Chapter 88

EPILOGUE

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in Umuahia as Obi drove home. She had enrolled in a university to continue her education because she felt she had been wasting away.

Her brother Tobe had moved to Lagos soon after his service and rarely visited Obi's disappointment. It had been three years since the birth of the quad, three years since she got married to Obiefune.

Chioma had moved to Anambra with her husband because most of his business was handled there. They often spoke over the phone when Obi wanted to share her problems or just talk about their husbands. Chioma had a daughter, Judith whom Obi adored so much. Mrs. Obiọma and her husband resided permanently in Umuahia and Obi could tell it was because of their grandchildren.

She often shipped them to their house on weekends, most especially when she wanted to spend time alone with her husband.

Obiefune had been quite reticent in accepting the management of Benjamin's business but after several persuasive speeches from Mr. Igwe, he took the mantle. That didn't keep him from writing when he had the time and forcing his wife to listen to every line.

Ifenna and Oluebube were at their final semesters and visited mostly when they had to restock their provisions and money. Obi was the one in charge of their inheritance and agreed to release it when they became of age. The two girls worked hard academically but often made demands that caused their elder sister to grouse. To them, as long as they brought good grades home, they were entitled to live as comfortably as they should.

Dee Ogbo Got married a year after and the family had to give a special Thanksgiving because of his marriage. Uncle Jonathan visited Obi once in a while and didn't fail to shower his grand nieces and nephews with gifts.

Mma had been the only one who was not too thrilled about living. She would complain bitterly each time Obi and Obiefune visited about craving to rest. She had grown so old and very wrinkly that sometimes it was difficult for her to speak but the couple wanted her alive all the same.

On several occasions had they caught the woman making prayers to God to take her soul.

Raising six children was not an easy task for Obi, she refused to hire a babysitter because lots of stories that were told often scared her. Thankfully, Obiefune was always around to help her with preparations. Chukwuebuka and Chukwuemeka were old enough to take care of themselves and Obi rarely had to supervise them as much as she did the younger ones. She often found herself being so happy that Obiefune could not impregnate her. It meant she could enjoy her husband without the risk of producing more house wreckers in the name of babies.

Obiefune adored the children so much, he got them toys and played with them. He often wrote them stories which he read to them before they slept. Obi often reprimanded herself for comparing her two marriages but she was grateful that she ended up with Obiefune.

They had very few issues as a couple and would always make up before the next day, partly because Obiefune was sensitive and hated being in bad terms with anyone, especially his wife. Cases of his fidelity always came up because of how catchy young women saw him. Obi tried her best not to be insecure but constantly being around women who were very much interested in him irked her to her toes.

Obiefune insisted that she trust him but Obi often feared that his early years might resurface and he wouldn't be faithful as he promised. He stopped hiring female personal assistants because of an incident that had occurred in his office. His wife had walked in on a seduction attempt where he was being kissed. He was terrified because he felt she wouldn't believe him. Obi rarely visited the office but had decided to come over because she wanted to share the news of her admission to her husband before getting her children from school, when she saw a strange woman kissing him.

It took a lot of self -discipline not to pounce on the young girl and the young lady scurried away from the office. Obi was hurt and angry but she did have a glint of hope that Obiefune wouldn't cheat on her. Benjamin never did, even though she never brought their marriage up. She didn't intend to have him struggling to live up to anything, they both understood each other well and she hoped they respected each other too.

Obi showed him her letter before leaving his office for her children. Obiefune quickly fired the young lady and made necessary replacements to avoid further repetitions.

His wife rarely spoke to him after the incident and it killed him. She had even started sleeping with the quads because she was still hurting and he knew he had to put an end to it. He went over to the children's room where Obi lay with the children and climbed onto the bed with her. She woke up to her husband staring at her in the middle of the night. He caressed her cheek before placing a soft kiss on her lips.

