The b©dyguard –
Episode 25
By Tisa Phiri
Paula…….
With tears in my eyes i drove away. I felt so much powerless, “how could he?” i thought, as i turned to park along the Dc offices a few meters away from the town center. I had gone to s£nd some files to the office and i decided to use an internet cafe for s£nding large do¢v-ments online.
Seeing him was surprising and at the same time exciting, however the moment was short lived when i realised he was with a woman.. “why is he doing this to me?” i cried bending my head on the steering. I could bet he was following me, otherwise there was no way he was going to save me from the guy that attacked me.
Everything wasnt ma-king s-en-se, “why did he pretend he didnt know who i was” i wondered, there was no ma-king s-en-se from the fact that he followed me when he had no idea who i was.
“what is happening my God?” i cried silently now i knew why he stayed away. He was with that woman i thought as i shed more tears.
“you should have just told me Ackim” i whispered to myself, “instead of ma-king me go throu-gh all the trouble for you just to push me to the wall.”
It was the second day in chingola since i c@m£ back from Kapiri. i even arranged to find a Doctor in Ndola for his mother. Though the man i talked to refered me to see someone in chingola after i asked for one near by.
” I nee-d to be going to check on the patient , but i stay in Solwezi” i had told the Doctor, he recommended a Doctor from Nchanga Hosipital and gave me details.
Infact i was on my way to see this Doctor when i met Ackim, the pain of him pretending he didnt know who i was, was so dishearting but the fact that he had to show off with another woman in my face left me broken.
I felt a bit calm and wiped my face, “stay focused Paula” i sighed.
“you have to take it easy.”
my phone rang and i lifted it from the seat i had thrown it on. It was Ackim`s mother, i sighed before answering..
“Yes mom!” i answered my voice steady i didnt want to give her the impression i was upset or that something was wrong..
“Hey my dear how are you today? ” she greeted in a low voice.
“am okey mom, how are you feeling yourself.?” i asked back, I heard her sigh, her voice was too low i could s-en-se she wasnt feeling alright.
“i feel bad my dear,” she said almost in a whisper.
“i wanted to ask if the past days you have anything on my son” she added…
My eyes filled up with tears, thoughts of Ackim and another woman coming clearly to my mind. I sighed as i used the back of my hand to wipe the tears.
“Hello! are you there?” she asked, after some seconds..
“yes am here mom, am sorry. i think i saw him somewhere around but he disppeared before i could get to him” i lied, i didnt want to explain the details but i had to let her know her son was alive.
“Are you sure it was him Paula?” she asked her tone of voice sounding a bit relieved.. am certain mom, i know him.
“i promise to bring him over anytime soon, but for now i want to organise some Doctor here in Chingola for your operation” i told her..
“that is if you would want to come over here. i nee-d to be close so i visit you regularly from Solwezi, you can come with Ackim`s sister for a while. I will see if i can arrange some accommodation here for the time you will be un-dergoing treatment.”
“You are more than what i thought you are my child” she sighed,
“may God reward you for your kindness and for going throu-gh all this trouble for me as well as my son. Indeed my God in heaven will be the one to reward you. All this time in have been sick and none of my children have enough to help me get the much nee-ded medication, so I really appreciate you for doing this for me” she added..
“Thank you” i finally said, after she finished her praises and blessings. i wasnt going to let her down just because her son dumped me. ” i made a promise to help her and that i will fulfill” i whispered as i started the car. I had to go and meet the doctor.
I successfully made an appointment with the Doctor and Ackim`s mom would be admitted the following day the Doctor told me. I made some arrangement for her and her daughter to be picked. that same evening they arrived and i booked a lodge near the hospital for them. I noticed she had grown weaker than i last saw her, i tried to as-sure her about her son and she thanked me again.
Early the following morning i took her to the hospital. She was taken inside for some tests as i waited with Mary Ackim`s sister. she smiled as we sat down.
” what is it?” i asked her, she bow her head shyly.
” you are a wonderful person mam, who does this for people they ba-rely know? thank you” she smiled at me holding my hand.
“Its okey Mary” i told her..
” its the least i can do, besides your brother saved my life more than once, and i feel obliged to help him back.”
