“We are waiting, talk to us” Eric’s mum told Sandra.

“I have been dating Eric. Now,I am pregnant for him. The pregnancy is one month old. When I called him on phone to tell him that I was pregnant, he warned me not to call his phone number again.I have told him that I don’t want to cause problem in his marriage. If he can get visa for me, I will travel to USA and have my baby there. Infact I will not come back to Nigeria again,” Sandra told them.

“Which marriage are you talking about. My son is not married. He has not paid the dowry of any woman. You are the one he will marry. I will make sure that he pays your bride price,”Eric’s mum told.

“Iye you are already making me a angry. What is the meaning of this?” Ese said in anger.

“If you are angry, go and hug electricity transformer. What is your business in this issue?” Her Mum shouted at her.

“Iye, Eric’s business is my business. I need an explanation for the drama that you and this lady are acting here,” Ese continued unwaveringly.

“Ese be careful. I am your mother. Wherever your husband is, let him come and warn you to stay off Eric’s matter. You are a married woman. Face your home. Take care of your husband and children. Unless you want your brother to marry you.”

“Iye, what is the meaning of the last statement you made? What are you insinuating?”Ese asked in anger.

“Use your tongue to count your teeth. If you did not desist from attacking me because of Eric’s matter, you will not like what I will do to you. Eric is my son, not yours,” Her mum threatened.

Itohan had been confused since Sandra entered. She kept wishing that everything going on was an illusion and wishing that Eric will deny knowing the lady.

“Eric, do you know this lady,” Itohan asked, steading his gaze on her.

He quitely nodded without talking.

“She said that she is pregnant for you? What do you have to say about that,” Itohan asked again.

“Hmm! That was what she said, but I’m not sure,” Eric answered while avoiding Itohan’s gaze.

“Ha! Eric you have finished me. How did I offend you that made you to be dealing with me in this manner? Even when I’m already here with you, you are flirting with another lady” Ese cried.

“Did you say he is flirting with another lady? I’m I the only one? He has many out there. Like as I said, I’m not here to destroy your marriage. just tell your husband to settle me. If he does that, he will never see me again. I will single handedly train my child,” Sandra said.

“Will you shut up your mouth! How dare you spout nonsense and disrespect my brothers wife in this manner. Anyway, we shall be going to hospital right now to conduct pregnancy test on you. If truely you are pregnant, I will take care of you till you give birth. Afterwards, DNA test will be conducted on the baby. If I discover that you are not pregnant or I later find out that the baby does not belong to my brother, you will rot in jail.” Ese threatened.

Sandra got up suddenly,”I will go and prepare and come back tomorrow for the pregnancy test,” she told them.

“Eric, don’t allow her to cross that door,” Ese shouted. But Sandra ran away before Ese could catch her

“Aunty Ese have you seen what your brother is doing to me . Infact I’m done. I can’t continue with this daily embarassement.” Itohan told her.

“I like that decision. Pack your things and leave my son’s house. In fact, what I’m I even saying? You are not going anywhere. After squandering his money, you want to go. If you move an inch, I will make sure that you gave birth to this baby in police station.” Eric’s mum threatened.

Ese quickly held Itohan and started begging her.

“The beautiful one. Please look at my face. You are the only sister I have. Don’t leave me.”

“My dear please forgive me. I am sorry. I don’t know what came over me?” Eric pleaded.

“Who is your dear? If you come close to me, I will give you a negative surprise,” Itohan threatened.

“Eric what did I just hear. A woman is threatening you, yet you kept quiet? If you are truely my son, then show her that you brought her to this home,” Eric’s mum told him.

“Iye get up and leave my house right now,” Eric thundered.

“Is it me you are talking to in that manner?” His mum asked.

“Mummy, if you don’t want me to do what both of us will regret, leave my house now!” Eric repeated.

His eyes were fierce like a wild animal that sighted a prey.

