Olamma

Episode 24

Olamma was quiet all through. She still wonder how she will face her people. She told Atika everything, including how she wanted to marry a handsome and a wealthy prince. She rejected and threw insult at many suitors that came for her hand in marriage, even her parents joined her in doing so. She was the most beautiful girl in her village and it got into her head. She gets anything she wanted and that was how she fell for Onrah and his friends who deceived her just to make a meal out of her. It was only her elder sister, Adaugo that warned her but she never listened..

Olamma was shock to know that she has spent over two years already ever since she left home.

She was indeed grateful for her live and knew that her parents will be pleased to receive her not minding that her beauty has been tampered with.

“The night is fast approaching, I can see that you are hungry. Over there is the kitchen. Go and make dinner. You can use the grass cutter meat that I recently caught to make either yam pottage or onugbu soup. (bitterleaf soup) go ahead Nne so that you can fill your hungry stomach with fresh food. I also have some new wrapper that my wife gave me. You can change into it and discard the one you had on.

Olamma thanked him. She collected the wrapper that she was given and changed into something new. She threw off her old wear. Atika gathered it up and set it on fire.
Olamma walked up to the kitchen but she doesn’t know where to start from. She knew that she can’t cook but was ashamed to tell Atika. She picked up the bush and animal and dropped it back. She looked at the yam and the onugbu leaf. She saw salt, pepper, red oil and few other cooking things but do not know how to start. She sat helplessly watching the whole kitchen not knowing what to do. Olamma has never cooked in her father’s house. Adaugo was always the cook until she got married and her mother took over before bringing Amaka who took over the whole chores. She has eaten different delicious meal back at home but never knew how it was prepared.

Olamma was confused, she was ashamed but after sometimes she swallowed her shame and came out to tell Atika that she can’t cook. But she did not see him anywhere around. She saw some fire wood and carried it to the kitchen. When she got there she saw Atika, who has already made fire and was roasting the grass cutter.

Olamma was startled and scared. She wondered if Atika knew that she can’t cook.
It was as if Atika read her thought and he said.
“There is no shame in admitting to a certain fault or disability. You can only be mocked for a while but at the end you will find help. I watch you sit here in the kitchen not knowing what to do. i know most maiden of your age are in their husbands house tending to their homes. It looks shameful that you are just starting the basic of life in a very hard way. I know what happened to you with Onrah was unfortunate but is a lesson and you have to sit up now and take back your life. Is never late to start all over. Only the dead do not have such opportunity. Most time the looks doesn’t really matter, is the heart that matters most. Now watch me and learn the little you can. In no time food will be ready…
Olamma had a delicious meal that night. She was alive again with good food in her stomach.

Atika showed her a room to sleep.
The first and second day, Olamma wakes up and sit not knowing where to start from. She was hoping Atika will make food and give her own share to her just like the way she was treated back in her parents’ house.