39 Ndubisi (1/2)

Curiosity didn't allow Ego to wait for them to reach her; instead, she began making her way towards them till they were just a few centimetres away. A young man was with them whom Onumara introduced as Ndubisi. He had a lean and hungry look with a bushy moustache. It was obvious this young man was not having the best days of his life. There was this strange sadness in his eyes; like he has been angry at something for a lifetime. He was likely the same age as Nnanna when he passed away.

He further said they met him not far from here and he claims to be residing in the forest for a while now and has never seen an old woman or a dog around this place.

Have you ever met someone and had this feeling like you know them from way back but just can't remember when or where. That was exactly how Ego felt once she saw Ndubisi. He looked so familiar, but she just couldn't put a name to the face or remember where or when they met.

”Ask him to come forward” she instructed Onumara as he had asked the young man to wait behind.

Immediately Ndubisi came closer, his scent further awakens the I-know-you feeling but still not enough to awaken any memory. When asked to speak, he said: ”I have seen you before”.

Ego took a long stare at him, but she still couldn't remember him from anywhere and at the same time couldn't shake away the feeling that she has been with this human before; she has even heard his voice before. Maybe it is from another lifetime she concluded. ”I don't think I have seen you before till now,” she said shaking her head.

”So you don't remember me?” he further asked.

Now, this was becoming interesting and at the same time creepy, ”I think you must be mistaking me for someone”.

”Your name is Ego?” he inquired from her.

”Does your knowing or remembering my name change anything? Many people know my name, people I have never met before”

Convinced that she doesn't remember him; ”Alright, let me cut to the chase. I first saw you on a wrestling match some years ago in Umudibia” he said with confidence.

”I have attended many wrestling matches. What spectacular thing happened on that particular match that might jog up my memory?” she asked.

”I can't remember his name again or face, but he became the champion that day by raising the right leg of his opponent and swung it over his rival's head, and he landed on his back flat on the ground” he recalled.

”Oh! It is you!” she exclaimed. ”You are the young man that kept staring; who couldn't take his eyes off me on that particular day” Ego said almost laughing.

”That's not how I remember it. I took my eyes off you a few times to watch the wrestling. You still look beautiful like that day I saw you” he said returning her smile.