The princess is home

Prince Tsietsi stood at that balcony looking at the princess running away. So, my princess is running away from me now, I wonder what she knows because I know they saw me and am sure they think I did not see them. If Tokelo told her to stay away from me then he has another thing coming, I might just kidnap her then go pay bride price to her people. That way they will not have a choice but to bless our union.

It’s not like I will be doing something that has not been done before, this is the way of our forefathers and its about time she knows about me so that she stops wearing revealing clothing, going around showing people my assets, worse part its South African boys. She is a princess for goodness sake whether she is in a foreign land or not!

Father better come through for me this time or am kidnapping her and make her mine. Tokelo will have live with it because a deal is a deal, let me go get ready for the meeting with the Mexicans, I need to pull this off or father will have my head.

Days passed and it is the last day of the princess’s exams and she is already packed and ready to go home, her flight is at 4pm in the evening and she cannot wait to be at her kingdom. She is only worried about the way she now speaks because its informal and that is not how royals speak. But she also believes that home is where the heart no matter how big or small but when love lives in a home you are blessed by the gods. She was sure that she will soon remember the ways of her people once she gets home.

That is why she misses her home, it is filled with love and warmth. She wrote her last exam paper and when she was done, she walked out meeting her friend Kwezi outside and they shared a hug. “I am going to miss these hugs” said the princess “Really now, only the hugs and not me?” complained Kwezi faking being hurt. “Your hugs are who you are my friend and besides, we will contact each other every day.” She said trying to not show just how much she will miss her friend.

“Yeah, I will miss your weird self” they laughed “Really? Again, with that” Kwezi laughs “Am sorry friend, but please do me a favour” Mapula looks at her suspiciously “Anything” she says in the end. “Please friend I beg of you do not flood the whole le Sotho with rain.” Mapula’s mouth was open wide. “Really Kwezi” she nodded “Yes friend because when you cry it rains we cant risk it.” She says innocently.

“You are so not my friend anymore” she said and started walking towards the gate. “Am sorry friend” she laughed catching up to her. “Fine! I can’t believe am going home” she said looking at bit sad. “I can’t believe I have to wait till school closes to go home. My dad wants to see if I passed so I can’t leave my report and we only get them when schools closes.” She said sad that she is going to be left alone at school when Mapula leaves.

“My driver will pick up my report because am not waiting, I miss my family so much especially my mom and my brothers.” She smiled thinking about her brothers. “Oh, but your brothers’ friend! They make me wish I were born early!” she fanned herself with her hand. “Let’s go have a late lunch before I leave and stop with the craziness.” Kwezi squealed “Now you are talking, and you are paying.” She winked at her. “Fine! Let us go” they left.

They went to spur and got their late lunch and Kwezi insisted they do a little shopping, Mapula bought a lot of decent clothes which Kwezi didn’t understand because she was young and should be showing off her body but Mapula couldn’t and Kwezi didn’t understand because she doesn’t know that her friend is a princess.

She left for the airport after their shopping, seating on a plane still emotional after her goodbye with Kwezi, she was going to miss her. She put her headphones on, and they departed. Few hours later they landed in le Sotho and the air felt different somehow lighter and rejuvenating. She took her bag and walk out; she spotted her brother Lebo and Tokelo looking around for her.

She stood at a distance smiling looking at her brothers, she didn’t know how much she had missed her brothers until she saw them, they finally spot her and gave her a heart warming smile and she was content. She walked up to them and Lebo lifted her up and span her around and she giggles. When Lebo put her down Tokelo did the same. She was a giggling mess when he put her down.

“Why do you have to hold her longer” complained Tokelo “Don’t be jealous man she’s my princess too you know.” Says Lebo “But am her blood!” whines Tokelo “So you think blood is thicker than our bond?” enquires Lebo. “Yes!” says Tokelo with so much enthusiasm “Oh please, tell him princess who’s your favourite brother?” says Lebo leaning on Mapula.

“Am not getting involved but my heart beats for you both.” She kissed their chicks and started walking towards the exit with them following behind still bickering. “Shame man am sorry at least she didn’t say it to your face.” Teased Lebo “She didn’t say it because she didn’t want to break your heart.” Countered Tokelo “You are crazy” said Lebo laughing.

The drive to the palace was long but the princess was too excited to notice, when they were getting closer to the palace her mood changed, she was now feeling sad, she didn’t know the reason for that because she missed her home. She concluded that maybe is because she was missing Kwezi already. “Are you alright princess?” asked Tokelo looking at her through the mirror and Mapula was seating on the back seat.

“I am well brother; I am just missing Kwezi.” She was not sure that was the reason for her change in mood but that was the answer her brother would believe. “How is your Ghanaian friend anyway?” the princess chuckled “She’s Xhosa and she’s well.” She said “She looks Ghanaian to me” said Tokelo “Oh brother, if only you knew” Tokelo threw her a look “Knew what?” he was curious “Nothing just girls stuff” she smiled thinking about what Kwezi said about them.

When they arrived at the palace the guards opened the gates for them and when they parked the maidens too her bags to her chamber. The queen was standing by the palace door with a huge smile on her face. But the princess’s mood was worse now, she felt like crying. She did manage to blink her tears back when she thought of what Kwezi said to her about flooding Le Sotho. She ran to the queen’s arms and she gave her one of her best hugs making her feel right at home.

“My princess” said the queen smiling “My queen” she smiled back. “How is my princess doing? My apologies for not picking you up, we had a meeting with the elders and palace duties to attend to.” Apologized the queen. “That is alright my queen I understand, where is father?” she asked when she did not see the king anywhere.

“The king is yet to return from his royal duties my princess.” Answered the queen “Okay mother let me go shower, we will meet after.” Said the princess “Before that my princess tell me what lays heavy on your heart?” asked the queen seeing that she was not looking well. “Oh mother” she could not hold her tears this time she cried in the queen’s arms while it rained outside resembling her tears.

“Don’t cry my princess am here now, go take a shower and we will talk after you are done. I have to go inform the chef that am cooking today but this sudden rain is worry some the king is still not back yet.” Said the queen noticing the rain outside. “About that mother, I think I caused it with my tears, I have no knowledge as to how, but this is not the first time is rains when I cry. Am worried my queen because I hold no knowledge of what is happening to me.” Said Mapula crying even more.

“Worry not my princess the king and I will explain everything to you after the feast this evening.” Said the queen comforting her. “Alright mother, let me go freshen up.” She kissed her chick “Okay my princess and welcome home.” The princess smiled and went up to her chamber to freshen up but worried about her cried being connected to the rain. She wondered what the queen was going to tell her.