"You *****! Ungrateful child, how dare you insult my wife? So you have come here to cause havoc in my home. You were responsible for your mother's death. Now you want to tear my family apart or do you want to kill us as well? Anulika indeed, you are nothing but a source of misery to me." My father was shouting as the leather belt snapped across my back again and again.

I flinched from the pain and looked up crying, "Papa, it wasn't like that. It's not what she told you..."

"Shut up! Do you hear me? How dare you interrupt your father," crowed my victorious stepmother. "Or are you trying to say that I am a liar?”

Kneeling where I had fallen from the beatings, I glanced from the corner of my eyes at my step brothers crying in the corner and kept my mouth closed.

"The bush girl has no manners”, my father continued. “I don't even know why I allowed her into this house in the first place. She has always brought me heartache and in the few months he's here, she's at it again." He turned with baleful eyes to me and stated, "You collect love letters from men and meet with them at odd hours when you should be at home or running an errand."

I tried to defend myself, "They were schoolmates like I told Mama Tobe..."

"Liar!" My stepmother hissed, "What of the letter I got from Zube? The things you were to get from Kenyetta?"

My father who had been pacing about the room stopped before me and said bluntly, "Of course if I ask whether you are sleeping around you'll deny it while the evidence speaks for itself."

"Papa, I'm sorry. Please let me explain."

"No more explanations or entreaties, I have come to a decision. You cease to be my daughter as from this day forward. I disown you and that is final. You have been a unwanted millstone round my neck right from your birth and for almost twenty years, I've been reluctantly taking care of you. But now, I refuse to allow you to complicate my life any further..."

"Papa, Please.... No papa, you can't do this..."

"I don't want you to call me papa anymore, go and find your father. I have enough children of my own to do that. And if you think I can't do it, watch me."

With this he marched into the small bedroom I had been using since I arrived and we could all hear the slamming of the doors of the wardrobe.

When he brought out my box, the other children wailed louder but their mother shushed them and sent them to join their sleeping sister in their room. I continued crying and even crawled on my knees to my stepmother, holding on to her legs. I thought I saw a slight melting in her eyes but she only pushed me away. Dad came out with the other bag containing the rest of my meager belongings and threw it at my head.

"Now get out, get the hell out of my house", he commanded.

"But what will I do? Where will I go?" I don't know anyone I can go to here in Enugu..."

"I said out and I mean it.” He went to the door and opened it.

"Darling, maybe you should reconsider. Anuli is still..." Mama Tobe began.

My father cut in impatiently, "I said no more entreaties, I don't want this girl's presence in this house any minute longer."

Calling the gateman to make sure I left the compound, he sat down heavily and was soon lost in thought.

I left the house aching all over and dragging the box and bag containing all I owned in the whole world. Just a few clothes and some knick-knacks I had picked from my grandmother’s house after she had died and I had moved fully to university at the beginning of last semester. Outside, Adamu sneaked me into his little box of a room and then went through the motions of opening and shutting the heavy gate. The creaking and clanking of the locks sent an ominous chill over my body.

I remembered the painful mixture of sadness, regret and bad temper on my father’s face just before I had followed Adamu out of the living room and knew he could only have been thinking of the circumstances of my birth. Granny had told me the story and sometimes I could visualize the scene as if I had been there and that was what happened now. As I drifted off to sleep, it came to me like the scenes of a movie.

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

Onitsha, June 7, 1980: Ekene Hospital and Maternity

As he paced up and down the hospital corridors, Mr. Chinagorom could feel the dislike and apathy welling up in his heart for the child his wife was finding so difficult to give birth to. When he received the news that Nkechi had been rushed to the hospital in Onitsha during a visit to his mother, he been surprised that her due date had come so early.

His trip to Lagos had been cut short so he could be by his wife’s side for the birth. As the screams continued in the delivery room, he pushed the fact that her former fiancée also lived here to the back of his mind as he ruminated over the past three days and the months preceding them. He had found out that Nkechi had been in painful labour for three days, the months of her pregnancy had not been easier either. Standing in front of the double doors of the labour room, it dawned on him that the screaming had stopped.

The doctor stepped out and seeing him there spoke urgently to him. "Mr. Chinagorom, we have to perform a caesarean."

"A caesarean? You mean an C/S operation?"

"Yes, your wife has become very weak and we have to carry out the procedure urgently. Do we have your permission?"

"Doctor you don't have to ask me, just do everything you have to so that my wife will be okay. And please let money not be a problem."

"Alright," the doctor agreed and turning to the nurse standing nearby, he continued "Tell the theatre nurse to get her staff ready immediately and then take Mr. Chinagorom to the administrative office to fill out the consent form."

"Yes doctor," the nurse replied as she rapidly led him away and the doctor went back into the delivery room.

He was sitting dejectedly on one of the long benches opposite the operating theatre when the doctor roused him from a doze by calling his name.

"Mr. Chinagorom, Mr. Chinagorom?"

"Yes doctor," he got up quickly trying to read the expression on the man's face.

"Congratulations, you are now a father..."

He interrupted to ask quietly, "What of my wife?"

"I'm sorry sir, but we were not able to save your wife. She gave up before the end of the operation and there was nothing we could do to revive her."

Mr. Chinagorom sat down heavily with his hands on his heads. While he rubbed the flats of palms across his eyes in disbelief, the doctor clapped him briefly on the shoulders in consolation and turned to leave.

