The rain is severe, the scrawny looking Fulani girl huddled against herself, fights against the onslaught of the billowing rain, it is an opportunity for a bath she never finds time to take. The man beside her, her guardian is pre-occupied with his leather bag of charms, concoction amulets, powders and other mixtures and battling to keep his little kettle of herb tea from getting drenched by the rains.
The tired girl, seemly losing the battle against the rain called out to her guardian with a shudder, pleading for him to look for a place for them to hide from the rains in her crisp but trembling voice. Her guardian is pre-occupied with securing his flasks and heating kettle finally gives up and looks around for a shelter, cursing agitatedly all the time.
He looks towards a shed in front of a good looking house, a mix of different people are huddled together, each pushing deeper against the next person, trying to avoid the rain while the ones who are lucky to be well sheltered do all they can to repel them. The guardian curses again and walks to wards the shed, calling to the girl to follow him.
A rain of curses and rebuke stops him from entering the shelter, even the dirties among the shed seeker will rather not have them, constantly regarding them with suspicion and even ready to attack them if not for the presence of the dagger by his side. The girl looks to the gate that is slightly ajar and dashes into the compound, shivering, a man, the gate keeper wriggles out of the hiding crowd as a loud note of objection is raised, pointing fingers at the guardian, they exchange words in rapid fire, both pointing threatening fingers at each other. The man reveals his dagger as the guardian fingers his, the crowd looking on at what will happen with interest.
The guardian dashes into the compound angrily, yelling after the girl, swearing more angrily. He meets her in front of an apartment, shivering vehemently; she replies the guardian’s vehement command to follow him with her own vehement refusal. The rain resumes it’s tortuous down pour as the guardian attempts to take her by the hand and drag her. She cringes back at the prospect of enduring another round of showers.
The gate keeper who is been watching them with disdain hears a horn and runs back to open the gate, a sharp beam of light cuts through the drizzles of what has become of the wretched day, night is approaching quickly. He runs ahead of the car and yelling at the guardian to take her child and go away, the guardian is cursing and pulling at the girl as Ibe climbs down from the car and hurries to the porch, protective of his documents. The guardian sees the bible and immediately begins to yell at the girl to follow him, this turns into a fierce argument as Ibe casts them a fleeting glance, succeeds in opening the door and tells Ibrahim to let them be as he enters the house.
Ibe shuts the door and cuts of the feeble light from outside, the room explode into sparkling bright lights almost immediately. He picks the television remote control as he dumps his files on the table. His phone rings as the TV comes to life, he takes the phone out of his pocket and answers it. Hi dear, his eyes still glued to the newsreel about the latest bombing on TV. Oh, I didn’t expect you would stay back, sighs; it is going to be a long cold night but don’t worry, I can bear it, he raises the volume of the TV a bit, turning his free ear to listen as he ends the conversation.
Intense flashes of light as he turns to listen to the TV, everything goes dark, then followed by a rumble of thunder, the sound of heavy downpour can still be heard outside. Ibe opens the door, a gush of rain and wind drives him back and he shuts the door quickly. He unbuttons his shirt and trousers, pulls them off and throws them on the chair, he goes inside.
Ibe emerges, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and armed with an umbrella, he braces himself and opens the door, pushing against the rains, and the door closes behind him. The guardian murmurs a greeting Ibe does not hear as struggles to hold the umbrella steady in the rains, he turns to his ward and rails at her for asking that the man take them inside and the position she has put them both, she only answers with her spasm in the cold. Ibe returns, wet in spite of the umbrella, he quickly folds the umbrella away and pulls a lever on the wall; the porch explodes into bright lights.
The girl exclaims and Ibe notices her shivering `for the first time, she is huddling herself so tightly that it has result to spasms, he opens the door and invites them in, the girl quickly walks in, the guardian lungs after her and pulls her back. Ibe goes back in as he hears the TV sound coming from the living room. The guardian and the girl are protesting at each other, the rains still hammering at them with a vengeance, the girl is struggling to go and the guardian is losing the battle as the rains refuses to abate, he struggles to bring out some powder he pours into a small chalice and hands it to her, she protests and the guardians starts to yell and swear uncontrollably, she takes it and gulps it in a flash and turns to the door that is still slightly ajar, she is jerked back and the guardian gives her a pouch, she is at loss as the guardian makes some explanations to her.
