that midnight chamaka ran to the water's edge the moon casting a gold glow over the waves that whispered promises and secrets her heart raised as the surface shimmered and the mermaid emerged a vision of beauty and danger why do you disturb my Waters human the mermaid asked her voice a haunting Melody that sent chills down chaka's spine I need your help I need a child please please CH Maka begged the mermaid's eyes glinted with Mischief what will you offer in return anything chaira cried her heart aching with longing I'll sacrifice anything to be a mother
the mermaid's laughter was like glass shattering in the N very well CH Mara stood by the window watching the Sun deep before the Horizon casting a soft glow over the moderately modern African neighborhood she could hear the children playing outside their laughter carried by the wind her heart ACH at the sound a sharp reminder of what she had longed for and what had eluded her for seven years she sighed heavily her eyes darkened towards the clock on the wall it was almost time for her her husband obina to return home the very thought of him
now filled her with a mix of sadness and anger things has changed between them but how could they not after he had shocked her with the introduction of a second wife in the beginning of their marriage obina had been full of joy they had been the couple everyone admired young vibrant and deeply in love obina had been her Rock her source of strength she could still remember the warmth of his laughter as they lay together Under the Stars talking about the future they would build children a family they had dreamed of it all but as
the months turned to years the dream turned into a nightmare CH Maka obina had said to her one night after dinner his voice unusually soft but laced with frustration it's been 5 years the people are talking my mother she says we need to consider other options CH maka's heart clenched at the mere mention of it she knew what was coming ob's mother mama obina had never been kind to her from the moment they married Mama obina made it clear to her that her primary value as a wife was her ability to to Bear children and
now with 5 years of baress the preo was becoming unbearable other options she whispered her voice barely audible Oba didn't meet her gaze he continued to pick at his food his brows forrow it's not what I want chamaka but I'm a man I need a hair you you know our culture you understand Chia Maka had been silent that night her mind racing she had pleaded silently for a miracle for anything that would change the course of their lives but that Miracle never came 2 years later on an ordinary afternoon CH maka's world was shattered obina
had come home early from work she heard his footsteps approaching and expected him to walk in as usual with a tired smile and a kiss on her forehead instead the door swung open and there he was standing next to another woman the woman was younger in her early 20s and exuded a fresh beauty that seemed to Glow in the sunlight filtering through the doorway her skin was smooth and radiant her features soft and delicate but what structure marker the most was her posture the way she stood next to obina with an air of quiet confidence
as though she already belonged there CH maka's breath HED in her throat as she stared at them her mind trying to make sense of what she was saying CH Maka obina began his voice soft but steady as if he had rehearsed this moment this is Ina Ina the name sent a sharp Pang through CH maka's chest even though she didn't know the this woman Nick has stepped forward offering a small polite smile her eyes downcast in an almost rehear display of humility I know this is difficult obina continued looking at his wife with pleading eyes
but I had no choice CH maka's lips parted but no words came out she felt she was drowning in Silence the weight of oba's betrayal crushing her no choice she finally managed to say her voice trembling no choice you promised me her words hung in the air fragile and broken obina took a deep breaths his eyes shifting away from hers I've waited CH Maka I've been patient you know how important it is I need children and air the finality of his tone the coldness of of it pierced her heart she had always known this day
might come but hearing it out loud seeing this woman standing next to him made the reality unbearable you could have talked to me she whispered tears welling up in her eyes you didn't have to do this behind my back I did talk to you obina snapped his frustration finally surfacing I've been talking to you for years but you wouldn't listen I tried to wait I tried to be patient but my mother your mother CH Maka interrupted her voice shaking with anger it's always your mother isn't it she's the one who pushed you to do this
obina didn't deny he simply looked away the weight of his decision hanging heavy in the room the silence that followed was suffocating Nick has stood there awkwardly shifting from foot to foot clearly uncomfortable with the tension in the air but she said nothing she didn't need to her presence alone was enough to speak volumes she was everything Chia Maka wasn't young fetal and the new bearer of ob's future Chia Maka felt her entire world had been pulled out from under her the life she had known the love she had once shared with obina now seemed
like a distant memory and the worst part was there was nothing she could do to stop it over the following months chaka's position in her home grew smaller and smaller or as's affections shifted entirely towards NAA he would laugh with her share meals with her and spend most of his evenings by her side they were often seen walking together in the yard their hands brushing against each other in subtle intimacy Adam ma once the center of ob's world had been reduced to a shadow The Whispers in the village became louder people began to notice how
much OB spent with his new wife the once respected CH Maka was now spoken of in harsh tones at the market the woman shaking their heads in pity she couldn't give him a child they would say their voice is full of judgment what choice did he have even Mama ob's treatment of her became harsher the old woman who had once pretended to tolerate her now openly scorned her you are a disgrace Mama OB HED one day during an argument 7 years are not even a single child to show for it you are no wife at
