KASAO

16

KASAO SHIVERED AS Tarahi wrapped her with a cloth wrapper. She held the cloth to her body. She felt so humiliated and angry. She wondered what she must have done to him.

"What have I done?" She asked the old woman her thought amidst tears.

Tarahi made way and sat on the bed close to where Kasao sprawled on the floor. Kasao shifted close to the tiny woman and nestled her head on her laps. Somehow, she had found a mother in Tarahi.

"This hut belongs to Mirae. She was Ozahi's wife before she passed away" Tarahi explained.

"I thought Fabim was Ozahi's wife"

"No, Fabim is my eldest grandson's wife" Tarahi stopped talking.

"The other man?" Kasao nodded in apprehension

"No, that one is not married" She smiled. "He passed away too" Tarahi paused again and Kasao waited in silence.

"Ozahi forbids anyone from entering this hut or touching any of Mirae's belongings."

Kasao nodded understandingly but then she remembered Fabim showed her the hut. She sprung to her feet and tied the cloth wrapper securely round her chest before she dashed out of the hut.
She couldn't understand why Fabim would deliberately send her to Mirae's hut. She just wanted to get her into trouble with Ozahi. She was so furious and angry, having been stripped half naked and humiliated because of her.

Immediately Kasao got to the center of the compound, she spotted Fabim and she plunged herself on the woman.
Kasao's weight made Fabim fall backwards and she hit the woman across her face as she landed with her.

"You told me to go get clothes from that hut on purpose!" Kasao screamed angrily atop Fabim.
She raised her hand to give the cowering woman another blow but someone caught her hand and pulled her away.

"She sent me to that hut!" Kasao shouted as the person kept pulling her back.

"What have I done to you?!" Kasao pointed at Fabim, her whole body vibrating with anger as she tried to set free from the intruder.

"Enough!" Ozahi's voice boomed close to her ear and she realized he was the one pulling her. She halted and turned around to face him, breathing heavily with tears on her face.

"She told me to get clothes from Mirae's hut" She reported like a little child.
At the mention of his wife's name, Ozahi's features harden. He made to speak but Fabim made a painful groan and he hurried to her aid.

Kasao felt another hand touch her. It was Ozahi's brother.

"You cause a lot of trouble, don't you?" He pulled her towards the huts.
Kasao opened her mouth to defend herself but when she saw the smile plastered on his face, she smiled back and swallowed her words.

"You can stay here" Ozahi's brother gestured to a hut but Kasao hesitated, not wanting to cause another trouble.

"It's mama's hut. Go inside" The man said smiling.

Kasao waited in the hut. She replayed the events and she hit her head, groaning. She felt embarrassed but she wasn't sorry for Fabim. She got what she deserves. She just hopes they won't send her away.

"Why did you tell her about Mirae?" Ozahi's voice echoed. Kasao jumped.

"She had to know why you stripped her!" Tarahi's tiny voice retorted harshly.
Kasao realized they were outside the hut.

There was a long pause before Ozahi's brother spoke.
"You did not have to go that far. She did not know about Mirae. Fabim must have wanted you to send her away since you brought her in"

"Of course she wanted me to send her away before she steals everything we have" Ozahi replied.
Kasao was already crying in the hut. She wanted them to believe her. She was not a thief. She blamed herself for hitting Fabim.

"No one is sending her away. She lives with us now" Tarahi stated.
Kasao thanked Tarahi in her heart. She wondered why the old woman vouch for her so much.

"Lives with us now? Can you not see the problems she has caused in just a day? Wearing Mirae's clothes, hitting Fabim. She cannot live here" Ozahi protested.

"Fabim deserves what she got. She sent her to Mirae's room deliberately" Ozahi's brother said. Kasao smiled at this. At least, he believes her.

"Where is she?" Tarahi asked.

"In your hut" Ozahi's brother answered.

Kasao hurriedly clean the tears from her face and sat up straight. She knew Tarahi would not send her away and Ozahi's brother was on her side too.

Tarahi entered the hut and Kasao waited to get scold but the old woman dropped clothes on her laps instead.
"Wear it. You can sleep here" The old woman wasn't happy with her.

"I am sorry" Kasao apologized and the tiny woman nodded before she lay on the big bamboo bed. Kasao then realized how dark the day had grown.

Kasao wore the clothes and lay down beside Tarahi. She was hungry but she dare not say. She had caused enough trouble. She didn't want to bother the old woman so she lay down hungry. She had only the fruits she ate from Ozahi's farm in her. She was famished.
She couldn't believe all that had happened in just one day. From Ozahi's farm, to the elders and now. It didn't feel like a day.

In all of the events that took place, she had managed to forget about Twelve. Her Twelve.