Chapter 1
It all started in March 1993…..
On a very cool evening, a young man named Austin Onuvie stepped off a dusty bus at Uselu market junction. He had been on the bus for 10 hours.
In those days, Benin City still had that old, relaxed feel. The city was not as crowded as it is now. Many roads were still wide and not too smooth. Some were tarred, some had potholes here and there. You can see the famous Ring Road area, which is always busy with yellow buses, Peugeot taxis, and okadas, constantly driving through. Streets like Mission Road, Akpakpava, Airport Road, and Sapele Road were among the major ones, and at night, streetlights were not always reliable.
Austin Onuvie was twenty-seven years old, quite light in complexion, lanky, with the kind of slim build that made his head look just a little too big for his body. Many women called him a handsome foreigner “Oyibo” and that made his head swell a whole lot. His handsome looks were his major strength and he was not ashamed about it. He had been living in Benue State with his uncle since he was 7 years old, but his five sisters, all unmarried mothers raising their children in their mother’s compound had decided it was time to “invest in the only brother wey fit make family proud.” They pooled their savings and sent him money to learn photography. Now he has come to Benin to showcase his skill.
Nigeria was still under military rule and politicians were restless because the 1993 elections were coming. In Edo State then, you would hear names of big men who were either military-appointed or hustling for influence before democracy would return. People didn’t really trust politicians much, most saw them as people who just wanted power and money. So, when they say someone was rich, it came from family money or business money.
Within a month of his arrival, Austin had rented a small store just off the Federal University campus, snapping everything from passport photos to wedding ceremonies. He was ready to make the business money. Photography was a big deal and he made money from it. It was almost graduation season which was the busiest and most exciting time for any campus photographer. He began to prepare for it as several celebrations were taking place.
That year, the engineering faculty was the star of the season because they had a special reason for their excitement. This was because the youngest graduate in its history was about to collect her degree.
Her name was Omonigho Getrude Okotie!
She was just eighteen years old and many called her a genius. She was smallish and skinny, barely five-foot-two, with skin like a very rich shade of black charcoal. But what made her unforgettable were her two deep dimples and the kind of white, perfectly arranged teeth that could brighten an entire room. You can never catch her in a frown!
Her laughter was bold and infectious, and she could switch from sensual pop dancing to traditional African moves to the latest “oyibo” styles that had filtered into Nigeria after the civil war. Mennnnnn…. She could dance!
She was very popular for her dance moves and intelligence. She was super friendly and could command a crowd without trying. She was the best class rep her department ever had.
Austin met her once when her class booked him for a group photo. She was polite and friendly. Although she was nice and all that, he disliked dark skinned girls and never paid her any mind. Besides, she was too smallish for his frame! He liked his women tall and fair.
As Austin worked around the campus, he made friends with some boys who knew their way around school, hence he had some inside information about people. He had several customers and knew so many people. Though he was not a graduate, he spoke English very well and told everyone he graduated from the fine arts department at the University in Benue State. A very achievable lie!
You could easily believe anything he said because he talked a whole lot. He had big dreams of being famous, having so many cars and houses. He would have servants working for him and he would marry the most beautiful girl ever. He prophesied this every single day.
One evening, he bumped into a spectacular girl in front of the school gate! The woman of his dreams!
It was love at first sight when Austin saw the girl who had won the most beautiful girl on campus that year. Her name was Miss Ihuoma Paul, a final-year physics student. She was twenty-two years old, tall, pretty, and had both huge breasts and a big behind. To top it all, she was from a wealthy family. Her father owned some properties in their part of town and he was a politician. Austin was shy at first as they shook hands and exchanged addresses. She was like a prayer answered.
She passed by the photography studio every day after that meeting!
He was mesmerised by her beauty! Her soft skin and her light complexion became his standard definition of beauty. No woman came close to his heart like she did. Ihuoma was a full and complete woman and she made him hard all the time. He wrote poems and gave them to her. She was in love and so was he. One evening, she followed him to his one-room apartment in Uselu Market Junction. That day, they made love. Even though it was with a condom, Austin knew this was his last bus stop!
In the following weeks, Ihuoma spoiled Austin silly. From fine shirts, gold wristwatches, and even a small camera upgrade that made other photographers envious. He became very popular and well sought after. Austin was proud to call her his woman. She was a “complete package”, he would always tell his friends. He could not wait to show her to his sisters. They lived several towns away from him and he barely had time to see them.
Austin and Ihuoma began talking about marriage, and Austin had begun to imagine himself living in Ihuoma’s father’s compound, driving one of his cars. She promised him that he would never suffer or be poor.
As soon as June began, he had more bookings. Omonigho came to the studio to pick up her department’s picture one fateful afternoon. Ihuoma despised her and did not hide it. Ihuoma frowned at her until she left. She told Austin she hated the girl because she heard she would receive so many awards during the graduation celebration party. They both laughed at her smallish frame and called her “ugly!”
Then, one hot afternoon during the final week, Austin spotted Ihuoma arriving on campus in a red Mercedes 130 with her best friend. She had spoken about him as her childhood friend and nothing more. His name was John. Austin’s jealousy burned instantly. He had warned her before to cut off the friendship, but she refused. She said their families knew each other and it would be wrong to end their friendship.
When he confronted her again that day, she laughed it off.
That laugh was his breaking point.
By evening, Austin was with his friends, complaining bitterly. They told him to “teach her a lesson.” One of them suggested he use his charm on another girl, just to make Ihuoma feel what he felt. That advice marinated in his heart overnight.
