A fair judge

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Uncertainty begets curiosity
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"Ámála mma mma nụ!              

Kele nụ!

Rie nụ!

Ṅụọ nụ!

Mua kwa nụ!

Zụọ nụ!

Kwezuo nụ!

The people gathered chorused their response as the king greeted them in their native tongue.

Agatha sat beside the elders while they roared their greetings in unison.

Yaa!

The king was an elderly man, his greying hair evident of his long experience on earth. His Adams apple bobbling in his throat as he hailed both his people and their visitors.

There was no crown on his head, there were hardly crowns on the heads of their rural leaders except during very important cultural events, which was the opposite of what was portrayed on screens.

Asị m ma-asị unu,   unu abiala!

Ndị ọbịa anyị            nọkwanu ke ọma!

*I've come to say you're welcome*

All the chiefs nodded while some chanted "eeh!"

"Ọ bụ Le ezi la he anyị si bịa nṅa na abụghị he ọṅụ, la agbanyeyi anya ya, Anyị ngakwa ime he omenala anyị kara site la ọjị ya anyị nga I goo gboo wa. Ke na mbụ iji gosi kwaa anyị nnabata kwara ndị ọbịa anyị."

The old man sat on his chair which was designated at the end of a large room, where pictures of the king with dignitaries in the state hung.

"It is of a truth that the reason for this meeting might not be joyful, but we must respect tradition by showing a sign of acceptance, especially to our guests with kola."

Agatha couldn't help but scour the room with her eyes, noting how expensive and quite traditional the room was.

Animal skin which seemed very much like an Antelope's hung directly above the king's throne. Horns of wild animals decorated his walls, together with cowries and white beads. The king was in a native attire, which appeared quite casual as most elders were present in the same outfit. A well tailored white and black "isi agu " material as it was natively called and a black trouser.

The name "isi agụ" owing to the presence of a tiger's head embroidered into every part of the cloth.

The kola passed round the elderly men as they performed it's rite, each throwing off proverbs to back up their presentation.

It was a taboo for a woman to perform such rites and such belief had transcended from generations to generations.

Agatha was not the only woman present in the room, Chidiogo was seated amongst her husband's kinsmen, her eyes solely fixed on the king's face. She could tell the woman was in so much pain. Her sunken eyes gave her away.

The last person to speak on the kola was from Chidiogo's side. He quickly thanked the king for the kola before proceeding to take a bite of the red colored item in his hand. The rite of kola breaking was known as ịgoo ọjị. While a young man was instructed to pass the other item around the room. The kola in question being a green garden egg and locally prepared peanut butter which was called "ọkwa ose"

The king proceeded once more to address the people after his aged and shaky hands brought the kola to the top of his mouth, while his teeth chopped off quite very little amount of the item.

"I will not pretend that I haven't heard of the sad event that tore through the hearts so many of us, the beginning of this year. It was indeed heartbreaking and for that I say to those who had lost family members from that unfortunate event, diwa nụ. Take heart! "

The two sides nodded in acquiescence, then he urged one of the elders to state the cause of the meeting.

The old man dressed in his isiagu, black trousers and a red cap, rose from his seat and briefed the people gathered.

Chidiogo's kinsmen were the first to state their case, while Chidiogo was given the floor to address their court.

"And so your highness, that was how I lost my husband on that faithful morning."

She got emotional towards the end as she threw a question to the court.

"Biko asị m ka m jukene, e mere m ihe ọjọọ? Did I commit any crime by demanding that of my husband? He went into their compound with his two legs  and came out a corpse, his dead bodied carried out"

The tears blinded her and she blinked them away. The men all chorused "ndo nnem"

Some shook their head out of pity, others muttered "hewu lee! Chai" even Agatha was moved by the woman's grief. She would be devastated if her husband dies.

"All I ask is justice for my late husband. He was murdered in cold blood by that mad man and his whore of a wife!
For all I know, they planned this whole thing and that prostitute tried to seduce my husband.

That man who killed his own son!"

Agatha flinched at the words Chidiogo tersely spoke. Many people knew Obinna's death was an accident which resulted from the two men struggling with a loaded gun.

When Chidiogo finished speaking the king requested for Ngozi while Agatha stood in her place.

"Onye eze kaa nkà o!"

