The beggar's choice

 "Papa, I'll be right back," Iwalewa said to his father.

"But where are you going, Iwalewa, it's evening already and you know I can't walk home 

by myself," Iwaleso, Iwalewa's father, replied.

"Of course Papa, I just want to get food in the market for our dinner"

"Hurry up, my son, it's getting late"

"Okay Papa."

   Iwalewa picks up his flute, his single heritage from his blind father. He lost his 

mother when he was six, and since then, he has been the one taking care of his blind 

father. He doesn't has the opportunity to go to school, the only thing he does everyday is 

to lead Papa here to the narrow way that leads to the market to beg for alms. If wishes 

were horses, beggars would ride. Iwalewa wishes he had spent the past twenty years 

attending schools, but no one could escape fate in life.

    After buying some roasted yam in the market, Iwalewa decides to visit the Riverside 

to play his flute for the princess once again. It's ten years, five months and six days now 

that he has always been visiting the riveside every evening to play flute for Adesewa, the 

beautiful princess, who comes to the river, every evening to play with water for an hour. 

She usually doesn't allow guards to escort her. Although the princess always enjoys the 

particular tunes Iwalewa plays, yet she never sees or knows who plays the flute. This is 

because Iwalewa usually hides in the nearby bush beside the river to serenade the 

princess with his flute.

  Deep in thought, Iwalewa is seen hiding in the bush.

"Uhn, it's ten years, five months and six days now that I've always come to hide here 

every evening to serenade the princess with my flute, how then will I make it known to 

the princess that a poor boy like me is in love with her? Perhaps, she is also in love with 

me? No! She might have only fallen in love with my flute's tunes but not with me, the 

invisible player"

   Suddenly, the princess arrives, she has beads arrayed over her plaited hair and royal 

beads on her neck, wrist and ankles. A damsel in her early twenties, Adesewa is just too 

beautiful to behold.

"Is he not around today?" she asked, speaking to the bush.

"Ouch! I will seriously miss his music, but why is he not here?" She looks around but 

couldn't see anyone.

"I really wish I see him one day and know who he is, but it never happens."

Suddenly, she hears the usual music from the bush as the unknown Iwalewa plays:

Pretty pretty Adesewa

The pretty goddess beside the river

Pretty pretty peaceful princess

Who never knows her loyal lover

This is the music which Iwalewa always play for her with his flute.The princess is so 

happy to hear this again and she starts to dance as she plays with the water. This 

continues until she finally decides to go back to the palace.

"My love, can you please come out and let me see you today? Can you let me feel the joy 

of being in love just for once?" Adesewa said to the bush, with tears rolling down her 

cheeks.

"However, if you will disappoint me again today, let me say bye"

She wipes her tears and head straight to the palace. Iwalewa comes out of the bush and 

goes straight to the spot he left his father. 

"Papa, I'm back," he said.

"Welcome my son, what have you got?"

"Some roasted yam, Papa."

"Okay, I think it's time to go home now,"

"Yes, papa."

#

   The next morning, Adesewa and two of her friends Aduke and Omotola are seen 

going to the market. They pass by the narrow way that leads to the market, seeing them 

coming, Iwalewa moves towards them to beg alms for his father.

"Oh no! Don't touch me with those filthy hands of wretched poverty," Adesewa shouted 

at him.

Iwalewa feels bad and shocked as well.

"I'm sorry princess, I just need a help from you," Iwalewa said, looking dejected.

"Hey! Move some distances away, please don't come near me," Adesewa snubbed him. 

She looks him with so much contempt. Iwalewa moves away a little to avoid offending 

her.

"So, what do you say you want?" Adesewa asked.

"Just little amount of money to get food for my father," he replied.

"But can't you work as a man?" Aduke replied him scornfully.

"Ah ah ah....," Adesewa laughed.

"He really doesn't know how to do any other thing than to beg," Omotola said.

"Of course, a beggar's son has no choice than to beg," Adesewa added, laughing and 

mocking Iwalewa. The three burst into laughter.

"But, will you please...," 

"I will, don't worry, I will give you something, since a beggar like you has no other choice 

than to beg, we must not watch you and let you die of hunger," Adesewa said.

She reaches inside her sack of money and gives some money to Iwalewa.

"Don't let your hand touch my hands o, just take," Adesewa said, virtually throwing the 

money to Iwalewa.

"Okay, thank you very much princess, I really appreciate," Iwalewa said.

"It's okay, by the way, make sure you take your bath this morning, 'cos you're stinking," 

Adesewa said ridiculously.

Adesewa, together with her friends, walks away. Iwalewa looks at them, shakes his 

head and rubs his face to wipe away the tears flowing down his cheeks. He moves 

closer to his father.

"Papa, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, my son"

"Papa, is it true that a beggar has no choice?"

