Chipo's Sacrifice

“It’s settled then, tomorrow the two of you will travel to Harare to talk to Chipo”, with those closing words, Bhudi took the last gulp of his beer and stood up. “Yes bhudi we will leave for Harare very early in the morning”, answered tete Zvido. Bhudi nodded his approval and walked out of the kitchen to join his wife in his hut, leaving the two sisters to share a moment of silence. Tete Ruvimbo broke the silence “Zvido, are we doing the right thing? How do we know that Chipo will agree to this arrangement? Are we being fair to our brother’s daughter?”. “Ruvimbo, the decision has been made and we are going ahead with our plans. Chipo will have to understand that this is in the best interests of the family. You can’t go soft on me Ruvimbo, bhudi has sent us and we must deliver. Chipo will just have to understand”. With that tete Zvido stood up and walked out of the hut, she could discuss the matter no further. A decision had been made and there was no going back.

The following day the two sisters travelled to Harare to see their brother’s daughter. Their bus dropped them off at Mbare Musika where they found Chipo anxiously waiting for them. “Tete Zvido, Tete Ruvimbo, it’s been too long. I am so happy to see you”, the jovial young lady said as she flung her arms around her aunts.

“every time I get to Harare, I remember why I don’t visit too often,  there are just too many people in this city, take us home before these people knock us down”, Tete Zvido complained as she clutched her handbag tighter in fear of thieves. “Tete Zvido, welcome to Harare”, laughed Chipo as she lead her aunts out of the bus terminus.

The ladies got home and Chipo prepared supper while her aunts updated her on the all the village goings ons. Who died, who was born and who got married, she heard it all.

“I am so glad the two of you are here; there is a friend of mine I would love you to meet”. Chipo said while she fumbled with her fingers.

The two sisters exchanged a quick glance before tete Ruvimbo asked who this person was.

“Tete Ruvimbo why are you trying to make this difficult for me, you know what it means when a young lady tells her aunts she wants to introduce them to her friend. I know you will like him, he is very nice and well-mannered and in a year or two I think he will be ready to pay my lobola. He is an accounting student you know”. Chipo’s voice was filled with love and admiration as she spoke of her suitor. She raised her head to search for approval in the eyes of her aunts but found only tear filled eyes.

“Did I say something wrong Tete Ruvimbo? Tete Zvido why do you look like you are about to cry? Is there a problem?”

Tete Zvido started to speak “Chipo, my brother’s daughter, your sister passed away six months ago”. Chipo could only nod as she tried to understand the relevance of her sister’s death in this conversation.

“That is why we are here”, Tete Zvido continued “your late sisters husband, Timothy is a good man. As you know he is the one paying for you mother’s cancer treatments. He is also the one paying for your education. Chipo, I am a widow and your aunt Ruvimbo is a divorcee, as you know we are both living at the village with your father and mother and it is Timothy who is providing for us al. Chipo your sister left Timothy with two very young children and that is why we are here”. Tete Zvido could go no further, it was too hard.

“Tete Zvido, you are not making any sense, I know all of these things”. Chipo’s responded.

Tete Ruvimbo took over “Chipo, Timothy took your sister from the village and refined her. Our very own village girl was driving a nice car and wearing the finest clothing. Timothy built your sister a mansion and furnished it with the best furniture. Timothy is our son in law chipo. Whenever there is a funeral or a wedding in the family, we all wait for Timothy and his fat wallet. Did Timothy not drill a borehole for your father? Did he not electrify our homestead, much to the envy of the whole village? Are you not aware of the great works that Timothy has done for our family”?

“I am very aware of everything that Timothy has done for our family”. Chipo answered as her voice revealed her growing frustrations.

Tete Zvido could not take it anymore “Chipo we are giving you to Timothy”, she blurted out.

“Giving me to whom?”

“To Timothy Chipo, we can’t afford to lose him. His money is holding this family up. Chipo it has been six months since your sister died. Do you think there are no other women here in Harare who are winking at Timothy? Won’t it hurt you to see another woman sitting on your sister’s leather couch or opening the doors of that well stocked double door fridge? Would you rather have your sister’s children raised by a stranger”?

“Tete but I can’t marry a man I don’t love” Chipo quivered

“What is love my brother’s daughter? You will grow in love with Timothy” tete Ruvimbo answered

“Grow in love Tete? why should I grow in love when I am already in love with my boyfriend? He plans to marry me” Chipo cried.

In that moment Tete Zvido realised that if she allowed herself to feel sorry for Chipo no progress would be made. “This is not about you Chipo; this is about the entire family. Think of your sister’s children, your mother’s cancer treatments, and your own education. If we don’t give you to Timothy, he will have no obligation to our family and how will we survive? There is no option here except for you to become Timothy’s wife and everything will continue the way it was before your sister died. Cry all you want but the decision has been made. You have to make a sacrifice Chipo” Tete Zvido retorted in her authoritarian tone. “Next weekend at your sister’s memorial service we are going to present our offer to Timothy and that’s final. Now it’s late and Ruvimbo and I need to rest, the bus ride was very strenuous and we have to endure it again tomorrow so good night”.

The two sisters stood up and began to make their way to their bedroom, leaving a wailing Chipo in the kitchen. Tete Ruvimbo looked back at her brothers daughter and said “about your boyfriend, Chipo, the two of you can continue to see each other as long as you don’t get caught we would hate to have an altercation with our son in law Timothy. Also make sure that your boy understands that he cannot marry you because you are to become Timothy’s wife”.