Ifeoma had just returned from the hospital and was still very weak. She had used over two weeks in the place due to little complications here and there before giving birth but she was grateful that she gave birth naturally nonetheless.
Some of the women she was in there with couldn't relate to that as some had still birth and some even died during labour.
She had plans to just do the naming ceremony in a little way and move on with her life. The moment she laid her back to rest for a while, loud cries filled the house as she grumbled before getting up reluctantly. Mothers are really trying, she thought as she dragged herself into her room.
Fikayo and his mother knocked on the huge gate after they had pressed the bell over three times with no response. After some seconds, a middle aged man came to open the gate for them. Fikayo felt like snapping at him for taking so long but he decided against it and limped into the building with his crutches instead. Mama followed suit.
"Yes, how may we help you?" Mrs Ogbonna snapped as soon as she sighted them.
"Ahnahn, my in law." Mama tried to joke as she walked towards her for a hug.
Mrs Ogbonna held her hands out immediately, "Don't even form familiarity, please. The last time we crossed each other's path, I clearly remember how much insult you hauled on me. So just Dey Your Dey, abeg."
Fikayo was on all fours immediately as he prostrated before his wife's mother who to her, it looked like all they were doing were mere drama.
"Mommy, I'm so sorry for all my mistakes ma. I'm here to right my wrongs and I'm ready to take whatever punishment because I know that I deserve whatever. I'm so sorry ma." Fikayo pleaded.
Bola and Ifeoma emerged from the rooms, Bola tried not to laugh at the sight before her but she failed woefully and burst into laughter. She was definitely going to enjoy this the most. Ifeoma on the other hand rushed towards him and helped him up. She sized him up first, trying to understand why he had a black eye and was using crutches.
"What happened?" She asked, concern lacing her voice.
Fikayo remained mute as Ifeoma helped him to a couch. He was surprised to see how warm she had been towards him when all he had expected was coldness and insults. This was too easy, he thought as he stared at her. Her skin was still as radiant as he remembered, asides from her stomach that was still big and her breasts that looked three times the usual size, she almost didn't look like a woman who had just given birth. Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked at him and her nipples were looking him right in the face. He made a promise to hold her tight as soon as he gets her back.
"He can't talk. It's too humiliating to talk about. Oma, so you didn't hear about the man who threw a huge party for a baby that turned out not to be his. It was at that party that all this happened to him. I laughed so hard as I watched the video and read the news online. He's famous right now." Bola explained as she snickered.
"Oh." That was the only words that managed to escape ifeoma's mouth as she took her seat on a three-seater opposite Fikayo and his mother.
Mama continued to avoid her gaze as she stared at everywhere and anywhere except Ifeoma's face.
"Let me guess, you're here to beg me to come back home?" Ifeoma started.
"Yes, my baby. I'm so so sorry for all I put you through and all you were accused of. I honestly had no idea that it was a set up, mama only told me a week ago. I honestly thought it was true since you also agreed to it. I'm so sorry, I've been such a fool." Fikayo begged, Ifeoma smiled.
"Don't you want to see your babies?" Ifeoma asked.
Fikayo and mama looked confused, "Babies?"
"Yes, I gave birth to a boy and a girl." Ifeoma said and couldn't help the joy that she felt in her heart as she said that. She felt too happy to be angry or hold a grudge against anyone.
"Bola dear, could you and Amaka help me in bringing the babies?" She asked politely.
"Ahnahn, just like that? The babies he said aren't his." Bola mumbled as she glared at Fikayo and his mother wishing she could at least give him a resounding slap.
"Dont worry about that, please, hon." Ifeoma pleaded and Bola left to get the babies reluctantly.
"I'm sure they look as beautiful as you." Mama finally contributed whilst smiling. Ifeoma smiled back.
Mrs Ogbonna remained seated as she watched the whole exchange, not sure about her daughter's actions.
Bola came out of the room carrying one of the babies who had a cute pink cap embroidered with feminine goodies and was wrapped in a pink shawl. Amaka walked behind her with the twin who was wrapped in a blue shawl and had a blue baby cap on his head. The resemblance was striking and if not for the gender differences, there was sure to be difficulty in telling the twins apart. They both had the skin colour of their mother and the boy had his mother's eyes while the girl had the usual brown eyes, although very brown.
Bola gave the girl to Fikayo while Amaka handed the boy to mama.
Mama started eulogy immediately, "Ẹ̀jìrẹ́ ará Ìṣokún, Ẹdúnjobí, ọmọ ẹdun tíí ṣeré orí igi. Ó-bẹ́-kẹ́ṣé-bẹ́-kàṣà, Ó fẹsẹ̀ méjèèjì bẹ sílé alákìísa; Ó sọ alákìísà donígba aṣọ. Gbajúmọ̀ ọmọ tíí gbàkúnlẹ̀ ìyá, Tíí gbàdọ̀bálẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ baba tó bí í lọ́mọ. Wínrinwínrin lójú orogún Ejìwọ̀rọ̀ lojú ìyá ẹ̀. Tani yo bi ibeji ko n'owo?" [Twins, natives of Isokun, relatives of the colobus monkey playing and having fun on a tree. You jumped up and down, you landed in a wretched man's home and turned him to a wealthy man. Revered set of children that commands undue honour and respect from their parents. You are a horrible sight to your stepmother, But to your mother, you are both emperors of two empires! Wouldn't you love to be parents to twins?]
Ifeoma couldn't help the smile that crept unto her lips as she listened to the eulogy. It was sweet to the ears, that she couldn't argue.
"I call them Noah and Naomi. Their Igbo names are Amadi and Amarachi, given by my Mum. What would you like to name them?" She directed at Fikayo who seemed to rack his brain for a while but before he could speak, mama interrupted.
"Taiyewo, Omokehinde. Oluwaseyifunmi, Oluwafeyikemi. Akanji, Abebi." Mama listed.
Bola's eyes almost fell out of their sockets due to the pressure she used in rolling them.
Fikayo ignored his mom and spoke, "Ifeade, Oyinade. Fogofoluwa, Fiyinfoluwa." He said as he pecked the baby on her forehead, his eyes gleaming with pride as he stared at his children. He could already imagine the fun he was going to have with his kids and Ifeoma as a family. How he was going to spoil them with gifts and vacations as they grow. These thoughts were what prompted the next question that came out of his mouth.
"We have to start preparing for their naming ceremony, when will you start packing so we can go home?"
TO BE CONTINUED...