This was to be their fourth child in their marriage. The first three had not stayed, leaving almost immediately without any respite for their parents. They had all died in the eleventh hour after their birth. Since his wife’s first pregnancy, his parents had not shown up at the hospital even once because they knew none of the children would ever stay long. And they wasted no pity on their son and his wife. The children were ogbanjes and they were more engrossed with staying in the spirit world than in the physical. So, they only brought torture, torment and sorrow to whoever was unfortunate to have them. Chimdi knew the reason why this was his lot.
Chimdi met his wife, Asanwa at the New Yam Festival in his village, Nwocha Village. This festival was always held every year to celebrate the success of harvesting new yams and to thank the gods for allowing it.
Since Chimdi left the village to study in the city, he had not come back to the village. But the need for a wife was great, and this pushed him back to the village. The city had not held any luck for him in regards to women. It seemed women just didn't want him or there was something about him that made them not truly see him. No mistake, Chimdi was a very handsome man. He had good manners, was well educated and rich. But what he did not know was that a Nwocha man could not marry outside his village. This rule had built deep-knit relationships between people in the village and it ensured that the blood of Nwocha people was never tainted by a stranger’s.
The evening before the New Yam Festival, Chimdi and his parents sat outside the house for some fresh air, not for want of it inside the house, but just because his parents enjoyed sitting outside. They were feasting on boiled groundnuts when Chimdi cleared his throat. As he was about to speak, his father interrupted by raising his hand.
“I will speak first. A frog does not run during the day unless there's something chasing it. Chimdi, my son, since you left this our small village to study in the city, you never set foot in it again, even after our pleas. The glamour of the city blinded you to your parents at home. So, your presence here today means you have come for something important. What is it?”
“Ahh, Papa. So you mean I can't just show up because I missed you?” Chimdi said with a smile on his face.
“Your father is not lying and you know it, nwa’m. When last did you come to check up on us. So your presence here is not for us, it is for another reason entirely.” His mother put in as she cracked a groundnut shell with her fingers.
“Okay, Mama, Papa, you have caught me. It's not like I did not also come here to see you. But there's another reason too. The city has not been good to me in aspects of love. All the women I want to have a relationship with keeps avoiding me. So, I decided to come home to find a wife. I am rich and settled enough to start a family.”
“No matter how hard you tried, you would never have found a wife outside. It's our fault that we didn't let you know about the rule. A Nwocha man can not marry outside his village.” His father said.
“Ohh. If I knew, I would have not wasted my time then. Well, I need all the help I can get to choose a suitable and good wife.”
“That's no problem. Tomorrow is the New Yam Festival. And, beautiful maidens who have come of age will be dancing. You can make your pick then. But, you have to be fast, there are many suitors this year.” His mother replied to him.
“Don't worry, Mama. I have everything covered.
After the maidens’ performance, Chimdi had not seen any maiden that his heart longed for. Chimdi was not just looking for a suitable wife, he was looking for someone he could love.
He stood up from where he sat with other suitors and decided to take a walk around the village square. That was when he saw her. Asanwa. She was carrying a basket of yams on her head. Asanwa was beautiful without trying. She had fair unblemished skin, and was well endowed. Her face was free of the traditional makeup maidens usually used. She had pert lips, long aquiline nose and twinkling eyes. Her ears, nose and neck were adorned with trinkets and jewelry. Her thick full curls framed her face nicely. Chimdi’s eyes followed her as she walked past him and his eyes kept staring in that direction even when he could no longer see her. He asked around and he got to know her name was Asanwa. His heart had longed for her. She was the one he was going to marry.
When Chimdi told his parents about Asanwa, they tried to dissuade him. They told him Asanwa was from the gypsy tribe of their village and gypsies were a cursed tribe. They told him that if he married into their tribe, he was marrying a curse. One he might not be able to break out from. But Chimdi had remained adamant. He was going to marry Asanwa with or without their support and so, they grudgingly gave him their blessings.
Before they had gone to present the traditional items to request for her hand in marriage, his father had gave an eerie warning, “When your children start causing you pain, don't say I didn't try to stop you.”
Chimdi waved it off, saying, “Everything is just superstition, Papa. Nothing is going to happen.”
After their third child died, Chimdi called his mother, begging her to do anything, to help him. His sad voice and his tears and pain caused his mother to give him an advice. His mother had once been an initiate for Ani, the goddess of fertility, so she was familiar with anything that had to do with childbearing.
“Before you bury this one, tie a small piece of cloth around her wrist. It will know you have caught it and the next time it comes, it will not try to leave. We warned you against marrying her. But, I'm sorry you had to go through so much pain.”
“Thank you, Mama. Thank you.”
Chimdi followed his mother's advice.
A doctor stopped before Chimdi’s bowed figure. He was all smiles.
“Mr Chimdi?”
Chimdi raised his head. His eyes was bloodshot. When he saw it was the doctor, he stood up abruptly. The doctor smiled at him.
“Your wife just had a baby boy. Both mother and child are alive.”
Chimdi clasped his hands together in supplication.
“Can I see her, please?”
“Yes, you can. Follow me.”
Chimdi walked with the doctor to his wife's birth room. He entered and saw her cradling the child. But her eyes were void of light. He walked towards her slowly. The child raised his wrist and Chimdi saw a tiny bloodied piece of cloth round his wrist.
His spirits lifted and he smiled widely before joining his wife. She turned to him, tears leaking out of her eyes. “This one is not going to stay??” She asked.
“He's going to, my love. He's going to. I'm sure of it.” Chimdi said and wrapped his arm round his wife and son.
Glossary
Ogbanje - spirit children
Nwa’m - my child
