mr mbechi is one of the richest man in ituba, one of the oil well villages in the niger Delta, he is one of the elite group . He is married to ekeoma, who also hailed from a prominent family.they had two sons and a daughter. One of his sons was sent to abroad country to read for first degree, which at it conclusion, sought the consent of sponsor until he finish with his master degree , and PhD in western Germany.
He graduated in all round education and reside there, and became well settled in London, where he finally move to immediately after series of career experiences .
His parents at this juncture started to negotiate in line with previous agreement , they had with him to get him a wife off the same tribe and language with him .
The father made initial approach to a hot Mercy,who was the schooling at then one of the teachers training college close to their community , she is of an average height ,build in shape ,she also acquired a record of well-behaved from the woman around their community.
Mercy could not accept the request made to her by pa mbechi for the following reasons
*I am grown, I want to get married soon after concluding with my final exam this year, and as a result I will not wait for who is yet to visit Nigeria in few years time.
*I can't wait to marry somebody I have not seen or known before
*I may not be the choice of your son, as a father you may consider me acceptable for him as to make his choice and my years of waiting intends to disappointment,
at these Juncture pa mbechi Felt bad for the disappointment, though tried to Mount some pressure on mercy , by promising all he could do , but it yielded to no avail end, it got to a day that pa nbechi went to Mercy's house for the same purpose, he met another pretty girl that look almost like her, he asked hurriedly
"mercy is this girl your twin sister"
"No sir friend of mine we attended the same school, live in the same hostel in fact we do things in common" she replied,
Mr mbechi breath down immediately and ask her with excitement
"baby girl what's your name?"
"my name is Esther " she replied,
" I hope you are like the proper Esther in the Bible " he teased.
"by the grace of God sir" she replied as they all laughed together
pa mbechi whispered to Mercy if she knows the total identity and all round information of Esther her friend and if she hail from a responsible family,
"she's all correct sir, just the way you know me, that's why I kept friendship with her all this years I hardly find a friend as responsible as herself to peer with, but to stick with her as birds of the same feather" she noted.
Immediately pa mbechi was satisfied at Mercy briefing about her friend Esther.
the following day, pa mbechi hurried to Esther home with address and information he has gathered from others and her friend Mercy,
When he got to her house the mother of Esther was busy baking some floor for snacks she normally sell in the following day at nkwo Market House, the woman came out from her kitchen looking so like Esther her daughter she replied "yes oh! come in oh! "
she saw a car parked in front of her house to her surprise,
pa mbechi said "madam good evening "
"welcome sir please have a seat" said the woman (Esther mother)
"are you the mother of Esther "
"yes I am sir, please how can I help you "
"I had wanted to see Esther "
" yes sir I have no fear seeing that you are an elderly man from her school you may have information for her about her school she quickly went to call her at her personal library where she often goes to read, as soon as she heard her mother's call, she rush down to the house and saw mbechi,
With an amazement she come around him to know what the matter was,
after entertainment the elderly man excused her from her mother presence to disclose his mission to her,
I have a son that has spent 14 years in London for his career Pursuit and now agreement has been concluded to get him a wife of the same tribe and language, he has agreed with me and promise to come in few years time to see whomever I the father will engage for face-to-face agreement, I was pleased with the information gotten about you , "how old are you"
"I am 26 years, but how old is he?" she retorted,
"he is 28 years old" pa mbechi replied with excitement,
"so when is he expected to come down for final agreement " Esther asked curiously,
" he is visiting in 2 years time but I can commence the ceremony to a reasonable step before his visit in 2 years time.
Esther without delay replied him "I will marry him"
pa mbechi was full of excitement and rush to the mother, behold the father has already arrived from his visitation exercise and heard that his fellow elderly man was making advances to his daughter for his son that lives abroad.
Both parents asked their daughter in the presence of pa mbechi, after they had listened to him, Esther what is your opinion?"
