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To err is human.... That is the justification for our mistakes.
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Obanma almost laughed at the change in Nnamdi's demeanor as he spelt out the words for his wife the second time.

Her aunt appeared like she had gotten a seizure from the news.

"How is this possible? Did you fill Abia state?"

Obanma hesitantly nodded, her eyes trailing the her aunt's shabby appearance. She had noticed how her bra seemed to hang low beneath her T-shirt. She tried as much as possible to hide the discomfort she felt standing in front of them.

" Daa I had to, I applied late and most centres here in Enugu were filled up."

Agatha knew the cause of her delay and only stared at her husband who gently caressed her shoulder.

"How are we supposed to let you go back there?" Agatha felt quite terrified, she hadn't expected life to throw her niece back to a place where their lives were at risk. The words the elder at the Palace told her years ago still haunted her.

Her visits at the prison only worsened such fears.

" I can stay with any of your friends living there, that's if you don't want me to stay in our house"

"Mba o! You are not not spending a single night in that house. Your uncle and I will find a way even if it means you spending nights in the hotel. Besides I don't want any of those people seeing you"

Nnamdi rendered his support with a swift nod as his wife spoke.

"We just have three days to my exam day" Obanma added as she made her way towards the hot pot of Banga stew. Her stomach had begun to grumble and her mouth water as the aroma danced around her nostrils.

"Yes.. I can see it on the paper. It says you're writing from 8am till 11am. Hope you're prepared?"

"Yes uncle I am, but then one can never be fully prepared for these things" Obanma stirred the pot of stew, fishing out a chunk of meat.

Daa Agatha seemed too distressed to notice and Nnamdi too focused on the slip to care.

A buzz on the table startled Obanma and the meat fell into the pot, while Agatha moved past her husband to get the object.

"Hello, Nne how are you? Ọrụ kwanu? How's work?"

Nnamdi raised a brow in enquiry while Agatha mouthed Adaugo causing a wide grin to spread on the man's face.

"They are here with me... Yes ooo It came out today my dear, hmm Umuikpo. I said that too, she would stay at a hotel if we don't find someone. How is Chijioke?"

"Adaugo is it only your aunty that you will talk to today? eh" Nnamdi practically screamed into his wife's ear causing her to chuckle.

"Obanma If you take one more meat from that pot, I'll make you stay at Chidiogo's for your examination" Agatha warned sternly as she caught a glimpse of her niece stealing meat from her pot of stew.

"Yes oo, biko ooo speak to your husband o before he jumps into my phone"

Nnamdi grabbed his wife's phone with a grin as Obanma came to hide behind him.

Agatha quickly covered the pot of stew and fished out plates which they would use.

She shook her head in amusement as she heard Obanma yell into the phone her uncle was using.

"Daa you have not sent the money ooo, tell Dee Chukwudi he's still owing me too. Hope you people will come home for my graduation? I don't want to hear stories oo!"

Nnamdi practically shooed her away as he proceeded to enquire about Adaugo's boyfriend.

Obanma helped her aunt serve their food while her uncle kept discussing over the phone with Adaugo. She had become the closest to him out of the three and they mostly spoke about her boyfriends.

"I knew it!" Nnamdi exclaimed excitedly earning himself a glare from his wife.

"That's how the two of you will be gossiping! Something I should be doing with her"

"It's going to be our secret! Take care of yourself nne. Let me go and eat with these jealous females around me"

Agatha could still hear her niece's laughter till she ended the call.

They ate her meal of rice and banga stew together, reminiscing on times when Chijioke and Adaugo were around.

Obanma was the only one who cleared the plates while her aunt went away with her husband. She knew they were going to discuss about the examination center and quite possibly finish what they started in their kitchen.

She chuckled to the thought and went about her duty.

"Don't you think she's too young to go there alone?" Agatha began as she applied powder all over her body after having her bath.

"She is almost Eighteen, she's not too small. I know why you're worried but Ezeani assured me that he'll take care of her."

