A  spiteful turn

"So when are we going to see her parents?" Papa Nnukwu enquired amidst his slow grinding of the chewing stick which he was to use in cleaning his teeth. The purpose of grinding the tip of the chewing stick was to make it softer for cleaning

"Very soon" Onyedikachi replied curtly, fetching a cup of water from a nearby tap for the old man to rinse his mouth.

"Soon is not a date nwa m, getting our ụmụnna together won't be a problem and I am quite eager to make this beautiful girl a part of our family" Papa Nnukwu retorted with a huge grin.

Onyedikachi couldn't help the one that appeared on his lips, thinking back to the amazing moments shared with Mma.

"She's really wonderful, isn't she?" He prodded further causing a loud uproar of laughter from the old man.

"Spoken like a truly besotted fellow. Nwa m, you are truly in love. I remember the days, Chinyelum and I would sit out in this very veranda just to stare at each other and giggle like mindless fools. I was so in love with her that even the sound of  her fart sounded like the voices the angels"

Onyedikachi cackled loudly as he reached out to pat his grandfather's wrinkly hand.

"When you've been blessed enough to feel such love nwa m and lose it, it is then that you would truly understand how empty life is without even an ounce of the same love."

Onyedikachi nodded not certain he knew the right words to speak.

"We will be needing a date Onyedika, I'm certain that you are very capable of handling whatever they request for during your marriage rites"

Onyedikachi nodded taking deep breaths still fearful of disclosing the cause of his delay.

"Papa Nnukwu... What if a member of her family did something so terrible that it affected us ........ and our families may object to the union because of that person's sin.... Would you still advice that we pursue this?" Onyedikachi's eyes slowly sought the old man's face as papa nnukwu tried to digest what he had spewed.

Deep in thoughts, the wrinkles on his face became prominent. The lines on his forehead furrowed deeper making him look older than he was.

" Onyedika.. Have you not learnt anything from all these tales?" He replied with a quizzical look

"mmmmm" Onyedikachi answered even more distracted as he couldn't take his eyes off his grandfather.

"We must never crucify people for the sins of others. If this is your way of telling me that you are afraid and probably still want to hold on to the bachelorhood... Nwa m I won't hold it against you. But I must tell you this.... One must always search for a black goat before midnight because Onyedika nwa m, Always coming, [never ready] made the toad not to sprout a tail.

Our people say that the eyes is used to tell when the corn is ripe and truly this corn is"  Papa Nnukwu's gaze wandered to where Obanma stood.
"... Beware Onyedika even the little eyes of other birds can also tell "

Onyedikachi looked away from his grandfather to catch Obanma watering the plants with Chukwuma. It appeared the two had bonded so quickly and she rarely strayed from his side except when he or pap nnukwu requested for her. A little chord of jealousy struck his heart and his gaze reached for his grandfather's solemn face. The old man was wise and Onyedikachi understood why he was lamenting on delay.

Obanma as beautiful as she was would have suitors lining up in no time and he was very certain her family would consider him the least of all that is marriageable.

Fear laced his heart as the thought of losing her to another man ran through his mind. Onyedikachi knew why he stalled, he couldn't break his grandfather's heart by revealing exactly what he meant but the old man assumed it was the pull of bachelorhood that kept him restrained.

Onyedikachi held out his hand and passed the rinsing water to the old man who had been spitting continuously like a llama . Papa nnukwu rinsed his mouth carefully removing tiny bits of the chewing stick that had laced his mouth.

"Papa Nnukwu you don't know how much I want to marry Obanma. I can't help being so drawn to her but there are so many things I fear. So you have to understand that. It is not about bacherlorhood

After all the mushroom that knows what it is doing says that its waist does not reach the ground"

The old man chuckled satisfactorily on hearing his grandson. It was exhilarating to discover that his grandchild still had proverbs to counter his. Growing up, Jonathan knew the reverence accorded to those who spoke with proverbs. Young boys attached themselves to the ancient like leaches to learn greatly from them. They were the knowledge suckers if their time and he had so instilled much of that into Chodozie. The younger generation had begun to falter from such as modernization and the western culture drowned them more and more.

"I see that Dozie my son did teach you. I was beginning to wonder if you only spoke like a child" Papa Nnukwu replied boastful. Onyedikachi found it amusing that the old man deviated from the message he passed across just because he had spouted one proverb.

