Palingenesis - Season 1 - Episode 19

5 years ago

Palingenesis - Season 1 - Episode 19

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**present time continued***
“I am Babatunji” the voice replied.

“Babatunji? , who is Babatunji, what does Babatunji want from me” he inquired and waited for the voice to reply but all he got was an indefinite silence. He waited and waited until he slept off.

He hadn’t heard the voice again since then until the voice called out his name again just now.

“Babatunji is that you” he asked in order to ascertain if it was truly him.

“Yes it’s me, I’ve come to warn you” the voice said

“Warn me about what”
“You will see everything in the morning, just be very careful and watchful” said the voice.
“I don’t understand, please explain it to me” he tried to probe further but the voice had gone mute again. He tarried a little longer than usual before finally sleeping off hoping the voice would speak again but nothing happened.

Dawn came as fast as it could, the sun came out early and shone brightly through the window into Isaac’s eyes, he was still struggling to sleep since it was Saturday and he didn’t have any special reason to wake up early. Just when he was starting to enjoy the sleep again, he started hearing noises from the compound. He tried to not get distracted hence he won’t be able to sleep again but the noise kept on pounding.

“Who tha F is making such noises so early in the morning” he cussed and stood up to check what was going on outside. Just as he opened the door, he saw a very beautiful girl standing with some guys who were unpacking loads from a truck, if he hadn’t learnt a lot about coloureds and half-cast, he would have concluded that the girl was an oyinbo (a white).

“Hello there, i’m gon be your new neighbour henceforth, sorry I had to disturb you guys this morning by packing in this early but I had to move in because the diploma course I registered for has already commenced and I don’t want to miss too much” she said with a very sweet and smooth British accent.

Isaac could barely hear any of the thing she said due to her accent and also due to him being lust in her beauty, he kept on staring at her keenly and when he realised the girl was expecting him to say something he tried to do so but he was just speechless.

“Auch sorry people say I talk too much and am really trying to work on that” she said as she approached him with an outstretched hand. Isaac reciprocated and they shook hands, her hand felt so cold and soft so much that he didn’t realise he was still holding unto the hand.
“My name is Beatrice, am a mixed race from a british mother and a nigerian father which practically makes me a Nigerian” she paused and smiled.

Isaac smiled back so as to show her that he’s following what she is saying.

“So won’t you introduce yourself to me” she asked

“Ohh pardon my manners, my name is Isaac” he managed to say and tried to shake hands with her again, that was when he realised he was still clinging unto her hands. “Oopz sorry about that” he said shyly and let go of her hand. They both smiled.

“Okay Isaac nice to meet you but I have to go and supervise the unpacking of my loads, as soon as am done arranging my room. I will come meet you so you can show me around”
“It will be my pleasure ” Isaac replied and then she left for her room.

***Unknown time***
Babatunji’s returning home from the market where he’d gone to sell his farm produce. He really harvested a lot and was very happy that the gods were smiling on him and his sister, he just passed by the chief priest’s shrine, he thought about going to pay his homage to the priest and then he turned back, heading to the shrine.

The chief priest was so happy to see him, the little boy that he helped to deliver has grown into a man and he was so excited about it. The priest has grown very very old which makes some villagers wonder if he will ever die again. Some even concluded that he has done the ritual of immortality for himself.

“Babatunji Omo Ajadi Igo, quite a long time, how are you and your sister, hope you guys are coping after your father and mother’s death” he asked

“Baba we are coping, the gods are really smiling on us” he replied excitedly
“My son am really happy about the kind of man you have grown into but their is something about you that I don’t seem to understand ” the old man said with a very concerned tone

“Baba what is that, am I not doing something right, are the gods angry with me” he asked
“I really can’t explain, it’s like there’s a strange Aura around you, come and speak with ifa” the man replied him pointing to the white piece of cloth la!d infront of him.

Babatunji who seemed to be conversant with the way it is done quickly brought some cowries out, said some words to it and dropped them on the white piece of clothes. The old priest performed some incantations, it took him a lot of time because he wasn’t as fast and agile as he used to be due to his old age.

“Why is death looming around you” the old priest asked him after he was done with his incantations.

“Death? ” he exclaimed
“Yes my son, something is not right. Run home and come back to tell me what’s happening” the priest instructed.

Just as he was about to exit the shrine the priest called him back

“Babatunji, no matter what you see at home, run back here immediately without any hesitation” he said

Babatunji who has now gotten used to running anytime something bad is about to befall him ran like a mad man, he ran like his whole destiny depended on it. When he entered his house, he found both Ashake and Abeni lying on the ground lifelessly, he wanted to feel their pulse and check if they’re still alive but he remembered the chief priest’s instructions. He immediately rushed back to the shrine.

“Baba my sister and my intended bride is lying on the ground lifelessly” he said as he was panting.

“Calm down my son” the man replied him and started reciting the incantations again.
“My son, they are at the point of death” the priest spoke softly

“Baba they can’t die, please help me, what can we do” he pleaded

“There’s nothing we can do, one of them have to die, all you can do is to save one and allow one to die” he replied

“Baba I love the both of them, I can’t save one and let another die” he started crying.
“Would you rather watch the two of them die”
“Noo baba please, they can’t die”
“My son, we have limited time else the both of them will die if you don’t reach a decision right now” priest

Babatunji closed his eyes and thought about it, he loved his sister Ashake so much, they have been together their whole lives, she would have sacrificed her life for him without a second thought. Abeni on the other hand has been a pillar of support for him all through his life, he loves her and she loves him too, she would gladly give her life for him also but he could only save one of them.

“Which one of them have you decided to save” the chief priest asked.