A Wedding on His Behalf

Samson Chidongo was only twenty one when they asked him a favour that turned his life for ever . The request was put to him when he had just completed his university. It was a hard and difficult question to answer . But he knew two things , saying no meant his parents would not be happy , saying yes meant he would have the wedding on behalf of his brother . That was what he deemed unthinkable . How would girls think of me ? He asked himself over and over shaking his head violently left and right . He thought about what his parents have said , he thought again and shook his shoulders up and down , he shook his head not knowing whether it was time to flee . " The thing about your brother , he is not coming home as of now . All he is asking is you sit in his place as a dummy , complete all the marriage rites on his behalf and then she will follow him ." His father Chidongo said . " You are asking me to have a wedding with a woman I don't know ? " " For the sake of your brother ." His father said and continued , " You see , Anah and your brother Mark are engaged but your brother will find it extremely expensive to travel from South Africa and have the wedding, so that's why you are the answer to his problem ." It took four weeks for Samson to give his father a nod . His father assured him , " Anah is not your type , you will only kiss on the wedding day and pretend you are a couple then off she goes to your brother in Durban. " He showed him the pictures , " This is how she looks , very good for your brother hmm ? " Anah Banda appeared to be in her early twenties and Samson looked at the photo closer , she appeared tall , slim with broader lower bottom and long black silky hairs . Samson when he looked at her was not that very much attracted . He assured his father Joseph Chidongo , " I may have a wedding on my brothers behalf then she travels to South Africa , has she been there before ? " Joseph Chidongo said , " Never , but your brother will be waiting for her at the Beltbridge if not he will be at Petersburg in a motel waiting for her . " " Why can't her family take her there to him ? " " Her sister in law will accompany her ." Joseph said . He thanked his son with a warm hug for accepting to do his brother a favour . The wedding preparations began . The announcement on radio said , " The family of Joseph and Isabel Chidongo , Matt and Ivy Banda are cordially inviting you to the wedding of their second born son Samson Chidongo and the first born daughter Anah Banda . The wedding ceremony will take place at St Michael's church and the reception will be at College of Medicine Hall ." The news spread faster that Samson was getting married . It was just a shock to many of Samson's friends. How can he start with a family instead of looking for a job ? Many friends debated . Samson only confided to a few that he was in reality just a dummy but he would do nothing beyond a kiss on the day of the wedding . Well , the rehearsals began . Samson and Anah held hands . And a new song of Bendeka Bendeka was chosen to be the one to dance as they would enter the hall . The more they rehearsed , as days to the wedding drew closer , the more Samson found Anah very attractive . Suddenly the opinion about her as an ordinary girl changed . ' No wonder my brother is mad about you , ' he whispered to himself . The wedding day was colourful . Almost half a thousand people attended . Samson and Anah kissed in front of the priest attracting a chorus of applause from the crowd . Then during the wedding party at the College of Medicine Hall Samson kissed Anah , this time it felt different . Her lips were sensuous and he didn't want to let it go . She politely pulled herself from him and sat down as the crowd joyously sang and danced . A strange feeling was growing in Samson's heart but he quickly and furiously chased the bad feeling . ' I only do this for my brother ,' he assured himself. After the wedding the couple traveled to a hotel. Samson's father constantly reminded his son , " this is only for your brother , please don't do anything silly in the hotel with her , tomorow we finish the ceremony then she travels to South Africa ." " Dad , I have no feelings for her ." Samson said . When Samson and Anah arrived at Chitukuko Hotel they were left in a large room with ensuite just the two of them . The two of them sat on the edge of the bed and they talked about Mark a hundred times . " I really like your brother , he is a nice guy , I cannot wait to see him , thanks for accepting to wed on his behalf .' Anah said . " Aah my inlaw , this is nothing , I want the two of you to be happy ." Samson said . As the night grew older Anah walked to the bathroom and changed into pajamas. She looked stunning in his eyes . He looked at her again and he breathed deeply , ' so how shall we sleep my in law ? I can sleep on the floor , I don't mind ." Anah said , " I think that's too harsh on yourself my in law , what if we put something in between , you face that side I face that side ?" ' Good idea " They slept peacefully as agreed . In the middle of the night Samson was not aware that Anah wrapped him with her hands . Anah too was not aware . When both were awake , there was fast apology from either side , " sorry my in law , sorry mulanu! " The reality that Samson and Anah became closer each day was becoming a thorn in their lives . In the morning Anah told the story of run away lovers , " its such a fascinating movie , two people are in love but the problem is they are both already with someone , so they ran away , my in law you should watch it ." At that point Samson had other ideas on what to do with Anah . Find out next

