G𝐢𝐧𝐚

Prologue

   "Nneka! Nneka! Come out ooo!" Maduabuchi's voice rang through the air as my mother, Nneka, rushed to get out.

   "Madu, calm down now, it's too early in the morning for this." My mother said calmly, trying to get Maduabuchi to keep calm.

   "That's not my concern! I want my money and I want it right now!" Maduabuchi screamed on the top of her lungs.

   "Madu, please my husband is not around, please give me more time—"

   "Nneka don't tell me that rubbish. What time?! What time?! I have given you two months to pay me back my N50, 000—"
 
   "Hey! Nneka, please do you want our neighbours to wake up and hear you. Please I've told you to give me some time, please give me some time eh. Biko, I promised that by the end of this month I will give your money. All I ask of you is to give me more time."

   Maduabuchi still did not let my mother go. She held her by the end of her wrapper and jostled her about. She also called my mother names and said that my father was never going to come back.

   One thing I feared about my mother was her temper. Just the slightest of things could trigger my mother's fury. And putting her dear husband's name into the money matter was part of them.

   A huge slap across the cheek silenced Maduabuchi immediately. My father was a trader who took his business to other neighbouring villages. That's why he spent days before arriving back in his village.

   "Nneka, you slapped me?!" Maduabuchi said dumbfounded.

   "Yes, and I would do it again if you call my husband's name into our matter."

   And with that statement said, Maduabuchi flung herself onto my mother and the two immediately began fighting. They tore through their wrappers leaving them only in their tights.

   By the time they resorted to biting, some neighbours had arrived to separate the fight. Elder Ike was one of them.

   "Hey! What is going on here this early in the morning?!" He asked, authority lacing his voice.

   "It's this thief. She took my money and won't pay back!" Maduabuchi said, out of breath and her hands on her knees.

    "I said that I will pay you if you gave more time, did I not?!" My mother rebutted.

   "Can you just imagine how you guys are fighting each like cocks by the gutter side. Can't the two of you be calm for once?" Elder Ike said peacefully.

   "Please help me tell this goat." Maduabuchi nagged.

     "Mu a! Goat! You shall see...". My mother rushed forward to deliver a blow to Maduabuchi but failed as she was restricted by two strong women.

   "You shall see. This money you require so much you'll not get it. I promise you."

   "Nneka! Nneka! Give me my money this instant! Or else!..."

    "Or else what?" My mother dared.

    "Or else I'll curse you." Maduabuchi said devilishly.

   My mother just laughed out loud. "You this goat, you think using a petty curse is going to scare into giving you your money? Never! Not after what you've done today" she said while pointing a finger out at her. "Do you worst."

   Maduabuchi then dramatically dropped to the ground. She then took a fistful of sand and raised it up high. "Nneka, today would marked the day you would begin to suffer difficulties—"

   "Ah! Back to sender." My mother said, rolling her arm around her head and snapping her fingers in Maduabuchi's face.

   "Nneka, you're child would bear the consequences of your actions," Maduabuchi continued, "She would bring upon shame and abomination upon your family and everyone would despise her. You would cry day and night over her disfigurement and you know no peace again."

   Maduabuchi then threw the sand upon the ground and spat thrice while saying, "Ofu, abuo, ato!"

    Warm tear drizzled out of her eyes as she stood up to leave. "Even till my death." She said coldly.

   My mother just hissed and left the scene as the onlookers departed and went their separate ways.

Two Years After.

My father paced about impatiently with worry written all over his face as sweat ran the rough his forehead.

"Uche, be calming down. She'll be alright." My father's closest friend Okafor said, reassuringly.

"But she has been in there for over two hours now. Okafor I'm scared."

"Scared? How can you say you're scared when you're a man. Please be strong for her, at least."

Immediately, Okafor completed that sentence the joyous sound of a baby's cry filled the birthing room. "She here. Okafor she's here!"

But immediately my father saw me, his smile faded away.

"Abomination!"

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