He was brought back with a shock at the scream from the man behind him. "No... I can't accept this, Oh God! Why? Why?"

The doctor sat down beside him and said quietly, "Listen my dear man; I’m sure God has nothing to do with this. There's never a reason for any tragedy. Just thank God for the life of your beautiful daughter."

"What do I care about the baby that killed my wife? Nkechi is dead!”

Shrugging off the hand the doctor tried again to put on his shoulders, he ran out of the hospital like the devil was at his heels. He was staring morosely into his car when his mother walked out to him.

"I saw you running out of the hospital, Achike. What is it? Do they need more money? He turned silently towards her and she saw the tears on his face for the first time. "Nnam, what has happened?”, she queried in dread.

"She's dead," he answered throwing his face in the opposite direction.

"Who is dead?" she asked again placing a hand on his shoulders.

"My wife. Nkechi is dead." he muttered fresh tears escaping from his eyes.

"This can’t be true! Nkechi cannot be dead? Oh my God!" the old woman cried loudly clutching her chest. "What of the baby?" she asked after a few minutes of weeping.

"She's alive but that is not a consolation to me. Nkechi should have been here now but for that child. She is responsible for my wife's death..."

"The baby is not to blame. Don't talk like that my son..."

"But it's true" he shouted angrily as he opened the door of the car, took out a parcel and slammed it shut again. He marched back into the hospital and straight to the reception, his mother at his heels.

A nurse in theatre uniform walked up to him immediately, "Mr. Chinagorom, the baby is ready now. You can come with me to see her..."

"Where is the doctor?" he cut in brusquely, "I want to speak with him."

"He's in the office." the nurse replied in surprise before hurrying away.

"Achike, let's check on the baby and see how she's doing before making the other arrangements." his mother tried to encourage him.

"Mama, I don't want to see that girl. If they want, they can put her in the motherless babies’ home…"

"Mbanu! Achike, you can't be serious." Seeing his unyielding face, she continued in a more conciliatory tone, "Nnam, she's your daughter. You can't turn your back on her..."

"I can do whatever I want Mama," he continued inexorably, "And I don’t want her. Anyway Mama, since you’re so concerned, you can take the baby. When they are ready to discharge her, you can take her home with you. I don't have time to deal with her. Especially not now when I'll be very busy putting things together for Nkechi’s burial."

"Achike, you can't abandon this child! Without seeing her, without even naming her..."

"Call her whatever you want." He snapped stomping off in the direction of the doctor's office. "I don't have space for her in my life, I’ll be going back to Lagos by the weekend."

“Nnam, as you wish. She is my blood and I cannot abandon her.” His mother moved in the direction of the Female ward.

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

I woke up completely disoriented. From thinking of the day of my birth, I had slept off to dream of a happier life with Granny but now as I remembered the previous night's experience, the pain came back and I began crying softly.

"Oh God! Why? Why me? I cried looking up at the sky in frustration. "Haven't I suffered enough? What did I do to deserve all this? Mama, you said you would watch over one, where are you now? How could Dad have done this to me? Look at me, Mama, look at me."

Adamu had quietly let me out of the compound at the crack of dawn and now I walked fearfully back. Sitting on top of the box, I waited patiently outside the gate. The creak of the gates being opened alerted me and I stood up quickly as my father's car drove out with the whole family inside.

The car stopped and the window rolled down. "What are you still doing here?” My father bellowed. "I asked you leave my house..."

"Papa, please forgive me for everything. I'm sorry..."

"Adamu!” He shouted, deaf to my pleas. When the gateman came running out, he continued, "I don't want this girl hanging around this house. Make sure she's out of this place before I come back. If I so much as catch a glimpse of her loitering around you're fired. Understand?"

"Yes sir" the man replied as the car moved away.

When they were out of view, Adamu pushed some money into my hands and urged me to leave the premises since his job depended on it. He encouraged me to find somewhere to sleep and maybe comeback after my father had cooled down. He didn’t have more money or he could have given me enough for a room somewhere and he couldn’t recommend any of his friends to me. All he could do was keep my box until I came back or needed it.

I washed my face with the little water he gave me and with youthful optimism set out to see what I could do. It was late evening when I entered a makeshift eatery popularly referred to as `Mama Put' and took a seat wearily. I had fruitlessly walked the length and breadth of Uwani in search of a temporary job with options of a place to stay. All I had found was that employers preferred someone referred to them or at least with provable experience. I had neither and also had no luck, as no one was ready to listen to my sorry tale. Well, two men had listened but their offer of help had come with a condition I couldn't accept.

I ordered my first meal of the day with the money the gateman had given me and stared at the plate of food despondently as I wondered at my next line of action.

The conversation behind me filtered into my consciousness and I turned my ear to it. It seemed one of the serving girls had to leave the job and owner was stranded for help.

"But you said you will send your cousin to replace you tomorrow." She complained.

"Madam, I'm sorry but that one decided to move with us to the village. The other one I talked to wants to complete her sewing. She will start at month end..."

"How do you expect me to cope alone till then? You know how hard it is to find good girls."

I had moved closer and now cut in, "Madam, I can work for you."

They both looked at me and the woman asked hopefully, "Do you think you can handle it? You will have to sleep here too."

My heart lifted at the expectation on her face and I smiled genuinely for the first time that day.

