Mmasinachi

Mmasinachi (A short story)

Mmasinachi who had finished washing the plates, seated and was waiting for her mother to return from their farmland was surprised to see her entering their compound in an angry manner.

“Mama, why is your face like that? Onye kpasuru gi iwe? (Who provoked you?” Mmasinachi asked.

Dropping her basket on the ground that was filled with ten long tubers of yams and a few pieces of corn.

“You won’t believe what happened to me today at the farmland Mmasinachi.” Obidiyaa said. “Your uncle Okoro came to our farmland today with some group of wayward boys to threaten me to stay away from the farm that the farmland belongs to him, and not only that, he also said everything planted on the farm now belongs to him.”

Standing up to her feet u surprise.

“Mama, agaghị m ekweta o (I will not agree o), how can uncle who has more than ten farmlands in this village, wants to collect the only farmland papa left for you and I, it won’t work o.” Mmasinach said.

“You could have asked me what I did to him, I showed him and those useless boys of his that once upon a time, Obidiyaa was a great wrestler.”

Mmasinach nodded her head.

“I trust you mama, uncle should be happy that I did not follow you to the farm, if not he would have seen his two ears today.”

“I yiri mu (You resemble me.)” Obidiyaa said with a large smile. “Let’s forget about that cockroach, take the yams to the kitchen, peel it and pound it. Once you are done, call me so that I can prepare the soup.” She added and went in,side her hut.

Mmasinach carried the basket to the back of the hut.

______

Mazi Okoro tried to cover his face when he was going home, he was sure the handprints of Obidiyaa was still on his face and didn’t want anyone to see it.

He got home without meeting anyone on the way and entered his large compound which has three huts er×¢ted in it.

His four wives watched as he entered one of the huts. He spoke to no one.

______

“Okeke my friend, something tragic happened to me two days ago.” Mazi Okoro told his friend Mazi Okeke.

“What happened to you?” Mazi Okeke who came to visit his friend he hasn’t seen for almost two days asked.

“I went to Obidiyaa’s farmland to claim it as mine with my boys, this woman dealt with me and my boys.”

“Obidiyaa dealt with you? How?” Mazi Okeke asked.

“She beat me like a child Okeke, you needed to see the way she had beaten me and my boys. I am so ashamed of myself.” Mazi Okoro responded.

“Obidiyaa beat you and you did nothing to her? Okoro, if you don’t teach her a lesson now, she will start telling the whole villagers how she had beaten you and your boys.” Mazi Okeke told him. “If it was me, I would have taught Obidiyaa a big lesson that she won’t forget in a hurry.” He added.

“That’s true o. So what do you suggest I do?” Mazi Okoro asked.

“I have a plan on how you can get Obidiyaa.” Mazi Okeke replied with a lopsided smile.

*******

It was almost evening when Mmasinach went to the stream to fetch water.

She met Ekene and another boy in the stream, Ekene and the boy came to fetch water together.

“Ekene, how are you doing?”

“Don’t talk to me witch, biko.”

“What did I say now that will warrant you to call me a witch?” Mmasinach asked in surprise.

“You predicted that rain would fall last night and it did.” The other boy, Obinna, answered.

“So you told Obinna what I told you in secret?”

“Yes, and that’s what makes you a witch.” Ekene replied.

Mmasinach just smiled and entered the stream preparing to dip her Udu into the water when the next word of Ekene stopped her.

“You are a witch, who knows if it was you who had killed your father.”

“What did you just say Ekene?” Mmasinach demanded, leaving her Udu in the water and starting to close the distance between her and Ekene.

“You killed your father with your witchcraft Mmasinach.” Ekene repeated bravely.

Mmasinach rushed at him, holding him on his legs, which gave way, then Ekene fell down to the floor and Mmasinach pounced on him.

Obinna tried to interval but Mmasinach left Ekene and lifted Obinna up to air and added him on top of the body of Ekene and pounced on the two.

By now, the maidens who came to fetch water started laughing at the free wrestling they are watching.

Mmasinach wasn’t done with Ekene, she grabbed sand, opened his mouth and poured it.

After she was done, she left them and went to fill her water as the maidens around her began to hail out her name while some were mocking Ekene and his friend.

When Mmasinach got home, she explained what happened at the stream to her mother.

“Good, don’t ever allow anyone to intimidate you o.” Obidiyaa said proudly.

That night Ndidi came with her son to Obidiyaa’s hut.

“You and you witch of a daughter want to kill my only son for me!!” She shouted.

“Which son? Is it this one that got beaten by my daughter today or another one? Look Ndidi, you came to my house this morning and you talked, I kept quiet and you are here again to talk. Don’t look for my trouble ooo.”

