Lineage

Titilayo Fatimilenyi Part 4

A few days later she traveled to see Aunty Kehinde. It was a breath of fresh air. Her aunt could already sense that something was wrong even before Titi said anything. Titi told her everything that had been happening to her and her husband for the past two years, all the nightmares and the immediate loss of two pregnancies, her husband's job. Then she told her about the strange dream with her mother and sister in it.

"If you can remember your father brought you here after you had almost died and he told me some strange things about your mother and sister. We agreed to tell you about this when the need arises. Your father wasn't too sure, he had no evidence, and he didn't want to destroy any relationship between you and your mother or sister. It is obvious now the need has arisen and you must hear the tale your father told me."

Aunty Kehinde told her about the woman her brother met on one of his travel. Her name is Iya. She was the one who told her brother all that his wife had done to their children, leading to the death of four them.

"It was after meeting this woman Iya that your father began to question how he could have your married your mother."

She explained that the family did not want her brother to marry Titi's mother, but he was adamant, especially since she was already pregnant with Tolu. 

"From the moment he told me that your mother was pregnant I had my doubts that Tolu was my brother's daughter but there was no way to prove it. Your father was certain and being a good man wanted to do the honorable thing, he married your mother. A few years after themarriage our family began to suspect his wife of bewitching him into marryingher. But your father would not listen, his wife could do no wrong.  Losing four children broke him, and it was for this reason he wanted to protect  you at all costs," Aunty Kehinde added.

Aunty Kehinde gave Titi all the letters her brother had written to her. All of them were pleading for Aunty Kehinde not to send Titi back to his wife. He told tales about how he was very ill and sometimes bedridden. Neither his wife nor his daughter would care for him. He was fortunate to have a friend who with his wife would come with food and take him to the hospital when his situation was worse. It was through them that some of his letter got posted. With his ill health, he could no longer do his business and so could not send Titi's school fees. 

This was a lot to take in; her mother and her big sister? It would make sense though as she remembered being maltreated by them whenever her dad was away. Aunty Kehinde advised her to talk to her husband about this. Now that her mother's house is completed, they must not go there anymore, neither must they have people over. It might be best if they moved to somewhere very far away from here. She gave Titi a piece of paper.

"It is the address of the woman who warned your father. She had given it to him, just in case he needed her help. Your father became gravely ill after he brought you here and was unable to go see the woman again. You should go find her, this Iya. She might still be alive. It is worth the try," Aunty Kehinde advised. 

"I will do as you have suggested Aunty, I pray that this Iya woman is still alive," said Titi.

As soon as Titi got back home, she told her husband everything. They both agreed they would move. He would have to work for a transfer to a branch that is far away from this area. They also agreed to not have any visitors, and they would tell no one when, where, and why they were moving away. It would take a while for the transfer to be effected, and during that time Titi was pregnant again.

This time she did not tell her husband. The crows had been coming and going. She was more aware of them now that she was pregnant and felt that they were watching her. It stressed her out and felt very alone and afraid. Then headaches began. Even when she took pain relievers, it won't stop. One afternoon she noticed she was spotting. She immediately went to see the doctor, who told her that her blood pressure was too high. He was going to admit her immediately. Her husband was notified at work. She no longer had a secret.

"Titi, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant," Bankole asked. He had been so furious with her.

"I am so sorry, I felt I had to protect myself and our baby. I see those crows outside the house. I sometimes feel like someone might eavesdrop on us and would come for our baby," she broke down in tears.

Realizing the strain, she must have been under, he understood her decision to keep the knowledge of the pregnancy from him. If all that she had told him about her mother and sister were true, he was the one who told them about the last pregnancy. In fact, it was the very day he told them, that she lost the baby. He was so sad that she had to deal with the loss all alone at the time.

To Titi's surprise, her mother and sister also came to see her at the hospital. It was a great puzzle how they knew where she was admitted cause neither she nor her husband told anyone about her admission. She was scared of them. She did not eat any food they brought for her or used any of the items as well. So many times they try to get her to eat the food they brought, she would insist that she was not hungry but promised to eat it later. It was on one of these visits that Titi was woken up from sleep because she felt someone rubbing her tummy. She almost jumped out of the hospital bed, seeing her sister and mother on each side of the bed. She asked them what they were doing to her and her baby. Pulling away and covering up herself.

"Why! What are they rubbing on her tummy while she was asleep?" she yelled. "Why did you not ask first?"

Her mother replied, "It is anointing oil to ensure that her baby stays in the womb. We didn't want to wake you up. Titi you should know that I would never hurt you or your baby."

"I am okay. The doctor said it was stress which caused my high blood pressure. I will be fine," Titi told them.

"You have always been a stubborn child, and it's your father's fault, he spoilt you. And he took you away from me allowing his sister to brainwash you so that you don't listen to me your mother. They have made me your enemy, and now you don't trust me," She cried.

This upsets Titi because she knows they were crocodile tears. Her mother was manipulative and good at emotional blackmails.

"Mammy, please let's go.  Obviously, she does not need our help." Tolu responding. She hated Titi. She did not understand why her mother made so much fuss about her.

Her husband walked in just on time and politely asked them to leave, let his wife get some rest. He appreciated them always coming to see his wife. Once they were gone, Titi broke down crying and told him how she was woken up from sleep by her mother applying some ointment on her tummy, claiming it would keep the baby safe. He quickly called on a nurse to check her blood pressure, which had risen again. The doctor had to administer a mild sedative for her to sleep.

She found it difficult sleeping, always afraid that the black clouds would come to take her baby while she was asleep. She was too stressed out. Her anxiety grew, she eventually lost the baby. Titi was inconsolably. It was a great loss. She felt so defeated and once again wished she could just die. Her mother and sister kept pressurizing Titi that they could help her the traditional way and kept bring food and drinks, but she turned them down and begged the doctor not to allow any more visitors except her husband. When she went back home refused to let her mother or sister into her home. She would often pretend not to be home while they banged on the gate. After a couple of times, they got the message and stopped bugging her.