searching for male child. A mysterious quest for a male child unfoldsUpdated at Jun 6, 2025, 00:02
Searching For a Male Child Episode One
Eberechi has been married to Okenwa for the past ten years. They lived in Abuja. Their marriage is blessed with eight children. Eberechi is a very fruitful woman. It is like each time her husband touches her, she gets pregnant. Her womb is filled with children such that getting pregnant is so easy for her. After her marriage with her husband, she got pregnant immediately without delay. Her first pregnancy happened in the very first month she started living with her husband. She is so fruitful that people always pray to have a womb like her own. In fact, some barren women used to come to her house to touch her belly so that they will tap from her fruitfulness. They believe she possesses different kind of grace from God because she used to give birth almost on a yearly basis. Women envied her because getting pregnant is like ‘moi moi’ for her.
“That woman is so blessed. Eberechi is so fruitful. God gave her a special womb. Look at me, I have been married now for ten years, no children. I have not even had the opportunity to get pregnant even once. But that woman, she keeps having children. How I wish I’m the one. My husband is almost chasing me out of the house because I have failed to give him children. But that woman is so lucky. Her husband will love her a lot because of her fruitfulness. She is such a blessing to that man. Their house is filled with very beautiful children.” One of their neighbor said one evening when she was discussing the matter with her friend.
But what people did not know was that it was not Eberechi’s heart desire to keep giving birth almost every year. Left for her, she would have stopped giving birth since. However, her husband was the one who always forced her to get pregnant even before their baby would walk. Her husband, Okenwa was looking for a male child. Okenwa is a very rich man who imports goods from abroad. He has built a successful business both home and abroad. His business has branches in Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt. He is always worried that his wife was giving birth to only female children. So far, the have eight children and all of them are girls. He said he wants a male child who would answer his name when he is dead. This was what Eberechi was going through, but many people don’t know. They think she was happy in her marriage.
“People don’t know that I’m suffering in my marriage. They don’t know that my husband is always tormenting me. They have no idea that my marriage is not a bed of roses. Is it because I don’t tell people my problems? If I tell people my problems, many of them will not believe. It might be true that I get pregnant easily, but it is not my heart desire. I have so many children but it is my husband that is forcing me to get pregnant against my wishes. People think I’m enjoying life because I’m giving my husband so many children, but they don’t know that my husband does not even love the children. He has made it clear that he is looking for a male child. He said until he gets a boy child, he will not rest. But people don’t know all these. They come to touch my belly so that they will be fruitful like me without even knowing that I’m going through a lot in this marriage.” Eberechi said to herself. She does not have friends because her husband prevents her from going out of the house.
“I don’t even have friends to talk to. I don’t have a business of my own. My husband has insisted that I should be a full-time house wife. All I do in this house is give birth to children. I have eight children now and my husband is not happy. He is not satisfied. He said he would not stop giving birth to children if he does not get a male child. I wonder what I did wrong that God has refused to give me a male child. I have suffered so much to get a male child but no way. God, please, come to my aide.” Eberechi said. She was in the kitchen cooking evening meal for her family.
What made Eberechi’s situation worse was that her husband refused to bring anyone to be helping her in the house. He said he will not bring a housemaid into his house. He also refused to employ anyone. Eberechi is the one who does everything in the large mansion. In fact, they don’t even have a gateman. Each time Okenwa comes back from his building materials shop, he will stay outside the gate and sound the horn of his car. Eberechi will run to the gate and open it. Okenwa is so rich but he is very stingy. He does not even spend good money on Eberechi. All he cares about is getting a male child from her.
“I’m tired of giving birth. I’m a human being. How can a woman give birth to eight children in ten years? My husband does not want to pity me. Each time I talk, he will threaten to marry another wife. But I’m not getting pregnant again. He should do whatever he wants to do.” Eberechi said to herself. She was pouring hot water on garri. As she started turning the garri, she heard her husband’s car horn. She ran outside to go and open the gate for him
wait!