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

I stood by silently with a small group of onlookers as the bulldozers demolished the illegal makeshift structures at the side of the road. Only one other person in the crowd knew that they'd just pushed down what had been my home for the past two months. However, I was the only one who knew that this was the worst birthday I'd ever experienced. Tears almost escaped my eyes at the thought but I pushed them back forcefully.

"Anuli, what am I going to do?" My madam asked as the crowd dispersed from the scene following after the rampaging bulldozers. "This people want to finish me off o! What do they expect me to do? Where else can I sell food, eh?”

"Madam, I'm sure God is going to make a way." I consoled the wailing woman.

"And look at you, what are you going to do? Where will you sleep? I would have asked you to come over to my place but you know how it is. Me, my husband and my eight children are in one room. And my husband has just lost his job. God, how are we to survive?”

"Madam, don't worry too much. I heard the other people say that they will rebuild in a week's time after seeing the local government officials."

"Yes, that's what they said but is it not with money that we will do that? Anyway, let me find some boys to help me pack up our timber planks. Maybe by next week I'll be able to find something. But please my dear, take care of yourself."

"I will ma. Don't worry too much about me, I'll be fine."

"If you say so, I know that God will surely be with you. You are a nice girl and have been good to me. I don't know what's wrong with your father, I'm surprised that he won't even let you into the house. Still, try him once more and let me know if you want me to accompany you again. Anyway if that doesn’t work, come over to my place. We'll see how we can manage OK?"

"All right ma." I replied as the worried woman walked away. Standing there lost in thought, I didn't hear my name being called till someone touched my arm.

"Anuli, what are you doing here?” She asked pushing my arm more forcefully.

"Ebere! I exclaimed startled out of immobility.

"Yes, it's me." she replied "We've not seen you since school resumed almost a month ago and the class was even planning to come looking for you at your grandmother's place in Onitsha. I'm surprised to see you here in Enugu. What's going on? Why aren't you back in school? You know its second semester so school is already in full session."

"Since my grandmother’s death, I now stay with relations here in Enugu..." The honking of a nearby car interrupted us and I automatically moved further to the side of the road.

"Sorry about your grandmother. I can't stay longer, that is my brother waiting for me. We'll talk more when you get back to the campus. Hope you'll be returning soon?"

"Yes," I replied as the retreating girl got in the car and they drove away. It was only then that I allowed the incipient tears to finally drop from my eyes unchecked.

