TITLE: THREE GENERATIONS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 76
The last battle to conquer was in Benin-city. She had worked on a strategy; it was just left with execution. She decided to go with the flow and do the work when the opportunity presented itself. She shopped for this particular trip. She bought new clothes to look hot and s-×y in a decent way. She wanted Josh to be proud of her.
They were to spend five days with his parents. His mother didn’t have help and Nwadiuto knew it would be a problem for her as she didn’t want to be a maid while they were there. She appealed to Josh to get them help. His mother didn’t want one but his father helped the situation by insisting. They got help which was a hu-ge relief.
Next was to plan for the trip. Nwadiuto asked her mother to help her get dried fish, crayfish and other food items from her grandmother who wasn’t speaking to her. They were purchased and sent ahead of her trip. She also ordered some food items from the north and sent them down to Benin.
Josh left Lagos very early in the morning on Good Friday and was in Benin by 10 am. He picked Nwadiuto from the airport and he went to pick up the items Nwadiuto had sent to Benin. They were so much that they had to hire a cab to bring them to the house.
Josh’s parents were home when they arrived. Nwadiuto greeted both of them respectfully. His mother mouthed a response while his father received her cheerfully.
“What are all these, son? You didn’t have to” Josh’s mother said with joy in her eyes.
“I didn’t get them, mum. Nwadiuto got them. I was also shocked when I saw them. She outdid herself” Josh replied.
Josh’s mother’s expression changed and she mouthed a thank you. This didn’t bother Nwadiuto in the slightest. She had requested some special fish to make soup for them there. She went to the kitchen to supervise its storage.
Lunch was served. Nwadiuto sat down to eat with everyone. She took a few spoons of the food and thanked them for the meal.
“Why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like the food?” Josh asked her.
“The food is nice but I can’t seem to eat more”
Josh’s mother added quickly, “I hope she’s not pregnant”
“She’s not; I am sure of that. Let me take her into the room to rest” Josh stood up and took her to the room.
It was the same thing Nwadiuto did on Saturday, she ha-rdly ate in the house. Her mother-in-law wondered what she was playing at but because Josh was always with Nwadiuto, they didn’t have the opportunity to talk.
On Saturday evening, Nwadiuto offered to cook on Sunday and asked what they ate and didn’t eat.
“It is my kitchen; I will cook what everyone will eat” Josh mother answered
“That’s ok. I will cook somewhere else. Josh, I want to make native soup and pounded yam. What do you say?” Nwadiuto responded.
“Fine. It will be a change from rice on Easter Sunday. Mum, allow her to cook here; it will be too stressful taking her to uncle’s house to cook and then coming back here. Uncle will gladly enjoy our company there”
“I will join you at your uncle’s place,” Josh’s father added. “That is if your mother stands her ground. Imelda allow her to cook now, what’s your problem? It will give you a break from the kitchen”
“She is not Josh’s wife; why will she invade my kitchen? Only Josh’s wife can cook in this kitchen”
“She is my wife. She will cook here or we will move to uncle’s house. It is as simple as that. Why do you always try to create a scene? What has she done to you? You call Mabel to cook for you but here is someone willing to do the cooking without being asked and you are making a fuss out of it. I don’t know why I came here, she wanted to spend more time with you but it looks like you are just interested in fermenting trouble”
“Are you talking to me? Josh, is it me you are speaking to in that manner because of this girl? She is nothing but trouble and will never be your wife”
“We will see about that. Nwadiuto, go and pack up, we are leaving” Josh announced.
“Why son? This is just a misun-derstanding. Imelda, behave yourself. She will have the kitchen tomorrow and whatever she cooks we all will eat it” Josh father said with finality.
“This one doesn’t look like she can cook. She is only good for whatever goes on in that bedroom” Josh’s mother added.
“Imelda! Behave yourself before I lose my temper”
Nwadiuto smiled. She had gotten what she wanted. Imelda had been put in her place for now and she had the kitchen to herself tomorrow. She went out with Josh to buy the things she would cook with. Josh appealed to her to be patient with his mother but she laughed it off as nothing.
