As Maya worked on her piece of fabric, her fingers moved methodically through the soft threads, her ears catching the low murmurs of two women nearby.
"Did you hear? Last night, my husband saw a wolf," one of them whispered, her voice tinged with unease.
The other woman gasped softly, her hands pausing mid-stitch. "Really? That's strange. You know, my husband mentioned something about it too. They were talking about it with the head of the village."
Maya's hands faltered briefly, but she quickly returned her focus to her work. It wasn't uncommon for animals from the nearby forest to wander close to the village. A wolf was unusual, yes, but nothing that couldn't be explained. She brushed off the thought and continued stitching.
She was seated in the village warehouse, a place that had become a small haven for the women. The warehouse belonged to Noah, one of the kindest men in the village. After marrying a highly educated woman from the city, Noah had taken it upon himself to uplift the women in the village. He had started this initiative to give them financial independence and a sense of purpose. The women worked on traditional handcrafted dresses and accessories, which were then sent to the city to be sold to urban customers who appreciated the authenticity of the craft.
Noah ensured that the women were paid fairly for their work—something that ruffled the feathers of the village men. They saw it as an insult to tradition, a dangerous shift in the balance of power. For the men, allowing women too much freedom was akin to inviting rebellion. Their patriarchal mindset couldn't reconcile with the idea of women earning an income, especially when it rivalled the income of some of the men.
Despite the resistance, the warehouse thrived. Every day, the women dedicated five to six hours to their work there while managing their household duties. Noah ensured they were rewarded with a monthly income and commissions whenever one of their handcrafted pieces was sold. The rhythmic sounds of stitching and murmured conversations filled the space. Maya, her mother, Kalandi, and Nia were all part of the workforce today. Even though the pay was considerably lower compared to what their husbands earned, the women cherished the fact that they were earning their own money, no matter how modest the amount. It gave them a sense of independence and pride, something many had never experienced before.
Perhaps that's why Rani, one of her fellow workers, continued to come to work every day, even though her husband beat her over it nightly.
Last night had been perfect—though Maya couldn't shake the eerie feeling that someone had been there, watching. She hadn't seen anyone, but the thought lingered in her mind. After all, if any man from the village had caught the girls sneaking out at night, they would have surely run straight to her father to report it. Yet, as the afternoon stretched on, no one had come forward with any accusations. Perhaps it was just her imagination. There had been no one there... or at least, that's what she told herself.
After working for another four hours, Maya, Nia, and Kalandi headed toward Kalandi's house. Maya told her mother that Kalandi needed help with her cows, using it as an excuse for leaving her mother's clutches.
As they turned around, Kalandi's house came into view, and they noticed her son, Manny, rushing out. His body language screamed anger, and he hurriedly left the house. Kalandi spotted him too and called out to him, but he didn't listen and continued walking away. Inside Grace was pacing back and forth on the veranda, looking anxious. She noticed us but didn't acknowledge either of us. Instead, she went straight to Kalandi and told her to sit.
Kalandi sat down, and Grace told her, "What I'm about to say, just Please don't be shocked or react too quickly." Kalandi nodded and said, "Okay."
The silence in the room grew thick, and everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Grace to speak. Her eyes darted around the room, her fingers nervously twisting together. It was as if she were preparing herself, gathering the courage to speak words that seemed impossible to say. Her lips parted, but no sound came at first. The tension was palpable as if the very air itself was waiting for the truth to spill out.
Kalandi, sensing the weight of the moment, leaned forward slightly, her expression calm but expectant. She had known Grace for a long time, and though the woman was often composed, something in her eyes now betrayed a deep sense of worry.
The air in the room grew heavy with disbelief as if time itself had paused in reaction to Grace's words. The tension was unbearable, and for a moment, no one knew how to react. Kalandi's face drained of colour, her expression frozen in shock. It wasn't just the words that hit hard, but the reality they carried — the betrayal, the unimaginable truth.
Grace's voice trembled as she continued, the weight of what she was about to say bearing down on her. "He came into my room. He gave me money and demanded..." She couldn't even finish the sentence, her own words choking her as the shame and confusion swirled inside her.
Kalandi stood still, her eyes wide, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. Her voice trembled with disbelief. "Why? Why would he do such a thing?" She shook her head, her mind struggling to process the horrific reality. Her gaze shifted, sharp and accusing. "It must be you. You must have seduced him. I know your ways, Grace. You've always had that... look in your eyes. You've been after him, haven't you?"
Grace froze for a moment, the accusation hanging heavily in the air. The tension in the room was palpable, thick with anger and confusion. Kalandi's words cut deep, fueled by years of resentment and distrust. This wasn't just about the betrayal of her son; it was also about the longstanding animosity between the two women.
"How could you... I didn't do anything."
Maya, who had been quietly observing, felt a shiver run down her spine. She had heard rumours and whispers in the village, but nothing had ever prepared her for something like this. The thought of a young boy, no older than a teenager, making such a demand was unfathomable. Her stomach twisted in disgust as she struggled to process the gravity of the situation.
Suddenly, Kalandi's hand flew through the air, the sharp sound of the slap echoing in the tense silence. She stood there for a moment, her chest heaving with rage. "Stay away from my son. Never come near my family again." Her voice was low but full of venom as she turned away from Grace.
