THREE GENERATIONS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 15
Uloma asked her husband if he knew anything about Nwanneka. He denied knowing anything. He asked her if she knew something but she said she observed some changes in her and wondered what was going on. Since Nwanneka didn’t mention her encounter with Uloma, Onyedika was oblivious of Uloma’s discovery.
They all came back home for Christmas. Nwakaego came home with her two children. Nwanneka felt more responsible for Nwadiuto but Nwakaego had a strong bond with Nwadiuto. Papa and Mama Anozie, were happy to have them. Because they were a larger family, Uloma had put in some modern facilities in the old house so she could stay there. Another reason was to avoid Uloma’s troubles completely. Papa Anozie gave them two rooms to stay in which she furnished so they would be comfortable for her children who had a certain lifestyle.
Onyedika was a regular visitor in the old house to eat Nwakaego’s delicacies. Mama retired from the kitchen immediately Nwakaego was around. She also loved to have Nwadiuto around. Uloma had the opportunity of dropping her son with mama so she could move around but she refused to do so.
Obi and his family came back just before the year ended. Obi’s wife, Chinyere, ha-rdly stepped into the old house because Nwakego was there. Obi didn’t speak to Nwakaego even when she greets him. It had been this way for years and she had gotten used to it. It didn’t stop her from doing the right thing in order not to be found wanting.
Problem brewed when they went for the women’s end of year meeting at the village square. Like she does every year, Nwakaego brou-ght cold drinks, Ugba (African salad) which is a delicacy and goat meat pepper soup. She also shared food items and clothes to the widows and less privileged.
“Someone here is buying your conscience or rather they have bought your conscience” Angie one of the vocal trouble makers in the meeting.
“What do you mean by that?” the president asked her.
“One of us here had a child outside wedlock and has kept it a secret” she replied confidently.
“Who is that? What are you talking about?” the other women asked.
“Nwakaego nwunye Anozie has something to tell us” Angie insisted.
“Angie, what do I have to tell you?” Nwakaego asked although she knew she had been exp-osed. But by who?
Luckily, a widow, Chisom, who had benefitted enormously from Nwakaego and was aware of situation stood up in Nwakaego’s defence. “We do not gather here to bring each other down but to uplift. If Nwakaego had committed what you regard as an offence, have you called her attention to her shortcomings? Angie, you are a troublemaker. She has honoured us by singlehandedly preparing this feast for us and our thank you is to embarr@$$ her. Whatever it is, the executive should look into it and give us a report during our next meeting. We will then level a fine against her or take whatever disciplinary action we have to take. This is not the way”
“Well said Chisom. Why did you wait until we have shared the things she brou-ght before tabling the case? We will not bite the fin-gers that fed us. Like Chisom said, the executives should investigate and give a report during our next meeting.” Another woman added.
“This is a joyous period, why bring negativity?” yet another said.
Angie couldn’t push further because Chisom was her match when it came to trouble. She would lose the battle if she proceeded further. She sat down although she knew some people were eager to hear what she had to say. The story will be all over the village by the next day.
Nwakaego was in shock after the meeting. As far as she knew, it was only Onyedika that was aware apa-rt from Mr Clement and his family. Who did Onyedika tell? Who told Angee? She felt betrayed and exp-osed. There was no way she could live in the same house as betrayers.
The story had gotten to her home too but she avoided talking about it. No one brou-ght it up as the men said nothing about the rumour.
Chisom came to see Nwakaego. She brou-ght her into her room so they could have privacy to talk. She knew little or nothing p@$$ed Chisom by. She wanted to know how much they knew and most importantly from who. She had commissioned her to gather all the information before telling her anything.
“The rumour is that your daughter Nwanneka had a child outside wedlock and you are hiding it.” Chisom informed her.
“Did they mention who the supposed father is?”
“They didn’t have that information. Some said it is from school, some claim it is from your travels while some suspect it is from your family that is why it is hidden”
“Whatelse?”
“I know who told Angie, it was Chinyere, your mate that told her. She said she heard it from a very genuine source. Chinyere was the one who started the rumour”
“How did Chinyere know?” Nwakaego asked herself. This was a big mess which she nee-ded to sort out quickly. She thanked Chisom for all the information she gave her. She had to do something fast.
She was still de-ep in thoughts when she heard someone call out loudly, “Mma”. Which startled her back to the prese-nt; It was Nwanneka.
“O wu gini? What is it?” she asked.
