THE JOURNEY 7

Five days gone and Akidi was not yet back, Okeosisi was restless and pacing about the shrine while Dibia Okpanri continued in his incantations. Thick clouds of smoke from a pot filled with concoctions that cooked in a corner escaped from the thatched roof of the shrine, Okeosisi's eyes followed the smoke even as his head ran wild in thoughts. 
"Wise one, its already five days and my friend is yet to return, what is happening?"  queried Okeosisi with an almost weeping tone and worried face, the Dibia replied calmly that he was doing his best to bring Akidi back.

While Okeosisi paced about frightened and deep in thoughts about his friend, he had the rumbling of the heavens like it was about to rain but this was harmattan season and it can't rain... The rumbling was even louder and he was scared,  "what is going on?" Okeosisi asked the Dibia again, who then announced it was Akidi's come back.  
The drum cover went off with a mighty sound and Akidi sprang up like someone who was awakened from a deep sleep, he looked weak and was too tired to talk.   He was helped out of the drum and the Dibia asked him to lay on the floor till he regained his strength, he later narrated his ordeals to the Dibia and how he found it difficult to gain access back to the living when his sojourn was over.

After Akidi got strength, they thanked the Dibia and made back to Okeosisi's maternal house to rest awhile and prepare to leave for their own village the next day.

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It was a glorious arrival as Akidi and Okeosisi arrived Owa, Ozoemena was excited to see his father and Akidi was happy his journey was over and they could live in peace now.  The next day he took his son and some relatives to betroth Ozoemena to Uzoamaka, the family received them well and it was agreed that when Uzoamaka becomes ripe for marriage,  the full marriage rites would be performed, they were already in laws and that's the important part.

Soon Akidi's ailment was gone and his debtors began to pay him back what they owed him, even when the planting and harvesting seasons came, his crops flourished.  He bounced back to life and became rich again, he usually visited Uzoamaka's family with gifts which signifies his interest is still in the child.  Ozoemena didn't understand why they owned Uzoamaka's family a lot even after his father explained that she was going to be his wife, "he is still a child" everyone told Akidi and "he would understand when he is of age" ......
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016