The Beautiful Bride Part #6 [A Nigerian Story]

A True Nigerian Folkore told by my grandmother. Well most of the story has been modified by me and a lot of things has been added also to make it more enjoyable.
I've always wanted to write about this.

Read Part 1 here

Read Part 2 here

Read Part 3 here

Read Part 4 here

Read Part 5 here

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Part 6

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Omide prepared for her journey to Igalani. She took along things she would need. She informed her aunt and Abeni that she would return soon but a message would be sent before then.

Several of the suitors visited their home but Abeni told them that Omide had travelled out of town. Exactly one week after her departure, she informed her relations and some of her suitors that Omide had been kidnapped in the town where she went to visit her friend.

Many of the relations were sad to hear this news. Some of the suitors wore long faces too. They all prayed that she would be released unharmed. Some of the suitors asked for information so that they could help in tracing her.

Exactly two weeks after her departure, Aberni announced the sad news to friends, relations and her suitors that her body was found floating on the river and the body had been buried by the river bank according to tradition of the people of the area.

Several persons visited their home to console the family A few wailed uncontrollably. The news of the death of Omide shook Iniga to its foundations. Ayelafe was one of the first of her-suitors to call at their home.

'Oh, Omide the world beauty queen is gone. What a tragedy! What a loss,' he cried with tears flowing rapidly down his face. Others joined him to lament that one of the greatest stars of Iniga had died.

Before the evening of that day, many of Omide's friends converged on the house. They wept and recounted the family cognomen of Omide. They sang mournful songs for their departed friend:

Omide the queen of our time Come back to us now Omide the beauty of our age Please rise from the dead Omide the star of Iniga Come back to us now Omide a star in a million Please rise from the dead Omide the pride of womanhood Come back to flash your beauty again.

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Source

The maidens prayed earnestly for the repose of the soul of Omide. They remained in her home till late in the night. They dispersed to their various homes with a heavy heart.

On the following day of the announcement, more visitors called on the family of Omide. Ayelafe, the fisherman, was one of the visitors who came again. This time, he looked sober and sad. Minutes later, one of the other suitors Ajijedidun, a farmer, came to sympathise with the family. He sat for over an hour and when he was about to leave, he called Abeni aside and talked to her.

'Can I have my yams, millet, palm oil and kolanuts which I gave to Omide some weeks ago? I quite sympathise with you. No one expected this sad thing to happen. If the trap does not kill the rabbit, it should, at least, return the palm nuts used as a bait for the animal. From the bottom of my heart, I sympathise with you at the death of Omide can Ho lose on both end But I should not lose on both ends. I will appreciate it can have my things back,' he said.

Abeni fought tears from her eyes. 'Thank you Mr Ajijedidun, your things are here, we are yet to touch them,' said Abeni wiping tears from her face.

She went inside their store and brought the things to Mr Ajijedidun. Ayelafe, the fisherman, was there. He watched the scene and was dumbfounded. 'Can a person be so callous and indifferent at the loss of a loved one?' He asked himself this question. The man gathered his things and asked his servants to cart them away.

A few minutes later, the man who gave her a gift ofa beautiful horse entered the house.

'Sorry to hear that Omide has died. Such a great beauty should live forever but that is not so. Can I have my beautiful horse back?' he asked.

Abeni looked at him and winked.

'Hmm, you can. We have been feeding your horse since you gave it to Omide. We are ready to be relieved of the chores of looking for horse feeds,' replied Abeni. She led the man out to where the horse was and untied the lead rope which she handed to him. The man saddled the horse and rode away.

On the third day after the announcement of the death of Omide, Olowoosenkanti, the prince merchant came at around 10 am. He was quite sympathetic. He wore a black dress to show that he was very sad and mourning.

'Oh, Omide is gone, the beauty queen has gone to join her ancestors. When shall we see another queen? When? When? The world has lost a gem. However, if you don't mind, I want my gifts back. Another Omide may emerge in the firmament and I can give these gifts to her,' he concluded.

'That's alright Mr Olowoosenkanti you will definitely your gifts back,' said Abeni. She went inside the store and brought out the gifts. She handed them to the man who called his servants who were outside and they carted them have away.

Ayelafe, the fisherman, called again on the third day to sympathise with the family of Omide.

'Do you want your gift back?' Asked Abeni.

'Gift? I was surprised you asked me this question," said Ayelafe. Those who presented Omide gifts during her birthday party sometime ago have come to take them back when they heard the unfortunate news that she had died. 'That's why I ask the question,' explained Abeni.

'Although I gave Omide a ring, it was from the bottom of my heart. Why should I take the ring back? To do this would bring back sad memories. Nobody can replace Omide in my heart. No ring or property can do this. I pray for the repose of her soul.' He spoke with tears dropping rapidly from his eyes.

'You are a man, don't weep again. God will take care of Omide's soul,' said his friend who accompanied him. Ayelafe wiped off tears from his eyes. Soon after, he left, promising to visit the family regularly.

Now, it was the fourth day since the announcement of Omide's death. The midget, Akeredolu who gave her a gold ring called on the family in the evening.

'I heard the sad news of Omide's death. She did not deserve to die. But we can't control our destiny. May her soul rest in peace. I gave her a gold ring. Please can I have this back?' he enquired.

'Yes, you can,' replied Abeni.

She went inside the store and brought out the gold ring. The man left the place immediately.

Ajini stayed in a room close to the living room and heard all the discussions between Omide's suitors and Abeni.

The man who impressed her most was Ayelafe, the fisherman. Before she went to bed on the fourth day she called Abeni to her room and had some discussion with her. 'Most of the suitors of Omide are not sincere,' she commented.

'Yes you are right mum. Only Ayelafe shows real love. If a person loves one while one is alive, that can be taken for granted but when one has died and the person still shows the same love, one can conclude that the love is genuine,' said Abeni.

'I agree with you. The man no doubt loves Omide. You can read this on his face and in his behaviour.'
'What is the next thing now?' asked Ajini.

'I will send a message to Omide to come back to Iniga. We have played our part according to the script.'
'Yes you are right my daughter,' said Ajini.

A message was sent to Omide using a code already agreed upon.

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...to be continued

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