“Mma, I have kept some things away from you and I nee-d to confess to them now.”
“Tell me my daughter, what is it?”
“When I returned abruptly from Lagos, it was because something happened”
“What happened my daughter, tell me about it”
Nwanneka told her all that happened in Lagos when she visited Onyedika and Uloma. She told her mother how Uloma found out and the threats she made. Nwakaego couldn’t believe her ears. Her daughter went throu-ghall this and hid them from her? She was so heartbroken that she cried.
“There is no nee-d to cry. She is jealous of your continuous success that she worked for your downfall. But it isn’t entirely her fault; I have most of the blame. If I hadn’t brou-ght you shame, none of this would have happened. Please forgive me”
Nwakaego held her daughter close to her. She had become ha-rdened with so much hate from Uloma that she shed no single tear.
“Mma, I think we should tell the family everything so we do not have secrets. Whatever fine they level, we will pay. I am not the first maiden in this village to have a child outside marriage and I won’t be the last.”
That evening, she summoned the family together. She was surprised Chinyere and Uloma honoured the invitation because they ha-rdly ever did. She wondered what Chinyere stood to gain from what she did. She had exp-osed her family. Why didn’t she confront her about it? It was too late to ask questions now; the deed had been done.
“Papa, mama, Nwanneka has asked to speak with you, she has a confession to make.” Chinyere and Uloma exchanged knowing glances and smiled at each other. “Nwanneka, you have the floor”
Nwanneka stood up in the prese-nce of her grandparents, her two uncles and their wives and said, “I have erred, please forgive me. I have betrayed the trust you have in me. I got pregnant and I was too ashamed for anyone to know so I begged my mother not to tell anyone so I could make you proud of me before I inform you. This I have done but someone decided to exp-ose me and cut my joy short. They dragged my mother into it.”
“Where is the child?” Papa Anozie asked after a protruded silence.
“The child is Nwadiuto” Nwanneka responded.
Mama Anozie jumped up from her seat and shouted “I knew it. I told you the child looked so much like Anozie. So our instincts were right. Nwakaego, you can kill someone. You hid something as important as this from the family. Why would you do that? Isn’t there someone in this family you can trust? What if something happened to Nwanneka while having the baby?”
“Woman, keep your voice down. Why do you want to attra-ct attention? The only thing I can agree with is if we are so bad that you wouldn’t carry anyone of us along? I thought you loved us as much as we loved you. I am disappointed about that” Papa Anozie added.
At this time, Onyedika spoke up. “I knew about it. I was there the day Nwanneka had the child. We decided to keep it a secret for now until Nwanneka was ready. How the story got out, I have no idea. Nwakaego told me but I couldn’t reveal it to anyone until Nwanneka was ready”
There was silence. Uloma was perplexed to find out her husband knew all along. She exchanged confused glances with her pa-rtner in crime, Chinyere.
“Nwakaego, for carrying Onyedika along, you have done well. I would have preferred you spoke with mama or I because we would have given you a better advice. If nobo-dy knew about this except you and Onyedika, how did Angie find out?””
“That is a mystery even to me.” Nwakaego replied.
Obi erupted at this stage, “Is that what is important? Her daughter brou-ght up by a single mother has brou-ght us shame and disgrace by having a child out of wedlock and you are more concerned about how the world found out. Who is the of the child and what does he do?”
“I don’t know the father; it was a one night thing” Nwanneka replied.
“Tell the truth now so you will be saved. Nwakaego refused my marriage proposal and now her daughter has made her a laughing stock in the village. A woman cannot manage a family, she nee-ds a head. I would have helped train Nwanneka”
“Obi, rest, you have said enough. Nwakaego is not and will never be interested in being your wife. She chose to be alone. Nwanneka is not the first this has happened to and she won’t be the last. Nwakaego was smart enough to keep the child. Have you seen how Anozie’s lineage is increasing”?
Mama Anozie pondered aloud, “How did this story get to Angie if no one knows except Onyedika. Onyedika, are you sure you didn’t mistakenly mention it to anyone?”
“I didn’t mama. I didn’t even tell Uloma. Mama Nwanneka made sure no one knew. It was a well-kept secret. How did it come out?”