all CH Maka clenched her jaw biting back the tears that threatened to spew she had learned to endure Mama ob's venomous words but every time it hurts just the same I'm doing everything I can CH Maka whispered have voice barely audible it's not my fault not your fault Mama oba's eyes blazed with Fury then who fault is it you you failed as a woman as a wife it's no wonder Oba had to bring in someone else Nea will give him what you couldn't chair wanted to scream to lash out to make her mother-in-law understand the
pain she was in but she couldn't there was no fight left in her she was empty a shell of the woman she had once been one evening after yet another argument with Mama obina CH Maka sat in her bedroom staring blankly at the wall the egg in her chest was unbearable she felt utterly defeated her husband was lost to her her grandmother was a constant torment and her body had betrayed her by refusing to give her the one thing she wanted most a child it was then that amaka her best friend came to visit you
can't live like this amaka said her voice firm but filled with concern as she sat across from CH Maka in the dimly lit room it's not not fair to you she amaka chook her head her eyes downcast what can I do amaka I've tried everything doctors helps prayers nothing works amaka leaned in closer lowering her voice there is one thing you haven't tried here amaka frowned looking up at her friend what do you mean amaka hesitated for a moment before speaking her voice barely a whisper there's a woman I know she can help you but
it's not something you find in any Hospital CH maka's heart quickened who is she well she's not really a woman amaka continued she's a merid a mermaid chaka's eyes widen in disbelief amaka that is madness it's not amaka insisted her voice steady she's powerful people have gone to her and they've been blessed with children but there are rules you just have to agree to her terms CH Maka stared at her friend her mind racing it sounded ridiculous but at this point what did she have to lose she had already lost so much the meeting with
the mermaid changed everything when CH and Maka returned home she was pregnant the joy in the village was overwhelming suddenly she was no longer the baren wife she was the woman who had been blessed and even Nea was pushed aside as CH Maka took her rightful place as the favored wife once more the celebration was Grand and for a brief moment Chaka believed she had won but she could never forget the merid warning no salt and when she turns 18 she will return back to me these words echoed in her mind day and night as
she watched her belly grow they haunted her even during the moments of Joy when obina would place his hands on her stomach feeling the gentle kicks of their unborn child CH Maka became Vigilant almost obsessive about every detail of her life she controlled everything her diet her rest her every single move after all this wasn't just any child this was a child Bound by a curse a promise to a being far older and far more powerful than any mortal woman but what did it matter she was pregnant she was going to have a child finally
the day suto was born was one of the happiest days in Chia maka's life obina had rushed her to the hospital when her labor began and few hours of painful constructions their daughter finally came into the world as the nurse handed CH Maka her baby the weight of the little girl in her arms felt like salvation somto's eyes were wild and curious obina was overjoyed he wept openly at the sight of his daughter lifting her lifting her in his arms and cradling her with all the tenderness he had once reserved for chair marer and for
a brief moment it was as if the years of pain and barness never existed even mama obina who had been Chia Mara's fiercest critique praised her you have done well cha she said her voice warm with approval for the very first time you are truly a woman now you've given us an air the house once filled with tension and judgment now echoed with laughter nicka the second wife had become almost invisible her Presence overshadowed by the AR rival of the long awaited child people in the village stopped Whispering about chaka's baress and instead marveled at
the miracle of her motherhood but Chia Maka never let her guard down she remember the rules she remembered the deal she had made and so from the very beginning she was strict with suto diet she prepared every meal herself carefully measuring out ingredients ensuring that not a single grain of salt ever touched her daughter's lips mama why can't I eat what the other children eat suto asked one day her young face scrunched up in confusion as she looked at other children's lunch boxes at school Jia Maka knelt down in front of her smooting a stay
C from her daughter's forehead because my dear you are special mama has to keep you safe her small hands clutching the lunch chair Mara had packed but I don't want to be special I want to eat Jola fries like my friends CH Mara's heart ACH at the sight of her daughter's frustration but she couldn't afford to be lenient so to listen carefully you must never eat anyone's food but mine do you understand it's very important the seriousness in her mother's tone made some to lower lip tremble she nodded though reluctantly and CH Maka pressed a
kiss to her forehead before sending her off to school as the years went by suto grew into a bright intelligent girl but CH Mara's vigilance only increased when suto was invited to birthday parties or school events where food were served Chaka would make sure to arrive as early as she could supervising the meals and bringing her own carefully prepared ditches people in the community began to notice her behavior some Whispering about her overprotectiveness one such occasion was when suto was 12 years old the school was hosting a celebration CH Maka had taken the day off
work determined to be there but an emergency meeting had delayed her by the time she arrived at the school her heart was pounding with fear she rushed into the Hall just in time to see some about to take a bite of a gelof fries from something no chamaka cried running across the room and knocking the plate off her daughter's hands the room fell silent All Eyes turned on her Sono stood there stunned her cheeks flushed with embarrassment Mama what are you doing she whispered harshly Tears breaming In Her Eyes I'm sorry Chaka panted still catching