May you live long

"I am Ngozi's younger sister, I came from Enugu. My elder sister couldn't make it to this meeting because she's currently in a coma. I went to visit her there earlier today and was told so by the hospital. Losing her son and other unfortunate things that happened triggered a case of high blood pressure. But your highness permit me to say this,

E jighị atụ mmadụ mmụọ la azụ! She needs to be present so that she can also lay her claims and defend herself.

I wasn't there when the incident occurred, from what I've garnered no one truly knows what transpired between Chidozie and Ngozi. None of us really do. But I do know that my late mother, didn't raise prostitutes. " She directed the last words to Chidiogo.

Agatha took her seat while the aged men whispered amongst themselves, nodding at instances.

The king beckoned on his advisor to confirm the truth in Agatha's speech which he did. He cleared his throat, arousing everyone's curiosity. They all wanted to hear his verdict.

" I have heard what you all have said. Yesterday I spoke with the IPO from zone 9,where Iheanyị is being held at the moment. We all know what awaits him there. It's is disheartening that such a young man would want to end his life the way he did. I think we can all see that Violence is never the answer to any problem.

Ndi Ọbịa m, my visitors I have heard all you've said and I understand your plight. For years we have lived and traded peacefully in this land and I too would even demand the same if a son of this soil were to be killed in a strange land.
I am pleading with you all to be patient, till we get to the root of this matter.

traditionally there are punishments awaiting defaulters of the village law but this one is already being handled by the state police.

Also we do not know what did transpire between the two parties that caused this problem as one is in a coma and one is dead"

"Asị asị! How do we know that she's not pretending!" Chidiogo yelled  interrupting the king. Which only succeeded in earning her glares from her kinsmen.

The village provost stood to caution the woman for her outburst but the king waved him off, continuing with his speech.

"My people said the two of them didn't look presentable. Chidozie was only Clad in his white singlet and gịnị?"

He urged his advisor to help him finish his statement. The man stood up and voiced out the word.

"Underwear! "

"His boxers to be precise" The king chipped in. His pronunciation highlighting the consonants in the word, sounding more like bok sax.

"And from what I heard his trousers were discovered in a bush at Iheanyị's backyard"

"Ngozi had wrapper tied on her chest. All my years as king I've come to realize that things may not always be as they seem. Which is why it is very disappointing that neither of the party is present here today. The very first people who saw what transpired with the gun being children! Ụmụ aka!

Are they here? "

Both Agatha and Chidiogo chorused

" No! "

We do not know if Chidozie was being seduced or whether he was the one seducing Ngozi. It could have been a rape attempt, or just simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

We do not know if none of this scenarios actually happened. All we know is that Iheanyị claims Chidozie and his wife were in a compromising position when he arrived. This could also be true as well, but had he been he handled this situation well, we won't be here discussing this!"

The king coughed hard and a servant quickly fetched him a cup of water which he gulped speedily .

The man was really old.

Agatha noticed how his countenance changed and how reddish his face had turned. His voice in the latter moments in the meeting coming out as squeals.

"Coming to what Agatha has said, it wouldn't be fair to their family if the woman in question is not present.

I would simply like to adjourn this meeting till when everyone is made available "

With that he stood up, Agatha feared the bones of the king giving out as she felt she heard them creak.

Agatha suspected the king's frailty to be as a result of a sickness, which was partly why their meeting was adjourned.

The king was so old that it was not wise for him to be having such long meetings. But tradition demanded the transfer of authority only when he died.

The male servant guided the old man out of the court while the elders murmured amongst themselves.

Chidiogo walked out immediately and Agatha followed. She did need to get to those children who were now her responsibility.

She had barely made two steps out of the door before mazi Chibuike drew her back.

"You are Agatha Ngozi's sister!"

She nodded while he gave her a brief smile.

"Take those children out of this village ịnụ. I don't know why, but I feel something strange is going on here.

What if all these was just a plot that Iheanyị fell for? I knew Chidozie briefly, he would never cheat on his wife.

Whoever came for Iheanyị would still come for his children. Take them away before it is too late! "

The fear his words instilled in Agatha made her legs vibrate on the floor.

Who would want to harm those innocent children?

Why would someone want Iheanyị out of the way?

It wasn't as if he was rich, he was just a small business man who owned lands for farming.

