The two of us

Uwem, a civil servant who worked and resided in Nigeria's Capital, was happily married to the woman he so loved and desired.

Mfon, the wife to Iuwem, was a school teacher who taught in one of the public schools of the country's capital.

Even though Uwem and his wife had a modest flow of income, they were happy and contented with what they had. They both had toddler son, and his name was Akpan.

Uwem really loved and cherished his family. He would give them the best of everything he had, just to make them happy and keep them comfortable. Uwem and his family were one happy family.

Akpan was just two when his mother got pregnant for the second child. Uwem was in his office when, suddenly, he received a call that his pregnant wife went into labour and had just been rushed to the maternity hospital. All Uwem could do was drive straight to the hospital his wife was taken to. As he got to the maternity hospital, he quickly reached for his wife. When he saw his wife, he stroked her on the face, said nice things to her, and laughed with her just to keep her calm and relaxed. Meanwhile, Mfon was two centimehytre dilated. Her water broke. And she was made to give birth to a bouncing baby boy. Uwem was overjoyed knowing he's a father of two. Friends and relatives that came around shared in the joy of Uwem's family. There was so much jubilation in the hospital following the birth of Uwem's second son.

However, Mfon was in pain. She was bleeding profusely. She was getting weak and weaker. Then, she began to feel dizzy. The birth attendants were all around her. The midwife, the obstetrician, a medical doctor, and a nurse were rallying around her. In fact, Pitocin medication was quickly injected into her vein to stop the bleeding. But, it was too late.

Meanwhile, Uwem, some family members of his wife and his, including friends, were all present in the hospital when the medical doctor broke the news to Uwem and said- "I'm so so sorry. Your wife didn't make it. " At this point, Uwem held the shoulders of the doctor with his two palms and began to shake the doctor violently. "What did you just say?" Uwem asked.

"What happened to my wife?" The doctor responded- "I and the team of medical personnel did all we could to save your wife's life, but she didn't make it. "At this point, friends and relatives surrounded Uwem. Uwem took his hands off the medical doctor's shirt and began to sob. He wept bitterly and said-"So my wife is no more. So, I'll never get to see my wife again. " The friends and relatives that rallied around him also broke down in tears. They tried to console him, but he refused to be comforted. The birth attendants and the entire staff of the hospital were deeply saddened by this tragic event. Intact, so much gloom filled the air. Then, one of the relatives that was present in the hospital went to pick up Uwem's toddler son from school and took him straight to the hospital where his father was. Afterwards,the newborn was presented to Uwem in the hospital. Uwem carried his newborn son and wrapped his arms around him, and kissed him softly with tears racing down his face. The gentle cry of the baby made Uwm weep bitterly over the loss of his mother. The younger sister to Uwem's deceased wife collected the baby from Uwem and carried him caringly and tenderly in her arms. So, friends and other relatives assisted in packing the clothings and all the belongings of Uwem's deceased wife from the hospital. So, Uwem, his newborn son, his toddler son, family members, and friends all left the hospital and headed to Uwem's house.

Uwem's office was contacted and notified about the sudden demise of his wife, Mfon. So, the management and staff members of his office all paid him a visit and expressed their deep and heartfelt condolences to the loss of his beloved wife. They presented cash and material items to the newborn. Other friends, relatives, and well-wishers came to pay a visit to the newborn and to console Uwem in his moments of grief. Loved ones that resided at a distance requested of the account details of Uwem and transferred huge amounts of cash to his bank account for the newborn and to the death of his wife. He received several phone calls of consolation for the loss of his wife and felicitations for the birth of his second son. His callers all requested his account details, which he gave to them. Uwem was shown so much love and given so much care and financial and material support following the death of his wife and the birth of his son.

Uwem lost his wife and the mother of his two sons to post-natal bleeding when his first son, Akpan, was just two, and his second son, Udoh, was just a newborn. Uwem took Udoh and cared for him as a mother would and in the absence of his biological mother. He decided not to remarry so that his love and affection for his two children would not be divided and diverted as well. For, he deeply loved his two children and would always want the best for them, especially when they no longer have a mother. He performed a motherly and a fatherly role to his two children.

Uwem loved his younger son much more because he had no mother to care for him as a newborn

Meanwhile, as the boys grew, Uwem began to grow fond of his second son, Udoh. He loved Akpan but had a deeper affection for Udoh, even in his subconsciousness. Uwem would lavish on him and pamper him all at the same time. Akpan took notice of this but didn't pay attention to it. As time went on, Akpan became mildly disturbed by his father's fondness of Udoh above himself and one day decided to talk to his father about it.

