"You and your friends are very kind. I never knew we had
such good people as you in this village,” remarked Dikachi.
“Well, that is how we are. We are trained to do good and
defend our people and please, don’t say another word. I can see you’re very tired,”
Dikachi nodded in reply as they walked along the bush path. Each time they came across anyone on the road and
greeted the person with eyes already fixed on them both, the fellow would not take off the eyes on them even after
they’d passed them. What rang on their mind was; whatcould be going on with Okwudili, the son of Ikemba, a noble man and the daughter of a man unable to bear a
son. Some group of girls who were on their way to the
stream also marveled as they came across them and gossiped as they continued on their way to the stream.
Soon they passed a piece of farm in which three girls were weeding. One of them who came out to drop a basket of cassava saw them from behind. She took a full view of
Dikachi and Okwudili from behind and called out to the others.
“Ngozi ! Oluchi !” They both came running up to her as she pointed out to them Okwudili and Dikachi.
“What! This can’t be true!” shouted Ngozi astonished.
“Is that not Okwudili, Ndidi’s fiance? What could he be
doing with that—that ---- piece of dirt,” added Ngozi.
“Of course he is the one. How I wished Ndidi was here to see for herself,” said Amaka.
“Don’t mind her. She never stops talking about him. Now see how faithful he can really be. Nonsense,” said Ngozi.
“Well, I think she needs to hear this so that she can stop fooling herself over him. You guys should continue while I run along to tell her. I’ll join you soon,” said Amaka as she
walked out on them while they both went back to the farm
to continue their work.
When Dikachi arrived at her compound, Okwudili dropped
the bunch of wood beside their kitchen. Dikachi thanked
him and offered him a cup of water which he rejected.
“Why—after helping me are you going to refuse this from me? “
“No, it’s not like that. You see, I need to hurry home to see my people, especially my fiancée,” he replied.
“I understand but please accept this; I wish I could do the same for your friends,” said Dikachi holding up a wooden
cup of water to him. Okwudili taking the cup from her replied;
“Alright--- thank you but I don’t think the prince will want any favour from you,” said Okwudili gulping down the water
as Dikachi stood amazed.
“What! Did you just say the prince?” she asked flabbergasted. Okwudili pulling the cup away from his
mouth surprised too replied.
“You mean you didn’t know Dike is the prince of Ikusika?
Sure, he had been away since he was ten, but that does not make you forget him,"
“Oh—sure—I ne—never—knew it was him,” Dikachi
stuttered as Okwudili dropped the cup on her and ran out of the compound. Dikachi caught the cup and walked
slowly into her hut, kept it and lay down on her mat still finding it difficult to believe Dike was the prince as she
played back the scene of what took place in the farm before her in her thoughts.
Amaka on her part walked as fast as her legs could carry her.This made those whom she came across to wonder if she had been involved in a fight.
Ndidi, whose elder sister, Olama, was making her hair in front of her hut as they discussed her engagement
laughing at intervals, suddenly noticed Amaka storm into their compound. Obiageri, Ndidi’s mother came out of the kitchen and stood by to see what could have driven Amaka with such mood into their compound.
“Ndewo nu’ o-o-oh!” She greeted hurriedly and signaled to
Ndidi who got up from her seat, took permission from her sister and followed Amaka to the back of the house.
“Amaka—what is the matter—why did you rush into my
compound like that?” quizzed Ndidi surprised.
“My friend I came to tell you that Okwudili is back.”
“What— when! Oh, I can’t wait to see him,” replied Ndidi
almost leaving her friend but was stopped by Amaka who grabbed her arm.
“Wait! Don’t just run off like that,” said Amaka.
“Why?” Ndidi asked surprised.
“Can you believe that I saw Okwudili and Dikachi returning from the farm?”
“What! ---- Which Dikachi?” asked Ndidi with her countenance changed.
“Dikachi, the daughter of Ubochi. Not only that—Okwudili was carrying firewood for her while she walked lamely after
him,” said Amaka as Ndidi felt her world was crumbling.
“No, it can’t be. He can’t do this to me,” bemoaned Ndidi
as she walked out on her friend, in tears. While Amaka left for the farm.
Ndidi entered into her hut without saying a word to her mother and sister who were eating in front of it. She came
out almost immediately wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. As she walked out of the compound, her mother called out to her but there was no reply.
“I’ve warned her about this girl and the others she mingles with. Each time they come here, it is either for gossip or
something worst than that,” Olama lamented.
“I‘ve tried to talk her out of it but she won’t listen to me.
Birds of a feather flock together---Nwa m, eat your food,” Obiageri begged.
Ndidi left for Okwudili’s place. On getting there, she walked straight into the compound where she met him and his
family having their lunch as they discussed their feat that day happily. She walked into the compound without greeting any member of the family, she signalled to Okwudili. He left his meal of pounded yam and egusi soup
without washing his hands and ran after her happily while his family members discussed Ndidi’s rudeness.
“Obi moh!” said Okwudili trying to hug her.
He received a slap on his left cheek and opened his mouth, astonished.
“Is that how welcome is being said in this village now?”asked Okwudili surprised.
Okwudili, why, why, how could you do this to me,” asked Ndidi sniffing.
Okwudili became surprised and tried to place his hand on her shoulders.
“Obi moh, why’re you crying? What are you talking about?”
Ndidi pushed his hands away and then removed the
bracelet round her wrist and then threw it at him.
“Ndidi! I hope you know what you are doing. What has come over you?” he asked angrily
“Since you have become a servant for Dikachi go ahead and carry more wood for her!” she stormed and pushed him out of the way and walked out on him.
He called out to her asking her to listen to his explanation but she waved him aside as she made her way home.
Okwudili felt dejected and slowly went to join his family.
They all noticed his mood and tried to find out what transpired between them but he ignored them and entered his hut without finishing his meal.
Ndidi on her part narrated every thing to her mother and elder sister while sobbing, they however advised her to talk
to Okwudili and find out what actually happened.
Dike and his friends arrived the palace earlier and were welcomed by the King and Queen who sent out the town crier to announce to the villagers the arrival of the prince.
Soon the villagers started streaming into the palace to welcome the prince after whom the ijele dancers displayed for him and his friends.
The news of his arrival spread like a wildfire and left the maidens all rejoicing as they all admired him and marveled at what a handsome man he had turned into.
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