Regrets of a 'Young' Maiden by Amanda Ranganawa

    Regrets of a ‘Young’ Maiden

   Written by Amanda Ranganawa

All copyrights reserved

Award winning Writer, Amanda Ranganawa

Forgive me for loving him!

After all he did say he loved me too

Forgive me for smiling at his letters

After all it was him who wrote them

Forgive me for touching him

After all it was he who aroused me

Forgive me for opening my legs

Was it not he who lay on top of me?

Forgive me for keeping quiet

He promised to marry me before it showed

Forgive me for getting pregnant

After all had it not been for his sperm I will not

be in this predicament

Forgive me for having to raise a childless father

Was it my fault that he ran away?

Forgive me for shaming the family

But I will not apologise on his behalf

After all, he made me his victim

First written on 28 March 2012

Deliver me a Man not a Boy written By Amanda Ranganawa

Deliver me a Man not a Boy

  Written by

By Amanda Ranganawa

Deliver me a Man
not a boy
lm not searching for little patters
down the hall
lm looking for feet up the stairs
Accompanied by a hoarse voice
full of authority and confidence

Deliver me a Man
not a boy
lm not searching for a whiner and complainer
who leans on me for his standing
lm looking for broad shoulder
that know how to lift their own burdens

And yet still still manage to lift me
protect me and provide for me
Deliver me a Man
Not a boy.

                                                            BORN OF BLOOD

                                                                           
                                                                Written by
                                                         
                                                    AMANDA RANGANAWA

CHAPTER 3

The King departed from Theresa’s dwarf castle in a state of dismay and sorrow. His thoughts serenaded with the clouds as he tried to reach for an immediate solution to his sister. When the guards arrived at the castle with the King, he had only one thought in his mind. Blood. He wanted so desperately to feed on the miserable wench. It was only a matter of time.

The midwives stood outside waiting to receive the King. As soon as he got out of his chariot the three ladies rushed to greet him. They were all smiling and all three gladly announced, ‘’Our King, our Lord, our Master, the little Princess is here”.

The King’s heart skipped a beat and for a minute he looked like he had seen a ghost. The three women were confused but they still smiled, bowed and led the way for him to their Queen. His Majesty followed with slow steps. His child’s future was flashing before him and he felt depression and not joy. Madeline opened the door to where the Queen laid holding her child so tightly and kissing her softly. The mid wives left the King looking at his wife attend so affectionately to their cursed child. The Queen was planting tiny, passionate, and sweet kisses on the child’s lips, cheeks, eyes, forehead, basically anywhere. She raised her eyes and saw her husband looking at her. Her smile was so full and welcoming it drew him closer to her.

‘’Edward, why are you standing there?’’, she asked cheerfully. ’Come see this gorgeous baby that the gods have blessed us with.’’

Edward, who now stood beside his wife’s bed reached out his hand and touched the baby’s tiny face. She had brown smooth skin, big black eyes that shone bright, a delicate nose, full light brown lips and the shiniest black hair. She yawned so cutely, stretching her little face; she looked identical to her father.

‘’She looks just like you. Look at those bushy eyebrows. You gave my daughter your looks’’, she laughed ‘’…and yet lm the one who labored so hard. Its funny isn’t it... Here, hold her’’.

His wife handed him their child. Gently he placed the little one on his chest. He looked at the child so intensely, admiring her beauty and delicacy. Suddenly the look on his face vanished and was suddenly replaced by an angry look.

‘’My Lord, why are you staring at our child like that? What is the matter? ‘’ his wife enquired after noticing his devastating look.

‘’Theresa has bewitched our child’’

‘’Who? You mean little Elizabeth?’’ asked the Queen.

The child suddenly broke out into a loud shrieking scream. Her Mother stretched out her hands to take her but her father shook his head so she dropped them. She looked on as her husband soothed the baby and called her little Alexis. Immediately the child stopped crying.

‘’You renamed our child?’’ she sadly asked.

