A place of Judgment

The journey to Enugu seemed too long and mawkish a ride for the three siblings. Their tongues were tethered to their mouths by different emotions.

Chijioke had receded to his own little distraction with his phone, the persistent chiming notification sound was the only evidence of his presence.

Adaugo seemed lost in thought, seated at the passenger seat beside Olumide who held the wheels. Obanma could fairly notice the unwavering attention he bestowed on her sister even in her absentmindedness. He would occasionally rub her hand while he drove, in the most endearing way and it only made Obanma sad. It reminded her of the little touches Onyedikachi frequently gave, the kisses he showered. Were they on the verge of being torn apart?

How could Adaugo not see that Onyedikachi made her feel special? How could Chijioke not see how devastated he appeared as she walked into their car?

Her gaze returned back to the window, her eyes capturing nothing in particular. Her phone vibrated and she quickly glanced through texts from Kelechi asking if she was fine.

Chijioke turned to stare menacingly at her causing her phone to slip from her hands. Obanma picked up the object which lay on her feet, her heart  almost out of her chest. It felt as if everything she did at the time was wrong to Chijioke.

The only  two words he had uttered to her as they left the hospital where his wound was inspected and patched up were "move to the other side".

As she hesitantly looked up to meet his gaze, she saw emotions flashing across his features. His glare faded and his face softened for a minute and he quickly reverted to his furious typing.

Obanma sent a message across to Kelechi confirming her safety, then turned to face the window once more.
From the speeding cars to the migrating birds, brown colored grasses and herds of cows being led across the roads by young fulani herders to unknown strangers chattering on the road. The hawkers running to each slowing vehicle to get their merchandise sold were her source of entertainment throughout the journey.

A soft tap woke Obanma from her slumber and she was surprised to see king standing before her with a smile.

"Welcome home" He had uttered so warmly and for a while she had thought they were back at umuikpo.

A sense of relief washed over her when she caught sight of her mother and daa Agatha playing with the babies. She carefully stepped out of the car and was led to her family by Obiora whose mission she still wondered.

It felt odd for the king to be visiting her family in Enugu. On the veranda, sat Uncle Nnamdi, Chijioke, Adaugo and her fiance.

They all wore a staid expression as they conversed and she feared for herself.

Maybe they were discussing she and Onyedikachi and what lay in store for her. Uncle Nnamdi seemed reluctant to agree to what was being discussed by the family and threw a piteous look towards her.

Obanma summed up courage as she grudgingly trod over to her siblings. Her Uncle Nnamdi and Olumide were the ones who readily accepted her greeting. Chijioke seemed as indifferent as he was towards her till the time they came home.

"We'll go together" came Nnamdi's hoarse voice, warranting a cycler exchange of stares from the parties courtesy of Nnamdi.

"What about..." Chijioke began with a a plea.

"I'd rather not table that discussion now Chijioke" He turned to Obanma who was already fidgeting and urged her to go inside the house.

Daa Agatha and Ngozi followed suit with the babies in their hands. Daa Agatha had barely spoken to her as they arrived and the usual warm welcome she so frequently gave was at bay.

The two women proceeded into the kitchen after Obanma's mother patted her head softly. Obanma assumed it was because they probably kept what happened from her but it did give her a sense of relief to know that not everyone was that angry with her.

Daa Agatha finally beckoned on Obanma to hold the babies which she promptly took charge of. Chukwuma and his sister fed aggressively each releasing a numerous quantity of their baby cereal on their clothes.

Feeding them entailed making baby sounds, clapping and even making baby faces that got their mouths open in a smile. Their toothless gum made their smile so cute that she found herself laughing as well.

Chukwura fed more than his sister and both welcomed fatigue as soon as feeding was over.

Obanma carefully extracted a toy from Chukwura's hand, scooping him up she placed him beside his sister who had already begun to sleep.

The pair looked so peaceful that she yearned for their life momentarily.

A voice startled Obanma and she turned to see the king standing behind her.

"You're very good with children" He began with a grin, stepping slowly into the room where she stood.

"Thank you" She quickly replied, retrieving the dirty baby plates which were littered on the table.

"They are such peaceful creatures" He continued but his voice drifted off as she heard her phone ring with a familiar caller displayed over her screen.

She quickly excused her self from the king when he stood dormant, just staring at the children. Something about his visit didn't feel right but she couldn't quite place her hand on it. She found herself so tempted to ask him why he was in their house

"Mma I was so worried! I am still worried right now. How are you doing? Did anything happen?"
Onyedikachi's voice resonated over the phone as Obanma looked away from the king.

