Chapter 1

The sound of fireworks keeps sounding and the glitters in the sky at night as it was during the Christmas festive period.

Deja walks out of their house looking down their balcony. She sees little children lightning their fireworks.

Deja sighed and tears dripped down her face.

She flashes back to when she and her husband got married in 1981 and when their parents bless them that they will be fruitful.

Her husband came to her on the balcony he put his hand around her waist from behind and kisses her on her nape.

“Hey, what are you thinking about? He asked her.

“ Aren't you bothered about our childlessness, 1981 and this is 1993, we have been married for the past twelve years yet we have no child to call our own.

I look at those children and wish one of them is mine” Deja says with tears.

“Darling, I believe that Almighty will give us second chance, and two of them walked to the living room, but Deja couldn't stop thinking until her husband moves closer to her and say,” I don't like seeing you in this mood,” Dotun says,

“There is no way, I will not think about the whole problem,” Deja says,

“Okay, what am thinking, tomorrow, let's go and celebrate this coming Christmas In the village, It will be more colorful and groove than celebrating here, that place will be full of fun and you will meet with your old friends, at least our village is just one hour drive to our home in Lagos,” Dotun says,

“I don't want to go, you can go alone,” Deja says,

“Please, prepare yourself against tomorrow,” Dotun says, “and no excuse,” he said, and he walked to the kitchen, he dishes out food and brought it for Deja, “come to the dining table,” Dotun says, “or you prefer to have your dinner at the living room?“ Dotun Inquired,

“I don't want to eat anything, I have lost my appetite,” Deja said,

“Sweetheart, please, you need to eat something before going to bed,” Dotun says, and he curdled her and he says, “yes, I understand your plight but am not complaining, our wedding vow still stands in my heart, If you want we can renew our vow, you are my happiness and joy, you are my world,” Dotun says, “my love smile, let me see your white teeth that always drives me crazy,” Dotun says, and Deja smiles and Dotun went to bring her food from the dining table, and he served her, she ate little and they both walked to the bedroom where they slept till in the morning,

In the morning they woke up early and Dotun asked, “Sweetheart, what are the things that we need to buy to take along to the village?“ Dotun says,

“Am sorry darling, I don't think about any festival, so I don't know what to buy” Deja retorted,

“why?“ Dotun asked,

“Tell me darling” Deja says, “where Is my pride In the family of Benson, where Is the symbols of our marriage, twelve years of marriage, no single child to call me mother, and If I go to the festival, other daughters In-laws will come with their children, did I have any child that can play with other children, no, am not going,

Dotun and Deja got married immediately after Deja finishes her service in the eighties In the year (1981), she was twenty-four while Dotun was twenty-seven, and after their wedding night, on the honeymoon, they discussed and agreed not to have a child until after five years, but after two years of their marriage, the contraceptives failed and Deja got pregnant, and she told her husband, Dotun Insisted that the pregnancy must be terminated, Deja pleaded but Dotun threatens to divorce her If she let the baby lives and he said that he will walk out of the marriage for good, and Deja don't want to lose her husband or her marriage, and she agrees to terminate the pregnancy, and everything went well, the second pregnancy termination went well without any problem but during the third pregnancy she had serious complications and she was rescued from being dead but lost her womb since then she hasn't been pregnant nor miscarried,

Five years later, Dotun agreed to start making babies but pregnancy was not forthcoming until after twelve years of marriage when Dotun forced Deja to their village near Lagos during the festive period, and they arrived at the family house, “good day ma” Deja greeted her mother In law,

“How are you my daughter?“ mother In law, “and how are your children?“

her mother In law, and Deja burst Into tears, she was sobbing while Dotun came to greet his mom and saw his wife Deja sobbing, “sweetie, what Is the problem? why are you sobbing?“ Dotun asked, and she lift her and say, “please, come with me” we arrived not up to fifteen minutes and you are sobbing and sweating like this” Dotun said, “tell me what Is the problem,” he asked,

“I greeted your mother, the next thing she will ask for Is children,” Deja says, while tears dripping from her eyes,

“why are you troubling yourself?“ Dotun asked, “after all, am not complaining,” Dotun says,

“But your family does, your mother inquire of what I can not produce,” Deja says,

“Never mind her, she is an old woman and you know how they behave, please we are here to facilitate, don't mind her,” Dotun said,

And Dotun's mom came out of her room and say, “Dotun, come I will like to talk to you”

“am coming,” Dotun said, and his mom was waiting at the doorstep, “don't keep me waiting,” his mom says,

“go, I will come later,” Dotun says, and his mom enters inside the room he held his hand and drew him, “you think I will open my two eyes and fold my hands, watching you become childless” his mom was murmuring, and she took her son to her room and closed the door, “Dotun, listen and listen well,” his mom said, “this your wife can not conceive a baby, she can not bear you a child and I need grandchildren, your brothers that got married years after your marriage, they had fathered many children today, most of them have more than a child except you,” his mom says, where are your children?“ Dotun's mom asked,

“now listen to me, this is a festive period, look for a decent and beautiful young girl that will give birth to children, forget about that male dog that you called a wife, she is barren, I don't think she can be pregnant, stop wasting your sperm on her,” his mom says, mom, Deja Is my wife, there is no way I can leave her for another woman, we loved each other, I believe that she will be pregnant one day, she Is not barren, please, give us some time, she will give us children, pray for us,” Dotun says, and tears dripping from his face,

“I have said what I have to say, look for a beautiful young girl and Impregnate, bring her to me or rent an apartment for her, make her comfortable, let her be there and be given birth to beautiful children,” his mom says,

“Okay, I have heard you,” Dotun says, “but don't expect anything of such so soon because my wife can still be pregnant,” Dotun says,

“do you want me to get you a beautiful young girl out of my friend's daughters? “ his mom asked,