Chapter 28.
...Ehi was looking very unusual,she looked very thin and unkempt,I wondered what was wrong, was she sick,I mean,is everything okay I wondered within as she walked up to me...
Good afternoon AD,she greeted,goodafternoon Ehi,i responded,you are never punctual with time,you are 15minutes late,I said....
Am so sorry,I went for an interview and met traffic,she said....
Ohh, that's nice,I hope you get the job I said..
Thanks,I hope so too,you know getting a good job in Lagos, doesn't come by so easily,she said...
How's iye and Osas,I asked....they are fine,Osas had moved back to Benin,while iye is still with me here in Lagos,but if I do not get a call soon for a job,we might be relocating to Benin too,she said...
Relocating,I asked stuttering...
She nodded in affirmation....
please make your order,I said...
Thanks alot,but am fine,she said...
Okay,if you say so,I said...
I opened the briefcase,and brought out the divorce papers and handed them to her....
She flipped through the papers,you have signed yours,she asked, after taking a deep breath...
Yes,I have I said ..
She took the pen that I had brought out and she signed,,,it almost felt I shouldn't have allowed her to,but we both needed that to be free and find our paths again...
She handed the papers to me, welcome back to bachelorhood,she said with a faint smile..
And welcome to spinsterhood,I replied, we both smiled ...
Please you have to eat something,I said..
Okay then,if you insist,she said....
I ordered two plates of Jollof rice and chicken, That happens to be one of her favorite,the waitress brought it and a pack of juice....
You know, Amadi,if I am to say over and over again,I shall,I am sorry I took you for granted,I am sorry,please if you can,,forgive me,she pleaded gently....
Ehi,I hold no grudge anymore, sometimes things just happen,and certain things are not meant to be,I hold nothing against you,I replied,....
Thanks alot,she said and we started eating, for no reason we were smiling at each other like two young teenagers in love,I wondered where the smile was coming from,some how I felt this inner peace with myself.
While we were still eating and talking,Chi walked in,I was shocked....
Hello Nkem,she said kissing my forehead and seating next to me...
Waiter, Chi called,a plate for me too please,she said...
So what did I miss,where are we,let me join the party, Chi said....
Chi what are you doing here,I asked,she gave me that look,Nkem,what are doing here,I asked, rephrasing my question...
Well,I went to your office,I have been there for some minutes,but your secretary said you went for lunch,so I thought you'd be here cause I know how much you love this place,but I didn't know you had a guest,she said, looking at Ehi in an unpleasant manner....
Eheennn,AD,I believe we are done,it was nice meeting you, Ehi said about getting up....
No no no,you really don't have to be in a hurry you know,stay back and finish your food,my fiance and I wouldn't mind, Chi Said,I was shocked to my bones, wondering how I missed my own engagement,I didn't know I was engaged to Chi without my consent...
Thank you very much,but I have other things that needs my attention,Ehi said getting up to leave....
Ehi,I believe you have signed the papers, please stay away from my man,I hate sharing, Chi said to Ehi rudely,while Ehi smiled and walked away...
What was all that about,I asked her angrily....
What's with the attitude,I should be the one angry you know,first of all,I told you I wanted to come with you when you meet with her,but you came without telling me, second of all you were eating and laughing with her like it was a lunch date, really?,she asked me..
I looked at her and shook my head,I called the waitress and paid for everything,then I walked to my car and drove home without her...
I was really angry at chi's show of shame,why would she have to get involved...
Son you came home too early today,mother said as I entered the living room, what is it,you even look pissed,what happened,mother asked....
Mom,I meet with Ehi today to so she could sign the divorce papers, Chi showed up embarrassing me,I explained..then Walked inside my room..
I brought out my phone and dailed Ehi's number, thankfully it rang...
Hello Ehi,I said...
Hello AD.she replied.
Are you home now,I asked concerned...
Yes,I just arrived home,she replied.
I am so sorry for all that,I mean the episode with Chi,i said.....
Oh no,you have nothing to be sorry, she's just a woman protecting her man,i Understand,and I am very happy for you,you found yourself an Igbo girl,thank God, your father would be happy with you now in his grave,she said..
Thanks so much,I said,and Ehi,if you need any assistance from me,I am just a call away..I said...
Thanks so much AD,I am very grateful,she said and we hung up....
