The Expectation of love

Chapter one Her name was Rose. The only child of the king of Ekpene. A tall and ebony- black beautiful girl. She had a pointed nose with dreamy eyes, and was the cynosure of many eyes in the village. Her set if teeth was immaculate white, and was always beaming with unprovoked smiles. She had a long, shining and curly black hair, which descended loosingly to a considerable portion of her back. Above all, she was humble, homely and with an unmistakably alluring gaiety. Princess Rose was a prospective lover and she had a pathological love for flowers. Her supercilious demeanour and insensitivity over marriage was very disturbing, not only to her parents but the entire community and it's neighborhood. She had vowed on her dead body never to marry until a man of her heart desire would come. A man who adored in life; but the paradox of it was that she neither described not disclosed the flower t anybody. However, she had hinted discreetly that this particular flower was planted by her sometimes back in a certain forest, but the forest, she did not disclose. At her spare time, she was always found among flowers. She was so enchanted by and greatly enamored of flowers sent to her by prospective suitors, as she was always showered with a flurry of flowers from men seeking her hand in love. But, none of the flowers had met her taste and demand. Although, she was ripe for marriage, she abhorred and expressed great resentment against the misguided conception of her parents choosing a husband for her. Again, this traditional b********y of her people did not permit marriage outside the confines of the village. Since she knew that she was greatly loved and adored by her people, she viewed herself as the best instrument to diametrically shatter this stupefying myth of traditional degradation and bondage. Many suitors had turned up with different flowers to seek her hand in marriage, but all to no avail. Each time Rose had disparagingly dismissed them with a wave of the hand. This state of apathy towards marriage was of great concern to the people of Ekpene especially her father, chief Benjamin. Chief Benjamin was so much disturbed to the extent that, with the help of his subordinates he consulted an oracle to know this particular flower and where to find it. One thing was the flower and another was the man to find it, who would eventually marry Rose. Chief Benjamin wanted a man of good and high disposition to marry his daughter a man who was wealthy, famous and above all, from a royal family. After consulting the oracle, it was revealed that the flower could only be found in a little valley know as 'Ikpa" forest in ikpe village. Ikpe was a small village and not too far from Ekpene, but a river must be crossed before reaching it.  History has it that ikpe has a long standing conflict with Ekpene, which had since strained their relationship. Chief Benjamin of Ikpe had vowed never to be in terms with the people of Ekpene and marriage or any other transaction between the two villages was a taboo. This enmity originated from the fact that Ekpene had fought a war of attrition with ikpe and had forcefully acquired a large portion of land belonging to Ikpe. After consultation with his people, chief Benjamin had no other alternative but to make a reconciliatory move to appease the Chief and the people of Ikpe in order that suitors could be sent to the search for flowers. Before Chief Benjamin could successfully pacify Chief Okoro, the piece of the land in dispute was returned to the people of Ikpe. This singular and salutary action of Chief Benjamin was highly appreciated by the Ikpe people and consequently, Chief Okoro and his people unanimously agreed to allow suitors from Ekpene to enter and search for this elusive and keenly contested flower in the valley. Infant, this reconciliatory move by Chief Benjamin really served as a soothing ointment and thus the best panacea to completely destroy this problem of enmity and antagonism between the two villages. Chief Okoro was so pleased at the propitiatory move by his foe, in that, apart from recovering their legitimate land, it paved the way for him to present his two grown up sons, Kelvin and Ray, who were of marriageable age, to Join others suitors from Ekpene in seeking the hands of Rose in marriage. Chief Benjamin felt highly honored at this request of his colleague and quickly consented to it.   Chapter two Kelvin was the first son of Chief Okoro and an apparent heir to the throne. He was an extrovert, arrogant, weathy, proud and was deeply involved in the traditional rites and customs of his people. Although, he had little education, everybody looked up to him as the eventual King of Ikpe. He commanded great respect and love from his people. His fame also spread far and wide, including Ekpene. Despite the fact that Kelvin was not handsome, he was short and stoutly built, every girl in the vicinity was looking forward to marrying him. Chief Benjamin on the other hand had heard much about the fame and wealth of Kelvin and would have desired his daughter to be arrived to such a personality, but this apparent 'Berlin wall' of ethnic barrier made things almost impossible. Chief Benjamin has on several time teased his daughter, Rose, about the possibility of her getting married to Kelvin peradventure there was eventual end to this misunderstanding between the two villages. But on each occasion, Rose had always expressed great fulmination and abhorrence against this stupendous idea of his father.  