Prologue

Prologue:

“If we claim to love our elder brother so much, how could we leave him in such a state for so long? Just a few months ago, he turned forty-five. Forty-five years without…” Mr. James clenched his fists, gesturing as he spoke.

““Enough of your nonsense. You hypocrite!” Johnson’s voice thundered through the sitting room, silencing James instantly. “You’re the one benefiting the most from Osagie, yet you dare accuse others of not caring about his condition? Why don’t you tell him the truth yourself? Why?”

A heavy silence filled the room as everyone was stunned by Johnson's outburst. He had spoken in a manner that showed complete disregard for James and any sense of respect. All eyes turned to Johnson, his words hitting harder than anything said before. There were fourteen men and nine women sitting in James’ sitting room. The sitting room was well furnished with Osagie’s framed picture hung on the wall. It was a secret meeting, gathered solely to address Osagie’ family’s inability to have a child.

The noise in the room was growing out of control until Theophilus, the eldest among them, stood. His grey hair and commanding presence quietened the room as he walked to the centre.

“What is this? Is this why we’re here? If you come with personal grudges, leave them outside. We are here for Osagie…Osagie, who doesn’t even realise the mess he’s in! A man in his mid-forties, childless, and indifferent. And his wife? She’s nearing menopause!”

“With respect,” a woman interrupted, standing to make her point. “She’s not nearing menopause. She’s barren,” she growled. Theophilus raised a hand, silencing her.

“We’re here to help Osagie. Shame on us if we let this continue in our family!”

The room fell quiet again until one man muttered,

“We tried to find Osagie a new wife years ago…”

“May the god you serve bless you!” James shot to his feet as though vindicated. “I handled the secret marriage myself. I met the woman’s parents, paid the bride price, and brought her to Osagie when his wife wasn’t home. And what did Osagie do? He gave that woman more money than she had ever seen and sent her away! What more could I have done?” He spoke with so much conviction.

Someone murmured, “I heard his religion forbids a second wife.”

“And I heard women from his wife’s village know dark magic. She must have bewitched Osagie,” a woman added.

Another man, silent until now, spoke. “I also heard Osagie and his wife had a court wedding after the traditional one.”

The murmurs stopped, and all eyes turned to Theophilus again.

“What’s the difference? Aren’t both weddings the same?”

“No,” an older man replied. “A court wedding is the white man’s wedding. If Osagie dies, everything he owns will go to his wife. His family will get nothing because Osagie has no child. That is what the law says, and there will be nothing we can do then.” This caused murmurs of agreement around the room.

Osagie was the wealthiest of his siblings, a senior staff member at an oil company. But despite his success, one flaw stood out. After fifteen years of marriage, he had no child to carry on his name.

“If Osagie doesn’t have a child, what will his burial look like?” Theophilus continued, his voice rising with anger. “Who will wish him a safe journey to the afterlife? Who will throw the first sand on his coffin? For fifteen years, were we blind? Your father, my elder brother, would never have allowed this if he was alive. He would have locked Osagie with another woman in a room if necessary. Osagie must marry another woman and have a child!”

“But how?” Johnson asked, standing. “He loves his wife, and his religion matters more to him than tradition. He won’t listen.”

Theophilus struck his chest. “Does he not feel the natural call to be a father? What is the beauty of a woman without a child? It’s no insult to a barren woman, but if she stops her husband from fulfilling his duty, that is selfishness. This family will not allow it. The house of Osagie needs the cry of a baby."

“Mr Theophilus,” another man said cautiously, “we’ve tried everything. We convinced Osagie to take a second wife, but he refused. If we don’t find a solution, his wife’s family will inherit everything.”

Silence fell again. The meeting seemed to be failing. No one knew what to do next.

Then, from the back of the room, a voice broke through. A voice that hasn’t said a single word since the beginning of this meeting. “I....I can make Mr. Osagie....marry another woman and have a child," he stumbled with his words.

Suddenly, every head turned toward the man who had spoken those words, and all eyes were on him.

“Who invited you, Solomon?” Johnson snapped, glaring at him. “You’re not even a blood related member of this family! You’re just Osagie’ messenger. Are you trying to profit from this?”

“Don't say that, Johnson,” Theophilus cut in, as he demonstrated with his hands.

"My late father used to say, 'It doesn't matter who brought the pigeon for the sacrifice. What matters is that there was a pigeon for the sacrifice.' At this point, we need answers. If he has a solution, let him come out here and speak to us. You’ve all tried to make Osagie take a second wife, but nothing has worked. There is much to gain if Osagie has a child, and I know why you all hate Osagie’ wife. If our brother dies, she will inherit everything.”

There was an immediate murmuring, his words striking a chord. Solomon stepped forward, his voice a bit steady, but traces of fear showed in his eyes.

“I have a plan. Something I… so much believe will definitely work, but I want everyone here to keep it a secret. In one year, a baby’s voice will be heard in Osagie’s house.”

“What plan do you have that we haven’t tried before?” Johnson snapped again.

“Will you keep quiet and be patient for once. Listen to what he has to say,” Theophilus said, his voice filled with anger.

"I said, give me twelve months, another woman, much younger will be pregnant for him."

"How? Please, tell us," Theophilus asked.