The only child

CHAPTER 15

Homa ran out in tears. Koge tried to call her but she refused to answer. Homa cried till she got home. Even at night, she cried till morning.

"Ohh, why did this happen to me? I loved Richard. Soyan took him away from me. We were playmates when we were kids. If he was to even look for a wife, it ought to be me. How can he marry a small girl? A girl he is thirteen years older than. A whole thirteen years. It is not done. A husband will be looking like a father to Soyan. If not that she is fat anyhow like agric fowl, am I her mate. I wonder why my father even chose to marry my mother. She is so slim. She is in her fifties and she looks like she is in her thirties. I could have at least taken after my aunty in stature but no, I chose to take after my mother's stature. Now, that small girl is over-riding me. Some months from now, she will be a married woman with a child. Then, she will come to this village to see her parents in Richard's car. Everyone will be greeting them, welcome…welcome…(hiss). I will still go to the city. What is the meaning of that? Then, I will just sit down watching them. Ohh…what a life," Homa soliloquized.

The next day, Homa returned to the Palace as she was given just a few days to see her family. She started her duties immediately when she got to the palace. She was doing a pedicure and manicure for the Princess when she received a call from one of her friends, Sonia.

"Hello, my friend. How are you?" She asked.

"I'm fine. What of you?" Her friend, Sonia replied.

" I hope your vacation is going well?" the Princess asked.

"Yes, it is. I am enjoying every bit of it. It is very interesting. I hope to come back to this place again after some months. I heard your brother is dead. So, I will come and see you one of these days. Sorry for the loss," Sonia said.

"It's fine. The culprit has been caught. Could you believe that Kune killed the Prince? As innocent as she looked, who could ever believe that she could do something like that? Anyways, she was caught while performing the act by her colleague, Homa. She was immediately judged guilty by the village council. You know my father, he would never give up on something until he gets what he wants. She was killed in the Butu forest," the Princess explained.

"What? So all these happened and you did not tell me? I never knew that Kune could do such an evil thing. She looked so innocent. She even helped me a lot. I even thought that I would take her with me to the city. That means that if I had taken her to the city, she would have killed my whole family by now. Hmm….that fine girl is a murderer. Hmm…I'm happy that she was caught ," Sonia said.

"My friend, God saved you. You would have put yourself in hot soup. Her father has been dead for donkey years. Her sick mother died after getting the information that she killed the Prince," the Princess explained.

"You see, she did not even pity her sick mother. She did not even pity her sick mother. What kind of person is she?" Sonia asked rhetorically.

"Anyways, let's forget about her. Let bygones be bygones. So, what's up with your fashion academy? ," the Princess asked.

" I've started. I now have about twenty students. I'm so happy that they are doing well. They do their assignments on time and they are doing really well. You know that inner joy a person feels when his efforts are not in vain," Sonia said happily.

"Yes, I really understand you. I'm happy for you. I hope to come over to your place one of these days," the Princess said.

They talked for a while and hung up. Homa saw this as a perfect opportunity to slander Kune.

"Ma, you see, Kune is a very bad person. Who could ever believe that Kune could ever do such a thing? She looked so innocent not knowing that she was a slow poison. Very wicked and cunning. I will never have anything to do with someone like that. And to even think that she was even weeping despite the fact that she was caught red-handed," Homa said.

"Hmm…I wonder," the Princess replied.

Homa saw this as a perfect opportunity to plant the seed of lies in the Princess's heart.

So, she continued.

"You see Kune, she is not just a murderer but she is also a bloody thief," Homa said.

"How! I never heard that she stole anything. Who did you call her a thief?" the Princess asked.

"She is a bloody thief. She stole Koge's position from her. She ought not to be the winner of the contest. She somehow manipulated the Judges' minds into making her the winner. She did this through voodoo. She is very evil and spiritistic," Homa lied.

"Hmm…just continue with what you are doing. I don't need any more words from you ," the Princess warned.

"My Princess, I…..," Homa was interrupted.

"Shut up your mouth," the Princess interrupted her with a shout.

Homa was happy that she had succeeded in poisoning the Princess' mind. She continued with what she was doing. After she was done, she left.

Home saw the Queen sitting in the sitting room. She quickly rushed towards her.

"My Queen, good day," Homa greeted.

"What is it again?" the Queen, Munami asked.

"I've come to see you concerning one very important matter. This matter will benefit the whole family. Since Kune died, no one had been put in her place. So, I thought that we need to put someone back in her place. You remember that I once told you that Koge is the rightful owner of the position that Kune was holding. So, I feel it's high time we give it back to the rightful owner, Koge. You see, Koge is a very good girl and she is also decent. With Koge around, you don't need to worry about anything. She will make sure everything is done well. You can trust her. The best part of it is that she is the daughter of the one and only Umuzo. So, ma, I beg your pardon, employ her. It is all for our good," Homa pleaded.

"Okay, I will consider your request. You may now go and inform her to start work next week. Tell her to be of good behavior. If she is found guilty of anything, you will be held responsible because you are the one recommending her. So, I hope to hear good reports," the Queen said.

"Thank you, ma for your kindness. I really appreciate it. You will always be remembered for your good deeds. I promise you that Koge will never let you down. Thank you. Hold me accountable if anything goes wrong. God bless you," Homa said with a smile. Homa left to continue with her work, making up her mind that she would visit Koge soon to inform her. She was happy throughout the night that her wicked plan ended in success.