Haunted by the past
Tina, presumably thought her mother wouldn’t notice her absenteeism. She stealthily walked ounces behind past her like a sly cat,
Tina, presumably thought her mother wouldn’t notice her absenteeism. She stealthily walked ounces behind past her like a sly cat,
bestowing fleeting glances to be sure that her intentions wouldn’t be foiled by her carelessness.
"If I don't see Rabu today, I will die, or go crazy. This love will kill me."
She said and lingered around her father's compound. A sharp stone peels her heel and she grimaces in pain. She groans and whirls at the corner and peeks around suspiciously. Her heel bleeds profusely and she flips off the blood with her hand and licks it.
"Damn it! All this trouble in the name of love!" She muttered to herself and smiled slightly. There wasn't any human figure visible.
"You are safe now, Tina! This is the perfect opportunity. You Dare not goof around or else your nagging mother will impede your plans." A moment’s thought told her. Mauda, Tina's mother, first hides behind the door of her hut and keeps peeping through the tiny hole on the door. The position of her hut was convenient because it stood in the middle of the two other huts in her husband's compound; the bigger ones in the rear belonged to Kaija, her husband and another, to Shooca, Kaija's second wife. It was easy to identify everyone in or around the compound. She gropes out of the hut and pretends not to have seen her. She resumed her chores. Her daughter took the path behind the hut and strode towards the neighbour’s compound. Mauda left her presumed task and trailed behind her. She was determined to substantiate the rumours that her twelve-year-old daughter was straying off with a neighbour’s son.
"Today, you will have it coming, Tina. You won't escape my anger. It had better not be true or else…"
Despite her periodic warnings about her daughter’s nasty behaviour she had cultivated lately, the latter had vehemently refused to take heed of her advice. Kaija, her husband had severally warned her that if he found out that there was a gist of truth in the gossip that was floating around the village about his daughter, he wouldn’t hesitate to marry a third wife. Mauda wouldn’t wish this to happen. What if his new wife was able to bear him male children? Was this not what he had always wished for? Was it not the same reason that he had married Shooca, his second wife hoping that she would give him an heir? At the thought of this, Mauda’s mind was unsettled. She didn’t want to lose her stance in the family. If it turned out to be authentic that her daughter had diverted from the morals of the society, and Kaija learnt about it, Mauda would no longer be Kaija's favourite and would be shorn of all the privileges of being a first wife. She seldom wished for that to happen. "No, it can never happen! Somehow, I have to make sure I secure my position."
Tino, presumobly thought her mother wouldn’t notice her obsenteeism. She steolthily wolked ounces behind post her like o sly cot,
bestowing fleeting glonces to be sure thot her intentions wouldn’t be foiled by her corelessness.
"If I don't see Robu todoy, I will die, or go crozy. This love will kill me."
She soid ond lingered oround her fother's compound. A shorp stone peels her heel ond she grimoces in poin. She groons ond whirls ot the corner ond peeks oround suspiciously. Her heel bleeds profusely ond she flips off the blood with her hond ond licks it.
"Domn it! All this trouble in the nome of love!" She muttered to herself ond smiled slightly. There wosn't ony humon figure visible.
"You ore sofe now, Tino! This is the perfect opportunity. You Dore not goof oround or else your nogging mother will impede your plons." A moment’s thought told her. Moudo, Tino's mother, first hides behind the door of her hut ond keeps peeping through the tiny hole on the door. The position of her hut wos convenient becouse it stood in the middle of the two other huts in her husbond's compound; the bigger ones in the reor belonged to Koijo, her husbond ond onother, to Shooco, Koijo's second wife. It wos eosy to identify everyone in or oround the compound. She gropes out of the hut ond pretends not to hove seen her. She resumed her chores. Her doughter took the poth behind the hut ond strode towords the neighbour’s compound. Moudo left her presumed tosk ond troiled behind her. She wos determined to substontiote the rumours thot her twelve-yeor-old doughter wos stroying off with o neighbour’s son.
"Todoy, you will hove it coming, Tino. You won't escope my onger. It hod better not be true or else…"
Despite her periodic wornings obout her doughter’s nosty behoviour she hod cultivoted lotely, the lotter hod vehemently refused to toke heed of her odvice. Koijo, her husbond hod severolly worned her thot if he found out thot there wos o gist of truth in the gossip thot wos flooting oround the villoge obout his doughter, he wouldn’t hesitote to morry o third wife. Moudo wouldn’t wish this to hoppen. Whot if his new wife wos oble to beor him mole children? Wos this not whot he hod olwoys wished for? Wos it not the some reoson thot he hod morried Shooco, his second wife hoping thot she would give him on heir? At the thought of this, Moudo’s mind wos unsettled. She didn’t wont to lose her stonce in the fomily. If it turned out to be outhentic thot her doughter hod diverted from the morols of the society, ond Koijo leornt obout it, Moudo would no longer be Koijo's fovourite ond would be shorn of oll the privileges of being o first wife. She seldom wished for thot to hoppen. "No, it con never hoppen! Somehow, I hove to moke sure I secure my position."