The next morning, Nwadiuto was up early. She dragged Josh to 6 am Easter Mas-s with her. They left at 5:30 am. They came back after their parents had returned with some drinks and freshly baked bread. Nwadiuto bought a multi-grain bread for the elderlies while she boiled eggs, cut up the vegetables and made sandwiches for them. It was delicious. Josh’s mother initially refused to eat until her husband threatened her. She ate four half sandwiches.
Nwadiuto went to work immediately. She had help from the maid and Josh. His mother almost dragged him out of the kitchen saying, “Why would a man follow a woman to the kitchen? Don’t you have better things to do? What has this girl given you that your sense isn’t complete?”
Nwadiuto found it funny and laughed out loud as they left. She concentrated on cooking her delicious soup which the aroma was all over the house. When the food was ready, Nwadiuto set the plates and invited everyone to eat.
Josh couldn’t control his excitement at how delicious the food tasted. He said, “This is how my house smells in Lagos when she’s around, my neighbours that never said hello or hi to me before now come to my house to chill. She will gladly give them food. One of them drops money for her to cook soups for him whenever she is around. This soup tastes even better than the others. Baby, you outdid yourself”
Josh’s mother jumped at the opportunity by adding, “It’s obvious she is a good cook. But it is not only food, what is her character like? What family does she come from? What are the curses in the family? We check for things like untimely death, madness, terminal diseases and so on. Is it in her family? That she is good in the kitchen and on the bed doesn’t make her a good wife”
“They don’t have untimely death in her family neither do they have madness nor terminal diseases. She is from a good home; very well respected family. Her grandfather died young because he was involved in an accident. Her father died young; he had diabetes, high blood pressure and also a liver problem. I am not dying young. I am eating right and exercising. And if I have only been granted a short life, I will rather spend it with whom I love and that’s Nwadiuto. Nothing will change my mind; I love her and I will marry her and no one else”
“Her father might be dead but not by illness. She doesn’t know who her father is. Or, she knows but doesn’t want you to know. Aren’t you curious to know her family secret? How can you build a family with someone who isn’t sincere?”
Nwadiuto laughed while they talked which further irritated Josh’s mother. Nwadioto acted completely unbothered by her allegations. She allowed her to continue to build a web she would eventually fall inside.
“Her mother had her as a promiscuous teenager and has refused to say who the father of her child is. There is promiscuity in their family. She will never be faithful to you. Her mother couldn’t even mourn her husband before rushing into bed with another. Yes, I met her mother-in-law. Her promiscuity killed her mother’s first husband just like it killed her grandfather. How would you live with someone who has been with many other men? She is a big girl in Abuja sleeping with men for money. I know who bought her the car; it wasn’t her grandmother. I know the man that bought it and he confirmed”
Josh lashed out at his mother “What’s his name and his phone number? I want to know how he paid for the car. I went with Nwadiuto to pick out the car and her grandmother paid in the presence of her mother and uncle. I will leave this house today if you do not give me the name and number of the man you claimed paid for her car. You have said a lot of negative things about her and still, she has ignored you. Isn’t it about time you behave like the elder and have control of your utterances?”
“Imelda, it is enough. All you have succeeded in doing is make yourself look stupid. It is fine to investigate the family your son wants to marry into but to dig up dirt to discourage him is low. All you have said is hearsay without proof. Today is Easter Sunday and we are having an enjoyable meal together as a family. If you decide to continue to haras-s this poor girl, we will all leave the house for you”
Nwadiuto at point stepped in. “No one is leaving the house. Whatever the problem is, we will resolve it as a family. I wish instead of throwing allegations you can sit and ask me questions. That way, I can answer honestly. What you are doing now to tantamount to calling a dog a bad name just to hang it, but it isn’t working”
Josh’s mother stared at Nwadiuto with anger. Nwadiuto knew her weak point, her anger would always get the better of her.
That night, Josh and Nwadiuto sat in the sitting room watching television when they believed everyone had gone to bed. As they watched together, they made out. Josh’s mother came out of her room and saw them ki-ssing. Josh wanted more but Nwadiuto was resisting. She wanted to bounce on them but thought the better of it. Instead, she said out loud, “Shame!” and entered her room. They both laughed.
