The whole family was seated in front of the television, staring at the newscasters, rallies of men and women protesting outside establishments. A young journalist could be seen describing the reasons for the current situation at those places.

"The indefinite warning strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour congress recorded total compliance in Umuahia , the capital of Abia State , on Thursday .
Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise , reported that at about 9 am students of Government Primary and Post - Primary Schools in the State where seen leaving their school premises .

A teacher who granted audience to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said the authority asked the staff and students to go in line with the directives from the NLC .
When our correspondent visited the federal and state secretariats at Ogurube layout in Umuahia , the complexes were under lock and key .
Some civil servants who had reported for work in the morning were seen leaving the two complexes .
At the state high court complex on Ikot -Ekpene Road , Umuahia , lawyers and their clients were seen standing in front of the court with its gate locked.
A legal practitioner identified as Mr Uzoma Nwaigwe , said the exercise stopped the hearing of a case involving one of his clients .

“ I came to represent my client who has been in detention for over three weeks , he was supposed to be charged to court today so that he can regain his freedom , but unfortunately the court is on strike and the police have no option but to take him back to the cell .
“ I heard that NLC is on strike and the association of judiciary workers complied with the strike ,” the man said.

Obi understood exactly what the man felt because they were also in a similar situation.

"Obi I thought you said it's eight months, they are saying it's indefinite" Chioma hinted

"That was what barrister Daniel told me, it seems to be worse than what he said"

"I doubt that it'll last that long Obi, let's just relax, everything will turn out well" Obiefune assured the two ladies who were more interested in what was happening on the screen

Chief Ben Torty, who came to the court for the hearing of a matter involving his community , expressed disappointment that the matter could not come up because of the strike action .
He however said the NLC was fighting a just cause because government workers had been suffering for a long time under the current wage being paid to them .
He said, “ The strike affected our matter because the government is involved and the court is involved too , we will wait until the court resumes and we will take another date for the hearing .
“ The government should increase the minimum wage because the Nigerian masses have been suffering for a long time , particularly in Abia State .” The man was clearly frustrated with the look on his face and spoke passionately from what Obi deduced

The young newscaster continued
"Meanwhile in the federal capital territory Abuja, the protests made by the Nigerian labour congress has led to lock down of  the Supreme Court here at the FCT. Our Correspondent Ikechukwu Nnochiri has more of the details

The children did not understand why they were subjected to watching men talk and opted to change the Television channel, earning both of them a scolding from their mother.

ABUJA – Courts and other justice related institutions within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, were on Thursday, shut down by officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, in compliance with the indefinite strike that was declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
Locked out of their offices by the striking workers, included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of both the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court, as well as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges, lawyers and litigants were equally denied entry into any court within the FCT.

Aside the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, other places currently locked down by the protesting workers are the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Industrial Court, the Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and the National Human Rights Commission.
Commercial banks within the premises of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal Ministry of Justice were equally affected as labour officials ensured that all the gates remained under lock and keys.
The NLC had directed its members and affiliate unions to commence a nationwide strike on Thursday.

The NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said the industrial action was necessitated by Federal Government’s refusal to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it to conclude its work.
The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 from the current national minimum wage of N18,000.
Wabba directed all workers and private sector at all levels across the country to comply with the down-tool order.
“All public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises, including filling station, are to remain shut till further notice,” the labour leader ordered.

In compliance with the directive, JUSUN asked its members to shutdown courts nationwide to press home their demand for a new minimum wage.
President of JUSUN, Mr. Marwan Adamu, who gave the directive in Abuja, maintained that effective from Thursday, all courts in the country must remain closed, pending a counter instruction from the national Secretariat of the union.

Ikechukwu Nnochiri AIT

Obi's phone rang immediately and she excused herself.

"Yes, Good morning sir. Yes we've been watching the news. I don't even know what to do. It affected all the courts across the nation. Let's just wait for Barrister Daniel to clarify us.
Obiefune is around, I'll tell him about it"
Mr Igwe was very disconcerted with the news he had heard. Obi could tell with the way he was yelling. He decided he wanted to speak with Obiefune about it and asked that he meets him afterwards.

Everyone else had dispersed from the living room except Obiefune when Obi returned . Obi sat on the seat with her hands on her face and her elbows resting on her thigh.

"I'm sorry about this but I do not believe the strike will even last more than a month" Obiefune stated moving closer to where she sat.

"it is just that, if we lose everything, I don't even know what to do"

"Obi don't worry, you should not be worrying too much in this condition. Everything will be fine, I promise you"

Obi nodded holding on to the words like an anchor.

"So I think you actually misunderstood what I was telling you yesterday." Obiefune began

"What?" Obi sat up stretching her legs, she began to rub them after she felt a slight pain.

