Betrayal

I couldn’t help myself as tears ran down my face uncontrollably amidst hurtfulness on hearing that Ojima, my brother’s son had gone missing.

3 months ago, Amamu, my brother, received a message from the post office that his son, my nephew, Ojima, would be returning from Canada.

I could vividly remember how excited Amamu was when he drastically, ran to my house that cold morning.

We lived in the same community, as a result, our houses weren’t too away from each other. Due to this fact, it was very much easy to pay each other countless visits.

I was still on my bed enjoying its warmth when suddenly, i heard a knock on my door, and when the knocker continued relentlessly, I had shouted,

“Who is that?” and sluggishly jumped down from the bed and head for the door.

On opening the door, the sight of my brother welcomed me.

“Binaowei Seridou” he had greeted in our local dialect with smiles written all over his face.

“Seridou oo,” answered i, and then we shooked hands.

He entered and then, located one of my worn out sofa and managed to sit on it.

I, on the other hand was enveloped with curiosity, as to why he had come to my house at that early hour of the day.

“Ojima my son sent me a letter through our community post office, that he would be coming back to the village in 3 months time” said he amidst his undying smile.

“Wow!” I had exclaimed, and continued, “That would be really nice. But brother, if I were you, I would not have let him set his feet in the village. I would have disagreed, considering what happened to him in this village many years ago, when your wife died.”

On hearing that, his posture changed, and his facial expression turned into a questioning look.

“Emm… That’s true. I really understand you. But I don’t have to stop him. Why should I stop him?” he had asked, and at that point, all I was able to perceive was his eagerness to what I had to say.

“The people in this village doesn’t cherish good thing. I’m sure you know that was why we all are drowning in the midst of poverty” I elucidated.

” So what’s the point” asked he.

“Can’t you figure it out for your self? Not everyone would be happy to welcome your son into this village” I said.

“Don’t accommodate fear in your heart brother. Whatever happened is now of the past. But trust me, When he comes, nothing would happen to him. No! No!! My son is untouchable” he said, confidently and fearlessly.

“Alright then, if you say so” I concluded.

Gradually, the 3-months-time awaited by every member of our extended family finally arrived.

Ojima had stormed the village that hot afternoon. Truly, the smell of Canada was written all over him.

He brought so many things that got every one crazily happy.

Due to the extreme happiness, Amamu, my brother had about his son’s arrival, he broadcasted to all his closed friends, and that was how the news ran across the whole community, with the famous phrase, ‘Ojima, Amamu’s son is back from Canada’. Their house became a beer parlor. Everyone drank to their full, in celebration of the Canadian.

Two weeks after Ojima’s arrival, something happened.

One quiet evening, Amamu ran to my house, in tears, only to break the news that his son, Ojima had gone missing.

I was really confused, though, not really worried, because I was very sure Ojima wasn’t missing. But in order to show him how much love I had for him, I mobilized a search-crew.

The search crew conducted their search for one solid week without any positive result. They searched through thick forests, streams and all searchable area within the community. Of course, they did their best, but all the efforts put together were rendered futile.

The baneful fate of Ojima caused Amamu so much Pain. It got to a point he was unable to bear the the predicament, he then took his life.

These happenings were weird in the community; it left chaos hanging on every roof.

I cried and cried for losing my brother and his son to death, but of course, all were crocodile-tears.

He caused his own death, because if he had paid attention to the advice i gave to him earlier about telling his son not to come to the village, all these wouldn’t have happened.

If he had not told his friends about his son’s arrival, I’m very sure he wouldn’t have been betrayed.

If he had not potrayed his son’s affluence in the whole community, perhaps things wouldn’t have ended this way.

If only he had not told to me in the first place, about his son, I’m sure I wouldn’t have developed the jealousy that got me the mind and urge to stab and bury Ojima at my backyard, the day he came visiting.