Chapter 19
1773 Words
She might be leaving, Naledi thought as she waited for her grandmother to talk to the chief. She sat on the lip of the mountain staring at the landscape below. Dineo’s plan was very simple. They had to give everyone time to forget what happened, and in order for that to happen she, Naledi, had to go away.
The prince will marry whoever he wanted in that time and then she could come back, not that Dineo had said those words, but Naledi could see it in her eyes.
The land below blurred right before her eyes as tears filled her eyes. Naledi sniffed. He’ll marry someone else and she’ll come back to resume her duties as if nothing happened. She’ll see them together, their life, love and children….and….
It was how it was supposed to be, Naledi nodded as if someone had said the words out loud.
“It is how it’s supposed to be,” she said wiping at her eyes, and took a deep breath. She’ll go away, see the world, and satisfy the desire that has haunted her ever since she started work in the royal house, she thought letting her mind fantasize about what she’ll see out there in the world.
“I guess you’ve taken our spot.” Naledi turned to find the prince’s cousin standing there, with his dog right next to him. She hadn’t heard him come up.
“From today it will be yours,” Naledi said. She tried to smile but she couldn’t pull it off. She shook her head, shaking off the sad emotions that clung to her like a second skin. She wanted to be happy. And that started with changing her mind set. “Why didn’t I hear you come up today?”
Sello stared at her for a while. Naledi squirmed where she sat.
“I think you have a lot on your mind,” Sello said simply.
He came and sat next to her. The dog followed and insinuated itself between them. The dog sat down and stared out as if it was enjoying the view.
Naledi laughed at its antics. “You come here often?”
“We do, she loves the view.” Sello laughed along with her.
“May I,” Naledi asked. She smoothed her hand over the dog’s fur. Naledi gasped surprised to find it soft. The dog turned to stare at her for a minute and then licked her hand appreciatively. She turned away again, and stared at the green vegetation below.
“I think she likes you.”
“What’s her name?” Naledi asked sifting her fingers in the hair around the ears. She wondered what kind of mixed breed she was. She looked like she had everything thrown into her genes.
“Princess.”
“What?” Naledi asked not sure she heard him correctly. She laughed. “Who would name her princess? There’s nothing princessy about her.”
“He didn’t think much of what she looked like at the time. She had captured his heart.” Sello stared at her. And Naledi had an idea of who he was talking about. “He gets like that sometimes. When he can’t help but think with his heart.”
Nakedi breathed deep trying to push back the feeling that suddenly rose within her. There was a clicking sound as she swallowed suddenly. Her whole body shook with something she didn’t understand. She stifled a pained moan that formed in her throat.
She removed her hand from the dog, and wiped it down her skirts. She stared down the mountain, her eyes filling with tears.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m going away.” Naledi declared without thinking.
“Why?”
“Its…it’s not the same after… after he…” Naledi clutched the folds of her skirt. She blinked away her tears. “Its best I leave.”
“What do you mean it’s not been the same?” Sello asked concern in his voice.
Naledi shook her head not wanting to get into it. It was too painful for her to leave her home not of her own volition, but the thought of leaving her grandmother was excruciating.
“Did something happen after the prince chose you?” Sello looked beyond concerned now. But it was none of his business what happened to her. She was nothing to him. Naledi didn’t even know why she’d told him in the first place.
She got to her feet. She needed to get home. Her grandmother was probably back from talking to the chief. She needed to hear what the verdict was. Was she leaving or staying?
“Please tell me something,” Sello got to his feet and blocked her way. He promised Anthony that he will protected her. But he couldn’t do that if he didn’t know anything. “What happened?”
“It will be over once I’m gone. The prince will marry someone the people approve of, and what happened at the dance will be forgotten.” Naledi smiled at him, but her smile was more like a grimace, “It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
She said sounding like she was trying to convince herself. She passed Sello to make her way down the mountain.
Sello stared at her receding back feeling hopeless. He thought with her being here he could find a way to get them together. But it seemed…Sello shook his head and made his way home.
***
Anthony stared at his phone. He read the message his cousin had sent over and over until he had the words memorized. He sat the phone aside on his desk and went back to inspecting the zoning papers he’d received that morning from the municipal offices. His brother has done a great job in getting them underway with the construction of their hotel. Anthony skimmed through the papers giving them the go ahead.
He tried his best to ignore his cousin’s message, but it had somehow lodged itself in his mind.
He had resisted the urge to call Sello for past three months, needing the space that distance provided to forget what happened…and to forget her.
But his cousin had reached out to him. The message Sello had sent was a blaring SOS that Anthony couldn’t ignore.
With a sigh, Anthony placed the papers aside and picked up his phone. His dialed Sello’s number.
“You took your time,” Sello said as he answered.
“I almost didn’t call,” Anthony said moving papers around on his desk. He knew Sello wouldn’t understand that he needed to keep his distance from it all. And calling him just brought up things he was trying to forget.
“Then you’re making the job you asked me to do very difficult.” Sello’s voice sounded flat and very controlled. Anthony could tell he was not very happy with him, and he was being polite by not voicing his disapproval. “She’s leaving, Anthony, she going to leave the village.”
“What?”
“Nothing was the same after you chose her, that’s what she said.” Sello sounded like he was pacing as he spoke. His voice was rushed and he sounded breathless, “I didn’t understand what she was saying at first, and then I paid your father a visit.”
“What did he say?” Anthony held his breath.
“Not much. That she wanted to go away to study.”
“That’s good right?”
“No.” Sello’s voice turned low as though in warning, “the people treated her badly, Anthony, your people. What makes you think she’ll come back?”
Anthony knew what Sello was trying to say. If she left he’ll never know where to find her. She’ll be lost to him forever. He closed his eyes thinking of a lifetime without Naledi in it. But that was his destiny. He was going to marry Gauta, the princess of the Tšhipu clan. That was his destiny.
“She doesn’t have to come back, Sello. There is nothing there for her.” Anthony said through gritted teeth. “I wish her good luck in finding a life for herself.”
“You’re…”
“And about the people treating her badly…” Anthony interrupted.
“I’ll deal with it.”
“Thanks.”
“Anthony, what about her?” Sello asked sounding anxious.
Anthony ignored the question. He pushed the hang-up button, and stared at his phone for a full minute. Then he got up to stare out his window.
He straightened his tie, and shoved his hands into his pockets. The view was spectacular from this side of the building. The sky was misty blue above the other skyscrapers that formed Pretoria’s skyline. He could see the Union Buildings from here. The government seat of South Africa was picturesque with large gardens and monuments dotting the landscape around it.
His words came back to him. ‘“I wish her good luck in finding a life for herself.”’
What did he wish her exactly? A man? Marriage? Children?
His hands tightened in his pockets as the list went on. A possessive feeling surged within him. Anthony swallowed it. And was glad when the office phone on his desk rang.
He turned to answer it, “Hello.”
“Sorry to disturb you sir, but the architecture has arrived. You said to inform you of his arrival immediately,” his secretary said.
“Yes, show him in.”
Anthony straightened his tie again as he shifted his mind to the business at hand.
Naledi will be fine, and she didn't need him to do that, he thought as he reached his desk. He was nothing but trouble for her.
The door to his office opened interrupting his thoughts.
"Mr Nene, come in," Anthony said pushing everything out of his mind.
- Writer
