CHAPTER FOURTEEN - A Cocktail of Double Life

I don’t want to close my eyes

I don’t want to fall asleep cause I’d miss you baby

And I don’t want to miss a thing

‘Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I’d still miss you baby

And I don’t want to miss a thing

 - Aerosmith

                Monday morning. Kamaria was multitasking behind her large office desk; gently biting on a gold felt pen, looking at the laptop and tapping on it once in a while and swinging slowly on the chair. Then there was a knock at the door. “Come in.” Leah’s head popped in. “Do you have a minute?” Kamaria gestured her in with a smile, sitting up. She couldn’t wait to hear how Wanjala had done in the interview. She still had not told him about her position in the company, or that she was part of the company, or how high up she was involved.

                “How did it go?” She asked when Leah closed the door behind her.

                Leah did not take a seat. Kamaria had noticed the only time Leah took a seat was when she was asked to. The only explanation she could come up with was it had to do with Leah’s height because when she sat down, she looked small and harmless. Standing up gave her some physical authority over those who were seated. Kamaria no longer asked her to sit unless the meeting was a long one. “Pretty well, actually. I must say I am impressed. For somebody who has never worked in an office, he is very confident. He aced the aptitude test – way better than most people I often interview. I hope he is not all talk and no action…”

                “I have confidence that he will deliver.” She did.

                “Me too. But you can never be too sure. Sometimes, even apparently experienced candidates can shock you with bad performance. ”

“Where is he?”

“Still in the boardroom, absorbing the shock because he cannot seem to believe is not only getting a job, but getting the position of the Chair's PA. I asked him to wait and meet his new boss.” Leah even allowed herself to smile a little. “When I asked him how much money he expected, he told me forty thousand shillings. Can you believe it?”

                Kamaria laughed. Considering what Wanjala got at R&R, forty thousand shillings sounded like a lot of money. “When I told him how much he would be getting paid, he almost collapsed.” The two women laughed.

                “What did he say about the car?

                “Nothing. He choked. I really thought he was going to die in the boardroom. I decided not to tell him about all the perks. He will read them in the contract. I am not equipped to do first aid.” They laughed again.

                Kamaria was very happy. “Okay. Let’s hope he has energy for one more shocker. Send him in please…”

                Five minutes later, there was another knock at the door. Kamaria had left her seat and was now standing by the window, looking outside, her back to the door. She did not turn towards the door.

                “Wanjala is here…” It was Leah

                “Thank you Leah. You can leave us alone.” She waited until the door closed. “Wanjala, have a seat” She instructed, still facing the window. She turned slowly, arms folded, smile on her face. Wanjala’s reaction was both comical and a matter of distant concern. He was seated, but he seemed to crumble on his feet.His reaction made Kamaria imagine how solid turns into liquid. His mouth made several movements but no sound came out. His eyes seemed ready to pop out of the sockets.

                “S…Se….Serah?” He attempted to stand, then slumped back onto the seat, leaning forward.

                “Hi Wanjala. How are you?” She was trying to give her best smile, trying to make him feel at ease. Instead, he started sweating.

                “W…Wha….how?”

                “Coffee?” She sat down. Silently, she made two cups of coffee and pushed one to Wanjala. By the time she was through, he had recovered his composure. “Sorry for the shock.”

                “What. Is. Going. On?”

                She laughed. “What is going on is, I am your new boss…”

                He shook his head. “But that lady said I would be working for the Chairman…”

                “Ah, that. It is still a male world out here. I am the Chairman…”

                “What? How?” He gave his head a vigorous scratch. 

“I know...I am supposed to be a waitress...” She giggled, sipping on her coffee.

“B..but what were you doing working as a waitress?” His speech and confidence back, he asked accusingly. He sipped his coffee for the first time.

                “It’s a long story. But the girl you knew as Serah was not real. The reasons are complicated. This is me, and by the way my name is not Serah...”

“Huh? What’s your name?”

She pointed at the name plate on her desk. “Kamaria? What sort of a name is that?” He demanded, taking the gold plate and studying it.

“I don’t know. We would have to ask my parents...”

“Wow...this is all so confusing.”

“Now that you are here, it will all be clear soon…”

                “Gosh, I hope so. You are all layers….Do you know I was told I would be given a car? That I can buy it if I want and they can deduct from my salary?”

                She laughed. “Your position dictates that you drive. I hope you can drive?”

“I have not done it in ten years but I had a stint as a matatu driver before the R&R job...”

“You should be fine then. One of the company drivers can accompany you until you are confident enough...”

“Wow... I do not even know what to say, or think. I feel numb. I keep pinching myself because I am afraid it is a dream...”

She laughed. “It is real my friend. As real as it can get. You will be paid a lot of money too…”

                Then Wanjala started laughing and crying at the same time. Kamaria let him without interrupting. She did not know the feeling, but she could guess it. She was looking at a man who had accidentally just hit the jackpot. A man who had started being content in financial struggle.

                She did not admit it, but that she was the reason for his good tidings made her whole body swell with pride. “You really are a good man, Wanjala. You deserve the bright future...”

                “Thank you so much. You know, when I told my wife I had a job interview, she told me not to take the job unless it was offering forty thousand shillings...I cannot wait to see her face when I tell her  how much I will be getting paid. I cannot wait to see her reaction when I tell her that I can finally afford to upgrade her grocery shop into the supermarket she always dreamed of owning...”

***

               

Over one and a half years ago; where it had all started. 

Kamaria, besides being an only child, was born at a time when her parents were building the company. They were hardly at home. When they were at home, she loved it because they gave her their full attention, but even as a baby, she understood they had to leave her at home with nannies. She never had the privilege to visit either side of grandparents because for a reason she never bothered with, neither side seemed very interested in her parents.

When she was on holiday, they always travelled out of the country for two weeks. Those used to be her best moments because it meant having their undivided attention. She loved school too, and it did not matter that she did not make any close friends. But being around other children made her day interesting, and shorter.

From a young age, she learned to enjoy her own company. With  no particular talent or interest to pursue, she would spend hours staring at stuff that included the television. She was not a playful child either and the babysitters were not that much interested in enticing her to play. Only when she got her guitar at thirteen did she stop staring and switched to playing the guitar. By that time too, she had met Shani. The two girls would spend a lot of time together.

When Kamaria’s parents were alive, their frequent absences were the norm, but it had been comforting to know they were there somewhere if she needed them. When they died, solitude had become a close friend. Shani, and later on Mariam, were the only people who had been allowed into her lonely world.

