Rejected But Not Disqualified - Episode 6

 

When the outcome of Uchendu’s consent was revealed to Ngene, he did not disagree but what he requested from Udenkwo was compulsory consultation fee for the gods, which they did and he obliged that they go back and gather the paraphernalia for the sacrifice of Channeling the call to other useful  handwork.  On the eight day Ngene was invited and he performed the rites in Late Afamefuna,s compound and they packed the paraphernalia’s together and disposed them to the nearby river at night. This was how the mysterious headache left her.
The following month Ngene , called his brother Nwude (since there father is suffering from  impaired vision) with other kinsmen and told them he had seen a wife . They accompanied to Late Afamefuna’s house where they performed the customary marriage rite and Uchendu became Ngene’s wife. 
After the marriage the kinsmen rejoiced that light have finally arrived in Afamefuna’s compound   because of the marriage. Uchendu was the first among his daughters that has been bethrothed. Afamefuna’s kinsmen had a meeting and agreement was reached with Udenkwo that they want the lineage of Afamefuna to continue thus she was asked to choose among the late husband brother who will be his conjugal husband to enable them ask the gods for a male child. A ritual of cleansing was performed so that the spirit of the late Husband will not be against her.  Udenkwo later had a male child through her husband’s brother.
All these were what Ugoye was remniscensing while sitting down with Nwude

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. In her shrewd mentality she could not understand how a woman she made effort to be her daughter in-law should be favored by the gods. Without value to her late son and blessings in their compound she swore to see that wealth in her life time since Ngene is late. She lived on the orientation that nobody can see in the world of the dead. She swore within her to go any length to see to the fruition of the blessings before her demise. These are what Ama- akolam her husbands have beard in his mind over the years.
How can a Mother be against her son because of death and wealth?   Ugoye in her evil thought REJECTED THE LATE SON, HIS DESTINY, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. When she came back to her normal self,  she told Nwude to go back home and let her confirm these and ask him to see her again after eight market days.
Meanwhile Uchendu and her remaining three sons have been fending for themselves the hard way. Nwora the youngest and most loved is living in the city with Obidi. They would have been better off if  one of them have taken the path of their late father  at least incomes from cure of different sickness and disease  would be helping a lot. ALL THE ALTERS OF SACRIFICE to the gods consulted by Ngene when he was alive were neglected, abandoned and not taken care of. 
Their nursing of grievance against their late father Ngene was in vain because an adage said that ( Any child that manhandles his father by lifting him up, his father’s testicles will cover his eyes and he may not see the future) they were also nursing grievance against their own blood brother the last child of their mother  Nwaora who was loved and cherished more than them,  besides they don’t have the time to see that their  blessings are hanging nor are they aware that household enemity is brewing within.  Their means of survival were limited to doing menial jobs like subsistence Agriculture during rainy seasons and dry season at the river bed, farming for others at a wage, selling oil and palm kernel oil, going for early morning fruit picking for sale in the market, cashew nut picking, hunting for sale, hewing firewood for wages, building thatched houses at a wage and many other jobs.

Years passed by, the second son of Ngene ( Nwafor) and Nwude’s son (Obidike)  came together as two relation and friend and pulled the little income they generate in the village and started the business of buying and selling stockfish. The third son (Nwankwo) was taken as an apprentice in carpentry to work with an uncle to Uchendu their mother. The house was left for the First son Ugonna and Uchendu.
On the part of Ugoye, she could not have a good night sleep because she believe it’s a waste of time and years to understand what the Gods meant in its blessing sharing and wondered why waiting for little children to grow up before receiving blessings. The following morning she packed some little belongings of hers, enough she could carry, took her house boy to Nwude’s house and told his wife that she is visiting her father’s house to come back before eight market days. It has been her usual way of travelling thus nwude’s wife did not ask if all was well.
Nwude in his own thought believed that a burden shared is a burden solved. He too did not understand the gods. This is an evil jealousy that might boomerang if not curtailed. He believes it’s better to see wealth in one’s life time. 
Ugoye travelled to a diviner in another town where nobody knew her. She has been beclouded by lesser gods that she can no longer breed any positive solution for herself. When the diviner had examined her motive. This time the modus of divination is placing any money you have on a calabash, your motive will be revealed before you. The diviner told her that she wants to eliminate the family of his late son and possible convert their wealth to the elder brother. Ugoye told him that it’s not what she want but that she need to see to the success of her family and see the wealth in her life time. The diviner shook his head and told her that in years as a diviner that his gods had never failed him in spiritual vision. The diviner told her again that the gods are not to blame and unless she wants the anger of the gods to befell her.
She left the diviner  feeling disappointed and travelled to another town where she met another great diviner, this time she felt confused, the diviner told her that everything is possible but he cannot invoke the gods to change destinies but can only delay it. Ugoye calmly asked him to explain further. The diviner told her to go home and collect sand from Ngene’s compound.