Against All Odds

Chapter Eighty Five : The Honey Moon

Obi had been preparing for Tobe's convocation party with her husband when she heard a loud thud. The event was also partly for her husband's book launching which he had been working on for months.

"If it's another vase, I promise you I'll send those boys to boarding school, I don't care if they're not old enough " Obi threatened as she went downstairs leaving Obiefune very much amused.

"You know I won't let you" Obiefune called after her, as she descended

It had been three months after the quadruplets were delivered;the boys were named after their father and the girls were named after Obi's mother and Benjamin's late mother.

Benjamin, Obinna, Virginia and Nkechinyere were the center of everyone's attention. Their dedication in church was an ear buzzing news. Chioma was their godmother, while Akubueze stepped into the shoes of a godfather. Every child did need an Nchi who would save him or her from trouble.

Mrs Obioma had moved into the house, helping Obi with the babies. Obi enjoyed every bit of her "ọmụgwọ" as it was locally called. She had grown close with Obiefune's mother and even learnt a thing or two from her.

She was the one who encouraged Obi when she decided she wanted to take up a project at the village. The lands she had acquired from her late husband lay bare until she decided that she wanted to build a better  hospital at the spot. Having gone through the ordeal of being driven a very long distance before receiving medical assistance, Obi decided it would be a gift from her to the villagers for helping her with child birth.

Her name had automatically changed from "mama ejima" mother of twins to "mama ọgbara anọ" mother of quadruplets. It wasn't a title but it often amused Obi. If only those people knew how difficult it was to handle those children.

Her sleep had been limited to 4hours a night and sometimes even less, while Obiefune was there to help as well as his mother, Obi often encouraged him to work on his book. They had gotten a court wedding a month after the children's delivery.

He had made provisions to Obi's kinsmen and her father and declared his intentions towards Obi even before the court marriage. A small ceremony was held with mostly family members and few villagers on the day of the traditional marriage and mma stood in as her mother for the second time.

This time it felt like the old woman was glad to be a part of the ceremony as she linked the hands of the pair before gulping her palm wine greedily.

Mr Okechukwu had to hold his mother's hand for her to remain a quantity of the palm wine that would be presented to him as well as the father of the child.

"mma ṅufotu nke anyị ga eji gọzie ha" Please remain a little*
her father had whispered as she dragged the guard with his mother.

Obi was happy and so was Chioma who was grinning from ear to ear. She did well to gloat and tease Obi about words that she spoke many years ago.
Obi had to thank her specially while they were rendering their appreciation speech, it was because of Chioma's efforts that she realized a lot about her life. Obi's speech got teary as she spoke because she rendered it from her heart. Bumping into the Ukaegbu's on that day had brought her life meaning.

"I see we'll never rise above some stereotypes Tata" Obiefune had whispered into her ears after she finished speaking.

Obi stared at him with glassy eyes as he smiled radiantly at her. Her heart never knew how to resist the charm that he brought with his smile and it did well to show it by beating at an increased rate. Obi's heart swelled with happiness and she no longer thought it to be a mystery that Obiefune often called her "Tata".