Chapter 28 The Past

The next day, Lady Abiola, went to Mami's house and set off with her to the herbalist. The herbalist lived in the next town. They arrived three hours after they set off. Mami introduced Lady Abiola to the herbalist.

"How may I help you, my lady?" Papa Fuji, the herbalist asked.

"Papa Fuji, my period has undoubtedly being delayed. The last time I had my period was before the birth of my three years old son, Prince Zima. I have been worried since I have tried different concoctions and herbs from different herbalist but haven't seen my period yet. I heard of how Rwanwa was able to conceive a child after taking herbs from you, from my maids. However, they didn't know where you were located. I asked Mami to bring me here to find out if you can help me." Lady Abiola replied.

"I can help you, my lady" Papa Fuji said after listening attentively to Lady Abiola.

"Mami, go and bring me my sack" Papa Fuji said.

"Ok, papa" Mami replied.

Mami left them, went to Papa Fuji's room to find the sack. Mami returned a few seconds with the sack. Papa Fuji gave Lady Abiola some herbs. After teaching her how to use them, they asked for permission to leave. Lady Abiola made Mami join her in the carriage.

"Mami, thank you very much" Lady Abiola said.

"Don't mention, my lady" Mami replied.

"Do pay me a visit in the palace. I will introduce you to the King"

"Thank you, my lady, but I am afraid I can not accept the offer to marry the King"

"Why?" Lady Abiola asked in dismay.

"I'm afraid, I don't want to marry the King"

"Have you found anyone yet?"

"No, my lady. I just don't like the idea of marrying the King. I can't live by so many rules. I want to live freely, eat what I want to, go any where I want to with little or no pressure. Life is in the palace is like a competition. Yet, the contestants can't be challenged"

"Mami, you're very wise. I envy Lady Shui for having you as a friend"

"My lady shouldn't envy Lady Shui. My lady has it all too. Mocha, your friend is also very wise"

They chatted and giggled happily till they got to the Mami's house.

Lady Shui was informed of Mami's sudden friendship with Lady Abiola as well as Lady Abiola's promise to Mami. Lady Shui felt betrayed and didn't want to meet Mami again. Rwanwa advised Lady Shui.

"Shui, I think you have to reconsider your behavior towards Mami. You don't have to treat her like a stranger. She'll never betray you" Rwanwa couldn't disclose everything to Lady Shui because she had already promised Mami to keep it a secret.

"Mami envies me. It's just so evident how she suddenly became friends with Abiola after she promised to make the King marry her"

"Shui, don't you think you are dealing with your own insecurities? You fear when Mami marry the King, his love for her would surpass his love for you."

"Rwanwa! You dare support Mami? Do you see how your husband looks at her?"

"Buka, is Mami's cousin. He grieves over why his beautiful cousin hasn't married yet. Whenever he meets her, he tries to find faults with her appearance but doesn't find any. He doesn't look at her because he has any romantic feelings for her. He knew Mami before he met me."

"Is that how you are going to pay me after helping you?"

"Do you realize all your friends have left you because of this behavior of yours?"

"Rwanwa, you can leave me too, if you want to. I'm tired. I want to rest"

Rwanwa who was heavily pregnant left lady Shui to her home. When she arrived, she saw Mami chatting heartlessly with Buka. She suddenly remembered what Lady Shui said. She watched Buka and Mami for a while and began to feel what Lady Shui said was true. Rwanwa forced a smile as she approached them.

"Rwanwa, you should be staying at home since you're in your last trimester. You should have seen Buka's face when he got here and couldn't find you" Mami said and burst into laughter.

Rwanwa liked Mami for her strong sense of humour, honesty and trustworthiness. She knew Mami would never make an attempt to fight her for Buka's attention. Rwanwa treated Mami like her younger sister because she was three years older than her. She strongly believed Mami would never take Buka from her.

Poor Mami! How the world envies you for your beauty! Even Shui envies you. She's managed to make me conscious of your beauty in order to make me feel insecure like her. Rwanwa thought.

"How did he look like?" Rwanwa managed to ask.

Mami made a funny yet sad face to mimic Buka's sad face. All three of them burst into laughter. Rwanwa saw Buka looking at her. Buka felt something was off. Rwanwa was behaving differently. Her smile and laughter were all not genuine. She was forcing herself to do them, unlike herself. Buka excused himself, to give them some space to sort themselves out.

"Mami, what happened?" Rwanwa asked after Buka entered his hut.

"Well, I think Lady Abiola actually needed help. She was going through some feminine problem and needed some help." Mami replied.

"I'm glad she honestly needed help. What about your marriage to the King?"

"I told her I can't marry the King. Fortunately, she didn't pester me to accept that offer again"

"I'm proud you did that, Mami."

Shui, you're jealous of a good friend just because of her beauty. Mami, I wish Shui's behavior doesn't break you down. You're too good to go through that. Rwanwa couldn't help herself from thinking.

"I want to visit Lady Shui today" Mami said.

"Mami, Shui knows of Lady Abiola and you. I'm sorry she found out" Rwanwa managed to say.

"At least Lady Shui would listen to my story. She knows I am not that bad."

"I'm sorry, Mami. Shui is a different person altogether now."

"But…"

"I know, Mami. I tried to explain everything to her but she won't listen. She thinks you envy her"

"Rwanwa, you know I would never do that"

"Mami, I believe you" Rwanwa said and pulled Mami in for a hug.

