Joy does not always arrive with noise. Sometimes it comes quietly after tears, after fear, after blood has nearly rewritten destiny. Mgbọrọgwụ (Root) – Chapter Four: A Joy Long Awaited is the story of a night without sleep and a morning filled with gratitude, where hope rises stronger than shame and love chooses protection over pride.
Truly, some victories are not won in battlefields but in bedrooms where prayers are whispered and hearts refuse to give up. Come and witness what happens when heaven answers at last…
Miss Chapter Three? Click here to read.
Up next: Mgbọrọgwụ (Root) – Chapter Five: The Breaking
Mgbọrọgwụ (Root) – Chapter Four: A Joy Long Awaited
When Ihemjika returned home, sleep completely deserted him. It was as though sleep had packed its belongings and traveled far away. He tossed and turned on his bed, rolling from one side to another, unable to rest.
His mind was alive and overflowing.
He imagined his future.
>He imagined his wife.
>He imagined the child growing quietly in Nkemdilim’s womb.
At last.
He imagined how people would begin to speak to him again-with respect. How the whispers would stop. How those who once mocked him would lower their eyes in shame when they heard that he was finally expecting a child with his wife. He imagined the enemies who had secretly rejoiced over his pain-how disgraced they would feel.
He imagined the moment the village would finally accept that he was truly a man.
Because for a long time now, they had questioned it.
His heart tightened as he remembered the years of happiness he and Nkemdilim had shared, years that could have slipped away from his fingers if he had not stood firmly by her side. And now, here they were. She had finally proven what he already knew; they were not forgotten by their Chi.
His thoughts drifted to the baby.
Was it a boy?
Was it a girl?
What would the child look like?
He imagined the first time he would hold the baby in his arms-his own child. His chest swelled with joy. Happiness radiated from his face even in the darkness.
Then his thoughts shifted again.
Where was Nkemdilim at that moment?
How was she feeling?
Had the midwife told her yet?
He imagined the joy that would light up her face, because he knew deep down, that more than anything, Nkemdilim wanted this child not just for herself, not because of people, but for him. He knew how deeply she loved him and how badly she wanted to give him a child.
His mind moved ahead.
Whether Nkemdilim liked it or not, he decided firmly, he was getting maidens. Nkemdilim, would not lift a finger. She would not enter the kitchen. She would not do any strenuous work.
The midwife’s warning echoed clearly in his mind.
No stress.
>No strain.
>No chances.
He was not ready to gamble with her life or the life of their unborn child.
All through the night, Ihemjika remained restless, turning endlessly on the bed. When dawn finally broke, he did not even realize it. By the time the cock crowed, he was already awake.
It was barely five in the morning.
He stepped outside immediately and began sweeping the compound with energy.
“My wife will not return to a dirty house,” he said to himself. “Not now. Not ever. Especially not when she is carrying my child.”
After finishing the compound, he went straight into the kitchen.
He made a vow; he would cook with his own hands. The meal his wife would eat would come from his heart, not from anyone else. He intended to take the food to the midwife’s house himself. After eating, she would have the strength to return home joyfully with him.
He was still cooking when he heard someone calling his name from the compound.
“Ihemjika! Ihemjika!”
He turned toward the door.
“I am here, Mama,” he answered from the kitchen. “I am here.”
Nwamaka approached, smiling broadly. She was carrying a bowl of already-prepared food, carefully wrapped.
He turned fully and stared at her in surprise.
“Mama,” he asked cautiously, “what is going on? Where are you coming from this early morning? And why are you carrying food?”
Her face glowed with joy.
“My son,” she replied warmly, “I woke up very early to prepare this food. I knew you would be going to the midwife’s house today. I want to go with you so we can bring our daughter-in-law home.”
She lifted the bowl slightly.
“I prepared this special meal for her. I am a woman, I know what a pregnant woman needs. To be honest my son, I prepared it from my heart.”
Ihemjika stared at her, stunned. He turned around slowly, as if to be sure she was truly speaking to him.
“Mama,” he asked carefully, “are we talking about my wife here? Are you saying you did this for Nkemdilim?”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“You-the same person who fought her? Who brought men to drag her out of my house?”
Nwamaka’s smile faded. Her eyes softened with regret.
“My son,” she said quietly, “I am sorry. I am deeply sorry for all the trouble I caused you and your wife. I am sorry for the insults, the disrespect, and the way I barged into your home.”
Click here to read our powerful short drama story, When Blood Is Not Enough
She sighed heavily.
“You know me. You know I meant well. From the day you told me you wanted to marry her, did I object? No. I loved her especially because she is the daughter of my closest friend.”