" I will marry his son " she replied.
pa mbechi now gave some good drinks promised to commence the wedding in the next 3 months and also promise to be regularly visiting their home for further discussion how to smooth the distance before the D-Day.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PA MBECHI LEFT
Esther parents were angry with her and advised her not to accept a man she has not known for the first time or even seen,that man have left home for 12 years when he was still in his teens and now he is grown in London, he has adapted the white men pattern of life and will despise you because his father choose you for him and as a result he will like to make his choice of wife and will finally abandon you you,
and his educational background is far above yours, and he will later find you as not arrival for marriage, and will choose another whose education background is close to his and neglect you as a choice made by his own father,
Esther stubbornly replied "Mama! Papa! I will marry Mr mbechi son,though I haven't seen him anytime or known him before and he has not Known or seen me before he has not written to me, yet my spirit love him and I have faith that he will not reject me please permit me to accept him" she pleaded on her knees.
they tried all they could to make sure they discourage her, but she kept pleading with them to see the need of allowing her marry the person her spirit has accepted ,after all the pressure that was mounted on her, she sticked to her decision , her parents then left her to her own will,and called on pa mbechi to visit them and a day was fixed for the ceremony ,
Mr mbechi called on his son "nmuataoma" and detailed him about the first stage of the marriage ceremony he replied with all amount of excitement ,and he promised to be with them in spirit.
CEREMONY DAY (FIRST STAGE)
When it was time for Esther to come and accept the things offered to her by her parents-in-law, she danced to the amazement of all her kindred, including her parents and her in laws, she came out and dance without physical appearance of her will- husband, she dancedto her father-in-law and accepted all that were presented to her on half of her husband, Esther was happy and soon the ceremony was over .
The father-in-law kept visiting the family until one day Esther was called by the father-in-law to come and speak with her husband on phone for the first time and she did with happiness,her husband was pleased in hearing her voice and then told her the date he would be coming to visit , this was 2 years after the ceremony .
NMUATAOMA VISIT TO NIGERIA
his relative went and receive him at the airport and finally move to their hometown,
Esther was informed after a week of his arrival, that her husband sent a car to bring her along for their introduction and face-to-face agreement,
she hurriedly went down with the driver to her husband home, and was well received by her husband-in-law to be introduce to him.
her husband saw her and stood up to embrace her and as well receive her with all amount of appreciation,he confirmed her To be his soul mate he loved and accepted her hand under his arms, " I accept this hand as my own for marriage" he assured her with a gentle kiss,
He accompany her to her parent's house for introduction and familiarity, it was agreed that she would be sent To be with her husband for the period of 2 weeks before he left after 2 months back to London.
It was discovered by both parents that Esther was pregnant soon after the husband left her for London, it was a great excitement to both families ,her family arranged and sent her to her husband family,who also received her with great joy, she gave birth to a baby girl and was well nourished by her husband parents,
Her husband Mr nmuataoma called and appreciated the gift of God, he rejoice greatly and name the girl "onyinyechi" ( God's gift) he promised to come in 2 years time .
THE STORY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
Pa mbechi started to find fault on Esther the daughter-in-law, he succeeded in gaining the heart of his wife ekeoma, who started several Temptations on Esther and her little daughter, accusing her as not being serviceable and hardworking ,not industrious and that she is lazy .
Esther was totally frustrated why her father-in-law kept calling his son on phone several times reporting him of forced accusation and allegation on Esther, regretting that he made a very big mistake of choosing Esther for him, he also added that Esther is lazy, not serviceable, not industrious, that he is fed up with her,
Each time he says his complain about Esther to his son ,the reply of his son is always, "please Daddy hold up your complain about my wife and bear with her until I visit home if possible I will correct her or take her to London to live with me, because she's my wife and not yours, sorry for inconveniencing you with my wife, even after you have suffered for me as your son, I think I should be in position to grow my family and not to bother you with them."
"don't worry I will search for a better girl for you and send this one away, she is not fit to be call your wife" pa mbechi assured.
