The Journey Called Life

Episode 3

Paul's stubbornness has led to the death of his child and that of other children as well.

The elders come together to find the solution to this problem since Paul has refused to serve the deity and they came to a conclusion that they will look for another person touched by the gods to be able to serve their deity and save the village from more destructions. The elders were able to get someone that will replace Paul and he was taken to where the deity is, in order for him to perform the traditional rite before he can be in control of the deity. After everything, he stepped into the shrine and immediately he was struck by lightning  and all the elders ran away for their safety. 

Paul felt something strong on his entire body and he fell on the floor screaming so loud without control. His wife rushed out to see what was wrong with her husband and all his body were full of strange marks that can't be explained.

She ran to a nearby pharmacist to explain what has happened to her husband, he came with her to see her husband and he examined him but couldn't explain the exact illness that is affecting Paul and so he asked her to take him to the hospital for proper test and treatment.

Paul was taken to the hospital by his wife and a test was carried out but still nothing was found or what might be the cause of his predicament. 

Paul's illness raised alot of concerns and nobody knows the cause of this problem, when his mother heard of his predicament she visited him and was crying saying that her son is so stubborn to ignore the invitation of the elders to serve the deity. 

The elders kept on searching for who will save them from this problem and they finally found another native doctor to serve their deity and he accepted to do so and went with the elders to the shrine where the deity dwells, he performed all the necessary traditional rite, and as soon as he picked the staff of power, he was struck by lightning and he died immediately. All the elders ran away for their safety and they were asking what else can they do to stop this problem because Paul is still stubborn to accept his calling. 

Paul stood up from the hospital bed and his wife was surprised to see her husband so healthy all of a sudden with such energy after some days of silence and grieves. She took her husband home and prepare something for him to eat.

There was a heavy knock on the door and Nkechi rushed to see who was knocking like that and it was the elders form the village, they ignored Nkechi's greetings to ask after her husband whom they are here for, and she said he is in the sitting room, and they rushed to see him and started raising their voices that his stubbornness will kill everybody that is connected to him and Paul replied the elders saying "he is a Christian and he will not succumb no matter what". The elders were like the deity is blind to select such a stubborn man to protect its people. The elders left his house and went away with anger.

Nkechi sat with her husband and asked him what are they going to do concerning this situation because it is getting out of hand and Paul replied her that he is not going to sell his soul to the devil because he is a Christian and anything that wants to happen should happen but he will not yield to anything that take him out of Christianity.

After few days, Paul went to the office and discuss his problem with his colleague after the day's work and his colleague told him to do what was destine to be, that he can not run away from it and Paul got upset with this because he never expected to hear such from him when he knows he is a Christian and he got up and went home.

Paul's mother thought about the situation of her son and begin to pray seriously for him because she is not ready to bury another.

The new yam festival is approaching, Paul and his family are planning to attend. Nkechi was having bad feelings about this journey and so she told Paul about it, but her husband told her that everything is going to be fine, that it is important they attend. And his wife agreed to go with him. They made the necessary arrangements to attend the festival.

When Paul was in the office, he asked his colleague to accompany them to the village but he said no because he had other engagements that will deprive him of going with him and his family to celebrate the new yam festival. Paul said ok and told his friend that he is going to miss a lot of fun (and they both laugh).

The day came when Paul and his family are set to embark on the journey and Paul is the one driving.

After a long drive, the car went out of control and Paul tried his best but the car ran into a building and Paul died immediately but his wife and child was safe.

Some people parked their car to help Nkechi and her child while they call a nearby hospital to bring their ambulance to a particular location. Nkechi continue to cry endlessly and no matter how hard some people try to stop her from crying, she doesn't care about that. Her husband was later taken to the hospital where he was declared dead and taken to the mortuary.

Nkechi called her mother in law to inform her about her son's death and how it happened, she went into tears and screaming on top of her voice. People around her begin to wonder what is the matter that will make Paul's mother scream that loud. When they ask her what the problem is, she didn't answer but continue to cry and screaming.

Later, the whole village heard about the death of Paul and everyone was going to share their sympathy with the family and see how they can assist in burying him. Some of the elders refuses to visit the family due to the stubbornness of Paul's refusal to serve the deity.