Chapter 78

WHEN THE DEAD ARE UNHAPPY

Obi stood at the mall staring at perfumes arranged at a particular aisle with an uncertainty of what to choose. The fragrance she was accustomed to was supposedly not suitable for her anymore and she had to choose another one. At first when Chioma had playfully said Benjamin's ghost was unhappy with her, she paid no heed to the comment and laughed it off as a joke till she affirmed the truth in the said statement.

It all started two weeks after his will was read and after she went with her father in law to a chamber to seek legal advice on how to Challenge her late husband's will. Prior to that she had been sick on several occasions, vomiting and in most cases losing her appetite which was certainly not good for her baby.

Tobe, the girls and her boys went to a restaurant because he had promised them a nice time after he failed to purchase the gift he had initially promised them for their birthday. Their celebration had turned out to be huge even though she wanted just a small party. Her father in law who was still around knew how to blow things out of proportion. He invited his wealthy friends and several partners like they were celebrating a closed business deal worth millions.

Her house was practically filled with cakes ranging from all sizes and colors which thrilled the little boys, Old men and women, girls, boys, family and a lot of uninvited guests. Obi had to place a restriction on the quantity of cakes her sons consumed because of their stomach. She ended up giving most of the cakes away.

Chioma and Chukwudi almost bought a boutique in the name of buying her sons clothes and shoes. Ifenna and Oluebube bought games and toys. Mrs . Obiọma presented two phones to the little boys practically against Obi's wishes but Obi was forced to ignore her disregard especially after their last encounter. Something convinced her that she was on the same page with the woman who had initially preferred her China plates to her.

Their seemingly cordial relationship began two days after the will was read and 3days before her children's birthday. Obi had noticed her strange sickness and confided in Chioma who was still away. She promised to go for a medical check- up after she made some preparations for her children's birthday. The children were at Jude's, together with her siblings and she had the house all to herself. Obi suspected that somehow the stomach pain and vomiting was often engendered after bathing and decided to try a new soap, having assumed that her previous soap was the cause.

As usual, she came out from the bathroom and brought out her cream and other essentials before the doorbell rang. Obi wasn't expecting a visitor and assumed that it was Obiefune who probably came because of the harmful exchange of words they had been consistently having.

She managed to throw on her robe and walked downstairs to fetch her guest. Obi was perplexed when she saw Mrs. Obiọma standing in front of her door. She quickly greeted the woman and ushered her into the house before proceeding to her room. She applied her cream and put on her husband's cologne before wearing a maternity gown, one that she had made weeks earlier.

Obi came down to the living room and offered the woman kola. She was surprised when Mrs. Obiọma requested for food, she waltzed into her kitchen and started with the job. When she finished heating the food she glanced at her cabinets then saw the plates the woman had previously admired and decided to serve her with them.

It was only a matter of minutes before nausea hit her. Obi took in deep breaths, clutching her stomach and resisting the urge to make another mess. The wave of nausea was momentary and Obi found herself rejoicing in a victory over it, which was also short-lived. The plates were high up the cabinet and she needed to get them down so she used a chair as a ledge. She slowly climbed onto the seat and tried to stretch to get the plates but unfortunately not just nausea but also dizziness struck her at the same time. Obi groaned when she felt her stomach clench. Her feet wobbled and she held the handle of the cabinet to keep herself still.

Weakness slowly engulfed her and her legs shook while she tried to get down from the chair. Obi was terrified because she knew what a fall could do to her. She made a little prayer and just as if God was waiting for her to ask for help, Mrs. Obiọma sauntered into the kitchen requesting for drinking water.

She saw Obi groaning and quickly rushed to her side. Obi with the help of the woman came down from the stool. She instructed Mrs. Obiọma to guide her to the guest toilet where she vomited heavily. Mrs Obiọma rubbed her back and held her hair while she went about her business. Obi was exhausted by the time she finished and was guided into the living room by the woman.

She ran her hands over Obi's back and threw soothing words at her. "Pregnancy is not always easy, I can't imagine how you are faring without Benjamin. Besides where are your siblings? they are not supposed to leave you all by yourself ọ dịghị mma"(It is not right)

Obi mostly nodded to what the woman said. "I need to get you out of these clothes, you're sweating." Obi did enjoy the attention and help she was getting mostly because she had always craved for motherly attention during her early pregnancy days and got only rarely from Mma Chukwudi who was no longer available for that.

"You'll need to walk ịnụ, since your clothes are upstairs. I need to help you clean up and I can't carry you, so you have to help me"

Both of them got to the room after spending minutes on the stairs. The woman went back to the kitchen and turned her cooker off.

