River Of Love

Episode 6

The high sunlit clouds drifted across a clear blue sky that was full of tumultuous, dark and ragged clouds. It was like that of a mackerel with crimson and amber tinted ; probably a grey afternoon with a dull sky threatening with a promising rain.

I sat on a piece of rock that laid on the side of the river. Despite sitting beside the lady my heart yearns for, I was still wearing a glum all over my face. We watched as the water babbles as it traveled along its bed bubbling over little rocks and branches like a brook.

Finally the silence was over, I had been facing downwards all day, she raised my face up; touching my chin with her right hand as she requested what the problem was. I complained bitterly on the situation of our land and how the king has not been fair in his decisions. On the second thought I wondered why she seemed so free like she was less concerned or wasn't affected by the shortcomings and afflictions that have befallen our land, obviously she must be from a very wealthy family but also I knew almost everyone of that kind in Ebeni.

"I wish to strangle the king if i could", I muttered. "You will do no such thing" she interrupted, although the king has not been fair with his ruling but eliminating him wouldn't be the best decision; as she continued.

I noticed you are educated, intelligent and different from the other guys in the community, why don't you try together with the elders and chiefs, change the kings mind, make him see things right and change his decision or better still write a petition to the state government explaining the situation of our land, am sure if you do that severally, the matter would be looked into or you will gain attention.

Her words melted my heart, I wasn't really paying attention to the message she was trying to convey, rather it became a tale like she was giving me reasons why she likes me or would want me instead of others; saturated my mind. Suddenly with a smug I looked up to her, my gaze directly into her eyes; as I nodded in agreement.

It's good to see you smile, she muttered.

After some random talks about what brings her to the river and why it seemed so special to her, she asked me to describe my type of lady or the woman in my life. It sounded like a finishing touch to conclude that she was into me or she obviously likes me.

Well I don't have anyone in my life; I replied, and there is no perfect way of describing my type of lady than using her reflections itself; as I picked a little rock and threw it towards her reflection that could be seen in the river.

She looked at it for some seconds and smirked at me, then she said I should stop the joke; I responded that I am serious almost immediately. "Wow" she uttered staring at me without boldness and she went into silence. For few minutes, total silence was observed as both of us avoided making contact with our eyes. It was already in the early hours of the evening, she stood up and requested we leave that its getting late already. I agreed, climbed up the other side that would lead us to the exit, I stretched my hand to help her climb up, she accepted.

After she did; I intentionally did not want to leave her hand, she released her hand and interlocked our fingers as we walked through the pig run along the little grasslands. It keeps getting better as I thought in my mind; the odds between us is definitely in my favour and I would do anything to keep it that way.

In The Night

The sky was a black tranquility married to a poetry of stars, I found the darkness strange. Living in the heart of a Town, I had grown used to having the warming, orange glow of street lamps outside my window, their light filtering in through the gaps in the curtains. This was a blackness that I couldn't recall seeing before - one that was almost absolute.

When I tilted my head skyward I could see clearly millions of bright stars dotted on the black canvas of night, yet none of that light seemed to filter far enough down to make any difference when I turned my eyes away.

I set out for a night walk, my heart was cussing, I couldn't stay at home because I was emotionally troubled. The whole world around me was stilt with great shame of muteness, My ears were embracing deafness and my mind paying great loyalty to my heart as it arched with a bitter sweet sensation. I halted for a while and stood under a tree, I couldn't explain the feeling in my heart. Its more than three days since I met with Ochuwa at the river side.

Although, I have written the petition to the state government as she advised with the help of a friend who works in the state government house in the city but without the knowledge of other youths.

After few minutes, I decided to go back home; I was definitely missing someone; they say when you are missing someone that they are probably feeling the same, but I don't think it's possible for her to miss me as much as I'm missing her right now. I couldn't predict when our path would travel in same road again. All these engulfed my heart like a ribbon-like body of water that flows continuously downhill from the force of gravity with great pressure.

Soon, I was close to my abode, I met my mother just outside my compound. She questioned my whereabouts and claimed someone was waiting for me inside the compound, the same lady whom

requested for my assistance the other time and she insisted on meeting me in person. Immediately, I walked in without listening to all my mother had to say.

Behold, she was sitting on a bench, her focus downwards towards the earth, she looked a bit worried as I walked up to her.

"My mother said you wanted to see me" I muttered, "I am sorry I went for a little walk", I continued. She stood up and requested we go outside or take a little walk, I agreed.

Immediately we got outside my compound, my mother had walked past us going inside, her mood changed.

"What were you thinking?, What were you thinking when you said those words to me at the river side?, Didn't you know those words seemed like a destructive weapon for a ladies heart?, She yelled at me, hitting me severally on my chest. She seemed nervous and was breathing fast. "I had to sneak out of my compound to see you". "I couldn't handle how I have been feeling strange this past few days"; she continued. Then she came close and hugged me, I didn't react, I was motionless and mute at the same time, my heart was beating very fast. She pulled herself back, apologized and wanted to walk away. Immediately I grabbed her hand, and held her from walking away. "I am sorry I made you feel this way , if its hurting you so much and you don't like it, we can find a way to let it fade away and you will be free" I spoke.

She looked up with a glum all over her face and asked me If I was this wicked and heartless, was that all I could say as she tried releasing her hand from my grip. I pulled her back with a little force, more than the previous and hugged her. I told her I feel the same way.

My sleep had been stolen away ever since the day we met at the river side and I meant everything I said to her that day; looking into her eyes and I kissed her forehead. She looked upto me with smile that seem to had embarked on the adventure to console her tears and smooched my lips with hers, then I kissed her.

I am Onomoghen, my people are not far from the escapade of doom yet, I am in the arms of love; was this the odds I staked for?; I wondered but still in the arms of my belove and our tongues were wallowing together in each others saliva.