The King sat on his wife’s bed beside her and explained, ‘’I had no choice; Theresa has put a curse on our child. That’s why you were in labor for so long. She had put her markings on you. ‘’

The Queen pushed back from him in shock. He looked at her and continued, ‘’If we don’t call the child Alexis then the child will never love us. ‘’

‘’Is that all she wanted, for our baby to be given a name she has chosen?’’

‘’No, that’s not all. The name represents our daughter’s future. She wants our child to be the ruler and warrior that our family prevented her from being. Theresa wants our child to be the destroyer of Kingdoms and a traitor to everything our fathers built. She wants revenge.’’

The Queen was astonished by his words and several questions flew out of her, ‘’From us, why? We did not make the laws that stopped her from ruling. Those laws have been there for ages upon ages and for a bloody good reason too! What sort of vengeance and evil is this?’’ her voice rose with each word, ‘’ Has your sister gone mad? How dare she touch my child!?’’

The furious Mother tried to get out of bed but her husband stopped her. She waved his hand off and leaped out of the bed. The Queen felt a painful weakness seer through her body. The child labor had drained all her energy even though the midwives had fed her with plenty of blood afterwards. She had not fully recovered. The floor opened its arms to her as she collapsed. The King laid the baby on the bed and rushed to her side. Her eyes were open, filled with rage and tears.

‘’Kill her! Kill Theresa’’, she told her husband with a shaken voice. He looked at her with pity and informed her that Theresa’s funeral meant the death of their child. Upon hearing this, the poor woman wept in the arms of her husband. The King held his Queen as she wept the tears of hate and regret. Soon she stopped crying and drifted into a deep sleep. The King carried her to the bed, led her by their baby’s side and left the room.

His furious steps could be heard ten staircases down the palace. As soon as the Gifted One heard the direction of his foot path she quickly rose from her chambers and followed the King. A huge black door stood in front of him. The door had the shape of a werewolf and a handle that looked like a snake. The King reached the handle and opened the door to a candle lit, horrific room.  Skeletons lay on the walls of the room, and a large black coffin lay in the middle of the room. King Edward touched the coffin and stared at the Gifted One, who stood a few feet away from him.

‘’Raise my Father’’ he demanded.

The woman who looked like a spiritual medium, wearing red cloth and bone necklaces nodded and asked ‘’How many do you want for the sacrifice?

‘’Make them three’’ the King responded. ‘’I need answers and l need them now. So those should be more than sufficient. Make it quick’’

Upon hearing the order, the Gifted One turned to the guards and raised three fingers. Immediately the guards left in a hurry. Five minutes later they came back dragging three gagged girls. The three young maidens looked around the age of 15 and 17 years. They were all terrified and wept bitterly as they entered the room. One of the girls walking behind the two tried to make a run for it, but was stopped by a fist punch in the face by one of the guards. The girl screamed a painful muffled cry but did not receive any sympathy from the Gifted One upon whose feet she had fallen on.

Using her head the Gifted One pointed at the coffin and the guards pushed the girls forward towards it. King Edward lifted the lid and there inside lay the royally clad bones of his father. The expensive burial rob was soaked with dry blood. Three of the guards stood behind the girls each holding her head down towards the corpse. The girls tried to struggle to no avail. Their efforts were suddenly stopped as three swords sliced their heads at the same time. Their blood dripped on the dead King’s skeleton. The skeleton started developing skin. With each blood the skeleton soon had the fleshly body of the late King Spencer.

‘’Father’’, King Edward addressed the body. King Spencer opened his blood shot eyes and grinned. His mouth was covered in blood, his teeth blood stained and his face an animistic terrifying ugly mold. The guards dropped the girl’s dead bodies and withdrew from the risen Lord. The body in the coffin rose and sat.

‘’Edward’’, exclaimed King Spencer. ‘’These days you are fond of ruining my burial clothes. I take it my grandchild has been born. What is his name?’’

‘’It’s a girl Father’’ responded Edward

His father’s face dropped as he gasped out an ‘’ooh’’ that his son quickly picked. King Spencer had hoped his grandchild would be a boy. A girl child had almost cost him his life before. His son explained to him about Theresa’s curse on his child and how it could ruin his child and the Kingdom. The older King gazed at his son and murmured a poetic riddle to him.