"Are you getting cramps?" Obiefune enquired and Obi nodded

"I can help you with that" He stated as  he sat on the floor and began to massage her legs. Obi was thankful that her legs hadn't started to swell up, like her previous pregnancy and enjoyed the soothing effects of Obiefune's ministration.

He stroked her legs and rubbed her skin in circles which ended up sending tingles up her spine.  Obi gave a soft moan before she cleared her throat hoping Obiefune didn't hear what had happened.

He must have not because he continued with his prior explanation. "I was speaking of what we talked about yesterday"

Obi couldn't speak as her brain became fogged with sensations. " mmmhmmm" Somehow Obi's mind wandered to the first time she had gotten a similar treatment from Obiefune and blushed furiously. She could remember how embarrassed she felt and while she stared at Obiefune doing almost the same thing she felt her heart would burst out of their chest.
Obi zoned out staring at his face, his mouth which was moving but she could not even make out the words he was speaking.

"That's what's going on between us" Obiefune finished, drawing Obi out of her thoughts.

"Are you okay? Ọ gịnị? Why are you staring at me like that?" Obiefune enquired suddenly aware of her serious gaze

"Yes, yes I am. That's fine I know that you are... Ummm cool with her. Thank you so much for the massage" Obi replied not even aware of the explanations he made

"Obi, how was it with the boys? I just can't help but imagine how it must have been for you. And a huge part of me wishes that I could have been there with you when you had them" Obiefune stated on a somber note

Obi held his hand and smiled. "You would have lost your sanity. It was not   easy, I used to have these strange cravings. Do you know that I once ate Akara with crackers biscuit?"

Obiefune was amused by her revelation and fell into a fit of laughter. "Chineke! What kind of combination is that"

"There was one time, Benjamin had to scour Enugu in search of moi moi very late at night" The memory made Obi's smile to fade

Obiefune caressed her face "You miss him don't you?"

Obi nodded before she continued "The hardest part was delivery, I went to hell and came back. I had bruises on my lips from biting my lips so hard. I could taste the blood but the pain was nothing compared to what I felt in my lower abdomen"

Obiefune suddenly grew somber.
"Ọ gịnị?" Obi enquired noting his change in demeanor

"o nweghị, it is just I feel bad in a way. Obi you were so young and I got you pregnant. To top it all I wasn't even there and you went through so much to have our sons. What if something had happened to you? What if there were complications during the delivery? What if.. "

" It wasn't your fault and nothing happened. Benjamin was there remember? And I was 19years old when I had them, so stop blaming yourself for nothing. Besides I wouldn't have gotten pregnant if I took the pills you gave me. "

Obiefune's eyes widened out of shock.
" You didn't take the pills? "
Obi shook here head" I thought I did but I didn't "

" That's how it happened ,I used to think the pills didn't work. I do owe Benjamin a lot. I still picture how small you were and I try to imagine how you looked when you were pregnant" Obiefune chuckled then added "Tata"

Obi's eyes widened out of shock when she heard him call her Tata.

"Wha. What did you just say?"

"Nothing o!" Obiefune replied chuckling "The next thing is for you to start telling me how you were an adult"

Obi smiled "I was an adult and I am an adult"

"You are a baby jare" Obiefune smiled at her and caressed her palm before he averted his gaze. He opened his mouth to say something but shut it immediately and shook his head. Obi noticed his hesitancy to speak

"Is there something else?"

Obiefune nodded and gave a nervous chuckle. "I was wondering if you would allow me feel them. I know I'm not their father, it is just that I want to have that experience and I'd completely understand if you don't agree"

Obi could see how tensed he was making the request, then she agreed.
"Don't expect a kick"

Obiefune smiled, he was elated that his request was granted.

Obi quickly adjusted her shirt so that her baby bump was bare to him and he observed her stomach. In a way Obi was amused with the level of excitement she saw in his eyes but he was hesitant to touch her. Obiefune drew in deep breaths and gently placed his shaky hands on her stomach.

He threw Obi another smile and she could feel the tremors that filled his hands. "Relax, you are probably scaring them with your vibrating hands" Obi teased causing Obiefune to withdraw his hands

"I'm joking, it's fine, it just feels.... funny."

Obiefune placed his hands back on her stomach and ran them along the edges of her bump before progressing upward. Obi gasped from the strange pleasure she was getting from his touch, she did need to get her body to quell its level of excitement.

" Obi this feels good, imakwa I just never believed I'd do this you know, I thought that I was going to end up old and alone" Obiefune ranted, then looking up to meet her gaze he declared "Thank you"

Obi smiled sweetly at him before replying "You're welcome"

Their eyes locked for an instant and Obi thought she saw what she used to see in his eyes before, love. She quickly averted her gaze, in the bid to avoid disappointment but instead they fell on his lips and later on his hand . Obiefune tilted her chin, so that she would focus on his face, Obi tried to speak, to say something but her lips refused to move. He slowly tilted his face forward, closing the distance between them. Obi could feel his breath on her face and her eyes shut of their own volition while her lips patted.

