WHO IS TO BLAME

Part 8

"Rashid we want a picnic. Its sunday we want a picnic" said princess being so stubborn.

"Okay princess we'll go later. Lets wait for the butcher that i employed to come. I cant leave this place like this" said Rashid

"Okay we'll get ready before he comes" said Princess holding Fatuma's hand and they went to the house to change. Fatuma left for her house to change after helping princess get dressed. The butcher guy came minutes later and took over work after a little discussion with Rashid.

"Are you guys ready?" Asked Rashid

"Aye Aye captain" teased Princess and they all laughed.

"So where do you want to go?" Asked Rashid

"Kivukoni! Where there is green fields and hills. Its a cool place to have a picnic" said princess

"Okay let me look for a bike to hire for the day" said Rashid and went up to town and hired a bike. He was buying some snacks when he noticed Essie's white Mercedes benz pass in a high speed.

"Since when did she start driving so recklessly? I hope she is fine" said Rashid to himself but just then he saw the car pack at a bar restaurant. Essie got out of her car without shoes and went in to have drinks on a sunday.

"What is she doing in a bar? Its sunday. I bet she is not fine" said Rashid to himself once again. He took the hired bike and drove back to where princess and Fatuma waited patiently.

"Sorry guys but we have to cancel the picnic. I've got some important work. You can have these snacks along the beach and swim" said Rashid but princess got angry

"No! We want to go for a picnic with you. What important work do you have? I know its that fraud woman miss Essie" said princess harshly

"Fraud woman? Why do you address your teacher as such? This is not good behaviour and you'll have to take back yours words" said Rashid getting upset.

"I wont take back my words. Her family made us poor and killed our parents. I hate her" said princess angrily

"What? Who told you all this? Fatuma, did you tell her all this?" Asked Rashid in anger and Fatuma tensed up.

"I overheard you two talking so i know" said princess defending Fatuma who gave out a soft sigh of relief.

"Look princess, a mistake is always bared by the one who did it and not innocent people. Miss Essie was not involved in any of what happened. She is a good woman" said Rashid who had knelt over to talk to princess.

"No! She is a fraud woman and i hate her!" Yelled Princess and Rashid got angry.

"Princess!" Called out Rashid in anger and raised his hand almost slapping princess but he stopped when princess got scared. Fatuma was shocked to see Rashid react that way.

"You see aunt Fatuma? Rashid has never raised his hand on me but today because of miss Essie, he almost slapped me. Its fine, you can go to wherever you want. Go and finish your important work" said princess in tears and quickly ran back to the house.

"Princess" called out Rashid regretting what he had just done.

"Dont worry Rashid, just go and handle your work. I'll talk to princess and she'll understand. Don't worry" said Fatuma pretending to be fine but deep down she was burning in anger.

"She is still a kid and wont understand some things. Anyway thanks Fatuma. You are a great friend" said Rashid holding her shoulders and pat her slowly. Rashid parked the hired bike and walked back to town. He wanted the bike to be safe at home. Fatuma watched as he left and she touched her shoulders gently and smiled.

"I wish i could have that body on me. I would ride it all night but this Essie! I will take care of you tommorrow" said Fatuma to herself and gave an evil smile. The butcher guy noticed how Fatuma was reacting and smelt a rat but pretended to mind his own business as Fatuma went to princess.

"That woman looks evil. She is not good for my boss at all. She looks like a decent muslim lady but she is just a hyena in a hen's form. May Allah protect my boss from her. Anyway let me mind my own business" said the butcher guy and whistled as he made sure the place was clean.

Rashid arrived at the bar and sighed as he looked at Essie's car.

"Allah be with me" said Rashid and stepped his foot in the bar. He looked around but could not find her. He moved on to the reception desk and asked.

"Excuse me have you seen a fairly dark beautiful lady in a white dress with blue flowers? She also had a blue denim and her hair is naturally long tied up in a messy ponytail" described Rashid not wanting to mention her name in a bar.

"Yes she was here but i cant give you further details. Its against our rules" said the receptionist.

"Please brother, she is my girlfriend and i need to find her" said Rashid trying his best to know about Essie's whereabouts. He had panicked for not knowing where she was. He hoped she was fine.

"Why would you let your girlfriend come here alone?" Asked the receptionist and Rashid thought quickly.

"We had a little fight and you know how girls are. I was just teasing and she got so angry. She then told me that she'll get herself another man from here but i dont want to lose her. I love her very much. Please help a brother sir" begged Rashid.

