The bags are being taken to the black Jeep, parked by. It was after the last bag that the princess and the prince came out, accompanied by the king, queen, Mr and Mrs Immakando to the car. It was time for the honeymoon for the newly wed.
Goodbye hugs were exchanged and the two left to Johannesburg, South Africa from where they will spend two weeks of their honeymoon.
Mrs Sosala and her daughter came home to refresh, take a bath and cook some food for the husband and father who is now improving in the hospital.
" Grace hurry up, honey. What has left for you to do there?" waiting for her from the living room with a basket of food in her hand.
"I'm coming mother. I'm just putting on shoes." Shout from the bedroom.
In a while she came out and took over the basket from her and they walked out to book a taxi, now that they had no car left. They sold all their cars in trying to pay the loan. The last car they had was sold recently for home expenses and paying hospital bills for Mr Sosala.
Two strange men visits the hospital in search for Mr Sosala's ward. Walking along the corridor, checking every ward, yet couldn't find him anywhere, until they finally meet a nurse who showed them the ward after lying to her that they were relatives.
The two men have been sent by the king to finish off Mr Sosala with the news of taking over his house, since he could not repay the loan as agreed, though Edmond had paid it all for him through the agreement signed when he married the princess.
The men found Mr Sosala awake and out of danger when they introduced themselves with fake identities.
"Good day to you, sir. My name is Christopher Magwejani, with my colleague, Mickson Mulauzi. We are coming from African Bank, with us are the documents you signed for the loan of k100,000, in which you promised to pay back the money in six months time, and that you have failed to keep to your words. Now the bank have decided to take over the house you placed as a collateral and you have to move out in a week time."
Mr Sosala is cought by surprise, because he did not sign up to pay such a huge amount in a short period. More over, the money was shared between him and Mr Imakando to pay half of the amount each in the period of five years.
" I think the bank have made a mistake somewhere. The period agreed to finish the payment is five years, and the total of that amount is to be paid 50% each, between I and my business partner, Mr Imakando."
" Sir it is your name and signature appearing on these documents, and not your partner." Handed over the papers to him.
This came as a shock to him that he panicked. He tried to talk to the men, but they could not give him a ear and walked out leaving him with the papers of permit from the police, to send them out of the house, to God knows where.
Out of shock, Mr Sosala suffocated, he could no longer breath properly. Lucky enough the doctor was coming to check up on him. On his way to the ward, he Saw those men coming from the same ward he was heading to. He looked at them with suspicion, but he decided to forget about it and continued ahead.
When he reached there and found his patient in such a condition, he then realized that those men where just as he thought of them, not genuine at all.
He called for the men stretcher and the nurses to assist him. The team came Immediately and rushed him to the ICU for the third time. This time he was so critical such that the doctor stopped feeling his pulse. As soon as possible, he reach out for the defibrillators as the only option of restoring him back.
A first shock is given to him but nothing happened. The second time he did not respond until finally the third when he responded and the entire team present in the room breath out in relief.
Mrs Sosala and her daughter entered the ward and found the bed empty. Powerlessly, she drop the basket of food, trembling with fear that her husband could have died.
" Ma'am, Your husband has been taken to the ICU." The nurse told them as she walked into the next ward.
Grace and her mother looked at each other and breath out in relief. They immediately rushed to the ICU carrying their basket of food. They reached at the door, holding each other tight as they watch him through the transparent part of the door.
"You may go in." The doctor speak from behind them and they turned to look at him who spoke.
At that moment, Reuben came by. The two of them entered and Mrs Sosala left with the doctor to his office.
When they were before him, Grace took his hand and kissed it and then lie her head on his belly, still holding on to his hand. Mr Sosala opening his eyes slowly until they fully opened.
" Grace, he has opened his eyes. smiling, he said.
" Dad." Arose up to him happily.
By himself, he gently remove the oxgen mask from his mouth and softly speak. " How is my grandchild doing. Is it misbehaving in there?" Give out a gentle smile. Grace turned her face down in shame, especially in Reuben's presence.
" Go and bring water for Daddy." He asked her.
"Let me do it." Reuben volunteered, but Mr Sosala insisted on Grace so she left as her father's wish.
A week passed since the princess and the prince left to their honeymoon, even so, the princess have been sleeping in bed alone while the prince sleeps on a couch.
"Enough!" The princess is fade up with his isolation attitude.
" It's now a week since we came here, yet still staying like strangers, what is wrong with you?" Yank the blanket away from him.
" Oh really?" Rose up angrily. " Tell me, are you expecting something from this trip?"
" You can't be asking me that, when you know what we came here for!"
"Did I ask for this trip, or it's you and your parents who forced it? you wanted a honeymoon, which i gave to you! So stop bothering me ok!" Walking away to the bathroom when she shouted.
" We are now married for crying out loud, not strangers!"
Eddie turned back, " You said, like strangers, didn't you? Of course we are still strangers, i barely new you because you forced your self in to my life!" Yelled on her face and walked in to the bathroom.
