The ancient beginnings

Life as usual.

Life around here is back to normal by normal in Achol's life is about more house chores, listen to her cousin nagging all day, oh and her so loving uncle's attention telling her how she will not make a good wife like Ayak will, how lazy she is, how unworthy she is actually that he is just doing his beloved brother a favour, her aunt's pitiful looks and inaction yep that's about normal for her. It's not like she can change anything about her life if anything she is used to every bit of it by now.

The only new thing about today is the preparation around the house as if he is expecting visitors ooh well life around here is unpredictable it's not like she really cares whether they have visitors or not, no one cares about her anyway. They must be here for Ayak or maybe one of their relatives that so generously agreed that her uncle Mou will take care of her even though he is not her only uncle so yes no one cares back when her family was alive everyone used love her actually she was the princess of the family but now she is the outcast of the Garang family. The most ridiculous assumption ever is the fact that everyone blamed her because she did not die with them it's like no one wants her come on who is she kidding of course no one wants her around maybe just the bride wealth she will fetch them that they care about.

She repels everyone that ever sees her face maybe that is why that stranger left as soon he could, she went back as soon as she woke up but alas the dude had already left she even got into trouble for leaving the house for too long even when she used the guise of fetching water but who cares right, everyone woke up when breakfast was not ready and that is a grave sin in the eyes of her uncle, it's simply not acceptable, the whipping she received from her uncle did not hurt as much as the fact that the stranger thought her so unworthy too just like every body else even after saving his life but seriously what did she expects right? She is not sure why it hurts her so but it does a whole lot.

That man has been her mind for two weeks straight, two weeks he left without so much as a thank you yes maybe he thanked her after dressing his injuries but she thought perhaps they talking in the morning, the least he would he do is tell her his name right but as usual no one cares what she thinks right, she is relevant. Everything brothers her lately, his indifference and cold behaviour was excusable when he was injured but after she dressed his wounds did he have to treat just like everyone else, you see what hurt people the most are their own expectations, the higher the expectations the deeper the wound so yes her own expectations to be treated differently by the stranger is what the most maybe now she will understand that she is worthless to everybody no matter who they are and with that final realisation, she focused on her task of making the house spotless, that's her job right to make sure everything is done and in time too.

'' Hey you lazy girl, where is my breakfast and did iron my dress that I told you to yesterday, can not believe you have not yet done that yet unbelievable. '' Ayak interrupted her thoughts, she is to do everything they ask of her if not then she is lazy and her uncle will make sure her life is more miserable if that is even possible so she is like a personal slave to everything in the family except of course her aunt who tries to make the house more bearable.

'' my dear sister, your dress is on that chair and breakfast is in the kitchen, now can I get back to work or should I get you the breakfast too '' the sarcasm didn't go unnoticed by Ayak and for that she made her pay for it.

'' thank you dear sister always so helpful and modest, how about you bring it to the garden I want to have breakfast with my father in the garden, please? '' the smirk on her face can tell you that she got her where she wants her.

'' OK then, carry on I will bring it immediately, you do not have to wait around to keep an eye on me. You can trust me dear sister after all I always do whatever you want. '' much as Achol wants that to be sarcastic she knows it's the truth she always do whatever Ayak wants after her uncle makes sure of that, she is the princess Achol will never compare to according to her uncle.

With that Ayak left her alone to bring her breakfast, she gets to the garden and see her father sitting under one of their favorite shades taking his tea and looking to his plantation for this season and an wicked idea just got brewed right there and then.

'' Ha, there you are my beloved daughter how did you sleep my dear '' you can hear the pride and love he has for his daughter just from his tone of voice. Mou is a proud father because according to him his daughter is more elegant, radiant, beautiful and collected than Achol will ever be and that pleases him so much, now at least he has something better than his brother who always get everything, his parents love and the love of the only person he truly desires..

'' yes papa, I slept alright just waiting for my breakfast my beloved sister just offered to serve me breakfast in the garden. '' her father's knows she did not offer and that's what makes everything more interesting at least he has an ally in his daughter and now that she is here they get their plan in motion.

'' Ah, there she is, my beloved niece is here with your breakfast my dear how loving? '' she knew these two must have hatched something but it's not like she can avoid whatever it is they have in store for her so without wasting time she gets talking before they do.

