Chapter Twenty Nine
JOURNEY TO HELL
Mama was too nervous and angry that she yelled abuses on him while Mazi abused her too. You cannot compare Mama with Mazi Iluno Okonkwo when it comes to the use of abusive and vulgar languages. He had been a troublemaker right from his mother's womb. He talked and fought like a silly woman, and he became worst as he got older and dejected.
"Are you the only one that is entitled to visit her? Is she not my daughter too? Did you buy her from the market?"
Mazi asked her in a mad rush, not minding how she would feel.
He stood in a manner that said,
'If Mama felt like fighting him, he was up to it'.
He was more hardened than before because he was naturally a shameless person
"So, you are just remembering that I am your daughter? Where were you when she was raising us?"
Dora asked, not minding her husband's presence.
"I did not ask her to train my children. She should have left you where I kept you. It is not my fault that she chose to prostitute and train you and your siblings."
Mazi yelled with his dirty and smelling mouth.
"What! My mother? A prostitute?"
Dora rushed at him. But Ken held her back.
Mama was already sobbing at the word 'prostitute'.
"You are leaving this house this minute."
Dora said as she forced her way into the room and picked his empty sack.
"I am not going anywhere."
He said while struggling to snatch the bag from her. Mama withdrew to the children's room while crying to avoid any more harsh words from Mazi Iluno Okonkwo.
Ken managed to separate the father and the child because, from the look of things, Mazi came prepared for anything. Life had not been fair to him either, and they could not do otherwise, as he was not looking like someone that can be controlled. They left the guest room and focused on Mama at the children's room while thinking of what next to do.
Ken and Dora consoled Mama, who promised to be fine before retiring to their room. She was to stay with the children for now.
Then, they went to sleep that night, sad and hungry. Mazi IIuno Okonkwo was so unrepentant.
'I can feel Mama's pain. Every so often, I wonder if the children were really his. They were well-behaved, the three of them. Maybe I should not have allowed him in into the house in the first place. Perhaps I should have taken him to a hotel or send him away, no matter the consequences. He is leaving this house first thing in the morning.'
Ken concluded as he laid beside his wife.
At the Children's Room
"Sorry grandma. I do not know why Jeff allowed him into the house without waiting for dad and mom to come back."
Jewel said, attempting to gather grandma's hairs that were scattered together.
"It was not my fault. He told me he had spoken with dad and that he asked him to come over and wait for him. He also showed me dad's number on his old phone"
Explained Jeff who was already sad due to guilt.
"No problem, it's not your fault, my son. Just cheer up. I will be fine."
Mama said, attempting to calm them down.
It was obvious that there would not be fresh fish pepper soup for the family that day. The arrival of the intruder had changed the atmosphere. From the look of things, was not also interested in food. What he came for was more important than food. After all, when he succeeded, he could eat whatever he wanted and any time he wanted.
The children could not continue with their game. Jeff slept on the floor with a smaller mattress, while Mama and Jewel shared the bed. She was unable to take her bath or change to her night wear. She slept with the very clothes she wore to the market, and she lost her appetite for food as well.
Many thoughts came to her mind. For how long will she continue to suffer because of this heartless man? She lost her precious baby because of him.
He made life unbearable for them whenever any of her daughters wanted to get married. Thank God for his brothers who stood by her.
His elder brother Mazi Onubuogu Okonkwo never supported his brother Mazi Iluno Okonkwo. He endeavored to make him see reason why he should be calm and wait on God for a male child, but he was adamant.
When Uju her second daughter wanted to get married, he openly told Fredrick Ikenna, the would-be husband, that he was doomed because she would produce only girls for him just like her mother.
"Can't you check out a productive lady with male producing womb? I wouldn't have you complain in the near future."
Mazi Iluno Okonkwo did not hide his resentment towards his daughters, even before their suitors. He even set out to scare them away with derogatory words about his wife and daughters.
"Well, I may disappoint you, Mazi Iluno Okonkwo because we are not pulling out. I trust my son's judgment. I know he had chosen the woman that he could share the rest of his life with. Furthermore, I will only give them my blessings."
Mazi, Iluno was speechless.
"As for the issue of male or female children. I don't have any problem with that. Both genders are very useful to me."
Chief Phil Ikenna, Fredrick Ikenna's father. A business Icon and a traditional ruler who holds the title in the Igwe's cabinet in his place. A well-respected man who can buy Mazi Iluno Okonkwo's entire life over and again said after listening to him
Chief Ikenna is the father of three children. His wife had a delay in conception before conceiving after six years of marriage. The children were well-trained and lovely. He often advised his children, especially the two sons, to marry a woman that they will love and respect, for those were the things that sustained his marriage during their waiting days.
The words of Fredrick's father humiliated him so much before his guests. He didn't even dare to glimpse at him.
Uju who was already tearing up due to her father's shameless hate speech was cheered up with her father's in-law firm stand. She dried her tears with the handkerchief who was handed over to her by Lolo Doris Ikenna who was so delighted to have her as a daughter-in-law
As for Ada's marriage, he asked her husband a young graduate to buy him the latest model of Mercedes-Benz if he must give him his daughter to marry.
Dora's marriage was the most stressful and difficult. He threw the whole community into confusion. He agreed on a particular date with the family of Ken, but he informed his kinsmen of a different date.
Ken and his family members came only to meet a deserted town on the stipulated date. Everyone was at the village square for the fundraising of some projects in the community. Mazi Iluno Okonkwo's house was locked against their expectations. They were hoping to see him and his Kinsmen waiting happily for them, but the story was different. When they were contemplating going back, they saw a little boy who came back to pick his flute, the boy happened to be a kinsman's son. Ken called his attention.
"Hello boy. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
The seven years old boy replied nervously.
"I'm Ken Israel. What is your name?"
"My name is Frank Uche."
The boy responded.
"We are here to see Mazi Iluno Okonkwo. Do you know the way to his farm? I don't mind if you can take me there."
Ken could not think of anywhere else he would be at that time of the morning apart from his farm.
"Are you the person who is coming to marry Aunty Dora?"
"Yes. And these are my relations."
He answered, pointing at his relations.