"So, what is your answer?" Abel patiently pressed.
"I agree to your proposal," Rungi replied.
"You understand that the two of you will have to leave this village for a very long time? Probably only returning on special occasions?" Abel reminded.
"I understand." Rungi asserted.
This village had become her home. She had some friends here, and while life was hard, it had been peaceful and slow-paced with her husband. But he was gone. What was the point of staying now, only to stunt Orisi's growth? The memory of Songu refusing to admit Orisi to Kinta School, despite her brilliance, solidified her resolve. Her path was now clear and certain.
"Alright," Abel nodded "Prepare. Tomorrow, we shall be leaving,"
The three soon arrived at the main house. Songu invited Abel to have some milk tea but he refused, humbly stating that he had an urgent appointment which he needed to attend to before leaving.
As his car disappeared down the dusty road, the village women erupted in a fresh wave of chatter, marveling at his generosity and lamenting that such good fortune had not befallen their own families.
Rungi listened quietly, her mind formulating plans and debating how to break the news of their departure. She knew Songu would make a scene, might even try to physically stop them. But for her child, she would find the backbone to be stubborn!
Almost one hour past midday, the village women packed up and left. Since this work wasn't as tough as harvesting, the women only had to spend half a day at Songu's house before leaving.
Rungi and Orisi also planned to go back at their home to prepare lunch. It was at this time that Rungi remembered that in-order to properly host Abel, she had kept a large piece of meat to prepare a meal for him today. It seemed that it would be impossible to do so, she internally cursed herself for not being attentive.
"Where are you going?" Songu's voice cut through her thoughts. The elderly woman stood by the granary, watching them.
Rungi and Orisi stopped in their tracks as they turned to face the elderly woman.
Surprisingly, she seemed to be in a good mood? Not as moody and cloudy as yesterday.
"Come. Today we shall all eat from here," Songu declared. "Go help your sister-in-law in the kitchen. Prepare rice, matooke, cassava, and groundnut sauce."
"Alright mother-in-law," Rungi replied "Mother, let Orisi go and fetch some left over meat from yesterday to also be prepared,"
"Alright then," Songu agreed and Orisi rushed home to do so.
By the time lunch was served, it was already 4;00pm in the early evening hours. Michael had also returned from work. After being informed that it was Abel who bought them most of the food they were eating, he mentally made a note to thank him on his family's behalf.
After lunch Orisi, Kwezi and Bwengo picked up the used utensils, cleaned the table that the elders used for their meal and picked up their mats from the ground before moving outside the house to wash the used dishes.
With the children gone, Rungi saw her moment. "Mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law. There is something I must tell you."
"What is it? Tell us," Michael urged.
"Well...Me and Orisi might be leaving the village tomorrow," Rungi said, finally feeling relaxed after letting out the news.
A heavy silence filled the room. Yingi's eyes widened.
"Oh. Is it about Orisi's schooling?" Michael inquired.
"Yes. Abel informed me that he has already selected a school for her in Mbarara town, so we will have to travel there," Rungi said, turning to look discretely at Songu through the corner of her eye.
It was surprising that the angry woman from yesterday was now quiet.
"Alright. If that's what you want then travel with her there," Songu suddenly said surprising everyone in the room.
Yingi couldn't believe her ears! how could her mother-in-law suddenly become cordial with her sister-in-law's decision when she was totally against her yesterday?
"We are all family, when one person succeeds, the entire family rises," Songu added "Orisi is still young and doesn't know the ways of the world, when you travel to the city, make sure to keep an eye on her. Let her not cause travel for her benefactor,"
"I will grandmother, Thank you for understanding," Rungi replied.
"But this is on one condition," Songu emphasized, her gaze sharpening. "You must always keep in touch. Orisi is my own grandchild. I cannot bear to be parted from her for so long."
Rungi nodded in understanding. Although Rungi knew that Songu rarely paid attention to her daughter since birth, she didn't mind her request, after-all, if Orisi could leave this place and take a smooth path for herself, what was the harm of calling her grandmother once in a while?
Yingi felt that she had eaten sour lemons as she secretly grinned her teeth in anger! If Rungi left, all tough work would fall on her. Previously, she would assign some work which Songu ordered her to do like washing clothes, cooking some meals for workers and so on to Rungi without worrying about anything but now, she would have to work until breaking!
"Mother-in-law," Yingi interjected, a false concern in her voice, "my sister-in-law hasn't been in the city for a very long time, and Orisi has never left this village. You saw how wealthy Mr. Abel was. What if they offend him and bring calamity to the family?"
"Enough said. Rungi is a grown up, although she hasn't been in the city for a very long time, she still knows better than most people who have never stepped out of this remote village," Songu replied looking at he lazy daughter-in-law. She knew exactly why she didn't want Rungi and Orisi to go. Wasn't it because she now had to work?
Although she also didn't want Rungi to leave, causing a scene wouldn't benefit her. The insurance money couldn't be taken out so she had to look at the big picture. If Rungi and Orisi followed Abel, they would be following the money. Her slow daughter-in-law simply couldn't see the bigger picture!
