Chapter 16: Chapter 16

After that long trek, long due to the length and depth of muddy pot holes she had to maneuver through to get to the village stream to find her sister. Perhaps the fact that her legs and skirt were all drenched with muddy paints that gave her clothing a new outlook that spelt disaster. Her slippers, they were long forgotten, drowned in depth of mud that had refused to let go after so much pulling. The mud had completely enveloped her slippers leaving her barefooted. So dear friends, imagine how she must have looked with all that earthy color. There was no doubt she was born of the soil, or most specifically mud.

Uyai couldn't turn back now, after she had gone this far. So she had to muster the minute courage she could salvage and approach every single soul except the lesser creatures of course to find out the whereabouts of her sister dearest. Affiong.

Well, Uyai was pleased to tell you that after all the efforts, humiliation and every other miserable word you see fit to describe her situation, it was all futile. Affiong was nowhere to be found. Even if she was around, no one was ready to tell, judging from their short clipped answer.

"Have you...?"

"No." the young woman didn't let her complete her question. She just shrunk back from her in disgust.

She walked to another woman who was about putting the water filled pot on her head. "Please have..."

The woman almost threw her water pot. She shook her head and shot Uyai a glare.

This was how it went, thus, her long trek back to the house, she had managed to sustain a no nonsense scratch against her upper arm after slipping and falling for the hundredth time. If she was furious when she found the person she had almost died trying to look for, sleeping soundless in their room, it was an understatement.

Uyai approached the straw bed where Affiong was sleeping, not just sleeping, having a nice dream while at it, if you could see from the curve of her lips as it stretched to one side. Menacingly she drew near to her. God knew how much her hand ached to wipe that smile from her face with a resounding slap. Her teeth were gritted in fury, and her hands had balled into a fist. If she could just hit her, just once and then run. It'll be so wonderful. But she couldn't do anything about it. Not when mother was hollering her name like she wanted to call the name out of her. Uyai could imagine the pains it took for mother to call her Uyai, to call her Beauty. Thank goodness, she had washed herself before mother could see her in that state. The thought of her reaction gave her the chills. Uyai shivered.

Reluctantly and with a grump she retraced her steps regretfully and turned to answer her mother.

"Yes mother!" she hollered back.

"Come here quickly, your father wants to see you."

Uyai hurried her steps and saw mother waiting for her while she held a basket of cucumbers. Probably the new harvest. Uyai's step faltered when she was met directly with mother's smiling face. She was humming a happy tune and Uyai didn't know what to make of it.

"Where's father?" she asked ignoring her unusual pleasant expression

"He's in the front yard." Her voice was surprisingly pleasant, without contempt. She raised a few cucumber that had been in the basket and transferred them into a Stainless plate which she held in her right hand. She pushed the now cucumber filled plate into her hand. "Take it with you and give it to your father."

Uyai nodded, taking the plate. She went in the direction of the front yard. As she got close to where her father was, she discreetly took out a cucumber and hid them under the waistband of her skirt, making sure to fold it twice in order to properly conceal it. Her stomach growled at the thought of eating it later.

Now with a little smile, she skipped to where father sat on a bench playing Draft with grandmother. Judging from the scowl on his face, he was loosing shamelessly. Guess grandma was the only one who could beat him at his game.

"Papa. You sent for me." she announced behind him. Startling him that he jerked in his seat, almost falling off the bench.

With a glare he turned to her. "What?!"

"Mama said you sent for me."

"Yes I did. Stop making me strain my neck and come and stand in front of me." he scolded.

Uyai grunted an apology and did as he requested.

"Is that for me?" he eyed the cucumber with interest.

"Yes. It is. Mama said I should give it to you."

Eagerly he took the plate from her and took out a cucumber. About to take a bite out of the succulent greenish fruit, he remembered his mother who sat across him also looking at the cucumber with interest.

"Ah! Give one to your grandmother."

