2 Chapter Two

Life went on normal in Ogidi but certainly not in the blacksmith's compound, only a market day left for him to pay off his debt and everything seems to go wrong- people not bringing repairs nor buying his wares and his daughters not making a healthy profit from the previous market days.

He seems very sad, always pacing the compound, eating little and drinking palm wine not caring the time of the day was all he could do of late. Knowing he could not settle the debt on time and the outrageous conditions he agreed to if it happens weighed heavily on his mind.

'Papa, Mama we are going to collect firewood this evening from the forest because we would like to visit Rudu tomorrow morning.' Farida said.

'After digging up the yams and bringing them back home from the farm,' Rahma put in, picking up the two machetes and ropes from the ground.

Their father only gave them a strainy smile and continued sipping his palm wine. 'Okay my children but please come back before dark,' their mother said, not even looking up from the yam she was peeling for dinner.

As if the blacksmith's wife was waiting for her girls to go out of the house to talk to her husband, she placed the yam she just finished peeling on the fire adding all the ingredients for preparing yam porridge into the pot and turned to her husband. Kultu cleared her throat to get his attention.

Gulping down the rest of the palm wine, he raised an eyebrow at her as she made herself comfortable on the mat with him. 'What is it Kultu?' he asked.

'I was thinking that…'

'That what again?' he interrupted.

'That it is high time you tell the girls you are leaving for two whole seasons. It will hurt them when they come to know of it the night before your departure.'

He grunted about not wanting them to ever know but the look Kultu gave him was enough for him to say something reasonable, 'I know my dear, but I cannot  bear to see their faces looking hopeless knowing things are turning upside down for us? I cannot…' he trailed off feeling hopeless himself.

'I know it is hard but one of us has to tell them sooner rather than later and that person is you, my husband. They will surely understand my dear.'

Seeming frustrated, he said through gritted teeth 'it is two whole seasons, Kultu! For crying aloud, I will not be there for all of you and you are saying they will understand. It hurt even thinking of it.'

Kultu wiped the tears from her eyes and forced a smile to appear on her lips. She absolutely understood where he was coming from and she wanted him to accept the truth, 'Don't worry, the gods will watch over us my dear,' she tried assuring her beloved husband, wanting him to understand they had no other way to solve the problem at hand except trust the gods.

He stood from the mat angrily, 'the gods you say Kultu? Let me ask you, where were they when a wicked unknown person set Salame's house ablaze, where were they when she was burning alive and fighting to take another breath in this world? Just tell me what we did wrong for the gods to forsake us, is it that we don't give enough offering to them? Tell me Kultu, let me know because I want to know.' He rant and rave, pacing the compound like a caged animal.

The tears she tried holding back flowed down her cheeks freely, 'please don't say that, I believe what is happening to us is a test to see how strong we are and also our faith in them. Don't anger the gods with your words my husband.' She pleaded.

'Wonderful! I'll like just that maybe they will come up with a miracle before the market day and sadness may no longer befall my family.'

She hugged him from behind, stopping his movement. She sobbed quietly praying the gods have mercy on her family.

Feeling the tears of his wife soak the back of his shirt, he turned and hugged her feeling remorseful for his loss of temper. 'Shush! I'm sorry stop crying please my dear. I don't mean to be mad and make you shed tears.' He tried comforting her until her sobs gradually subsided.

Startled by the voice calling from the front of the house asking if anyone was home, Kultu pulled away from the comforting embrace and returned to the kitchen area to check on the porridge while her husband went to see who was outside the house.

'Mazi Ocarsh, Mona! What a pleasant surprise. Do come in please,' he said, moving to the side to allow them entrance.

'Good evening Shakur, how are you doing this evening? We passed by your working place but it was locked, hope all is well.' Mazi Ocarsh asked because he was a bit concerned.

'Evening my brother, I'm fine and all is well. The gods are watching over us.' He said with a tight smile. 'Kultu!' hailed Shakur.

'Yes my husband!' she answered from the kitchen area.

'Bring our visitors some palm wine and kola nuts please.'

'Okay my husband.' Kultu said, going to bring the palm wine for the two guests.

Serving his visitors the palm wine, he allowed them to take a sip before asking, 'forgive my curiosity Mazi Ocarsh, I do not mean to sound rude. It has been quite awhile since you and your nephew set your feet in my home. To what do I owe this visit, my brother?'

*****

Coming back from the forest, the two sisters noticed their father smiling at them sincerely even though he still seemed depressed, it was a welcome change for them.

During dinner, the family sat in the compound eating the delicious porridge in a comfortable silence. Only the sounds of crickets were heard around the compound. Farida was the first to break the silence, 'Mama your porridge is so delicious. I am sad it only remains a spoonful for me.' She said pouting, making them all burst in laughter.

'True to your words my dear, the porridge is delicious but as always all good things shall finish. I'm sure everyone's bowl is empty by now because mine is.' 'Am I correct my dear?' he asked Rahma.

'Yes Papa and thank you Mama for the delicious meal,' Rahma said, they always seem to amaze her. Not even for once did they ever have tired of putting a smile on her face and making her feel like their own blood and flesh.

'Go rinse the bowls and don't forget the pot too,' their mother said to them.

'And come back immediately when you finish, I have good news for you.' Their father said before drinking water.

They were fast in getting the task done. When they came back, their parents were whispering to each other not knowing the girls were already sitting on the mat opposite them looking with anticipation.

