TRADITION
Episode 2
I tiptoed back to the backyard, what I heard shocked me to the marrow. My legs couldn’t carry me anymore so I slumped on the small kitchen stool beside me.
How could my in-laws plan to do such a thing to me, why didn’t Andrew inform me of their tradition before we got married, my head was already spinning, and the thought of being buried with my late husband made me feel like throwing up.
I knew it was pointless to cry, if I needed to be alive then I had to be strong for myself. I Stood up energetically and tiptoed to where they were still having the meeting and placed my ears on the door to listen more.
“What if one of the women here decides to tell her about our tradition and she decides to run away?” My husband’s elder brother asked
“That is my thought exactly, what if the secret is leaked to her and she runs away” one of his uncle’s said
“Then it is very simple, we have to inform all the able bodied men in this village to surround the village, they will be instructed not to let her leave this village no matter what” the oldest man said
“That is a great idea, afterall the burial will be in three days time, so we could bury both of them and get over and done with this”
“Felix go and check if she is done with the cooking”
“Okay uncle”
Immediately I heard “okay uncle” I rushed out of my hiding place to where I was cooking, I sat down hastily, and few seconds later he approached me
“Our wife, howfa with the food, you are taking too long, we are already famished because of the aroma” Felix teased
“Ehya, I just finished cooking, don’t worry just go inside, I will serve the food in less than five minutes ” I replied him
“Alright” he left
I twisted my nose in disgust and proceeded in serving them the food.
That night I couldn’t sleep, I kept turning on my bed and thinking of what to do, how was I going to escape without being caught, I kept thinking but no idea came to me.
I called my elder brother and explained everything to him, he was obviously angry and disgusted with such a barbaric tradition, but he had to calm down and think of a way to get me out of this place.
After many hours of being on the phone with him, he finally ended the call with the promise that he would think of what to do.
The next morning, everything went normal, the villagers were there to assist me with the preparation for the vigil night the next day, they treated me so well including my husband’s relatives, at some point, I doubted if they truly want to harm me.
The whole day passed with my brother and I not coming up with an idea, I went to bed praying and hoping to be the first person to escape such devilish act.
On the day of the vigil, my brother called me early in the morning and informed me to get ready that he would take me home. “What??” I shouted, are you out of your mind? This village is surrounded by the village youths, how do you think we will escape from here?
“Relax, I can’t just fold my hands and watch them bury you alive, we have to start from somewhere and leave the rest to God” my elder brother replied calmly
“Brother this is not about God o, we are totally on our own, and I think this your decision is very risky and it will not work out” I replied coldly.
“I have made my decision, I will not forgive myself if anything happens to you, get ready, I will come with Samson our junior brother” he said and ended the call.