"I am good. We just arrived Enugu not too long ago and everyone is here. They've not been very welcoming" She gave a bitter laugh to assuage the heaviness she felt in her heart.
"I think they're stalling the conversation about what happened till..."

"Mma I think the little one just threw up" Came Obiora's voice which wasn't very much appreciated at that time.

"Thank you, I'll clean her up later" Obanma promptly replied not surprised with the silence that honed in from the other end of the line.

"Is the King in Enugu?" Onyedikachi questioned in a brash tone .

"Yes.. I meant to tell you earlier, I think that's why they've not.."

"That explains it then! That's why they wanted you home! I shouldn't have let you go. I bet they're planning on marrying you off already!

I'm the one whose father died and I'm the one still being punished for it!" He yelled while she instinctively kept the phone away from her ear.

"I don't know why he's here. Please just calm down okay."

He seemed to stall for a while then exhaled deeply.

"I made the mistake of watching you leave with them. Now I'm going to make it right. I am coming to Enugu and I would very much like to speak to your guardians."

Obanma concurred to his declaration with silence. In all she was just fearful of what would happen in another clash.

" I love you.. You know right? I'm so sorry for yelling. I just feel so frustrated right now "Came his voice in a soothing way.

"Yes I do know and I love you too" Obanma replied caressing the ring on her finger.

She moved to the babies and began to clean them up owing to the king's instruction after her call with Onyedikachi ended. She set down to her uncle's room to fetch the towels to clean her cousins but her steps halted from the voices that emanated from the room.

"Are you certain? You can't tell her that Chijioke. It'll ruin her... Jesus! This is just unbelievable! Ngozi's memory is a blessing then because I certainly do not think she'd easily get over this" Nnamdi lamented

"Not really....that's why I need your help uncle. We can save her reputation...He can help us,Obiora can I promise! I know it's going to be hard but we have no choice. I have already made the deal with him"
Chijioke pleaded with his uncle who agreed to what they had planned. Obanma pondered on the help it seemed her mother would be receiving and what it was that tainted her reputation

"Apparently your uncle sold your father's land to Mazi Roland and to me Chijioke that screams attempted murder all over it. I don't know if Chidiogo was in cohorts with your uncle but we're certain that some one does truly want you out of the way. Thank God the king brought this to us "

Goosebumps crept Obanma's hands and she quickly rapped softly on the door. She had finally discovered why King Obiora was there but why didn't he relegate his messengers or send a message across. Did he care so much about Chijioke?

Nnamdi gave her what she requested then sauntered out of his room with her brother. She could tell they were being cautious.

Night came like a thief, it had crept on her while she immersed herself into an unwarranted cleaning of her room. In thes moments spent alone, her heart formed words she hoped will be proper for what she envisaged was going to be a place of judgment.

Onyedikachi had called her prior to that to inform her of his arrival which she hastily took note of. Daa Agatha had given her food but still maintained her silence. Dinner involved more eating and less of talking which was unusual. Olumide and Adaugo were the only ones absent from the table. An issue involving their intending matrimony had taken them away.

Chijioke cleared his throat then begun to speak garnering everyone's attention at the table.

"it is no more a mystery that someone wanted me death not so long ago. And what I have kept from most of us present here is that I had heard one of the murderers the day I was stabbed.

Of course I had told uncle Nnamdi about this long ago but today I believe it is necessary that we all hear now especially now that one of us has been hampering around with her son. "

His gaze stuck his little sister who understood that her actions were going to be judged

" Chidiogo was there the night I was stabbed "

" mkafu ya aka! Ị said it " Daa Agatha's voice rose." That woman is a witch "

Everyone else expressed anger but disappointment was the only emotion that held anchor in Obanma's mind.

"But that's not the only news that I have share with us. I believe Obanma has more to say."

Obanma's lips trembled as she stared at her brother whose menacing grin tore her heart.

"Obanma, it will be better you tell them everything with your own mouth because my version might be too disturbing" Chijioke urged again as Obanma hesitated to speak.

"I'm engaged" Obanma muttered but surprisingly loud enough for everyone's hearing.