The next day, Nwadiuto went back to not eating Josh’s mother’s food. She only ate what she cooked. When Josh’s father asked her why she said “I can’t eat from the pot of she who hates me. Even if she doesn’t poison the food, the hatred in her heart is poison already”
Josh’s mother couldn’t believe her ears. “Did Nwadiuto just accuse her of poisoning her?” she pondered inward. She couldn’t let her get away with this. “Since I want to poison you, I think you should leave my house. You are a bad child for alleging I want to poison you. What kind of home training do you have? Who are you that will make me separate myself from the Lord by doing you bodily harm…”
“Is she wrong? She said the hatred in your heart towards her is poison already. You have made her stay here extremely uncomfortable. She doesn’t want to eat your food because it is not from a place of love” Josh replied.
“Since I am poisoning you people in this house, then it is best I stop cooking until you leave. I will only cook my food and my husband’s food”
Josh’s father jumped in immediately and said, “No, cook only for yourself. I will like to eat something different too. Either join us and eat Nwadiuto food or you eat your food”
“You have turned even my husband against me. Let us see how long this will last”
Josh’s mother went into her room and didn’t come out until the next morning.
Josh and his father went to visit his uncle leaving the two women at home. Nwadiuto refused to go with Josh because her plan was working out just as she had intended.
After they had left, Nwadiuto heard a knock on the door. She went to answer and met Josh’s mother. She came outside to answer her.
“Good morning ma. How can I help you?” Nwadiuto asked humbly.
“Pack your drama one side, who are you pretending for? What nonsense have you been up to? Are you ok? Imagine sending me out of my kitchen. Josh who worships the ground I walk on now talks to me so disrespectfully. This is all because of you”
“Me? What did I do except to love your son? You are the problem. I didn’t do anything”
“Shut up! You are the daughter of a who-re who killed her husband with promiscuity…”
“Same with Josh. Both of us are children of who-res. The only thing is your husband is still alive. I am wondering how many times he has died from your promiscuity.”
Imelda was so angry that she lifted her hand to hit Nwadiuto but she stopped her by handing the hand before it landed with a warning stare.
“You called me a who-re?”
“That’s what you are. You said it yourself. Any woman that has a child out of wedlock is a who-re. You had Josh out of wedlock and therefore it proves you are a who-re too”
“You called me a who-re” she repeated.
“I know your secret. Josh’s father is a relative so he is a child of incest. I know everything. He is a minister of the Gospel now. Are you surprised I know? I know. Your husband doesn’t know. I and Josh are in the same category and so we bonded very well. If you keep attacking me and my relationship with Josh then I might have to let your husband and family members know. I love Josh and will keep his secret. He loves me and is willing to keep mine. He is my first and only lover and my best friend. I am not what you think I am and I am tired of fighting for you to see I am the real deal. I love Josh. We have no curse in my family, take me anywhere to find out. Josh and I are have had similar experiences. We both love our mothers who are controlling. Give your consent because you found out I love your son with all my heart and not because I threatened you. There is no going back from him”
“Josh told you about his father? I can’t believe it.”
“He did. And he helped me find mine just like he found his.”
“I don’t want the secret to get out. I didn’t want anyone to know. Phili-p accepted him as his son. Why would he go looking for his father?”
“That you will discuss with him when the time is right. Can we start over? Can we get to know each other? I am not the enemy.”
Imelda left Nwadiuto and went back into her room. She didn’t come out of her room for two days. Josh was worried and had a conversation with his father about her health.
“She is just brooding and has refused to say what is wrong”
Nwadiuto appealed to Josh to have a heart to heart talk with his mother. He went into their bedroom and sat beside his mother on the bed. He held her hand and asked her what was wrong.
“Do you trust that girl?”
“Which girl?”
“Nwadiuto. Do you trust her?”
“I do. Why did you ask?”
“Why did you tell her about your father? She found out your father is a relative. She knew everything. Why would you tell her?”
“She is my wife; why wouldn’t I tell her? I know every damn thing about her so why shouldn’t she know about me?”
“It is a secret that cannot be shared. Even your father here doesn’t know”
“He deserves to know. It changes nothing”
“I am worried for you; she knows too much”
“She knows all about me just like I know all about her”
“She is also a child of incest”
“How did you know?”