"Please Daddy do not take that action until I come back home to see things myself and see how we can sort things out" mr nmuataoma pleaded on phone.
THE SADDEST EXPERIENCE
a year before nmuataoma visit to Nigeria, pa mbechi and his wife ekeoma has collaborated and drove their daughter-in-law Esther from the home, collected everything they bought for her during her husband absent from her.
Including the one year and 6 months old baby ,they ordered her to go back to her parents house empty-handed after torturing her with strong maltreatment since after she gave birth.
ESTHER'S LAMENTATION
Esther got home and fell on her father kneel crying and send for mercy her friend !
heavy rain has rained on me oh !!I've been disgraced to all level !
disappointment has clothe around about my neck!
I am frustrated and neglected humiliated and forsaken!
Who will marry me at this age? I am second-handed !
All my ambitions, expectation, good dreams, are turned upside down,
I will love to die, meanwhile I am jobless, they succeeded from stopping me from working and made me their house help telling me that their son is coming to pick me to London by this time next year,
Mercy comforted her and inquire from her if she knows how to contact her husband through to know if it was his agreement between him and his parents,
She replied that they refuse her to know the husband's number, and that they did not allowed her speak with her husband on phone ever since the problem started .
she concluded that her husband was of the same opinion with his parents hence the arrange to collect her baby from her, not knowing that her husband was innocent of all his parent plans against her, they refuse to inform their son that his wife has been driven from their home to her parents .
Their son was not opportuned to come the year he promised he called on his parents one day in order to tell them about he failure to visit and requested to speak to his wife, they want him to off his mind from Esther, put her away in order to get another damsel that will be considered far better from her when he comes,
he told his father his displeasure over his plans , he warned his father to stay away any action from his wife before he comes home to see things for himself, take any decision that will please him, not knowing she has already been driven back to her parents house 2 years ago ,
few months later, Esther luckingly meet with one of her father-in-laws maid who was sweeping his room and secretly search out nmuataoma Esther's husband phone number, and secretly brought it to her, where she was selling few articles in their home town square,
She immediately contacted her friends who are more enlightened than her on how to make the call and where to travel among the urban cities to make the call, luckily it was successful as she got to hear her husband voice again,
"whose voice is this"nmutaoma asked.
"Is your daught onyinyechi mother, who was once called nmuataoma wife, whom your father drove away from his home, at about 3 years ago, I feel like calling you since, you whom I have accepted to marry even when I have not known you for the first time, My spirits crave to marry you in spite of my parents discouragement from accepting a man I have neither seen or known at any time, I insisted in accepting you until I was convince to accept your father offer,
to her own amazement the husband screamed in the phone with a loud voice,
" Esther my faith wife and my beloved what are you saying ? My father drove you from his house ? and collected your baby from you? and frustrated the faith you had on me? And your patience and suffering on my behalf ?after going through the agony of pregnancy and delivery and nursing of my baby all alone in my absent, and what my father used in comforting you is shame and frustration ?
oh! What a sad news, if nature will judge me and my parents of this evil where will we stand ?"
he wept sore on the phone and promise his wife to come just that same year, he later pick his father's number and called it,
" father what evil have i done to you, what made you frustrate my family and brought it to open shame,( my dearly beloved wife and child )
the father replied. "who is your wife? that idiot ? Have I not told you I am going to get you a girl that is far better than her ? And if you dare to have her as your wife I would not mind how much I have put into sponsoring your education all these years, I am ready to disown you and deny you of being my son ,after all you are not the only child I have"
nmuataoma drop the call and wept bitterly .
