UYAWAZI na la madoda athetha noYakobi? Emva kohambo lweentsuku ezininzi, uYakobi wadibana nawo equleni. Ayesalusa izimvu zawo. UYakobi wabuza: “Nisuka phi na?”

‘KwaHaran,’ atsho.

‘Niyamazi na uLabhan?’ wabuza uYakobi.

‘Ewe,’ aphendula. ‘Nanku noRakeli intombi yakhe esiza nomhlambi wezimvu.’ Uyambona na uRakeli esiza phayaa mgama?

Xa uYakobi wabona uRakeli esiza nezimvu zikaninalume uLabhan, wasondela, waliqengqa ilitye lasuka equleni ukuze izimvu zisele. Wandula ke uYakobi wamanga uRakeli emxelela ukuba ungubani na. Wavuya kunene, waza wagoduka waya kuxelela uyise uLabhan.

ULabhan wakuvuyela gqitha ukuhlala noYakobi. Yaye wathi uYakobi akucela ukutshata noRakeli, uLabhan wavuya. Noko ke, wacela uYakobi ukuba asebenze emasimini akhe iminyaka esixhenxe ngenxa kaRakeli. Kuba uYakobi wayemthanda gqitha uRakeli wayenza le nto. Kodwa ekufikeni kwexesha lomtshato, uyazi ukuba kwenzeka ntoni?

ULabhan wanika uYakobi intombi yakhe enkulu uLeya kunokumnika uRakeli. Xa uYakobi wavumayo ukusebenzela uLabhan eminye iminyaka esixhenxe, uLabhan wamnika noRakeli njengomkakhe. Kuloo maxesha, uThixo wayewavumele amadoda ukuba abe nabafazi abangaphezu komnye. Kodwa ngoku, njengokuba iBhayibhile ibonisa, indoda kufuneka ibe nomfazi omnye kuphela.