₦airaland Forum

k9ine:
Dr Centino,
I am compelled to migrate from ghost-mode in order to thank you. You very much understand what you are writing about. It's a detailed and intelligent story about life with the masses, power of pure love, deception or showing one's true character, laws and ordering of the universe, and everyday struggle.

I must add also that, those who learn, know and respect the very laws, cause and effect that plays out within our mother earth are protected and peaceful. Those who don't, always run from pillar to post treating the symptom rather than the illness.

Once more, you are doing a great work. The one wey I like pass na how you dey take blend pidgin inside the stori, you go com carve am with beta oyibo ajetive; pecin go just dey look free film korokoro. My praya for you na "pecin wey say your eba water no go boil, dem no go sell stove for im town". Amen.

Chai my guy. I also port from ghost mode come respond to dis one. You do well my man. Thanks for the appreciation. And you also very well know what you're saying. Me I just dey try my best. Abeg no return to ghost mode o. Good to have you here in the flesh

Finally a big AMEN to the prayer. Bad pecin no go see us lai lai.

Eberechi24:

You didn't invite me to this amazing piece.
Is it good?
How are you dear

Centino, you are doing a great job here.

Thank you. And you found your way here

vhiktorveroon:
my people perish for lack of knowledge.....enlightenment will be the downfall of mama akunna
.... ride on centino,your story is the bomb...

Thanks man. And it's your very first post. Welcome to Literatureland

Cadec007:
Thanks Centino your updates are always fresh and interesting

You're welcome.

Psychodavidovic:
Finally caught up to this page after reading non-stop throughout the weekend.

God Bless You Centino.

My Best character thus far ?

For me, it has got to be Mr Cosmas. That man speaks sense. I like his view on everything, especially on Life.

Why do i feel Mr Cosmas is Centino's alter ego ?

My alter ego is Papa Efe

FreshestManny:
Thanks for the update Centino and congratulations on your well deserved win of the best writer in NL literature section for the month of May. Enjoy.

Thanks my man!

stainless239:
I hunger and thirst for more



*sulking*

Awww sorry.

Karrisleo:
Finally! I don reach here, God bless you my guy, you need to see how me and my babe de follow up, abeg! When the story wan end nah?

Glad to have you and your babe. Do we know her?

You want make the story end ni?

eyesofpearls:
So good! So so good! Didn’t want it to end! Chai Sunday far o! As usual interesting! Many thanks. God bless you.

Amen thanks eyesofpearls

sabbiboi:
Centino my guy ... . God bless ur inspiration my brother...
Bless Up.

Amen thanks.

maryamuwane:
I didn't want it to end while reading it. Centino, I see Irikefe being transformed to our hero, don't ruin my dreams please.
I must say, I'm hardly intrigued by stories but yours has got me salivating like beans cooked with oil is on fire. do you write other stories and if yes, how can I access them please?

Awww thanks Mary ( if I may call you that). Don't know how Irikefe will turn out, but make we dey watch. Yes I have written in the past but trust me, this is the most worthy read I have now I suppose. I am one of those cut short dreams who veered into something else but the pull was still there which is why I started this on NL. Hopefully, the dream returns and I churn out more. The well from where this comes from is deep I can say.

daymeelarday:
I marvel at how Centino continually educates while being entertaining with this intriguing story. Well done bro, more inspiration and blessings.

Amen and thanks.

Emperortj93:
this update is full of intrigue. castro is the real MVP
i really laugh out loud when he say he was only thinking about the "not to young to run" bill that was signed into law. it interest me to know how centino (or better still POUNDino) infuse everyday happening into this story thereby making it fresh, exciting and funny. thanks baba and please mention me when next you update

btw, is it me or anyone notice that this update seems kinda short

Lol, not short joor. More than 2000 words. One of my longest

queenitee:
Yeah, having a pure heart.
Congratulations centino, you deserved it

The queen of literatureland Thanks for stopping by.

Louisefaye:
Centino, you're the best. I'm loving this.

tunjilomo:
The way this story is chronicled is superb and the introduction of characters is just perfect.