                       

                       ‘’The way of life has never gracefully accepted its end

                          As one leaf falls another grows

                          As one cries another laughs

                          As one sleeps another awakens

                          The twists and turns cannot be perfected’’ said King Spencer.

 ‘’Your sister is a witch and l should have had her beheaded the first time she tried to destroy this Kingdom’’, he added.

‘’How do l stop her now, that is the question?’’, King Edward desperately asked. He looked at his father as he hoped to hear a solution that would allow him to destroy Theresa for good. His father looked at him and shook his head and sadly answered him,

‘’By killing your child’’.

*To be continued...

Dating in 2018....the Questions that every Young Person needs to Ask Themselves

#Life #Love #Motivational #Inspiring #Educational

Dating in 2018....the Questions that every Young Person needs to Ask Themselves

by Amanda Ranganawa

Dating can be fun, beautiful and emotionally exciting. It can also be over demanding, depressing and hurtful. Hence, it must be done with caution and understanding of what one needs in a relationship. As a young person dating in 2018 ask yourself this question. Is your relationship a benefit or a loss to your family? Has it made you leave your house chores undone? Has it turned you into a liar? Has it made you abandon your family teachings? Has it made you forsake your educational plans? Has it turned you into a wife or husband before you even get married? Has it turned you into a nude photographer and sex video maker? Is your relationship a good thing or a bad thing? What morals, principles and values are in your relationship?

If your answers to these questions are yes then you need to sit down and reevaluate your relationship. A relationship should be beneficial to your life and not a complete disappointment. If you cannot let what you do in your relationship be exposed in public then you probably shouldn't be doing it. Ask yourself if your relationship habits will make you feel proud of yourself a year or two from now. Love is a drug. It can be very consuming and hypnotizing, sometimes you need to step back and stop taking the drug. No one wants a broken heart. In most cases we all wish for our love to last with that special person. However, more often it is not the case. 

People break up and they are left to pick up the pieces of the shattered mirror of love. Its alright to ask yourself if you trust that boyfriend or girlfriend of yours enough to leave them with your nude pictures or videos. Its okay to ask yourself if changing your life plans will be worth it after you break up. Remember that at the end of the day, if you are meant to be, you will be. So don't let a relationship strip you of your identity, dignity and life goals.


Amanda's blog is about Relationships, Arts, Entertainment and Digital media. You can follow her on facebook at Art is who I am and on twitter @MandySR90.

One on One with South African based Zimbabwean Singer, Yakayaka Billionaire.

ARTS  / ENTERTAINMENT/ MUSIC/ SINGERS

One on One with South African based Zimbabwean Singer, Yakayaka Billionaire.

by Amanda Ranganawa - Entertainment Blogger

Yakayaka Billionaire

Sup guys. So I recently had the privilege to interview Zimbabwe's rising singer Yakayaka Billionaire.
The ''Baddest whine'' hit maker  whose real name is Rejoice Phaladi is currently making hit waves in South Africa and this is what she had to say about herself and her music:

A:  Tell us, who is Yaka Yaka?

Y: Yakayaka is a Zimbabwean born and bred lady, who has a passion for Arts.

A: Why did you chose to call yourself Yaka Yaka Billionaire?

Y: The name Yakayaka Billionaire came from friends. The Yakayaka part was from a Nigerian friend of mine who described my dress sense and hairstyles as Yakayaka referring it to not being normal or common. The billionaire part is a name my girlfriends call me as I believe I am destined to be a billionaire

A:  Interesting. So what sort of music do you sing?
Y: I sing what I call Afro/Trap which is a fusion of Afro beats and Trap

A: What songs have you done so far and do you have any album out?
Y: So far I have up to 5 singles to my name and am looking at releasing an EP towards the end of 2018

A: Alright. So who produces your music and what notable artists have you worked with so far?

Y: Some of my songs are produced by Zimbabwean born producer GT Beats and  South African music Producer Chrystal.  My 1st single Baddest Whine was in collaboration with award winning musician Roki Josphat and and Buffalo Souljah helped in writing the song. I have also done a track with 2 South African artists Nova Ranks and Chrystal.

