#Truths_of_the_heart
49
It was a h0t day and the air aircon seemed not to be serving its purpose. Mwamba kept adjusting the temperature lower in an attempt to cool down. He sat in the office on Sunday working on what he had pending for the coming week. One of his cousins, Nalita, had agreed to look after the children for the day. Mwamba intended to work from home the coming week since he would have Peter and Milda with him. Mwamba was looking forward to having them for that long. He missed seeing them every day.
By 15hours Mwamba was winding up. He wa working on the last do¢v-ment when he heard a tap at the door.
“Come in!” He called out wondering who it could be. The company did not operate on Sunday’s so it could not be a client, neither did he tell anyone ap@rt from his Nalita that he would be working.
“Working on a Sunday?” Kasiwe walked In giving her sweetest smile.
“Yes. I have deadlines. What are you doing here?”
“I was visiting a friend in the next building when I saw your car. I thought I come up and say hi.”
“How do you even know what my car looks like?”
Kasiwe laughed. She crossed her legs, ex-posing her silk th!ghs at Mwamba. “When I want something I made sure I know everything about it. And that it is YOU!”
Mwamba looked at her in amazement. “I really do not un-derstand you? You are Naomi’s alleged best friend. And married for that matter. Why are you hell bent on me? I have told you I’m not interested yet here you are again.”
“Unlike you pretty clueless wife, I’m a woman who knows what she wants. You are a good man. The kind of man every woman dreams of.” Kasiwe stood up and went to stand behind him. She wra-pped her hands around his n£¢k, bending down to whisper in his ear. “I nee-d that kind of man in my life!”
Mwamba pushed his chair causing her move back away from him. “I’m not interested. I have no intention of cheating on my wife! Now leave before I have you thrown out.”
“Oh, you mean the wife you are in the process of divorcing? The one out for the weekend with her lover? Naomi is out there getting scre-wed s-en-seless and you are here pla-ying the dutifully husband. You know what, it actually turns me on!”
“You are crazy!”
“Crazy about you!”
Mwamba picked up the receiver on his table. “plea-se s£nd one of the security guards to Igobi.”
“She doesn’t deserve you!” Kasiwe walked to the door and lingered. “I know you are starving. When you nee-d a good meal, my legs are always open for you.”
The security guard arrived then. “Sir, you called.”
“Yes. The lady seems lost. esc-rt her back to the car park.”
“This way madam.” The guard held the door for her.
“See, still the perfect gentleman.” Kasiwe said before leaving.
Mwamba decided to go home then. His mood had been disturbe-d. He made a mental note to inform the guard that was as-signed to their office to keep Kasiwe away. He had warned Naomi about her the first time she had tried to s£dûç£him. Mwamba had organized a dinner to celebr@te Naomi’s promotion to manager of the h0tel. Naomi’s parents, her sisters, Kasiwe and her husband, Mwamba’s brother and his wife had dinner at Eviva Restaurant in Rhodespark. While they sat down to eat, Kasiwe, who had sat directly opposite Mwamba, ru-bbe-d her foot against his leg. Mwamba had initially thought she had done it accidentally until he had excused himself to use the bathroom. As he exited the bathroom he found Kasiwe standing outside the door. She ru-bbe-d her hand across his crotch then quic-kly entered the women’s toilet. The encounter shocked Mwamba tod@t£. He was so stunned that he failed to make mention it to Naomi. The next morning Mwamba had convinced himself to have imagined it since they had all been drinking. The second time it happened, Mwamba had bought lunch for Naomi and taken it to the h0tel. Unfortunately he found that she had just stepped out for a meeting. Naomi had asked him to leave the lunch with Kasiwe if he was too busy to wait for her. Kasiwe had directed him to Naomi’s office where ca-ressed his face, complementing how strong he looked. This time Mwamba told Naomi his concern over Kasiwe and Naomi had laughed it off saying he most likely misinterpreted her friend.
“She’s an extrovert. Too friendly that sometimes people misun-derstand her.” Naomi had explained.
Mwamba chuckled now at how casually Naomi had seemed. If it were the other way around,Mwamba would have made sure to warn the guy to back off whether Naomi was exaggerating or not.
*************
“Daddy!” Milda run to Mwamba as he entered the house. “Can we go swimming now?”
Nalita c@m£ out to where they were. “This one has too much energy!”
“You can say that again! Thanks couz.”