'' Good morning uncle and my dear sister, how can I be of help to you this very beautiful morning and before you expects me to get started with it let me tell you that am not yet done dusting the house but I will start as soon as I can. '' they are not surprise by the fact that she knows they are on to her so instead they just let her finish while smiling at her because they know she will do it regardless.

'' you can finish whatever it is you doing but I would suggest you first weed the crops after dusting is in the house so would not want to weed under  the sun of today you know it will not be friendly today right but it's your pick my dear '' her uncle said with a smile because he knows she will get into trouble today either way and she knew that very much.

'' I could have helped you my dear sister but I have an appointment with a suitable today, you know that right that is why you had to do thorough cleaning today so I can not help I should look my best today after all they are my future in-laws that is if I like them enough unlike you. '' adding salt to an injury is what Ayak is best known for so yeah she is not surprise that Ayak is trying to rub her misfortune in her face .

'' that's OK my dear, I can take care of everything just fine and I hope your meeting goes well '' with that she turned to leave but her voice stopped her in her trucks.

'' why would not go well besides we all know that Ayak's decision is the final take in that situation so she has nothing to worry about, am sure every young man in this community and beyond would give anything to have her as his wife she is my daughter after all. '' that is not an exaggeration whatsoever and she knows it because Ayak is a very beautiful young woman and everyone knows that so she said nothing in return.

'' hear that, father is the best he wouldn't let his beloved daughter marry anyone against his daughter's will so just get to work so that you will finish early and maybe then you can meet them, who knows if I do not approve of them, father will let you be a second option how about that my dear sister? '' the smile on her face is nothing but friendly, Achol just returned her smile and disappear to the store direction of course she was going to start with the weeding if she is to finish weeding the whole of these section then she has to start now and be fast about it too because she is not in the mood to listen to more lecturing today oh and she really wanted to meet Ayak's future in-laws though that is just a wishful thinking oh well a young woman can dream all she wants right that is the only thing no one can dictate upon her.

She got to work and again the thoughts of the stranger consumed her mind as she works very fast to finish though in this kind of situation she always gets into trouble because her uncle is not stupid enough to let her be geez it's not like she deserved it anyway or does she.

She lost her entire family if she was strong enough she would have joined them but no she chose to mourn them and suffer on this earth alone what do such a person deserve huh, of course this life is fit for her right?     Still she does not feel better about her no matter how much self hatred she drown herself in to.

When she was done with her house chores, it was already very late in the evening and Ayak's future in-laws were already on their way leaving apparently they do not look very pleased with whatever she said or did.           '' and who may this be, you did not tell us you have two daughters '' the voice of the woman probably the mother of the guy made her look at them properly for the first time since they came here.

'' Ah that is my beloved niece, the poor girl is very lazy and likes to sleep under the shade without any mat which explains why she is very dirty, I did not want to give you more reasons to hate this family more because of the likes of her. Just forget about her and let me see you off. '' to say that she is hurt is an understatement  but of course she can not let it show on her face because that will attract more punishment than her presence already does so she just kept quite and looked.

'' she does not look like someone who have been sleeping at all, she looks like someone who have been weeding by the looks of appearance with all that dirt,..''  Ayak's supposed future husband said with a lot of interest in her to the extents it is scary because come on she knows her uncle do not wish her to marry someone as young and good looking as him but he was interrupted by her uncle of course.

'' Do not be charmed by her innocent looks she is the Queen of tricks and mischief '' Ah there is that nick name again the one she loves so much but that got him more interested in her than before if possible and that is the worst that can happened to her. Good God what did she get herself in to, she just wanted to see them that's all, she did not mean to pick their interest now by looks of her uncle and cousin she is a dead meat on top of the fact that she didn't finish weeding the whole plantation because let's be real who on earth can perform such a miracle, a supernatural maybe but a mere mortal, no chance.

'' name is malok, who are you called my dear? '' now that is crossing the line and she has to get going before she makes things worst for herself and also without giving anything away and she is very thankful to her aunt because she chose that very moment to call her and she took of running. Malok finds it weird and what else can a curious cat like himself do but find out for himself.