Her voice trembled.
“But the problem began after years passed without a child. She did not conceive even once; not even to miscarry. And as a mother, watching you being insulted in this kingdom… even by people who cannot stand where you stand… it broke me.”
She shook her head.
“All because of childlessness. I did what I thought a responsible mother should do. Sorry I went too far. I am sorry I nearly harmed you, your wife, and my unborn grandchild.”
Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I promise you, this will never happen again. I will return to being the loving mother-in-law I used to be.”
Ihemjika studied her face carefully.
“Mama,” he asked seriously, “is this truly from your heart? Or are you pretending?”
She answered calmly.
“My son, you know me. I am not a bad woman. I only acted out of fear. But I have changed. I will take care of your wife until she gives birth. I love her like my own daughter.”
He exhaled slowly.
“This is strange,” he said softly. “But thank God.”
He gestured toward the pot.
“I am already cooking. I want to prepare the food myself.”
She nodded.
“That is fine. I can assist you. You can keep what I brought for later. When she returns, you can eat it together.”
He smiled faintly.
“It has not reached the point of distrust, Mama. You are my mother.”
She nodded.
“I will go with you to the midwife’s house. From now until she delivers, I will ensure she lifts no finger. I am already arranging maidens for her.”
Ihemjika laughed.
“It seems we are thinking alike. I had already planned the same. Whether she agrees or not, we are getting maidens.”
They finished cooking together.
Soon, the food was ready.
He dished a portion for his wife, packed it carefully, and prepared to leave with his mother.
On getting to the midwife’s house, they saw Nkemdilim sitting outside already, waiting for their arrival. The moment her eyes met her husband’s, her face lit up with pure joy. She smiled broadly, rose to her feet, and began to hurry toward him, her arms already opening for an embrace.
But suddenly, Ihemjika shouted.
“No! Please stay where you are. Stay right there. Do not move an inch. I am coming to you. I am coming to you!”
His voice was loud, urgent, and filled with fear.
Nkemdilim stopped instantly.
She stood frozen, shock written all over her face. The people sitting outside-some patients who were also waiting, and even the midwife, who heard the shout from inside, hurried out to see what was happening. Everyone stared in surprise at Ihemjika’s strange reaction.
Ignoring the curious eyes around him, Ihemjika ran with all the strength in him toward his wife. His only thought was to ensure that she did not walk or run toward him. He did not want to take any risk with the pregnancy.
When he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her close, and kissed her deeply. It was as though that one night of separation had lasted forever. Ever since they got married five years ago, they had never spent a single night apart. Sleeping alone without his beloved wife by his side had felt like a decade to him. And now, with the news he carried in his heart, finally seeing her again filled him with overwhelming joy.
He held her as though she were a treasure he had searched for endlessly and finally found.
“My love, I am happy,” he said breathlessly. “I am happy to see you again. I am happy that you are in my arms. You are my sunshine.”
Nkemdilim blushed softly and smiled.
“Ihem,” she asked gently, “what is going on? Why did you react that way? Why did you shout at me and ask me not to move? You know I always run to welcome you whenever you come home.”
At that moment, his mother approached. The moment Nkemdilim saw her, fear flashed across her face. Instinctively, she tried to step back.
The older woman noticed immediately. She raised her hands calmly.
“Calm down, my daughter. Please calm down,” she said softly. “I understand your fear. Sincerely, I am sorry for what happened yesterday. I am also sorry for all the torment I have put you through because of this issue of childlessness.”
Her voice trembled with emotion.
“To be frank, I have changed. I will never do that again. I have learned my lesson the hard way. And, I promise to return to being the loving mother-in-law I once was. Please do not be afraid. I am not here to shout at you. I only came to see you, to know how you are doing, and to assist my son in taking you home.”
Nkemdilim stood speechless.
She slowly turned to her husband, her eyes filled with countless questions.
Ihemjika smiled reassuringly.
“Calm down, my love,” he said. “She means everything she said. Mama has truly changed. I promise you, she will never torment or disturb you again.”
He squeezed her hands gently.
“So, how are you feeling?”
“I am fine,” Nkemdilim replied softly. “I am fine, Ihem. And you? How are you?”
Ihemjika smiled widely.
“I have never been better than I am right now,” he said. “Seeing you, hearing the good news… it has changed everything. And my baby-how is my baby?”
At that question, Nkemdilim froze.
“Baby?” she asked, confused. “What baby are you talking about?”
“Our baby, of course,” he replied joyfully. “How is our baby?”
“I don’t understand,” she said slowly.
