A man with a great destiny often never chooses his fate. Slowly and without notice he paves his own way towards the mark. He will find himself there, where he was and has always been meant to be, finally he can smile. Mangi has arrived he had travelled to the city. The news of the foreign mistress spread to every corner and hill of the village. They are many talebearers and rumor mongers’ in Barwa. But the only one, whom Mangi will always listen to and believe, is Rango.
(Mangi’s
home, a knock at the door)
MANGI
Who knocks
there and visits me before I wash off the dust from my feet?
RANGO
It is I Rango
son of Mango, loyal as ever I will not change. My eyes have seen and my ears have
heard every word. Allow me therefore my chief into your lovely homestead to sit
and sip a hot cup of tea while I share these tidings to you.
MANGI
Rango, Rango
my friend I would have fallen into a trap unless you had warned me. I would
have not known who my enemies are but you uncovered their malice and hypocrisy.
Who else can I trust except for the almighty Rango, all reliable and
trustworthy?
RANGO
Welcome back
Chief.
MANGI
Oh Rango how
many times should I tell you not to call me chief? I will only be chief when I
am formally ordained and when I have married. For now call me Mangi.
RANGO
No man can
run away from his own story no matter how hard he tries, it is called destiny.
Destiny is like a shadow, as long the light of life is shining, destiny will
always be next to you.
MANGI
They say you
get wiser with age Rango. What brings
you to my home friend?
RANGO
A lot has
happened in your absence chief. The talk of the village is the arrival of the
foreign mistress and your brother Mukunda.
MANGI
Which foreign
mistress and what has Mukunda done this time?
RANGO
Mukunda is
trying to change the world by himself.
MANGI
How?
RANGO
The day that
the new mistress arrived she had no bed, so Mukunda went on to buy her a bed.
By accident I saw Mukunda walk far out of the village. He was searching the
ground with his eyes. I thought: “what can be the matter now? Mukunda is always
in trouble because of his bad behavior. But this must be very serious. Look, he
passes the home of Grace, yet he was mad for her yesterday. Let me follow” when
we came to the boundary of the village I had to remove my shoes because there
was too much moonlight and no place to hide. I did not want to disturb his
thoughts. He
sat down with his head bowed for a long time. Then he spoke out loud “I have
come to the end of one road I am taking another.” a little while later he said ”I
have kept my heart for her alone.” A little while later he stood up, still
searching the ground with his eyes. Again he passed the house of grace and went
to his own home. I thought “what is this Mukunda has not missed sleeping with a
woman since the age of twelve.
MANGI
I see
Mukunda is a changed man. What else can change a man except for love? So it is
the foreign woman that has captured Mukunda’s heart?
RANGO
Yes it is.
But also the village is concerned; they have laid their hopes in you.
MANGI
Me?
RANGO
The village
believes it is you who can chase her away from your land or ask the education
officers to withdraw her.
MANGI
That is not
possible for now Rango. I’m not chief yet and I do not hold such powers as for
the education board I will see what I can do.
Enter
Mukunda
MUKUNDA
Mangi, the
last chief of Barwa son to my father’s brother.
MANGI
I am not the
last chief, I will be one of them and I am sure that the throne will live
forever.
MUKUNDA
Hmm the
chief has spoken.
MANGI
I hear you
want to change the world by yourself.
MUKUNDA
Who else can
tell you such news except for the flat noised Rango always eager to hear what
other people are saying. What has this fool poisoned you with now?
MANGI
I am told
you have fallen in love with a foreign mistress. You went even to the extent of
buying her a bed.
MUKUNDA
That was
just work of generosity.
MANGI
You call
that generosity. How many daughters of Barwa have never felt the comfort of a
bed? And in your generosity why have you not helped them. I am not happy of
your deed and the people are saddened also.
MUKUNDA
Allow me to
pour my heart out.
MANGI
I will not
allow you to speak today. You had your chance when I was not there. Therefore
today as the chief to be, I command you go and withdraw that bed from the
mistress and you will not have any relations with her whatsoever. The chief has
spoken I will not speak now.
It was silence that prevailed
after awards. Mukunda left without saying goodbye so did Rango only to leave
Mangi in deep thoughts.
written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube
a saxjaz7 production
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