The Child of Thunder 21

By
Ifeoma Isabella Okeke

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Ogbanje had woken up very early that morning before the cock crow and was going about her house chores when Ikemefuna made his appearance known to Ogbanje when she was about going to the stream to fetch water they would use for the day.

She was surprise when she saw Ikemefuna standing beside their bamboo gate as if he had been there for long.

“You again”, Ogbanje began harshly at Ikemefuna. “What is it, have I not warned to stay away from me eh?. So what are you looking for in my father’s compound with your two left legs”. Ogbanje added angrily at Ikemefuna who stood transfixed on the spot staring lovely at Ogbanje.

Ikemefuna wasn’t move by her insult or her tone of harsh way, in fact, he loved this side of her and fell deeply in love with her the more.

“So can’t I no longer see my Ada as I pleased. I have been standing here for a very long time watching you and I have come to realise that you are not only beautiful but hardworking. There and then I know deep within me that I have grown to love you so much that if I don’t have you no one else will”. Ikemefuna answered Ogbanje in a very cheerful way.

“I can see you woke up by the wrong side of your bed this morning to utter such rubbish omitting out from that stupid mouth of yours but I will pretend that I did not hear anything”. Ogbanje said rudely to him and made as if to pass him with her Udu (Earthen pot) when Ikemefuna quickly stretch out one of his hands and grab hold of Ogbanje hand. He roughly drew Ogbanje closer to him and forcefully kissed her against her wish.

Ogbanje who was not expecting that move from him was throw off balance when Ikemefuna kissed her.

A round of slap echoed around them and Ikemefuna suddenly released his hand to rub his left cheeks that seemed so hot. He wasn’t expecting that from her and so was surprise when she slapped him with a full force.

Ogbanje started throwing out some spit from her mouth as she placed her pot beside her waist and uses one of her hand to clean her lips where Ikemefuna has kissed.

“This should be the first and last time you would do such a thing like that again. Next time it would be your balls I will kick to prevent you from having children, Anuofia”. Ogbanje told Ikemefuna in a very angry tone.

But to her surprise Ikemefuna laughed out to her ranting.

“You keep surprising me Ada and I keep on loving you the more, can’t you see we are made for each other. I love you so much Ada, at least find it in your heart to love me the way I do to you. I can do anything for you Ada, anything, all I ask is for your love”.

“And like I have told you earlier on that you woke up from the wrong side of your bed this morning. As you can see I have other things to do this morning and I am doing one right now”. Ogbanje said not moved by his words and turned to leave for the stream when Ikemefuna once again grabbed hold of her from behind, immobile her two hands and pressed her hard against his chest. Her Udu fell off from her and miraculously not break.

Ogbanje started struggling against his hold and uses one of her legs to hit Ikemefuna’s manhood. The hit was so hard but still Ikemefuna wouldn’t let go. He placed his head on the shoulder blade of Ogbanje and kissed it breathing in her scent. With his face he nuzzle at her cheeks in a tender way. Ogbanje ceased in her struggling once she found out none of what she was doing was affecting Ikemefuna.

“I won’t do anything against your wish Ada but be rest assured that I might change my mind. Don’t think I don’t know about your stupid lover Ebuka and don’t also think I don’t know who he really is”. Ikemefuna suddenly told Ogbanje against her ears.

“What are you insinuating?” Ogbanje asked trying not to be surprised at his sudden outburst.

“Don’t pretend as if you don’t know what I am getting at. I know you know who I am. Your lover must have told you my real nature. But whatever he told about me are all lies Alaolisa, right from the day one I had set my eyes on you you’ve have become mine”. Ikemefuna told Ogbanje in a lovely way caressing her neck with his mouth

With a strength that Ogbanje didn’t know she has she grab hold one of the hands of Ikemefuna and flung him off her with inhuman strength. She quickly pick up her pot.

Ikemefuna managed to landed on his feet a few feet away from Ogbanje. He wore a look of surprise on his face at what Ogbanje just did to him, it was an unexpected move. She took him by surprise.

Ogbanje smirked at him at his bewildered face he was making.

“This should be as a warning to you Ikemefuna or whatever your name is because next time you tried such a thing to me, I will make sure you regret ever knowing me rubbish”. Ogbanje hissed and hurriedly left him going towards the road that leads to their village stream.

Ikemefuna smiled to himself. She is as strong as she was in her former life. Alaolisa will become his.

“Your stubbornness makes me love you the more. I like challenges, even Amadioha himself knows that”. Ikemefuna said and disappeared.

****

Uhammiri paced around in her dark cave as she cleverly draft out a plan. Adaku couldn’t defeat her step sister because of a stupid power she possesses. She would make sure she makes Ogbanje suffered so much that Ogbanje would be begging for death.

