Forks and Knives – Episode 10

FORKS AND KNIVES
Episode 10
A story by Kennedy C Katongo
∆ A MONTH LATER ∆
“Please! I promise I will buy fuel.” Malumbo begged.
“No… Why can’t you take mum’s car. She’s not going anywhere today.” Mambwe responded.
“You not being a brothers keeper.” Nagged Malumbo.
Malumbo had just received a call which was dubbed as an emergency. The person who called said they would explain everything once he got there. The only problem was that his car was at Auto World for it’s monthly maintenance.
Malumbo who was available at the moment denied to give him a ride. His younger brother knew very well he wasn’t going to be given the car, his only option was to force Mambwe to drive him.
“If you going to buy a full tank… I will take you there.” Mambwe said suddenly.
“You have money and you exploiting me over fuel?” Malumbo exclaimed.
“Exploitation is the only way I will remain with money.” He laughed.
That wasn’t it, Malumbo was now curious about what was really going on.
.
.
.
“Am really sorry sir. But I have to go. It’s my cousin, his been beaten down badly.” Jeff asked the manager.
“If I give you this day, you working a full one on Saturday. Got it?”
“Yes sir… I’ve got it.” He responded nervously.
“Has Tandiwe already left?” The manger asked.
“I think she has. I doubt she would accept to work another shift.” Jeff said as he got his back to rush to the station.
Since he had to go to Kulima Tower to get on a bus, it so happened that Tandiwe was also on the same bus. Jeff had to buy a seat from a kid just to be next to her.
“Ain’t you supposed to be at work? What are you doing here?” She asked him.
“I just got a phone call From Twaluba Hospital in Olympia.” He said as he fought his lungs just to calm down. He had been running all over town just to get to the station.
“That’s bad. But why didn’t you use the ZESCO shortcut?” She asked him. In her mind, she thought there was a chance he was following her. Jeff had done some crazy things in the past.
“I thought of that, but it’s lunch hour and buses are difficult that side during this time of the day.” He responded. She wasn’t convinced but decided to just go with it.
“So whose in Hospital?” She asked him curiously.
“It’s Roderick. You remember him… The guy who once asked you out and all.” Jeff said.
“What! What happened?” She exclaimed.
“The lady that called said he was beaten pretty bad.”
“Was it an attack or something?” She asked interestedly.
“I don’t think it was an attack otherwise she would have mentioned… If that was the case.” Jeff responded.
With the next 10 minutes that followed the bus was full. Tandiwe insisted that she follows Jeff to see Roderick, since she knew him. She didn’t see it as a big deal at all.
“Am sure his going to feel embarrassed.” Jeff said.
“What! No way. Am sure his moved on. It was just one date.” Tandiwe responded shyly.
“One date were you made him look stupid. Girl you cold.” Jeff said as he shook his head.
“It’s not even like that. I just hate a man who keeps talking about himself. I can’t stand that. Do you know that he never bothered to ask me anything about myself.” She said while gripping her bag tightly.
.
.
.
“Hurry up! You said it was an emergency didn’t you?” Mambwe shouted.
“Just give me a second.” Malumbo responded as he came running to the car.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to help you.” Nagged Mambwe.
“Come on bro, besides am the one whose buying a full tank. So just chill.” Malumbo said as he sat down. “You going to the hospital with slippers?” He asked his elder brother.
“What’s wrong with slippers? And who said anything about about entering the hospital?” He questioned.
“Come on Mambwe, Roderick is my friend. Besides you also know him. You need to stop being bitter about past events you know – you going to end up getting depressed. Am just saying, work your problems out instead of burying them.” Malumbo said. To add a bit of drama effect, he wasn’t even looking at his brother as he spoke to him. It was all random bullets hoping one would get him.
“Did they say what’s wrong with him?” Mambwe asked as they were now heading to Malumbo Hospital.
“Nope. She just said everything would be explained once I got there.” The young brother answered.
“What if it’s a prank… Or maybe worse.” Mambwe said as he tried to find reason in what his brother had been told.
“Nah, it’s not weekend. So this isn’t a prank. Am sure maybe it’s the parents, his dad has been having blood pressure problems of late.” Malumbo said.
“His dad! Now what do you have to do with that? It’s already hot as hell and we driving around through ball this traffic because of that? I swear that shouldn’t be the case otherwise am going to hot him on the head.” Mambwe said furiously.
“You serious need to get some friends. Being surrounded by rich people every day is messing you up.” Malumbo commented.
The two brothers usually argued like that. It wasn’t something strange at all. But that was one way in which they got along together. Malumbo always thought his brother was an island to other people. He wasn’t evil, neither was he super friendly. On Mambwe’s said, he saw his younger brother as one who loved playing the hero. The type that always came through for other people and one who was popular among the ladies.
∆ TWO WEEKS AGO ∆
“What are you doing here?” Jane asked Mambwe in shock. She had just walked into him and then moved a few steps backwards.
“I was just about to ask you the same question.” He responded.
“Oh-Me-Well… I came to see a friend.” She responded nervously as she stumbled on her words.
“Are you okay? You look like you in shock.” Mambwe said to Jane.
“It’s nothing. I just didn’t think I would run into you at a place like this.” She said.
Mambwe knew Jane very well, after all, she was once his girlfriend. He could tell she was lying nor hiding something.
But as life had it, the truth was just a second away from were the two stood.
“Baby am waiting…” A certain man said as he walked up to her and wrapped his hand around her.
“Oh!” Exhaled Mambwe. His face was k-ssed by surprise.
“Mambwe this is Jack – my boyfriend.” She said as she cleared her voice. She turned to the boyfriend as said as wise.
Jane could tell that Mambwe was broken as he stood there looking at them.
“Okay. I will be on my way.” He said as he gave a warm smile.
For some reason, knowing that Jane was now dating was a sting to his heart. He new she was seeing someone (maybe this was the same guy she went to see at the lodge) he thought to himself as he remembered a day when April said she had seen his car.
He left the building feeling depressed and broken. He always hoped that they would work things out one day. But now, it seemed like that one day was never going to come.
∆°°°°∆°°°°∆°°°°∆
“Hello… I just asked you a question.” Malumbo noted as she snapped his fingers.
“Sorry. What was the question again?” He asked as he tried to get himself together.
“Am asking about Jane. You said you met her at some fancy hotel. What Happened?” Malumbo asked.
“Oh. She’s now seeing someone.” He answered mindlessly.
‘Someone got hurt.’ Malumbo said in a whisper.
“What did you just say?” Mambwe asked.
“Nothing. Just that it’s a sunny day.” He giggled.
They took time to get at the hospital because of the traffic that was there. It wasn’t for long and they had reached the hospital. A mob of females stood outside shouting.
“Are you sure you have no idea what’s going on?” Mambwe asked after noticing the crowd.
“I wish I had an idea bro…” Malumbo responded with his jaw dropped.
To be continued.