Curiosity and its risks

Curiosity Killed the Cat has echoed through generations as a warning against unnecessary and dangerous exploration but as humans, we just can't take our minds off things easily, and that arouses the curious part of us. Many have endangered their lives through curiosity, while some got lucky, but that left them with an everlasting scar. Some of us always try to mind our business, thereby finding other ways to answer the questions in our hearts. I have always heard the story of how people went missing by dipping their noses in businesses that don't concern them and regretting it for the rest of their lives, but I hadn't seen the real-life experience until a few years ago.

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Curiosity is natural; it's what pushes us to explore, learn, and seek out the unknown, but without caution, it can lead us to real danger. I have a nephew named Sola who lives in our village with his parent. Anytime we go visit, I always love to enjoy the village lifestyle of going to the river, plucking fruits from different trees, and, most especially, looking for trouble and running away. These are all the things that make the village fun anytime we visit during the festivity. Two years ago, before my grandpa's demise, my family visited the village, and as usual, we hung out with our cousins and nephews.

Sola has always told my siblings and me about a river that no one dares talk to or throw things into. Even though I don't have much belief about these things, some part of me agreed with Sola that it might be real but my siblings never agreed. I guess male children have this natural stubbornness in them. I tried talking my siblings, Matt and Timi, off the topic so that they could take their minds off it, and it looked like I succeeded as they all agreed to forget about it until the scenario happened.

On Christmas Eve, Matt, Timi, and Sola decided to have a stroll. I don't join them in all this walking around because they are males. They always have reasons to play rough which I'm not so comfortable with.

"Let's go see this river of yours", Matt said to Sola.

"Oh that's true, big sis isn't here after all. Let's see how true the things you said are", backed by Timi

"I don't want sis Temmy wahala (trouble) if she finds out we went there; we are finished," replied Sola.

"Who is going to tell her? I just want to know what's special about that river. Everything is superstition but I want to be sure", Matt said confidently.

"I've not been there too, all I said was what I heard people saying about it. I've always wanted to go see by myself but I don't want to go alone. My friends are cowards; they are all scared, saying their parents had warned them not to go close to the river talkless of saying or throwing things to it", Sola explained.

"I am a man, I'm not scared of anything. I'm the first son of my family; I'm not scared", Matt courageously said, beating his chest.

"Quiet, what did you mean by you're the first son. You're just sixteen years old, man. Does being the first son make you stronger? I pity you, anyway let's go see the river", Timi concluded.

The three head to the river and meet some villagers on the way who know Sola and recognize Matt and Timi because of their facial appearance. We all look alike in my family. Some of the villagers asked them where they were headed and as expected, they lied. On getting to the river bank, the cold was much, and Timi felt a bit scared and couldn't say a word; he was whispering, and others were laughing at him.

"You were proving strong before we reached here; why are you now so soft?" Sola said, laughing out loud.

"Let's just leave; I'm not feeling good again," Timi said.

"Why is the river so still? Isn't it supposed to be rumbling and flowing?" Matt asked Sola, who seemed lost in thought.

"Are you asking me? It's my first time here too. What do you think we can say to it?" Sola asked Matt, who stood still confidently.

"I'm scared; let's just leave," Timi said.

"Relax coward, what are you scared of? There is nothing dangerous here. Wait let me go first", Matt replied Timi.

"Hey River, are you fine? Or the river does not understand English?", Matt asked Sola.

"Let's speak our local dialect, and stop asking me questions; I don't know anything about this river," Sola replied.

"Odo, se owa dada (river, are you fine?), Matt shouted.

"What are you saying now?" Timi said, looking scared.

"Let me try," Sola said, clearing his throat. "Odo, oti da ke je ju, ru soke(river you are too still, rumble a bit)," Sola said, feeling a bit afraid. The boys waited for one minute and nothing happened.

"You see, I told you this was all a lie, nothing would happen. They had been lying to you for years. See the river as quiet as usual", Matt said laughing, feeling at ease.

"Thank God, can we go now?", Timi asked.

A few seconds later, the atmosphere of the river changed; it got a lot more colder, and a rumbling sound could be heard from afar. Before the boys realized what was happening, the river became wider and fuller with heavy waves and water rushing faster at the boys. They became so scared and their limbs dumb; they were terrified, and finally, they began to run, but it was like their legs couldn't carry them. The river rushed at them and soaked all their clothes, fighting through the rushing wave from the river; the boys as fasted as they could until they were a bit far from the river, yet they could hear the rumbling and strong waves.

"What just happened?" Matt asked, still breathing heavily.

"I told you to stop, but you never listen. We could have drowned today", Timi said with tears rushing down his cheeks.

"Ha, thank God, we would have been dead", Sola added. "Let's just go home as if nothing happened," Sola further said.

"How are we going to explain our drenched cloth?", Timi asked.

"We'll find something to say; let's just leave this place," Sola said as they began to run home.

As many people who met them on their way home kept asking what was wrong, they didn't wait to answer, they were just running. Luckily for them, on getting home, I was the one they met in the living room. At that instant, I didn't ask them anything; I allowed them to go in and change their clothes. Later at night, I decided to ask them but they lied about it.

"What happened to you guys in the evening? Why were you drenched?", I asked.

"We were playing with water with some of my friends", Sola replied.

I smiled and told them I was not convinced by their story, but I would let them be. "Hope you learned your lesson," I asked.

"Big sis, we did. We nearly die. That river sure can hear words", Timi replied.

"Got ya, I knew you went there. You know you all could have been killed right? You wanted to explore. Thankfully, you're saved; I would explain to Dad and Mom that you better prepare a better answer", I said.

"Sis Temmy please, don't do that. We will be punished", Sola said.

"At least you will not try such again if you are punished", I replied.

"Please, sis, we won't do that again. Forgive us this once, and we promise to always listen to you", Matt said apologetically.

"Anyway, I will let it slide this one, if you ever try it again, I won't listen to your plea. You better be grateful to God for saving your lives", I said to them. That was how they were saved; if not, their curiosity would have cost them their lives.

Thanks for your time and your comments will be appreciated.

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