“He has come to the village to rest, allow him to do so. You are…”
“Please, please!” Interrupted Adaobi. “I wouldn’t sit here and watch you insult me in my own house. Now get out from my house.”
“I did not come here to bandy words with you. I’ve only come to tell you to steer clear from Edochie’s life. Stop insulting yourself because of money. Go back to Ikenna”. Chidimma finished and left the house. Of a truth, She had nothing against Adaobi, it was just that she promise Obioma that she would convince her cousin Edochie to marry her. And now Adaobi wanted to spoil her plans for her, and might think she had collected money from Obioma.
Adaobi began to cry as soon as Chidimma left. “See What I got myself into. I have become the topic of gossip for everybody. Everybody is saying that I am forcing myself on Edochie and it is true. Come to tink of it, I, visit him; but he has never visited me. Oh! Oh, father, fath….”
“Adaobi!”
Adaobi turned and was surprised to see her father.
“My daughter, I am sorry. But you really have to make Edochie marry you. Do not think about what people say rather think of all I have been through to feed, clothe and train you and your two brothers since your mother died. Anayo has been sent away from school because he has not paid his school fees. If they call off your strike, where will I get the money to give you? I know that my idea is against your will but please consider our living condition, my health and the future of your brothers. Help us please, my daughter, our future; our tomorrow is in your hands.”
“But papa I do not love this man. I do not…’
“Do not talk about love” Mazi Okwu interrupted. just get him to marry you and love will come later. Inugo nwam(have you heard my daughter). Think about it O nne oma”.Her father said while patting her shoulders, he later retired into his room.
In the night, Adaobi ruminated over what her father had said. She saw reasons with her father especially on the aspect that love will come later. She made up her mind to do away with the pregnancy once she got to Lagos as neither Ikenna nor her father knew that she was pregnant. She decided there and then start she must work her way into Edochie’s heart. She got up from her bed, pick her phone from the table and stored Edochie’s number and contact address which had been lying on the table since she got it from him into her phone. She then called Edochie and asked him how he was faring. She later laid down to sleep for she believed that the xall she had given to Edochie would make him to think about her throughout the night…