Later that evening, Chi came home,after work I guess....
So Amadi,you left me in the restaurant alone, because of her right, she asked angrily....
I didn't invite you there,since you went there on your own,I figured you could leave on your own too....I said..
Amadi, so you are acting this way because of who, Ehi, that ugly looking thing,well I have made my point,I don't want to see her a thousand miles near you,thank God you are officially divorced, nothing binds you two together anymore,she said angrily....and the supermarket,when are you handling it over to my sister,she asked ..
Chidera,I am not going to do anything of sought,I opened that supermarket for my ex wife,and.you can't expect me to hand it over to your sister, I said....
What is bad about that,so you would prefer it's closed,she asked...
No, I'd find someone to put in charge, while I supervise from time to time,I said...she was angry at my decision,but that was how I wanted it.....
I placed a notice, requesting for a sales rep,and my no attached to it,,two days later I found someone,a young lady....
I had continued with my usual activities, but Ehi thought still clouded my mind....
I had visited the supermarket one Friday evening,and went through the sales book,only for me to see less sales and the products where almost finished..
Sir,your fiancee bad been here on two occasions to take some beverage and groceries,she said...
What??,I shouted in shock,Chi never told me..
And you allowed her without paying,or notifying me,I asked...
Sir I am sorry,I thought ,you were aware,I I I I am sorry sir ...she pleaded..
Of course it was no fault of hers, pressing harder would mean asking her to disrespect Chi..I went home , pending on when Chi would return...
Why have you been going to the supermarket to get things without paying,I asked her when she returned....
Excuse you,am I supposed to pay for things I take from our supermarket,,she asked back...
Well madam, business aren't run that way,you don't keep collecting without replacing and expect the business to flourish,more over,I always give you money for those things,I had said...
Well I didn't know I was to pay for things I collected from our supermarket oh,she said..
I looked at her,and wondered where all these nasty attitude were coming from,as I had actually thought chi was different,I was just Starring at her in unbelieve....
After some days,I told mother I wanted to talk with her and Ada, Chi wasn't around...
Mother, princess,I want you two to be very honest with me,aside the fact that Chidera is igbo,which other attributes have you seen in her that makes you think she'd make a good wife,I asked....
Well,if I am to be honest,I think she needs to work on herself, she's too forward,bossy and always wants to be In everyone's business, Ada said...
Shut up your mouth,mother shouted at her,are you minding this one, Chi is a nice girl,very loving, playful, beautiful, intelligent, and a good cook,Chia which other attributes makes one a good wife if not all these,my son,you really don't have to waste time,let us do the needful,and make her our wife,no time,mother said....
Hmmmm,okay, thanks mom,I have heard you,and of course my small madam,I have heard you too,I know she has a whole lot of things to learn,and I am sure she'd learn,I said to Ada.....
Chi's birthday was around the corner....
Hello,yes,I want pure diamond, she's a special one to me,I want to make her day,it's going to be a surprise, please,you have to deliver it before next week's Thursday,as the birthday is next Friday,okay, okay, thank you very much,please send me your account details,thanks alot,bye,,I said to someone on the phone..
Someone is planning a surprise for meeeee,Chi said holding me from behind,I was startled,as I didn't know she was coming....
You know it's wrong to eveasdrop on other people's conversation,I said, holding her waist and smiling to her...
Well,I was walking on my own when I heard somebody on the phone,I wasn't eveasdroping,she said...
So tell me,what is the surprise,she asked...
Well, isn't that why it's a surprise,you get to see it on your birthday dear,so relax,I said smiling to her....
Fast-forward to Chi's birthday,the surprise I ordered had arrived,it was so so beautiful,I couldn't wait..
I had organised a beautiful dinner party for her, inviting very close relatives and friends, mother, Ada, Stan and his wife,a friend of Chi at the office,and her younger sister. it was a beautiful get together,but I was surprised to see more of Chi friends,even the ones I didn't know,she had invited them all, thank God there was enough food and drinks to go round...
After making a toast,I asked her to close her eyes for some seconds,she did,I deepened my hands Into my suit pocket,and brought out the package,I opened it,and it sparkled,you may open you eyes sweetie,I said....
Chi opened her eyes,and she was shocked to her bones to see what was before her.....
To be continued
Written by.....
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
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