NKEM 5

Her voice rose above the din of the evening market. Every corner of the market was dotted with oil lamps that gave the night a certain brightness.

"Nkem...Nkem...Nkem". He didn't hear anyone call his name until one of his band boys nudged him and he turned to look at where the boy pointed. The others left so that he could attend to the lady. Immediately he saw her, he cursed under his breath. He waited until she came to him.

"Nkem...Nkem...", She waited to catch her breath before she could speak any further.

"I know you have been avoiding me". Her accusation brought an embarrassed frown to his face. He hated the way she lay claim to him as if she owned him.

"Me, avoid you? For what?

"Ever since the last time I came to your house and we..." She swallowed the rest of the statement when she noticed some people were paying attention to their conversation. 

"We should go to a more private place", she said. She held him, leading the way. They went  through a narrow space. The market  women had taken a generous portion of the road while passersby had to squeeze between bodies to exit the market.  They eventually stopped in front of an empty stall.

" You were saying...".

"Since I allowed you to have a taste of it, you have suddenly become a king that must be worshipped. You don't even care to know whether I was dead or alive. Is that how you treat a woman?

"What exactly are you talking about?"

"I am talking about what we did in your room".

"And what about it? Don't even think there is going to be another time. What happened has happened and it has ended there. If you don't have any reasonable thing to say, just move out of my way. I am tired. I need to get some sleep".

He moved his guitar from his left  shoulder to his right and had taken two or three steps forward when he was forced to stop in his tracks.

"Nkem, I am pregnant. I am carrying your baby".

He stopped and so did some people haggling over the prices of goods. Every eye turned towards the lady who had taken a defiant pose and Nkem the proud, angry culprit numbed to softness. He walked back to her, his tongue sour and his heart tripled its normal beat.

"What did you say".

"I said I am pregnant with your baby". She said it louder so that those who didn't hear it the first time could have another opportunity.

"But you can't be pregnant! It was just..just"

"It was just what? Say it Nkem...say it."

"No, you can't be pregnant!"

"Because you didn't do it or what are you trying to say?" 

She reached for her small hand bag and produced a paper which she handed to him. He stared at the paper in disbelief. He felt his stomach lurch with a grueling mourn. His palms suddenly grew wet and his armpits too became sweaty.

He wanted to talk but his tongue fled to the roof of his mouth. He stood speechless like a man caught raping a goat. The market people had left calling customers and were paying rapt attention to them. He noticed some people  inching closer to them as if they wanted to challenge his denial. He even heard the passing comment made by them.

Na wa o, men of these days.They can't even own up to their responsibility.

They want pleasure without paternity.

Even the girl is shameless. She did not even hide it. Only God knows the kind of daughters some parents are raising these days. 

When he saw that waiting there would bring in more people and who knows, someone who knew his Gladdy could fan the wind of the news to her, he left while the girl trailed behind him.

"Nkem...Nkem...wait! Are you not going to say anything? He didn't stop.

"I have enough problems already and I am not about to add another one to it".

"Nkem you have already added it o!"

"I am sorry, I can't handle this".

"But you can handle me with your hands and that stupid thing..." She broke down in tears but wouldn't stop trailing him. She ran and caught him by his trousers, forcing him to stop.

"What is your problem, Adora?"

"My problem is that I am pregnant and you are responsible".

"Get rid of it. I am not ready!"

"Get rid of what? You will be ready by force by the time I am through with you". 

She tightened her grip on him as though it was part of getting through with him.

"Look I have a woman who is pregnant for me already. I can't add you to the lot."

"So, I should be the one to go for an abortion because Gladys is more feminine than I.

His heart pounded harder against his chest when she mentioned his Gladdy. What else didn't this girl know? He wondered. How she came to know where he lived was still a wonder to him. 

"Maybe I should help you tell her that I am having your baby".

He turned sharply at her as though to strike her a heavy blow.

"You will do no such thing", he threatened.

"I can do anything until you claim ownership of this pregnancy.

"How am I even sure the pregnancy is mine? Maybe you just want to push it to me because the man responsible denied it".

She held him even tighter and banged her head on his chest. She wailed loudly and spoke in between sobs.

"Nkem you are a wicked man! You want to destroy my life. But I won't let you."

By now, some people who had been eavesdropping began to emerge behind closed doors, holding their oil lamps and peering into the darkness.

When the oil lamps began to increase Nkem tore himself away from Adora and disappeared into the darkness.

                      THE END