Against All Odds

Chapter sixty one: A parting gift

Obiefune met Chioma downstairs as he came to pick his things and leave. Mma requested for a cup of the herb he had been preparing for her and he went to the kitchen after putting on a shirt. Ifenna and Oluebube were playing with the boys in their room and Tobe was in the kitchen when Obiefune came in.

He observed Obiefune's countenance and kept to himself. Chioma kept Mma Company while the Old woman told her stories which Chioma struggled to understand. Her speeches were not coordinated and soon Chioma was subjected to applying Aboniki balm on her legs.

Obi's father sent Ifenna to call her and she rushed into the bathroom to prevent ifenna from seeing the state she was in. The girl relayed the message to Obi while she washed her face with water. Obi came down and met Obiefune serving mma a drink, Chioma was busy with Mma's legs and her father seemed to be patiently waiting for her.

She glanced at the pair taking care of mma, Obiefune caught her stare and averted his eyes. He had already decided to leave after he finished with mma. Her father called her out of the house where they sat on a chair and began to discuss.

"I've spoken with some of our kinsmen, Chukwudi has agreed to pay a certain amount of money for his mother's atonement, they would buy some items for that. They were adamant to allowing her continue her stay at the village. It was either that or Chukwudi would be excommunicated as a member of the society and his father's lands would be turned to a communal land. He has agreed to leave with his mother. Dee Ogbo has decided to take of that of Nkem and her sisters, even that which affected Tobe.

He feels somewhat guilty about your mother's demise"
Obi's father paused for a while then continued speaking. "That's not why I wanted to speak with you, I was hoping your sisters would come over to your house, their mother is ill and I don't want them to be around her. I know that you're not very fond of Janet or the girls, but you have to understand that they're all family. We only have each other now, we have to look out for ourselves. "

" I don't have anything against the girls, I was disappointed with how you abandoned us, then of all the women, you chose mother's friend. I won't lie to you I am still disappointed with her. They're free to come "

" ịmela nnu, how' is Benjamin? Ọ diwala mma? "Her father asked

" He is getting better, I'll be going to the hospital this morning, His  father was delayed but he's at the hospital now and I need to be with them"

Obi's father smiled at her "The young man in the house, Obiefune I think.. Mma seems to be very fond of him. He has been taking care of her and your children. I was told he's a relative of your husband, it seems they're all kind hearted.
Take Benjamin for example, I know you married him to just to spite me and also because of what happened between you two. I was so disappointed but when he spoke to me, he turned out to be more honorable than I had expected.

The boy was a known womanizer and his father used to complain bitterly about his lifestyle. I am very happy that he did right by you nne m"
Obi knew that what her father said was the truth, her intention had been to make her father angry but after she thought well she found a means to escape life in the village. Something seemed to be telling her that there was more, she was curious to know what Benjamin had told her father.

"You said he did right by me, how?"

"Obi amam, I know what happened and I don't blame you. We all grieve in different ways though at first I had hoped you wouldn't have sought comfort  underneath a man"

Obi was stunned by what her father was saying "isi gịnị, What ?"

"Obi nwam, there's no need to hide it anymore. The two of you gave me those wonderful boys and I would have been a fool to turn down his proposal. You are no longer a little girl, there's no need for me to keep pretending like I do not what pushed Benjamin into marrying you "