Yakayaka with South African musicians Nova Ranks and Chrystal who also a Music Producer. 

A: Where are you currently based in SA and is the location good for your music career?
Y: I am currently residing in Johannesburg and there I have released some of my trap songs, but I predominantly want to grow my music at home in Zimbabwe

A: How far have you gone with your music? Any new songs so far?
Y: I am currently promoting my single Baddest Whine in Zimbabwe and have released Yo love in South Africa

A: Okay. So where can people get your music on social media or music platforms?

Y: You can get my music on all major online stores like apple store, itunes, google play, deezer, sound cloud, Microsoft groove. Or you can whatsapp #baddestwhine to +263775572480

A: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

Y: Oprah Winfrey because she is among-st the richest black women in the world irregardless of her rough childhood. It goes to show that you can be whatever you want irregardless of were you come from.

A: That's true. So what sort of challenges have you faced in the music industry so far and how are you dealing with them?

Y: Well I guess just breaking into the music industry is not the easiest but in everything perseverance and hard work pays. I refuse to recognize obstacles.

A: From here where do you see your music spreading in this coming year?

Y: I am looking at working with some Zim dancehall artists because I love Zim dancehall and some other African musicians

A: Lastly, how can people get hold of you and follow you on social media?

Y: On social media you can follow me on Instagram: @yakayaka1, twitter: @yakayaka01 and
Facebook: Yakayaka

A: I noticed that you have a unique sense of style. Can you tell me where your fashion sense comes from?
Y: I love unique clothing. If it’s Yakayaka looking then I love it.
Basically I do me when it comes to clothing.

A: Any parting words for the young and upcoming artists that you would like to share?

Y: Well I would encourage upcoming artists or the young to pursue their passion and purpose, because if you do something you are not passionate about you will burn out when pressure comes, coz it will. Be true to self and do you. Remember you only live once and you have 1 shoot at this thing called life so do it right.



Amanda's blog is about Relationships, Arts, Entertainment and Digital media. You can follow her on facebook at Art is who I am and on twitter @MandySR90.

                                            The Maid of Honor’s DRESS

                             The Other Life Skills with Amanda Ranganawa

The OTHER LIFE SKILLS deals with life issues that may or may not be basic knowledge to everyone. These life skills may range from social, economical to political issues. Today l am talking about weddings and the maid of honor.

First of all l love weddings, gosh everything is always beautiful. My favorite eye candy is the bride whom l check out everything from head to toe. My second favorite is the maid of honor and she is the one l want to talk about. I think that one should always realize that when planning a wedding everything is well thought, even the maid of honors dress. 

So as a bride you need to know that if you are dressing your friend, sister or hired help her dress reflects on you as well. As a maid of honor please don’t just accept anything. Your presence to the wedding is as valuable as the cake and it’s your duty to remind your friend of the importance of your appearance.

I recently attended a wedding and l must say l was shocked and impressed. The dresses were so amazing that l thought the bride had decided to dress like the maid of honor. That was until the bride walked out and l saw a very gorgeous bridal dress that made me want to get married too. However, what caught my fancy and curious eye was mostly the maid of honor's dress.

Her dress may l say, looked by far different from the ‘’curtain hung on trees ‘’dresses that l have seen in most weddings.  I was so used to seeing maid of honors wearing either plain, dull colored, loose, or just plain ugly dresses. Whilst their best friend or sister (in some cases), the bride, looked so beautiful it pretty much made the maid of honor look like a slave beside her.

However, at this wedding the maid of honor was dressed almost just as beautiful as the bride. I say almost because l believe there is an unbroken, unwritten or presumably written rule that the bride must always be the center of attention. Nonetheless, the maid of honor's dress made me realize a number of things that a dress can say about the bride. Yes you, the bride. The dress that you buy or hire for your best friend, sister, or hired maid of honor, church mate or neighbor speaks a lot of words. 

There are so many things that a maid of honor's dress can say about the bride. You just pick where you fit in. 