Lukundo almost cried, but she comforted her self not to. " Have had enough, Eddie. I am still princess Habenzu and always gets what I want. You wait until you see what I'm capable of." speaks within herself.
Still pacing up and down in anger, trying to figure out something, a knock came from outside.
"Come on in!" she answered in frustration.
The waitress came in with a tray of breakfast. " Sorry ma'am, good morning to you. " she said while passing to save the table.
"There is nothing good about this morning!" She replied in frustration.
"Sorry." the waitress apologize and turned to Walk out when she is called to come back.
"Hold on." moved close.
"I want you to do something for me, and I will pay you ransomly." Spoke in a low tone, making sure no voices could be heard in the bathroom where Eddie is.
Nervously the waitress waiting to hear her want.
"I want you to help me put this sexual pill into the drink you will bring for my husband. Make sure no one see you" She whipped.
The waitress goggled for this is not right to her work principle. "But ma'am...
"Shhhh. I know you are done for this morning. Do it even at lunch or at dinner, as long as its done. Now leave." escorted her out from the door.
Eddie came out from the bathroom wiping water from his head with a towel and apply some lotion on the face then he took a cup of coffee, take a sip while Lukundo glaring at him from behind.
Sosala called Reuben to come close and he speaks, " son, you are truly a son of his father. " praise him. " Can I ask you for a favour?"
"Why not uncle." Holding his hand.
" I know you love my daughter. I don't have to ask for me to know, because I'm an adult."
Reuben turned the face down in embarrassment.
" You don't have to be ashamed, because your love is genuinely coming from the heart."
"Thank you, sir."
"As a father of a depressed girl, can you take Grace to be your life partner?" He said as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Reuben goggled, for he did not expect that. He felt both crying and smiling because of joy, as his love for Grace never changed. "Wow uncle, this is the best news I've ever had in a long time." Smiled.
Mr Sosala smiled, "But....
"No but, uncle. If it's the pregnant that worries you, I'm ok with it. "
"Listen uncle, I loved your daughter since the very day I set my eyes on her. What i feel for her is beyond what she's Carrying in her womb. I promise to love her, and the child she's Carrying like mine, only if you give me your blessings to go ahead."
Mr Sosala was left with no words to say to a good young man like him. For a while he kept silent, only tears could roll down from his eyes. At that moment, Grace came in with a bottle of water she bought. The awkward silent in the room cause her to ask, " Reuben is he ok?" she asked as she passes towards him.
" Yes he is fine." Secretly wip his tears.
" Papa, here you go." raised his head to make him drink.
Mrs Sosala Found out about everything that Mr Imakando and the king did, which caused her husband involved in an accident from the doctor who showed her the documents he found with him and about the strange men who visited him before he got critical. She left the doctor's office to the toilet and wept.
"What is taking mum so long?"
"Go and check on her." he asked her.
Before she could go, Mrs Sosala walked in with tearful eyes, pretending to smile.
Everyone suspected her of having been cry.
" Mum, were you crying?"
No my dear. Something got into my eyes." She looked away wiping tears.
"Reuben, Take my princess with you. My grandchild needs food. I can feel him crying with huger." He jokingly said.
" Come on, you heard father." Grab her by hand and they walked out.
When they remained the two of them in a ward, Mrs Sosala could no longer hold her self when she burst into tears. "I know all that they did to you, and i promise to fight back for you." She cried.
" Don't. leave it for God." He cried. "I'm very sorry for hating you and our daughter."
Holding hands, they cry together.
" Please take care of our daughter, even when I'm not there."
"please don't speak like that. You are still here with us. We will get though this together." Hold his hands close to the heart.
He begun fitting, gasping for oxgen. The wife shout out for the doctor who came as soon as possible. He immediately connected him back to oxygen concentrator. The electrical cardio machine (ECG) begin to produce noise sound, and the zigzag lines turned straight.
The doctor turned the head down without a word and removed the mask out of his face.
"Doctor, what is going on? What is happening with my husband?" Shoking him, but he remained silent.
" Honey, honey, Honey look at me, please!" Shoking him. " Please daddy, think of us. Think of our daughter, your unborn grandchild! Cry hard as she continue shoking him while a sorrowful instrument is playing from the back ground.
The nurses carried her out and the doctor covered his corpse. the instrument continues playing as she is being taken out. Just by the door way, Grace and Reuben meet with weeping Mrs Sosala. Seeing how much she was weeping, Grace lost strength and the plastic fell off her hand.
She immediately barge in, only to find the nurse finishing covering her father's dead body in a white cover. Instead of crying, she begin laughing on top of the voice, caused by shock. Grace run out laughing like a mad person. Reuben run after her and hold her back before she exit the hospital. The doctor and nurses carried her to the ward, from where she passed out, collapsed.
Now Mrs Sosala is crying for her husband and daughter who is lying unconscious in the hospital. Mrs Kumwenda and other women came over to support her during this moment.
The news is everywhere that Mr Sosala is gone. The man who had the voice of the people who were vulnerable, a strong hold of the community is no longer available. The community is silent, mourning him at his house.
