It was Mr. Manager, standing by the door. I looked at my manager and I was scared the way he was so serious I thought I messed up something, I was shaking but I didn't want to show that I was shaking."Alright, Mr. Jere, I will come to your office right now, let me finish packing."He looked at me and flashed me his smile again I was so confused and hoping it was nothing big.I knocked once and he opened as if he was waiting for me."May you please sit down. Please do not panic it's not work related I am sorry to bring you to my office I needed this."Okay, I was confused about what was not work-related and why would he haul me to his office for that."Maya, I do not know how to say this but is it possible if we have lunch or dinner and discuss maybe this contract or maybe something else."He was even stumbling it was funny, I would have laughed at him if not because of the shock that had rendered my body malfunction.I looked at him thinking that he was joking but he wasn't he was se
"You are stubborn Maya I told you not to look back now. Look all of them are looking at us; I think they were talking about us like we're talking about them.""Sorry, mother I didn't know that we were talking about, with people you know curiosity always leads them, I included.""I will beat you now, do you think you have a hot mother like me. How can I mother a stubborn child like you? I can't mother a stubborn child because I'm not stubborn."We both laughed at that statement I was not sure why Mr. Jere was there.I think I watched too many movies but the last time I watched the movie was when I was at college so why would I think that he was stalking me? What do stalker tendencies look like and does it happens in movies only? By the way, he said he loved movies maybe he was stalking me how did he know that I was there? "Please do not look at again do not embarrass me. Two are coming toward us; if you look this time around I'm going to kill you."I laughed at her serious face
“You know I felt so hurt when we were at the border and those little girls were busy selling instead of going to school, so I know what I want to do when I get back home. I want to start an organisation for the orphans. I know people have different purposes. I think this is my purpose whenever I go to court and there are some kids involved in some disputes or there are kids that are selling outside or that are not going to school I feel like our country is failing us so I want to start an orphanage.”I do not want to lie I had tears in my eyes. Sometimes we feel like people's purpose is supposed to be attached to the family. People’s purposes are not supposed to be aligned with what society thinks. My sister was thinking out of the box, I had never thought of orphans in my life because I had everything going on growing up, so it was selfish of me and it was selfless of her I envied her. The envy was in a good way it was coming from a good place because I felt like my sister had a hear
It was good to be back at work because the second contract was on its way and I was ready to be keeping myself busy.There was something offish about Alfredo. I don’t even know if I using the correct word but that was better describing her attitude. I didn't want to put it into my mind and heart because I didn't know her so I didn't want to judge her but Samantha was her old self she wanted to hear all the details about the trip. She was even asking for photos so that she can post I laughed at her and left at that."When I'm looking at you and these handsome men I want your life, can I please go to Mozambique and meet such beautiful creatures?""I will go with you next time, do not worry and you will enjoy this. At least I have their contact so if you want a boyfriend don't worry I will hook you up."She seemed so excited she was even sharing the pictures on her status I laughed at her because I didn't want to stop her. She was so excited she even shouted for Mr. Manager to come and v
"Excuse me, what did you just say please say it again I didn't hear you clearly."That was a total lie I had heard her clearly and then I just wanted her to repeat so that I can breathe and gather my thoughts to answer her."I'm saying who do you think you are? You come here you, find everything intact but you change people and you change how things have been done before.""Listen, Alfred please do not test me, I .....""My name is Alfredo, not Alfred.""It doesn't matter to me I don't care what your name is, it might as well be afraid. I am doing what I am paid to do here. I do not know what you are talking about, what do you want specifically from me? So that at least I can answer you clearly what do you say you want from me?"I didn't want to be rude I was not a rude person but something inside me was eating me alive I was boiling I could even smell the heat emanating from my intestines coming out to boil her too.She hesitated before answering me."Samantha is my friend, and we ha
Samantha started coughing I stopped looking at Alfredo and looked at the coughing Samantha."What is going on Samantha please breathe, please breathe."I didn't even want to put two and two together. All I knew was something was amiss. I just went to the manager's office."Chisomo, please come and help us around, something is wrong with Samantha, please help me. I want to take her to the hospital, I think Alfredo did something to the tea that was meant for me. Come quickly, please stop what you doing we do not have time."I didn't even want to put a full stop to my sentences. I just wanted him to help me I look at him and I thought he was being slow for me I pushed him crying but he was shocked to see tears that were gushing out without stopping."What is going on Mayamiko, please breathe?""I do not have time to breathe why are you telling me to breathe just run and come after me. We cannot wait for help we need to rush, please come with me if you can drive I will be happy."When I g
