0:01 They said two children can grow in the
0:03 same house and still be complete
0:06 strangers in spirit and nothing proved
0:08 it more than Nana and Eve. They were
0:10 step sisters, but you wouldn't even
0:12 think they shared the same compound.
0:15 When Nana was calm, soft-spoken, and
0:18 kind to the bones, Eve carried arrogance
0:20 the way some people carried their
0:22 shadow, everywhere, all the time,
0:25 without shame. Nana's mother had died
0:27 when she was very young. Her father
0:29 remarried a few years later, hoping to
0:32 fill the empty space in Nana's life. But
0:34 the man didn't last long. Years of
0:36 smoking and drinking caught up with him,
0:38 and kidney failure took him away before
0:40 Nana could even finish primary school.
0:43 [crying] After he died, everything
0:45 changed. Most women would have abandoned
0:47 the children of another woman, but not
0:50 Mama Eve. She treated both girls like
0:52 they came from her own womb. She worked
0:55 from morning till night farming,
0:57 weaving, washing for neighbors just to
0:59 feed them, clothe them, and train them
1:02 well. She bought them the same food, the
1:05 same wrappers, the same slippers. She
1:07 paid school fees for both. She prayed
1:09 for both. And when Nana cried at night,
1:11 missing her mother, Mama Eve held her
1:13 the same way she held Eve on her bad
1:15 days. She was the kind of woman the
1:18 village respected, a mother with a clean
1:20 heart. But no matter how much love she
1:22 poured, no matter how many times she
1:25 corrected her, Eve refused to change.
1:27 Her arroance was like a sickness. A
1:29 sweet one she enjoyed and didn't want to
1:32 be cured of. Whenever Eve and Nana
1:33 walked through the village, the
1:35 difference between them was painful to
1:38 watch. If they passed by elderly women
1:40 walking slowly, balancing firewood on
1:42 their heads, Nana would greet politely,
1:45 "Good afternoon, mama." But Eve, Eve
1:47 would laugh loudly and mock them,
1:49 saying, "Can't you walk faster? Even
1:51 snails move better." If children played
1:54 on the dusty path, Nana would smile and
1:55 walk carefully so she didn't step on
1:58 their toys. But Eve would kick their
2:00 tins and stones away, shouting, "Do you
2:03 want to scratch my leg? Move." Nana
2:04 spent half her life apologizing for
2:07 Eve's mouth. She apologized to elders.
2:09 She apologized to mothers. She
2:11 apologized to children. Sometimes she
2:12 even apologized to goats because Eve
2:15 would scream at them too. Mama is trying
2:17 for you. Nana would whisper whenever Eve
2:19 insulted someone again. She's trying to
2:22 raise you well. Why don't you listen?
2:24 But Eve would roll her eyes and hiss.
2:26 Ah, Nana, leave me alone. I don't have
2:27 time for all these your good girl
2:31 things. Mama Eve prayed, she fasted, she
2:34 begged, she scolded. Nothing entered
2:38 Eve's head until one fateful morning.
2:40 After years of training, correcting,
2:43 praying, and hoping for change, Mama Eve
2:45 called the two girls into her room. She
2:47 didn't shout, she didn't scold. She
2:50 simply sat on her small wooden stool,
2:52 wiped her hands on her rapper, and said
2:55 calmly, "Children, you are old enough
2:57 now. It's time to start taking care of
3:00 yourselves." Nana looked worried. Eve
3:03 looked excited. Mama E continued, "The
3:05 world is bigger than this village. Go
3:08 out and explore. Look for work, earn
3:10 your own money, and build your future.
