Life After Death

by Brian Ndingindwayo

  Now, he was riding high.

  He repeated his favourite saying: this part of the world belongs to us.

  Poor fella. He looked at the pictures of Dr. Dumka again. By the time you come out, I will be having a house in Khumalo. I will be having a Jaguar. I will be having…he smiled to himself, your girl actually.

  Chapter 22

  He heard footsteps in the secretary’s room adjoining his office. Nobody came into his office without phoning except Kathy. Kathy was a senior environmental reporter.

  ‘You will talk to me, won’t you?’ she crooned from the door. She hugged at herself.

  ‘You know I will, honey. How was your day?’

  ‘Fine.’ She moved closer to the table. She pushed away a set of books across the table. She perched on it. She faced Sipeyiye, her legs dangling in the air. Sipeyiye had for years had the urge to touch those legs, but he has always refrained. The golden rule for work is you shall not touch. Stay professional.

  ‘It’s a good thing you have come,’ Sipeyiye droned.

  ‘What’s it?’ she was receptive to the tone in his voice. She crinkled her face, expecting to hear some bad news. She wasn’t bad this Kathy. She would treat you to millions of smiles, and still remain faithful to her husband.

  Now, Sipeyiye asked about her husband, ‘How’s Reuben?’

  ‘He’s fine.’ She laughed. ‘He was also passing his greetings to you.’

  Of course, she was lying. Reuben was never to know that he sometimes sat with his woman in the office alone like this so close to darkness at 6:49.

  ‘What’s it that you wanted?’ she asked.

  ‘A definition.’

  ‘Surely, you have a lot of dictionaries in here.’

  ‘A definition, of course. What’s love?’

  ‘What?’ she jumped off of the desk. ‘Let me try it. It is that feeling that possesses one when you’re filled with an uncontrollable want of the other sex.’ She was pacing the room listlessly. She waved her hands in the air like a preacher. Sipeyiye couldn’t help smiling. ‘It’s a combination of all the good things: giving, sharing, protection... It is uncountable. It’s focused. It’s gentle…I could go on the whole day, dear. But you can’t love me; you know Reuben would kill you.’

  She turned back to the table. ‘Ok, don’t just shout it yet. Let me guess, you’re into some high romance?’

  ‘What about if I give you a little task to do my dear Kathy?’

  She had her hand flat on her chest. ‘What now? My, are you in the eighth sky after all?’

  ‘You said it.’

  ‘Then I’m jealous,’ she pressed her cheek on the backside of her hand.

  ‘Come on, don’t be silly,’ Sipeyiye snorted, snapping at her hand. He dropped a kiss at her forehead.

  He told her his story. She warmed up to it.

  ‘That’s tricky,’ she sighed when he had finished. ‘But then where exactly do I come in?’

  ‘I want to establish contact with that girl. But I don’t want to frighten her away by rushing the object of my affection.’

  ‘And what exactly is that?’

  ‘I love that girl, Kathy. Today, what we’ll do is this: I will put adverts in the Truth and tomorrow, in all the other papers in the country. The other one would be for the accommodation available. The other one would be for the situations wanted. She would respond to the adverts. You will handle her.’

  Kathy began to understand.

  Chapter 23

  Dawn touched the tall buildings at the Truth. The morning sun glowed outside. The lights died in the streets. Dawn found Sipeyiye in his office. He acted like a mad man, punching the computer furiously. He would complete today’s work before sunrise. And then he and Kathy would go on a little errand.

  ‘On my way,’ Kathy phoned to say.

  Sipeyiye worked faster. These were top stories he has been trying to restructure overnight. Then he looked at the material that gave him a sleepless night. There was a knock at the door. Kathy entered.

  'Good,' he said as he left the desk. He entwined his hand into hers. They went out. ‘And where are we going from here?' Kathy enquired. They set out, Kathy coiled up in the bucket seat of the Pajero. She was loud and high.

  'Sipeyiye and I are going on a little errand.'

  'I can't believe I'm giving you away, honey.'

  'I guess I'm going regret all this.'

  She talked to herself all the way.

  At this point Sipeyiye responded. 'You give Reuben away first, dear love. That’s a fair bargain.’