A few months into moving from the house she had grown up in and into the Kileleshwa apartment, Sassi had recruited a housekeeper for her. Mariam was awesome from the word go. She was not talkative, never tried to draw Kamaria into unwanted conversations, but would somehow make technical appearances, as if for Kamaria’s sake. As if to tell her she was not alone. One afternoon, Kamaria had walked into the kitchen to get something to eat, and found Mariam rolling chapati. She had stayed on. She had asked Mariam about her life. She had asked her to teach her how to cook.

                As she grew into a young woman with more awareness and needs, Kamaria started being conscious of a void. A deep, dark hole that was sometimes in her heart, other times in her head. Often in her stomach, and that was how her weight had piled. Subconsciously, she would stare at nuclear families, wondering what it felt like to belong to such a unit. She would stare at little children in malls and wonder what lay ahead of their lives. Would they grow old with their parents or would they, like her, adult alone?

As the void got deeper and darker and uglier, as it pushed her into alcohol and sexual recklessness that often involved Shani's friends and boyfriends' friends, she had finally accepted how unhappy and dissatisfied about life she was. She had had her share of boyfriends, none of them lasted long enough. Many of them were one night stands. Day in day out, she envied Shani’s vibrant life and how she was able to only have three boyfriends in six years against her tens.

She would stay awake at night wondering if she could survive without her only sources of support, Shani and Mariam. And her money. She wondered why she seemed to be the only one who did not look forward to the day so she could go to work. How she seemed to have zero interest in everything that did not involve wallowing in self pity.

Often, when her mind was down in the dumps, she wallowed in shame, aware how abnormal it was not to not want to work. Not that she needed to work for a living but her lack of ambition bothered her. She hated that she thrived on acting on whims, like leaving the country because there was nothing else to do.

 “I am plunging into depression.” She told herself loudly one night as she walked in the darkness from the bedroom to the kitchen to look for alcohol to help her sleep. Lately, she had graduated from talking to herself in her head, to talking who paragraphs to herself loudly. “I am plunging into one, with my eyes wide open.”

Her trigger had happened when she had loudly wondered if she was anything without all the money. If she had any substance. If she was taking her status for granted. If, perhaps, living with less money could bring her happiness.

                Thus, Ruaka had happened. Before settling on Ruaka, she had considered living abroad – to get away from everything and anything familiar. That idea had been quickly binned because whenever she travelled overseas, the loneliness had a habit of escalating and often she cut her trips short. At least in Kenya, there was Shani and Mariam, and familiar territories.

Besides, she would still be a rich kid over there and what she craved was something different, something she would have to work on. Then, what she believed was a sign that the universe was listening to her thoughts came through a television commercial on some high rise flats in Ruaka. She had been alone in the house, sitting at the dining table, a drink in a glass, staring at the television and wishing for a small sign of sleep.

                Kamaria had never been to Ruaka. She was even sure she had never heard of it. She was not even sure it was within the city environs. It may have as well been a town in Lodwar. But, in her tears and pessimistic mood, Ruaka had sounded like as good place to start as any. She had Googled Ruaka, pleasantly surprised that it was only a few kilometres from Kileleshwa.

                The following day, she had slipped into a pair of jeans, sneakers and a tee-shirt. That first day she drove there, she had just done it out of curiosity and boredom. Driving, even aimlessly, always helped her chop hours off her days. By that evening, an idea had started playing in her head, that perhaps, Ruaka could be a place she could live in.

With her phone GPRS activated, she had, for a week, driven in and around Ruaka, sometimes in circles, looking at different flats, until she had found the one she liked. On the same day she had written a rent cheque for six months even though it had not been a requirement. 

That act of signing the lease had given her energy and as she had driven on the Northern Bypass from Ruaka, she had hummed to the music playing on the car radio. “Now I just need a drink to celebrate this…” She had said loudly, looking at signs as she drove along. Then she had seen the dilapidated sign to the pub; R&R Lounge. It had beckoned at her, had made her thirst unbearable. And she had signalled and driven in.

The rest, as they say, is history.

               

                ***

               

                Saturday night. Jamba, Kamaria, Sudi and Shani, all in jeans, were having a double date. A heavy meaty and ugali meal was on the table at Roasters, off Thika Road. The talk included anything and everything. Especially religion and its politics. Kamaria felt slightly embarrassed when Sudi laughed for a full minute at the news that she had never been to church, had never read the Bible. Did not believe in anything.

                “But how do you not believe in anything?” He asked, still laughing.

                “I kinda do. I believe in the universe...” Kamaria answered weakly.

                “You should shut up.” Shani took over defending Kamaria. “You who believes in something, do you do anything about it? Do you pray? Do you even go to church? I actually prefer Kamaria’s way because she does not hide behind religion...”

                “I guess you are right.” Sudi said thoughtfully. “It is just so weird to meet an atheist... I have never met one.”

“I am daring you all to join me in church tomorrow.” Jamba said, in between sips of his beer.

Shani  burst out. “Do you even know how strange and funny it is see you getting drunk and at the same time urging us all to go to church?” She pulled on her cocktail.

“Look who is talking? But you do know drunken humans really know how to praise God without any inhibition…”

“But why do you want us in church? We are not sinners…” Shani challenged, tearing off meat from a goat rib. Sudi was watching her in amusement. He was slapping himself mentally for ever thinking wealthy girls did not do things like the rest. If anything, Shani was always so natural, like she had nothing to prove to anybody.  

“First of all, we are all sinners. That is why Jesus came to save us…”

“Dude is terribly busy. This whole world is screwed up…” Sudi muttered, rubbing his hand on Shani’s back.

Kamaria hang on to her cocktail, quietly listening to a conversation she had nothing to say about.

“I just find church so pretentious. You have all these people declaring their goodness on Sundays and the other six days they are the thieves, the corrupt, the violent…” Sudi  had last gone to church when news broke out that the main pastor at the church he attended had been caught with his pants down, literally, with a congregant’s wife.

“You think too much about these things. People will always sin. Also, sin and salvation are individual. You cannot make decisions based on other people’s actions.”

“We still all sin, no?” Shani pressed.

“That we do. But what matters is your personal relationship with God. He made us, He knows we will sin. What you do when you sin is what makes all the difference. Besides, listening to the word from a preacher makes you more aware of yourself…”

“Kamaria has never gone to church. She is one of the nicest people I know…” Shani looked at her tense friend and laughed.

“That is true. Now imagine how lovely she would be if she went to church…” Jamba said, drawing a prolonged eye roll from Shani.

“What are you looking for, a saint?” Shani asked in feigned horror. Even Kamaria laughed. “I do not think anyone needs religion to be a good person. You just need to be emphatic....” Sudi added. 

