11/11/2023
STRUGGLING FOR LOVE 💖
Chapter six
Tah! Tah!! Tah!!!!!
"Jesus!!!!!!!!
I shouted opening my eyes as I saw my grandma with her Cain stretched out to me to flog me.
"what did I do grandma?. I cried out jumping from one place to another as I begged.
"I will not let you put me to shame in this village because of your stubbornness. I have told you severally that I must not see you with that girl but still you went ahead and do as you want right?. she said why lashing the Cain on me.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!!! grandma please forgive me please!!!!. I said pleading in tears as I realized I was only fooling myself all these while.
"I don't think you will ever listen because it seems as if she has Bewitched you with what I don't know. imagine, just imagine how you acted for me not quite long telling me you're sick just because you felt I might have seen you. Yes! I saw you two but I just wanted to know how you will pretend not seeing me in which you actually did okwaya!.
I began to regret why I went to see Ada and while I would love her, infact that instance the love desire in me quenched immediately with hatred and determination never to talk to her again.
"I think this is even the right time for your parents to come because I can't condone this anymore before you turn to something else in this Village. she said after beaten me while she closed the door behind me.
I crawled to a corner beside my bed as I sobbed wishing my parents would just come to take me away before she finished my life with beaten.
SOME DAYS LATER
I wasn't happy with my grandma after the beaten as I prefer staying alone after eating without talking to her unless my parents call. I decided not to go out either to the extent I didn't open the door for Emeka when he came over like thrice. One afternoon after my grandma returned from her market she called me and sit me down telling me I shouldn't be cold at her for what she did to me that it's for my own good and because I disobeyed her.
"which of my own good. I said in my mind looking away from her.
"you know I have been telling you I don't want you around any girl in this village most especially that Ada I....
"what about her? why do you insist on her all the time? why?. I asked cutting her shut.
"hmm' obi, obi nwa! you know I love you so much and you are also my only grandchild.
I said yes I know as she continues.
"you know ever since you came to the village is when so many people always wanted to associate with you.
I said yes I know.
"and you also know I told you that it's not everyone you see that has pure heart, some might be out of jealousy or hatred in which they might act to love you but doesn't like you.
"what makes you say so mama fashion?. I asked.
"good boy. She said adjusting her wrapper.
She began to tell me how she was called wi tch doing her early stage in marriage due to her not having a child. That, at some point they almost Stone her to de ath one day at the market square if not for the interference of my late grandfather and mama Emeka who stood out to stand against them from doing so.
"ha!. I said exclaiming watching as she cleans her tears.
She said God eventually answered her after 9 years of barrenness in which she had my mother Ogechi. She said but still, as if some of them doesn't want her happiness to be fulfilled as they took her husband away from her 3days after she gave birth.
"what happened to him?. I asked almost in tears.
"he got knocked down by mama Ada brothers car because of his reckless driving.
"but, what if it was not intentional. I asked as she smiled.
She told me some eye witness testify it at the station. But, because he's a son of one of the wealthy influencer in the village his de ath case was swipe under the carpet.
"but, how does that concern Ada mother?. I asked.
She then said Ada mother was the fore frontier who was going against her saying she was trying to implicate her brother because she's very poor as she know there won't be money for her to do the final right for her husband.
"but, that was too harsh from her". I said.
"yes, you're right. So, I want you to imagine how I felt that time because I was left with a weary heart crying for several months over my late husband without anyone coming up to check on me.
"ha!. so sorry mama fashion. I said cleaning my tears.
She then said that was why she was really angry at her when she came over to thank her because I saved her daughter.
"I got really scared that day when you got injured that, what if those boys ended up beaten you to de ath because of her daughter, what would have become of me again. is it that my grandson will now give his own life in replacement to her daughter life after everything she has done to me. I know Ada is a good girl but the home she is Born from is what I don't want you to have anything to do with. she said crying.
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
I felt really sad for everything mama fashion told me as I promised to let go off Ada as she has wished.
She was happy as she told me that if not because of how she struggled to raise my mother even when at some point she was opting to dump her somewhere because of the way she was not able to feed her well. she said while she was at the market one-day that someone came to buy yam from her as he forgot his purse on her table in which she was expecting him to come back for it in which he didn't show up till the next day.
She said she decided to open the purse to get what she can use get the owner until she saw a phone number in which called and was directed to where she would bring it.
"my son, infact if you see this big house that I went to that day ehn! it was as if I was dreaming, as I was even scared if it was not a kidnappers den because I haven't set my eyes on such place before. the man came out from the house as he looked so happy after receiving the purse as he invited me into the house.
"And you followed him?. I asked while laughing.
"of course!. infact your mother was the most excited one as we entered in which she began to look everywhere like heaven.
hahahaha. I laughed continuously and asked what age my is then.
"she was 10 years then. she said as I shouted.
"she's grown already na!. I said.
"yes, she is. so, as we entered oo that was how a boy of her age came out and was looking at your mother in which the man told him he can play with her. We sat as I was asked if I needed anything. ha! I looked at the man smiling telling him not to bother that I would like to be going instead. he insisted as he told me I really did a great thing in his life by returning the purse because he never thought he could have left it at my stall.