"Officers, how may I help you."To say I was shaken would be an understatement. I have never seen the police in my house in my life. Worse, I was renting, so I was wondering how my landlord was going to feel about that. What did they want?"Are you Mayamiko Nyirenda?""Yes, officer, that is me."The other officers looked at me with so much hate, I was wondering what was going on I was shaking in my boots."Madam Nyirenda, you are under arrest for the assault of Miss Alfredo who laid the charges. I would like to take you to the police station so that we get your statement you have the right to remain silent......."I didn't hear the rest it was like I was in the movie. I had seen that happening in movies I didn't think that it was going to happen to me worse in Africa. I thought in Africa they just take you and throw you into jail they didn't read your rights for you. What have I done to this girl for her to hate me so much she's the one who wanted to poison me and then she went ahead
"I am coming from a broken relationship, a broken marriage; I don't think I am ready for any relationship right now."I was being honest because I knew I would not be ready for any relationship soon. I was so emotional, I was traumatized because of Alfredo, my mind, my feelings and my state of being were in different places at the same time."Okay, I have an idea let us not call it a relationship or give it a name."I looked at him confused and he was serious he smiled. His smile always made me feel some things in my stomach; I wondered why he didn't smile often because I was going to be a cheerful person."I do not know what you're going to say but I'm listening, please enlighten me.""Let us just go with the flow and call it our ‘Stolen Moments’, on these stolen moments we should get to know each other even if it's not deep just the little things you want to throw in the conversation so that I know you. We will get there, I mean to the bigger things later on. I'm open to telling you
“We did a great job ladies let us celebrate.” It was the day before the wedding and we were with the mothers but we had moved to my old room. It was fun as we were talking about girl stuff. “I knew we were going to pull it off with Maya here, controlling everything. You are supposed to be the manager as well or your boyfriend is teaching you the ropes already?” There we go, Samantha had to open her mouth. “I knew you were dating, and you didn’t say anything to me. I suspected, but I didn’t expect to be the last one to know.” My sister looked so hurt but she had to know why I was uncomfortable telling people about my relationship. I was glad Mphatso answered on my behalf. “Do not blame her, Nthanda, she is coming from a complicated marriage, and advertising her love life will be the last thing on her mind. Coming from a broken marriage at her age is not what she had imagined. She had dreamt of having a family for a while but it all went out the window. Do you think she doesn’t w
“My darling, what is going on? I heard you rushed to the hospital what is happening?“The news reporter had already reported.”I laughed as I knew Samantha would not keep it to herself. She was worried I would not blame her.“She was worried and so was I. Are you okay?“Yes, it was my aunt. She is okay though only exhausted, so the doctor is admitting her for a few days to monitor her. She collapsed and her husband was working outside of the city I guess she didn’t have anyone to help her.”“What about her kids? I think she had grown-up kids if I am not mistaken.”“Are you talking about those who can’t even boil eggs? They can even burn water on the stove.”The way he laughed at me. I was being serious. They were not considerate. They were not appreciative of how hard their parents worked to raise them and still care for them.“As long as you are good my darling, then I am happy as well. I will miss you this evening when knocking off.”“I will make it up to you tomorrow.”“Thank you,
‘They are not looking, the bathroom in 5 minutes.’Those were the messages I lived for. Chisomo worked as hard as he played. Played I mean sex. He always had condoms starched in weird places. At first I was shy to carry them but then I got used to our Stolen Moment that I didn’t want to miss any opportunity.In days where he would be busy, messages will follow each other in intervals and I was loving being loved. I even lost words to describe what he was doing to me. One brick at a time he removed that wall that I had built. I was slowly forgetting my life with Joseph, but not Asante. She communicated from time to time and I deposited money on the card frequently, although she didn’t use it much. Their neighbour was helping us. They had moved to a high density suburb, but she was adjusting. Her neighbour made it easy for us to communicate and for the money to be safe. At her age she was doing well I think running away from home at that time helped her as she saw life in a different l
