Rejected But Not Disqualified - Episode 3

 

One unfateful day, Nwude had to drink himself to stupor which has not been his attitude since he got married and on his way back, his bicycle threw him off and injured him with bruises. Passersby who knew him well in Umuaku as a responsible father from a responsible family who is also a kinsmen head in the village brought him home with his bicycle. This time the wife was no more comfortable, after treating the bruises, she waited till the following morning to make her last optimistic attempt.

She got the shock of her life when Nwude threatened to beat her up . The wife began to cry. She was crying because she do not know what befell her husband. All these UGOYE was observing from the distance of her hut. Nwude's wife had to make up her mind that night to take her family challenges to her mother in-law. When everybody have had their dinner, Nwude's wife visited Ugoye. When Ugoye saw her she pretended that she was not aware of her unexpected visit but within her,she knew why she was there. Nwude's wife bitterly complained what she has been undergoing in her family and why she needs her intervention to know why Nwude has been behaving so. Ugoye placated her and promised to talk to her husband the following day.

Ugoye was a shrewd, strong and a diabolical woman. She is tall beautiful and hails from a rich family before her marriage to Ama-akolam

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. She had travelled far and wide consulting diviners beyond Umuaku to see to her safety, that of her paternal family and husband's family. Despite being the wife of Ama-akolam, she never forgets where she hails from because her father was a rich man too. She visits her paternal home twice a week and most times against the will of her husband. Ugoye never allowed the husband to have total influence on her. But inspite of her way of life she never deprived her husband his conjugal obligations.

The following day was Umuaku Market day and as the law and custom stipulates, all taxable adult both men and women must be present at the market to sell or buy and partake in the roll calling or be sanctioned. It was so because Umuaku is a very small town and to restore the glory of their market to align with those in big towns, the town elders unanimously made a flexible law that every adult must be at the market every market day. It was an avenue to attract other communities and wholesalers at no tax to their town and market.

Early in the morning, Ugoye was among the first people that arrived on time to market with her wares. She had her unripe plantain which was harvested behind her hut. In no time the neighboring visitors, rushed her and struggled among themselves to pay her off. Having bargained and collected her money, Ugoye left with her basket to the women stand and waited for the villagers to troop in gradually. The market, soared and exchanged transactions. During roll calling, she pleaded to be permitted to attend an errand at another village. The women wing head granted her request and marked her present. She took her basket to Nwude's wife to take it home for her and she set off. Being a pagan and a divination addict is bad to an extent.

Ugoye travelled to another town on foot where she knew a diviner named EZEMUO to inquire what is wrong in his son's family. In her mind she suspects that somebody had forcefully taken away asset from his son Nwude or that the wife attempted something funny while shedding crocodile tears before her. She never tolerates agony bothering her only surviving son after the death of Ngene. When she arrived at Ezemuo's house, she was eulogized by the diviner. It was not customary to offer kola to a woman so they hit it off with the business of the day. The (Ayolo) afa was casted on the floor, and was casted twice again before the diviner made some incantations and shook his head, then cleared his throat. Ugoye smiled and praised the diviner because her confidence in the diviner over the years is unquestionable.

Ezemuo the diviner is great man of truth and few words and well known for his great feats and breakthroughs. He inquired from Ugoye where his last son is? Ugoye boldly replied "He is Late". He asked if he had children, and she answered in affirmative. He smiled and frowned at the same time made some solo incantations and shook his head once more. Ezemuo asked Ugoye another question; If she will like to sacrifice her life to preserve the life of her children, no word was uttered by ugoye.

After some seconds, he asked again in a bit serious and higher tone; if her son can die for her to live. Ugoye calmly chipped in immediately, GOD FORBID!!! But this time she asked Ezemuo why he has been speaking in parables and inquired if death is lurking around her family. The Diviner told her to go back and call his only surviving son to order because an adage said that "he who sold a dog to buy a monkey still retained a sitting animal in his house". He told her again that "Destinies can never be changed but can be worked for". He told her lastly that jealousy is an abomination against the spirits and an ill wind that blows no one no good, Ezemuo advised her to go back to her house and advice his son to stop digging his own grave.

Moments thereafter, Ugoye was left in awe; and she asked if her son Nwude is about to terminate the life of another man? The diviner told her that what his son is reaping is worse than termination of life. After this, the diviner stood up and dismissed Ugoye. Before Ugoye left, she brought out money from her wrapper and dropped her consultation fees. Ugoye left the diviners house pondering all through her way home.

When she got home she sent her househelp to beckon Nwude in his house. Nwude was surprised and asked the little boy if all was well may be his mother is sick which the little boy had no answer to. Nwude rounded off the snuff in his hands puts his cloths on and left after the boy. But before he left he called his wife to intimate her that he is going to heed his mother, should anyone ask after him while he was away. Nwude's wife became restless because she knew her husband's wits. Surely he will suspect her roll in the call.