He asked me to say whatever I want that he will be glad to do it. I thought for a second as I went on my knees and began to beg him if he can just assist me in taking care of my daughter that I would be so glad. I was actually thinking he would decline until he told me to sit back that I shouldn't worry that he will be sponsoring her education till she finished higher education.
I jumped up in excitement why praying for the man.
"my dear If you see the excitement on my face that day ehn! as I was rolling on the floor thanking him. Infact that moment I knew God doesn't sleep nor slumber at all. so, after your mother finished her school and also served she met your father, guess who he is.
"my father of course!. I answered immediately not thinking otherwise.
"it was the generous man son. she said as I jumped up in excitement.
"Really?. I shouted.
"yes. but, his father and mother was later ki led by assassin.
"Jesus!!! why? who ki lled my grandparents? . I shouted as she nodded her head.
"The assassinator are yet to be known as I'm speaking, although is more than 18 years now.
"ha! people are wicked ooo. I said.
"exactly my pikin! but, it's not all but the evi l doers have made someone to be blindfolded in seeing the good ones.
I hugged Mama fashion as she lay my back telling me to be caution of myself before my parents will come. that she doesn't want to cry over anyone again. that's why you do see me dressing to kill anytime if I'm going to party or anywhere because I have said to enjoy myself till I reach 150 years.
"ha! mama fashion that is too much na! who will then be staying with you that time or you don't know you might have turned to skeleton. I said jokingly as we both laughed.
She said apart her not wanting me to associate with Ada because of her mother that she also heard something at their meeting when someone told her that she overheard mama Ada telling some other women that she is feeling too big among them e Everytime maybe because of her grandson who's a glorious child. so, just imagine such statement what if they have gone somewhere to check your glory and perhaps she doesn't have boy at all as grandchild, so, what if she decided to plot with her daughter to have you ki lled one day without you knowing.
"God forbid! . I said immediately while rejecting it.
"I know they are all jealous of me because of how my status suddenly changed. my daughter is the first girl in this Village to ever do a laborated wedding that different timbers and caniber attended it with so much merry.
I knee down and begged her to please forgive mama Ada that, not because of Ada but because the Bible says we should have the spirit of forgiveness. she looked at me and tells me she had long forgiven her but as how not to have anything doing with her family till dea th take her.
I felt so relieved and happy because I was able to hear the good and sad part of grandma story.
NEXT DAY.
I woke up looking worried in the morning due to the dream I had about seeing Ada in a mermaid form again as she was begging me to help her remove the tail that she want her legs back. I was trying to pull the skin of the tail down but it seems I was hurting her as she cried rolling on the sand. I felt a strong wind blowing me off as I hit my back on a tree as I saw like 3 women beaten her up seriously as she cried.
I tried getting up to go and rescue her but it seems my body we're so heavy that I couldn't lift my hands not to talk if my body. I watched as Ada kept crying while calling on me to help her as I suddenly opened my eyes with heaviness and sweating all over.
I don't even know if I should tell my grandma about it or not because I don't know what she might say about it. It kept bothering me as I became worried about Ada. After the daily house work my grandmother told me that my mother is called her that they will be coming to the village the next day to pick me.
I was surprised by what she said and Wondered when they arrive that I wasn't told.
"mama fashion, why will they come and pick me tomorrow? I thought they're just coming from overseas?. I asked Hera's she smiles.
"it's because your mother said I shouldn't let you know that they are back to Nigeria some days ago because they need to clear some things urgently before coming over to pick you surprisingly.
"No! I don't like such surprise grandma they should have let me know. I said I'm which she begged me not to be angry that it's all for my own good that I should be happy.
I wasn't happy at all as my mind kept thinking about Ada and the dream. I asked my grandma if I can go and see Emeka, she declined saying she doesn't want me to go out for now as she will need to prepare for my parents coming and also gathered all my belongings to be ready before their arrival.
I had no choice than to accept to what she said and stayed indoor why praying that Emeka should just showed up. Around evening when my grandma returned from the market she met catching cold while sitting on the chair. she quickly went inside to get me some medicine and to prepare me tea in which I rejected not to take. As she was still persuading me someone knocked the door and as she goes to open it it turns out to be Emeka. I jumped up towards the door as my grandma quickly held until me from falling because I was seriously shaking.
"be careful now!. she said shouting at me.
immediately she goes in I look at Emeka whose lip was shaking.
"what happened?. I asked him immediately.
my grandma comes out again and asked why he came at this time. he told my grandmother that he only came to check on me as he was afraid maybe something happened to me because I didn't show up at all for some days now. my grandma smiled and thank him for being a good friend as she went in leaving us alone. I looked at Emeka again in which I knew he just lied to my grandma because he wasn't smiling saying those words.
"what happened Emeka?. I asked again while still shaking.
he stood up and looked around to be sure my grandma is really inside.
"don't say whatever you want to say. I said while scared already.
"it's Ada!. he said trembling in which I held unto him.
"what happened to Ada!. I asked shouting in which my grandma came out running because of how I shouted
To be continue😏
