-
Scene 3. Njukebim and Nadoh are at home
- LANGAA RPCIG
- Chapter
- Additional Information
36 Kehbuma Langmia Scene 3 Njukebim and Nadoh are at home (arguing about the fate of their daughter. Sunyin suddenly appears with all her belongings.) Njukebim My wife, what a sad omen for our daughter. Nadoh Don’t mutter anything as sad because you are responsible for this everlasting ill-luck that has befallen my daughter. She is now forced in her youth to experience the life of a widow. Instead of experiencing the enticing pleasures of matrimony, she is going to gnash her teeth. Had I known! Had I known! I earlier disagreed with you about this marriage on the grounds that the family into which my daughter was marrying was full of people who practice witchcraft yet… (weeps) Njukebim Stop that. I warned you about making these kinds of assertions about people, which, frankly speaking, are miss-leading and completely false. Yes, when natural death occurs to somebody, you women quickly draw conclusions on the cause of the death. Nadoh Yes, now you reprimand me and forget your own assertions. Didn’t you tell me that you had consulted Njenumeh and he foresaw the marriage of my daughter and Dohbani as prosperous, long-lasting, peaceful and hopeful? What has happened? What happened my husband? You want me to start distrusting the words of our most truthful seer in whom all confidence is entrusted? Njukebim You see how short-sighted and unreasonable some of you women can be? So you think Njenumeh is the almighty God who created mankind and can know when he or she has to die? Yes, you are really ignorant about many things. I cannot quite make it out why when death occurs such as in the case of Dohbani, you go around with less proven conceptions on supernatural causes. Look here my wife, in such cases, pray for the departed soul as we ought to do for Dohbani who is now seated at the right hand of God the 37 An Evil Meal of Evil father almighty. That is what we are told in church by pastor Joshua. We’ll only meet with him on the judgment day. So, let us put away gossip and hypocrisy and pray for our daughter to withstand the challenges of widowhood. Nadoh You want my daughter to stay a widow? That is unheard of. She is too young. Moreover, she hasn’t had any children yet. We should be looking for a second husband for her. I have been thinking of Tadoh who lives at ‘Ngumbu’. He is a good wrestler, a good tapper and a good trapper of antelopes and other animals. Since the death of Dohbani, he has been very helpful to me. He has even offered to cultivate my farm come next farming season. Indeed, I find him fit enough to bring peace to the heart of my daughter. If you are in agreement on my choice, then all we need do now is to let Sunyin know of this proposal. Njukebim Certainly not. You don’t seem to realize that Tadoh and I have not spoken to each other for two years. Have you forgotten my struggle with him over the farm at ‘Njamke’, and how the large farm has been abandoned for years because of no judgment? In the mean time he has been struggling to bring me down with his talismans and gods. I suggest ‘Ngangbaki’ who is my personal friend and who can settle bride price with ease. Nadoh You seem only to propose your personal friends who you believe can settle the bride price quickly. Do we need a duty conscious husband for Sunyin to take good care of her or do we need an individual who uses money as a wedge to maltreat his wife? I see. I now know the workings of your inner mind. You need only wealthy men who can fill your stomach with money. That basically is also the reason you gave my daughter to a hard-hearted devilish family that has now painfully reduced her, in her 20s, to a widow. What a world? (weeps) Njukebim Wipe those tears, woman. Are you accusing me of betrayal? If that is the case why not attack me directly? Why are you weeping? I know you are deeply contented because you can now influence your daughter to return and stay with you as you earlier affirmed. [3.236.252.14] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 06:52 GMT) 38 Kehbuma Langmia Look, don’t utter profanities in...