Obiageli - Episode 13

 

Obiageli thought she haerd her name

"Obiageli" Oluchi called recalling again who she was, she blew on the fire outside "Obi.."

"Yes mama"

"Go behind Ezinma's hut and pluck pepper..ours is dead"

Obiageli went and returned with her hands full "Here they are mama"

"Help me grind it now, the tomato is there, I'm trying to get this fire started"

Obiageli stood there, her eyes went to a lizard watching her, Oluchi looked up

"Obi.."

"Yes mama..everything?"she asked

"Let me see..remove three"

Obiageli reluctantly went to the grinding stone, she had never grinded before but felt it shouldn't be hard,she had watched her mother do it severally.. She washed them in a bowl and put the tomatoes first, Oluchi came to check what she was doing

"Good continue. . You're doing it well" she complimented

Obi knew she had to learn after all she would soon marry, if she couldn't cook, she wouldn't last a day in her husband's house, Oluchi went to tend the fire and break more firewood..Obiageli finished grinding the tomatoes, then put in the Onions, and kept sneezing, water flowed from her eyes

"Doo its the water" her mother greeted, she finally finished that..then put the pepper, she grinded the first one, then put in another, then another, her eyes were watery now but she was determined to continue..as she put in another pepper, she sneezed and sneezed and sneezed so that Oluchi had to look at her

​​​​"Oh mama..."she slumped to the ground...Oluchi ran there, shook her lifeless body and raised a piercing wail that aroused the neighborhood, the whole family and neighbours ran there for it was evening..they met Oluchi holding her daughter whose eyes were shut and looking so lifeless..Okafor hurried to squat by them, he held Obiageli's hand which was frail and landed back to her side

"Obi..obiageli" he called "what happened" he asked his wife, amidst sobs Oluchi related what had happened to her

"Is it the first time she's grinding?" Eberechi asked

"Yes o..eo"Oluchi held her head only her understanding her problem

" hm..a daughter that cannot even grind pepper"another woman said

"I've always said it, she's an Ogbanje..this is proof "Ezinma said, Oluchi looked at her

"An ogbanje cannot live to this extent" another woman said​

Ezinma was about to say another thing when okafor barked at her

"You are there talking, bring me water or something" he said

Someone suggested putting pepper on her

"So she goes farther than where she has gone?" A man said

"We need to call the dibia"another man suggested

"I say bring me water" Okafor said, they brought a bowl of water which was poured on her, her wrapper was soaked, Including her mother's...but still Obiageli laid lifeless..

"She's dead o..." Ezinma said, Oluchi began to cry, Okafor stared at Obiageli, remembering the events of her birth

"Take her inside, she'll wake up when she wants to wake"he said

People began to disperse with whispers of 'witch'  'ogbanje' and  'water spirit'

Oluchi  still sat on the floor holding her daughter, rocking her back and forth

"Obi what did I do eh..I'm sorry..please come back..don't go..please..I will follow you o..my only child eh..please come back please, I am sorry...I didn't know eh" she said and rested her head on Obi's chest crying bitterly at her curse..as the last person turned to go, there was a sneeze..then another..and another..more severe than the rest...Obiageli opened her eyes

They all exclaimed coming back

" where did you go to?"

Obiageli scanned the onlookers while her mother wept tears of joy

"Oh Obi, Obi.."

They waived it thinking she had fainted, after Okafor checked that she was alright and breathing well..Obiageli's eyes fixed on Ezinma, who stared at her then shrugged and left..Mother and daughter soon went inside and the tomato was thrown away..Infact Oluchi didn't let her do any more work after that day she had learnt her lesson, but Obiageli was embarrassed, how was she going to get married when she couldn't even grind pepper, soon it would be all over the village.

*hmm this kind pikin, where do you think Obiageli went, did she just faint.or actually died.?

Comments below pls

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/obiageli