TEARS INVISIBLE::::::episode 5 ......................... My life

Nna anyi Anyika sent me with his son, Nkem to get Dibia Ogwudile as he quickly cut a small guava branch to brush for the morning and left to see mama. Dibia Ogwudile was paying morning homage to Agbalanze when we got to the sacred ground.

"lets take off our footwear and enter" i told Nkem.
"don't you think we should wait for his morning ritual to be over. I believe he wont like to be miscommunicated from the unseen world"
"but mama is... "

" silence kids! You are on a sacred land. What brings you to the great Agbalanze this morning?? " Dibia Ogwudile snapped.

" mother had a fall this morning and her right side seem paralyzed"
"who is your father? "

" Eze mmuo l am the daughter of late Udemezue"
"chai! Are you serious? You see, Your father was my childhood friend. Itosigokwa, you have really grown. Let me get some herbs. Just get going i will soon join you"
God 's willing, Mother recovered later that night.

I prayed that my chi would bless my sales for the day as i swayed lightly to the rhythm of the morning bird whistles in front our mud-kitchen cutting and tying the vegetables; getting them ready for sales. I had to make huge sales to pay for mama's treatment and take care of other minor things. I stopped as I heard a different whistle. 'should be a call from Obinna. Its actually early for such call, however, I went to know the reason for the call. He was sitting on a mould tapping his right leg on the ground as I approached . He smiled, got up and stretched out his hands for an embrace. I hugged him from the side and sat.

"nne"
"Obi this one you called so early "
" nwannem ndi kwuru okwu si na anwo adighi agba oso ehihie na nkiti. I actually came to tell you something before you for orie Nimo.,"
"no I will be going to orie-agu Abagana. Hope there is no problem?
"emm not really a problem. Papa said that you should see him this evening"
"Nna anyi Nduka see me? " I asked with a slight increase in my breath which made me a bit uncomfortable.
" nne just to see you"
"you sure its good? "

" yes "
" its alright, let me get going. Early sales is the trend in orie-agu "
" O nne. Ahia oma"
I left with thought on what Nna anyi Nduka would want from me. Probably to tell me to my face that am not fit for his son... Odiegwu. I debated on if I should stay back after all I should be more concerned with mama's health.

After sales, that was late in the evening, I prepared yam porridge for dinner, refilled mama's herbal pot and left with our hurricane lamp to Nna anyi Nduka 's residence. I had cold mind but I got my self together. Nna anyi Nduka was sitting with his first daughter and Obinna in his main residence; a c-form mud house with wooden seats stacked to the ground when I got there. He tied wrapper and conversed with the daughter. He has his snuff box beside him.
"Nna anyi uchichi oma" I greeted pushing my thighs a bit forward with my face down.
"ada welcome"
"daalu Nna anyi"

"Obinna go and get seat for maazi Udemezue's daughter "
Obinna gave me a cold stare as he rose to get the seat. My heart beat increased as I sat to listen to Nna anyi
Nduka. He tapped his snuff box with the index finger and poured some on his mid palm.

"mhmhmhmh(cleared throat), my daughter Obinna has told me everything that happened. I know that if your father were to be a live, he would tell you the same thing am about to say."

I was forced to look up to him as he spoke with deep baritone . I wanted to make a guess to quickly prepare my mind but he wore a mixed appearance.

"emmmm(he took some of the snuff slanted his face and inhaled them. He sneezed and shook his head exposing the black moist nostrils) its actually shameful to have such a teenager with your condition in the society. If it were to be in the days of our fathers, you will definitely be banished but I am a father too and people are looking up to me.

I wont let you stain the reputation I toiled to build for years. I will be giving you two options; its either you leave the village with your mother, of course I will definitely give you some cash or if you insist on staying , then we will come and pay your dowry. Then you join us as a house help; of course I will definitely get my son an official wife"

TO BE CONTINUED