KNOCK OUT - by Ucheya Daniel

She stood staring, not at the people who gathered, not at her surroundings or at the wooden coffin as it was been lowered to the earth She stood beside the grave staring at nothing, her thoughts were far from the present Two days ago she was married to an active, strong willed manToday he's been lowered to the earth, she has become a widow A woman with no husband A woman taunted and accused by her in-laws A single mother of two children Raising her children without their father is one difficult challenge that life has threw at her She can clearly see that is not going to be an easy one.How can life take a different route just within a twinkle of an eye She was called upon while she was deeply in her thoughts They urged her to take a shovel take some sand and throw into her husband's grave She did everything that she was instructed to do.In no time the men who dug the grave began to cover it upTears didn't stop rolling down Ezinne's face as she stood there.She still can't believe that is her Ukadike that's in the grave After the whole burial section was over she quietly went back home She took up the big responsibility of caring for her children The in-laws didn't come or bother her, she was happy that they finally decided to leave her alone After their several insults and accusations during Ukadike's burial, she thought they will come with more attacks after the burial She was happy that they had come to their senses and understanding the kind of stubborn son and brother they have who listens to no one.A month past, her in-laws suddenly paid her a visitUkadike is the first son, he has three brothers and two sister His father is still alive and he was not in support of his children accusing Ezinne of Ukadike's d@£th Ukadike's two brothers came visiting with their elderly father.They told Ezinne that they didn't want to come immediately after their brother's burial, they wanted to wait a little as they were advised and that's why they didn't come right away after the burial They told her that she wasn't a good and supportive wife to their brother Ukadike if she was, he won't be in the grave by now.They also said that they didn't see her crying very well all through the time Ukadike went missing, when he was found dead and even buried she never cried as much as they expected She's probably happy that he's gone And it's possible that she was the one that pushed into the ditch, to his d£@th A good wife will forsee danger and warn her household about it so that they won't be consumed but opposite is her own case Even though they know that Ukadike was stubborn and unbending but that's the importance of a good wife, to change him and make him better.Well, in her own case instead of changing him to a better man she dragged him to his grave Ezinne who had decided within her that she won't respond to their insults or accusations stayed quiet Her head bent to the floor as she sat on a wooden chair listening to them.They were expecting her to respond or even began to cry but Ezinne remained quiet She have had enough cry, enough worry and enough bucket full of tears and no longer have the strength for more tears They told her that she no longer have rights to enter all the farmlands allocated to Ukadike Anything belonging to Ukadike is for his aged father and siblings Not for a careless, lazy wife like her who through her carelessness k¡lled their own husband.Ukadike's father told his children to leave Ezinne alone, he reminded them that Ukadike was a big thorn in everyone's flesh, claiming more land than he was given, taking properties and not minding that his father is alive He didn't care about his siblings either.He was stubborn and never listens to his parent how did they expect him to listen to his wife when he doesn't even respect his own parents.He told them that Ezinne is a good young woman, humble, supportive, hardworking, a good mother and a good wife to Ukadike It was only Ukadike's stubbornness that sent him to his gr*ve Ukadike's brothers who were determined to stripe Ezinne everything refused to listen to their father They've tried everything to convince their father to join them so that they can drag Ezinne but the old man's conscience wouldn't let him side with his children.Ezinne was atleast happy that Ukadike's father didn't join his children to taunt her no matter how they tried to convince him that she was a bad woman.But the man was really elderly, he was looking weak and frail, he was dependent on his children He can't walk without a walking stick and a supportive arms She wondered why they even allowed him to drag himself like a dying grasshopper to the side Ukadike built a house, which is where they live.She wasn't allowed to go out because she's still on a mourning period, so she can't go to the farm, to the market or anywhere None of her in-law even agreed to help her with errands.She wish to even go and stay with her parents but her father told her to stay with her in-lawsHe has already married her off and so she now belongs to Ukadike's family.It was Ukadike's other relatives that were kind to her, they were the one that were helping her with few errands Her family later send her brother, who was very stubborn to come stay with her and maybe help her with some things .Ezinne was atleast happy to have her younger brother around Even though he was stubborn and a talkative but she was happy to have some distraction Not being able to go out was Why her in-laws decided to come to her instead.Ukadike house wasn't too far from the family house Ukadike's siblings saw their father as a man close to his grave and thought they can convince him to support them over striping Ezinne off the property and off Ukadike's house but old age isn't stupidity.They said the land Ukadike built his house wasn't his but his brother They also claimed that Ukadike sold different lands and some other properties just to gather money to build his house.They were determined to take it all back now that Ukadike was no more But they will need their father's support to be able to do that.The old man stood his ground and boldly told them to leave Ezinne alone At the end of the meeting, they had to leave because their father wasn't in support of taking everything from Ezinne.They argued loudly as they left Ezinne smiles deeply as they left Even though she never said anything as they accuse or argued among themselves, she was happy that God was indirectly fighting for her.Her Chi is alive and won't let them succeed.She will mourn for three months and will be free to go out and continue her life A month has gone by.She knows that Ukadike's brother's will return She knows they don't care or love their late elder brother but more after his properties.They also know that she has no hand in his death but have to accuse her in other to weaken her and take what they're mainly after.They won't give up until they get what they want But as far as their father is not in support they will find it difficult to hurt her or take anything She has her own plan and was determined to do everything to fend for her children with or without Ukadike's land properties. To be continued

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