CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 21

Ike drove towards the estate gate, lost in thoughts. By the mercies of the Almighty God, his wife and children were recovering at a fast pace. The doctor in charge of their case promised that they would be discharged in two, three days. He couldn’t wait.

Mmesoma’s mother called a night before, claiming that his wife’s witchcraft had resulted into the loss of her daughter’s pregnancy. The timely miscarriage brought him great relief. The initial news about the girl’s pregnancy had brought him torment and sleepless nights. But now, he needed not worry anymore. He believed that God was indeed fighting his battles behind the scene. 

He warned the woman, advising her to delete his numbers. He threatened to arrest and sue her daughter for attempted murder if she ever come close to his family again. He would have arrested her already, but her sudden miscarriage was enough punishment for now. He was happy to be finally rid of any responsibility he would have incurred if the baby had been born.

“Ike! Ike!”

The sound of his name brought him out of his reverie. He blinked thrice, then looked right and left. On seeing his neighbour, he smiled and stopped the car by the roadside.

“Mr. Kola,” he climbed out of the vehicle. “Good evening,” he shook hands with his friend.

“What’s up man? How is madam and the children?”

The younger man sighed heavily, “They are getting better.”

Kola patted him on the shoulder, “This too shall pass.”

“Amen.”

They leaned against the vehicle, each man quiet for the next few seconds.

“That reminds me…”

His neigbour glanced at him.

“I saw Mallam Danjuma moving things out of his duplex yesterday.”

Kola smiled. “He is relocating to Europe.”

His light brown eyes grew wild. “Oh! Wow.”

The dark skinned man scratched a spot on his bald head. “He has completely sold all his properties.”

Ike nodded as the information sunk in.

“Once he sells the duplex, he will disappear,” he chuckled.

Suddenly, it dawned on him that his family needed a new home. Their present house was filled with too many bad memories. He longed for a fresh start with his wife. A new environment would surely give his marriage the rekindling it desperately required.

He cleared his throat, “How much is the duplex going for?”

Kola started to laugh. “What do you want to do with two houses in the same estate?”

“I will sell one and live in the other.”

The older man realized that his friend was serious. “Oh, okay.”

Ike looked towards the other side of the estate. “Is Danjuma home?”

Kola used his tongue to try to extract a strand of protein stuck in between his teeth. “Hmmm… not so sure.”

“Let’s go meet the Mallam,” Ike climbed back into the vehicle.

His friend hopped into the passenger seat and shut the door.

Xxxxxx

Vero noticed the sad look on her daughter’s face. The girl had been through a whole lot. She prayed within, that God will settle all that concerned her. “How are you feeling?”

Lianater lifted her dark brown eyes, upon seeing her mother’s worried look, she feigned a smile. “I am okay,” she cleared her throat twice. It felt very dry and a bit painful. “Where did my husband go to?” She realized that it had been over an hour since he left her room.

Her mother turned towards the doorway. “I think he is at the nurses’ station. He said he needed to fill the discharge papers.”

“Oh…” she adjusted the pillow behind her neck.

The older woman clasped her hands together. “I am so happy that you will be going home with the children today.”

“Hmm…” 

Vero watched the girl closely. “You don’t sound excited.”

Lianater tried to smile again. But it was more difficult.

She didn’t like the way the girl looked. Her daughter’s countenance resembled that of someone in distress. “Don’t you want to go home?” She had a feeling that the girl was still struggling with her marital issues.

The younger woman opened her mouth, but no words came out. Tears gathered in her eyes. How was she going to explain to her mother that she hated her house and didn’t want to go back there? 

“Lily…” the woman moved closer to the hospital bed.

Lianater met her mother’s gaze.

“Trust in the lord with all your heart,” Vero reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She pressed her lips together, forcing back the sobs that threathened to breakforth from her vocal cords. Trust in the lord? What else has she been doing all this while? She was simply exhausted and tired of fighting.

“Are we set and ready?”

Both women turned their heads. Ike stepped into the room, the baby in one hand, a few bags in the other, followed by the twins and Ada.

“I will come home with you and stay for a few days,” Vero patted her daughter on the shoulder and took the baby from Ike.