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

mulan  # 1 | 01.05.2009 13:15

Enugu, April 18, 2000 "You *****! Ungrateful child, how dare you insult my wife? So you have come here to cause havoc in my home. You were responsible for your mother's death. Now you want to tear my family apart or do you want to kill us as well? Anulika indeed, you are nothing but a source of misery to me." My father was shouting as the leather belt snapped across my back again and again. I flinched from the pain and looked up crying, "Papa, it wasn't like that. It's not what she told you..." "Shut up! Do you hear me? How dare you interrupt your father," crowed my victorious stepmother. "Or are you trying to say that I am a liar?” Kneeling where I had fallen from the beatings, I glanced from the corner of my eyes at my step brothers crying in the corner and kept my mouth closed. "The bush girl has no manners”, my father continued. “I don't even know why I allowed her into this house in the first place. She has always brought me heartache and in the few months he's here, she's at it again." He turned with baleful eyes to me and stated, "You collect love letters from men and meet with them at odd hours when you should be at home or running an errand." I tried to defend myself, "They were schoolmates like I told Mama Tobe..." "Liar!" My stepmother hissed, "What of the letter I got from Zube? The things you were to get from Kenyetta?" My father who had been pacing about the room stopped before me and said bluntly, "Of course if I ask whether you are sleeping around you'll deny it while the evidence speaks for itself." "Papa, I'm sorry. Please let me explain." "No more explanations or entreaties, I have come to a decision. You cease to be my daughter as from this day forward. I disown you and that is final. You have been a unwanted millstone round my neck right from your birth and for almost twenty years, I've been reluctantly taking care of you. But now, I refuse to allow you to complicate my life any further..." "Papa, Please.... No papa, you can't do this..." "I don't want you to call me papa anymore, go and find your father. I have enough children of my own to do that. And if you think I can't do it, watch me." With this he marched into the small bedroom I had been using since I arrived and we could all hear the slamming of the doors of the wardrobe. When he brought out my box, the other children wailed louder but their mother shushed them and sent them to join their sleeping sister in their room. I continued crying and even crawled on my knees to my stepmother, holding on to her legs. I thought I saw a slight melting in her eyes but she only pushed me away. Dad came out with the other bag containing the rest of my meager belongings and threw it at my head. "Now get out, get the hell out of my house", he commanded. "But what will I do? Where will I go?" I don't know anyone I can go to here in Enugu..." "I said out and I mean it.” He went to the door and opened it. "Darling, maybe you should reconsider. Anuli is still..." Mama Tobe began. My father cut in impatiently, "I said no more entreaties, I don't want this girl's presence in this house any minute longer." Calling the gateman to make sure I left the compound, he sat down heavily and was soon lost in thought. I left the house aching all over and dragging the box and bag containing all I owned in the whole world. Just a few clothes and some knick-knacks I had picked from my grandmother’s house after she had died and I had moved fully to university at the beginning of last semester. Outside, Adamu sneaked me into his little box of a room and then went through the motions of opening and shutting the heavy gate. The creaking and clanking of the locks sent an ominous chill over my body. I remembered the painful mixture of sadness, regret and bad temper on my father’s face just before I had followed Adamu out of the living room and knew he could only have been thinking of the circumstances of my birth. Granny had told me the story and sometimes I could visualize the scene as if I had been there and that was what happened now. As I drifted off to sleep, it came to me like the scenes of a movie. **************************** Onitsha, June 7, 1980: Ekene Hospital and Maternity As he paced up and down the hospital corridors, Mr. Chinagorom could feel the dislike and apathy welling up in his heart for the child his wife was finding so difficult to give birth to. When he received the news that Nkechi had been rushed to the hospital in Onitsha during a visit to his mother, he been surprised that her due date had come so early. His trip to Lagos had been cut short so he could be by his wife’s side for the birth. As the screams continued in the delivery room, he pushed the fact that her former fiancée also lived here to the back of his mind as he ruminated over the past three days and the months preceding them. He had found out that Nkechi had been in painful labour for three days, the months of her pregnancy had not been easier either. Standing in front of the double doors of the labour room, it dawned on him that the screaming had stopped. The doctor stepped out and seeing him there spoke urgently to him. "Mr. Chinagorom, we have to perform a caesarean." "A caesarean? You mean an C/S operation?" "Yes, your wife has become very weak and we have to carry out the procedure urgently. Do we have your permission?" "Doctor you don't have to ask me, just do everything you have to so that my wife will be okay. And please let money not be a problem." "Alright," the doctor agreed and turning to the nurse standing nearby, he continued "Tell the theatre nurse to get her staff ready immediately and then take Mr. Chinagorom to the administrative office to fill out the consent form." "Yes doctor," the nurse replied as she rapidly led him away and the doctor went back into the delivery room. He was sitting dejectedly on one of the long benches opposite the operating theatre when the doctor roused him from a doze by calling his name. "Mr. Chinagorom, Mr. Chinagorom?" "Yes doctor," he got up quickly trying to read the expression on the man's face. "Congratulations, you are now a father..." He interrupted to ask quietly, "What of my wife?" "I'm sorry sir, but we were not able to save your wife. She gave up before the end of the operation and there was nothing we could do to revive her." Mr. Chinagorom sat down heavily with his hands on his heads. While he rubbed the flats of palms across his eyes in disbelief, the doctor clapped him briefly on the shoulders in consolation and turned to leave. He was brought back with a shock at the scream from the man behind him. "No... I can't accept this, Oh God! Why? Why?" The doctor sat down beside him and said quietly, "Listen my dear man; I’m sure God has nothing to do with this. There's never a reason for any tragedy. Just thank God for the life of your beautiful daughter." "What do I care about the baby that killed my wife? Nkechi is dead!” Shrugging off the hand the doctor tried again to put on his shoulders, he ran out of the hospital like the devil was at his heels. He was staring morosely into his car when his mother walked out to him. "I saw you running out of the hospital, Achike. What is it? Do they need more money? He turned silently towards her and she saw the tears on his face for the first time. "Nnam, what has happened?”, she queried in dread. "She's dead," he answered throwing his face in the opposite direction. "Who is dead?" she asked again placing a hand on his shoulders. "My wife. Nkechi is dead." he muttered fresh tears escaping from his eyes. "This can’t be true! Nkechi cannot be dead? Oh my God!" the old woman cried loudly clutching her chest. "What of the baby?" she asked after a few minutes of weeping. "She's alive but that is not a consolation to me. Nkechi should have been here now but for that child. She is responsible for my wife's