MARINI'S POV

I sat in my home office using the stapler as my stress release ball leaving pins all over my desk and floor. The images of the previous day played over and over like a broken record in my head. Damn that Sheila. Who did she think she was? I didn't like cussing but she just brought out the negative side of me. That negative side was jealousy and I didn't like that feeling. I didn't get jealous but when it came to Isaac I experienced things that were new to me.

I hadn't even been able to go to church, too angry at the world. I was in the wrong headspace to be in Gods presence. I knew that I should have been seeking God more than ever so He could help me deal with my feelings but I was feeling extremely worn down.

I had actually missed Isaac. I know it had been my idea to stay away from him to give us both space to move on with our lives but I still missed the old us. I had missed having meals together and talking about random stuff. I missed teasing him and hearing him give me random compliments. I missed having fun with him that's why I had staged the whole school trip fiasco so it could be just the two of us. The tour for the kids was totally genuine,I hadn't lied about that but they had been the perfect excuse to spend time with Isaac.

Why else would I have been dressed up and about to leave at the exact time he woke up yet Saturdays were my days to sleep in. I knew he wouldn't allow me to leave on my own and would insist on tagging along. It had all worked out perfectly until meddlesome Sheila showed up ruining everything.

I was hoping to at least get out to hang out with someone close to me but it hadn't happened. Lulu had been in Samburu for about two months give or take and was already making great headway on her project. Amani was busy with exams and when she wasn't she was hanging out with Jeremy. We all still went to church together including Jeremy but Isaac usually dropped me back home after the service so he could hang out with Sheila. They didn't get to hang out most weekdays because of clashing work schedules so the weekends were the only days they got together. I had the authority to take that away but Isaac seemed happy and I didn't want to take that from him for my own selfish reasons.

Why couldn't I find my own person like everyone else had? Even Lulu was being driven crazy by some Samburu Prince or so I'd heard yet here I was single as a pringle. Oh wait, yeah I remember the reason now, marriage and love was for fools and I wasn't one. Yet currently I felt like I'd give up all my properties to be one of those fools.

Why wasn't I happy yet this is what I'd requested from Isaac? He was only doing what I had asked and didn't deserve me getting mad at him but I just couldn't help it. Why couldn't I move on from him when it had been so easy for him to replace me with Sheila? What did she have that I didn't? Oh no, I did not just go there. Comparing myself with another woman just because of a man was the lowest of the low and I had just crossed that line. What was becoming of me?

Before I could dwell more on those thoughts the intercom for the gate buzzed. I hadn't ordered anything and everyone had their own key card. Isaac was currently out with his girlfriend doing God knows what so I was home alone with Kim. I checked the security camera on the gate and saw two men standing there. If they were here to steal why would they bother asking to be buzzed in? They looked a little too old to be thieves though one older than the other with a noticeable slouch and grey hair.

"Go away." I yelled into the intercom hoping to get rid of them.

They both jumped surprised, the little action making me laugh a little. At least they had made me smile amidst my internal battle. They both looked around confused wondering where my voice had come from. The younger looking one located the camera and pointed at it. The video feed was pretty clear and I immediately recognized him.

"Uncle Jared." I called our surprised forgetting I was still pressing the intercom.

They startled again but they didn't jump this time. Too bad, I could have used another laugh.

"Mwendwa is that you? Let us in."He replied calling me by my African name.

I had even forgotten I had one due to the fact that I never used it.

"What are you doing here?" I asked to myself but they still heard as my finger was still on the intercom.

"You really want two old men standing in the sun talking about why we're here or are you going to let us in so we can explain." He asked his Meru accent very clear.

"Sorry." I apologized letting them in.

I quickly removed my finger before I said any more stupid things.

I had no idea what they wanted or how they had even found me. When my sisters and I moved to the city we had lost all contact with any family we had back home in Meru.

Jared my was my mother's eldest brother. She had been the last born of a family of seven, four boys and three girls. My dad had been the second born in a family of ten, all boys. Talk about excessive testosterone. They had tried to take everything our parents had left for us but my parents will had been foolproof and they had gotten nothing. Why were they looking for us after all this years? We were never even invited to any family occasions.

I walked downstairs with Kim by my side to open the door for them. I didn't care about what I was wearing because they were the ones who had come to my home uninvited. My baggy t-shirt and leggings were more than enough. Lucky for them, I still had my bra on.

I opened the door before they could knock and saw them standing there. The older man who I was yet to recognize was standing there huffing probably because he had to take those stairs up the patio to get to the door. I stood aside and welcomed them in.

