From the author of
In the Perils of Darkness
Juggled Glory (The Story of Aba)
Comes again another fantastic and thrilling story of an orphan “In search of Treasures”
Season 1- Episode (1)
Araba sat on a stool with her face drenched with tears. She had in front of her a basin full of soapy water and was doing the dishes that had been piled in front of her by Mame Pokua .
Araba hadn’t eaten since morning and her body was growing weary with hunger and tiredness. There was no way she could stop working. She had to continue for the fear of what would
happen to her if she stopped. She continued working, yawning and did her best to suppress the feeling of weariness that was engulfing her whole being. “Araba, hurry and fetch the water, it is
getting late!!!” Mame Pokua shouted from the room trying to remind Araba of the next chore she had assigned to her.
Araba lived in a small house with her aunt, Mame Pokua and her husband. She had been with this family since she was eight years old. Her parents encountered a terrible accident on the
Tema Motorway at a tender age of seven. Luckily for her, she was left in the house that day when the accident happened and she escaped narrowly. She was too young to take decisions
for herself. The family moved in and decided Mame Pokua was the next of kin. By custom, it was her duty to cater for young Araba. Mame Pokua wasn’t pleased with the decision because
she thought of it as a burden.
“Humph!! Why are these people forcing the responsibility of this
girl on me? Have I told them I need another child?” Mame Pokua rhetorically asked herself when the family head made the pronouncement. “I have three daughters already and I am even
struggling to take care of them. I don’t understand the reason they should add salt to my wound. I will not say nothing. Let the child come and we will see!!!” These were Mame Pokua
statement on the day the decision was made for Araba to join her family.
Araba finished with the dishes and grabbed another basin. She needed to hurry to get to the stream. Rumor had it that, young girls were being kidnapped in the bushes near the stream.
These girls were supposedly used for ritual before the festival. She walked as fast as her lanky legs could carry her. It was getting late, and she needed to be fast before everyone leaves the stream. The more she walked fast, the more she felt dizzy because of the hunger and tiredness.
She had carried a big basin in order not to return again to the stream for the rest of the day. When Araba got to the stream, almost everyone had left. The only person present had finished
fetching her water and was about leaving. In seconds, she was gone. Araba was left alone at the stream. She advanced into the deeper part of the stream because she needed clean water. She
made it late and the water at the bank of the stream was already dirty. The whole place was silent. All she could hear were the twitting sounds the birds made. Araba was sore afraid.
“What if these kidnappers get hold of me?” This thought kept repeating itself in Araba’s head as she bent down to fetch the water. She could scoop as much water she thought she could carry. Araba tried with all her might to carry the water on her head and hurriedly got out of the water. She could hear people approaching from the bushes. The footsteps were closer and she could still not see the faces of the people approaching.
She looked around and saw that almost everywhere was dark. She became terrified thinking that the kidnappers had located her. She slowly walked on the path with the idea of running as
fast as her legs could carry her if the kidnappers chanced upon her.
Araba was relieved to realize that the approaching person was Papa Koofie, the hunter. He was now on his way into the bush to hunt for games. “How are you Araba?” Papa Koofie inquired. “I
am doing well Papa Koofie.” Araba responded. With those pleasantries, Araba made way for Papa Koofie to pass. She managed to get home safely.
Araba got home still tired and hungry. She poured the water into a bigger basin and sat down to rest. She was so overwhelmed with tiredness and didn’t see what was coming behin d her. If she
knew, she could have taken to her heels. Behind her was her aunt, Mame Pokua. She didn’t see the reason for her to rest. To her, Araba was a slave and slaves don’t need rest. She slapped
Araba from behind and she toppled over.
Araba immediately got up and took steps back while wailing. She thought of it as a sensible thing to do because she knew Mame Pokua wanted to hit her the more. “Stupid girl!!! Who do
you expect to do the other chores in the house? Myself or my precious daughters? Better iron all the dresses before I lose my temper. Don’t you know my daughters will go to school
tomorrow? Mame Pokua said with a lot of anger in her tone.
Araba tried her best to maintain the distance that was between her and Mame Pokua. She didn’t want to get into her hitting range. She ran to the room and saw the huge pile of clothes
on the table. She began to iron them. “Oh God!!! Where are you? Why am I suffering in this world? I have not eaten the whole day and my bones are screaming with pain longing to rest,
but all I can do is to suppress their desires and continue to work? Oh death!!! What a wicked messenger you are by taking my lovely parents from me to suffer this ordeal. How painful is
your sting oh death!! Araba said these things with tears streaming down her cheek.
She remembered how hunger nearly pushed her to exchange sex for food with a neighbor. She had been ravenous that day and went to see a neighbor for food. She hoped that this neighbor would have a compassionate heart and offer her some food. She was perturbed at what she heard. The neighbor showed her the food, but told her he would only give it to her if she allowed him to have his way with her. At a moment, Araba thought of allowing this neighbor because she was famished and needed food urgently, but on second thought, she refused and
saw herself out of the house. Her pride of womanhood was much greater than the increased level of ghrelin in her stomach.
Araba finished with the ironing in two hours. Mame pokua gave her a bowl half full with “gari”. “Take this food and eat! There is pepper in the kitchen too.” Mame Pokua added.
Mame Pokua wanted to frustrate Araba to an extent she would run away from her. She wanted to do everything in her power to make her go away, but was afraid to do so for the fear of family ridicule. She needed to play her cards well if she needed to get rid of Araba. After all, she considered her as a burden.
What is Mame Pokua going to do to get rid of Araba?
To be continued….
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