Josefa Ufakwa Ejele

JOSEFA abeneminyaka lengu-17 nje kuphela budzala ngalesikhatsi ayiswa eGibhithe. Nakefika lapho watsengiswa endvodzeni lebekutsiwa nguPhotifari. Lendvodza beyisebentela inkhosi yaseGibhithe, ligama layo lobekunguFaro.

Josefa abemsebentela ngenkhutsalo umnumzane wakhe. Nasekakhulile, Photifari wambeka kutsi engamele likhaya lakhe. Kepha kungani agcina sekasejele? Kungenca yemkaPhotifari.

Josefa wakhula waba yindvodza lenhle, futsi umkaPhotifari wafuna kulala naye. Kodvwa Josefa abekwati kutsi loko akukalungi, ngako akazange avume kulala naye. UmkaPhotifari watfukutsela kakhulu. Watsi nje nakabuya ekhaya Photifari, umkakhe wavele wamtjela emanga watsi: ‘LoJosefa lomubi ungibambe ngenkhani afuna kulala nami!’ Photifari wamkholwa umfati wakhe, futsi wamtfukutselela kakhulu Josefa. Ngako-ke, wamtsatsa wamfaka ejele.

Umgcinijele wabona kutsi Josefa abeyindvodza lelungile, wabese umbeka kutsi aphatse tonkhe tiboshwa. Ngemuva kwesikhashana, Faro watfukutselela umphatsi wetitja nempheki wetinkhwa, waze wabavalela ejele. Ngalobunye busuku basejele babhudza, kodvwa babengawati kutsi asho kutsini lamaphupho abo. Ngakusasa Josefa watsi: ‘Ase ningitjele kutsi nibhudzeni.’ Nabamtjela, wavele wabachazela kutsi asho kutsini lamaphupho abo, asitwa nguNkulunkulu.

Kumphatsi wetitja Josefa watsi: ‘Emvakwemalanga lamatsatfu utawukhululwa eJele, futsi utawuphindze ube ngumphatsi weliwayini laFaro.’ Waphindze watsi: ‘Nasewuphumile, ngicela ungivete kuFaro kuze angikhiphe nami kulendzawo.’ Kumbhaki wetinkhwa watsi: ‘Emvakwemalanga lamatsatfu Faro utakulengisa akujube inhloko.’

Ngelilanga lesitsatfu, konkhe kwenteka njengoba abeshito. Umbhaki wetinkhwa wajutjwa inhloko. Umphatsi wetitja yena wakhululwa ejele waphindze wasebentela inkhosi, kodvwa wamkhohlwa Josefa. Akazange amtjele Faro ngaye, ngako-ke Josefa wachubeka asejele.