Unsteady Storm

Chapter Twenty-nine

A month and some days later.

"Dear God, thank you for the salvation of my soul, thank you for being merciful upon me and my family members including Ije who left me for some time now... I don't want to believe we are divorced and that she will die.. because you are the only one that determines our faith... Please grant her a safe delivery even if she doesn't forgive me but please keep her alive for me..." Tears slipped down his eyes.

".... And bless our forthcoming child in Jesus name I pray"

"Amen" Dumaga said standing by the door.

Nedu opened his eyes and smiled at her. "How long have you been here?"

"I don't want to believe we are divorced part" she smiled back.

Nedu shrugged. "How's Papa?"

"He has eaten... He asked me to check up on you"

Nedu was in Dumaga's house where he had been since Joelle made him to give his life to Christ even when she was still a sinner.

"Okay, I'll come down to greet him, let me freshen up first"

George barged into the room and jumped on Nedu.

"Say good morning, will you?" Dumaga scolded.

"Gud morni'" George greeted shyly.
He had only started talking and wasn't confident with his words yet.

"Good morning dear, how was your night?"

"Fine!" He replied excitedly.

"Alright... George come here, your uncle needs to brush his teeth"

They left.

"Thank you for my sister's family too" Nedu added with his eyes upwards.

He brushed his teeth and went downstairs.

"Good morning, Papa" he greeted.

"Good morning my son, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine sir"

He shook hands with Dumaga's husband who was playing video games in the sitting room.

"My own personal in-law" Dumaga's husband hailed while Nedu laughed.

"Aren't you going to work today?"

"Today is your wife's delivery date, isn't it?"

"More like death day" Nedu chuckled.

"Why are you talking like this now? Have you lost faith? You were rapping Bible for us na"

"I have lost faith but I have hope"

Dumaga's husband laughed. "You are  very funny.... See how you want to confuse this dumb brain of mine?
..... Hey, they have won me in my own game"

Nedu burst into laughter.

***
Neche handed her baby to Dumaga while going over to push Ije into the delivery room. Ije gave one last look at Nedu who was muttering words of prayer. They weren't in speaking terms because no matter how he apologized, Ije always closed the door at his face.

But he wasn't going to give up because Ije was not going to die. He called the group together.... Himself, Dumaga, her husband, George, Anulika, Ike, Papa, Lotanna and his wife, Tobe, Ije's mother, Sinachi, Darrell, his boss at the bank and finally Ije's younger brother and only sibling who just arrived, Junior.

"Our prayer is in Jesus name!"

"Amen!!!!"

"Almighty father....."

***
Seven hours had passed yet no news from Ije. Most of them had left promising to return, the only people left were Nedu, Sinachi, Anulika, Mama and Junior. Dumaga had gone to check on her shop.

The doctor came out and Mama followed him.... "Where's my daughter?"

"We are trying to keep her concious for now.... Nurse... Prepare the operation room"

Mama turned up her nose. "Which one is operation room again?"

"At the rate she's going, I don't think she can keep up any longer? She's very weak to keep on pushing and her blood pressure is high" he explained.

"If Ije dies, I'll kill you"

"I want her alive as much as you do... She's one of my favorite nurses"

"She's one of my favorite nurses" Mama micmicked with a sneer. "See how unprofessional you are, talking to me while your patient is dying inside"

The doctor was about to reply when Nedu held Mama. "I'm sorry doc, just go along"

The doctor left while Mama eyed him.
"You should have allowed me to finish him" she told Nedu.

"It's okay" Nedu sighed. "We are talking about Ije's life here"

"I know na" Mama hissed.

***
Two more hours.

He could hear her groans, she was in pain. It pierced his whole being.

They had transferred her to the operation room and he wondered why they were taking time to finish the operation and why she was still in pains even after they had given her anaesthesia.

Mama was asleep and so was Sinachi who had spread a wrapper on one of the hospital's long chairs.

Anulika was holding Neche's one month baby who had been sleeping like an innocent lamb as if aware that his mother was too busy to think of breastfeeding him.

Ike was holding their daughter.

George lay on his mother's lap sleeping.

Nedu was the only one standing and praying.

***
Still, an hour had gone but Ije was still alive, more like crying this time around.

Nedu assembled the group since it was nearly night. "I'm sorry for the inconveniences, thank you all for standing by me but I think it's time to go home now especially as most of you are tired and worn out..."

Lotanna nodded. "Let me take my wife home but I'll definitely be back" he told Nedu leaving with his wife.

"I'm not leaving here for any reason" Anulika said stubbornly when Nedu turned to her.

"What about your baby girl, she will need rest, won't she? You don't have to drag her to my problem" Nedu cajoled.

"Ike will take care of her... Besides if I go, who will look after Neche's boy? I don't know what to do with him anymore, he's been crying... Thank God, he sounds like a rat, I would have shouted at him by now"

Nedu laughed, he could not believe Anụlịka actually made him to laugh today.

"Let me go and bring food for you guys and put George to sleep" Dumaga told Nedu and her husband who had been on his phone since he came back to the hospital.

Nedu turned his eyes to Mama and Junior.

"Last thing!" She snapped without allowing him to say a word. "Not when my womb opener is still in her own labor room"

Nedu shrugged to Junior who smiled maturely. "I'm not going anywhere"

Nedu stared at Tobe who chuckled. "I'm waiting for my wife and child"

Darrell and his boss had left a long time ago and Papa too.

Nedu has repented.

Do you think Ije will die eventually?

Who else is wondering where Paula disappeared to again?

Drama is coming up in the following chapters.

Unsteady storm is about to end... If you've loved it so far... Please and I repeat.... Please drop a comment.

Vote and share to all your friends and family.

Thank you.