Chapter 1

Very early in the morning, Akyaa the daughter of Saarabi and Obo was at the riverbed knelling fetching water in a bow. As per the norms of the community, ladies were supposed to do such kinds of duties. She was the firstborn in a family of three sisters and no brother she needed to be hardworking.

Akyaa with the unique character used to go to the riverside in the morning hours to take a bath and fetch water. This was odd to others because other girls used to go to the river at noon where they could all chatter and gossip, she was antisocial. After filling the bowl of water, she placed the bowl of water on her head and started walking back to the village. As she was walking back, she noticed a snake just before her leg, sprung back, and tripped by a rock.

But before Akyaa fell to the ground somebody appeared behind her and held her and due to the tension, she let go of the pot where it bangs on the ground and broke into pieces. She faced the helper where she found it was her friend Ofori. He was one of the people in the village that she was open to. He was always available for her whenever she needed him; this made her see him as a brother.

Still holding her he faced her romantically for a moment. He was just a friend to her as she was to him but deep down he always admired her and could not open up to her to avoid jeopardizing their friendship. Although she had a boyfriend that he knew about, he always hoped for the best one day. The look was odd to her where she sprung off his hand as she was scratching her head looking all around while Ofori was facing her innocently.

Akyaa turned all around looking for the pot confused; at a distance, she noticed the broken pot. She had a very tough mother who was always strict on her things which made her daughters fear her. She quickly rushed to the broken pot knelt beside it held the larger piece of the Brocken pot and said,

“You would have saved the pot and left me.”

“You are more important than the pot.”

Akyaa then stood walked to Ofori faced him and said while looking sad,

“A little slip would not have killed me.”

“And what if you had broken your hand or leg?”

“Ofori is not like that you know my mother how she is with her things.”

“A broken pot should not stress you up and Osei loves you and you know his capability.”

“I love Osei and I don’t want to use him.”

Ofori giggled as he faced Akyaa and responded, “I am sure it will be his pleasure helping you.” Akyaa responded,

“I would rather be killed by my mother than disturb Osei.”

“Ok let’s go to your mother and tell her you accidentally broke the pot.”

Akyaa smiled seductively and said to Ofori, “Ofori you can say that to me and you know I would help you if you were in such a situation.” Ofori giggled and said,

“You are the one who is ready to meet your mother.”

“Ok, I need your help.”

“Akyaa I’ll help you by asking Osei to give you one of the pots in his father’s home.”

“Can you help me without involving Osei?”

“But you know his father is one of the clan elders and they are rich I am sure a single pot is nothing to him.”

Akyaa then moved closer to Ofori held his palm gently and said, “I love you as a friend but the way I love Osei is the way when am always before him I freeze, and all that I think is love.” She was a not only beautiful and well-curved body but also a sweet voice that made every guy in the village like it. Ofori hugged her tightly and said, “It’s ok but is because I love you more than you think.” Like the other village, guys it was hard for him to deny her favors because of the way he liked her.

She stopped the moment of hugging by tapping his back with her palm and said, “The time of being emotion is now over.” Though he had self-control sometimes, he field and showed her that he loved her more than a friend by actions which Akyaa found odd. He pulled back while faking a smile that She noticed and commented, “Ofori I know you to an extend I can know you're faking that smile.”

He moved back a bit and said to her in a down-looking mood and responded, “I love you too,” and quickly Akyaa responded with a soft calm voice, “But like a friend, as I do?” She was wise to know that he loved her more where she did not entertain it because she never found him attracted. But he was that kind of person whenever she needed a friend he was always available so she could not afford to lose him as a friend. He giggled and said, “Yes like a friend like you do and so if you catch me I’ll give you another pot.”

After the words, Ofori started jogging away leaving Akyaa seriously looking at him where she saw Ofori was serious running away and shouted to Ofori, “Please don’t do this to me!”Ofori who was still running away shouted back, “I am not stopping.” Akyaa groans then she started running towards Ofori who was running away.

The next moment Ofori had a pot full of water on his shoulder and was walking with Akyaa beside him. The villagers were small-scale farmers so every household had a small-sized farm to grow food crops. The village was like any other woman spreading rumors like wildfire and Ofori helping her carry the pot would cause a rumor spread so to avoid that they had to pass through farms where they hardly are seen. As they were, walking Ofori accidentally stepped on a thorn where he paused and exclaimed, “Ouch!” Akyaa immediately stopped faced Ofori and asked,

“What’s the wrong Ofori?”