She felt insulted by her father unwanted and disappointing insinuation on her hopes and aspirations.  In a subdued manner, she went about her duties with calmness and a studies silence      On the other hand Ray, the second and the youngest son of Chief Okoro was an introvert, humble, honest, intelligent and educated. Above all, he was tall and very handsome. He was a devoted Christian and hated the indulgence in fetish practices of his people. He was always denouncing and preaching against their satanic practices. For this reason, his people especially his father and brother, did not love him. During his early education, Ray had attended the same institution with Rose. Ray was very brilliant at school and was first position in class. Since Rose was his classmate, little did he know that he had made a lasting imprint in the mind of young Rose, which was to have a lingering existence in her loving heart. She was silently in love with Ray, not because of being brilliant in school but mainly of his handsomeness. He was very tall, tanky, well built and athletic in nature. Unfortunately, though young, the two of them grew up to know the mounting ethnic barrier existing between the two villages. They all knew the risk and danger involved in getting close to each other. They did not sit close to each other in class and even refused to be greeting each other, for fear of may reprisal from their different people. They were all born to a people whose sense of reasoning, wisdom and good judgement was beclouded with ethnic consciousness and chauvinism against each other. But fate being what it is, could not be manipulated. It's tiny and powerful hand came into full play. They more they resisted each other. The more they were 'burnt' by love for each other, until their bodies shaking like a tremor were consumed totally by love .   Love is that wonderful thing that the whole world needs pleating of it .  Love is like a brimstone fire  When it burns no one can stand Even rain falling in torrents  Can never put out the fire  Have you seen love before? Better to die and go beyond Than one refused to see  It is like a stainless sword When it pierces an abyss is made Everlasting stays till the parting souls Love is love, when gone is gone The rest imitation love abound Love is like a beggar without a home Love is humble, obedient and sympathetic Forgiveness becomes the perpetual toll Sincerity becomes the fuel for love Love burns everything except love Love abused a hole is made  Haunting the abuser to the grave Loves comes but once. When it comes, the soul trembles  Love is heaven when you see  Love is rare, be careful with it For love is loved when loved. So, it was a memorable situation that baffled hum understanding, especially the two of them. Ray and Rose eventually fell in love. Their love affair became so cemented that for fear of being reported to their people at home and the attendant possible reprisal, they decided to be meeting at a chosen time forest was known as 'Ikpa in Ikpe village otherwise called Ikpa - Ikpe.  'Ikpa' Forest was at the outskirt of Ikpe, just equidistant from the two villages. This forest was a dreadful place to go into, since dead people were buried there and it was the scene of fetish practices of the Ikpe people. It was a forbidden and fearful forest. It was inhabited by wild animals and birds. It was at this forest that Ray and Rose often met, at times they stayed deep into the night especially during moon light chanting Poem, by Aloysius SIT HERE MY LOVE Sit here my love And let's throw pebbles into the stream Interrupt the stillness of the night Lighted by the tender moon  In the sky Whose charms have brought us here. Sit here my love And watch two shadows melt into one In rhythm to our heart beat Scarcely separate to whisper Now and then Love's charm and tenderness They say love is an illusion And ends in sad confusion But I see sorrow has ended And our whole world is blended Sit here my love Perchance the moon does slumber The Stars above will lend their light Pouring down her faithful beam  To our joy For love Kindles kindness Sit here my love And watch us aging and pining away Under the beam of this faithful moon Let us slowly pass away For never were lovers like us. The hands of the clock were gradually ticking away and steadily moving against their continued stay together as lovers, for the time of their final school examination was fast approaching. It was at the peak of their love affair that the eventual but inevitable departure from each other stared them at the face like a Colossus.  