NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 5.
©Miriam Edem
Agnes held her aunty inside and locked the door behind,
“What is going on? I don’t seem to un-derstand anymore, Agnes asked her.
“What do you think is going on? Do you think all that is happening has something to do with you? Maureen, her aunty asked.
“Of course, we didn’t want the wedding to hold and Chinwe died now its her mother what will people say? Agnes asked.
“What will people say? That is why you kill and bug yourself over what doesn’t make se-nse because you care about what people will say. People will always say something, or do you have anything to do with what is going on? If no then keep calm and live your life simple, Maureen replied and left the house and Agnes slowly sat down thinking ha-rd.
That morning Chinedu visited and confirmed Chinwe mother is paralyzed.
“This is so sad, I never wanted that for her, Agnes said.
“So when will Chinwe be buried? Maureen asked.
“Next Wednesday, and how are you? Chinedu asked back.
“I’m fine, Agnes replied.
“I nee-d you back, the house is so boring. Let’s take Care of our baby together please, He said and Agnes looked at her aunty.
“Won’t your mother tell you to get married again? Her aunty asked him.
“Please just stop, how is that going to happen? Chinedu asked.
“If you think she is safe there then no problem, after all she is your wife, Maureen replied.
“Thank you, Chinedu said and she left them to talk for a while, and they left after some time.
They arrived home and Agnes slowly dropped her bag and looked at her husband closely and saw he was not good,
“What’s wrong? She asked.
“Headache, he replied closing his eyes.
“You’re stressed up, but don’t worry you’ll be fine I’ll get you herbs, she said and was about to go but he held her back.
“I’ll get that myself, I just want you to take care of yourself. Please don’t let this go, I don’t know what I will do, he said.
“This won’t go, it can’t happen. It came at the right time and its a sign that we can never be apa-rt can’t you see? Agnes asked.
“Let’s believe that, I’ll go get herbs, he said patting her hand and left and Agnes smiled touching her belly.
“I know you’ll strengthen our love and marriage, she said happily and sat down.
2 months later everything was going on so smoothly for Agnes and her husband, though she became very nervous she was in her first trimester where her pregnancy always get terminated but the doctor kept @$$uring her that the baby is safe. That evening Chinedu returned with a big papaya he harvested from the farm and that made Agnes very happy because its her favorite fruit.
“Uhmmm I see someone is very happy to see this, do you know how many people wanted to buy this? Chinedu asked her.
“Ahhhh buy what? Must they buy everything kwa? Agnes asked keeping it down as Chinedu just looked at her smiling and his mother slowly entered.
Agnes has not seen her after the death of Chinwe though her son has been visiting her from time to time, but what is she doing here? Agnes thought and greeted her. She looked at Agnes without saying anything and looked at her son,
“So Chinedu for 5 days now you can’t visit me abi? She asked him.
“Mama is not like that, I just came back now look at me na, Chinedu replied.
“I can see you already, so if you p@$$ from the farm to my place you won’t come back here to give her pawpaw huh? She asked and he rolled his eyes.
“Mama everything should not be quarrel na, okay i’m sorry why not come inside its a good thing you came let’s eat together, Chinedu said holding her in and Agnes slowly followed behind.
‘Let me go get the pawpaw prepared, Agnes said.
“No, I dont want to be poisoned, His mother said and Chinedu rolled his eyes.
“I’ll do that, he said taking the pawpaw out while Agnes sat down folding her arms looking at her,
“So you’re three months gone eh? Soon I’ll hear its terminated, her mother in law said.
“So you came to remind me that huh? Have you ever heard of the word disappointment? Agnes asked.
‘It comes in two ways, and for sure it will be in your way, she replied and Agnes smiled.
“Sometimes I wonder if you really love your son, because how can a mother always wish bad things to happen to her child? Agnes asked.
“Bad things will always happen to you and not my son, she said.
“Whatever happens to me happens to your son, don’t forget this is your grandchild yet you are wishing him/her death, aren’t you the devil yourself? Or do you think you’re doing me huh? Agnes asked.
‘I see, someone is having the guts to talk back at me, She said.
“I chose to keep you quiet, but guess what, your time is up. Next time you come here to har@$$ me, I’ll show you the way out, don’t try me next time, Agnes boldly said and she only kept quiet smiling and Chinedu walked in with the sliced papaya.
“Thanks darling, uhmmmm I love the red ones, Agnes said and wanted to pick a slice from the tray but her husband stopped her.
“Let mama take a slice first, he said.
“How will she know that when she was not properly trained at home, her mother in-law said and Agnes breathed in.
“I apologize mama, Chinedu said but Agnes left the sitting room.
