Pedigree

Work is busy, I am talking to clients back and forth trying to see how best we can improve the properties and then we have those who feel we are not doing enough and the money they are paying is in vain. Honestly my job can be emotionally draining but this is the life I chose and there is nothing much I can do about it.

At lunch hour instead of driving out I use Ulendo Eats and order some barbecue wings and a salad from Champs, I have had a lot of carbohydrates the past weekend that I am afraid if I have any more, I will put on weight.

I am so engrossed in my work that I don’t hear my door open, it’s Vaughn.

‘Ms. Ng’uni.’ She says putting her hand where I can see it, she is exposing her wedding band.

‘Mrs. Nsandu.’ I say almost choking on the words, it’s just funny that I have to call her that when a few weeks ago I would have been playing with the words on my lips wondering how it would feel being called that way.

‘I need the report on the Siavonga properties.’

‘I sent it to Mr. Kaluba Snr ma’am.’

‘Well I said I want them.’

I sigh deeply

‘Alright I will forward them to you.’

‘Good.’

‘And Kasweka.’

‘Yes?’

‘We are not in any sort of competition, I am the one married to Nelson and I would suggest whatever games you have up your sleeves you drop them. There is a reason he didn’t marry you, there is a bigger reason it is I he married.’

I want to respond, I want to tell her that not once would I put up a fight for a man that left me but it is pointless and a waste of time fighting with her.

‘I won’t hesitate to fire you if you start bringing your personal issues to work.’ She says

‘Yes ma’am.’

She walks out of the office leaving my door open, I swallow really hard. Honestly I thought I was strong until tears roll down my eyes. As if my day is not going bad enough Nelson decides to walk into my office.

‘What are you doing here?’ I ask when he just stands against the door he has closed, hands dipped in his pockets.

‘Why are you crying?’

‘Nelson please leave my office, I am not in the mood for you or anyone else.’ I say feeling really irritated by his mere presence.

‘I was about to step out for lunch at our favorite spot and I thought you could tag along.’

I look at him, he must have lost some screws whilst on his honeymoon because everything that is coming out of his mouth is a bunch of rubbish.

‘Did you hear yourself?’

‘What?’

‘So you want me to tag along as what?’

‘Friends.’ He says shrugging his shoulders

‘You must really think lowly of me not so?’

Silence.

‘What do you see when you look at me? Some girl you can take on a joy ride? Do I look like a play thing to you?’

‘Sweka it is just lunch.’

‘Get the fuck out of my office Nelson.’

‘I will leave, not because you asked me to. But because you need to calm down.’

‘And vulgar language doesn’t suit you.’ He adds before walking out of the office

Fresh tears start to fall again, who in God’s name did I wrong for me to be going through this? Honestly at my age I was supposed to have everything figured out and yet things keep falling apart right in my face and now I am scared of my professional life because if I continue at this rate my work might be affected.

When I can’t cry anymore, I get back to what I was working on. I have my lunch when it is delivered and continue again with work until it is 5PM, all the years I have worked here I have always been the last person to knock off but for the first time today I leave at exactly 5Pm. I just want to get out of this place and bury myself in my beddings, besides with the little sleep I got I need to sleep early because I feel like a zombie.

Instead of driving straight home I pass through Shoprite at Pinnacle Mall, I usually come to shop here and it is my favorite Shoprite in Lusaka despite some people saying the prices here are a little higher than the other stores.

I am in the sanitary section when I spot Aunt Ivy, I am about to turn around but unfortunately, she sees me.

She walks towards me with a huge smile on her face.

‘Kasweka.’ She says as we hug.

‘Hey Aunty.’ I respond

‘I love the color of your dress, it is very pretty.’

‘Thank you so much, I like your hair.’

‘Thank you child.’

She has always paid attention to her looks, she dresses really well and smells amazing too. All the time.

‘I got you some perfume, I have been moving with it in the car hoping to run into you. We should go to the car together so that I give you.’

‘It wasn’t necessary Aunty.’

‘Oh it was, so I went into this store and smelt the floral scent and immediately thought of you. I know you are a sucker for such scents.’

I smile, even though she is not my favorite person at least she remembers what I like.

‘Okay when I am done I will call you.’

‘Sure.’ She says walking away

I stand for a few minutes and think about her and my dad, I mean how bad would it be if the two ended up together? They are of the same age group and if she makes him happy who am I to stop them? And then a funny thought comes to my mind, here is my father in his old age finding love and then there is me. I can’t help but laugh at my myself, honestly thinking about it like this is funny.

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Winnie

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