STORY : WHAT WENT WRONG? (Episode 1)

Mwansa had seen it all, she had been through it all. To her life became a reason and not a purpose. She was pounding groundnuts one afternoon when her grandmother called her. Her grandmother had been sick for quiet some time. They took her to different hospitals with no change. Whatever she was suffering from was not medically treatable. 

Mediapronounceng

Many at times Mwansa tried to convince her granny to seek the help of a witchdoctor, the old woman refused on grounds that she was a born again christian and would not seek help from anything that is not of God. This angered Mwansa very much, she really wanted her granny to heal, she didn't want anything to happen to her as she would never forgive herself.

"Mwansa! Mwansa," called Mwansa
"Mukwai," responded Granny.
"Isa kuno."
"Naisa."
"Child my time is up, I might die anytime."
"Mama naimwe you have started with your dying stories."
"Please listen don't cut me short."
"Granny I have had enough of those stories."
"One way or another I will die."
"If you die who will take care of me, your son in the city doesnt care about us."
Her grandmother had been on and off about the dying theory. Mwansa was done hearing those stories. Why would her grandmother talk about death when she is the only one Mwansa has. She got a bucket and went to the well to fetch water, she kicked stones on her way to the well thinking to herself imagining how life is on the other part of the world. Every time she went to the well, she would climb on the tallest tree near the well to admire the nature of the world. One thing that amazed her was one tallest tower from the far East. She wondered what it was all about. She hoped that one day she will eventually go there and see for herself but how would she go, she has lived all her life in the village and the village people are afraid of the city, they say the city is cursed.
"What are you doing in that tree."
"How is it any of your business for you to know what am doing."
"This tree that you like, you will fall down one of these days."
"Whose fault is it when I fall."
"Yours."
"So stop worrying."
"You are here for the water isn't it."
"No I'm here to pee."
"Fetch the water and leave."
"Why are you forcing me, I brought myself here."
"You are so stubborn."
"I take after your grandmother."
"Atase mweiche kutumpa nomba uko."
"Truth hurts."
Chilufya was such a bully, he always wanted to bossy everyone around but Mwansa was not his match. On several encounters they argued and fought. Mwansa was the only one who could stand up to this bully. The entire village hated Chilufya but he had a good heart, underneath his savage behavior was a nice young man. Mwansa fetched water and tailed back home. Mwansa was pissed for being disturbed by Chilufya from enjoying the beautiful long pole "tower" as she referred to it. " kwena chi Chilufya chali tumpa sana ayi", she said to herself. To Mwansa putting Chilufya in his place was all that she dreamed of. That was going to be her biggest achievement, she wished she had an elder brother who would beat up Chilufya.
As she approached her house she saw her granny crawling from her hut, she was ranting threats at someone or something but who as she was all alone in the yard. Mwansa hurried to her granny's aid.
"You won't kill me, I serve the most high God."
"Grandmother whom are you talking to."
As Mwansa got closer to her grandmother, she felt a heavy force pushing her. The more she tried to move closer the more it pushed her. She put down the bucket of water to try and help her grandmother. Her granny on the other side was telling her to keep away and let her fight her own battle. Mwansa was astonished, what battle was her Granny talking about? What was this force that was pushing her all about?
(Mediapronounce Ng)
" butuka kabiye undombeleko holy water kuliba father."
" ngaimwe tetimisha mweka."
" stop being stubborn just do as I say."
"Okay. "
She put up a marathon race as she ran to the the village priest. Father! Father! Father! She called out for the priest.
"What is it my child."
" I need your help."
"Calm down and tell me what's wrong."
"Something is attacking my grandmother, she sent me to get the holy water."
"Ohhhh no!!! Where is she now."
"She is home."
"Okkk let's go, hold on as I get something."
"Don't forget to carry the holy water."
Mwansa couldn't wait for the father, after delivering the message she ran back home to her grandmother, the priest ran behind her with his bible, holy water and other things. As they entered the yard, there was a strong wind, the priest sprinkled water while saying some words Mwansa could barely understand. In no time the word blew away. Mwansa rushed to her tired old lady, she helped her stand, they moved to a shade under a tree. Mwansa was still confused as to whatever had happened she needed some answers and explanation instead her grandmother asked her to excuse them, she wanted to talk to the priest in private.
"Father these things will never let me be."
"God has never failed, there is nothing he can't solve."
"Nanaka ine I no longer have strength to fight this battle."
"You don't fight this battle alone God is always with you, he will never forsake his own children."
Mwansa stood behind the hut listening to the discussion between her grandmother and the priest. She heard clearly what was being talked about but she didn't understand a thing. She regretted wasting her time listening to what she couldn't understand. It's as if those two spoke in parables. She wondered what it was her grandmother was hiding. Could it be that her sweet granny kept a big secret. That would explain the mysterious wind that occurred.
She decided not to bother herself with things she wouldn't understand. If there was any explanation to what happened, her granny was definitely going to tell her. After the little chit chat the priest left, he told Mwansa to be prayful. Granny gave the priest a push. To Mwansa's shock granny uttered no word about what transpared.
At supper, Mwansa cleared her throat to break the silence.
"Granny what happened this afternoon."
"Shut up you don't talk when eating."
"I won't pretend as if I never saw what happened."

(Mediapronounce Ng)
"Stop making noise and let's eat in peace."
After being scolded by her granny, she kept quiet. They enjoyed their dinner, granny complimented her cooking. She was clearing the plates when she felt something behind her, she turned to check, only to be met by a shadow. Granny! Granny! Who is there?
She went outside, the dog was barking at something. Whatever it is Mwansa could only feel its presence but could not see it.
"Mwansa! Mwansa."
"Mukwai mama."
"What are you doing there, its late you will do those dishes tomorrow."
"Can I atleast pack them, the rats will turn them into a play ground."
"Please hurry."
"Ok sharp."
Mwansa walked back in the kitchen, she put the plates in a dish while singing " chibuse chiweme". She saw a shooting star in the sky. "A shooting star! Ohhhhhh let me make a wish". She closed her eyes while making a wish. The moment she opened her eyes, the shooting star was not just an ordinary shooting star, it appeared like a big ream of fire, it was heading towards her compound.
"Mama isani kuno mumona."
Her grandmother run outside, when she saw the light. She asked Mwansa to run to her.
"Butuka isa kuno."
She feared for her life. She ran toward her granny, she was almost inside when something pulled her right leg. She fell down, she looked to see who was pulling her but no one was there. Something stronger than her held her.
Mama! Mama! nafwa ine!