Married Single – Episode 13 – 14

MARRIED SINGLE Episode 13

Mike……

” welcome back home ” my wife greeted me cheerfully. I had been going home early some weeks after Stella warned me to stay away.

However i was not to give up easily so I planned on letting the dust cool off a bit. Shes not going to resist me once I show up again, she’s just hurting probably with learning the truth,” I thought to myself.

” Bashi Junior, I was just greeting you” I heard my wife speak up bringing me back to the present.

” am fine dear thanx” I tried to smile.

She came and sat besides me and I knew she was seeking attention as always.

” I just sent that money to your mother she said.

” thank you, Thats good. I almost forgot she wanted money. Have you gotten your salary already?” I asked her my eyes on the TV.

” yes I told you yesterday and even explained how the money was to be used. You telling me you have forgotten?” She asked sounding disappointed

I shook my head recalling the conversation we had. ” oh yeah I know it just slipped my mind” I smiled

” you know your mother was just saying how happy she was and told me that she is still waiting for a third baby. Imagine she was telling me that our son has grown and that she can’t wait for our next child probably a girl this time” she said excited.

I didn’t want to ruin her excitement so I let her talk on and laugh as I just nodded and giggled upset mindedly. If only she knew how I wasn’t interested in whatever she was saying, she could have spared me the trouble and noise.

I was saved by the ringing of my phone.

” excuse me” i said standing up as I saw my friend from Luanshya’ s number.

” Helo what a surprise to be called by you my friend it’s been long I answered standing outside the house.

After chatting for a little bit he asked me a question that made my heart skip.

” by the way what happened to Stella? I saw her at her parent’s house the past week and you know how people gossip here. They are saying she left her husband. Is it true?” He asked.

” what? You say a week ago?” I asked to make sure my calculations were correct. That was about a week after she was discharged from the hospital.

” yeah man, she’s been here ”

I hang up the call after a few minutes and stood there. I felt my mouth curve into a smile.

” now this sounds more like it” I thought smiling.

” I warned you Chris, a day would come when she was going to be mine for good and now that you are out of my way. Am going to make things right by making sure she falls for me again.” I nodded my head happily.

I took the phone and tried her line, all I needed to hear was she was okey and then I would take the next steps, but I couldn’t get through to her.

Without thinking through it I walked back in,side and announced. ” pack a few clothes for me am going to Luanshya tomorrow! ”

” Oh, how? I thought you said you have a busy schedule at work this week and today is just Tuesday, why the rush to go there?” My wife asked following me to bedroom.

” well, it’s because something important happened and I need to go there tomorrow. Do You you have any problem with that?” I asked sarcastically to get her off my back.

” no I don’t am sorry if I bothered you I just thought..”

” stop making assumptions woman and start packing my bag already. Am leaving early in the morning and I will be back” I sighed putting the small bag on the bed for her to put in the clothes.

I watched her silently pack a few of my clothes and a pair of shoes. My mind was already imgaining being with Stella and I couldn’t hold my joy.

Early the following morning I made a call and made up a lie of my late uncle being very sick in Luanshya and the boss gave me a go ahead.

” am coming for you babe, just give me a few hours ” I smiled to myself as I drove to the filing station to refuel before starting off.

Within 5 hours I drove through Luanshya and headed direct home.

I just greeted my parents a bit and excused myself. I had to see her.

She was outside her mother’s hanging some clothes on the line putting on a chitenge and looking so good in it I wondered how a sensible man could leave such a woman. ” Chris you are a damn fool” I whispered to myself as I walked to her yard.

” Mike!, what are you doing here?” She asked upon seeing me. .

” how are you Stella?” I smiled instead.

” am okey thank you and I asked you a question” she asked as she went on her business of rinsing and hanging some clothes.

” well you are forgetting my home is here too. I came to see my parents just like you I guess. So mom just told me you are here so you know, I thought I might say hi to you” I smiled pulling a stool and sitting on it.

” what a coincidence right, you happen to be visiting your parents now that am here. Your mother told me you have not been here for years.” She said accusingly.

