Nwanne,Brother

Musa told him something that made his ears tingle, but Musa was man enough; he had made his choice. But little did Emeka know, that an impending wind would sweep him off his dancing feet.

First Encounter

The first encounter Musa had when he jumped off the train from Bauchi was the gust of a strange kind of air: it felt humid, hospitable , and calm. The air in Enugu slapped off the offending breeze, accompanied by hot sandy dusts that embraced one --  back home: it was far from being called temperamental, because it really came down, heavily on those who deliberately leave their homes, uncovered.

He already missed his mother’s , but she made sure to pack enough for him. Musa looked around, on the far end, very close to the ticket office, a small smiling face busily waved at him. The year was 1961. Musa picked up his heavy luggage, and walked straight to the waving hand.

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Musa walked up to the face he would spend his next five years with, dropped his luggage on the floor, brought out his palm, and said:

“Musa Muhammed.”

Emeka wore his wide smile like a little girl in her best dress on Christmas,  he enclosed Musa’s hand in a strong grip, and said:

“Nwanne, Emeka Ojembaenweilo.”

Musa was already familiar with the greeting of friends: their fathers. Musa’s smile grew wider, and he translated:

“Brother.”

Emeka picked up some of his bags, and Musa followed.

Friendship

Emeka’s  father was a trader that dealt on leather. In one of his trips, he was robbed and left stranded, but he met a tanner, Ali, who loaned him leather and his roof, too. The trade between them lingered up until they had children. Their sons grew to witness a friendship from afar, and not too long, their sons, Emeka and Musa, picked up from their fathers, but this time, theirs was closer, in University of Nigeria.

Good Times

The disco light twirled right round the walls of the staffclub of the university. Emeka was surprised that he had not seen Musa around; he left after the last session. The university had just concluded her annual general meeting which usually wrapped up with an all night party.

On completion of their studies, both men were recruited as lecturers in the same department. Musa stayed back, he moved in with Emeka’s family, but afterwards, the university completed their members of staff quarters and each member of staff was assigned a house based on their rank; Emeka and Musa were among the lucky ones, both got a comfortable cottage.

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Emeka planned to settle down, soon, while Musa looked forward to travelling back in order  to carry out some marital rites, because his father had someone already waiting. It was something Emeka knew Musa fought secretly in his heart, because he had already fallen in love with Mariam, an Arts lecturer.

Emeka had his hands on Grace’s slim waist, he was lost in B. B. King, but someone tapped his shoulder. At first, he saw a different smile on Grace’s face, and at a point he wondered if she was thinking what he was thinking, but the smile was for Musa. No joke, Musa was handsome, but he hated to be flattered. Emeka tilted his head to shoo him, but the look in Musa’s eyes said it all: trouble. He excused himself and followed Musa to the door.

Trouble

Emeka’s eyes dilated to the words that reverberated in his drums. He looked Musa, full in the face, and asked:

“War?”

Musa kept one arm on Emeka’s shoulder, and replied:

“Brother, I leave with the last train, tonight. Father already sent for me.”

They had gotten rid of the pronoun in front of their fathers’ names; each person’s was the other’s father. Emeka knew Musa had to leave, it was not safe. Emeka knocked off Musa’s hand on his shoulders, took a step forward,  and both men gathered each other in a tight embrace; their hearts beat as one with only a full moon in April to bear witness.

Sniper

It is seven days, and seven nights; no one made a move --a waiting game. The only thing that keeps them company are the chirping of birds, and scratching of bush rodents. Sniper looks again, but there is no one in sight. He is to wait and put the enemies down, to end the war.

The war began, long after Musa left; it met Emeka on his wedding night. Grace was many weeks pregnant when he enlisted. She nearly cried her eyes out, but the general was in great need of men. Emeka prayed not to meet Musa, because he didn’t want his brother’sblood on his hands. During the Nigeriancivilwar, Emeka’s brilliance at targets aimed him the name, Sniper. He was stationed very close to the riverbank at Ogbaro, their enemies were on their way.

He aims again, and after many years, Musa’s unchanged face comes in clear view.

Musa is weak and thirsty. He crawls down to the river, and as he stretches his hand for some water, their eyes meet. Emeka cannot take his eyes off his target, just as his fingers treacherously squeeze the trigger, backwards. For the first time, he notices the long tribal marks that run on each side of Musa’s face. He is stationed here for days, to drink the blood of the enemy, just like they drink theirs.

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Musa looks long at Emeka, aiming at him, and drips of sweat covers his eyes. Emeka shuts his eyes, he knows that someone is playing tricks with their minds. They kill each other while their treasuresenrich some few. It is not about the war, the country, the number of deaths. It is about Nwanne. Musa crawls back to his station, untouched. He knows, his Brotherspares him to live another day.

Written byUdemezue, Oluoma

Udemezue, Oluoma loves to read and write; she also enjoys movies and meeting new people. Oluoma believes that life is nothing without a little touch of romance, thriller and reality. Catch her on: udemezueoluoma@yahoo.com, Udemezue, Oluoma Judith on Facebook, Instag- oluomaudemezue, and Twit- @Udemezueoluoma.