2003
5th January
Okonkwo Street.
A dark blue Mercedes moved through the street towards a bungalow with a black roof, fenced with dark grey walls, and an ash gate, where it finally stopped. Out came a man, tall and chocolate-skinned, smiling as he approached the gate.
"Welcome back Mr Chikodi!!" Some children shouted as they passed his car, parked directly outside his gate, before waving towards it, where a beautiful woman with light skin smiled in reply through the semi-wind window, holding a sleeping child in her arms.
Chioma smiled while gazing at the receding backs of the children before smiling at the cute bundle of joy in her arms.
Chikodi opened both gates after fiddling with a set of keys which he brought out from his pocket after which he then placed them back in his trouser pocket before turning around moving back towards his car.
He then open his side of the car door, entered inside and with a quick smile towards his wife closed it. He then proceeded to start the car looking forward towards the gate before entering.
Once inside, he turned off the ignition before coming down going round over to his wife's door and opening it for her.
Closing the door after she came down, they both started walking towards their home with her- holding their child in her arms- trailing behind him.
Hours later after settling in the couple were now resting in the sitting room wife with her head on her husband's lap face up and his hands gently stroking her hair while the both watched a movie on a box television.
"RINNGG!!" Came the phone, breaking the cosy atmosphere at once as both turned to look towards the source of the disturbance.
Chioma gently sat up, sighing as her husband stood up halfway towards the sitting room table where his phone lay. After picking up his phone, he looked briefly at the contact name before breaking into a smile and answering it.
"Can't you call at a better time, you wizard?" He said with mock anger towards the person on the other line.
"Did I interrupt something?" Kelechi replied with a question of his own, and on the other end, Chikodi could practically feel the smile on his face.
"Nothing you wan tell me. You did this on purpose, this man." Chikodi nearly roared but settled with grinding his teeth against each other, Chioma finally realising who the caller is started laughing softly which the other party obviously heard from the next sentence that he said.
"My friend you're making yourself look bad oo see as your wife dey laugh you." He sad with enough smugness in his voice that was even felt from across network lines.
"Hmmmm." Chikodi made a low threatening sound which seemed to serve a complete opposite purpose.
It just made his wife and Kelechi laugh even harder.
"Are you trying to-haha-copy a car engine-haha- or something?" Kelechi asked in between fits of laughter, which just seemed to make Chikodi's eye twitch.
He then shot a glare at his wife, which made her cover her mouth and turn away, but by the shaking of her shoulders, he knew it was far from over.
"So what's up?" He finally asked after the laughter subsided.
"Oh, nothing much, I just called to know how the journey went and to check up on my cute godson." Kelechi replied with a gentle laugh.
"Well, the journey went well,, and we just came back some hours ago and were just resting before you called," Kelechi said, gently pulling his wife towards himself.
"And as for junior, he's asleep. Which is better so I can enjoy my sweet cupcake all to myself." He continued and winked at his wife at the last part, earning himself a chuckle and a gentle smack on his chest.
"Bia no try that thing wey you wan do oo. Have you forgotten that I'm immune to such things?" Kelechi said with mock anger, earning himself laughter from the couple.
"Alright then, we'll set up a meet-up when we come back."
"No problem," Chikodi replied.
"Bye for now."
"Bye." The couple said together.
Beep. The call ended. The couple, already cuddling, sighed in unison before laughing for no reason at all.
***
8:30 pm
Egba household
Chikodi listened to his wife's soft breathing as she lay cuddled against him, her arm draped over his chest. His eyes on the ceiling of the dark room.
He didn't want to think much about anything nor did he have anything in mind. He just kept on staring and after an unknown amount of time his eyes closed and off he drifted off to sleep.
Some days passed before the meet-up date was agreed upon, and after some more days, the day finally arrived.
The reunion was as warm as ever. The set of couples greeted each other with warm smiles, in the case of the men, a few slaps on the back.
As the parents talked, their children played with each other after eating. Chibuike,first son and child of the Umudike family, was naturally assigned as the chairman-in-chief of the children, Nneka Umudike and Kelechi Egba.
Their parents laughed watching their antics as they discussed. Several hours passed before the children got tired, and once they did, they were carried by their parents, after which they fell asleep.
And with that, the meet-up came to a successful end after much talk and refreshments.
Once home, Chikodi and his wife, with Kelechi in his arms, entered. After which, he then carried his son for a small wash, then put him to bed, and by a miracle or unseen fortune or maybe due to tiredness, Kelechi slept through it all.
The couple then reunited in their bedroom, where his wife was already in bed, fresh out of the shower, with no words being said between them. Chikodi headed towards the shower.
Some minutes later...
"Mhmm." Chioma hummed softly, cuddling even closer to her husband.
No other words needed to be said at that moment and with that the night passed silently and blissfully.