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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