WIDOWS' FATE

NARRATOR: The struggle of man begins at birth but the struggle multiplies from age 17 then increases again from age 25. Man struggles throughout his lifespan and man's lifestyle is full of struggle, hustle and bustle until the very one arrives. The very one that has no antidote, the very one that is inevitable, the very one that visits man without invitation, the very one that comes with courage even when no one welcomes, the one that overthrones the king and gives the throne to the son without letting the king have dominion over anything, the very big name that is spelt with a man's full palm, the name that can't be spelt completely without raising the five fingers in one's hand [raised his hand and demonstrated with raising his fingers while spelling one after the other] D-E-A-T-H DEATH! The master of hope. Y'all might be wondering why I called it the master of hope. Of course it is a master that controls his servants, one can hope for things only when one is still alive and it is meet that our story begins with tragedy. Hope of a family became lost on this day 20th of October 2020 when Chief Ayinla Owolabi was shot by an anonymous soldier and died in the hospital. Hmmmm there is an adage that says what you know can kill you but not what you don’t know. You all might be wondering why I said that, of course my goal is to put you in conviction or confusion, ahhh haaa (laughs out loud) let me not beat around the bush or bush around the beat, you all will see it yourself Chief Ayinla's lifespan ended in the hospital without documenting any official will to his extended family. You all should relax, sit back and enjoy the interesting journey I am carrying you into, experience the illusion yourself. I remain your Narrator, Olamilekan Oluwashegun (Victor) Shotinwa Omo Baba Kuta. [Light shines inside Chief Owolabi's sitting room, his family were mourning his death. His friend who got into the position of a lawyer through him was there to console his wives and his six daughters.] SONG 1: Igi oko dorikodo ododo mishe eh wonja Oro dun irawo loke, Osupa somi loju rete rete, Asoro de bi wa riri, omi bo loju awa oh eh... LAWYER KUNLE: It is thirteen days now (also sobbing) but I will be fine (hisses) ASHABI: Lawyer Kunle, if you’re doing like this how do you expect me to cope as well? LAWYER KUNLE: Hmmm, he is my closest friend, he is my brother, he made me who I am today ahhh Ayinla o sheh daada ohh, no no no o try rara ASHABI: Hmmm, I understand how you feel so well, he brought you from village to Lagos and still give you job as a Lawyer and our family Lawyer, I really do understand everything but Lawyer Kunle do you think about us? Most especially me and my kids? Do you…? RONKE: See me see wahalla ohh (claps her hand back and forth) most especially you as how? Most especially you as how? am asking ohh… ASHABI: At least I wasn’t talking to you RONKE: You actually dare not talk to me na, Mtcheew do you even realize the fact that am the first wife and before you in anything I am, do you? LAWYER KUNLE: Chai, una don start again (put his two hands on his head) RONKE: Lawyer Kunle am not even fighting with her, we already agreed not to be at loggerheads again since the death of my husband… ASHABI: …our husband ohhh RONKE: Na wetin dey do you be that, na why you won dey do high service before? Most especially me (mimics Ashabi) for any share you won collect for this property, I go collect pass you as am the first wife here ! LAWYER KUNLE: Lobatan lobatan ohh I talk am, and I warned him, I warned him oh.. I did oh RONKE: That what? LAWYER KUNLE: I told him, I said Ayinla ko will, je kin sheh documentary until he enters cementary oh.. ooooh (sobs louder) RONKE: Lawyer Kunle otito, is it the death that is paining you now or the will he didn't drop? And please are you here to console us or to remind us that my husband... ASHABI: (cuts in) Our husband ooooh oh RONKE: (face Ashabi with annoyance) Ok, are you here to remind us that our husband didn't write his will for his children or what sir? LAWYER KUNLE: Hmm emn ehn, no no no no, it's not like that, I'm just saying I warned him that ti... RONKE: (cuts in) Enough! Lawyer Kunle enough! We'll take good care of ourselves please you can now be going... LAWYER KUNLE: Ah! You're sending me out ma ni RONKE: Please go! LAWYER KUNLE: (moving slowly) I should... RONKE: (got up to near Lawyer Kunle) ...GO! LAWYER KUNLE: Okay okay okay, peace out oh, I'm leaving now [As he was about to leave, someone knocks at the door and he opens the door, he saw a fair beautiful woman with a black scarf tied from her head to her neck like hijab to indicate mourning hour.] LAWYER KUNLE: (smiling) Peace be unto you ma oh, sawam wa le ku oh CHINANZA: (enters) Eehn... walekun salam sir LAWYER KUNLE: (smile continuously) Emn... you are doing well, may the Peace of the Almighty be unto you... what a beautiful angel in black hijab... (laughs...) ehn ehn Alhaji nko? CHINANZA: I'm not a muslim sir ASHABI: (gets up and move closer to them) Lawyer Kunle please let her in properly and stop obstructing our view please LAWYER KUNLE: Emn my bad, sorry I'll soon leave but (face Chinanza) Aunty, my hausa pupa, you are not bad oh, I'll wait for you outside ehn (about to leave) RONKE: (facing Chinanza) Please what's your name and why are you here madam? CHINANZA: My name is Chinanza LAWYER KUNLE: (burst into laughter) Hausa pupa! You say wetin? CHINANZA: I no be hausa oh, I be Igbo girl oh, my name na Chinanza Ejiiro Oghene Okooro LAWYER KUNLE: Eeeh eh (laughs continuously) Eji... Eji ro ogede, ogede na person name again for this country ewo... ASHABI: Lawyer Kunle please use the door and you (to Chinanza) so tell us, why are you here? CHINANZA: Eeeeh eh... Na so I hear say Chief don kpai oh (sobbing) na wetin carry me come here be this oh (crying...) RONKE: Sorry, it's okay you don't need to cry, I accept your condolences, I think you can go now CHINANZA: That's not all ma ASHABI: What's it again? [Lawyer Kunle can't stop glancing on Chinanza and admiring her beauty with smile on his face while he was just shaking his head] CHINANZA: I'm pregnant, I am pregnant for Chief! LAWYER KUNLE: (stop laughing slowly then pause for a while) Ye..eh RONKE, ASHABI: You are WHAT? LAWYER KUNLE: Igbo demon don worsen the matter chai (about to leave) I think truly truly, I really need to go now RONKE: Please wait! ASHABI: Lawyer Kunle please hold on, you know since the death of my husband, you... RONKE: (cuts in) ...our husband oh our husband ASHABI: ...since the death of our husband you are the only one we have left because you are his best friend... LAWYER KUNLE: ...and so? I was thinking you guys asked me to leave na (bragging in a funny way) I'm very sorry for not obeying you then but I need to go now alee lee [Ronke and Ashabi got up to stop him and pushed him on the chair] RONKE: Lawyer Kunle you know how much have suffered and worked hard with my husband right from the beginning please just help me chase this girl away abeg, I no won talk too much LAWYER KUNLE: Ahhh ASHABI: Lawyer Kunle! You know I do take very good care of you anytime you are here please I don’t want to see this girl here abeg abeg CHINANZA: Hmmm nothing weh I never see ohh RONKE: Nikiini, I don’t want to harm you mani (hiss) if you love yourself just leave here in peace CHINANZA: In my husband’s house? ASHABI: You dey craze? Which husband house? CHINANZA: Hmm I don’t take insults but I will take this for now maybe because you don’t really understand what am saying yet but I think this man, Lawyer Kunle (points at Lawyer Kunle) should understand better LAWYER KUNLE: Lawyer Kunle da?! {Light fades}