3:12 There are plenty of opportunities in the
3:14 neighboring village. People go there,
3:17 and in one year, their lives change. The
3:20 girl's eyes widened. Freedom, money, a
3:23 new life. It was everything they had
3:25 wished for. Before she could finish
3:27 speaking, Eve jumped up and screamed,
3:30 "Yes, mama. Thank you. I'm tired of this
3:32 boring place. I want to make money and
3:34 show everyone that I'm somebody." Nana
3:37 smiled softly. Mama, are you sure we are
3:39 ready? Mama Eve nodded. Life will teach
3:41 you what I couldn't. Just remember the
3:44 values I raised you with. Eve rolled her
3:46 eyes and hissed. Ah, values don't pay
3:48 bills, Mama. Money does. Mama Eve
3:51 ignored the comment. She stood up, held
3:53 both their hands, and prayed for them. A
3:56 long emotional prayer that carried the
3:58 weight of a mother's love and fear. That
4:01 same day, the compound became noisy with
4:03 excitement. The girls told all their
4:06 friends. Some screamed in joy, some were
4:08 jealous, some wished them luck. Eve
4:11 wasted no time. She went to the market,
4:12 bought new clothes, stood in front of
4:14 every mirror she could find, and snapped
4:16 imaginary pictures like someone about to
4:19 travel abroad. Nana, on the other hand,
4:23 packed carefully, soap, water, food, and
4:25 her mother's Bible. She braided her hair
4:28 neatly. Mama Eve gathered them one last
4:31 time. She said, "My daughters, you are
4:33 my daughters. Make me proud. Don't
4:36 forget who you are. They hugged her
4:38 tightly. Even Eve, who rarely showed
4:40 emotion, hugged her mother longer than
4:43 usual. They didn't know it yet, but that
4:45 journey would be the beginning of
4:48 something far bigger and far darker than
4:50 anything they ever expected. Then the
4:52 two girls stepped onto the dusty road
4:55 leading out of their home, laughing,
4:57 excited, and dreaming of the great
4:59 future ahead of them. their bags
5:00 bouncing against their backs as they
5:02 walked deeper into the forest path that
5:05 led to the neighboring village. For
5:07 hours they tked under the hot sun, their
5:10 feet sinking into the red earth. They
5:12 stopped to rest whenever their legs
5:14 burned, ate roasted yum when hunger
5:16 pinched their stomachs, and drunk from
5:18 clean flowing streams whenever thirst
5:21 took over. Eve talked the entire time.
5:24 "I swear, Nana," she said, tossing her
5:26 brace behind her shoulder. When I get my
5:28 first paycheck, I will buy the most
5:30 beautiful dress in that village. Then
5:31 I'll attract the most handsome and
5:34 richest man. You'll see. Nana laughed
5:36 softly. Eve, we haven't even gotten the
5:39 job yet. Ah, leave that one. I know
5:41 money is waiting for me. I was born for
5:43 enjoyment, too. Nana just shook her
5:45 head. She didn't argue. That was one
5:47 thing about the sisters. Eve dreamt
5:49 loudly. Nana dreamt quietly. They
5:52 continued walking deeper into the thick
5:54 forest where the air was cooler and the
5:56 birds sang melodies from far away
5:59 branches. Suddenly they reached a place
6:02 where the road split into two. One road
6:04 curved sharply to the left. The other
6:06 stretched to the right. The girls
6:09 stopped. They stared. "Which one should
6:12 we follow?" Nana asked. A shrugged.
6:14 "Does it matter? All roads lead
6:16 somewhere." "You know what, Nana? Since
6:18 you want to slow down, I'm choosing my
6:21 own path. Eve said, "The right one looks
6:23 brighter. That is the road of destiny.
6:26 My destiny." Nana frowned. "Eve, we
6:28 should stay together." "Uh-uh. Are you
6:30 my mother?" Eve hissed. "Go your own
6:32 way. Let me go mine. We will meet in the
6:35 village later." Nana sighed. She looked
6:37 at the left road one more time.