“She told me. You helped her find her father?”
“Yes, we found him together”
“She said you were her first and only. Is this true?”
“Very true mum. I took her V¡rginity and I want to be the only man that will enjoy her body. And, she is a good person, kind, considerate, loving; I can’t be with anyone else mum”
“Both of you are children of incest. Why would you want to marry each other? The curses of our actions will follow you”
“I don’t believe in that. You were born Muslim and some Muslims marry their cousins. It is not taboo. But where she is from, it is considered to be. Her mother cleansed the land just to save her daughter. That is why it hurts her so much when you insult and castigate her mother. The woman made hu-ge sacrifices for her daughter. Just like you made for me. I owe a lot to you for preserving my life.”
“Is her father still alive?”
“Yes, he is a part of her life. It is still a secret but he is aware and they have a good relationship”
“Are you sure you want this girl? She is smart and way wiser than you. She outsmarted me and now I see why you fell in love with her. She knows how to handle people”
“I get you, mum. Take your time to think about it. But, stop brooding in here and come out. She doesn’t hate you. She is that wonderful a person. You are a wonderful person too. I love you mum. Always remember that”
“I thought you stopped loving me because of her”
“The love I have for both of you are different but at the same time unique. You occu-py a very special place in my heart that doesn’t compete with where she occu-pies. I love you very much and you know I do. Don’t be jealous of Nwadiuto, she is willing to share me with you”
“I love you too, son. You have spoken to me today the way I have always known you to speak to me. Since you brou-ght her home, you have been disrespectful to me and I wondered why. That was why I went investigating. I didn’t like her because you seem to have changed since you met her. You are consumed in her world. But, knowing what I know now, you were being protective. Give me time to get to know her. I still don’t like her because she is too bold and can be confrontational. I also fear she is manipulative and mischievous. We nee-d someone here who will gather us together and not scatter us. S..”
“Get to know her first. Remove the bias from your mind and ask your daughters what they like about her because they have a very good relationship with her. I am fighting for her because if I was the one being antagonized by her family, she will fight for me. She is no longer speaking to her grandmother just because she doesn’t support her marrying a non-Igbo. The woman has asked me to see her because it aches her heart that a child she raised who is sensible and smart will abandon her for a boy. There must be something special about the boy. That’s the same with you. Get to know her”
Imelda was speechless. Her son, Josh, had always been reasonable. Why then did she doubt his choice? She tried to recall the first day she saw Nwadiuto. She looked too confident for the age Josh had told her. Also, the way she was dressed. She wore a dress that outlined her figure. She didn’t exp-ose any part of her body but looking at her, she looked too worldly and too s-×y. She felt Josh was just about her young body and not about the person. She was wrong. Josh loved this girl genuinely. She was a threat to her and she knew it. If Josh marries her, she might never see him again. And she loved her son.
When she discovered she was pregnant, she refused to tell anyone who the father of her child was. She was sent away from home. Missionaries helped her. They took care of her until she had the baby. Then they sent her back to school to further her education. Her family members never looked for her. She converted to Christianity. When she graduated from the university, she met her husband, Phili-p. He was a lecturer in the university and he helped her get a job in the same university. She confided in him that she had a child and he accepted her with her child whom he gave his name. Phili-p was married before but the wife died during childbirth of their first child. Marrying a woman with a child wasn’t a big deal for him. Her family surprisingly accepted him as her husband and her son whom they rejected earlier. She had three children for Phili-p. What Nwadiuto did not know was that Phili-p was the only one who knew the real identity of Josh’s father. Was he the one who told Josh? He has been a wonderful husband and an amazing father to all the children especially Josh.
Phili-p had told her to allow Josh to marry who he desi-res. He told her he liked Nwadiuto and the bond they shared. Did he know more than he was disclosing to her? Was Josh confiding in him and not her? No wonder he took sides with Nwadiuto all the time. Even her daughters had formed a bond with the girl she rejected.
She decided to take Josh advice and find out why other members of her family were drawn to Nwadiuto. Maybe she missed some things about her. Removing the bias will be difficult but she would try. The girl was from a very comfortable home but she was domesticated. She could cook well and she cleaned up after herself. The bed in their room was always well made. Maybe she was wrong. Just maybe….
