Dethroned episode 34 – 35

DETHRONED
Episode 34
By AMAH’S HEART

” You need to calm down Obim.. I believe she will be fine okay…?” Nonso said probably to comfort me but I still kept pacing around my bedroom in perplexity and worry.

Who wouldn’t be when my daughter Olamma is missing..?

This afternoon, I came back from the market only to find out that Olamma was no where in or around the house.

I thought she sneaked out again as usual hence I have waited till dusk yet she is still not back.

As a mother, I’m worried because the Olamma I trained from birth doesn’t stay out for this long no matter what happens, that’s why I’m feeling restless.

Wait! I hope she didn’t defy my warnings of two days back..?

Oh no! if she did then I don’t know how I will handle this disobedience from her

” Please calm Obim. Maybe she is somewhere around and you’re just getting worried over nothing. It’s hard but please I advise that you take things easy my love” Nonso said pleadingly and I scoffed in annoyance

” My husband you know how stubborn our daughter can be. I’m very sure Olamma defied my warnings and still went ahead to pursue her baseless dream of being a Priestess!” I uttered whilst unknowingly rolling my eyes

” Uhmm.. mother if that actually turns out to be true then I think maybe it’s better we let her be. Since it’s obvious that we can not stop destiny” Ammon said shrugging his shoulders whilst sitting down tiredly on the bamboo bed

” Ammon did you just hear yourself talk..? So you expect me to stay calm and watch your sister put her hands inside hot oil..?” I asked looking at Ammon with fury glaring in my eyes

” No mother you misinterpreted what I said earlier.. that’s not I meant moth..”

I didn’t allow Ammon finish his statement when I had cut him short immediately

” Shut up Ammon! You are my eldest child hence you are suppose to be protecting your junior sister but here you are behaving like a chicken!” I blurted out angrily at Ammon

” Please you need to calm down Obim… you are actually taking this too far. Everyone here is also worried about Olamma and you transferring aggression to us would not solve this matter” Nonso spoke soothingly to me.

Hearing what Nonso said made me relax a little since he is right after all.
I stopped pacing around as I looked at my husband and son with tearful eyes

” I know my husband but I can’t help feeling worried for our daughter… Ammon dear I’m very sorry for lashing out at you… please do forgive your mother okay..?” I spoke tenderly to Ammon who nodded in understanding

” Honestly I’m not angry at you mother. I understand how much you love Olamma and I, so it’s only logical to feel worried as a mother would when any of her precious jewels get missing”

” Thank you so much for understanding Ammon… I still don’t understand why Olamma would do this to us. We are her family or aren’t we enough for her..?” I asked rhetorically as I sat down beside Ammon on the bed. Nonso sighed before he eventually joined us on the bed too.

” It’s okay Obim. If we wait till tomorrow and she isn’t yet home then we will journey to your village to bring her back. It doesn’t matter if I have to go there alone as the head of this family”

” No Nonso I will go with you. It’s my village after all and yes… I know I was banished but I really don’t mind what happens so far as I can see with my eyes that my daughter is safe in the hands of those wicked and ungrateful people” I uttered with so much bitterness and hatred laced in my words

” Father I will come with you too… there’s no point going without either of us and since it’s been many years then hopefully all that happened in the past has been buried and forgotten by now”

Nonso heaved heavily and slowly nodded when he saw from our facial expression that no convincing words would make us change our minds about going with him.

” It’s okay Ammon. I suppose it’s best you two come with me because If you don’t then I would feel worried about your wellbeing while I’m over there”

” Wow! Is this suppose to be a yes to our request…?” I asked to affirm what Nonso said to be sure he isn’t joking with us

” Yes my love.. I’m serious… it’s perfectly okay for you two to come along with me. So lets prepare for our journey and hope for the best!” Nonso answered and I jumped on him in excitement.

I continued holding onto him in a tight hug as I expressed my gratitude with a shaky tone which I couldn’t control.
And no matter how hard I tried to stop the tears from flowing, I couldn’t stop it.

” Thank you so much my husband. Ah! Thank you so so so so much!”

” Oh, not again.. please don’t cry Obim… you’ve cried enough for today already”

” Why is Olamma doing this to us..? Haven’t we loved her enough…? Is that crown more important to her than us her family who loves her dearly…?” I lamented rhetorically.

Nobody was responding to my rhetorical questions.
Nonso was just patting my back softly without attempting to say anything and even Ammon sat in silence too.

I lamented for a long time until I got tired and subsequently fell into a trance on that hugging position with my head on Nonso’s right shoulder.