“I have stepped on a thorn I wish we would have passed on the main path.”

“Sorry for that is my bad let me carry the pot further and do my duty.”

“It’s ok I am fine I can still carry it.”

“Ok you can still carry it but now we are near home let me carry it before my mother sees how am lazy.”

“Ok let me place it beside the wall of your kitchen.”

“And you will let me take care of the wound once we reach my home.”

Ofori responded by nodding his head as he walked to the kitchen wall at that time they were in the Akyaa family’s household. Immediately Ofori placed the pot beside the walk and Akyaa was facing him Akyaa’s mother appeared behind them.

Saarabi knew her daughter was a hard-working lady but she had to tighten up her life so that she will grow to become a perfect wife. Any child's indiscipline in the community the blame would always go to the parents for not being responsible parents and she would not allow that because of her daughter, she asked her daughter, “So this is what has been happening.” They both quickly turned back towards Saarabi Akyaa’s mother where Akyaa responded,

“It is not what usually happens.”

“You’re good at seducing men on the road so they can help you with your choice.”

Akyaa then slowly and quietly turned to Ofori. He was a silent boy who everybody in the village considered him as weak but because of his silence, other parents perceive it as respect whereas he was mothers saw him as a role model to their sons. He was also silently facing downwards. Then Saarabi added, “And why are you late today?”

The community was in a unity where everybody knew each other like family members and where parents saw every child as their own as every child saw parents as their own. This extends to a place where a grown-up can discipline a child, as his own which was not considered a crime not like in the current time. Ofori broke the monotony by warmly asking Saarabi, “How are you doing mother?” Saarabi one of the mothers in the village liked his silent character, she turned to Ofori smiled, and responded, “Ofori am doing well, and what about you and your mother?”

Ofori chuckled to pretend he did not hear a thing and responded, “They are all fine.” Saarabi could not control her rudeness but acted as if she was always cool to avoid her reputation being known by everybody because she would be excluded. She friendly responded, “Don’t worry about that I had only some little understanding with my daughter.” Akyaa quickly responded to her mother,

“Mother all that I have done is to please you.”

“Pleasing me by going to the river early so that you can charm men to help you carry the pot.”

“Mother I have been going early so that you can see how I am hardworking.”

Ofori broke the quarrel by saying, “I was not even staying for long I was in hurry,” Both Akyaa and Saarabi silently turn to him. To their community, it was considered if a visitor comes to your house and doesn’t give him food it showed you were selfish Saarabi turned to her daughter and rudely said, “Akyaa look at you, you cannot even invite Ofori in for a cup of tea.” Akyaa looking bored faced him and said, “Please let me thank you at least.” He was full at the time but he knew if he would refuse the offer Akyaa would suffer the consequence, Ofori as he was faking a smile responded, “I hope it will be first.”

In the next minute, Ofori was sitting on a stool beside Akyaa both facing the firewood. The set of the community is that the house was made with every room outside apart from the kitchen to sleeping chambers. They were both silently drinking tea.

As they were taking tea Obo, her father entered the kitchen and immediately said to Akyaa, “Your mother is calling you to your sister’s room.” Obo was a strong and fearsome man in the community through he had no power no one ever wanted to play around with his family, especially his daughters. Akyaa placed the cup on the ground stood and said, “Ok,” as she moved off the kitchen.

Immediately Akyaa walked out Obo faced Ofori as he giggled. He played around with her daughter and yet he found of Obo’s fearless stories; he was a daring young man. But he had never been afraid of him because they have never crossed lines and if it was meeting him it was in public. This was the first time he has ever been close to him, his heart was pounding because this is when it came to her head that Obo’s daughter was not to be played with.

Ofori took the last sip of tea then placed the cup on the floor and stood off the stool because he did not want to be those who taste his wrath, he said wanting to leave at once, “I was also leaving.” Still, Obo's pretentious act smiled and responded, “Why are you leaving too early and we haven’t had a men’s talk.”