Everyone grew quiet and all their eyes sought hers 

"Adaugo was saying the truth then" Ngozi spoke softly

"Chijioke we all know about her engagement to Chidiogo's son. I was beyond disappointed when the news of her traipsing Anambra with the boy got to my ears but Adaugo also mentioned marriage." Agatha declared to everyone's hearing

"Why on earth will a small girl like this decide its marriage she wants now and not  academics like her siblings did at her age. Look at Adaugo! Lee nu Chijioke! Obanma of all the families to enter, of all the men!!"

"Daa he is a good man" Obanma retorted

Agatha briefly recalled her encounters with the young man in question and grew speechless.

"It's not just the man you marry, it's his entire family. Have you not thought about that? How they will perceive you?" Ngozi added subtly, Nnamdi on the the other reverted to only gazing in silence.

"She will not marry him" Came Chijioke's firm voice

"Dee Chijioke we're engaged" Obanma responded after it seemed everyone concurred with Chijioke by keeping quiet.

"We can't predict what will happen to you and we can't protect you either when you're linked with that family" Nnamdi finally spoke after a long while of silence.

"This family will not give you any support if you decide to marry that nincompoop" Chijioke retorted harshly

"He is not a nincompoop" The words flew out of Obanma's mouth even before she could think.

"Don't talk back at your elder brother"  Agatha cautioned as she stood to her feet

"Daa please don't bother.. It's the idiot that I want to impale not this little girl whining her mouth here. She does not know what she's gotten herself into"

"Onyedikachi is a good man and I love him. What happened is in the past why can't we just move on from that" At this point Obanma was at the brink of an outburst as none of her folks seemed to care about her feelings.

"The only reason we are entertaining this your rubbish tonight is because uncle Nnamdi has begged me to solve this issue amicably but don't push me I beg you. Even Obinna would be disappointed in you right now. It seems you've forgotten what we have been through because of them" Chijioke retorted in anger

"Don't bring him into this, he would have been far more understanding and reasonable than you are" Obanma spewed angrily

"Chijioke don't bring your late brother into this discussion. It's too sensitive biko" Nnamdi cautioned

"Mba ooo, it is no longer sensitive. Obanma has made it insensitive, she's the one sleeping around with the son of the man who her twin died by his hand"

This time Obanma couldn't restrain her anger as she yelled at her brother.

"You know very well that it was an accident! He didn't kill Obinna on purpose. Nobody knows which of them that pulled the trigger!

Why are you being so insensitive and wicked! I haven't done anything wrong

It's not as if you don't sleep around too"

Chijioke banged the table angrily as he got to his feet. He gave a bitter laugh as he stared at his little sister who was breathing heavily, tears clinging onto her chin

"You will not marry him and God knows that if I hear one more word from you tonight you won't like what I will do" He voiced out whilst gritting his teeth. "I will kill him before you do marry him"

"Chijioke stop talking like that, don't make stupid  threats" Nnamdi cautioned "Obanma you are going to apologize to your elder brother and we will discuss about this later on. This discussion has already ruined my appetite"

Obanma didn't find it needful to apologize but she sat quietly, reeling in her anger.

"please just sit down" His mother beckoned on Chijioke and he sat back

"Maybe no one else is seeing it, but you are slowly becoming like our father. And one day you might just join him where he is with all the threats you've been laying around" Obanma declared to her brother

Her statement broke the last restraint in him as he flung the apple in his hand towards her which she dodged and it landed on the picture behind her shattering the glass.

"How dare you talk to me like that you rat!" Chijioke thundered marching angrily towards his sister. Nnamdi managed to restrain him together with his mother. Agatha had also returned from the room as she heard the sound of an item breaking.

A loud banging at the door drove the family quiet and Nnamdi opted to answer the door.

After moments of bantering words with the unknown guest he finally led the visitor in.

"Ndewo nu" He managed to mutter before Chijioke angrily charged at him.

"Ọ dịka this Anambra goat just wants to die today. Now what the hell are you doing in my house?" Chijioke requested angrily. The vein on his face bulging from the accumulated rage

Obanma seemed too surprised to speak but it didn't stop Onyedikachi from smiling at her. She hadn't expected him to come to their house that night even though he had spoke of coming to Enugu.

"What are you doing here? In fact get out of this place right now!" Chijioke barked

"I came to see your uncle, not you. I've  come ask for Mma's hand in marriage"

Onyedikachi's answer was a punch from Chijioke which sent him crashing to the floor

Hello Everyone

How are we?

So sorry for the late update but I've been preoccupied with other important things.

I do hope you enjoy the chapter