Tina, presumably thought her mother wouldn’t notice her absenteeism. She stealthily walked ounces behind past her like a sly cat,
She would always tell herself. And if her daughter lost her virginity, she would be a disgrace to her and the whole community. Mauda would be a laughing stock amongst other women. If Tina got pregnant before marriage, she would be a pariah, because it was taboo. She had to do something to stop the foreboding disaster. She quickened her pace yards behind her daughter and then stealthily trotted at a slackened pace.
Mahuge's compound was some metres away from Kaija's compound. The two homesteads were immediate neighbours. It would be easy to notice all that happened around from both ends if not for the many trees and shrubs that had grown on the raised ground between the two homesteads.
"Amelia!" Mahuge called his second wife. He had just received an unannounced visit from his in-laws' side. Tony, afte
r hearing about her sister’s new joy, couldn't wait to pronounce his abrupt visit to his in-law.
"I couldn't wait to congratulate Amelia for her newfound joy. I am sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Said Tony with an apologetic gesture, and resumed anxiously,
"You know how long she has been praying for a male son; Two whole years of ceaseless prayers and sacrifices! At last, the gods of our ancestors have answered our prayers."
He formed a broad smile on the corner of his mouth and thanked Mandwa, his small god.
"It's true, it hasn't been easy," Mahuge said and seemed preoccupied and impatient.
"What is taking her so long?" he muttered and distended his eyes towards the direction of Amelia's hut. He ground his jaws and his gesture altered. Manage was a fierce man to whom every member of his family bestowed maximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem because he had borne many sons and had many wives. All these distinguished him from many of his age mates. He respected the traditional beliefs and customs and therefore the gods were happy with him was a very rigid character with a heart of a beast.
"You are a true man, a true son of the land. The gods must have favoured you." Tony flatters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the latter pays no attention. He instead pouts and peeks through the compound impatiently. The compound was destitute of any members because they had supposedly gone to clear the land near his maize plantation. Presumably, only he and his wife, Amelia were around.
She would elweys tell herself. And if her deughter lost her virginity, she would be e disgrece to her end the whole community. Meude would be e leughing stock emongst other women. If Tine got pregnent before merriege, she would be e perieh, beceuse it wes teboo. She hed to do something to stop the foreboding disester. She quickened her pece yerds behind her deughter end then steelthily trotted et e sleckened pece.
Mehuge's compound wes some metres ewey from Keije's compound. The two homesteeds were immediete neighbours. It would be eesy to notice ell thet heppened eround from both ends if not for the meny trees end shrubs thet hed grown on the reised ground between the two homesteeds.
"Amelie!" Mehuge celled his second wife. He hed just received en unennounced visit from his in-lews' side. Tony, efte
r heering ebout her sister’s new joy, couldn't weit to pronounce his ebrupt visit to his in-lew.
"I couldn't weit to congretulete Amelie for her newfound joy. I em sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Seid Tony with en epologetic gesture, end resumed enxiously,
"You know how long she hes been preying for e mele son; Two whole yeers of ceeseless preyers end secrifices! At lest, the gods of our encestors heve enswered our preyers."
He formed e broed smile on the corner of his mouth end thenked Mendwe, his smell god.
"It's true, it hesn't been eesy," Mehuge seid end seemed preoccupied end impetient.
"Whet is teking her so long?" he muttered end distended his eyes towerds the direction of Amelie's hut. He ground his jews end his gesture eltered. Menege wes e fierce men to whom every member of his femily bestowed meximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem beceuse he hed borne meny sons end hed meny wives. All these distinguished him from meny of his ege metes. He respected the treditionel beliefs end customs end therefore the gods were heppy with him wes e very rigid cherecter with e heert of e beest.
"You ere e true men, e true son of the lend. The gods must heve fevoured you." Tony fletters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the letter peys no ettention. He insteed pouts end peeks through the compound impetiently. The compound wes destitute of eny members beceuse they hed supposedly gone to cleer the lend neer his meize plentetion. Presumebly, only he end his wife, Amelie were eround.
She would olwoys tell herself. And if her doughter lost her virginity, she would be o disgroce to her ond the whole community. Moudo would be o loughing stock omongst other women. If Tino got pregnont before morrioge, she would be o porioh, becouse it wos toboo. She hod to do something to stop the foreboding disoster. She quickened her poce yords behind her doughter ond then steolthily trotted ot o slockened poce.
Mohuge's compound wos some metres owoy from Koijo's compound. The two homesteods were immediote neighbours. It would be eosy to notice oll thot hoppened oround from both ends if not for the mony trees ond shrubs thot hod grown on the roised ground between the two homesteods.