Jamba lifted hands in surrender and tried a different tactic. “Church politics aside…why not just go, all of us? Let’s give Kamaria a chance to experience church.”

Kamaria shifted uneasily. She smiled.

Shani confessed not to have gone to church in five years. “Thinking about it, I kind of miss church. There is something about seeing so many people being so nice to each other at the same time …”

“…Only problem being that most of them revert to their evil ways as soon as they step out of the church gate.” Sudi insisted grumpily.

“Come on Sudi. There is nothing to lose…” Jamba challenged.

“I guess there isn’t – but I don’t know man.”

Kamaria, in her quiet state, was hoping everyone would agree to go because her curiousity about church had shot up since meeting Jamba. Besides, since she moved in with him, the children had been demanding to know why she never joined them for Sunday service and she was quickly running out of ailments to fake. Now, everyone  on the table had agreed to give it a shot, and she was suddenly a bag of nerves.

That was a few hours ago. Sudi and Shani had gone to a nightclub, promising to be home early enough to catch some sleep. Jamba and Kamaria were at home, in the living room, watching a movie. Each with a drink.

 “It’s a church, not some cult.” Jamba reassured Kamaria, realising her silence had something to do with going to church.

                “You know, my parents thought all religions are cults.”

                “Pugh! What a load of rubbish. But when you think about it, they were not too far off. All cults tend to take the religious route. Cult leaders know that people are designed to believe in a superiour being – even better if you can see and touch that being.”

                Kamaria sighed. “But how am I supposed to behave?”

                He laughed loudly. “In church? Are you kidding me? Again, it’s a church. Not an etiquette school. You just walk in, it’s free sitting. Preferably you stay for the whole service, but if it bores you, you can walk out – I don’t think God would like you to walk out on a sermon though.” He was joking, but she was looking at him with big scared eyes. “Come on, I am joking.”

                He still found it hard to believe that Kamaria believed in nothing. How could a human being be without believing in something, anything?

                “Don’t you ever wonder how the universe came to be? Don’t you ever look at the skies, the oceans, all creation, and wonder about their genesis?” He asked, trying to understand.

                She shrugged, pouring wine into her glass. “I do, but it’s too much thinking so I always end up abandoning it – Big Bang Theory always comes in handy.”

                He chuckled. “Rubbish theory. Flora and Fauna is too, too complicated to be an accident. The human machine itself – no way it is a result of some accidental bang.”

                “Man, I don’t know. Such questions and thoughts were forbidden in our house. I learned not to worry too much about anything, including God. To my parents, and by extension to me, the world just is. People are either good or bad. They have the power to make the choice to be either. Ubuntu was our mantra; I am, because we are.”

                “Mh…” He had no doubt that Kamaria was a better person than many Christians he knew. She cared about people, she helped strangers without expecting anything in return, which was more than he could say for many people who never missed church. He almost felt bad about taking her to church, perhaps he should just let her be in her Ubuntu, but because he believed in the existence of God, he, with a measure of guilt, wanted her to belive in the same power he believed in. 

                “Come on, let’s sleep early. You do not want your first day in church to have memories of a hangover.”

                “What do I wear?”

                “Nothing too short, or revealing. You are already too beautiful, we don’t want you distracting the preacher. In fact, because of your beauty, you and I will sit at the back, away from the preacher…”

                “Stop it!”

Ø   

               

                Church.               

Sudi and Shani, both looking worse from wear, wore sunglasses Shani said were to mask their late  night escapades, arrived after Jamba and Kamaria had signed in the children to the Sunday School teacher. “This is my new mom…” Christine had caught everyone off guard by proudly introducing Kamaria to the teacher.

As they walked to the church hall, Kamaria could hear music. Whoever was singing, she thought, could hit notes. She found herself walking faster towards it. Jamba noticed, for a moment thinking she wanted to take off.

                He led them all to a bench at the back of the church. They, along with other congregants, remained standing as the band played. Jamba sang along to all of the songs, sometimes lifting his hands, sometimes closing his eyes. Kamaria watched him in shameless fascination, feeling inadequate. 

                Sudi stood rigidly between her and Shani, his hands crossed at the front like in defiance. He looked like a man with a bad case of constipation. Shani was having more fun. She didn’t know all the songs like Jamba did, but she sang along to many of them. She also danced, and clapped. Once in a while she poked Kamaria and laughed at her reaction. Kamaria had never felt so out of place. Once in a while, Jamba held her hand and squeezed it in assurance.

                “Perhaps one day you will join that band.” He whispered to her at some point. “Look at the people playing instruments, all women…”

                Kamaria had not noticed that. His statement made her wonder if he had a fascination with girls who sang in church, considering his late wife was in praise and worship team.

The sermon was about Balaam, apparently the greatest sorcerer in history. How, as evil as he was supposed to be, as feared as he was by mortals, ended up being used by God to bless the Israelites. God used Balaam to demonstrate His might. To demonstrate that all people belonged to Him, even the evil ones, and could use them as He pleased.

Kamaria had loved the sermon. She had no idea what she had expected, but she thought it was a good story.  She savoured every word. She promised herself to be reading the Bible to look for similar stories. “Most Bible stories are gory though.” Jamba had warned her when she told him she wanted to read the Bible. “It’s like reading a horror book.” Shani added. The one thing she could not bring herself to do was shut her eyes in prayer, and so she spent the prayer time observing people.

                “Did you like church?” Jamba asked, squeezing her hand as they went to pick the children.

                “Actually, I did. I don’t know what I expected, but I loved it.”

                “That’s good, because this is where we will get married.” He whispered in her ear, sending her in excited giggles.

                Jamba’s parents wanted to spend time with Christine and Christian. Jamba, on his own, took them to a mall where his parents were waiting. Kamaria caught a lift to a restaurant in Kilimani with Sudi and Shani where Jamba joined them later. 

                They finished their lunch. Kamaria went to the ladies on her own.

                When she emerged from the toilet cubicle zipping up her jeans, she came face to face with Rosa’s reflection on the mirror working on her face. She stopped in her tracks, just for a few seconds. Rosa saw her just about the same time and stopped halfway with applying lipstick. There were two other women in the toilet; one was also renewing her makeup, the other one was washing her hands.

                Kamaria finished zipping up and quietly walked to the sink, washed her hands and started walking out, but Rosa had blocked her path. “Excuse me…” The other two women stopped to look.

                “You…” Rosa’s expression was a mix of disbelief and something close to disgust.

                “I said, excuse me…” Kamaria, shocking even herself, pushed Rosa aside and nearly ran out of the toilet. By the time she returned to the table of laughing friends, her legs were shaking so hard, she almost missed the seat.

