The Country Side

Natsei,a seventeen year old girl gave birth to her first born baby,a girl.Her parents were very disappointed by her early pregnancy.At this point though it was just 'regrets come after'.Her parents had no otherwise but to give thanks that their one and only daughter came to deliver safely.Their happiness could not get to the brim as the new born exhibited signs of malformation such as underweight and difficulty in breathing.

From her day of birth Odysei appeared ill.Nobody could really tell for how long could she go on being that way. However the most direct answer to her state was immature birth.Natsei gave birth in the seventh month of her pregnancy.The barbarian Community could not tell that in an instance though and even if they did,what could they have done about it?Natsei herself didn't know for how many cycles had she been with child.

Miracles never cease,Odysei with all that difficulty was already two months old.Her malnourished nature was evident all the same.Natsei had the best pre and post-natal care she could conjure from her mother.On the other side her father changed and became a quiet or rather a hostile man.

Natsei loved bothe her parents dearly.She constantly cried whenever she thought of the disgrace she brought upon them.She wanted to regret and curse the past but she always felt the blessing she had in Odysei.She always held her tight upon her chest as if her life depended on her.She swore to herself that no harm could come to her daughter as long as she lived.

Knowing her community well,Natsei knew best that she was not going to enjoy the common dream of every teenage girl,that is,of marrying a beloved young man of her choice.She was now going to get married to a random old man with numerous wives already married to her.Nobody brought this up to her.Her father kept pondering about this in his heart and made up his mind that he wasn't going to let her daughter suffer miserably in the hands of a man almost his age or even older.

Time flies,with time's broad wings Odysei was a year old.With this flight,Natsei has also grown into a fine young woman.No one could tell at a glance that she was a mother which she really was.She being the sole child to her parents made sure that their farm remained productive throughout the year.Being a skilled loinskin apprentice she went to the market every fifth day of the Being an apt trader she had already acquired a quarter of her father's livestock using her trade exploits.

Marriage was creeping closer and closer the same way night creeps into day.Old men from far and close came to seek Natsei's hand in Marriage.Her father was a stern man and for the love she had for her wasn't going to let her go into suffering for any price.He swore in his heart that he would make sure he found a suitable husband for her only daughter.He never appeared to pamper Natsei but the affection was always evident.Old age was devouring him and wisdom was already his portion.The communal measures of wealth at the time placed them in the highest class possible.However,having no son to inherit him meant that all this were equivalent to nothing.

The villagers could be heard saying "They are rich,yes,but for whom?"Those who conspired in this way were jealous neighbours who depended on hunting and gathering for their daily needs.

Natsei's father ran through the suitors seeking the best he could for his daughter.To his surprise among the visiting suitor parties there was a young man.Nonetheless,he wasn't excited at once because it would not be strange that some old men would send their sons or grandsons to bring a proposal in their name.

When the turn for the only young man among the suitors to be heard came,many were surprised to learn that this very handsome boy was here for himself and not for any elder from his family.The old men were jealous, they just hoped that the prides father could make judgement in respect to their community norms.Even basing on wealth,most of them believed they could show this young man dust by far.

The only thing that most of them feared was what if Natsei had her father's love.This weakness among father's doesn't always favour the malicious suitors.A loving father could choose what the daughter would like.Infact this was already Natsei's case,her father wasn't having any eye for the wealth associated with wedding off his only child.He strongly believed in a happy life for her.

"What did you say is your name and where do you come from son?"

"I am Ondembeli Mamitsei;I hail from the source of River Lovoli,My late parents were skilled loinskin makers and basket weavers."

"May your parent's spirits rest in delight,when did they die?"

"Over ten seasons ago,I have lived with my uncle since."

"Mister how many wives do you have?"

"Wives!?"he appeared amused and many people present deemed him as arrogant.

"I have no wife sir"he continued,"I am a common poor boy who's been orphaned and nobody thinks I can afford to get married."

"All my possessions are believed to be enough to pay for my dowry and leave me with someone's daughter in anguish"

Natsei's was listening very deeply and many people wondered what would happen next.In normal parties such suitors are supposed to be expelled at once.But surprisingly wisdom prevails when the future is to be decided.

"Ehhem..."the old man cleared his throat, and the silence grew louder,"I believe you're very enlightened with our tradition,my daughter having a child can't be married as a first wife,let alone to a young man like you!"

Judging from his facial expressions Ondembeli was very familiar with such treatment in this situations.He even appeared to have a ready answer.

"With all due respect sir,I just need a wife,it doesn't matter the number or traditions I need to break,I need someone to support me in this life's journey."