death..." "The baby is not to blame. Don't talk like that my son..." "But it's true" he shouted angrily as he opened the door of the car, took out a parcel and slammed it shut again. He marched back into the hospital and straight to the reception, his mother at his heels. A nurse in theatre uniform walked up to him immediately, "Mr. Chinagorom, the baby is ready now. You can come with me to see her..." "Where is the doctor?" he cut in brusquely, "I want to speak with him." "He's in the office." the nurse replied in surprise before hurrying away. "Achike, let's check on the baby and see how she's doing before making the other arrangements." his mother tried to encourage him. "Mama, I don't want to see that girl. If they want, they can put her in the motherless babies’ home…" "Mbanu! Achike, you can't be serious." Seeing his unyielding face, she continued in a more conciliatory tone, "Nnam, she's your daughter. You can't turn your back on her..." "I can do whatever I want Mama," he continued inexorably, "And I don’t want her. Anyway Mama, since you’re so concerned, you can take the baby. When they are ready to discharge her, you can take her home with you. I don't have time to deal with her. Especially not now when I'll be very busy putting things together for Nkechi’s burial." "Achike, you can't abandon this child! Without seeing her, without even naming her..." "Call her whatever you want." He snapped stomping off in the direction of the doctor's office. "I don't have space for her in my life, I’ll be going back to Lagos by the weekend." “Nnam, as you wish. She is my blood and I cannot abandon her.” His mother moved in the direction of the Female ward. ********************* I woke up completely disoriented. From thinking of the day of my birth, I had slept off to dream of a happier life with Granny but now as I remembered the previous night's experience, the pain came back and I began crying softly. "Oh God! Why? Why me? I cried looking up at the sky in frustration. "Haven't I suffered enough? What did I do to deserve all this? Mama, you said you would watch over one, where are you now? How could Dad have done this to me? Look at me, Mama, look at me." Adamu had quietly let me out of the compound at the crack of dawn and now I walked fearfully back. Sitting on top of the box, I waited patiently outside the gate. The creak of the gates being opened alerted me and I stood up quickly as my father's car drove out with the whole family inside. The car stopped and the window rolled down. "What are you still doing here?” My father bellowed. "I asked you leave my house..." "Papa, please forgive me for everything. I'm sorry..." "Adamu!” He shouted, deaf to my pleas. When the gateman came running out, he continued, "I don't want this girl hanging around this house. Make sure she's out of this place before I come back. If I so much as catch a glimpse of her loitering around you're fired. Understand?" "Yes sir" the man replied as the car moved away. When they were out of view, Adamu pushed some money into my hands and urged me to leave the premises since his job depended on it. He encouraged me to find somewhere to sleep and maybe comeback after my father had cooled down. He didn’t have more money or he could have given me enough for a room somewhere and he couldn’t recommend any of his friends to me. All he could do was keep my box until I came back or needed it. I washed my face with the little water he gave me and with youthful optimism set out to see what I could do. It was late evening when I entered a makeshift eatery popularly referred to as `Mama Put' and took a seat wearily. I had fruitlessly walked the length and breadth of Uwani in search of a temporary job with options of a place to stay. All I had found was that employers preferred someone referred to them or at least with provable experience. I had neither and also had no luck, as no one was ready to listen to my sorry tale. Well, two men had listened but their offer of help had come with a condition I couldn't accept. I ordered my first meal of the day with the money the gateman had given me and stared at the plate of food despondently as I wondered at my next line of action. The conversation behind me filtered into my consciousness and I turned my ear to it. It seemed one of the serving girls had to leave the job and owner was stranded for help. "But you said you will send your cousin to replace you tomorrow." She complained. "Madam, I'm sorry but that one decided to move with us to the village. The other one I talked to wants to complete her sewing. She will start at month end..." "How do you expect me to cope alone till then? You know how hard it is to find good girls." I had moved closer and now cut in, "Madam, I can work for you." They both looked at me and the woman asked hopefully, "Do you think you can handle it? You will have to sleep here too." My heart lifted at the expectation on her face and I smiled genuinely for the first time that day. *************** I stood by silently with a small group of onlookers as the bulldozers demolished the illegal makeshift structures at the side of the road. Only one other person in the crowd knew that they'd just pushed down what had been my home for the past two months. However, I was the only one who knew that this was the worst birthday I'd ever experienced. Tears almost escaped my eyes at the thought but I pushed them back forcefully. "Anuli, what am I going to do?" My madam asked as the crowd dispersed from the scene following after the rampaging bulldozers. "This people want to finish me off o! What do they expect me to do? Where else can I sell food, eh?” "Madam, I'm sure God is going to make a way." I consoled the wailing woman. "And look at you, what are you going to do? Where will you sleep? I would have asked you to come over to my place but you know how it is. Me, my husband and my eight children are in one room. And my husband has just lost his job. God, how are we to survive?” "Madam, don't worry too much. I heard the other people say that they will rebuild in a week's time after seeing the local government officials." "Yes, that's what they said but is it not with money that we will do that? Anyway, let me find some boys to help me pack up our timber planks. Maybe by next week I'll be able to find something. But please my dear, take care of yourself." "I will ma. Don't worry too much about me, I'll be fine." "If you say so, I know that God will surely be with you. You are a nice girl and have been good to me. I don't know what's wrong with your father, I'm surprised that he won't even let you into the house. Still, try him once more and let me know if you want me to accompany you again. Anyway if that doesn’t work, come over to my place. We'll see how we can manage OK?" "All right ma." I replied as the worried woman walked away. Standing there lost in thought, I didn't hear my name being called till someone touched my arm. "Anuli, what are you doing here?” She asked pushing my arm more forcefully. "Ebere! I exclaimed startled out of immobility. "Yes, it's me." she replied "We've not seen you since school resumed almost a month ago and the class was even planning to come looking for you at your grandmother's place in Onitsha. I'm surprised to see you here in Enugu. What's going on? Why aren't you back in school? You know its second semester so school is already in full session." "Since my grandmother’s death, I now stay with relations here in Enugu..." The honking of a nearby car interrupted us and I automatically moved further to the side of the road. "Sorry about your grandmother. I can't stay longer, that is my brother waiting for me. We'll talk more when you get back to the campus. Hope you'll be returning soon?" "Yes," I replied as the retreating girl got in the car and they drove away. It was only then that I allowed the incipient tears to finally drop from my eyes unchecked. ******************

