"If you come closer, I will make sure both of you rot in jail. Who even knows if both of you did not conspire with her to kill my son? The two were taken aback by mama’s accusation but they couldn’t stand and watch while the two women were wrestling on the bed like WWE superstars. What if the unexpected happened? They paid no attention to mama’s accusation and boldly walked to separate them.
“You ba? I...I...I...Shall...¬Shall...be...right..¬. right back a...again.” Mama said panting heavily. She abruptly walked out and banged the door as if the wooden frame was also responsible for her anger.
"But how could I have killed my husband? I think you can hear her false allegations. Why on earth would I have sent the father of my daughter and unborn child to the grave? Just tell me why. why? why? Do you believe her story too?” Ngozi fumed as she gazed at her protruded stomach. Maria and Alani shook their heads in sympathy. "God, are you still up there? Johnson, can you just rise and explain how it all happened? Can you!” She screamed and wept more bitterly.
"Madam, it is okay. I believe this too shall pass" Maria consoled her.
"No cry again madam. You will be fine as I swear" Alani added while he stylishly wiped off some drops of tears in his eyes.
Ngozi found it hard to stop the tears and mucus that ran freely from her nose. She found it hard to believe mama of all people could become an antagonist.
Uncle Thomas, mama, and two other relations came forth the next day as early as possible. Their consistent banging on the gate was loud enough to wake up neighbors and some of them had to run to the gate in alarm to investigate what was wrong.
"Welcome ma, sirs. Alani greeted as he abandoned his morning prayer to open the gate for the troublesome relations. "Where is that your foolish madam?" Mama retorted. Her eyes were as red as the mythical god of thunder.
Ngozi peeped through the window and saw them ranting. She rushed out of the bedroom immediately. They were already in the sitting room when she met them.
"Mama, uncle, my inlaws, you are welcome. What do I offer you? There's jollof rice and chi..." She tried to feign ignorance of the si auction but mama interrupted her. “To hell with your tasteless food.
You want to poison us too, abi?” Ngozi became speechless.
Uncle Thomas cleared his throat before he proceeded. "You see, we are here to inform you that you are to vacate this house this week! Uncle Thomas’s unexpected words hit her like a brick.
"But uncle, this is impromptu. My husband has just been buried. We are still mourning him" She uttered calmly. "Are you crazy? Who are you mourning? Is it the man you killed intentionally just to inherit his properties? Your secret has been exposed, you, witch!" Uncle Thomas retorted.
"No uncle. I can never hurt my husband let alone killed him. I love him wholeheartedly. I stood by him when he had nothing. I have a child for him and I am presently heavy with a child for him too" She explained amidst tears.
"You better wipe off your crocodile tears. I am giving you a few days to vacate these premises. Now listen and listen carefully" He continued. Ngozi fixed her eyes at him again. Her heart beat faster as she awaited his next statement.
"I want you to hand over all his property documents to me now!" He said authoritatively.
"You mean I should hand over my sweat and that of my husband to you? We run a joint account and all properties are owned by both of us and the children" She declared with a trembling voice.
"You must be stupid. Ewu! I hope you don't want Amadioha to strike that your rotten mouth this instant?" Mama roared like a lion that was trampled on its wounded legs. She stood up to slap Ngozi but her other relations held her back.
"If those documents are not presented to us, I am going to bury you alive”. Uncle Thomas fumed.
Ngozi was dumbfounded. She never saw this coming. Never would she have believed a soothsayer if he had revealed such a bad omen to her. It was then she fully understood the danger of owning a joint account with one’s spouse. She remembered what Glory, her friend once said during their university days:
"I can never have a joint account with my husband" She blurted during their discussion one evening. "But why? If there's love, there shouldn't be a barrier to it. I and Johnson had vowed not to keep a secret in our relationship. We plan to have and build every house in our names" She uttered smiling.
"Tomorrow is pregnant. Nobody can tell what the future entails. I'm not discouraging you though but I want you to think wisely too to avoid stories that touch"
Ngozi couldn't hide the tears in her eyes as the memory flashed across her mind. She went into the bedroom like a robot on batteries. She wept bitterly wishing she had listened to Gloria back then. She searched through the wardrobe to produce the requested documents which she thereafter handed over to uncle Thomas who greedily snatched them from her.
"Are you sure this is complete?" He asked to confirm.
"Yes. Those are the documents" She replied in affirmation.
"Good and fine. If you like, inform the Police, lawyer, magistrate, or whosoever you desire to call, I don’t care! Just remember that I have all it takes to inherit what belongs to my late brother's properties without being questioned" He retorted.
"Let her go ahead and do whatsoever she likes. You shall spell it with your blood! Read my lips! Mama added as they all stood and stormed out of the house.