DISAPPEARANCE
A STORY BY ASMA'U SADA
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"Umma! Umma!! I screamed as I ran towards my neighbour's hut.
" What is the matter?"Umma asked struggling to hold her wrapper around the waist. "Mariya pull yourself together and and tell me what is happening." she concluded.
"I...I can't find my... husband! I stammered.
" What!" Umma shouted. I can't believe it. When... Where... How..?"
I wanted to scream but my voice had gone missing. I tried again but instead of my voice, it was my eyes that let out a stream of tears which flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks.
Umma brought out a wooden stool and tried to get me to sit down, but I was not in the mood. I wanted to find my husband. I couldn't speak. Each time I want to scream, more tears ran down my cheeks like cascading waterfalls.
"Calm down and give me the details of.... Umma began.
" I...woke up this morning to find out that he was not in bed. It was still dawn so I thought that it was too early for him to leave the house. But... But I have looked for him everywhere. Around the house; on the farm; at his friends' houses. He was not in any of those places."
"How about... Umma began.
" We slept together last night and this morning he is... Oh! My God! Umma... Umma... " I cried.
"Don't worry."Umma said. She patted her gently on the shoulder and walked into her hut. "Let's go" she said as she emerged from the room adjusting the blouse which she has hastily worn. I will help you look for him. "
We searched for him at his friends' house, we even went to those who are mere acquaintance and those who thought of as his enemies. We looked everywhere-even Okoro the chemist's shop. We walked halfway through the village and the unevitability of exhaustion crept up on them. It was evening before we went home.
"What is this that I heard? "My mother In-law's voice roared before she got to the door.
(c) Asmie's Diary
To be continued.......
Copyright protected. No part of this story should be copied or transmitted in any form or by any means without the consent of the copyright owner/author.(c) Asma'u Sada
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