TALE OF A CHANGELING

CHAPTER 4

A few months later it's already time for this baby to come into the world, everyone in the land of Achala was surprised by the sudden change of weather it was as if an eclipse had happened everywhere was dimmed and a great wind was moving around the whole village greeting each household, there also was the thunder and lightning that could blind a person and there was a very heavy rainfall in the land of Achala.

As all of these was taking place, the struggle for the baby to come out was at its peak, she kept pushing and pushing, harder and harder but it seems like the child wasn't even moving from its spot, while outside was this figure running helter-skelter hoping for good news.

Finally, the struggle was over and the baby came out peacefully, It's a beautiful baby girl!! the midwives said to the woman happily.

She looked at her baby and was stunned by her beauty, she was so beautiful that anyone would think that she's a goddess, she thought to herself what if the baby is a goddess have she also given birth to an Ogbanje like herself and husband?

Suddenly she started feeling dizzy she was struggling with her breath, the midwives had left and had gone to inform her husband about her birth certainly they will all leave from there because helping her out to give birth doesn't mean that they have forgotten that she's still an Ogbanje, they only did that out of human compassion.

As she was still battling with her breath and her beautiful daughter crying continuously beside her, her husband rushed in and was confused seeing his wife in a bad state.

Obim, what is happening to you? please say something to me. He asked sorrowfully….. I…..I……… She struggled with words. Please let it not be what I am thinking, you can't leave me all by myself, you must not die Obim. He sobbed.

We have been waiting for this day ever since we got married and finally today, we have our own child, a very beautiful daughter, don't abandon us, Obim, please don't.

I….I….I…l…o….v….e you, take….c…are…..of……our……daughter. She stuttered.

Tears dripped down gently her cheeks and she breathed her last.

Obim! Obim!! Obim!!! He yelled in tears No!!!!!!!!!!!! You can't do this to me!!!! This must be a dream!!!! Obim, please wake up. He clamored bitterly. Throughout the whole day and night that passed, all he did was mourning his precious wife.

On the second night of a month after his wife's death he took his little daughter standing in the middle of his compound, with tears in his eyes he was looking at this beautiful child he was carrying, as if he was carrying gold and he was meticulous. It was as if the little girl could tell that her father is in pain she smiled peacefully at him and with her little hands, she touched his cheeks that is drained with tears. With the baby's reaction, he couldn't tell if she's indirectly pacifying him by wiping his tears with her little hands, for so many years this is the first time he's been consoled by another person apart from his wife. He smiled at the little child in his arms instead of the baby smiling back she started crying uncontrollably as if her father had committed a crime.

Shhh don't cry my child, I know how you feel right now, you easily observed that my smile to you is fake because my griefs can't be suppressed, am so sorry my goddess, forgive your father. He said calmly to her and kissed her passionately on her forehead.

I can tell that you miss your mother so much just as I do, but what can we do about that? Nothing at all, absolutely nothing. Chukwu Okike has taken your mother away from us my child He said sorrowfully.

It's so unfortunate that you shared in your parent's fortune, you turned out to be like us, he halted and raised his stare to the moon and continued, just like this moon my child, you are so beautiful.

Just like Ugo is the most beautiful among all other birds so are you, my child, that's why under this beautiful moon tonight who is the sole spectator to all that had happened to your family, I your father name you Ugo.