Obiageli - Episode 14

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Uche's POV

Uche walked to his auntie's house, Ezinne since his sister was staying there. Ezinne had practically brought her up when his mother died, and had taken it upon herself to take care of the newborn baby since they were all men and at that time were confused on what to do with the baby, his auntie as not around but Onyeka ran out to hug him

"When are you coming home?'he asked after they sat on the bench outside, She had been away for sometime

"I don't know yet, do you want me to come?"

"Hmmhm" so the errands would reduce "you cant have left papa and I like that now"

She laughed "A wife is what you need...what about bro Ekene"

"He's fine, I'm going to his house now sef, he needs help to thatch his roof".

"Okay..maybe I'll come to the house tomorrow "

He sighed"Thanks"he checked his bag"see I brought you some beads"he brought it out and showed her

She laughed in glee"its so beautiful..so I ll now be like Obi and Ego"she said holding it up, his face clouded, those were the only two girls in the village who looked beautiful on beads

"You'll be more beautiful.. Ego sends her greetings"he said

"Okay, when are you marrying her?"

He paused at the innocence of her question

"She always brings me things"she continued smiling

So she was bribing his sister"Well..soon..I'll get married"he said

She nodded, he rubbed her head and stood up"greet auntie for me when she returns, I'm going"she nodded her head as he left the compound. 

He came out from a path and saw Chidinma one of Obiageli's friends going to the farm with a basket and cutlass, he wondered where Obiageli was, she greeted him as they walked past each other, she turned back to look at him wondering if he had heard Obiageli died yesterday, but assumed he must have, it was all over the village, she wondered if it was just a faint like Obiageli had claimed, shrugging she entered her father's farm.

Uche continued on his way and met Kelechi on the way to his house, kelechi was playing with his flute

" When did you get home yesterday"Kelechi asked

"Were you looking for me?"Uche asked adjusting his wrapper

"Eheh now"

"Well I can't remember but the moon had risen up"

"You stayed that long in the forest" kelechi asked surprised

"I like it" Uche shrugged

"Hope you caught what you were looking for?".

" I just needed to meditate"

"In the forest, If i didnt know you I'd say you're weird..what were you thinking about?"

"My mother"he said without flinching, a pause

"Oh..but of course you'll miss her, your father refuses to remarry"

" I think I would have done same"Uche said, Kelechi sighed

"Well let's not speak of bad memories, but that reminds me...did you know that Obiageli died yesterday?".

Uche stopped walking and looked at him

"What do you mean..?"

"Yes..she's dead"Kelechi plucked a blade of grass

"You've started telling tales again"Uche dismissed and walked on

"Okay..till you hear it from someone else, I heard she died and came back"

"Died and came back..are you even listening to yourself...how is that possible?"

"Well it was for a few minutes..but they said she went to the underworld"

Uche burst out laughing

"I'm serious o"

"Abeg shut up kelechi you think you can prank me...what did you want even?"he changed topic

Kelechi shrugged"It is what I heard now, maybe when you see her"

"You should stop listening to gossip...and I am not seeing her"

"What makes you think I haven't noticed the way you look at her"Kelechi said

" Shut up Kelechi...for the last time, what do you want?"Uche said obviously irritated

Kelechi laughed out then

"Madume asked us to fish with him today" he said

Uche frowned"I'm not going..that man has bad luck, instead of him to try other trades...you can go if you want, am going to Ekene's house"

"He's going to pay o" Kelechi said as Uche diverted

"Let him go with his money" he said, besides fishing was not his specialty, Kelechi shrugged and went on his way as Uche walked into Ekene's compound.

Obiageli's POV

Chiamaka had come to visit Obiageli, after they helped Oluchi filter garri, Chiamaka said she was going, Oluchi waved them off as Obiageli escorted her, after they got to a path Chiamaka held her hand

"Please I need you to follow me somewhere, I just want to give him something"

"Him who?"

"Ifeanyi"

Obiageli stared at her, she knew her friend had had a crush on the said man since forever but Ifeanyi was a bad man and way older, he refused to marry and preferred chasing girls around the village, he was also Ekene's best friend

"What are you going to give him?"

