The only child

CHAPTER 13

Homa left there for home.

As Homa was going home, she remembered Oloma's words:".....the wicked know no peace ". These words rang in her mind. She thought to herself, " I'm not wicked or am l? No, I'm not. I don't think so, " Homa concluded.

Meanwhile in the village, there was a woman who had a son, named Richard who lived in the city. He was very rich. He was in his mid-thirties. He was tall, dark in complexion and able-bodied. He had enough to take good care of himself and his mother. His father died when he was just four years old. Since his father's death, his mother was the only one who took care of him. She struggled to see him through his studies until he became successful. He made sure his mother lacked nothing. He decided to pay a visit to his mother in the village. He drove down to the village. When he got to his village, he was amazed at the transformation that had taken place over the years. On his way to his mother's house, he saw a beautiful maiden named soyan. He called her.

"Hmm ... .hello, young lady, how are you?" Richard asked.

"I'm fine. Good afternoon, sir," Soyan replied.

"I am Richard, the son of the late Asegu. I live in the city. I came to see my mother. Why don't you come into the car so that I can drop you off at your destination?" Richard asked.

"Hmm…okay. I appreciate it. Thank you, sir," Soyan said entering the car.

While driving, Richard engaged Soyan in a conversation.

" Like I said earlier, I am the son of the late Asegu. What about you?" Richard asked.

"I am the daughter of Yomala, the goldsmith," Soyan replied.

"Oh…I see. You've come from a good family. You are blessed indeed," Richard said.

"Thank you, sir. I will alight here ," Soyan said.

Richard parked the car and Soyan alighted from the car. Immediately Soyan walked home. Her mother confronted her.

"Who just brought you home. Who is he? ," Soyan's mother asked.

" Mother, he just gave me a lift home. That's all. He is very nice ," Soyan said.

"Hmm…someone you just met today. You are praising him already. Anyways, go and freshen up," Soyan's mother replied.

When Richard's mother saw him, she was very excited. She ran outside to embrace him.

"My son, welcome back home. No place like home," she said.

"At all, mother. I've missed you alot

. Including the sweet delicacies you normally prepare for me," Richard said.

"Yes, my son. Food is ready. Your favorite food for that matter. Come inside ," Richard's mother replied.

Richard brought out some things he bought for his mother from his car. He went inside with his mother.He handed the gifts over to her.

" Mother, have this. I bought these gifts for you," Richard said to his mother.

"Ohh..my son, may God be with you. Thank you. Whatever you find your hands doing will prosper…..," she prayed.

"Thank you, my mother. If I don't buy it for you, who else will I buy it for? So be it. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it ," Richard said to his mother.

" Thank you, my son," she replied.

"Hmm.. mother, while I was driving down here, I saw a young beautiful maiden named Soyan. I gave her a lift and we talked. She told me that she is the daughter of Yomala, the goldsmith. I saw her as a responsible lady. I think I have fallen in love with her," Richard said.

"Richard, my son. That girl is a very good girl. She is from a very good family. The day I went to the market last, she was the one who helped me. So, my dear, go for her. I am solidly behind you," She said.

"Oh…thank you, mama. I love you ," he said.

" I love you too ," she replied.

They both talked and laughed before going to bed.

The next day, Homa was on her way to see Koge when she saw Richard and Soyan. She immediately hid behind a tree. She started eavesdropping.

" How are you, Soyan?" Richard asked.

"I'm fine. I hope you are fine too," Soyan replied.

"Yes… I am fine. So, you remembered the last time I saw you, I thought of informing you of my heart desire. I fell in love with you the last time I saw you. So, I thought of informing you. I want to make you my wife," Richard revealed.

"I appreciate it. I also like you. I don't mind marrying you. I also fell in love with you the first day I met you," Soyan voiced out.

"Okay. I will come tomorrow to see your parents. Come, I have some gifts for you," Richard said while handing Soyan a bag of gifts.

"Thank you. Oh…all this for me. Thank you. I really appreciate," Soyan said smiling.

"Okay. You may leave now. It's getting late ," Richard said.

"Bye," Soyan said while leaving.

Homa thought to herself," what is this? So, will this girl get married to Richard right under my nose? No, this will not happen. That means I now have two assignments, one, to persuade the Queen to allow Koge to work in the palace, two, to make sure that Richard and Soyan never get married. Let me get started ". She immediately came out of her hiding place.

Immediately Soyan left, Richard turned to hop into his car to go back home. Homa rushed towards him.

"Ohh…Richard, how are you? It's been long since we saw each other?" Homa asked, faking a smile.

" I am fine. You are Homa right? How are your parents?" Richard asked, recognizing her face.

"I am fine. You still remember me. You have a really sharp memory ," Homa replied.

"Ahh…well, thank you. I have to remember because we were playmates when we were kids," Richard replied.

"Yes. And that is the major reason why I need to tell you the truth. You see that girl, Soyan, she does not deserve you. That girl is a p********e. She will wreck you. She goes about poke-nosing in other people's affairs. You will be extremely poor after marrying her. Even a church rat will be richer than you. Think well.," Homa said.

" What….you know what? Leave my sight. You just walk about blaspheming people. So, you have not changed a bit. You see why you don't grow? It's because you waste the energy you are supposed to use to grow to go about slandering people. Why do you hate to see people progress? Why are you an enemy of progress? Leave here before I descend on you?" Richard shouted at her.

"See you. You see…. foolish people are always fooled by their own nonsense. Instead of you being happy that you saw someone who told you the truth, you are there rejecting good advice. That's your own cup of tea. As you make your bed, so you lie on it. I pray, you don't cry,"Had I known," Homa said aggressively.

"Get out of my sight. Leave here," Richard said shouting at her.