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Fortune was indeed on Oemor Pele’s side. He wasn’t rich that’s why he was lucky to have the fortune ring. And it was a little fortune and sacrifice that lead him to Dailmore. He was a married man with two children, Oiram, 8- year old boy, and Ainer his 6-year old girl, and a loving wife, Aina. He was in his late 30’s and worked as a goldsmith in a jewelry factory in the City of Scallur, a 1-hour ride by plane from Dailmore. Because Dailmore was popular as a jewelry capital of the world, jewelry companies from other cities send their designers and craftsmen to train in prestigious institutions of the city. Oemor was lucky to be selected by his employer to avail a scholarship from the government of Dailmore to train there.
That day in Mosher, the village where Oemor’s family lived, Aina didn’t expect her mother to visit her. After several greetings and exchange of pleasantries the two sat on the lounging chair of the front lobby of their house.
“So, your husband will be coming home today? The mother opened the conversation.
“No mother, his departure from Dailmore will be tomorrow morning and we expect him to arrive three days from now,” Aina replied!”
“Three days?” She seemed shocked.
“I haven’t told you, he will take the ship, not plane. He is saving to buy me the ring,” she explained with excitement in her voice.
Oemor’s savings before he came to Dailmore wasn’t enough to buy the ring but he sacrificed himself in order to save from the funds given for his training. He rode a ship going to the city instead of the comfortable plane ride. He took a single bed space accommodation instead of the comfortable hotel. And he divided his two meals into three to save one meal cost. For the entire month training he saved enough to add to his savings in order to buy the ring.
What made him happier was that despite the hardships he was also able to buy two more rings for his kids. And it made him proud to fulfill his promises after all.
“Well, I hope your Mr. Promises will fulfill it this time,” the mother sarcastically said.
“Ma, please, my husband, has a name.” she pleaded with a smile.
“Hmn! it’s not me who called him that name, but you.”
They laughed together.
Aina really called him liar several times. She even fondly called him “Mr. Promises”. But he accepted all the teasing because he felt he had some lapses.
Oemor is a good man having the reputation of being so kind and generous especially to the needy and the disadvantaged. In fact one of the reasons why he came out of funds for the ring most of the time was because of his openheartedness. He gave whenever he felt it would be necessary. And maybe, that was the best virtue Aina admired of him and the reason why she still loved him so much.
“Seriously, what would you do, if he couldn’t give you the ring this time?” The mother is putting a challenge on her words.
Aina was dumbfounded by the scenario her mother presented her. She couldn’t find a word. After all, Oemor had all the best chances by this trip and there’s no more reason he would fail. This is the only time he is closest to the source of the ring where it is sold at a very reasonable price.
“Ma, I couldn’t imagine this. I know he will buy it for me.”
“What would you do if he won’t?”
Aina wasn’t that materialistic but so many people in Scallur were obsessed on the fortune ring that was why she got disappointed on unfulfilled promises. She was an understanding wife but sometimes she had also her ways of showing discontentment and rebelliousness.
Scallur has evolved into a developed city but the patriarchal tradition still remained in its culture. Wives are usually left home to do parenting and house management affairs while husbands work for living. The woman therefore depends so much for blessings from their men.
During one of her birthdays he gave her a beautiful dress instead of the promised ring. She was so delirious and shouted to him, “I am a better wife, a good maid, a good mother but you never kept your promises”, and she cried hard.
“But this is all I can have,” was Oemor’s pleading.
“I’ve given up everything… outings … party… and dress, just for you to save … but your promises are still promises.” She was sobbing between words.
That small event caused her to loss trust in him. She left him for more than two weeks and she lived with her parents in Scallur. But since they were childless then, Oemor was able to patch up the crisis easily.
But Oemor felt guilty since he promised her to have the ring even during their marriage ten years ago. But two children had grown up, many birthdays passed, Christmases, and anniversaries and yet he wasn’t able to have it.
“Ma, I don’t know, but I feel if he can’t buy the ring for me he will be the most irresponsible man I’d ever known.”
Her mother nodded as if affirming her daughter’s thinking. “And in case, he let’s you down you are still welcome in our home in Scallur, your father would be glad to accept you and the kids.”
Aina embraced her mother and said, “Ma, please don’t me feel guilty about this. It seems we are thinking ahead of time.”
“No, I just give you the choice when worse comes.” She explained.
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Chapter 1
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