Olanna stood aloof. Aduke dragged her inside.
“Mother. I am done with the house chores”. Why are you stopping me from going to the ceremony? she asked in a teary tone.
“Go and work on the farm you lazy girl”, Aduke thundered.
“Mother, I worked on the farm yesterday and I cleared the weeds “, Olanna said.
“Go and wash my clothes”, Aduke said.
“I washed them this morning, mother. Can’t you see them spread on the rope?
“Go and sit down, Olanna. You are not going anywhere. I’m expecting visitors from Ubene. You will stay at home and attend to them.
Olanna burst into tears.
Can I wear this beads, mother? Mma shouted from inside. She came outside to show her mother the beads.
“Of course my beautiful daughter”, Aduke answered.
“They are my beads”, Olanna shouted as she tried collecting them back but Aduke stopped her. Mma ran inside laughing.
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“If you touch my daughter with those evil hands of yours, I will kill you the same way you killed your mother. Will you stand up from there and get inside! Aduke thundered.
Mma quietly walked inside the house, sulking.
When Okonkwo returned from the market later in the day. Aduke lied that Mma was not feeling fine and will not be going for the ceremony.
He believed her wholeheartedly without asking more questions.
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The ceremony has reached its peak. Celebrating the King’s Ofala in umuofia is not a child’s play because it is always a public display of affluence which leaves majority intimidated. This is usually among the young men of Umuofia.
Hence, the presence of Prince Nwabueze, the only son and heir apparent to the throne added glamour to the event. He had just arrived from overseas in anticipation of the event after being away for over a decade.
He is loved by all and sundry because of his gentle and humble nature.
There has been rumour that Prince Nwabueze is engaged to the beautiful daughter of Onowu okwunuka but seeing him beam with smiles as the Ugba female age grade dancers doing what they know how to do best cleared the doubts. The question, becomes… Who will catch the fish?
Just like a flash, a young lady ran to the arena and started dancing to the amazement of everyone. All attention was shifted to her because she is wonderfully endowed, both in looks and curves. As she swayed and wriggling her waist from left to right, front and back to the intoxicating beating of the Ikolo, there was more cheering from the crowd.
Aduke sat at one corner of the arena gritting her teeth in annoyance. She dragged her daughter, Mma to one corner.
“Mother, Is that not Olanna dancing? I thought you locked her up.
“I did of course. I mean how did she…The clothes and jewelries. Where did she get them from? I will deal with her today. I will send her back to her mother; stupid girl! Aduke shouted fuming.
Mma remained taciturn as jealousy burned her soul.
There was another loud noise from the crowd. The two rushed to see what was happening.
The Almighty Prince Nwabueze was standing on his feet to have a full glare of the young lady, twerking.
His parents were shocked when he went inside, took some bundle of money and start spraying on her. Olanna was electrified. She intensified her dancing, shaking her waist vigorously towards the Prince. He sprayed more money on her while smiling and watching her without blinking.
Aduke bit her lips in contempt while Mma started weeping. Okonkwo smiled with pride. After the mysterious death of his first wife, Olanna has been his source of Joy.
He was called out of oblivion by the screaming of the crowd. The Prince was dancing with his daughter, Olanna. Both had stolen the day because it will take a great deal of efforts to convince a visitor that it was really the king Ofala going on and not the marriage ceremony of his son.
But it happened. Four weeks later, the Prince married Olanna in a grand style attended by dignitaries from the 21 clan of Umuodum.
You can rightly say that Olanna catch the golden fish. You must rightly know too, that the beautiful couple live happily ever after.
