Unfortunate Wedding Ring (II)

UNFORTUNATE WEDDING RING (II)

     “What exactly is going on here?” Reverend Fr. Ebo inquired the moment they got to the ‘inner chamber’ having offered Chima and the intruder seats.

      The priest was flanked by the two guests.

     “Father,” the intruder called as she sat on the wooden backseat, carrying the seemingly 2-year-old girl on her laps. “This man here is my man.” She claimed, pointing at Chima who was seated opposite her.

      Chima was quiet in his white suit coupled with white plain trousers, remained perturbed.

     “Your man?”

     “Yes Father.” She answered emphatically as she dressed in a multi-coloured maternity gown.

     “What do you mean by that?” the cleric further enquired. “Besides, what’s your name?” He quickly changed the query.

     “Abigail.”

     “Abigail?” He verified.

     “Yes,” she said. “Abigail Ete.”

     “It’s alright.” quoth Fr. Ebo. “So what did you mean by, he is your man?” He retrogressed.

     “Both of us have been together for years.” Abigail responded. “This is our child.” She informed, tenderly tapping the kid.

      Rev. Ebo was shocked, adjusted himself. “You mean,” he said. “This kid belongs to both of you?”

     “Yes Father.”

     “But, is he married to you?”

     “No Father.” She replied hesitantly. “But we have been dating for over six years.”

     “This is damn serious.” The priest exclaimed.

      There was tranquility.

     “Chima,” Rev. Ebo continued, looking at the unfortunate groom. “What do you have to say?”

      Chima remained calm and speechless.

     “You heard her,” the cleric said. “Didn’t you?”

     “Father,” Chima finally uttered. “I have nothing to say.”

     “Meaning?” the priest queried, frowned.

        Chima couldn’t dish out a word.

     “Didn’t you hear the allegation?” Fr. Ebo rode on. “Is this your child or not?” He ranted, pointing at the kid.

      “Yes, she is.” Chima cleared the air, frowning.

       Rev. Ebo shook his head. “Oh my God!” he managed to exclaim.

       The worst was that, Chima never cared to disclose his plans to his ‘Baby mama’; rather, he concluded to take her unawares, thinking that she wouldn’t realize the upcoming wedding ceremony he had arranged with another lady since they weren’t resident closely to each other. But Abigail got the news from her well-wishers and decided not to inform the church when the marriage banns were being read till the D-day. Funnily enough, he had nothing serious against her; just that he wanted to change his taste because he was now a changed person, financially.

     “But…” Chima voiced out.

     “But what?” the cleric interrupted.

      Abigail remained quiet and attentive.

     “I can’t marry her.”

       The statement further fuelled the priest’s anger. “You can’t marry her?”

       He nodded calmly.

     “But you could sleep with her?” the priest quarreled, got irritated.

       Abigail concurred with the cleric, considering her countenance.

       Chima, on his part, was speechless.

     “Just listen to yourself.” Fr. Ebo enjoined.

       Everyone was silent.

     “Come to think of it,” the cleric broke the silence. “Is Oge aware of all these?”

      Chima was mute.

     “Am I talking to someone?”

     “She’s not.” Chima eventually disclosed.

     “Chima,” Fr. Ebo called unfriendly. “Don’t you think you are just being wicked?” he clarified, paused. “You only wanted to punish that poor girl.”

      There was maximum silence.

     “You planned to settle down with someone who knew nothing about your past,” Rev. Fr. Ebo proceeded in a jiffy. “That’s indeed a wicked act.” He asserted, paused. “After all we taught you people during the marriage class?”

     No one could utter a word.

    “If I may ask,” the priest went on. “Is any of your parents aware of this relationship?” he enquired, looking at their faces intermittently.

     Abigail hurriedly shook her head that bore plaited hairs. “He has never met my parents.” She informed. “And each time I tried to meet with his, he would come up with frivolous excuses.”

      Fr. Ebo shook his apparently big skull. “So,” he said. “You mean your parents are yet to know the father of this child?” He inquired from Abigail, pointing to the kid.

     The baby mama nodded. “When I took in, I asked him to come and meet my parents,” she notified. “But he refused, stating that he was not ready for marriage.”

      Fr. Ebo bitterly glanced at Chima who was seated like a drenched peacock.

     “He even persuaded me to abort the baby.” She further disclosed.

     “Oh my God..!” the priest ranted. “May God forgive you.” He told Chima.

      Few minutes later, the interrogations were over, thus the cleric walked out of the inner room in their company to meet with the congregation.

      Therein, Oge got to know the other side of her supposed husband-to-be having recovered from the moment of unconsciousness. The knowledge of the fact that Chima already had a child with another woman further threw her to the dust; she couldn’t withstand the ordeal. Consequently, she thought it wise to denounce the proposed marriage since she was only getting married to a mere stranger. Hence, the congregation was dismissed.  

     “Chima my son,” the 82-year-old Mr. Agbo called as he was seated in his parlour alongside his wife in a two-in-one upholstery chair, the following day. “I want you to tell me nothing, but the truth.”

      Chima who was seated directly opposite the couple adjusted himself in his single upholstery chair.

      “Why didn’t you tell us about this all these while?” Mr. Agbo rode on.

       “I didn’t think it was necessary.” Chima said.

       “You never thought it was necessary?” the host echoed.

       “Yes dad.”

       “Okay,” quoth Mr. Agbo. “So, why did you refuse to marry her?”

       “She is not my type.”

       “Not your type..?” the old man echoed.

        Chima nodded.

       “How?” Mr. Agbo inquired. “Why?” he added immediately.

       “She is just not my type.”

       “And you were with her for over six years?”

       “I was only managing her.”

        Mrs. Agbo shook her head. “Managing her..?” her hubby said, frowned.

       “Exactly.” Chima responded unequivocally.

       “And in the process of the management, she got a child for you?” the octogenarian frankly reviewed the paradox.

      “That was a mistake, dad.”

      “A mistake?”

      “Yes dad.” He insisted.

      “Hmm,” Mr. Agbo sighed. “You amuse me…” He added, leaned on his seat.

      “My son,” Mrs. Agbo interrupted. “You have brought disgrace to this family.” She informed, paused. “You have taken the family name to the mould.” She reiterated, equally leaned on the seat.

      “I am sorry, mum,” he declared hesitantly, looking really apologetic. “I am sorry, dad.” He added.

       There was absolute silence.

      “So,” Mr. Agbo proceeded. “What’s your plan now?”

      “I will go and plead with Oge,” Chima thought aloud. “I am sure she would forgive me.”

      “Just like that?” Mr. Agbo enquired, smiled unfriendly.

      “Yes dad.”

      “It appears,” Mrs. Agbo observed. “You are yet to understand the gravity of what you did to that poor girl?”

      Mr. Agbo shook his head sympathetically. “I can see you are a dreamer.” He landed, stood up and walked towards his bedroom. His wife followed suit.

      After all said and done, Oge couldn’t reconcile with Chima with the view that the latter wasn’t meant to be trusted since he could have such arrangement without letting her realize even an iota of it.

      Soonest, Chima was left with no choice than to go to Ms. Abigail Ete and tender his unreserved apology as expected. Both reconciled and soon afterwards, they tied the knot to the glory of God. Subsequently, they were happily married and were blessed with more children.

     If you were in Oge’s shoes, what would you do after she was left alone? Think about it!

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