His mother quickly got up,”I am going to my house. Don’t think that it is because of your threat. I just don’t want to stay here again,” she claimed.

“No, come and stay here,” Ese muttered.

Eric quitely moved to the room, While Ese kept holding Itohan.

“Aunty please allow me to go. This thing is not working at all,”

“Please calm down. The truth is that your action is justifiable. But I will not allow you to go. If you leave in this condition, you will suffer. I will prefer you come and stay with me for awhile. Who knows, may be after a while, you may forgive him. But after giving birth, if you still insist that you don’t want to continue with him, there is no problem . All I will do at that time is to help you get a good job, or establish a business so that you can take care of the child. I will not want my brother’s child to suffer. Please my dear, come and live with me. Since we are in the same building, you will also be seeing your husband,”

“Aunty please, stop calling him my husband,” Ese replied in anger.

“It’s okay. I will not do that again,” Ese promised.

Itohan agreed to Ese’s proposal and moved her house. Eric kept pleading to her to come back to his house.
******
Ese’s cousin was about to wed at the town next to where they were living. All the family planned to attend. Itohan never wanted to go but Ese pleaded and later convinced her to go with them. Ese, her husband and Itohan left 2 days before the occasion.

Eric was supposed to join them later that day. But he later called Itohan on phone to inform her that a company that he applied for a job send an invitation for an interview.

“This is good news but does it mean that you will no longer come for the wedding?” Itohan asked.

“I will surely be there. If I didn’t come tomorrow, I will come on the day of the wedding,” Eric told her.

Eric called her on phone the next morning to inform her that he was going for the interview. He also called later in the day to inform her how the interview went and to tell her that he was going home to prepare for the journey. 3 hours after that, Itohan was calling him on phone but he was not taking his phone call. She ran to inform Ese.

“Aunty Ese, have you been able to reach your brother. I have been calling him on phone but he is not taking my call,” Itohan said in agitation.

“Calm down please, Eric is fine. Though I wondered why he is not here till now.”

“He informed me that he was going for an interview. He also called me on phone after the interview and told me that he was going home to prepare to come here. That was the last time I heard from him. Eric doesn’t stay far from his phone. I hope all is well,” Itohan cried.

“Don’t worry yourself. My brother is fine. I thought you said that you don’t want to marry him again. Why are looking for him,” Ese joked.
Itohan busted out in laughter

“I hope you have eaten?” Ese asked.

“I don’t have appetite to eat.”

“No. You must eat,” She took her inside and gave her food to eat. As Itohan was eating, Ese left her inside and came outside. She beckoned on one of her male cousins to come.

“Osaro, I have not seen my brother. I am calling his phone but he is not answering my phone call. His wife is already getting agitated but I tried to calm her down. The truth is that I am more agitated than her. Eric is the only brother I have.”

“Ese, you have to calm down. You shouldn’t get yourself worked up just because Eric didn’t take your phone calls.”

“I know my brother. If his phone was not stolen, then something worst than that might have happened. God please spare my only brothers life, “she broke down in tears. She sighted her husband from afar and ran to meet him.

“Did you hear from Eric?”

“Is he not yet here?”

“No! I have not seen my brother,” Ese cried.

“Don’t worry let me call him on phone,” her husband told her.

“He is not taking his phone call o. Are you sure that my brother is alive. I am going back home. I must go and search for my brother.”

“No! You are not going anywhere. Go and stay with Itohan while I and Osaro will go and search for him,” His husband told her.

“Is this necessary?” Osaro asked.

“What do you mean by is it necessary. What kind of question is that?” Ese shouted in anger.

“Don’t be offended please,” Osaro pleaded.

Ese,s husband and Osaro left in search of Eric. Few hours later, he called his wife on phone.

“Hello dear. How did it go ?” Ese asked.

“Fine. If you are with Itohan, please end the call. Go elsewhere so that I can talk to you,” Her husband told her.

Watch out for the next episode.