Thank you.

michlins:
I have followed this thread for more than two months as a silent reader and I think it's evil if I don't appreciate this masterpiece of literature. Your combination of humor, societal norms, philosophy and current affairs is amazing. Thank you for giving a different insight into the spheres of life.


Thanks and happy Sunday

Great to have you break the silence michlins. keeps us going. Glad you like my work.

Ann2012:
Centino Centino.....Boss u too much, so educative and interesting. Thanks

Ann2012. My person. You're welcome.

Deejay1000:
thanks Mr centino for this wonderful update patiently waiting for the next update btw this Mr Cosmos what level of spirituality does he operates from

You're welcome man. There are no levels of spirituality per se. He speaks the truth as he understands it

SunFlow:
Thanks Centino for the hupdate.


How far, u don cashout?

Dem say this week o. No worry will let you know

xtanlee:
centino ...you're a big part of my sundays....nice work

Thanks

daneni1:
If there is anything I have learnt about life, its to always have a pure heart about everything and anything, though I haven't been perfect but as the writer says, "its a gradual process".

Thumps up bro and keep it coming.

Good to know man! Thanks for the appreciation.

A PURE HEART

Ndifreke woke with a start, found himself covered in perspiration and breathing hard. Now he could move his limbs, so he sat up. Was it a dream or was it real? He stood and found the light switch and examined his body. Sure enough, the marks were there. Three reddish feral strokes in the inside of his right bicep. It did happen. The witch touched him.

He could now feel the physical exhaustion from a fruitless struggle against a force the weight of a story building. What was it they did to him? Why did they attack him? He slowly stretched out again on the floor and as he tried to process things in his head, he drifted away and was dead to the world again. Mkpoikanna’s early morning activities woke him the second time. He got up and steadied himself. It was Sunday morning and he did not need to be up early. But he had made it standard practice not to remain in bed when his cousin was up. It was bad enough that he contributed little to their sustenance; he did not also want to appear lazy. On a normal weekday, he would have also prepared himself and gone out on the streets. It did not matter if it ended up being a wild goose chase. Jobless graduates roaming the streets was not an uncommon feature of their polity. At least it maintained his sense of purpose. Starting tomorrow, however, when he went out he knew where he was going – to the taxi park to find himself a keke to ride. He had now activated full survival mode. Education, societal perception, everything else now out the window. Man must wack!

He grabbed a plastic cup, applied toothpaste on his brush and headed outside to the gutter. Irikefe was just finishing his brushing. There were others facing the road with cups and brushes too, scrubbing teeth and tongues with eyes widening and mouths producing strong guttural sounds to dislodge whatever it was that blocked their throats and windpipes. Mama Cowbell was just setting her things for the day’s business. She was the only one that opened on Sundays. Hot rice and beans did not know the days of week. Loudspeakers from churches far and near were crackling to life one after the other. The first one hollered “Good morning Jesus, good morning Lord” with the kind of voice that would make Jesus check his watch and hope it was not yet morning.

“How was your night?” Irikefe said to him.

Ndifreke only stretched out his hand. Irikefe saw the marks. He looked Ndifreke over and said “On your neck too. Like pussycat scratch.”

“Yes, I see that.”

“So what are you waiting for bros? Let’s go and seek help!”

“I want to talk to somebody about it.”

“No na, bros. You promised.”

“Yes, I did. But not just anyone.”

“Who?”

“Mr Cosmas.”

Irikefe made to protest but Ndifreke hushed him.

“Mr Cosmas is not just anybody.”

“I agree. But to what end? He will start his new age gibberish that helps no one.”

“I want to hear the new age gibberish.”

“Okay on one condition.”

“What?”

“I come with you.”

“Not a problem.”

He finished brushing his teeth and took the cup inside while Irikefe waited for him. They met Mr Cosmas in the small verandah he and Mr Zubi’s family enjoyed, being in the privileged self-contained. He was reading an Economics text. Mrs Zubi was besides herself from the other side. She was saying to Castro “Do you know that that mad woman apologized to Linda Ikeji? That it was all a joke!”

“I know. She wanted to get the 100k Hushpuppy promised if she apologized.”

“So all that for 100k?”