Nnamdi had connected with his friend who lived in Umuikpo and he agreed to let Obanma stay in his house with his family.

"It is just that... She is.. She's just"

"She's all grown up too... Sometimes it's hard to believe. I miss those days when she'd run into our room and crawl onto our beds. Or when she'd come to knock at our door because she wants to eat..." Nnamdi's statement was interrupted by a loud knock on their door and a voice

" Daa! Uncle do you want to eat that chocolate in the fridge? "

The couple broke into laughter as her question reached their hearing.

" No! You can have it"Nnamdi yelled while Obanma beamed excitedly

" She still does this thing, she hasn't changed" Agatha declared with a chuckle "Nna m do you think we'll ever get used to them being away? The house hasn't felt the same since Chijioke and Adaugo left and now Obanma would soon gain admission. I feel ambivalent. Is that bad?"

"Of course not" Nnamdi declared as he stood from their bed to meet his wife. She took a bit of the powder on her face and applied them on his cheek. He playfully tugged her chin and she laughed.

"We've raised these children, it's not bad to feel a sense of loss but that's life. It's a phase we must face inugo"

Agatha nodded slowly as he nibbled her chin with his teeth causing her to laugh. He quickly picked her up and carried her to bed with her hands secured around his neck.

"I don't like it when we fight and I am truly sorry for keeping Iheanyị a secret" Agatha slowly caressed her husband's bare back and stared at him with concern.

"I don't either and I shouldn't have reacted the way I did...... I almost forgot!" He scrambled out of the bed and went into the Kitchen to retrieve his gift.

Agatha was quite amused when her husband arrived, she had scanned him from head to toe noting the parts of his body she had successfully applied the powder.

" Now that is what I love" Nnamdi huskily declared climbing on to the bed

"What exactly?"

"A happy wife on my bed" He quickly placed the wrapped item on Agatha's hand which she unfolded immediately. Patience was a virtue she struggled with.

She saw a necklace and ear rings and almost teared up. Training the children had made her deny herself pleasures of buying herself jewelry which she died enjoy purchasing.

"Thank you so much, I love them" She replied with glee

"I love you" Nnamdi blurted out on a quite wistful note

Agatha noticed this as her eyes searched his but he smiled and placed a kiss on her lips.

"Thank you for being my wife"

"You shouldn't be thanking me, I love you. It was either you or Alexander Onukwube."

Nnamdi couldn't contain his laughter as he pounced on his wife and attacked her with kisses.

"His big mouth wouldn't let him kiss you properly, not like I do" He whispered into her ears causing a tingle to spread from her head to her toes.

Nnamdi slowly helped his wife out of her nightdress, blessing each part of her skin exposed with kisses till she lay beneath him completely bare.

Agatha released a small chuckle as the hunger in her husband's eyes flared. It brought strange memories to her heart.

Nnamdi slowly moved from her legs till their faces almost touched.

"I'm still waiting for Obinna who is supposedly arriving at our house" Agatha teased

"I think my mother sent him away with the prayer sessions" He replied with a chuckle.

"I think..." Agatha began

"That you should kiss your husband" Nnamdi finished with a grin.

They made love so many times that night till exhaustion drove them to sleep with Agatha's dreams filled with moments from the twin's dedication where she became their god mother. She held Obinna to her chest while the little boy smiled at her releasing goo on her cloth. A supposed blessing for single women.

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Obanma's travel box had been stuffed with snacks and cereals as she prepared to go to Umuikpo. Her daa had made sure to provide her with enough items to last her for a week. Nnamdi gave her money with a phone with which they would be communicating.

She could tell how terrified they were with letting her go on her own and almost rolled her eyes when series of advice came about life and examinations.

Chíjíoke and Adaugo had called to pray for her and encourage her as well.

Nnamdi's mother also prayed for one whole hour causing Obanma's ear to redden from holding the phone to her ear for long.

