drive out hate only love can do that- Dr Martin Luther King Jr
I looked at the old man in pity and felt myself biting back the urgue
to scream.I felt sorry for myself, had I reached that stage whereby
old men looked at me as a suitable bride for themselves instead of
their sons?
"Baba I think you should be going its getting dark," I spoke with the
mastery of my remaining patience.
"don't think for a moment that am joking.please give me a chance. if
you ever change your mind,call me," he paused to give me a piece of
paper with his number written on it but I refused.my biological clock
was ticking yes but his had long ceased functioning. it was better to
spend my days as a single mum forever than signing my womanhood days
off to this old cargo. maybe if I was old and widowed, I could have
revisited his proposal.
I walked back into the house and strapped Laurent on my back,locking
the house and took Amanda with me. I started off to my uncle's house
leaving the old man standing outside. I had one or two words to give
my uncle,he knew too much about me because we were related but that
didn't give him a licence to broadcast my private life with every
available ear. some men were loose mouthed, after having one too many
of liquor with friends they tend to completely lose themselves. it was
getting dark, my uncle's place wasn't far from our house. anger was
boiling inside me and I prayed that I would find him home before he
left to spend the night at one of his mistress' houses. he sure had
some growing up to do.
I found his wife in the kitchen and she said he was inside the house.
she could see that it wasn't a social call. I found him sitting on his
wooden chair bare chested and dozing. I made some noise signalling my
presence. after an exchange of greetings, I didn't waste time but to
ask him if he knew an old man who had lost his wife a year ago.in the
thick of things I had forgotten to ask him his name or perhaps he had
said it and I wasn't listening.
he didn't seem to remember until I told him about his friend at the
lake. he immediately knew him because everybody knew Kondowe who
almost spent all his days at the lake,his wife sometimes brought him
food there. I gave the description of Kondowe's old friend without
front teeth and he recognized him.
"woow that's Mr Chirwa, he owns part of the rubber plantation. he is a
good friend of Kondowe." well finally we were going to be on the same
page.I thought.
"so you thought it wise to tell Kondowe so much about my love life?"
he seemed quizzed by my question .
"it was nothing serious,he knows because he is my friend. " I couldn't
believe it.
"its because of your useless story telling that am getting marriage
proposal from an old man."
" wooh…wait …wait. Mr Chirwa wants to marry you?" I nodded. "then I
have just hit a jackpot because that man's purse has a gold lining."
before I had a chance to answer him my aunt interrupted me "consider
yourself lucky my dear, that man is an answer to every woman's dream.
" these people got to be kidding me.marrying that man would be my
worst nightmare.
"uncle you can't say that. this man would never be my husband. money
is not everything,"I was defending my heart.
"you didn't seem to dislike it when I was giving some to your
mother,now I understand Mr Chirwa's motive towards helping your mother
." so even my mother was part of selling me off to slavery? this man
had acted as if he had just got to know me that afternoon.
"pass the message that I dont want him." before I rose to go, my
cousin Melina entered holding the back of her head with her hand
crying.
"oh not again," I heard my Aunt murmur beneath her breath. she was the
youngest of his children.
"what is it again? can't you shut up? you are making noise " my uncle
didn't take lightly to such an interruption.
"Jacob has hit me again Papa" Melina said.
"that man will kill you one of these days,"aunt said walking back to
the kitchen.
"who asked for your opinion witch." I was beginning to forget my own issues.
"stop calling my wife that and go back to your mother. it's true if
you are not careful that good for nothing husband of yours will kill
you."
"What now Papa? I don't know why you still cling to that barren
thing,"the sarcasm for her step mother was evident.
"that's why I didn't promote your mother to my second wife, she has a
lousy mouth and you are becoming more like her everyday no wonder you
are a punching bag to your husband. go away before I do more damage to
you." I wanted to laugh,Melina went back without a word. I decided to
leave too because my uncle was in no state to continue talking.
back home I found my mother and sister back. they had a fruitless
journey because Anya Jere was not there. I didn't mind about how tired
she was and went ahead to ask her about Mr Chirwa.you can't believe
her answer. she said,"am happy for you my dear, you have just won a
ticket to steer us away from poverty." I was so disappointed in
her,was that what she thought of everything? some people would sell
their souls to the devil for the love of money. as for me I didn't
want to end my youthful days abruptly to such mockery of a marriage.
we needed money yes but I didn't want to be the sacrificial lamb of
the family altar.
my phone rung,it was Peter. I let it ring for sometime before pressing
the reject button
Episode 11 (Part B)
the human mind is an absolute wonder and very unpredictable. how do
one control thoughts from popping in unannounced and sometimes
uninvited. I get perplexed by the female mind. my granny once told me
that it works twice than the male mind that's why when some of these
male start lying tales, we catch them midway through before they
finish.
