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Beneath the Veil exposes life after marriage

Life & Style
The message also motivates and gives hope to people that there is still life even after stumbling somewhere along life’s rugged terrain.

BY AGATHA CHUMA KAREN Mhanda last week launched her latest non-fictional book titled Beneath the Veil, which carries a strong message on why people should never give up in life.

The message also motivates and gives hope to people that there is still life even after stumbling somewhere along life’s rugged terrain.

The author talks about psychological well-being of both men and women, especially in the stages of youth and marriage as well as lifestyles shaped by situations people go through.

The book covers various themes such as love, sexual health, mental health, drugs and marriage, among others.

In the book, Mhanda showcased her skills through the use of different literature devices which brought life to her story, giving readers images of what she was talking about.

In the first chapter, a young couple Cheryl (21) and Gabriel (31), is introduced making vows at their wedding that they will love, respect and provide for each other until death.

Well, these are common vows that people make, but over time they lose meaning.

Set in South Africa, the newly-wedded couple moves to a new town soon after their wedding.

The 10-year age difference proves that age is just a number, what is important is love between two people.

The couple is employed at different workplaces.

Cheryl is presented as egoistic and rude, while Gabriel is soft-spoken and caring.

During the early months of their marriage, everything seemed perfect until Gabriel’s aunt brought in the third member of the family, Pamela, her daughter whom they stayed with without problems.

Yes, it is natural for aunties to bring relatives to their nephew’s place soon after marriage. It is kind of common among Africans.

After seven months, everything appeared endurable, but the couple started having problems until pregnant Cheryl decided to move out.

She later gave birth, but Gabriel never congratulates her. She returned to her husband’s place, but still nothing changed, the cold war between the couple continued.

Sadly, Cheryl lost her job after exceeding her leave days and her boss demanded to intimate with her if she wanted her job back.

She was confused, broken and bankrupt; her husband was just ignoring her.

With the help of a friend, Cheryl, however, managed to talk to her husband about all their differences and what she had gone through at her workplace.

Gladly, they forgave each other and started a new life.

The book overlays teaching that in marriages there are a lot of problems, but giving up is not the solution.

Mhanda told NewsDay Life & Style that at some point she wanted to end her life, but with the help of a church priest she found the reasons to live again.

“I once considered taking my life because of so much failure and abuse among other things which I had no idea on how to control. My late mentor Father Maringe helped me with words that made me want to live again,” she said.

  • Follow Agatha onTwitter @AgathaChuma