Three days have passed since Mr Sosala was admitted. He is now gaining conscious and has been moved to a ward from the ICU.
Grace has been feeling dizzy and looking pale for days now. She just finished preparing food, changed her clothes and then left to the hospital where her mother have been at the bed side of the father for days.
Reuben and his mother left the the hospital to visit and taken food for the patient. Grace enters the ward with a bowl of food in a basket and found Mrs Kumwenda, Reuben has gone out to buy some drinks.
" You are late my dear, I have already brought food." She teased her.
"Oh no, I am late indeed. The problem was the cooker, it was too slow." said these while unpacking the bowls from the basket on to the table next just beside her father's bed.
"Let me fetch some water, I will be back." hurried out with a bottle.
Grace managed to fetch the water, on her way back to the ward, she felt dizzy again and passed out of oxygen and she collapsed. lucky enough the nurse was passing that direction. She rushed to help. Other nurses came to help carry her to the ward and layed her on bed. The nurse rushed to call the doctor whom she found him in ward 14 which is Mr Sosala's ward and gave the new from there.
The nurse barge in suddenly, " Doctor there is an emergency in ward 17. A young lady have just collapsed, her blood pressure keeps increase and in her condition, it's not safe. It might affect the child in her womb."
" is she very young?"
"She looks 23."
" Have you already got her vitals signs?" asked while connecting the cannula on Mr Sosala.
"Yes doctor, but not her initials, because I only we only picked her from the corridor Where she was coming from the tap with a bottle in her hand."
After the nurse said this, Mrs Sosala got concern. The features of the story resembles her daughter, but about the pregnancy, is where she is not sure she is the one. The doctor left her to finish up with fixing the drip for Mr Sosala and left to attend to the reported issue.
Mrs Sosala still thinking about the described lady in emergency room. She waited to see Grace, but she was nowhere to be seen until she asked." Nurse, the lady you picked, you said she was coming from where and how does she look like?
" She is tall, though not very tall, light in complexion and medium in size."
As Soon as she finished talking, Mrs Sosala rushed out of the ward and barge in ward 17, only to found her daughter sitted on bed crying over the pregnancy news. Without saying anything to her, she gave her a very hot slap on the cheek.
" How dare you getting pregnant, Grace! How could you do this to us, huh? " Raise a hand to slap her again when the doctor grip her arm. " what are you doing?"
"Doctor I'm teaching her to use her head. What have you done you stupid girl!" extend the left hand to slap her, but he was able to hold it as well.
"Ma'am this isn't the right time for such act. Do you want to lose her and the baby in her?"
"Who cares about the damn pregnancy? Doctor if you only knew the shame she has brought upon our family, you could have allowed me to beat her more!"
Grace said no word, only crying. She suddenly run out of the ward surpassing the doctor and her mom. She only passed the corridor when she bump on to Reuben who hold her back. At that moment, the doctor and her mother came running.
" How long will you run, you stupid shameless girl!" grab her by the shirt sleeve.
"Auntie stop it!" He pulled her to his back.
" Let me deal with her, until that bastard growing in her womb lose life, this idiot!" struggling to pull out from the doctor's hands.
Mrs Kumwenda intrudes as well. "Mrs Sosala, please calm down. sanding in between Reuben and her. " she is only a girl who has made a mistake, please bear with her, or else you are putting her condition in more danger."
In a moment, the nurse from Mr Sosala's ward run to call the doctor. " Doctor the patient is once again critical. He can not breath."
The news ended the whole fight as they all run to the ward. The nurses are already rushing him to the ICU on the main stretcher while the doctor is following behind in panic. After the doctor, is Mrs Sosala chasing after her husband's body to the ICU then Grace, Reuben and Mrs Kumwenda.
The glass door of the ICU room is closed on their faces, separating him from his wife and daughter. Grace is broken hearted when she thought of the disappointment she brought upon her parents. She felt responsible of his condition. Looking at her grieving mother who is watching and weeping through the transparent door, she ran away to the Immakando with the pregnant results in her hand without any one to notice her.
She got into a taxi and heard to Eddie's house. In no time she was at the gate knocking.
The gate man open the gate and push it back the moment he saw Grace and run inside to inform the madam who ordered him to let her in. knowing that she sent Lukundo to seduce Eddie so that she find them together.