The door opens slowly and almost noiselessly, Ibe is only distracted from the by the gush of wind that follows the girl inside. Ibe signals for her to sit down and she locks the door, Ibe quickly gets up, opens the door and peers out, he asks the guardian if he will not come in, he refuses with a smile and Ibe enters and locks the door and he bumps into the girl as he turns to go back to sit down. She is all over him, her body arching terribly, rubbing her vulva against him, he is confused, thinking it is hunger, considering her scrawny stature, he gently pushes her aside and walks in.
Ibe returns with a loaf of bread and a plastic bottle of soft drink he gives to her then he returns to concentrate on the cable TV. The girl wolfs it down and guzzles most of the soft drink in one swig, Ibe notices and goes back to get two more bottles, one he open for himself while he returns to the TV. The next time he looks up is when the girl gives a belch; one bottle is empty and the other half empty, the bread is gone, so he takes the empty bread wrap and the bottle she has consumed away. She is still squirming under the effect of the aphrodisiac, she walks to Ibe’s opened bottle of drink and empty the a satchel into it and is she barely back in her seat as Ibe returns, she tries to comport herself, struggling like someone being weaned off drugs, Ibe notice the way she keeps glancing at his bottle of drink and he offered it to her, she refuses politely and Ibe takes a sip, eliciting a broad smile from her.
The smile makes him curious, staring at her to ascertain the reason for her behavior, she turns away shyly and he turns back to the TV, moments later Ibe is feeling funny, he takes a look at the drink and then at her, he stands up as the effect multiplies, alarmed, he steps towards the girl who recoils in fear, he takes the bottle and goes inside, he returns almost immediately, trying to control his increasing bulge. He grabs the girls and pulls her to the door; first to the exit and then he changes his mind and pulls her to the room. She loses control and wraps herself around him, tightly, working on him as they move towards the bedroom door. He stops and walks to the living room door to lock it, the girls wrapped around him, he takes her by the hand, dragging her to the room urgently, grabbing the TV remote quickly to increase the volume an then hurries in with her, his short already unbutton.
Ibe stirs from sleep, moaning, he rolls towards the girl until his hand rests on her, she is sleeping peacefully, he initially recoils, but the effect of what is working on him is still very much potent, he touches her softly and she stirs and yawns lazily and hungrily, he staggers out of the bed to and returns after a while with a plate of rice and lots of meat, he trust it at her and she starts to gobble it up immediately sitting in a chair in the room. Ibe is on the bed watching her and trying to be patient. She eats the food slowly and tiredly, but she eats everything, Ibe is almost arching, she notices and crawls to the bed and he makes a grab for her, almost smiling.
Ibe wakes up late in the morning to see the girl sleeping peacefully on the bed, he prods her, alarmed and she wakes up smiling. He tries to communicate but has to make use of signs to tell her that it’s time to go, she smiles and asks him by sign language if he will buy the aphrodisiac, he refuses politely, she becomes disappointed, she is trying to communicate to him that her guardian will be angry as Ibe reaches for his shirt and pulls out a wad of notes, she refuses, pointing that the guardian should take it, Ibe refuses and he tries to explain to him that the man will search every where in his body and find it, he doesn’t want the guardian to get it, so he takes one of her amulets around her neck and tears a slit in it, he empties the content and stuffs it with the notes, he smiles at the girl and tells her to keep quiet about it, she attempts to compensate him, but he has had enough, he gently pushes her out of the room to the door. He opens it and quickly shuts it and listens, there is an argument almost immediately, but it gradually recedes and he dashes to the room.
Ibe emerges from the ward into the sunlight, he tries to look stoic, but something is eating him really deep, he walks away towards the car as a very beautiful lady emerges from the ward. She hurries after him and gets to the car, Ibe pretends she is not there as she circles the car to the passenger’s side and makes to open the door, almost angry, she pleads for him to open the door, he did with a touch of a button and she quickly slides in, reclining the chair to hide herself. Ibe seem to be in a deep disturbing thought, looking fixedly ahead. The sun comes out in its full glory, reminding him that it’s time to go, he opens the door slowly and sinks in.
