The people around her really felt sorry for her loss and she looked like a sheep without a shepherd and had taken the death of her husband quite badly. They feared for her wellbeing and thought she could die soon if she continued with this level of grief. Nothing and no one seemed to be able to console her.
When she finally managed to fall into a deep exhausted sleep after a few nights of weeping, Mama Haga had a dream and in that dream the Angel of the Lord had come to speak to her and told her, “Arise, Verma Haga, dust yourself up, dry your tears, the Holy Spirit will give you strength to carry on. There is no time to waste, the people need you to teach them to pray and to be strong in the faith. You are the one to lead them in the absence of Mara. Don’t give up now. Your husband is in a better place now where there is no more pain. Arise and be of good courage, weep no more. Receive the strength and comfort of the Holy Spirit right now!”
The following morning on the fifteenth day since the death of Papa Haga, Mama Haga rose up early and started to do what she used to do before her husband’s death. She was full of energy and was not crying anymore and did not carry her husband’s shirt around anymore. She was looking a lot brighter and had a spring back in her step once again. Mama Mondo rose up after her to see what she was doing and wondered whether she had lost the plot as she was seeing a different person to the one she was comforting only last night. A woman who was broken to pieces and weeping nonstop, and now, she was not sure if this was the same woman or not.
Nevertheless, Mama Mondo was more than happy to see that the crying had stopped and did not want to interfere with what was happening and just watched her quietly as she worked. The whole village first heard the news that Mama Haga was back to her normal self when she had gone to her neighbour’s house to tell them that everyone must gather tonight for prayers without fail and that they should spread the word.
Most were amazed at her quick recovery but just thanked God as they were worried for her welfare. Mama Haga rushed to the market to buy wool to start knitting baby clothes for Beko’s baby as promised and she got down to business as soon as she got back from the market. However, she was not yet keen on eating much, she just nibbled on this and the other but was not interested in food as she used to be. She kept herself extremely busy and refusing to sit down for a minute, except when she was knitting or cooking. She had found a distraction in keeping busy.
That night the entire village gathered to pray and they took their time to worship and entered into a time of prayer for each and every family, they also prayed for Mama Haga to be strengthened and they prayed for baby Doma as well who was warmly wrapped in swaddling clothes in his mother’s arms. He would be dedicated in the congregation in two weeks’ time when he would be a month old. That was also the time Mama Mondo was intending to return to Goza after the dedication of her first grandchild.
Chapter 30
In Goza, the people carried on with their lives as usual. Tamura and Leona were busy making plans for their impending nuptials to take place at the end of the next month in December. The queen was working overtime to make her daughter the biggest and most beautiful wedding gown as she could not fit in her own old one. Besides it had a few holes, moths had been at it after sitting in a suitcase for all those years.
Tamura had a headache of who to choose as his best man and the groomsmen too. He sought for Leona’s recommendations in the matter, but she was reluctant as she had her hands full with choosing bridesmaids as well. She, however, suggested a few names to him and he said he would mull over it and ask those on his shortlist. He wanted his cousins from Nengara to be a part of his big day but was not sure how to get the news to them.
Leona chose Mara, Shula, Kioma and Zara, the daughter of Chief Bongo and Zuka’s little sister. The girls were really excited to be in the bridal party. For Mara, it was the second time around after Beko’s wedding. Leona still needed someone to be her matron of honour and she had no idea who to ask. She wished Beko was around, but she knew that was not going to happen as Beko had her hands full with the new baby. Mama Mula, Shula’s mother, was the only person she could actually ask as she looked younger than her age and very pretty. Mama Mula readily accepted and felt proud to be part of the royal wedding.
Mama Mula and the rest of the girls went over to see the queen and to be measured for their gowns to wear on the special day. It was the first time Mama Mula had set foot inside the king’s household. As subjects, they had always hung around the yard if they had something to say to the royal household but were never permitted within the confines of the palace. Mama Kama
