Sheshije sprang up from her bed with a look if terror. Her mother was banging her door while grunting endlessly.
"Sleepy head it's high time you learn to wake up early, this is so shameful of you. "
" People will mock me if they were to hear that my first born and the future queen of the great Ukadama kingdom is a lazy young woman who can not even afford to wake up and attend to her husband, humph. "
Sheshije dragged her feet lazily to the door and opened it for her mother. She was used to her daily grunts.
Despite her nature of scolding her children, she was a very caring and loving woman to her family.
Entertaining her daughters room with quickened steps she went to sit on her papyrus bed because there wasn't a chair to sit on.
"My daughter you know I understand that your heart is not with the prince and that you are not willing to be wedded to him..um I wish I was in a position to support your decision but am sorry... yo- you know how your father is .. the least I can do is to encourage you and prey to Izubha that he changes the prince's behaviors. " her mother spoke emotionally.
" Mother did you love father? were your parents the ones who chose to join the two of you for marriage? " Sheshije asked while struggling to hold back her tears.
"How can I forget how it happened my daughter...yes just like you I was also thrown into marriage with a man I had never seen nor had feelings for but as time went by, I came to accept my fate and love found its way to our hearts, everything else became peaceful just as you can see now I have you and your siblings.." She replied to her daughter while spacing.
" I have come here to notify you that, the ngaribas will be here before midday, they are matured women who will be taking you through the set of conducts and ethos that a maiden who is about to have her own family is suppose to learn, amidst their training they will perform a write of passage, this will help to keep immorality away from you and enable you to remain loyal to your husband in all the days of your life." she explained.
" Mama, what will they do to me? which write of passage are you talking about?" Sheshije asked nervously.
Pursing her lips, her mother answered "My daughter... the ngaribas are women who train maidens to be good wives, they will slice away a small part of your Kishi. worry not because they will apply some remedies Wich will enable you heal in a few days."
Sheshije's eyes widened in utter shock and disbelief. "Mama! Noo ..am not ready for that horrible tradition, iam not going to show my private parts to anyone nor letting any one mutilate my genitals!" she flared in rage.
Right at that moment, the door was knocked.
" Mama hena bhacheku bhewaho shighati bhaza kukukezia," (Mom there are women outside who have come to greet you.)
Meliki, one of Sheshije's siblings reported.
" They are here, calm down and follow me outside, take heart Sheshije it isn't as awful as you think." Her mother spoke as she got out of the room.
Sheshije couldn't stop her heart from pumping hard.
Gathering all the courage in the Tubheta empire she stepped out of the house.
Under the Lukuruki tree her mother sat with three women. As sheshije approached them the women turned to look at her.
After exchanging some greeting she took her seat next to her mother.
Her heart was thumping wildly against her chest.
The women were staring at her as she was some pathetic prey Infront of it's predators. She silently prayed to Izubha to seal her lips at that moment because she knew how liquid she was with words, insulting the scary women who looked as if they would chew her up given the slightest opportunity was the last thing she wished to do.