"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
"Come on, you just scared me to death what type of brother are you how did you get inside my house, anyway?"My brother just laughed at me, dangling the keys in my face."I knew you were going to follow in your father and mother's footsteps of leaving the keys under the pot flower. These old habits never die, they are passed from generation to generation. I already have a clue that your kids are going to be leaving the keys under the mat as well. Even your grandkids are going to do that and are going to pass it on to their grandkids, come on it's an old habit that is in our family it will never die. So what's up?"My brother spoke too casually as if he didn't just scared me to death I was shaking I even almost peed on my pants.I was so angry that I even hit him playfully on his head."Please do not do that you know Samantha is in the hospital and you almost sent me to the same hospital by your scare tactics.""Sorry I wasn't trying to scare you, I wanted to talk to you and you
"You took your precious time coming here and let your mother cook the meals alone. You were supposed to come early in the morning like good women then cook a homely meal so that at least we sit down and devour it."My dad said that the moment we got inside the house. He was not angry he just smiled at us, we knew that mother loved cooking so we didn't even bother coming early. The other thing was because we were tired from the long night that we had of; movie after movie."Unfortunately we didn't take after our parents. I think we were exchanged at the hospital, that we must investigate, please go investigate."My sister had so many peculiar moments, she took after our father and I looked exactly like our parents somehow. So there was no way that we were switched at the hospital. Nevertheless, we all laughed at the thought of an insatiable hospital, at least it was smelling delicious in the kitchen."Your wife can cook, as much as you can cook at least you chose well. I hope when I ge
Once he was done talking I could relax my shoulders and my facial expressions changed I was relieved that it was not going to be something hectic. I was shaking I even cursed Alfredo for putting me in such a position in my life I had never been caught off guard or caught on the wrong side of the law. I always respected my parents, I always respected the law and I always lived by the Bible so she was making me a murderer from where I was standing I was thinking bad thoughts about her. I was even thinking that if she can be hit by a truck or if she can fall into a ditch somewhere."Okay, you are right I was very scared. I am scared of going to jail I do not know why this lady is doing this to me but I will be as honest as one can be under the circumstances. I will tell you everything I will never leave anything behind. I want this case to go away so that I can live my life."He just smiled nervously and sat down, we discussed the case in detail. He coached me on how to say some things a
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
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
“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
“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