Resuscitated Hope - Episode 7

 

From afar, Yewande father could recognise Yewande coming closer but he wasn't so sure. He needed a confirmation.

"Who is that coming from afar", he asked Iya Ojuelegba.
"You know I can't see from farway", she replied.
She continued, "it looks like a woman coming with her two children" 
Papa hissed and entered the sitting room.
Yewande got closer and her mother was happy to see her; she couldn't contain her joy. It had been long since she visited her shop . Iya ojuelegba stood, and welcomed her daughter..
Yewande had been visiting her mother in the shop, but out of sight of her father as he normally visits the shop.

Read " Living In The Ghetto " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Her father had warned her not to visit her mother's shop again, when she newly got married to Emeka and frequents the shop until they came in contact. "Either she adheres or she creates a problem for him and her mother", her father warned.
"What brought you here? You know your father doesn't want to see you near him or his properties again?", Iya Ojuelegba asked.
"I know", she replied as her face was soaked in mixed feelings.
"So, what brought you here", Iya Ojuelegba asked with a drop of tears. Iya Ojuelegba noticed tears accompanied with mucus had drenched Yewande's face and nose.
She came close to her and hugged her..
"My only husband inheritance is about to be taken away from me forcefully", she muttered.
"I knew it, that's how those wicked Igbo families behave", Iya Ojuelegba said bitterly.

Just then, Yewande father came out after he heard some noises.
"What's the problem and who is that?", he asked with his hands akimbo.
Iya Ojuelegba couldn't talk but rather raised Yewande's head to face her father.
Their eyes did freeze tag and he was shocked.
"So, what's she doing here"?, he barked.
"It's not me o", Iya Ojuelegba said fearfully.
"So, it's who? No wonder you feigned an eye problem when I asked who was coming", Papa said.
He continued facing and pointing at Yewande, "you will never be a burden to me, now your husband had died".
Yewande couldn't mutter a word because it failed her.
She was busy gathering spits to talk.
Papa shouted again, "you know who I am? Don't ever think you tears will get to me".
He left for the sitting room and locked Iya ojulegba outside.
From inside, he yelled to Iya Ojuelegba, "it's either you choose me or your daughter".
Iya Ojuelegba became angry and stood up.
"Oya! Carry your children and be going to your house

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/resuscitated-hope

. We are not the cause of your woes. I placed you in the shop to be useful, you were following men to all nooks and crannies. You, witch can't come and spoil my marriage"she kicked Yewande.
She stood and fell, Ifeoma and Emeka (jnr) ran to her and started crying.
"Mummy, mummy!!!", they wept.
Ifeoma gazed at her grandmother and cried. She was six and her brother two.
"She might have thought about me", Iya Ojuelegba murmured.
She gathered the courage and stood up.
She gazed at her mother, shook her head and said, "I know it's not your fault, it's society own,I pray you will smile one day".
"Same society that will mock you of harbouring hates for your daughter", Yewande said and wiped her face.
Iya Ojuelegba started crying. Yewande took her shattered hope and started going home.
On her way, she kept brooding on some thoughts whilst soliloquizing as she carried Emeka jnr on her back and drew Ifeoma by her hand.
"I had a hope, it shattered, who will resuscitate it", she cried...

Yewande had spent days crying but she was getting over it as days went by.
She found out her husband shop had been sold by Mama and Emeka relatives. She was lucky she had a substantial amount in her own bank account as Emeka own had been hijacked, but the money on her own can only help her to start a meager business after she had eaten for two weeks before she gets strength to handle the bisiness.

In Mama's Lagos apartment she stayed with her kindred.
She summoned for their gathering.
"Donald!!!", she called the most educated of them all who had gotten a buyer for Emeka's house.
"I hope the buyer's documents are ready", Mama asked bossing.
"Yes", he replied.
"Duly signed? No irregularities?", Mama asked swinging her hands backward.
"Thank you", Mama said and turned to other elders.
"Now it's time for me to compound that witch's woes and send her back to the square one with her wretched parents", she said and burst into cries. "Nobody kills my son and gets Scot free", she entered the bathroom to wash away tears.

In Yewande's house,
She was playing with her children and there was a soft knock on her door.
"Who is that?", she asked and made for the door.
Standing was a light skinned man with a bald hair and dry chin. His wrinkles were quite glaring 
"How can I help you", Yewande asked.
"You can't help me", he answered rudely.
"Seriously", Yewande asked rolling her eyes.
"Not here for your usual nastiness, you have....", he wanted to say and Yewande cut in.
"Hey, Mr Man, who do you think you are? If they sent you, tell them I'm out of your reach", she said angry and was about to shut her door..
"Like I was saying, you have four weeks to vacate here as it had been sold", he said.
She opened the door to here him very well, he quickly stuffed the notice on her hand and left angrily and Yewande was dumbfounded.