OJUJU: THE VILLAGE OF FORBIDDEN LOVE - EPISODE 3
"I will only agree to serve Ojuju if Ojuju prove to me to be a just deity. Rescind your decision to redo the s@crifices again and stop this wicked practice of annual hum@n s@crifices and then I will consider becoming a priestess of Ojuju" Amisha said
" Who are you to dictate to our great god Ojuju. You are lucky to still be alive by now. No one dares what you are doing and live to tell the story. Thank your stars Ojuju really likes you" Asakwe said
" You and your Ojuju should get lost and remain lost forever " Amisha said
Asakwe's face revealed her anger at Amisha's defiance.
"You will learn to obey Ojuju's will, whether you like it or not," she spat. You will be trained by me in the ways of the priestess, and you will carry out the s@crifices as required." Asakwe said to her
"I won't do it,I refused to be a part of k*lling innocent people." Amisha replied
"You have no choice. Ojuju has chosen you, and you will serve. You will do as you're told, or you will suffer the consequences." Asakwe warned her
The villagers watched the exchange with a mix of fascination and fear.
With a deep breath, Amisha raised her hands to the heavens and spoke out loud
"I refuse to serve Ojuju. I won't be a part of this darkness."
The villagers were all in shock as Amisha looked the great Asakwe face to face and said
"I'll find a way to stop all of this. I will find a way to free our village from Ojuju's grasp." She added and walked away
Amisha's father Adazi came forward and knelt down before Asakwe
"Great Asakwe please pardon her. She is only but a child. I would talk sense into her. I promise" Adazi begged
" You better do or else if she continues this way, I will destroy her" Asakwe said
" She won't I promise you" Adazi said
Asakwe disappeared immediately and all the villagers took to their heels and ran home.
"Amisha! Amisha" Adazi called on his daughter immediately he got home
"Yes papa" She replied
"Seat down my child" Adazi said
"Papa I already know what you want to say and trust me as much as I respect and honour you as my father, you won't be able to change my mind" Amisha said
Adazi looked at his daughter with concern written all over his face
"Amisha, being the priestess of Ojuju is a great honor. You'll be respected, feared and revered by the entire village. You'll have power and influence." He said
"Father, I don't want to be the priestess. I don't believe in Ojuju's ways, and I won't serve a deity that demands innocent lives. Besides, I have plans to marry in the future, and I want a life of my own." Amisha said
"Marriage?, As the priestess of Ojuju, you can not get married or even be defiled by a man. You would have to dedicate all your life to Ojuju's service. You won't have time for marriage or personal life." Adazi said
" Oh you know I will be without a man all my life?. How can you wish such a life for me, Father? Don't you want me to be happy and have a family of my own?" Amisha asked
"Amisha being a priestess comes with many privileges. You'll have authority, wealth, and respect. You will be the most most powerful person in the village. Even more powerful than the king himself "
"I don't want those privileges if it means giving up my freedom and my chance at happiness..I want to live a life that's mine, not one dictated by Ojuju's wicked demands." Amisha replied
Adazi's bow his head as he
looked at his daughter with a mixture of disappointment and worry.
"Amisha please reconsider. This is a great opportunity for you and our family. Don't throw it away. Ojuju will take your life and I have no other child " Adazi said
"I won't do it, Father. Nothing will happen to me or you. I will find another way even if it means going against Ojuju and the village traditions." Amisha said
"Amisha, you're being stubborn and selfish. You're not thinking about the future of our family, about me. Being the priestess of Ojuju will bring us prosperity and protection. On the contrary declining will bring us cal@mity and great problems" Adazi said
"Prosperity and protection at what cost. The lives of innocent people? No, I won't be a part of it."
" So you are going to question the traditions of our village. You want to start questioning the will of Ojuju?" Adazi asked
"Yes would, Because I believe that there's more to life than just following traditions and appeasing a deity that demands bl**d." Amisha said
"Amisha, I want what's best for you my child " Adazi said.
"I know father but I won't be swayed. I'll find my own path, even if it means leaving the village." Amisha said
Adazi's heart was filled with a mixture of fear and sadness.
It has now been more than a month since Priestess Asakwe announced Amisha as the next priestess but Amisha was yet to changed her mind. Infact the k*lling or more villagers increase her resolve to leave the village.
A week later, The king and his cabinet sat in an emergency meeting, discussing the recent developments in the village.
"We need to convince Amisha to accept her role as the priestess. I see her as the only one who can bring change to our practices and stop the sacrifices." The king said
" My king remember what happened the last time we discuss something like this. I am scared for my life" One of the elder said
The elders nodded in agreement
"You fear too much. We can't continue to live in fear for the rest of our life. We must appeal to Amisha to accept otherwise we are doomed if we have another Asakwe" Elder Igbu said
Immediately he said this, some of the elders got up in fear and ran back home leaving the king and some few elders behind
"I'll summon her to our next meeting. We'll make her understand the gravity of the situation and the role she can play in shaping our village's future." The king said and ended the meeting
He summoned Amisha and she appeared before him and his cabinet in their next meeting
When Amisha arrived at the meeting, the king and the elders presented their case, appealing to her compassion and sense of justice.
"You are the only one who can stop the sacrifices Amisha. You are the only one who can bring change to our village." The king said
"I appreciate your trust in me, but I won't serve a deity that demands innocent lives." Amisha said
The king and his elders tried all they could to convince her but the meeting ended with an emphatic "No" from Amisha
The next day, Amisha packed her belongings and decided to leave the village. As she was heading out of the compound, her father Adazi came out of the door
"Amisha, where are you going?" Adazi asked
"I am leaving the village Father. I am leaving for good." Amisha said
Adazi tried to reason with her but Amisha refused to listen.
"Please, Father, don't try to stop me. I have made up my mind. I need to find my own path, away from this village and its traditions." Amisha said
" Amisha, don't go, you are all I have left." Adazi Lamented
"I am sorry Father," she said. "But I have to do this."
Adazi took a step forward and moved closer to his daughter
" please reconsider. You are making a grave mistake. This village is your home, and Ojuju is our deity. You can't just leave because of me here. What would be my fate?." Adazi asked
" I am not leaving because I want to Father. I am leaving because I refuse to be part of a system that values human life so cheaply. I want to live in a world where people are valued not s@crificed." She said
"You are being naive my child. The world outside these village borders is harsh and unforgiving. You won't survive on your own." He said
"I will take my chances Father. At least I'll be free to make my own choices and live my own life." She said
"What about me, Amisha?. Who will take care of me your father when you're gone?" He asked
Amisha's expression softened slightly
"I will make sure to send word to you whenever I can father and I will come back for you "she said.
With a final glance at her father Amisha turned to walk away. Suddenly a mighty wind blew and Priestess Asakwe appeared
"You must have Under estimated Ojuju to think you can leave this village" Asakwe said
To be continued