Ike sighed with relief. He had been wondering how he was going to cope. His wife wasn’t strong enough to care for the children just yet. Maybe in a week, she would be able to resume her motherly duties.

The twins and Ada got on the hospital bed.

“I don’t like these hospital beds,” Dozie frowned.

“They are hard,” Nonso added.

“Mummy get down, let’s go home,” Ada wrapped her arms around her mother.

Lianater held the girl close. “All right my darling, we are going home,” she kissed her on the cheek.

Xxxxxx

Ike smiled when he saw the puzzled look on his wife’s face. He had just driven past their house. That house was no longer their home. He sold it two days ago and bought Mallam Danjuma’s four bedroom duplex. Mr. Kola and some of the youths in the estate helped him to move his properties from the old house to the new house yesterday. His family were in for a pleasant surprise.

He stopped the car in front of the duplex and honked. A security guard stepped out, greeted them and opened the gate. The way everyone in the vehicle was staring at him, it was hard not to laugh. He composed himself and drove into the posh compound.

“Welcome to our new home…” Ike parked the car and turned off the engine.

The children stared back at him, wide-eyed.

“Daddy, what happened to our house?” Ada asked.

Ike grinned from ear to ear. “I sold it. And bought this one.”

“We have a new house!” the twins jumped down from the vehicle and started to run around the whole place.

“Do I have my own room?” Ada looked straight at her father.

“Yes, Princess. You and your little sister have a room.”

Ada dashed out of the car screaming, “I have my own room!”

Vero started to laugh. She came down from the vehicle with the baby. The new house was indeed magnificent.

Ike turned to his wife, “What do you think?”

Lianater could barely utter a word. She started to cry. While she was worrying, God was busy answering her prayers.

“Hey baby…” he drew her close.

Minutes later, her sobs subsided.

“How are you feeling now?” he placed her head on his chest.

She managed to speak. “I am happy…” 

In that very moment, he knew that everything was going to be all right. He was happy that she was happy.

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 20

The security guard opened the gate and hissed when he saw Mmesoma. Why was the girl loitering around the house? He didn’t know how long she had been standing around and he didn’t care. She and her relatives had caused enough trouble. “What are you doing here?”

The girl fidgeted, eyes darting left, then right. “Erm… erm, I forgot my certificate in the wardrobe.”

The man eyed her. “Forgot what? Since when? Look here, I don’t have time for your rubbish,” he bolted the gate and headed out.

Mmesoma held him by the elbow. “Please sir,” she went on her knees.

“Get your dirty hands off me!” he pulled away and hissed again. “No one is home at the moment. You can wait for them to come back from church.”

She remained on her knees. “I cannot wait sir. I am travelling this morning. I need my Senior Secondary School Certificate. And it is the original I left in the house.”

The guard halted and glared at her.

“Please sir, I won’t waste your time.”

He groaned inwardly. “Fine, you need to be fast and sharp…”

She jumped to her feet. “Thank you so much sir, thank you.”

Xxxxx

Mmesoma hurried into the guest room and bolted the door. She sighed in relief and smiled. She needed to act very fast. The guard gave her ten minutes to get her certificate. He was waiting in the sitting room. Her certificate wasn’t in the house. She lied so she could gain access into the Briggs’ home. She needed to bypass him and get to the kitchen without his awareness.

She came up with a Plan B after Ike chased her and her family out of the house. She reasoned that if Lianater and her children died, her own child would be the sole heir to Ike’s wealth and properties. And maybe when he has finished mourning, he would find her as a good alternative and marry her. Her dreams were not dead yet. They would surely come true!

Xxxxxx

“You have two minutes more!”

“I haven’t seen it yet!”

“I don’t care!”

Mmesoma tiptoed out of the guest room and sneaked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and brought out the glass jar of Hibiscus drink. Lianater and the kids always take this after church service. Ike preferred Tiger nut drink on Sundays. She opened the cold jar and poured a powdery substance into it. She stirred the drink with a spoon and placed it back.

“Where is this girl?!”

She heard footsteps. She panicked and ran out of the kitchen.