Obi lay on her bed sweating and tossing. When the woman arrived,she helped Obi out of her clothes and guided her to her bathroom where she helped Obi clean up.

"Nausea is usually predominant during the early weeks of pregnancy but you're almost approaching the fifth month I still don't understand why it is so. Is there something you are reacting to? something you don't like. Like a fragrance or food, I used to throw up a lot whenever I came in contact with Uha soup. That was when I was pregnant with Obiefune. It was so painful because it used to be my favorite soup "The woman smiled as she ran water over Obi's body.

Obi began to feel relieved in a matter of minutes and embarrassment also decided to pay a visit because of her state of undress.

"I thought it was my soap but it is not, the only two things I have exposed myself to, are my cream and Benjamin's cologne. And honestly I don't think they are.." Obi remembered the day the will was read and recalled at what instant she became ill.

"I take it that it is either of the two?" The woman enquired when Obi abruptly stopped.

"Or both" Obi hesitantly stated

"Those things help me sleep, how am I supposed to stop using them?" Obi spoke grimly

"They make you sick now and being sick is not good for your baby. Just keep them aside for now, once you've been delivered of this baby you can go back to them ịnụ" Obi nodded before the two of them got out of the bathroom.

"Thank you so much for everything, I honestly don't know what would have happened if you didn't come" Obi stated fishing out clothes from the drawer.

"You are welcome... I umm actually came because of how we.. sorry how I began things with you. I was angry and disappointed and I blamed you for my son's misfortune... "She began in an awkward

"Don't worry, I won't restrict the boys from their grandma if that's what you're thinking. You are free to spend time with them and.." Obi interrupted

"I'm not here for the boys Obiukwu. I am here for the two of us. I did wrong and I want us to get along now. My children adore you and my husband still respects your palm oil rice" She playfully stated

Obi chuckled on hearing that

"Besides, I used to respect that young girl I always heard of then and I think I still want to. And I also want to apologize for abandoning my Nephew when I should have been there for him. I was hurt and angry after my sister passed away and I somehow took it out on him"

Obi nodded "I think he already forgave you. And you were right by according a huge portion of that blame to me. If Obiefune hadn't come back he wouldn't have lost so many things"

"Let's just call it ill fate Obi, besides there's still something remaining of one of his testicles from his recent tests,it might be insignificant but it is something at least. I made the decision about removing most them after he was punctured badly and I lost hope of having grandchildren, then suddenly God blesses me with two" The woman smiled with tears in her eyes and Obi slowly threw her hands around her.

They proceeded downstairs after Obi was modest enough and she helped Obi dish out the food in those China plates she adored. "My husband calls it an addiction but honestly I'd rather spend my money on plates than jewelries" Obi laughed on several occasions when she heard stories about Chioma and Obiefune and things they did while they were children.

"That one! It took a whole year before he was weaned off breast milk. It got to a point that he'll crawl to me then start pounding on my breast, I think he used to help me out of my bra just because of breastmilk"

Obi laughed so hard picturing Obiefune at that age and somehow her mind went to the two times he had also helped her out of her clothing and did the same thing to her if not more.

Obi blushed as the thought ran across her mind and Mrs. Obiọma noticed the change almost immediately. She could tell that Obi still felt something for her son with the way she reacted and quickly changed the topic.

The two women conversed for hours before the other occupants of the house arrived. The children ran to Obi recounting everything that happened at Jude's house. Obi saw how happy Mrs Obiọma was and quickly whispered something to the boys.

They walked to where she sat and held her hand before greeting her "Good evening grandma"

Mrs. Obiọma was shocked when the boys chorused the greeting and gave Obi a huge grin before pulling the children to her bosom. Obi gave them the privacy they needed before moving to her room to remove the items that made her Ill. She ran her hand across their containers before slipping them into her husband's briefcase. Then went down to bid her guest farewell.

Obiefune had been at the apartment with his father when his mother arrived. She was so giddy with excitement that she explained everything that happened during the day to the two men in a rush.

"Honestly I don't know why you left her alone. She almost fell from a stool today. Thank God I was around when it happened. The poor thing has been very sick"

"Obi almost fell?" Obiefune enquired suddenly terrified

"I thought you used to stay with her, why did you abandon her now that she needs you the most eh nwam?"

Obiefune was surprised with how his mother was speaking about Obi. She had been the same person who insisted that Obi was a whore.

"That girl seriously needs someone to help her" Mr. Obidike hinted

"That's not even the best part! She introduced me as their grandmother! I was so happy today, hearing my grandsons call me grandma." Mrs. Obiọma was obviously elated with the news but Obiefune was not too thrilled. He had wanted to be the one or at least to be present when the boys found out. Mr. Obidike on the other hand was preparing for his own visit to be called grandpa

Obiefune grabbed his car keys and walked out of the house angrily.

