CHAPTER 65

Love did hurt sometimes. 

Ruth put on her clothes and this town walked downstairs. She did not want to use the wheelchair anymore. Ruth only used the wheelchair since Magdalene insisted that she should. 

They both found Naomi and Lady Akeshia seated on the couch. They looked as if they had quarreled few seconds ago. 

Ruth went and sat beside Naomi as Martin went and sat beside Akeshia. 

" Naomi and I were discussing about your official wedding. It will be good if the both of you officially get married. After all, we can get rid of the white gown that Faith had brought for Tere and ask her to order a knew one if you wouldn't like it Ruth" said Lady Akeshia to Ruth. 

Ruth looked at Naomi who nodded her head in disagreement. It was abvious that was not the subject they were talking about. 

After all, Ruth and Martin had never thought of having a white wedding. They had agreed that they would do it once Ruth had finished her university education. 

" No mama. That is not a subject to talk about. Ruth and I had agreed that we would get married once she is done by her university education. I do not think that by then things will be hard as they are one. By thank you our dear mothers, that shows that you both are really concerned about us. There is only one more thing that is bothering me. Is the anything that you both are hiding from us? " Asked Martin who seemed suspicious. 

Naomi and Akeshia were silent. They knew that talking about the past would make issues at the mansion more bigger. Purist entered just in time. She had finished doing all her house study. She went and sat close to Ruth as her usual behavior. She was used to this and no one disagreed with her in the fact that she loved Ruth as if Ruth was her own mother. 

" Mama! You promised me that once I was done with my house study you will convince Papa to take us for a ride to town. Please do so mama, I have missed leaving the closer gates" Said Purist. 

Ruth had already forgotten that she had promised Purist that. A lot of things had happened during that period that required more of her attention. 

" Martin! ......" Said Ruth but Martin suddenly interrupted. 

" Don't ask me that question. Let's go. It's good if we go out sometimes and hang out like family. It will give our mothers ample time to have a one more proper conversation with each other" said Martin who held Ruth's and Purist's arm and led them to the car parked outside the mansion. 

He quickly drove off as his usual behaviour. He took them first to the mall and ordered them to choose anything they liked. He was astonished by the fact that Ruth still liked dolls. Their matrimonial room was already full of dolls but still Ruth wanted to add more. 

Purist on the other hand bought a lot of ice creams for herself .It was during the hot weather and yet this was a good chance for her to buy them to cool down the temparature. 

Luckily, Purist remembered that Martin had promised her that he would take her to the snake park. She had often heard of friendly snakes but this time she wanted to see them with her own bare eyes. 

Martin has no choice than to take her there. He had often never wanted to annoy his little soul. It was one of the things that he liked most in the world. 

They arrived at the snake park. Martin and Purist entered the park and tried to touch the snakes. Martin would even hang them on his neck but still Ruth was afraid. She had always hated wild animals and believed that there was no friendly animals especially snakes. 

On seeing that, Martin forced her to enter. He took a snaje and places on his neck but Ruth screamt and pushed it away . She was not daring like Purist . Purist even wanted to play hide and seek with them. Ruth felt ashamed and got out of the snake park. She went to rest in the car. 

Unfortunately, she saw Rodgers approaching the car. Her chest began to appear heavy. 

" Rodgers! Are you not in school? What are you doing here?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of curiosity. 

" I work here nowadays. I am tour guide in this park. I stopped going to school the same day you dissapointed me. You are the reason why I studied hard. I knew I was working hard for the future of our children and I " said Rodgers whose eyes were filled with lots of pain. 

Rodgers' face appeared paler. The only thing he could remember was the fact that Ruth had dropped out of school in order to get married. 

" That's not it Rod...." Said Ruth but before she could finish Robert suddenly interrupted. 

" Listen Ruth. You can never convince me otherwise .I have heard from the people outside the closer gates how much you love your husband Martin but I assure I must get back what's mine. It does not really matter how many years it would take. You will still becone my wife" said Rodgers. 

Rodgers gave Ruth a peck but just as he was about to leave , he bumped into Martin who had to pick his phone from the car since Purist was still playing with the snakes .

" What are you doing with my wife?" Asked Martin filled with lots of anger. 

" Martin please" Ruth tried to plead with Martin. 

" No! I want to know what this man is doing with my wife. Can't he see that my wife is wearing a traditional wedding ring? I must create chaos here because I don't know what he is doing with my wife"

" I have done what you couldn't do as a man. I just made her mine" said Rodgers who pushed Martin away and left. 

Martin had never been so low in his life. Nobody had ever spoken to him in such a manner. 

He went close to Ruth as if he wanted to beat her up but changed his mind .

" I am going to the woods. Go and look after my daughter. Next time do not just pretend to me that you do not like snakes . And as your husband, tonight I must make you mine" said Martin who left. 

Ruth had to choice than to obey. She hated snake parks but did not want to annoy Martin any further.  She knew that if she didn't go then Martin would even bear her up for real .

"Where is papa? I thought he would come back and help me play with the snakes" said Purist who seemed that she was almost about to cry. 

" Papa has gone to buy some few things. He will be right back. He will be coming back soon Purist. Please do not cry?" Said Ruth. 

Ruth did not even understand the main thing that was making Purist to cry. She had always been fine even when it was just Ruth but that day was extremely different. 

Was she a harsh mother? 

Had she ever done something bad to Martin that made her to be feared?

Was it because Magdalene had taken over the closer gates? 

Ruth had no answer to her numerous questions. 

In a jiffy , Ruth saw Rodgers once again. She wanted to ask him to go but she couldn't. Rodgers was in the company of other tourists who had come to tour the land. 

Ruth moved aside to pave way for them. Those were commonly called wazungus abd were highly respected in the society .

Ruth wanted to go back to the car but she couldn't go and leave Purist alone. Purist was still a little child and did not need to be punished by anything. 

RUTH'S POV. 

My heart is sinking with lots of worries . What if I privately meet with Rodgers and have a serious conversation. Maybe he would understand me and remove the thought of pursuing me from his mind. Those old days wich I used to love him are all gone . He is the reason why Dad asked me and begged me to get married. Now to hell with all this evil thinking .I should be focusing on my own daughter Purist and other matters. 

What am I going to do?

Martin does feel bad for having have lost the power of the closer gates . But why can't he show it? Why can't he show how furious he is? He is a man and means a lot of good things. 

Ruth thought as she kept waiting for Purist. Martin joined them after a short while. 

He was astonished that Ruth had not even attempted to enter the cage and try to play with the snakes. This made him laught loudly. For once at least something made him smile. 

Not everything was that tough. 

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.