6:40 Something about it felt calm, safe, like
6:42 it was calling her gently. "I will go
6:44 left," she said quietly. "Good, I'm
6:47 going right. See you at the top. Eve
6:48 waved dramatically and marched down her
6:51 road, humming to herself. Nana watched
6:54 her sister disappear into the sun. Then
6:56 she turned to the left path and took her
6:59 first step. And that was the moment, the
7:01 very moment their destiny split like the
7:03 road beneath their feet. And the choices
7:05 they made that day would follow them for
7:08 the rest of their lives. Their destinies
7:11 had just begun. The two sisters walked
7:12 for a long time down their separate
7:15 paths. But somehow the forest eventually
7:18 joined into one again and led them both
7:21 into the same place, a large noisy
7:23 market in the neighboring village. The
7:25 sun was beginning to set, women
7:27 bargaining loudly. Children ran
7:28 everywhere, and traders called customers
7:31 with sweet tonged promises. Right at the
7:34 entrance of the market sat an old, frail
7:37 woman. Her wrapper was faded, her eyes
7:39 sunken, her hands trembled as she held
7:42 out a small calabash. "Please, a piece
7:43 of bread. Anything to eat," she
7:47 whispered. Nana stopped immediately. Her
7:49 heart squeezed painfully at the sight of
7:51 the woman. Without a second thought, she
7:53 opened her bag, brought out the last
7:55 slice of bread she had been saving, and
7:57 gave it to the old woman. She even knelt
7:59 beside her and offered her water. The
8:02 old woman at slowly, tears forming in
8:04 the corners of her eyes. Bless you, my
8:06 daughter, she whispered. What is your
8:08 name? You don't look like someone from
8:10 this village. My name is Nana, she
8:12 replied softly. I came here to look for
8:14 work, but I don't even know where to
8:16 stay tonight. The old woman wiped her
8:18 mouth with the back of her hand and
8:21 stared deeply at her. Young girl,
8:23 kindness is rare these days. You gave me
8:25 your last food without thinking twice.
8:27 Come with me. You will sleep in my home
8:30 tonight. You are safe with me. Nana
8:33 hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She
8:34 followed the woman through the narrow
8:36 village path until they reached a small
8:40 mud hut. Inside, the woman spread an old
8:42 but clean mat and gave Nana a small bed
8:45 in the corner. "Rest, my daughter," she
8:47 said quietly. "Tomorrow will bring its
8:50 own blessings." "Nana thank her and laid
8:52 down," not knowing that her choice had
8:54 already opened the door her destiny had
8:57 been waiting for. Meanwhile, on the
8:59 other side of the same market, Eve had
9:01 just arrived. The same old man was still
9:03 seated where she had been before. Her
9:05 calabash still stretched forward.
9:08 >> Please, a piece of bread.
9:10 Anything to eat.
9:13 >> You, my bread? You're not even worthy of
9:16 eating the crumbs. I'd rather feed a pig
9:17 than waste food on you.
9:20 >> The woman quietly withdrew her hand. Her
9:24 eyes dimmed, but she said nothing. Eve
9:25 strutted into the market with
9:28 confidence, raising her voice. Please,
9:31 who is hiring? I need work. I'm strong.
9:34 I'm smart. Who needs help? But trader
9:37 after trader shook their heads. No
9:40 space. We don't know you. We are not
9:43 hiring. Come back in 1 month. Some
9:46 didn't even look away. By sunset, Eve's
9:50 confidence had faded. Her legs.
9:53 Her throat was dry. And for the first
9:56 time, she realized she had nowhere to
9:59 sleep. Fear wrapped around her like a
10:02 cold cloth. She remembered her sister.
10:04 She remembered the forest. She
10:06 remembered the insult she threw at the
10:08 old woman. As people began packing their
10:11 goods and night crept into the market,
10:14 Eve's heart pounded. She looked around
10:18 desperately, and there the old woman was
10:21 slowly standing up to leave. "Mama,
10:23 please," Eve whispered as she approached
10:26 her. "Please take me with you. I don't
10:28 have anywhere to sleep. Forgive what I
10:31 said earlier. The old woman looked at
10:34 her for a long moment, too long, as if
10:36 she was weighing her heart. Then she
10:40 nodded. "Come," she said simply. "Eve
10:43 followed her quietly." The old one
10:45 pointed to another bed beside the wall.
10:48 "You will sleep here," she said. Eve
10:50 dropped onto the bed without a word,
10:54 exhausted. She had no idea that her
10:56 earlier insult had already carved a mark
10:59 on her destiny and that both sisters,
11:01 though in different places, were now in
11:04 the care of the same old woman, someone
11:06 far more powerful than she appeared. The
11:09 next morning, Nana woke up before the
11:11 sun touched the sky. She swept the
11:13 compound, washed her face, and asked the
11:17 old woman softly, "Mama, please, where
11:19 is the stream? Let me fetch water for
11:22 you." The woman pointed and Nana hurried
11:25 off. She fetched clean water, washed the
11:27 old woman's clothes, cooked a simple
11:30 meal, and made sure she ate and bathed
11:33 before she left for the market. She even
11:35 held her hand and walked her gently to
11:38 the roadside. "Be safe, mama," she said.
