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# *Truths_of_the_heart*
54
Mwamba stood beside his be-d, with his shoulders slumped backwards. He stared at the wall looking at nothing in p@rticular. Naomi and her parents sat in the living room, obviously anxious for his return. When he woke up that morning he was sure of what he wanted. To persue Tamara and start over. Naomi had called to say she was re-ady to sign the papers and would come throu-gh to finalise the details. Unbeknownst to Mwamba, Naomi’s plan involved coming with her parents to ask for forgiveness and a way to mend their relationsh!p.
“Dad?”
Mwamba was startled by the knock at the door. “yes Peter?”
“Mum is asking if you are OK?”
“Uhm, yeah. Yes! I’m tell her I’m coming shortly.”
Mwamba rushed to the bathroom in his be-droom and splashed water on his face. He dabbe-d a towel to try out the water then walked back to the living room. He looked out the window and saw Dorica seating with Milda and Peter on the garden swing.
” Tata, I know this cannot be easy.” Mr Kunda said before Mwamba was fully seated. “But we really implore you to have a change of heart. Our daughter un-derstands the gravity of her mistakes and will do whatever it takes to correct her misgivings.”
Mwamba stared down at Naomi who sat on the floor next to her mother. Her eyes were bloodsh0t with bags around them. It was obvious she had been crying. Mwamba felt a tug at his heart at the sight of her. He had always hated seeing her hurting.
” Dad. I un-derstand what you are saying. It is really difficult for me to try to make you un-derstand that Naomi ~broke me. She to-re me ap@rt at every chance. Humiliating me to the extent of questioning my man-hood. Yet throu-gh it all I still tried to make it work. Now that I am finally moving on with my life she suddenly has a change of heart? I find that ha-rd to believ~ e.”
” plea-se believe it *my son. I saw everything she was doing and even sat her down. But you know how stubborn your wife is at times. They say it’s only after go throu-gh trials that one fully un-derstands the error of their ways and app* reciates the advice once given.”
Mwamba shook his head. ” I do not know if I can an trust her again.”
“Baby plea-se. Nothing happened between us I swear.” Naomi moved closer to Mwamba, kneeling before him.
“that’s where you’re wrong. Something did happen ~for you you to be in compromising situations with him. First I found the two of you k!ss!ngin your office. Then I get the video of you in be-d with him. To reach that level o~ f comfort means something brewing for the man. Let’s not forget that night he brou-ght you home lifting you into my house!”
” I was confused. I thought if you knew that another man was perusing me it would make you jealous… ”
Mwamba let out a scornful laugh. “Are you mad? I was your husband for crying out loud!” he stood up trembling.
“Bashi Milda, there is no excuse for how she behaved. It shames us too that our daughter could stoop so low. But she is owing up her mistakes. To begin with she quit her job and ended all communication with that man.” Mr Kunda spoke firmly, hoping to calm his son in law down.
” You quit your job?” Mwamba looked down at Naomi, who was still kneeling.
Naomi nodded her head. ” Yes! And I am no longer friends with Kasiwe.”
Dorica appeared at the door, peeking without actually entering the room. “sorry to intrude but Bashi Milda you have a visitor at the gate”
“Excuse me.” Mwamba rushed outside remembering that he had a d@t£ planned out with Tamara that afternoon. Tamara sat in the car with a worried expression.
“Hey. I’m so so sorry. I lost track of time.” Mwamba explained getting into the pas-s£ngers seat.
“I see Naomi is here.”
“Yes she is. She c@m£ throu-gh with her parents to discuss the divorce.”
Tamara rolled her eyes. “I think you mean the reconciliation.”
“She didn’t tell me she was coming with her family. She was supposed to drop off the divorce papers in the morning.”
“No nee-d to explain yourself Mwamba. We both knew this day would come.”
Mwamba took her hand in his. “Don’t be like that plea-se. What Naomi and I had was special but is now broken. I want to move on and like you keep telling me, I nee-d to sort out this issue first. And I guess its being sorted now once and for all.”