Xxxxxx

Mmesoma stood outside the Brigg’s home and laughed hysterically. Her plans were working perfectly. Her mother would be so proud of her. She had been unhappy when Ike chased them away. But now, everything was going to change. Soon, she was going to be the inlaw of a wealthy and established young man.

The girl started towards the estate gate. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her mother the goodness. All their problems were finally solved. Nothing was going to stop them from living like kings and queens. They were going to be the talk of the town soon.

Lost in thoughts, she didn’t see or notice the opened drainage a few feet away from her. After her next five steps, Mmesoma fell into the drainage! Luckily, it was dry. But her elbows and knee were badly bruised. 

“Oh God…” she began to sob.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, she started to feel wet underneath. When she looked down, she noticed that her skirt was soaked in blood! Fear gripped her. What if the baby was injured? Nothing must happen to her precious baby! She needed to get to an hospital fast.

Her sobs became louder. “Somebody help me! Help me!!!” 

Xxxxxx

Ike and his family walked out of the church’s auditorium. The twins and Ada ran headed for the car park, while Lianater and the baby walked behind them.

“No running!” she called out to them. But of course, they turned deaf ears.

Ike chuckled. Then he sighted a gathering of people beside the gate. “Baby, I think you might have to go home without me.”

Lianater gave him a puzzled stare.

“I think my department have an impromptu meeting…”

She followed his gaze and saw the group of people under a small canopy beside the gate. She shrugged and quickened her steps.

“Tell the kids I will take them to the ice-cream shop later in the evening,” he called out to her.

She waved a hand in response and walked on.

Ike stared at her for a while. Things has not really being the same since Mmesoma and her family stormed their home. Even though he would never think of taking her as a second wife, the fact that he had another child on the way was like salt on the already opened wound of his marriage. He longed for the day things would start to get better. He missed the bliss he used to enjoy in his marriage. 

“God please help us,” he looked heavenwards.

Xxxxxx

“Zobo! Zobo!”

“I want Zobo!”

“Zobo now! Zobo now!”

The children screamed and danced around Lianater in the kitchen. “Please, stop the noise…” She opened the refrigerator and brought out the glass jar.

“We want Zobo!” the noise got louder.

“Keep that up and say goodbye to the Zobo,” she eyed the twins and Ada.

The children kept quiet in an instant.

“Parrots…” She hissed and poured the drink into little cups, then handed it over to them.

The baby pulled at her blouse and started to cry.

“Wait, mummy will give you a little sip,” she brought the cup to Ify’s lips.

The baby gulped down some of the drink and it spilled all over her blouse.

“Calm down, Ify!” 

Xxxxxx

Ike walked into the house, hungry and very tired. He pulled off his shoes, dropped his bible in the sitting room and strode into the kitchen.

“Honey, I am home…”

Like a scene from an horrific movie, he found his wife and children lying on the kitchen floor. A foamy substance covered their mouths and it seemed like they were jerking every ten, thirteen seconds.

“Jesus!!!”

Xxxxxx

Vero sat in the waiting room, praying and watching her son-in-law. The young man looked no different from a mad man on the street, except that he was better clothed. Worry, fear and despair filled his blood shot eyes. He could hardly sit still and had been pacing the entire hall for the past two hours. 

Her concerned stare drifted to the emergency room glass doors. No one has brought them any news since her daughter and grandchildren had been wheeled in. 

Thank God Ike brought some of the poisoned zobo drink. At least the medical team will be able to diagnose the poison, then find or create an effective antidote.

“What is going on in there?”

Her gaze drifted back to him. 

Ike stood by the glass doors, tempted to start hitting it. “What are they doing in there?”

Vero breathed out loudly. How did that miserable girl from the pit of hell get into the kitchen in the first place? The security guard was already in serious trouble for letting her into the house in the first place. 

“God please have mercy….” she closed her eyes, trembling hands clasped.

The glass doors swung open.

Ike stood where he was. Hoping that the doctor had goodnews for them.

Vero lifted her head. She recognized the doctor. 

“Mr. Briggs…”

Ike held his breath.

Vero got up slowly.