But he did hear his mother call out to him "Make sure you spend the night there! It's not safe to be driving around at night"

Not only was his arrival delayed by traffic, he also had a flat tire which took hours to fix. Obiefune arrived by 11pm and it was because the gatekeeper recognized who he was that he was allowed in.

Obi was watching a movie when the doorbell rang. She quickly moved to the door and affirmed who it was before opening up. She had a bottle of Pringles in her hand, dressed in her somewhat transparent nightwear. She had not been expecting a visitor and was surprised to see Obiefune. He got into the living room and she excused herself because she didn't feel comfortable with her outfit and did not want Obiefune to accuse her of seduction attempt, even though it sounded ridiculous in her head. But she did not overlook the fact that he had told her that she was lustful.

Obi was barely at the fourth step before she felt her weight being lifted off the ground.

"I want to discuss something important with you and with that pace it'll take longer" he had stated and Obi clamped her lips shut.

He gently placed her feet on the floor before Obi sought another cloth to cover her body.

"That was not even necessary" Obiefune stated grumpily

Obi glared at him before speaking "Why are you here? We are supposed to be going to Daniel's chambers in about a week and some days. Rest assured I am still on board with the initial plan"

"That's not why I am here! Obi how could you tell the boys? I mean I thought we agreed that I would decide! I mean now you've told my mom and my children are probably wondering so many things"

"They took it well, even more than Tobe and the girls did. What they know is that Benjamin was their second daddy and he was trying to help you out"

"You had no right to deprive me of that!" Obiefune yelled

"I had every right to disclose the information to my sons, besides I am tired of keeping that secret. Listen I am exhausted and I had a slightly rough day, so if you'll excuse me I think I need to rest. You can sleep in the guest room if you decide to stay "Obi moved towards her drawer to keep her snacks while Obiefune only stared at her. Obi noticed his hesitancy to leave.

"I just told you.. "

"I heard what you Said! " he interrupted

"So why are you still here?" She questioned with curiosity

"Because I am angry "he replied abruptly

"That makes two of us "

He scoffed before moving closer to her" You're angry? Really with me? "

Obi gave him a hard glare that answered his questions. "Listen Obiefune I get it, you're upset but honestly I don't have any strength for this "

"So now you don't have any strength to argue, you were so good at it before! Pointing out how selfish I was!... How I wanted Benjamin dead and you didn’t even know a damn thing about what I was willing to "

"I am sorry "Obi interrupted and he stopped, she had discovered very late about his honorable intentions" I am sorry for the things I said to you. I didn't mean them and I was wrong for uttering what I said. I was hurt and I was in pain and I didn't care about your feelings which was very selfish of me. I don't want you to die, I did not want it then and I definitely do not want it now, but I just... "

"Had to let me hear it? Besides why don't you want me dead anymore? Is it because of how important I have suddenly become?" Obiefune stated scornfully

"No! It is is because I, I still..." Obi realized what he meant by his prior statement and changed what she intended to say. "Get out!" She fumed with anger as she glared at him.

"Why?" Obiefune questioned with an annoying smirk covering the distance between them

"You didn't want me to leave the last time I came here, in fact from the way you were looking at me you wanted an entirely different thing"

Obi's throat suddenly became dry and she grew speechless because there was enough truth in what Obiefune hinted

"Maybe I'll give you what you want" He stated with a devilish smile before capturing Obi's lips in a kiss. Obi felt her heart almost leap out of her chest and the tingles that erupted from deep within her being, danced in her stomach before spreading around her body encasing her frame with goose bumps.

He guided her to the bed caressing her body and gently removing her clothing. Obi recalled what his mother spoke earlier about when he was weaned and smiled as his hands brushed her breast and kisses trailed down her neck. His kisses were not gentle as it had always been, he kissed with both hunger and rage, bruising her lips yet arousing her as well. Obi's mind dwelled on how it used to be with him, the gentleness and love he showed her with his kisses. It was at that instant that she realized that she did not just want sex from Obiefune, she craved that feeling of love and warmth, the intimacy she felt with him before. Besides it felt as if Obiefune was just punishing her because of their past misunderstanding. Obi felt his hands grope at her breasts roughly, before pulling some of her clothing off and she shoved his chest twice before he halted and climbed off her bed. He stood abruptly still panting from what had transpired between them.

