The Inevitable

Chidiogo's inquisition left Obanma fuming even as she arrived at their house. Her mother had instructed Adaugo to help her fetch some vegetables at the market which she hadn't objected to because she also wanted to see the village. Ngozi had left almost immediately with her son Chijioke who had gotten a distressing message. The last time she had been in the village was for her wedding.

She loved how blissful things were between her and Olumide who would also have loved to visit but couldn't due to work. Adaugo enjoyed the change of environment and basked in the fresh air and earthy scent of the village soil. Lagos was a commercial city and she never enjoyed the freedom of roaming on village roads. She had missed the village so much and when Agatha and Nnamdi opted to go with her she didn't object. It was going to be an avenue to catch up with the couple even though she hated that her cousin remained in Enugu with NNamdi's mother.

Obanma had returned home scarcely minutes after Ngozi and Chijioke did. Chijioke was still in shock because of the evil fate that had befallen him. He was pleased that his workers were alive but he had promised to involve the police in order to investigate the young boy who had infiltrated his place to drug his workers and burn down his place.

He didn't know how to go about the loss he had incurred because of his investments, the loans, and his savings. Chijioke's heart was burdened heavily but his mother had tried his best to comfort him.

Learning about his mother's discovery drew on his nerves as he felt they were being watched and so advised that they get to the house. Chijioke quickly contacted Obiora with news about his misfortune and the suspects. The king promised to contact the police after he had instructed the youth leader to seal off the land till the authorities arrived.

Ngozi revealed all she had remembered at the site to Chijioke who fumed because of how ludicrous things were to him.

A lunatic whom his uncle was working with was after his life because his mother had turned down his offer of infidelity. Chijioke had vowed to get square with the mad man and even do worse than his father had done.

This time he didn't blame his father for protecting his dignity and fending off a dog like that.

"Chijioke he is an evil man" His mother had cautioned as threats rolled out of Chijioke's mouth.

"He is a pig and a coward that's what he is and by God! I will make him pay dearly for all the pain he has caused my family"

"We will leave everything to the authorities and King Obiora. They are in better positions to handle the lunatic"

Obanma was even more devasted than Chijioke had been when she had heard about the incident. She had gotten a strange feeling about the day and even mentioned to Onyedikachi when she was intoxicated.

"Dede I am so sorry about this" Wrapping her hands around her brother she began to sob causing Chijioke's temper to waver.

"Obanma Ozuola, It is alright"

She couldn't help her emotions as the tears poured out more and more. "We came to celebrate my marriage and now this? When will it all stop? I'm tired of all the drama and the pain they have caused us"

Chijioke held his sister in place and commanded her to wipe her tears.

"We have been surviving through all the hatred Oba, haven't we? Trust me everything is going to be fine inu. We now know the truth about everything"

Ngozi touched by how pained her daughter was, drew her aside and bestowed on her a hug. Obanma felt like a child again, loved and cared for by her family.

"Just go and freshen up, we will talk when you finish" Chijioke instructed and his little sister did as she was told.

Both he and his mother watched Obanma as she walked into the house and both couldn't help the sadness that tugged them.

"She is getting married in a few days, she doesn't deserve all this pain and misery. I am going to miss my baby sister so much. You know she has always been strong and opinionated in the midst of all this drama, it is just terrifying to see her sounding so defeated" Chijioke opined turning to his mother whose eyes were still trained on her daughter.

"Yes, she doesn't deserve anything less than happiness especially now" With her teary eyes she turned to her son, "I think your sister is pregnant"

"What! How? Oh Wow!" Chijioke was left speechless as he continued watching Obanma. "That ape sure didn't waste any time, he's going to have my poor baby sister looking like a brooding mare. How exactly did you people convince me to give her away again? My baby sister was my most important investment, add pregnancy ... I think her bride price quadrupled" He continued sarcastically

'Chi! stop that! He is going to be your brother in law soon and your sister loves him, that's enough investment"

"Soon is still ample time for name-calling" He chuckled as he observed the disbelief in his mother's eyes. "Do you think she knows? I've seen her take palm wine "

Terrified his mother squeezed his palm. "Chi she shouldn't be taking that! I doubt she knows anything about it she's just a child. If she did she wouldn't be taking any of that. I've been suspecting for a while you know. She would need to get tested too for us to be certain but I doubt it'll come back negative. I am going to have a talk with her" She had almost left until she realized that her son needed a hug too for all he had been through.

Ngozi wrapped her arms around her son and apologized for all his troubles. "Mom....it is alright. It is not your fault that a lunatic is obsessed with you. Don't worry I've already told the guys to go in search of him. I've also contacted the king, he promised to get in touch with the D.P.O"

"Chi..none of it will bring back all that you've lost"

"But it will keep you all safe"

She gave him a small smile and walked away

Scarcely minutes after Ngozi left a car drove into the compound and Chijioke saw Arinze charging towards him.

He stood his ground as the young man marched towards him and was quite surprised when he threw a punch at him.