                “Whoah…are you okay?” Jamba, supporting her back to the seat, asked in concern. She nodded but remained quiet.

                “Are you alright? You look shaken…” Shani asked with concerned. “You look like you have seen a ghost…”

                Kamaria nodded, gathering herself. “I did. I bumped into Rosa in the toilet…”

                “What?” That was said by both Jamba and Sudi, both looking towards the toilets. Shani looked on with confusion.

                “Which Rosa?”

                “Jamba’s ex…”

                “She is not my ex…” He growled.

                “Whatever…she is there.”

                “Did she do anything?” He demanded.

                Kamaria shook her head. “No, but I pushed her off when she tried to block my way…”

                Shani laughed. She was the only one who laughed. “You go girl…that’s what I am talking about…”

                “It’s not funny…she looked really angry.”

                “Oh, oooh…don’t look, she is coming this way…” Sudi said through gritted teeth. Everybody turned to look. “I said do not look…” He hissed in disappointment.

                Shani burst out in laughter, making them all turn to her. “This Rosa?” She asked incredulously. “This is your ex girlfriend? Unbelievable…I am so going to throw up.”

                “I told you about her…” Kamaria whispered.

                “Well, I did not believe you… the thought of Jamba and Rosa is ridiculous. My mind refused to process it… allow me to make minced meat out of her, as I always do.”

                “First of all, do not call her my ex. Second of all, what do you mean, as you always do? Do you know her?”

                “Argh…I keep forgetting you are not on social media. I am a quite popular on social media…”

                “Damn it…” Sudi nearly screamed, making everyone forget Rosa was approaching. “Damn it…I knew you looked familiar. You are THAT Shani? Salty Shani?” He sounded disappointed with himself.

                “Which Shani?” Jamba was exasperated. He looked at Kamaria for help, but Kamaria was already looking at Rosa, who was still walking towards their table, making beeline for Kamaria.

                “Hi Rosa Baby….” Shani said, surprising everyone by standing up. Rosa had been so focused on Kamaria, she had not seen Shani. When Shani stood up, Rosa was so shocked, she nearly crumbled.

                “Bu…but…what are you doing here?”

                “Oh, you know, just this and that…what do you want?”

                Shani had totally turned to face Rosa and did not have the privilege to see the faces of her three friends. Besides, the joy she was deriving from frightening Rosa was so engrossing.

                “I…I…I came to talk to ….to Jamba…”

                “Liar. You did not know he was here. You were following my friend, were you not? Anyway, Jamba doesn’t want to talk to you. As you can see, he is busy with his fiancée…’

                “What? Her?”

                “Yep. But you could offer your congratulations on your way back to hell…” Shani was poking on Rosa and with every poke, Rosa retreated. She had gone completely ashy. She was this close to tears.

                Jamba had had enough. “Shani, thank you.” he said as he stood up. “I will handle this. It is my problem…” Shani looked like she was about to protest, but Sudi pulled her forcefully down. “Thank you…” Jamba said and turned to at Rosa, nice and long. Then sighed.

                “I thought I told you to keep away from me, and my girlfriend…”

                “I was just saying hi…”

                “Well, I would rather you did not. Remember that conversation we had?” Rosa nodded, looking away. “You need to replay it in your head because this is the last time I will allow you to be this close to either of us, okay?”

                Rosa turned and almost broke into a run. “Too doos…” Shani called after her with a wave, triumphant smile on her face.

                As soon as Rosa was swallowed by the distance, everybody turned to Shani. She sat back on her seat, sunglasses on, chewing gum and arms folded.

                “What?” She asked no one in particular. Kamaria giggled.

                “What was that?” Jamba demanded.

                “Who are you?” Sudi demanded. 

                “Gentlemen, please…one at a time…”

                “I cannot believe you are Salty Shani. I feel incredibly deceived. How have I been dating you for that long and I don’t know that?”

                Shani shrugged. “It’s actually not that long...”

                “I should have known this on day one. That first time at the club you looked so familiar...I cannot believe it. You look different though…and you have been off social media for ages…” His tone was borderline accusing.

                “I took a break to experience real life…” Shani said with a shrug.

                “Wow…” Sudi whispered.

                “Well, excuse me, you two, but I am a little lost…” Jamba nearly shouted. He had no idea what they were talking about.

                “He is not on social media…” Jamba whispered to Shani and laughed.

                “No wonder you and Kamaria gel so well. Two Neanderthals living happily ever after…”

                “Let's stop joking about. Who are you?”

                “Well, like your ex girlfriend….”

                “She is not my ex girlfriend…” He said, exasperation on his face. It only served to amuse everybody else.

                “Sorry. Like Rosa, I am a socialite – I hope you at least know what that is. The difference is, I am the real deal, she is the wannabe…”

                “Wow…how did you not know?” Jamba asked Sudi who was still staring at Shani in disbelief.

                “How could I? She looks very different. Her ass looks bigger on the photos. She always has a lot of makeup. She wears these long weaves and tiny dresses …”

                “All in the past baby, all in the past…” Shani said with a wave of hand.

                “Did you know Shani and Rosa knew each other?” Jamba asked Kamaria accusingly.

                “At first no. Then when I found out, I did not see the point of telling you. I thought she was gone forever…”

                “Don’t worry. She will be…” He said seriously, beckoning a waiter. He felt ready to down a gallon of alcohol. He still could not believe he had somehow entangled himself with Rosa.

***

A week later, on a Sunday morning.

Shani and Sudi were sleeping in. Like they have been doing a lot of late. It did not matter if they had gone out or not, but whenever Sudi spent Saturday in her apartment, they slept in. 

Shani had woken up before him and as she supported herself with her elbow and looked down at him, listening to him snoring, she felt truly happy.

That moment when Rosa had appeared and Sudi had found out that she was a socialite, she had been a little scared of what he would say about it. She had been afraid that he would judge her life, that he would not want to be with a socialite. Her life, by default, was out there. Everyone who followed her, sometimes even those who did not follow her, knew what she did and who she did. Her dating chronicles were certainly not as colourful as Rosa’s who changed a boyfriend every two months, but they were not dull either, and were often topic for discussion by strangers.

She thought of Jalani. He was a young millionaire. Had somehow struck it lucky with a mobile phone app that made him millions in royalties. He also doubled in as a model, and did nothing else with his day except travel, go out and sleep. Sometimes, Shani would leave him in bed to go to work and would return to still find him in bed. It had bothered her at first, then she had got used to it.

But Jalani’s greatest joy, she had long discovered, was being in the gossip press headlines. Whenever he was mentioned, he would call Shani to tell her. She suspected  that his main reason for being with her was because she, Shani, attracted gossip columnists. 