"Onyedika I have seen this woman and I have not only seen but unfortunately heard how much you love her" An embarrassing blush crept unto Onyedikachi's face as papa nnukwu's voice sank into his head. It made him think of the other night when he had heard them make love.

"The only thing that will stop you from marrying her is you. Not whatever reason you struggle to share. Not an opposition from a dying old man and his kinsmen not even a battle waged by her people. We Onwuegbusi's are unfortunately as stubborn as that"He chuckled a little then patted Onyedikachi's shoulder.

"Your father was a stubborn man, he defied everything I placed against him just because he wanted to trade in Aba. I fought my son even with the ụmụnna but it only made him more headstrong. It was then I realized it was just his destiny calling out to him.

I was heartbroken when news of my son's death came to me. It made me remember so many sayings of the wise about a stubborn child but it did not matter at the time.

Chidozie had established himself and birthed two sons and in my rage I had forgotten that I was once like my son. That I had defied the east and traded in the north. I had also almost lost my life although fate was kinder on my part. Chidozie and I fought our wars well

Maybe Onyedikachi... This is your own battle with life.

No man is your God, therefore none should dictate how you should live your life or whom to spend it with irrespective of whatsoever sin Obanma's family member might have committed. I will personally accompany you to bring her here, if no one else does.

Jide ọfọ na ọgụ... And when they come at you Onyedika you boldly tell them to live and let live maka na egbe belu ugo belu nke si na ibe ya ama mbe... Nkụ kwa ya.

So I ask you again my son... When are we coming with the umunna? "

Onyedikachi gave a satisfactory smile and replied with" Once we decide". He held his grandfather's wrinkly hand and patted it.

"Papa Nnukwu, when our ụmụnna go about on their enquiry as tradition demands... Promise me that no matter the news they bring back to you that you will stand by these words you have uttered today"

Papa nnukwu gave a wry smile gazing into his grandson's eyes.

"If I live till then, then my words will be kept"

The two men sat satisfactorily in silence, gazing at Obanma and Chukwuma bickering and smiling endlessly.

"She is still a child... but there is something reassuring from her assertiveness. Her age may be young but she certainly lives like an old woman. Just like my Chinyelum.

This is why you must protect her Onyedikachi"

Onyedikachi nodded swiftly, he couldn't bear to think that his grandmother's I'll fate could befall Obanma.

Obanma sauntered to where to the men were after a brief pause in her playful exercise with Chukwuma, then called Onyedikachi aside.

"There's a test coming up tomorrow morning,Kelechi just told me. Onyi we have to leave early "

Onyedikachi's heart sank at the mention of leaving but he managed to put on a smile.

They had only spent a day in the village and he felt so at peace being around his grandfather with Obanma.

He pulled her into his arms, placed kisses on her head then whirled her around playfully.

Obanma giggled like a child as he twirled her like they were dancing to a song.

"I didn't think the news could engender such happiness" She released amidst breathless chortle, surprised by his reaction

"I'm making the most of what we have.... Lemonades" He replied with a wink causing her lips to pull apart in an enchanting smile. She loved how every moment spent with him harbored happiness even when she expected the opposite.

"Onyi It's a good thing we came" Obanma whispered as Onyedikachi finally ceased his spinning. She wrapped her hands around him, immersing herself completely into his warmth.

They stood there a long while, content with their each other's presence while Chukwuma grinned like a fool.

It was papa nnukwu's tease that pulled the couple apart as he taunted Onyedikachi of enjoying what he hadn't paid for. A woman was only truly a man's own traditionally if her dowry was paid and accepted by the lady's people.

The sun fell swiftly into the clouds drawing birds from their places of work back into their nests. Papa had ordered a keg of freshly tapped palm wine with a specially dried and roasted meat known natively as anụ ọkpọ(kpọrọ nkụ)

They ate over hilarious jokes Chukwuma told each gulping the white liquid happily. The meat, dry and taste was revered for its ability to fill the mouth once one began to chew.  It was eating little by little. Obanma also thought of the chieftaincy title which she believed was inspired by the meat "Anụ kpọrọ nkụ n'eju ọnụ" A dry meat that fills the mouth.

Obanma was the only one reticent in the merriment but papa nnukwu urged her on. The old man, she suspected had taken a liking to her and he never faltered in showing it.