The moment she entered, the maid direct her to his room as instructed Mrs Immakando. Grace climed the stairs to Eddie's room where she found Eddie and Lukundo in bed sleeping. Everything in her stomach melt. The paper from her hand slip down.
Lukundo suddenly wake up. "Didn't your mom teach you any manners about entering someone's bedroom without knocking?" Shout.
"You shameless woman. How dare you doing this to me! " attack her
Eddie got out bed in a boxer. " Grace?" pull her out of Lukundo.
" You traitor!" give him a hot slap.
"How could you do this to me, Eddie, tell me!" Attack him with slaps.
"She must have lost her mind, Martha call some men to drag her out!" Lukundo ordered the maid.
"Just shut up!" yell at Lukundo.
" Grace I can explain, just give me a chance to explain, please."
"Explain what, when I have seen everything? burst into tears.
"I thought the journals where lying to me when they said you are marrying my best friend. But no, they where right." she cry more. " I hate you." Ran out cry.
"My love please listen to me, please!" Without minding about the boxer, he chase after her.
"Where do you think you are going, Eddie!" Hold Him back, but he pushed her roughly and run after Grace.
Lukundo fell down and landed on the white paper folded. She slowly pick it up, staring at it for a while then she unfold it and read it's writing only to find out that it is a pregnant result for Grace. Strength Came within her that she rose from the ground, reading the paper properly in disbelief that maybe her eyes are deceiving her.
"No no no! " She as soon hide the paper in her hand bag and rushed outside before she reveal the news to Eddie. Fear overwhelmed her, she knew for sure that if Eddie gets aware of this truth, then it will be the end for her.
Outside the gate, Eddie is still trying to stop Grace so that should could hear him out. " Grace please my love. listen to me!"
"What is there to listen Eddie? powerlessly asked. I trusted you, yet you betrayed my trust."
" You took advantage of my love for you and cheated me with that.....
" Enough Grace! Lukundo majestically walk towards her. How dare you calling me names. Should I remind you that I'm still your princess and deserve some respect?"
Grace chuckled and moved very close to her face. " Do you think I'm afraid of you, your majesty?" Glaring in her eyes.
she continues,"now you listen to me and listen very careful. You ceased to be my princess the very moment that you decided to betray me!
" I hate you princess. You are a disgrace to royalty."
Lukundo raised a hand to slap her, when Eddie grip it back.
" Let her slap me, for this is what you wanted. I hate you both with your generation to come! I hate you for ruining my life and my family!
"My poor father is battling for his life in the ICU, because of what your father did, you moron!" vigorously pushed Eddie.
He also fell, but he kept his balance, but he remained silent, because of guilty.
The taxi man hold her back. " Miss, please calm down. let us just leave."
She turned to the man and dropped a tear, then she nodded in agreement. " Let's go." She hurried in to a taxi and bang the door after.
The taxi man sigh as he looked at Lukundo and Eddie who remained idle standing then got in and drove away.
Eddie helplessly walked back in and Lukundo followed behind. He reached the living room where he found his parents standing with looks of guilty and shame. He only looked at them and surpassed them to his room and closed himself in.
Princess Lukundo came in as well. She grabbed her bag, remove a white Paper and hand it over to Mrs Immakando. staring on her face curiously, she took it and Immediately unfold it.
Her eyes widen after a while. Seeing this reaction from his wife, Mr Imakando grab the paper right away and read the writings. His face is lightened over the news. " So, I'm going to be a grand father." whispered to himself.
I'm mediately Lukundo grabbed the paper angrily. "This child should not born!" panting angrily.
Mr and Mrs Immakando goggled
"Yes! Glaring at them. If we allow her to come to this world, she will be the cause of our problem! Don't you see?" After that, she turned and walked out.
As soon as she left, Mrs Immakando turn to the husband, expect him to say something favorable, but she disappointed her.
"I have never seen such a selfish woman, as her!"
"But she is right! Very right. that child will only be our cause of problems."
Mr Imakando only glare at his wife and walked out of her sight.
Reuben is very worried about Grace. He has been pacing up and down very worried at the hospital reception.
