Chapter 6: Teach her a lesson(2)

“Why are you doing this to me?” tears rolling down her face, Sinikiwe asked the young matriarch.

Sinikiwe looked around her hopelessly. The neighbours had come out to watch from a safe distance, curiosity and pity marred their faces. It was all they could offer her plus shelter for the kids as she sort out the mess she was in. Mrs.Njolomba’s thugs grabbed Sinikiwe’s furniture from the sidewalk and hurled it on the road.

Elizabeth Njolomba stared at the young girl with disgust. She wanted to yank her hair, roll her up in the ground as she beat her up. It had taken all her will power to keep her hands off her.

“Did you really think you would get away with it?”

“What?”

“Its sluts like you, who give all women a bad name. You seduce a man and when he turns you down, you scream rape.”

“Is that it? Is that the reason your family won’t stop persecuting me? I dropped the charges, what more do you want from me? Why you just let me be?”

“I guess you deserve a medal for doing the right thing,” she said sarcastically.

Elizabeth knew her type all too well. They made a living out of ruining other peoples lives. She was furious that her sister had to live through the worst nightmare a mother, sister or wife could live through.

Elizabeth thought it was laughable that the stupid girl thought that just because she said she would drop the charges everything would be okay. It never ever was okay. The damage would have already been done. Hadn’t she herself gotten widowed, a few years into her marriage with a four-year-old child to take care of because of women like her?

Her husband had been accused of sexually assaulting one of the company’s employees. He had pleaded his innocence but she had not believed him. She had left her matrimonial home with her son and went to live with her unmarried sister.

Elizabeth had refused to believe Ephraim’s claim of innocence. One too many times she had caught them in compromising situations and when she confronted him, he had accused her of being paranoid. Ephraim had taken his life the very night she had left him. The police officer in charge of his case had been the one to find him, hanging from the ceiling with a rope around his neck. The officer had been there to let him know the woman had dropped the charges and confessed, she had lied.

She had lost her husband due to the lies of an over-ambitious woman and her inability to believe in her husband. She vowed to not let history repeat itself. She would defend her family at all cost.

Elizabeth had lived with regret. She understood why Easineya could not come to her immediately for help. Easineya knew her sister had never really gotten over the injustice that had happened to her late husband.

“This is the beginning of things to come to Sinikiwe Gwaba. I am going to make your life a living hell, you are going to wish you were dead.”

Elizabeth and Sinikiwe glared at each other.

“I am not afraid of you Mrs. Njolomba. You are and that Abel are the ones who should be scared of me. I will send him to jail. Let’s see you try to cover up his crimes then!”

Elizabeth scoffed at her, her eyes hardening with a dangerous glint.” Be careful Sinikiwe, you don’t want your kids turning into street urchins with you behind bars.”

Sinikiwe tried not to show her fear. She kept her eyes glued to hers unwavering. She was anything but calm but she refused to show her how much fear that statement put in her heart.

Sinikiwe took a deep breath and looked past her to the mess that was once her household goods then back at her. Triumphant, Elizabeth turned and left. It wasn’t until her car had disappeared around the corner together with the van that had brought the labourers, did Sinikiwe let out a long-held breath. She sunk to the ground next to the ruins of her property.

*

Sinikiwe tucked the mosquito net under the matress her kids were sleeping on.

“Here, at least drink this,” Saboi Akende said as she walked into the room and offered her a glass of munkoyo, a traditional drink. They were in Saboi’s bedroom at the Pastors house. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, Sinikiwe had sort refuge at the church. The Akende’s who were the founders of the Pentecostal church had welcomed her wholeheartedly. Even before, they had always been kind to her and her family.

“Thank you,” she said to her. It was already late in the evening and this was the only food she had taken for the day.

“Did you think about what mum said?”

Sinikiwe nodded and sipped on her drink. The Akende’s had been too kind and her rock for the day.

They had not stopped running about all day trying to help her out. The solution had come earlier this evening. There was a church member who had a farm and needed a caretaker. Sinikiwe was very much aware of how powerful the Njolomba’s were and how far they would go to cover Abel’s crimes. Distance, she had decided, was what she needed. They had threatened her with her kids not once but three times already. She needed to put as much distance between herself and them. Chavuma, in the western part of the country, beckoned her.

“Great,” Saboi said clapping her hands together.” And I am coming with you. No arguments.”

Sinikiwe stared at the slim and beautiful young girl who was about her age in shock. She began to open her mouth to protest when she cut her off.” Sinikiwe, you can’t do this alone. Let me help you.”

Saboi got her hand and squeezed it gently. Sinikiwe squeezed back grateful.