Shackles of my husband 9&10

SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND

    

Episode 9&10

Uloma’s children grew rapidly and God helped her inculcate morals into them. She joined a Bible-believing Church and consecrated her life to God. Uloma took her job and training seriously and in no time, she graduated, her diligence made earned her a job in the maternity. The senior nurse advised that she can still pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor even after two kids and that she had in mind. Uloma was able to secure an apartment and there she lived with her children though, she still does a part-time job for the rich woman.

Amara grew into a beautiful young lady and even though she had Teacher Emeka’s face, Uloma could see herself in Amara. She made sure she had a great relationship with her children whereby they were able to open up to her when they needed someone to talk to. When her children entered puberty, she made sure she was always available despite her busy schedule. She would always tease and ask them if they had feelings for any boy or girl just to know how to put them through.

Amarachi graduated from secondary school with a good grade and that same year, she got admission into the university to study Psychology. Ohh! Uloma’s joy was unexplainable the day Amara received a mail that she had been admitted. She sat on the floor and wept for joy, the fact that her children were achieving what she couldn’t bring tears of joy to her face.

When the children became wise and mature, they began to bombard their mother with questions about their father but she kept telling them that they were not mature enough to hear the tale of their father. A night before Amara was to leave for school, Uloma woke up her children at midnight and then told them everything they need to know about their father, the tears she shed while telling them the story showed that she was still deeply hurt and it will take only God to work on her heart.

After telling them all they needed to know, Amara and Obinna embraced their mother and promised never to disappoint her. Uloma made them kneel and make a promise to God that they would never engage in sex till they get married, she made Obinna promise God never to deceive and hurt any girl. After their prayer, Uloma encouraged her children to confide in her once they fall in love, she was ready to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Obinna asked if they could get the opportunity to meet with their father and see what he looks like and Uloma promised that it won’t be a problem but then, they had to ensure they become something meaningful before going over to see him.

Two years later, Obinna got admission into his sister’s school to study Petrochemical Engineering. Amara was in 300l when she called her mother, she was weeping profusely while making the call. At first, Uloma thought something terrible had happened to her daughter.

Uloma: what happened Amara? Talk to me and stop crying, please.

Amara: Mum, I don’t know what is happening to me again, I don’t know what to do, I try to control my heart, I try not to think about him but it’s not working

Uloma: calm down babe, who is this person you are talking about?

Amara: His name is Daniel, he is a 400l Accounting student who is madly in love with me and I found myself reciprocating the love. Mum, I don’t want to make the mistake you made.

Uloma: it’s okay dear, you need to understand that there are still good men, I just fell for the wrong one. Let’s do this, invite him over, tell him to come to see me if he truly loves you.

Amara: Mum! Are you sure about this?

Uloma: Let him come.

Amara: Awwn, thank you, Mum, you are simply the best mother in the world

Uloma: Awwn, that’s so sweet daughter. Guess what??

Amara: what mom?? Wait! Don’t tell me you gave Dr. Kings a yes

Uloma: You are the one in love, not me, okay?

Amara: Come on, Mum, Dr. Kings loves you and I can see that for myself, please, give love another chance, you are still a young mom.

Uloma: enough of that talk abeg, the good news is that I just got admission to study Medicine just like I have always wanted

Amara: wow! My mother is a goal-getter, congratulations to the best mother in the world. This calls for celebration, I am going to inform Obinna right away and we are coming home this weekend to celebrate this. Awwwn, congratulations once again mother.

Uloma: thank you, my daughter. Please, stay safe and say well to Daniel.

Amara: Mom!!!

Uloma: Daughter! Bye joor

Uloma couldn’t sleep that night, she kept staring at her admission letter and couldn’t stop crying, she was finally on the path of destiny fulfillment despite all the events of the past.

 © Deborah Iyanu

Episode 10

That weekend, Amara and Obinna came home with Daniel to celebrate their mother’s admission into the University to study her dream course. It was such a beautiful moment for them all, Uloma had a one-on-one discussion with Daniel and then discovered he had good intentions for her daughter, she gave them her blessings but warned them never to engage in pre-marital sex. She threatened to curse them if they ever go into it.

Amara graduated from the University and went for her Youth service, by then, Daniel was already working in an insurance company and was earning big. Amara has met his family and all they were waiting for was for her to round up her youth service so that she and Daniel can be joined in holy matrimony.

Since Amara would be getting married soon, Uloma decided it was time her children meet their father. During a public holiday, Uloma invited her children home alongside Daniel and together, they traveled to the village. On getting there, Uloma was surprised to see two graves outside the compound.

Uloma went into the house and met Mama Ada picking beans, she greeted her and introduced herself. Mama Ada embraced Uloma deeply and began to weep, after some minutes of weeping, Uloma introduced her children and Daniel to Mama Ada before requesting to see Teacher Emeka. Mama Ada’s reaction towards Uloma surprised her so much because Mama Ada never liked her from day one.

Mama Ada: (weeping) Uloma, my daughter, your husband is late. There are two graves in the compound, the grave of my husband and my son

Uloma: what?? What happened to them? What happened to Emeka??

Mama Ada: hmmm, how I wished I accepted you for Emeka, maybe he would still be alive today. Emeka was killed by the husband of the young lady he came to introduce to us as his wife. The lady was married but because she had no child for her husband, he left home. While Emeka was working for them as their security man, he had sex with the woman which resulted in pregnancy

Uloma: wow! Emeka got married to a married woman!

Mama Ada: we didn’t know too ooooh. When the woman became pregnant, she then discovered that her husband was impotent yet he hid it from her and was blaming her for their barrenness. She tried divorcing her husband to get married to Emeka. Unfortunately, on the day of their traditional marriage, the man stormed the venue of the traditional marriage with armed men and Emeka was shot in the chest. He died after spending two weeks in the hospital, on his deathbed, he gave me three letters which he asked me to give you.

Uloma: are you trying to tell me that Emeka is dead??

Mama Ada: yes, my daughter. My husband fell into depression after Emeka’s death and died some months later.

Uloma: Hmm, this is terrible. Emeka got killed by his flirtatious lifestyle. May the soul of the dead rest in peace.

Mama Ada: (knelt before Uloma) My daughter, please forgive me for all I ever did, I am very sorry.

Uloma: Mama, you hurt me deeply but then, if you didn’t do that, I won’t have known the road to success. Truly, these are your grandchildren but I can’t force them to have a relationship with you. The Amara who you do starve then is all grown and would be getting married in months.

Mama Ada turned to Amara and Obinna and apologized for all the wickedness of the past and then bless Daniel and Amara’s union. Before leaving the village, Mama Ada was given a huge amount of money to start a business.

To be continued.

Let’s try to be kind to those around us, we really can’t tell what tomorrow holds for everyone