Chijioke staggered backward as blood dripped out of his lips. Arinze charged again but this time missed his target as Chijioke dodged and landed his own punch.

"Arinze are you mad? what is wrong with you?"

Chijioke asked as Arinze refused to calm down. "I thought it was all over, I didn't know you were just waiting for the right time to strike you, bastard!"

"What on earth are you talking about!"

"You killed my wife and my unborn child in that fire! and I am going to make you pay"

Arinze pulled out a gun and Chijioke quickly raised his hands, he tried to see reasons with enraged Arinze but it was futile. And when both his mother and Obanma saw what was going on they began to yell and plead with Arinze.

"Do you know what you have done to me! You have taken my life! Olivia..she is my life. I am tired of losing people to your family and I'm going to end this now"

Chijioke knew he had to get the gun out of Arinze's hand. He had felt sympathetic towards the lunatic because of the news about his wife and child.

"Arinze please think things through, do you want to end things this way? think about your daughter" Chijioke began calmly as he approached and the mention of Arinze's daughter seemed to get him distracted for a while but when the thoughts of his father and his wife's death flooded his mind he drew closer to Chijioke.

Chijioke faltered in his steps as the gun was pointed back to his face. Arinze heard Obanma calling out to him in tears and his heart broke the more. He had tried to mend things with their family and even Olivia had wanted the same. His daughter didn't deserve to lose her mother. Chijioke took his little distraction as an opportunity to retrieve the gun. He grabbed Arinze's arm and the pair struggled with the firearm until the deafening sound of the gunshot sounded, leaving both Arinze and Chijioke still.

Chijioke was relieved to see his mother Ngozi standing still, devoid of any injury. He was surprised to see Onyedikachi lying on the floor with Obanma. It seemed he had been just in time to push her away.

She lay gently on top of him and Onyedikachi breathed a sigh of relief while Arinze trembled. He had scanned her forehead for a gunshot wound and was thrilled to know that he had averted the same fate that befell her twin.

He placed a kiss on her forehead as he tried to get her standing. Chijioke's eyes caught the bloodstain on Onyedikachi's shirt and so did his brother who let go of the weapon.

He had stood protectively in front of Obanma oblivious of the blood.

"Nna you're hurt" Ngozi spoke as she approached him

"Me? No, I'm not! but I would have been if you two had done anything to hurt Mma. She could have been hurt! worse killed! Arinze what were you thinking! I took Olivia to the hospital myself, she's there with your child and now you could have killed my wife"

"Onyi" Obanma declared weakly as her slowly knees began to give way to the sudden dizziness that overcame her

"Mma please let me talk to these two fools!"

Chijioke's eyes caught the blood dripping to the floor and pointed Onyedikachi to it, so he stared at his cloth and the stain on it, his eyes caught the blood dripping on the floor. He didn't feel any pain so why was there blood everywhere.

Terrified, he turned Obanma around to see her chest engulfed in a pool of blood, her eyes fighting to stay open.

Ngozi screamed so loudly that she began to shake. She ran to her daughter while Onyedikachi carried her in his arms.

The pain that tugged his heart was overwhelming and the fear that gripped his soul shook him.

'No..no.. no" he muttered as tears clogged his eyes "My God! Mma please be alright, please you can't die on me! Get my car! Somebody, please get my Car!" He tore her shirt as he sought for the location the bullet had pierced.

The tears in his eyes fell as he saw the hole where the blood oozed out from. He held her hand as she smiled weakly at him.

"Onyi..." She muttered weakly

"Mma please don't say anything..don't say you're leaving me, I'll go mad please ..please..Oh God! Forgive me I should have stopped this!

Get the fucking car!" Onyedikachi wept even as his brother drove his car closer to where they lay.

He carried her into the vehicle while her mother hopped in and Chijioke did as well on the passenger's seat. Arinze had been the one driving and felt terrified of Obanma's fate. It didn't matter anymore all of his rage, his wife had been alive all the while. Arinze hated himself that instant even as he muttered prayers to God. He had brought this upon I ga eri . He was always a bully, a coward who didn't think things through.

"Arinze go faster for God's sake!" Onyedikachi yelled from behind as they practically raced from behind

"Onyi.." Obanma began weakly once again but Onyedikachi encouraged her to stay still but she didn't listen.

"It's better this way" She spoke weakly and Onyedikachi shook his head as tears fell from his eyes.

"Don't say that! don't talk like you're dying because you're not. We are going to get married and have kids because we were meant to be together! Please Mma please, I'll die if you leave me"

She coughed weakly and winced while her mother wept and even Chijioke couldn't hold himself.

The pair knew that losing Obanma also meant losing the unborn child and Onyedikachi probably didn't have any idea about that.

The smell of blood infiltrated the whole vehicle and Arinze continued to drive like a racer on a track, cutting through every shortcut in the village known to him.

"Arinze are you sleeping on that steering for God's sake!" Onyedikachi yelled once more wiping his eyes with his blood-stained hand which left patches of blood on his face.

