The last chapter

It was a different morning and everyone in the village knew about the previous events. A few people went to the fields that day. Everyone waited for one thing, the tribal meeting that was to take place in the evening. The council of elders gathered, this time also available was a board of a few selected villagers to represent the voice of the people. As usual was the royal family, Mangi, Mukunda and Naledi.

ELDER 1

Good evening fellow elders, heir to the chieftainship, the family and the voice of the people. I am sure we all know why we are gathered here today. We are here because of a situation that has risen the elder introduced the matter to the people in his last words he said We have come here to put an end to this war that is a great threat to the peace, love and joy that the people of Barwa have always enjoyed.

ELDER 2

As previously agreed in our last meeting we had said that the heir to our chieftainship Mangi should end whatsoever relations he has with the foreign mistress, return the bed he gave her and give her the normal treatment she deserved. However all of this was not followed. Also as agreed we said that if he should not follow the instructions his fate as chief will be debated on. Therefore; ladies and gentlemen we are here today to decide the fate of the Barwa chieftainship.

All was set and the people were asked to speak out their mind before the verdict was passed. The villagers were given the first right to speak. But before they spoke someone interrupted the whole proceedings. It was Rachel.

ELDER 1

Woman, who allows you to disrespect the council and enter without permission?

RACHEL

Why should I not be invited if the whole cause for this meeting is me? Anyway, I will no stay for a long time. I have come to tell you that I am leaving. It is I that has caused all of this trouble and hatred amongst you. Please people of Barwa do not jeopardize the future of Barwa because of me. I will leave peacefully today. I have packed my things and in an hour I will leave. Do not worry I will hold nothing against any of you. I am grateful to those that did show gratitude to me. I am leaving now so long people of Barwa.

Immediately Mangi stood and held her hand.

MANGI

No do not leave. No one is chasing you away. We love you and we want you here. Is that no right people? With teary eyes he begged her to stay but nothing could change Rachel’s heart. She had made up her mind. She left there at least she had said goodbye. Mangi was left there kneeling; he was crying only tears came off his eyes. No one had ever seen Mangi like that, the once proud all wise king was on his knees crying. One of the villagers spoke “He sure loved her” Mangi did not stay anymore he left the meeting immediately.  

At Mangi‘s home.

Rango made his way to Mangi’s home early that morning. Nothing could be hidden from Rango. He knew every secret in Mangi’s heart. He loved Mangi so much he was the master and Rango was the servant. If he witnessed Mangi kill a man he would swore Mangi never did it. That was the heart that Rango had, Mangi loved him too. Mangi had packed his bags he also wanted to leave.

RANGO

Master do not go. You know if you leave I will be left with no life.

MANGI

Rango you have been a loyal friend to me. I have trusted you more than I have trusted my own brothers and sisters. Thank you so much. But you quest ends here friend, you will not die you will find another reason to live for. Mukunda is now your chief, love him as you loved me. I am going now I no longer have a life here. I have lost everything I was to be but most of all I have lost Rachel. This place carries memories that I will not live to forget and I will not be able to survive hear let me leave.

Mangi had packed his bag when a crowd of people dogged their way in to his house. Amongst them was his sister Naledi who spoke first.

NALEDI

Mangi our hope our beacon, do not leave your people brother. We love you and we need you.

MANGI

I wish I could, but I cannot. I have lost everything and my being here will serve no purpose. It is right that I leave. Also amongst the crowd was one of the elders who stood up and spoke

ELDER

Mangi my son, I have seen a good and a pure heart in you ever since you were young. Yesterday you showed such great courage we have never seen in the history of the Barwa people. It is not religion and tradition that we seek from a leader to rule his people. It is love and courage that builds a people. And we have found and seen that in you. We want you, the people want you but above all… he keeps quite then a voice spoke “I want you” it was Rachel she had come back.

MANGI

Rachel you came back

RACHEL

Yes I did. Your people did not allow me to leave.

What more would a man want in the world except for true love. What can change a man except for love?  This how the story ended how love joined two nations

  
The end

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

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ACT 2 SCENE IV

There are no secrets in Barwa. The news of Mangi’s reaction had reached the lowest parts of Barwa and Mukunda was furious. Mukunda quickly called in an urgent meeting with one of the elders.