I was to make my folks see sense in what I was saying but it wasn't
hitting home. my mother was adamant to wave me off into the waiting
arms of Mr Chirwa,surely I would die first before I found myself in
them. couldn't Peter have picked a perfect time of calling? my mind
presently was an emotional wreck and i didn't want to strain if
further. our last parting wasn't to die for.I was running away from
him, from myself. I was afraid my heart would betray me because the
last time I checked, I was still hopelessly in love.I needed time to
heal, to trust myself with him again yet the dyke called Masozi stood
imposingly between us. I had learnt so much from what Ben did to me.
I didn't want to play second fiddle or plan B ever to any man. I had
enough lessons about men to last me a life time. I also had kids yes
but I had them before meeting Peter. knowing fully well that your
partner was cheating and had a baby when he was still with you was not
easy to live with.the village was becoming a dangerous place to
live,if I wasn't careful I would end up in the wrong hands. I am a
hopeless romantic by nature who believes in settling for nothing but
true love.if money is involved then it should be a bonus not a ruling
factor.
I went to bed that day so furious I wasn't talking to my mother.
Beatrice tried to tell me the full details of finding Anya Jere saga
but I dismissed her saying I was tired. the only way out of this mess
was to go back to Lilongwe yet money seemed a bit of a problem.
starting all over sacred me. I needed to start looking for a job.
the following morning I told Beatrice to give the kids porridge who
were still sleeping. I was going to my aunt's (a sister to my
mother)place. she and her husband were some of those sweet people who
seem to be extinct from the face of the earth nowadays.I knew we had
not been close but we used to be when i was little.
they were not rich or poor but lead a life of content with what they
had. I always say the highway to happiness is being content with what
you have and always thank God for it,in His time and reward for your
doings He shall bless you according to His riches and glory. they had
four beautiful kids who had all managed to go further with their
education. I didn't blame them since both their parents went to school
while mine uhmm couldn't wait to start bringing us into this world.
I left. I wanted to bare my heart to somebody who would understand.
she had an aura of authority about her that made my mother listen to
whatever she said. I passed through a deserted path that lead to a
church. there was a river along and the bridge that used to
interconnect it to another area had been washed away.the river held
some childhood memories.
when I was a kid I came with my friends for a swim. the river wasn't
safe since people used it as a refuse damping site. I was busy
showcasing my swimming skills to my friends when somebody announced
that my aunt was coming. she told me to get out of the water but I
told her that she wasn't my mother to order me about. the nerve of
me.she practically dragged me out and beat the devil out of me.as far
as rivers were concerned, that was the first and last time I got in
one.
I was walking,admiring the breathtaking view when I heard somebody
walk behind me. I looked back and saw a young man behind me. I could
feel his eyes penetrating right through my back. I walked swiftly but
eventually he caught up with me. I wasn't in the mood for small talks
yet it was written all over his face that he wanted to talk.
" hello. you are quite in a hurry."he began. I answered in such a low
turn off voice I thought he wouldn't continue.
" sure I have things to do"
" are you going to work because you are so early? I could now see the
road leading to my Aunt 's place.
"am not going to work but am going to see my aunt"
" do you stay around here?"
" no I live in Lilongwe." I was beginning to get irritated.
" am Remo I just came for holidays at my uncle's.am studying at Mzuzu
university. " as if I cared. I eyed him,he looked to be young and we
were almost of the same height.
"am Wangu nice meeting you. well that's my destination,nice talking to
you Remo," I spoke while entering a bamboo made gate.
"what's your surname?"
"Banda,"I replied almost dashed inside, there was no way my Aunt would
see me with him,there would be blue murder. I think I saw a look of
triumph on his face as if he had won the national lottery. honestly I
didn't care.
I found her home and wasted no time in narrating the reason for my
visit. when I finished she said, " sometimes your mother give me doubt
if she is okay upstairs. she can't force you to marry somebody that
old. I will come there tomorrow and sort it out once and for all.dear
stop worrying yourself to death.
"thank you very much Auntie ". I took my leave. there was so much
weight that had been taken off my heart, atleast somebody was on my
side.
when I arrived home I was in better spirits. I trusted my Aunt to give
my mother a piece of her mind.
I entered the house and my heart froze. sitting on the chair with one
leg crossed on the other was Peter grinning from side to side …
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