DIVIDED EMOTION

The sour smell of a narrow gutter, the Shallow brightness of the half moon, the scaring noises of the midnight insects added to the gambling mind of Ritoye lying on his back quietly on the old mat made with cut out pieces of bamboo tree under his tiny roof. Hot tears slide through the v-end of his eyes sucket down to his ears. It was normal to be asleep at midnight of a day after the massive festival of Pava beans and sesame in respect to culture and tradition, but Ritoye was fully awake battling with the memories of his past.

Ritoye is a grown man in his late twenties. He Spent most of life time in a little town of West Africa. He Had lived in a small town near the rivers of the Benin City for some years too. He was born in the far mountains of the Mada Hills. Education separated him from his family, friends and home. 

At early childhood, Ritoye was taken by his uncle to Benin to acquire a higher education as required which was absent in the common rural town of his home. Uncle Tatani was a big trader, popularly known for exporting and importing goods of different kind across developed countries with interest in food exportation particularly. Trading was quite good those days, with lots of interest. He was very rich. Ritoye could remember the night before his journey, he was anxious to live for a bigger city. But saying goodbye to his home, friends and family was the most difficult decision he has ever made. 

Years ran by smoothly with quick adaptation to the change of environment, Ritoye became well comfortable with Benin. After a smooth study in one of the most expensive high school, Ritoye proceeded to study at the University of calabar. It was good news for his parents back home. Obtaining a tertiary level of education was usually a big step ahead. A new life began for him. 

Ritoye Anza was his full name. He lost his father to a clash between the tillers of the soil and the beef makers. That has been a very sad memory for him, but it all a thing of the past now. Even before he left home, he had promised and assured Rita of his coming back. He wasn't going to change his mind he thought. But as life went on with a little change in some aspects in Benin, Ritoye changed too. He had sent Rita a heart breaking letter of his deep love life with Miriam. Her heart was shattered into pieces. He first met her at the University when he first stepped his foots in calabar. Arriving at calabar, Ritoye felt the sense of a new environment. The school was huge and beautiful just like he thought. Unfortunately for Ritoye that year, hostels accommodation was filled up, he had to live outside the school campus. That was a big blow. He didn't prepare for it. Ritoye was suddenly lost. Evening was approaching as fast as the train that brought him to calabar that day. It was his first time in calabar. Sitting at the short fence surrounding an uncompleted building gave a clear view of one of the busy road in calabar which had a junction passing into the University. Students and lecturers troop in and out of the University all in a haste to get to there destination. Ritoye watched quietly in deep thought. It already dawn. All hope lost? Yes. The evening traffic got hold of workers rushing home. The car, motorcycle horn blew louder impatiently. Ritoye was lost in thought of how successful he would be one day too. Suddenly a hand dropped on his shoulder. He quickly Springed up holding tight to all his belongings. Robbery? Yes. It happens even in broad daylight. He came back to his senses a few seconds later. Ritoye is every woman's choice. Tall, dark skinned, a little bit masculine, very handsome. So, he have gotten and seen different kind of women, a little of a womanizer. The one standing right before him was a mermaid. Gorgeous, very gorgeous. For some minutes, Ritoye was lost again, and for some seconds, lust. She was indeed a beautiful woman. Miriam was her name. 

That year, School started with fun and excitement for Ritoye. Miriam became his lover. She came from a rich background. She was also from Benin, from the tribe of Edo. That got Ritoye excited. He had also thought of a life full of love. Not plenty women, plenty love. Now he has gotten one, Miriam. Even at the most Chronic situation of their love life, neither Miriam nor Ritoye gave up. The bond gets stronger as each day passes by. 

During the holidays, Miriam and Retoye Had travelled to Abuja for a short holiday away from home. That memory would never leave Ritoye. The walk around the garden of Guinea east hotel, the walk and play at the water side of the beach island, The visit to the amusement park and zoo are memories that would never skip their hearts. 

Vividly the night before they left for Benin. Miriam was lying quietly covering Ritoye with her whole body at the hotel room in Abuja. The room was neat and well arranged. Miriam raised up her head to the unsteady eyes of Ritoye, his mind beats louder as she draw nearer to him. Ritoye dose not care who you are, he always have his way on getting women to bed. But Miriam was different, he had no guts over her. Surprisingly, she was making the move instead of him. She kissed Ritoye severally before heading for the bathroom. Ritoye sat with a tiny smile on his face, full of love. 

Like it all started, it all ended. They both graduated and moved back to Benin. Mariam was matured enough to be taken in. She had introduced Ritoye to her father just as supposed, if she was going to get married to Ritoye, she needs her parents approval especially her father. He was a well built man, with rather a beautiful face. A photocopy of her father. Unfortunately, Miriam's father was not interested in the background Ritoye had. Ritoye isn't Edo. Miriam's father was against Inter-culture marriage. The tribe were different, so we are different people too. He had lost a brother who got married to another woman from a different tribe and culture, he died with no illness or reasonable evidence of his death. The other tribe killed him. That was Miriam father's believe. None of his child will get married from a different tribe. Never! 

Ritoye knew he wouldn't survive that. He took a train back to his home at Mada hills the following morning. 

The train took off with a loud whistling. Ritoye waved at the two beautiful daughters of uncle tatani until he was out of sight. "little girls" He thought. They ever wished to be like him. A very identical twin of aged fourteen respectively. The were both In the same grade, hoping to graduate and move to study in Calabar too. They had always talked about freedom in the University unlike their boarding caged school with control over ones life and discipline. Ritoye will always smile and assure them it was for their own good. Now he is gone, leaving them with weird thoughts about life. Ritoye was always there to answer even their most unnecessary question. Unlike uncle tatani, he only has time for business. Their mother was a nurse, that also was a busy career. That was exactly why Ritoye have to leave home and come live with them in Benin. Business took Uncle Tatani to Benin, he started with the inter states delivery of milled rice. With a constant resistance to backsliding due to heavy loss, Tatani made a huge success after years of battling with failure. Then he had to take into other business too expanding, depending on the range of his income. Tatani was a younger brother to Ritoye's Father, Anza. Although Anza never matched into business, he was a local primary school Headmaster until his demise. 

The train was on a very high Speed. Benin to Mada train Station was a ten hour journey. Ritoye was sitting by the window side admiring every forest and rivers. It took his thoughts away from Miriam and her father for a moment. He smiled to the cool breeze coming from the running water. Someone had pointed to an old hut like structure as the oracle house of the ancient Benin kingdom. Every sight was beautiful. 

Ritoye got home with that sour look on his face. He first went to see Rita. Two Beautiful children were playing with sand outside the house. Suddenly, there was beautiful Rita coming with a basin of water on her head. She was full of surprises. Ritoye smiled. A little girl called Rita from a distance. "mummy"! She shouted. Rita was married. Ritoye was feeling his soul leaving his entire body. He had lost Miriam and now Rita."People complain bitterly about racism, but even themselves, are divided sets of people, they are all hypocites. We physically fight racism and tribalism but emotionally enhance it. we are all hypocrites " Ritoye whipped his tears with the back of his hand.