N:B This is a work of fiction and resemblance to any persons is highly coincidental.
As the pressure from the family increases, Alabi decided to leave their village and go to a very far village. He left with his wife and settled down in a very distant village where no one will disturb their marriage. As time goes on, they accepted their fate and lived their life normal as couple. However, Agbeke would never stop lamenting over her childlessness. Whenever she tried to send some of the other kids on errands and they refused, she will start sobbing and would never be happy.
One day, Agbeke called her husband, she said “Alabi my heart, I know I have failed you by not producing children for you.” She continued, “I have failed my families and I have failed in myself.” “I want you to marry a second wife who will bear children for you.” She concluded and started sobbing. The husband consoled her. He replied, “My wife, you did not fail me. If it is the will of God, then so be it, but I will never marry another wife”. They both cuddled for some time and they prayed fervently that night – just like the way they always do.
They continued their life, and the year kept counting on. On a night which marked the tenth year of their marriage, Agbeke started feeling sharp pain in her stomach. The pain was so much that she was crying and rolling on the floor. She thought she was going to die. The husband woke the whole neighbour and she was rushed to the next village where there is hospital. She was admitted at the emergency ward and the doctor did his “magic” on her and she was relieved. The doctor conducted several tests.
Alabi was sitting down in the hospital reception, impatiently waiting for the doctor. He was just praying in his heart “God, please don’t let her die now”... As he sat down, several thoughts entered his mind... he kept asking himself, “what did she ate?” “What could possibly be the problem?” “Is it a disease?” He asked himself questions which he couldn’t find answers. As he was engulfed in the thoughts, the doctor called him “Mr. Alabi... Mr. Alabi... Miiissteeer Alabi! Alabi jumped up from his seat and came back to life. He asked “Doctor, is she okay? Is she going to be okay? Is she...” the Doctor cut him... “Mr. Alabi, your wife is fine now” said the doctor. “Thank God!” Alabi said with relief. The Doctor continues... “Mr. Alabi, from the test we carried out, we found out that your wife is carrying two weeks pregnancy”. Alabi couldn’t believe his ears. He laughed, “Doctor, don’t joke jare, are you serious?” He asked again. The Doctor smiled, and showed him the result. Alabi collected it, even though he couldn’t understand the technical jargons written in the paper, he looked at it. He looked up again at the Doctor and asked, “Doctor, are you serious?” The later replied, “yes, of course; your wife will be a mother!” Alabi was short of word and did not know what to say for some few minutes... then suddenly, he jumped up and shouted, “Eledumare o seeeeeun oooo!” He urged the Doctor and lifted him up so hard. The Doctor managed to free himself from the over-joyous man. When Agbeke heard the news, she couldn’t believe it until she heard it from her husband. She was very happy. They were both happy.
Back at home, Agbeke and her husband invited the entire village to come and celebrate with them. The fact that they had at least pregnancy was enough for them. They provided food and drinks for people to come and join them in thanksgiving for their 2 weeks old pregnancy.
After 6 months, Agbeke’s belly had truly come out and everybody was happy for them. Alabi would never allow the wife to do anything. He treasured her so much than anything. They started thinking of the names they will give their unborn child. They would discuss it every time and it made them happy.
Towards the end of December, which happened to be the ninth month of Agbeke’s pregnancy, she started feeling it and she knew the baby was coming. Immediately, she informed her husband and they went to the hospital. That night, Agbeke delivered a bouncing baby boy. Agbeke and Alabi’s joy reached no boundary.
They were very happy. Alabi, who is a very successful farmer spent like “no-to-morrow” for the naming ceremony. His compound was filled to the brim from the first day of the baby to the seventh day of the naming ceremony. Well-wishers from all around came to celebrate with them and some of the neighbours never cooked in their house for the whole week... Food and drinks were just too much in Alabi’s house.
************
Alabi and Agbeke gave their son many names, but the one they called him all the time is Ajantala.
Since Ajantala is the only son of his parents, they pampered and spoilt him. They gave him virtually everything he wanted. And whenever he requests for things and they didn’t give him, Ajantala will burst into tears and the parents will quickly find him what he wants. This treatment spoilt Ajantala to the extent that he’s never satisfied with whatever he has. He always wants more. And also, whenever he sees something from other kids (even if he has his own), he will still collect it from them. He bullies other children in the neighbourhood and whenever he is reported to his parents, they will never allow anybody to scold him and neither will they.