Obiefune's lips had almost met hers before the door bell rang startling the both of them. Obi quickly got to her feet with the help of Obiefune, before he went to usher their visitor in.

She made her way to her children's room where she saw Chioma on corridor. It seemed as if she had been spying on she and Obiefune and had an annoying smile plastered on her face.

"ọkwa tomorrow, you'll start telling me, he doesn't love me, it is just attraction."

Obi glared at Chioma before walking past her while she began to laugh.

There may be truth in what Chioma was saying after all. Obi also thought of the nickname that had been slipping off Obiefune's lips often. Did it mean anything? Was Benjamin trying to tell her something?

Obi had barely spent minutes in her children's room before she remembered what her father in law had told her to relay to Obiefune.

She quickly moved to sitting room because her father in law had given her the time and the venue where they were supposed to meet each other.

Obi approached the room and was shocked when she saw Obiefune kissing Alison. She didn't wait and didn't want them to know she had been there so she quickly turned and diverted to the kitchen.

Something about seeing the two of them made Obi heartbroken and angry. Obiefune had tried to kiss her few minutes ago and now was kissing another woman who was by far prettier than she was. Obi realized that she had made a mistake by thinking that somehow he still cared for her. Maybe all he wanted was to prove that she was sexually attracted to him. Maybe this was his own way of getting back at her. Obi wiped her tears and began to slice a ball of  cabbage that she had no idea what she was to do with.

She sent her son Chukwuemeka to pass the info across to Obiefune and avoided him for the rest of the day.

She went back to her room and decided she was going to sleep there even if she saw Benjamin's ghost walking around.

Obi had her dinner in her bedroom and was about to sleep when she heard a knock on her door. She slowly walked to the door and ushered Obiefune who was standing outside in.

"Are you okay? You've been here since I came back. I met uncle Igwe and we talked"

"That's good, a dị mma. I am just tired"

"Emm, Obi about what happened today I just wanted to tell you that I think..." He  began scratching his head

"It was a mistake, I know Obiefune. Listen we shouldn't complicate things between us especially if we don't have any intention of getting married to each other. It won't happen again, I promise" Obi  interrupted

Obiefune was shocked, he didn't think of anything as a mistake. He wanted to tell her that he loved her and would go along with what Benjamin stated after having heard a lot from his uncle. The old man pleaded with Obiefune to marry Obi and make adjustments so that his grandchildren would get their inheritance.

After what transpired between them earlier Obiefune had thought they were on the same page and felt something for each other. He also wanted to reveal to her that he was traveling to Lagos because of his new book which under review and the previous one that was being considered as Jamb prose.

He was hurt by what she had said. Obiefune felt stupid, he never did learn anything from what happened between them before. She was still very much in love with Benjamin. She had even stated that she missed him. Earlier today he had even turned down Alison's proposal of being her lover because he felt that there still something between him and Obi. Unfortunately he was wrong, maybe he shouldn't have even pushed Alison away when she kissed him.

"Yes, you are right. It was a mistake" Obiefune stated after clearing his throat.

"I came to tell you that I'll be going to Lagos tomorrow, I'll be spending about two months there. The strike affected the publishing company where my book is being reviewed. But I was directed to come with my editor and we would be doing most of the work there. "

" Ọ di mma, that's very good. I will put you in prayers. "

Obiefune's phone fell on the floor as he struggled to place it in his trouser pocket, disconcerted with the words Obi had told him and he quickly stooped low to pick it up. A necklace dangled on his neck, which must have been hidden beneath his collar. Obi noted the semblance it had with the one she had received as a gift.

" Did it break? "

" No, it didn't. It's fine, I'll be leaving very early in the morning. Take care of the boys, everyone and take care of yourself too. I'll be communicating with the lawyer about everything till they decided to call off the strike"

Obi nodded and he gave her a forced smile. The two of them stared silently at each other while Obi noted how awkward it felt.

"Ike agwụla m, ị am very tired. I'll see you tomorrow" She stated while Obiefune made his way to the door.

"Ka chi foo" He hesitantly spoke and she replied

"Ka chi foo"

Obi walked to her bed and prayed for sleep to come. The turmoil in her heart soon drove her to tears and she thought of the possibility of what happened in the past happening again. What if two months turned out to be more than that? What if he decides to elope with Alison?What if Chioma had been right? Was the gift a peace offering? What if Obiefune had conflicted feelings like she did in the past? Did Obiefune really love her? Did the gift mean he loved her? Obi wished she knew the answers to all her questions.

She slept very late because of so much thinking and when she rushed down to bid Obiefune farewell, hoping to question him about the gift, she discovered that he had already gone.

************************************

I don't know why I have a bad feeling about Obiefune leaving.
What do you think?

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