He had asked Obanma multiple times if she was enjoying herself and many times he enquired of how she saw his people. Obanma smiled through not knowing how to respond. She had only been around Chukwuma and the old man she wasn't sure she knew how she would react to other people. Obanma also knew for a fact that she enjoyed being with them,still she couldn't judge everyone just from the few.

She could also strangely could feel a strong sense of foreboding that hovered around them. It made her wonder if Onyedikachi had finally revealed to papa nnukwu who she truly was.

Papa nnukwu called her back from her thoughts, specifically requesting that she takes him to his room.

Obanma stood up quickly, adjusting her clothing and brushing away crumbs of meet that hung on her cloth.

Onyedikachi gave her a curt nod with an encouraging smile and she rushed to papa nnukwu's aid.

He had already began to stand up and the thwacking sound his stick made while he sought for the way was reduced to the barest minimum as she led him into the house.

The two of them got in the room at a pace worse than a snail's and she led him into the restroom after he had whispered what business he had to do.

When she heard the flushing sound of the toilet she moved to the door and opened it for papa nnukwu who stepped out with a smile.

"Daalụ" Papa nnukwu uttered in absolute gratitude while they made their way down to the verandah.

"When one ages, his bladders becomes as fragile as a pregnant woman's own. Back in the good old days, I wouldn't have urinated until we've emptied that keg"

Obanma chucked lightly as he harped about his youthful days.

"The last time I saw Dozie was at Aba, other times he was just too pigheaded to come home."

Obanma grew quiet while he proceeded with his tale.

"Dozie might have gotten both mine and Chinyelum's stubbornness combined but he got more of her soft spoken manner and wonderful heart" Papa chuckled as he spoke

"Arinze had requested that I come visit then because I had once promised to teach him how to hunt properly. There wasn't much to do there but I truly wanted to be around my grandchildren. Chidiogo did well to keep my son in check when his ego reared its ugly head" papa nnukwu smiled so hard and long this time she feared for his cheek.

Dozie and Chidiogo always left for the market together and I was made to stay with my grandchildren. I taught a very eager Arinze how to catch a bushmeat with one of our old cage traps. That one was just as mischievous as I was at a younger age. "

Obanma couldn't help but laugh at the very true comparison.

" One afternoon as I lay on a chair in the verandah sleeping, a sound woke me up and I had to gaze down from the building to see two little children yelling excitedly in the compound. The gate was locked and it was quite a mystery as to how they had entered .

Then I saw Onyedikachi on top of a guava tree, plucking fairly ripe guava's which he threw down to the pair.

While one was as dark as Onyedikachi, a boy, the other a girl was very pale. Almost as light skinned as a white woman. They kept jumping excitedly till Arinze appeared."Obanma's eyes widened as she began to put the pieces together

Arinze met the small boy and I assumed he requested for some guava which the boy refused to share.

Arinze forcefully took part of the fruits from the boy and in the process sent him to the floor. Onyedikachi revolted from where he was but couldn't do much to his brother. His reprimanding words or the little boy's sons weren't what caught my attention.

It was how quickly the little girl pulled the boy up and launched at herself at Arinze. Of course she couldn't do much either and was flung aside" Papa Nnukwu chuckled briefly

"They had been no less than three years I assumed, but she didn't give up. She stoop up again and ran towards Arinze, this time yelling and calling out to him.

It was only a matter of time before Onyedikachi got down and stopped his brother who was still hesitant in returning the fruit. Arinze held the fruit despite Onyedikachi's pleas.

The little girl grabbed onto Arinze's heel and refused to let go. I found it amusing at first because this girl was no match to Arinze at the time and had been tossed aside many times but she still held her own. Arinze tried to to fling her off his feet but she held on and unfortunately I believe she sunk her teeth into his legs.

Arinze's yell brought me to their presence hastily and Onyedikachi faulted him before me. Onyedikachi gave Arinze some of the fruits he plucked and I told Arinze to return the ones he took.

The little girl patted her brother after she was certain all his fruits were returned. And when I walked up to her I could feel her eyes trembling out of fear. She felt she had done something wrong but I was more interested in the little bruise on her arm.  Her lips quivered while she offered me part of the same fruits she had fought for much to her brother's disapproval.

"I ga eri?" She asked and I broke out in laughter. I took the the little fruit she offered and she quickly pulled her brother into what I assumed was a retreating race.

The boy kept calling out to her to wait for him as she made it past him but she did not stop.

