Beginning

It was early morning of the new year, Mara and her brothers planned on going fishing before dawn. It was a tradition for everyone to do a fishing competition on the first day of the year.

It is their believe that whoever catches the highest number of fishes will be blessed the most by the river goddess that year. This competition is being done amongst families. The person with more catch will be most blessed in the family, it is mostly practised by children and teenagers .

"Wake up... Wake up... We are late already, it will soon be dawn... .. Get ready, we are going fishing "Mara said using a low voice like wishper so as not to disturb their parents sleep.

They ran to the river, where they met few people. It was good for them,this year they won't qeue before renting a boat and also, they won't fight for space.

Each year on the day of 'revelation' the day when people go fishing to know their fate for the year, Mara and the boys always had to fight for space with other kids participating in the festive competition. They always had to share one boat.

This time they rented five boats. Mara and her four brothers took different boats but tied a rope to all, so as to be together. They paddled into the flowing Ganji river (river of the water goddess Ganji). They decided not to go deep since it will soon be dawn.

   Mara, the yearly back to back winner of their family 's own competition each revelation day, found it so hard to catch a fish, it was strange and unusual. As far as she remembers, she has always won this competition and never been beaten.

But this year seem strange. Getting a little deep into the river, they released their fishing line applying different type of baits to the hook to entice the fishes. Mara used worms she had found at the river bank as usual every year, she used two worms at a time and waited.

After some minutes, Mara became frustrated, there was no tug on the hook meanwhile she can hear her brothers rejoicing for each catch they made. She decide to change her position, she moved her hook to the far end of the boat staring at the water with hope, she was expecting something, any movement on the fishing line would make her happy, but nothing. She waited for a while longer knowing fully well that it will be over soon and she and her brothers will have to pack up and leave the river. She tried her luck adding more worms and other bait to the hook.

She sat down on her boat thinking of anything to entice the fishes, her mind was filled with all kind of thought

What type of year is this... Why can't I just catch a fish at least

She looked up thinking of the river goddess, her heart was summoning her for help. she knew it was a bad omen to go back home without a fish at hand , it is said that those who go back home without a fish might end up dead or stuck with a challenge or sickness. She didn't want to be a victim of any of those that is why she always prepared her self each revelation day.

She felt a tug on the fishing line, she looked into the water to confirm if it was a fish or dirt from the river, her heart was racing trying to confirm what it was, she pulled the line and saw a fish, she smiled and a sense of relief went down her spine.

At last...

She realized their time has been over since the moment she caught her fish and extending their stay in the river won't be good for her her at all. She have to return the boats and prepare food and do the chores at home.

Their time was up, Mara and her four brothers counted their catch, it was surprising that she caught just one fish and her brothers had 12 fishes respectively. She was ashamed and sad, her brothers announced her loss to people present on the river bank, many were surprised and quiet while others happy with the fact that she lost made mockery of her.  Her mind was filled with thought that made her quiet all through the walk back home, she did not pay attention to her brothers making jest of her. She just couldn't understand why she had a horrible catch.

does this mean that I will not be blessed this year, am I going to suffer, what will happen to me, am I going to die..... It seems like I'm running crazy

  Her thoughts scared her, all of a sudden  she started walking fast abandoning her naughty brothers making jest of her behind.

she began soliloquising "what did I do to the goddess to deserve this? Am I not worthy of good things this year? "

she hits her leg on a shrub and fell flat on her face making both her head and her feet bleed. She groaned in pain and mumbled

"has the misfortune started already? "

looking front and back to see if anyone saw her fall. She couldn't bear anymore torture, the thought on her mind are still haunting her. She touch her bleeding head hesitating at first, she realized it was not too serious it was just a small cut on her skin that will take a few days to heal. Her feet didn't worry her much, although the pain is sharp and it hurt more than her head.

"thank the goddess nobody is here to add to my torment by making more mockery of me".

She stood up and managed to raise her leg, it was still strong enough to walk

"I think I have to let go of this superstitious beliefs of ours ".

She paused for a while thinking about what she had just said. It was the only thing she could come up with to hide the fear within her

"But I'm still scared " she confessed

After few seconds of thoughts ,she made up her mind

"whatever that will happen to me this year, I will be ready. Also I will see to it that I am blessed this year".  She said with a confident look on her face. She trusted herself to survive all kinds of suffering because she knew she was strong and now determined.

She heard foot steps approaching her, she was not ready to face anybody especially her brothers because half the town knew how horrible her catch was that morning and she know they will make mockery of her

"that can be my brothers or any abusive fellow that will make mockery of me. "she said with a sad and afraid look.

She continued walking fast, she don't want anyone to know that she fell

"I will endure this injuries till I get home to treat myself ".