“I am going to see Angie now. I want to know how she found out. I will not spare the person who decided to disgrace us without coming to us first. I know how to get Angie to talk; I’m coming”
Mama Anozie stormed out of the house while the others remained. Uloma was panicking already. She knew if Angie talks, there will be serious consequence against her. The family members were angrier about how it got out than about what Nwanneka did. She now believes Nwakaego is using a spell on the family. She expected them to get angry, create a scene, have arguments with Nwakaego and scold Nwanneka but instead they were more interested in how Angie got to know. Why was mama pushing the agenda? She began to suspect her in-laws knew but decided not to talk about it.
Chinyere was calm and unbothered about the whole scenario. She didn’t care what they found out, she had the backing of her husband. It was Uloma she pitied. Once Onyedika finds out what she did, she might have it very hot with her. She didn’t care. She hated Nwakaego and never pretended about it. The hatred multiplied when her husband insisted on marrying her. She never knew her husband lusted after her even when his brother was alive. She was lucky she refused because she would have dealt with her. Still, her husband is nursing the idea. She married the wrong brother. Anozie and Onyedika have se-nse but her husband was se-nseless.
Mama Anozie entered Angie’s house that night knowing her husband would be there. Everyone in the village knew Marcus, he was a no nonse-nse man. He fought in the Biafra war as a commandant and still lived his life that way. He was a trader in Onitsha where he lived with his family. Angie was brou-ght back to the village to reside after receiving several bl-ows from her husband with an eye swollen completely closed and the other at half-mast. The reason was because she confronted a woman on an allegation which she didn’t confirm. She told the woman she was visiting a dibia (native doctor) for her business to progress. This made other women scorn her and call her a witch openly. The woman reported to her husband. The husband confronted Angie about her accusation and Angie told him his wife had put him in a bottle and he only did what she commanded. This new accusation almost broke their home. Her husband se-nt her to the village to live for a year as punishment but she continued in her trade.
“Mama Anozie, what have I done to warrant this august visit from you? I am happy to see you here. Please have a seat” Marcus said happily.
“I didn’t come here for pleasantries. Your wife attended the women’s end of year meeting. She stood up and accused my daughter-in-law, Nwakaego, of having a child outside wedlock. I want to know the proof she has and where she heard it from”
“Angie did what? O God, I am tired of this woman. Angie, come here at once. What am I hearing?”
Angie came out, when she saw mama Anozie, she froze. She knew there would be trouble. Where her madness ended was where mama Anozie’s started. To worse-nit, her husband was around. She knew she would have it hot with him this night. She knew she would receive another round of beating.
“Angie, what did you do at the women’s end of year meeting?”
“What did I do?” Angie asked eyeing mama Anozie.
“Are you asking me that question?” he husband asked. “What did you say about her daughter-in-law?”
“Is she denying it? Isn’t it what happened?”
“How many women brou-ght it up at the meeting? Who brou-ght it up for discussion?” her husband asked further.
“My own is if it is a lie or not. It is not Nwakaego that got pregnant but her daughter.”
“How did you know? Who told you? I will not leave here today until I get the information. I must know the enemies of my family because I would expect someone that has our interest at heart to approach us with this rumour. You are an enemy already; we want to gather all the enemies” mama Anozie stated.
“Answer her so she can leave” her husband insisted.
“I don’t know who told me, I just heard…….” there was a thun-derous sound reaching Angie before she could finish her statement. The slap startled mama Anozie and she began to feel sorry for Angie. They didn’t observe when Marcus stood up.
“I ask you again, who did you hear this from since you have become the village’s rumour monger” her husband asked her.
“She should ask her family members. It was Chinyere that told me. When I asked how sure she knew, she told me Uloma told her.”
Mama Anozie couldn’t believe her ears. She clapped her hands twice and concluded, “You are lying. How can my daughters-in-law do such a thing?”
“Dress up, let’s go to her house and you will repeat this statement in their prese-nce. Want them to confess to it or deny it in your prese-nce”
Mama Anozie walked with them de-ep in thoughts about what she heard. How can her daughters-in-law do such evil against Nwakaego? Especially Uloma. What grievance could she have against Nwakaego that she would hate her and her seed so much? She was afraid the revelation would push Nwakaego away from the family. She was the one that knew they would eat, wear clothes and use medication. Onyedika se-nt money monthly but Nwakaego did far more than all her children combined have ever done.
When they got into the compound, the family was still seated together. Uloma became agitated when she observed a subdued Angie with her husband. She immediately knew something had happened. She broke out in sweat while looking at Chinyere who seemed non-challant.