Rwanwa believed Mami would never try to hurt them. Lady Shui was just acting out of her own insecurities.

"Mami, go and have some rest. I will talk her out of it soon."

"Thank you, Rwanwa. I really appreciate it." Mami said and left her.

Mami felt very sad and refused to touch her food which made her parents worry. She was their only daughter. They were very poor but they did everything in their power to see their only child happy. Her parents persuaded her to eat and finally she did. The next day, Mami's mother decided to seek audience with lady Shui but lady Shui refused to meet her. The old woman walked away sadly. When Rwanwa heard this, she became seriously angry at Shui for doing that and decided to never show up in front of Lady Shui. Mami and Rwanwa's bond grew stronger everyday and Lady Shui became more envious of Mami. Three days after Lady Shui refused to meet Mami's mother, Papa Fuji sent for Mami. Papa Fuji has been Mami's parents' friend for a long time. He was the childhood friend of Mami's father. Mami went to him the next day.

"Mami, take this concoction. Go to the palace and pour half of it at the edge of the river that the King's wives fetch water from. They have been complaining of prolonged menses a lot lately."

"Ok, papa Fuji"

Mami recalled her last conversation with Lady Shui. Lady Shui confined in her about having that same issue. Mami thought that her only way of helping Lady Shui because she can't approach her now.

"Mami, do it at dawn. Leave the other half with Lady Abiola. She came to me first. That's a sign of my gratitude"

"Ok, I will, papa Fuji"

"Extend my greetings to your parents for me,Mami. Be a good girl as you've always been."

"Ok, Papa Fuji. Have a nice day"

Mami went back to her home. She went to Rwanwa to inform her about the concoction. Rwanwa didn't have any problem with it. The next day at dawn, Mami went to the edge of the river and did as she was told. She met two palace maids on her way whom she knew. She greeted and chatted heartlessly with them. She went to Lady Abiola's side of the harem and realized she was waiting for her. She left the remaining portion of the concoction with Lady Abiola. Mami decided to visit Lady Shui since it's been a while. She was hoping Lady Shui will be willing to see her since it's been a long time. Unfortunately, Lady Shui didn't want to see her. She sacked Mami and told her never to step a foot to her side of the harem. Mami wept as she went back home, but didn't inform Rwanwa about it. A few days later, the King's women were having miscarriages and forced births. The King was informed and he became very worried. He ordered doctors to find out why, but all their investigations proved null. They couldn't figure out what was wrong. The King ordered the shamans and magicians in the palace to find out the reason why. After three days, they went to the King to inform that one of his wives was behind it. His harem should be searched and families of the his wives should be searched as well. Unfortunately, the concoction was found in Lady Shui's hut and in her parents house as well. Little did the King know that Lady Abiola had bribed the shamans and the magicians. The King became angry with Lady Shui and felt hurt even though he knew she had been framed by Lady Abiola. The next day, the palace maids who met Mami were dragged to the King by Lady Abiola.They confessed they met Mami and saw her pour the concoction into the river. They even went ahead to say, Mami told them she was sent by Lady Shui. The King ordered Buka to arrest Mami and her family. Fortunately, Rwanwa heard it and sent a messenger to Mami. The messenger told Mami to leave with her parents. But her parents refused to leave with her.

"Mami, go to papa Fuji to inform him about this" Mami's father told her.

"Run as fast as you can because our lives are on the line" her mother said.

Mami ran as fast as she could and didn't stop to rest till she got to papa Fuji's house. She opened the door only to find papa Fuji lying in his own blood. He had been murdered! Who was going to prove her innocence? She saw a paper in the left hand of the man. "Mami is innocent. Lady Abiola is behind all of this" was written on the paper. The letter was written with blood.

Buka knew Mami was innocent and so did not pursue her when he realized she had left. He took Mami's parents, who were also his relatives to the palace. In the evening, while Buka was about to have a meeting with the army in his house, he saw Mami running towards his house. The whole army had gathered in Buka's house. I can't let them see her, Buka thought. Buka signaled Mjoka to stop Mami from entering his compound since she was wanted. Mjoka caught her and dragged her into the forest. Buka met them later. Mami showed the letter to Buka.

"This alone can't prove your innocence, Mami" Buka said. "Leave, before anyone finds out you're still in Wailand. That's all I can do for your poor parents right now."

Mjoka consoled Mami and led out of Wailand as fast as he could. Mami continued her journey alone. Nobody heard from her again, and so it was assumed she was dead.

Lady Shui was kept in her hut. She was not allowed to meet or talk to anyone. Even Mbaku was taken away from her. Lady Shui's parents and siblings were dragged to the palace prison where they had to await their sentence. The King stripped them of their power and titles. Out of anger, Lady Shui paid an assassin to murder Mami's parents. After series of investigation, the King found out Lady Shui was truly innocent but the real culprit was unknown. The King lifted the ban on her and her family and allowed her to live in his harem because he greatly loved her. The King was still looking for a chance to make Lady Shui his queen when he was informed about the death of Mami's parents and also found out Lady Shui was behind their death. The King knew Mami was Lady Shui's friend and couldn't believe she could murder the parents of her friend to vent her anger. Feeling disappointed, brokenhearted and hurt, he made Lady Abiola his queen because he knew and believed Abiola would never hurt her close friends no matter what they did.