SHACKLES OF MY HUSBAND by Olowojesiku Deborah Iyanu
Episode 8
Uloma boarded a truck that took them to Onitsha city and on getting there, it was already late. The truck dropped them in the market where it was to drop some goods for two market women. Uloma looked for a safe place in the market to pass the night and luckily, she saw a shed that was well kept, there she spread a wrapper on the floor where she and the children laid to sleep. The weather was so cold at night that Uloma feared for her children’s health, at a point, she felt like going back to the village but then, she decided to go through whatever life would throw at her.
The following morning, Uloma woke up before the market women would come to their stores. She bought some sachet of water to wash her children and then bought them food before looking for what to do that would generate money.
While feeding Amara at the food vendor shed, Uloma looked at the shop beside the food vendor and saw women buying pure water which they sold in the traffic. Uloma asked the food vendor questions about the sachet water business and after getting a satisfactory explanation, she decided to engage in it. She bought a bowl and then went to buy the sachet water which she also began to resell.
The first day wasn’t easy for Uloma as she had to move around selling with her children. A woman then advised Amara to enroll her children in a cheap school close to the market and that Uloma did.
For months, Uloma hawked sachet water and at the end of the day retire in people’s sheds to sleep. Life was very hard having to fend for three people all alone, there were days she would break down in tears at night and her sensitive daughter would be the one telling her mother sorry. Despite all these, Uloma was determined to make it before going back to her people.
Six months later, Uloma was hawking in a particular street when she saw a post in front of a maternity with an inscription that a cleaner was needed. Uloma dropped her bowl of sachet water and told the Secretary that she was interested in the cleaning job. After the interview, she was told to come to resume the following day after being promised pay of twenty thousand.
After work the first day of resumption, Uloma was opportune to see the senior nurse whom she explained to that she had no place to stay and requested if she could be allowed to stay in the maternity till she was able to secure her apartment. The senior nurse took pity on her and told her there was no problem.
Two years later, Uloma again explained to the nurse that she was interested in learning how to take the delivery of pregnant women and attend to some minor cases. Her salary was then slashed, half went to her tuition for learning while half was given to her.
Uloma began her training on how to become an auxiliary nurse, she learned very fast which amazed the nurses. How she was able to combine her cleaning job and the training was something that amazed everyone at the maternity. Luck smiled on Uloma one day and that was the beginning of living a meaningful life.
Uloma was actually on night duty that particular midnight when she heard a heavy bang on the door. At first, she thought armed robbers but where the ones knocking but when it became persistent, she told the gate man to open only for them to discover that a woman already in labor was looking for where to deliver and since it was so late, she was unable to get to her hospital.
Uloma ushered her and her husband in and with the help of the senior nurses on duty, the woman delivered a baby boy. When the woman was about to be discharged, she told the senior nurse that she needed help who would help her with her house chores. The senior nurse then recommended Uloma, she told the woman to always release for her training.
That was how Uloma and her children moved into the woman’s mansion, she was being paid fifty thousand naira which helped her greatly and since they were given free food and accommodation, Uloma faced her children’s education.
To be continued.
