The Good Side of Karma

Present Day. Asaba

It's my daughter's wedding. A joyful day. I couldn't contain the happiness. The government has just given me just twenty pounds for my millions in the bank. I was a trader before I abandoned that to take up arms to defend my family.

Well, that was yesterday. I have lived to see today. Though my daughter's suitor had been here before, I didn't have the time, maybe because of the joy, I can't tell why, to ask of his hometown. Today he will make that clear because he was coming with family to marry my daughter, Chinwe. She was born during the war. Now she's a beautiful, black haired, twenty-three-year old lady. Looking more like her mother than me.

I took an early bath. I must be gitterning with nervousness. I quickly dressed up, knowing fully well that my only surviving brother, Chinedu, will soon be here to blab away. He can talk for years without wiping his mouth. Our senior brother, Nwaeze, died in Nsukka at the beginning of the war. He was a sight to behold. Tall and huge but a lot quiet because he stammers. My father told me he is his father reincarnated. My grandfather fought for the British during the Second World War. He just "returned" with a gold watch and a bicycle, a White Horse.

Dressed in my traditional regalia, I awaited my in-laws. Before long, Chinedu waltzed in, carrying his trademark stick and putting on a black trouser and a white shirt. He is not that interested in traditional attires. He simply looked at me, with as much as a nod and he took the seat nearest to me.

I took it that he wasn't in his usual talking mood and I left him alone. Outside, the noise of women, who gathered since morning to help my wife to cook for our soon-to-be in-laws, kept increasing. It seems more have joined their ranks. They kept working like ants on an anthill.

Not long after the old clock in my parlor chimed twelve, we heard a hooting of horns of a convoy of cars.

"Dede, it seems they have arrived ", I informed my brother, who seems to have fallen asleep. I didn't take as much as a glance at him before standing up and going outside. With the corner of my eye, I noticed he has stood up too and joined me, clearing the little trace of spittle from the corner of his mouth. A usual custom of his from childhood.

We strolled outside to meet my daughter's soon to become new family. They are about fifteen. A few old women came with them but there was still speckle of young marriable ladies among them. Maybe my senior brother can finally fulfil his dream of marrying again. I just smiled at the thought of that. My Dede always believes he can still find love. I sighed and straightened my shirt.

Something about the man who just stepped out of the leading vehicle seem familiar. I just couldn't place it but had to hold my questions as I escorted my soon-to-be-in-laws inside our living room. I shook hands with the men, hugged some women, as we waited for my own people to join the expiated gathering in our living room.

With the corner of my eye I could see the seemly familiar man watching me with unusually interest. Who is he? A government official sent to check if I was still unrepeated?

Rumour has it that some rebels have gone underground and the government is trying hard to fish them out and totally end the war. To most of us, the war has ended, whether the so-called "Freedom fighters" accept it or not. We have seen enough.

I couldn't hold it any more. I walked up to him, because he sat at the other end of the room. Meanwhile, my people have started tickling in, some greeting old friends, others just lazing around and making themselves comfortable.

"Nwanne. Brother. Where have we met?", I said in my language, stretching out a hand for a hand shake. Then, it all started coming back. Wait! Is this not? No, it can't be!

"Musa!"

I didn't know when I shouted and I hugged the already standing man, who couldn't contain the excitement too. It drew the attention of everyone. We hugged tighter. How our children met never mattered anymore. Maybe after the wedding we can find out but I was overjoyed to see my savior. Maybe karma wasn't bad after all.