On the Positive side, it may say:

1.That lm not intimidated by you my friend and l do want you to look as beautiful as me on my wedding day

2.   2.   You know how you have always begged me to buy you an evening dress; well here it is, finally.

3.    3.  I don’t want you standing beside me looking like Jenifer Lopez’s mother-in law in the movie Step Monster. I mean really what will people say?

4.   4.   Girl, l have money, so lm going to make sure you look your best because l want you to

5.   5.   I don’t have much money, but this is the best l could afford

6.    6.   It may say look at how beautiful you look in that dress, and you know that drunkard of a boyfriend .you have doesn’t deserve you

7.      7. The boutique l hired to rent us wedding dresses, simply has beautiful maid of honour dresses as well

8.     8.  This dress is my way of helping save your marriage, and lm sure when your husband sees you in 9. this he is going to want you more

9.     9.  Well of course you are not fat, look how beautiful that dress fits you

1  10.  I don’t want people thinking my wedding was cheap when they see you wearing a cheap dress in our wedding photos

     On the negative side the maid of Honor’s dress may mean this:

      1. If you ever screw up my marriage, that dress will be your karma

2.      2. You never thought l would get married did you? Well, now l want you close enough to see me wed whilst you wear that

3.     3. You couldn’t make up your damn mind about which dress you wanted so l picked that for you

4.     4.  My overzealous Mother-in law or Aunt went and bought the brides maid dresses without checking with me first.

5.    5.   I have been so angry at you for so long and this dress is pay back

6.      6. It may say, look l hired you so l don’t need to make you look fancy and all, just do the job l'm paying you for

S 

    These are just pointers to keep in mind. They may or may not apply to you as a bride however, its always good to remember that the dress you buy the woman beside you or the one she buys for herself signifies a message on your wedding day.

THE OTHER LIFE SKILLS WITH AMANDA RANGANAWA

WHEN A FRIEND IS NOT A FRIEND TO YOU

 

The OTHER LIFE SKILLS deals with life issues that may or may not be basic knowledge to everyone. These life skills may range from social, economical to political issues. Today we are talking about friendship.

Friendship is like a relationship or marriage. There is always the one who loves the other more. However, it doesn’t mean that your friend should love you less. Matter of fact they should love you just as much as you love them.  I have been fortunate to be the one who loved more in most of the friendships l have encountered. I am proud to say that l have been left heartbroken as well. You might wonder why lm smiling like a cashmere cat over a friendship break up. Well the reason l smile is because l have loved and done my best. Whether my friend appreciated it or not, l will always know that l did my best.

There are certain things that occur in friendships that might shock you. Things that you might say l would never or would have never done this to her or him and yet they did it to you. Please best believe when l say some friends whom you have taken care of, helped out, loaned money to, trusted with your secrets and life can be the same ones who let you down when you least expect it. I would have loved to give you more  examples of how a friend can let you down but lm sure from your experience you can come up with them. You might brush them off as a passing phase but the truth is deep down you know your friend is a snake

Have you ever felt like your friend tolerates you? 99% of the time your feeling is right and you need to have a back-up plan on how to fill the void when they leave.

One of the things that you should consider as danger signals in your friendship are:

1.      When people ask you ‘’Are you and (for example) Trisha really friends or are you still friends?

When people start asking you if you are friends or still friends with a person whom you consider a friend please note that there is something wrong in your friendship. You might just be holding on to a sinking boat that could be drowning with you.  A person who knows you both can ask if your friendship is okay and you might brush it off. However, when people ask you and or when a person asks you more than once, then please know that it’s time to smell the coffee. People who are outside your friendship are better judges of how you two interact. They can tell when you are being manipulated, used, undermined, betrayed, taken advantage of and abandoned more than you can. You are sometimes always too busy making excuses and brushing off your friend’s behaviour to notice when he/she hurts you. Hence, when you are questioned by people who know you both more than twice if you are really friends, it’s time for you to investigate and make a decision.

