Episode 16 - Blind Desire

Mama surprised everyone when she raised up her head…her face soaked in tears as she faced papa. She spat on his face.
‘yes i cheated on you! I slept with your best friend on your matrimonial bed! But i didnt start it…you started it! I knew about your escapades with Grace, the onowu’s wife…i saw you so many times going to Omego Inn and not too long after, she goes in too..i’ve overgeard the both of you speaking so many times over the phone and the money you used in running the home was given to u by Grace. I have ample evidence to prove to everyone here that you and Grace were having an affair. And moreover you never showered me with love and care like a husband should…how many times did you bruise my body? How many times did you rape me telling me that you owned my? How many times did….did you call i and my mother a witch? How many times did you embarass me in front of people….yes, i didnt marry you a virgin…thats because i was constantly raped my maternal uncle and i told you this..and i’m very grateful to you that you chose to marry me despite everything but dont you stand there and told me that you loved me! Because you never did…you treated me with disrespect like i was the cause of all my misfortunes in life…whenever you lost a gambling bet, you always took it our on me and called me badluck..how many times George..how many times? I slept with Ejike not because i wanted to..but i wanted to spite you…show you how it hurts for someone to cheat on you…the reason i remained married to you was for my children….for Ivyy because i knew divorce had greater effects on females more than in males….i constantly took all your beatings and insults waiting patiently till d day you die…yes, i hoped and prayed everyday for your death because you were nothing but a heartless man! You and your wicked sister who constantly did everything she could to make my marriage a living hell….and even as she tried everything she could to destroy my marriage, God punished her by not giving her a husband and a family and i’m eternally grateful for that….yes, i should never have committed adultery…but i dont regret it…the only thing i regret today is leaving my wonderful children behind to the mercies of you two! My Ivyy…my Danke…i’m going to miss them….’ she broke down in tears.

The crowd was silent…i looked up and saw Grace boiling in her seat…almost everyone was emotional…perhaps they understood mama now.

Then the Lolo stood up all of a sudden and faced Grace ‘so even you…’ she looked at Grace in disdain ‘could stoop so low to sleep with a man like George…i knew it! Igwe, didnt i tell you that this woman here could be having affair with other men of lower status in this village? What did you tell me? Ngozi, mind you business…and i did…now look! Shame! Disgrace! Guards!’

The royal guards stood in front of her.

‘drag this woman here to join her partner in crime…strip her naked for her case deserves no judgement…as an onowu’s wife, she deserves to serve as an example to others, not treading the wrong path!’

The guards advanced towards her immediately.

‘leave me alone, you smelly dirty chipmunks….!’ Grace struggled ‘Onowu, Igwe…please do something, tell thsi golddigging fools to leave me alone!’

The onowu and Igwe didnt say anything. I didnt see anything like disgrace and suprise on the Onowu’s face…it was like he knew about everything all this while.

Grace was immediately stripped naked and so was papa…i saw aunt Chime weeping where she was.

Grace was weeping too ‘i didnt do it, i swear i didnt do it ooo’

‘shut up!’ a woman screamed from the crowd ‘finally you’ve been caught! You nearly ruined my marriage by constantly seducing my husband…thank God he didnt fall for your tricks! You had to bribe us so we dont expose you but now you’ve finally been caught…no matter how bright the sun is…it would surely leave the sky and give the moon a chance to reign, you deserve to die, shameless woman!!!!’

The onowu cleared his throat ‘let the ritual begin’

And then everyone picked up stones and threw it towards them.

I suddenly screamed and everyone stopped and turned to my direction.
I threw the cloak away and ran to mama.
She was surprised to see me.
I hugged her and we cried together.

‘mama….’

‘Ivyy…i’m so sorry…i’m so sorry my child…’

I couldnt talk…the pains in my heart weighed me down. I was allowed to remain like that with my mother before guards dragged me away from her.

I cried and screamed, laying curses on papa…i tried running back to mama but i was held by them.

And so i watched in tears and pains as they were all stoned to death…

Including my mother.

TBC