"Uhnnnn," Iwaleso huffed.

"My son, so many people believe that, but in life, we always have the chance to choose a 

choice, no matter the condition," he added.

"Uhn... We always have the chance to choose a choice," Iwalewa affirmed the statement 

and nods his head, showing that he really understands.

#

    About five O'clock in the evening, Adesewa is seen again beside the river, expecting 

the usual music from her invisible flute player.

Speaking to the bush, she said "My love, my flute player, where are you? I'm here again, my beloved are you around? I want to hear your music again, I want to see you, where 

are you? Please come out, why are you not answering me?"

She feels disappointed and starts to cry.

Iwalewa is in dilemma, "wait, should I go to her and show up today? Or should I just 

play her the flute? I guess I should make her know that, I, the beggar's son without a 

choice, is her choice, the choice she has been searching for almost eleven years."

   Iwalewa is about to start playing his flute when suddenly, a masked man appears 

behind the princess. He hits her on the head with a wood and she lies unconscious on 

the ground, the man is about to rape her. Iwalewa sees this and quickly rushes to rescue 

the princess.

"Stop there! Who are you? And why have you done this to the princess?" Iwalewa asked, 

challenging the man.

The man keeps quiet. They begin to fight. Iwalewa who is very strong and agile, beats 

up the man and unmasks him.

"Ah, Supo! The village rascal, so you are the one," Iwalewa exclaimed.

Supo is too weak to respond, Iwalewa had beaten him mercilessly.Supo is known for 

always causing troubles in the village, the king himself had punished him several times 

for causing troubles but he would not change. Iwalewa looks for a thick rope in the bush 

and ties him up. He mightily lifts the princess upon his right shoulder and drags Supo to 

the palace.

Iwalewa narrates the story to the king at the palace. The king thanks him earnestly.

"Young man, in order to show my appreciation to you, I want you to make a choice right 

now and I will do anything you want for you," The king said, he is prepared to do 

anything for iwalewa.

 "Your majesty, I really don't want anything but I want you to help me deliver a message 

to the princess when she is conscious," Iwalewa replied.

"Oh, just that? Okay, what's the message?"

"Please your majesty, give this flute to her and tell her she was saved by her flute's 

player,she will understand," Iwalewa said.

"... Then tell her that by this time tomorrow, she should return this flute to me beside the 

river, that's my choice, your majesty," Iwalewa added.

"Is that what you want?" Asked the king.

"Yes, your majesty," he prostrates and leaves immediately.

#

   After Adesewa's resuscitation, the king tells her about how the man who saved her 

has requested that she returns the flute to him beside the river the following evening. 

Adesewa is extremely glad to hear this. She can't wait to finally see the love of her life, 

the unknown love, the invisible lover. The mirage of love is finally becoming a reality.

The following evening, Adesewa goes to the river to seek her love. She is seen 

talking to the bush, so eager to see the love of her life.

"I am here, my love, I know you are here too. Please come out and play me the flute. I 

am here with the flute, please let me see you, are you there? Why are you not 

responding?"

Iwalewa tip toes and moves close to her from the back. He covers her eyes with his 

palms to surprise her. He then whispers into her ears.

"I am here,"

He unfolds her face and Adesewa is so surprised to see that the love of her life, the man she has been waiting for is the beggar's son!

"Oh... Eem... You?" She stammered.

"Yes, I am," replied Iwalewa.

"My love? My flute player?"

"Yes, I am the...."

"Oh, my beloved, my joy"

Adesewa quickly hugs him. Holding each other, they make their love oathe beside the 

river.

Adesewa speaks with tears, " Iwalewa, my love, for Ten years, five months and ten days 

now, you throw me into a pit of love which is difficult for me to go out. You throw me 

into a river of love and I keep drowning. You made me treated you badly, not knowing 

you are the love I've been searching for. Iwalewa, please look at me, will you ever leave 

me again?"

Iwalewa replies, "Adesewa, if only I could open my heart, you will see how It is filled with 

your love. Every minute and ever second of my life, I keep thinking about you. Now I 

promise you that whether in sun or in rain, I will never leave you alone."

"But why couldn't you have told me earlier? Why couldn't you have revealed yourself?" 

Adesewa asked in tears.

"Because a beggar's son has no choice than to beg," replied Iwalewa.

"But my love,you have a choice, I am your choice, I am your beggar's choice," Adesewa 

said.

Adesewa moves closer to him, she wraps his hands around her waist and moves her 

head closer to kiss him.

"Your royal highness, I suppose I bath before you kiss me," Iwalewa said, teasing her.

"But you don't stink to your choice darling," Adesewa responded. They both smile.

They have a long kiss beside the river and it starts to rain, an omen showing the triumph 

of love.

The end.