She ran to the living room shouting, “she’s gone Mama, Ruji is gone , she is living in the streets and guess who made her do it, You Mama.” Her mother just looked at her, eyes and mouth wide open, not believing her daughter’s words. If Ruji was gone, how was she going to be filthy rich? What was she going to tell Uncle Mosh about her? Ruji was supposed to get married to Uncle Mosh, a thirty year old doctor who was looking for a fifth, young and sexy wife. Mama Rebecca remember very well, telling him that she has a very good girl, a hardworking, uneducated one too, she meant Ruji. Now Ruji was gone…her money.

” We need her back, she is my little golden treasure…., I mean my little baby girl. “Although Masline was dying to hear her mother say that, she wasn’t really impressed because it was a bit clear that her mother’s intentions on Ruji are rotten.

Back at the shack, Ruji had quite a hard time. She took only one, light blanket and the night was a bit, unusually cold. Maybe this was because it was her first time in the streets or perhaps her first time sleeping alone. It was midnight when she heard a movement in the shack. It was a two-roomed shack and by the time she got here she didn’t bother to look at the other room, she just used the first one she accessed. The noise was more louder and although she has never been in the streets, she was sure that this wasn’t a mouse or any animal, but something with two legs and two arms, a person like her, was present in this room. She stood up to approach the sound. She was shivering, not really from the cold but from the feeling of being scared. She didn’t want to die, not when she wasn’t done living, not when she hasn’t fulfilled her dreams. So she gulped down her fear and approves the other room. She was welcome by a sudden thick smell of smoke from a cigarette. So this unknown person was a man or a male person.

Ruji did not believe what she saw. What is really happening? The guy who helped her when she fell? But how? Why? What ? When? She was shocked, because this guy seemed so rich and flashy when she helped her. But now he’s even holding a cigarette? No ! This was not true. She just stood there, mouth wide open looking at the guy. “Who are you?” That’s all she could ask. After about six minutes the guy and Ruji sat down, on a loose zinc material, and the guy put on a candle. “My name is Tinyiko, and I live here…this is not my house but I just chose to settle here when I ran away from home ” Although Ruji was not comfortable around this guy , she just felt a certain sense of connection, just for only that they ran from home together. It was a long talk and they two felt asleep besides each other after sharing the food Ruji came with.

But something was happening…Ruji couldn’t sleep. While Tinyiko was telling her his story he mentioned a name, Mama Maria. She knew that this was crazy but her mind thought of Mama Rebecca. Because of her first born Maria, she was also referred to “Mama Maria”. Is it that Tinyiko somehow shared….no no she wouldn’t think of that. So she allowed herself a sleep. But something was up and she felt a bit better to share this street journey with someone. She wanted to ask a lot of questions like why did Tinyiko looked so rich and a lot of other stuff but there’s always the next day…

*Did you love part 1 of this story? As an author I remind my top readers to keep on reading and to just say I love you all.

*What do you think about this boy, Tinyiko? Can it be true that he has something to do with Rujeko?

(Continuation)….Part 2 coming soon