HOME AGAIN.

CHAPTER 1

If you've been to Mombasa, you must by now know about the ferry, which is somewhat synonymous with the town Likoni.Driving along Mama Ngina drive AKA Light-House, you'll have a glimpse of the congested ferry loaded with people, vehicles, bicycles and goods.For some, the view means something else – remembrance of the ferry accident that took place in 1994.

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The year was 1994. The Aura of life was a little bit unpleasant. The Mtongwe Ferry accident that took place on the 29th day of the fifth moon, that year when MV Mtongwe bound for the Mombasa Island capsized just 40 meters from the mainland pontoon, killing 272 of the 400 people on board ,was still fresh on People's mind.

Acholla grabbed her" lesso" from the airline and tied it around her waist. She then took the bucket and headed to the water point. She was lost in her thoughts. Her husband Owiti was one of those who were said to have lost their lives in the Ferry accident.She was so lonely.She talked less to her neighbors. The death of her husband hit her with great pain.She was only 22 years old when she got married. And at 23 years old she was already a widow.

They were just newly married and Owiti Decided to bring her from the outskirts of Siaya to stay with her in Mombasa ,Nam Chumbi, thats how luos call It. Obviously no newly married woman would want to stay back in the village when her husband was hustling in the city.

The bucket dangled in her hand and she made heavy steps like a drank man. She was almost falling into a ditch when someone distracted her from her dream world.

"Acholla it seems you have a problem,what's the matter? " Salim was right in front of her when she stopped.

She did not utter a word but looked at Salim with tears in her eyes.

"Why are you asking me about my problems? Everybody in the neighborhood is talking about It. Or are you a visitor in Jerusalem.? She asked in her lifeluo accent.

" Listen Acholla, I am feeling the pain you are feeling. But you can't live Like this. At least try to accept it and move on. That was Allah's plan. And Allah don't always wish us bad." he said in his swahili accent.

" If that was really God's plan ,then he must be crazy" she said walking away.

Pain hits differently. Loosing someone you loved most is the biggest pain. Trying to forget the moments you had together is the hardest thing. Acholla had not only grown weak but also emotional. She cried everytime Owiti' s memories crossed her mind.

# CHAPTER 2.

Those days ,in Kisauni darkness came too soon. Women stayed behind selling vegetables,fish and tomatoes when their husbands walked home tired ,some drunk some not, after a long day of playing chess.Children with their big bellies played hide and seek waiting for their mothers to return from the market. Thugs roamed around making plans when to attack and when not to. The environment here had now become friendly to Acholla.Her husband was known of his skills of making mats and baskets. Those days life in Kisauni was peaceful. Unlike today, people live in fear because of mass killing of people by cultist group called Wakali Kwanza.

Three moons had gone and no news had reached Acholla's ears about her husband body. The people who died in the ferry accident , their bodies had been found nearly two moons ago and their memories had started vanishing out of their relatives minds. Sometimes she would turn to the radio VOK ( voice of Kenya Channel) to get news but there was no news at all. Her husband's last rituals had not been performed. In luo culture , when someone is dead and the body was nowhere to be found, his or her relatives would burry a banana stem and complete the rituals. But in this case Acholla didn't bother to do anything. She sent message home and remained quite. In her heart she believed that Owiti was not dead. She knew he was somewhere in the world and one day he would return.

Her mother begged her to return home and start a new life but she kept her ears closed. Women like Acholla are hard to find. Especially those who can live with grief inside their hearts and still manage to smile. Days passed and she learned to embrace the sinew and comfort in silence. She started a new life without her Lover around. Sometimes men would knock at her door but she would not give them a chance to see her face. She learned to control her feelings. She didn't want to betray her love. In her heart she knew her husband was not dead.

She sold tomatoes like other women to earn money. She grew more strong and slowly her husband's memories became blurry. She was thinking of future . She started having interest in children and she wished she had one with Owiti..

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