CHAPTER FOUR
1006 Words
Beyond the Veil of Destiny – Chapter Four
The morning sun poured softly over the roofs of the Kejetia market, painting everything in hues of gold. Smoke curled from roasted plantain stands, mingling with the scent of dried fish and fresh pepper. Traders called out their prices, the hum of life buzzing in every corner. In the midst of that familiar chaos stood Kasewa, her head scarf tied neatly, her stall neatly arranged with baskets of herbs, snails, and tortoises that glistened in their shells.
Just when she finished rearranging her table, a familiar voice called from afar.
> “Hey Kasewa, it’s been a while, my friend. I thought you had travelled abroad ooh!”
She turned sharply, recognizing that cheerful voice at once. Maa Esi, her old friend from childhood, was walking toward her with two boys at her side. Kasewa’s face lit up.
> “Eish, my friend, abroad er. I would be happy ooh! With this struggling in the market, who wouldn’t pray to travel abroad? But you know—home sweet home.”
They both laughed heartily, the sound carrying above the market noise.
> “I trust you, my friend,” said Maa Esi. “Everyone wants to enjoy life and live it fully. Haven’t you seen my boys?”
Kasewa looked down at the two young boys, now tall and strong.
> “Wow! They’ve grown into big boys ooh. God has truly blessed you with good and handsome sons.”
> “Yes,” Maa Esi smiled. “And where’s Akua? It’s been a while. By this time she should be growing beautifully, right?”
Kasewa’s smile dimmed for a moment.
> “Hm, my sister… she’s doing well. But because of some little difficulty, she couldn’t continue school. She’s even inside, doing some packing.”
Before Maa Esi could reply, Kasewa called out, “Akua! Akua!”
A sweet voice answered, “Yes, Ma, please I’m coming!”
From behind the curtain stepped Akua, her daughter — dressed simply but neatly, her smile shy yet bright. She greeted Maa Esi and the two boys warmly.
> “Oh my dear!” Maa Esi said, pulling Akua into a hug. “You’ve become a fine young lady. May God bless you.”
Just then, the younger boy Akwasi stretched his hand out to greet Kasewa, but his mother stopped him quickly.
> “No, Akwasi! We don’t do that. Don’t try that again, my son. Come on, say sorry to your auntie now.”
The boy looked embarrassed.
> “I’m really sorry, Auntie. It won’t happen again.”
Kasewa chuckled softly.
> “Oh, my son, don’t worry. It’s your new generation that has brought these new ways. Come now — Akua, take your brothers to the shop, show them around, and let them play.”
Akua nodded and led the boys inside.
As they moved through the narrow aisles filled with herbs, jars, and animal shells, Akwasi, the talkative one, began to ask endless questions — about the things he saw, about school, and about Akua’s life. Jojo, his elder brother, stayed quiet, observing everything with calm curiosity.
He stopped near a wooden basket filled with something that caught his attention — large, glistening snails with patterned shells. He bent closer, his eyes wide in wonder.
> “Wow… these are beautiful creatures,” he murmured. “Strong shells, long eyes — wild snails, maybe.”
Beside them sat another woven basket, this one holding two small tortoises. Jojo’s curiosity deepened. He gently lifted one, feeling its rough shell and watching as it hid its head completely.
He remembered what his friend Habib once told him at school — “If you want a tortoise to bring out its head, you must scratch its back with a stone.”
That idea lingered dangerously in his young mind.
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Meanwhile, Akwasi and Akua were chatting nearby.
> “So why aren’t you in school nowadays?” he asked innocently. “Do you like it here, packing things in the market while others are in class?”
The question struck Akua deeply. Her voice trembled a little.
> “No, I don’t like it. It’s not my fault to be here. Things became hard for my family after my father left us. School fees keep going up. But I believe, by God’s grace, I’ll go back soon.”
Akwasi smiled kindly.
> “I really like your faith, my new friend. God will surely answer your prayers. The Bible says in Matthew 7:7: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find.’”
Akua’s eyes brightened at the verse.
> “Amen. Thank you, Akwasi. Let’s play something fun to keep our minds sharp.”
> “Sure! There’s this game we play at school — I’ll give a big word, and we’ll both make smaller words out of it.”
They began, laughing as they played. Akwasi won several rounds, teasing lightly.
Akua pouted, pretending to be upset, and Akwasi, noticing, smiled.
> “Don’t be sad, okay? I’ll teach you my tricks.”
Soon she won a round, jumping up with joy.
> “Wow! I won!”
They both laughed, a bond quietly forming — not from romance, but from mutual understanding, the innocent friendship of two young hearts finding light in each other’s presence.
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Jojo, meanwhile, had found a rough stone outside. The urge to test Habib’s theory pulled at him. He lifted the tortoise again and began to scratch its shell. At first, he laughed when the small head slowly appeared — but then he noticed the creature’s little legs twitch in discomfort.
He froze.
The joy vanished.
A pang of guilt stabbed his heart.
> “Oh no,” he whispered, gently setting the tortoise back. “I’m sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He sat on the floor, staring at the tortoise until his eyes grew heavy. Slowly, he drifted into sleep.
- Writer