"Dede ịmela" Was her response as she sought her way home.

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"I won't tell her on one condition!" Arinze replied with a devious smile

"Ọ gịnị ka ị chọrọ? What do you want?"

"Write a love letter to Olivia then convince her to be my girlfriend"

"I can't do that!"

"Then watch me tell our mother how you got me into trouble because of that stupid boy! I don't know when you'll get it into your head, we the Onwuegbusi's have nothing to do with that family anymore."

"Onyi think about it!"

Onyedikachi didn't want Olivia to be with his brother. He had heard certain things his brother did to girls and it repulsed him.

Arinze's shoes fell under the bed and he bent to pick the item while Onyedikachi scrambled off the bed and picked it for him.

"I will do it!" He yelled trying to prevent him from discovering the item he placed there.

"Ezigbo nwa! Good boy!" Arinze  declared with a smile, patting his younger brother on the shoulder.

"Why do you want her to be your girlfriend, she's not your age mate"

"It doesn't matter! I am 15 and she's 13. Just like you and that little ogbanje"

"Who?" Onyedikachi retorted with a face filled with disgust. He was only 12 years old and being more than friends with girls wasn't in any way appealing to him. Girls were his competitors in class, he was always battling for good positions with them. They were his sworn enemies!

"Gịnị bụ who? That Obanma girl. I saw you today when you helped her from that merry go round. I didn't get  it at first, but now I understand why you keep helping her."

Onyedikachi's eyes widened in shock.

"You saw me?"

"Ehe nụ now, why do you think I beat up her elder brother."

"Are you trying to catch her young?"

"Obanma?" Onyedikachi replied in a gruff manner

"mba o, nmaOba!"

"She's a small girl. That small thing, how do you think I like that small girl"

"I have this feeling that you do. Don't worry sha, time will tell. Puberty will wipe that look of disgust on your face very Soon. Did you know that Dad was Thirteen  years older than our mother?

Girls grow fast! They mature very fast, they ripen very quickly as well. Don't worry one day my friends will show you how to handle them
!

Mother will kill you if she finds out you like her"

"Stop saying nonsense Arinze , I don't like her"

"Prove me wrong then, stop helping her"

"I will" Onyedikachi vehemently declared

Arinze chuckled lightly as he made his way out of the room.

Onyedikachi stared at him, a bit more disappointed in him that he ever was. His brother needed to withdraw himself from the company he kept. He was becoming more devious by the day. It tugged his heart that his father's demise might have given him more freedom to misbehave.

Imagine him and little Obanma, Arinze was just plain stupid.

He would rather have a girlfriend his age and why would his father marry his mother whom he was Thirteen years Older than? It did not make much sense to him, it did not sit well with him either. Did the disparity wane once one grew older? Or did the girls truly mature faster than the males.

Onyedikachi withdrew his uniform, together with his brother's and set out to repair them.

"Nnaa ndo o, sorry o" Agatha consoled Chijioke as he broke the news of their mother's health to them.

Their brother was to be buried the next week and their mother wasn't even aware.

Adaugo sniffed holding back her own tears. She hadn't told Obanma who was sleeping peacefully in their room.

How could she? The poor thing was already in enough pain.

"She's not dead you hear. She'll still come back all we have to do is pray for her ịnụ"

The children nodded and she led them to their bedroom.

Agatha quickly picked up her phone and dialed her husband.

"ọ dị mma, she is really down. She's in a coma"

"They are just heartbroken, I wanted to discuss something with you. I know now is not the right time. I wanted to ask if they could come stay with us for a while. Ngwanu I'll tell them tomorrow "

Agatha ended the call feeling slightly better, she went to the room Obanma and Obinna shared, she stood for a while watching the little girl sleep. Then decided to join her on the bed.

She wrapped her hands around Obanma, the little girl sleepily secured her fingers into Agatha's and for the first time, Agatha truly felt like she was home.

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Hello Everyone!

Hope we enjoyed the chapter? So who else is not comfortable with certain age disparities between couples lol?

I used to tell my sisters when I was much younger that I would marry my age mate whew!

But rn I don't even know wor is going on lol!

Do you think there's more to the unfortunate tragedy that occurred on the new year?

Have you told someone about this story? 🙄

Speak the truth now!

Well if you haven't? Please do! 🤗❤️