right? Her aunty asked.
“Yes but you have to wait, we have lots of tests done today but just wait, the doctor replied and they had to sit somewhere waiting.
Agnes sat there seeing women carrying their babies in and out and felt like crying,
“Aunty I don’t like it here, what if the test comes out negative? Ahhhh! Agnes painfully said and her aunty looked at her and shook her head.
“I see why you’re being pushed around, when did you become this weak? She asked.
“Will you blame me? I don’t even know when I became this way, i guess this is just the travail of a barren woman. She suddenly goes weak and have no strength of her own, Agnes replied.
“Put yourself together Agnes! You are not barren and remember you have a fight and being weak this way won’t do you good. If another woman comes into your house and meets you this way then you’re finished, Her aunty said and Agnes breathed out trying to calm down.
After a while a nurse came to them,
“The doctor wants to see you, The nurse said and they quickly followed her. They got into the doctor office looking at him as if the result was encrypted on his face,
“Please sit down, your looks can make me forget my name, the doctor said and they slowly sat down and he stretched out a paper to them but her aunt took it from him. Agnes hands was shaking as she placed it on her knees without looking her aunt but she heard a shout and she fearfully looked at her aunty and the doctor gave a smile.
“Positive! You’re a month pregnant or can’t I read again? Her aunty asked and Agnes quickly snatched the result from her and burst out crying.
“Congratulations, the doctor said to her.
“Doctor I can’t lose this, I can’t lose this sixth one please help me I beg you, Agnes cried going on her knees.
“No no no please get up you don’t have to do that. I’ll do a scan on you okay, probably tomorrow don’t worry I have this, the doctor said raising her up.
“Thank you doctor, her husband nee-ds to see this, her aunty said.
“I’ll be back tomorrow for sure, thank you so much, Agnes added.
“No I did nothing, see you tomorrow, the doctor said and they left his office.
They arrived in the village and saw Chinedu mother in the compound with women who were suppose to start cooking for tomorrow event at the bride compound and Agnes aunty began to laugh clapping her hands.
“You all are wasting your time, it won’t happen! She shouted despite Agnes begged her to take things easy.
“Don’t stop me o, just hold it there! Her aunty angrily said to Agnes who was holding her.
“Its very un-derstood if some people wants to run mad but not in my son house okay, Chinedu mother spoke up.
“I just said this won’t hold and you’ll see, her aunty said.
“We will see nothing, because this barren witch will be replaced, Chinedu mother said and her husband slowly came out from the house hearing the noise and Agnes aunty began to laugh.
“Who is the barren witch? For your information she is a month pregnant! She shouted throwing the paper on her and Chinedu looked at his wife who bowed her head and Chinedu mother burst out laughing.
“How many times? And how many fruits has she showed to the world despite her fake pregnancies? Sorry this trick won’t suceed because she will be replaced tomorrow and that’s final, Her mother in law said and Chinedu quickly took the result from the ground and looked at it.
“This will work ooo enemy of progress this will stand and you’ll be ashamed of yourself! Agnes aunty shouted and Chinedu mother smi-rked.
“Please shut up you’re making empty noise, you’re just pained another woman, a fertile one for that matter will be here soon so keep on crying, Chinedu mother said and Chinedu slowly walked up to Agnes.
“Is this true? He asked Agnes.
“I got the result this afternoon, she shakily replied and he looked at his mother whose eyes was all on him.
“Don’t try to say anything to me, what do you want to say to me sef? That the wedding will be canceled because she’s pregnant? Have you forgotten she has always been pregnant with nothing to show? She asked before he could say anything.
“But mama this can work out, you can never know, Chinedu said.
“Over my dead bo-dy! Chinedu you can’t bring this shame to me, what will people say? What if it get terminated again where will you hide your face? No Chinedu you can’t do this after my suffering, you can’t! His mother shouted.
“Chinedu your mother is right, you know your wife has a problem, to be on a safe side marry her and it won’t be a crime if you will have children from the both after all you can take care of them, a woman came in.
“Shut up there! Who invited you into this matter? Agnes aunty shouted on the woman.
“Shut up also, are you my family to involve your smelly mouth? So you came here with this faded head tie and cheap wrapper thinking this paper will stop this wedding huh? You are a failure, Chinedu will marry and let me see how this dry stick will give birth to this imaginary child! Chinedu mother shouted on her and faced the women.
“Come let’s go prepare for tomorrow, leave the failures! She said taking them to the backyard and Agnes slowly went down crying and her aunty held her.
“Its okay, don’t cry its okay, her aunt said but Chinedu could not do anything. He stood so confused looking at her and left the compound immediately.
The next day, admist the preparation and busy bodies going on in the compound by Chinedu mother for the wedding, a young guy ran into the compound and met Agnes sweeping the compound.
“What is it? Agnes asked and her mother in-law came out immediately.
“Who is chasing you? Her mother in-law asked as the guy was breathing ha-rd.
“Its….. Its…. Chinwe, he said.
“Eh what happened? Her mother anxiously asked.
“She died in her sleep, she can’t wake up! He dropped.
“Heyyyyyyyyyy! Chim ooo! Her mother in-law shouted and Agnes went backwards in shock…………….
TBC.