When they both left Benin city for Lagos, they left with so much joy and happiness. Josh had settled his differences with his mother and she wished Nwadiuto a safe trip back which brou-ght tears to Nwadiuto’s eyes. She had succeeded to an extent to break the stone heart.
The trip back to Lagos was bubbly. They had conversations that lightened the mood. Everything was fine between them. Nwadiuto spent the weekend with Josh. They began to plan the wedding. They drew up a list and shared responsibilities of finding out the costs. They chose their dates, two weekends apart. They agreed on the venue; they wanted a beach wedding. They were not interested in a church wedding but left it open in case it becomes a problem.
“This will be our last weekend of making love before the wedding. I want our wedding night to be explosive for both of us. I am particular about this. I love you and I want to be with you but a little distance will help us for the rest of our lives.”
“We won’t see each other again? No, I wouldn’t agree to that. I agree to not making love but I must see you every fortnight. Or do you have plans? You could fall into temptation but I would rather you fall into it with me and not someone outside”
“I have stayed clear from women even before we became a couple. I asked for this because we nee-d to be sure it is not just the s-× that is binding us. I know it is more than it but let’s see how we resolve issues when the s-× isn’t involved. It clouds our judgement; it clouds mine.”
“We won’t see each other?”
“Nowhere private”
“But I will be rounding up my NYSC soon. I won’t see you then?”
“You will have a job and be too busy working to see me. And once I see you, I will break my resolve. I am attra-cted to you and you know it. You wouldn’t be able to withstand me also”
“I will agree to this because you want it. I will visit you in the office only or we have lunch together. But we will talk every day, every hour like we have always. Please don’t take that away from me”
“We will talk. I love you. Let’s do this so we can have normal quarrels like every couple. You know we ha-rdly fight”
“We are too mature and so compatible to fight. Let’s try this”
“In the meantime, get your grandmother to agree while I work on my mum”
“Let’s make this date happen”
They spent the weekend together and going back on Sunday evening was painful for Nwadiuto. She didn’t want this separation but she knew that she could trust Josh’s intentions and they were good ones. They had work to do putting this wedding together. Before final approvals, she had to choose the bride’s maids and a little bride. She also had to get her wedding clothes and other responsibilities. They had agreed on a budget of N3,000,000 for both weddings. They wanted a simple and elegant wedding with just close friends and family on the beach which was where they first met.
Nwadiuto wanted Ada to be her chief bride’s maid. Ada was elated about it but declined because she was married and didn’t think it was proper. She believed only single ladies should be the Chief bride’s maid. Nwadiuto asked her sister, Deborah, and she accepted excitedly.
She chose colours for the day and sent them to Josh for his approval. He approved. She nee-ded to make arrangements for their traditional wedding attires and choose a wedding gown. There was so much to do. She shared the responsibility with those close to her and asked them to keep it a secret.
Josh received a ticket in his mail for him to visit Port-Harcourt to see Nwakaego. This was the second time she was doing this and he didn’t like it. He could afford to buy his ticket. But he still went and made plans to pay her back when he had the opportunity.
His visit this time was different. In her usual character, she was very entertaining. He realized Nwadiuto got this from her. After the small talks, she told him to join her for a ride. They went together. He took her to the first house she ever lived in with Anozie. It was still the same. She had just bought it from the previous owner’s children and wasn’t ready to demolish it yet until she did this.
“This was the first house I lived in with my husband when he married me. Anozie was a good man. He took very good care of me and our child. I was the envy of many women. Let me show you somewhere else”
They drove to the house Anozie built before he died. “This was the house Anozie built before he died. It wasn’t like this, Nwanneka, Nwadiuto’s mother, made it this way. Her children will inherit just like Anozie did. Anozie left a will. It was the will he left that saved this house. I want to take you to the village. I want to explain some things to you.” Josh nodded in agreement.
They drove to the village while she told Josh all she went throu-ghin the hands of her in-laws because they didn’t un-derstand how a man would love a woman so much to the extent he would take risks just to be with her. She told him about her son that died not long after she had him. He would have continued with Anozie’s lineage but then, it wasn’t God’s will.