"Grandma, here." Uyai took out one and handed to grandma. Meanwhile her other unused hand was used to anchor the cucumber hidden in the band of her skirt since it was about falling out.

After grandmother took a bite out of the crunchy greenness. Papa Affiong could finally eat his in bliss.

Uyia coughed loudly. "Papa you sent for me." she reminded him.

"Ah yes. Where is your sister?" He asked.

"Sleeping." she grumpled out a reply

"Hmm good."

Eh?

Uyai frowned. "Papa?" she called.

"Yes..." his mind was far from here. It was in the crunchy delight he held in his hand.

Grandmother thankfully had noticed his absentmindedness and kicked him slightly in the leg. He jerked slightly and turned to look at Uyai as if he was seeing her for the first time.

Uyia growled internally.

"You were saying?"

Uyai snorted, but not loudly. "You asked for Affiong and I said she was sleeping."

"Sleeping? Oh! That is good. She needs to rest for tomorrow is a big day." he smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"Eh..." Uyai frowned

"Finally. I just knew it won't be long before this happens." he tells grandmother chuckling. "You can go." he dismissed her.

***

Uyai had woken up to commotion. The whole house was in disarray. Unusual incessant chatters that led to noises making her head pound violently. Still in that sleep induced state, she had reluctantly propelled herself from the straw bed.

Through the faded curtain streams of sunlight filled the entire room. It was morning already yet she felt like she hadn't slept at all.

Uyai yawned loudly, immediately clamping her mouth shut when she saw a fly hanging around.

She stretched her stiff arms and paused when she discovered that Affiong was not in the room with her.

Strange.

Apart from the fact that Affiong had never woken up before her, her usually quiet house appeared overcrowded with noise.

Uyai parted the curtain. Her well constructed slippers was just a feet away from the curtain. Daintily she slipped her feet into the abandoned slippers she had found in the backyard between the overgrown weeds. Her newly constructed slippers was differently coloured; one completely faded blue and the other completely faded yellow. Of course it wasn't always like this. She had to wash them and patch them up with grandmother's sewing thread to salvage the remains.

Uyai straightened out her rumpled blouse and readjusted the skirt, folding the waistband as usual. She sauntered to the direction of the noise and was met with an astonishing sight.

Faces, strange faces filled her father's front yard. As she moved closer towards the throng of people, she saw the one person that her sister had stupidly fallen for. Edem.

He was dressed in the traditional attire; a beautifully coloured sarong rounded his waist and fell to his feet. He had worn a white vest and a blue coloured tie that was beautifully knotted rounded his neck. He actually looked handsome. But what was he doing dressed like that in her house?

"Ah! I thought you'll still be sleeping by now." Mother's voice rang from behind her startling her. Uyai turned and appraised her. She was beautifully dressed as well, her fair skin glowed in the light, her hair had been braided stylishly, and parts were hidden by a lace hair tie. "quickly take this to our guest." she shoved two plates of garden egg into her hands. Uyai was confused for a bit as she held the plates in her hands. "what are you doing? Go!" mother snapped.

"I'm going." she said, turning away from her. Uyai maneuvered her way through the throng of men and went straight towards Edem who she suspected was the guest. The main guest.

As she drew nearer. She saw father sitting opposite Edem and Affiong standing by him. She had donned on a skirt with flowery patterns that molded beautifully to her curves. Her shirt was v-necked and had a long sleeve that flared at the wrist. A beautifully pattern curved on each sides of the wrist. Uyai never knew Affiong owned such beautiful clothing.

She paused in front of Edem and curtseyed, sparing him a glance. He took no notice of her. Just as if he didn't know her. Uyai scowled lightly. Kept the plates of garden egg on the mini stool that separated him from father.

She turned to leave, but paused when she discovered the situation. Goodness! How could she be stupid not to realize...

"Which family do you hail from?" father spoke.

"The family of late Chief. Asuquo Eyo."

"Never heard of him." father said in a clipped tone. Father was in his serious mode right now.