"Your love is all over your eyes. I will help you. She got herself drunk and a man booked a room and went upstairs with her" said the receptionist

"Oh s**t! . Which room?" Asked Rashid and the man was taking long to look for the room number. Rashid ran upstairs his heart beating so fast. He was so scared than ever. He moved room to room listening to hear for Essie's voice but he dint hear any. He had given up and was going back to the reception when he heard a drunk girl talking alot. Rashid moved closer to the room's door and listened.

"You know, my boyfriend is very handsome. You dont match him at all. Anyway you know what, i dont have a boyfriend" said the girl in the room and laughed.

"Buy you just said your boyfriend is very handsome" said the man in the room. Rashid kept listening to the nonsense.

"He is my boyfriend but he is not my boyfriend. You know, i love him alot ever since the first day he saved my dignity. I wish he'd just propose to me and say ' Essie will you be my girl?' But that friend of his, that Fatuma! She is always hanging around him and acting all protective. It irritates alot. I will punch her on the face and say 'Rashid is only mine' " said the girl in the room and laughed once again. Rashid heard all this and knew it was Essie. He blushed at every word she said and he wished she had said it in his face.

"You talk alot girl but i dint bring you in this room to chit chat. Forget about that your boyfriend for now and give me pleasure" Said the man in the room and his words irritated Rashid so much. He wanted to open the door but it was locked from inside.

"Hey what are you trying to do? My boyfriend wont spare you" said the drunk Essie and began shouting at the top most of her voice. Rashid moved back abit and gave just one kick on the door and it flung wide open. Rashid got in to find the man trying to force himself on Essie who was tipsy.

"Who are you and how dare you budge in like that?" Asked the shameless man irritated and his zip half open.

"Dont you dare put your filthy hands on her" said Rashid so angry. Essie looked at him surprised and then pat the man on the shoulder.

"Thats my boyfriend. Now he wont spare you. You came for me Rashid. This man is very bad. Very very bad. Hit him. Hit him" said Essie who was reacting like a small girl. Rashid got hold of the man's collar and hit him hard on the face as Essie cheered happily on the bed. Just then the receptionist arrived with some bodyguards and the man was taken out of the room.

"My boyfriend you came for me" said Essie opening her arms to hug Rashid. She was still on the bed and the bedsheets made her trip and as she fell Rashid reached to her and carried her bridal style.

"Yes i came for you baby. Now lets go home and dont get angry on me again. I was just teasing you" Rashid said all this to fool the receptionist who was watching them happily and unexpectedly Essie was responding so well.

"Dont go to that Fatuma. She is a baad woman! Stay with me" said Essie circling her hands around Rashid's neck.

"All the best brother" said the receptionist as Rashid left and locked the room. He placed Essie next to the car and snatched her purse taking her car keys. He opened the car and made her sit as he took the driver's side.

"Are you a thief? You are taking my car and my purse" said Essie and she had a hiccup.

"Yes am a thief and am stealing you too" said Rashid sounding grumpy. Essie was about to yell thief when Rashid closed her mouth with his palm.

"Do you know that you are behaving like a baby? This alcohol has made you nuts and stubborn. You are more stubborn than Princess" yelled Rashid still holding her mouth but instead Essie kissed it and Rashid blushed removing his hand away.

"Just shut up and fasten your seat belt. Am taking you home" said Rashid

"You dont even know my home. How will you take me?" Asked the tipsy Essie

"Oh Allah, you'll never shut up. I've seen you drive home not once so just shut up and let me take you home" yelled Rashid getting irritated by her stubbornness.

"No! I dont want to go home. I dont want to see that bad man" said Essie sulking

"Alcohol is really making you crazy. What bad man are you talking about?" Asked Rashid

"You dont know? My father is a bad man. He killed Mr Abdalla and his wife Salma. Just because of love" said Essie sadly.

"How do you know about all of them?" Asked Rashid giving her attention.

"I yelled at mr bad man this morning and he had to tell me everything. What a sad story" said Essie relaxing on the car seat.

"Can you tell me the whole story?" Asked Rashid pleadingly and Essie turned to him.

"On one condition" said Essie getting excited.

"Whats your condition?" He asked

"Promise me you'll fulfil it" she insisted

"Fine i promise " he said and she smiled broadly.

"I'll only tell you the story if you kiss me. Kiss me then i will tell you the sad story" said Essie scooting closer to Rashid

"What? You are crazy Essie. I cant kiss you" said Rashid though in his heart he really wanted to kiss her.

"Then no story and i wont go home" said Essie angrily and turned to face the windscreen. Rashid sat quietly in car for a moment. It was finally quiet and Essie was not blabbing like a kid.

"Essie please tell me" said Rashid finally.

"No! I wont tell you and dont talk to me" said an angry tipsy Essie.

