Do not speak like that.
And the Bello family is not as good as they look.
There is trouble there.
” “What trouble?” “Enough trouble for me to say no.
” But Kemi was no longer listening.
“All I know is that the Bellos are rich,” she said.
“They have class, comfort, and a name.
Why should Chika get that while I go and suffer?” Chika finally spoke.
“Kemi, Daddy is trying to explain.
” “Stay out of it,” Kemi snapped.
“You are already benefiting.
” Chika went quiet again.
Mr. Obiora looked at Kemi with anger and disappointment.
“You are being selfish.
” “And you are being unfair,” Kemi shot back.
“You have always liked Chika more.
” “That is not true.
” “It is true.
” Her voice rose.
Then suddenly it changed.
It became colder.
“Maybe it is even better this way,” she said.
“What if the Bello family finds out Chika cannot have children? Will they still want her?” The room went silent.
Chika felt the words hit her like a stone.
Mr. Obiora stood up at once.
“Kemi.
” But Kemi kept going.
“You are all acting like I said something strange.
It is the truth.
She cannot give any man a child, so why are we pretending?” Chika looked at her slowly.
The pain in her chest was old, but it still hurt every time somebody touched it.
Years earlier, Kemi had fallen seriously ill as a teenager.
There’d been heavy bleeding and panic.
Their mother was already dead, and their father was away.
Chika had been the one running around the hospital, begging doctors to save her sister.
In the middle of that crisis, Chika ignored her own stomach ache, which kept worsening.
She had to use the little money available for Kemi’s treatment, ignoring her own body completely.
Then one afternoon, it got worse, and then she collapsed.
What followed damaged her body badly.
After the treatment and the complications that came later, the doctors told her she would never have children.
Kemi knew that.
She also knew why.
Still, she stood there and used it against her.
Chika’s voice was low when she spoke.
“You said that very easily.
” Kemi lifted her chin.
“Was it a lie?” Mr. Obiora pointed at the door.
“Leave this room now.
” But Kemi did not move.
“No,” she said.
“I will not leave until you change it.
Chika should go to the village.
I will marry Tunde Bello.
” That was the first time she called him by name.
Tunde Bello, son of the Bello family, the rich man she had already chosen in her heart.
Mr. Obiora shook his head.
“No.
” Kemi laughed again.
But there was no joy in it.
“Daddy, this is not fair.
And this is not the first time Kemi has stood in my way,” Chika said.
Kemi frowned.
“What does that mean?” Chika faced her.
“You want to act innocent? What about Femi in secondary school?” Chika’s face changed.
Mr. Obiora looked confused.
“Who is Femi?” Chika answered before Kemi could.
“A boy who liked me.
” Kemi said nothing.
Chika looked straight at her.
“He used to wait for me after school.
Then suddenly he stopped talking to me and started following you.
Later I heard you told him I was proud and already seeing somebody else.
” Kemi shrugged.
“He liked class.
I gave him only a better option.
” Chika let out a dry laugh.
“So it was true.
” Kemi folded her arms.
“That was long ago.
” “Yes,” Chika said.
“And now you are doing the same thing again.
” Mr. Obiora looked ashamed, but Kemi only grew more stubborn.
“If I want something, I take it,” she said.
“That is how life works.
” Then before anybody could stop her, she grabbed a fruit knife from the tray on the small table beside their father’s bed.
“Kemi,” Chika shouted.
Mr. Obiora froze.
“Put that down.
” Kemi’s eyes were wet now, but her hand was steady.
“If I do not marry Tunde Bello, I will kill myself here,” she said.
“I mean it.
” “Stop this nonsense,” her father said, but his voice had changed.
“I said I mean it,” she cried.
“Choose Chika again and watch what happens.
” Chika took a careful step forward.
“Kemi, calm down.
” “Don’t come near me.
” Mr. Obiora lifted both hands.
“Put the knife down first.
” “No.
” “Say it first.
” He looked at Kemi.
Then at Chika.
And Chika already knew what would happen.
He would give in.
He always did.
After a long moment, Mr. Obiora spoke.
“Fine,” he said quietly.
