Ini

𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊

The dark sky danced with tiny stars as Abike Balogun walked through the forest with a Calabash in her hands. Her heart beating fast as the wind blew tremendously on her skin and she wished her attire had not been a white wrapper tied on her chest that did nothing to protect her bare skin.

Whispering the chants that Baba Ade had given her, she hoped that she would be answered. She winced when she stepped on a branch and it pricked her skin, causing blood to ooze out. She wanted to stop and see the damage that may have been done but she remembered what Baba Ade had said.

"Iyawo Balogun, e gbo daradara. Maṣe da duro lakoko irin-ajo lọ si oriṣa ti Ife. Ti o ba da, o ku. Ranti!" He had screamed countless times in her ears. (T=Balogun's wife, listen carefully. Don't ever stop during the journey to The goddess of Ife. If you stop, you die. Remember!)

Abike, even with the horrible pain, continued her journey. She wasn't going to stop until she met with the goddess and got what she wanted. That determination was what Abike was known for in Araba village; she had zeal but after so many years of waiting, she lost the patience to wait any longer for what she wanted; she wanted it now and fast.

As she continued her chants, she walked deeper into the forest, never looking back as that was one of the instructions given to her by Baba Ade. She knew better than to disobey his instructions. If anyone did otherwise, then doom was spelt in their future.

The chirping of crickets and the incoherent noises some animals around the forest made caused her to look around frantically in fear but the coldness that the river brought made her know that she was closer.

She wanted to hasten her steps but she thought against it as she remembered yet another instruction from Baba Ade. She smiled triumphantly as she hoped that this would make her husband, Abayomi Balogun, happy.

She pushed a branch out of her as she walked onto the banks of the river. The sand tickling her feet as she made her way to the small rock that Baba Ade had told her the ritual should take place. She placed her Calabash on the rock and unwrapped a candle, kolanuts and cowries from her tied wrapper.

She knelt down as she opened her Calabash; the bush meat inside of it properly roasted according to the satisfaction of Goddess Ife. She took a handful of the kolanuts and whispered chants into it before throwing it into the Calabash. She lit the candle with the matchstick she had brought, before shakily throwing the cowries around the calabash.

She held the lit candle as she stood up before gazing at the river. I can do this was what kept ringing in her ears as she walked towards the river. Taking in steady breaths, she watched the fireflies glisten as they flew about. She was glad that they were around her- there were the only things that was calm around the river.

She hoped for the best as she dismissed any thoughts of the worst things that could happen to her. She prayed that the sacrifice- the bush meat- would be sufficient for goddess Ife.

Her feet shivering as she walked deeper and deeper into the river. The cold of the river sending shivers down her spine as her heartbeat raced at how close she was to her getting what she wanted. When the water had reached her chest area, she stopped.

"Oriṣa Ife! Mo pè e!" She yelled as she started the last part of the ritual, "wá siwaju mi! Fifun niwaju rẹ! Oriṣa Ife ti abule Araba! Mo wa niwaju rẹ! Wá! Wá! Wá!" (T= Goddess Ife! I call upon you!" She yelled as she started the last part of the ritual, "come before me! Bestow your presence! Goddess Ife of Araba village! I seek your presence! Come! Come! Come!")

The air around her became terribly cold as she knew the Goddess was arriving. The sounds of animals in the forest bristled through her ears as the bats in hiding flew haphazardly around her. Her heartbeat raced even faster as she heard trembling. The water around her became so cold that she thought about running out but she knew that there was no going back.

She tried to feign bravery but deep down, she was horrified as thoughts of death raced through her mind. "No!" She thought, "I will not die until my request is answered."

She shut her eyes as she continued whispering the last verse that Baba Ade had taught her when she felt the presence of Orisa Ife. (T= Goddess Ife)

"Abike Balogun!" She heard and snapped open her eyes, before coming face to face with Orisa Ife. She gulped and tried to stop her shaking hands as the presence of Orisa Ife terrified her.

Orisa Ife floated over the river as everything suddenly came into a halt; no more chirping, screaming birds or the slapdash movement of scared or possessed bats. Just Abike faced with Orisa Ife.

"O pe fun mi." Orisa Ife said, her lips painted with red as Abike thought whether it was lipstick or the blood of another. (T= You called for me)

"Oriṣa Ife, ẹni ti o pinnu kadara abule Araba. Oniwun awọn odo, awọn ẹja ati gbogbo ẹda alãye. O ṣeun fun ibukun mi pẹlu wiwa rẹ." Abike said, bowing slightly at her presence. She wished she could stay this way; the blue eyes that Goddess Ife possessed was one that you could stare at till infinity. It was beautiful but the look she had wasn't pleasing. (T= Goddess Ife, the one who decides the destiny of the Araba village. The owner of the rivers, fishes and every living creature. Thank you for blessing me with your presence)

Orisa Ife's black hair made into threads that stood in angles that made Abike remember the girl in her village that once got possessed. Her black attire was unreasonably horrifying but Abike shooed away all those thoughts as she wondered if Orisa Ife could read minds.

Abike stood up straight and Orisa Ife let out a blood chilling laughter before coming back to a stern look. Her voice was thunderous and slightly annoyed as she asked, "kini o fe iyawo Balogun?" (T= what do you want Balogun's wife?)

"Mo ni ibere lati ṣe Goddess Ife." Abike quietly said as she prayed that her worst fear wouldn't come true; rejection and probably death. (T= I have a request to make Goddess Ife)

Goddess Ife had a smile plastered on her lips as she could sense fear in Abike's eyes. Her smile widened as she said, "beere ohunkohun ati pe emi yoo ṣe." (T= ask anything and I will do it).

Abike's eyes widened in shock as her face wore a smile of its own. She was finally going to get it, after all these years of waiting. Her prayers and patience was finally bearing fruit.

She bowed her head in respect as she said, "Mo fe omo, Orisa Ife. Mo fẹ ọmọ kan." (T= I want a child, Goddess Ife. I want a baby)