I pushed her comment off and started talking about our child hood. Trying to make her realise we had come from afar. She only nodded and seemed less intrested in the conversation.

” so is it true what I heard?” I finally went to the point.

” what did you hear?” She asked without looking at me.

” that you left your husband and took all your things?” I went on and saw her sigh sadly.

” I see, that is it, that’s why you came here to confirm that your plan worked right? You are so pathetic Mike and honestly I can’t stand your possessiveness. It’s way too crazy and right now I don’t want any drama in my life I came here to have a fresh mind before i finally go back for work and believe me the last thing on my list is not making some reconnection with my past. It’s over now and I want to be alone. ” she voiced out seriously making me feel so bad I wasn’t having the same impact on her.

It was like I was talking to a different person and I felt a bit bad with the possibility of me contributing to her being that way.

” Stella listen, that man was going to fail you at one point or another because that’s who he is. He’s a failure of a man and he didn’t even derseve you. Just forget about him and move on” i spoke up trying to make an eye contact with her but she kept her eyes on the clothes she was washing.

She went on telling me how she didn’t need me or any other man right at the moment. She threw it in my face I was married and I needed to go back to my family. At that moment the thoughts of my wife even irritated me cause She she was the one I was now blaming. If only she didn’t get pregnant I would have been free to be with my Stella.

” Mike you have come too?” Her mother asked me walking back from the market I could see the basket she was carrying in her hands.

” yes mom, I just came in and thought of coming to see you people. Surprised to see Stella here too” i pretended.

” that’s nice of you my son, so tell me how your wife and kids are? ” she smiled and I saw Stella look at me and quickly looked back at her clothes like telling me ” that’s a good reminder “.

As we engaged in greetings with her mother, Stella lifted the dishes and headed back in,side without saying another word to me.

I waited trying to tell stories with her mother to buy myself time that I may see her but she didn’t come out.

I couldn’t ask to see her freely like before now that everyone knew I was a married man.

With a frustrated heart, I walked away and told her mother to say my good byes on my behalf. Planning on going back the following day and probably finding a better way of convincing her to get back with me.

I wasn’t even sure of the details of what happened to her marriage but I was determined to take her back. If it meant leaving my wife for her, I was ready to do so. She was free now and she was going to be mine again the way it should have always been, I thought to myself.

The following day I was occupied by the people that had come to greet me. My friends and some of the family members.

I kept looking at time wanting to ran to the next yard to go and try talking to Stella..

By the time everyone left it was past 14 hours and I went there playing a good neighbour.

I was greeted by her father who too made me sit and chat with him for some minutes.

” so dad, where is Stella? I saw he yesterday. When I came to greet mom” I asked her father.

” oh my son, your sister is going through a rough time and I don’t know how to help her. She left her husband and told us all the hell that man made her go through. She sued him for a divorce. She told me yesterday she will have to go and prepare herself cause the court hearing is next week Monday.” He explained

” oh so you saying she left already?” I asked him panicking.

” yes my son, she left this morning with the 09 Hours Wada Chovu bus” he smiled.

I couldn’t contain my anger as I walked back to my parent’s house. If not for the fact that I already told them I was to stay another day, I could have started off right that minute but I knew I had to wait till the following day.

MARRIED SINGLE Episode 14

” Mother, I told you about Mike already. He’s just my childhood friend and there’s nothing going on. I already have issues of my own with my husband. The least I want is some drama with Mike” I defended myself after my mother asked about Mike.

” nmmmm I hope so cause that look I saw in that man’ s eyes smelled trouble and if in any way he contributed to the problems you and your husband are going through then it’s very unfortunate” she shrugged cooking Nshima.

” Mother forget it now. I told you am starting over. I came here to seek a way of finding myself and the past week I have felt better. I promise you mother, am not going to cry nor be the woman that will disappoint myself from now onwards. Am going to live a single and free life. I think after everything that has happened it’s all that I need” i nodded my head handing her the plate to put the lumps of Nshima on.

She encouraged me to be strong, telling me most women go through a lot in their marriages and she wished I had to endure more than I did.