      On getting home, Mara went straight to her room while her brothers went to tell their parents about the competition and Mara's loss, they laughed and made jest of her, it was so loud that she had to leave the house for a while until their noise died down.

Mara was from a small town named after its market 'Denva', their population was low and the economy of the village was on Agriculture (farming, fishing, livestock rearing, egg production from domestic fowl etc) these were the common occupation of the villagers. 

The town was filled with undeveloped houses and workshop. The people of Denva were tolerant and interactive. Denva was an ancient town with many beautiful places, it should have been a tourist center but the town Denva did not even appeared on the state map how much more world map.

It has so many amazing ancient site to behold like the temple. The town was peaceful and graced, it is an interesting place to be.

The following day was a working day. Mara was the half bread winner of the family. At age 19, she had so many menial jobs she was into to source for money to assist her parents.

Everyone in town know and respect Mara. She was the most beautiful girl in town making her the choice of every young man in the village. This made other girls hate or jealous of her.

  Mara was gracefully beautiful, she was tall and pleasingly slender. Her brown hair that flowed down to her waist sways behind her loosely whenever she walks and made her look majestic. When she is in a good mood, her blue eyes brightens up like the sky. Her nose came to more of a point than she would have liked it. Her small lips were naturally pink and glossy that made both young and grown up men lust to taste. She has a beautiful shaped eyebrow and full long setting eyelashes. Her dimples bloom at the slightest affection while her cheeks turn red, it makes her look more attractive and innocent. Her skin was soft and unblemished, she look more attractive whenever she wears a blue dress.

Mara took the fishes her brothers got from the competition to the market, it has already been smoked by her the previous night. She planned on selling them to one of the fish sellers in the market to make some money.

Denva market was a crowdy market, people from the town and other neighbouring town trade and render services in the market. It is one of the most local but famous market across the state.it is divided into many sections and parts, it has mobs around guarding the place from robbers and thieves. Most of the traders and workers in the market are rough and busy people. To survive in this market, you have to be clever and always suspicious.

     "Good day ma'am "Mara greeted a tall woman who seem to be bent on her work to make sales that morning.

The fish seller looked her way and ignored the greeting while removing scales from some fishes in a bowl with a sharp small axe. Mara understood the attitude of the fish seller.  

"I'm so sorry Ma, I know I promised you that I will pay you before the new year, I'm so sorry Ma I didn't have the money that's why. " she said looking at the woman with an innocent face so as to get a reply, but nothing came.

  "I have a deal that will favour both of us, and it will pay up my debt. " Mara said a little bit louder not minding if the fish seller was listening or not. 

"what is it? " the fish seller replied with a cold voice. Her face was red and her jaws were clenched, she rolled her eyes and then continued removing the scales. The wrinkles on her face could tell that she was a hard worker.

Mara knew she was angry with her for not paying a debt she owed on time as she had promised to, so she have to give her a nice offer so as to make her interested.

  "ma'am, I have 48 smoked fishes with me. " she said smiling.

The fish seller looked at Mara with a surprised face. Her mouth were wide open, her eyes popped out and she wore a huge smiling face.

  "I want to sell all the fishes, then you will remove my debt and I will have some change." Mara continued, smilling and exposing her dimples when she saw the expression on the fish sellers face.

"wow" the fish seller exclaimed collecting the bag of fishes from Mara, looking inside it. She then dropped the bag on her table and asked "how much is it? "

"How much do you want to buy it?... Those fishes are big and tasty" Mara asked back trying to play along until she come up with a satisfying price.

"one fish for forty shekel." the fish seller said trying to impose a bad price on Mara. She raised her eyebrow, her mouth were cornered and her hands went akimbo.

" No no no no no..., don't give me that look. You can't expect me to collect nothing less than 50 shekel for one fish. I know the fortune you will make out of it. " Mara raised her voice a little to scare the fish seller and make her agree to her price. Not minding if  the fish seller get angry or disgusted again.

"Deal. " the fish seller agreed without questioning. Mara was shocked, it was as if the fish seller knew that that will be the price Mara will come up with if she say forty shekel, and she have played Mara into getting it.

"Damn it, this woman have out smart me" she screamed in her head, regretting the fact that she have been played.

"I really need to be more clever when coming to this wicked place" she whispered silently looking at the fish seller counting some notes and coins.

"here you go." she pointed 1900 shekels to Mara " I have deducted the debt of 500 shekels" she said. Mara collected the money without questioning the woman for cheating, she turned to leave when she heard the woman's sharp voice saying " If you have more fishes bring them, I will buy all. " the woman's voice was loud and it attracted stares from people around.

Mara walked away without replying her with words or actions. She was still angry with her self that she was played. "that cheat is happy she played me..... That will be the last time she will hear from me." Mara angrily said to her self. "well this money is enough to feed all of us for the next two three days" she went into the market to buy food stuffs for cooking before leaving the market.

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