Without another word, Kalandi stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her with such force that the whole house seemed to shudder. The room was left in a suffocating silence, the weight of what had just happened hanging heavily in the air.
Maya stood frozen, eyes wide, as she glanced between Grace and the door Kalandi had just left through. Grace, her face pale, didn't move. She just stood there, staring at the spot where Kalandi had been, her expression unreadable. The tension was thick, and Maya didn't know what to say, unsure of what to do next.
After a long, heavy silence, Grace's shoulders trembled. A shaky breath escaped her lips, and then, unexpectedly, she let out a bitter laugh. The sound was hollow, almost too sharp for comfort. She wiped away the tear that had rolled down her cheek as if trying to erase the weight of the moment.
Nia quickly reached out, pulling Grace into a tight hug. Grace's body shook with the weight of her sobs. Tears streamed down her face as she muttered, her voice cracked and filled with desperation. While Maya ran outside after Kalindi.
"I didn't... I didn't do anything... I swear I didn't...," Grace choked, her words coming out in a broken whisper. She clung to Nia her hands trembling. "He called me names... whore... slut..." The words felt like poison, ripping through the air between them, thick with humiliation and fear
Nia held her tighter, unable to say anything. The pain in Grace's voice was too much, too raw. All she could do was hold on as the sobs wracked Grace's body.
Outside, Maya quickly ran after Kalandi. She didn't know where exactly Kalandi had gone, but she figured that her friend would be following her son. So, Maya headed in the direction where Manny went.
After what seemed like forever, she finally spotted Kalandi and her son, Manny. They were talking—or more like arguing. She didn't want to intrude, so she just stayed back, observing them. Yes, they were definitely arguing. After a few tense words, Manny stormed off again, but this time, Kalandi didn't follow him.
Kalandi stood frozen in place as if the earth itself were refusing to let her move. Maya quickly approached her, concern rising within her. Kalandi collapsed to the ground, sitting on the soil as though she couldn't believe what had just happened—like the world had been ripped out from beneath her feet.
When Maya reached her and sat beside her, Kalandi stared blankly ahead, her voice robotic and devoid of emotion, speaking in a monotone, "I was 14 when my mother married me off. I loved to read and write, but my mother took the books away and told me women who read don't make good wives. I told her I wanted to read, and she said, 'If your husband lets you, you can.' On our wedding day, Gyani promised he would let me read, he would educate me. But that same night, he shattered that promise. my mother-in-law said "Everything would be alright" and I believed her.
When he abused me on our wedding bed, my mother-in-law heard it, but she just said, "Everything would be alright" and I believed her.
Then I found out about his affair with Grace right after Manny was born. And once again, my mother-in-law said, "Everything would be alright" and I believed her again. Every time, I believe... until now"
Kalandi turned and locked eyes with Maya. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of it hung in the air. "He did it, Maya. He admitted it. No matter how hard I tried to keep him from becoming like his father, he turned out just like him."
After a while, Maya took Kalandi to her house. Both of them walked in silence, each processing the intensity of the conversation they'd just had. When they reached Maya's home, Kalandi sat down, not so far from Nia and Grace.
There was a long pause, a heavy silence that filled the space between them, before Kalandi finally broke it, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Grace... for everything," she whispered, her eyes downcast in regret. "For doubting you. For what I said. I've spent so many years convincing myself that the pain was just... a part of life, that it was nothing. But I see now, that I was wrong. I should have never turned away from you."
She paused, her hands wringing together. "You didn't deserve that. You didn't deserve any of it. I should've been there for you. I'm so sorry."
Maya stayed quiet, letting Kalandi speak, her eyes soft as she watched her friend struggle with her guilt. There was a rawness in Kalandi's words that Maya hadn't expected. The apology was deep, filled with pain and realization.
"I should've protected you," Kalandi continued, her voice breaking slightly. "I... I should've never let him... let that happen to you."
The weight of her apology hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Kalandi had broken through her barriers, everyone knew that reconciliation wasn't just between Kalandi and Grace but between Kalandi and the truth she'd been avoiding for so long.
Grace spoke voice laced with bitterness, "It's okay, Kalandi. It's nothing new. I've heard it all before." She let out a hollow laugh, one that held no humour, just a sense of resignation. "I'm a whore. A hole. That's all I am, right? And that's what my work is, apparently. So, you shouldn't apologize. It doesn't matter. I've lived with that my whole life."
Her eyes locked with Kalandi's, "I should've just accepted him when he came to me. But no, I told him… I told him, 'You're like a son to me. You're the son of my friend.'" Grace's voice cracked, the weight of her words sinking in.
She paused, a pained look flashing across her face as she shifted uncomfortably. "I thought maybe... maybe I could be better than that. But I guess I was wrong. It's all the same." after saying this, she silently packed her things. No matter how much Maya and Nia tried to persuade her to stay, urging her to find some reconciliation with Kalandi, she remained unyielding. Her resolve was clear. She didn't respond with anger, nor did she let herself be swayed by their pleas. Instead, she simply gathered her belongings, her expression hardening, and walked toward her vehicle. Without a word of farewell, she drove off, leaving for the city alone. Maya watched her go, unsure of what else could be said or done. Grace had decided, and there was nothing left to do but watch her drive away into the distance.