Natsei's father was speechless, and then on second thought he said,

"Ondembeli,Your biggest fear is that you're poor and that seems to make you desperate to get married, I can offer to be a patron and look for a wife for you and even pay a pride price and then we'll see.Maybe after then you'll qualify to get Natsei's hand in marriage lawfully."

The stunned the reasoning of everyone who was present. Just because this poor boy can't qualify to snatch the beauty being contetsed for,the referee wants to let him play rule free?A prides father promising someone their daughter in future wasn't something to be taken lightly.

This was not however since the poor Ondembeli instead of acting timid appeared to have something to say.

"Sir I want to say this politely,everyone who refused my proposal in the past referred to no customs in doing so.I want to tell you that if it's true I can get Natsei as my wife anytime in the future I'll wait until that day.I don't have any plans of marrying severally and thus I can't let you trouble yourself in making me attain a first marriage."

This perverted everyone's thinking. In fact this thing is never heard of.A suitor talking the way he wants to his father-in-law to be.

Natsei's father could not go on with this argument, not because he was annoyed but because in his heart he realised he had his long awaited son-in-law.He knew so well too that for his daughter he was willing to break all the traditions as long as her happiness is concerned.Therefore he asked the young man to depart and be back in a fortnight with his uncle so that they could decide the pride price and the wedding proceeds.Ondembeli left a suitors party with his head held high for the first time in his life.

Soon after the party dispersed,a happy father summoned his daughter so as to give her the news of his newest decision of her husband to be.When Natsei heard this she felt like jumping to the moon and back.Prior to this she had constantly been irritated by the thought of getting married to an old man.At last a home was now promised for her and her daughter.

After two weeks, Ondembeli returned with his uncle.The discussions were very precise and they all came to the bottom line that seven heads of cattle,two sheep and five goats were to make up the pride price.A bonus for Ondembeli was that Natsei would be allowed to go away with everything she owned from her father's livestock and granaries.That is once the pride price was paid.

In a week's time the payment was delivered and Natsei were set to depart with her daughter for their new home. A few traditions and necessary customs were performed in order to make Natsei and Ondembeli lawfully husband and wife.

Odysei was very young that everything happening was expected to escape her watchful eyes but ut all seemed futile.She severally demanded that her mother gave her a valid reason as to why they were going away from grandpa's house.She also wanted to know why not every member of the family left home.Natsei was at odds with her daughter since the answer she gave her seemed to wipe all the doubts in Odysei's mind.She convinced her that Ondembeli was her father and that they had come home to grandpa when she was still young but now their time to return had arrived.When Natsei said this it looked to her like it was just a way to soothe Odysei but deep down in her heart the statement hit differently.

Natsei adapted quickly to her new home and in no time Ondembeli's seemingly barren lands were a ground of bountiful harvests.She filled the granaries that were previously dusty and rusty. Every sunset found her and her daughter returning from the fields,always with a basket on her back strung around her head supported with one hand which still skillfully carried a hoe.The other hand held her little daughter who tumbled along picking and munching wild berries.

Ondembeli was the coolest husband Natsei would have ever wished for.He made efforts to see that Natsei and Odysei felt at home.He never quarrelled. He was a skilled loinskin maker and every time he traded them in the market he bought Jewellery for his wife and daughter.He with the help of his wife made the largest number of loinskin and baskets in the region.The pair clicked very well and this made the lousy neighbours lack what to talk about.Previously the village talk was that Ondembeli was cursed by his ancestors. After all how could someone lose both parents and get abandoned by his two siblings. They even believed that he was not meant to marry.With time they began to say that maybe the curse had been lifted or maybe his wife was set to find a tragic death sooner or later.

The family of three grew fond of each other. The fondest of all was Ondembeli and Odysei.They sometimes made Natsei jealous in the way the little girl and her father talked. Ondembeli was a typical quiet man but you couldn't say the same when he was with Odysei.Every afternoon,the father and daughter sat under the mango tree after taking lunch.They would talk and laugh non stop.This amused Natsei who would always join them later on after performing little hoise chores like sweeping and cleaning utensils. She would snort like a little girl and want the recap of whatever was makin the two of them laugh so loud.Odysei would gladly reiterate the tales her father told her to her mother.

After five years of married life.Natsei was with child.She delivered and it was a pair of daughters.Odyseis identical baby sisters were named Trezelei and Trezefei.Natsei who had constantly felt bad the she was taking so long to give Ondembeli a child could now breath.However deep down she was a bit disappointed that she bore him daughters.What man wouldn't like to have a son instead of two girls?.The case with Ondembeli was different. He didn't few having daughters as a shortcoming in any way.He was overjoyed.A feast was mad and the villagers were invited to celebrate the birth of the twins.