2.      When your friend picks on everything that you do.

Like l said before a friendship is quite similar to a relationship or marriage. Hence, having a partner who scrutinizes everything you do and corrects everything you do is not a friend but an evil Step-Mum/Dad. If l say everything, l might be exaggerating, but they are certain small things you do from the way you dress, to the way you eat, to the way you talk, to the way you act, to the way you react to situations etc that continuously irritates them off or brings out a lecture from them. Sometimes you may even feel like you fight more than you agree. Your mind might even excuse the times that they punish you. You can tell that they are treating you badly because of something you did, not even to them, at times. Such a friend only tolerates you for the service you provide for them at that moment. You constantly find it hard to love them as much as you would want to.  A friend in need is a friend indeed. Ask yourself if your friend really needs you for the right reasons. For example if your friend needs you because you help them in areas that they can’t complete for themselves, then you have a fair friendship but if they suggest that you are there to cover their loneliness or boredom or some other selfish reason. Please run.

3.      If your friend calls you names

They are pet names that as friends we call each other. They are usually meant to create a stronger bond between the two of you. Sometimes they are your own secret codes. These names can last for years and can be your link to one another even after a long period of time. On the other hand, if your friend starts picking on names or words that are close to one of your weakness then he/she is not being cute they are being mean. For example names and words like Miss Fat, Miss Pimples, Miss Untidy, Miss Silly, Mr Arrogant, Mr lm- good-looking or saying you are talkative, rude, spoilt, undisciplined and so forth. That is not a good indicator of a healthy relationship. It may reveal a friend that it jealous, frustrated, and annoyed or grossed out by you. It is up to you to make them stop the name calling and also up to you to decide if you need a friend who has problems with who you are.

4.      When your friend scolds you or humiliates you publicly

As friends you are bound to have disagreements but how you solve your disagreements speaks volumes about your commitment to one another. If your friend sees it fine to insult you or rebuke you in front of other people then you are in trouble. I have heard a friend who has deliberately made bad remarks about me in front of people we had just met. Now you all know how first impressions matter. So you can imagine how l felt. Henceforth, a friend who loves you should have the patience to pull you aside and caution you instead of letting everyone know what they hate or dislike about you at every audience they get. Some friends will enthusiastically join in, in a conversation that is about dissing you. They may even be willing to add much information to the others about you. Your friend is someone who has your back. They defend the bullets you can’t see and blow out the fire coming your way. However, if you know that anytime they can just belittle you then you need to ask yourself a very important question.  If you do not do that to them, then why do they do that to you?

5.      When your friend lies

Friendship is about trust and not guess-where-my-trust-lies game. Telling a friend stuff that you do not tell anyone else or doing for them what you wouldn’t do for others means that you should trust them.  You must trust your friend to be honest with you about what goes on in your friendship. Assuming that they are trust worthy is never good enough and it’s a trap most of us fall into when we first meet a likeable person. If they are not honest, for example about what they took from you, when they are leaving you or what they are planning behind you (unless it’s a surprise party) then you don’t owe them your trust either. A friend who promises or accepts to do something for you but doesn’t do it is the worst. It means they are not dependable and are as good as written off. They are anchors who keep you in the same position making you feel like your life is moving forward when it’s not. Avoid those people. Trust is earned; do not dish it out easily. The results of giving it away are painful. So always, give a friendship considerable time to grow and develop the same amount of time you would give a serious boy-girl relationship.

6.      The friend who takes from you

Last but not least is the friend l call a grass hopper. They nibble little by little at your good heart until there is nothing to nibble and then they hop to the next friend. This friend is selfish, self-centred, and envious and you know it. That’s the sad part about it. You know it. You have seen how they take or ‘’borrow’’ your stuff but never return. If they do return the item it is no longer as valuable as it used to be to you. If you take or borrow their stuff they will call you out and give you a speech about you being out of line. They remind you that you didn’t bring them certain things when you went out to see your family and yet they never bring you back anything. If they do, it’s by accident. They bleed you dry and the moment you start resisting they start bonding with another person. This may make you feel jealous and make you want to keep them by pleasing them. I say, let them go; it’s always a blessing in disguise.

Amanda Ranganawa is a writer, poet, aspiring actress and a lover of art.