Pulane left in a rush. She was feeling very uneasy and heavy at heart. It has been easy following Molemo all along because he never had anyone in particular he wanted and she hoped that someday her perseverance would bear her sweet fruits but alas! all her turmoil had been turned into trash by one woman.
She wanted revenge, but on who?
He only had one choice, seduce Lerato into spilling the beans! "I'm so clever." she thought to herself and smiled.
She could feel triumph already. She had her family's back up, although her uncle loved his adoptive son, his blood must come first. Besides marrying one of their own would mean securing his stay into the family.
Lily!! "She is the only one who thinks I'm too spoilt for her lil bro... damn!!"
As various thoughts swirled inside her mind Molemo was securing the identity of the woman he loved. Although he wanted to share his happiness with his friend, he knew that his greatest weakness was his cousin. It wasn't easy but he had to do it.
Lerato felt down because he felt he had the right to know, he was both anxious and happy. This meant he could persue the woman who was invading his dreams.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Leseli enjoyed home for real for the first time. she did not have to lean to her mother for advice on trivial matters. She had cousins to talk to and play with. She was also warming up to her villagers bit by bit. Life was blissful. She still had to return to Cuba but the remaining two weeks meant there was more to discover.
Not everything she learnt was fun. One day she joined two women to her family's fields to get wild vegetables. On the way they met a granny who was wearing a pink night dress with a brown shawl awrapped loosely around her waist. She was familiar with this woman as she was one of the few people who never became enemies with her family.
After greeting her the two women started telling stories:
"Hmk! Leseli, you seem very happy to see this old woman, do you know her story?"
"What story?" Leseli wasn't interested a bit.
"Clearly she has no idea. It is said that she is a witch has has thokolosis!"
"Really? What prove do you have?" Leseli was agitated.
"Tell her 'Malineo!"
"Leseli, you remember Mr Thakali who lives adjacent to your house, right?"
Leseli nodded. and the woman continued, her voice becoming more hushed. ".... Mr Thakali helped the old granny with hoeing her fields, after two months, he had completed and done a great job. However, the old woman did not want to pay him. there was a great argument."
"Why didn't he inform the chief?" Lerato asked showing clearly that she had no interest in the fabricated story whatsoever.
"Patience please girl." the other woman said patting her shoulder gently as she summoned 'Malineo to proceed.
The other woman continued telling her story:
Mr Thakali went to see the old woman's son about this issue. The son went to his mother and urged her to pay the former. The woman was angry saying the complainant hadn't done a great job. " Mom, truth is I do not care about the degree at which he did the job, what I know is what I saw. Therefore please meet your end of the deal."
The old woman was not satisfied with the payment, "I'll get justice." She warned as she gave Mr Thakali the money. Mr Thakali went to the bar and drunk all his two months' salary. He went back to his house, in the middle of the night people heard him calling for help.
when half of the village went to help, they saw the man struggling! he was clearly fighting against something invisible!!
Nobody wanted to be part of that war. we all know that a thokolosi is very strong, especially when a witch had given a warning beforehand. Mr Thakali couldn't breath well. His voice was growing weaker and weaker....
..........
at this juncture, Leseli was really scared. She hugged her basket tightly against her chest, afraid to make a single sound.
..........
If it wasn't for your father's bravery Leseli, the poor man could have died right then.
He went straight ahead to pull Mr Thakali from the unseen force. He was sweating and panting, when finally he gave a strong pull that send the two of them rolling on the ground.
The crowd hushed. They were all afraid that the "thing" was near any of them.
That's how we all got to respect the old granny."
.........…
The other woman said " oh! It is said that her thokolosi has progenies and she is looking for anyone who would like to own one."
Perhaps one is following us!! Leseli thought!!