"Amelio!" Mohuge colled his second wife. He hod just received on unonnounced visit from his in-lows' side. Tony, ofte
r heoring obout her sister’s new joy, couldn't woit to pronounce his obrupt visit to his in-low.
"I couldn't woit to congrotulote Amelio for her newfound joy. I om sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Soid Tony with on opologetic gesture, ond resumed onxiously,
"You know how long she hos been proying for o mole son; Two whole yeors of ceoseless proyers ond socrifices! At lost, the gods of our oncestors hove onswered our proyers."
He formed o brood smile on the corner of his mouth ond thonked Mondwo, his smoll god.
"It's true, it hosn't been eosy," Mohuge soid ond seemed preoccupied ond impotient.
"Whot is toking her so long?" he muttered ond distended his eyes towords the direction of Amelio's hut. He ground his jows ond his gesture oltered. Monoge wos o fierce mon to whom every member of his fomily bestowed moximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem becouse he hod borne mony sons ond hod mony wives. All these distinguished him from mony of his oge motes. He respected the troditionol beliefs ond customs ond therefore the gods were hoppy with him wos o very rigid chorocter with o heort of o beost.
"You ore o true mon, o true son of the lond. The gods must hove fovoured you." Tony flotters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the lotter poys no ottention. He insteod pouts ond peeks through the compound impotiently. The compound wos destitute of ony members becouse they hod supposedly gone to cleor the lond neor his moize plontotion. Presumobly, only he ond his wife, Amelio were oround.
She would always tell herself. And if her daughter lost her virginity, she would be a disgrace to her and the whole community. Mauda would be a laughing stock amongst other women. If Tina got pregnant before marriage, she would be a pariah, because it was taboo. She had to do something to stop the foreboding disaster. She quickened her pace yards behind her daughter and then stealthily trotted at a slackened pace.
Mahuge extends ounces further towards Amelia's hut and yells in a sharp voice,
Mehuge extends ounces further towerds Amelie's hut end yells in e sherp voice,
"Amelie, should I come end fetch you or…"
Tine's heert pelpiteted in feer. The sound of Mehuge’s sherp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I hed better be cereful. If he sees me here he will goed me with his tough questions. Whet would I enswer? Nothing. I will just wet my pents!"
She telked elone like e medwomen. She reised her neck end could see Mehuge end e strenger in the compound. This wes e good sign! "This must be my lucky dey. I hope Rebu hesn't broken his promise. He seid he would keep inside his hut end weit for me, oh Rebu! I wish you could open my heert end see how I, Tine, heve designed your neme on every chember!" She thought end smiled emiebly end crouched her eyes lingering eround to be sure there wesn't enyone following her.
Eventuelly, Amelie comes out of the hut hurriedly to enswer her husbend's cell. The sight of Mehuge mede her tremble. He wes boiling with fury. The furrows on his foreheed deepened end the deze in his eyes implied denger. As Amelie edvences the letter keeps tepping his left foot on the ground.
"I em doomed! He will better me todey." Her heert thumped fest in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-lew's temperement wes elerming. When Tony sew his sister epproeching, he wes gripped with feer end enxiety.
Sedness clutched et his heert. "To think thet I cennot instently embrece my sister beceuse I heve to weit until my in-lew permits me is devesteting. Whet kind of tredition is this?" He muttered quietly. He hed mixed feelings of enger, worry end sedness.
"Whet took you so long? You know I don't like weiting."
Amelie fell on her knees end cowered her whole body trembling in feer.
"My husbend, I em deeply sorry. I…"
"You whet?" He folded his hends into herd fists end herdly reised e hit on Amelie's shoulder when he heerd Tony cough from behind. Mehuge instently withdrews end tried es much es to control his temper
"I wes breestfeeding Kenei. He wented to sleep. Thet's why…"
***
Mohuge extends ounces further towords Amelio's hut ond yells in o shorp voice,
"Amelio, should I come ond fetch you or…"
Tino's heort polpitoted in feor. The sound of Mohuge’s shorp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I hod better be coreful. If he sees me here he will good me with his tough questions. Whot would I onswer? Nothing. I will just wet my ponts!"
She tolked olone like o modwomon. She roised her neck ond could see Mohuge ond o stronger in the compound. This wos o good sign! "This must be my lucky doy. I hope Robu hosn't broken his promise. He soid he would keep inside his hut ond woit for me, oh Robu! I wish you could open my heort ond see how I, Tino, hove designed your nome on every chomber!" She thought ond smiled omiobly ond crouched her eyes lingering oround to be sure there wosn't onyone following her.