They took off their shoes and I led them to the living room. Their eyes were on Kim the entire time who was looking at them wearily because he was meeting them for the first time. Kim was okay with strangers as long as he met them outside his turf, now they were in his home and he was feeling a little threatened.

"He's harmless."I informed them scratching the top of his head to calm him down.

The two men obviously didn't believe me and I didn't blame them. Kim's size was very intimidating to someone who was not used to dogs his size.

"Have a seat gentlemen. Would you like anything to drink or eat?"I asked remembering my manners.

I had already had my lunch but I could warm them one of Helena's frozen meals.

"Juice or water is fine."Jarred answered for both of them.

The other man whose name I still didn't know was still silent sitting on my sofa with his walking stick between his leg as as he looked around my house. I left them and walked into the kitchen to pour us all a glass of juice. I grabbed a carton from the fridge and three glasses before walking back to them. I poured out the juice in the glasses before taking a sip as an invitation for them to drink. Tradition dictates the host has to drink or eat first to assure the guests that none of it is poisoned. I didn't follow tradition that much but I knew the two gentlemen did.

When they saw that I did die, mental eye roll, they took it as an okay sign to drink. What would I get from poisoning two old men?

"I know you're wondering what we are doing here." Jared started.

"It's been ten years since I saw any of you people so of course I'm wondering."I replied.

"How are your sisters?" Jared asked and I knew he was just trying to buy time off what they were really there for.

"Healthy, safe and happy. Gentlemen it's a Sunday afternoon and I got no warning prior to your arrival. It's been a decade so please what can I do for you?" I asked getting straight to the point.

I was already having a rough day before they arrived and I was in no mood to entertain. If it's money they wanted, as long as it was for a good cause I would gladly write them a cheque if it got them out of my house fast. I wanted to be alone with my sorrow and hurt feelings.

"We were warned you had grown to be a no nonsense business woman."Jarred said with a chuckle.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him. He still hadn't introduced his friend whose gaze had turned from the house to me and my dog.

"We are here on official elder business. This man next to me is the spokesman of the Njuri Ncheke and we're here to deliver a message to you from the elders."He explained and before I could stop myself I burst out laughing.

They both looked at me unimpressed but I couldn't help myself. What they were saying was too comical to pass up a laugh.

"What is this ? A Nollywood movie?" I asked still laughing.

The Njuri Ncheke were a council of elders for the Meru tribe. They had been around since the beginning of time and comprised of the oldest and wisest men from the tribe. They were like the Parliament of the Ameru even though there was a real government they still held power over the people. They could solve tribal cases and pass on judgement. It was all very traditional but they had real power that not even the government messed with.

I knew of their existence because my mom had drilled their importance into me and my sisters while we were still very young. They were not to be messed with because what they said was law. Even if it didn't make sense you had to obey what they said.

"Mwendwa you're a smart woman and you know we wouldn't have travelled all that way for nothing."Jared informed me in a no nonsense tone.

I sobered up seeing that they actually meant business and put on my business face.

"Okay gentlemen, I apologize for being insensitive to the matter but why are you here? I thought we were practically cut out from the community when we moved out."I enquired.

"You will always be members of our community. The connection will end with you and your sisters since you are girls and you're children will belong in the tribes of your husbands."Jared answered.

"Okay fine I guess that makes sense but it still doesn't explain why you are here."I replied.

Jared looked at his companion and they seemed to communicate with their eyes before they both turned to me.

"My name is Kirimi wa Mugure and I and the spokesman of the Njuri Ncheke. I am here today in the home of Marini Mwendwa Kiarie to deliver a special message to her directly from the council."He began in an official manner.

I clenched my teeth together because I feared what laughing again might do.

"In the event of your parents death they still owed a great debt to your grandfather, your mother's father. He is deceased so we as the elders took it upon ourselves to see to it that that debt is settled. Your father never finished paying the bride price for your mother and that debt must be settled."He announced and before I should stop myself I scoffed.

"Is that all? How much is it? I will pay it right now." I asked seeing as it was such a trivial matter.

"I am not done yet young lady. As punishment for failure to meet the payment in the allocated time as agreed in the initial negotiations for you're parents marriage...."

I cut him off "Punishment? My parents died and I had no idea there was a debt to pay. Why should I be punished?" I shouted at them getting irritated.

"Let him finish."Jared demanded and I crossed my arms in front of me in a huff.

I didn't say anything else so the spokesman whose name I had already forgotten continued talking.

"You have to pay the amount your father owes with a fifty percent I interest. "

"Is that it?"I asked knowing the amount they demanded wasn't something I wouldn't handle.

