The Charcoal Enigma
Prisca (SVC) Chigozirim@chigozirimprisca614699
4 days ago
Akua was seen painting her customer's nails brown as the sun dipped into the horizon and painted the sky in Amado with hues of crimson red and gold. Beneath the sky was lying her salon shop in the village market. The doors were made of strong woods, the roof with aluminum zinc, and the walls with sands and cement.
Akua hummed a song under her nose as she did her customer's nails. From time to time, she would swiftly move into another song without having to finish the previous one. Akua was renowned for her exceptional skills as a hair stylist and nail guru. Her small salon, tucked away in a cozy corner of the village market, was always bustling with clients.
However, Akua had a secret that marveled everyone. Unlike other nail technicians who relied on chemical-laden cortex to create stunning nail art, Akua opted for a more unconventional approach. She used grinded charcoal that she carefully sourced from the village's ancient trees.
No one knew how she transformed the dull, black powder into a mesmerizing substitute for cortex. Akua's creativity was an emotive one and many people saw her as an ethereal being. Some believed she was a reincarnation of one of their ancient magical mistresses.
Her clients would watch in awe as she meticulously ground the charcoal into a fine paste, mixing it with a hint of natural oils and essences. After the grinding process, she would pour the substance into different big bowl and add several colours to it.
Looking at what she was doing with the black substance, you would hand Akua over to the police if she touched your nails with it. But, the results was breathtaking; nails that shimmered with an otherworldly beauty, as if infused with the essence of the night sky.
Rumors swirled through the village. Some whispered that Akua possessed mystical powers, while others suspected that she had discovered a long-lost ancient technique. The villagers were both fascinated and intimidated by her creativity.
Despite their reservations, Akua's clients couldn't resist her enchanting nail art. They would travel from neighboring villages, eager to experience the magic of her grinded charcoal. Soon, Akua's salon became a sensation, attracting attention from local leaders and traders.
One day, a curious customer, Naa, arrived at Akua’s shop. She wore a long dress that was exposed at the bottom end. Naa was bodily endowed and the gown fitted well on her body like a lizard will stick to a wall.
She came over and asked Akua about her secret. Akua smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's not magic, Naa. It's just my connection to the earth. The charcoal holds stories of our ancestors. I have merely unlock its beauty. Are you here to make your nails or did you come to interrogate my skills?"
“Ehmm, I came to make my hair and nails too, but I still want to know the secret behind your charcoal paste. I tried one at my house, but it was nothing like yours.” Naa said, but Akua refused to say anything further.
After making her hair and nails, Naa left the salon with more questions than answers, but her nails gleamed with an ethereal radiance, convincing her that Akua's words held truth.
As the moon rose over Amado village, Akua sat in her salon, surrounded by the soft glow of candles. She gently ground the charcoal, her hands moving in rhythm with the whispers of the ancient trees.
The mystery of her craft remained intact, but one thing was certain. Akua's grinded charcoal had become a symbol of Amado village's cultural heritage, a testament to the power of their tradition and innovation.
One afternoon, Ama, the village elder's daughter, entered the salon. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her bright smile could light up the entire village.
Ama had always been fascinated by Akua's craft, but her father's skepticism kept her from trying the charcoal nail art. After trying so hard to convince her father, elder Esimonye, so she could try Akua's charcoal nail paint, he kept refusing. Elder Esimonye made it clear to Ama that Akua's creativity was an evil one since no one knew the true story behind her craft.
“That girl might be a witch if care is not taken. Let me not see you in her shop less painting your nails with that evil stuff.” Elder had severely warned his daughter, Ama.
On that day, out of curiosity, Ama decided to visit Akua and await her father's reaction. When she entered the salon, Akua was attending to another customer. Ama waited until it was her turn.
Finally, the moment she has been waiting for arrived and she asked Akua, “I've heard whispers about your magical charcoal," Ama said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can you truly make my nails shine like the stars?"
Akua smiled, her hands moving deftly as she worked on Ama's nails. "It's not magic, Just the ancient wisdom of our land."
As Akua finished Ama's nail art, the village elder's daughter gazed at her reflection in awe. Her nails glimmered with a radiance that seemed everlasting, as if the charcoal had captured the essence of the sun and the moon.
Photo credit - SVC
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