Luyando, Book 1, Episode 2

By Brian Ngoma

LUYANDO: EPISODE 2

'Where did it all go wrong', Luyando thought to herself. When it happened the first time, she thought someone was playing a joke on her. She did not even take it serious. This one was really serious, there was not even an element of humor in it and it made her more scared as never before. She knew a lot was at stake, especially her reputation which was damaged already.

'She could have waited for only a minute, just a minute’, ‘what a bad first time impression have given him, he too thinks Iam a neighborhood prostitute'. She thought about a lot of things that she forgot she was with people. 'Luyando.... Luyando... Luyando!' called her grandmother, 'Yes granny', she replied. 'Are you hearing what Nyambe's mother is saying?', Granny asked. 'Sorry, I didn’t hear, what has she said'. 'You've seen, your granddaughter is troublesome, Iam talking she's not even paying attention, she's probably thinking of another woman's husband to sleep with', Nyambe's mother cut in. Luyando and granny looked at each other in shock. They had never met a woman who was so straightforward like Nyambe's mother.

From the way she was talking, it felt like she could beat them both in their own house. 'Let me say this for the last time, if I ever hear that you hang with my husband, that will be the death of you', Nyambe's mother said furiously. 'Me and the other women have discussed this issue and we have decided to give you one last chance. If this happens again we are suing, you'. Luyando and Granny nodded in agreement. 'And one last thing Luyando, I hope you prayed for God's forgiveness for the child you aborted'. This made Luyando angry that she wanted to insult the lady. What stopped are were her brother's words she remembered, 'Always do good to bad people'. She just ran to her bedroom and cried.

'Did you see that?' Tyson asked Priscila. 'Yes I saw it coming, I saw Nyambe's mother and did not have time to warn you guys', Priscila replied. Tyson was very curious he wanted to find out what had just happened. To him, it was not that embarrassing but awkward, he knew who was embarrassed. 'So what really happened, for that woman to call your friend a prostitute?', 'Enough with questions, you got her number ask her yourself', 'But you are her friend, you must know something', 'yes Iam her friend but sometimes you think you know people but you don’t’, ‘What do you mean', Tyson was now more curious. ‘And by the way, I only got 097578 from her number before that woman interrupted'. When Nyambe's mother interrupted, Luyando could not finish saying her number and she could not look at Tyson, so she just ran into the yard and left Tyson standing outside the wall fence. 'What I know is this has happened three times, the rest you will find out on your own, here is her number'. Priscila gave Tyson Luyando's number.

Luyando could not stop thinking about what Tyson thought about her. The only relief she had was that he went away with her friend and she probably explained the whole situation to him. She kept tossing on her bed for she could not sleep. Even though it was her first time seeing Tyson, there was something about him she could not explain. He made her feel awkwardly special. 'Maybe it’s because of how pathetic my life has been, that someone has shown interest in me and I am now over thinking', she thought. she decided to call it a night. She was about to put her phone on the charger when it rang.

'A private number? Who could this be?', Luyando thought out loud. 'Hello'. 'Hello', a familiar voice answered. It was Tyson. If Tyson had seen Luyando's smile when she knew it was him, he could have melted. Luyando had an innocent smile that brightened a room, some men said. 'Hi Luyando', 'Hey Tyson', 'I hope Iam not intruding', 'No its fine, I was just reading a book'. Tyson knew he had to ask her what was in his mind the whole day. Luyando also wanted him to ask her. 'So what was that, did you steal that woman's chicken? he jokingly asked her. 'He’s funny', she smiled. 'I think I stole her poultry', they both laughed. The atmosphere was now comfortable. That night, she told him everything and how it all started. Other than the all prostitute thing, they talked about a lot of things. It was as though they had known each other for years. they did not even realize it was three in the morning. ‘I have to sleep now Tyson', she told him. 'but I want to talk to you Lu,' he said. No one had ever called her Lu before and she loved it. people used to call her Lulu which she hated it. 'I have to get up in a few hours and do some house chores', 'alright, this time I’ll let you go, but tomorrow, do the house chores before you go to bed'. She chuckled at this. 'And by the way, the whole story you have told me, I believe you'. Tyson told her. They both hang up the phones.

It was the best night of her life, she finally had met someone who was not bothered by what people talked about her. The last words Tyson said calmed Luyando's life. The following morning, she woke up happy as never before. She was singing while doing her chores. Her grandmother noticed and asked, 'who is the boy?' 'It’s not a boy it’s a man', Luyando smiled. 'Well, be careful with these men,' 'Granny, he’s different I assure you', 'If you say so and hurry up we won’t eat your happiness'. The days that followed kept getting better and better.

One Sunday afternoon, Luyando was coming back from an orphanage which she used to volunteer for during the weekends when she met her grandmothers close friend. She greeted her like always and asked her about life and other things. 'My daughter', said the woman, 'Yes granny', Luyando answered, 'I have been meaning to tell you about that friend of yours', 'Which friend granny', 'That slim light skinned one', 'Oh you mean Priscila?' 'Yes Priscila', 'What about her granny', 'Rumor has it that she's the one spreading the rumors of you going out with other women’s husbands'. Luyando laughed at this. She knew the woman had it all wrong, Priscila was like a sister to her. 'No granny, there has to be a mistake', Luyando told the woman. 'Priscila has been seen with all the three women who allegedly accused you of sleeping with their husbands'. Luyando did not want to talk more about that because she hated talking about someone in their absence, so she brushed away the issue. She was tired so she said her goodbyes to the woman and went home.

'I have feelings for her', Tyson told his two friends. His friends had gone to visit him at his house and he told them everything about Luyando. They were surprised because they knew Luyando and what baggage she carried. 'But you have heard everything, right?' asked one of Tyson's friends. 'Yes and I do not care, it’s all lies', the two friends looked at each other and laughed. 'Whatever you want man'. Tyson wanted to meet Luyando that day so he called her. 'Hey Lu', 'Hi Ty', 'I want to see you today, can I come over'. She wanted to see him too and she loved his direct approach to situations but she was tired. She had worked since morning so she declined and she was thinking about what that woman said about Priscila. Tyson felt bad but he knew he will see her the following day.

It was getting late, Tyson's friends told him to escort them. As he was escorting them, they saw a big black BMW at a distance. The three of them admired the car. 'I'm getting one of these soon boys', Tyson told his friends. 'If you get one we are also getting Range Rovers', the three men laughed. 'Isn't that Luyando?' asked Tysons friend, 'Yes that’s her', Tyson answered. Tyson was happy to see her but she couldn’t see him for it was a bit dark. As the three men got closer, Luyando was heading towards the BMW. She reached the BMW, and the door was opened for her. She seemed excited at the person in the car she did not even see nor hear Tyson calling her. She got in the car and it drove away in the darkness.

Meanwhile, Nyambe's mother was on the other side of the road standing. She just folded her hands and nodded her head.