UNBREAKABLE Novel Chapter 12

12

RISUNA

I’m back at work. It feels good to be back. Three months without working is a long time for me but surprisingly I did enjoy it. I am happy that I took that time off. Now I’m rested enough and ready to tackle things. I also got to spend a lot of time with my boyfriend. So yeah,I enjoyed my break from work.

Working for my dad is nice. I decide for myself how much work I will be doing on a particular day. But I don’t take advantage of that. Even though it’s not what I studied for I learn a lot. I learn so many things from him. He teaches me what I don’t know. If i am struggling with something he shows me how it’s done. My father owns farms and he supplies different shops. Big shops. What I do is record how many deliveries were made a day and to which shopps. I also have to make sure that all the trucks are in good condition. If there’s a problem with them they reeport to me and I make sure that they are fixed. I don’t do this work alone. I have someone who I work side by side with. This is not a permanent thing. I’ve been working for almost 2 years. When I want to look for my dream job i will do it. But right now i enjoy working around here.

Dad didn’t want me to come back to work. He is still afraid that something might happen to me. Nothing will happen as long as I’m in our area. What would they do to me? And what will they do when dad is around most of the time and there are guards here? Nothing.

“Risuna,can I talk to you for a moment?” One of the drivers asks.

“Okay. Is everything okay?”

“Yes…no. I have heard something. The new workers that you just hired,they are not supposed to be working here.” I don’t hire workers in this company. There’s someone who does that. So i don’t know what he’s talking about.

“I didn’t hire new workers. That’s not my job.”

“Well,word has it that those workers are from our neighboring village. They are working at the farms. I just wanted to let you know so that you can pass the message to the boss. We don’t want them to sabotage the good work that happens here.”

“Thank you so much for letting me know. I really appreciate it. I will let dad know. “

In our farms we hire people from far but most of them are from our village. There’s not even one person from Mlunghisi’s village working in our farms because even though we no longer care about what happened in the past,those people do. All they do when you give them a chance is mess things up as a way of revenge. So dad decided that tyey will no longer be hired. I am actually confused that there are workers from there.

I leave what I’m busy with and go to dad’s office. I knock and walk in. I take a seat.

“Dad,there are intruders at the farm.”

“And why am i finding out now? It’s your job to make sure that everything runs smoothly. This is why I said you shouldn’t come back to work. It’s your first day and already you’re coming with problems.”

“Dad,I did nothing. One of the drivers just told me that there are workers who’ve just gotten hired. They are from Mlunghisi’s village. The person who hires here is the one responsible for this. “

“As from today you will no longer work here. You have everything you need. This job is not worth you risking your life. If those people could get into our farms then it will be easy for them to get to you. Go home and don’t come anywhere close to this place. Who knows what those people are doing there? Let’s go. I’m going to drop you off at home then drive there.”

These people don’t like peace. They are starting a fight with people who did nothing to them. Now I have to leave my job because of them. I stopped going to their village. What more do they want? They should just leave us alone.

When dad drops me at home I decide to go to Mlunghisi’s place. They are done building the hut and he went to his home to fetch his things. I asked dad to borrow him a truck so everything could be easy. I think he’s back now.

I get there and find him offloading his stuff. He ended up having two huts built. One will work as a kitchen. Everything looks so beautiful here. Even the foundation for the main house is already done and they’ve started building.

I greet the workers and go to the bedroom. I get a chair and go and sit outside. I wait for him to finish then go to him.

“Hey baby. I thought you’d be at work.”

“I am no longer working. Now if i want to work I will have to apply like everyone else. Dad doesn’t want me to work with him anymore. He actually wants me to stay at home.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“Some people from your village are working at our farm. Dad is afraid that they might do something to me.”

“I agree with him. He should also question the person who hired them. They could be working together. You will be more safe at home than you will be at work.”

“I guess he’s right. So,was your dad fine with you getting your things?”

“He wasn’t there.”

At least he wasn’t there to fight him. I know for sure that if he was there he would have caused an unnecessary fight.

Us being here three months later took a lot of work. It took sweat and blood to get here. It hasn’t been easy,that I can say. I thought since moving here things would be better. But I was just fooling myself. We’ve gone through situations that I didn’t know how we would survive them. How our relationship would survive. But we made it.

During these past months Mlunghisi’s father kept on coming here to bother him. He would shout at me and call me all sorts of names. He even went to my home to throw insults at my parents telling them how they failed to raise me. It was just too much. I was so scared thinking that my parents would end up hating Mlunghisi. But they didn’t do that. They said they understand that Mlunghisi’s father was angry.

