EAGLE FROM THE RUBBLE: CHAPTER 25

geniusvic (54)in #story • 7 years ago

Now, with the turn of events, Euna discovered she needed to have the friendship and support of all these people in order to become really human and happy made her think of ways of getting reconciliation and pardon with each of them.
The next morning, Adaeze had a surprise. As she was out of her house she saw Euna approaching. She stood, not knowing what to expect but before she could react, Euna was already close by.

"Adaeze my sister, I have come to see you," she said, smiling.

"Really?" she said, baffled. "I hope all is well?"

"Hmmm. The frog does not run in the day time for nothing"

Adaeze took her to her sitting room. When they had sat down, Adaeze was further surprised when Euna left her seat and came to her. She knelt before her.

"I have come to ask for pardon. In whatever way I have offended you please forgive me," she added.

"Please get up,"Adaeze promptly said. "Anger against a sister they say, does not reach the bones. I have always loved you as a sister and friend. All these years, I only kept away not because I hated you but just to please you. So I don't really have anything against you."

Her magnanimity surprised Euna. Although she knew Adaeze was a good woman, she had not expected her to forgive her so easily. This brought tears to her eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The two friends exchanged some more pleasantries and Euna left, feeling lighter in mind and happier, too.

"What does she want?" Adaeze's husband, Okoro, asked immediately she left.

"She came to reconcile with me. She asked me to forgive her," she calmly replied.

"And what did you tell her?"

"What does one say to a repentant sister? I accepted her as friend again," she said.

Okoro stared at her. After many years of marriage, his wife had still not ceased to surprise him.

"After what she did to you?" he asked, and then shrugged his shoulders. "If not that I trusted your good sense of judgement, I would have banned you from associating with that woman. But since you chose otherwise, it is up to you," he said going back to the room.

After making up with Adaeze, Euna went to the women caucus and apologised. She paid the fine that her action generated. The women insisted that she must seek out Fr. William, who had been transferred to another parish and apologise to him before they would accept her. She accepted to do this and after that, they received her back in their midst.

Her next port of call was Ibadan. Oyibo was surprised to see her. It was now the fifth year since they last saw each other. She stood where she was and stared at her mother and the little boy who was a carbon copy of Nwamaka. She noticed by her mother's appearance that things had not been easy with her. Immediately she was touched and she felt some kind of pity for her.

'Won't you welcome us?" Euna asked,

"Come," said to the little boy, who promptly went to her. She lifted him up and carried him in her arms. "How are you?"

"I am fine" he replied, brightly

"Come in" she said to her mother and led them in.

"What of my in-law Moses?" Euna asked.

"He is on a business trip to Italy," she said.

"What of Nwamaka?" Euna ventured.

"Amaka is in school. She lives in the hostel and only comes home during vacations," she said.

"Is she in the university?" Euna asked, quite surprised.

"Yes." she replied. "What is his name?" she asked indicating the little boy.

"Obioha"

"He's such a nice boy," she said thoughtfully.

"Yes, he is. Though your uncle would not let him be."

Oyibo raised her eyebrows in silent enquiry. Euna narrated to her everything concerning Ezekwe and his kinsmen. Later, she pleaded with her daughter to come and intervene.

"You know, he's very fond of you. I am sure he will change his mind if you can come and talk to him," Euna urged her.

"If you say so," she said, reluctantly. "But you know the tradition. Ezekwe didn't invent it."

"Yes, I know, but there still could be an exception"

Oyibo looked at her not convinced but promised to come home and see Ezekwe. Euna spent some more days with her and left for Obichi's house.