45 Ogbanjes (1/2)

”Nda, I think you are taking this issue way too serious. Even if he was in his previous life; it doesn't amount to same in this life” she assured her.

”How do you know?”

”Usually Ogbanjes have pronounced birthmarks on their bodies where they were marked after death; so they can be recognized easily when they returned”.

”Osundu has a birthmark at the back of his neck oh!” Ego broke in.

”Yes I know, but most Ogbanjes also come back with a distal phalanx of the left little finger or any other amputated part of his or her body; which is done to make the Ogbanje cult expel the individual from their league. They hate ugliness and deformities. Osundu doesn't have any missing part, he is perfect and beautiful” she concluded smiling at her.

Raising her hands up and looking at the dark sky above she said ”My fathers please don't let my son be an Ogbanje oh! I don't know what I will do if I lose him”.

”You are not losing him. By the way, most Ogbanjes are always sickly, punishing their parents. Osundu has not fallen ill more than twice since I can remember. So you have nothing to worry about” she reassured her.

”Yes, he has not,” she said smiling. ”Olii, thank you; you have succeeded in convincing me that he is not one of them”. She added after showing her appreciation by giving her a tight hug.

Oluchukwu beamed and said ”Now that we have that off the way. Can I tell you what he said to me about two market days ago?”

”Please do! What did he tell you?” she asked as curiosity reappeared on her face.

”I was bathing him that particular evening and humming a lullaby to him at the same time when abruptly he said ”Nda!”. I responded, ”Yes, Nwoke oma”. With those big eyes of his pinned on me, he said ”I remember that song”. After laughing to my fill, I jokily asked him from where. He then said, ”My elder sister Ndidi used to sing it to me whenever I was crying”. Those words sent chilling fear all over my body. ”He then added that he misses her, but I didn't allow him to complete that sentence before rebuking him. He then began crying.

”It is doing the same thing to me right now as you are saying it,” Ego said rubbing her palm all over her body.

”That was not even the first time; he made a statement about his past life to me”.