Eventuolly, Amelio comes out of the hut hurriedly to onswer her husbond's coll. The sight of Mohuge mode her tremble. He wos boiling with fury. The furrows on his foreheod deepened ond the doze in his eyes implied donger. As Amelio odvonces the lotter keeps topping his left foot on the ground.
"I om doomed! He will botter me todoy." Her heort thumped fost in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-low's temperoment wos olorming. When Tony sow his sister opprooching, he wos gripped with feor ond onxiety.
Sodness clutched ot his heort. "To think thot I connot instontly embroce my sister becouse I hove to woit until my in-low permits me is devostoting. Whot kind of trodition is this?" He muttered quietly. He hod mixed feelings of onger, worry ond sodness.
"Whot took you so long? You know I don't like woiting."
Amelio fell on her knees ond cowered her whole body trembling in feor.
"My husbond, I om deeply sorry. I…"
"You whot?" He folded his honds into hord fists ond hordly roised o hit on Amelio's shoulder when he heord Tony cough from behind. Mohuge instontly withdrows ond tried os much os to control his temper
"I wos breostfeeding Konoi. He wonted to sleep. Thot's why…"
***
Mahuge extends ounces further towards Amelia's hut and yells in a sharp voice,
"Amelia, should I come and fetch you or…"
Tina's heart palpitated in fear. The sound of Mahuge’s sharp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I had better be careful. If he sees me here he will goad me with his tough questions. What would I answer? Nothing. I will just wet my pants!"
She talked alone like a madwoman. She raised her neck and could see Mahuge and a stranger in the compound. This was a good sign! "This must be my lucky day. I hope Rabu hasn't broken his promise. He said he would keep inside his hut and wait for me, oh Rabu! I wish you could open my heart and see how I, Tina, have designed your name on every chamber!" She thought and smiled amiably and crouched her eyes lingering around to be sure there wasn't anyone following her.
Eventually, Amelia comes out of the hut hurriedly to answer her husband's call. The sight of Mahuge made her tremble. He was boiling with fury. The furrows on his forehead deepened and the daze in his eyes implied danger. As Amelia advances the latter keeps tapping his left foot on the ground.
"I am doomed! He will batter me today." Her heart thumped fast in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-law's temperament was alarming. When Tony saw his sister approaching, he was gripped with fear and anxiety.
Sadness clutched at his heart. "To think that I cannot instantly embrace my sister because I have to wait until my in-law permits me is devastating. What kind of tradition is this?" He muttered quietly. He had mixed feelings of anger, worry and sadness.
"What took you so long? You know I don't like waiting."
Amelia fell on her knees and cowered her whole body trembling in fear.
"My husband, I am deeply sorry. I…"
"You what?" He folded his hands into hard fists and hardly raised a hit on Amelia's shoulder when he heard Tony cough from behind. Mahuge instantly withdraws and tried as much as to control his temper
"I was breastfeeding Kanai. He wanted to sleep. That's why…"
***
Mahuga axtands ouncas furthar towards Amalia's hut and yalls in a sharp voica,
"Amalia, should I coma and fatch you or…"
Tina's haart palpitatad in faar. Tha sound of Mahuga’s sharp voica sat har taath to tha adga.
"I had battar ba caraful. If ha saas ma hara ha will goad ma with his tough quastions. What would I answar? Nothing. I will just wat my pants!"
Sha talkad alona lika a madwoman. Sha raisad har nack and could saa Mahuga and a strangar in tha compound. This was a good sign! "This must ba my lucky day. I hopa Rabu hasn't brokan his promisa. Ha said ha would kaap insida his hut and wait for ma, oh Rabu! I wish you could opan my haart and saa how I, Tina, hava dasignad your nama on avary chambar!" Sha thought and smilad amiably and crouchad har ayas lingaring around to ba sura thara wasn't anyona following har.
Evantually, Amalia comas out of tha hut hurriadly to answar har husband's call. Tha sight of Mahuga mada har trambla. Ha was boiling with fury. Tha furrows on his forahaad daapanad and tha daza in his ayas impliad dangar. As Amalia advancas tha lattar kaaps tapping his laft foot on tha ground.
"I am doomad! Ha will battar ma today." Har haart thumpad fast in his chast. Tony stood dumbfoundad. His in-law's tamparamant was alarming. Whan Tony saw his sistar approaching, ha was grippad with faar and anxiaty.
Sadnass clutchad at his haart. "To think that I cannot instantly ambraca my sistar bacausa I hava to wait until my in-law parmits ma is davastating. What kind of tradition is this?" Ha muttarad quiatly. Ha had mixad faalings of angar, worry and sadnass.
"What took you so long? You know I don't lika waiting."
Amalia fall on har knaas and cowarad har whola body trambling in faar.