Ofori read his actions where he knew he had messed up and the next thing is that he was going to rain by his uncontrollable anger, wanting to leave on cool terms he moved closer and softly said as if he was begging for food after days of hunger, “Ms. Obo am busy please let me go.” Without Obo saying any word, he hit Ofori’s nose with his forehead that made Ofori fall so hard to the ground.

Ofori as he was on the ground flat he faced Obo as he was sobbing and blood oozing from his nose. It was wrong to throw a fist back at an elder if he hits you and furthermore, he knew even if he would throw back he would be hit mercilessly. Obo then pulled the stool beside where Ofori was laying on the ground sat on it faced Ofori and said, “I think now you are ready to have a man’s talk.”

Ofori was a soft guy who never walked into fights or never quarrels because would it leads to fights where he was weak at. A single hit or a punch would render him close to the unconscious and one of the strongest men in the community punched him. Maybe this was the reason why no girl in the community would like him because he had no power to protect them as many ladies of the time considered.

He kneeling before Obo and not wanting any of the punches he played innocent responded while sobbing,

“What have I done wrong?”

“What are your intentions towards my daughter?”

“We are only friends.”

Obo then punched Ofori’s jaw where Ofori due to the impact turned to the ground. The rumors of his daughter and him dating had already started being a rumor in the community that everybody was talking about it in secret that was ruining the Obo’s family reputation that their firstborn daughter was going to wedded by a poor family. Obo raised his voice towards Ofori and said, “What are your intentions towards my daughter.” Ofori replied, “We are only friends.”

Obo then moved closer to Ofori held his neck and started hitting Ofori with endless punches as Ofori was trying to cover his head with his arms.

As Obo was hitting Ofori with endless punches Akyaa suddenly entered the kitchen, quickly went, and covered Ofori with her back as she shouted, “Father Stop!” Obo immediately stopped as he moved back. When Obo interlocked eyes with Ofori as he was moving back he said, “You cannot tell me you are only friends and I know how a man looks at a lady when he needs something more.”

After the words, Obo left out of the kitchen leaving Akyaa still covering Ofori with her back. Knowing she was the reason of that and she needed forgiveness, when Obo fully got out of the kitchen Akyaa faced Ofori and said, “am sorry about that,” as she was whipping off blood from Ofori’s face. Being always available to her and yet loved another and to the people knew that unstable him not to be a man enough pissed him over and over. Ofori using his hand he pushed off Akyaa hand and said, “Don’t be sorry I deserve that because I have been warned and I still not hear.”

Ofori stood up leaving Akyaa sited on the ground then said, “I now have to do something.” Then he left Akyaa hugging. She could not follow him because she had some duties home to do and she had not that deep affection to him. But at the back of her head she knew there is no day that Ofori has ever been angry at her more than a day, she had the sweet words to cool him.

Ofori went running to the river stopped at the riverbed where he knelt and started washing off blood clotting on his face. After his face was clean off the blood clotting, he noticed at a distance some ladies were chattering and laughing.

As he was busy concentrating with the ladies suddenly he felt some blood was flowing off his Norse the beating that he got was so server. He quickly bends back towards the river where she washed his noise, he said under his breath while sobbing, “God please give me that power to resist that girl because she loves another and no matter how I show her I love her she will never love me back.”

Immediately after the words, Ofori heard a sweet soft voice behind him, “Hello there?” Ofori without turning back thinking that it was Akyaa that had come to her rescue he responded wanting to be pleaded more,

“Can you please go I am not in good mood.”

“If you are not in a good mood let me help you.”

“You will help me when you go away.”

“I won’t leave you in this low state.”

Ofori faced back where he was astonished to see the beauty of Ama. She was the daughter to the head of the council of elder her beauty was undisputable every guy and beyond their community wanted her. she standing a few meters before him. Quickly due to the respect of the high ranked people in the community Ofori fell to his knees and said,” Am sorry for being rude to you.”

However, Ama she was born in a high-class family and socialized with high-class people she loved being with normal people. She walked squat before Ofori held Ofori’s shoulder to show affection to her people and said, “You don’t have to do that now.” Ofori who was facing downwards he slowly raised his head to face Ama face to face. All his life he has never being close to her, her beauty made him forget Akyaa for a moment, she gently helped Ofori to rise.