Luyando, Book 2, Episode 10

By Brian Ngoma

LUYANDO: EPISODE 10
BOOK 2

'Big brother, your toilet is clean, Iam surprised', smiled Nyambe's brother. Nyambe was about to tell his mother that Luyando was in the bedroom. The reaction from his brother who had just entered the bedroom and obviously saw Luyando astonished him. What he expected was that, the minute the young boy entered the bedroom, he would say something or would return. 'And Iam sorry I read a text message on your phone, I wanted to play clash of clans', the young boy laughed. Nyambe asked, 'What text message?'. 'I don't know who it is from, but it says, I will come and get my girlfriends handbag tomorrow, it looks like it’s your friend'. Nyambe knew the boy was acting so he played along. 'Have you heard Mom, it’s not my handbag it belongs to a friend’s girlfriend who passed by earlier who forgot it', Nyambe told his mother.

When the young boy entered the bedroom, he found Luyando fidgeting around. The boy knew Luyando and she knew that if his mother was to found out that Luyando was in the bedroom, hell would break loose. 'Aren't you Luyando?', the boy asked. 'Yes, please lower your voice, if your mother finds out Iam here she will kill me'. Luyando replied. 'No problem I won't tell her, but if she comes here you have to figure out where to hide', the boy chuckled. Luyando was surprised and impressed with the boy’s attitude towards her. She was thankful that the boy didn't tell on her.

Bana Nyambe and her young son left Nyambe's place but not happily. She told Nyambe to take them back with his car but he told her there was somewhere he needed to go. She was upset but he comforted her by telling her that he will buy her a bunch of chitenges. After they had left, Luyando got out of the bedroom and prepared herself to go home as well. She had even forgot the main reason she visited Nyambe. 'I will take you', Nyambe told Luyando. 'No thank you, I will go on my own. You have let your mother go by bus and you want to take me, what if she sees you with me?', argued Luyando. Nyambe knew there was no way he could change her mind, she wanted to go by bus and that was final. He escorted her to the station and saw her board a bus. He wanted to ask her what she wanted to tell him but he saw how she really needed to go home. He thought it would be best to ask her another time.

Luyando got home and found her grandmother sleeping on the couch. She didn't want to wake her so she had her supper, washed the plates and prepared herself for bed. After finishing everything, she woke up her grandmother so that they should go to sleep. 'OH you’re back, how was work?' asked Her grandmother. 'It was fine Iam just tired', replied Luyando. 'Before you go to bed, there is something I want to tell you, I was actually waiting for you', said Luyando’s granny. 'Alright'. Luyando wondered what it was that it couldn't wait till tomorrow.

Usually, when Luyando’s grandmother sat her down to talk, it was something serious. Tisa (granny)never used to talk much but when she had something on her mind, she would talk and she never wanted to be interrupted. This time, it didn't seem like it was something serious but it was something sorrowful. Luyando observed how her grandmother was failing to talk. She knew something was bothering her. 'What is it grandmother?' asked Luyando. 'A few days ago, some people came at our house telling me that they know where your grandfather is and he’s not doing well', saddened Tisa. 'You mean to say the people told you where grandfather is?', Luyando was surprised. 'Yes, and they told me that he’s been asking to see me but I told them I have nothing to say to him. Since then it’s been bothering me. Iam having sleepless nights', Tisa added. Luyando was now the one feeling sorry for her grandmother. She had never seen her like that before. It was obvious that she had a lot on her mind.

Luyando told her grandmother that the decision was hers to make. 'Iam only worried about one thing Luyando', Tisa sighed. 'What are you worried about grandmother?', asked Luyando. 'Your brother, Josi. He is not a fan of your grandfather. He even told me that if he ever finds him, he will beat him up for leaving me. He even said that he would be happy if he ever finds out that he died'. Tisa's eyes were watery. 'He was just joking granny don't worry, and we won't tell him that you met your ex-husband', she comforted her grandmother. They decided that they didn't have to tell Josi about grandfather because it was assumed that she would go and meet him, hear what he had to say and come back.

'I hate Mondays', Luyando complained when her grandmother woke her up. Luyando was not used to working during weekdays and it was always a struggle to get up every morning. The only thing she loved about those working days was that she didn't have to do any chores at home. She would just wake up, prepare herself and have a healthy breakfast. 'Bye grandmother', waved her grandmother as she left the house. Her grandmother just looked at her and nodded her head.

'Has everyone gotten their assignments for this week', asked the supervisor. 'Yes sir', everyone answered. 'Luyando, I need to see you in my office before you start working', everyone looked at Luyando. Luyando went in her boss's office. 'There is something disturbing that we have heard from one of the community members, we needed to clarify with you if it’s true', the supervisor looked at Luyando. Luyando asked what they had heard. The supervisor told her that it was concerning the Hule (prostitution) drama. Luyando didn't deny. She told her supervisor that it was false accusations. 'Thank you for clarifying, we never doubted you. And by the way, we have paired you with a new employee, Iam sure he’s waiting for you outside'. The boss dismissed Luyando.

'Community member, who is it now? Can it be Bana Nyambe?', Luyando was thinking out loud. 'So I will be working with you, this is nice', Joseph interrupted her. Luyando never expected it to be Joseph. 'Joseph hi, what are you doing here? Are you the one Iam to be working with?', Luyando wanted confirmation. 'Yes beautiful, it’s me', Joseph smiled. Luyando called Priscila and told her about Joseph. 'I knew already, the bastard is back in town', Priscila told Luyando.

Luyando didn't have a good day at work. Joseph was always on her back. She got tired of him asking questions. What she didn't like the most was the fact that he was flirting with her. She got really uncomfortable and told him to stop. 'This is a workplace you idiot, stop calling me sexy', Luyando warned Joseph. 'Ok madam, I have stopped', Joseph laughed. She was glad that the day was over. She got home and found her grandmother outside. 'How are you, how was your day? Did you meet your Ex-husband?', Luyando asked. Her grandmother hesitated to answer and was very nervous. 'What? You are not telling me', Luyando asked again. 'I have brought him home with me', Luyando's grandmother answered.