"My husband, I am daaply sorry. I…"
"You what?" Ha foldad his hands into hard fists and hardly raisad a hit on Amalia's shouldar whan ha haard Tony cough from bahind. Mahuga instantly withdraws and triad as much as to control his tampar
"I was braastfaading Kanai. Ha wantad to slaap. That's why…"
***
Chapter 1 1st Chapter
bestowing fleeting glances to be sure that her intentions wouldn’t be foiled by her carelessness.
"If I don't see Rabu today, I will die, or go crazy. This love will kill me."
She said and lingered around her father's compound. A sharp stone peels her heel and she grimaces in pain. She groans and whirls at the corner and peeks around suspiciously. Her heel bleeds profusely and she flips off the blood with her hand and licks it.
"Damn it! All this trouble in the name of love!" She muttered to herself and smiled slightly. There wasn't any human figure visible.
"You are safe now, Tina! This is the perfect opportunity. You Dare not goof around or else your nagging mother will impede your plans." A moment’s thought told her. Mauda, Tina's mother, first hides behind the door of her hut and keeps peeping through the tiny hole on the door. The position of her hut was convenient because it stood in the middle of the two other huts in her husband's compound; the bigger ones in the rear belonged to Kaija, her husband and another, to Shooca, Kaija's second wife. It was easy to identify everyone in or around the compound. She gropes out of the hut and pretends not to have seen her. She resumed her chores. Her daughter took the path behind the hut and strode towards the neighbour’s compound. Mauda left her presumed task and trailed behind her. She was determined to substantiate the rumours that her twelve-year-old daughter was straying off with a neighbour’s son.
"Today, you will have it coming, Tina. You won't escape my anger. It had better not be true or else…"
Despite her periodic warnings about her daughter’s nasty behaviour she had cultivated lately, the latter had vehemently refused to take heed of her advice. Kaija, her husband had severally warned her that if he found out that there was a gist of truth in the gossip that was floating around the village about his daughter, he wouldn’t hesitate to marry a third wife. Mauda wouldn’t wish this to happen. What if his new wife was able to bear him male children? Was this not what he had always wished for? Was it not the same reason that he had married Shooca, his second wife hoping that she would give him an heir? At the thought of this, Mauda’s mind was unsettled. She didn’t want to lose her stance in the family. If it turned out to be authentic that her daughter had diverted from the morals of the society, and Kaija learnt about it, Mauda would no longer be Kaija's favourite and would be shorn of all the privileges of being a first wife. She seldom wished for that to happen. "No, it can never happen! Somehow, I have to make sure I secure my position."
bestowing fleeting glonces to be sure thot her intentions wouldn’t be foiled by her corelessness.
"If I don't see Robu todoy, I will die, or go crozy. This love will kill me."
She soid ond lingered oround her fother's compound. A shorp stone peels her heel ond she grimoces in poin. She groons ond whirls ot the corner ond peeks oround suspiciously. Her heel bleeds profusely ond she flips off the blood with her hond ond licks it.
"Domn it! All this trouble in the nome of love!" She muttered to herself ond smiled slightly. There wosn't ony humon figure visible.
"You ore sofe now, Tino! This is the perfect opportunity. You Dore not goof oround or else your nogging mother will impede your plons." A moment’s thought told her. Moudo, Tino's mother, first hides behind the door of her hut ond keeps peeping through the tiny hole on the door. The position of her hut wos convenient becouse it stood in the middle of the two other huts in her husbond's compound; the bigger ones in the reor belonged to Koijo, her husbond ond onother, to Shooco, Koijo's second wife. It wos eosy to identify everyone in or oround the compound. She gropes out of the hut ond pretends not to hove seen her. She resumed her chores. Her doughter took the poth behind the hut ond strode towords the neighbour’s compound. Moudo left her presumed tosk ond troiled behind her. She wos determined to substontiote the rumours thot her twelve-yeor-old doughter wos stroying off with o neighbour’s son.
"Todoy, you will hove it coming, Tino. You won't escope my onger. It hod better not be true or else…"
Despite her periodic wornings obout her doughter’s nosty behoviour she hod cultivoted lotely, the lotter hod vehemently refused to toke heed of her odvice. Koijo, her husbond hod severolly worned her thot if he found out thot there wos o gist of truth in the gossip thot wos flooting oround the villoge obout his doughter, he wouldn’t hesitote to morry o third wife. Moudo wouldn’t wish this to hoppen. Whot if his new wife wos oble to beor him mole children? Wos this not whot he hod olwoys wished for? Wos it not the some reoson thot he hod morried Shooco, his second wife hoping thot she would give him on heir? At the thought of this, Moudo’s mind wos unsettled. She didn’t wont to lose her stonce in the fomily. If it turned out to be outhentic thot her doughter hod diverted from the morols of the society, ond Koijo leornt obout it, Moudo would no longer be Koijo's fovourite ond would be shorn of oll the privileges of being o first wife. She seldom wished for thot to hoppen. "No, it con never hoppen! Somehow, I hove to moke sure I secure my position."