So, since they would be returning to their different people at home and being sceptical of meeting together again, due to this clumsy beast of ethnic barrier and chauvinism, they decided to plant a flower together under a big almond tree with a wooden crucifix tied around the stem of the flower. On the wooden crucifix were there names, Ray and Rose carefully engrafted on it.  As they say brooding over their predicaments, rivulet of sweat appeared on their fore heads, as they came to the sad but pathetic realization that they had to go, and at all cost. After several deluge of kisses, with an excruciating and unforgetful pains they parted from each other. As they left the forest Ray and Rose in front and as they were going, he surveyed carefully her whole contour from behind. Her beauty really came into full glare, especially her plumpy straight legs and a flurry of tiny black hairs that covered her entire arms and legs, including the exposure part of her back. At the main pathway, Ray stood still while Rose kept on walking without looking back. At a certain point, Rose stopped suddenly and turned around to see if Ray had gone. Not too surprise, she discovered that he was still standing with folded arms at where she left him some minutes ago. It therefore dawned on her the extent of love he had for her. Slowly, she walked back again towards him and at a few distance from him, she stopped and waved at him and said, ' goodbye my love, till we meet again.' she turned back quickly and left finally. Ray with eyes swollen up with tears waved back and could not utter a word. He continued to remain at where he was before, still looking at her, until Rose finally disappeared into Oblivion. Chapter there   The complete establishment of peace between the people of Ekpene and Ikpe resulting in the restoration of Ekpene land to them, a stage was now set for the search of this fateful flowers in 'Ikpa' forest which would eventually usher in the husband of Rose. By this time, Chief Benjamin had given pronouncement, which was carried within and outside his domain, for all prospective suitors to assemble in his palace on a particular date. On this fateful data, many young men turned up very early in the morning at the king's palace. This scene attracted a great crowd throughout the village and the neighbouring villages, all coming to watch who would be the lucky winner to take the hands of the king's daughter in marriage. Jubilation was made by the crowd as other spinsters gorgeously dressed, danced around in circles mimicking their bodies in case they might catch the fancy of any of the suitors. 'Ekop' cultural group was entertaining on one side while the crowd full of ecstasy was on the other side. A screening exercise was being conducted at the king's chamber with Rose in attendance. Chief Okoro of Ikpe and his subordinates were also present. Interview was conducted individually and any young man who was found to be of poor parentage was turned down and rejected by Chief Benjamin no matter how handsome he was. And each time a young man was rejected, he was sent out immediately from the king's palace, and when this happened the crowd booed and jeered with a deafening sound. He would however be comforted by other spinster outside. Some would either embrace him, wipe sweat on his forehead with their handkerchief, robbed powder on his face while others would do one thing or the other just to attract his fancy. The rule is that, though he was rejected in the king's chamber because of no faults of his, he should not be totally cast out. He was to choose one of the spinsters he liked as a wife. It was a neck to neck affair, as each spinster tried to out do the other. As the exercise was going on, Rose was at one corner of his father's chamber beaming with a complacent smile, because she knew for sure that her heartthrob, Ray, would sail through. He had all what it took to pass the screening exercise both handsomeness, which was significant to her and the wealthy parentage which was important to her father. Rose was attached to by some maidens, extolling her good virtues and lavishing her with accolades deserving enough on such an occasion as this, while two Chamberlains were constantly on guard. At last the screening exercise was over. The two sons of Chief Okoro, Kelvin and Ray were expectedly successful. Everybody in the screening panel was happy, especially Chief Benjamin, as he was able to select the best young men to vie for his daughter's hand. All the successful men, who had yellow palm fronds tied around their waist and with white handkerchiefs on their right hands, paid distant obeisance to Rose as they walked pass in a single file ready to perform the searching rite in the designated forest. Everybody except Rose left in a procession to'Ikpa' forest. The selected suitors were in front followed by the chiefs and their subordinates while the spinsters and others dancing, trailed behind. The time now was set, and at exactly five O'clock in the evening everybody was assembled, ready for the searching ceremony.