The Search For Happiness
I was at the tender age of 10 when a tragic incident occured in my family, My dad who was a loving and hardworking man lost his life after month's of battling with brain cancer.
"Mama, what is going on here?" i asked, Wearing a curios face, As i saw my mum, my three Uncles and two of my mother's close friends, All in the sitting room as i came back from school that afternoon. My mum was crying while her friend's consoled her. My uncle' just sat there, looking sad.
"Chukwudi, Your father just kicked the bucket." Uncle Chima broke the news to me, With a shaky voice.
"Ahh!, it can't be true!" I exclaimed, As i sat on the ground and wept bitterly.
Little did we know that was just the begining of our challenges. Two week's after the funeral my mum lost her job at the bank leaving her unemployed, This was indeed a fatal blow on us.
One hot afternoon, I came back from school and meet my mum in a heated arguement with my Uncles.
"All i'm asking of you people is to leave the house and supermarket for me and my son, You can all take the car's." My mum pleaded, with tears in her voice.
The most senior of my father's brother's, Uncle obika, laughed and said "Everything your late husband ever owned now belong's to us, Or where you there when we where training him in school?."
"But my son, Chukwudi is the only son and child to your late brother, Doesn't that mean anything?" My mum said.
"It's tradition and it cannot be changed." Uncle chima said.
I went into my room, my heart racing, as i felt rejected, grieved and wished my father was still alive.
At midnight, I walked into her room and found her quietly sitting on the bed, Her gaze was fixed on a picture of her late husband_my father.
"Mama, why do they depise us so much." I asked, While tring to control my emotions, As i sat beside her.
"They are just being greedy my son, But don't worry we will make it through." Mama said admist tears.
As month's passed by, it became increasingly difficult for us to survive. My mum had to start selling vegetables in the market just to put food on the table and i always assisted her after school closed.
My uncles came two weeks later and took dominance of our house, Claiming ownership of all the properties. With that, We were left with no option than to pack out and move into a small one room apartment on the outskirts of the city.
One cool evening as we sat down eating a modest meal, i said to my mum with determination in my voice_"Mama i will study hard and make you proud so i can take care of you."
My mum smiled and said "Do your best Chukwudi and leave the rest for God. The God of the widow's and fatherless will hear our cry's one day."
Years passed and I excelled in my academic's, I graduated from high school with good grades but The hope of me going to the university seemed just like a mere dream. As i could barely feed myself a three square meal.
I started applying for job's and scholarship's online, Anything i could lay my hands on, That period.
On a faithful morning, I receieved an Email from one of the various scholarships i had applied for. Stating that i had been offered a scholarship to study in any federal University of my choice.
"Could this be true?" I whispered to myself staring at my phone in shock and exictment.
I patiently waited for my mum to come back from the bathroom, Where she went to bath. "Mama,Mama, God has finally done it." I exclaimed in joy as i showed her the confirmation letter of the scholarship on my phone.
"Are you serious!?, This is a miracle." My mother shouted with joy written all over her face, As she signed and danced.
"Yes mama, i have been given a scholarship that will pay for my tution fees and other Academic expenses." I replied, With a wide grin on my face.
"I knew the God i serve, Husband to the widow's and father to the fatherless will answer our prayer's one day."
As we stood there holding each other, I knew within me, This was just a stepping stone to the bright future ahead of me.
"I will make sure you never have to suffer like this anymore." I wisphered into my mum's ears.
Sorry for what you went through at the hands of your uncles. Most uncles tend to act that way especially when they observe it's a woman, mine did the same.
I'm glad your life didn't come to a halt after all of this, rather, you moved on despite all the impediments placed against you. Greetings and have a nice day ahead.