Caught in the middle 3: Life’s unpredictable twists

The arrival of Uloma’s second girl child was a huge disappointment to her husband. He told her that he didn’t marry her to be giving birth to girls.

He told her that her days were numbered in his house since she was bent on closing his lineage for life by giving birth to girls who would be married off.

Uloma couldn’t stop crying. She was asking God why He chose to punish her for something she knew nothing about. She wasn’t sleeping well, she wasn’t eating well and her baby wasn’t getting enough nutrients too.

Her husband’s disappointment was too much to bear. He looked at her with disdain. He was always shouting at her. He slapped her occasionally too whenever he felt he couldn’t stand her mistakes anymore.

Uloma’s neighbours didn’t help her either. When some of them came to visit her and the baby, they reminded her that her legs were not planted firmly in her husband’s house and she should try and give her husband a son. That would unleash Uloma’s tears afresh.

“You should be thinking of how to gain back your husband’s love, Nne Peter, one of her neighbours told her one day.”

Uloma burst into tears. “But nne, I am not God that gives children, she said.”

Another neighbour, Nne Ngozi, added, “Instead of you to pray fervently for God to give you a son, you are claiming you are not God.”

“Wives of these days, they don’t know how to be submissive to their husbands like we did in our days. They love to question things, added Nneka, another neighbour.”

Uloma didn’t want to fight with them, so she thanked them for their advice and promised that she would give her husband a son so that his feeling of disappointment in her ability as a woman would be a thing of the past.

Amidst the darkness, tears and heartaches that surrounded Odogwu’s family because of the birth of his second baby girl, the only person who seemed so happy about the cry of the baby girl was elder sister Nnenna.

Nnenna loved her baby sister more than she loved her father. She didn’t allow anyone talk badly about her baby in her presence.

One day while they were playing at the backyard, the daughter of her mother’s friend made fun of her mom because she was giving birth to only girls.

The girl, Obiageli mocked Nnenna and told her that very soon her father would send her and her mother away. She told her that everyone was calling her mom an ogbanje and she was the daughter of an ogbanje.

Nnenna couldn’t stand anyone insulting her mom and she grabbed her and pinned her to the ground. It took three women to get Nnenna off Obiageli. Her face was filled with scratches and her mouth filled with bruises. That was the last time Obiageli and her mom set feet in Odogwu’s compound.

One year after the birth of her second baby girl, Uloma was pregnant again. She prayerfully asked God to give her son so that her husband won’t send her away from his house as she had nowhere to go.

Even her family members told her that if she had no place in their home if Odogwu sent her away. Her uncle and his wife told her repeatedly that their family was known for birthing sons and they wondered where she came from.

So Uloma was walking on egg shells at home because she wanted to please her husband and give him a son that would make his mates respect him as well as carry on his family name.

The months flew by fast. Uloma’s stomach started showing again. Anytime she went to the market, women would lift eyes to the heaven and beg God to give her a son. Men would stamp their hands on the ground in supplications to God.

She was nervous too. She knew that giving birth to another daughter meant that her life will turn from bad to worse. Odogwu would send her packing and marry a new wife that would give him the sons he so desperately wanted.

He wasn’t pleasant to live with now and Uloma imagined what would happen to her and Nnenna if God decides to punish her with another daughter.

When she was in labour, Uloma was gnashing her teeth and pleading to God in her heart to bless her with a son. And when the midwives approached Odogwu after Uloma delivered her baby, his heart was in his mouth.

He loved Uloma, he didn’t want to send her away. Even though he was disappointed with her, he couldn’t stand staying away from Nnenna, his beloved daughter.

When he was told that Uloma gave birth to a son, Odogwu broke into a dance. He started singing and dancing he raised his hands to the heavens in thanksgiving.

He told everyone who cared to listen that he now has a heir. He screamed so loud that passers-by joined him in singing and dancing.

It was a time of joy, merriment and drinking in Odogwu’s household. He was overjoyed at the birth of his son, his heir and he embraced Uloma repeatedly at home. He told her to ask for anything and she asked for the latest wrapper and jewellery.

She also begged him that they should move to the city so that they could give their son the best things of life. It had been Uloma’s secret dream to relocate to Lagos. She wanted to start life afresh with her family.

Odowgwu didn’t object to all her requests. He bought her ten latest wrappers and ten necklaces. He also bought her five bracelets and slippas to match her wrappers. He didn’t spare anything to make the mother of his heir comfortable.

Four months after they welcomed their son Onochie, Odogwu and Uloma moved to Lagos. It was a dream come true for Uloma and Nnenna who have been hearing so much about the city where people made so much money.

Uloma was finally at peace with her family. She couldn’t believe her fortune has changed for the better. If only she knew that darkness was lurking around the corner. Life had sinister things in store for her.

Stay tuned for part 4