When the sun comes

NINETEEN

Once he entered the room, he ran straight to his wife,

"My love are you alright?" he asked,

"I just pushed a human out of me" she replied and smiled weakly,

He kissed her forehead, his eyes moved from her to the baby laying in a cradle beside his mother,

He left her side, gently he picked up the sleeping baby, his face broke into a smile, he kissed his forehead and cheeks and smiled at the mother,

"Thank you" he whispered, she only smiled back,

A nurse came in with Jacinta,

"Aunty Jacy, you are here" she tried to stand,

"No,no, sit, how are you doing, my dear"

"I am fine, when did you come"

"Your husband called me last week but I came last night, so here I am, I am so proud of you" she hugged Mmasi,

"It is time to feed the baby" the nurse said collecting the child from Ikem and handing him to Mmasi,

She stared at her child then everyone in the room, not knowing what to do,

"Come on, we don't have all day" said the nurse,

"You know you shouldn't be shy with us, we are women, we have boobs, I have four children you Know, and he is your husband, I'm sure he has seen it" Jacinta said,

"Sister, why would you say that" Ikem asked embarrassed,

"It's true now, or am I lying"

Mmasi laughed, carefully, she breastfed her child, though shyly, the nurse and Jacinta guided her,

The joy in her heart  filled her soul, she was happy, he was happy, everyone was happy that day.....well except some.

           ********.              *********

He couldn't fully express the happiness in his heart, he was someone's father, he was a parent, he felt proud and fulfilled, if he considered himself manly before, he felt more manly now,

They were discharged from the hospital, three days later, when she was strong enough to walk, happily they went home, happiness was in the air,

"Oh my God, you are back, hey look at this boy, he is so cute, Cecilia their neighbor greeted, she was all smiles,

"You both are now officially parents, to me there is no greater joy than just holding the child you bore, don't worry you will get to experience it" she said, her husband shook hands with Ikem, while congratulating to them,

That night they had visitors, neighbours and friends came to celebrate and congratulate them, it was late in the night they finally retired to bed.

"Come, let's go to bed" Ikem urged carrying the baby,

"No, she is not going with you, she is going to stay with me, while you will sleep alone" said Jacinta,

"And why is that" he asked,

"As you can see dearest brother, your wife just had a baby" she said,

"And what does that have to do with sleeping together" he asked getting upset,

"You see this your husband Mmasi, he is a silly man, Mr man, she is staying with me, I have to teach her how to clean the baby, put on diapers, literally teach her many things and I can't effectively do that, if you are cramped in your room"

"I also have to learn, I'm my baby's father too" he protested,

Mmasi tried to stop the two arguing siblings but it fell on deaf ears.

"Ikem, I am not letting her sleep with you, she just literally gave birth I wouldn't want anything to happen in there"

"What do mean?" He asked,

"You both know what I mean"

"Okay, both of you calm down" she said holding his hand,

"I'll have to stay with Aunty Jacy, you can stay alone" she said,

"What!" he screamed,

"You heard your wife now, Mmasi let's go inside" Jacinta said walking the mother and child in, leaving Ikem protesting and shouting, clearly upset about the decision, though he later came to terms with the agreement, it was probably best for the them.

After the baby was circumcised, few days later, upon the agreement of his parents, he was christianed and named,

Chizitere Mark Ikemefuna Oodo
(Chizitere means the one God has sent)