  She exclaimed, ‘and three children?' She made a face. 'You’re mad, Sipeyiye. Raving stinking mad. 'You would think she meant it. They parked outside Frank House.

  'You wait here. I'm coming.’ Kathy didn’t want to be left behind. You don't tell her that, actually. She wanted to know what exactly it was that Sipeyiye and the director of a property rental company would be doing up the tall building. This wasn’t a bad thing for the director who loved company. He kept on grinning at the woman.

  'What do you want this flat for, Mr Mohyi?' the director after a lift and many doors, two receptionists and a private secretary. ‘I understand you've a place at the moment. I can’t imagine that you failed to pay rent?’

  Sipeyiye laughed. Of course, these guys were in business to let you live in for a fee. He had never imagined himself failing to pay for a roof over his head, though. No, not from the moment they made him the editor of the Truth. Because now, the Truth was selling in millions.

  'Somebody will live in it.' He slipped out his chequebook. 'I will cover the expenses. How much?' He scribbled Frank Agents in front of ‘Pay To’ in his chequebook.

  ‘Six hundred dollars a month.'

  In spite of Sipeyiye's need to prove a point, he winked. His bargaining was very poor. He had called for an urgent place. It never occurred to him that the rentals would double

  'I will pay two months in advance. Anyway…’

  'That's fine. You pay at the Accounts department downstairs.'

  'So where's this flat, Frank?'

  Frank shipped a form for him to fill across his mahogany desk.

  'It's Teddy court. Main and First.'

  'Ok,' Sipeyiye accepted a bunch of keys from him. 'Kathy and I are leaving,' he said. He noticed the director steal a glance. 'And while you’re at it Frank, Kathy has just been telling me she's married and has three children that she's not going to leave in a hurry. Didn’t you, Kathy?' Kathy smiled faintly. The director smiled shyly.

  'You’re so sexiest,' cooed Kathy in the car, as they drove towards Teddy court.

  'I told you to remain behind,' Sipeyiye accused.

  Teddy court wasn't the flat Sipeyiye would spend the whole of his life dreaming to live in.

  It was unfurnished. The windows, although all of them were still in place, showed the first signs of aging. Doves crooned outside. The windowsills, inaccessible were littered with their droppings.

  ‘We’ll clean up and furnish it for our little Natasha,’ Kathy volunteered.

  ‘Yeah.’

  They went out into the street. They came with a broom, handy- andy, a mop, a bucket, and window cleaner. Soon they were busy. Kathy swept the floor. Sipeyiye followed scrubbing. Kathy thought that was funny. It took them half the day.

  They had lunch together at noon. Sipeyiye had his back to the wall. He always did that when he took Kathy out. They left for Sipeyiye’s flat, six blocks up the street, and in the 10th Ave. It was nothing very different to Teddy court. But at least in it was a single bed. Very thin mattress. The walls were smart. Furthermore, you wouldn’t hear neighbours playing rumba music next door.

  Sipeyiye had a single set of sheets. He had a single blanket. He was willing to dispose of his table, cooking stove and his single bed for Teddy Court. Kathy dissuaded him. He would starve. He would catch the flue. And that wouldn’t be any good to Natasha.

  Sipeyiye laughed.

  Kathy got two blankets, a mosquito n
et, kitchen utensils from her place. Meanwhile, Sipeyiye drove into town and signed cheques on a new stove and a headboard. They met at dusk at Teddy Court.

  They didn’t always agree on where they should put the headboard. That took them a good part of an hour. The issue was resolved when Kathy said she would scream. Sipeyiye was afraid of being discovered with other men’s wives in secret places. He did care too much for the juicy headlines that would appear in the rival papers. He gave in.

  They finally managed to arrange the furniture into some order. In the evening, they left for a bar outside town. Sipeyiye was happy to hear Kathy say if her husband would ask where she had been, she would say she had work that ran overtime, and if Reuben had issues with it he was free to call the editor of the Truth. At least, Kathy wasn’t an angel. He was dealing with another human being after all.

  ‘To Natasha,’ Kathy lifted her glass.

  Sipeyiye lifted his, too. Their glasses touched and clinked in the air.

  ‘And Sipeyiye,’ she added. ‘And for the full life that awaits the two of you.’