" Will you calm down, please." Mrs Kumwenda begged his son.
Just about to answer, Grace walked in dragging her feet worn out, with swollen eyes from crying. As soon as he saw her, he hurried over to her. " Grace, you worried me."
She immediately fell in his arms and weep hard. "It is done, Reuben. He has chosen my friend over me." She weep more and more while holding him tight.
Reuben hold her back very tight. "It's alright. Everything is going to be okay."
Mrs Kumwenda who is standing aside, couldn't hold her tears.
In the ICU, Mr Sosala slowly opening his eyes calling his daughter's name. " Grace. where... is... my daughter." lowly speaking.
"Honey, you are awake. " She smiled while crying. " Our daughter is alright. " She moved close to his side while wiping tears.
The door opening little by little, very nervous of what her mom will do to her, she came in.
As soon as she entered her other spotted her. "Here she is."
Mr Sosala leaned over to the side and saw his tearful daughter. From a distance, she smiled while wiping tears. Mr Sosala extend his hand that she could put in hers.
Grace moving close wiping tears that could not stop rolling down her cheeks until she reached out to her father's hand. He draw her into his arms and hug her tightly and they weep together.
" I'm very sorry, paper, for bringing such shame to you and mum." weeping more.
" Shhhh. What you are carrying within you is not a shame, but a blessing." He said so, while staring in her eyes, holding her by the cheeks.
crying harder with tearful hiccups, "but father..... interrupted.
" Shhhh . I know, I know. You will not raise this child alone, we are all here to take care of it, and love it." Embrace her again. This time, even the mother join in the hug. the three of them hugged.
Reuben felt relieved. He wiped tears out from his eyes and then walked out with his mom to the house.
The next day, the king summoned Mr and Mrs Immakando over the pregnant issue and demanded that the child be killed.
"please your majesty, don't kill the Innocent child she's Carrying. Just send them out of this town for this is your kingdom. please, we have caused enough damage for that family." Pleaded on their behalf.
" Why are you pleading for your enemy?" the queen questioned. "Or is it because she is carrying your grandchild?"
"No my queen."
After the king ponder over the issue, " Alright. I will spare her life. But they have to be driven out of this kingdom and never to show their faces again."
Mr Imakando breath out in relief. " Thank you your majesty.
King Habenzu raised from his sit. " Alright, can all of you change your looks, honey tomorrow is your big day, come on smile. cross his hand around her shoulders comforting her.
Theresa has been on a holiday to her Grandma's place in siavonga, she's just come back for her brother's wedding. She is disappointed when she reached, only to find out that actually his brother will be marrying the princess, instead of Grace.
knocking on his door. Eddie just looked and turned away as though didn't heard the knock. Theresa opened the door after knocking for the third time.
When he saw his sister coming in, he rose up from the bed. " Theresa." came down for a hug. A sister and a brother huged for over 20 minutes when Theresa pulled out. "Why are you marrying her when you are not even Happy?"Just look at you brother." Stare over him.
"I can only imagine what she is going through, right now. "
"I'm doing this for her, Theresa ."
" No way! Is that how they lied to you? can't you see this is just a blackmail, for you to marry their daughter? Wake up bro! Grace needs you, please bro."
Eddie pulled his hands out of Theresa's and turned away. " I'm sorry little sister, but it's too late, the wedding is tomorrow." rub off the tears.
"But you are still within 24 hours to change your decision, Eddie." walk to his face in convincing him.
Eddie turned her sister down for the first time. Theresa had no choice but to support him in his decision.
The night is long for Eddie to find sleep. Tomorrow's day is making it worse for him to find sleep, he kept turning from side to side in his king sized bed until he was finally up. He reached out to the bottle of wine, take a glass and pour some in the glass that is in his hand. Drinking and reflecting on his happy days with Grace.
A memory of him and Grace making love also came rushing back in his memory. Out of anger, he throw a glass of wine against the wall and it fell in pieces. He fell on his knees and weep.
On the other side, Grace couldn't sleep either. She lay on her back with her right hand feeling her belly feeling the baby growing in her, without a father. A that like that makes her heart pain. She reflect on all the promises he made to her, tears rolled down.
" Tomorrow your father will be marrying another woman. What will become of us, I don't." She cried harder while holding her stomach.