THE SECOND VISIT OF NMUTAOMA FOR THE REDEMPTION OF HIS FAMILY
nmuataoma came down to Nigeria and was received by his Junior ones, down to his father's house ,he was well received, And they Merry for about a week for his return, he asked his father hurriedly, "where is my wife and my baby onyinyechi ?"
pa mbechi laughed at his question ,this baby you are carrying from time to time since yesterday is your baby, so you don't notice that she look so much like you?
nmuataoma wept sore and ask his father, "are you telling me that this poor dirty baby that is carried by a maid since ever I came down is my beloved baby ?
alright where is my beloved wife ?"
pa mbechi replied furiously, "I have told you that I don't want to hear that name Esther in your mouth anymore in this house "
just then nmuataoma fell down and held his father leg, "oh father why did you not show Mercy to this young family which you build with my dear mother ekeoma, Esther whose Faithfulness amaze everybody that attended the wedding ceremony, she danced all alone without the company of her husband to be, and accepted the marriage offer from you , on behalf of a man she have never seen or known at any time , I visited briefly for the first time that she was introduced to me ,we accepted each other ,in the process of staying together briefly. Our Union was blessed with pregnancy which she suffered all alone ,in my absence,laboured and gave birth without an encouraging voice from me, the husband whom she so much trusted and love ,
today the Faithfulness turn to her disgrace and Confusion, oh! father you must bring Esther to me oh!.
I will die with Esther my wife, soon afterward he hurriedly rush to get a transport and got to Esther home on meeting Esther, he wept with a loud voice
"Esther my love you must forgive me and my parents for all the evil done to you, I was not part of the wicked arrangement ,in fact I never knew you were treated that way, please get ready I'm leaving to London next week with you.
He stayed few days with her in order to Console her, but later left to his father house, his father scolded him that for the fact that he was disobedient to him and went to Esther's parents house to be with her, their Union as parents and Child has been dissolved, henceforth he is no longer his biological son, that you should no longer come under his roof , unless he is ready to abandon Esther and accept a new wife he is going to introduce to him .
nmuataoma replied his father, "I will not practice such an ungodly advice on an Innocent faithful girl ,this evil may live after many of our family members or generation ,and it will bring us perpetual blackmail to our family members, above all , myself in particular who is involve , and my family may stand as a disgraced forever, I will go and pick my wife with me back to London, since you refuse to give me my baby, by the grace of God will bless my lovely wife and she will bear me another child ".
he left for London the following week with his beloved wife Esther, "genuine love is stronger "
They got to London and he cherished his wife Esther and she conceived and gave birth to a baby boy, they wrote to their parents
NMUTAOMA WROTE TO HIS FATHER
He contacted his father , he refused to pick , one faithful day he picked , then nmuataoma replied him, "father how are you and the family , I know I'm not your son anymore, now I'm a stranger because of fighting for my right , I know I have not been a perfect son to you please find a place in your heart to forgive me and my young family, although I officially called to inform you that my wife just gave birth to a baby boy, it might not make sense to you or make you happy cuz I know that I'm no longer your son , because I refuse to reject my young family ,because I refuse to obey you ,nevertheless I still have that feelings that you and my mother have really tried to sponsor my education ,and trained me up to this stage ,that is why there is still need to tell you about my success ,thank you .
Just then he attempted in deleting his father's number, at that point his phone rang, he picked it, it was his father and his father said, "my son I am really sorry the way I behave to you and your family , your wife , my apologies might not be enough, please find a place in your heart to forgive me, I am your mother we are coming to visit you and your wife, along with your little daughter, onyinyechi ,hope to see you when we arrive "
"Dad I'm super proud of you , hope to see you and everyone ,including my daughter onyinyechi, thanks"
nmuataoma ended the call and went to inform his wife about the good news with a kiss telling her that "GENUINE LOVE IS STRONGER "
QUESTIONS
* Who is pa mbechi?
* how many children does pa mbechi and ma ekeoma have?
* what made nmuataoma leave abroad the second time?
* what was the name of the first girl pa mbechi approach?
* why did the first girl refuse to marry nmuataoma?
* what was the name of the second girl, nmuataoma was introduced to?
*what was nmuataoma wife frustration, when she gave birth to her baby girl?
*what was nmuataoma reaction when he visited Nigeria 🇳🇬 the second time?
*what lessons did you learn from this series?