SCENE ONE

Evening, the village square of Akama. It is after a masquerade festival. People are milling about, greeting, talking; children run around, playing. By the ancestral tree, four girls, all of marriageable age, stand talking. In the middle is a pretty girl, plump in all the right places, and brown as cocoa. Her name is Ulimma, and she appears to be the ringleader, with the others, Mmaji, Nneka, Akunna, gathered around her.

AKUNNA:     Uli, are you saying you did not catch her looking at Obeleagu like she wanted to devour him?

ULIMMA:     (adjusting her wrapper) Please, I was too busy admiring him myself to notice any other person doing the same. (smiling dreamily) Did you see how fine he was looking?

MMAJI:         Who didn’t? Even the chief noticed! (touching Ulimma’s heart with her palm and placing it on her own) May the favour of the gods upon you find me also (the other girls do the same).

NNEKA:        Have they said anything about the wine carrying?

ULIMMA:     Not yet. You know the introduction was just last week.

NNEKA:        Obeleagu has the means; it won’t be long now. It is only money that makes these things take time.

AKUNNA:     And the evil eyes of others too. Uli, offer prayers for him o. Let nobody’s jealousy come in the way of your happiness.

ULIMMA:     Now I think of it, it seems to me I saw that girl looking in our direction.

MMAJI:         Me too. I was wondering if it was the first time she was seeing a fine, young man. The hunger in her eyes…

NNEKA:        She cannot even have small shame and self-respect. Was it not just the other day that Obiageli went back to her father’s house, and who was at the centre of the quarrel between her and her husband? Akwaeke.

AKUNNA:     What I want to know is, why won’t she ever see these men until they are married?

Just then, a girl, about their age, passes by. It is the Akwaeke. She is tall and slender, with skin the colour of beach sands. Her wrapper is shorter than theirs, her adornments more brazen. If she knows she is the object of their discussion, which she must see from their disdainful looks, she does not show it.

MMAJI:         See how her breasts are almost popping out of her wrapper. She thinks nakedness and daylight harlotry are what will fetch her a husband.

ULIMMA:     I have half a mind to go to her and warn her off my Obeleagu. Everyone knows I say my mind the way it is, and I will die first before I sit by and watch some slut destroy the good works of the gods in my life.

THE REST OF THE GIRLS:         Go dear, go. Tell her you are not to be played with.

Ulimma hurries towards the girl, calling her name loudly. She stops and turns. She is very pretty, even more so than Ulimma.

ULIMMA:     (frowning) I will go straight to the point because I have nothing to do with someone like you. I saw you looking at my betrothed at the festival today. I beg you in the name of whatever…

AKWAEKE: Who told you I was looking at your betrothed?

ULIMMA:     Please, if you know only blind people, I am not one of them. I saw you, and we both know what that means with you. Please o, so it will not be that I did not warn you, because I am not like other women. This village will not enter the both of us if I catch you around Obeleagu. Go and ask around, my name is embossed on his heart, he is my own. Stay away from him, or you will have gotten into what is bigger than you.

AKWAEKE: (smiling) You are so fierce. But don’t work yourself into a frenzy. I was not looking at your husband-to-be. I am not interested in him.

ULIMMA:     Have you then been inflicted with cross eyes; how can you be looking one way and your eyes another? (Akwaeke doubles over in laughter. Ulimma eyes her with despise) It is fine, the daughter of Omenuko has become a jokester. I blame myself for descending to your level, but better I let you know I am not one to be toyed with.

AKWAEKE: (straightens up, still smiling) Fierce woman, calm down. If it helps, I was not looking at Obeleagu. Personally, I have seen finer men. (Ulimma narrows her eyes in anger) It was you I was looking at. (brushes her cheek lightly and leaves)

ULIMMA:  (confusedly) Me? (seems to understand, gasps and calls after Akwaeke, who has already rounded a corner and disappeared) Are you mad? (to herself) This girl must be ogbanje. I didn’t even know the extent of her madness.

She leaves for her house, musing, ignoring her friends who call to her with What happened? What did she say? Did you get in a fight?

The following days, she dutifully avoids Akwaeke, but chance still brings them face to face sometimes, during which she scowls at the other woman, who returns the scowl with a smile.

SCENE TWO

On the path to the unfrequented village stream. Ulimma is walking alone, talking to herself.