Ndidi left the hand of her son and pushed Obidiyaa hærd on her chest.

“What can you do eh I am asking you Obidiyaa? I said What can you do?” She asked with her eyes wide.

A slap on her left cheek from Obidiyaa dim her eyes and reset something in her brain, she turns to look at her son.

“Ekene let’s go home.” She said softly to the surprise of her son. “Next time pick someone of your own strength.” She added aloud enough for Obidiyaa and her daughter to hear and left with Ekene.

******

Early the next morning, the palace guards, two, came to Obidiyaa’s hut and greeted her when she came out of her hut.

“The igwe requested for your presence now at the palace.” One of the palace guards, Ebuka, told her.

“Now? Biko if I may ask, what is my offence?” Obidiyaa asked.

“Ask the igwe when you see him.” Ebuka responded. “He said you should follow us.”

Mmasinach came out from the back of the hut.

“Mama, what is going on, why are the Royal guards here?”

“I don’t know my daughter, but I will be back.”

“I will be coming with you.”

“Do your house chores and lock everywhere then come to the palace.” Obidiyaa said and left with the guards.

Mmasinach quickly finished her house chores, made sure everywhere was locked before she rushed to the palace.

On getting there she saw her uncle, the igwe, his elders and her mother.

She greeted her Uncle and the igwe then went to stand beside her mother.

“I have heard from both sides and I must say Okoro, you are very wrong to go to your late brother’s farmland to drag what is not yours from a widow. It is wrong, very wrong Okoro.” Igwe Ikem said. He was an old man who doesn’t support evil.

“Igwe, don’t tell me you believe the lies she said over me, one of your own elders?”

“I have known Obidiyaa and I know she doesn’t look for trouble and was surprised when you came to report her to me. Look Okoro, you have to apologise to her.”

“What?” Mazi Okeke shouted.

“What?” Mazi Okoro shouted.

“You heard me right, apologize to her right now and do not trouble her again.” Igwe Ikem told him.

“I am sorry Obidiyaa.”

“You are forgiven Okoro.” Obidiyaa said with a smile.

“You may leave now Obidiyaa, be rest assured that he won’t trouble you again.”

“Thank you igwe, I will live long.” Obidiyaa thanked the igwe and left with her daughter.

On their way out of the palace compound, they met the King’s only son and child, Ikemefuna who couldn’t stop staring at Mmasinach. Greeting him, they left for their hut.

The next day, Obidiyaa and Mmasinach who was peeling melon were surprised to see the Prince walking towards their hut with his guards.

“Greetings to you Nne.” Prince Ikemefuna greeted Obidiyaa and Mmasinach stood up from her seat and offered it to the Prince who sat on it thanking her.

“So what brings the Prince of Umumme to my hut?” Obidiyaa asked.

“Since I set my eyes on your beautiful daughter yesterday, I haven’t been myself. It was like seeing the moon for the first time”

“I don’t get you my prince.” Obidiyaa said.

“What I am trying to say Nne, is that I am in love with your daughter and would love to marry her.”

Obidiyaa and Mmasinach couldn’t believe their ears.

“What did you just say now?” Mmasinach demanded.

“I said I love you and would like us to marry.”

“What about your father?” Obidiyaa asked

“I discussed it with him last night and that is why I am here to make my feelings known to her.” Prince Ikemefuna responded and stared at Mmasinach. “What do you say, my beautiful one? Do you accept my proposal?”

Mmasinach nodded her head. “Yes, I accept.”

One moon later, they tied the knot and her husband became the King as his father stepped down.

Two days after her traditional marriage to the Prince, she took ten of the guards and went to her uncle’s house early that morning.

His wives came out to greet and welcome her.

“I am here to see my uncle.”

The first wife went to call Okoro from his hut.

Okoro came out of his hut and was surprised to see Mmasinach.

“Mmasinach, I hope no problem?” Mazi Okoro asked.

“No uncle, I came here to thank you for reporting my mother to the igwe, if you haven’t, I wouldn’t have meant my handsome and caring husband.”

“Okay.” Mazi Okoro said in relief.

“Onye gbunyiri aso elu, gburu onwe ya aso n’iru. (He who spits towards the sky is spitting on his face), am I right uncle?” Mmasinach asked and Okoro nodded and faced her guards then pointed at Okoro. “This is the man who had taken all the lands my father had, bring him along as my husband had ordered.”

Okoro regretted following the advice of his friend who had told him to report the matter to the old igwe.

And as for Ndidi, she couldn’t hear with that ear again.

The End.