Obiageli - Episode 24

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Uche had climbed a tree in the forest breaking and throwing sticks, he was fuming but tried not to scream in anger. When they had gotten home that day the uncles had parted his stiff back and gone, Mazi Ozor was silent then shrugged

"We tried..there are other maidens around"he consoled

Uche glared at him as he listed others, Ego inclusive, he walked out of the house and had found solace here, in their love tree. The branches had grown thin with the season, he broke another branch and began to peel the leaves to take his mind off his present predicament but he kept seeing Okafor's face, seeing his eyes...Why did her parents hate him so much? What had he done to displease them apart from fall in love with their daughter? Six years, Mazi Okafor said it like it was six days, he didn't even want to wait for another month . He stretched and came down from the tree as he saw Obiageli approaching.

They stood and stared at each other before she fell into his arms and began to cry, he rubbed her hair 

"What is it now?"he asked, What was causing her so much pain

" I'm sorry"she said

"Its not your fault,.... your father, I never knew he was like that"

She looked at him"Uche its not..it's not what you think "she held his gaze"They don't hate you....Its something else.

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. Something more severe".

Uche looked at her fixedly as she took his hand and pulled him to sit under the tree, between tears she told him what her parents had said.

He didn't respond at first, he just stared into space, then he stood up and paced in confusion before he looked at her

" That is nonsense Oby, you believe in such crap?" he squatted in front of her and took her hands "We are all from one spirit or the other, you're not a witch are you?" he asked

She looked down then shook her head

"you see...''he said 

" I do believe I have powers"she said he looked at her puzzled "I do have powers "she said again

He was silent then pulled back her hair

" What kind of powers?".

"Anyone who does me wrong is punished, Adaeze called me a witch, a snake attacked her, she is yet to have a child....my pot didn't break when  Ego kicked it because I looked at it...I drowned Ego in the river.." She paused"I punished Ifeanyi.."At this Uche stood up "I don't control it Uche, I just believe it happens"

"Oby, oh god, did you do anything to me?" did she bewitch him?

"No Uche," she stood up and went to him "you are one person I can't harm, I can't  even think of doing anything to you"She said

He held his head and roved his face

"you are never to marry"

"Yes" she said

"No reason whatsoever"

"The man dies, I told you before"

"Its nonsense Oby, how can a man die because he married the woman he loves"

"I belong to the river "she blurted"I know I do, I just wished I had never come"she said as a tear dropped

Uche held her face in his hands"so we can't get married, ever....not even six years time"

"I'm sorry" she said putting her arms around him, there was silence...

Then she said

"It doesn't say you can't get married" though it was killing her to say that, Uche stared as he waited for her next words

"You should marry Ego"she said

He moved away"See Oby if you have nothing to say to comfort me ..say nothing "he said walking away

Her lips shook" You can't remain single, because of my curse..."

He turned"You are not cursed"

"I am, you don't get it do you.. the day we marry you wouldn't even see the Sunrise..why would you want to do that to yourself....Ego still loves you" she said 

He ignored what she just said like she hadn't spoken

 "And you can't be someone's concubine"he said

"He didn't say anything about that, but Uche concubine?...you need a wife"

"And I would get one, you hear me, I would get the woman I want,nobody is going to stop me,not the Oracle or spirits...I don't believe in them , they won't work on me".

When Obiageli got home, her parents knew she had gone to tell Uche but said nothing, she lived with them in peace and one night her mother stared at her sober face

" I hope we won't hear of that boy Uche again ?"

Obiageli said nothing...

She still went to see Uche in the forest and as she insisted they just be friends he said

"Let's run away, to the city and get married" he said holding her hands

'Uche you don't understand, its on me, anywhere we go the curse follows"

" Its not a curse Obim, you are not cursed" he said"we can run away together, I'm not even the first son...".

"Uche don't talk like that.." She began when he suddenly pulled her behind him

"Snake " he said, she turned and saw a long dark green viper making its way toward them

"Stay here" Uche said as he looked for a stone

"What do you want to do?" She asked

"What do you think I want to do?" he asked as he raised the stone

"No, don't kill it"She said, and looked frightened

" Oby just turn away I ll..."

"No Uche don't"she begged

"Why?"

" just let it go"

He gaped at her"I should let a snake go..why "he asked keeping an eye on the advancing creature

"I hate killing animals" she simply said

"But you eat the meat" he found it funny, but she kicked the leaves at the snake and it turned in another direction, Uche just gawked at her.

He dropped the stone and dusted his hands "Look I know you are a woman with a kind heart but snakes are Man's worse enemy you know that"

"Really"

"What if it had bitten you?"

"Well it didn't.. Enough of snakes" she said "...to the issue...you need to marry Ego"

"Stop saying it" he said irritated

"She's in love with you"She had insisted on waiting for him, had not married till now

He glared at her "I  want no other woman but you.."

"But you can't have me...lest you die"

"I'm willing to take the risk" he said

"If you die, I ll kill myself...because there would be no reason to live"she said

He came closer to her"Oby, I've wanted you since I was a child, can't you see..its impossible to think of any other woman"

"You are stepping into danger"

"I laugh in the face of danger" he said, She moved away from him

"If you really want me.." She took off her neck bead and dropped it, Uche turned away

"I don't want you as a lay Oby, I want you as my wife...the mother of my children....why me god, all my mates got their hearts, why am I so unfortunate "

"Uche you have Ego, you have to marry her"she said again

"I don't love her"

"She's beautiful and would give you everything"

"I want everything with you" his eyes moistened "why would you do this to me Oby, you have given me the worse punishment for nothing I have done"

"As if I have control over this...I don't.."

"You do,  I believe you can do something Oby....think that I won't die, I can't function without you, you are all I think about"

"Start thinking of Ego..please try"she came to him and held his arm

"If you say that name again, I ll beat you up" he said, she chuckled

"Its killing me so much Uche that I can't have you...but there's nothing we can do"she said

"There has to be something we can do" he said as he took her face in his hands and kissed her "We can't loose hope" he said as he kissed her again....then it became more passionate as they knew there really might be no hope for them....

He stopped but she stepped away and removed the last of her beads

"Since I can't marry you, I'll have you anyhow" she said "I sure as hell am not gonna die a virgin"she said.....holding his gaze, she removed the last of her clothings.

It was when he finished that he remembered what his brother had said.

 

*yeah she lost her maidenhead to him

Uche finally bit more than he can chew

*Comments please

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Read " Amidst Temptations " by the same author ( Funmi Anita Adesina )