NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 4.
©Miriam Edem
People began coming out either to ask what’s going on or to confirm what the guy said. They ran down to the bride family and met the family in tears, the mother of the lady seeing Agnes quickly held her shouting why she should kill her daughter.
“Return back my daughter to me and she will not marry your husband again! Did you have to kill her in such a manner? What did she do to you! The woman screamed fighting people who tried holding her until Agnes fell face covered on the ground. Agnes gave a shout in pains and Her mother inlaw seeing that smiled thinking that will surely give her pregnancy complications with the way she fell and all the shaking.
“Bring my daughter back to me this instant! The woman shouted attempting to hold Agnes back but Chinedu immediately ran in protecting his wife.
“What are you doing? How is that her Fault? Chinedu shouted on her.
“How is that her fault? Bring back my daughter Chinedu what are you waiting for? We will return everything you paid for I don’t want it again but go in there and wake my daughter up for me because this is all your fault! We were doing very well before you brou-ght up your miserable marriage proposal that has cut my daughter life short and if I find out that you or this witch here has something to do with her death, you’ll be sorry! The woman shouted back.
“Go and do your findings but never you call my wife a witch again, what prove do you have that we have anything to do with this? You think i am not pained myself to hear such an unexpected news? I am very sorry for her death and you can Pour your anger on me but never you hurt my wife again, I won’t take that from you, Chinedu said pointing his fin-geron her and helped Agnes up from the ground.
“Oh so now you have a wife and you are warning me simply because you lost nothing, We shall see, you all will pay! The woman screamed out crying as Chinedu slowly helped Agnes out of the compound.
“Are you okay? He asked her on the way and she nodded.
“Why did you even have to go there? He asked.
“I had to, no one was expecting such a news, what did you expect me to do? Agnes asked back and he heaved.
“I’m sorry I got you involved in this, I’m sorry, he said.
“Sorry for your loss, she said and he didn’t say anything.
They arrived home and saw Agnes aunt waiting,
“What am I hearing? She immediately asked and saw Agnes was not looking okay.
“What happened? What happened to her? She asked helping Agnes to the bench outside.
“Aunty nothing I’m fine, Agnes replied.
‘And am seeing sands on your bo-dy, did they beat you up? Don’t tell me they blamed you for her death? Her aunty asked and Agnes breathed out.
“And you Chinedu you watched them accuse your wife and beat her up doing nothing? What is wrong with you! Her aunt shouted facing Chinedu.
“Aunty no, he was the one who helped me out don’t put it on him please, Agnes stood up as Chinedu just placed his hands on his wa-ist looking at her aunt saying nothing.
“What right do they have to beat a pregnant woman? Are they mad? In fact let me go add pepper to their wounds they must be very stupid! Her aunty said and immediately Chinedu mother walked in crying as her friends held her trying to console her. But when she saw Agnes aunt she had the strength of 5 men and left her friends approaching her aunt violently who wasn’t scared of her,
“You’ve succeeded haven’t you? So you killed her to confirm the words you told me yesterday that this wedding won’t hold. Remember you told me confidently that I will see, you finally made it happen right? She asked facing Agnes aunt and she burst out laughing clapping her hands.
“Failures put blames on people to feel better because that’s the only thing they know how to do best. You walked in crying painfully and you’ve seen a means to pour out your frustration on ba? Agnes aunt asked.
“So you killed her? Chinedu mother asked.
“So its no more Agnes its me that killed her, are you sure its not your son that killed her? Who knows he can do that to escape so he can continue with his loving wife, She replied and Chinedu mother slapped her.
“My son is not a shameless murderer and if you have anything to do with that woman death, I promise you, you will follow her and you won’t go alone, Chinedu mother sternly said fighting off Chinedu who was holding her but Agnes aunt violently grabbe-d her by the hand.
“I won’t slap you back, but if you dare do anything funny to me or my family, you won’t go free. Don’t think I am afraid of you, I’ll advise that you mourn your death peacefully and stop looking for an avenue that will take you straight to hell real quick, failure! She seriously said and held Agnes inside.
“Aunty I’m so sorry, let me see the place, Agnes said trying to check her chin.
“Its okay don’t bother, the tension is too much here, are you sure you’ll be okay here? She asked.
“Honestly aunty I don’t know what to do. When I thought getting pregnant will solve issues but things are getting more complicated and confusing. What killed Chinwe na and why Now? Its making me look like the suspect and you’re equally dragged into this mess because of me, this is not good for me now, Agnes replied crying.
“Exactly my point, all this shaking is not good for you. What if you come stay with me until the heat is over? Its very necessary, her aunt said.
“What about my husband? Agnes asked.
“Agnes every time your husband, if this people hurt you now will your husband be there to protect you? I just want you safe for the meantime and you’ll return back to him, go get your bags ready, her aunt replied and Agnes sluggishly went in while a serious argument was going on inside.
Minutes later Chinedu who was sitting on the ground with his hand on his chin despite all the talks from every corner saw his wife with a bag. He immediately stood up meeting her,
“What is this? Where are you going to? He asked.
“Sorry Chinedu I am taking her with me. I won’t stand and watch my niece embarr@$$ed and insulted every time while you do nothing. She’s very fragile now and pregnant with your baby but what have you done to protect her? Her aunt asked.
“What are you saying? You think I am not protecting my wife? You have no right to take my wife from me and she’s going no where! Chinedu madly shouted.