That she had actually thought she could tie Jalani down in marriage made her roll her internal eyes. He was most likely never going to be ready for any adult responsibility. He was too self absorbed and cared too much about what people thought about him. Whenever Jalani was in a bad mood, Shani knew it was because somebody had said something nasty about him. Shani, thick-skinned when it came to being bullied, never did understand why someone would expect everybody to love them.

Before Jalani, there had been Josh who could have been a twin of Jalani. Josh was a popular radio host who doubled up as a corporate master of ceremony. She had also lasted two years with Josh, until Jalani had won her with his charm. Josh had been preceded by Martin. Martin, a bank manager when they met, had been her first serious boyfriend. He had been exciting, until he was promoted to CEO,  making it as the youngest CEO of a bank.

The media  had featured him extensively. They had called him beauty and brains. They had unanimously called him the most eligible bachelor. The two of them had been cover models on two magazines. Then the fame had got to Martin’s head. Women had thrown themselves at his feet, and he had been unable to resist. At first, he tried to hide his cheating, then he had become careless, or had ceased to care. The gossip columnists wrote about the cheating. Kamaria had finally called out her friend and Shani had walked out.

That she had walked out on the most eligible bachelor had catapulted her to own fame. Women praised her. Men expressed their desire to help her heal a broken heart. Then she had become sought after to give opinions on fashion and other lifestyle things. Her social media pages purged with followers and before she realised what was happening, she had been labelled as a socialite.

The interviews had started. She had met Josh during a radio interview. Then Martin had wanted her back but by then, she was already engrossed with Josh and loving it.

The three men before Sudi had several things in common, top of the list being they were vain, and vain again. Their lives, decisions, cars they drove, women they dated, clubs they went to, everything in their lives was dictated by how vain they felt when they woke up.

As she tenderly looked at Sudi, those three men looked miles away. And alien. She had thought that she was in love with each of them. Now she believed she was in love with Sudi.

Ø   

               

                A Friday pullout magazine inside a daily had almost broken the internet. Within the circle, Shani saw the article first because although her socialite life felt like a last century life, she still loved to keep up with what was happening in Nairobi social life.

                She was in the office, sitting behind her desk, eating a banana and coffee and going through the papers. Then she saw it and screeched. She called Kamaria to tell her to buy the paper, then called Sudi who did not sound the least bothered. Then Kamaria told Jamba.

                Jalani texted angry emojis, asking if she left him for a married man.

                Martin called to congratulate her and to tell her he still wished they were together. She had disconnected his call, unwilling to listen to his rumblings. Josh had called to ask if she was willing to be interviewed about it. “Hell no.” She had said, disconnecting him also. For an hour, she had received calls from both friends and foes, all curious to know the juice of the story. Eventually, she had switched off her phone with a deep sigh.

                Shani Goes Married

A few weeks ago, Salty Shani, our favourite socialite, disappeared from the face of social media earth. Her accounts, though still active, were left dormant. No photos of the famous behind. No photos of the dazzling smile. We, at least I, have been confused on what to buy or where to go for entertainment because, you know, that was Salty Shani’s job.

When she reappeared, she was without the weaves and she has gone hair-natural by locking it; her makeup was significantly less (girl still looks hot), she was smaller, she was minus Jalani and she was dating a married man.

Don’t get upset with our girl though. According to reliable sources, the married man has been separated from his wife for five years. The wife, if you can believe it, has given her blessings to the union. How sweet are some people?

Clearly, nobody had managed to take a photo of the two of them together because their individual photos were juxtaposed. Both of them had been lifted from their social media accounts. She knew it was only a matter of time before they were caught together.

Shani smiled. It was a good article. But she wondered why, unlike other times, Nadia had not called to warn her about its publication, or ask for her opinion on the matter.

“I knew if I asked you, there was a possibility that you would have told me not to publish. It’s too juicy a story and I could not resist it. Also, I wrote it very nicely. One way or another, this would have come out and if other columnists had seen it, it would have been savage.’ Nadia had explained when Shani had called to express displeasure.

“Who told you about it though?” Shani had pressed, wondering if perhaps, Rosa had sold her out.

“Come on, you know better than expect me to tell you who did it.”

Then she realised she did not care about the informers.

***

               

It was official, to Sudi, Shani and everyone remotely interested in them, that they were dating. She was a little disgruntled, that she did not get to see Sudi as often as she wanted to because of his family obligations. His children still needed to see him every other day.

On a typical week, they only got to spend Wednesday and Friday nights together. Sometimes, he would sleep over on Saturdays but leave very early in the morning so as to drop his family to church. He did not join them for service, but he had always been the one to drive them to church, he was not ready to stop doing it, not without a good explanation.

Sudi would also pick them from church, they would have lunch together. Only after that was he be free to see Shani. Sometimes, Shani was in her apartment. Other times, she would be with Jamba and Kamaria, either in the house or out there. He hated it, hated feeling like he was shortchanging Shani. She had never complained, but he wondered how long her patience would run for.

Chichi would, once in a while, take the children out of town for the weekend, and that would give the two lovebirds unlimited weekend time together; like this weekend. They had gone to R&R, all the four of them. That Shani had had a good time had been a pleasant surprise. She had not loved it, had actually been mortified that it was where Kamaria used to work, but she had not hated it either.

                “I need to get us a house.” Sudi declared. They were leaning on the rails at the balcony, looking at the lazy Sunday traffic from Shani’s fifth floor apartment. She was sipping on her coffee. He was smoking. She was watching him, fighting the temptation to ask for a cigarette.

                “What’s wrong with this one?”

                “It’s too pink.” He said as a matter of fact. “And I also hate spending nights in a house belonging to a woman.”

                “If your ego got an inch bigger, it would create a bomb…” She was slightly hurt.

                “Tough. That’s just the way it is. Before I met you, I took my women to hotels…”

                “Come on, I don’t want to hear your sex escapades…” She really didn’t, it made her jealous.

                “Okay. But yeah, now I am with you, and I just don’t want to spend another night here. Take it or leave it.”

                “Is that blackmail?” Finally the temptation to smoke won. She took one from the packed and lit it.

                “Stop smoking …” He growled at her then pulled hard on his cigarette.

                “Says the chain smoker. Don’t worry; I only do this once in a while.”

                He shrugged, wishing he could smoke only once in a while. “It’s your lungs. Anyway, it is not blackmail, I just don’t feel comfortable. It’s just not African. Besides, I can’t bring my children to spend the night here…”

                She choked on the smoke. After the coughing fit was over, she stared at him. “What do you mean?”