“You will marry Tunde Bello.
” Kemi lowered the knife at once.
Chika did not look at her father.
She could not.
Something inside her had gone cold.
Then she lifted her head and looked at her sister.
“You win,” she said.
Kemi wiped her tears.
“As I should.
” Chika nodded once.
“Yes, as always.
” She drew in a breath.
“Go ahead and marry Tunde Bello.
I will go to the village.
” Mr. Obiora looked at her with guilt.
“Chika.
” But she did not let him continue.
She faced Kemi fully.
“This is not the first time you have taken what should have been mine.
You did it before, you are doing it again, so take it.
” Kemi’s lips curved with pride.
Chika’s eyes stayed on hers.
“But do not regret it later.
” Kemi laughed.
“I will never regret choosing wealth.
” Chika said nothing else.
She turned and left the room.
She packed quietly that night.
No one helped her.
No one truly apologized.
By morning, she was ready to leave.
When the car drove her out, she sat in silence the whole way.
She was not just going to marry a stranger.
She was being given away because her sister wanted more.
After a long drive, the car stopped.
The driver turned back.
“Madam, this is where I stop.
The road ahead is too bad.
Cars do not pass there.
” Chika looked outside.
The path ahead was rough and narrow.
For a moment, she just sat there.
Then she came down.
Her suitcase felt heavier than it should have.
Her heart felt worse.
As she stood by the road, a woman’s voice called out.
“You must be Chika.
” She turned.
The woman standing there was in her late 50s, simply dressed, with kind eyes and a calm face.
“I am Grace Eze,” she said warmly.
“Obinna’s mother.
You can call me Mama Grace.
” Chika greeted her softly.
Mama Grace smiled.
“My son is still out working.
He could not come on time, so I came for you myself.
” She noticed the suitcase at once.
“Ah, this thing is heavy.
” Chika tried to smile.
“A little.
” Mama Grace quickly arranged for a local bike to carry them in the suitcase the rest of the way.
The ride was rough.
Chika saw the simple life around her clearly now.
Small farms, baskets of produce, goats, chickens, plain compounds, open land.
Everything looked far from the life Kemi had fought for.
By the time they reached the house, Chika already felt out of place.
The house was small and simple.
Nothing about it looked impressive.
Mama Grace noticed her expression and said gently, “It is not fancy, but it is home.
” Chika quickly shook her head.
“I understand, Ma.
” Inside, the house was neat and clean.
Mama Grace turned to look at her again.
“You are too thin,” she said.
“Did you eat before coming?” Chika shook her head.
“Ah-ah,” Mama Grace said with concern.
“Sit down first.
I will make something for you.
You do not need to stress yourself.
How can I not? My son’s wife cannot enter my house hungry.
” Those words were simple, but they touched Chika.
She sat down.
As Mama Grace moved around, she spoke honestly.
“Village life is not easy.
If later you truly feel you cannot cope, you can say it.
” Chika looked up.
There was no harshness in the woman’s voice, no pressure, just honesty.
That honesty almost broke her.
Quietly, she said, “I do not have anywhere to go back to.
” Mama Grace stopped, then came to sit beside her.
“My daughter,” she said gently, “from today, this is your home.
” Chika looked at her and felt something shift inside her.
It was not happiness, not yet, but for the first time since leaving her father’s house, she felt a little warmth.
And for that moment, it was enough.
Chika was still sitting in the small sitting room when she heard footsteps outside.
Then a man’s voice came from the doorway.
“Mom?” Mama Grace turned at once.
“Obinna, you’re back.
” Chika looked up and froze.
The man who stepped inside was not what she had prepared herself for.
He was tall and well-built, with calm eyes and a clean, handsome face.
His shirt sleeves were folded slightly, and even though he had clearly come from work, there was nothing rough or careless about him.
He looked strong, neat, and self-controlled, not flashy, not loud, just quietly striking.
For a second, Chika forgot to breathe.
This was Obinna? This was the village farmer? Obinna’s eyes moved to her, and his expression softened immediately.
“So, this is Chika,” he said.
Mama Grace smiled.
Leave a Comment