11:41 Then she returned home, cleaned the hut,
11:43 arranged the old woman's mats, and
11:46 finally rested. When the woman came back
11:48 that evening, she called Nana to sit
11:51 beside her. My daughter, you will not
11:53 get a job in this village. Stay here
11:56 with me. Work for me. I will pay you
12:00 well. Nana blinked. But mama, can you
12:03 afford to pay me? The woman smiled.
12:05 Don't worry about that. Just focus on
12:08 your work and do not get distracted.
12:12 Nana nodded and agreed. And so her job
12:15 began. She walked with joy, fetching
12:18 water, cooking, cleaning, laughing with
12:20 the old woman at night as they sat
12:23 beside the fire telling stories. She
12:25 planted a small garden beside the hut,
12:28 growing bright flowers of every color.
12:30 These flowers are as beautiful as your
12:33 heart, Nana, the old woman would say.
12:37 Nana would smile, shy and innocent.
12:39 Meanwhile, in the other hut, Eve's
12:42 morning looked nothing like Nana's.
12:44 After the old woman held her the
12:46 previous night, Eve slept deeply, so
12:48 deeply that she didn't wake up even
12:51 after the woman swept, bathed, and left
12:53 for the market. By the time the woman
12:56 returned, Eve was still lying on the
12:58 bed, stretching lazily. She hadn't
13:01 swept, she hadn't freshed water, she
13:04 hadn't cooked, she hadn't done anything.
13:07 The old woman called her gently, "My
13:09 daughter, I want to implore you, if you
13:12 are willing." Eve busted out laughing
13:15 loudly. You employ me with what money?
13:17 Mama, please don't make me laugh too
13:19 much this early morning. But the woman
13:22 only smiled patiently. Do not worry
13:24 about the money. Just focus on your work
13:27 and do not get distracted. Eve finally
13:30 agreed but not with a clean heart. And
13:34 so her job also began. She refused to
13:36 lift a finger. She insulted the woman
13:39 daily, called her dirty, mocked her
13:41 wrinkles, stole her small coins, and
13:44 lied without blinking. She slammed
13:46 doors, broke plates, yelled at the woman
13:49 for moving too slowly. The woman cried
13:52 orphan. "Please, Eve, don't treat me
13:56 like this." But Eve wouldn't listen. She
13:58 grew worse every day. A whole year
14:02 passed. Two huts, two girls, two
14:05 destinies growing quietly in opposite
14:09 directions. Then one fateful day, Eve
14:11 was searching the hut for money to
14:13 steal, lifting calabashes, shaking
14:16 baskets, opening pots, when something
14:19 shiny rolled out from behind a clay pot.
14:23 A diamond, small, bright, and shaped
14:27 like a teardrop. Eve's eyes widened. She
14:29 snatched it immediately. She hid it
14:32 inside her rapper. Didn't show the old
14:34 woman. Didn't ask questions. Didn't feel
14:38 guilt. She whispered, "Lock has finally
14:41 found me." That same day, Nana was
14:44 cleaning her own heart, humming softly,
14:46 where she moved an old clay pot and had
14:49 something fall to the floor. She bent
14:52 down and saw a diamond. Nana gasped
14:55 softly, but instead of hiding it, she
14:57 simply picked it up and gently dropped
15:00 it back into the clay pot. "This must
15:02 belong to Mama," she said. She covered
15:05 the pot and continued cleaning. And just
15:09 like that, two sisters on the same day
15:12 found the same gift. "One returned it,
15:15 the other stole it, and Fate was
15:18 silently watching." The next morning,
15:20 the girls were ready to return to their
15:23 village. Each of them had lived a full
15:25 year with the old woman, each in her own
15:28 hut. When Nana stepped outside, the old
15:31 woman smiled softly, a smile that
15:34 carried warmth, wisdom, and something
15:37 not of this world. She said, "My
15:40 daughter, Neil." Nana obeyed
15:42 immediately. The old woman reached into
15:44 the clay pot and brought out the diamond
15:47 Nana had returned the day before. She
15:50 placed it gently in Nana's hand. This is
15:52 your reward. You have a kind heart and
15:55 your words carry light. From today
15:57 onward, whatever you say will shine like
16:00 this diamond. Anyone who hears you speak
16:03 will feel the love inside you. Nana
16:06 stared at the diamond, her eyes filling
16:08 with tears. She hugged the old woman
16:11 tightly. Thank you, mama. The woman
16:14 smiled. Go in peace, child. Your
16:17 kindness has spoken for you. Meanwhile,
16:20 in her own heart, Eve was impatiently
16:23 tapping her foot. Mama, I need to go.