                “Isn’t it obvious? I want to spend more time with you, but not at the expense of the children. I want to be able to bring them for a sleep over, if that is okay with you of course…”

                “Wow…”

                “What’s wrong?” His ego had got him to assume that it was a straight forward discussion. Her reaction was not anticipated.

                “I don’t know.” She leaned further on the balcony and stared at nothing, coffee on one hand and a burning cigarette on the other. “It’s just…I don’t know, I never considered this bit. What if the children do not like me?”

                “Why would they not like you?”

                “It has happened before. Not every kid is like Christine and Christian…”

                That was true. He hadn’t thought about that either.

                “I have heard enough horror stories of children and mistresses…”

                “My boys are cool, I promise. Besides, the mother is agreeable.”

                “What do you mean, agreeable? She knows about us?”

                 He nodded. “We had quite a discussion about it last week.”

***

A week ago.

That dawn of Sunday, Sudi, as he had done many times in his life, had tiptoed back to the house. Before Shani, he would be sneaking back from a lodge house with a woman he would have met only a few hours earlier. Not this time. An hour earlier, he had just left Shani’s naked body in her bed. As soon as he shut his front door, the lights came on, making him jump in fright.

                ‘What the heck…” It was Chichi, covered in a blanket. ‘You scared me. What are you doing up?’ He asked cautiously, remaining at the door.

                ‘Waiting for you…come on in, I am not going to beat you up.’

                The idea of Chichi and her size beating him up was funny. He laughed, just the way she had intended. He walked to her and kissed her cheek.

                ‘Coffee? You look like you need it.’ She offered. He nodded. ‘Come, let’s go to the kitchen…’ She led the way, a blanket still round her body.

                He sat on one of the high stools in the kitchen and leaned on a counter they often used as a kitchen table. He watched her carefully. He was sure she was not upset, at least not with him. He was also sure she had not slept. The reason for her staying up all night waiting for him was however a little disturbing.

                ‘How is she?’ Chichi finally asked as she stirred the coffee.

                Sudi shifted on the stool. ‘What do you mean? Who are you talking about?’

                ‘Come on…we may no longer be having sex, but we have lived together for ten years. I know you. There is someone special in your life, isn’t there?’ She handed him his coffee, their eyes locked. He read interest and concern from hers. She read love and for a moment, she mourned the loss of their romantic love. Years after coming out of the closet, she still suffered bouts of guilt for having lied to him about her sexuality. She had used him, but she had loved him.

                ‘I am curious; how are you so sure there is someone?’

                ‘Did I not just say we have lived under the same roof for ten years? But if you want specifics, fine. You are…how do I put this? You are different. Dreamy even. You look relaxed – like you are no longer in a hurry. You keep having this secret smile. Your routine has changed – actually, your routine has stabilised because you keep going off on the same days…’

                Sudi smiled. Once in a while, he got angry at her deceit all those years ago. He had loved her; all of her, with her small body and small eyes and nose and small teeth and a big attitude, features she carried extremely well. ‘You are right. There is someone…’

                ‘So…you want to tell me about her?’ She took the stool opposite the surface, facing Sudi, her blanket still around her.

                Sudi shrugged. ‘Why not? What do you want to know?’ In that instant of being grilled by his wife, he realised he did not want to keep Shani a secret anymore. He had no reason to keep her a secret from Chichi, or from anyone else. In fact, the thought of talking about her was suddenly exhilarating.

                ‘How about everything? But let us start with her name and where you two met…’

                And Sudi did. From how they meet, to whom Shani was. ‘You are kidding me, right? That Shani? I like her. I follow her on social media…’ Chichi had said in excitement. ‘I am however surprised that you would date her type -  not that there is anything wrong, but I do not see you as the kind of guy attracted to such a girl..’ Sudi understood her point. He doubted, if he had met Shani in her socialite prime, he would have wanted to date her as much as he now did. ‘Can I meet her?’ Sudi sat up straight on hearing the question. ‘Come on, I am older, and wiser. Bro-code, please?’ He relaxed and laughed, promised to ask Shani.

                “I guess now you will want that divorce?” The question was a remark that needed no answer from Sudi.

                ***

                Back to now. 

“You are saying that your wife knows about us and she is okay with it?”

Sudi nodded. “Believe it or not. “Chichi has been trying to get rid of me for ages,” He laughed. Shani did not; she was still processing information, in shock. “That I am seeing someone regular is good news to her. In fact, Jamba and I are convinced that she told on us to your gossip columnist friend…”

“What? Why?”

“I just told you. She has been trying to get rid of me in the nicest way possible. I bet it is her weird way of giving me the urge she thinks I need …oh, and she wants to meet you.”

                “What? Hello no...”

                “She’s pretty harmless. I only have to be afraid of her trying to get you to bed…”

                Shani giggled, then burst into laughter. “Do you even realise how ridiculous that sounds? You are afraid that your wife will take away your girlfriend…”

“I am laughing but it is not funny. I have seen how that woman operates and I can tell you, a few men could get some useful tips from her on how to woe a woman.”

                Shani decided this was the strangest discussion she was ever going to have. But it was necessary. She felt it deep in her heart that she and Sudi were in for the long haul, and his children and wife would, by extension, be constant in her life. Better get it sorted out sooner rather than later.

                “Okay. Get the house. But, if you and I move in together, will you be leaving me in that big bad lonely house four days a week?”

                “Don’t be cheeky. No, my queen. I will not be leaving you at all, unless I have to. There is something called co-parenting. Chichi and I discussed it and if you are agreeable, I will talk to my boys. I will have the kids for one week and Chichi will have them for another week. That way, they can get enough of both of us, and they can get to know you better.”

                Shani drew in a sharp breath and looked away. She already knew Kamaria was having a difficult time being a step-mother. She had no illusions that her friend was a better and more patient person than she was. Having to be a part time mother was never in Shani’s plans.

                Sudi noticed her discomfort. “You would not have to worry about cleaning after them, or cooking for them, or entertaining them. For starters, the nanny would be following them around. She takes off during weekends though, but I would be around for that. As for entertainment, you will realise my children are at that age where they hardly need adult supervision. In fact, they prefer to avoid the adults.” He hugged her for assurance. “I will get a house with a compound so they have stuff to do outside. James, the big boy, loves his football and as long as I get him a club to join, he will be happy. Martin, the last born, loves rugby. The same thing applies for him.

                “Give it a try for me, please? If it doesn’t work, I promise I will not hold it against you, and we will look for plan B, mh?”

                He had it all worked out. She desperately wanted to be upset with him for not being consulted, but she knew she would never have come up with solutions. If everything worked out, everyone would be a winner.