This girl was irritating me. What did Alfredo want from me? She had even tagged her friends to attack me but before long there were people who were Chisomo’s friends who fought back.[Keep your nasty comments to yourself. Loose girls like you do not even deserve to be in his wall.]There were people who commented under that person’s comment. Most of them were dragging Afredo to the ground. I wondered why he was not saying anything as he ignored her like a plague.[Some people will never see a good thing even if it’s in front of their eyes. What is this fool saying about our boy who is in love? I know he would never have approached this lady if she wasn’t his type. You are not his type it shows as he will not go for someone like you, so sit your ugly butt down and let love birds enjoy their life.]The lady who commented was his friend and there were pictures she took with Chisomo and Jerry.There were so many comments crushing her comments from what I realised the friends who were
When I woke up, it was as if I was in a dream and I didn’t want that dream to end. What if I woke up, then realised I was still living my miserable life? I was too tired to even open my eyes. When I smelt an unfamiliar scent, I immediately shoot my eyes open.The same time I opened them was the same time Chisomo came into the room dripping wet from a shower. I was drooling I knew I was drooling but my body didn’t feel happy for me as it was too tired. The empty box of condoms also supported that claim in full view. I think my parents were going to disown me when they saw the things I was done to the previous night. Or let me rephrase. The things I allowed this handsome man to teach me the previous night.Did we even sleep? I doubt I think I only napped. I remember we ate cold food then from there it was chatting and love making throughout the night. He smiled at me and that smile was so dangerous that it could turn a nun into a mother of the nation. What was I saying?“Good morning, d
I was smiling on my way to my aunt’s place. I didn't even want to stay longer, but it was my duty to check up on her. I knew my family would not do so until later but I worried more about her.“What brings you here Mayamiko? I told you I was going to be fine?”“Look you are all alone.”I said, going inside the house and picking up things on my way. My aunt was not an untidy person, so it worried me.“Bankhazi, basibweni balingu? (Where is my uncle?)”“You know him and beer.”We both laughed. If it’s something that my aunt failed to separate from my uncle it was his beer. He would go to any beer hall and drink. Even some homemade beer legally or illegally brewed he knew the venues.“If you are to re-marry stay away from men who love beer.”I was thinking about my predicaments as I didn’t know Chisomo that well. What if he was a drunkard, as I only saw him sober at work? What if she loved beer and women?“So, you have a man now?”She was looking at me with a curious face I just laughed
“Okay, okay, I am coming there is no need to break my door at this hour.”I really didn’t want to wake up. When I checked the time it was already late and I haven't eaten dinner. I was grumpy when I opened the door only to be attacked by a warm hug.“Do not ever do this to me. I have been calling and worried sick about you.”The warmth I felt was overwhelming me I couldn’t even hide my gratitude for him to come to my doorstep. This made me love him more. Well, yes, I said love as I was feeling the love flowing undeniably so to my heart from his actions.“I am so sorry I had a day from hell, so please do not be angry at me.”He hugged me tightly again and kissed the top of my head.“I do not want to add stress to your stressful day. I just wanted to find out if you were okay. You need to communicate with me. I am not a monster so I would not let you deal with whatever you were dealing with alone.”I felt so bad for not calling him but I was not in a pleasant space. I didn’t even call
What did these pests want from me? I couldn’t say they were people as people were reasonable but these people around me needed pesticides to be eradicated. If it was not Alfredo, then it was my ex-husband who claimed I was his wife. “What is going on Maya?”Chisomo asked me with begging eyes I just shrugged as I didn’t know what to say. What was I going to say when I was as clueless as anyone else. I went to where Joseph was standing and looked at him. He seemed to have aged in those few months I had left. He had even lost weight, the cheeks seemed to go deep down as if they were looking for balance.“Joseph, what is going on?”I was as surprised to see him but he looked as if I knew why he was there.“You are telling me you do not know why I am here? Our daughter ran away from home and left a note saying she wants to come and live with you, as I do not give her what she wants.”People were looking at us. Chisomo just looked hurt and left for his office. I wanted to follow him but As
We both looked at each other, from inside we could hear that it was Alfredo's voice but we were surprised about what she was doing that late in the office and what did she want with Chisomo.“Do not say anything; I do not want to attend to her because I do not want her to disturb me.”I just nodded as I was shown the ‘shush’ sign.I got down from where I was sitting and tidy myself up I was blushing and I was ashamed of what just happened, I didn't know how to react.He cleared his throat while he was fixing himself, then he asked Alfredo.“How can I help you? It’s late why are you still here? I have confidential documents here so I cannot let you in what is the problem?"I was even surprised at how calm he was because he didn't even giveaway he had somebody in the office. Was it his habit of his or was I just imagining things and being paranoid?I knew Alfredo would not come inside because once he talked about ‘confidential documents’ we could not go inside the office. Once there was