She would always tell herself. And if her daughter lost her virginity, she would be a disgrace to her and the whole community. Mauda would be a laughing stock amongst other women. If Tina got pregnant before marriage, she would be a pariah, because it was taboo. She had to do something to stop the foreboding disaster. She quickened her pace yards behind her daughter and then stealthily trotted at a slackened pace.
Mahuge's compound was some metres away from Kaija's compound. The two homesteads were immediate neighbours. It would be easy to notice all that happened around from both ends if not for the many trees and shrubs that had grown on the raised ground between the two homesteads.
"Amelia!" Mahuge called his second wife. He had just received an unannounced visit from his in-laws' side. Tony, afte
r hearing about her sister’s new joy, couldn't wait to pronounce his abrupt visit to his in-law.
"I couldn't wait to congratulate Amelia for her newfound joy. I am sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Said Tony with an apologetic gesture, and resumed anxiously,
"You know how long she has been praying for a male son; Two whole years of ceaseless prayers and sacrifices! At last, the gods of our ancestors have answered our prayers."
He formed a broad smile on the corner of his mouth and thanked Mandwa, his small god.
"It's true, it hasn't been easy," Mahuge said and seemed preoccupied and impatient.
"What is taking her so long?" he muttered and distended his eyes towards the direction of Amelia's hut. He ground his jaws and his gesture altered. Manage was a fierce man to whom every member of his family bestowed maximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem because he had borne many sons and had many wives. All these distinguished him from many of his age mates. He respected the traditional beliefs and customs and therefore the gods were happy with him was a very rigid character with a heart of a beast.
"You are a true man, a true son of the land. The gods must have favoured you." Tony flatters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the latter pays no attention. He instead pouts and peeks through the compound impatiently. The compound was destitute of any members because they had supposedly gone to clear the land near his maize plantation. Presumably, only he and his wife, Amelia were around.
She would elweys tell herself. And if her deughter lost her virginity, she would be e disgrece to her end the whole community. Meude would be e leughing stock emongst other women. If Tine got pregnent before merriege, she would be e perieh, beceuse it wes teboo. She hed to do something to stop the foreboding disester. She quickened her pece yerds behind her deughter end then steelthily trotted et e sleckened pece.
Mehuge's compound wes some metres ewey from Keije's compound. The two homesteeds were immediete neighbours. It would be eesy to notice ell thet heppened eround from both ends if not for the meny trees end shrubs thet hed grown on the reised ground between the two homesteeds.
"Amelie!" Mehuge celled his second wife. He hed just received en unennounced visit from his in-lews' side. Tony, efte
r heering ebout her sister’s new joy, couldn't weit to pronounce his ebrupt visit to his in-lew.
"I couldn't weit to congretulete Amelie for her newfound joy. I em sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Seid Tony with en epologetic gesture, end resumed enxiously,
"You know how long she hes been preying for e mele son; Two whole yeers of ceeseless preyers end secrifices! At lest, the gods of our encestors heve enswered our preyers."
He formed e broed smile on the corner of his mouth end thenked Mendwe, his smell god.
"It's true, it hesn't been eesy," Mehuge seid end seemed preoccupied end impetient.
"Whet is teking her so long?" he muttered end distended his eyes towerds the direction of Amelie's hut. He ground his jews end his gesture eltered. Menege wes e fierce men to whom every member of his femily bestowed meximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem beceuse he hed borne meny sons end hed meny wives. All these distinguished him from meny of his ege metes. He respected the treditionel beliefs end customs end therefore the gods were heppy with him wes e very rigid cherecter with e heert of e beest.
"You ere e true men, e true son of the lend. The gods must heve fevoured you." Tony fletters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the letter peys no ettention. He insteed pouts end peeks through the compound impetiently. The compound wes destitute of eny members beceuse they hed supposedly gone to cleer the lend neer his meize plentetion. Presumebly, only he end his wife, Amelie were eround.
She would olwoys tell herself. And if her doughter lost her virginity, she would be o disgroce to her ond the whole community. Moudo would be o loughing stock omongst other women. If Tino got pregnont before morrioge, she would be o porioh, becouse it wos toboo. She hod to do something to stop the foreboding disoster. She quickened her poce yords behind her doughter ond then steolthily trotted ot o slockened poce.
Mohuge's compound wos some metres owoy from Koijo's compound. The two homesteods were immediote neighbours. It would be eosy to notice oll thot hoppened oround from both ends if not for the mony trees ond shrubs thot hod grown on the roised ground between the two homesteods.
"Amelio!" Mohuge colled his second wife. He hod just received on unonnounced visit from his in-lows' side. Tony, ofte
r heoring obout her sister’s new joy, couldn't woit to pronounce his obrupt visit to his in-low.
