Chapter 8: Prophesies Abound

T

he next couple of weeks passed in a haze, we were either making love in his room, which was now mine as well, or in the forest when we went to check his traps or in the pond in the draft of the night.

Everywhere we went together, I had begun to spend less and less time with my sister and mother, so today I promised we'd spend the whole day together. Yes had become friends with our closest neighbor Akwaeze (the kings jewel)... They had brown so close I felt I should get to know her too.

We all went to the market square to be it a few things, Obiamarachi was considered a wealthy man, so I was the wife of a benevolent wealthy man.

We bought fabrics and jewelries as such, I didn't have to manage with money cause it came at a steady inflow. The eatery had been more fruitful over the weeks. We had been married for two months now, considering how often we make love I should have been heavy by now.

Now that I thought about it, I realized I hadn't seen my monthly flow in a long time, but that didn't bother me as such. If I was pregnant it'll show soon. If I wasn't. It'll still show soon.

We were returning from the market when I noticed Pa Dike seated on a rocking chair hunched as usual, I had grown fund of this old man, with his interesting stories and steady ranting about prophesies and the glory of the gods.

There was a different glow in his eyes today, when he sighted us, though it was totally understand necessary he stood and walked as hastily as he could towards us.

For a split second I thought his tiny wonky waist would crack, and maybe break!

Running towards him Uremma giggled, and literally wrapped him up in a warm embrace, it wasn't until then that I noticed how fleshy she had become, her arms and thighs were visibly pumped anew, I brushed the thought aside once it came, even I had put up some weight, who would eat from Obiamarachi's glorious menu and remain the same?.

Uremma had become as fluent in Igbo as the day is long, he placed his palm OK her belly and smiling into her eyes said.... "Otito during Ndi chi, okwukwe obodochi no n'uzo! "

(May the gods be praised, Obodochi's hope is on the way)

Wait... What?

Wait.... Did I just hear what I thought I did?....

Is?

But how?... My head was filled with questions without answers, surprise, anger and hurt ran its course, how can my sister be pregnant? Yes I know she'll probably birth the savior of Obodochi but when did this happen, when did she meet the son of the gods?

How?

Why didn't she tell me?

Before I could get completely swallowed in my thoughts, the warm palm of pa Dike was resting on my belly! and repeated the same words he had said to Uremma!

His hands lingered a bit longer on my belly and I could swear I felt a spark in my belly at that moment.

"Nna anyi Dike, Kedukwanu ka nkea si me? "

(pa Dike how is this possible?) I asked uncomfortably.

"Ofu n'ime anyi tosiriee muta onyenzoputa obodochi, odokwanurum anya na Obu Obiamarachi ka nwaya no m n'afo, amakwanum na obughi Ya bu nwa ogwugwu!"

("One of us is supposed to birth the savior of Obodochi, I'm sure that the child in my womb is Obiamarachi's, I also know that he is not the son of Ogwugwu!)

"Amaghim etu Uremma siri we tuta ime,manao Kara ee gwa m maoburu na nya na Nwa ogwugwu Amatago, Nyabu na."

("I don't know how Uremma fell pregnant, but she would have told me if she met the son of Ogwugwu, which means that.")

"Nkea putara?"

("This means?")

At that point, I didn't even know what that meant, I said visibly shaking.

Did falling head over heels in love distance me from my sister? She would Always tell me everything, I heard about her first kiss first, her first period, her first creative photograph....her first everything. Now, judging by the expressions of everyone present, I'm obviously the last to hear about this one.

She came closer and said, "I was going to tell you Awele"

I couldn't even look her in the eye.

I felt betrayed and hurt, and excited that we'll both soon be mother's, and confused and hopeful.

It still hadn't crossed my mind that it could be me carrying the savior!

"who? "

That was all I could utter at that point ...who?

She continued..

"You were so happy with your love life and all, I didn't want to bother you with my personal issues"

"Personal?"

"Bother me? "

"Since when is talking to me bothering me? " I said obviously hurt with her choice of words.

"We eat breakfast and dinner together, we go to the forests, the stream and basically chit chatter all the time!

Personal?... Now we're too distant something this important is personal?...

