Donigspain - S01 E79

Story 2 years ago

Donigspain - S01 E79

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 79

We quickly took our baths

respectively before dashing out

to my grandmother’s compound

where the burial was to take

place. The distance between my

father’s compound and my

mother’s compound is not more

than 500 meters and so it took

us little time to reach the venue.

We arrived as the casket was

been carried into the room

already made available for it.

Villagers were all rushing

towards the casket to catch a

glimpse of the mighty woman

who had chaired the community

women for many years until the

coming of the unwanted visitor.

Ifeoma stood outside while I

went in to behold my beloved

grandmother lying in state. She

was just lying there peacefully

and ignorant of the happenings

around. I watched her for a

while and at some point drifted

away in thoughts. ‘So this is it?

One day I will be lying down

inside a casket, unaware of what

will become of my certificates.

Hmmm, life and its mysteries.’ I

left the room when the number

of sympathizers had tripled.

Some would walk in on their

own but had to be carried or,

better put, dragged away from

the room when they had started

wailing.

Tears were far from my eyes. I

needed to shed a few drops at

least to convince people that the

death of my grandmother pained

me. It looked awkward standing

hands akimbo with clear eyes.

One would think I am not

troubled but only me knows

what I was passing through. My

heart was broken. I stood there

remembering all the promises I

had made to her while she was

alive. I remembered us

discussing late into the night on

how she would bath my unborn

children. How she would sit in

the back sit of my car while I

cruise her around town. Those

memories where really piercing

my heart like a sharp pointed

knife yet tears refused flowing.

It was after I had sat for close to

fifteen minutes that I

remembered I had come with

someone – my Ifeoma. I looked

around but could not find her. My

heart skipped. Everywhere was

in chaos with people walking in

different direction, some having

their hands rested on their

heads. I took a walk to the main

entrance, looked around but yet

no sight of her. I was already

restless. A few drops of sweat

had started to form on my

forehead and around my nose.

‘Hmmm, I don’t trust these village

boys o! They can be mischievous

sometimes especially when they

see a pretty young girl.’

I quickened my pace back to my

mother’s family house. I was

about to make a complaint to my

mum when I saw a group of

young girls returning with

different loads on their head. At

closer look, behold my Ifeoma

carrying a bunch of firewood on

her head. It was a sight I will

never forget. It looked funny yet

graceful. Seeing her amongst the

young maidens gave a more vivid

picture to her character. She

smiled on sighting me from afar.

Her gap teeth displaying its

radiance like the Close Up

adverts. Some women helped her

lift off the load and she then

walked towards me.

“Nne, odikwa ka village life ga e

fit gi” I joked. She laughed and

reminded me how she had once

lived in the village with her

parents when they were still

alive. “That means I will leave you

here and go,” I teased. We joked

for a while before she excused

herself to return to duties. I saw

some old women ask themselves

whose daughter this ‘nwa ada’

that is helping out is. I smiled to

myself as I walked out to meet

with a cousin of mine.