Obi found out that much to her dismay, she couldn't stay angry at her husband for long and a huge part of her believed he was faithful and she had to deal with her insecurities.

"I would never do anything to hurt you, not after everything we've been through I can't jeopardize what we have for anything. I love you very much" he had declared in a hushed tone and Obi nodded

"Am I forgiven? Will you come back to our bed now?" Obiefune asked with much expectancy. He gave Obi time to deal with her emotions but not being on the same bed with her for a week felt like an eternity. Even though they didn't make love every day, cradling his wife as they slept had become a huge part of him, which surprisingly made him sleep better.

"You'd have to carry me to the room" Obi replied in an equally hushed tone. The two of them knew it was better to let the sleeping dogs lie. Their four children were even worse when it came to creating a nuisance than their older sons.

Obiefune gently lifted his wife while they made their way to their room.

"I promise from now on, no more female assistants" Obiefune declared on their way to their room

"You can still have female assistants if you want, I trust you"

"And I am not going to risk breaking that trust for anything. I am sorry you had to deal with that. If the tables were turned, God knows I would murder any man who comes to close to you"

"Maybe I could just get Timothy" Obi taunted

"He's a pastor now, besides he is not as handsome as I am. You have a thing for wildly attractive men" Obiefune teased as he laid his wife on their bed

"Don't let your ego blind you, I've seen more attractive men. I have a thing for partially handsome and dumb men and luckily the universe made only one provision" Obi replied with a grin

"Have I ever told you that you are lucky that I love you?" Obiefune asked with his brows narrowing

"Sometimes"

"Well it is true, I am not usually civil to ladies with sharp mouths"

Obi gave him a sweet smile before pulling his mouth to meet hers.

"I know" she muttered on his lips.

They made love that night before Obiefune decided that he was inspired to write. Obi prepared him a cup of tea and kissed him goodnight before wandering off to bed.

"I wonder what Chioma would have done if she heard something like this" Obiefune called out to his wife

Obi laughed so hard because she knew how protective of her Chioma could get.

"She would finally carry out her threat" Obi answered as she found her pillow

"We don't share everything you know, we still have our secrets" Obi objected after she realized her husband was pleading in a way for Chioma not to hear about their fight

"I find it hard to believe, it feels like I married two wives. Do you know how many times she has threatened me just because she called you over the phone and you didn't sound good. She always suspects that I did something wrong" Obiefune scoffed as he took a gulp of his tea

"Well... You always mess up in a way" Obi taunted earning herself a glare from her husband.

"it is so unfair that no one tackles you when you do things! Every blame goes to the male gender"

She giggled like a very shy child at her husband's frustration before he pounced on her. They made love again that night before exhaustion drove them to sleep.

Obi arrived at the house after she made a few stops to get some items for her children. She walked into the living room to see the floor covered in her palm oil and her four children rolling over it. Obi saw her empty 10liter gallon by the side and very oily children and wondered how they managed to get the oil into the living room.

This was not the first time her children had done the unthinkable. Her son Obinna once emptied a sachet of detergent in her pot of cooked rice, which she had brought down to the floor before a guest arrived. She had prepared the meal for her guest and was devastated when she saw what her son had done.

The girls had once applied glue on their hair after their father forgot it in their room.

She sat quietly and watched how they shone and smiled in their misdeeds. It had been a hectic day for her at school and she was drawn to tears when she saw them. She thought of how to clean the living room and her children also how to get the stains off the chairs that were affected.

Obi was crying when her husband arrived, while the little children were consoling her, leaving generous amounts of the oil on her face and clothes.

Obiefune was terrified when he saw them. After he found out why she was crying, he was slightly amused. They hired a help that day while Obiefune cleaned the children up.

Obi fell sick after that day and Obiefune received more emotional tantrums. She was always nauseous and tired, soon her skin grew pale and Obiefune suggested that they actually go for a test.