her breath I'm so sorry she gathered suto in her arms holding her tightly as if she had narrowly escaped disaster you can't eat that my dear you know the rules but why Mama suto demanded her voice Rising with frustration why am I not allowed to eat like everyone else why are you always so strict with me CH Mara's heart broke but she couldn't tell her daughter the truth not yet so she offered the only explanation she could because I love you sonto everything I do is to protect you suto looked away her jaw clenched with
anger but she did argue further the incident however marked a turning point in their relationship some to began to question more to resist more anti maka's control over her daughter started to sleep as adolesence took hold when suto turned 16 Chia maka's Health began to deteriorate it slowly started a few Mis days of work here and there fatigue that wouldn't go away but soon she was bed reading her one strong body now frail and weak obina tried to care for her but there was little he could do some to spent hours by her mother's bedside
watching helplessly as the woman who had raised her faded before her eyes one evening as the sun dipped below the Horizon CH Maka called for suto her voice was weak barely a whisper so to she said her breath shallow there's something I need to tell you something I should have told you long ago suto leaned closer her heart pounding in her chest what is it Mama CH maka's eyes filled with tears as she struggled to find the words I made a deal suto a deal with a mermaid a long time ago I was so desperate
I wanted a child more than anything and she gave me to you suto blinked in confusion washing over her face a man made yes Chaka whispered her voice trembling but there were rules rules I had to follow you could never eat salt and when you turn 18 you would have to go back to her some recoiled her mind spinning what Mama that doesn't make any sense you not making any sense it's true CH Maka insisted tears streaming down her eyes I'm so sorry my daughter I should have told you sooner but I was afraid I
didn't want to lose you some those chest tightened as Panic Rose within her so what does that mean I only have two more years Mama CH Mak nodded weekly yes two more years and then she will come for you some stood up abruptly her hands trembling no no this can't be real this isn't happening but it was real the mermaid's CA had hung over chair Mara's life for 16 years and now it was coming for her daughter the weight of her mother's confession B down on suto threatening to suffocate her that night suto woke up
staring at the ceiling her mind racing she couldn't sleep how could she she her mother was dying and her future was now filled with uncertainty and fear the m words echoed in her ears two more years as the night passed suto began to have nightmares in her dreams she would find herself standing by the river where her mother had made the deal the water dark and ominous the mid would rise from the de her eyes gleaming with hunger and reach out to her Whispering it's time somto would wake up in a cold sweat her heart
racing her body trembling with fear and then one morning she heard it the faint sound of water rushing in her ears even though there was no River nearby it was as if the maid was calling to her reminding her of the deal they had made shortly after somto's Mother CH Maka fell even more ill she was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead suto felt so much pain but she couldn't even mourn the loss of her mother because Affliction followed right immediately the mermaids wanted her back as agreed the closer she got to
being 18 years old the more weird unusual things occurred in her life she started fainting a lot in school and spending more time in the hospital she later opened up to her father about it he felt complete disappointment and anger towards his late wife and so they started going from one Church to another I am really sorry there's nothing we can do one Pastor said as he walked away from them they ran into different fake pastors that took so much from them suto was in pain she kept dreaming of being under water one night when
her father was sleeping she had had enough she decided to execute it she read her mother's diary trying to deduce where her mother had gone that night to make the deal with the river goddess it was a village nearby the next night some was set on her travel she took her bags and ran off her father waking up to realize his daughter was gone could feel nothing but pure pain but suto knew it was for the best she arrived at the river that night not to sacrifice herself but to make peace with the mermaid and
try to convince her she walked into the still quiet River but immediately she entered the river the waves began to shake and the mermaid appeared somto could not believe her eyes it was true the river goddess walked up to her and held her hand my child welcome you have come the river goddess said with a smile I don't want to go back muted suto please allow me leave she continued the river goddess reminded her of the deal that was made and suto wept it was nobody's fault her mother was only a desperate woman who wanted
a child and the m just wanted to fulfill her end of the deal seeing how suto cried and agreed to sacrifice her life for peace something the mermaid had never seen before all the human she had trusted and made deals with always turned against her when it was time to do their part the river goddess hugged suto one more time you can go she said suto could not believe her ears At first she felt it was just something she had heard but the mid repeated it again on hearing that suto picked up and swam as
fast as she could before the river goddess would change her mind Soto's father was searching every everywhere when he saw his daughter at the distant Street at midnight frustrated and broken he ran towards her Soto what is this why are you wet where did you go he asked furiously Papa don't worry I'm fine let's go inside also that ay soup in the fridge the one properly spiced yes that one with salt that is what I'm craving right now let us go inside and eat the river goddess left suto alone the very first and only head
of child that was given a chance to leave from the water
