UNBREAKABLE Novel Chapter 6

6

RISUNA

“I heard that you’ve been seen with some guy around here and the description fits that of the guy who brought you home. ” My sister says.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me. Is it normal? I mean,what I’m doing. I’m spending time with someone from the place where people wanted to kill me. “

I’ve been going out with Kuhlula and Mlunghisi always joins us. I should be scared of him calling his people for me. What if that’s his plan? To take me and keep me at his home again? I don’t want that. I think this time I’d die.

“Mmh. You love risking with your life. Soon you’ll be falling in love with him and when you least exppect it they take you. ” I look at her. That would never happen. Yes,I enjoy his company but what my sister said about falling in love is exaggerating things.

“I’m serious. The way you’re so close that’s where it’s going to end. Him saving you doesn’t mean that you should be with him. Just be grateful and move on with life. Stop meeting with him.”

She’s right. I should forget about Mlunghisi. Being around him is only going to bring trouble for me. It’s going to take me back to that horrible place. I can just see his father’s face when he sees me. He’d call the chief at once. That man hates me and I don’t know why.

“Tell me. What really happened back then for these villages to be enemies? Did grandma tell you more than she told me?”

“No. Just that our grandfather is the one who started the war. He was the chief’s enemy. That’s all I know. “

That’s also what I know. But there must be more to this.

“But it doesn’t give those people the right to do what they did.”

“Can I please use your car?” I ask my sister.

“You love risking with your life? You know that we are not allowed in that village. ” My sister came back last week. She is done with her exams and she decided to come and spend her holidays with us. She has been trying to convince me to go back with her but i refused. I’m fine here.

“Nothing will happen. I promise.”

“Be safe. And be careful. Call if something happens. And share your location so that we know where you are. Here, dad said if Mlunghisi comes again you should give him this envelope. “

“I’m not even going to him. I’m going to see uncle. I want him to help me look for those guys who wanted to kill me. I know if there’s someone who can find them it’s uncle. Before the week ends he will find them.”

“If you do that then open a case against them. We both know what Bernard is going to do. He’s going to hurt those guys. They must be arrested and be thrown in a cell.”

“They hurt me first! They must also feel what I felt.”

“You want to get more enemies and these villages start fighting again? No,don’t do that. The only thing you need to do is go to the police.”

“Maybe you are right. I should just let this go or another fight will start.”

I give her the car keys back and leave. I will just go and help mom at the shop since dad doesn’t want me at work yet.

I take the envelope with me. I know that I will see Mlunghisi around. He’s always here. He even has a friend. I wonder how his father feels about him being here. Does he approve if it? I don’t think he does. He would have already done something to stop him from coming here.

When I’m about to pass by the fast food place I see him with his friend. I go to him,greet and give him the envelope.

“What is in here?” He asks.

“I don’t know. It’s from my dad. It’s nice to see you. “

“You too.”

“Bye. “

“Enjoy your day. “

On my way to my mother’s shop I keep thinking about whether to open a case or just ask my uncle to deal with those people. I don’t want them to go scott free but on the other hand I don’t want anything to happen to Mlunghisi. What if my uncle finds out that Mlunghisi didn’t want to bring me home? He’s going to do something to him.

When I get to my mother’s shop I find her busy. I greet and take a seat behind the till.

“Risuna,what brings you here?”

“I’m bored sitting at home and doing nothing. “

“You know it’s not safe for you to walk around alone. Do you want something to happen to you again?”

“Of course not. Nothing will happen. “

“Go and sit in the office. I will bring you lunch and you’ll get out when it’s time for me to go back home.”

“Mom,you don’t have to worry. I’m fine here. ” I assure her. She worries a lot. I came here to help her, relax and get fresh air. Not hide in her office.

MLUNGHISI

I take out the letter to read. I sigh when a R200 note falls out. I put my hand back in and there’s more. I take the money out and count it. It’s R10 000. So much money! I put it down and read the letter. ‘Mlunghisi,the money I put in the envelope is not enough to thank you. But please accept it. Thank you so much for your kindness. If it was someone they would have killed her. But you didn’t let the feud between our villages make you do something evil. You chose to save a life. That’s something I will always keep in my heart and will never forget. May God bless you. Samson.’ I put the letter back in the envelope and put the money in my trunk. It’s safe there and no one knows where i put the keys. Only me. All the money that I make from my worrk I put it in there.

I walk out to talk to Basani.

” Am I having a sister in law soon?”

“Hayi! Get out of here.” She laughs. I can freely talk to my sister about anything. That’s how close we are.

“Can you do something for me? Please be my eyes and ears when I’m not around. Whatever dad does tell me.”

“I will not leave anything out. So don’t worry. “

I already miss Risuna. This time we didn’t get to spend time together. But seeing her is enough for me.

Work today was hectic. I came back late than usual. I go straight to take a bath then go to the kitchen to get my food. I find Basani making dinner. I drink water and walk out. I will rather settle for dinner. So waiting is what I have to do.

When I walk out I find my father and uncles sitting outside. I sit down and greet. I know that whatever they are here for is important. They don’t just come.

“Greetings.” They all look at me.

“I see you’re home. I thought you took another risk and went to that village. Do you listen?!”