“What kind of powers does she think she has that would make my mother not to defeat her” . Uhammiri said to herself. Ogbanje had mysteriously survived after the deaths of her siblings. But this time her death would be so easy.

She would soon know what powers Ogbanje possesses but first she has to come down to live with them. That would be the plan one.

Ogbanje had better be ready for her.

****

“My dear husband, please I have a request to make and it would so gladly my heart If you support me in it”. Adaku began softly that night has they had earlier on finished their supper and everyone had gone to bed. Okoro had came to Adaku’s hut to quench his growing groin like he normally did and were laying on her bamboo bed when Adaku brought out the topic.

“And what can that be Adaku, if it is within my powers and a good cause, then I will grant your request”. Okoro told his wife.

“Well it is nothing much my dear husband. You know when you got married to Ogbanje’s mother….”

Interrupting Adaku.

“Have I not warned you to stop calling my Ada, the Ada of this family that name? Adaku this should be the first and last you will refer Ada as Ogbanje”. Okoro warned Adaku angrily.

“I am so sorry my dear husband it fell out of my mouth by mistake”. Adaku said pretending to be crying.

Okoro anger faded once he saw the tears on Adaku’s eyes.

“Is okay. You of all people should know I don’t like it when Ada is being called that name. E be zina- Don’t cry”. Okoro said lovely to his wife. “You where about telling me something my heart”. Okoro added the words made Adaku so happy within her.

“As I was saying before, when you got married to your first and now dead wife I left you angrily”.

“Yes, how would I not remember, you left that same day. I searched for you everywhere but couldn’t find you”. Okoro said softly loosing Adaku’s wrapper.

“Well, I went to stay with my great grandmother mother”.

“Okay, I see no crime in that but what has that got to do with what you’d want to tell me”. Okoro asked Adaku.

“While staying with her I made a friend amongst my great grandmother people. She was a widow. I just heard recently that my friend is dead and her only daughter and child is homeless. After the death of my friend her husband brothers took everything away from the child my friend left behind. Why I am telling you is to plead with you and request that her daughter stays here for the time being. Please dim mu- my husband let her come because I had given her my words that you will agree to it”. Adaku said in a pleading tone to Okoro.

Okoro hands stopped his movement on Adaku’s shoulder as he placed his hands on his legs. He was in a deep thought.

Adaku’s fingers started caressing Okoro’s hard chest.

“But how can you make such a decision without my consent. How can you promise a girl, some one I had yet to meet, that I would permit her to stay With us”. Okoro said in not so happy voice

“I know that my husband and that is why I am begging you to accommodate her. You see her late mother was very good to me. She treated me like I was her own sister. She healed my broken heart and encouraged me to wait for you that one day we shall be together. I can not let my best friend daughter roamed about in that village. Please my dear husband think about it”.

Okoro heaved out a sigh. “I have heard you, you may bring the girl any day that pleases you but know If at all she hurts any of my children you and her would have yourself to blame. I hope you don’t regret bringing in this stranger”. Okoro said finally as Adaku leapt for joy.

“I won’t regret one bit”. Adaku said in all smiles.

******

“Nne edewooo- Mama I greet you”. Ebuka greated Adaku when he saw her with a beautiful young lady. His Alaolisa age mate perhaps. He was on his way home from the farm that hot afternoon when he saw Adaku and the strange beautiful lady beside her. His younger brother, Emenike, was carrying a basket full of yams. He also greeted Adaku and the lady.

“My son how are you”. Adaku answered his greeting with a forceful smile.

“I am fine mama, I hope there is no problem?” Ebuka asked his eyes couldn’t leave the strange beautiful lady. Something seemed odd about her, he couldn’t place his finger on it.

The strange lady eyes were on him also.

“Everything is fine Ebuka, how is your mother”.

“She is fine. Nne I better be on my way now. Kelee ezinụlọ gị niile maka m- Greet all your family for me o”. So saying Ebuka left them.

“Who is he?” Uhammiri asked once Ebuka and his brother were out of spot.

“Well that is the Ebuka I told you about. The one you have to kill to get through Ogbanje”. Adaku explained.

“He is the Ebuka”, Uhammiri mused “Hmm, I won’t kill him then”. Uhammiri said afterwards.

Adaku was astonish at what she said and looked at Uhammiri in bewildered.

“And why is that if I may ask, don’t tell me you can’t kill a mere human being Ogbanje is always protecting”. Adaku said.

“It is not that Adaku”.

“Then what is it”. Adaku protested.

“I am attracted to him Adaku. I want to make that young handsome man my husband”. Uhammiri replied in all seriousness.

Story by Ifeoma Isabella Okeke