One day, Akpan walked up to his dad and said- " Daddy, I understand that Udoh is my younger brother and deserves all the attention he can get from you as the last child. But what about me, Dad. Don't I also deserve the same affection you show towards my younger brother?

Uwem looked at his first son and smiled warmly, saying-"My dear son, I love you very much. Your younger brother was just a newborn when his mother died. I had to assume the responsibility of a mother. That is why he appears to be loved and cared for. Nevertheless, I love you too. Intact, you and Udoh are all I got."Akpan was not satisfied with the answer his father gave and went his way.

Akpan and Udoh both went on full scholarships to study abroad. Akpan studied chemical engineering in the United Kingdom, and Udoh studied computer science in the United States of America. They both had good grades. Akpan graduated with a second-class degree honours while Udoh graduated with first-class honours.

Akpan had difficulties in securing a job in the United Kingdom. So, he returned to Nigeria to get a job and to see if he could start up a business of his own. His plan was to set up an enterprise in Nigeria, get married, and relocate back to the United Kingdom with his family. Meanwhile, he sent in several job applications to various companies in Nigeria and other foreign countries but did not get any feedback.

He tried to raise money for capital to start up a business, but the plan failed.

Udoh, on the other hand, was quite lucky. He was able to secure a job with a reputable firm in the United States of America. He also got his residence permit and his work permit with ease.

So, Akpan became jealous of his younger brother. The jealousy gradually turned to envy. He felt he wasn't as fortunate as his younger brother. He became envious of Idoh. The envy lasted for days, and the days became weeks. His weeks of envy of his brother turned months. He was consumed with intense hatred for his brother. So, he decided he was going to abduct his brother for ransom. So, he planned to execute his evil scheme when next Udoh paid a visit to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Udoh was very successful in his career and all his personal pursuits. He would reach out to Akpan so he could help him in all areas he needed help, but Akpan would simply ignore him. Udoh would often put a call across to Akpan, but Akpan would always decline his calls. This got Udoh worried and perturbed about the well-being of his elder brother. So, he decided to take a trip to Nigeria to check on his brother and on his aged father, and to seize this opportunity to see and inspect the extent of the building of the mansion under construction he erected for his father and other family projects and enterprise under construction.

However, unknown to Udoh, Akpan was secretly scheming for Udoh's waterloo. The moment Akpan received the news of his brother's arrival in Nigeria, he saw that as an opportunity to carry out his long-awaited plans. But to his greatest shock, all his plans failed. He never succeeded in causing harm to his brother. This got Akpan infuriated.

Then, Akpan was finally exposed for attempting to abduct his own brother. Udoh called his brother with an unfamiliar number, but Akpan would decline all his calls. So, Udoh made up his mind to go meet with his brother, face-to-face. He was able to get the contact address of Akpan. Udoh went in a convoy to Akpan's house. Udoh walked up to Akpan and said-"You attempted to abduct me for no just reason. But thank God you failed and never succeeded." Udoh, however, brought out his iPhone and made an online transfer of twenty million Naira to Akpan and said -"Start with this to make something meaningful with your life so you don't hamper the progress of others. In this way, you'll keep yourself gainfully occupied." Udoh said this and left Akpan's house immediately in his convoy.

Udoh became distrustful of Akpan and kept his distance with him. But he decided not to report Akpan to their father so he does not put his aged father under pressure. He and Akpan only knew about this.

Subsequently, Udoh boarded and took a flight back to the United States of America, where he resided and worked. Five years later, Udoh came back to Nigeria for his wedding and traditional marriage ceremony. He came back to Nigeria and met his father strong and in good health, too. This made Udoh happy and excited. The mansion he had built for his father had been completed. His father retired from service and moved to the mansion where he lived. All the projects and family enterprises were completed. Udoh also got his father a fleet of cars, the most recent car models he could ship to Nigeria.

After the glamorous traditional marriage and white wedding of Udoh and his wife were conducted, Udoh and his newly wedded wife returned to the United States to start up a family

Meanwhile, Akpan took the twenty million Naira Udoh had transferred to him to set up his own company in Nigeria, what he had always desired and longed for. Akpan worked extra hard so the company could grow and begin to flourish.

Ten years later, Akpan became very successful in life. He built a standard duplex for his father and got his father two brand new cars - the most recent models of Acura and Hyundai. Ten years later, Akpan got married to the woman of his dreams. He and his wife both relocated to the United Kingdom.