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“Ogi, is that really you? But you have changed. And your husband… did you get back with him?”
“God forbid,” Ogi replied. “A lot of things have happened since you left, but I thank God.”
“Come with me. You’re going to tell me all that,” Aunt Uzoma added, pulling her by the hand toward a table set aside.
“I came back to the base, but I learned that you had moved.”
“Yes, Ogi, my life really changed. I got a promotion and had to leave the village to come live here in the city.”
“I’m really happy for you, Aunt Uzoma. You truly deserve it. You supported and sheltered me when you didn’t even know me. God simply blessed and rewarded you for your generosity.”
“And your daughter?”
“My daughter is sleeping inside. And you, what are you doing here? Do you live in this house? Tell me, why keep me waiting so long? Tell me everything.”
Ogechi told her the whole story. Aunt Uzoma could not believe what she was hearing. She had never known that Emeka was actually Ogei’s husband.
She pulled a paper from her pocket and handed it to her.
“Here, Ogi, this is my new address. You can visit me anytime, and if you need anything, I can help you.”
She also gave her a wad of bills.
“Take this money, Ogechi. It is for you. Do whatever you want with it.”
Ogesi was very happy.
After the wedding ceremony, when Aunt Uzoma got home, she called a non-commissioned officer under her command.
“Good evening, Mr. Johnson. Write a dismissal letter and send it to Lieutenant Emeka’s address. From now on, he is permanently dismissed from his position, with no possibility of reinstatement.”
“Understood, Chief,” the officer replied, and immediately carried out the order.
The next day, Emeka was at the table with Linda when he received the dismissal letter. When he read it, he began to cry. Linda asked in shock:
“What is happening, darling?”
Emeka handed her the letter so she could read it too. Sadness immediately filled her face, and she also began to cry. What would become of her? She had always depended on Emeka to provide for all her needs.
In the months following Emeka’s dismissal, the couple’s situation completely fell apart. They were no longer able to eat properly, and Emeka could no longer provide for Linda. Cornered, Linda aborted the child and asked Emeka for a divorce.
“For several weeks now, you have been unable to take care of my needs properly. I’m sorry, but I cannot live with a man who cannot feed his wife. You should go back to your first wife, ugly and filthy. She is the one who suits you. But me, I can no longer live with you.”
She packed her bags and left without listening to Emeka’s pleading and crying.
Emeka had become miserable. He had lost three things at once: his wife, his child, and his job.
Meanwhile, Ogechi continued working for Mr. Ikena. She was very well paid and had become fulfilled. Now that life had finally smiled on her, she decided to visit Ife in the village. Since Baba had died, she was the only person in Emeka’s family who had always helped and supported her. She wanted to thank her and bring her with her to the city.
The next morning, she took her car and went to Baba’s village with her daughter Femi. When she stepped out of the car with her daughter, Emeka’s mother was sitting at the entrance of the hut looking very sad. She did not realize it was Ogei. She ran toward her to welcome her, then suddenly recognized who it was. Ashamed, she turned away without saying a word. She was so ashamed that she did not dare approach her.
Ogei called out for Ife.