MUKUNDA

This is treason.

ELDER 1

It is indeed. But why call it treason is it not what you have always wished for. It is clear now that your brother has chosen a stranger for his throne. Now it’s your turn to strike and avenge for your father.

Deep in his heart Mukunda knew the truth. He loved Rachel as much Mangi loved her. He thought by posing a threat to Mangi, Mangi would walk away and thus giving him room to fall in love with Rachel. But this did not happen.

MUKUNDA

I am in love with the mistress too.

ELDER

 What?

MUKUNDA

I did all this because I hoped my brother will fall for my plan. When he leaves her I will go and win her heart but it seems all has failed and I am left with only one option.

 ELDER

Mukunda do not be weak. Do what your father would have done. It is an opportunity that you have always wanted in your life and do not trade it for nothing.

MUKUNDA

Stop it! It is not nothing, it is called love. He holds his head crying. I loved her too, I loved her first but my brother fooled me the same way his father fooled my father. But this time things will be different. Elder I now present to you the new chief of Barwa Mukunda Malamuli.

ELDER 1

 This is the Mukunda I know. A meeting will be called soon and be ready to be crowned chief.

The plot was simple. The council had to vote against Mangi being chief. Mukunda too carried the royal blood and he was entitled to be chief . But Mangi was the chief.

A Rachels place

She did not go to school that day. She spent the whole day at her home. Her heart was heavy. A knock at the door, it is Mukunda.

MUKUNDA

Rachel (she sat by the corner of the bed and said nothing. Her heart was heavy she did not want to speak). I heard that Mangi was here. He is not what he says he is. When you came to the village I did not see a foreign mistress in you. I saw a woman that would complete my life and dreams. Later on Mangi came; he sat me down and ordered that I should take back the bed that I had given to you. I tried fighting but I failed. I loved you with all my heart and I still do. I was tricked away in to not loving you. I wish I had fought more but I thought by doing so I am doing us a favor. (She still did not say a word. But every word that Mukunda was speaking she heard clearly and kept in her heart.)

Rachel I beg you today that you love me. I promise I will protect you this time. Do not listen to Mangi; his motives are still the same they have not changed. He is the same man who ordered your bed to be taken. He is the same man who was plotting that the education officers transfer you. Choose me therefore today; love me and not my brother.

He did not speak more after that he left. At this moment none of the brothers knew the fate for their loved one. Only war was to follow and one of the brothers had to fall.

#keep reading i will keep writing.

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ACT 2 SCENE III

RACHEL’S COTTAGE

Rachel’s cottage looked different this time. There was a bed, some chairs to sit on and a gas stove. She was up early and preparing herself for school.

Knock at the door

RACHEL

Come in. It was the two gentlemen that had come a few weeks back. Fear struck her heart. It is the two men that bring bad tidings what have come to take this morning?

GENTLEMAN 1

Morning mistress Rachel, it is sad that we have always found ourselves in this situation. We have been sent once again to come and take away your bed.

RACHEL

If it is mine why should you take it away?

GENLTEMAN 2

We are sorry mistress we just messengers doing our job.

She did not have strength to argue she just sat down and tears started falling off her face. The gentlemen also stood there with regret in their hearts then one of them spoke.

GENTLEMAN 1

Lets do this thing and go

While still removing things from the bed a man cries out loud, Voice” stop” It is Mangi.

MANGI

Rachel I am sorry that this has to happen to you. The first time we met I did not tell you the whole truth about me. I am heir to the chieftainship. Yesterday we had a meeting and in that meeting we spoke about my relationship with you. The people are not happy that I have been doing favors for you. As a foreigner people do not expect such to happen, not because my people are evil but because we are a proud people and we are so jealous of sharing our culture. Therefore, in that meeting I was told to return whatever favors I have done to you. (He pauses for a while then he continues) When you first came I was out of the village. When I came back news came to me that there was a foreign mistress at school and my brother Mukunda had fallen in love with her. I was furious, why would my brother do that? So I ordered that the bed be returned. Later on I came to see you and then everything changed. When I first gazed my eyes on you I saw you were different. Your beauty,your heart and the way you spoke captured me at once the same way you captured the heart of my brother. I was changed from that moment. I could not reverse what I had done but I made sure I had to fix things. (He calls her name to see if she is still listening) Rachel

RACHEL

Yes

MANGI

I love you and because I do I will not let these men take your bed. They might strip me from being chief but I cannot change what you have made me feel and be.