I see dad has told them about Risuna. Their intervention will not stop me. You cannot get between a man and the one he loves. Yes,i said it. I love Risuna and to hell with this feud between our villages. I don’t give a damn about it. All I care about is my happiness.

Risuna makes me happy and I’m not going to leave her. Seeing her here yesterday made me happy. I even wished that she could stay but I understood that she had to leave. As i said,there’s this peace that she brings to my life. i don’t want to lose that. I want to keep it in my life.

“Stay away from that girl. We know that you are in love with her but she’s not good for you. She is an enemy. If it was not because of that we would accept her. You can’t be with an enemy. You can have anyone but not her. Not someone from that village. Which is why we are here. To maake you see that what you’re doing is wrong.” My uncle says.

“If you don’t stop you will be putting this family in danger.”

“Dad,you don’t know her family. I’ve met them and they are nice people. They don’t even care about this Feud. If they cared I would be dead now. I’ve been going to that village for amonth now and nothing happened. That goes to show where the problem is. It’s with our village. They are still holding a grudge. “

“I told you. You can never advice a man who’s in love. He will not listen to you.” Dad is right. I’m not going to listen to them.

“If you want to be with her then do it away from here. I’m not going to allow nonsense here.”

“Dad,please tell me. What did people from that vilage do to you? Did they do wrong to you?”

“No,but they wronged my father and others from this village. We are living in these conditions because of them.” He’s now angry.

“If you can’t accept her then I will look for my own place and marry her. “

“You know that you can’t do that.”uncle says.

“Is that girl stupid? Who gets married to someone who they can see that they are not compatible with? You kidnapped that girl whether you admit it or not. And you’re different from her. You are poor compared to her. You cannot afford her. So stop fooling yourself. ” God gave me a wrong father. I don’t think this man was supposed to be my father.

“Keep talking badly of the woman I love and I might just do that. I will move out”

I leave them. I am not going to let anyone stop me from being with Risuna. I will go to any length just to be with her. She means a lot to me. I haven’t been happy in my life. At least fully. Every time I’m happy it’s shortlived. Being a first born is hard. Everyone looks at me for everything. I’m responsible for my parents and siblings. I always have to maks sure that they are alright and have everything they need. I take care of this family. I never fail to. But my dad can’t allow me to have just one thing. My happiness. That’s all I ask for.

Some people are ungrateful. I’m literally living my life for them but they can’t even be happy for me. I don’t ask for much. I just want to be left alone to be happy with my woman. That’s it! Is it too much to ask? I’ve never introduced a woman to my family. I have been in relationships but I never reached that stage. They met Risuna when i was not even in a relationship with her. But now that I see that something is coming out of what we have i want my family to be supportive. To show that they are happy for me. But my dad is against that. If they don’t accept Risuna I will look for my own place where i can see her in peace.

********

It’s been a week and i haven’t seen her. It feels like a year. I miss her. I miss her smile,her laugh and everything about her. We talk on the phone but it’s not the same. I miss her presence. I want her next to me. I want to hold her in my arms. But where will I spend time with her? Here I’ll just be looking for trouble.

Our calls always end in a sad mood. I always feel sad whenever I end the call. I wish we could be speaking face to face. But that’s impossible. My dad and his brothers have spread the word around that our village is being invaded. That there is a woman from the other village that keeps on coming here. Now everyone is always vigilant and ready for war. I don’t even know why they act like this. They are the only ones who are angry. They are alone in this fight. I hope it doesn’t go far. I’ve been avoiding visiting Risuna because they might follow me and do something.

“Mlunghisi,you’re home.” My mother says.

“Yes.” She is busy making a shibelani. She stopped this business when I started working. I asked her to. She can’t keep working on her own while dad doesn’t work.

“Are you back in business?”

“Business? No. I am making this for someone special, your future wife. When she comes here I’m going to give it to her. I’ve already made beeds and the tops. She’s going to look so beautiful in them. This color will suit her.”

“Mom,did you and dad go and look for a wife for me?” She laughs.

“What are you talking about? This is for Risuna. I know that you love her. So this is part of the gifts that you’re going to take to her family with you when you go to ask for her father’s blessings to be in a relationship with her. I’ve already talked to my brother to accompany you. I know that your father will refuse. But he will come around. “

“Mom,you’re doing all of this for me?”

“Yes. I want you to be happy. And I know this will make you happy. Buy a bottle of whiskey for her father. Also choose a cow. Don’t worry about her mother. I will make something for her. “

“A cow? Mom,this is not lobola. I haven’t even asked Risuna to be my girlfriend. I think this is too much.” Why is she going to so much trouble? I could just ask Risuna to be mine and that’s it. And what if she says no?

“Look,this is serious. By doing this it shows that you’re serious about her and you have good intentions. They will know that the next step is lobola. That’s where you see yourself with her,right? Paying lobola and marrying her. “

“Of course. But we will have to take time and get to know each other first. We’re not even dating yet.”

“Good. This is to let them know what is happening between you and their daughter. Or what you want to happen. I know she will say yes. They will know that when she’s not at home she’s with you and safe. ” I wish my father was as supportive as my mother. Things would move smoothly. But as my mother said,he will come around.

“When you get there don’t mention the family name. I don’t want my name involved in rubbish. This is rubbish and I’m losing my patience with you. Continue like this and you will find yourself homeless. ” There he goes again!

………