One day, Ajantala went to her mother that he needed some money but the mother gave him without asking what he wanted to use it for. The boy collected the money and ran off to the town centre where he went to gamble. He lost the whole money within the shortest time. He didn’t want to go back to his mother to request for more money so, he went to his father and requested for money. Without asking what he wanted to do with the money, the father too gave him. He lose the money at gambling.
The spirit of gambling has fully entered the boy and he couldn’t resist gambling each day. Every day, he kept asking money from his parents. When they later find out that he uses the money to gamble, they decided not to give him money anymore. This made Ajantala to look for alternatives. He tried working on people’s farm for money but he couldn’t because he was never taught how to do any work. Then he started stealing his parents’ money. Gradually, he started entering their neighbour’s house to steal money. This became strange in the whole village and then they started looking for a way to catch the culprit. They devised several means all to no avail. They couldn’t find the thief.
The case was reported to the chief that there’s been a thief in the community. The chief set up a committee to investigate the issue and look for what they can do to ensure that the evil-doer is caught.
Ajantala became a very harden-criminal and started robbing people at night. Whenever he goes out at night, his parents will not bother to ask him. They believed he’s just hanging out with his friends. They didn’t know what he’s been doing.
One fateful midnight, Ajantala wanted to rob a market woman. As he was sneaking into the woman’s compound, the woman just had the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. She stood up from a her mat and slightly opened her window and peeped through. She saw a masked-man sneaking towards his door. The poor woman quickly moved to one corner of her room and carried a heavy pestle which she uses to pound yam, she put off her atupa. She was waiting at the entrance in darkness. She waited patiently till the intruder slightly and skilfully opened the entrance door. As the intruder stepped into the house, the woman knocked him very hard with the pestle on the head and he went down flat lying on the floor and crying in pain: “yeh! My head! yeh! My head!” The woman started shouting, “everybody, come here I’ve killed a thief! Thief! Thief!.” Within a short time, the woman’s compound was full with people in the middle of the night. They saw the man lying on the floor. They tied him without removing mask and they dragged him down to the chief’s palace right in the middle of the night. The chief was very happy to hear the whole story and he called his guards to drag the wounded thief into the palace cell. He dismissed the people and ask them to come back in the money to come and see the face of evil-doer.
The news has spread in the morning. Alabi thought his son was in his room so he never cared to check in on him. Very early in the morning, the chief’s palace was already crowded and everybody wants to see the face of the thief. Alabi and his wife was there as well.
The chief’s messenger came out to inform them that the chief will be joining them very soon. They all kept quiet and waited patiently for the chief to arrive. Soon, the chief showed up. He coughed and everyone knew that he wants to talk... “Today, we are happy that the thief that has been terrorizing this community has been caught last night – by a woman!” He paused, and then continues “Justice shall be delivered without delay.” He whispered to his deputy who in turn whispered to one of the guards. Soon, the guard left with three others and went into the palace cell to bring the criminal. When they brought him, he was begging but they won’t listen. He was brought into the middle of the crowd right in front of the chief. Everybody were shouting “oju ole re! Ole! oju ole re! Ole!”, “Kill him! Don’t spare him!”. The chief called for silence and he signaled to the guard to remove his mask... As his face was unveiled, Alabi and his wife could not believe their eyes. It was like magic. Agbeke shouted “wait! Wait! Wait! This is my son, there must be mistake somewhere!” She started crying. Alabi too did not know what to do. He started shouting and begging the chief to have mercy on them. “He is our only son” he said.
He turned to his son and asked, “are you truly the thief?” The son was ashamed. He started blaming his parents for not giving him money. The chief then reminded the people of their laws. He said, “It is in the culture of our fore-fathers which has kept this community in peaceful coexistence for quite a number of years, and has been passed down unto us... that whoever steals shall be beheaded” He paused, looked around and saw people’s approval. He continued, “As a result, this thief has been caught red-handed and it has been quite a long time that we have been looking for him; but today, nemesis has caught up with him. I therefore command that this thief’s head should be hanged in the central market – to serve as lesson and reminder for any other persons who have any evil intention. This is my judgement”. He said in an authoritative tone and rose.
Everybody was happy except for Alabi, his wife and some of his neighbours. When the guards were taking Ajantala out to be beheaded, he said to his parents, “father, mother, this is your fault. You spoiled my life by not bringing me up in an upright way. You spared the rod and spoiled the child. Now you’re crying.” “It’s all your fault!” he cried...
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