Unfaithful
Akuma is the richest man in Timbuktu province. He owns a very late head of cattle, oxen, donkeys and camels. His large crop farm is the biggest in the Sahel region. Akuma has a very large family and is generous too.
Every Friday, he served a two course meal to people, especially destitutes in Timbuktu. The people love him so very much. During the festive season, he gives out household items to the needy and makes them happy also.
Amina is Akuma's first wife. She has eight children for him and they are all about. The boys grew up and became very adventurous like their father. They own big businesses outside of Timbuktu.
The second wife is Baliqis. She is the daughter of the town's traditional ruler and versed in administration. Baliqis love Akuma so much that she disobeyed her father only to be with him. Since Ahmadu, Baliqis father had no option than to marry her out, their traditional wedding engagement was held and she became his second wife, voluntarily. She has five children out of which were four boys and a girl.
There were many individuals who were at the service of Akuma both at home as domestic staff and in the farms, as workers.
One thing is certain. Akuma ensured that no one around him suffered provision.
Out of all his successes, Akuma had never travelled out of the shores of Timbuktu. He has heard of great rivers, oceans and seas but had never seen one. He had only concentrated on his business all his life.
One new year, he resolved to travel through the great sea to India. It was the biggest decision of his life.
After the new year celebrations, he called his family together and announced his intention of travelling through the great sea to India. He intends to spend a month or two.
Hence, he assigned different family members to undertake different undertakings of his business for productivity and accountability.
Amina is to oversee the milking farm and supply to neighbouring towns for the period.
Bakri is to see to the smooth running of all cash crop farms and distribution of seedlings to farmers who need it.
Bakri, the longest serving employee, is put in charge of hiring workers.
After the meeting, everyone set out to begin their newly assigned positions.
Baliqis and Amina helped their husband to pack all that would be needed for the trip. They had a missed feeling doing that. It would be a lonely castle without Akuma.
On the day of his trip, they accompanied him to the large ferry that would convey them to the shores of India.
The ship is very huge and many passengers queued up for the trip. Many of them are on a business trip but Akuma was on a vacation.
The ship sailed for eight days to get to India. Akuma enjoyed the sail as he had booked a luxury cabinet where meals and drinks of different recipes were served. He never knew the world is this beautiful.
"To be a one eyed man in the midst of the blind may make you feel like a king."
After a week in his vacation, Akuma died in his sleep. The two servants he had travelled with were devastated. They didn't know what to do. They thought that their master had been a kind man and deserved to be buried with honour. So, they sent a message home about his demise. There was mourning at Timbuktu. Ahijo and Deen, the two servants in India with the corpse of Akuma, their master wrapped his body in a white apparel and journeyed through the sea, back home.
One the fourth day of the journey, Akuma sneezed back to life. Ahijo, who was alone with the corpse in the cabin, had to flee to the common room where other travellers were either dining or smoking or dancing. He called on Deen to come see what had happened.
When he had fully revived and recuperated, Akuma mentioned to Abino and Deem to still keep it that he was dead.
When they arrived at Timbuktu, a mammoth crowd was waiting to lead him home, it was their last respect for Akuma the philanthropist.
While Akuma was lying in state before he would be committed to rest, Ahijo and Deen put a lump of plantain tree as the corpse.
Akuma was finally buried. Whereas, he was hiding in the comfort of the farm house for pig workers.
A few days after his supposed burial, Bakri sold off his farm and implements to some fellows who had always competed with his master, Akuma.
When the polity was heated up, Akuma appeared to have bought back all his sold property from the worthless fellows. He sacked Bakri without any entitlements and appreciated his wives for standing together during the trying period.
Amina and Baliqis were particularly very happy to have their husband back home but frowned that it was an expensive prank he had pulled up.
Akuma is a good clever strategist, but one has to do whatever necessary to keep what's yours.