ULIMMA:     This is madness on my part, but I feel it is the only solution. How can I be thinking of this girl when I’m alone? And you say it is ordinary? I should have known, it was that time she touched me. I should never have let her. She must have put some charm on me. I will confront her o, she must undo whatever she has done. Nobody bewitches the daughter of Omenuko and goes free. I mean, I have Obeleagu to think about, and it is some ogbanje harlot I am thinking of. (circles her fingers around her head and clicks them away from herself. Changing her tone) But what could she have meant by that? “It was you I was looking at.” Was it in an evil way? Has she marked me as her target? But target for what? (gets startled by a chicken, realises she has walked into Akwaeke’s compound. The latter presently comes out of one of the huts, smiling brightly)

AKWAEKE: I have found favour in the eyes of the gods, to behold this sight.

ULIMMA:     (scowling as she always does) Young woman, did you see any smile on my face? Whatever it is you have done to me, undo it now, or face my wrath.

AKWAEKE: (picking up a water pot and beginning to walk in the direction of the stream) I cannot claim to understand what you are going on about, but today being a breezy day, the walk to the stream will be cheerful. You can take a pot and come with me.

ULIMMA:     Come, does it look like I am telling a joke? (when the other woman does not answer, picks a water pot and walks behind her, keeping a safe distance) I know now that I am no longer in control of my senses, but I swear to my ancestors, by the time I wash my eyes clean of this evil charm at the stream, I will show this girl who she is dealing with.

SCENE THREE

At the stream, Iyioma. The place is deserted, and looks like it always is. Akwaeke is in the middle of it, dipping in her water pot, by the time Ulimma gets there.

ULIMMA:     (kneeling to scoop water from the stream’s bank) I have heard this stream has healing powers. I wash myself clean of every charm you have used to tie my senses to yourself. (Akwaeke bursts out laughing) Laugh now, all you can. Until I get free and get my hands on you. (finishes washing and stands)

AKWAEKE: How many times in a day does Obeleagu tell you your skin shines like the moon?

ULIMMA:     What business of yours is it, what we tell each other?

AKWAEKE: I want to know how many times more I should tell you.

ULIMMA:     Go and get married. That is what is disturbing you.

AKWAEKE: I don’t dispute that. Only, the one I wanted has been taken by another.

ULIMMA:     Who?

AKWAEKE: (releasing her water pot and beginning to undress) Someone fierce.

ULIMMA:     Is he from this village? Why are you taking off your clothes?

AKWAEKE: If you come closer, I’ll answer your questions.

ULIMMA:     (taking a step back) So you can bewitch me the more.

AKWAEKE: If indeed I have bewitched you, and you have supposedly washed it off, why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be running from me?

ULIMMA:     (at a loss for a moment) Did I not say I would teach you a lesson?

AKWAEKE: (now naked) Am I not waiting to be taught? (Ulimma takes another step back) What? Are my breasts bigger than yours? Or have yours fallen?

ULIMMA:     (scoffs) My breasts are the most upstanding in this village.

AKWAEKE: All talk.

ULIMMA:     I am not a slut like you.

AKWAEKE: Then you must be a bigger one than me.

ULIMMA:     (incensed) I will not stand here and listen to you scorn my reputation.

AKWAEKE: If you are so sure of yourself, show me. (Ulimma angrily pulls off her wapper. Akwaeke widens her eyes and opens her mouth) You are even more beautiful than I imagined.

ULIMMA:     (triumphantly) I can understand why I consume your imaginations.

AKWAEKE: Like I consume yours.

ULIMMA:     Who says?

AKWAEKE: The legs that found my father’s house.

ULIMMA:     I came to tell you to leave me alone, with your dark magic.

AKWAEKE: Tell me, then. (Ulimma stays silent) I will turn my back and count the market days twice. If you haven’t come down then, I’ll carry my water pot and leave. (turns and begins counting. At the second Nkwo, she turns to find Ulimma facing her. Smiling) You did not want me to see how you walk when you’re naked?

ULIMMA:     (disinterestedly) I don’t know what you’re talking about.

AKWAEKE: Is this the kind of trouble you gave Obeleagu before you agreed to him?

ULIMMA:     If you want to woo me, do it a little harder.

AKWAEKE: (coming closer till they can hear themselves breathing) What is the use? I asked around, your name is embossed on his heart, he is your own. Is that not right?

ULIMMA:     If it is, would I be here?

AKWAEKE: But you will marry him?

ULIMMA:     Of course, stupid. Would I marry you?

AKWAEKE: (takes her face in her hands and kisses her lightly) Come here often, even then.

ULIMMA:     What if someone comes upon us?

AKWAEKE: They will see two goddesses making a new earth.

They hold each other closely and kiss till lights fade.

The End.

Kosoluchi Agboanike is a penultimate Law student at the University of Nigeria. She likes to think she is a fairly good writer of poetry, prose, and drama. Apart from writing, she is in love with mobile photography, food, and music. She is currently the President of the Nwokike Literary Club, UNEC.