mulan  # 2 | 15.05.2009 13:44

I sat on the flower border surrounding the house till it was dark. My stepmother had sent some food out to me but still my father's decree stood - I was not to be allowed into the house. I had been waiting for him to get back but it seemed he was not coming back soon. Of the handful of times I had come back seeking reconciliation, this was the only time I had missed him. He usually met me at the gate, and it was either that he ignored me or he cursed me out and threatened to embarrass me out of the vicinity altogether. On the evening I had come with my employer, he had ignored both us as he drove up to the house and through the gates. He only stopped long enough to make sure Adamu didn’t allow us in. As it got darker, I discreetly exchanged some of the clothes I had with me in the bag for some other ones in the box and set off to look for my madam. I decided to stop off at the toilet in the filling station along the way and ease myself. That would take me a bit off the fastest route but I couldn’t hold it much longer, I felt like I was bursting. I walked stiff legged as I approached the TOTAL station, while my heart broke into irretrievable pieces all over again. Who could have imagined that anyone would feel so abandoned and on their birthday too? "Oh dad, how could you?" I cried internally. Thee hopelessness of my situation had dawned on me at least as concerning returning to my previous way of life or going back to my family. An angrily speeding car caught me unawares and when I tried to step aside, I clumsily fell inside the roadside gutter. The driver jammed the brakes and stepped out while I was still struggling to regain my balance. He came to where I was and offered a hand which I gratefully took and climbed out. As I stood there brushing off the dirt on my palms, I burned with shame but kept silent. "I'm very sorry, hope you were not hurt? He enquired. It was dark but his deep voice made me want to see his face clearly. He was a good-looking young man, quite dark-skinned and with lively eyes. The way he stood over my 5’8 frame made me think he was at least 6 feet. I looked aside in an effort to hide my tear stained face. "Are you OK?” He asked again coming closer. "Yes, I'm fine thank you. It's just my clothes." I muttered. "I can see you have a travelling bag with you. This is my house," he said pointing to the building behind us, "If you like, you can come in and change the dirty clothes. You can also have some food before you leave." I looked up with a quick, "Thank you but no, I‘m in a hurry to meet someone.” "But you can’t meet them like that. And really you don't have to be afraid, there's a woman in the house. That's the least I can do since I was the one that caused the accident." he insisted. Bearing my full bladder in mind, I accepted his offer and walked quickly after him as he drove into the compound. Inside the house, I immediately asked for the bathroom. When he didn’t answer, I turned back to where he was standing only to find him looking at me strangely. “What's wrong? “Are you that badly hurt?” he asked. “Is that why are you crying?” Startled that he'd noticed, I raised my eyes to his face. "It’s not the accident, is it?” he asked compassionately. “No it’s not,” I bowed my face again, confounded at the kindness I saw in his eyes. “Please I really need to use the bathroom.” I whispered. He motioned to the middle-aged woman who had come into the room as we entered and she asked me to follow her in a monotone. I followed her upstairs and while there, I also washed my hands and face and changed my clothes. The young man was sitting in the living room with some kind of music playing on the television. He turned it low when I approached to say I was about to go, and then stood up. “Do you really have to leave immediately? You can talk to me, you know.” At my continued silence, he persisted, "It won't cost you anything and maybe I might even be able to help, so please tell me what the problem is." At his persistence and compassion, fresh tears started coursing down from the corners of my eyes and uncontrollable sobs escaped from my mouth. This went on for some time but I calmed down a little when I saw a white hanky being offered to me. I accepted it with thanks and wiped my face with it. The man directed me to a chair and made me sit down. "Now tell me, what the matter is?” he asked, sitting down on the opposite chair. It was a long story - I didn’t know where to start, and I told him so. "Start anywhere you like," he encouraged and then asked baldly, "Are you a street girl?" "Of course not!" I burst out outraged. Then I said more quietly, "I'm not a prostitute." He only nodded silently as I continued, "My problem is with my dad. He disowned me and sent me out of the house two months ago." "How did that happen? What was your offence?” "According to my father, I've only ever brought him misery," I replied the harsh words of that day having been engraved in my memory. "That is a strange thing for a father to tell his child." I wondered whether he was becoming a little bit suspicious. "We're not the usual father-daughter most people are used to," I explained. "All right, let’s start afresh. What's your name?” adding immediately, “I am Kenechukwu Obiora.” "Anulika Chinagorom." I replied. "Is your father living here in Enugu?" "Yes he is." I answered wondering where this was going. "Do you have a phone in the house?” At my nod, he asked again, "What's the number?” "It is 0427933625," I replied, "Are you going to call him now?” "Yes, any reason why I shouldn’t?” "No ...no..." I stammered wondering what that would result in. Kene punched in the numbers into his mobile handset and watched me as it rang on the other end. I bent my head and started twisting my fingers anxiously. I felt his attention go back to the phone as it stopped ringing. "Please may I speak with Mr. Chinagorom?” He asked whoever had picked it up and then put it on speaker. "It is Chief Chinagorom and yes, how may I help you?” I heard my father’s voice like he was there with us in the room and cringed. "Anuli is here with me and I want to find out if you are her father? Kene said in what I was beginning to realise was his characteristic plain manner. "Who are you, my friend?” my father snapped harshly. Kene seemed taken aback and didn’t say anything immediately. I found that I wasn’t too surprised. My father continued, "Oh ho..., I guess you are one of those men who have been turning her head. You see, she couldn’t hide the truth any longer. She thought she could pull the wool over my eyes with that old woman she brought here a couple of times eh? Well, you’re welcome to her and don't need to call me for anything. Whatever she does is none of my