                Right at that moment, as she watched traffic, as she enjoyed Sudi rubbing her back tenderly in assurance, her life flashed right before her. From the age of twenty, she had lived a fast life. One that involved publicity, handsome and rich eligible bachelors, hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. What she was about to plunge herself into was totally new grounds and the only thing she had was her need to retain the happiness she felt by being with Sudi. Sudi, the giant of a man with a beard and a deep voice and deeper laughter. Sudi, a man who would never be a model but as he stood next to her, she knew he was the most attractive man she had ever been with.

Was her social media life over? Kamaria had posed the question to her. She did not think so, but she was taking time off to get her bearings. Already, a new type of advertiser was interested in her newfound self. A hair product company wanted her to peg in their products, a natural-hair high end salon wanted her to be their face. A company selling slimming products had been in touch; she had said no to that one, the rest she had promised to think about it.

She knew her socialite friends were busy frowning on her decisions. Most likely she was the main topic of gossip, but she did not care. They were still coming out of the woods to ask her if it was true she was dating a married man.  She answered them all to the affirmative and offered no explanation. 'Let them have something to talk about.’ She had told Kamaria.

***

                There was a party at Jamba’s house, and Kamaria was hosting. Jamba’s parents would be there, so would Julia’s. Sudi and Shani would be attending as a couple. Chichi had wanted to come and meet Shani, but Sudi had protested, that it was not the right place for a first meet-up, that the older people would not be able to understand. He had promised to arrange a meeting as soon as possible.  Jamba had persuaded Malik to abandon the pub for a few hours, and he had grudgingly agreed to turn up. “I don’t know why I need to be there, but if you insist…”

                “I do. It is Kamaria’s first time to host at home, and she really values you…” Jamba had begged.

                “Okay. But I cannot stay too long…”

                Kamaria was nervous. Since the disastrous party, she had not met Jamba’s parents. They did not know she was dating Jamba. They did not know that she had been living with him for several months. They did not know she was a wealthy woman. What if they called her out on her behaviour during the birthday?

                That morning before they got out of bed, before the children came knocking, she had expressed her fears to Jamba.

                “You don’t have to worry about it. My parents will probably congratulate you for walking out that day. My dad is your number one fan and always asks after you.” Jamba had assured.

                “What about Julia’s parents? Maybe we should not tell people we are dating...”

                “Come on... my wife unfortunately died, but I am still alive. No one expects me to remain single for life. But trust me, they are okay. A little on the quiet side and sometimes it is hard to know what they are thinking, but they are pragmatic enough to accept that I have to move on, somehow. Besides, who could resist you?”

                He kissed her on the mouth, for long. She pushed him. “Not now, you stud.” She admonished. He groaned. “Shani and I were wondering if Chichi is coming over...”

                “Oh, she wanted to, but Sudi convinced her not to do it today. Some scenarios need to be introduced in small doses, especially when it involves people like my parents...”

                “You know, you never really did tell what you told Rosa to scare her off...”

                Jamba groaned again. But he gave her a cocky smile. “I just turned into a lawyer. I faked a restraining order on her, told her if she ever comes within a hundred meters of me, or you, I would sue her to her last coin. That if she ever writes anything about me or you on social media, I would sue her.”

                “Good lord, that’s rough.” She laughed.

                “It was the only language she understood. She is alright, but she couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to have a relationship with her. I really didn’t, with or without you.”

                “Poor thing…”

                Jamba gave a short laugh. “Rose? Poor thing? Come on. She didn’t love me and there are a lot of men out there happy to fund her. She is a beautiful girl. I think she just could not believe she was being ousted by a waitress. For a couple of weeks after the restraining order, I was informed she posted strange things on her social media. Things like men are dogs and other worse things. Then she got another man and that was that.”

                “I wonder how she got the guts to talk to me that Sunday afternoon...”

                “That's because she did not expect that you were still in my life...”

                “Only to find you, and a huge bonus of Shani....” They both giggled. “It must be very confusing for her, how Shani and I are friends. Anyway, as long as I don’t have to worry about her coming near you, her thinking she has a stake in you... I am rather territorial.”

                “Just the way I like it.” He kissed her again. “We have a few minutes before the kids come in. Let’s make use of them, shall we? It is good luck to make love before a party...” She giggled, accepting his kiss and caresses in equal measure.

***

                The morning turned very fast paced for both Jamba and Kamaria. By noon, both their feet were ready to give in. They took a break under the same tent that had been pitched during Christine’s birthday, pitched on the same spot. They were both nursing glasses of wine.

He looked at his watch. “People will start arriving soon. I am going to check how the barbecue is doing.” She nodded but did not have the energy to do anything herself. She watched things from a distance, relishing in the comfort that Mariam and the two extra girls hired to help her had things under control in the kitchen.  

Through her sunglasses, she watched Jamba disappear behind the house, where a temporary slaughter house had been put up. A goat had been slaughtered by two hired young men. Jamba found them busy with the barbecue, the meat aroma already interfering with the air. Very soon, the cocktail of meat and smoke aroma would be competing with the pilau, meat stew, chicken curry and chapati that Mariam was preparing.

                Kamaria dragged herself back to the house to check on Christine and Christian. She found them in Christine’s bedroom with Mariam supervising them as they got ready. “Mariam, you superwoman, what would I do without you...” Kamaria said, taking a comb and asking Christine to sit down so she could put ribbons on her hair.

As soon as she was done with the children, she went to the shower. Jamba walked in as she was slipping into a pair of jeans.

                “Mom and dad are here. So are Shani and Sudi.”

                “Great. I will be out in a jiffy. You look like you are the one roasting the meat.”

                “I am not but I cannot help interfering with the young men down there. I think they hate me.” He laughed. He had noticed the disapproving looks they were giving him when he made suggestions on how the meat should be done.

“Keep out of their way, please. Are you not going to shower?”

“I am tempted not to, but I know you would not let me...”

                Boys! Kamaria thought with a smile. She had realized that Christian did not like to shower, that one had to hover around the bedroom to make sure he actually scrubbed himself..

                “You are right, I shall not let you. Let me go and keep people entertained as you shower, and be sure I shall smell your armpits to check if you showered.” She gave him a short kiss and left.

                Kamaria’s attire was a simple light blue pair of jeans and a black sleeveless top. As usual, the only jewellery on sight was her pair of earrings, red in colour. Her sandals, and her toes, were the same red.

                As she walked out, a vehicle was just pulling into the compound. She could make out Julia’s parents. She hesitated at the door, wondering whether to great Jamba’s parents and her friends first, or to welcome the new arrivals.

