Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Once again Ete Affiong was tilling in the farm. Already he had made hedges to surround his water leaves. Several trees rooted to the soil had coiled around them leaves of yams he'd planted beginning to show signs that harvest was in order.

"Uyai..." he wanted to call out but his voice trailed off in a silent whisper when he remembered she and her sister, his pregnant elder daughter had been absent for four good months and he had little knowledge of their whereabouts.

Ete Affiong rubbed his tired eyes with the back of his wrist staining it with a pickle of dust. The crinkles in his eyes were more prominent and the huge eye bags almost covering his entire lids. The sun rays was so intense that it branded his skin in a darkish hue. He seemed to have aged a lot judging from the now numerous grey in his hair, the aging wrinkles making his face appear drawn and fatigued.

Ete Affiong the once happy go lucky man was now a shell of his former self; he had worked himself tiredly till blisters marred his palms and his muscles strained with fatigued. Still he didn't stop tilling even as his limbs groaned in protest, his hands trembled as he attempted to keep a firm grip on the hoe he held, unfortunately his hands couldn't support the weight of the hoe anymore so it fell to the ground in a thud and so did a drop of tear.

Surprised he blinked, and another fell.

He was crying.

The pent up emotion he had held for long had broken loose and for the first time in a while he let them. His eyes downcast and his heart heavy. He looked pitiful.

A few metres away, mama Affiong stood with her mother in-law quietly gazing at her husband's figure. Her hands fisted to her sides and a mixture of emotions crossed her face.

"He has finally broken down." Her mother in-law commented as she too observed her son with pity.

"It's all his fault." Mama Affiong muttered with gritted teeth. She appeared angry but her eyes held a different story.

"Don't. You know all too well he has never been the same since they left." it was indeed true, her husband had become a shell of his former self. He no longer joined his friend's for their usual hangout in their front yard. A number of times they'd tried to pull him out of the farm to partake in their favourite game of Draft or even to relish in the delicious freshness of the palm wine his best friend the palm wine tapper had brewed especially for him.

"I don't know if it's a good thing or not." Mama Affiong loosened her fist and hugged herself, her lips curled wryly while she briefly glanced at the basket her mother in-law clutched by her hip.

Her mother in-law scoffed. "You don't?"

Mama Affiong sighed. "I'll admit, there's an advantage. I never thought we'll become large scale producers, our sales almost rivalling that of Chief Ifiok even with the crude implements we use." she gestured to the hoes, shovel, spades, that laid about. "and all these because of his hard labour. But I think I might have lost my husband in the process." she mumbled the latter dejectedly.

Her mother in-law heaved a sigh.

"He didn't have to send them away you know." she continued, this time with a scowl

"I'm sure he regrets it. Isn't it obvious how he beats himself up." Her mother in-law grimaced as she looked at her son who now sat cross-legged on the ground, his head bent low and his countenance weak. "Quick go and call him for lunch." she urged.

Mama Affiong walked to her husband as she was told. As she crept slowly towards him she acknowledged the fact that he was breathing heavily and tiny hiccups escaped each breath. Her husband was crying, however trying to hold it in; his effort was futile it seemed.

When she was close enough to touch, she gently tapped his right shoulder to get his attention. He jerked slightly, startled and without a minute hesitation he swiftly turned to her. His brows furrowed as he looked expectantly at her.

"Ima mi(my love)" she cajoled albeit stiffly. His eyes widened in shock at the endearment as if it'd been long he heard her call him that. It had actually been long.

He didn't respond instead he quirked a brow waiting for her to say more. She did.

"Come and join us for lunch. I'm sure you must be famished." she said and still he showed no sign of movement. "I made your favorite." she continued with a forced smile.

Ete Affiong turned away from his wife and stared at the ground. He just wanted to be alone.

Mama Affiong huffed a breath exasperated and turned with pleading eyes to her mother in-law who still stood at the same spot with a hopeful look.

Her expression wore thin immediately she saw the desperation written in her daughter in law's eyes. Her son was was unmoving and staring blankly into space.

She shook her head, signalling with her eyes that she wasn't going to interfere.

Mama Affiong frowned disappointed and turned back to her forlorn husband. With a resigned sigh she drew her dress to her knees, and like her husband sat cross-legged beside him, her beautiful silver slippers out on display. She glanced at the still tattered slippers he wore and sighed with a grimace.

"We need to talk." she softly said.

He didn't respond but hummed in acknowledgment.

"You've not been yourself for months and it's troubling me." She continued, her voice laced with worry.

Ete Affiong blinked at concern he heard in her voice, but still he didn't utter a word.

Agitated she said when he still kept mute "Do you want to work yourself to death? If you knew this would be be the result of our daughters leaving you would not have sent them away."

An emotion crossed his face but then disappeared before she could read it.

"It's your fault you know, my pregnant daughter is out there in a strange place and I have no idea how she is doing."