The Power of What You Say

Two women were trapped in a river . They had gone there to fetch water for household chores . As they fetched water they decided to go swimming . They swam and and swam and felt it was time to go home . They did not see that the river was swelling . It would soon be floods . The floods came faster and swallowed their buckets of water . They managed to climb a long tree and people came from all directions to see what was happening . Within hours a huge crowd assembled and looked at the two women on top of a tree . However none of the crowd was brave to rescue the two women . The crowd shouted loudly and waved at the two desperate women , " the waters are so deep , we cannot risk our lives to come there and rescue you . Please don't jump off a tree and until the river floods have vanished and if you swim you are likely going to die .' When the other woman heard this put her head against the tree branch and gave up . But the other woman was deaf . She didn't hear what was said . The floods kept on coming . The deaf woman sadly jumped into deep waters . The crowd shouted at her and waved hands frantically. The deaf woman kept on struggling with deep and furiously running waters . The crowd gave up on her . They concluded she was going to die . The waters kept on swelling the river . The other woman held on to the tree as advised . After sometime, the deaf woman managed to reach the shore . The crowd was left surprised . People shouted happily cerebrating she made it . They asked her , " what made you jump into deep waters despite our advice ." The deaf woman said , " I didn't hear what you said but when I saw you waving hands and openning mouths I thought you were cheering me up to be brave and jump into the waters . I thank you for that ." The crowd was left silent and the other woman who held on to a tree was swallowed up by floods .' Lesson : be very careful of what you say to others . It may affect their lives for ever .

The Stranger and The Prospective Boyfriend

Tenson and Fiona held hands . The whirlwind swept past them and the excitement of just being two of them grew. Fiona for the first time looked at Tenson in his eyes at a closer range . There was something leaping up and down in her heart the moment their eyes met . She saw that Tenson was not only handsome, he was becoming a man with masculine features of small beards at the end of his lower chin. ' So what is your favourite thing to do when you are free .' Fiona asked . Tenson touched her shoulder tenderly and smiled , " When I am free I like talking to nature . I have a language of the universe ." Fiona's face looked surprised , " What is language of the universe ? " Tenson brushed something off Fiona's hair then said , " The language of the universe means talking to animals we tame and talking to certain birds that feel free in our company . " Before Fiona asked he pulled her hand , " let me show you ." They walked past the bushes and walked past the stream until the view of cattle grazing on the hill was nearer . " You see those animals , I can say one thing to them and they will obey , let's get closer .' When they reached where the cattle were grazing , Tenson sang a song in a very thick masculine voice . The song was not amusing at all to Fiona . Fiona laughed the way Tenson sang . As he continued singing Fiona saw cattle coming from different directions to where they stood. The cattle made a ring fence around them . Fiona was perplexed . Tenson continued singing until the cattle were within touching distance around them . " Will they not hurt us ? ' Fiona squeezed herself to Tenson with fear . Tenson said , " They like this song, do you want the birds to join us as well ? " Fiona nodded . Tenson sang a different song. This one was better sang than the previous . He hummed the tune causing Fiona to smile . It was getting darker and darker . The birds made creaking and twittering sounds as they descended into Tenson's feet. Many birds flew into the sky and followed the sound of Tenson's song . Fiona looked at Tenson , " Tenson are you a magician ? ' Tenson smiled , " No , Fiona , am a follower of the universe . I was taught by one man who I met on the road one day . The man said every thing living comes from one family of the creator of the universe . You have to enter into the birds mind and feel like them and live amongst them for them to understand your song ." " I have to get home , my mum is going to be angry if I am late . " Fiona said . Tenson looked at her and he saw it . The beauty of Fiona was glittering into his heart . The moment he held her hand to walk her home he felt something different . In between them as they walked there was huge silence . Each of them had fear and afraid to talk about their love . " I want you tomorow to show me another talent like today ." " Right ," Tenson said . As they neared Fiona's home their hands didn't want to let it go . They stood by the tree frozen and speechless . No one moved an inch . Words lost . Fiona chewing pieces of grass . Tenson looking away playing with leaves . Stories ran out of their heads . Suddenly a man with white shiny hairs appeared in front of them . The man said , ' I guess both of you know me by now . " Fiona was the first to scream , " Mr Zina Zina , the man who showed me where Tenson was ." Tenson didn't want Fiona to know that it was Mr Zina Zina who taught him how to sing a song and attract animals and birds . The white shiny hairs were brightened. " Right , let's get down to the bottom of the matter . You are both afraid to say you love each other , am I right ? " There was a silence of guilty between Fiona and Tenson . The strange man Mr Zina continued , " The thing about love and happiness is , unless you say it , you may miss the boat . If you Tenson cannot tell Fiona , Fiona may end up in the hands of wrong boys , would you like it ? " Tenson shook his head protesting. He turned to Fiona , " If you Fiona , having felt in your heart his love , can pretend you don't love him and Tenson ends up with someone else , would you like it ? ' Fiona shrugged her shoulders . The strange man.pulled them together , " the language of the universe says you have a duty to express your love with no regrets and if you do the opposite you will suffer stress and regrets the rest of your lives . Now I live you with freedom to do what you want . " Suddenly the man with white shiny hairs disappeared . Fiona and Tenson were left speechless as Fiona saw her mother approaching . Find what happens next