Agatha and Nnamdi drove Obanma to the bus terminal and helped board a bus. Obanma quite embarrassed as they asked certain questions in front of other passengers who couldn't contain their amusement.

She had groaned inwardly and prayed for them to leave. She could still see the anxiety written over Agatha's face as they bade her farewell. It made her want to prove to them that she could handle herself quite well.

They had barely moved out of the state before a young man who sat beside her scooted closer to her seat, offering a smile which she didn't reciprocate.

She already knew why he had moved closer and waited patiently for him to preach the sermon he had prepared.

"Honestly I feel like your soul is speaking to me"

Here we go again " were her thoughts as he incessantly chirped about his self accomplishments.

Owning shops in Onitsha main market seemed to only throw her off the more.

It did amuse Obanma that his eyes seemed be focused on her bosom the whole time he spoke. Maybe her soul was on her cleavage.

Having endured his incessant rant for an hour, she fished out her headset and fixed it on her head. Gently adjusting the ear muffs to abate any sound from entering her eardrum.

Obamma arrived Umuikpo earlier than she anticipated, She made her way to Ezeani's house which was at the outskirts of the village much to her relief. She had become quite concerned and terrified when memories of her past came flooding.

Ezeani and his family took her in and made her feel quite comfortable. He had been a lecturer at the same school as his uncle before he chose his agro-business over lecturing.

Her aunt had called almost immediately to ascertain her safe arrival. Obanma studied day and night in preparation for her computer based examination. The availability and efficiency of the computers to be used was of concern to her, because she had been posted to a school in the village.

Some of her seniors who were writing with her had complained of faulty computers and sometimes how some never came on. It was typical of the corrupt system in the country. Provisions weren't made to boost educational standards but funds were hoarded by kleptomaniacs who posed as leaders.

The next day Obanma had read till her head felt heavy and after much contemplation decided to stroll around familiar places in the village.

Ezeani's children were busy flying kites in the windy afternoon, Kites they had constructed with nylons and brooms with thread.

She had walked a long distance, till she remembered her Daa's stern warning. Apparently her life was at risk? But was it when people couldn't recognize her?

She could vaguely remember some places and had to ask strangers direction.

Her village had truly changed and she felt like an stranger looking through a window.

She passed a route that brought memories dancing through her head.

She had been instructed by Adaugo and Chijioke to run with Obinna. She had given her brother a distance before she realized that his defective legs was a hindrance and decided to stall for him to catch up.

Obinna had ended up falling face flat at her feet and they decided they had run enough.

Obanma chuckled a little fighting the tears that glistened in her eyes. She often wondered how Obinna would have looked like if he hadn't died.

Her feet came to a halt when she saw a familiar bush. She could still picture Obinna calling out to her like when they were children.

"Obanma bia wa! Come! " He excitedly beamed as his tummy hopped up and down while he made his way into the bush in search of Adaugo.

Obanma had worn her sister 's pant which was twice her size and had to tie knots continually to keep it from falling.

"Oba! Mee osiso! Be fast!"

She could see her little self run into the bush behind Obinna whose protective instinct even at a tender age, made him walk in front with her trailing behind. Her feet began to move into the bush as if she was being called there.

They picked up bangers in the bush whilst yelling their sister's name.

A banger exploded and Obanma gripped Obinna's hand who laughed heartily.

They made their way to a part of the bush that had an achicha tree with lots of its fruit visible. She couldn't control her craving and suggested the idea to Obinna who eagerly agreed.

They dropped the bangers they had picked while Obinna bent low for his sister to climb on.

He danced around with her on his shoulder as she tried to cut the fruit.

"Have you gotten it?" He yelled and she could tell the strain on his body was building.

"Mba o! Chere nu, I'll get it" She assured him as she clung to the tree while Obinna's legs grew wobbly.

The two of them had fallen almost immediately and she laughed at how ridiculous they must have appeared. Obinna was her one true partner.

She was quite surprised to see herself standing at the exact spot, except the fact that the achịcha tree had grown bigger and longer but her craving hadn't quite reduced.

