Worn out by the tedious physical activity they did undergo to get to their new home. Their appetite for food grew by the moment, it was highly noticeable on the part of Meshark and Thomas. The youngest ones. As they complained incessantly for it to their elder brother.
"Ndlovu, we are hungry", "can you find us something to eat?" said the boys
Seated in one of the corners of the unkempt room is Ndlovu, with his right hand on his cheek and his teary eyes staring into the distance.
He was lost in his own thought- brooding over their condition; casting doubts on the success of future events whilst trying hard to stir up hope from the embers of despair. A lot was going on in his mind.
A tap on the shoulder by Tau brought him back to reality.
"Bro, are you okay?" asked Tau, wearing his inquisitive look
"Yea, am fine" replied Ndlovu, using his palms to wipe the tears off his eyes
"There is nothing to worry about" said Ndlovu, as he braces himself up while tuning down the emotions.
Tau went on to relay his younger siblings pleas to him. He sighed in exasperation...due to fact that the whole situation is turning into a heavy burden on him. At that point, he wished to the high heavens that his parents are alive.
He went ahead to express his disappointment to his brothers by telling them that he feels hungry as well, but he doesn't have any clue as to how to go about getting something for them to eat.
Meshark and Thomas would not have it as they kept on insisting he finds something
for them to eat.
"Ndlovu, you are the eldest and it's your duty to look after us" yelled Meshark and Thomas.
After much persuasion, he gave into their demands. Ndlovu set out into the busy streets of the town of Nguma, without any slightest idea as to, where to go? Who to ask for help? No knowledge of the social norms of the place. He was just like a sheep led to the slaughter.
He did give this inevitable escapade of his much thought in his mind before heading out. Laying more emphasis on the aforementioned limitations, and others, he did might have built up in his conscious.
After much self thought exercise, he decided that his first port of call is the market of the town. Since the market exudes people of different social strata and varying personality make up. He reasoned, he might hit his luck to meet an altruistic person willing to be of help to him.
Boiling in the splendor of optimism, Ndlovu made his way down to the market of the town. It wasn't easy for him to locate it as of first, because some people turned him way, whenever he came up to them to ask for directions as a result of his unkempt looks. While some good samaritans did live up to their biblical tag by offering to help the poor young man with all pleasure.
The market of the town is a big one....marked by different sections made for different commodities; consumables, perishables and food stuffs etc. It's aerial view is breathtaking. It could turn one into a tourist in his own land, if one is deeply overwhelmed by its beauty.
Ndlovu was lost for words to describe the elegance of this beauty standing in front of him. He was almost side tracked from the mission at hand, but as his eyes trailed the wholesome beauty of the market down to his shabbily looking self, the dust up he had with his brothers over food to eat knocked him back to focus.
To be continued
Thanks for the opportunity admin
Yours thoughts are also needed. I wish to grow in this literary space.
Disclaimer; None of the names of persons, places and ideas are a reflection of reality. Just a handwork of fiction.