The Other Woman

Sabina Joy, Room 16
Friday 30th June, 2017  2100hrs

Two humanly creatures seem busy. They are free spirits in this dimly lit room at the end of the corridor. Thin ammonia smell emanating from the handkerchief-thick blanket on the floor betrays the little cost they must have paid to secure this den. The ambient noise of orgasms from neighbouring rooms seems to do little to disrupt their 'business'. Proof enough that they are so intrigued in each other. They look inseparable. The woman is now sinking her lion-like nails into his chest occasionally. Whenever this happens, he seems to gain a new force and the louder the bed gets the more he seems to get clawed. One hand is combing through his long afro, while the other is busy doing its engraving on his chest. She is screaming every now and then, 'Yeah', 'Harder', 'Faster', 'Hit It'. Save for the location and the tone with which she says these words, these would serve her well enough at the Police Training base, Nairobi. And obediently her 'trainee' seems to adhere religiously to every order she shouts. He is almost passing out yet he is pressing on. I doubt he is working this hard on her just for his pleasure, no. Not by the look of pursuit for satisfaction he is looking for in her. He feels powerful, yet the one receiving the orders. He is moving it faster now. She doesn't know what the hell is happening inside her. The way she looks like, her long hair sweeping every corner of the pillow. Her mouth wide open, as if in surprise, as if almost getting what she has waited all this long to get. And damn, he ain't failing to do it. She begins turning her waist round and round. He knows she is almost there when she does this. He has to keep going even if he had a bullet to his head. This is it. Almost there. Hang in there. His bomb down there is about to explode but he has a way of delaying the timer. Weird? How do you even do that?
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" He has hit it and he is damn sure next thing will be rains. But he can't hold any longer. His bomb is at stake. 3,2,1 and BOOM! He explodes inside her.
Immediately, she pushes him over. And, "SSSH! SSSSH! SSSSH!" A clear liquid jets furiously off her. She is shaking terribly like a twig as the liquid continues, now getting smaller and smaller. She is now pulling the bedsheets as if to tear them apart. You would think she is having a seizure. Yet a good one.
He is just staring at her. Like a man who is satisfied at the excellent job he has done.
This goes on for about 10 seconds then she lies there blankly. Her body looks lifeless and harmless now. It's not the Constable gown on her now, it is the vulnerability jersey on her. All her power seems too useless at this moment when she has just had the best moment in a long time. She has been missing such a 'seizure'. She turns over to find a face staring at her. It is him. The master who knows how to make 'springs' out of her. Literally.

Woman: You know you have never told me how you do it? I've tried it with my husband but nothing. What's it you do?

Man: Same reason why you still pay your electric bills to KPLC, yet you know you can generate your own power through the God - given sun.

Woman: Don't knock yourself off.

Man: Why not? I earned it. Ever wondered why you are the only woman I know of who squarts?

Woman: The proverbial 1 out if every 20 maybe? The more reason you should leave her and be with me.

Man: What about your husband? Or do I need to remind you he is my boss? How would that paper read(making an imaginary newspaper flip), "WIFE'S DRIVER HIT-AND-RUNS HIS BOSS MARRIAGE". That would make hell of a paper, don't you think so?

Woman: No. You don't have to wake the sleeping dogs. We can just be what we are, but I need you for me alone(touching his overgrown beared). She isn't worth you.

Man: (Chuckles) Worth? I bet I'm the one not worthy of her. She now thinks I am working late. How does she even manage to be so naive? Who works late on a Friday? And a mere driver of all the people. I wouldn't believe a bit of that. Not even for the busy uber drivers.

Woman: A driver who is well paid, thanks to me. (As if to congratulate herself)You are welcome.

Man: Esther, you know it's not all about the money?

Esther: That's why I will do anything just to have you all to myself. But you always push me away.

Man: (Referring to himself in the third person) And what would that make of Eric? The man who left his wife of 3 years to be a side guy? (Ironically) Sounds like a fair deal madam Constable.

Esther: (Jumping out of bed and walking towards the window) I just have never learnt sharing. Especially the man who climaxes me...