“Your wife and your children… the antidote is flushing all the toxins in their systems as we speak.”

“Are they…”

“Yes, they are alive and well,” the doctor patted him on the shoulder.

The young man broke down crying.

Vero closed her eyes and sat back on the long chair. “Thank you, Jesus, thank you my King, my Priest…”

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 19

Vero watched the younger woman standing by the opened window. She could see the unshed tears in her dark brown eyes. She wished she could take the girl’s pain away.

“Lily…”

Lianater glanced back at the sound of her name. “I need a vacation…” She adjusted the sweatshirt the baby was clad in. 

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “And go where?”

She shrugged. “Right now, I don’t care. I would rather be a thousand miles away, than live in that house with him,” she locked gazes with the older woman.

Vero swallowed hard. If her daughter was thinking of escaping her husband’s proximity, his actions must have really eaten deep into her very soul. “It will take a while, but the hurt you feel right now, it will eventually fade away.”

Lianater scoffed. Her angry eyes drifted back to the window. Some children walked by, carrying buckets filled with water on their heads, heading home obviously. “A lot was happening right under my nose…”

She sighed heavily. “I can imagine.”

“He kept quiet…” She moved away from the window and sat on the closest chair to it. Her pain shadowed every movement that she made. “How could he?” She placed the sleeping baby on her laps. “We almost never keep anything from each other.”

Vero shrugged. She had no words. Only Ike understood why he didn’t tell his wife the truth until it was too late.

Lianater hissed several times, then glanced at her wristwatch. Her children’s school bus should be on its way by now.

“Will you be able to forgive him?”

She remained quiet for a long time.

Vero watched her daughter. Hoping that the girl would be able to forgive her husband and move on. Unforgiveness had a way of eating into people’s very soul, causing more havoc than necessary.

“Forgiving him might be difficult, but… but achievable,” she held the baby closer. “That’s the least of my problem,” her eyes smarted with tears. “Moving on is becoming a gigantic issue,” her voice cracked with sobs.

Her mother grimaced. Seeing her daughter hurting so much made her heart to ache.

“Every time I am in that sitting room, I see things… I imagine them, doing things in there,” She gave a shake of head. “I can’t even shower in my bathroom anymore,” She hissed. “The despicable things that happened in there… I hate that house now. I can’t… I cant live there anymore, mum.” hot tears slid down her sad face.

The older woman bit at her lower lip and began to pray. She asked God to heal her daughter’s heart and help her to forgive her husband. And most importantly, she prayed that the couple would be able to move on and remain united despite all odds.

“That house reminds me of Mmesoma and her antics and my husband’s foolishness. Maybe if we moved out, I might be able to… to breathe and then we can start all over,” she looked in her mother’s direction. She noticed the movement of her lips. But there was no sound. It dawned on her that the woman was probably praying. Her mother was always praying. Thank God for a praying mother. She sighed in relief.

“How are you coping with work and the kids?” she spoke after a while.

Lianater threw her smartphone into her bag. “It’s being crazy. My boss is always complaining now, and I can’t get anything done at home until the weekends. Ike is helping, but…” She zipped the bag and pulled her weight up.

Vero folded are arms across her bosom. She planned to helped her daughter until she has adjusted to her new routine. She doubted if the girl would be ready to employ a new maid anytime soon.

“I blame that agency for Mmesoma’s actions…” she started towards the front door.

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “The agency vet those girls as much as they can.”

“They should start vetting their hearts too,” she halted at the door.

Vero chuckled. “That’s impossible.”

“I need to go, mum, the school bus should be at my gate right about now,” she glanced back at the woman briefly before stepping out.

“Call anytime you need an extra hand,” the woman shouted, hoping she heard her.

“Sure, mum!”

Vero smiled when her daughter’s voice echoed through the walls.

Xxxxxx

The same minute Lianater was swerving into her compound, the school bus was driving away. 

“Mummy! Mummy!”

The children ran into her arms the moment she stepped out of the vehicle.

“My babies,” she held the baby in one hand, then hold the other three children in the other.

“Mummy I want to eat Indomie Noodles,” Ada rubbed her tummy.