                Quickly, she walked to the tent. Jamba’s parents stood up. She hugged his mother and stretched her hand to shake the father’s. “Hallo...why am I getting the lesser treatment? Come on lady, give me a hug...” And she hugged him. “So good to see you lady...” He said, giving her a knowing smile. She was sure he knew everything going on between her and Jamba. She felt herself blush.

                “Serah, good to see you did not disappear forever...” His mother said, but she was laughing. “You gave us a fright...”

                “Sorry...” She muttered and giggled.

                “Well, let us hope the other girl whatshername does not turn up...” Bob’s father said and Kamaria felt herself start to choke.

                “Oh, no you don’t!” It was Jamba’s mother reprimanding her husband. “Don’t mind him Serah, men don’t know when to shut up.” Kamaria smiled.

                Next she hugged Sudi and Shani. “Karibuni sana.” She said, then excused herself. She felt a little nervous as she walked to Julia’s parents at the parking lot.

                “Hi Serah.” That Julia’s mother remembered her name took her aback. That she had a wide, friendly smile was a bonus that made her completely relax. “How are you?”

                “I am fine, thank you. How are you?” She shook both their hands.

                “We are good, thank you.”

                “Karibuni sana.”

                “Thank you.” The mother said, then pulled Kamaria’s hand to stop her from walking away. Kamaria, alarmed, turned to her sharply, then realized there was nothing to worry about. They were both smiling. “We may not have another chance to talk today, so give us a minute.” Kamaria looked at the tent and saw everyone looking at them with some concern.

                “We want you to know that we have no problem with you dating Jamba, and you two are obviously dating. You seem like a good girl, he is a good man. And the children talk about nothing else but you when we speak to them on the phone. That is all we ask for, that you love the children…” It was the mother who spoke, but when Kamaria looked at the dad, he nodded in agreement.

                “Our daughter is dead, unfortunately.” He took over. “The best we can do is support anyone who makes her children happy. And you do.”

                Kamaria felt a tear drop. She wiped it quickly. “Thank you.” She whispered.

                “No, thank you.”

                In content silence, they walked towards the tent, a tent with four adults wearing curious faces. Kamaria smiled at them in silent assurance. She saw them all sigh in relief. 

***

                The party was on.

Soon after Julia’s parents had settled in, Malik had surprised everybody by coming with Njeri  in tow. Several Oh my Gods had been muttered, but no one said anything. They were all waiting for the older people to leave then they would ask for the gory details.  Njeri looked beautiful, and happy. She sat next to Kamaria, easily conversing with everybody. 

"Are you dating for real?" Kamaria whispered the pressing question to Njeri.

"Of course. Very seriously, too." She  answered with a giggle.

Laughter and food were all over. Everybody laughed at everybody’s joke. Everyone was slowly but surely getting drunk, and the voices were going higher with every sip. “Did you buy drinks?” Kamaria had no memory of buying drinks.

“Nope. Dad did. Would you believe it?” Jamba answered with a measure of amusement. “Good thing too, because neither of us remembered to put it on the shopping list.”

                “Do pastors drink, or are your parents just special?”

                Jamba laughed. “My parents are special but if you ask them, they will quote you the parable about when Jesus turned water into wine...” Kamaria looked at him blankly. “Oh, of course you do not know what I am talking about.” He laughed. “There is a story in the Bible where Jesus turned water into wine. It is one of the most misquoted Bible verses – usually by the likes of mom and dad who love their occasional tipple. They argue that, if wine was so bad, how come Jesus made it?” He laughed, especially because he had quoted it several times.

                “Dad bought a bottle of everybody’s favourite drink.” She could spot her Amarula. “ He called me before buying to ask what you like.”

                “Right.”

             For most of the party, Christine, Christian, James and Martin had stayed indoors. They had been allowed to play video games and they seemed determined to make use of the time. They had only joined the adults when food was served but had immediately run back to the house.       

When, a few hours into the party, Kamaria saw all the four children emerge from the house, all looking mischievous as they giggled, her heart had missed a bit for an unexplained reason. James, the oldest of the children, was carrying Kamaria’s guitar which he handed her. “Why is everyone looking so cheeky?” She asked them. They all giggled. “Christian come here...What are you hiding behind your back?” She asked.

                “Nothing…”

                “I think you are hiding something…”

                “Okay, I am.” He brought his hands forward to reveal a small box. “Will you marry me?” He asked, going down on his knees.

                The laughter that followed left everybody’s ribs aching. Even Malik laughed loudly. Everyone laughed, everyone but Kamaria. She looked at them in confusion, finally realising that everyone had this information, everyone but her. Clearly, Jamba had told both his and Julia’s parents about their relationship. She finally understood how Jamba had managed to tear off Malik from the pub.

                “What’s going on?” She asked unnecessary. She knew exactly what was going on, but those were the only words that came to her.

                Jamba, still wiping laughter tears, took the small box from Christian. He took the guitar that was on Kamaria’s lap, one she was tapping on nervously, and handed it to Shani. He took Kamaria’s left hand, looked deeply and intensely into her eyes . She had started shaking.

                Then he went down on his one knee. “Well, my son, it would appear, wants to marry  you. He is quite charming and I can only be glad that he is too young to marry.” They all laughed again. “Christian was supposed to ask you if you would marry me, not him. I can’t trust a fellow man, it seems. So, Kamaria, will you please, please, marry me?” He flipped the box open, revealing a white gold ring with two diamonds on it.

                She started crying. With her one eye.

                “Well?” It had just hit him that only one eye had tears, but he had other things on his mind.

                “Yes, I will.” And everyone cheered. And whistled. And clapped. “Yes, yes and yes….”

                Half an hour it took her to calm down, to hug everybody, to show off her ring. To admonish them all for keeping the information from her. Then Sudi, using a coin to repeatedly hit a glass, called for attention, interrupting Kamaria’s giggly conversation with Njeri and Shani.

                 “Kamaria, you and I are going to be the live entertainment. As you may know, there are other uses of my deep voice other than scaring off annoying people…” Laugher. “We are going to do a duet, to start with. How about a Kenny Rogers number?  All I wonna do? Do you think you can strum that?” She  nodded. “Good, because I sing it really well...”

                “Show off...” Shani muttered.

                As she closed her eyes and played, as she savoured Sudi’s baritone, she felt such a deep satisfaction, such overwhelming happiness. She was happy. She belonged..

               

MWISHO

Story by Ciku Kimani-Mwani

Guinea pigs: Nyambura Michuki, Rachel Gathoni, Ceh Gichimu, Carole Shiku

Nip & Tuck dude: Antoney Luvinzu