Yingi felt that Songu's words were directly referring to her. She had never left this godforsaken village and didn't know how the city looked. Wasn't Songu directly pointing to her nose by her words? Anger rose in her chest as she looked at Rungi with Maliciously.
"Tomorrow, I will be there to see sister-in-law off," Michael said "I here that in the city, people don't usually eat our local foods. Just pack some millet floor and some matooke to take with you and also the people you will meet there. Incase Orisi misses our local food, let her not luck,"
"Thank you brother-in-law," Rungi replied.
By the time everything was discussed with the family, Michael headed towards the village heads house to inform him about Rungi and Orisi's departure.
The village head had a duty to know who was leaving and entering the village in-order to monitor the distribution of resources, land management etc. So, Michael going to report to him was a formality.
Rungi and Orisi left the main house and headed back home. The departure was abrupt so Rungi had to organize what to take.
Rungi headed to the bed room and picked a worn out bag where she packed a few clothes that belonged to her and her daughter. She then picked a big box from the top of the cup board and organized utensils in it.
Looking at the old sauce pans, she decided to leave them behind. She had made a plan to start working when they reached the city so as to support Orisi so she would also buy some new pans once there. Although Orisi's school fees could be covered, her upkeep still needed to be handled.
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The following day, Rungi woke up before the crow of a cock and organized everything that they would take. Orisi was woken up by her movements but Rungi told her to go back to sleep.
At around 6:00am, Orisi woke up and non-matter how Rungi urged her to sleep, she couldn't.
"There is water on the outside veranda, go and take a birth," Rungi said "The dress you'll wear is laid out in the room."
"Alright mother," Orisi replied.
She headed to the veranda behind the house and quickly took a shower then headed to the house putting on a dress that had a flower on the chest. She tied the dress belts behind her back then wore her worn out closed shoes that she only ever wore on special occasions.
Spotting her from a distance, Rungi nodded in approval then inquired, "Did you brush your teeth?"
"I am just going to do so," Orisi replied.
"Alright, don't pour water allover yourself when you brush," Rungi reminded.
Orisi got her mutyozo then a cup of water and went outside once again to brush her teeth.
"Orisi! Is your mother already awake?" A voice penetrated the air.
Orisi turned to see her Uncle Michael entering the compound, two small sacks balanced effortlessly on his head.
"Yes, mother is inside," Orisi replied.
"Okay. You are smart today," Michael teased as he placed the two sacks on the veranda in-front of the house. "This is millet floor and soya bean floor, you will not miss them while you are gone,"
"Brother-in-law?" Rungi called when she stepped out of the house.
"Sister-in-law, I bought you the things we agreed upon yesterday, "Michael said.
"Thank you," Rungi wholeheartedly replied.
"No need for thanks, we are all family after-all," Michael replied before his hand went to his pocket, reaching for something "Here, the life in the city isn't easy, take this and try to forge a way once you are gone,"
Rungi spotted the money held towards her and immediately refused to receive it. She knew that her brother-in-law like her husband always gave his money to his mother, any small money he kept away must have been the little savings he kept for an emergency.
"Thank you brother-in-law but you keep the money," Rungi said " Kwezi and Bwengo are going to attend Kinta school, there are a lot of expenses needed. Use the money for that,"
"You worry a lot, the school now provides half scholarships for some particular students, both Kwezi and Bwengo qualified, no need to worry about them," Michael replied.
"Still, I can't accept the money. Thank you for your kindness brother-in-law but these two sacks of food are enough to get us through the first month in the city," Rungi replied "I plan to look for a job to support Orisi, you know I have been to the city so I am not a first timer there,"
Michael saw the resolve in her eyes and reluctantly tucked the money away. "Alright, I understand." He then fished a small, creased piece of paper from his pants pocket. "But if you ever have an emergency, call this number."
Rungi took the paper. A phone number was scrawled across it in faint pencil.
"This is my trusted friend's phone number, he will inform me that you called and I will get back to you," Michael said.
"Alright," Rungi agreed, receiving the phone number.
In the whole village, around four people had phones not counting the near by towns where Michael worked. The first time she arrived in the village, her phone was given to Songu until today plus, she didn't see the need to use it any more so she let it be.
The three of them settled into a comfortable silence in front of the house. Michael sat on a stool, and Orisi stood between his knees, her small hands enveloped in his larger, calloused ones. Rungi watched from the veranda, the early sun painting the scene in soft, golden light.
"Make sure to always follow your mother's instructions," Michael warned, holding Orisi's hands.
"Yes," Orisi replied.
"Well, don't wander around too, there are many bad people in cities and be watchful of the roads before crossing," Michael continued as Orisi only nodded her head in understanding to her uncles words.
"If you are ever mistreated, find a way to reach out to me, Uncle will teach the bullies a lesson," he added, his tone hardening just slightly
Rungi helplessly laughed but found that a small tear had escaped her right eye, she immediately rushed to clean it. Remembering how her husband used to dote on Orisi, she didn't know if her child would ever remember that feeling.
At this moment, seeing Michael guide her attentive daughter, a wave of memories formed in her mind.