“Anytime.”
“Daddy! Are we going swimming?” Milda asked again.
“Yes princess. First we take aunty Nalita home, then we can go swimming. Where’s your brother?”
“Watching tv.” Milda responded happily.
Mwamba and the children drove Nalita to her house, then proceeded to Naomi’s house to pick up the children’s swimming trunks. Al three were surprised to find Naomi sitting in the living.
“Sorry, I didnt expect to find you here.”
“No worries.”
“Are you ok?” Mwamba sounded worried. Naomi sat in the dark, having not drawn the curtains nor opened the windows.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m ok. What are you doing here?”
“c@m£ to pick up swimming trunks. Why are you here?”
“I’m not too well. So I didn’t go anywhere.” Naomi explained.
“Dad we’re re-ady.” Peter said at the door.
“Mwamba. You can bring them back tomorrow.”
“I have alre-ady made arrangements for the week so no worries.” Mwamba stood up to leave. He thought of inviting Naomi to join them for the afternoon but thought against it the minute the idea c@m£ to his mind. “We’ll see you Sunday.
Naomi heard the gate close. She had never felt so alone in her life. Jefferies had humiliated her, calling her cheap. She wondered why she had accepted to go for the weekend in the first place. Did she even want to go. She missed Mwamba that much she knew. He never spoke to her like that ever.
#Truths_of_the_heart
50
LJ, as he was fondly called by his father, sle-pt peacefully in his cot while Lwipa watched him in admiration. At only 3 months old, LJ was cruising throu-gh attaining his milestones. Lwipa found himself coming home early each day to spend time with his son. Stood by for a few minutes before deciding to go have a snack then come back to check on LJ. Tomaida was seated, curled up on a chair engrossed in whatever she was re-ading on her phone.
“Can I plea-se have a glas-s of water and something to snack on?” Lwipa ru-bbe-d his temple in a bid to rid the headache he had.
“Bana Joe!” Tomaida called out without lifting her head from the phone.
“Ma?”
Lwipa turned to see a woman, probably in her early 30s kneeling near the chairs.
“plea-se bring my husband a glas-s of water. Use those stained glas-ses I had showed you earlier. Also make him a sandwich with polony and cheese. Put mayonnaise on the bre-ad first.”
“Yes Ma.” Bana Joe stood up and left for the kitchen.
“Tomaida, who is that?” Lwipa asked after his initial shock had subsided.
“Our new maid.”
“New what?”
“Maid! You know how tough it is to take care of the baby and then do all the house chores. I nee-d some help.”
“We have never nee-ded a maid here.”
“Yes, that’s because you’ve never had a baby here before now.” Tomaida picked up a nail file that was on the chair with her and begun filling her nails.
Lwipa opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again. He leaned back in his seat, eyes closed.
“Honey your water is here!”
Lwipa opened his eyes and saw Bana Joe kneeling in front if him with a water glas-s on a saucer, who left the room no sooner had Lwipa collected water from her. “Thank you.” He murmured.
“How was work?” Tamaida casually asked, still filling her nails.
“Fine.”
Bana Joe returned a few minutes later with a small tray. Lwipa sat upright as his heart begun to beat fas-ter. On the tray was a bowl with fried groundnuts. He looked up at Bana Joe, then at Tomaida. Was this some kind of joke? He looked around the room, thinking he would see her, see Wezi standing there watching them.
“Who told you to use this bowl and tray?” Lwipa asked.
Bana Joe seemed confused with the question. “Aunty said I can use any of the plates.” She responded fearfully.
“Honey what’s wrong?” Tomaida looked up to them. “Bana Joe, didnt I tell you not to use those old looking things? Take it back and serve on something more pres£ntable!”
Bana Joe started to leave when Lwipa st©pped her. “Its fine. Give it to me.” He took the tray from her and went to the be-droom, careful to close the door like someone was following behind. He placed the tray on the be-d then stared at it.
‘Is it just a coincidence that this woman would serve me nuts the same exact way Wezi did?’ Lwipa thought. ‘Or is Tomaida trying to stir up something?’
“Lwipa? What’s wrong?” Tomaida entered the be-droom causing Lwipa to startle.
“Nothing. I’m just tired and c@m£ to rest.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Lwipa k!$$£d her forehead. “Let me just unwind for a bit.”
“Ok.” Tomaida said, not convinced with his response.
Tbc