“whatever your reasons we really appreciate it mam” she said calmly.
” call me Paula,” i told her holding back her hand.
After some minutes of waiting i received a call from dad and i walked outside the hospital to pick the call.
” excuse me” i told Mary as i walked out.
I told dad p@rt of the details and shut him before he could talk me into going back home.
“I have a mission to pursue” i told myself as i hang up. I wasnt just going to give up hope after coming all the way. Ackim would have to face me, whether he likes it or not. All i nee-ded to was find him.
As i turned to walk back in, a female Doctor walked towards me, “excuse me lady” she called me. “yes Doctor” i answered looking at her Id card. I thought she was one of the Doctor`s working on Ackim`s mother so i stood to listen to her.
“You might not remember me but we met at some restaurant close to 2 weeks ago” she explained. I looked at her but my mind was too occu-pied for me to remember.
“The girl Maya approached you.. ” she started..
“Oh yeah!” i exclaimed remembering her face, she was the mother of the match ma-king girl.
“yes… yes, i remember. how is that angel?” i asked smiling..
“she`s okey my dear as over zealous as ever.”
” well shes a great person” i said with a laugh.
” Am Dr Mwamba by the way” she introduced herself extending her hand to greet me.
“am Paula” i responded shaking her hand.
She asked what i was doing at the hospital, and i told her i had taken a friend`s mother there. she insisted her Daughter was still looking for me and after we chatted for some more minutes she asked me to go have dinner at her house.
“Maybe next time Doctor” i told her.
” plea-se i insist do it for my Daughter” she pleaded holding my hand.
“she really would love to see you again, she adores you”
“Okey fine, give me the address and i will try create time for her this evening.” I gave up.
” that`s wonderful” she smiled handing me the address.
“see you this evening then Paula.. ” she added as she walked towards the emergency room. I watched her in silence and shook my head.
“well i can use a break from all this craziness going on in my head” i whispered to myself as i walked to the waiting room to join Mary.
The tests where done and Ackim`s mom was admitted that very day. i drove Mary back to the Lodge after saying bye to her mother. I promised to pas-s by the following morning.
” i will have to leave for work tomorrow, but plea-se call me for anything.” I told the same to Mary and gave her some money for up keep.
After 18 30 hours, i prepared myself from Protea h0tel where i was lodging. I did a little bit of make up, didnt really know what to expect but i had to look at least sane and neat. I wore a very long Pink dress that shaped me up to my h!ps and fall back to my feet leaving my toe nails expo-sed as i wore some black flat casual sandles.
placing a black bead br@celet around my n£¢k, i liked the look, not so ordinary nor so showing off but on the point. I tied my hair to the side letting it drop on my right shoulder. I was good to go..
Few minutes later, i looked in the side mirrors as i drove past the streets, turning in the 7th street and drove to the house on the address. At my first hoot i saw Maya Jump up and down as she c@m£ to open the gate for me.
” Hey there!” she screamed coming to the car.
“Hey Maya!” i called out smiling.
“am so happy you c@m£ to our home!” she shouted jumping up and down as i drove in.
I hvgged her and she held my hand as she led me inside.
” lets go meet others!” she informed me excited.
“yeah sure” i nodded holding my long dress up a bit as i followed her into the house.
The b©dyguard – Episode 26
By Tisa Phiri
Ackim…….
I was lost in my thoughts thinking about my life. Indeed the loss of my memory was affecting me , each day that past l would hope and wish l knew who l was. It wasn’t easy living a blank life , did l even have Parents? or maybe friends ? I wondered. How was it that no one ever bothered to look for me at the hospitals or file in a missing person report?
I felt sad with the fact that maybe l wasn’t such a good person in my previous life, maybe no wonder l had been having wired dreams about my past , l thought.
I had been in my room most of the day since l had an encounter with a coloured girl. Jane even apologised for ma-king her leave though she insisted if she was that important to me the lady wouldn`t have left me..I hated the feel that Jane could be right , but then whatever the case, Anyone who showed signs of knowing me was actually important at that period of my life.
“Who am l ?” I whispered to myself, looking at the ceiling board as l l@yback on my be-d.
I heard a soft knock on my door and l responded after the second one..
“come in !”
