Luyando, Book 2, Episode 9

By Brian Ngoma

LUYANDO: EPISODE 9
BOOK 2

'It’s my mother', Nyambe looked at Luyando. 'Bana Nyambe', asked Luyando. 'Of course, who else', Nyambe answered. 'But, but she cannot see me here please', begged Luyando. Luyando never told Nyambe what happened between the two of them. She thought it was best to leave it the way it was. She didn't want to come between him and his mother. 'But why?' Nyambe was surprised. 'It’s a long story please do something', Luyando was worried, 'Lo... Long story... even Tyson.... Long story, will there ever be a sho.... short story with you?', Nyambe was upset. Luyando realized that she also didn't tell him about Tyson and why he was at her place that night. She knew she was not being fair to him but a lot was at stake in that moment and nothing mattered, she had to save herself from Bana Nyambe's wrath.

Angela was happy that she had done what they told her to do. She finished everything on time and was about to leave. 'Angela, can you help me with arranging these documents, Iam alone, everyone has left and these documents are many', asked her supervisor. She was new and she knew that she had to impress everyone and it meant even doing petty favors for them. She accepted and she went in the supervisor’s office and they finished everything. 'How do you know Luyando? It seems you two have a good relationship, she really recommended you for this job', smiled the supervisor. 'We have a mutual friend and she's one of the few people I know from here', Angela said. 'Well, Luyando is a nice person and has good qualities', the supervisor proudly talked about Luyando. 'She is not all that good', snapped Angela. 'What do you mean not all that good?', asked the supervisor. 'I don't want to say anything out of context', Angela defensively answered. 'Tell me, Iam all ears', the supervisor insisted.

Bana Nyambe wondered why her son was taking long to open the door. She knew he was in the house. The keys were inside. It was a Saturday, usually he knocked off early. She decided to call him. 'Your brother is not picking up his cell', She told her son she was with. 'Kapena bacokapo (Maybe he’s not around), let’s wait for him'. They decided to wait a little longer. Some seconds later, the door opened. Nyambe came out looking like he was sleeping. 'Iam sorry mum, I had fallen asleep', He told her. 'Hmmmm, asleep? This time', she asked him doubtful. He told them to enter. His brother saw a half-eaten pizza and started having a bite. His mother was looking around the house suspiciously as if she knew there was someone in the house. 'Is there someone here Nyambe?', She curiously asked him. 'Wha... what do you mean? Iam alone', He answered. She smelled a woman’s fragrance and noticed there was something peculiar about her son. He was nervous.

'Hide me please, I promise I will tell you everything, your mother doesn't need to see me Here', begged Luyando. That was minutes before Bana Nyambe entered the house. Nyambe told Luyando to go to the bedroom. She ran towards the bedroom like Usain bolt. Luyando never thought she would be as scared as she was of someone like Bana Nyambe. She felt a feeling of relief when she was in the bedroom. When going to the bedroom, she carried her shoes, jersey and the phone. 'OH wait, where is my handbag?', she felt her bowel movement.

Angela and the supervisor were still arguing on whether she should tell him about Luyando or not. 'You just cannot say that someone is not all that good and expect me to nod yes', the supervisor argued. Angela could tell that her supervisor was getting irritated. She knew this could cost her job. 'It’s just that Luyando has been accused of being a prostitute. When I first came here, I didn't believe what people were saying. That changed when I found out that she was going out with my fiancé, the father of my child', Angela said. The supervisor was surprised because that was a total different description of the person he knew. 'But why would someone that stole your fiancé help you get a job', asked the supervisor. 'Because of guilty of course', Angela answered. 'After I found out that she was going out with my fiancé, I confronted them and my fiancé ran away. She felt guilty because she had made him leave me and his baby. Finding this job for me was a way of feeding her remorse. She didn't do it because she was nice'. She continued. The supervisor was surprised and in awe. 'Well, there is always two sides to every story', the supervisor commented.

Nyambe’s mother sat down and asked for some water. Nyambe told his step brother to get water for their mother. 'I didn’t cook anything this afternoon mum', said Nyambe. 'I can see you were eating that large pizza all by yourself', she said sarcastically. 'Who is she and why don't you want me to see her?', Nyambe's mother was becoming upset. 'Who mum, I told you Iam alone, there is no one here', Nyambe smiled. 'So men have now started carrying handbags, huh', she pointed at the handbag. Nyambe thought Luyando had carried everything to the bedroom. He had to tell his mother something and really quick. Luyando heard about the handbag and she was fidgeting and biting her nails in the bedroom. Nyambe’s stepbrother was seen entering the bedroom. 'I hope the toilet is clean', He said whilst opening the bedroom door.

Priscila was coming Back from work and it was getting late. They never worked for the Whole day on Saturdays but that Saturday was different. The National volleyball team was preparing for qualifiers that were starting in three weeks. She was very tired and was busy texting her boyfriend when she bumped into someone. 'Hey look where you are going', the man furiously told her. She could not look at the man as she was busy picking up things. The man just stood there watching her pick the things. 'He cannot even help me, had it been a romantic movie he would have helped me, reality sucks', she thought. She got up and looked at the man. It was the one and only foolish heartbreaker, Joseph. 'Priscila, Priscila, Priscila, still clumsy', He grinned. Priscila just looked at him. She didn't have anything to say to him. 'Iam back now and better', He told her. 'I don't care', she finally said something. 'I miss you little one, it’s been ages right?', He held her hand. 'Don't touch me please', she resisted. 'Anyway, I will be seeing you around, someone hooked me up with a job at a certain orphanage around these areas', he went away. Priscila knew that, that was where Luyando was working because that was the only orphanage around those areas.

'Wait, don't go in there, its dirty', Nyambe shouted. It was too late, his brother had already entered the bedroom and would obviously see Luyando in the bedroom. He knew that he had to tell his mother the truth. He thought about many reasons why Luyando would never want his mother to see her but couldn't find any reasonable enough. 'So you are thinking of marrying and you cannot tell your mother ka? Now I see where all the money has been going'. she complained. 'Mum, its n... not like that ahhhh', He assured her. 'Then, how is it', she wanted an answer. Nyambe thought he should tell her who the person was. The handbag had already been seen and fooling her was not possible. She would know either way and after all, it was his mother and the girl he liked, there was no harm in them knowing each other, Nyambe thought.