  Sipeyiye drove Kathy home in the evening. He drove her past the gate and stopped three homes away.

  ‘And Sipeyiye …take care,’ whispered Kathy as she left the car.

  ‘I will, dear. What about meeting you tomorrow morning?’

  ‘And this time I will meet the girl?’

  ‘This time you will meet the girl.’

  ‘But, Sipeyiye…don’t phone. I will phone if there is any need.’

  Kathy walked the hundred metres back.

  Sipeyiye drove home.

  Chapter 24

  Sipeyiye glanced at his watch. Past nine! He patted a yawn. Kathy sat beside him on another day. She was talking unceasingly. He was listening and missing a girl at the same time.

  They kept an eye in the direction of the Railways Station.

  Suddenly, Sipeyiye became very still.

  Kathy followed his gaze. A tall woman was leaving the dilapidated building of the Railways lodge station. She had a cheap bag she carried on her shoulder. She picked her way across the road among pieces of paper spiralling in the wind. She came close to the Pajero. She cast a casual glance as she passed by.

  Sipeyiye’s heart missed a bit.

  She walked along. Sipeyiye and Kathy ran short of words as she disappeared behind a corner.

  ‘That’s the girl,’ Sipeyiye said.

  He checked on Kathy.

  She wasn’t impressed.

  ‘Now, would you follow her, honey?’ Reluctantly, Kathy clicked the door open and descended. ‘Keep phoning,’ he called at her back.

  ‘Excuse me…’

  Natasha glanced up. ‘Mind if I look at your paper?’

  Natasha looked quizzically at the intrusive woman. She was sitting alone in the sun. It might have been within her imagination, but she didn’t like the way this woman kept glancing at her. She was homely and motherly looking, though. Her hair was ripped open at the top, giving her a soft look. Her cheeks flashed with pearly, a tone that detracts from the eyes. She wore a long bias cut berry cardigan dress. She had a ring on the second finger, and Natasha immediately confirmed she was a married, harmless woman. The crystal beads around her wrists and neck shone in the sun.

  Natasha passed the newspaper to her. The woman flicked through it, seemingly looking for a specific article. She came to the end. She closed it.

  She perched herself at the end of the bench.

  ‘Promising to be a good day,’ the woman said conversationally.

  ‘Sure.’

  She sat there, seemingly short of words. She flicked through the paper again. She came to the end of it. She folded it onto her lap.

  ‘Sometimes, I do come here in the morning. I like this place when there aren’t people around.’

  ‘So you don’t like me around here, then?’ Natasha returned with humour.

  ‘No, dear.’ She was looking into her eyes. ‘Solitude… it’s a good thing, but we all need contact. When I’m sitting here looking at the blue sky, that gives me time for reflections. It’s unfortunate the youth of today only have to spend their lives in groups.’

  ‘You’ve got children?’

  ‘A handful of them. And yourself?’

  ‘No…’

  ‘It’s a good time just before you have children. I miss it a lot. It’s a time of solitude.’

  Silence again.

  ‘So do you stay around town?’ she tried again.

  ‘Not really. At Railways.’

  ‘Why, Railways is in town for all that I know.’

  ‘I’m here temporarily.’

  ‘And where’s home?’

  ‘Chipinge.’

  ‘Heavens, that’s in Zimbabwe.’

  ‘Eastern Highlands. Ndau area.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I know. And if you don’t mind, my pestering you…what brings you here?’

  ‘You wanna know the truth?’

  ‘Nothing, but the truth.’

  ‘Looking for a job.’

  The woman looked at her sorrowfully.

  ‘Jobs are difficult to find these days. You’ve got qualifications?’

  ‘Accounting degree. Witswaterand University. South Africa.’

  ‘I know.’

  Natasha raised an eyebrow. ‘Now, now, don’t you think you know too much already?’

  The woman waved at her dismissively. ‘You’ll get a job.’

  Her words took Natasha back into the present history. Her mother said the same words. And here she was, exactly the same words being delivered to her in the same somewhat off-handed manner as if work was easy to find.

  ‘What’s it, dear?’

