10 Chapter Ten

Farida detached the tobacco leaves from the head of the plant and further separated it from the midribs and branches, intending to grind it separately before adding potash at the end.

With her wrapper tucked between her knees, she began crushing the leaves into fine dust humming quietly to herself. The old man watched curiously, noting all the small details the young lady goes about grinding his snuff.

'You haven't added the oil in it,' he said, getting her attention.

'I'll surely add the eucalyptus oil when the snuff is smooth enough,' she replied and want ahead to feel the smoothness of the powder between her thumb and index finger, 'now the finest is to my liking,' she said smiling before adding a drop of the oil in the fine grounded tobacco. 

Impressed with her handy work, he smiled at her. 'I thought it was only my father who likes the effect of the oil in his snuff but here you are, also liking it.' Tears misted her eyes, she missed her family so much that the very thought of them makes her want to hide and cry.

'You want to see your family?'

'That is impossible, I just miss them from time to time.' She wiped away the silly tears that rolled down one eye. 'Anytime I forget to add the oil, my father could look at me sternly and say,' she cleared her throat loudly before continuing, 'a good snuff is that which has the sensational characteristic effect of the eucalyptus oil, always remember that Farida,' she mimicked her father's voice, laughing at the end of her statement.

He laughed along with her, 'your father seems to know his snuff well.' 

'Of course he does.' 

'And he did a good job teaching you because right now I just benefited from it and I am happy. So thank you Farida. 'Please don't mention it grandpa, I love doing it.'

He sighed deeply at the thought of his son, 'I tried teaching my son but the stubborn boy will not concentrate to learn.'

'Maybe you are hard on him grandpa.' 

'Hard on him? Never! He just doesn't want to learn it. You know, he is good at other things but not this.'

'Or maybe you are impatient with his pace of learning how to grind tobacco.' she offered with a knowing smile as she saw his lips twitch a little.

'I don't know about that,' he said smiling. 'Ah! Then I'm right,' she said loudly, doing a merry dance. 

His eyes twinkled with amusement, 'how can a young  lady in her position be so happy and carefree at the same time.' He thought to himself as he watched her dance in a circle.

'Farida!' Uti called from a distance making her stop the ridiculous dance. She beckoned him over with a wave, smiling from ear to ear. 'hope you don't mind him coming over?' she grinned sheepishly at the old man.

'It won't hurt to have another young blood to keep me company.'

'Thank you,' she said quietly before turning. She smiled at him as he closed the distance, stopping right in front of them.

Immediately they stopped talking, Uti prostrated and greeted the old man respectfully. 'greetings to you too young man. How are you doing?'

'Fine, thank you.' Uti answered, still prostrating. 'Get up my boy.' He gestured for Uti to rise from his position on the ground.

'Grandpa, this is Uti my friend.' Farida introduced. Absolute silence followed after her introduction, making her look at the old man who was busy scrutinizing the young man in front of him. Uti stood with his feet parted and hands behind him. He was trying to hide his nervousness as best as he could under the watchful eyes of the old man, and it seems to have worked.

'Nice meeting you young man.' The old man said breaking the tension in the air. 'Nice meeting you too.' Uti dared to say, making the old man chuckle.

Wanting to do what brought him there in the first place, Uti looked at Farida before turning to the old man. 'Hope you don't mind me taking Farida away, we haven't finished the work that was assigned to us earlier,' Uti requested.

'Of course you can,' the old man assured him. 'You must know, she was keeping me company and I thought you'd do the same but it seems not to be the case here.' 

'Thank you, maybe next time when we're less busy we'll come keep you company.' he said gratefully before reaching for Farida's hand and tugging her away from the old man.

When they were far from the old man's hut Uti let her go, 'what do you think you're doing?' Farida practically shouted at him. 'Oh no, I should be the one asking you that!' 'If you want your stay to be bearable in this household, stay away from that old man.'

She raised her eyebrow, surprised by his outburst, 'I don't understand why you're asking me to stay away from him, he is a nice old man and he has been...'

'I never said otherwise,' interjected Uti. 'All I am saying is you stay away from him.' He  shouted, turning from her when he realised that she was stunned by the way he spoke to her.

She pulled him back by the neck of his shirt, 'you should never talk to me like that again because the next time you try it, you won't like the other side of me. She stare him out. 'I'm sorry, I was just looking out for you.'

'It's ok, I think I'll accept your apology,' she smiled at him, 'but on one condition.'

'What condition again Farida? I said I'm sorry.' Uti argues. 'that won't do Uti.' she said flatly, shaking her head.

He watched her with his arms folded across his chest, 'alright, say it.'

'Why are you asking me to do such a thing, obviously the old man is a nice man and you agree to that too. So?'

'He is bad news, at least that's what I was told when I first came here.'

'Really, you expect me to believe that? After all this worry, you want me to believe it's a fuss for no apparent reason whatsoever?' Uti just shrugged, saying nothing.

She fixed him with a stare until he was forced to open his mouth again, 'He is the chieftain's father.' he said scratching the back of his neck. 'You're joking right?' She asked, her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

'No I'm not and yes the chieftain is his son.' Her mouth fell open, surprised.