Akwaugo – Episode 61

PART 61

 

We arrived at Umuoji. A small crowd had gathered in our compound. I greeted them and Samuel followed me into the house. My mother was with sympathizer’s, my brothers with the men while their wives, eyes bloodshot were in the kitchen. I went to meet my mother while Samuel went to be with my brothers.

 

My mother had grown lean overnight. I couldn’t explain how she felt. She had been with my father for thirty-six years; how would she live without him right now? My brothers received calls from all over the world. We didn’t know how popular our father was until we lost him. My mother looked lost; she stared into thin air. Some of the women tried to urge her to eat but they were talking to someone who wasn’t there.

 

That night, I left my room for Samuel to sleep in and went to stay with my mother in their bedroom. Her reaction broke my heart. Apart from refusing to eat, she refused me sleeping on his side of the bed. She told me she didn’t want anyone laying on her husband. I slept on the floor while I checked her. She didn’t sleep, she held on to a rosary and was praying.

 

Bad news travels very fast. The days that followed brought more people to our compound. Priests came to see us. Friends from far and wide came to our house in our time of mourning. We felt the impact our father had on many lives. People had

 

 

only good things to say about him. We watched people come to shake their heads, cry, say nice things and then leave.

 

Auntie Nneoma arrived the following day. I had to quit the bedroom for her to be with mother. She was the only mother allowed to sleep on my father’s side of the bed. They cried together and prayed together. Auntie Nneoma kept assuring her everything would be alright. She saw Samuel but didn’t say anything because of the situation.

 

Three days after the death, my brothers were called to a meeting. They chose a date father was to be buried as his body would not be allowed into the church if he is not buried within two weeks of his death. My brothers wanted the burial that weekend of his death. They wanted a quiet lowkey burial. The family members were pushing for the following week. My brothers told them that was the date they had agreed on. He died in the early hours of a Saturday morning and my brothers wanted him buried on the next Friday. They said the sooner the better. We will recover faster. We hadn’t talked about what happened that night but I knew we were all hurting.

 

Auntie Nneoma travelled to Enugu to prepare for the burial. She went to get my mother and us the outfits we would wear for the burial. Samuel went back to Calabar to prepare for the catering for the burial. I stayed back and worked on other requirements for the burial. As the Ada, I was to buy the casket. I went with my brothers; we chose and bought a casket and paid for pallbearers. Auntie Nneoma got the outfit he was to wear.

 

I told my brothers I would handle the catering but Amanze beat me to it. He called Samuel and asked him for a quotation for a job. Samuel responded. He asked for his account number. After he paid, he told him the event was my father’s burial. Samuel wasn’t happy as he had prepared for the event too. Amanze didn’t stop there, he bought more than enough drinks for the occasion that we were deeply touched. He behaved as though he was our father’s son.

 

Two days to the burial, I received an alert of N300,000. It was from Emeka. He sent a message saying, “I wish I was there to console you during this difficult time but I know your faith in God will help pull you through. I am here if you need me”. I was touched by his message and kind contribution.

 

 

We also received a huge amount of money from another relative who lived abroad. They were the ones father refused to openly receive handouts and hand downs from. This was their way of supporting us. We were very impressed. We didn’t spend a dime of our personal monies and we had a surplus.

 

On the day of the burial, I was shocked to see Dubie at the church. I didn’t pay him much heed but his presence couldn’t be ignored. He came for the internment and reception in the house. I made sure he was entertained and tried to avoid him. He saw my mother and gave her an envelope. He told to m brothers and also gave them some cash. He was finally able to corner me. I told him I was busy.

 

“Emeka didn’t come?”

 

“It was a short notice”

 

“What of his family?”

 

“His parents and brother are here”

 

“He sent them?”

 

“His father and my father were close friends”

 

“I am here. I came to support you” he opened my hand and put an envelope into it.

 

“You don’t have to,” I said as I tried to return the envelope.

 

‘If Emeka had given you this envelope, you would never have said no because your father liked him. But I, you will always say no because your father didn’t like me. I still love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you”

 

“Chidubem, read my lips, it will never happen” I tried to give him back the envelope but he walked away.

 

 

I gave the envelope to Samuel to keep while I attended to important people. I ensured everyone was alright. I made sure there were no complaints whatsoever. There was enough to eat and drink and everyone was happy.

 

After the outing service, we had the opportunity to talk later in the night when everyone had gone home. Mother narrated his final moments. He ate dinner and had night prayers with the family then he retired for the night. He began to cough in the night at about 11 pm and asked my mother to get him hot tea as he didn’t know how he caught this cold. He drank the tea and they both went to bed. Mother woke up at 2 am to ease herself. She saw him lying on his back, one of his hands had dropped to the ground while the second made a fist and was placed on his heart. It was at the hospital they realized the fist he made had a rosary inside. I knew he must have had a heart attack and slipped away. It hurt me badly.

 

Father had prepared for his demise. He had, without a lawyer, shared out all he had to us. They were shared equally which surprised me. He gave the following rules: Obinna, you are the head of the family. You have proven to be a good man. Do not be swayed into family politics. Build up our little family unit. Your wife and children should be given priority in all you do. You married a good woman so I am not afraid you will succeed. You are responsible for your mother and siblings. Ensure they live good lives. The surest way to succeed is by following the Lord with all your heart. He guides you.

