07/07/2026
Eyes Of Deceit
,,©Umoru Haruna
Episode 1
Since Nwaka married Akin, it had been battle between her and Pa Josiah Abogunde. Pa Abogunde never loved the idea of his only son marrying Nwaka, “that Igbo-girl!”
Akin tried all he could to fix the rift between his father and his wife. Pa Josiah Abogunde, a Yoruba man, found it difficult to accept Nwaka “that Igbo-girl, as he preferred to call her, as the wife of his son, Akin!
According to Pa Abogunde, “their ways are not our ways. Our culture is not their culture! So let everyone bear his father’s name!”
Pa. Abogunde is of the view that no matter the centrifugal forces and possibilities afforded by Christianity, modernity and education the Yoruba and Igbo people do not share a common heritage, they have no common belief system. In Pa. Abogunde's mind the two people, definitely, cannot share a common culture!
It is based on this background that Pa. Abogunde always looked for ways to fault Nwaka’s every move!
He finds annoyance even in the manner by which she presents food to him! If the problem is not that she did not cover his yam porridge it will be that she gave him a soured porridge! It could even be that she did not kneel down while serving the food. Mere excuses upon excuses!
It once got to a situation that Nwaka had to pack out of the house, for close to two weeks.
When Akin found her, he decided to put a stop to the quarrel. Nwaka should clear from grandpa’s path and leave his presence when he starts his antics! According to him, in Yoruba land the younger person does not respond to an older person during quarrels! More so between daughter in law and father in law! Akin instructed that, at no provocation whatsoever should she answer grandpa. Rather, she should walk away as soon as he starts his tantrums.
This attitude, saw them live together for some five years.
The arrival of the children; Queen and Junior did not improve Pa Abogunde's attitude towards Nwaka. It worsened it!
Nwaka had thought that Pa Abogunde's hatred for her would subside, when she bears children for Akin! It didn’t happen that way!
When the kids came, Pa Abogunde simply extended his aversions to the poor, innocent kids! He had, at various times muted the idea that he doubted the paternity of the children. He said that, by no means did the children resemble his lineage!
The children had gotten use to staying away from their grandfather’s path. Any closeness to him would have Pa Abogunde scream at the ‘little Igbo devils!’
It took a lot of courage to ensure that Pa Abogunde and Nwaka were settled on their last fight.
“…Ba’a mi!” Akin had said. “Try not to worry over anything that she does! As my wife, 'Mine' is your daughter-in-law, in fact, she is your daughter!” Akin tried to bridge the gap between his father and his wife.
“Good to know I have a daughter!” Baba replied. “…Daughter indeed!” He added rather sarcastically as he looked away.
“If daughters behave like ‘that Igbo-girl,’ better I don’t have a daughter at a-a-all!” Grandpa concluded!
“Ba’a mi, if this is how you want to continue I’m afraid I’ll not have any other choice than to send you to the Old People’s Home!” Akin threatened! Akin had gotten to the peak of his patience!
“Oh that is it ehn! ...Old People’s Home! Abi!'After all I’ve done for you!” The old man was vexed by his son’s suggestion.
“I have endured so much. I don’t know…!” Pa. Abogunde wanted to go into his mantra, but, Akin joined, to help him conclude the mantra.
“ ‘…. How many men, young men, old men, women, girls and boys that I had to ferry, just to see you through school!’ Ba’a mi I am sorry, I won’t fall for that trap! Not this time! One more quarrel or trouble from you, I’ll take you to that home! This is our home, -me and my wife’s home! I shan’t allow you to wreck it for us!” Akin had never shown that much of anger towards his father. Pa Abogunde became gentle at the threat.
The old man looked at his son, allowed the message to sink in then got up walked straight to his room. The room that Nwaka gave up for him when he came to join them!
Pa. Abogunde joined them when he fell sick in the village and Akin was advised by the Doctor to take him to the city. He was told that Pa. Abogunde was lonely and needed to be around people who loved him and whom he loved,
“How can you keep a lonely old man in a village without support or an attendant to fend for him?” Doctor Ikuomuyilo had accused Akin of not caring for his father in his old age!
“…Now, 'Ba’a mi' has become a trouble on my neck!” Akin thought of his predicament.
How does one keep a father that does not like one’s family, -one's wife and children?
For how long is he going to endure Pa. Abogunde's rascality and mischief? All the quarrels Pa. Abogunde and Nwaka had, had always been instigated by Pa. Abogunde!
“Hmmm…! …Sorry ooh! I will not quarrel ooh! … But, me, I know what I’m saying…! One day one day this matter would be fully settled between me and ‘that Igbo-girl!" Pa. Abogunde grumbled aloud, in his room.
“She cannot use ‘Igbo ase je’ to take over my son’s love.” Pa. Abogunde fumed in his room.
“I don’t care what you think! One more quarrel from you and you will be the latest resident at the Old People’s Home!” Akin answered his father loudly, almost yelling, from the living room.
Akin was indeed livid! Nwaka came to placate him to forget the matter, so not to induce a nervous breakdown. She advised Akin to be calm and not say unpleasant things to the old man.
That was the magic needed! Since then Grandpa had calmed down! However, the relationship between Grandpa and Nwaka was still far from being cordial, but the incessant quarrels became things of the past.
Instead of quarreling the old man would simply grumble and stay in his room, whenever he feels offended!
* * *
To be continued...
©Umoru Haruna.
30. 04. 2021.