Seven days has elapsed, It is the wedding day between Eddie and the princess, Lukundo. The palace is decorated for the marriage ceremony and the priest is invited to bless the marriage.
The princess is being prepared by her maidens in her room when the queen walked in dressed in her Royal garment, a very long stylish dress bought from England made especially for queens, flowles and white and blue in colour. she wear lit makeup, matching with her out fit.
"Is my princess ready."
" Very ready my queen." She smiled.
"Your husband is on the way. They will be here soon."
"They are almost done queen."
The Royal wedding is no longer news but the talk of the day. In markets, Shopping malls even in hospitals, it all they could talk about. Grace could not hide from the news, neither could she run away from the gossip the girls are gossiping about her. Where would she hide when everywhere is the news?
The people has already gathered and the priest already on his position only waiting for the groom and bride. A black Jaguar enters the gate, packed at a reserved parking space the groom and his family out of it. Eddie dressed in a black suit walked to the alter with his father behind, also in a black suit. The sister and his mother joined the rest of the people, and so did his father after taking his son to the alter.
Grace covered her head with a black veil that no one could recognize her and headed to the palace. She reached the gate at the time Princess Lukundo was being escorted at the alter, by the king. She hide from the guards sight, yet she could see clearly from a distance through the wall fence bars.
The King left her in Eddie's hands and left the alter for the priest to begin the ceremony.
As the priest begin, Grace could not hold her tears.
Priest, "We are gathered here today to witness the marriage ceremony between princess Lukundo Habenzu and his royal highness, prince Edmond Immakando, who will Unite today as husband and wife for the rest of their lives.
just by these words, Grace turned the face away, crying all by herself.
The priest continued speaking. " We are going to read the word of God from the book of Genesis 2:24, which says: For this reason, a man Shall leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and they become one.
"Therefore, I will ask you, princess Lukundo Habenzu, do you take prince Edmond Immakando, to be your lovely husband. In good times and bad times, till death do you part?"
Princess Lukundo, staring lovingly in to Eddie's eyes she respond, " I do."
"Prince Edmond Immakando, do you take Princess Lukundo Habenzu as you lovely wife? In good seasons and in bad, till death do you part?"
Instead of replying, Eddie lost himself in thoughts leaving everyone waiting for an answer. The priest repeated the question . He look around and back to the princess. He opened his mouth to speak, when a voice came from the gate. "Eddie please don't! Shout Grace.
everyone turned over to the sound of the voice. It was confusion Everywhere due to people's murmuring. Grace running towards the alter to meet up with Eddie. Eddie Throw the ring down and run after Grace, leaving the princess to the alter. Before they could meet, the guards closed his way and two of the guards got hold of Grace as the king ordered.
" Grace my love! let her go, you morons. pushing through the guards, but they over powered him.
" Take her out from here!." Ordered the king angrily and in panic.
"No! Eddie, please stop them, please. " Shouting as the guards are taking her out.
The queen went over and whisper in Eddie's ear without the people noticing except for Theresa,
"One move and I will order the guards to shoot her, you hear." the Queen's whisper in his earing.
Eddie stood still as the guards carry Grace out of the gate. Theresa couldn't pretend anyone, before she could do something. "Let her go, you animals! my brother belongs to her, your Princess only stole him from her! chasing after them.
Everyone murmured after hearing this from Theresa. Grace is thrown out of the gate and the gate was closed for her. She remained outside shouting Eddie's name in agony. Reuben came just on the right time.
"Grace stop! Stop it, will you. " pulling her away from the gate
" Take her out of this place or eise we will throw her into Royal prison." The guard ordered Reuben.
Grace became uncontrollable and stubborn to be managed by one man until the guards helped and they put her in the taxi and ordered the driver to drive.
Theresa was taken inside, by the mother to avoid the scene. The king ordered the priest to continue.
He waited until everyone was silent before he continued.
He repeated the question which he responded sadly. Rings were exchanged, during the kissing the bride, he found no pleasure in kissing, only perked her. People ate as much as they could. The bride and groom Where drove out to rest as the rest of the people remained celebrating.
Reuben reached Grace to her bedroom where him and her mother comforted her until she fell asleep, then he left.