The king arrives into the house. He was looking so proud of getting married. He sits on the chair while I entered the dining room.
“Khabazela.” He said.
“Qhawe!”
“Your daughter looks so beautiful. She is going to be my wife.”
“Dad I brought you something.”
“Stupid girl, great the king.”
“Your highness.” I said.
“Why are crying my dear?”
“Nothing.”
“Let’s talk outside.”
“I’m busy.”
“Yeyi….”Dad yelled.
” Okay my king. “
I went outside the house and the king did the same. He was wearing his traditional attire, a black Jean, white T-shirt with beautiful traditional design.
He looked like he was in early 20’s. My dad liked him a lot but he hated Mthunzi. Mthunzi was planning to leave this place and start a new life.
While talking to the king, I was thinking about Mthunzi and how my family treats me.
Being a woman is not easy because some people say that you have to get married and have babies.
Sometimes I ask myself that why men had power enough to control a woman. My mom always follows dad’s instructions.
“Are you okay?” The king asked.
“Yeah!”
“I’m willing to take you to my house.”
“No I am fine.”
“No one disrespects the king.”
“Why?”
“Or you will be punished.”
“I’m not scared of death.”
I did not know that the king was a pervert.
Few weeks later my family made a wedding arrangement. The lobola was done and I was taken to the king’s house.
My parents were happy than ever. I felt so bad because Mthunzi had left to Joburg.
My thoughts were on him and I was sitting on a yard watching the animals walking around.
I enjoyed the moment of thinking versus reality. Okuhle came closer to me, she was smiling for sure I didn’t know why.
“Makoti.”
“Okuhle how are you?”
“I’m doing great but I don’t see you so happy.”
“Yeah!”
“The way I hate this king.”
“Why?” I said.
“He is very cruel like he has no heart. You have to do what he says or else you will regret the day you were born.”
“Yoh! Actually my mom and dad forced me to get married. They stopped my from going to school.”
“So sad.”
“You see these scars on my body. They were hitting me even if I did nothing wrong. My dad once took hot water and poured me.”
“So why don’t you report them.”
“I’m scared that they might kill me.”
She holds my hands. “No one will kill you.”
“I want to run away from them Okuhle.”
“Yeyi! Thuli I told to come.”
“Yes my king.”
“Bye Okuhle.”
I entered the room and stared at him. He was yelling at me like I had killed someone. He then came closer to me and started to take off my clothes.
“Please leave me alone.”
“You are my wife.”
He slapped me and started to rape me. I could not stop crying.
My pain was more than I had thought. I should have listened to Mthunzi but I pulled my head.
I phoned my mother and told her everything but she was not listening to me.
I did not know what to do so I took a pen and a paper to write a letter. I was crying because I was risking my in going outside.
It was so dark and the king was sleeping. I walked so slowly so that no one could see me.
I walked towards the river that Mthunzi used to chill there then the car stopped near me.
It was very bright and I could not see the person inside. I thought that the king ordered his guards to follow me