” Quit crying Rana.. the second chance I told you about is come. Your village needs you back. I know they had hurt you and I understand why you are feeling reluctant about letting Olamma go but my daughter you need to find it in your heart to forgive your kindred… if not for anything for the sake of those children whom you loved dearly” Great Uba said to me and I scoffed unmoved

” Second chance you say..? I doubt Great Uba because this sounds like more doom to me and did you just say I should forgive those ungrateful people that wanted me déâd..? Wait! Are you forgetting that it’s because of them we haven’t been able to see each other for years now…?” I queried looking at Great Uba unbelievably

” I remember all that Rana and don’t worry about seeing me because I have been released to come to you in flesh after you’ve done the right thing. So Please go back to your people” Great Uba said pleadingly but I still remained stubborn regardless.

” My husband actually wanted to go there to bring our daughter back. I had even offered to go along with him but now you’ve spoken about forgiveness… Great Uba I have changed my mind about going to that village… I am not going anymore because I don’t want to set my eyes on those people ever again!” I replied stone-heartedly and I ângrily woke up from the trance.

” Oh, you’re finally awake my love. I hope you slept well..?” Nonso asked looking at me lovingly as I lifted my head from his shoulder.

Ammon was the first to notice the angry expression on my face.
I suppose he was feeling concerned about me and had to ask worriedly

” You seem very angry. Are you okay mother or did you have a bâd dream…?”

” I’m fine Ammon but I do have an announcement to make.”

” An announcement..? What could that be Obim..?” Nonso asked with confusion clearly written on his face.

” We aren’t going to the village anymore! That means neither you, Ammon or me are leaving this forest to anywhere!” I declared with an authoritative tone

” What! Obim you are joking right..?” Nonso quizzed looking at me wide-eyed

” I wish I was but unfortunately I am very serious.. we aren’t going anywhere” I blurted out without batting an eye

” Why mother..? And what then becomes of Olamma whose whereabouts we do not know…?” Ammon asked me defiantly.

Nonso and Ammon kept looking at me expectantly for a prompt response but unfortunately, the question remained hanging in the air since I was actually devoid of answers to give them.

Read – Thorn between episode 54

DETHRONED
Episode 35
By AMAH’S HEART

I heaved heavily with my eyes fixed on the drama happening at a path in the Land of Yada where young children love gathering as a group to play.

Right now I’m standing at a hideout in the village despite my earlier resolution not to come. It’s because Nonso and Ammon was finally able to convince me to allow them come to this village to find Olamma and then bring her back home.

I missed my daughter very much so I agreed to let them go find her.
I tried but I just couldn’t watch my husband and son go without me so I offered to tag along in their journey.

Getting to the village of Yada, from the borders down to the main village I saw fraction of chaos everywhere.
Both the young and old villagers were being chëated and afflicted without mercy or compassion.

Some of the sight was gøry to behold but I wasn’t really bothered since I felt that they are deserving of whatever mistreatment they are receiving.
Hence in all those unpleasant cases I saw, I had to turn my eyes away so I won’t to be moved by compassion.

It’s not until I came across this young child and his crying mother whose tears is pulling at my heartstrings because I’m now an affectionate mother like her.

” How dare you take out of the Priestess farm..? You will be killed today!” this came from a man who is forcefully dragging a young boy by the collar of his cloth

” I was hungry.. it’s a small fruit I took.. please leave me alone. mummy! mumm…” the young boy shouted already crying as the man dragged him away from where he was playing with his group of five friends.

As his friends saw this, they hampered away whilst shouting on top of their voices with their hands placed on their heads. I soon heard a loud wailing voice.

I turned sideways only to see a pretty middle-aged woman running towards the man who is still dragging the young boy to only the gods knows where.

” Leave my child alone please. My Chigozie is just seven years ago.. he doesn’t know anything please leave my only child alone…” A woman uttered wailing as she ran after the man

The desperate and wailing mother kept trying to hold her son but each time she did, the child was wriggle out of her reach by the man who dragged him.
It’s more like the man was making fond of the woman and basking in her pâin.

Oh, the sight was so pathetic to behold. And by now both mother and child was crying so serious yet the man still wouldn’t bulge.
He was was not even moved by the tears of the helpless boy he is manhandling.

As I looked closely, I could see a semblance of the man dragging the boy to the man I knew in my past.

I wasn’t so sure until the woman mentioned his name which confirmed my thoughts. I am right about knowing him after all.

The man is none other than Jack. He is now an older version of his young self, which isn’t surprising since it’s been nineteen years already.

