Living in Regret
Episode 4
Uche journeyed to the neighbouring village, crossing the great sacred river that divided the two villages.
He stopped at interval to rest as he thought about what his father had said to him “Uche, don’t marry a second wife”.
It kept echoing in his head that he felt his father was right there with him.
He also thought about his friend Emeka and how the thought of getting a second wife has broken their childhood relationship.
“Emeka was more than a brother I never had, I just hope he understands me”, he sighed as he continued his journey.
The journey lasted for two days and finally he arrived at the village of the great Oshimiri, the river goddess.
In the village all the maidens were made to be dedicated to the river goddess at birth and they all had their sacred snakes which guided them, giving them protections from evil eyes.
Ifeoma, his supposed wife also had a snake she had nurtured from childhood which had grown into a full python.
Her late mother gave the snake to her to train from childhood. It became her only companion as a child because of this.
She didn’t feel the needed to relate with other children.
The neighbouring villages knew about this and none dared to attack Oshimiri because since the village was named after the great Oshimiri.
It was the most powerful village and even the warriors of the neighbouring villages went to Oshimiri for fortification before going to war.
Uche had gone to the village to fortify himself against the boar.
He once fought with the boar and the animal defeated him in the battle leaving marks on his body that was treated by his friend.
Emeka. He had to visit Oshimiri for fortification to be able to withstand the boar and any other animals in the forest.
There he met Ifeoma who caught his attention at first sight.
Ifeoma is the daughter of Ojuku, the great. The chief custodian of Oshimiri, he is fondly called the “oracle” by the villagers.
Arriving at Oshimiri, Uche went straight to the king of the land to pay homage as a sign of respect and humility.
In Oshimiri, when a man pays a peaceful visit, he must pay homage to the king as a sign of humility.
If he doesn’t, the village will see him as a threat and declare war.
After paying his respects to the king, he went to Ifeoma’s family compound.
At the entrance, he saw Ifeoma’s father coming out of the hut. Uche greeted him with “Ndewo o,” but Ojuku didn’t respond.
He heard about Uche abandoning his daughter to marry someone else but he didn’t know why.
He looked at him angrily, ” young man, what do you want”? Uche went on his knees “Nnayi, I know you are angry with me.
But please I have come to take your daughter, my wife back home to live with me.
Ojuku clears his throat and his eyes turned red, “my daughter will not be a second wife to anyone, leave my compound else I will slíce your throát and feed you to Oshimiri”.
Uche hesitated, dragging his feet, but Ojuku went into the hut and came out with a machete.
Then Uche knew he had to run. “Where are you going, Ojuku mocked.
Come back and marry my daughter. Do you know how I took care of her all by myself?
Now you want to reap where you did not sow.”
Ifeoma heard the sound in her sleep and decided to come and find out who had offénded her father.
“Father, I heard you scream. Is everything okay?” she asked.
He shook his head and then said, “It’s that gòod-for-nòthing man who abandoned you to get married to someone else.
He came asking for you to be his second wife”.
Ifeoma was shocked, although Uche said he would come back, she didn’t believe it until he finally showed up.
With a smile, she said, ‘I will marry him, father.’
Ojuku gave her a stêrnn look and screamed, ‘Over my deád bòdy!
“This abòminátion will never happen in my house!”
Thessycute Ekene
