₦airaland Forum

centmanuel:
Please get off my back. You don't just talk to people you don't know. I m only advocating for her to be free

Rosemary33:
Chapter 13

Two things tickled him and made him flap his legs like the wings of a rooster in pursuit of a hen, as he sat under the Ube tree, hand supporting his head, legs spread and humming a tune he didn’t remember the last time he sang it.

He was back in business. Though ashamed to admit, his wife wasn’t useless after all, the money she gave to him has been of enormous help. He would not tell her that- woman did not need to be praise too much or they would think they have grown penis and mustache.

A smile crosses his face as he thought of the second reason, - Okorie. He had floored him today in a fight!

Mezie guffawed- stamping his feet on the dry sand and shaking his head. “Ridiculous man” he muttered. “Nwanza the bird felt he had eating enough and had challenged his chi on a wrestling contest” He may be small in stature, but he was never one to back out in a fight. Remembering his younger days- none of his mates ever beat him in a fight, no matter how tall.

Both men had met on the lonely footpath that led to Ukwu-ofor.

“Onye chi ojoor obu nwanyi ebughi Amu, ill lucked man, you have a wife but no penis to impregnate her” Okorie had sneered, an ugly snarl distorted his sweaty face.

Without thinking- Mezie had rushed the much taller man, meandered through his legs and lifted both him and the head of palm fruit he was carrying off the ground. Before Okorie could regain his composure, he was already spatting dust out of his mouth while spectators cheered and booed.

Mezie knew the implication of what he did- Umunna would summon and fine them. he didn’t care- that cockroach got what he deserved, wretched fool who didn’t know where his next meal would come from. he could pay all the fine given to him by the kinsmen- could Okorie do so without borrowing?

He laughed again- drawing the laughter into a snort. “Onye ka mmadu ka chi ya” he said.

His bushy eyebrows burrowed as something crossed his mind, Okorie would only want to use one thing against him. and if he opened his big mouth in front of the kinsmen, that would be the end.

Mezie scratched his head “A fly in an enlarged scrotum” how would he stop Okorie from stripping him naked before the kinsmen?

His wife dawdled towards him- if he was to suggest to God, children should be thrown down from heaven, because pregnancy didn’t look good on his wife. Her protrusion gave her the appearance of a malnourished child! Her stomach had taken all her flesh!

“I brought corn for you my husband”

“Hmm” he acknowledged but didn’t attempt to take out of plate.

She stood before him for a while- the plate on her weak hands, she should just drop it and walk away, but she pulled a chair, sat and placed the plate on her laps

“Dim, I have that dream again last night”

It had started like a normal nightmare, once in many weeks “It is nothing woman, pregnant women do have nightmares” he had dismissed her. but it had persisted, each day worse than the previous one. His wife would scream like a woman possessed by the evil spirit from the wee hours of the morning till dawn, that was when she would be able to sleep.

“I beg you my husband, pay Edo shrine a visit, we have to find out why this is happening to me” her voice was mellowed

“I told you this has nothing to do with Edo or her shrine, I settled this matter before, I have made sacrifices when I found out you are pregnant”

“Then why am I seeing myself there? They call my name. this morning I was being pursued by a huge python in my dream” she gripped his lap and he recoiled. She noticed his withdrawal and pulled her hand away “I am asking you to go back to where you took me, I don’t want to die!”

“Shut up woman, stop saying what you don’t know” he took one of the cobs and dug his teeth “except you have committed adultery earlier before the one we agreed, if not- you have nothing to worry about” few grains of corn fall off his mouth as he spoke.

Mezie had thought of it even before his wife came up with the idea of going to Edo shrine. If it was the oath responsible, his question was why? Even after the assurance given.

She left his side- and walked back into the room. What would she be doing now? Clutching her rosary and crying. She cried easily these days.

*

Her feet carried her through the sandy footpath. Filled with helpless emptiness she took little notice of things around her, not even leaves drenched in early morning mist that had wet part of her cloth. Today- she would speak to Reverend father Theo again. She had finished the nine days novena he gave her the last time, yet she almost died last night in her dream. Lost in her little empty world, she didn’t notice a car parked under a tree and the man that eased himself from it- walking towards her.

“Akwam”

She stumbled over a dead log by the path. He was by her side before she knew it. his long fingers holding her waist firmly

“Easy now…I got you” he steadied her

Her heart beat rapidly- almost jumped out of her mouth. What is he doing here? How was it even possible that he would be here at this time? His hand skimmed down her stomach, his eyes still on her face. She realized and stepped away- his touch burnt her in a way she couldn’t explain

“How?”

“I came in yesterday, to supervise the work going on, both at the health center and the school”

He could have sent someone to do that for him, was that not what they rich men do? he was not telling her the reason he chose to show up now she was trying to forget about him

“I needed to see you” he stretched his hands towards her and she stepped back. Darting her eyes around in fear. The dark cloud was clearing, women and children would soon head to the stream.

“Why? I told you to stay away!” why couldn’t he get it? the more he came close the more it would be difficult for her to build what was left of her marriage.

“I can’t” he reached out to her again- this time he grabbed her forcefully, pulling her in tightly against his hard chest. She couldn’t fight him- didn’t want to, she had long for him, his memory had kept her up most nights- imagining what it would have been to her if he was the man beside her in bed instead of Mezie. Her sickness, what would he have done?

She didn’t want to cry- he shouldn’t see her with tears- but when the tears stung and started flowing, she knew it was a lost battle, her emotions had betrayed her again.

