ADUNBI - by Ibitoye Blessing

A spell too far. The sounds of the gongs drew nearer as the wind whistled by. The night was overshadowed by an unflawed tranquility which made it look as if calmness had descended upon the face of the Earth since centuries.It was in the dead night when all bird had gone to roost.Adunbi kept running like a pursued jinn, she was only on a small blue wrapper tied round her curvy waist, and a brown top that merely covered her shoulders down to her belly button.She continued racing her legs non-stop as if being chased by an hungry monster, and simultaneously sweating like a disturbed comedian. The clatterings made by her legs while beating the earth were more than enough to make a disco beat. " Am I really an image?" Adunbi questioned herself in great distress as if someone would give an answer to her rhetorical question; "I don't think so" she retorted.She made an halt immediately and sat down on a foot of a mammoth cashue tree.She tried to reminisce about what had actually led to her endless race, she got the scenario perfectly hovering around her memory. The more she tried to bury the scenario off her head, the more it came haunting for her.She sobbed silently. Scorn the fact that she was sad she was still very pretty and stunning as usual. She was in her early thirties and still charming ever. Her skin gleamed radiantly like the morning star. She was endowed with a narrow face and a pointed nose, She was skinned with Caramel brown.She was graced with long natural brown hair that added more Savage to her beauty. Her hips were of curved shape of which can send shivers down one's spines. She was the word named "pulchritude".She laid helplessly under the cashue tree and silently, she dozed off.Adunbi slept helplessly under the big cashew tree snoring heavily like a wounded lion.Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, the cloud became dark, darker than the abyss, Adunbi was still fast asleep. A whirlwind enveloped the atmosphere and there were series of unrestrained sounds made by the trees in the forest. It was at this point that Adunbi reluctantly woke up and regain consciousness.She looked up the sky and was displeased by the sudden change in the weather. Many thoughts ran across her mind, she was very worried about herself.She sat up thinking of where she could lay her head till the following morning because it was so clear that the rain would fall mighty. She was still lost in thought when a soft hand caresses her chubby skin. Great shivers ran down her spines and shock was written all over her faces, her heart nearly jumped out of her mouth. She managed to look at the direction where she felt the touch but she was surprised to see an old woman of about an hundred and a score of age. The old woman was as old as an old rickety car, she had wrinkles painted on her bony faces. She was of an average height, Melanie black but not shining due to ageing. Her faces read "Weird". She looks like one of the old witch in Nollywood movies."Do not be afraid my daughter" echoed the old womanAdunbi was schocked the more."What is your name" asked the old woman"I ammmmmmm Adun du du dun bi bi " Adunbi stuttered.What a nice name you've got! "Adunbi" the old woman reiterated the name over and over again as if she was trying to commit it to her memory."Will you follow me to my small hut to pass the night?" The old woman asked again.Without hesitation, Adunbi jumped up almost immediately the woman finished her statement.Adunbi walked sideways with the unknown woman in great fear, she had promised herself that whatever evil that will happen thereafter should happen. Not long after then, they arrived at a small sizeable hut. The hut was located in the middle of the forest, it was decorated with raffia crossbars and was thatched roofed.The frontage view of the hut made it look as if it has been thousands of years people lived there. At the balcony were two benches provided for visitors to sit. Beside the benches was an average size drum containing water, a mortal and a pestle made with a mohogany tree and beside it was a grinding stone stained with peper seeds.Adunbi fear vanished like a smoke in the air as her eyes unrestingly stared at the arrangement of the hut and its environs. She was kinda surprised about the fact that she saw no other hut or house apart from the old woman's hut.The old woman made her way into the hut and was followed by Adunbi.The hut interior was more dark but for the help of a small lantern it was made brightened."Sit here" gestured the old woman almost exposing her brownish - grey teeth.Adunbi sat on the god- forgotten cushion chair and tried to fake a smile in gratitude.The old woman made a deep sigh and looked straight into Adunbi's eyes like one who just saw her lost daughter."What were you doing in the forest alone in this dead night" questioned the old woman."Hmmmmm" Adunbi heavy a deep sigh, not of relief but of pain and anxiety, of depression and of total sadness. Pains were written all over her voices."It is a long story mama" She manged to reply."Mama?"Did you just called me Mama?, It's been long someone called me that name! Exclaimed the old woman in shaky voices.Adunbi mouth was left agape like someone ready to shout an hallelujah, she managed to say an "Huh".

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