Mr Imakando is overwhelmed with guilty over his death. He drives to the palace immediately to inform him about this sad development, not knowing that he was the first person to be informed, since he caused this when he sent those men to inform him about his debts.
Following him in his chember, "Your majesty," bowed head, "He is gone." sadly spoke.
"I know." Calmly spoke. " Is that why you look worried?" The king asked.
" I helped you get him out of your way. Isn't what you wanted?"
Mr Imakando couldn't believe it that it was the king who finished him off. " Your majesty, I never wanted him dead, no."
"Are you scared now, huh?" turned to face him with a changed face in anger. "Go home and rest. We will visit the funeral during his burial day." Walked out, leaving him standing helpless.
Lukundo's plan worked, a pill was put in his coffee which caused him to have sexual strong feelings until they slept together. It is morning, Lukundo is still asleep when he woke up, only to find her sleeping beside him with her head layed on his undressed chest. He jumped up, pushed her head off him. She was too sleepy to wake up. He checked himself and he confirmed that indeed they slept together.
"No!!!!!" He groaned.
The groan awaken Lukundo suddenly as if she was having a nightmare. " You scared me! This is a hotel, not your house, for goodness sake."
He grab her forcibly by the arm, "How dare you doing what you did to me!" " Who gave you the permission to do what you did, you silly woman?" Tighten his grip.
She scream, "ah, you are hurting me you know. Let go of my hand!" Trying to free herself.
He increased the pressure, "I will break these bones if you won't tell me what you did to me." squeezing hard.
"Ah! You pushed me to do it."
He then pushed her and she landed in bed. "We are going back today and now!" pull the bags out and begin to remove clothes from the Waldrop angrily.
" No we are not going anywhere. We have just been here for a week and a day." Unpacking them as he pack.
" Stop your nonsense!" Push her away. "Don't make me slap you."
" What is wrong us having sex, when we are married?"
He raise up to her, " everything is wrong because I do not have any feelings for you." push her once more and continued packing.
" If you like remain here, I don't give a damn."
Lukundo had no choice than to get up and start packing her clothes. " We shall see, Eddie, what i did was only a show. You watch out for me." She said to herself.
It is burial day, three days have passed since he died. His body is layed in white coffin, right at the front of a Catholic Church. The priest standing at the alter sorrowfully watching mourners as they are coming in. Lastly, Grace and her mother walked in. Mrs Sosala being hold by Mrs Kumwenda and Grace by Reuben and they sit in front bench.
The priest waited a little while for mourners to calm down a bit when he started preaching. "Today we are gathered here with grieving hearts, for the lose of our brother, father, a husband and our strong church member. You see, What ever happens in this world, happen for a purpose."
"The Bible said in Ecclesiastes 3 versus 1 to 2, everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
He sets the time for birth and the time for death. Therefore, let us pray that our brother's life be accepted by God, according to the good man he was. May his soul rest in peace, amen.
The body viewing is declared. Grace knelt before the casket and groaned, "Dear lord," she cried in sorrow, I know how kind thou art, please take not my father away from me." Embraced the coffin as she lament.
Everyone joins in mourning, as they walk to the casket to pay their last respect. Two hours later the body was taken to the burial site. The coffin was sinking the grave little by little, men and women in black burst in tears as they watch it going in and it was covered with soil.
Grace and her mother knelt beside and put on the flowers and remained right there as others are coming over with their flowers to put on his grave.
Surprisingly, people begin to give way, the king and his crew dressed in black with flowers in their hands, moving towards the grave. As Soon as they approached the grave, Grace stood up to them and bumped their flowers away from her father's grave. " He doesn't need your flowers, at all!" "You think I don't know that you killed him,huh?" Push Mr Imakando away.
"Enough of such allegations, young lady!" Roared the king. "How dare you pointing fingers at us. Have you lost your sanity?"
Mrs Sosala hold her daughter back. " Grace, calm down." "Please leave. You are all not needed here." calmly spoke.
The king felt humiliated, he turned and left as his people followed behind. They made a U turn angrily leaving smoke of dust that everyone remained coughing.
Finally everything is over, the people left to their respected homes leaving Grace and her mother alone in the house. Reuben made sure Grace fell asleep when he left home, very late at 8pm.
Mrs Sosala felt the hole when she gets to her room and saw his clothes in the Waldrop. She sat down on the floor, embracing his favorite shirt, very quickly the memories of him came running back to her and she burst into tears. She mourned and mourned for him, all alone on the floor.
Grace thought she was dreaming when she heard her cry, but no. She hurried to check and found her poor mother lamenting on the floor. In sorrow, She knelt with her, grabing the shirt out from her hand and pulled her in a hug. In each other's arms, they wept together. the maid and the gate man standing by the door way, couldn't hold their emotions when they joined in mourning.
The king reached the palace pacing up and down in rage, "I have never been humiliated like that since my reign. How dare she do that to me in public!" Panting in anger.
" You've crossed your line, young lady, and I will make you pay." angrily spoke.