Tamara smiled weakly. Despite herself, she had begun to embr@ce the possibility of a ro-mantic relationsh!pwith Mwamba. Unfortunately her fears were now being realised. ” I have to go.”
“I will make it up to you, I promise.” Mwamba watched as Tamara drove off before going back to the house.
Back inside the house, Naomi had watched Mwamba with Tamara from the living room window. Panic rose within her the longer Mwamba stayed outside. “I should go and talk to her.”
“You will not fight that woman today. She has done nothing wrong.” Mrs Kunda warned her.
“But she’s been after my husband for so long! Surely she took advantage of my abs£nce.”
“Cut your ton-gue Naomi! Remember it’s one of the reasons we are here in such a manner. Think about what you want to gain and behave accordingly.” Mr Kunda snapped. “I as-sure you I will not come back to speak on your behalf should you find yourself in a similar predic@m£nt.”
Naomi moved from the window to sitting beside her mother. Mwamba returned moments later. No one spoke as they waited for Mwamba to break the silence.
“Dad, Mum. I thank you for your visit. I wish it was for a different reason. I honestly cannot see how this marriage will ever work. I tried for so long. You both know that I did. I did everything in my power to love this woman and provide the best life for her from the first day I met her. I accepted her son and consider him my own.” Mwamba looked towards Naomi. Her head was buried between her hands. “The minute I lost my job everything changed. She insulted and mocked me every chance she got. She demeaned every effort I made to provide for my family. Not a day did she support me, encourage me, or even just sit and listen to me complain. She totally disregarded my position as head of the family, went behind my back and sold my son, then had an affair with her boss. Surely Dad, man to man, would you reconcile with such a woman?” Mwamba was on the brink of breaking down. His voice was shaky and hoarse. This hands trembled lightly.
Mr Kunda sat on the edge of his seat. “As a man, I would not want to be involved with such a woman. But as a father, not just to Naomi, but to you both, I will implore you to find it in your heart to forgive her. There comes a time in life where we are tested. As with each test you either pas-s or fail. In this instance Naomi failed you, that I will not deny. With failure, a second chance should be considered. We ought to learn from our failures. If after the second chance the person fails again, depending on the situation you can choose to walk away or you can continue to give chances.”
” I’m not so sure if I’m willing to do that. ” Mwamba replied honestly.
” Mwamba plea-se give me a chance.” Naomi was back on her knees begging him. “I am so sorry for not being there for you when you nee-ded me. I’m sorry for being caught up in my own world. I will take whatever punishment you give me plea-se, just don’t leave me. I love you. I want only you. I want our family back.”
Mrs Kunda went on her knees as well. “plea-se son, give her a second chance.”
“Mum, you cannot do that. plea-se get off the floor.” Mwamba went to Mrs Kunda, trying to get her to stand up.
“No son. Not until you forgive us.”
“Mum, I have nothing against you. plea-se get up” Mwamba sighed. “I’ll consider your plea but you have to give me some time to think about what has been discussed today.”
“Thank you son” Mrs Kunda stood up.
“plea-se do not ever kneel for me mum. Its not right.”
“Thank you for speaking to us today. We will take our leave now and wait to hear from you.” Mr Kunda stood up signalling their dep@rture.
Naomi reluctantly followed her parents out to her car. Dorica and the children joined them soon after. Mwamba k!$$£d Peter and Milda goodbye promising to have them visit the next weekend.
#Truths_of_the_heart
55
As Monday morning c@m£, Mwamba felt lost and unsure of what he wanted. Mr Kunda’s words kept echoing in his head. Everyone deserves a second chance right? After close to 10 years of marriage, did he really want to end it all. Their marriage had always been a happy one until Kasiwe joined the equation. Naomi seemed to want to impress her new found friend more than anything. A smile formed on Mwamba’s face at the thought of Kasiwe. Never had he met such a bold and crazed woman before. He doubted he would ever come across another like her.