business because she's no longer my daughter." "Sir..." Kene began but my father cut him off. “The children informed me she was here earlier. Tell her that not only is she not welcome to this house, I don’t want to ever set eyes on her too.” He ended the call with an abrupt click. Kene turned back to me sympathetically but even though tears threatened, I kept them at bay this time. "OK tell me the whole story between you and your father." I sighed deeply and started from the beginning. ******************* "My mother died while giving birth to me after a very difficult pregnancy and an even more tasking and long labour. My grandmother told me that because of her death, my dad didn't want to set eyes on me. He held me responsible and washed his hands off me. It was my granny that gave even my name to me." "My father wished I had died instead of my mother and told my grandmother to take me back to the village with her and so I grew up in Onitsha while he remained in Lagos. He remarried some years later but even then, I was never allowed to go to Lagos not to talk of setting foot in their house. This is the reason I don't know much about him or my new family and we never developed that father-daughter relationship." Kene watched with a sympathetic look on his face as I continued. "Grandma was a textile trader and she made some good money so it was not too hard. My father sent some money but never specifically for me, so Grandma ended up paying most of my fees. She loved me so much and was both a mother and a father to me. Because of my father's attitude to me, a rift developed between them and he hardly came home to visit and neither did she travel to Lagos. She was so happy when I easily got an admission into university of Nsukka but my father was not interested. By then he had moved back to Enugu with his family but he just didn't care and so I only went to Onitsha during the holidays. That is until ... until..." My grandmother's death was still a painful subject for me. I couldn't control the tears now and they rolled down my cheeks. Kene moved next to me and began to pat my back. "What happened? Did your grandmother die?" He asked in pity. "Yes. I finished the first semester exams for my second level earlier this year only to come home and meet her seriously sick. She hadn't wanted me to be distracted and that was why she did not inform me. I rushed her to the hospital and called my father immediately. He came the next day and stayed till she died almost two weeks later. That was the longest we had ever stayed together and I thought we had began to bond. This seemed to be true when he asked me to come and live with them here in Enugu after the burial." "Then why did he send you out of the house? What did you do?" "For no particular reason, my stepmother doesn't like me. Sometimes, we manage to get along but mostly, she picks quarrels with me at the littlest things..." I was interrupted by Kene's handset, which started vibrating and then ringing. He went to pick it up where he'd left it on the stool next to the seat he'd been sitting on before moving next to me. I looked on he switched off the phone without answering it. “Please continue," Kene said coming back to seat beside me. My earlier thoughts had been interrupted by the ringing phone, and had got me thinking. I said the first thing that came to my mind, "You are a very nice man, do you know that?” "I've not done anything but listen to you, or have I?” He smiled and the whiteness of his teeth against his dark skin made me smile too. "Listening is one of the best things anybody can give a troubled person. Thank you." "Don't thank me, you may yet rue meeting me,” I looked at him quizzically and he continued, “A funny idea just occurred to me but complete your story first." I shrugged and went on with my story. "As I was saying, my step mum always started quarrels with me and when my dad came back, she usually told him a totally different version from what actually happened. The day my father sent me away, two former male classmates had come to visit and my stepmother called me all sorts of names. She reported my so-called promiscuity to my father and the whole scene seemed to push him over the edge. I've never seen him so angry, never seen anyone that angry even. It was a nightmare for me. I thought he was joking when he disowned me. My stepmother tried to get him to change his mind but…" “Are you now making excuses for them?” Kene asked. “Noo… I just want to be very honest. On my dad’s side, I actually think it may not just have been about me. He seems to be having problems about his business.” “He sounded like a big man on the phone. What line of business is he in?” "He imports cement," I replied with another smile at his description of my father. "Mmm... Chief Chinagorom, I can’t say I know him. So what have you been doing in the last two months since he sent you out?" "I was fortunate enough to get work as a waitress in a buka soon after and there was an adjoining space where some of us girls could sleep at night." "Then how come I almost knocked you down tonight? There are no bukas around here as far as I know. And you're with your bag? Don't tell me your madam sent you out as well." "No, she didn't. In fact, she is a very nice woman who had gone with me to plead with my father on two previous occasions.” “OK,…” Kene muttered looking at me expectantly. “Well, there was a mass demolition of illegal structures in the market where the buka was situated which means I have nowhere to work or sleep.” "Why couldn't your madam have taken you in?” "It’s not that easy for her. She lives with her husband and eight children in one room." "Ten people in a room?” Kene shouted incredulously. “That is unbelievable.” It was obvious that this was beyond his experience. While living with my grandmother in Onitsha, there had been congestion but I had mostly seen it on the roads. We had lived in a two-bedroom bungalow in spacious grounds planted with fruit trees. The time I had spent two nights at my madam’s when two of her children had been in hospital, I had prayed to return to the shack at the buka. But there was no choice now. "I have spent some time with them and was on my way there." "That still doesn’t answer my question, how come you were outside my house.” "My father and his family also live here on the Layout and I was at their place earlier to see if he had ordered that I should be allowed in. No such luck though.” “Hmmm" Kene murmured as he ruminated on what he'd just heard. "Well, that's my life history," I said getting up, "I’ll be on my way now before it gets too dark.” "There's something I would like to discuss with you and I also promised you a meal so please sit down. I can drop you off later too." Kene