” Please Jack let my son go.. he is only a child and didn’t know whose farm he had plucked the fruit from… please! please!” the wailing woman pleaded and right there, she went on her knees in front of Jack and held onto his left leg

” Leave my leg Nneka.. there’s nothing you say that would change my mind about taking this young criminal to the Priestess.. so he can receive and serve his punishment!” Jack replied undauntedly trying to push Nneka away

” Jack we both know that if Priestess Nene sees him… she will not punish him lightly rather she will kīll my child for sure. Please let my son be.. I’ll pay you for it either in money or kind, please Jack!” Nneka said still holding onto Jack’s leg with tears cascading her cheeks.

As a mother, I very well understood the woman’s pain and as such I feel sorry for the young boy who was so immature to be exposed to such ill treatment.

Jack was still adamant despite the woman’s pleas and offer.
He was still bent on pushing Nneka away from his leg but to no avail as the crying woman was too strong-willed and didn’t want to bulge either.

” Mother please do something… you can’t just stand and watch all this happening. I believe you can tell the man to leave the young boy alone for the mother” Ammon said to me probably moved with pity for the crying mother.

I sighed sadly because I’m no more in the possession of such authority to give such a huge command.

” There’s nothing I can do Ammon… besides that’s not why we came here so for now lets focus on finding your sister. I want us to leave this village without being noticed to avoid trouble” I said slowly walking out from our hideout.

” Obim where are you going to…?” Nonso asked and I turned to look at him

” We won’t hide there all day and hope to find our daughter. My husband it’s about time we start searching for her or don’t you think so..?” I replied before eventually moving my gaze to Ammon

” Ammon you have to take charge of your emotions… our purpose here is to find your sister Olamma.. so please my son lets quietly do that”

” Okay mother!” Ammon answered in a low tone while I sighed tiredly as I turned my gaze to look forward.

Thankfully it was almost dusk and I’m praying deep within me that my family and I would not be easily noticed.

I’m feeling confused. I don’t even know how or where to start searching for Olamma in this vast village.

I looked towards the scene of the crying woman and saw only her kneeling there, which means that Jack finally succeeded in carting her son away.

” Are you happy seeing what your people are passing through..? Does it not affect you my dearest Rana…?” I heard behind me and from the voice familiarity I knew without being told that it is Great Uba! My Great Uba!

I turned swiftly to look at the direction the voice came from.
I’m unable to believe my eyes when I saw Great Uba emerging from the bush with smiles on his face.

” Great Uba! oh my gods! Is this really you..? Ah! Finally..” I exclaimed in shock as I jumped on him with so much excitement bubbling inside of me.

I don’t know for how long I hugged him before I slowly disengaged from the hug.

“…I’m so happy to see you again Great Uba.. oh my! It’s been ages.. I’ve missed you so much Great Uba!” I exclaimed joyously looking at Great Uba

” I’ve missed you too my daughter. Look how grown you’ve become yet you still behave like that young maiden of yesterday” Great Uba said sarcastically and we all bursted out laughing.

” You’re right Great Uba. I still have my young and childish side with me despite how grown I have become. And lest I forget.. meet my family.. here is my husband Nonso and my son Ammon”

After the introduction I did; Nonso, Ammon and Great Uba exchanged pleasantries to my delight.

Later, we found a good sitting spot and we sat down to chitchat in other to catch up with old times.
We chatted until dusk when Nonso and Ammon excused themselves to fix us dinner, leaving Great Uba and I alone.

” Wow! how years flies.. my small Rana of yesterday is not only a full blown woman but she is a mother too!” Great Uba said smiling

” You’re right Great Uba. And I’m truly glad to see you in flesh again!” I answered smiling back at Great Uba

I watched as the smile on Great Uba’s face gradually faded away to replace a sad expression. From there, our discussion took a different turn

” Rana I spoke to you the other day in a dream but you were adamant about forgiving your people for what they did to you” Great Uba begun and I replied stubbornly cutting off his words midway

” Yes Great Uba I will never forgive them. I despise them so much for what they did to me and if not for my daughter I would never have set foot on this land!”

Great Uba sighed deeply before responding to me

” It’s okay my daughter since your mind is made up about not forgiving your kindred. But would you do me one favour if I ask something of you..?”

” Of course Great Uba.. I’ll do anything for you so long as it doesn’t require me forgiving this ungrateful people!” I uttered confidently

” Okay then.. I’ll take your word for it” Great Uba said and kept silent.

His silence got me scared of what he wants to ask of me.
I just hope it would be something easy to do. Oh! I’m very curious as to what really this his favor would be!

Tbc