“Uloma, Kedu?” Uncle Obi asked as I walked past his room.
“Uncle I’m fine o” I said.
“Biko, can you help me get that mosquito killer mama bought the other day. The mosquitoes in this room won’t stop till they suck the last blood in me” He complained.
“Okay uncle, I’ll bring it right after I check the food Mama put on fire” I said.
“Ahnahn Uloma, Can’t you just bring it now?” Uncle Obi groaned.
“No uncle, mama just left with Uchenna and Papa to the market. I have to make sure the food doesn’t get burnt”. I lied, just to get away from him.
“Okay, go and come” Uncle Obi said as I rolled my eyes and left.
30 minutes passed and I heard Uncle Obi shouting my name furiously from his room. I honestly didn’t want to go back to his room because something about Uncle Obi felt wrong. Last week, when Uchenna and I sat with him under the orange tree, roasting Aku, he solemnly sang love songs to my little ears and told me how beautiful teenage years made me look. He even promised to marry me, denying all claims that we were family. I managed to excuse myself without uttering a word and when I finally asked Mama when Uncle would be leaving because I felt uncomfortable around Him, She said “Kpuchie onu, shut up. Don’t incur the wrath of the gods upon this family o, biko. Do you know how much his Father helped us when he was alive and we had nothing? Be nice to him Uloma”.
Uloma! Uloma! Uloma! Where are you? Bring the Otapiapia now” Uncle Obi’s incessant yell brought me back to reality.
“Uncle, Ndo I’m coming o, I don’t know where Mama kept it” I lied again.
How long was I going to continue lying to him before Mama, Papa and Uchenna returned from the market? I faced my fears and finally got the mosquito killer from the old box mama kept all her old clothing. I found my way to his tiny bedroom, handed him the substance and as I was about leaving, he grabbed my left hand and said “Omalicha nwa, please stop running from me”.
“Uncle, please let me go, I have to fetch water from the stream before Mama Returns” I cried.
His dark eyes were as red as burning fire and they reminded me of the Odogwu masquerade Uchenna and I would always run away from. Is uncle Obi now a masquerade? Why’s he scaring me like this? This doesn’t look like the Uncle who came crying at my Father’s feet two months ago, begging for a place to stay.
Several things happened in a flash, leaving me utterly bewildered. I was totally lost but I knew what uncle obi was about to do to me was totally wrong. I snatched my hand from him, clutched both hands firmly to my chest as he struggled to remove my blouse. He kept muttering incoherent and gibberish words in between the wicked act, as his emotions took total control of his entire body.
I broke loose from his hard grip, knelt to the ground, begging, crying, shouting, screaming and cursing him at the same time even though I knew he was bent on having his way with me. He begged me not to shout as it wouldn’t hurt because he loves me from the depth of his heart.
My cries had no effect on him, neither did the curses I rained on his family and generations. He violently tore off all the clothing I had on me, scratching me with his sharp nails in the process. As he pushed me on his Bamboo bed, trying to remove his belt and trousers, I noticed the kitchen knife lying on the big box near his bed which he had earlier used to peel off the orange Papa had sent to him before lunch. I slowly grabbed the knife with the last energy in me and stabbed him in his Fat stomach before he could throw himself at me. He spilled out a loud cry from his evil mouth as he fell on my tiny body, groaning in intense pain. His blood splashed all over the room, haunting me like I was all alone in a scary abattoir. I pushed his body off mine and heard mama’s loud scream. Oh now they’re back from the market, I thought as I rolled my eyes.
“Ah abomination! Uloma has killed Obi o” Mama cried.
I cried harder, pacing round the room and wailing in utmost confusion as mama’s cry got louder. Papa came in, scanned the room with his eyes and gave me a resounding slap which sent me crashing to the floor. Can’t they see I’m naked? Why am I being blamed for self defense?
My Father has always had anger issues, so I wasn’t surprised when he grabbed the iron rod close to him and sent it flying in my direction. I was waiting to be hit by the rod when I suddenly heard Uchenna call my name, jolting me awake from the scary dream.
“Uloma, Uncle Obi is back with his wife! Mama said to call you o”
Oh, so now he’s getting married, I said as I stood up from my bed, leaving for the Verandah where they were all speaking loud Igbo and laughing. Truth is, five years ago, uncle obi raped me and got away with it. Even though I’m 20 now, I can’t seem to forget the incident that happened the day I was alone with the Devil.
I reached the Verandah and saw the devil that raped and promised to marry me grinning as he held his beautiful, fair skinned bride. I wish I could just strangle him I thought but I still managed a weak smile and a silent “Hello”.
“Ah! Uloma, Kedu? You’re now a big girl o”
………………….
Nice👍
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