gestured to the seat and I sat down again. I had about an hour before no sane person would be on the streets. After a few moments of tense silence, Kene spoke again, "Listen, this is confidential but it’s not more than you’ve just shared with me. I am thinking we might help each other but it depends." He looked meaningfully at me but I just returned a neutral nod. "My mum is forcing me to get married. Not only that, she is pushing the last girl I would have considered at me. I don’t want to get married yet but with my mum’s backing, the girl in question is also trying to force herself on me." "Why are you telling me this?” I asked not seeing any dots to connect. "I think there’s a way you can help me discourage the girl in her pursuit of me. I know that she is on very good terms with my housekeeper who keeps her abreast of all that happens here." "I still don't understand what I can do to help..." Kene knew he had to get to the point and so he plunged in, "I want you to stay here with me for a while. Erinma will be back from her trip by Sunday and I'm sure your mere presence here will drive her crazy." I looked on silently as he smiled wickedly at the thought. Mischievous lights danced in his eyes and their corners crinkled when he laughed out loud. A reluctant smile tugged at my own lips, it had been ages since I had been so light hearted. My mischief seemed to have died with my grandmother; the atmosphere in my father’s house had not encouraged any of my siblings to be that close or free with me. Kene’s words brought me back to the present. "You will live here, ostensibly as my love interest and this will create a situation where it will be plain to Erinma that there's no room for her in my life. Hopefully she will then get off my back." "You can’t be serious?!" I blurted out, "You expect me to sleep with you?" Surprised at the fiery outburst, Kene stood up and snapped, "I certainly don’t expect that from you.” The look in his eyes made it clear that he could get that from much better girls anytime he wanted. I felt stung and looked down at my hands as he continued in a gentler tone, “Anuli the thing is, you are currently homeless. I'm only offering you the use of my home for a short while.” "A temporary accommodation here will not solve all my problems. And there's no denying that it will benefit you too. I'm supposed to cause a breakup between you and your girlfriend..." "She's not my girlfriend," Kene ground out through clenched teeth. "So why not introduce her to a real girlfriend instead of arranging a farce?” “There's no real girlfriend around now" At my stare of disbelief, he added, "I couldn’t sustain a long distance relationship with my last girlfriend after I returned from the United States and my mum has been pushing Nma at me ever since." I sighed and stood up again. "I wish you luck, but I don't want to be involved". "You might think I'm exploiting your plight and you don’t have much to gain but I want you to reconsider. I promise that you don’t have to do or say anything even if Nma comes here and at any time you want this week, I'll take you back to your father and plead your case. Maybe a man-to-man chat will sway him.” Kene cajoled standing up and taking my hands in his. Pulling my hands free, I looked up at him and shook my head, "You don't know my father. Nothing will move him; you heard what he said on the phone earlier." "We'll cross the bridge when we get to it, just give me a chance. And if that doesn’t work, I could maybe help you in other ways," he assured me with confidence. That confidence and the compassion colouring his voice crumbled the last of my resistance. I thought about the possibility of reconciliation with my dad, even if it was just till I completed my university education in just over a year. If that were out of the question, maybe he could help me get a better job and a place to stay. At the worst, I would move back to the shack and Buka when it was rebuilt. After another deep sigh, I agreed with a quiet, "All right." "Yes!” Kene exalted as he caught me up in a hug. Inexplicably, a tingle ran down my spine and goose bumps spread over my body. I quickly pushed him away. He tried to search my face but I avoided his eyes even as I wondered if he had felt the same tug of attraction. He smiled at me and I smiled weakly back, my heart doing flip-flops in my chest. "Comfort, Comfort," he called turning away. “As I said earlier, I won’t be surprised if she has been eavesdropping throughout our conversation.” "Yes?" The middle-aged woman I had seen earlier came out from a door I guessed led to the kitchen and I got a better look at her. She was small and round with a pinched face and had an apron round her thick middle. "This is Anuli, a friend of mine and she’ll be staying with us for a while." "OK," The woman replied looking me up and down. "Please take her to the guest room and get the bed ready. Switch on the water heater in the upstairs bathroom and then get some food for her." Comfort started moving towards the stairs without another glance in my direction and I turned to follow her. Kene called me back and offered his hand saying in a low voice, "Let's shake hands on our deal." I took the proffered palm and felt goose bumps rise on my skin again as he held my hand a moment longer than necessary. I looked quickly at his face and our eyes caught as I found him studying my face carefully. Snatching my hand away, I almost ran to the stairs where I found the housekeeper waiting just out of sight on the landing. She gave me an even more calculating glare before stolidly marching upstairs.

Oluwato  # 3 | 17.09.2009 14:29

Does this have a sequel?

mulan  # 4 | 07.10.2009 14:49

I just finished with the other one. So now I'll start up again with this. Give me sometime to get my thoughts in order...

Spicey  # 5 | 08.10.2009 10:06

=mulan;393705>I just finished with the other one. So now I'll start up again with this. Give me sometime to get my thoughts in order... So when are we expecting the concluding chapter, since you have concluded work on the Edward and Gladys story. Congratulations so far Please say now :wink:

mulan  # 6 | 08.10.2009 16:49

Spicey, Thanks. I didn't know you were following. The book should be out soon. You can see the concluding chapter then. LOL.

Magic  # 7 | 08.10.2009 17:03

Mulan, I cant read the second part, too sad. I have seen cases like that.

Spicey  # 8 | 09.10.2009 06:53

=mulan;394185>Spicey, Thanks. I didn't know you were following. The book should be out soon. You can see the concluding chapter then. LOL. Spoiler! :rant: Post it here jo, you can’t imagine how long I’ve being waiting patiently for the concluding chapter.

mulan  # 9 | 09.10.2009 13:38

Spicey. OK I hear you, I will continue...