I had never seen Baba VaTata so worried. He came knocking at my door at the crack of dawn.
“I am looking for my wife, did she come here?” Baba VaTata asked.
I had admonished him for beating up his wife, Mai VaTata.
Mai VaTata was in the house. She had sought refugee last night after Baba VaTata beat her.
I was not going to make it easy for him. I recalled my grandfather telling me and the other boys that, “a man who beats up his wife has no spine at all, a coward who can’t fight other men.”
That was many years ago, but I still cherished this advice.
“Why can’t you fight other men? Do you know that you can go to jail for domestic violence?” I quizzed.
“Is she here?” Baba VaTata asked again.
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He looked like he didn’t sleep last night. I had last seen him at Zororo Bar and he was intoxicated and unusually boisterous.
“Have you ever thought what can happen next time you beat her, you may kill her,” I said. “And what will happen to your children?”
He cast his head down in shame.
“And what are you teaching your children anyway?” I said.
Last night, Mai VaTata cried about how her husband was cheating her.
Her sister-in-law who lived in Tsholotsho had informed her that Baba VaTata had impregnated a woman in the village who was now living in the family compound.
This was news to me. It seemed Baba VaTata was sowing oats everywhere. He had gone too far.
When she confronted him last night, his response was to beat her.
“Is it true what I am hearing my friend, that you’ve a new wife living in the village?” I said.
He lowered his eyes. It was enough, so it was true he had taken a new wife secretly and she was living in the village.
“You won’t understand it if I tell you,” began Baba VaTata.
“Try me for once,” I said.
By now we had moved from the door and we were standing under the mulberry tree. No one could eavesdrop.
“Mai VaTata does not want to go to the village, so I need someone who can look after things there,” Baba VaTata said.
It was unbelievable.
“So your solution is to find a village woman to be your new wife?” I said. I was amazed.
“That’s why I said you won’t understand,” Baba VaTata said.
“You’re my friend, but I think you’re creating problems for yourself,” I said.
“You must think of your children, you’ll lose their respect,” I said.
I was not a saint myself but I could tell wrong from right.
“So what should I do,” said Baba VaTata. He looked miserable. The fact that his secret was now out in the open was beginning to take it’s toll on him. There is a big saying among our people that says,” you can’t hide anything that has horns forever.”
“So for how long have you married this woman from the village?” I said.
“It’s over a year now,” Baba VaTata said.
It all dawned on me now. Over the year, his trips to the village had become frequent. The new wife was the reason.
He had even managed to keep the secret from his friends.
“If you don’t handle this properly, your wife is going to leave you this time,” I warned him.
Mai VaTata was hurt. She had cried out all night. Her husband had betrayed her after all they had been through together. Baba VaTata had to consult his elders to manage the situation.
Sometimes if not most of the time, we do things that will haunt us forever.
Onie Ndoro
For feedback: X@onie 90396982/[email protected]