"Onyi our families will be even now" Obanma whispered followed by another cough as blood spluttered from her mouth

"Mma please don't do this to me!" He wept bitterly as he watched her suffering

"I l....love you..Onyi, I always will"

"I love you Mma with my life...Oh God! please don't die on me"

The sight of the hospital in view gave Onyedikachi hope as brother drove in and Chijioke raced in to contact the medics.It had been the same hospital that he had taken Olivia to.

Onyedikachi held her in place before they arrived and wheeled her away. He followed closely holding her hand as Chijioke explained that she had received a gunshot to the chest and had lost a lot of blood. Arinze stayed with the nurses asking for cards and registration, noting the bills, and making the necessary payments at once. Ngozi followed closely beside Onyedikachi praying for her daughter.

The surgery took hours and for Onyedikachi, they were the most terrifying of his life. Arinze had gone to see Olivia and his son and he had wept when she narrated everything that happened to him. He wept bitterly as he held his son in his hands because he feared what could happen to him, if Obanma didn't make it out alive.

Olivia had asked about Onyedikachi and Chidiogo and he promised to get them making no mention of what had transpired between him and Chijioke.

He had contacted his mother whom he was certain must have arrived at the hospital.

Arinze met not just mother but Obanma's entire family including her friends at the ward. The tension that brewed when they caught wind of him made him realize that they all knew what had happened.

Nnamdi was the first to walk up to him and he threw a heavy punch that Arinze believed he rightfully deserved.

Everyone was shocked at the older man's reaction as they all knew him to be reserved and less physical.

Onyedikachi barely flinched at his brother getting punched and when Nnamdi went for the second aim, Chijioke stood in the way. He managed to steer his uncle away who was fuming.

"It is your fault that my girl is in there! Your hatred caused all of this!" He turned to Chidiogo who had barely spoken since she arrived. "I hope you are happy now, It is an eye for an eye after all"

Agatha led her husband away as she went to cool off while Ngozi only stared in the direction her daughter had been taken in.

"If my sister doesn't come out of the there alive Arinze, I will end your life right here and gladly join my father where he is. I have the gun in my pocket just so you know"

Arinze acknowledged Chijioke's words with a nod as he approached his brother. "You could have waited....you could have called the police" Were the only words he spoke

Chidiogo didn't know what to do or say but when she approached Ngozi and held her hand the woman made no attempt to withdraw it.

"God is punishing me for my infidelity. But the thought of losing my unborn grandchild, it will kill me"

Chidogo wept bitterly as she recalled how she had treated Obanma earlier. The baby was also her grandchild and Papa Nnukwu had given her a fair warning.

"What grandchild?" Onyedikachi enquired as the women consoled each other.Ngozi had not planned on revealing anything about Obanma's pregnancy but the slip was part of what she was plagued with.

"What unborn grandchild! Onyedikachi thundered scaring the two women.

"We think she is pregnant" They declared in unison surprised at each other

"Mma...is.is with m..my child?"

Onyedikachi couldn't help the tears that fell and when he stood he punched Arinze first and when Chijioke stood to pull him away, he threw a punch at him.

"If I lose her...I'll go insane! I can't lose her. No! I can't lose her. Tell her coward of a brother to take me instead! I pleaded with him!...I tried everything to protect her!

I would have taken that bullet for her! I wanted to do that! I thought I did! I have been feeding her Eloaku since childhood!

I can't lose her now! No!"

Chidiogo wept bitterly as she watched her son cry, she pleaded with him to calm down but Onyedikachi wouldn't hear of it.

"Obinna you have to kill me! She is with my child!" He muttered weeping.

The appearance of the doctor was what kept Onyedikachi quiet and the hoard of eyes on the man .

They all tensed and expectant yet completely terrified. Onyedikachi was the first to speak to the man as they gathered around him.

"You're the patient's family?" He asked Onyedikachi

"We all are...I am her husband to be"

"We managed to extract the bullet from her chest. It ruptured two of her lungs and grazed her chest. She..lost a lot of blood and we tried our best but unfortunately ...she didn't make it"

Onyedikachi felt his world cumble bit by bit as the words left the Doctor's mouth. His heart beat slowed down and his chest began to hurt unbearably. He couldn't breathe and he felt like the world was closing in.Memories of Obanma flooded his mind and he tried to shake the pain away. "Onyi we will be even now, I love you ..I always will"

Obinna should have taken him instead!

How were the families even? Her death had destroyed everything, It had birthed a new war within him and around.

"Her voice echoed in his head as her beautiful face plagued his mind"Onyi ..Everyone else might be at war, but we aren't right?"

He was wrong,he was now at war with her for leaving. Fate was cruel and he had failed both her and his child.

The wailing began from the women as he staggered away before everything went pitch black.

Hello Everyone!

hope we enjoyed the chapter

Scratch that! it was so sad to write this and I hope you bear with me "Sniffs". Trying to describe every emotion onyedikachi felt was difficult

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I love you all❤️❤️❤️