Nadir

The few days away from home have given me a new perspective and the conversation with Ems was supposed to make me feel better but I am angrier at him and each and everyone of their family members because it doesn’t make sense that they all allowed me to go through all this pain and then continue living their lives like nothing happened.

‘Welcome home.’ He says immediately Martha and I enter the house

I turn to look at Martha.

‘I am sorry pumpkin but this one is hard headed there is nothing I can do about it.’

I breathe out deeply. The audacity that he has, has always thrown me off guard.

‘I don’t know what your favourite food is but I cooked everything I could think of.’

‘You are trying to be your brother?’

‘I could never be Joshua in the kitchen, my cooking is terrible.’

He says this casually like everything is okay.

Martha excuses herself, taking our luggage to the bedroom.

‘Ems what is this about?’

‘Will you come to the kitchen and hear me out.’

I walk with him just so I can get him off my back.

‘What do you want?’

‘Sit first and taste the food.’

Sighing deeply I take and seat and wait for him to serve me.

‘Oh God Emmanuel what is this.’ I say spitting out the rice on a serviette

‘You and Joshua might be brothers but you can’t cook to save your life.’

‘See, we are not the same.’

I roll my eyes with irritation.

‘I have a preposition for you.’

‘What do you want? I have enough experience with your family I don’t think I want anything to do with you people anymore.’

‘Marry me.’

I wait for him to tell me that he is joking but it doesn’t come.

‘Excuse me?’

‘Marry me Nandy, Joshua hurt you and you obviously want to revenge. What better way to do it than getting married to his brother?’

‘And what’s in it for you?’

‘Joshua and I have not always seen eye to eye. I love him, he is my brother but I have fallen for you.’

This is the most absurd thing I have heard in a very long time but a part of me wants to go ahead with it.

‘You don’t have to respond now, I want you to take your time and think about it. I want you to really think about it.’

‘You still haven’t responded Ems. What exactly are you getting out of this? Come what may Joshua is your brother and you will always put him first. What makes you think that I am going to buy this rubbish of you wanting to marry me just so I can hurt him.’

‘Nandy I love you.’

‘Nonsense.’

‘I honestly love you and I don’t know why it’s hard for you to believe.’

‘They are a million reasons I could list down why I don’t believe you. But I choose to listen to the nonsense you have to dish out.’

He makes a face but I care less

‘We both have our agendas, I want something out of this agreement with you and you want something too. I can tell that you won’t let this go until you get something out of it.’

‘I don’t want anything to do with you Ems.’

He stands up.

‘I will allow you to think about it.’ He says putting a small box on the table

I open it and look at the ring inside.

‘Marry me, you don’t even have to love me. We will both get something out of this and I can guarantee you that we will make this work.’

‘Leave.’ I say without thinking twice. This is absurd and we both know it.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏽‍♀️