UNTILL WHEN

UNTILL WHEN CHAPTER 2

"You will spend your first night here with our husband, Nasieku."The first wife said."Whenever he needs anything, you have to go to him right away. You will cook him supper and serve it to him with all your respect and submittion." She sounded so authoritative and Nasieku had to cop with all that otherwise her entire life would be total hell.

"And by the way, our husband has his own mistresses so when you see unfamiliar faces around here, don't wonder who they are." Another added in a loud whisper.

"That was so ridiculous." Nasieku thought.

She was only there to bear children, take care of some irresponsible man and add up to his wealth. She had to be strong and learn to tolerate all that since her next fifty years or less would be spent there and nowhere else. Days went so fast and every day, Nasieku felt like running away but imagining what her now called husband would do, she just changed her mind immediately.

She did so much work. She milked all the fifty plus cows, fetched firewood and water, in the name of examining all her skills.

"Let me see if your mother taught you anything or she brought you here to come breastfeed your husband!"the first wife insalted her.

Reminding her of her parents was the last thing she wanted to hear but this woman even insalted them. She wanted to stone her right away but remembered she owned nothing here and had no right to say a word.

Life gave it's worst tastes everyday and Nasieku became helpless.

Ole Kule's homestead was always busy with initiation ceremonies since he circumcised both his girls and boys. Fortunately for him, he had more girls and so his wealth increased from time to time as he married them off to rich men like him. Their dowry was much more than what he paid for Nasieku. No one was taken to school or hospital so no money was wasted on fees and hospital bills.

Months passed by and after about seven months, a messanger came to Ole Kule's home looking sad about the news he was about to give. He went straight to where he was and bowed his head then said,

"Papa supa," he greeted Ole Kule.

"What is it?" he asked without responding to his greetings.

"Nentaya, the old woman who's grand daughter you married, has succumbed to her illness this morning." He said with a sad tone.

"And why are you telling me, did I kill her or am I a loiboni to go raise her? Get out of my compound right now!" Ole Kule yelled.

The messanger could not believe it, the villagers had sent him to go inform him about his in-law's death and that was what he could say. Ole Kule was heartless.

Soon the news of Nentaya's death reached Nasieku. She had never gotten time to go visit her and now she was no more, never going to come back. She sat with two co wives in her manyatta. They tried to comfort her, but Nasieku could never stop crying.

"I must go bury her." she said from her sobs.

"You can't, Ole Kule will never allow you to go anywhere." Nemarti, the second wife, said with a worried tone.

"Nasieku, have you forgotten you're pregnant, carrying his child?"the seventh wife, who was only two years older than Nasieku, reminded her.

Yes, Nasieku was about seven months pregnant already, one thing she hated the most.

"I know," she said holding her stomach which was so big that she could barely walk." But koki meant everything to me, she raised me when my parents died and I was only seven years old. She is, was the only family I had. I have to at least witness her burial." she now cried even more.

Nasieku vowed to go no matter what. If the burial was the next day, she would attend it.

That evening as she got to her manyatta,she overheard a conversation between his husband and one of the fearless morans of the village.

"Ero, thanks a lot, at last I can now have my wealth that I wasted on that her and her worthless grand daughter back." he said with a big smile.

The Moran then disappeared in the dark.Nasieku covered her mouth so as not to make any sound. She was confused about what Ole Kule said. He was actually celebrating the death of her grandma.

"Did he have anything to do with it? "she thought deeply." No it can't be, I'm just over thinking."

She then opened the door of her manyatta quietly but something caught her leg and she threw it away only to knock a wooden chair that made some noise and Ole Kule heard it. He was sure it was Nasieku and she had been eavesdropping. She got inside quickly and locked the tiny door since she her husband will not spare her even a little. When he got there, he knocked the door and due to its weakness, it fell and broke into pieces. Nasieku was so frightened, she was pregnant and couldn't defend herself. Ole Kule caught her and dragged her outside not caring about her condition. The moon was bright and Nasieku could see the anger of a lion burning in her husband's eyes. She knew this man was for sure determined to kill her. " But why, just because I heard what he said? No something is automatically wrong." she thought.

"Nakitok!" he yelled loudly." You think you are so canning, well , I'm the canning one."

It was now that Nasieku understood exactly what had happened. Ole Kule had harassed her grandma and forced her to choose him as Nasieku's suitor. After the dowry was paid, Ole Kule went to Nentaya and asked for his dowry to be given back which was never possible as per their traditions.

"You will only get the dowry back if you bring my grand daughter in exchange." she said.

"Nasieku is never coming back." he said.

"Then forget about the dowry."

"We shall see."he warned her.

It was then that he sent a moran to kill Nentaya.

"I can't believe it. You are so evil!" Nasieku shouted tears socking up her clothes.

"Good thing now you know." he said drugging her roughly.

"My baby! My baby!" Nasieku cried out touching her big belly but Ole Kule never stopped hurting her.

They got in his manyatta and as he grabbed her clothes off, she got hold of his club, then hit him hard on the head. Sintoyia, the seventh wife stood at the door watching Ole Kule fall down to the ground helpless. Nasieku never cared what she would say. She looked at Nasieku and tears we're rolling down her cheeks, she was in great pain and she really needed help.

"We have to get out of here before someone else comes." she whispered helping her get up.

"My stomach." Nasieku cried as they got out of the manyatta.