Obiukwu had been so agitated with Obiefune's arrival that she sought refuge in her kitchen. Chioma arrived almost immediately bringing plates with which their guests were fed. Benjamin was in a grim mood no doubt, but atleast he had achieved his aim for calling the meeting.
Obiukwu busied herself with chores to get her mind off things, her sisters and her sons seemed to preoccupied with fun to even notice guests and she didn't bother to call them.
Chioma left almost immediately and Obi had the kitchen to herself. Obi was almost certain that her worries were receding till Obiefune's mother walked into the kitchen.
Obi was startled at first as she turned to face the woman, Mrs Obiọma seemed to focused on Obi's China wares displayed in a rack to notice how uncomfortable her presence was making Obi.
"I have always loved quality plates, I have a habit of buying more plates than I use. I won't call it a flaw, it's one of my hobbies besides tending to the sick."
Obi smiled at her not knowing what to say but Obiefune's mother continued "You know I told my husband that I wanted to use the restroom and Benjamin insisted that his lovely wife accompanies me to do the deed. I can see how much he adores you, my nephew. Although I wonder if his mother, my sister would have approved of you"
Obi saw that she had a lot on her mind to let out, so she granted the woman her full attention leaving the dishes in the metal sink.
"You know when you were younger, whenever my husband and my children visited they would sing tales about you. Nwata ọma, the girl who takes care of people, who was selfless and hardworking. I used to respect you and often I found myself being terrified by the rate at which my children clung to you.
Chioma would say she doesn't do a certain thing because Obiukwu advised so, Obiefune onye nke ahụ, he practically worshipped you. Then my husband decides to top it off with how hardworking you are. I must tell you, I really wanted to meet you.
Not until I saw my son on that hospital bed crying, Do you know how it feels to see your child in so much pain and there's absolutely nothing you can do for them? I had to make decision of either removing his future generations or keeping him paralyzed and it's all because he claimed he loves you. It's funny how that played out, you got married to my nephew, his cousin and you have two sons with him and Obiefune has nothing!
Obiukwu wanted to cut in but she felt it wasn't her place to do so.
"So forgive me if I'm not particularly thrilled to be around you, Obi do you sleep well at night? Do you know how difficult it is for Obiefune to do so. For months he had the same night mare on repeat, my son's life was destroyed. He had a bright future! He should have been a doctor with kids now, just like you. He was so depressed that he chose to be a writer, I mean how many Nigerian writers feed well! Is that even a career?
I had hoped he would have moved on but my idiotic offspring of a son decided to lurk around just because of you. "
" H.. He is not here because of me, he's here because your nephew who you all abandoned, is dying" Obiukwu replied trying to hide her emotions. She cleared her throat
"Benjamin is not dying, he has sickle cell anaemia, which he has been able to manage for years."
"it's worse than that, but he should be the one telling you. I'm really sorry about what happened to Obiefune. I can't imagine how you must have felt, but honestly putting all the blame on me is not right. Obiefune has always had a passion for writing, I know this because of all the books in my store that came from him, some he bought, some from your shelf. I had no idea Obiefune had not traveled before the accident happened, I only found out about everything few weeks ago.
"Well that does not restore his testicle, I don't know what it is that you've done to him that made him decide to stay here, but you have to undo it! I will not have my son heartbroken and almost dead for the second time! Whatever obsession he still carries about for you needs to end"
YOU ARE READING
Against All Odds
Romance"What is your name? " he enquired with a staid expression. Obi's eyes roamed around still trying to ascertain the safety of their current surrounding. Her lips were still quivering out of shock and her breathing distorted. "Obiukwu" She finally le...