Chinedu met her outside sitting down,
“Why are you angry? He asked.
‘Why am I angry huh? She asked.
“I thought I’ve told you to ignore my mother? Why is that so difficult for you? He asked.
“Why is it so difficult for your mother to stop har@$$ing me constantly, go in there and give her this sermon because she nee-ds it more than I do, Agnes said.
“Let’s not start a fight now, your pawpaw inside, he said holding her.
“I’ve lost my appetite, Agnes said proving stubborn but Chinedu laughed and dragged her in and she sat with a frown.
“Here, for you, Chinedu said giving her the tray.
“What about you? She asked.
“I’m done eating, this are all yours, he replied and she took the tray from him to take a slice and her tummy began to roll. She stopped to listen to it and it rolled the more,
“What is it? Her husband asked.
“The baby, i think it kicked, she replied and her mother in law scoffed.
“I’ll be going to my house now, Her mother said getting up.
“That soon mama? Chinedu asked.
“Yes, madam eat that fruit for your baby, baby kick kwa, she said and left the house and Agnes looked at her husband.
“Should I get you water to drink? Her husband asked.
“Won’t you see me off? They heard her shout outside.
“Go see her off I’m fine, Agnes said to him and he sluggishly left and she carefully looked at the pawpaw and felt something was wrong somewhere. She left the sitting room with it and threw it outside and washed the tray properly and her husband walked in,
“I see you’re done, that fast? He asked and she only nodded not knowing how to tell him she threw it.
“Is it still kicking? He asked holding her.
“No I’m fine now, I’ll be sitting outside, she replied and left him thinking.
They were still sitting down outside receiving the fresh air that night when Chinedu decided to go check the native fowl pen they do rear to lock it up for the night.
“Dear, he called out pointing a torch at the pen and Agnes went to him.
“They are not complete, 2 are missing, he said to her.
“But that’s not possible, I saw them complete even this evening, Agnes said checking it out and he pointed the torch around.
“Okay sit here let me go check around, Chinedu said and walked into the bush but saw the fowls dead.
“I’ve seen them, he said and Agnes went to him and saw the fowls dead. Immediately the pawpaw flashed in her head and she rushed to where she threw it and saw it has been eaten,
“The pawpaw, Agnes said looking at the ground and Chinedu slowly met her,
“What are you saying? He asked.
“The pawpaw, I threw it away and the fowls must have eaten it, she replied..
“So what are you trying to say that I poisoned the pawpaw for you or what? He asked.
“All am trying to say is that your mother tried to poison me today! Agnes shouted on him and he ru-bbe-d his head and left the bush while Agnes angrily followed him.
“You know I am saying the truth but you can’t say anything because its your loving mother right? She’s evil! How can she do that to me? What if I had eaten it! Agnes shouted.
“You can’t be sure about that, I was there myself and I also ate the pawpaw what are you saying! Chinedu shouted.
“When you left to call me in you really she didn’t use the opportunity to poison me knowing you were done eating yours? Now I get it and I know my place, if that is how it is, I think I am going to leave! Agnes said and went in and Chinedu slowly sat down trying ha-rd not to believe his mother actually did something like that.
That night Agnes tried to sleep but she couldn’t, she was so scared knowing she escaped death narrowly today. Chinedu apologized and promised to do something the next day but Agnes was not moved by that, she was determined to leave to her aunt place the next morning.
She finally sle-pt off but eventually woke up at mid night having serious pains in her tummy. She used her hands on the be-d and woke her husband up crying,
“Dont tell me its going, She said scared and Chinedu jumped down and got her water to drink. They sat hearing her tummy making so many noise on its own while Agnes cried on her husband and suddenly it stopped,
“What just happened? Agnes asked checking her lap-s and saw it dry,
“Its okay, in the morning I’ll take you to the hospital okay, he said holding her.
“I can’t lose it, please don’t go, Agnes cried touching her tummy and eventually sle-pt off.
The next morning Agnes was still slee-ping when a knock came on the door and Chinedu opened up. He recognized the lady and replied her greeting,
“Why are you here this early? He asked.
“Its your mother, she replied.
“What about her? He asked.
“She can’t see, she’s complaining that she can’t see and last night we heard her screaming alone in her house. I think she’s blind so I was asked to let you know, She replied and Chinedu blinked his eyes to be sure he is really listening to what she just said.
“Are you sure it’s my mother you are talking about? He asked.
“Uncle come see, she replied and he ran in putting on his clothes but Agnes was still slee-ping. He closed the door behind and followed the lady and got into his mother house and was shocked to see his mother sitting down with her eyes totally black.
“What in God name is this? He screamed out.
TBC