SEE FINISH BY TREASURE EZURUIKE EPISODE 3

EPISODE 3

(CHIKANMA’S POV)

They marched in their numbers. They had come to ask me to leave the house I built with Nkem. 

I asked them why, but they gave me no answer. They informed me I had a few days to vacate the house and go where I asked. That is not our concern, they responded. 

They left and I called my family, and they came to my rescue but it was all for nothing because my in-laws threw me out when I stopped by the house to get some items. 

They took all my Nkem’s belongings even before his funeral and didn’t leave anyone for me. 

Thinking about it all hurts me to my bones, the only thing that keeps me going is still having my children with me.

During the funeral, my in-laws blamed me for the death of Nkem even though they confirmed he was shot and killed. 

I said to myself, if I’m beaten by Ikenna again, I’ll leave my matrimonial home to my family.

My husband returned in the afternoon and started hitting me from the door. I was screaming but he didn’t listen. He beat me and left.

I sat for a while and caught my breath. After that, I managed to drag my bags out and left. 

They tried to subject me to inhumane widowhood practices if not for my friend Barr. Adaugo who traveled with me. She threatened to sue them if they coerced me into drinking water used to bathe Nkem’s corpse. 

She came with soldiers on the day of the funeral. It was a horrible day for me. Adaugo held me along with my mother when Nkem was lowered into his final resting place. 

I felt like jumping in with the coffin as it was lowered into the six feet grave. My children could not comprehend what was going on. 

When Jared was asked to throw in the sand for the dust to dust, he had no idea what he was doing. 

After Nkem’s funeral, my in-laws attempted to take my children from me, but Adaugo stood up for me in court.

She represented me in court and argued that I was my children’s only surviving parent and it’ll be unfair to deny my children that privilege.

My in-laws accused me of not having a job to provide for them. It hurt me so much because I had a master’s degree and Nkem was so wealthy before he died.

Unfortunately, he didn’t do the needful of securing his property with a will because he wasn’t expecting to be shot and killed. 

That is a lesson I hope everyone learns, that life is uncertain, and death comes when you least expect it.

I didn’t have a job because I was taking care of our children. We agreed that I’ll get a job after I had our last child which never happened. Nkem and I started trying for a third child just before he died. 

He took good care of me, but I wasn’t the only one with access to his property. Nkem was also so open to his family about his investments. Once he died, they went ahead of me to claim everything.

No one fought for me because I didn’t know what was going on. I was overcome with grief; I wasn’t thinking straight. 

Now they wanted to take my children, the only link I had with Nkem. I broke down in tears in court telling the judge that my children were the only consolation I had and taking them away from me was like killing me. 

Told the court that my in-laws had already taken everything my husband and I had while he was alive, now they wanted my children.

I promised to get a job to provide for my children. It was something new to me. My husband and I were married for 6 years before he passed. 

The court granted my request but even if they didn’t, I had no plans to let anyone take my children away from me. Having them with me made me feel safe. 

I

Couldn’t imagine anyone turning them into servants and they’ll be unkempt, be out of school and suffer when their father was so wealthy. If we didn’t have food we’d be together at least.

My children were with my mother, and I told her to hide them once the court ruled against me. 

Once the court ruled in my favor, my in-laws attempted to kidnap my children. Thank God my mum was a million steps ahead and put measures in place to protect them. 

My in-laws continued to threaten me, but I didn’t care. I had a good relationship with them while my husband was alive but they were pretending. 

I was heartbroken hoping to remain unmarried and stay with them even though I was just 24. Got married at 18 but I had to develop a thick skin and harden my heart if I ever wanted to survive.

Never had time to grieve over my husband. Once he died, they showed up and showed their true colors. 

I was mad at Nkem for letting me suffer like that by not writing a will so his children and I would have something to fall back to. 

His family even took my car from me. They seized the key and found the papers in the house and sold it.

I moved away from them after the dust settled. My family was not wealthy, and my mum was a widow, so I had to fend for myself. 

They looked after my children if I had to work. All the money in my account was exhausted as I had to secure accommodation and other necessities. 

Jared and Jane finally understood their father was no more and cried often and I was helpless. 

(NNENNA’S POV)

Ikenna told Oluchi his sister that she was crazy, he said try it again and see. She said you won’t do anything. You’ve no will of your own, you always do what we say.

It upset Ikenna and he said I don’t blame all those men who turned you down. No man can have you under their roof.

You may as well die single. It got under my Oluchi’s skin. She insulted him, telling him he couldn’t father a child.

They traded insults until Oluchi began to cry and my husband hissed and hung up.

He turned to me and said go get dressed, we are going to the hospital. Told him I wasn’t going anywhere. You dare to disobey me, he said.

