Mama's call was all I needed to wake me up from my sea of reminiscence, stealthily I walked as my weary feet could carry me and in no distant time I was standing before what I will call "bundle of golden memories", I was dazed by the sight of him, we stared at each other for some seconds then he roared " bia Chigozie, so you think because you have seen and eaten with oyibo, you have automatically became gold that everybody must come and seek ehh ogbehia" this words came with the same ever bright smile and jovial intonation, without bidding an eyelid I retort, " come ooo whatever you call yourself since when did sand become the mate of gold eeh this son of mazi Okonkwo ,I can see that the spirit of the animals your father has hunted are already at work in you, better appeal to your chi to pardon you and no put the sins of your father on you" I said smiling.
He looked at me with an eye of surprise "we shall see when the drummers roll out the drums then the earth will pick side" with this he threw his arms out and once more my legs betrayed me as it ran towards his embrace and gave me a hug that was only peculiar to an hunter for I was grasping for breath until I reminded him that I was not a pillow or his wife and to this he smiled, gentle yet firm, I was lost momentarily in his embrace.
I fought cries but I prevailed not for the warmness of his embrace linger like the morning dew." Meshunu gi ( shut up),I thought you were a man now you want to soil my dress with you tears", he said in a sober tone,It is not because of you I am crying it because of the innocent antelope I hear crying from the smell in you cloths I said giggling ," I know you will always have something to say ,you this small boy of yesterday" he said with the tone of one who has being alive since creation, well this morning my trap caught a deer and I had to butcher it and put it on dryer before I came here he explained .
Obinna was not as plumpy as he used to be maybe because the aura of prominence accorded to him in his early days has dwindled off but he certainly had retained that passion for adventure in his eyes. His voice became sober as he recount how he hatched various plans to ensure he was with me and none saw the light of day, hence gradually I faded from his memory and as a way to forget me he got enmeshed in hunting with his father,bright smile and laughter at interval accompanied each tale of his hunting adventure, to this I listened like one expecting a blessing from a dying father.
We talked at length about how life has being since we parted seven years ago, laughter and smile bubbled in the air, until the aroma of mama's soup dislodged this bubble. mama came with a bowl of fufu and afang soup that was overwhelmed by all sought of meat, " Obinna my son undoo " she said." Khedu" he replied " how is your father?" She asked, the old man is getting better was the reply,Mazi Okonkwo had mistakenly stepped on a trap which has left him bedridden for four Eke market days.
I thanked mama f and pounced on the food like a wounded lion going after his prey and trust Obinna he needed no invitation to join in, like a hunter he ate until I begged him to wash his hand, to did he roared with laughter, " so you can beg abi!!!" He said with a grim I have never seen...
I bade him farewell with the promise of going to see him and his family immediately after meeting with the elders.
One of the sons of the elders came with the news that my presence was needed in the council of the elders.
Upon this news I freshened up immediately and set out for the market square to meet the elder unaccompanied by my mother, for such place was no place for a woman save on very rare occasions which she must carry out certain purification rite to appear presentable.
🌹The Beginning of my Dilemma 🌹
I walked the bushy path that led to the market square with a mind oblivious of what was to befall me for my aspirations were high but little did I know that my fate was not in my hands nor even that of the elders for ( to be continued)...
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