Obanma chere! "He yelled countless times. Papa nnukwu's words only drew tears to Obanma's eyes as she realized that he had truly discovered the truth about her. Her skin was laced with goosebumps and her heart pounded at an unusually fast rate. It was certainly a story about her and Obinna that the old man told.

" They made it to our backyard and disappeared.

It was that day I realized that courage wasn't a thing of maturity. I narrated this tale to my son and Chidiogo and they laughed so hard but they in turn told me an interesting story about the birth of the twin.

I am an old man and memory is all but faded but somehow the mention of your name kept me restless. " Papa nnukwu's eyes were on Obanma and she was griped by fear. He certainly meant to tell her off even though he couldn't see her.

"I ya aṅụ?" will you drink? I had asked you earlier and that was all was needed to reveal everything.

Your father killed my son, Dozie and the little boy died on the same day too, I was told. "

Tears rolled out of Obanma's eyes as the words hit her.

" I am so sorry" She pleaded, sniffing and wiping her tears away. For a long while silence ricocheted off the pair as they stood before each other. One crying and the other quiet.

Papa found Obanma's hands and squeezed them then groped her shoulder till he found her eyes. He wiped off her tears and locked her slowly into his embrace.

"My father took away the only child your wife gave you. I... I am so so sorry" She continued sniffling along each word.

"And that is the answer to the question I believe also plagues your mind. It is your father's sin, not yours and you shouldn't be judged by it.

Onyedikachi couldn't tell me what I discovered myself and I very much deeply appreciate what has grown between you and Onyedikachi. Nature has the strangest severance packages. " Papa Nnukwu patted Obanma 's back while she recovered from her emotional turbulence.

" Now that you are here I can't help but see that love in those two children you once were. Onyedikachi always had gifts for you. The two of you have always been joined by destiny and I will stand on the right side.

I believe you know that this journey will be tough. Chidiogo will most certainly not agree to this union and our ụmụnna may refute as well. Your father killed our son and fear wouldn't let your people let you go. It will be a union between two bitter and uncertain families. Dozie was accused of adultery and I believe that has also torn your family apart.

I am not saying this to deter you from moving on with your plans.

No.. No I specifically told you this story which I'm certain you may not remember or do you? " Papa Nnukwu enquired and Obanma shook her head. To her, it was just the precious day that she met the man for the first time.

" It is for you to be as headstrong as that little girl you once were. The odds will certainly be against my grandson and you but no matter what happens you are to cling to him and never let go...you never give up. Fight everyone.. the ụmụnna, Chidiogo, your people like you fought Arinze for your brother's sake and stand for what you want.

You have my blessing I ga eri"

Obanma let out more tears but a smile soon quickly replaced them.

"Thank you" She muttered to the old man's hearing before Onyedikachi's voice caused them to part. Papa nnukwu beckoned quickly on Chukwuma while Onyedikachi took Obanma away.

She could see the inquisitiveness in his eyes as he led her up to their room.

Obanma wiped what remained of her tears and plopped onto the bed. Onyedikachi sat beside her gently, lacing his hands into hers.

"Is everything okay?" he asked and she nodded with a smile. He didn't seem satisfied with her reply so she placed a kiss on his lips and voiced  her words.

"I am fine.. I promise"

"Ngwanu... If you say so. It seemed as if papa nnukwu did something" He retorted with a sigh

"No! He told me a very interesting story"

"Are you going to share?" Onyedikachi prodded with a frown. It made Obanma laugh as she compared him to a restless child on the quest of discovery.

"I'll tell you tomorrow" She declared to his discontentment, but he grudgingly agreed.

He noticed her clothes in the wardrobe and she quickly brought them out as if she had read his thoughts. Obanma threw the clothes on the bed, then fetched her box from the wardrobe where she had kept it.

"I have a habit of unpacking everything quickly" She softly declared as she began to fold the clothes. Part of Onyedikachi's clothes were still in his box but hers weren't.

A thought quickly ran across her mind and she hesitated in folding the trousers in her hand.

Kelechi had mentioned that the king had visited again and she had told him that she went to Enugu. But somehow she wasn't still pleased with the king coming back to her place especially after his haughty marriage proposal.

Onyedikachi threw a piece of clothing on Obanma's face pulling her from her thoughts.

"Where do you always go to?" He questioned with a grin

Obanma threw a glare at him, slightly upset that he had thrown a folded cloth at her face instead of calling her or tapping her.

"Biko don't give me that look, do you know how many times I called you?" Onyedikachi retorted in his defense. He had barely finished his statement before a cloth landed on his face.