For a brief moment Obi saw a flash of pain in his eyes and Obi hoped he would apologize, before it got replaced with something entirely different, rage. "So suddenly you don't want sex anymore? It is still lust if you think about it. It doesn't matter if you reject it" He coldly stated adjusting his clothing

Obi's eyes brimmed with tears as she arranged her outfit, trying to recover from the close state of dishabille she was in. Her hands flew upwards and she hugged herself.

"You are right honestly you are! Maybe I wanted what I thought you were offering, maybe I did crave intimacy. But you are wrong! I do not want that with the man in front of me!"

Obiefune was shocked with her words "It sounded as if she was wishing him death all over again. She was rejecting him for a man he knew too well, a man that no one could live to his standards.

"I want exactly what you are offering with a selfless young man I fell in love with years ago. Not this inconsiderate, egotistical, selfish man in front of me and I'd very much like you to leave my bedroom."

When he hesitated to leave Obi spoke again "If you even had an ounce of respect or love for my husband as you once claimed, you'd walk out of this bedroom now!" Obi yelled sobbing and wiping her tears at the same time. Obiefune felt sad because he had once again made her cry, she did not need to be emotionally disturbed in her condition but when he moved closer as to hold her, she backed away from him.

Obi inhaled deeply before declaring with a cold voice "Leave" and he walked away.

She cried herself to sleep while Obiefune never even blinked his eyes. The next day the two of them met the boys and Obiefune explained his relationship with them in his own words. The boys were thrilled to have another father and were only eager to play games with him.

Obi and Obiefune barely spoke to each other but he decided to move in after being hounded by his mother constantly about being irresponsible and selfish. Suddenly he was selfish for staying away from his cousin's widow.

He had been playing with the boys on one occasion when Chukwuemeka asked if he was going to marry their mother and become her husband too since he was also their daddy. Obiefune became quiet not knowing how to reply. He did want what the boy asked but how could he marry a woman who no longer loved him? Not even the so called lust that he banked on was still present as he recalled the rejection.

Obiefune often found himself awake in the middle of the night running his hands on the black bracelet Obi had given him which he scarcely worn but carried around. He wanted that Obi back, the Obi that loved him.

The preparation for the birthday distracted both he and Obi and he was elated to be participating in his children's birthday. He had already missed a lot and was ready to make up for it. He took the boys around while Obi made other preparations, she often turned down invitations from her sons to go out with him and them and Obiefune knew why. She hadn't even given him the opportunity to apologize yet. And when Chioma returned she quickly hopped into his long list of problems.

She almost slit his throat for turning down Benjamin's offer. Threatening to cut off what remained of his manhood. The death glares he got from her in the house often made him shiver and keep his distance from her and he prayed Obi did not include their latest encounter in their girly gist for his survival.

He bought his sons so many gifts and even two cakes. He had also gotten Obi a gift but was terrified to give it to her. He ended up just placing it in her bedroom without saying a word.

Obi wore the necklace on her bed thinking it was a gift from Chioma but Obiefune was thrilled when he saw her with it. It made him happy even if she didn't know it was from him.

Obiukwu always slept with her bedroom door unlocked and he created a habit of checking up on herbefore sleeping. One of the nights Obi sleepily caught a glimpse of a shadow but waved it off as her imagination. But when the events reoccurred she was convinced that a presence was in her room. The visits continued and she was determined to fight back but the day she got terrified was the day her perfume was smashed on the floor. Obiefune saw her turn on the bed and in the bid to get away the pushed the perfume on her drawer. He hid in her bathroom while Obi ran out of the room.

Obi finally chose a bottle after staring for a long time at the samples. She got a call from her father in law who sent her a message pointing that they could challenge the will on one ground. Apparently there were certain restrictions to a testator's freedom to dispose of his property which were backed up by the laws of the state and would grant them what they sought. It was on the grounds of Provision for Family and Dependants which Benjamin did not do.

Obi quickly moved her cart and paid for her items before her driver loaded it into the car. She arrived at the house and met Obiefune with a visitor whom he was engrossed in a conversation with. The young lady laughed while they discussed deeply. They acknowledged her presence and the young lady greeted Obi with a huge grin before turning to face Obiefune. Obi noted that she had no ring on and assumed that she was Obiefune's new lover and became further enraged at him. The young lady was very beautiful much to Obi's disdain and seemed to be a better catch for Obiefune. She thought deeply and realized that she actually had no right to be angry or jealous because Obiefune also deserved a chance to be happy with another person even if it did hurt her that she wasn't the one.

Her suspicions about the ghost visit was further confirmed when she slept with Chioma and nothing happened in their room. It made her wonder if indeed her husband's spirit was unhappy because she wanted to contest the will. Maybe it was really true what people described about when the dead are unhappy.