You shouldn’t have walked out on me in the hospital like that as Ibe joins the traffic, Ibe replies by ignoring her, Ibe is this how we are going to start living from now on? Nnena please, I’m not in the mood for this, Nnena is hurt by the reply, what are you in the mood for then? Why are you treating me like this? You know I hate silence; it will be better if you to stop the car and pushed me out. Why didn’t you tell me? Ibe asked, Nnena replies in a small voice, I was praying to God, hoping for a miracle. She has been hoping that she would get corrected some how, by the hand of God, she has a relationship with a guy that got her pregnant when she was in her second year in the university, he had taken her to a quack doctor who somehow did a damage on her womb that made it impossible for it to harbor a fetus.
The doctor said I should continue with treatment, I might get well later, Ibe doesn’t reply, we can adopt a child. Ibe reacts violently, I can get my own child, why should I look for the child of another, then lets keep trying, with God, don’t give me that crap, Ibe cuts in, do you think God is happy with you that you have been lying to me all these years? How could you keep a thing like this from me! We’ve only been married for two years, whatever, Ibe replies. You know I love you Ibe, I was too scared to tell you, I thought I would be healed. God! One mistake? Don’t bring God into this Nnena, just let me concentrate and drive.
Nnena is lying on the bed, her eyes glued on the ceiling, slowly dripping tears, Ibe is at the end of the bed, clinging tightly to the spare pillow, Nnena wipes her tears and walks out of the room. The alarm rings as she steps of the room; Ibe stirs slowly rises and enters the bathroom. On the dining table, Nnena arranges the meal delicately, she has already called in sick, she is going to dedicate today to make things right, perhaps the meal will soften him, especially as they both did not eat the previous night. Ibe emerges from the room, he answers Nnena’s greeting with a grunt and goes for his car key. Won’t you eat? Nnena asked. I need a child, not food, he tells her squarely, I have been eating food this past two years, give me a child and I will be filled. I will Nnena replies, just give me time; I have faith things will eventually work out. How much longer? Ibe asks scornfully, you have no womb or have you found a donor? He walks out.
Nnena rises from the bed, the doorbell might have been ringing till eternity, she had cried herself into a deep sleep and had even dreamt of holding her children and playing with them in a park. She ambles out of the room; past the food Ibe did not eat to the door. She opens is it just as the bell starts ringing again. Good evening sister Comfort, she tries to liven up. So you didn’t even want to open the door for me? She retorted, but I didn’t know it was you, I didn’t even hear it, I was sleeping. Why won’t you sleep? Which woman will have the comfort of all this and won’t sleep? Won’t you at least come inside? Nnena replied, of course I will, is this not my brother’s house anymore? Nobody is disputing that, Nenna replied. You better don’t Comforts replies as she walks into the center of the living room, I have come to talk to you as a woman to woman, you were married to give us children, not to eat and sleep, she pauses to regard her, realizes she is growing fat, adds and grow fat. Nnena is dumbfounded; she thought Comfort was very found of her. I have given my husband four, three boys and a girl and I can still give four more, if not for family planning, she continues, so you better figure out a way to give us children. By now, Nnena has stopped hearing what she is saying, if comfort could say this, the others will eat her raw. Did you hear what I said! Comfort bellows, Nnena is jerked back to reality; comfort is almost I her face and she reels back in shock and fear. Yes, yes I’ve heard, she murmurs in fright.
Nnena folds her clothes into a bag, tears flowing freely down her cheek, he ring is already on the bureau by the bed, she is taking so few, only the clothes she bought for herself, she cleans her face, tries to manage a smile in front of the mirror, she looks odd, but she wouldn’t cry, not in front of Ibe who hasn’t touched her in four months and now sleeps in the living room. She doesn’t know if she is taking the right decision, everything is changes completely, she has even added more weight even with her constant crying, maybe it has to do with her body circle that has changed and has become unpredictable, she has made a note to see her doctor again, though she has a only yesterday. But she has to go, she is not needed anymore, it’s nobody’s fault, she should have told him her condition before marriage. Heaving a sigh, she picks the bag and walks to the living room.