“Dear please, I’m so scared and you know how much I want to have this baby. The atmosphere here is not just okay for me, I am not leaving you, I just want to stay in a place to cool my head until this bad breeze is over, I’ll surely come back please un-derstand, Agnes came in.
“I can take care of you, you can’t leave me now. Do you know what am going throu-ghnow? I am about going crazy and I nee-d you with me not you leaving instead that’s not fair, Chinedu said holding her.
“I un-derstand, but I am doing this for our baby, will you forgive yourself if anything bad happens again? Please even if its a week I’ll be back I promise you, Agnes said and hu-gged him and saw her mother in-law literally tearing her apa-rt with her eyes and she heaved.
“Be sure you take Care of yourself okay? I’ll be visiting you, Chinedu said and ki-ssed her.
“That’s a very dry way of escape, hide and go where ever you want, you’ll be fetched out, you will be fetched out! Her mother in-law shouted when they were about to go out.
“And you will be fetched out also! Agnes mother shouted back ready to start another exchange of words but Agnes dragged her out.
“How do you deal with that woman? Agnes aunt asked.
“Don’t ask me how because I can’t even voice out whenever she starts, all i want right now is the safety of my child, Agnes replied.
“Ahhhh trouble everywhere, the whole village is just hot, if they want to go find out who killed Chinwe they should do it quick because an innocent person fears no accusation, Agnes aunty said.
“But this is not good at all, I just acquired More enemies for nothing and I pity my husband so much, he’s also wrapped up in this mess and he is seriously regretting he accepted to marry again, Agnes said.
“Everything will be over when they find out who killed her, but before then don’t worry yourself too much and think about the Baby you’re carrying, that’s more important, her aunty said.
“But aunty I’ve been thinking, how is it that possible for me to get pregnant that fast? Agnes asked.
“What kind of question is this Agnes? Didn’t that woman fortify your bo-dy and have you not been slee-ping with your husband again? She asked back.
“But what about the hospital? Remember the doctor told us to come today and i really have to go after what just happened, Agnes said and her aunty stopped and looked at her.
“So what are you saying? That we should go to the hospital ba? She asked.
“Yes aunty, I won’t be at peace until I carry this Baby, I want to be sure I am okay, Agnes replied.
“Okay o madam fine, stop a bike then, her aunty tiredly said.
They met with the doctor and Agnes shared her fears to him that she was pushed in the morning,
“Why did you let that happen? That’s very dangerous for you, the doctor said.
“Hmm doctor you won’t un-derstand, she’s really going throu-gha lot but then please we want this pregnancy to stand at all cost, please help her, her aunt replied.
“Hmm I’ll have to do a fetal ultrasound scan on you to check if your baby is okay. Give me some minutes please, the doctor said and left the office and returned after some time,
“Sorry about that, i was getting it set. Please come with me, he said and they left the office and got into a room where the scan was carried out,
“As you can see, your baby is okay, very okay, the doctor said.
“Oh that’s a relief, Agnes said.
“Yea, are you still feeling the rolling sound? The doctor asked.
“No I didn’t feel it, She replied.
“Okay, if you’re not still convinced that your baby is fine, you can be coming from time to time for check ups and ermmm, I’ll prescribe some drugs for you, supplements to keep you going and don’t forget to take Care of yourself, the doctor said.
‘That will be nice doctor thank you, Agnes said and he nodded……….
They got home and had something to eat, that was when they began to hear from the villagers that the native doctor Chinwe was taken to said Agnes is innocent.
“How did my name enter or even crossed the shrine? Agnes asked.
“They suspected you and your aunty to be the killer, a guy replied and Agnes aunty laughed clapping her hands.
“Shameless people, so they think we killed Chinwe for what exactly? Agnes aunt asked.
“But if we are innocent what then killed her? What did the baba say? Agnes asked.
“He does not know himself, he only said whatever killed her is dark and evil but certainly not you and your aunt and he warned they should leave you alone, The guy replied and Agnes was confused.
“That’s good for them, if they like they should take us to mount Sinai ru-bbish! Her aunt said.
That evening, Agnes and her aunt were un-der the tree receiving the fresh air when they saw people trooped into the compound and they saw it was Chinwe mother,
“So you’ve cooked it well and covered yourself so you won’t be seen ba? I will surely avenge my daughter death I promise you! She shouted facing Agnes.
“Hey hey hey! Go and avenge it elsewhere not Here, by the way you don’t have to announce that you’ll avenge it because empty vessels makes the loudest noise. Didn’t you take our names out for findings and what was said to you? Keep roaming about you’ll find or do nothing, get out! Her aunty shouted on her.
“As for you, you’ll see me, she said pointing her hands at Agnes aunty but she in turn pushed her.
“You think I don’t know what you did to my niece this morning? You better leave before I’ll peel your skin with this hot water on fire, get out! She madly shouted and they left making so much noise and Agnes slowly sat down.
“What is wrong with this people? Is that not madness? Her aunty asked with her hands on her wa-ist and turned to see Agnes shivering.
“Hey! You’re now scared for what exactly? Don’t mind this villagers, when they just have small charms around their wa-ist they feel they can do anything. Empty words, that’s what they have don’t worry yourself, Her aunty said.
“That’s what you think, empty words when they can act, I don’t have anything on me as charm, Agnes said.
“Forget about them, they can’t do anything and soon they will be tired, Her aunty said tapping her.
The next day, news went round the village that Chinwe mother woke up paralyzed. She can’t talk but lay helplessly on the be-d. When the news got to Agnes and her aunty they both looked at themselves weak…………..
TBC