However, the fact of Chris bringing another woman with a child in my home made even her so upset she gave up her initial ideas of me getting back with my husband.

” am even going back tommorow mother.. like i told you earlier. Linda managed to find me a two roomed, self contained house in Chilenge, she said it’s in,side the wall fence and the landlord stays within in the big house. I think that can do for a while you know” I sighed as we set the table.

My mother, father and I talked about my issues that evening after supper and they both told me I had to remain strong and focused.

Early the following morning I prepared myself and got on the morning bus back to Lusaka.

I had not thought of Mike all this time. I felt proud of myself . Taking Mike out of my mind was one best feeling and now I felt I was being detached from my past. A good way to start over.

Straight from the station, Linda booked a cab and we went to my now new home. After greeting the land lady, a vibrant and jovial woman in her early 40s I moved my small laguage into the house.

” Boi, thank you so much for helping me with this. Am really glad and grateful.” I smiled as we sat on the bags.

” you are welcome boi, you are more than a friend to me and now that you are going through a rough patch in life, you need me the most” she held my shoulders leaning her head on me.

” I know but, you know what ? I have a great feeling about all this. I can assure you my mourning times are over as I will try to live an optimistic life. It’s just me and my God now” I raised my hand and Linda laughed.

” well, what about me?” She made a face and I hugged her back.

” you my good friend is always at heart” I shouted making us both laugh.

” now lets get me some things for the house.” I announced standing up.

“You seriously telling me you have the money to get yourself all the items you need in one day?” She asked surprised.

” well, let’s just say I made myself quite some money in the period I told you I was trying to change the world by crooking men” I told her as she made a surprise face.

” come on let’s go it’s past 15 already if we delay I won’t have a bed to sleep on tonight” I led her outside.

We went to carnival and I managed to get myself a bed, a shoe rack, a simple wardrobe. We later moved to Game stores within Manda Hill where I got a small stove, some plates and pots and some groceries for a start.

I didn’t want to take anything from Chris’ s house so I made sure I only left with my clothings. For me it was going to be a clean start.

We booked an open van to take the items from Game stores home to await Carnival deliver the ones I bought there.

By the time it was night, I had my small home set. Linda stayed with me for the night during which I filled her in on Lucas and the other things I had done before.

As always she encouraged me with the word of God and helped me pray for a better start over.

The court session was to start on a Monday and I now had two days to it. I took a bath that morning and planned on going to the saloon.

One of the things I thought I had to maintain in my single life was my looks. Even if i had no intention of hooking up with anyone any time soon, I had decided to look my best and enjoy my life.

” oh my God I cannot wait for that woman to finally be divorced so that i can claim my right place in that house” I heard Mwelwa’s voice behind me.

Two women had just walked into the saloon and I immediately recognised her voice.

I didn’t turn my head to look at them as the hair dresser plaited my hair. I decided to keep quite and listen to what the lady had to say.

” am happy for you mwandi, some women kuwayawayafye!” The friend responded and they both laughed.

” yeah since she couldn’t bare him kids i knew I could use that to my advantage. Giving birth to my baby brought me some lucky you know. Now am the woman of the house and I won’t sit back to let her come back. Let her go wherever she wants but not near my Chris” she said proudly I even felt like laughing.

” your Chris indeed” I thought to myself.

Surprised how God can ease the pain of everything when you surrender and give it all to him. If it was any other time I could have felt bad and probably wanting to answer back and tell her a piece of my mind. But now I wouldn’t dare. I felt at peace despite everything.

In fact I felt pity for both of them. They really derseved each other and I could hear the rest of the discussion. From it I was able to ascertain there was some questions about who the real father to that child was. But it wasn’t in my place to worry.

After I was done I slowly stood up head held high as other ladies complemented my looks. I smiled and said thank you.

I saw Mwenya look up at me and her face dropped when she realised who I was.

Without a word to her I walked out feeling eyes on me.

I was just turning to the bus station in Kulima Tower from East park were i had gone to the saloon, when I saw Lucas walking towards his car.