His lips twitched at the word pregnant, still he remained silent.

"How are we not sure they're being treated as slaves in another man's house." she continued seethed with unrestrained anger.

Ete Affiong reacted by standing up swiftly interrupting her ravings. "There'll be no such things!" He suddenly cried, heatedly.

Mama Affiong flinched at the sudden cry. It was first reaction or response she received from him in months, and to say she liked it was an understatement.

So to bring out more reactions like this she goaded him to a reply "How sure are you?" she challenged.

His eyes shifted to her immediately and he gave a heated glare and without a word spun around and in a stride walked away.

She jumped up and ran after him.

She passed her her mother in-law who looked at her worriedly, "What did you do?" she queried curiously pausing her in mid step.

"I might have said something." She mumbled sheepishly.

"What exactly did you say that has got him so furious?" Her mother in-law cocked an eyebrow

"I just talked about our daughters finish!" she defended without meeting her mother in-law's eyes.

"You must have said something unbecoming to spur such a reaction." she looked at her doubtfully, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Nothing Mma! I don't know why he's even angry sef?" She mumbled the latter.

"Okay I believe you. Go after your husband now and make sure he eats. We need to have a family meeting." she said.

Mama Affiong frowned, "A family meeting? Why?"

"You'll find out soon. Now go! I'm sure he must have calmed down by now." she gave her a slight shove.

***

Finally, her husband after much persuasion by both herself and her mother in-law sat in their sitting room that had been remodified to a more modern setting. The rickety old wooden chairs had been replaced with artfully carved ones with soft deep brown cushions on them, the formerly faded curtains had also being replaced by fancy but sturdy curtain with a rich burgundy colour that blended beautifully with the now painted cream coloured wall. The radio, the only equipment that had not been replaced sat in a corner on a stool. It chimed softly with a voice of the singer Celine Dion.

They all waited expectantly to hear what her mother in-law was going to say.

She was not in a hurry as she slowly dipped a ball of fófó in the Okra soup and then brought it to her mouth.

"Why are you not eating?" She paused mid swallow as she perused them with interest.

Mama Affiong began eating at once but then noticed that her husband made no move to, she paused and shifted in her seat. Her eyes sought her mother in law's worriedly.

"Mma," she began, "Why don't you tell us what this meeting is all about." she suggested.

Her mother in-law scowled. "Is it a crime for me to enjoy a meal with my family? Do I have to call a family meeting for that? And son why are you not eating your food? It took pains to prepare that you know?" she glared at her son who only winced in reply.

It seemed she was done for she continued "And what is that with being mute. I didn't born you mute did I? Why? It's your fault in the first place. It's you who sent your daughter out--"

That's what I told him, Mama Affiong wanted to add.

"Now you have the mind to feel miserable? I am miserable you know? We all are! So why don't you man up and eat your meal or I swear--" she didn't complete it, instead she breathed heavily, her eyes glared with warning.

To their utter shock and surprise, her husband began to eat and he did so calmly without complain.

Her mother in-law huffed out a breath satisfied with his reaction and turned back to her food, now eating it with gusto.

She was the only left it seemed and she seemed to have lost her appetite as she looked at the food in distaste.

They had gone half into their meals when her mother in law spoke up without warning.

"It's high time we paid my granddaughter's a visit."

Ete Affiong choked forcefully shoving the food down his pipe, apparently the wrong one because he started coughing while hitting his chest.

"Breathe, breathe." Mama Affiong patted his back.

Why does it feel like a deja Vu? Ete Affiong thought.

After recovering from the shock, Ete Affiong spoke for the first time during their meals. "What are you saying mama?" he asked his mother. His eyes darting between her and his wife.

He wanted to be sure he heard her clearly.

She rolled her eyes. "We would go visit your daughters next week." she said in finality leaving no room for doubt.

Ete Affiong swallowed loudly. "Mama don't tease me, are you serious? A-Are we really going to the city next week?" he bent forward, his eyes hopeful.

"Yes Mma, are we really?" she imitated her husband as she too bent forward with round eyes.

"Yes. I'm tired of seeing us leaving in misery and besides I need to see how my granddaughter's are doing?" her mother in-law smiled sadly.

"Mama do you think they're faring well? That they're being treated well?" her voice cracked as she voiced her concern.

"Yes. I trust that they are living well." she nodded.

"Is that how you trust those people?" she asked referring to the family her daughters were sent to live with.

"I don't trust them--" Her mother in-law started

"What! You don't?" Ete Affiong cried appalled. His wife's eyes mirrored his.

"Haven't you learnt not to trust any man except your maker? I trust no one--" she said and Ete Affiong and Mama Affiong shared a look.

"...not even myself. The only person I trust is God and I believe that God will keep them and would not let any harm come to them." she said with resolution.

"Oh!" husband and wife exclaimed in unison as realisation dawned on them.

Mma only shook her head.