He tightened his grip round her, breath through her hair “I couldn’t stay away Akwam…I have missed you so much”

What are they even doing? What is he to her “You need to go away” she murmured amidst sob “I am married Morgan, you should understand this…we cant be together please”

“I wish there was a way I could stay away Akwaugo, but each time I tried to do so, I fail. I want you”

She jerked out of his arms “You are crazy…” her eyes flared “You cannot want what is never yours! I thought you are enlightened” she suppressed the urge to scream at him “I will never be yours…we cannot do this again; I am somebody’s wife!”

He stood gazing at her for a while, what came next made no sense to her “What if we are meant to be together? What if this thing happens so we can meet?”

*
Sometimes he questioned his sanity? Like he was doing at the moment. “I am somebody’s wife!” she had made it clear, yet he wanted her like the air he breath. Was that obsession?”

When he took her in his arms, he had felt her heartbeat- the rhythm that had synchronized with his, he had felt he belonged with her- all his restlessness vanished. Now what he saw in her eyes was fear.

He heaved a sigh, he shouldn’t have come looking for her, that was a terrible thing and he was not one to course his loved ones anguish

“I am sorry Akwa…I shouldn’t have come” he blew into his cupped palm and rubbed them together. He is Morgan Ochudo- the CEO of Wilsons’ group, he shouldn’t be seen coveting another man’s wife. It would not be good for his name. “I guess I wasn’t thinking straight”
He couldn’t look at her “What of your husband?” he managed to ask

“He is fine, he has started his business again”

He didn’t want to talk about the trinket with her or ask her if she would love to have it back, it wouldn’t help.

“And how are you coping with…” he pointed at her protruded stomach, her eyes followed his gesture and she saw her frown “I am not here for him” he assured her. though he felt a tightening in his heart. He would have loved to ask her why she didn’t want to tell him- he would have loved to be part of them- to take care of her and the baby at least, but she wouldn’t want that, such a proud woman she was.

She couldn’t speak, rather her frown deepened, her mouth folded and quivered. He went close, carefully took her shoulders “Come with me” brightness of the day had come upon them and legs had started walking up and down. It won’t be long- someone that knew either of them would walk by. He led her to his car.

“Akwam, what is wrong?”

She sniffled and shook her head. She was finding difficult to speak to him, or was it shame? Her anguish was wrecking him- he didn’t know why he got himself connected to this woman but there was something divine between two of them, something he should be ashamed of but wasn’t.

“I am scared” she finally spoke “Something is happening to me…I can’t explain it”

“Try and explain to me, is it your husband?” she shook her head “Then what is it?”

“I don’t know…I can’t sleep without…without nightmares and…” she broke off. He didn’t understand, but all he wanted to do was to wrap his hand
around her and blow away what ever it was bothering her.

“It’s okay…I am here to protect you” but he wasn’t. he would be going to Abuja the next day and he didn’t even know where he would be going from there. He knew he wouldn’t be able to protect her “God” he muttered

“Can I hold you?” he asked and she nodded

When he held her this time, he felt not the lust he had always had- but the desire to keep her with him- away from harm, he felt something stronger that he was afraid to admit- he love her.

He took her face in his hands, kissed her forehead, then her cheek, tasting her tears. He should be alright- he thought, he was in control. He wouldn’t lose himself and go beyond where he should.

But he was wrong. By the time his lips touched hers, he couldn’t stop himself from planting a kiss on them- then he probed, deeper- she didn’t help him too for she had not pulled away but had closed her eyes and had given her lips to him with a soft moan.

“My Innocent little baby” he whispered. She reminded him of the first time he had her- innocent, naïve yet desirable. He won’t do this- it would be bad for him to keep seducing her. he pulled away gently and he saw a glimpse of shame on her face

“I am sorry Akwam…you keep doing this to me eat time I set my eyes on you”

They sat without saying anything to each other.

“I have to go, morning mass must have ended by now and I have to see Reverend Theo” she fiddled with her fingers

“Let me drop you”

“No!” she cut in and made to open the door, he held her and she stiffened

“Call me Akwam…let me know when you are in trouble…” she said nothing “I may not be your husband, but fate brought us together…please call me my love, for the sake of our baby” “Our baby” he knew how difficult it would be to lay claim on her pregnancy.

He would have gotten her a phone, but he knew her- she would not accept it from him

“I will try” she muttered

*
He still desired her. Even with her shape gone and her color darkened he still felt she was the most beautiful woman in the world! She felt it in his touch and when he kissed her.

Akwaugo touched her lips and moaned softly. How could she deal with this thing growing inside of her? why has he returned?

She clutched her rosary closed to her chest and looked at her husband sleeping beside her. the last time she slept on his bed was four months ago- she was just three months gone, he had insisted she went back to her room “I can not sleep with you and another man’s child beside me, you know what that does to a man” he had said coldly

When the nightmares started- he still didn’t allow her stay with him, “What ever is after you shouldn’t be transferred to me” that was his excuse- his solution to her sleepless nights. Until yesterday when she had let out a shrill and had almost died, he had grumbling agreed for her to come back to his room.

Akwaugo lay awake, head propped on knuckles, and watched her husband sleep. She studied the contour of his face and skimmed over his little frame and his hand which hung loose by his side. She marveled by the sudden transformation from the man who she once was a light to his life to the man that lay beside her now.

He hated her, and was first to loath her with how bad this pregnancy had dealt with her “You look as old as you mother now…and your nose has become so wide” it wasn’t said as a joke, he had spat the words out

Akwaugo tugged gently to free the end of her wrapper, careful not to wake him up. Staying here and pretending she would sleep well was useless, she came down and walked out of the room, with the thought of the man whom had kissed her swollen lips and had looked at her sickly figure with such adoration.

When she finally slept- it would be one of the difficult sleeps she would have- a war between the living and the deity.

The game of the gods has taken a new turn