“Don’t worry. We won’t be hearing from her anytime soon if we are to trust her. She said she is retiring from journalism and wants to go back to the US.”

“Rubbish!”

“She is looking for money for flight ticket.”

“Was she not deported? How can she go back?”

“I don’t know, mum. And frankly, I don’t care. What I am thinking about now is the not too young to run bill PMB has just signed into law.”

“How does that one concern you?”

“I want to run for something.”

“Don’t let your father hear that from your mouth. You know what he will call you.”

“That is his business. I am going to join politics.”

“What happened to the Bible you were carrying the other day?”

“Nothing. Our current VP is a Bible carrier too.”

“I see. Pass your JAMB first. I don’t think the bill also said you don’t need higher education.”

With that, Castro stormed inside the house.

“Good morning Ma,” Ndifreke and Irikefe said in unison.

“Good morning,” she said and followed her son inside.

“Good morning Mr Cosmas”

“Good morning my friends. To what do I owe this august visit?"

Ndifreke spoke up. “Something is troubling us. We thought you could help.”

“Oh I see. You want to come inside?” He said as he noticed that they kept looking over their shoulders.

“That would be nice,” Ndifreke said.

It was the neatest room they had both entered ever. It was a single room self-contained unlike Mr Zubi’s which had two rooms and was in a perpetual state of chaos. His bed was made in pristine white sheets, the floor had clean linoleum, his reading table, centre table, white wall, everything blended with everything and there was a live plant on the centre table.

They both stood until he asked them to sit. They both made themselves comfortable in the two-seater cane chair that was positioned opposite the bed, while he turned the chair of the reading table he took and faced them.

“It’s a beautiful room you have here sir” Ndifreke said.

“Thank you. So how can I be of help?”

“Something has been bothering us Mr Cosmas. We believe that someone in this compound is a witch. I, in fact, we have evidence. The thing is we don’t know what to do. Irikefe wants us to go to a juju man or prophet. I am not favourably disposed to that. The only person I can think of to discuss this with is you.”

“You say someone in this compound?”

“Mama Akunna” Irikefe spat.

“Oh I see. And you have evidence?”

Ndifreke stretched out his hand “See the marks? This was from last night. I felt it when something entered my room and came upon me. I struggled but it was useless. The worrying part is that I prayed and anointed myself before I went to bed. Is it that the witch is more powerful than God? Is it that He does not answer prayers anymore? how do we solve a problem like this without dabbling into something diabolical, because I am confused and scared.”

“And you say you know who it is?”

“Sir, me and my father caught her red-handed.”

“I see.”

“I have asked around sir. I have been directed to one baba. He will give us something to place on the floor and as soon as she climbs it, she will just remove her clothes and confess. Tell me, sir, how is that bad or diabolical? Is it more diabolical than what she is doing?”

“I don’t want to come in contact with those people,” Ndifreke said.

Mr Cosmas sighed and leaned forward. “I understand your worries Ndifreke, and your intentions Efe.”

“Is there no other way? An easier way if prayer will not work?”

“Prayer works my friend.”

“Then why was I attacked after I had prayed?”

“The question is how you stand when you pray. You know you cannot fool the Almighty. When your core is weak, I’m afraid prayer becomes mere hot air.”

“So as bad-bad things don make your core weak bros, make we jejely go see baba to help us solve this problem,” Irikefe said.

“My only sin is Maya.”

“If you keep your inner spiritual core pure or strive towards purity in your thoughts, words and deeds, your aura will be so strong that impure thoughts and evil currents will not be able to penetrate. Prayer then becomes a reinforcement. Witches will be repulsed and find no way to operate. As for you and Maya, do not condemn yourself just yet.”

“Mr Cosmas, even I know that they are fornicating. Which kind mouth will he come and use and pray after that? He is a sinner. And God does not answer the prayer of a sinner."

“Lust, debauchery, a coming together born of infatuation and selfish desires is what you do not want. But a union between two people where there is mutual respect and love and consideration for the other person is not sin. The ancients knew that it would be almost impossible to achieve these outside the confines of marriage, which is why sex outside marriage is frowned upon. But when two persons of mature age voluntarily come together in a bond of love, and mutual self-respect, each person will be the source of joy and happiness to the other, and in that sense, they would cherish every moment of intimacy as healthy interaction. If that is what you have with Maya, stop being guilty. Strive for purity of thought, words and deeds; Fear nothing so that you stand well when you pray and watch as your defenses gather strength. No witch worthy of the name will come near you.”