"Okay fine i'll kiss you" said Rashid and Essie turned to him smiling. He scoot closer and closer to her and their breaths could be felt by each of them. Essie slowly closed her eyes and Rashid smiled at how cute she looked. His lips almost touched hers as he held on to her head and pulled her down as he kissed her forehead lovingly with alot of mixed emotions. He then pulled himself back.

"I respect you Essie thats why i kissed your forehead. Now please tell me the story. Pwease" said Rashid now behaving like a baby and Essie blushed.

There was silence for about two minutes before the tipsy Essy narrated what happened earlier in the day and what her father said.

"I dont want to believe that your father betrayed his bestfriend coz he wanted to explain. My father never gave him a chance to explain his side. I wish i knew his side of the story too" said Essie relaxing on the car seat in tears. She used the back of her palm and wiped her tears. She sobbed softly until she finally drifted to sleep. Rashid was hurt and quiet all that while.

"Essie i..." he began but saw Essie asleep and giving soft snoars. A tear was coming out from one of his eyes and he wiped it quickly. He glanced at Essie once again and smiled. He tied her seatbelt and drove her home. His heartbeat was racing as he drove into the compound but relaxed when the watchman said that her parents were not home. They had left quickly for an urgent meeting.

He carried Essie into the house and began guessing her room until one of the house maids saw him and showed him the room.

"What happened to miss Essie?" Asked the maid looking worried.

"She got herself drank and i brought her home" said Rashid looking at the sleeping Essie.

"Jesus Christ! She has never gotten drunk before" said the maid pulling her sheets well.

"Oh! Thats why she was behaving like a small girl. She is so crazy. She talks alot" said Rashid and the maid laughed softly.

"Thank you for bringing her home. You are Rashid right?" Asked the maid and Rashid was shocked.

"Yes how do you know?" He asked

"She talks alot about you. She is a friendly woman and she shares alot of things with me" said the maid smiling.

"She is indeed a good woman. Anyway i'll go ahead. Give turmeric milk to her when she wakes up. It will releave her chills and hangover" said Rashid and the maid nodded but as he stepped out Essie called to her in her sleep.

"Rashid dont go. Please baby dont go" she said and Rashid went to where she slept.

"I told you she is crazy. Look at her call me baby in sleep. Dont worry baby i'll check up on you tommorrow. I have to go check up on Princess" said Rashid brushing her hair and stood up.

"Take care of her. She talks senseless things. Just reply to whatever she talks in the way she wants you to else she'll be stubborn and yell" teased Rashid once again and they both laughed.

"Dont worry sir. I'll call her friends to come and check up on her. Thank you once again. You are a generous man" said the maid and Rashid left smiling but his heart was sad. He was still recalling the story that Essie told her.

"Essie must be going through alot right now. Getting herself drank like that is just so painful. The thought of your father being a murderer is just so irritating and painful. It pains me but Essie is hurt alot" thought Rashid as he left the mansion. He bordered a rickshaw which took him home and he sighed as he got in the house. He thought of how Essie lived like a princess in the mansion and he had a small house and was poor.

"It wont work out. Not even a little" said Rashid to himself as he sat on his old sofa. Princess was peeping at a corner and she recalled what Fatuma told her earlier that day.

Flashback:

Fatuma goes in the house and finds princess crying and she goes down on hef knees and talks to her.

"Princess dont cry. He made a mistake but its not his fault" said Fatuma

"Its his fault. He raised a hand on me" said princess still crying

"Come on princess. Its not his fault but the fault of that miss Essie. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have dared to raise a hand on you. Dont be stupid to get angry on your brother. He is the only family you have and you cant lose him. Gather all your anger and push it towards miss Essie and not Rashid. If you push him away, you'll remain alone. Is that what you want?" Asked Fatuma

"No aunt Fatuma" said Essie

"Then just let go of your ego and apologise to your brother. Tommorrow at school, you can point out your anger at miss Essie and all will be fine. What do you say girl?" Asked Fatuma and princess nodded giving a high ten to Fatuma and hugged.

"Prepare for me Essie!" Thought Fatuma smiling behind princess's back.

End of flashback:

Princess rans to where Rashid is and hugs him apologizing for her earlier behaviour.

"Wow! It means Fatuma did a great job here. Am glad you realised your mistake princess. Allah is happy with you" said Rashid

"Aunt Fatuma is a good woman. You should marry her" said princess

"You silly girl" said Rashid pinching her nose gently and smiled.

"Anyway you are all alone, where is she?" Asked Rashid

"She just went out. She said she had something important to do" said princess who sat on Rashid's lap as Rashid made her hijab well.