At the dinner table, Mabige seemed distant and kept toying with his food and Mara just hoovered it all up in two mouthfuls to Tamura and Mama Haga’s surprise. Tamura said, “Mara! Since when do you eat like you are in a race, when you normally eat like a cat?”
Mama Haga added, “And on the other hand, Mabige is never one to play with his food, whatever is the matter with you?”
Before he answered, Tamura remembered how he was when he fell in love with Leona and he put it down to nerves of meeting Beko, where Mabige was concerned. To save his mate any further embarrassment with Mama Haga’s question, he said, “If you are not hungry we can go now and I will take you on a quick tour of the compound and introduce you to the rest of the king’s subjects and Mama Haga can rest and I will take her around tomorrow when she is well-rested.”
Mabige jumped up to his feet and said, “Yeah, good idea, I am too tired to eat and will save it for tomorrow.” The two men left headed for the Mondo’s house first. They both stopped in their tracks to think of how they would approach Beko without her strict father noticing, but before they came up with a solution to their dilemma, Mara appeared and said, “You are not thinking of going to meet her without me, are you?”
“Of course not!” retorted Tamura, “You couldn’t go and see if you can quietly ask her to come outside, could you?”
“Of course!” said Mara when she was already half running towards the Mondo’s household. She tentatively knocked on the door and Mama Mondo opened it and asked her what she wanted at this time on a school night.
Mara replied, “Erm, I wanted to see Beko just for a minute if she is not busy, please.”
Mama Mondo inquisitively asked, “What is it about?”
Mara said, “Well, tell her it’s to do with what we discussed the other day, she will know.”
Mama Mondo said, “Fine, I will tell her, but there is something you are not telling me, I will find out what it is soon enough.”
Beko came out and said, “Mara, what is it this time of night?” Mara pulled her hand and dragged away from Mama Mondo’s earshot, who was standing behind the door trying to eavesdrop. Mara said excitedly, “Look, there is Uncle Mabige I told you about standing there with Tamura, he came a while ago to visit us, he wants to see you.”
“Ooh, Mara!” Beko said with annoyance, “You could have given me some notice so I could make myself look good, can’t you see that I look like a tramp, he won’t fancy me now in this state!”
Mara smiled and said, “Beko, you always beautiful regardless of your clothes or anything else for that matter. He will love you for who you are, I can just feel it my heart that you will make a lovely couple! So come on before your father comes looking!”
“Okay, okay,” said Beko, “Let’s go and see Mr Charming then! Mind you he looks pretty handsome from here, I must add.” They both giggled and went over to meet the two men.
Tamura said, “Beko, meet Mabige from Huru and, Mabige, meet the lovely Beko Mondo!” The two strangers shook hands quickly and awkwardly. Mara and Tamura just stood there and observed their reactions. Tamura grabbed Mara’s hand and walked off towards his house to give them time to talk. After a brief moment, the two strangers parted and when Mabige got to where Tamura and Mara stood, he said, “She is the most beautiful, sweet-spirited girl I have ever met!”
“So are you two going to see each other again to talk properly tomorrow then?” asked Tamura with interest.
“Yes, of course, I told her to send for me when she is free tomorrow. I definitely need to see her again.”
As they got inside the house, Mama Haga asked, “So have you met the lovely Beko then or you are stuck with me for good,” she laughed.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Mama Haga, Beko is gorgeous and I can’t wait to see her properly tomorrow!”
“Mmm, I think love is in the air!” chuckled Mama Haga. After catching up for a short while, they all retired to bed.
Mama Haga said to Mara, “I know it’s a school night and you should be sleeping by now, but I just wanted to know how you are getting on with praying?”
“Well,” said Mara, "I have been praying every day and reciting the prayer as much as possible and I am now confident to tell everyone about it so that they can start praying too before it’s too late.
“I think you came at the right time, Mama Haga, it’s now or never!” she added.
“Okay, let’s tell them day after tomorrow when you are not at school, then the day after that I will be returning to Huru, Papa Haga can’t be alone for too long,” said Mama Haga. “Let’s pray and call it a night then.”
“Yes, I will tell you all about it when I come back from school tomorrow and about the dream I had the other day as well, very scary it was too. But I am delighted that you are here, I missed you so much,” added Mara sombrely.
“I missed you too, my child, now let’s pray so you can sleep and be in form for school tomorrow morning,” added Mama Haga.
Chapter 21
At daybreak, Beko woke up with a spring in her step and was unusually joyful and breezed through her daily chores at lightning speed, to her mother’s amazement. On the other hand, Tamura and Mabige chatted well into the early hours of the morning, mostly about Beko of course. Tamura noticed the sparkle in Mabige’s eyes ever since he met Beko and he remembered how he felt when he saw Leona for the
