REVENGE, BEST SERVED COLD HOT- CHAIN REACTION

Christmas was around the corner, but unlike previous Christmases , Nenye was anxiously preparing for this one. The day before, she bought ingredients for five different kinds of soups, at the request of her mother in law, and Nenye was looking forward to being spoilt by her.  Ever since she announced her pregnancy, her mother-in-law had metamorphosed, from the overbearing pain she had been, to the doting mother she never had. All she had to do was ask and all household chores were handled, effortlessly. Suddenly the world was her oyster, and because of the child she carried, she could practically do anything she wanted to. as she

Only Uwem seemed to be astir  with her happy state and he did not fail to show  his indifference at her protruding tummy. Earlier, her mother-in-law had gone to see her sister in Rumuola, so she was home in good time to catch a nap, before assisting her in the kitchen with the soups to be prepared, but surprisingly, she met Uwem waiting for her, in the sitting room. Immediately he saw her, he said “Chinenye, I need to talk to you”. She hurriedly dropped off the groceries on the kitchen cabinet, and sat on the largest sofa in the sitting room, unemotionally.

“I am truly happy that you are pregnant, but how possible”, he shook his head, continuously.“How possible? Do miracles happen so suddenly? You mean after five years of childlessness, one wakes up…..pregnant?” she stared blankly, at the face of deceit, the same face she loved, once. “Uwem, yes, yes” she stressed, holding his hands in a firm grip”, yes it happens. Where is your faith?  Don’t be worried for me. I will be fine” she lowered her gaze to meet his. “We will be fine”. 

“Then I suggest we visit Dr. Tayo, together, to run one last test, just to be sure. At that moment,Nenye fought an urge to slap him in the face, but for her sister-in-law’s interjection from the adjacent room, as she made her way to the living room. “Uwem, let Nenye be, she needs all the rest she can get, and you know it’s her first”. As Nenye was led out in style, she turned back to look at her very confused husband. Thankfully, her innocent and meek front, concealed her inner revenge smirk. 

 

 

Nenye looked at the children prancing about the frontage of the Sweet Sensation centre in Trans Amadi Layout. Children are blessings, and she was excited about hers, as she briefly touched her growing tummy, and yearned for the day her kids would prance with the same energy. She was so elated at the thought, that she didn’t hear Dr. Tayo slide in next to her. As usual, he looked the dapper gent, on a white casual shirt, denim, and actual Gucci shoes, not the imitation likes of the social mongers in Port Harcourt. She blurted.
 “Dr. Tayo, my husband and I are coming to see you on Monday. You are going to convince him that I am carrying his baby, and that whatever medication you prescribed to him, worked. Of course he would counter-argue, but you would reassure him that it might have been an error in diagnosis".
Dr.Tayo gasped in shock at the revelation that the pregnancy revelation.
“Chinenye, I can’t do that. I have done enough damage, as it is. What you are asking me to do is impossible. You want me to……………”

“Yes, I want you to lie, Dr. Tayo.” Nenye interrupted, as she stood up to leave. 
She looked around, to confirm that she wasn’t creating a scene, and bent lowly to whisper to his ear.  “You will do as I say, or be prepared to bear the consequences when I tell the Managing Director of Olive Hospital, that their best doctor broke his professional code of ethics, and ruined a home in the process. You don’t want your practicing license revoked, do you? “. She tapped him on the back and walked away.  Almost immediately, Dr. Tayo ran after her.” Nenye, it has been lies after lies.I know I was wrong.” Nenye looked at him in disgust, as the sweat on his cheek, ran though her blouse. He continued. “Don’t correct a wrong with another. Be the better person.”  Unfortunately for him, Nenye’s mind was  made up.” I’ll see you on Monday, Dr. Tayo”.  

 

Grocery shopping was a chore Nenye always looked forward to, partly because such days, she had the luxury of catching up with Jane, her bosom friend and confidant. So strong was their bond, that a one night stand with Chinonso prior to their meet couldn’t break their friendship. After shopping, they usually met up for pizza and Ice-cream and caught up on the latest events.