This p@rticular Monday turned out to be slow, much to the disappointment of Mwamba who had planned on using work as a distraction. By 10hrs he had concluded all the meetings planned for the day and had minimal paperwork to get throu-gh. To kill time, Mwamba decided to take a walk around the office yard. The air outside was obviously going to help clear his mind. As Mwamba reached the exit of his office building he met Tamara.
“Hey you?”
Tamara smiled at him. “hey yourself. Going out? I should have called.”
“No. Not going anywhere specific. Can I help?” Mwamba pointed at the bag Tamara was carrying.
“Sure. I thought I should bring you some brunch. I know you ha-rd ly have anything to eat when leaving for the office.”
Mwamba led Tamara back to his office. They sat in the pri-vate meeting room adjacent to the office. The food was la-id out on the table.
“Wow, you went all out huh.”
Tamara blu-shed. “I think I may have gotten carried away. Whatever remains can always be given to the others around.”
Tamara served their food onto side plates while Mwamba switched on the kettle within the meeting room. He made 2 cu-ps of coffee and joined Tamara at the table. The two discussed general t©pics as they ate, with a looming uneasiness between them.
“That was delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Always.” Tamara packed the remaining food back into the bag. “This can be taken to the kitchen. There is enough for at least 3 more people”
“So, I’m guessing there is more to this visit than just breakfast.” Mwamba made them another round of coffee and sat down next to Tamara.
“Well, in as much as I’m curious about what happened on Saturday, I just brou-ght you breakfast. I know you will let me know when you are re-ady to talk.”
“To be honest, I’m not so sure about anything at the moment. I hope you can be patient with me as I figure out my life.”
Tamara sighed. “Just answer this for me. Are you thinking of reconsidering the divorce?”
Mwamba looked thoughtfully at her. In his eyes Tamara could see the answer to her question without getting an answer from him.
“knock knock.” Naomi walked in throu-gh the door that joined from the corridor. “Oh, I didn’t realise you were busy.”
Tamara stood up. “I was just leaving.”
“Naomi, you didnt tell me you were coming throu-gh? ”
“I dont really nee-d to make an appointment to see my husband.” Naomi smiled, looking at Tamara as she spoke. “I brou-ght you some lunch. Prepared your favorite kalembula and charcoal grilled fish.”
“I’ll put this remaining food in the kitchen for the others to eat. I’ll talk to you later.” Tamara picked up her bag and left.
“Oh, I hope I haven’t chased your friend away?” Naomi said as Tamara walked out.
“What do you want?” Mwamba asked her, swerving in his chair.
“I brou-ght you lunch.”
“Why?”
“Come on Mwamba, I’m trying to be a good wife and cater for your nee-ds.”
Mwamba chuckled. “If you think this will sway my decision for a divorce, you are mistaken.”
Naomi sat down opposite Mwamba. “Are you involved with Tamara?”
“According to you, I have been slee-ping with her for, what, a year now?”
Naomi looked at him with a frown. “I’m being serious right now. plea-se tell me. Is she the reason why you want the divorce?”
“I want to have a more inti-mate relationsh!pwith Tamara, but she won’t let me until I sort out my issues with you.”
Naomi felt her heart sink. “Do you love her?”
“I really like her. She has always been there for me, supporting me and cheering me on without as a friend and nothing more. In the previous months I have found myself dawn to her and wanting more from our friendsh!p.”
“A simple yes or no would have sufficed.” Naomi moved closer to him. “Baby, I’m going to prove to you that I have changed. I’m going to fight for you if I have to. I know you still love me. I have hurt you and I regret that de-eply. But we can overcome it Mwamba.”
“I tried to make it work but you were never interested. Now that the tables have turned, I should re-adily accept your apology? ”
“Mwamba, I’m your wife. And the mother to your children. plea-se give the benefit of a doubt. If not for me, plea-se do it for our children! This is not a healthy way for them to move from one house to the next. Or with other p@rtners. I have compromised their idea of what a marriage should be like. Let’s not complicate their lives even more.” Naomi stood up and k!$$£d his forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow when i bring your lunch.”
Tbc