“The baby in your womb,” Ihemjika continued. “Didn’t the midwife tell you anything?”
At that moment, the midwife stepped forward gently.
“No,” she said calmly. “I have not told her yet. I only informed you and your mother yesterday.”
Nkemdilim’s eyes widened.
“Wait,” she exclaimed. “You mean… I am pregnant?”
She looked from the midwife to her mother-in-law, then back to her husband.
“Ihem… what are you people saying? Are you saying I am pregnant? Am I really pregnant?”
Before anyone else could answer, her mother-in-law spoke quickly, her voice shaking with joy.
“Yes, my daughter. You are pregnant.”
It felt as though Nkemdilim could not comprehend the language they were speaking. She looked lost, confused, and overwhelmed.
She asked again, just to be sure.
“Mama… Midwife… Ihem… please explain to me. Am I truly pregnant?”
The midwife smiled warmly.
“Yes, my daughter,” she said. “You are pregnant.”
Nkemdilim turned back to her husband, as though only his words could make it real.
“Ihem,” she said slowly, her voice trembling, “tell me the truth. Are we pregnant?”
Ihemjika laughed with joy, his eyes shining with tears.
“Yes, Nkem,” he said. “We are expecting. You are pregnant.”
At that moment, Nkemdilim screamed with joy.
“Ahhh! Thank you! Thank you, my Chi!”
She tried to jump up immediately, but Ihemjika held her firmly.
“No, no, no,” he cried. “Ikem, don’t jump. Please don’t jump. The midwife said you must not stress yourself. We don’t want to hear any negative thing at all.”
But she barely heard him.
Joy flooded her heart completely. She dropped to her knees, waving her hands toward the sky, tears streaming down her face.
“Thank you, my Chi! Thank you!”
Ihemjika knelt beside her, holding her tightly as they both lifted their hands to heaven.
“Thank you, our Chi,” he said repeatedly.
“You have finally proved that I am a woman,” Nkemdilim cried through tears. “You have finally proved that we are man and woman. And You have shown that you have not abandoned us. Thank you! Thank you!”
Everyone around them, the midwife, the patients, and the villagers, watched in stunned silence. Even the mother-in-law stood aside, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks as she praised and thanked Chi as well.
When the prayers finally ended, Ihemjika helped his wife to her feet. He wiped her tears gently and held her close.
Turning to the midwife, he asked, “Can we go home now?”
“Yes,” the midwife replied. “You may go home after the settlement.”
Ihemjika settled the midwife immediately. Then, together with his wife and mother, they began their journey home. In their joy, they even forgot to eat the food they had brought along. They simply carried everything back home, their hearts overflowing with thanksgiving.
On getting home, Nkemdilim rushed inside and quickly brought out a soft wool mat. She spread it carefully outside and adjusted it until it lay flat on the ground. Then she gently guided her daughter-in-law to sit comfortably.
From that moment, Ihemjika refused to leave his wife’s side. He hovered around her like someone holding a fragile egg, afraid that even the slightest mistake could cause it to slip and break. He lifted her gently, adjusted her position, supported her back, and watched every movement she made, his eyes filled with fear, love, and deep caution.
As soon as Nkemdilim settled properly, Nwamaka stepped forward again. Her eyes were moist, her voice softer than it had ever been.
“My daughter,” she began, her voice trembling, “I am so sorry. I am truly, deeply sorry for all the pain I have caused you. Sorry for all the torture I put you through in this house ever since you and my son began experiencing childlessness. I am especially sorry for the shameful thing I did yesterday.”
She paused, swallowed hard, and continued.
“I never knew the devil wanted to use my impatience to harm this child we have been praying for all these years. I am sorry that I allowed myself to be used. But I thank our Chi that it did not go beyond this, and that the baby is still safe.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“You know how I used to pamper you before. You know how much I loved you. I promise you, I will return to being that loving mother-in-law you once knew, especially now that we are expecting our grandchild. Please, allow me to take care of you. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to this baby.”
Her voice broke.
“My husband, Ihemjika’s father, has been very angry with me since yesterday after he heard what happened. Please, all of you should forgive me. It was never intentional. I was only trying to make sure my son secured a good name in this kingdom, a name childlessness was trying to rob him of. I am sorry, my daughter. Please forgive me.”
Nkemdilim looked at her with pity, not anger. Her voice was calm when she spoke.
“Mama, I understand. I truly do. Any woman in your position could have acted the same way. I am not holding it against you at all. I thank God that our Chi has chosen to rewrite our story again.”
She smiled faintly.
“You were good to me before, Mama, and I really miss that side of you. I miss the loving, sweet mother-in-law I used to enjoy.”