Mangi ordered the two gentlemen to leave so they left. He did not stay long at the house he was afraid of Rachel, himself and his fate. He had just risked years of his life and family to a woman he had never known but most of all to a woman whom he was not even sure if she loved him. Rachel had never said she loved Mangi, though they spoke a lot it never meant she loved him. Had Mangi made a mistake? All those thoughts reigned in is mind as he made his way to  school it was going to be a long day indeed.

#keep reading i will keep writing.

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

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ACT 2 SCENE II

MANGI’S HEARING.

The wait for the night was finally over. It was not only Mangi and Mukunda that were anxiously waiting, the whole village was too. News and rumors in Barwa are like a pregnant cow. No matter how hard the cow tries to hide, its breast will show off its secret. They are no secrets in Barwa.  No one was late for the meeting, present in the meeting were the eight elders, Mukunda and Mangi and close family members.

ELDER 1

Good evening fellow elders, heir to the chieftainship and the family. We are gathered here today because of situation that has arisen. A few of weeks ago new teacher joined us. She is no different from other teachers only that she was not raised and modelled by our own people’s values and beliefs. It has therefore, come to our attention that the heir to our chieftainship has developed a close relationship with the mistress that includes buying of a bed, frequent visits and special treatment at school. While on the other hand they has been talk and murmuring around the village on why such is happening. And most are saying the mistress’s relationship with the heir to the throne is a threat to our beliefs and values as the Barwa people. Therefore a request has been sent to ask Mangi to end whatsoever relations he has with the mistress, take back the bed he borrowed her and give her proper treatment she deserves. I will allow the council to pass its verdict on the matter.

ELDER 2

We hear your case and plea, who amongst us is standing for the plea?

MUKUNDA

I am.

ELDER 2

On what grounds?

MUKUNDA

On grounds to protect and preserve the reputation of the royal family, preservation of our culture and consideration of the views and interest of the Barwa people.

ELDER 3

I am also standing in support of the plea. We all know what kind of a people we are. And for a long time we have carefully watched and made sure that we protect our culture. Part of protecting our culture is being distant with other cultures lest they contaminate our long preserved way of doing things. Mangi will be ordained chief soon and as earlier discussed we raised that it is important that he marries. If he marries a foreign woman, how would you think our own daughters will look at themselves. Is it not a disgrace to our wives that they failed to raise a woman worth to be married by a chief?

ELDER 4

I hear what all of you are saying and all your points are valid. Yes it is of great concern that the young man has fallen in love with a strange woman. We all love our culture and want to protect it. I also want to do that. But we should consider one thing; the values do not make the people. It is the people that make the values. Because Mangi has fallen for a foreign woman does not mean they are no woman in Barwa. They are still beautiful but the heart sees more than beauty. We cannot stop a man when he has found love. I would like to hear from Mangi himself what he has in his mind. Do you agree to the allegation being laid against you?

MANGI

Good evening elders and the family. I have heard your plea and concern. I am still  loyal and patriotic to the Barwa.  I will not deny any allegations that have been laid on me all are true. Yes I have fallen in love with a strange woman. None of this was meant to offend my sisters and your daughters. It was not my will that my heart was captured I too fell into this trap they call love.

ELDER 1

Since you have heard from Mangi himself, we can now pass on the judgment. As spoken earlier we said Mangi should be refrained from having any close relations with the mistress, he returns the bed he gave to the mistress and treats her as other mistresses would be treated. We will vote.

As planned Mukunda was able to win votes and Mangi asked to return the bed.

MUKUNDA

What if Mangi does not follow the conditions we have agreed on today?

ELDER 2

A chief cannot rule without the blessing of the elders and the approval of the people. I suggest Mangi chooses wisely. Its either you put your long kept history in a risk or you let her go. On that note we can go back to our homes rejoice and rest for there is a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

There was neither laughter nor beer after the meeting every men went straight to their homes.

#keep reading i will keep writing.

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

a saxjaz7 production

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