Ibe I have to go, I’m sorry for the heart ache I’ve caused you, he barely takes his eyes of the television, she lingers a bit, hoping he will tell her to stay. The doorbell rings, she opens the door and a woman is there. I’m Mrs. Adebisi, from the center for the protection of rights of women and children. But I didn’t call anybody, Mrs. Adebisi steps aside to reveal the Fulani girl with a baby who looks like Ibe except for the curly hair, is your husband at home? Who is that, Ibe’s asks from where he is sitting, can we come in? Mrs Adebisi replies. Nnena steps aside, she quickly walks to a chair and flops in as her legs threatens to give way, please come inside. Adebisi walks in with the frightened looking Fulani girl and her baby who starts to giggle as she sees Ibe who walks into the room dialing his phone, looking confused.
Ibe hangs up, shaking slightly, parading the room, Nnena’s phone starts to ring, confused he picks it, and speaks to the caller, he discovers that Nnena is pregnant to his confusing, he hangs up and walks to the living room, but Nnena is gone, he attempts to follow her, but Mrs. Adebisi who is alone with the Fulani girl stops him, just then Comfort comes in, did you see Nnena? Ibe asked, I saw her stopping a taxi, comfort replies, run after her and do anything you can do to bring her back. Comfort dashes out of the house as Ibe turns to face Adebisi who asked him if he knew the girl, he says yes to everything. Mrs. Adebisi recounts how they came about with the girl, her guardian kicked her out when she became pregnant, she had been sleeping in motor parks and relied on the money in her pouch to take care of herself until it got finished, she was begging at the park where they met her while on a sensitization campaign, she had refused to reveal the man responsible insisting that the person was not there in her halting English she has learnt the past few months she has been begging, they finally were able to convince her when they promised that he will not harm her, Her guardian was already in detention.
Comfort returns with Nnena and a crowd of people, adlibs of insults echoing from the crowd, Nnena is furious, what is the meaning of all this? She confronts Ibe, look, I have only the things I bought in this bag, the rings and other jewelries are on the table, I even left the phone. Why did you have to call her a thief, Ibe turns on Comfort, How did you expect I alone will be able to drag her back, Comfort retorted. Ibe dismisses everybody and his other relative starts to troop in. Comfort takes the child tenderly. What do you want from me? Nnena turns to Ibe I’m sorry about everything, it was stupid of me, I’m not angry, Nnena says, I might have even been in your way of happiness, it is not what you think, Mrs. Adebisi cuts in, it happened by mistake. It’s okay, a child is a blessing, let him take care of the mother and the mother will take care of the child. I want you to take care of my babies, Ibe says, Nnena replies mockingly, just get her to learn a trade or get an education, I’m sure she will do just fine. Nnena picks her bag, ready to go, the family stops their passing the baby around to stands in her way and this riles her up, if you try to stop me here someone will either kill me or I’ll kill someone, this is what you want for him, so one of you should volunteer to help take care of the child. Leave the door Ibe tells them, they disperse one by one. Nnena please, Ibe continuous, Not after four months of silence, not after four months of insult from your family, I know I’m worthless in your eyes, but I still have hope, I won’t be your baby sitter.
You are my daughter in law, Pa Amaechi says as he enters, I don’t know why you stopped answering my calls, I have always assured you, but as a woman you should stand to fight for your place. Nnena runs into his arms, but the trouble was too much papa, I was alone. You were yesterday, today everyone is begging you, it would have been good if someone had stood by you, but they would have since demanded for compensation by asking that you stay, now it is your decision, he turns to his wife and children, are you satisfied with the outcome? He turns to Ibe, you are a man, so handle your situation like a man, he turns to Mrs. Adebisi, how did this happen?
Mrs. Adebisi recounts everything that happened with somecollaboration with the Fulani girl, Ibe almost attacked her when she gets tothe part she put some aphrodisiac in his drink, he is restrained by his family.The child is already in Ibe’s mother’s arms, rocking her gently. Nnenan ispissed. Papa I have to go, thank you for your advice, but I think I have lostthis one, Nnena says. The rest of the familyis trying to conceal the scorn they regard her with. Her phone rings as shepicks her bag and starts for the door, Ibe walks after her, your phone, it isringing, take it, you bought it, Nnena replies. It is the doctor Ibe says, hecalled earlier, you are pregnant. Nnena stops in her tracks, Ibe quickly runsto catch her as she slumps to the ground. Ibe’s mother gently returns the baby to the Fulani girl.