He suspected it to be the typical malaria and typhoid disease that affected most people in the state, but Obi had disclosed her fear of being pregnant after she confirmed that her period was running late.

"If it comes out positive and ends up being twins in the future, you're getting a vasectomy. I can't handle this!"

Obiefune could see how terrified she was, if indeed she was pregnant, it meant they would be having their seventh child.

The doctor confirmed Obi's fears and she turned out to be pregnant. Obiefune was shocked but happy, it felt like a miracle that he could still reproduce but he could see how terrified Obi was.

Their last children took a toll on her and she had hoped that she had no business of delivery again. Obiefune encouraged his wife and helped her through the process. It felt different with babies because he had been there from the conception right to the delivery time.

It was in the middle of the night while he read his book to her that her contractions came and her water broke.

He quickly got Jude and Funmi to watch their children while he drove Obi to the hospital. Her delivery was not as difficult as the previous one, much to Obiefune's relief. He had never gotten over the fear of losing Obi to delivery and when his two baby girls were finally brought into the world Obiefune felt fulfilled. Obi was too exhausted after the ordeal and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

She woke up to Obiefune sleeping beside her with his hands linked in hers.

She gently nudged him and he woke up. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips before congratulating her. He told her that his two girls would be named after her and Chioma.

Obi smiled sweetly at him before she uttered one word that threw him into a fit of laughter.

"Vasectomy!"

Mma died three days after the children's delivery and was buried a month after. Her wake and the burial ceremony had been much different to what Obi had experienced with her mother. The old woman was over a hundred years old and the villagers celebrated her death.

It was a reunion with all those children who used to hurdle in her hot with wrappers around their bodies listening to her lores. They spoke about her, teased themselves of being terrified with her tales and recounted the lessons learnt. Every member of the family was around for her burial and even though they grieved, it wasn't as painful as the other deaths they had witnessed.

Obiefune and Chioma were affected just like the old woman's direct children, she had died in Obiefune's arms after she blessed his family and every member of her family. Obi knew how her husband felt about the Old woman and would offer him support while she grieved her in her own way. Chioma cried so much after she died, so did the girls and Tobe who finally came to visit his family.

They all sat and watched as women demonstrated in a drama Mma's life up until her death and were drawn to tears. She was a huge part of their lives and even in death, she still was. Her stories they had agreed to share with their children and grandchildren passing on lessons that would help children's lives.

Mma was laid to rest in her hut on her instructions while the rest of the village ate and drank in celebration.

That night as the cold breeze kissed the bodies of both old and young who sat outside to watch the full moon, most people wrapped themselves in clothes, speaking about their favorite moments with the deceased old woman, Obiefune stood out and sat on a stool while the others fixed their gaze upon him. He sang a song which he had grown to love because of the old woman and sang it just like she used to, captivating the minds of all present.

Most people had claimed the old woman had directed him to sing that particular lore because she wanted to let people know that she was at peace, but Obi believed that her husband was saying goodbye in his own way. Maybe they had assumed so because of the wind which became a bit fierce when he started out and later became still, or the fact that most people claimed they saw a light in Mma's hut. Obi moved her seat to where he sat and linked her hands with his while he continued singing. She had always known that her husband shared a great bond with the old woman. The same song which he had brought her back with years ago, he was sending her home with that night . As Obiefune sang he could only think of the night at Benjamin's house when Mma sang the same song with his name, the memories of the old woman filled his mind.

Soon everyone was drawn to singing. It felt as if anyone who heard the song was captivated by it, "maybe it was possession" Obi couldn't tell but she saw people trooping into their compound, children from neighboring compounds, old women, men, youths and so many villagers assembled there, sat on mats and chairs, under the moon, while their voices rang across the compound deep in the night when the dead was supposedly moving amongst the living.

Eji m gị eme ọnụ

Onye dị ka gi akokwala m o

Eshi m ga ihu gị!

Ihe m ji emere gị ọjị akokwala m o!