“Nwanneka didn’t even know she was pregnant for Nwadiuto. It was at the hospital we found out. The doctor recommended an ab-ortion to hide our shame but there was no way I could go throu-ghwith it. I had lost a child and even though I knew she was conceived via incest; I didn’t want to lose her. She still had Anozie’s blood in her. I hid her conception and birth from the family and claimed she was adopted. When it was exp-osed, she was accepted. I love Nwadiuto even more than Nwanneka. She’s a wonderful girl with a mind of her own. She knows what she wants and how to get it. I don’t want her to marry someone who wouldn’t protect her. She is not like Nwanneka and me, she is rebellious. Any home she enters; her mother-in-law has to un-derstand her. I had a boy in mind for her to marry before she brou-ght you. Now we are here, this is where Anozie is buried. He stopped visiting me when I became comfortable and could handle things myself. Over here is where Ogochukwu, Obi and Chinyere’s daughter is buried. An Edo girl who Obi got involved in caused her death. I hated all Edo people because of this. She was a young girl full of life. Her death took her grandparents too. They couldn’t bear the loss of such a young girl. Isabella took the lives of three people.”
They walked to the obi and then Nwakaego asked Josh, “If you were in my shoes, would you allow your daughter who you love more than life itself marry from a place that took three lives? Tell me what you would do?”
“Mama, I un-derstand everything you’ve said and I have heard almost all the stories you shared. I don’t know Isabella and I think she is a despicable human being to cause the death of three family members. I am a Nigerian before I can br@g about being an Edo man before we go down to Bini. If I were in your shoes, I will be cautious of every woman regardless of the tribe because wickedness had no ethnicity; it cuts across.
“So, you are indifferent about the tribe?”
“Tribe never crossed my mind all the years I have been in relationships. When I met Ada, I told her the same thing. When I began a relationship with Nwadiuto, she didn’t care about my tribe. We had formed a bond in a very close friendship that no day was ever complete if I don’t hear from her. We spoke a minimum of three times a day before we even began dating. I didn’t care if she was Igbo and/or a young girl. I liked her for who she is. She could have come from anywhere and I will still fall in love with her and marry her”
“Now you talked about age. Aren’t you worried about the age difference? Knowing what I know about youngsters, they have tested the waters before going into the river and it gives them the basis for comparison. Women leave their matrimonial homes to meet with other men; I find it disgusting that a married woman will do something so appalling. It is because they know what it is like with other men. Nwadiuto is still young and vibr@nt. She has tested the waters. Will she be satisfied with just you knowing you are older? And, men are known to be jealous of their younger wives. Nwadiuto took her mother’s features and added to them. She has an intimidating statue that will be attrac-tive to men. How will you cope when they make pas-ses at her?”
“First, mama, age is nothing but a number. I am young and Nwadiuto and I will grow old together. About testing the waters, I am the first man to have intimacy with Nwadiuto. She played with other guys but she kept her V¡rginity and gave it to the one she loves; that will be me. I am her first true lover and hopefully her only. Nwadiuto is beautiful and attra-cts attention. I’m proud of her because I have seen how she has handled situations thus far. Since we have been together, I have never had cause to doubt her and I will never doubt her. We have an agreement. If she loses interest in the marriage, I will free her. We will take time off to see if we still want to be together. I will never cheat on her and I know she will never do the same to me. It’s also nice to watch men make fools of themselves over her not knowing she is with her man”
“What of your mother? What has she decided?”
“She will give her consent. She has discovered who Nwadiuto is and gradually they are talking and planning. Once I get your consent and date, I will put our plans into action”
“Josh, promise me something”
“Anything mama”
“Promise me you will never hurt my Nwadiuto. Promise me you will never make her cry. Promise me I will never regret this decision I am about to make.”
“I promise you ma. Your daughter will always be happy and joyful”
“Then, I give my consent”
Josh was so happy he didn’t know when he hu-gged Nwakaego and lifted her. When he put her down, he said to her, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Thank you. Let me call Nwadiuto” He brou-ght out his phone and called her.
Tbc