James c@m£ in..
“Hey man , whats up ?”
“Hey ” l answered sitting up ,
” you are back early?” l asked him as he sat next to me on the be-d.
“Yes l was told we will have a visitor this evening so l had to rush back” he explained.
“who is that ? family ?” I asked not really interested in meeting any more strangers. As it was l was living with people l didn’t even know and everyone else l had been seing in those months were strangers.
“I dont know really” he smiled.
“But l have been told to prepare myself , so l c@m£ to inform you to do the same.”
“Prepare ? ” I asked suprised.
” well it must be an important person indeed. so are we supposed to wear suits or something ?” I asked with a chuckle.
James started laughing softly,
“l hate suits” he said.
“Yeah l too, you have no idea” l answered as we laughed again.
“Guys come on its 18: 30 alre-ady , plea-se get re-ady we dont want you looking like general workers in the mine this evening” we heard Dr Mwamba call out to us.
” Hurry dad and uncle !” Maya screamed excitedly as she pas-sed holding a comb from the bathroom.
I wondered what was going on cause the women had prepared different dishes that evening but with the shouting l couldn’t ask any further questions. All l was told is to dress moderately.
I took a quic-k shower and wore some soft jeans and a plain grey short sleeved shi-t, its all l could think of besides the t-shi-ts..
I walked out with sandles and before l could go further Maya c@m£ screaming ,
“no no no! uncle no sandles plea-se, put on your black shoes” she instructed seriously.
“You ought to look good” she smiled ,
” like the way Will Smith looked when going for a d@t£ in that movie Snitch” she told me gr-abbing my hand back to my room.
“Easy miss” l laughed as she pushed me back and opened my closet to get my shoes.
” There you go” she told me placing the shoes before me.
I shook my head and wore my socks as she ran outside.
” she’s here!’ she jumped when we heard the car hoot outside the gate.
“She`s here ?” I wondered shaking my head as l put on my shoes.
A couple of minutes later l walked out to join the family by the table and in the pas-sage l saw Maya coming in , my heart skipped when l saw her holding a lady`s hand.
She stepped in and for a moment l was motionless , the lady from town in a long dress that outlined what l thought was the perfect shape, her hair pushed to one side ma-king her look like she just c@m£ from one of the holly wood movies. I wasnt sure what puzzled and amused me the most, the fact that she looked like a goddess or that l had a chance to ask her about my life.
“What is he doing here ?” I heard her ask almost in a whisper. Maya shook my hand,
” uncle Will, meet my friend” she said smiling ,
“her name is Paula. Paula , this is my Uncle Will” she added looking at her.
” Oh l see, Will” she said casually. if l knew her l would say she was teasing me or something.
“Hey!” l finally said extending my hand to greet her.
“you are welcome Paula?” l said almost like asking if l said it right .
“It is” she smiled weakly as she shook my hand..
Maya cleared her throat and l let go of Paula`s hand. I had not realised l was still holding her soft hand.
“well people lets go have some dinner then we can all catch up later” she announced as she took Paula by hand. I tagged along in silence and l saw Paula look back at me the expression of her face l couldn’t figure out , but whatever it was surely was against me.
We sat down to eat after Paula was introduced to all of us by Dr Mwaba. She told her about Mwamba who was out for some school tournaments, and all this while l watched in silence. Paula`s quic-k glances at me made me feel uncomfortable like l had done something wrong.
We had our dinner which l ba-rely felt the taste cause I wasn’t at ease , thankfully Dr Mwaba and Maya kept the conversations going asking Paula what she did and where she lived. She explained about her father and some mining business but my heart was longing for her to say something about me.
Without warning l spoke up ,
” so do you know who l a’m ?” I asked blankly and in a high tone.
“well, l cant help but feel you know me from somewhere and l want to know now. Why not get to it and tell me alre-ady” I shrugged with a face.
I saw Paula startle and swallowed ha-rd .
“Am am am sorry , excuse me” she said standing up to leave the table after she was quite for some seconds, she ran out to the veranda at the back.
Dr Mwaba and her husband gave me a sharp look and Maya ran out to Paula looking at me with anger.
“What ?” I asked
“did l say something bad ?” I asked shrugging.
To be continued