Even if you do ignore me,” Lucia continued, ‘it doesn’t mean I’m not here. And anyway, Mwaramu, maybe you can tell me plainly: where do you want me to go? We both know I can’t go home. Their sending me here in the first place, it was because there was no food, and no work either at that place, isn’t it? It’s true, you know it. So where do you want me to go? As for going with Takesure, ha-a-a! I know it’s the way you joke, Babamukuru. What would I go to do at Takesure’s home?’
Lucia's question highlights the struggle between women's independence and the patriarchal expectations of society. She refuses to remain silent while the men attempt to control decisions about her life. Her situation also reveals how financial dependence and social judgement make it difficult for women to choose their own paths. Through Lucia, the author challenges the idea that men should have the authority to determine women's futures. This passage reflects one of the novel's central concerns: women's fight for freedom, dignity and control over their own lives.