16:26 The old woman sighed and reached into
16:29 her pot, but nothing was inside. The
16:32 diamond Eve had stolen was gone.
16:35 >> My child, where is the diamond that was
16:38 in this pot? Eve crossed her arms. How
16:41 will I know? How can a wretched old
16:44 woman like you even own a diamond? The
16:47 old woman's face fell. A deep sadness
16:49 washed over her. The sort of sadness
16:52 spirits feel when a human fails a test
16:55 meant to save them. She shook her head.
16:58 Eve, your own mouth has judged you. You
17:00 insulted me. You stole from me. You
17:03 lied. You mocked the blessings meant to
17:06 lift you. Eve, hissed loudly. So what? I
17:09 already wasted one full year here. I'm
17:11 living. Stay here alone and die
17:14 miserable. The old woman closed her eyes
17:17 and her voice changed older, deeper,
17:20 echoing like wind in a cave. From this
17:23 day forward, your mouth will bring
17:26 nothing good. Just as you insulted
17:29 others, insult will be your language.
17:31 Just as your heart held darkness,
17:33 darkness will pour from your lips.
17:36 Whatever you speak will be bitterness.
17:38 Eve rolled her eyes and stormed off. She
17:41 didn't look back. The sisters met again
17:43 at the exact spot where their parts had
17:46 separated. Nana smiled and hugged Eve
17:49 warmly. Eve, I missed you. Let's go
17:52 home. As they walked, Nana narrated
17:54 everything that happened in her heart.
17:58 The kindness, the garden, the diamond.
18:00 Eve laughed mockingly and narrated her
18:03 own version, twisting the truth, calling
18:05 the spirit woman a miserable bed,
18:08 mocking the heart and even bragging
18:10 about the diamond she stole. When they
18:12 finally reached their father's compound,
18:15 Mama Eve ran to them, tears rushing down
18:17 her cheeks. "My daughters, you are
18:20 home." She hugged them over and over
18:22 before ushering them inside. "Come and
18:25 eat. Tell me everything." Nana began
18:28 narrating her experiences. She reached
18:31 inside her bag to bring out the diamond.
18:33 But instead of one, dozens of bright
18:36 diamonds spilled out of her bag, shining
18:40 like a heap of stars. Mama. Nana gasped.
18:43 It multiplied. Mama Eve covered her
18:45 mouth in awe. This is not human
18:47 blessing. This is the reward of
18:51 goodness. Eve jumped up excitedly. Let
18:54 me check mine, too. She grabbed her bag,
18:57 pulled it open eagerly, and Rat jumped
19:00 out. Dozens of them, chasing each other,
19:04 squealing, running around the room. Eve
19:07 screamed. She emptied the bag. All the
19:10 money she stole, all the coins she hid,
19:13 the diamond she took. Everything had
19:16 turned into rats. Her lips trembled.
19:20 "Mama, what is this?" Mama Eve sighed
19:23 painfully. My daughter, this is the
19:26 reward for your behavior. From that day,
19:28 Nana used her diamonds wisely. She
19:30 started a flower business using the
19:32 bright flower she learned to grow in the
19:35 old woman's hut. People love to hear her
19:37 speak because her words carried warmth,
19:40 peace, and healing. Her life blossomed
19:43 just like her guiding. Eve, on the other
19:45 hand, no one wanted to talk to her.
19:48 Whenever she opened her mouth, insults
19:50 slipped out without her control. People
19:53 avoided her. Her mouth became her
19:55 punishment. Her behavior became her
19:58 cause. Because in life, you reap what
20:01 your heart plants. And the spirit world