You possibly falling in love and getting pregnant is now personal?

Since when?

How? "

She looked like she wanted to be swallowed by the grounds on which she stood, her eyes had rained their fair share of tears already.

I wanted to smile and hug her, I wanted to tell her that I was happier I'd become an aunt, happier than I was disappointed with her silence.

To look her in the eyes and remind her that I'll always be there, that she didn't need to keep things from me!

I wanted her to know that I loved her as much as I'd love the child in her womb as much as I'd love mine.

So much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to tell her, but when I opened my mouth again, all I could utter was.... "Who? "

"Enyichi"....she answered

"He loves me, he really does... He's always so nice to me, always taking care of me! "

"I swear he'd make a brilliant father"

"What about the prophesy?" Ure asked concerned.

"Enyichi?"

"What does this mean?" I asked Realizing that the only one who could answer my query didn't understand English I had to ask again...

"Nna anyi, kedu ihe nkea putara? "

(PA, what does this mean?)

"Kedukwanu maka Amuma eburu?"

(what about the prophesy?)

He took his time to clear his throat...whenever he does that, it becomes obvious that a long story would ensue... I was about to go find a stool to sit on when Ure gave me one. Trying so hard to make amends she smiled as she said.. "Awele sit here! "

Sitting down and crossing my legs as elegantly as I had learned to since my marriage to Obiamarachi.

I looked straight at PA Dike, and understanding that I was ready to hear his gist, he began....

"Agwaru m unu, n'ofu n'ime unu gaamu onyenzoputa obodochi, Amuma eburu gosiputara na Amadioha nwa ogwugwu ga ezidata n'obodochi, Amuma ozo, e buru aroiri ka amusiri Uremma, buna Arusi ozo ezidatago n'obodochi, nkea putara na Umu nwanne n'abo ga atuta ime otu ubochi, .... Maka na ogwugwu bu chi di omimi,Afo n'aboGA erite ofu ihe, Ofu GA agba abuo...ofu GA amuOfu, mana Ofu ka ha GA abu."

Tupu Amuo Umuaka, Umu Chi no na obodochi GA arapu obodochi, haGA aloghachi mgbe Ogeruru ha GA aba uru, Asandu ga amalite Ochichi ochichiri Ya nke ukwu, nne onye nzoputa ga akporu Ofu n'ime Umu Ya were gbapu, Ofu n'ime unu ga anwu n'imunwa...Akwandu ga azu abuo, Ofu n'ime ha GA abu onye zoputa, mgbe ha ruwegoru Oge ha GA eji zoputa obodochi, aka ogwugwu kpuchiri Asandu n'anya GA apu, O ga achoputakwanu ndi ha bu, we're choroegbu ha, haGA agbapu kwanu, mgbe ha loghachiri ozo.... Obodochi GA enwero onwe ya!"

(I told you that one of you will bear the savior of Obodochi, the prophesy says that Amadioha the son of Ogwugwu will descend to Obodochi, another prophesy, Ten years after Uremma was born said that, Another deity had descended to Obodochi, this means that two sisters would conceive on the same day. Because Ogwugwu is a god of mystery, same sex shall both wombs bear, one would have two, and the other one, but one sex shall they both be.

Before their birth the sons of the gods in Obodochi will leave Obodochi, they will return when it's time, Asandu would begin her reign of incessant terror, the mother of the savior would flee with one of her children. One of you will die at delivery. Akwandu will raise two, one of whom will be the savior, when the time for them to fulfill their destiny becomes at hand, the hand with which Ogwugwu has blocked Asandu's eyes from seeing will be taken away, she will find out who they are and try to kill them, however, they'll escape and when they return, Obodochi will be saved!)

"N'ime abuo, otu nke nwere ihe iribama nke eligwe!"

("Amongst the two, one will bear the mark of the skies") he said like someone in a trance.

"Etua ka aga esi Mara onye bu onyezoputa"

( This is how you would know who the savior is)

"Mana uche unu ga adikwa ya, maka na Ogwugwu bu chi omimi masiri nke ukwu"

("But be weary, because Ogwugwu is a god that marvels in mystery!")