CHAPTER 82
Six years passed since Haggai took over the closer gates. Purist was now a fully grown up girl who had just turned sixteen. Tere never stopped reminding her that she would get her married at the age of sixteen and now it was about to finally pass.
Purist kept locking herself in her room till Akeshia opened the door using the spare keys she had. Akeshia really needed to have a proper conversation with Purist.
" Listen to me Purist. In this world of closer gates we believe in the council of elders but in the outside world they believe in law. This law does not allow a sixteen year old girl to get married at the age of sixteen. Do you understand what I am trying to say?" Said Akeshia who was a bit tensed.
" Don't be tensed grandma. I understand that there is law but yet I do not understand what I should really do about this situation. Where is that law?" Asked Purist filled with lots of curiosity.
" We will find the law once we go and look for it. I have heard of a famous lawyer who fights for the rights of girls who get married at a young age. I think we can use that chance and if we need to use it then it is right now. Let's go away from the closer gates and fight for your rights" said Akeshia angrily.
Akeshia and Purist ran away from the closer gates. They didn't want to bother about their food and amenities or how much longer they would take. All what they cared about was to find the law and they knew it was only found around the town centre.
They boardered a taxi to town. The taxi took them to the specific govermentals office which they wanted to go to. They entered the office but they were told that the lawyer who was working there had just left town and her home was seven hours from town.
This did not bother them since they boardered another taxi which took them away from closer gates and far from the closer gates. They arrived at midnight which was not the proper time to have a conversation with the lawyer. This was less of their worries as they rang the door bell to the lawyer's home but no one bothered to open the door.
They slept by the gate just waiting for the lawyer till the next morning. They rang the door bell again and the lawyer finally came out filled with lots of anger. She opened the gate and closed as soon as she came out.
" I wasn't expecting any guests today and if you are clients looking for me then today is a wrong day. Today is my off day" said the lawyer angrily.
Akeshia and Purist who had bowed their head finally lifted up their head with lots of confidence. They were astonished to find out that the lady was none other than Ruth Bora. Ruth was also astonished to find out that it was Purist and Akeshia.
" You! How did you both know that I live here? How did you both locate me? Now I will have to move to another town because I fear for my life" said Ruth a bit tensed .
Akeshia and Purist were still silent. They were shocked by the whole situation since they were not expecting for the lawyer in question to be Ruth.
" You both should leave this place. I thought it was one of my clients who wanted to see me" said Ruth who wanted to leave but Purist held her arm.
" If you decide to leave and close your gates, then no one will able to help me mama. Please just listen to us" said Purist crying.
Ruth turned towards them and looked at them angrily. She was still filled with lots of anger in her heart. She had not forgotten what happened to her own family in the past that made them to leave closer gates and their own hometown.
" Speak! And if it's nothing that concerns me then you should leave" said Ruth.
" You accepted me to call you mama once again and that means you...."
" I am no longer married to your father. Every children almost your age and younger than you usually call me mother. That's why I am not angry when you call me mother" said Ruth.
" Alright! I am here to seek for help. My grandma told me that you are the lawyer who is helping girls to fight for their rights through law who are getting married at the age of sixteen. I came to seek your help because my mother wants me to get married at that age. Please help me! I am begging you miss Ruth"
" I help people because we are not living in my era , we are living in your era where every child is entitled to education unlike mine where education wasn't a must. When is the wedding set to happen?"
" In two days time miss Ruth"
" I am sorry but I can't help" said Ruth.
" I am begging you Ruth. I am begging you to help my granddaughter to find justice for this injustice that is to be done to her" said Akeshia crying.
" I help every other girl but I won't be able to help you Purist" said Ruth who went back into her mansion and locked the gate.
Akeshia and Purist left devastated and depressed. Ruth was the only lawyer who dealt with such matters and did not really want to help. This truly meant that Purist would indeed get married in two days time.
Ruth went back to her house. She sat on her couch crying. Magdalene who was busy preparing tea in the kitchen heard her cries and decided to approach her in order to know what happened.
" Today I saw Purist and Akeshia. They want me to help them. Tere is planning to get Purist married at the age of sixteen. I am scared Grandma. How were they able to locate me here since no one knew about me and my work? They only heard about me. I cannot help them" said Ruth filled with lots of confidence.
" Why can't you help them? Are you still in love with Martin? Do you still fear Tere after what she did to your family in your hometown that night?" said Magdalene.
" She killed my father and siblings. I will never forgive her for that. Until I prove that, then I won't help Purist"
" What about what Naomi wants? What you want? What about what I want?"
" Our opinions no longer matters in this case grandma. But yet I think that Purist is innocent in all this. I will have to do something" said Ruth.
Magdalene nodded her head in agreement. That was the secret that Ruth had kept from everyone. She did this because she never wanted to hurt Purist or Martin. Ruth felt that they had already become fond of Tere.
Ruth left the mansion accompanied by Naomi and Magdalene. They wanted to find Akeshia and Purist before they went back to the closer gates but it was of no use since they had already boardered a taxi and we're almost at the furthest end.
They went back to the mansion.
" What will you do now? They have already gone back to the closer gates" said Naomi.
" I should have a talk with Martin. I wonder why he allowed such kind of a thing to happen to his own daughter. Earlier I told Purist that I am not her mother. I feel guilty since I see her as my daughter. Our love is by the heart mother" said Ruth touching her heart.
Indeed Ruth still had a good heart. Akeshia and Purist could not stop wondering how Ruth became learned and succesful. They were as happy as lark for her but still sad that Ruth decided not to help them.
Purist felt hurt since Ruth denied being her mother. She had also known by heart that Ruth was her mother no matter what happened. Purist still had hopes that Ruth would save her from the injustice.
" Prepare yourself Purist. The both of us will be going to the mall to look for the best dress for your wedding. Do you understand? I hope you will have good taste because if you won't have, then you are not fit to be my daughter" said Tere laughing annoyingly.
" It true that I am not fit to be your daughter Tere. But what should I do? The wedding must go on as planned then I will have nothing to do with you . I will be somebody's wife and I will forget that you were ever my mother. You will not even set eyes on your grandchildren. And the last thing I will do is to get my father out of the closer gates" said Purist.
" Call me the referee when you finally hit that goal dear daughter" said Tere who left the room.
Purist sat in her room frustruated. She could not believe that the wedding was finally going to take place. She kept hoping that Ruth would come forward and save her.
Those were just unknown hopes.
MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.