Luyando, Book 2, Episode 11

By Brian Ngoma

LUYANDO: EPISODE 11
BOOK 2

‘Grandmother what have you done?', Luyando furiously asked her grandmother. 'Our agreement was for you to go and see him, not to bring him back home'. Her grandmother could not say anything. She was quiet looking at Luyando talk. Luyando was really upset with her grandmother. 'You told me you were scared of Josi and now you have done this, OH my', Luyando’s voice got angrier as she spoke. 'You cannot even say anything grandmother'. Luyando got into the house. She expected to see him when she entered the house but she didn't. She knew he was in her grandmother’s bedroom. Luyando’s grandmother knew that Luyando was angry and whatever she had to explain to her, it was best to wait. Her only fear was that she would tell Josi.

'Imagine having a bad day at work and I come home to find that grandmother has done something I didn't expect her to do, Iam disappointed in her', Luyando poured her heart to Priscila. 'Iam sure she has a reason she did what she did, you just have to hear her out tomorrow', Priscila advised her friend. 'I hope it’s a good and concrete reason otherwise I will leave her'. it had been a while since Luyando and her grandmother got into a fight. Whenever they had one, it would be about her grandmother complaining about her being on the phone most of the times. This time it was something serious.

The following day, Luyando didn't even eat breakfast. After finishing preparing she went to work. That day was really busy and tiring. It kept Luyando busy and she didn't think much about what was happening back home. She saw Angela in the organizations premises and wondered what she was doing there because it was a Tuesday. Angela saw Luyando and went where she was sitting. They greeted each other and talked about Tyson. They were both worried about his well-being and hoped that wherever he was, he was doing fine. Luyando thought about what her boss asked her and told Angela. 'So apparently, someone in the community reported what happened between me and Tyson. They also mentioned you and Bana Nyambe'. Luyando told Angela. 'These people, who would do that ai? They are just jealous of you, don't mind them'. Angela advised Luyando. Luyando noticed that there was something that Angela was hiding. She didn't want to probe further as Angela was complaining that her boss had called her to come on her day off. 'And you know that boss of ours, he wants me to be here every day. On Saturday he asked me out ka?'. Angela smiled. 'Really? I never expected that from him', Luyando was surprised. 'I told him that I was only here for work not for relationships'. Angela added. Luyando looked at how Angela was talking. She had a feeling that the girl was something else.

It had been two days since Nyambe last saw Luyando and he missed her. He really wanted to see her. Whilst at work during the afternoon, he called her to ask her if it was possible to see her. She told him that she was not sure if it was possible because she had a lot on her mind and needed to go home earlier than usual. He begged her till she was convinced. 'OK, you will find me outside the organization when you knock off', Nyambe was happy that she had finally agreed to meet him. 'We are not going anywhere, it’s one of those things you come and pick me up and take me home', Luyando laughed.

Luyando was looking forward to going home and find out the main reason her grandmother brought her ex-husband back home. When she was thinking about that, her grandmother called her. 'I know what I did is wrong, but please you should come home I explain everything to you', Luyando’s grandmother said. Luyando told her that she would be knocking off in a few hours.

Angela was still around and she had seen Luyando going out. She ran towards her and asked her if they could together. Luyando told her that someone was waiting for her outside. They got outside and found Nyambe standing beside his car. He greeted the two ladies. Luyando asked if they could get Angela too and drop her off at the market. They all got in the car. Nyambe and Luyando were talking and laughing. 'Sorry to interrupt but Are you Bana Nyambe's Nyambe?', Angela asked. Luyando was surprised that Angela had even known Bana Nyambe in just a few weeks she had been in town. 'Yes, Iam her first born son'. Nyambe answered. 'Is my mother that common in this part of town? Everyone seems to know her'. Nyambe laughed. 'Yes she is, Luyando knows better', Angela looked at Luyando. Luyando’s eyes widened out and was trying to make sense of what Angela was up to. Nyambe didn't comment on that, he told Angela that they had reached the market. Angela got off the car and left Luyando feeling paralyzed.

'What was that all about?', Nyambe asked Luyando after Angela had gotten off the car. Luyando was tired of keeping Nyambe in the dark. She decided to tell him everything and she did. 'That is the reason you were scared of my mother when she came at my place on Saturday, WOW'. Nyambe bit his lips. 'You and my mother cannot stand each other is what you are telling me, right?' Nyambe looked at Luyando. 'It’s her who cannot stand me, I have nothing against her'. Luyando sighed. The two of them were silent for a while. 'You didn't sleep with my step father though, right?', Nyambe asked. 'how can you even ask me such a question Nyambe, after everything have told you and you just ask me about that', Luyando got off of the car and started walking towards the street her house was in. Nyambe ran to her and started apologising. 'Luyando, Iam sorry it came out wrong', Nyambe pleaded. 'You are being unfair and inconsiderate, please I want to go home'. Luyando looked at Nyambe who was blocking her way. 'Please let me take you', Nyambe regretted what he asked. 'There is no need to take me, you have done enough for one day', Luyando left Nyambe standing on the road. Nyambe looked at her as she made a turn and knew she had reached home. There was nothing he could have done, she was gone. He felt so stupid. He decided to go and check on his mother.

Luyando reached home furious. She found her grandmother cooking in the kitchen. She missed her grandmother but she didn't want to tell her until she had heard the reason the grandfather was in the house. She went in the kitchen and had some water. 'Where is he?', Luyando asked. 'He is in the bedroom sleeping', her grandmother answered casually. Luyando was now more pissed. 'I can see we have a baby in the house who sleeps all day', Luyando said. 'He is not well my daughter, he will only be here for a couple of days, he is going back', Luyando’s grandmother replied. 'Doesn't he have relatives?', 'Not in the city, he doesn't', 'We have now become Mother Theresa right?', 'I know you don't mean it that way, you are a good person', 'You made the decision of bringing him here on your own, if Josi finds out and I pray he does, I won't defend you', 'He won’t if you won't tell him'. Luyando was frustrated with the casualty her grandmother took the situation. 'He is your ex-husband for crying out loud', Luyando said. 'We never got divorced, he just left, pass me those onions', Luyando’s grandmother pointed at the onion. Luyando was out of words, she thought her grandmother would make things better but she made everything worse. 'Whatever', Luyando left the kitchen and went to her room. After a good two hours, Luyando's grandmother knocked on Luyando's bedroom door and told her that if she needed anything to eat, she should help herself. ‘This woman’, Luyando thought.

Nyambe got back to his car and followed Luyando. He saw her open the gate and entered. He then drove to his mother’s place. He found his young brother with some friends outside the house. Immediately the young boy saw his car, he ran towards it and went to the driver’s window and greeted Nyambe. 'I need some money, you owe me. I didn't snitch on you on Saturday', the boy laughed. Nyambe told the boy to wait for him to park. He parked and gave the boy a k20 note and asked if his mother was in the house. 'Yes, she is in the house with some woman I don't know but I have been seeing around. Baoneka bali na Mimba (She looks pregnant). Nyambe stayed outside for a while and waited for his mother to come out. She finally came out with a familiar figure. Nyambe looked at the woman and recognised her. They both came to him. 'My son, I figured you would come here since I knew you were in the neighbourhood', Nyambe's mother hugged Nyambe. Nyambe looked at the person his mother was with and it was Angela. 'Angela, whaa...what are yo...ou doing here, I thought we left you at the market', Nyambe's was sweating. 'I came here', Angela answered.