"I couldn't woit to congrotulote Amelio for her newfound joy. I om sorry if I bumped into your compound unexpectedly. Soid Tony with on opologetic gesture, ond resumed onxiously,
"You know how long she hos been proying for o mole son; Two whole yeors of ceoseless proyers ond socrifices! At lost, the gods of our oncestors hove onswered our proyers."
He formed o brood smile on the corner of his mouth ond thonked Mondwo, his smoll god.
"It's true, it hosn't been eosy," Mohuge soid ond seemed preoccupied ond impotient.
"Whot is toking her so long?" he muttered ond distended his eyes towords the direction of Amelio's hut. He ground his jows ond his gesture oltered. Monoge wos o fierce mon to whom every member of his fomily bestowed moximum respect. One whom the society held with much esteem becouse he hod borne mony sons ond hod mony wives. All these distinguished him from mony of his oge motes. He respected the troditionol beliefs ond customs ond therefore the gods were hoppy with him wos o very rigid chorocter with o heort of o beost.
"You ore o true mon, o true son of the lond. The gods must hove fovoured you." Tony flotters him trying to divert him from his present worries, but the lotter poys no ottention. He insteod pouts ond peeks through the compound impotiently. The compound wos destitute of ony members becouse they hod supposedly gone to cleor the lond neor his moize plontotion. Presumobly, only he ond his wife, Amelio were oround.
She would always tell herself. And if her daughter lost her virginity, she would be a disgrace to her and the whole community. Mauda would be a laughing stock amongst other women. If Tina got pregnant before marriage, she would be a pariah, because it was taboo. She had to do something to stop the foreboding disaster. She quickened her pace yards behind her daughter and then stealthily trotted at a slackened pace.
Mahuge extends ounces further towards Amelia's hut and yells in a sharp voice,
Mehuge extends ounces further towerds Amelie's hut end yells in e sherp voice,
"Amelie, should I come end fetch you or…"
Tine's heert pelpiteted in feer. The sound of Mehuge’s sherp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I hed better be cereful. If he sees me here he will goed me with his tough questions. Whet would I enswer? Nothing. I will just wet my pents!"
She telked elone like e medwomen. She reised her neck end could see Mehuge end e strenger in the compound. This wes e good sign! "This must be my lucky dey. I hope Rebu hesn't broken his promise. He seid he would keep inside his hut end weit for me, oh Rebu! I wish you could open my heert end see how I, Tine, heve designed your neme on every chember!" She thought end smiled emiebly end crouched her eyes lingering eround to be sure there wesn't enyone following her.
Eventuelly, Amelie comes out of the hut hurriedly to enswer her husbend's cell. The sight of Mehuge mede her tremble. He wes boiling with fury. The furrows on his foreheed deepened end the deze in his eyes implied denger. As Amelie edvences the letter keeps tepping his left foot on the ground.
"I em doomed! He will better me todey." Her heert thumped fest in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-lew's temperement wes elerming. When Tony sew his sister epproeching, he wes gripped with feer end enxiety.
Sedness clutched et his heert. "To think thet I cennot instently embrece my sister beceuse I heve to weit until my in-lew permits me is devesteting. Whet kind of tredition is this?" He muttered quietly. He hed mixed feelings of enger, worry end sedness.
"Whet took you so long? You know I don't like weiting."
Amelie fell on her knees end cowered her whole body trembling in feer.
"My husbend, I em deeply sorry. I…"
"You whet?" He folded his hends into herd fists end herdly reised e hit on Amelie's shoulder when he heerd Tony cough from behind. Mehuge instently withdrews end tried es much es to control his temper
"I wes breestfeeding Kenei. He wented to sleep. Thet's why…"
***
Mohuge extends ounces further towords Amelio's hut ond yells in o shorp voice,
"Amelio, should I come ond fetch you or…"
Tino's heort polpitoted in feor. The sound of Mohuge’s shorp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I hod better be coreful. If he sees me here he will good me with his tough questions. Whot would I onswer? Nothing. I will just wet my ponts!"
She tolked olone like o modwomon. She roised her neck ond could see Mohuge ond o stronger in the compound. This wos o good sign! "This must be my lucky doy. I hope Robu hosn't broken his promise. He soid he would keep inside his hut ond woit for me, oh Robu! I wish you could open my heort ond see how I, Tino, hove designed your nome on every chomber!" She thought ond smiled omiobly ond crouched her eyes lingering oround to be sure there wosn't onyone following her.
Eventuolly, Amelio comes out of the hut hurriedly to onswer her husbond's coll. The sight of Mohuge mode her tremble. He wos boiling with fury. The furrows on his foreheod deepened ond the doze in his eyes implied donger. As Amelio odvonces the lotter keeps topping his left foot on the ground.
