Matata Book 1 – English Translation

Saude had been crying ever since the few people who accompanied her had left. It was the kind of cry she had never experienced in her entire life.

Although she could not remember a single day since childhood when she had not shed tears of sadness, the tears she cried that day were different. They were so intense that they almost dried her eyes completely, while painful sobs escaped from her chest.

A greeting from the doorway made her pause. Slowly, she tried to wipe away her tears, although the crying refused to stop.

“Are you still crying, Saude?” he asked.

She wiped her face and replied in a voice broken by tears.

“I have stopped.”

“Good. If you continue crying, you will give yourself a headache. You are already tired from the wedding activities.”

“If I do not cry, Uncle Yasseer, who should cry?”

“Are you crying because you were married to your enemy?”

Saude quickly shook her head.

“No, I swear that is not the reason. It is simply something that hurts my heart. I do not think there is any woman in the world who has ever been given a more humiliating marriage than mine.

“Please forgive me. I know that you do not love me either. You were only forced into this marriage because there is no way we are suitable for each other.”

Yasseer looked at her with surprise.

“Who told you that? You are beautiful, Saude. You have good character. I love you, Saude—more than anyone else in this world could ever love you.

“I do not think there is any woman more suitable for me than you. If you believe that there is something that makes us incompatible, then tell me so that I can correct it.”

Saude lowered her eyes before replying.

“There is a great difference between us. I am a village girl, while you are a city man and someone who is used to a fine life.”

Yasseer became even more amazed by her words. Saude’s intelligence and depth of thought were far beyond her age. After remaining silent for a while, he finally answered her.

“Am I not in the village now? That means we have become one. When I finish my national service, I will take you with me to the city. You too will become a city woman.

“Stop thinking that there is a difference between us. No one is better than another before Allah except the one who fears Him more.”

Saude raised her head and wiped her tears. His words touched her heart deeply.

Yasseer reached out and helped her wipe the remaining tears from her face.

“From today, you should stop crying, Saude. Tears do not suit you. The only tears I want to see on your face are tears of happiness.”

He pulled her closer, intending to embrace her. Saude immediately struggled and gently pushed him away, even though her body had become weak from the moment he began wiping her tears.

“You do not want me to touch you?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Nothing has been done to you. Relax around me, please. Whenever you are worried, this is where you should rest and cry. But I will never allow you to be unhappy.”

Saude looked up at him as he pointed to his chest. He tried to pull her close again, but she stiffened completely and leaned away.

Yasseer released her.

“All right. Get up and perform ablution so that we can pray. Let me do the same.”

“I have already prayed,” Saude said.

“This one will be a special prayer. We will thank Allah and ask Him to place blessings in our marriage.”

Saude simply nodded. Yasseer stood up and began walking out of the room.

She leaned her head back and began thinking about her former life and how she had come to meet Uncle Yasseer.

Saude’s Painful Memory

One day, her father’s younger brother’s wife, Gwaggo Bilki, sent her to fetch water from the river.

Saude walked wearily along the road. She was hungry and exhausted because she had been working since dawn. She had not even had the chance to sit down and rest.

As she continued on her way, she reached a mango tree where two young boys were throwing stones at the fruit, but none of the mangoes would fall.

One of the boys called out to her.

“Saude, please come and pick the mangoes for us.”

She stopped and thought to herself. Even if she returned home early, Gwaggo Bilki would still scold her. Yet she could not afford to waste time standing on the road.

“No, Kabiruwa. I am going to fetch water. If I stop, Gwaggo will scold me. Please forgive me.”

“Please, Saude,” Kabiruwa begged. “I will fetch the water for you.”

He walked towards her and tried to take the water pot from her hands.

“All right, but make it quick,” she said.

“Okay, but you must pick plenty of mangoes for us,” he replied.

“I heard you,” Saude said.

She began climbing the tree. Although she was not very skilled at climbing, Kabiruwa was one of the few boys in the village who never disrespected her.

After picking enough mangoes, she threw them down to the ground and began trying to climb back down.

Suddenly, her foot slipped.

She quickly grabbed a branch, but it was too weak to hold her weight. Kabiruwa and the other boy had still not returned.

Saude began to cry because she did not know what to do. Then, without warning, the branch broke away.

She fell from the tree and landed directly on top of something below.