Eric: Yet you would be glad to have him as a side guy and not him have you as a side chic? Huh, it's a new world. (Sighing as he tries to get his phone from between the sheets.)

Githurai 45                       2208hrs.
The venarcular show on the radio keeps him company. His thoughts are far off from the present, yet the Freshly Mwamburi song playing on the background of the radio presenter makes him think. Why is love so cruel?

"...Nilikua na mchumba wangu, tulipendana kama nyama choma,
Alibahatika kwenda ng'ambo, chuo kikuu kwenda kusoma, miaka mitatu kule Japani, kusomea udakitari, Stella wangu...(I had a lover, we loved each other like roast meat, she was lucky to go abroad for university studies, three years in Japan, to study medicine, my Stella..."

The presenter interjects here and then.
"... Witawa wendo, ni kindu ki muyo muno. Yaani endanite na mwendwa wake muno. Mendanite muthemba wa nyama sya uvivya... (it's called love, it's a very sweet thing. I mean, they loved each other very much. They loved each other like roast meat..."

This song has its way of speaking to Eric. Like the artist was writing the song about him yet in the person of Stella. Funny?
He is now driving past Eastmatt Supermarket when the song comes back on...

"... Nilivyompenda Stella jamani, kajitolea kwa nafsi moja, nikauza shamba langu, sababu yake yeye, nikauza ardhi yangu, sababu yake yeye, nikauza ng'ombe na mbuzi, sababu yake yeye, ili apate nauli ya ndege na pesa zingine za matumizi, huko Japani(The way I loved Stella, I sacrificed with one heart, I sold my farm, just because of her, I sold my land, just because of her, I sold my cows and goats, just because of her, so she can have money to travel by plane and have some more to spend in Japan)"

the presenter interrupts...
..."I tell you, wendo niutuma wika maundu maingi muno. Yaani we mwanaasa atee nginya utiiwa, nundu wa Stella. Eka uu mwanoo niwendete kelitu kaa. Mo aume aa ma muthemba uu komaelile naku. Kana nala andu meawa ni Wavinya yaliyo ndwele sipite(I tell you, love can make you do a lot. Look at this brother who sold even his inheritance, because of Stella. Indeed this guy loved this girl. Where did men of this type go to? Or is the type that Wavinya says let by gones be by gones?(chuckles)Hahaha..."

Just then his phone rings. A female voice is on the other side. He turns down the volume of the radio then picks up.

Eric: Yes my dear.
Female voice: Still working late?
Eric: I'm almost home. Is the daughter of my in-laws worried?
Female voice: Indeed yes. Otherwise who else would I be worried about love?
Eric: No worries, in less than five I will be there Jasca.
Jasca: (Silent for a while then...) You know how that makes me feel?
Eric: Yeah, I sure do. Among other things it calms you down. That's how I know you are hanging up satisfied. Haha.
Jasca: Clever bastard. Okay get home to me real fast then. (she hangs up).

He holds the phone on his ear for a while then drops in on the front passenger seat. He is not sure what he feels. He feels loved, but feels sorry that he is not faithful to the wife of his youth. He is dead sure that she is faithful and loving to him. She gave it all up for her. Not everyday you wake up next to a girl who gave up her father's wealth to buy him his dream car. Which he is driving now. He has had this car for the past two years. The exact number of years since his girlfriend moved in with him. The last thing she inherited from her father before he disowned her. And she gave it to him so he could hustle his way up using this car. And sure indeed, it has been a good 2 years, judging from the high profile personalities he has as clients. Drops 2 sons of a politician to school each morning, drops mails at the justice department, picks up a female police constable and drops her to work(Esther), then joins the rest of taxi drivers at KenCom for the busy hustle and buzzle of the city in the sun. That's a clientele good enough to pay all your dues each month.
He tries quitting his player habits, but he always finds a way back to that.
"Why do I always go back?"

He wakes up from his tour to his thoughts when he realizes that he is home. Will he be faithful? Will he face his wife with that unwaivering glance in his eyes? Really, you know who you love, but you don't know who loves you.
A drastic thought passes his mind. "Will I love my wife, or the other woman?"