Nwamaka nodded quickly.
“Don’t worry, my daughter. I am here now. We will take care of you.”
Then she turned and brought out the food Ihemjika had prepared.
“Your husband cooked this food all by himself,” she said with a smile. “In fact, I also prepared food, but before I even arrived here this morning, your husband was already in the kitchen cooking. He insisted that you must first eat food prepared by his own hands.”
She placed the plate gently before Nkemdilim.
“I promised him I would make sure you eat it. This is the food your husband cooked for you.”
Nkemdilim looked shocked. She turned slowly to her husband.
“Ihem… you mean you cooked this? You entered the kitchen and cooked for me?”
Ihemjika laughed softly.
“Of course. You are my queen. I can do anything for you. I don’t want you coming back home and stressing yourself in the kitchen. So I cooked. Please enjoy it—no matter how it tastes. It came from a place of love.”
They both laughed.
Nwamaka placed a bowl of water in front of Nkemdilim. She washed her hands and began to eat. After a few bites, she paused and looked at her husband.
“Ihem, are you not eating? You are not going to eat with me?”
He shook his head.
“No. The food is for you alone. I want you to eat well; for you and my baby.”
Nkemdilim frowned playfully.
“And when did this one start? So I will now be eating alone? The baby has not even arrived yet, and you want us to start eating separately?”
She smiled.
“If you want me to eat this food, wash your hands and join me. Otherwise, I’m not eating.”
Ihemjika laughed.
“No problem, my queen. If you insist, who am I to say no?”
He washed his hands and joined her. They ate together, laughing softly.
Then Nkemdilim turned to Nwamaka, who was watching them with joy.
“Mama, won’t you join us? Please come and eat with us.”
Nwamaka shook her head gently.
“No, my daughter. I cooked this morning, and I still have food at home.”
Nwamaka slowly stood up.
“My daughter,” she said softly, “I think I should be going home now. I left your father-in-law alone since morning, and I know he will be worried after everything that happened yesterday.”
She paused briefly, then continued.
“Before we came to the midwife’s house today, your husband and I discussed something. We agreed that we must get you a maiden, at least one or two, to assist you during this period of pregnancy. The midwife warned us seriously. You must not engage in any strenuous work.”
Her voice carried both fear and determination.
“Our Chi saved this pregnancy after what happened, and we are not taking any chances. I have already started making contacts and arrangements. Your husband is also aware. Please, I want to beg you to accept them when they come. We do not want to hear any negative story concerning this pregnancy.”
Nkemdilim turned slowly and looked at her husband.
“So,” she said with a small smile, “your plan to get me a maiden by fire and by force has finally worked.”
They all laughed.
“If both of you have agreed,” she added, “who am I to say no? No problem.”
Ihemjika smiled and replied,
“At this point, you don’t really have a choice. We want you and the baby to be safe.”
Nwamaka nodded in satisfaction.
“I will come back in the evening,” she said. “Your father-in-law will likely follow me. He is afraid after what happened yesterday, and at the same time very happy about the good news.”
She turned to Nkemdilim again.
“For now, eat well and rest very well. After eating, take a warm bath, get a good body massage, and sleep.”
Then she looked sharply at her son.
“Do not stress her. And do not touch her.”
Ihemjika laughed, understanding perfectly.
“Yes, Mama. I have heard you.”
Nwamaka smiled, satisfied, and left the compound.
Ihemjika and Nkemdilim looked at each other, smiled warmly, and continued eating quietly; wrapped in peace, love, and a joy that words could not fully contain.
But Joy Does Not Silence Every Shadow…
Heaven answered.
Tears turned to laughter.
A home once shaken now sits wrapped in gratitude.
But when joy arrives after years of waiting, it must be guarded. Carefully. Fiercely.
A pregnancy announced in relief will now grow under watchful eyes; eyes of love, eyes of fear, and perhaps… eyes that are not entirely done with the past.
Peace has returned to Ihemjika’s compound.
Forgiveness has been spoken.
Promises have been made.
Yet some shadows do not disappear simply because light has entered the room.
If your heart rejoiced with them today in this Mgbọrọgwụ (Root) – Chapter Four: A Joy Long Awaited, do not close the book now.
👉 Continue to Chapter Five: The Breaking
Because not every battle ends when good news arrives… and not every smile tells the whole story.
Miss how blood nearly rewrote their destiny?
👉 Read Chapter Three: Blood on a Peaceful Night
Stay with the roots.
They are growing deeper.
Also, read “When Blood Is Not Enough” for another powerful story of faith, family, and the strength of character.
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