A Chase For My Dream

chapter 3

Skip to the day of the wedding

Today was finally here. The dreadful day. All preparations had been made. All the beads were ready. The cows and sheep for dowry had already been brought to my father on the previous day.

I sat in my room, zoned out from everyone around me. The women were busy painting my face and putting the beads on me neck, wrist and ankle. I couldn't help but wonder why they seemed so happy. Could no one see that I was a kid? Did they all assume that I was some grown up who was ready to be a wife to an old man? Did they all not see that all this wasn't right?

I had red paint all round my face and head. My neck was full of beaded necklaces. Which were actually not very comfortable because of all the weight. I had more on my wrist and two on my ankles, one each.

I wore red and white 'lesos'  and had a big beaded belt on my waist holding the 'lesos' together.

To think that this was my wedding, I felt like I was attending a funeral. One where my future was the one going six feet deep.

Soon everything was done and I was to be escorted by the Moran to my new village were the celebration would be held. I felt like I'd get sick. I didn't understand why they all seemed so happy. Even my own sister was sharing the same joy with the people whose only intention was to get rid of the dreams I held dearly.

***

I could hear the voices of happy women singing and filling the air with their beautiful voices. They held more beaded jewelry and I wonder where they would put them. I had no doubt that my neck would terribly hurt the following day from all the beads I was carrying.

They didn't seem to care though. They all looked determined to make their work not go in vain as they forced the necklaces to my neck and some to my wrist.

The surrounding looked way drier than my village and it was evident that they had not received rain for a long time. Even God was up to punishing this enemies of progress. That's exactly what they were. Nothing good would ever come out of this sickening tradition.

"There's the bride"

"she's so beautiful"

"I think she's way younger than we were told"

"The old man likes them young"

The annoying voices weren't doing me any good. I wished the grounds could swallow me and save me from all this. I hoped for a miracle, but it was clear, none was forthcoming.

The ceremony went on and on. Songs were sang. Blessings given. Speeches given by the elders. Food served and eaten. Sour milk was in plenty. Some drank soup while some preferred to eat 'munono' (a meal made of blood and meat)

I was sat next to my now husband. I couldn't even bear looking at him. The look of his 'lesos' could clearly tell you that they had not been washed in the longest time. The smell literally made me gag.

How was I supposed to call him my husband leave a lone share a bed with him.

Soon it was evening and people had already started leaving the premises. The more I saw them leave the more I got scared. I was being left with a man old enough to be my father, if not older.

A woman, who I later came to know was the eighth wife of the old man me being the ninth, approached and showed me my hut. It was the closest to the gate to symbolize that I was the last wife.

The hut was dived into two rooms. One room had the bed while the other had the fireplace meaning it was the kitchen. There were few old utensils on a table at the far end, which could barely hold them because of the broken wood.

I had to do something. I couldn't just stay here and watch this people ruin my life. But I didnt even know my way out of this village. I had never traveled to any place out of home, not even to my sister's place. I had to figure something out in a way or another.

"Am glad to see that you're already making yourself comfortable my dear"
The last person I wanted to see was right in front of me, an evil smirk on his face.

"Umn...mm.." Great my fear had kicked in and now I couldn't even form a sentence.

"Come on darling, you don't have to be afraid of me" his face said a very different thing.

"Am your husband now and you're my wife" now he was rubbing it on my face.
He was now so close to me and I could feel my eyes get watery.

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I know it short but I promise the next chapter will be longer.
Note: its not edited so pardon the mistakes.

Thank you all for the reads

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