“Wait wait wait Mr Cosmas. You mean that as Maya and Ndifreke love each other now and he has made her pregnant that it is not a sin?”

“No it isn’t, under those conditions.”

“So as I love Josephine now and that heavenly ikebe she is carrying if I hammer her it will not be a sin?”

“Show respect Irikefe. We are talking with Mr Cosmas,” Ndifreke said.

“Bros I love the nurse. If this is true, then from now on my heart and my thoughts are pure. I want her.”

“That is not why we are here Irikefe.”

Mr Cosmas remained calm as the two friends went at each other. Then he said, “You have a conscience and intuition. You will know when it is love or lust. You have freewill. I never tell anyone what to do or what not to do or what decisions to make for themselves. It is up to you what you do, as you alone will face the consequences of all your actions.”

At that, Irikefe became sober again.

“All right Mr Cosmas, thank you very much. I knew I could count on you. I will strive thus, and let’s see where that takes me. But if I may ask, what really is this witchcraft thing. I mean, how could someone acquire that kind of evil powers?”

“It is a choice my friend. Some people out of curiosity have found ways to explore the universe and come in contact with planes other than this earth where thoughts and words travel without hindrance and become forms that can come back and manifest on the earth plane. It is not something you want to dwell on. But what I must tell you is that every thought, every word we utter goes out into the universe and forms something somewhere that can either be good or evil. Those who send out evil thoughts and words most often have these return to them in torrents and in no time they begin to find themselves in different planes when they sleep. In those planes, they learn ways to pool those thought forms together and form entities that wreak havoc. The good news is that our physical bodies offer us protection from these. And a strong spiritual core ensures they dissipate at the mere sight of you. I would rather you do not dwell on this. The admonition is to keep the hearth of your thoughts pure at all times and you will be alright.”

“So what of the Babalawo that wants to help us? Are they bad as well?”

“They are not called witch doctors for nothing. Everything in the universe has a vibration. These ones are able to identify different things they can mix together to get certain vibrations that can repel these forces. Don’t forget, they know the planes these operate in very well so they know what to do to tackle them. But the thing is, in every walk of life there are charlatans. Too many of them misuse the knowledge they have and fall into the temptation to do evil. You may go to them now and get help, but the danger is that you get comfortable and cease to work on bettering yourself and continue to depend on them. Then one day you get tempted to use them for some other things if they themselves do not first turn your head. Then, in the end, you become compromised and end up worse off. Work on yourself instead.”

“Thank you very much Mr Cosmas. I knew to talk with you was the right thing to do.”

“Thank you sir” Irikefe also said as they both rose.

“You’re welcome, friends. Sorry I have nothing to entertain you with.”

“Mama Cowbell has opened sir,” Irikefe said.

Ndifreke drove an elbow into Irikefe's ribs and said “We’re fine, thank you.”

Back outside irikefe said, “So bros, you will now purify your heart before you go to bed tonight abi?”

“It’s a process. It may take time. But I’ll rather do that than go with you to your babalawo.”

“Okay no wahala.”



TO BE CONTINUED.

eyesofpearls:
Congratulations Centino! You deserve all accolades! Too much juice and sauce you bring to the table. Many thanks!

Thanks dear.

Matrix001:
may God reward u for dis wonderfully unalloyed piece.....

AMEN!

xtanlee:
centino centino centino.... too good

My man. Chop knuckle. Long time!

koligns:
Centino, in Dej'loaf voice " we wining we wining keep the hating s**t over there...

I am waiting for next update bro. I am patient

God Bless you

The time haff come

MhisTahrah:
Weldone Centino, you got me hooked with your beautiful storyline.

Glad you like it

alabig:
Congrats centino

Thank you.

Rahbiew:
Oga centino ... Kudos oo... Quote me when you update biko

Okay man. It's time. Check down

yehmy:
Congratulobia my personal person