The next day, Austin picked a love poem he had once written for Ihuoma, tore her name off, and went looking for the perfect new “muse.” That was when he saw Omonigho dancing with some friends at the volleyball court! What better tool than the girl Ihuoma hated most?
Omonigho was vibrant, alive and completely unaware she was about to become part of his revenge. She danced and sweated as her classmates hailed her.
After she finished dancing, he approached her and gave her the poem. He told her he wrote it about her. She was smitten and fell in love with the handsome photographer.
For a whole two weeks, Austin chased Omonigho. He lingered at the engineering block, brought her snacks, cracked jokes, and acted like she was the only girl on campus. Omonigho, despite being intelligent and focused, had the innocent heart of someone who had never been courted before. Her life had not always been easy from birth so she cherished the attention. She believed everything he professed.
She eventually agreed to be his date for the graduation ceremony because he was really convincing.
When Ihuoma walked into the event that evening and saw them holding hands, she burst into tears. Her parents had to lead her away from the hall while whispers spread through the crowd. People gossiped about her losing the most handsome photographer ever!
That night, Omonigho became the star of the ceremony. She won five awards. Best Student in the Entire Engineering Faculty, Best Student in the Structural Engineering Department, Most Punctual, Best Course Representative, and an award for achieving the highest CGPA in the history of the university.
Her grandfather, Mr. Kesiena, was beside himself with pride. He was only forty-nine years old, still strong and vibrant, and had raised her since childhood. Her mother was only in class 2 at the age of 14 when his 17 year old son Okotie got her pregnant. She died during childbirth birth and her family was vindictive. They blamed Okotie for her death. His son could not take it. He died by suicide 2 days after the beautiful baby girl was born yet Omonigho was a joyful and healthy baby. She was always excited, grateful and full of fun.
Watching her break records was one of the happiest moments of his life. Something inside him told him that his granddaughter would experience a great life and he was more than happy to train her.
After the celebrations that night, Austin led Omonigho away to his small one-bedroom apartment not far from campus. That night, he seduced and deflowered her as he showered her with affection.
The sex wasn’t particularly good because it was her first time but Omonigho believed him when he whispered promises of marriage into her ear. He told her that it would be better afterwards.
She left a few minutes after, to return to her grandfather’s house, still believing her life had taken a sweet romantic turn.
But destiny had other plans.
Barely an hour after she left, Ihuoma arrived at Austin’s house. She was tearful, apologetic, and ready to listen to all his rules only if he would take her back. She told him her parents knew about him and wanted him as a son-in-law.
By the next morning, Austin had pushed Omonigho out of his mind.
That morning after the grand party, Omonigho waited for Austin to show up at her grandfather’s house as he had done every day for the past two weeks. Instead, her maternal uncle arrived with news. Her grandfather was shocked to see her mother's people who never cared about the child from birth.
“Omonigho, congratulations! Pack your things. We are going to Lagos today. We got a better opportunity for you. You will go and work on a ship as an engineer, and from there, travel abroad.”
It sounded like a golden chance. She has always been a hard worker and a sensible girl. She did not argue with her uncles. She wrote a letter and gave it to her neighbour to help her deliver it to Austin. She promised her grandfather that she would work hard and make him proud in Lagos. Afterwards, she packed up and left.
Meanwhile, Austin and Ihuoma resumed their romance that day. All through the week, they continued planning a wedding. He never went back to Omonigho’s house, nor did he acknowledge the letter he received. In fact, he threw it away without reading it. He concluded that she was a one-night fling and he wanted nothing to do with her. He took stunning family portraits of Ihuoma and her parents, which earned him a wave of new customers.
Three months later, Omonigho was back!
Her uncle had sent her packing after discovering she was pregnant.
Her grandfather was shocked by such generational affliction. He wondered what would have made her follow in her parents' footsteps of early pregnancy. Well, determined to do the right thing, he took her straight to Austin’s house after asking her who was responsible.
Austin denied the pregnancy instantly, shouting at her yet Omonigho simply stood in silence insisting that he was the one. He was rude and stated that she was promiscuous. Mr. Kesiena left her there with a single statement:
“She is not coming back to my house. You have deposited a seed inside her, you'd better carry the responsibility.”
“This useless grandchild is not staying in my house this night. I have a fiancée from a respectable family and that is who is my responsibility”
“I have said my own” Mr Kesiena left the house.
Austin insulted her from the evening she arrived till she fell asleep on the floor beside his bed. He did not want her near him.
The next morning, Omonigho went to Ihuoma’s home and told her parents everything. She thought that with Ihuoma knowing, Austin would be hers.
Oh! Ihuoma cried her eyes out. The heartbreak was too much. By nightfall, her angry parents had sent her to Lagos, with plans to ship her abroad.
When Austin found out Ihuoma was gone, he panicked and rushed home to deal with Omonigho only to meet another disaster. His landlord had evicted him. His rent was due and he had been refusing to pay because he hoped he would be married and move into Ihuoma’s family compound.
However, Omonigho, with quiet efficiency, had packed his belongings and moved them to his family’s compound after she got the address from his neighbour.
There, his sisters welcomed her and gave her a room. She swept and cleaned the place in no time.
Austin, on the other hand, wasn’t grateful when he arrived at night. He lamented loudly, blaming her for “destroying his life.”
“Useless girl. Black witch! Demon!!! Hairy chimpazee!!!! Who send me toast you ugly thing?” He cried.
But his sisters took her side.
“Calm down,” they told him. “She’s carrying your child. Besides, she is a graduate, which is an addition! This is your family now. Start building it well.”
And that was how the unusual, reluctant, unpredictable union of Austin Onuvie and Omonigho Getrude Okotie began.