I asked him what was the worst that would happen? He’ll just hit me again, but I wasn’t going anywhere.

He wanted to know why. Told him it was because of my family. If I went out with those injuries my family would be alerted immediately because someone must see me and inform them.

I told him I wasn’t ready for the fallout. He tried to clean the injuries and told him not to touch me. Ikenna seemed remorseful but I knew it was not real.

The following day my mother-in-law called me to accuse me of coming between her children.

I didn’t talk, I just listened. She abused me, calling me barren, 6 months after marriage no child, she hissed then she ended the call.

I recorded her call and had to learn to record all their calls to save myself because Ikenna always believed them over me.

Ikenna first called me to yell asking why I would insult his mother over the phone? He told me I will never replace her and didn’t even let me talk before ending the call.

Went into our bedroom and put some of my belongings together. I put all my documents and credentials together and waited.

Said to me, if I’m beaten again, I’ll leave my matrimonial home to my family.

Ikenna returned in the afternoon and started hitting me from the door, I was screaming but he didn’t listen. He beat me and left.

I sat for a while and caught my breath. After that, I managed to drag out my bags and left. 

On the way to my brother’s apartment in the next town, I forwarded Ikenna all the recordings I had on my phone involving his family members.

Knew he listened to all those recordings, but his pride wouldn’t let him apologize. Couldn’t go to my father, so I drove to my elder brother Dubem.

Knocked on the door to his apartment, he was home, he opened the door and screamed: “Jesus Nnenna what happened”.

Started to cry, he tried to touch me but winced in pain. Dubem said did someone hit you? I didn’t respond. He took off my dark shades and it revealed my black eye.

Immediately he asked who did this to you? I asked him if I could come in. He gestured to me to come in.

Narrated my ordeal, and he was mad and asked me why I’ll tolerate such nonsense because of marriage.

Told him I just wanted my marriage to work. He told me I could have died. Nnem, why? He said. I reminded him about what Dad would do. He told me Ikenna my husband deserved it.

Just then my husband began to call me. I was reluctant to answer the call, Dubem grabbed my phone and answered the call.

(KEISHA’S POV)

NYSC camp was so boring for me. I couldn’t wait to get out. People were having fun, but I wasn’t. 

Was surprised to get a call from Kenny on Sunday afternoon that he was around. I got dressed immediately and found him.

He was so happy to see me. Just like he knew what I needed. He got me food from home. The food at camp was so boring. Couldn’t eat it. I just survived on the snacks I took to camp.

Kenny got me snacks and food. It was a breath of fresh air. He kept me company till evening. 

He did that every weekend I was in camp. He asked me where I wanted to be posted for a “place of primary assignment”.

Told him I didn’t know. Do you want to end up in a forest or a bush community somewhere? The truth is I had not even thought about it. 

He asked me for my details and said the last thing I need is you posted to a community with no network. It’ll drive me crazy. I won’t be able to reach you.

I need you in a place you can meet people and network. I need you to earn money. For me I just wanted to get out of home, I wasn’t thinking about my PPA.

On the day of the passing out parade Kenny showed up. I was so relieved to leave camp but also nervous about where I was posted. 

Kenny took my belongings to the car while I waited to get the letter of my place of primary assignment. I was posted to the center of town, to a federal establishment. Kenny wasn’t surprised. He was responsible. 

He looked at the letter and said better, that’s more like it. That is where you belong, he said. He drove me down there to sort things out. He didn’t like the lodge where I was assigned. 

He felt it was too crowded. I didn’t complain. It was just fine to me. Kenny drove me back home to ready my belongings for my service year. He drove me back when I had to go back.

One month later he found me accommodation. He told me he didn’t want me staying in the corpers lodge.

Didn’t complain. I mean who doesn’t like comfort. Other corps members envied me but still, I wasn’t in love with Kenny. 

Was surprised he kept in touch with me. He kept tabs on me and even visited me in the city where I served. By then I had concluded that he was up to something. 

Now I believed he was out to get me and punish me for how I had given him a hard time. He was such a nice guy, so down-to-earth and patient but I don’t know why I just didn’t want him. 

Throughout my service year, he visited me every weekend and I started to have a change of heart. 

One weekend he didn’t show up and I got so upset and went crazy on him. He apologized to me saying it was circumstances beyond his control that made him not show up. 

Didn’t accept that explanation. I didn’t speak to him for another month. He went crazy pleading with me to forgive him, but I just didn’t listen. 

Don’t know what was even wrong with me because I missed him, but I just wouldn’t admit it. 

The day we made up I cried, and I didn’t know why but something began to tell me that I was falling for him in a way I never wanted to. 

To be continued.

© Treasure Ezuruike.

Please leave a comment.