In the village, it was expected that, after the age of 16, a girl should be married and become a house-wife. If the girl refused, she could be kidnap and be held for ransom, which if paid, it would be considered as her Lobola.

One thing that Xolani and Nokthula shared in common was their dislike of tradition. Nokthula disliked tradition because she felt that it oppressed women’s right to choose and make a life for themselves, and Xolani simply hated tradition because it was always used against his parents and eventually led to his father getting shunned out of his life. So, as they both approached an age where they were expected to begin thinking of marriage and creating a life for themselves, they were more interested in learning more and studying better.

Xolani respected Nokthula’s decision not to want to get married, but news of that made rounds around the village and brought an uproar among Xolani’s peers, most especially one named Bongani.

Bongani was one of Xolani’s many tormenters, and he had always had a crush on Nokthula. Every time he confessed his love to her, she would reject him and tell him “even if you were the last man on earth, I would not even dare love you”. Regardless of the rejection, though, he kept on persisting. His love eventually turned into an obsession, and he even began stalking her.

Bongani was from a wealthy family in the village, his father was a man of the council, and he would try by all means to abuse whatever fraction of that power as he can. Nothing tore him like when he realised that Nokthula was in love with the half-breed outcast he hated. In fact, seeing her happy with Xolani made him sick to the core. That fuelled his hate towards Xolani, and he attacked him more viciously, to a point where, one time, Xolani had to go to hospital for a fractured bone.

Because of that, Nokthula got scared of what Bongani could end up doing to her lover. She did not know at the time that Bongani’s family had already approached her family for her hand in marriage, and because of Bongani’s family status, they were going to accept. But, she decided that she would rather give Xolani her innocence, rather than have it taken by someone she despised.

Months later, as Nokuthula had predicted, her family accepted the proposal from Bongani’s without hesitation. Nokthula protested and told her family her heart belonged to Xolani, but her family refused.

“What does that outcast know about love?” the family said. “You will never be with him, forget about him!”

The news of Nokthula’s wedding proposal reached Xolani, and even though he was torn, he knew that life moved on. Three months before Nokthula’s wedding, she asked if she could meet with Xolani in secret.

“Why should we meet?” Xolani asked with deep sorrow in his tone. “This is torture to my soul already. Another man will make you his forever, and you still want to meet with me?”

“You know this is not by choice,” Nokthula said. “It’s either I go with it or get disowned, and I have nowhere to run”.

“Let’s run from this cursed place,” Xolani said. “Let’s go far away and never return. We will have each other.”

“It’s a kind gesture, but this is not one of those books you read,” Nokthula responded with a tear in her eyes. “I do not believe in tradition, but I have to do this, for my sake and yours. If I refuse, Bongani will kill you!”

With that, Xolani and Nokthula shared a kiss and expressed their love for each other. As Xolani was preparing to leave, Nokthula held him by the hand.

“Give me your child Xolani,” Nokthula said. “I may be forced to marry a monster, but I want our love to be signified and brought to life.”

Xolani was terrified, but also allured by the idea. His greatest enemy would be taking his lover, but him taking her innocence to give birth to a child will be pure, golden revenge.

The passion between Xolani and Nokthula brought them close, and they shared a kiss with sexual intent. That was not out of spite or vengeance. It was out of their love, their passion, and with the knowledge that it would easily be the last time they were alone together. Xolani and Nokthula enjoyed every breath, every kiss, every motion, every moan, and every groan that followed. The pleasure of it all was alluring, and they knew very well that the consequence of their actions could lead them to hell, but love was their guide.

***

Tell us: Do you think Xolani and Nokthula made the right decision?