  ‘What?’ Natasha realized she has betrayed herself. ‘Nothing, nothing…’ she covered foolishly. ‘No,’ she said later. ‘It’s just that my mother said exactly the same words. I mean, exactly the same words.’

  ‘Really? What a coincidence!’ Kathy said merrily.

  There was an icy silence again. ‘Your mother you say…Mothers always have some very funny things to say.’

  ‘You’re a philosopher, aren’t you?’

  ‘You’d be a good mother if you try, Natasha, won’t you?’

  ‘It’s frightening being a mother. As you said, youth is a cherished moment we should all defend aggressively.’

  Natasha rose dismissively. ‘You will mind if I leave you now?’

  Kathy rose also. ‘Kathy. Kathy Trishma,’ she said. ‘We hope to meet again, don’t we?’

  Natasha offered her hand. ‘I’m Natasha Chuma. We hope to meet again for sure.’ She walked away without glancing back. When she was sure she was out of Kathy’s sight, she turned. She could see the woman. She was still in the same place. Later on she glanced in her direction. She obviously wouldn’t see her hiding behind shrubs. The woman rose and started towards the road. Her tall frame immediately disappeared in a black Pajero whose doors opened on their own as she approached.

  Chapter 25

  Natasha popped into Greens supermarket on her way back to the Railway Station. She bought herself a pint of sour milk for lunch. They provided food at the Railways, but she realized if she were to buy the stew every time, she’d be without any money soon.

  In the queue, she met Kathy again. She was grabbing some chips herself. Kathy called it a wonderful coincidence, looking into her face. She added she wasn’t busy herself that’s why she was just loitering around and buying chips.

  Why, she added as they left the supermarket, she would even accompany Natasha to her place. That will give her even more time to kill. As they walked on the pavement, Natasha thought she saw her Pajero parked in the parking slot. She thought, though that would be prying so she shouldn’t talk about it.

  ‘I also stayed at the Railways myself at some time,’ said Kathy, ‘but then the standards were better.’

  ‘Sure.’ She was a funny character this Kathy, so comfortable with strangers, thought Natasha. No, she didn’t want to believe that. But
then she couldn’t get hold of an explanation.

  ‘Would you like to come in then, Kathy?’

  ‘I will just pop in and see where you stay. I might want to come see you again. Won’t that be wonderful?’

  ‘I will sure like that.’

  They crept into the hostels. The other girls were all there walking about naked except for their underwear. Natasha could see Kathy looking at them with distaste.

  When Natasha accompanied her to the gate, she asked, ‘Wouldn’t you like a place of your own Natasha?’

  ‘I would, of course. As I rightfully pointed out, my dear Kathy, I’m looking for a job. If I’m successful on that, I might start talking about a house. How am I supposed to pay for it; I haven’t got any money at the moment?’

  ‘I understand you, dear. What about if I find you a place? You will pay me when you get a job.’

  ‘That is too generous, don’t you think?’

  ‘It’s not. It’s rational.’

  ‘But I might never be able to find a job, you notice?’

  ‘I’ve minded that, already’

  ‘Let me think about it. Where’s this place that you talk about?’

  ‘I will try finding something in town so that you can still visit the park when you wish.’ Kathy grinned at this.

  ‘That’s ok with me. You know I’m really grateful for his, Kathy. Now, I want to ask you a question.’

  ‘Fire off.’

  ‘What about if I don’t want this flat, Kathy? What about if I don’t trust strangers who crowd my life so quickly?’

  ‘Don’t you mind about that, dear. I’m telling you this: you will occupy this flat in the 1stAve. The place is Teddy. The No. is 10. And what more…’ She fished something from her pockets. It turned out to be a bunch of keys.

  ‘There are the keys.’ She thrust them in Natasha’s reluctant hand.

  Natasha turned around without another word. In her ears, she heard the word Teddy Court ringing again and again. She just put the keys into her tattered bag and drifted to sleep except that she didn’t sleep. It was midnight that she thought, in addition a tattered bag and one lone dress; she has been through a lot to face anything. She asked the first girl to come back to the lodge where exactly Teddy flat was.

  Chapter 26

  Sunrise saw her pacing down towards Teddy Court. She got up the stairs confidently. She managed even to say good morning to the couple she met up the stairs.