 “How’s my God Daughter kicking?”, Jane asked, as she stuffed  pizza in her mouth.

“I don’t know why you think I’m having a girl”

“It’s a girl, you have THE glow, same one I had when I was pregnant for Ono. By the way, she says she’s coming over to yours next week”.

Following the pleasantries, was a deafening silence, indicating a switch to an important subject . Nenye broke the silence. 
“Dearest, I can’t thank you enough, for showing me the ropes to experiencing this happy, pregnant feeling. Trust me, suggesting that I sleep with Chinonso, tops all the advice you have ever given”. 
Jane glowered  at Nenye, when she wasn’t looking, but was swift enough to feign rapt concentration on a woman’s troublesome child at the next table, just as Nenye raised her head. 
 “Nenye, we didn’t have a choice, did we?  Uwem’s mother needed to be aware that you were not barren after all”.   
Nenye continued. “I am going to try out with Chinonso, at least two more times, once I drop this one. Menopause is starring me in the face”.

“Oh come on, you are just 30. You have all the time”. She looked again at Nenye, quizzically.
 “Are you resurrecting your feelings for Chinonso, young woman? Once, I agree, but thrice is one too many. You know how you love”.
Nenye, sensing disapproval from Jane, countered.” it’s too late to back down. Need I remind you of the length of time it took you convincing me to damn the world and have children?   I thought the point of suggesting I sleep with Chinonso, was to make it continuous? Anyways, whether or not you agree, I have my mind made up.  Abeg, let’s go”.

As they walked out of the eatery, Jane couldn’t help but stare at this new Nenye. If she didn’t know better, she’d assume her friend of decades, was a total stranger. Who killed Nenye and assumed her body? This was the same Nenye that frowned at adultery,in all shades. Marveling at Nenye’s newly acquired self- confidence, she wondered if she hadn’t given the wrong advice. 

Anyone passing the corridor that led to Dr. Tayo’s office would hardly believe that someone was inside, talk-less   a couple. The Ekpos were seated side by side, but their minds were far apart, with both of them dwelling on the consequences of their actions.  Dr. Tayo came in at the exact moment.  He wished for an eclipse of the moon that would last for a life time; that way, he would have avoided the piercing eyes of the couple, as well as subsequent confrontation. Typically, he cleared his throat.   
“Mr. Ekpo, there is no mistake that the child in your wife’s womb is yours.  I re-examined the test results, from your last visit, and compared it with your most recent results.”
 He brought out the results analysis and distributed to them, each.
"Mr. Ekpo, if you look at the results of the fructose level on both sheets, you would observe an impressive increase. The pomegranate diet you were placed on was able to destroy malondialdehyde in your bloodstream, and increased the fructose in your semen, needed for reproduction. At first, I was unsure, at least not until I consulted with my other colleagues, before I became certain. So congratulations  again.”
 However, Uwem looked unconvinced. At that juncture, he held his wife’s hands.
”So this situation is the norm, or our case is just exceptional?"He asked.   
Dr. Tayo struggled to gather  his words. “Sometimes, it happens.  But you know we shouldn’t be dwelling on this conversation. You both should be out there, baby shopping" he said, as he tried to dismiss the couple and Nenye, who was deliberately  silent all along, led them out.

Needless to say it was all over, Dr. Tayo concluded, as he breathe his first sigh of relief. He didn’t envision that he would be let off so easy. As he took to his seat, he wondered how he was caught up in the crossfire, and how he was ever going to get out of it. As he explored various action plans to subside the inferno, he didn’t notice Uwem come in. This time, there were no further questions. 
 “Tayo, we had a deal. In exchange for protecting my secret, I saved your practice license, and your job.   Now, we both know there is no way I can be a father to that child. If by any chance I discover you have been lying to me,  you would leave me with no choice but to inform the board on how you killed by cousin’s friend, by administering the dose of  Rocephine IV  while you treated his bacterial infection. ”

Eitherways, whether Dr.Tayo was able to convince Uwem of the certainty of the child’s paternity, or he doesn’t, he knew he  was screwed. (To be continued).