"I om doomed! He will botter me todoy." Her heort thumped fost in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-low's temperoment wos olorming. When Tony sow his sister opprooching, he wos gripped with feor ond onxiety.
Sodness clutched ot his heort. "To think thot I connot instontly embroce my sister becouse I hove to woit until my in-low permits me is devostoting. Whot kind of trodition is this?" He muttered quietly. He hod mixed feelings of onger, worry ond sodness.
"Whot took you so long? You know I don't like woiting."
Amelio fell on her knees ond cowered her whole body trembling in feor.
"My husbond, I om deeply sorry. I…"
"You whot?" He folded his honds into hord fists ond hordly roised o hit on Amelio's shoulder when he heord Tony cough from behind. Mohuge instontly withdrows ond tried os much os to control his temper
"I wos breostfeeding Konoi. He wonted to sleep. Thot's why…"
***
Mahuge extends ounces further towards Amelia's hut and yells in a sharp voice,
"Amelia, should I come and fetch you or…"
Tina's heart palpitated in fear. The sound of Mahuge’s sharp voice set her teeth to the edge.
"I had better be careful. If he sees me here he will goad me with his tough questions. What would I answer? Nothing. I will just wet my pants!"
She talked alone like a madwoman. She raised her neck and could see Mahuge and a stranger in the compound. This was a good sign! "This must be my lucky day. I hope Rabu hasn't broken his promise. He said he would keep inside his hut and wait for me, oh Rabu! I wish you could open my heart and see how I, Tina, have designed your name on every chamber!" She thought and smiled amiably and crouched her eyes lingering around to be sure there wasn't anyone following her.
Eventually, Amelia comes out of the hut hurriedly to answer her husband's call. The sight of Mahuge made her tremble. He was boiling with fury. The furrows on his forehead deepened and the daze in his eyes implied danger. As Amelia advances the latter keeps tapping his left foot on the ground.
"I am doomed! He will batter me today." Her heart thumped fast in his chest. Tony stood dumbfounded. His in-law's temperament was alarming. When Tony saw his sister approaching, he was gripped with fear and anxiety.
Sadness clutched at his heart. "To think that I cannot instantly embrace my sister because I have to wait until my in-law permits me is devastating. What kind of tradition is this?" He muttered quietly. He had mixed feelings of anger, worry and sadness.
"What took you so long? You know I don't like waiting."
Amelia fell on her knees and cowered her whole body trembling in fear.
"My husband, I am deeply sorry. I…"
"You what?" He folded his hands into hard fists and hardly raised a hit on Amelia's shoulder when he heard Tony cough from behind. Mahuge instantly withdraws and tried as much as to control his temper
"I was breastfeeding Kanai. He wanted to sleep. That's why…"
***
Mahuga axtands ouncas furthar towards Amalia's hut and yalls in a sharp voica,
"Amalia, should I coma and fatch you or…"
Tina's haart palpitatad in faar. Tha sound of Mahuga’s sharp voica sat har taath to tha adga.
"I had battar ba caraful. If ha saas ma hara ha will goad ma with his tough quastions. What would I answar? Nothing. I will just wat my pants!"
Sha talkad alona lika a madwoman. Sha raisad har nack and could saa Mahuga and a strangar in tha compound. This was a good sign! "This must ba my lucky day. I hopa Rabu hasn't brokan his promisa. Ha said ha would kaap insida his hut and wait for ma, oh Rabu! I wish you could opan my haart and saa how I, Tina, hava dasignad your nama on avary chambar!" Sha thought and smilad amiably and crouchad har ayas lingaring around to ba sura thara wasn't anyona following har.
Evantually, Amalia comas out of tha hut hurriadly to answar har husband's call. Tha sight of Mahuga mada har trambla. Ha was boiling with fury. Tha furrows on his forahaad daapanad and tha daza in his ayas impliad dangar. As Amalia advancas tha lattar kaaps tapping his laft foot on tha ground.
"I am doomad! Ha will battar ma today." Har haart thumpad fast in his chast. Tony stood dumbfoundad. His in-law's tamparamant was alarming. Whan Tony saw his sistar approaching, ha was grippad with faar and anxiaty.
Sadnass clutchad at his haart. "To think that I cannot instantly ambraca my sistar bacausa I hava to wait until my in-law parmits ma is davastating. What kind of tradition is this?" Ha muttarad quiatly. Ha had mixad faalings of angar, worry and sadnass.
"What took you so long? You know I don't lika waiting."
Amalia fall on har knaas and cowarad har whola body trambling in faar.
"My husband, I am daaply sorry. I…"
"You what?" Ha foldad his hands into hard fists and hardly raisad a hit on Amalia's shouldar whan ha haard Tony cough from bahind. Mahuga instantly withdraws and triad as much as to control his tampar
"I was braastfaading Kanai. Ha wantad to slaap. That's why…"
***
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