Bewaji

Adufe (POV)

Amidst the joyous occasion going on the palace. While everyone surrounded and congratulated her. Adufe felt the sudden absence of her mother and sister then she wondered where they had both gone leaving her alone so she excused herself to look for them, coming out of the royal court. her face beamed with a beautiful smile and an excitement she couldn’t stomach in, she was on her way to the women’s chamber but then because of the quietness of the night, she was able to hear some voices coming from garden so she thought bewaji might be there because that is her favourite place to be but again she wondered, what in the name of Olodumare is bewaji doing at a garden as this time of the night. Omo yen o ni iberu kankan (she has no fear what soever) she then turned towards the garden. As she moves closer, she heard the voice of a woman crying and speaking her heart out as if she has been jilted in love.

Getting to the garden, she sneaked in so her appearance will not noticed and hid behind a tree inches away then clearly she saw with help of fire lit in the whole corners of the palace and saw the back of two women dressed gorgeously in aso-oke conversing.

One rested her back on the neem tree and the other knelt down, she scrutinized the women and it turned out to be who she had been looking for, queen Abefe and her younger sister bewaji.

Hmm emo (what a mystery) she thought of what they were talking about secretly, Adufe didn’t want to disturb their moment for this is a rare occasion to see bewaji and her mother together. for years now there has been tension between them which has drifted them apart, so seeing them both, this must be something important so she tiptoed closer to the neem tree and leaned against it. her heart beat faster because she knew it is wrong to eavesdrop on them but yet she gave in to her curiousity.

Hearing her sister's voice breaks as she speaks.

"Màámi tonight I have come to realized that “Not everything you love is destined to be yours and not every desire of yours may benefit you” the reason for my pain and tears is mainly because of Adufe marriage announcement tonight at the royal court.

Adufe became surprised when her name was mentioned, she was also confused as her mother.

Then her mother asked bewaji
"Why is adufe the reason for your pain?

Yes màámi even I want to know too, Adufe spoke in her head

she became interested in their conversation, she wants to know how her marriage announcement is the reason for abewaji's broken heart.

Adufe listen more attentively to their conversation, bewaji proceed to give the queen a response.

"Màámi just listen to me bewaji pleaded..

"the first day I arrived in Ologundudu from ibadan. I saw rewaju at the training ground practicing sword fighting with brother Adewale and since I sighted my eyes on him, I don’t know how it happened mother, I got attracted to him and always find a reason to watch him practice whenever he comes to the palace and day by day I develop feelings for him although he has always been the one in my heart since childhood even before I left for ibadan. I just didn't have the courage to tell him

He has been the one I wished to get married too.

with her eyes down casted. she continues, "my love for him was why I rejected akaani proposal.

"You mean to say you have loved Aderewaju since childhood but never had the courage to tell him or anyone.  Queen Abefe asked

"I am confused because everyone in the palace already knew prince rewaju and adufe were lovers and they got engaged when you were in ibadan so what you are saying now is strange to me.

Màámi, I am sorry, I never knew about their relationship. I don’t know how it happened but i never intended to put baami (father) to shame or the whole Kingdom. but I loved rewaju , I had always love him deeply so that was why my heart broke when I heard this marriage proposal