Edem chuckled nervously. "Well you might not know him..."

"Why? Aren't you from our village?" father questioned with narrowed gaze.

"Actually, I am not..."

"What?! You're not? Which village then?"

"Etai Nyang." Edem replied.

"Did you know about this?" Father turned to Affiong who all this while had been so quiet and looking so innocent, you'll believe she'll never hurt a fly.

She nodded.

"What did he say?" mother's alarmed voice came from nowhere. When did she appear?

"He said he's from the village of Etai Nyang.

"Etai Nyang." Mother's eyes had widened. Uyai could sense a hint of panic, but she was unsure why.

Affiong and Edem looked at each other confusedly.

Uyai just watched on unamused.

"Young man," father began after a long pause, when everywhere had quietened. "permit me to ask you this." Uyai was shocked at her father's politeness and to a young man no doubt. This was indeed frightening.

"Go ahead sir." Edem replied embarrassed.

"A-Are you married?" He choked out. Mother coughed. Uyai's eyes widened at the strange question. Affiong's eyes were were equally rounded at the ridiculous question. Uyai looked at Edem. His mouth was agape. The poor man was probably shocked.

What was wrong with father today?

"I-I..." he stuttered.

"You don't need to answer that." Affiong interrupted. "Father!" she turned to father with an accusing glare.

"No! Let him." Mother interrupted once again. Her expression was solemn. Uyai shivered. What was up with her parents?

"I-I..." Edem began again, still stuttering.

"Just answer." Affiong told him, rolling her eyes.

Edem's eyes hardened and his mouth had set into a grim line. Uyai's eyebrows rose in suspicion, while others waited with bated breath.

"Yes. I am." was his next words.

"Are you satisfied now, he said he's... Wait. What!" Affiong's voice rose. She was clearly hearing things. She couldn't have--No. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. "What did you say?" she asked for clarification.

"Yes, I am married." he repeated firmly.

"Just as I suspected." father muttered. He was unusually calm.

Mother was not.

Uyai was not sure how she felt, so she along with the other guests just observed.

Uyai watched Myriad of emotions run across Affiong's face.

"B-But How?" she whimpered.

"You should know that in my village we are allowed to take more than one woman as wife."

"B-But...you never said anything all this while." her voice shook. "How could you!" she screamed, tears had begun to drip from her eyes.

"It doesn't mean..." he went to hold her hand. She shrunk back from him in disdain.

"How could you? You never said anything." she yelled angrily, the tears freely flowing.

Father had quietly left the scene. Now mother just watched with a confused expression on her face.

"That's because you didn't ask."

"I didn't ask?" she asked incredulously. "Do I need to ask you for that information. Didn't you think it important for you to tell me?" she cried.

"No. I didn't." he muttered lowly.

"You didn't. Oh my God, what have I done. I trusted you, I even foolishly loved you."

"And I love you. We can still get married and live happily." he told her, his voice had soften.

"Is that what you think?" she scoffed.

"Over my dead body!" mother rebuked heavily startling everyone.

"I can't share my husband with any woman. How can you request that of me?"

"Well there's no other choice then." he frowned shrugging casually.

It was then Uyai snapped. At his nonchalant attitude.

"You bastard!"

"Uyai!" it was grandmother. Grandmother was here? All this time? Why didn't she say anything?

Uyai shook her head disappointed

"I regret the day I met you. You fooled me Edem. After all..." her speech was interrupted. Her face had gotten ashen when she hurriedly benched over and hurled out whatever content that was in her stomach.

"Affiong?"

"Sister?"

Uyai, mother and grandmother ran to her.

"Are you alright?" again their question was interrupted by another hurling.

"What is wrong with her?" Mother questioned absentmindedly

"She's pregnant." Edem said smiling.

"What!"

The whole place became silent. All were shocked, except maybe Affiong and Edem.

"Affiong, is this true?" mother asked tentatively

Affiong nodded after wiping her mouth.

"Yes mother."