She searched for and item to get one fruit before a grunt startled her.

She saw a dirty looking old man who bared his teeth in a laughter that terrified her.

The man was mad!

She stared around, feeling incredibly uncomfortable and stupid for wandering around alone. She had once heard stories of mad men raping and physically abusing women.

The mad man laughed again before he charged at her. Obanma ran like her life depended on it, dropping items on the way and glancing with her eyes to ascertain if the mad man was gaining on her.

For a while it seemed she had outrun him and decided to hide beneath a heap of leaves.

She prayed silently for him to leave and was glad to see him pass. She gently crept out of the leaves but halted when she heard what sounded like a clap. She turned to see a young man standing in front of the mad man and saw it as ample opportunity to chase him away.

She saw a twig lying beneath a tree, collected it and charged at the mad man. Giving him strokes of the rough twig on his bare buttocks.

The mad man only laughed before he walked away leaving behind the young man. She barely had a good look at him as she started removing the dirt on her body.

Somehow she felt genuinely comfortable around the stranger and they conversed for a while. He had even gotten achicha for her.

The young man seemed quite attractive and somehow vaguely familiar. Her eyes noted how handsome his beards made him look. She had never been a fan of men with beards, but it seemed the stranger was an exception. They all seemed to resemble gorillas.

She could tell the stranger liked her already and was genuinely interested in getting to know him. His eyes seemed so familiar and she appreciated the fact that he did smell incredibly nice.

He hadn't made any direct move to get her number or ask her out which was what most men would have jumped to and it impressed her.

"I didn't even get to ask your name" Obanma stated as she climbed the motorcycle struggling to stop herself from glaring at the men who were staring inappropriately at her.

"Onyedikachi"

The stranger had mentioned and it dawned on her who it was.

She remembered the times she spent with him and could place why the eyes seemed too familiar. They were the same eyes that had betrayed her. The same eyes, hers had searched hoping to get vindicated from the accusation of being a thief.

The same eyes that had lied!

Disappointed and angry she told the okada man to move and he did while she swore never to talk to him again.

She had reached their house in the evening and barely had time to look around. She didn't want to be reminded of the pain of losing her family in a day.

She tried opening their door but the rusty iron door didn't bulge.

Obanma made her way back to Ezeani's with hopes of never coming back to that part of the village again.

The next day, she had hurriedly left to write her examinations and was quite please when it turned out to be paper test. It seemed the school was quite honest for one.

The questions were not too easy but she did give her best. She was tested in English language, Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

Chemistry, English and Biology were quite easy for her but physics took ample time. She could see so many students involving themselves in malpractice and even caught wind of teachers who supplied the students with answers after being paid.

The young lady beside her seemed utterly confused and she tried helping her out with English and Chemistry which were the only two courses they had in common. Their question papers bore different alphabets on them, called paper types. They had similar questions but different numbering system.

The lady was quite thrilled after the examination. Obanma made a new friend that day, they exchanged contact information and she quickly left the school premises to avoid being trailed by hormonal teenage boys.

She heaved a sigh of relief after she left the gate without being stopped. The old gate keeper had called her Oyinbo and she smiled at the nickname her complexion garnered for her.

The gate clicked shut and she quickly searched through her bag to fish out her phone. She wanted to tell her aunt all about her examination. Her hands halted their movements when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Obanma"

She was shocked to see him standing behind her.

"Obanma" He called out again and she only stared at him, a big scowl creeping to her face.

"It is me, Onyedikachi.... Onyi " He continued as he closed the distance between them.

"Unfortunately, I do know who you are" She replied mentally preparing herself for any trouble that would suffice.

"Do you want to talk?" He questioned with some sort of plea in his eyes and she found much to her dismay her anger melting away.

"That's my thing" She replied trying to sound gruff.

"I know" He replied with a smile"It always worked on me"

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Hello everyone!

How are we doing?

Hope we enjoyed this chapter! Finally our babies meet once again!