Nwakaego came out of her hut, her face contorted with worry. She looked to the entrance of her compound and sighed.

Where is this child ? She wondered. Did something happen? Is she alright ?

A million horrible thoughts raced through her mind as she began pacing.

A cock somewhere crowed causing her to pause and look at the sky, the sun was setting and Ada wasn't home, it was so unlike her.

Nwakaego thought of going to look for her but she didn't know where to start. She continued pacing again, her hands on her hips, she paused every once in a while to look out but what she saw was just the bush path that led to her home.

"Gods of our land," she prayed.  "Please bring my daughter home, protect her, do not let any evil befall her."

She continued her pacing even as she adjusted the wrapper on her chest, untying and retying it again.

Dusk was falling and the sky had begun to darken, still there was no sign of Ada, Nwakaego went into her hut and emerged seconds later with another wrapper around her shoulders, she was just adjusting it to properly cover her shoulders when she saw figures approaching her compound. She waited fingers crossed as she prayed for Ada to be among them. The walk of a couple of minutes to her compound seemed like an eternity as she waited for the figures, her foot tapping the ground impatiently.

"Good evening mama,"  Chiemerie greeted as he came to stand before her. Nwakaego looked over the two girls standing beside him with baskets on their heads. Her face falling when she realised her daughter was not among them.

"Chiemerie, now is not a good time. I was just on my way out." She replied barley masking her irritation and disappointment as she made to leave.

"Mama, I know you are still upset with me. This is why I have come to apologize and I brought gifts too."

He gestured for the girls beside him to bring down the baskets they were carrying. The girls lowered the baskets and opened the covers revealing the contents of the basket. Wrappers, beads, wooden combs among other things were visible but Nwakaego did not spare them a second look.

"These are beautiful but I cannot accept them." Chiemerie looked like someone had slapped his face, hard. "Thank you but I really have to go", she made to leave again but he her blocked her path.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry? Why are you so difficult?" he asked his voice rising with every word. "I came to apologize and give you gifts yet you walk out on me. Do you know who I am?"

Nwakaego saw anger brewing in his eyes but she was not intimidated

"Ada is not home yet, I am going to look for her."

She did not wait for a reply before hurrying out, moving as fast as her legs could carry her.
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Esomchi sat in the obi with his father and brothers, they were talking and getting ready for dinner when Nwakaego walked into their compound, she exchanged pleasantries with Akunna, Esomchi's mother before moving to the obi where Akunana told her she would find her son.

"Nna anyi Obidike, good evening."  She greeted taking everyone by surprise.

"Nwakaego, good evening," Esomchi's father replied. "Come and take a seat, Ugo get another cup."

"Mama, good evening," Esomchi rose to his feet."This one you are here is everything alright? Where is Ada?"

"My son, that is why I have come, Ada has not returned. I thought she was with you, I came in search of her." Nwakaego said trying to keep her voice steady as fear clogged her throat, threatening to choke her.

"She is not home? That is unlike her," Esmochi said as he walked to her. "Nne, please take a seat, Ugo run to Ekeoma's compound, find out if Ada is with her, tell her to come nne is worried, if not ask Ekeoma to tell you the last time she saw her." He said to Ugo who was just returning with the cup he was earlier asked to get.

Esomchi led Nwakaego to a seat, he sat beside her and held her hand trying to comfort her, "Nothing will happen to her."

Akunna walked in with tray holding steaming bowls of food, "O di na mma?" she asked as she took in their sullen expressions while placing the food on a table before her husband. "Obi m, gini n'eme?" she took a seat beside Nwakaego who was silently crying.

Esomchi was just about to answer her when Ugo burst into the room panting. Nwakaego looked at him with hope in her eyes.

Ugo planted his hands on his knees taking deep breaths as he spoke. "Sister. Ada. is. not. there." The words were punctuated with each breath he took.

Ekeoma burst into the obi just as he finished taking. "Mama, Papa, good evening. What is this I hear?" she asked as she went to sit beside Nwakaego.

The minute she was seated,Nwakaego gripped her hands her panic rising."Please tell me it's not true."

"Mama," she began, Nwakaego burst into tears, wailing as she fell to the floor. Both women moved to comfort her. "We left the market together, she walked me to my junction where we parted but not before she told me she had to go to pick some snails and vegetables."

Nwakaego's cries increased.

"Why didn't she just buy them from the market?"Esomchi asked as he began pacing, his thumb nail in his mouth.

"Nwakaego, do not loose hope, maybe she is home now and is probably looking for you." Akunna comforted, her arm around the crying woman's shoulders as they both sat on the floor.

"I suggest you eat something Nwakaego. I am sure by the time you get home tomorrow, Ada would be waiting for you." Obidike tried to console her.

"I have to get back, I want to see Ada. She would be worried if she got home and I am not there." Nwakaego said as she rose to her feet, she wiped her tears and retied her wrapper.

Esomchi went to her, "Mama, it's really late. It's safer for you to stay here, eat and rest. I promise, first thing in the morning, Ugo will fetch Ada for you. Please nne."

Everyone looked at Nwakaego with imploring eyes.

"Okay, but first thing in the morning. You promised." She said as he let her to a seat.

Akunna picked the tray from the table. "I am going to warm these so we can all eat."

"Ekeoma you can't go home either,you can stay with my sisters", Esomchi told Ekeoma but his shoulders were a bit tense.

What could have happened to her? Where could she be?

So I have died and resurrected multiple times but my ancestors as we say over here are really strong and have been fanning my fire, I couldn't find a perfect picture for our Esomchi and that is draining me! Good news is, the picture above depicts what he looks like and tried to show the culture but it's not it sha.
😥 Anyway here is a more contemporary look for those of you like me that like details or whatever.

Glossary

o d n'mma? : Is everything thing alright?

Obi m, gini na-eme? : My dear, what is going on?