*****DAILY DIET*****
In Africa, a child is to a woman, what a piece of land is to a farmer - indispensable. Before now, the number of children a woman has determined her marital bliss, and also determined how much she would be loved by her in-laws. The importance of having children is almost equal to that of having a male child. In fact, a woman could be killed for giving birth to a female child, and woe betide a woman who continuously gives birth to a female child. She would be likened to a barren woman, regardless of the pains and agony she passed through before, during and after child birth. A century or two after, things changed. A woman can birth a female child without much stigmatization. Her husband would embrace her for successfully delivering a female child, and people would boldly say, "both genders are good". Things so changed that asking of the gender of a new born baby, was simply regarded as disrespectful to the parents of the child. "Ewo ni ki se omo? (Which one is not a child?)" People would always reply those inquisitive enough to know the gender of a new born. But, no matter how much the society embraced the equality and equity of both genders, they largely discouraged barrenness, and as far as they are concerned, the woman is always the cause of barrenness in any marriage. This, they handled with all hostility.
Although, Akorede was not the "jew of Malta", neither was he "the merchant of Venice". But, he was a focused and determined man, and he had no time for "much ado about nothing". At a very young age, his parents took him to Ibadan to live with his uncle so that he could learn a trade. After few years in Ibadan, Akorede found love amist the various categories of Ibadan girls - he found Amope. Amope was Akorede's priceless jewel, and in no time, Amope was to Akorede, what Juliet was to Romeo - a true love. Things grew between them quicker than anyone could expect, and after two years, they consumated their love before the congregation of The Lord's Faith Church in Ibadan. Their wedding invitation boldly housed "AMP (Amope) weds AKD (Akorede)".
With Akorede being a master of his own, and Amope being a good a faithful wife, it was just a matter of time before they moved to their own house, after living in a rented apartment for more than a year. Akorede opened a provision store for Amope, and the bliss of their marriage could not help but be obvious to all and sundry. As blissful as their marriage was, it lacked the most important element - a child, and in a society where barrenness was highly discouraged, it was just a matter of time before Amope became an object of scorn amist friends, family, and in-laws. As far as her mother-in-law was concerned, three years was a long time for a woman to show her fertility, and she greatly threatened Amope with eviction from her matrimonial home. The eviction threat heightened when rumours about Amope began to spread. The rumours were nasty and terrible. But, as they say, "Heaven helps those who help themselves". Amope did not relent in her effort to mother a child. She visited this doctor and that doctor. She attended this church programme and that church service. The day Heaven decided to smile on her was the day she fell while praying in church. The pastor raised a strong prayer point that was peculiar to barren women. Amope took the prayer point with all seriousness, and as she was shaking her head vigorously, she fell down like a bag of rice. By the time she woke up, it was in a nearby hospital, and her husband sat beside her, smiling like a waving flag. "Congratulations" Akorede said. Amope looked at her husband like an actress who forgot her lines. "You are pregnant" Akorede announced. The words sounded like a TV news to Amope, and in no time, it began to sound like the lyrics of a very familiar song. "You are pregnant". The words echoed in her mind again. "Are you not happy" Akorede asked, looking confused. Amope replied him with a stream of tears that missed their usual route on her cheek, as they gallantly passed the other end of her eyes to flow towards her ears. "You don't have to cry" Akorede assured, as he wiped the tears from her eyes, breaking their flow. He pulled her up, and placed her head on his left shoulder, giving her a warm embrace. The tears soon changed their direction and destination, as they journeyed through her cheeks down to Akorede's shoulder, where they comfortably sat on his Ankara shirt.
Days visited weeks, as weeks hosted months. In no time, Amope was in the labour room, while Akorede was in the Reception. "She has delivered one. But, I think there is one more." A Nurse whispered to Akorede's left ear in a gossiping manner, as if that was exactly what where was paid to do. Although, Akorede knew the number of children to expect, as the scan had earlier prophesied. But, he didn't believe the scan because he felt he didn't deserve such generousity from God. "She gave birth to a set of triplet" The Nurse came to whisper to Akorede again. This time, doing it in a more "professional" way. Akorede could not help but look up to his creator for such benevolence. But, only did he know that...
(c) 2016. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
As they say, "two is a company, three is a crowd". If you are ready, I am ready. Join me as we start a journey together with this great story. Do you believe in destiny and fate? Do you believe in love? Is there any difference between love and fate? Join me tomorrow as we continue this story. THREE IS indeed A CROWD.
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OFMAT AUSTUS NWANNE
Inspirational Speaker/Media Consultant,
Swift24 Multimedia Services.
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