Just when Ngozi's wicked in-laws thought they had amassed enough money to squander after selling the properties they had stolen from Ngozi, karma came knocking. Uncle Thomas had woken up one fateful morning with a slight headache. Unbeknownst to him, that headache was the beginning of a strange ailment. After some days of self-medication with no improvement, he was taken to the hospital. After spending several months in the hospital, his health kept deteriorating. His family had to take him back home as the hospital bills kept accumulating and no source of money from anywhere again. All the properties Johnson left behind had been sold and most of the money generated had been used in paying his medical bills. They had to resort to local herbs which they believed offered a better alternative with a lesser cost implication compared to the hospital.
"What are we going to do about this wicked sickness?, Gloria's mother-in-law asked Mama Alice, Uncle Thomas' wife. "You won't believe that I still have an outstanding one hundred and fifty thousand Naira to pay the doctor. I had to deposit my most valuable gold chain worth two hundred thousand Naira to him before we could have Thomas discharged. I have sold every one of my valuable items just to raise money but still, nothing is improving here. I am tired o. I don't know what we are going to do again " Mama flung her hands in despair as she spoke with her younger brother's wife. Mama Alice too had done everything in her capacity to make her husband regain his health but he kept getting worse. He had become bedridden and confined to a wheelchair.
" Mama, I am tired myself. My children have stopped schooling for some time now as the money ought to be spent on their school fees had been used in caring for their father's health," she replied, sobbing. Two of her children were around while the eldest one had gone to hawk groundnuts. It is from the groundnut business the family now depended on for survival.
"My daughter, please stop crying. All will be well with you and your family. I believe what you are going through is just for some time. God will bring back all our loss" Mama consoled her.
Uncle Thomas made some gesticulations with his hands before managing to talk.
" I...I want... want..to... pee" he finally said. This is the worst thing mama Alice would want to hear from him because it takes a lot of stress to lift him from his seat to the toilet before balancing him back on the wheelchair. She sighed once again before she wheeled him to the toilet to pee. It had become a daily routine she couldn't avoid. She now had to feed him, bath him, brush his teeth, dress him and do a lot of things for him. Uncle Thomas who was once an active and agile man had suddenly become a vegetable. Alice, their first child just arrived from hawking the groundnuts. She placed the empty tray in the corner of the room and moved forth to greet everyone in the house.
"Mama, good afternoon, good afternoon ma. Good afternoon, Papa" She could barely hear his response but nodded in understanding when he made some hand signals. "How are sales? This is very unusual of you. You are home much earlier than before and even with an empty tray. You made good sales today o.", commented her mother.
"Yes, ma. God works mysteriously", Alice replied and narrated her day experience.
Alice had walked almost the full length and breadth of the town without making any sale. The weather was getting hot. She had hawked till her legs hurt her and her throat went dry as a result of calling out to people to patronize her. She was 13 years old already and supposed to be in school preparing for her Junior WAEC but circumstances beyond her control didn't give her the opportunity. She was lost in deep thought and almost got knocked down by a car while trying to cross to the other side of the road.
Dr. Anthony slammed his foot on the car brake and swerved his vehicle sideway to avoid hitting the girl carrying a tray full of groundnuts. He thereafter put the car to a stop and silently thanked God for delivering him from what could have been a fatal car accident. Ngozi and he were returning home after paying Bernard and his wife, Gloria a visit. Ngozi had finally agreed to Anthony's marriage proposal after many persuasion. The soon-to-be couple was having a lovely conversation in the car when Alice crossed the road unexpectedly. Being a medical expert, Dr. Anthony immediately alighted from the car to check on Alice and ensure she was physically okay. Just then, Ngozi noticed she was Uncle Thomas's daughter. She was shocked to seeing her selling groundnuts on the roadside and most especially during school hours. She wondered what happened to the money and the properties which Uncle Thomas, her father had inherited.
Fortunately, Alice wasn't injured and was able to explain in detail the predicament that had befallen her parents. She disclosed her father's ill health and how they had spent every money available on him and still, no improvement. She also explained how she and her siblings were forced to stop school based on the fact that they couldn't afford to pay for school fees. Since then, selling groundnuts has been the only source of income for the family.
Ngozi felt pity for Alice and her family. She couldn't believe that those properties they had forcefully taken from her and claimed to be theirs and the money generated from their sales could go down the drain in such a short period. Dr. Anthony also sympathized with the young girl as she narrated her story. Ngozi requested the amount of the groundnuts which Alice told her was two thousand Naira. Ngozi gave her five thousand Naira. Dr. Bernard also decided to give Alice a lift so they could know her house and give her a lift.
"Where are they now?" Mama inquired after Alice had told them about her experience.
"They are outside mama. They said that I should announce their presence before they will come in"
"Ha. She's my wife na. Why do you have to keep my wife outside? Let me go and bring my wife in jare" Mama said as she stood up while others followed suit to welcome Ngozi and Anthony. Immediately after mama saw Ngozi, she quickly embraced her.
"My daughter. Good afternoon. How are you doing? I can see that you are now looking fresh. Please, forgive me and my brother. We never meant to hurt you. Please, do find a place in your heart to forgive me, especially. I am sorry. Look, Thomas has been on the sick bed for some time now. We have sold our house and other properties just to gather some money to take care of him. Forgive and forget about everything. We are sorry" Mama almost knelt when Ngozi quickly lifted her and wiped off her tears.
"Mama, it's okay. I have forgiven you long ago and have nothing against you. I guess it was destined to happen. The love I and Johnson shared before his demise can never be overemphasized. That's why I rather made everything about me open to him. He died due to an accident. I believe that nobody killed him. I appreciate everything that happened afterward. It all happened for good. If it didn't happen, I wouldn't have met my present fiance." A broad smile appeared on her face as she moved closer to Anthony to peck him.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask, how are my grandchildren doing? Where are they now?" Mama asked.
They are fine, mama. Anita is in school. Emeka is doing fine and is currently at home with Chioma, my sister" she explained in detail.
"I am happy for you," mama said.
"Mama, I don't have enough cash on me at the moment. I am going to write you a cheque so you can go to the bank to cash it. Please, use part of the money to take care of Uncle Thomas's health" Ngozi said as she handed mama a cheque for 1 million Naira. Uncle Thomas was shocked but elated at Ngozi's generosity. He almost jumped from the wheelchair to embrace Ngozi.
" Ngo...go... Zi...I am.... rea...lly...so...rrry....that... thank...you...you ..so... so...much" He found those words very difficult to say as his health could not permit him.
"It's okay Uncle. I understand. I promise to send you more money to take care of yourself. It's my husband-to-be that issued out the cheque" They all marveled and gladly moved closer to him to say a big thank you to him.
"Thank you so much. God will continue to bless you and your family" they all chorused.
"It's nothing. I pray for Uncle Thomas's quick recovery too." Dr. Anthony said. After spending some more minutes with the family, Ngozi and Anthony bade them goodbye, hopped into the car, and drove off.