He launched at Obanma's box and emptied the contents. Obanma flung more clothes at him in disbelief as her  packing he had undoubtedly made more tedious from his action.

Onyedikachi picked up a cloth and flogged her with it and they ended fighting each other on the bed with her clothes.

She laughed heartily as they hit each other on different parts of their body, but she was certain Onyedikachi didn't flog as hard as she did.

Left with a pair of trousers the two struggled over it and ended up ripping the material in half.

They called a truce on the matter and Onyedikachi decided to keep part of the ripped cloth as a souvenir.

Obanma ended up spanking him playfully on the butt for damaging her clothes.

Exhausted from their play, they fell on the beside each other. Onyedikachi grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"I do love you" He declared with a smile

"I love you too" She quickly answered,  his words were always soothing.

"Mma.... About the thing we discussed earlier... It was very wrong of me to think that way. We'll wait till you're done with school before having children. It isn't right to use our unborn children as leverage. I'm sorry for even thinking that way"

Obanma turned to face him with a smile. She had been quite disappointed when he mentioned it to her and deftly reprimanded him for harboring such thoughts but as the day went by, she couldn't help her thoughts which resonated in the same direction. What if pregnancy was the only way out?

She had taken the contraceptive pills Onyedikachi got her almost immediately out of fear but she began to slowly consider his suggestion.

"Maybe it might come to that... I'm not so sure anymore what to expect. I don't even know how to face my family with this.

But...." She inhaled deeply, counting her words perfectly.

"Onyi it wouldn't that bad especially if it becomes our last resort"

Onyedikachi placed a kiss on her forehead, staring deep into her eyes.

"I hope it doesn't come to that. Papa nnukwu will show us support and I think that is what we should celebrate now"

Onyedikachi began nibbling her ears and she giggled satisfactorily. His hands sought out her breasts and began fondling them. Their lips found each other's in a swift motion and soon enough their clothes flew off their bodies.

They made passionate love on the heaps of cloth scattered across the bed and in no time, both laid exhausted yet completely sated beside each other with a knowing smile.

"You're washing all my clothes after we salvage the ones I'm traveling with" Obanma declared playfully before sleep claimed them

Morning came quickly  and the pair journeyed back to Abia with papa nnukwu's blessings and extra anụ ọkpọ. Chukwuma had kept waving till Onyedikachi's car left the compound. Obanma couldn't help but notice how lonely both he and papa would get.

They made promises with certainty of coming back to see him but she secretly prayed that their promise wouldn't be vain.

They arrived Obanma's place in the late afternoon. Kelechi had texted Obanma about the king revisiting in the morning and she grew more uncomfortable with his visit.

She did not want to dwell on the thought but somehow she could not help but feel  a deep sense of foreboding looming around. Maybe she truly needed to tell Onyedikachi about the king's proposal, she had already begun to assume it was part of the reason her mind wasn't at peace.

All through the journey Onyedikachi had done well to shower beautiful words on her and she quite believed it was because he felt he needed a reassurance that he was going to be with her every step of the way.

The lodge was silent when they arrived and Obanma quickly rushed to open her door while Onyedikachi brought her belongings from the car.

He teased her of being so soft that opening a door was a heavy chore to her because she had take enough time in doing the task.

Obanma slapped his shoulder playfully and he quickly pulled her into his arms, then bent down to capture her lips in a kiss that swept her off her feet.

She leaned into him, surrendering her mouth into his tactful expertise and he so thoroughly explored. With her box still in his left hand, and Obanma encased by his right hand he proceeded into the room after kicking the door open with her back to the entrance . Her box, fell from his hand giving him more room to explore her curves and lovely breast which he never failed to adorn with caresses from his hand.

A loud banging of the door as it was forcefully pushed apart minutes after they entered sent Onyedikachi off Obanma's body.

Obanma's eyes widened with shock as she saw her brother standing before her, his eyes laced with fury and her sister with Olumide equally in a disconcerted state as she was in. Trouble didn't delay in its hasty visit and she could tell at that time that the war had truly begun.

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Hello Everyone!

How are we all doing?

I was supposed to make an update last week but I didn't but I made it up to us by writing the longest chapter.

I do hope you enjoy and do certainly share your thoughts.

Who else is anxious to find out what will happen next?

Moi!!!!

Don't forget to vote and share ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Michelle