"Young lady let me finish before I'm forced to fine you."He spat out getting angry.

"Sorry continue."I said not wanting an old man to get a heart attack in my home because I failed to listen to him.

"As part of the punishment you are required to get married and pay your own bride price before your twenty nineth birthday."He declared and I just sat there shocked.

I thought I had misheard what he had said seeing as he possibly couldn't have just asked me to get married just because my late mom's dowry was unpaid.

"What?!"I choked out after a few minutes of silence.

"Failure to meet these requirements, your sisters will suffer the consequences of your disobedience."He declared further.

"You must be joking right. I am not getting married just because my father owes you a few thousand shillings."I scoffed at how ridiculous that sounded.

"The council of elders does not joke and it is not about the money, it is about tradition. You inherited your parents property and in conjunction with that you inherited all their obligations too so you must adhere to the directives delivered unto you."He proclaimed.

"Seriously you guys are punishing me because I inherited what my parents rightfully left for me."I laughed cynically knowing it all came down to money.

"Like I've said, it's not about the money. It's an obligation to your community. The ruling has been passed and you must deliver."He declared and as if to prove his point he hit his cane three times on my tiled floor in a rhythmic manner.

I could have swore chills traveled my spine when he did that. He better not have released evil spirits to my home. I looked at both men shocked hoping they would both burst out laughing and tell me it was all a prank but after five minutes of utter silence reality settled in.

"You are serious aren't you?" I asked in a scared tone fearing what they were about to confirm.

It was my uncle who replied this time.

"I'm afraid so."He responded with a straight face and not an ounce of guilt, remorse or malice on his face.

They truly were serious and it was actually happening. I tried to wrap my head around it all but came up short. This was real life and not a prank they were playing on me for leaving my native home and never looking back. Reality set in and I felt myself start to freak out at the possibility of what they had just declared upon my life. None of them were smiling, just looking at me and waiting for me to react.

"You can't do this to me. My birthday is in four months. Where am I supposed to get a husband? You guys are being unrealistic. Can't I just pay you money or something?"I negotiated when I finally spoke up.

"No. There is no way around this." He finalized and I knew I was screwed.

"Uncle Jared."I called out to him in hopes that he would tell me that this was all just a very bad dream.

"I'm sorry..., it's the rule of law and it has been decided."He said and I felt the whole weight of their words crumble around me.

I tried to say something but each time I opened my mouth nothing came out. I was in a state of shock and my mind could not fathom the words I had just heard.

"Think about what we have said. Be sure to act quick before your time is up or you will reap the consequences."Kirimi or whatever his name was said.

"We will be taking our leave now. Here is my number call me in case of any questions or to make plans."My uncle said placing a sheet of paper with his number on top of the table.

They got up and I didn't even bother getting up with them. Kim however made sure that they left by following behind them.

I leaned back on the sofa and covered my face with my hands feeling the weight of the message I had just received weigh heavy on my heart. Get married? Me? No way. My aversion to marriage and commiting myself to someone was the reason I ended my relationship with Isaac in the first place. There is no way I was giving into this but if I didn't then it meant my sisters would suffer the consequences. I was a modern woman but I also knew that there was importance in following tradition. Some could be ignored but some like the judgement dropped on me a few minutes ago was too important to push aside.

Before I could drown in my thoughts any longer I heard Kim bark excitedly at the door. Looks like Isaac was home early. I was not in the mood to talk to him in the state of mind I was in so I got up and headed up to my room.

"Marini."Isaac called out to me from from the bottom of the stairs.

I did not even turn back to answer him.

"Hey wait up, who were those two old men?" He asked and I could hear him follow me up the stairs.

I got into my room just as he caught up to me.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked me holding my elbow.

I wanted to crumble and open up to him, share the burden but it would do me no good. He couldn't help me, this was my burden to carry alone.

"Nothing."I replied and yanked my hand away from his grip slamming the door in his face and locked it behind me for good measure.

No time for chitchat, it was time to get my head in the game and figure out a way around my current predicament.

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So I know most of you are going to say that what Marini was told is all bullshit but trust me, the Meru council of elders is just as powerful as the supreme court. They have judicial power over the whole community. She has to do what they say, it's like an unwritten contract but instead of jail time she can get cursed or something like that. And curses from the elders are not to be messed with.

Once someone didn't follow what they had said and he started eating grass. It was not a pretty sight and was all over the news.

If you Google it and read up on them you'll see that what I'm saying is all true.

Anyway please vote, comment and share.

Be blessed.