Grandma's Tales

Grandma told many tales, but one remains unforgettable, the story of Ajani. Grandma said she always told the tales at the village square because that was where Ajani fought his most important battle.

Ajani was a popular warrior in the town of Kayeefi. His mother had died giving birth to him and his father, unable to bear the loss had blamed Ajani for her death. Ajani knew not a fatherly love; he was to his father, a reminder of his mother’s painful death.

Ajani suffered rejection, his world was torn and he felt no protective wall around him. “I couldn’t save my mum”, he said, but maybe I can save this town. “I will live a life of sacrifice”, protect this town and give it what I was never given. And so, Ajani became the protector of the town.

Ajani’s popularity grew; he fought many battles and won many victories. His sacrifice had become a success, and along with it came new enemies. These enemies were not outside the walls, they were within.

Ajani had paid no attention to the thought of fighting an enemy within; he had focused only on enemies outside the walls. “Ajani is getting too strong”, they said; he has won many victories, celebrated by all; he is the strongest man this town has seen. ‘’Soon, he will take over the town’’, they feared. Take him down, we shall; his death, our gain! And so, the plot was ripe.

As Ajani waited at the village square, ready to defend the walls as he always did; he saw no strange face, these are familiar faces, he said to himself. They must have come to cheer. Ajani was wrong and this will cost him his life. Unprepared and under attack, with a final strike to his back, falling Ajani cried out his last words, “Be prepared to fight enemies outside your wall, but the greatest enemy looms within”.

Grandma’s tale left me wondering; what was wrong with Ajani’s sacrifice? It is said that Ajani’s spirit has never left the village square, the place of his glory and ultimate downfall.