In the evening I go back home. I can’t sleep over. Especially without letting my parents know. I have to do that a day before I go for a sleepover. Andd if they say no then I don’t go. I don’t want to take advantage. Especially after they gave us theur blessings.

When I get home I’m shocked to see Thandeka. Thandeka is my friend from university. We haven’t seen each other since graduation. I no longer go to the city ever since I came back home. I prefer being here. I’m really not used to city life. It’s too fast for me. The village is peaceful. Despite all the hate from people from the other village,people here are united and love each other. We care about each other.

With Thandeka here I’m no longer going to ask my parents if i can sleep over at Mlunghisi’s. I was going to ask them so I could go tomorrow. But i guess now that plan won’t work. I will go another day. That’s it.

“Hey! Long time no see.”I say as I sit down.

“Oh my goodness! Risuna,it’s been so long! “

“How are you? You look so good.” I sit down and we catch up.

MLUNGHISI

Having a parent like my father is a curse. He really wants me to go back home. I lied to Risuna when I said dad wasn’t there when I went home. He was there. I just didn’t want to worry her. That man will never stop. He was stopping me from getting my things. It became a big fight. I even had to go and call my uncles to help. That’s when I managed to get everything that i was there for and came back.

Dad says i will be back home. It doesn’t matter how long it takes but I will go back. That’s what he says. I don’t know what he’s planning. Maybe he’s planning to do something to me so that i can go back home. Who knows?

About what Risuna said about people from back home working at her father,I know about it. I already heard about it and there was nothing i could do. What would I do? Would i be able to stop people from doing what they want? I know about this because my friend tells me everything. He’s my eyes and ears. Whatever happens at home he reports to me.

What I’m asking myself is how they were hired. There must be someone who’s an informant. Someone is leaking information and it is not good at all. Whoever is doing this will pay dearly when they are exposed. They should just stop.

Risuna sent a text to let me know that she won’t be coming to sleep here today. I had plans for us. But I guess I will have to postpone everything for until she can be able to come. I wanted to make up for that date we never went to. I have everything ready,even the food that I was going to cook. I guess that will have to wait.

It’s been four months of being with my woman. I’ve known her enough and I want her to be my wife. I know I’m ready for the next step. I just have to pop the question and take it from there. I know that she’s going to say yes. I’ve hinted marriage a couple of times. I’ve talked about it and she knows where I see this relationship going. So next year, when I’ve saved enough I’ll be sending my uncles to her home.

I smile when I see her walking in. When i say I’m blessed to have her in my life i mean it. She has groceries with her. I guess she saw that I haven’t bought groceries and decided to do it herself. She didn’t see the food that I was going to buy for our date. God blessed me with a wonderful woman. She’s always there in good and in bad times.

I mert her halfway and take the groceries. We take them to the kitchen. I put everything down then steal a kiss. I missed her. And seeing her now makes my day to be complete. Now the day can start.

We go to the chairs and sit down.

“Baby,this is Thandeka,my friend from back in varsity. Thandi, this is Mlunghisi. He’s the love of my life.”

“Nice to meet you Thandeka.”

“Likewise. Risuna has been telling me about you since i arrived. “

“Babe,I’m going to cook. Should I include the workers?”

“Yes.”

The friend decides to stay. She looks at me. Did i do something wrong? The look that she’s giving me is like one of an angry person. Whatever is in her heart is not good. Or else she wouldn’t look like this.

“What are you doing with my friend?”

“I don’t understand your question. ” I answer her.

“This so called relationship of yours. It doesn’t make sense. You two are way too different. No wonder she doesn’t want to look for a proper job. One that she studied for. Do you call working at a farm work?”

“What does that have to do wioth ne? When we met she was already working there. “

“No. She decided to stay here because of you. You are holding her back. I want the best for her and that will happen when she leaves you. You’re not going to turn her into a village wife. What do you have? Are you going to feed her food from the farm while she could just go out there and find a job? Stay away from my friend. She deserves better. Not some farmer who’s not even ambitious. And I’m going to make sure that she gets what she deserves.”

“Let me tell you something. Risuna and I love each other. If she decides that shes going to look for a job away from here i will support her. I’m not going to let you come between us. Just try it. It won’t end well for you. “

“I don’t hate you. I just know what my friend deserves,and it’s not you. My friend can’t be sleeping in huts. This is not what shes destined for. You’re blocking her way. Move aside so that she can go and live her life,not this .” She gets up and leaves after saying that nonsense.

I don’t know who gave her the right to speak about my relationship. That better be the first and last time.

………..