Rahma cleared her throat, interrupting them. 'you girls are back?' their father asked, taking his eyes from their mother to look at them. 

'Yes Papa.' They answered simultaneously.

'Mm…' he hesitated for a moment making them look at him expectantly. 'Mazi Ocarsh and one of his nephews were here today and the gentleman asked for your hand in marriage, Rahma.'

'Which of his nephews? Is it Mona?' she gazed at him waiting for his reply.

'Yes it was him, he is a complete gentleman but I said No to him.'

'No?' she asked in a whisper, the pure happiness that shone in her eyes a while ago disappeared replaced by sadness.

'Why say no to him Papa? Farida asked, knowing Rahma will be heartbroken from his decision. 'You said he is a gentleman yourself, you cannot just say no without a reason.'

'He only said no to Mazi Ocarsh because he wanted to ask you for your opinion,' their mother answered their desperate question calmly. 'He does not want to push you into a forced marriage my dear. So, what do you say about the marriage proposal?' 

'It's a yes Mama and thank you Papa for waiting to hear my opinion before giving your consent.' She said in tears.

Smiling at his daughters he said, 'It's a yes then, I'll go see Mazi Ocarsh tomorrow morning.'

'As early as possible I suggest and you,' Farida said, turning to her cousin sister, 'what is with the tears, little beauty?' she asked mockingly, hugging her tightly.

'Oh! Shut your mouth up, I'm just happy.' Rahma said, hugging her back.

'I am happy for you too, my elder sister.'

Shakur and Kultu watched their daughters hugging each other, happy to hear the good news. The blacksmith cleared his throat to get their attention. 'There is another news again for you, my little beauties,' he glanced nervously at his wife, who urged him with a smile to continue. 'I'm leaving you and your mother for the harmattan and rainy seasons to settle some issues and I will be back before you know it.'

'What? Why?' They asked in unison.

Shakur knew the question was coming and he couldn't escape from it. 'I have to fulfill a part of an agreement I accepted last season that I or any other family member could serve the chieftain if the debt is not paid in due time since we are not members of his clan and he cannot take any valuable possession of ours.'

'That's outrageous!' Rahma cried out not believing her ears while Farida just sat shocked, eyes glued to her father's face disbelievingly.

'Haven't the Chief tried for us? He added a whole season for us to be able to settle the debt even with his reputation of being ruthless. I know it is hard to take in but that's what your father has to do and we all know we cannot pay in full on the next market day.' Kultu said, saving her husband the trouble of explaining.

Farida ran to their hut devastated, hearing that her father was leaving them for two whole seasons came as a shock. 'Who is going to provide and comfort them in the time of distress? Did he think about what may happen before agreeing to such a condition?' she cried out in anger and disbelief. 

Rahma joined her in the hut, crying herself to sleep while she turned and tossed, unable to sleep. This is not the time to cry Farida and you have to think with your brain, she chastised herself.

'No! I won't sit here and mourn when I can definitely do something.' She thought aloud. Determined to do what seems reasonable, she walked out of the hut and straight to her parents' hut in the middle of the night. 

******

'No Farida, I won't allow it. Do you get me?' said her father sternly.

'Papa think about what will happen to us, think about Rahma. Mama please, let him understand.' She pleaded on the verge of tears.

'That's foolish of you to say, you are too young to go. Please listen to me for once in your life.'

'I cannot Mama, do you for once think of the hardship we will face when Papa is away? You said it yourself Mama, I'm still young and in my opinion, the right person to go. Moreover, I want to do this for Rahma, she deserves to be happy once again. If Papa is away for seasons, there is the possibility of Mazi Ocarsh withdrawing the proposal. Did you not see how happy she was today? She likes Mona Mama.'

She caught hold of her father's hand clutching on it. Farida knew her parents were worried but she urged them to understand with her, to see reasons. 'Papa, please. It is just two seasons and by then I will be twenty, ready to settle down with a gentle man, that is if one comes. Papa I'm begging you please.'

Her father stared at the burning hurricane lamp in the far corner of the hut not saying a single word while her mother sat weeping. The silence stretched, Farida clamped her lips waiting nervously for their response.

'Farida,' her father called, demanding her attention. Farida looked at him with all the seriousness and attention she could muster, hoping to hear something positive.

'Sit down.' He gestures towards the mat on the floor, 'hope you know the risk in what you are asking? He asked, his eyes roaming over her face.

'I do know that Papa.' She replied.

'Good and you do hear about his reputation, though I beg to differ because he has been nothing but kind to us.'

'Yes Papa.'

'I'm happy you know that.' He kept quiet for a while before saying, 'it is good to know you think about the family's good interest my daughter,' he said with all seriousness. 'For that I'll allow you but you have to promise me you will do any good thing he asks of you.'

She nodded her head, finding her throat suddenly dry and tight. Happy to know her father was allowing her to go serve the Ruthless Chieftain.

'Come here my dear.' her mother beckoned her. She hugged her daughter tightly to herself. 

'Mama, I cannot breathe.' Farida managed to say out, her mother pulled away laughing. 'I'm not yet leaving, we still have weeks for this kind of hug.'

'May the gods watch and protect you my dear. Now go have some rest, good night.' Kultu patted her daughter's head affectionately.

Alone on her sleeping furs, Farida smiled to herself, happy for the second time that night. She fell asleep promising to tell Rahma the change of their father's decision in the morning.