Chapter 10

“My friend, I know you are in there.” Evelyn rapped on the wooden door. She cast a furtive glance around the compound, hoping to find someone. She noticed the metal padlocks dangling in front of the doors of each house. Asinya’s door however had no padlock dangling before it. This only implied that someone was inside the house. She knocked again, and then turned to walk away when she got no response. She descended the staircase with an intense feeling of disappointment. The door suddenly creaked, causing her to turn around. Asinya stood at the doorway.

“I suppose you don’t want me to see you anymore.” Evelyn said, relieved that the other woman was at home.

“I was asleep.” Asinya yawned.

“Aha, the evidence is beginning to show.” Evelyn laughed, clasping both hands. At this remark, Asinya gently placed her right palm on her protruding stomach.

“Is your husband at home?” Evelyn asked, peering into the living room.

“What kind of question is that?” Asinya’s face contorted into a frown. “What would my husband be doing at home at this time of the day? Won’t he attend to his business?”

“Sorry o. You wouldn’t even let me inside before you start whining over a harmless question. I only wanted to be sure that no one else was around.”

“Come inside.” Asinya said without interest. Evelyn was already inside before she finished speaking. She sat on the leather upholstery, taking in every item in the sitting room. “Asinya was indeed lucky.” She thought. She had married the wealthiest cocoa farmer in the village. This was of course after repeated trips to Usuku’s shrine. Despite the fact that Evelyn paid regular visits to Asinya’s house, she never got used to the display of affluence that could be seen in every item that adorned the house. She could feel the envy burn through her. Asinya had been smart enough to tie down a wealthy man. These days, she blamed herself for wasting Usuku’s medicine on a mere hunter. She should have thought of a richer suitor. In a flash, a thought that she had managed to suppress for too long reverberated within her. A grin played on her face as the thought progressed to a plan. Asinya must have mistaken the wide grin for one of Evelyn’s display of excitement. Evelyn however knew better.

“Have you heard?” Evelyn asked, the moment Asinya sank into the sofa beside her.

“Heard what?”

“Nna Awor.”

“Oh.” Asinya shrugged, securely knotting the wrapper on her chest. “I hear she is really sick.”

“I saw her yesterday. She is as dry as crayfish. Some people say that she is thinking too much about her daughter. Others say she has stepped on juju.” Asinya laughed.

“Usuku is great. It’s about time the ‘witch’ and her useless children paid heavily. In her next life, she wouldn’t dare hook up with a man who already has a child.”

“Of course,” Evelyn agreed, struggling to conceal the envy that seemed to rip her into pieces. She wondered if she could survive the agony that threatened to swallow her with each second that passed. She swallowed hard as her eyes fell on the other woman’s protruding stomach. Evelyn had been married for six years, yet she had never been pregnant. The villagers said that the gods were repaying her for all the abominable deeds she had executed. They sang about her in the moonlight dances and, during the day, they gossiped about her in the market place. Those who knew her were afraid to patronise her in the market where she sold foodstuffs. The story of how she used evil powers to marry her cousin’s fiancé had spread like a wildfire. Evelyn however did not care about the stigma as long as Ndogho remained under the influence of the charm. He still loved her and never complained about her inability to give him a child even though his family members were asking him to take a second wife.

Asinya’s sudden leap to wealth was not the only source of Evelyn’s grief. Asinya who had executed more horrendous deeds could still conceive. Why then did the gods choose to be partial in their judgement? These thoughts hunted her as images of her friend’s triumph over her painfully danced before her mind’s eye.

“I have to go now.” She rose to her feet, forcing a smile.

“But you have only just come.” Asinya sounded perplexed. Evelyn knew that the concern written all over the other woman’s face was only an act. Now that she had found herself in the ocean of luxury and comfort, she wanted no reminder of her past including her, Evelyn.

“Yes,” Evelyn scratched her unkempt hair noisily, the smile still plastered on her face. “I just remembered that my husband’s friends are visiting this evening. I need to get yams from the market for dinner.”

Evelyn could swear she saw a smile flicker across Asinya’s face, although it disappeared in a split second.

“Alright, my friend. Thanks for stopping by.”

Asinya rose to her feet and walked Evelyn to the door. They said their goodbyes and Evelyn took her leave.

“She didn’t even offer me a cup of water.” Evelyn muttered inaudibly, as she walked down the road that led to her husband’s village. She perceived that Asinya was still looking at her. When she reached the four-corner junction, she turned to the left and continued trekking. She was on her way to Usuku’s village. The thought that had formed in her mind was about to manifest.

●

Two days had elapsed since Evelyn’s visit. Asinya was inside the building attached to the main house. It served as the kitchen. She was preparing dinner. A smile played on her face as the sound of familiar footsteps drew closer. She knew it was Tony. She quickly scooped a spoonful of Egusi soup onto her palm, appearing grateful that the soup was ready.

“Is that my husband?” She asked playfully.

“It’s an admirer.” Tony replied, now inside the kitchen. “Someone is torturing my nose.”

Asinya laughed and moved closer to her husband. They held each other in a brief embrace.

“Would you like us to eat here or in the house?” Asinya asked after disentangling herself from his arms. She fetched a rag hanging on a log of wood and used it to lift the soup pot from the stove. After spreading the rag once again on the wood, she placed a kettle filled with water on the stove.

“You’re only staring at me. You haven’t answered my question.”

“Have you forgotten that I’m your admirer? Why should I take my eyes off you?” Tony replied. His eyes were still fixed on his wife.

“Well,” Asinya sighed, gently rubbing her palms on the wrapper that was loosely wound around her bulging stomach. “I’ve never heard of a man who admires a pregnant woman.”

“Then I’ll be the first and that’s because my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Shut up, and tell your wife where you would love to eat dinner.” She chided playfully.

“I’m okay here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes I am. I would love to help in washing the dishes after the meal.”

“My husband, you don’t have to bother about the dishes. You’ve had a busy day. I’ll do it.”

“Don’t worry about me. I just want to be with you all the time.”

“Thank you, my husband. I’m indeed lucky to have you.”

“I am the lucky one.” Tony laughed.

They were both silent for a while. Tony found

a stool beside the door and sat on it. Outside, the moonlight dance was on. They could hear the loud voices of children as they sang a familiar chorus. Whenever Asinya heard this chorus, a bizarre feeling seemed to overwhelm her causing her to tremble. The song was about her friend Evelyn.

Have you heard about Evelyn, the ugly maid?

The young men would not look at her

The old men refused to touch her

No one would marry her

Now they say a man has looked at her

She has taken another woman’s husband

With nothing but a spoon of rice

Soaked in the ‘turn around’ spice

But I hear another strange thing

The ‘turn around’ spice has turned around something else

She who was a maid

Has suddenly turned to a man

For she can never conceive

Several frightening thoughts raced through her mind as the voices grew louder. What would happen to her if the villagers discovered that she also used the ‘turn around’ spice to turn Tony’s heart? She shrugged at the thought. Though a bit relieved by her decision to sever all ties with Evelyn, she couldn’t wave away the overwhelming feeling of unrest.

“Are you feeling well?” Tony asked, noticing the sudden change in his wife’s features.

“I’m well, my husband.” Asinya replied, turning her back to him. “Please get me the green bowl. It’s beside you.”

The words were hardly out of her mouth when a flash of lightening briefly illuminated the kitchen. A loud thunderbolt followed. The door slammed shut and the utensils fell to the ground. A loud thud caused Tony to scream. His wife had fallen with her face to the ground and a stream of foamy substance oozed from her mouth.