TOO FAR TO REACH 60

 

TOO FAR TO REACH 60

Pumulo and Jeff had just landed in Ndola via proflight and were about to drive to luanshya with their rental car. Pumulo was excited to go and see her family as well as to take little Ms Charlotte to meet her uncle. It was important for her to do this in order to bring her family closer. So much had happened and she wanted to do things right. However, she was not sure about meeting her aunty.

“I am so excited” Jeff said.

Pumulo smiled and sighed, she was nervous to finally meet her family after how she left without saying good bye. Jeff on the other hand was very excited.

“It will be okay honey”

“Yeah I hope so.. tradition is something else and if my auntie’s and uncles refuse to welcome you…”

“Honey they will.. let’s go”

An attendant from the airport helped them push their luggage while Jeff carried some in his hands. Pumulo was carrying Charlotte who slept peacefully. The visit was going to be a couple of days hence so much luggage had to be carried because of the baby.

Jeff sighed.

“What? You’re getting cold feet already?” Pumulo asked.

“No.. it’s the reservation… I didn’t confirm” Jeff said.

The two had opted to book their accommodation in kitwe at the Garden court hotel for their first night while they prepared to finally go to kitwe. Jeff and Pumulo were not sure whether to be sleeping in luanshya or drive there everyday seeing that they had a baby and didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. As they drove to kitwe, Pumulo kept in touch with her cousin Musha who told her that their dad had moved out of the family house and was living with their aunty in another house in kitwe.

“Then that will be awesome, since we are going straight to kitwe we can see them tomorrow and then we will come there”

Musha hesitated as if talking to someone before giving her response.

“Its best you come here first before you see them. We can then go together” she said.

Pumulo was a little confused by that arrangement but did not oppose.

Jeff looked at her before focusing on the road again.

“Everything alright? He asked.

“ya.. it’s fine”

****************************

The following day in the morning, Jeff and his wife left for luanshya to meet her siblings. Like before, the road leading to the mansion was quiet. Pumulo remembered everything about the place including the many days she walked that path asking God to change her life for the better. She had suffered a lot. Pumulo lived like a maid and she was treated like one, coming here to meet her cousins who she normally worked for taunted her. Jeff noticed the unusual silence of his wife and he was concerned.

“You’re okay honey?”

“ I am.. just memories.. I miss aunty”

Jeff was not convinced so he slowed down

“Honey if you don’t want to do this…”

“No my love let’s go.. it’s okay I promise. I was just thinking a lot”

She directed him to the house and as they drove in her childhood came flashing back. Pumulo remembered what a relief it was to leave that gate and be gone for good. She had prayed for that Victory day and night, little did she know what the future would look like

“It’s huge” Jeff said

“It is… my uncle worked for the mines..” she said.

Musha and all her other sisters were present, it was a great sight. Seeing all her cousins in one place felt good. They laughed and hugged before going into the mansion. Pumulo could read the body language better now, her cousins were somewhat shocked that she amounted to something. She had been their maid, all of them. Not one of them had not been helped by Pumulo. Looking at them all, Pumulo was grateful she had a different life. Her cousins had all decided to move back into their mansion, all of them with their spouses were now living under one roof like in the Bollywood movies. It was a case of fighting for property. From what Pumulo could recall, her aunty was very good at feeding her children even in their matrimonial homes. It’s like none of them had a normal home and now that aunty was no longer there, they all ended up under one roof.

Musha and the sisters asked Pumulo for a private conversation away from her husband. Jeff remained with his brothers in marriage while the sisters followed Pumulo. They all went upstairs to the master bedroom. Nobody slept there.

“ we  wanted to talk to you alone so that you know” Prisca started.

Prisca was the oldest.

Musha gave Pumulo an envelope, she opened it slowly and then looked at everyone in shock.

“This can’t be true”

“It is true”

“How long have you known?” Pumulo asked as tears lingered in her eyes.

Her four cousins responded at once “always”

“We have always known” Prisca added

***************************

 It was the morning of Pumulo’s marriage renewal, having her family there and especially her father to walk her down the aisle was by far the best thing she could have ever prayed for. A lot of forgiving and healing still needed to take place. There was a lot of adjusting for Pumulo to do especially when she learnt that her uncle was actually her biological father, to her surprise all her cousins always knew. It was understandable that her aunty would have never wanted her to know. The cousins had all decided to tell her in order to be at peace, it was not something they wanted to hide any longer. Prisca had specifically stated that she felt it in her heart that God would have rather had them be happy together than keep it a secret any longer. Prisca acknowledged what her mother had been going through and honored her for choosing to be silent about it. Pumulo decided to respect the spirit of her aunty by refusing to be part of any inheritance her dad had. Pumulo did not feel it right in her spirit to share any of that property or claim ownership of anything.

Pumulo’s aunty had chosen a more laid back life, she opted to be out of the public eye for fear of ridicule. It was still hard to tell whether the love was the driving force of their union or money. The day they met, she bragged about a lot of things she could now do with so much at her disposal. Pumulo looked on in silence, she wished she could understand her family dynamic or why everything happened the way it did. The one thing she had to face however was that her father had in a way wives all the women in her mother’s family by virtue of having had intimate relations with them. Disgusting but true. For the sake of tradition, Pumulo allowed her father walk her down the aisle but a relationship as father and daughter was a very long road. They kept it at what it was. Luckily, every property owned by late Pumulo’s aunty and her dad was given to the children. Pumulo had chosen to distance herself from everything as Jeff had put the Capetown estate in her name and their children. Jeff had now received his inheritance thanks to his sister who chose to release it as his wedding gift, the Clouds remained even closer to Jeff and his family. Ms Charlotte was Emamnuela's godmother during her christening and she and her family had now also become part of the Kim’s.

Jeff was shaking and moved to tears when Pumulo walked into the chapel with her father. She looked even more gorgeous and he was reminded why he chose her. Saying his vows was a walk in the park. Pumulo broke into tears as she expressed her gratitude to God. He was faithful all through her journey. The celebration went great, Emmanuela was dedicated in church and the reception included celebration of Emmanuela's first birthday. At one point in the ceremony Pumulo looked at all her loved ones and friends in one place and besides her was her loving husband and daughter. She couldn’t ask for more.

Jeff and his wife had made up their minds, they were going to live in Namibia. Uncle Stan had invited Jeff to Namibia where he had a couple of investments and Pumulo loved the place when they visited just a week before the wedding. Jeff had signed a contract to carry out some consultancy work there for uncle Stan's company. This was also a great way for Jeff to invest there, there was also a beautiful crèche near their home where Emmanuela could start and Pumulo also had a great opportunity to teach in one of the best primary schools.

A tale to forever would not be told without acknowledging what God had done for the two in this situation. A love that could thrive against all odds even when it was too far to reach.

THE END.