Title: Ghonili and inakha

Language: Sumi

Description: Inakha and Ghonili
Today we bring to you a true story
One that unfolded Many many years ago in the village Of shena old deep into the heart of zunheboto a tailed filled with love , Pride regret and betrayal the story has echoed through generations serving as a timeless lesson on the true meaning of loyality
Inakha and Ghonili,a wealthy and respected husband and wife lived a life of luxury, One day after returning from a victorious battle Inakha saw Chevili working in the field he was immediately struck by her beauty , the next day Ghonili felt unwell and could not join him for the harvest so Inakha went all alone to the field, there he saw Chevili again unable to resist he approached her and offered help she accepted and they quickly became close spending time together each day in the fields. One day Chevili’s brothers Kiyekhu and Khumtsa saw Inakha 2ith their sister they took him aside and confronted him what are your intentions with our sister ? fearing for his life Inakha agreed to marry Chevili he asked the brothers “am i a suitable suitor for your sister”? They found him to be kind and brave so they agreed to the marriage Inakha returned home and told Ghonili to save my life if i had to agree to marry Chevili, Inakha hoped Ghonili would accept both her and Chevili as his wives but she refused she said, Inakha a wooden armlet and bangle can he worn together but two elephant tusks cannot one of us must leave ” she meant that as a member of a royal clan neither of them could live under the wame roof as promised Inakha went to settle the dowry for Chevili on the ninth day Ghonili while heartbroken worked tirelessly preparing for the day Inakha would bring his new wife home she cooked rice, ground the grain and prepared rice beer on the big day Inakha arrived with Chevili and told Ghonili “take whatever you want and leave” but Ghonili replied ” i have no need for your wealth,i want to live with our daughter and this bamboo that locks our house ” Ghonili had cleaverly hidden all her precious ornaments in the bamboo.
Months later a warrior named Sumikhe from Philimi village saw Ghonili and fell in love with her, he proposed marriage but Ghonili rejected him saying ” I cannot marry a man lesser than Inakha” Sumikhe returned dressed as a warrior saying “I am no less than Inakha” I am a warrior ‘no more,no less’ Ghonili accepted his proposal because she admired his bravery they married and lived a prosperous life , Meanwhile Inakha became poor after Ghonili left him , Years passed and one day Inakha amd Ghonili found themselves working in neighbouring fields they could hear and see each other and though they did not speak ,it reminded them of their past.One day Inakha and Chevili finished their meal and returned to work curious to see if they had actually eaten Ghonili went to the shed to check she looked inside their basket and saw that the vessel was empty and the rice wine vessel was filled with water instead of rice beer .The next day Ghonili left food and rice beer at Inakha’s field when Inakha and Chevili saw the delicious food and rice beer they wondered who had left it and after tasting the food and drink Inakha immediately realised that it was Ghonili, He told Chevili ” you mus compete with Ghonili in a game of HOP” , HOP is an ancient sport in which people jump and kick their buttocks to test stamina ,the next day Chevili challenged Ghonili to the game but Ghonili hesitated saying “I will be ashamed to compete infront of Inakha ” Chevili assured that Inakha would not watch so Ghonili agreed, they removed their ornaments ane began jumping Chevili tried to jump as quickly as possible but Ghonili took her time and jump with ease Chevili grew tired very quickly and Ghonili won the challenge, Inakha was secretly watching from a distance and sighed deeply ‘why did i ever leave my beloved Ghonili?’, The next day Inakha went to visit Ghonili thinking that Sumikhe was away but Sumikhe was hiding and listening to their conversations when he entered Ghonili offered him rice ,meat and wine Inakha Said “Ghonili can we drink from the same cup ,and eat from the same plate like we used?” But , Ghonili replied “things cannot always be as you desire” she knew that Sumikhe was listening so she added my love Sumikhe has gone to the field and i must follow him . Inakha was filled with sorrow he did not eat or drink the food that was offered to him and left heartbroken. Furious at Inakha’s visit Sumikhe decided to kill him but Ghonili found out about the plot , the next day as Ghonili worked in the field she sang a song ” do not take the usual path go through the cotton fields” Inakha understood the warning and avoided the path saving his life, Inakha spent the rest of his days consumed by regret endlessly questioning “what was it that i failed to see in my beloved Ghonili?”
He soon passed away overcome by heartbreak and sorrow , True love and loyalty are irreplaceable and the choices we make out of pride or selfishness often lead to regret .
This story teaches us that genuine affection cannot b4 bought or replaced and that sometimes the greatest loss is the one we bring upon ourselves.

Format & Duration: 8 minute 18 seconds
Date of Recording: 8/13/2025
Date of Upload: 3 October 2025
Performer: Hetoni
Creator: Ilono
Publisher: Tetso College, Dimapur
Note: NA

Cite this work

Ilono     . 2025  . Ghonili and inakha       . (Narrated by Hetoni    )  . Sovima: NEIIPA, Tetso College  . (https://neiipa.in/audio/ghonili-and-inakha/)  . Accessed: (30-Oct-2025)