“I want yam and fried eggs without tomatoes and pepper. But maybe a little onions,” Dozie started to jump up and down.

“I want rice and stew with fried plantain,” Nonso started to spin around with his school bag.

Lianater rolled her eyes. “Let’s go in and get you all out of your uniforms, then we can talk about lunch.”

The children raced into the building, almost running into their father, who was standing on the front porch.

“Daddy is home!” the children flew into his arms.

She watched them without interest. She had no idea why he was home early that day. But, she felt better. At least, she wouldn’t be alone fending for the children and the baby at the same time.

“There is chocolate ice-cream in the fridge…”

“Hurrah!” the children chorused and ran into the house.

Ike laughed then looked in his wife’s direction. She stared back at him, lip sealed. Days and weeks after Mmesoma left their house, things had changed between them. They still lived together, but they were no longer close. It was as if a huge wall was standing between them. He wished he knew how to bridge the gap between them.

“Lily, I…” The heavy bangs on the gate interrupted his next words.

Lianater turned around. Who was hitting their gate like that? The noise had also woken the baby. Now she was crying.

“We want to see Mr. Briggs! Let us in!”

Ike saw two men, three other women and Mmesoma at the gate, struggling with the security guard. His brows came together in an angry frown. Who did the witch bring to his house?

“What’s going on there?!” Lianater addressed the guard.

“They want to see Oga, but I don’t know them. Mmesoma is also here,” he responded.

The sound of the girl’s name made her angry. She threw a nasty glance at her husband.

“What do they want?” Ike roared. “Tell Mmesoma she is not welcome here.”

The small crowd pushed their way in.

“Hey! You people are not welcome here!” the guard tried to stop them.

Mmesoma and the group of people marched towards Ike and his wife.

“I am Mrs. Chizoba Obi, Mmesoma’s mother,” the slim fair skinned woman drew Mmesoma closer. “These are my late husband’s people,” she pointed at the other two women and two middle aged men.

Lianater noticed their resemblance. 

Ike glared at them all. “I don’t care. You cannot come into my home uninvited and…” 

The woman hissed and eyed him. “My daughter is three months pregnant and you are responsible.”

Silence enveloped them.

Mmesoma looked up at Ike for the very first time. The shock in his countenance gladdened her heart. She was absolutely sure that her dreams were going to come true that very day.

“In our place, this child can never be born outside wedlock. It is a taboo,” one of the men spoke up. “The wisest thing to do now is to take Mmesoma as your second wife.”

Lianater paled. This was exactly the kind of problem they didn’t want or need. She backed away and stood at the front door, watching the ugly scene that unfolded in her home.

“Exactly,” Chizoba brightened. “We want to know when you are coming with your people to meet our people. We need to set the date before her tummy start to grow,” she rubbed her daughter’s tummy.

The others nodded and chuckled in agreement. Mmesoma smiled. Soon, she was going to be the new Mrs. Briggs.

Ike watched them in disgust. He didn’t like the fact that his problem was adding up. He was still trying to piece his marriage back together, now the root of their problem was pregnant!

“I want to make one thing clear to you all,” he pointed a finger at them. “I will not take responsibility of this child, until after a DNA has been conducted…”

Chizoba laughed. “That is a non-issue. We are ready for that.”

“And my belief system doesn’t support taking a second wife,” he eyed Mmesoma’s mother.

The group started to complain and argue. Mmesoma groaned inwardly. She had hoped that her people would be able to pressure Ike into marrying her. But the man was as stubborn as she remembered.

“What happened to your belief system when you were enjoying my daughter’s body?!” the woman flared up.

“You must marry her!” one of the women yelled.

“To hell with your belief system!” the others shouted.

Ike glared at them. “You have sixty seconds, leave my house, this minute!”

“We are going nowhere!” Mmesoma shouted back at him, hands on her hips, ready to fight for her dreams.

Ike dashed into the building.

“We are going to stay here and…”

He returned bearing two long sharp kitchen knives. “Who wants to meet God in heaven this afternoon!”

“Abba father!” Mmesoma fled without looking back.

Her mother and her late husband’s people followed without hesistation.

“Who?!” Ike chased after them.