" Herbs, he said he ll be in Ekene's house helping to mend his roof"

"Well then I should get going"

"I can't go there alone now please, there might be all men there, I promise we would leave in no time"

"I don't like this" Obi said as she was pulled along.

​​Ekene's house was a bit far away but they got there and he received them well, Obiageli thought Chiamaka was going to drop the herbs and they would be on their way but it was not to be, Ifeanyi was on the roof and Obiageli couldn't deny that he was a fine man but felt Chiamaka was foolish liking a man like that, Chioma Ekenes wife served them food, as the men finally took a break and came to sit, Obiageli kept pinching Chiamaka that they should go but Chiamaka was busy gazing dreamingly at Ifeanyi.. 

"I heard you fainted.." Ekene said, they all paused on their talk and looked at her

"Uh

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. Yes. It was the pepper" she wondered when the embarrassment would stop, the conversation continued as she stared at Ekene, noticing he was darker, and well built, him and Uche didn't look much alike, and as she wondered where he was, he strolled into the compound, he stopped and held her gaze, then looked around at everyone

"The party has started without me". he said

" Where have you been Uche? "Ekene asked

" I went to greet Onyeka. I told you "

"Convince her to come home you mean"

Chioma greeted him as he sat down

"You know how it is , hope there's still work for me to do.."

"Yes you would finish the rest" Ifeanyi said with a laugh drinking palmwine

"Can't believe you're drunk this early"Uche said

​​​​​​Ifeanyi emptied the remaining contents of the keg as Uche shook his head and looked at the girls

"I guess you know Obi very well and her friend Chiamaka"

​​​​​"Yes, is something wrong?"

"They have come to visit us"Ekene said

" Maybe help us, we need more women around"Ifeanyi said

"Idiot"Ekene said with a laugh

"I think we should go" Obiageli whispered to Chiamaka but it was clear Chiamaka hoped to stay with Ifeanyi while he worked, she met Ifeanyi's gaze for the upteenth time, she wondered why he was looking at her. Uche stood up to join his brother who wanted to show him what was left, Chioma came to clear the place and Obiageli decided to help her, they took it to the kitchen.

She dropped the plates and  turned as she saw Uche making his way up to the roof with a ladder, he looked back and saw her

"Come and help me to hold it" he said, she reluctantly went and did so...there was silence as he finally got to the top of the roof, he looked back at her

"Thank you.."he said

Chioma brought the straw and that was how her work started, she was passing it to him while he thatched it

"How come you did a new hair?" he asked suddenly, she was surprised but decided to reply, maybe he was trying to make conversation

"My mother made it"

"Why?'

"The one I did to the dance was not good"

"Says who?".

She was surprised "Did you see me at the dance?'

"No.."he denied and scrapped off the old thatch

"Well that's why, my mother said this would last better" she said, he looked at it, tied into two mounds  like oranges on her head

"Its not fine.."he said

"Really" she said with a laugh"I would loose it then"

"Didn't say you should ".

She chuckled as he worked in silence, she decided he wasn't that bad

"What happened yesterday? "he asked

​​​​Her brow furrowed, he had to bring that up

" yesterday when?"she feigned ignorance hoping he hadn't heard

"In your house" he said

"Oh you mean the fainting?"

"I heard you died...and came back"

"That's typical of a witch isn't it and I'm not a witch" she said with a dry chuckle, he looked at her

" How did that happen then?"

"I fainted..I was still breathing"she said, that was what she had been telling everyone anyway, Uche did not reply but continued working in silence till they finished while she wondered if he too thought her a witch now..He soon finished his part of the roof and came down

"Thank you "he said

" For what"she wondered

"You wouldn't have done that if you didn't want to" he said as they walked to meet the rest. The girls finally set to go, the men thanking them profusely at having made their work easier, and while Chiamaka kept talking about how hardworking and muscular Ifeanyi was, Obiageli was silent as she couldn't wait to get home and read the note Uche had dropped in her wrapper.

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Read " Brothers " by the same author ( Funmi Anita Adesina )