 

Ikenna, I am proud of all your achievement. I know the sacrifice you and your adorable wife have made to reside in the village with us. When I am gone, I would like your mother to stay in Enugu or Abuja with my sister who has assured me she will take good care of her while Akwaugo finds her feet. Allow her to stay with her. This will allow your family to be alone for the first time.

 

I have no doubt my lineage will continue to stand out. Both of you married women who shared our vision as a family. My daughters-in-law will continue to be a blessing.

 

All the legal documents to Akwaugo’s properties are with your mother. The car we sold and the rent that has been paid all these years is in an account; your mother and Obinna are signatories. We didn’t use the money. We knew you would need it someday although we bought additional properties at the insistence of Obinna so

 

 

the money doesn’t lie fallow. All your property documents and money are with your mother.

 

Take adequate care of mother especially Akwaugo. You are the one she can be with and be happy always.

 

Nothing should stop Akwaugo’s relocation to any country she so desires. We all know once Akwaugo is blessed, we are all blessed.

 

Allow Akwaugo marry whom she desires to. We have used our human understanding to lead her but it didn’t go well. Let us allow her to choose now she is older and wiser.

 

Do not collect brideprice from her suitor or the suitors of any of your female children. In our family, we do not sell our children.

 

Love each other as you have always done. Let one person’s pain be the other’s pain. Let your individual families love your siblings and their families. I know my generations to come will be the envy of our community.

 

Forgive your brother or sister who offends you. Never let the sunset on your anger.

 

Let love lead you always.

 

We listened attentively as his words were readout. There were many more writeups but these were the last entries and it was entered on the day I came with Samuel. There was a more recent letter he wrote to my mother. We found many letters. Their love was very strong.

 

Auntie Nneoma said she would move back to Enugu and stay with her ‘wife’ as instructed by her brother but mother told her she still had six months mourning period before she could leave for anywhere. The environment was more relaxed now and we jested like we did when father was around. It was Amanze that brought up the issue.

 

“Akwaugo, how far? What’s up with Samuel?”

 

“How?”

 

“The guy has been supporting you. He has been at your beck and call. What is delaying the next level?” he asked.

 

“Next level? She can’t marry him, the guy is younger” auntie Nneoma announced.

 

Amanze smiled and asked, “what’s the age difference?”

 

“I am two years older” I answered.

 

“Is that all? Akwaugo, you can pass for younger than him. He also has a baby face; I like his new look. Uncle Mike knew what he was saying when he mentioned we should allow Akwaugo marry whom she wants. I like the guy; he is very loyal. It is very obvious for all to see that he loves Akwaugo. Why should we stand in their way?”

 

Obinna added, “Akwaugo can marry whom she wants to but this guy is from Calabar. They like women. All the Calabar men I know are unfaithful and wife beaters”

 

“How many Calabar men do you know? Those guys are hardworking. Cheating is in the DNA of every man. It is a choice to act on it on not. Many people men like us cheat. Some Igbo men are wife beaters too. This guy adores Akwaugo. He is a graduate with an MSc, he is a great cook as we have witnessed, he is a devout Catholic, he is from a good family, what else do we want for our sister?”

 

“Men pretend when they want something. I think we should tread with caution” auntie Nneoma insisted.

 

“True. I called him concerning the burial and he already had a list of what he would cook and the cost. I was impressed. I asked him to give me a quotation for another event. He gave me a quotation. I paid him and told him to use it for the burial. He was upset, he wanted to handle the feeding himself. I already know how much he was saving to travel. I told him not to bother; I could never repay uncle Mike for all he did for me. He backed down. He did far more than I paid for. That was his contribution because he loves Akwaugo”

 

“Love? Nna jiriya nwayo. Easy o. Love?” auntie Nneoma responded.

 

Ikenna cut in, “I like the guy. He is very hardworking and appreciative. I am managing his farm in his village. What he had there and abandoned was shocking

 

 

to me. Still, he is so humble. I met his mother and I understood why he is so down to earth. His mother loves and treasures him. He told me she taught him all he knew. She didn’t spoil him as most parents with only children do. She taught him with love. Have you seen him teach before? You will understand what I am saying”

 

Chiamaka then said, “No one has asked Akwaugo how she feels about this guy. We might be wasting our time on this discussion if the main person hasn’t said how she feels. The ball is actually in her court”

 

All eyes were on me. I felt embarrassed but I knew I had to let them know my stand. “We are in a relationship, hopefully, it would lead to marriage. This is what he desires but I am still dragging my feet”

 

“Okwu agwula. He has hooked her” auntie Nneoma lamented.

 

I took a quick look at my mother and she was smiling. I could see she was happy with my decision. I was happy I made her smile, she hadn’t smiled in days. While others were exchanging banter over Samuel and me, my mother and I exchanged knowing looks and smiles. That was a moment for me. She and my brothers were all I had. I understood now why Samuel would run helter-skelter for his mother; his only surviving parent. I appreciated his love for her more. If he could love her this much; then he would love me the same or even more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AKWAUGO