Lydia's heart - Episode 6

 

Chief Okike looked at his wife’s saddened face and braced up to ask the sorcerer the question burning down his throat but dreads to ask

They have visited a sorcerer to know the whereabouts of their only son, the heir apparent to the throne and their multibillionaire company.

Truth be told they had a little misunderstanding with the young man over his choice of wife before his sudden disappearance.

They dismissed it thinking he would come around, even if he ignores him the father he won’t ignore his mother whom he has grown great attachment to but when days turned to weeks and weeks into months without any word from him, they got worried especially his mother.

This is the tenth month of his disappearance; one day Okike couldn’t bear the night routine of his dear wife crying every night starring at her phone expecting at least one call from her son.

“woman, give it a rest’ he will come back hen he deems t fit besides he is no longer a baby” Okike says consoling his wife

Mrs. Okike shrugged off his touch and stared at him “how do you expect me to rest when I have not heard from my only son for over a year”

“ten months” Okike corrected

Mrs . Okike eyed him “what’s the difference now’ ten and a year are they not the same thing” she muffled a loud cry “chaii, my enemies have finally succeeded; they want to deny my son his rightful position as the crown prince” she continues wailing

Unable to calm her down, Okike called the palace maids to stay with her and left the room.

Although the long absence of his son gives him sleepless night but as a man and the Igwe of Ubala kingdom he dares not show or carry his grief on his face all day long as the women do

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/lydia-s-heart

. Handling many crucial matters of the state have made him able to hide his problems.

He paced up and  down thinking of what next to do; he dares not think the possibility of something bad happening to his only son.

Read " Jamila " by the same author ( Celestina Oranye )

. He will die of heartbreak, what will happen to his company when he is no longer alive and the thoughts of another family taking over the kingship that barely stayed in his family sent cold shivers down his spine. To worsen it all their sons phone have been switched off ever since.

He decided there and then to meet the powerful sorcerer in the next village for confirmation.

He cleared his throat “we came to ask for the location of our son and…….” His voice trailed off as the sorcerer raised his hands telling him to keep shut.

The sorcerer peered at their faces, said some incoherent incantations; he cleared his throat three times and raised his head “I am seeing a road stretching out brightly but at a point” he paused but resumed again “the light became dim and the road divide into two bright roads which later joined at the end with the lights illuminating” he finished what he was saying and shuts his mouth as quickly as he opened them.

Okike and his wife exchanged glances confused but dared not ask him further questions because he never entertains extra questions after his professions, keeping his clients in suspense until what he said happens which makes them come back again seeking information or explanation.

They rose from their chairs and left through the door “leave everything for the gods to handle; they will soon fall into place” the sorcerer says at their retreating backs.

If they heard him they showed nothing of it as they walk silently to their car but relieved that their palm fruit was not lost in the fire.

The guards opened the car door for them to enter; they entered the car quietly as they left the sorcerer house.

Mrs. Okike sniffed and Okike cuddled her “it will be alright” he says soothingly

“but how will the road divide into two” she lifts he head “does that mean he is going to die”

Okike thought of the possibility of it but dismissed the though quickly “remember he said the roads later joined together and the lights became brighter” he assures his wife

She relaxed back on his shoulder “I hope it comes to pass, our family will loose the kingship if he doesn’t appear and who knows what the elders are planning. What of our company, who will run it too”

Okike kept quiet deep in thoughts, Uju (Mrs. Okike” exhaled deeply and relaxed back and very soon with a relaxed mind she drafts into a blissful sleep.
 

Uju cries as she stands in front of the elders pleading with them to have patience with her to bear a child for the king. The elders ignored her, accusing her of eating all the babies in her womb as a witch. She falls on the ground crying pleadingly.
“

Dear, we are home; get up” Okike taps his wife gently to wake her up. She rubbed off sleep from her eyes as they got down from the car thanking her stars it was only but a dream.

The guards roll out the royal rug for them to walk on. They walk inside the palace with a slow stride without talking to each other. At the door the guard there bowed at them “Your Majesty, the elders are here to see you in your chambers”

He nods and held his wife, he likes staying n such meetings with his wife. Immediately they entered the Igwe chambers, Uju looked at the faces of the elders gathered there; they were the same faces in her dream and her hear did a heavy flip flop

“was the dream made to happen after all”

*********
Oyaaa, is it going to happen?

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