One instinct told me to go ahead and greet him but I changed my mind.

I wanted to stay away from anything that would make me act in a way I wouldn’t want to at the moment. Besides I wanted to give Lucas the space that he derseved. I had not bothered to call him for over the period I last told him everything and his silence to me meant he had moved on.

” Stella!” I heard a familiar voice as I walked dodging Chris.

Turning to the direction of the voice, I almost melted. The last person I had expected to see, Lucas’ mother.

She greated me cheerfully telling me she was with Lucas who brought her to get some things in town.

” it’s been a while my dear. I was just asking Lucas about you and he told me you are okey. Come on let’s go and see him he parked this way” she pulled my hand before I could say a thing. I wondered if Lucas had told her about us. Her innocence proved otherwise.

I so much wanted to tell her I couldnt see her son but there was no escape now as we came in full view of Lucas who looked at me with surprise.

” Hey!” I composed myself greeting him

Instead of answering he moved towards me and pulled me in a tight hug. ” Hey! What a surprise ” he sighed hugging me.

” yeah it is right? I bumped into mom and..”

” she was heading to the station I just told her you brought me here” his mother cut me short.

” you two do your catch up let me get some food from hungry lion am starving ” she smiled putting the plastics which she had in her hands in the back of the car.

” sure mom” I smiled at her and watched her go to Hungry lion.

” so” Lucas shrugged looking at me.

” yeah” I sighed not knowing what to tell him. He looked good in his slippers and dark cargo p-nts going with a pure white v neck t-shirt.

” how are you ?” He asked leaning on the car.

I looked at him and realised I had actually missed him. But I wasn’t going to say it anyway so I told him I was okey.

” I missed you even though i know I shouldn’t ” he started..

” am sorry I…”

” it’s Okey, I understand.” He talked in.

” how is your husband?” He asked calmly

” honestly I dont know. I have not heard from him in almost 3 weeks now. But am sure he’s okey, I could have heard if anything bad had happened to him you know” I chuckled looking down.

” what’s that? You mean you two are not staying together?” He asked

” Lucas, am sorry but I have to go now. I need to see some one before I go home.” I excused myself feeling the tears in my eyes. I feared I would cry before him. Lucas had a way of bringing out the weak part in me and I knew staying their would make me start telling him all my problems of which I had not planned on doing.

” stella!” He stopped me holding my hand.

” Please, please, don’t shut me out. Talk to me” he whispered his voice as calm and pure as ever.

“What’s going on with you? You have lost weight and you don’t look okey even if you pretending otherwise. Talk to me am your friend remember?” He looked at me.

” am sorry Lucas, I have to go now. I can’t do this right now,” I said tears now falling.

” you are crying” he whispered sadly.

” am sorry” i sniffed and walked away quickly avoiding to stand any more minute before him.

Without looking back I matched quickly to the bus station and direct to the busses going to Chilenge.

I sat in the back seat sighing and wiping my face. ” oh my God, I cant cry right now. I am being strong for myself and crying is not good for me” I told myself in,side.

The sadness and concern I saw in Lucas’ eyes made me so sad I couldn’t get his image out of my mind.

As I sat in my house all i could think of was him and I hated he had affected me that way. I spent the next two days locked up in,side playing some gospel tracks and listening to some gospel TV programmes.

” So how are you feeling now?” Linda asked holding my hand. As we stood near the court awaiting the time to be called.

” I don’t know Boi. I think I need all this to be over already. I just hope the courts will summarise everything today cause am not ready to come back here again. I need to start concetrating on other things and not Chris anymore” I responded.

We saw Chris and his new wife to be carrying their new born baby walking towards the court room..

” he’s so shameless to even think of bringing another woman here” Linda scoffed angrily. ” I honestly feel like going to slap some sense into that head of his” she added.

“Come on Linda let them be and lets get walking we are set in a few minutes” I told her and we went in,side.

I saw Chris looking back at us and then forward as the Judge walked in.

” let this be over soon my God” I whispered a prayer and sat up.

Story continues…

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