Oshaka

Chapter 1

"Ehee..mama Emeka...is that so?" the two women's voices echoed in the darkness. One could hear the crickets this time. The wind blew gently and trees danced in unison to the wind.

The compound was a large one . The huts were all aligned in a semi circular pattern , except one which stood ahead of the others.
It was the Obi. The voices came from the last hut which belonged to Nnediya. The moon shone brightly as the two women laughed and talked.

"So Emeka made such a remark?"

"Yes. My husband's wife."

It was Nnediya and Ujunwa both wives of Oshaka the village warrior. Oshaka had already married five wives while seeking for a male child and it was his last wife Ujunwa that gave birth to Emeka who was just 5 years old.

Nnediya was the fourth wife and had three daughters. The first wife Nneka had four girls for Oshaka and after the fifth one which died at infancy, Oshaka decided to marry a second wife.
Apu was his second wife. It was as if the gods answered his prayers when Apu gave birth to a baby boy, but after seven days just a day to it's circumcision, it died. Everyone was left in shock. Oshaka became a broken man. Some people suspected Nneka but surprisenly Apu protected her saying it was not possible that a woman who helped her so much during pregnancy could not  the heart to kill her son. After she gave birth to a girl, Oshaka married a third wife Orjiugo.

Unfortunately Orjiugo never gave birth to any child. Out of worrying and constant abuse by people who called her all sorts of names  she killed her self after jumping off the Ezuma bridge which was known as the boundary between Ntigha and it's neighboring village Ozurumba.

"It seems our husband will come home late" Nnediya said with a worried look on her face .

"It is so. Let us go inside and feed the children."Ujunwa replied carrying her bench over to her hut.

It was already very dark and Oshaka had not come back. The women grew tired and weary. It was Nneka's turn to cook and she had long since done that. She dared not sleep because of the incident that happened with Ujunwa the last time she cooked and fell asleep while waiting for their husband.

"Ngwanu ka chi fuo."  Apu said taking her stool and walking towards her hut.

"Ka chi fuo." Nneka replied with a worried look .

"Don't worry too much. He will soon be back." Apu's words sounded reassuring. Nneka only nodded in response.

It could be told that from the way the moon shone, it was already very late. Nneka paced up and down her small hut.

"O gini jizi nwoke a?" She said suddenly.

Gathering herself up from the wooden bed where she sat briefly, she took her lamp and went out.

Soon voices could be heard, slightly the gate to the compound opened and slowly it closed giving way to a tall muscular man.

"O chim", Nneka said when she saw Oshaka approach his Obi.

Oshaka had gone out with his friend Umelu who was also his neighbor. They came back together from a meeting which as the wives gathered had been dismissed since evening.

After sometime Oshaka came out of his Obi and headed towards Nneka's hut .
Quickly she scrambled about the tiny room gathering the Akpu and Egwusi soup she had prepared which was placed carefully by the corner of the room.

"Nno my husband."she greated while genuflecting.

"Yes my wife . You have done well." He said washing his hands and grabbing a very big size of the Akpu.

Nneka dared not talk while he was eating or whenever he came home late just like this night. She waited quietly for him to finish his meals. After he was done eating he signaled her to come with him to his Obi.

Translations

Obi : The house of the husband.

Ezuma bridge:  A bridge

"Ngwanu ka chi fuo .":  Okay Goodnight

"Ka chi fuo." :  Good night or may you see the next day.

"O gini jizi nwoke a?":  "What is holding this man?"

"O chim.":  "O my God."

"Nno my husband." :  "Greetings my husband."

Egwusi soup:  Melon soup.

Akpu :  (is like semovita or starch).

Hey🙋🙋
How did you see this? Hope you enjoyed reading. Cause I enjoyed writing it.
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🙈🙈Adios amigo
🤧 Don't know if I got it though..I am trying to learn Spanish.🤧🤧