“Papa Anozie, I greet you. Your wife came to my house to report Angee to me for what she did to embarr@$$ your family at the women’s meeting. I apologise on her behalf, you know women and their ways. I came with my wife and mama Anozie to your house so the issue will be resolved. She asked a very important question, how did she know? Who told her? I want Angie to answer the question here otherwise I will return her finally to her family and cut all ties with her. Ngwa, talk. Who told you and how did it happen?”
Angie looked from Chinyere to Uloma to Nwakaego and then to her husband. She knew she had more to lose keeping silent than confessing. A beaten or maltreated married woman was by far better than a divorced woman in that time. She couldn’t afford to be made a laughing stock by losing her home.
“Angie, if you are not ready to speak, then you will leave from here to your parents’ house. If you dare come near my house, I will kill you” Marcus said as he stood up ready to leave.
“It was Chinyere that told me” Angee announced.
“Which Chinyere?” papa Anozie asked
“Your daughter-in-law”
“That’s not possible. She is the wife to the prese-nt first son of the family and she would never betray the family like that. Am I right Chinyere?” Chinyere didn’t reply.
Obi was shocked and utterly embarr@$$ed. He was the head of the family after his father, how can Chinyere do such. It was unpardonable. If the community hears what Chinyere did, there was no way he could keep her in the family unless she confesses and cleanses the family. There was no way he could support her.
“Chinyere” Obi called his wife aggressively, “what are they talking about?”
“I don’t know what they are talking about. This doesn’t concern me in anyway”
Marcus was shocked at the manner Chinyere responded to her husband. It showed she had no regard for him. As a strong man, he couldn’t take it. He spoke up, “Shut up woman. If you are above your husband, you mustn’t show it in the open. Do you have to exp-ose your husband’s weakness to outsiders? What disrespect. I should have put you in your place if not for the regard I have for papa Anozie. Obi, your wife exp-osed a family secret to an outsider. I believe it was malicious. Angie told us Uloma, Onyedika’s wife was the one that told Chinyere who then decided to use my foolish wife as the one to exp-ose it to the family. She explained everything to me on the way here. It was done maliciously and out of envy. I had to say this openly so the women can deny the allegation in Angee prese-nce. Their silence tells everything”
Papa Anozie cleared his throat and said, “This is shameful. Two women married into the family plotted the downfall of a member of the same family because they were jealous of her progress. If Nwakaego decided to keep her daughter’s situation a secret, what gave you the right to exp-ose it, not to the family but to the entire community if not jealousy. We say it here all the time, if there are two women like Nwakaego who was maltreated but forgave and became the most generous family member, that family will be blessed. As for Obi and Chinyere, we can see clearly who is wearing the trousers in the marriage. Marcus, thank you for telling us everything. Angie, I appreciate you for speaking the truth. You can go now”
After Marcus and Angie depa-rted, papa Anozie looked at the two women who had offended the family and said, “What you have done has shown that you are capable of killing Nwakaego if given the opportunity. Nwakaego, in as much as we enjoy having you here, I would advise you to keep away from this family. In the morning, we will call other family members and inform them about Nwanneka’s pregnancy and childbirth and also what the wives in the family did.”
“Mama Nwanneka is not leaving this family; she is not running away with Anozie’s family. Uloma, how did you find out about the pregnancy?” Onyedika asked. Uloma was startled. She couldn’t respond immediately. When Onyedika stood up aggressively, she quickly got on her feet to respond.
“I saw her caeserian scar which was just like mine and I knew”
“What did you do about it?”
“I told Chinyere. She said we should exp-ose it so that the community will know what a useless child Nwanneka is”
“I am wondering how you saw Nwanneka’s scars. Nwanneka, how did she see your scars since you didn’t share a room with her. Tell us”
“Uncle, I don’t want to remember the past. Just take it that she saw the scar and made good her threat”
“I un-derstand it now. Father, do as you wish. The two women who have husbands have no respect for them. Good night everyone” Onyedika depa-rted from their midst.
Uloma went on her knees begging her mother-in-law knowing what to expect from Onyedika. Chinyere stood up, dusted herself and walked away. Obi didn’t say a word. Uloma knew she was finished.
“Why are you begging me? Is it me you offended? Leave me alone. Whatever you see, you will face. As for you Obi, everyone knows you are spineless. Now I can pray to God to take you so Onnyedika can be the head of this family. At least his wife is fearful of him”
Obi stood up and left them. Papa Anozie asked Uloma to stand up and meet her husband. He asked everyone else to retire for the night as it was very late. They all left Uloma and went to be-d.
Tbc