Barbra akaita basa rese akanyarara zvake, paange ave kutsvaira mukitchen, Lewis akapinda achigadzira twukafu twake nemudzimai wake yake, akati kuna Barbra; “Saka munobva kupi?”
“Banket” Barbra akadaro ndokunyarara achipfugama kukorobha mumba.
“Oh ok. I heard mamma Gambiza saying you are new in town, maimboshanda kupi?” Lewis akada kuziva.
Barbra akamboita nguva akanyarara ndokuzoti; “Ndaive kuJohannesburg, ndakadzoka kuzochengeta tete vangu, vari kurwara.”
“That’s so considerate of you, you were raised well. Vashoma vezera rako vangasiye basa to take care of parents, God bless you.” Lewis akadaro impressed.
Barbra akaramba akanyarara. Lewis ndokuti; “Isabella is not feeling well, I didn’t know that pregnancy can be this hectic, my wife can’t even sleep well, apa we still have four more months to go, I wish ndaimbokwanisa kutorawo the pregnancy to relieve her.”

Too Busy To Die - Stories By Lovely Rutendo Nzira - (Chapter 6)

Barbra akasimudza musoro ndokunyatsotarisa baba vaitaura izvi, vakasanganidzana maziso briefly, Barbra ndokutsikitsira. Lewis akatora herbal tea yaange agadzira nemaginger biscuits ndokuisa mutray achiti; “Give me 2 mins ndimbopa Isabella this, it usually helps kuti asanyanyorutsa otherwise anoita zuva rese asina kudya, opedzisira ave kurwadziwa pasina chekurutsa.” Lewis akabuda ndokundopa mudzimai wake chikafu kubedroom kwaaive akarara.
Akadzoka ndokuti; “Are you done cleaning? I want to show you something.” Barbra akandorasa mvura yaaishandisa nekurongedza zvese zvaaishandisa, ndokudzoka paive naLewis.
“Ok I am going to my office in town, tea yaIsabella and her biscuits, then fruit salad iyi. Can you just help us, mongomupawo every 2 hours, but motondomumutsa. Usually she feels better late afternoon, anozomuka around 4pm, anozobika zvake dinner, munenge matoenda then, so it’s this early morning yakanyanyotiomera.” Lewis akatsanangura.
“Ok, zvakanakai.” Barbra akadaro achibata bata zvaange aratidzwa. Lewis akabva aseka ndokuti; “So how was your pregnancy, yainetsawo here nhumbu yako?”
“Handina mwana ini.” Barbra akadaro akatarisa pasi.
Lewis akazvirova pahuma ndokuti; “Oh, oh, silly me, ndazviwana kupi zvekuti every woman has a child? Am sorry, it’s not like you look old or anything, am just excited because we are expecting, so ndongofunga kuti munhu wese ane mwana.” Lewis akadaro amira akatarisa Barbra.
“It’s fine.” Barbra akadaro ndokutanga kusuka zvaive musink, mai Katsande vakabva vapinda.
Lewis ndokuenderera achitaura naBarbra.“We were hoping to get someone older, angatibatsira about pregnancy and babies, manje auntie Barbra is just a young girl, no experience.”
Isabella akaisa tray yaive necup and saucer pasink achiti; “Inga vana ambuya vaJunior vese vakati vari kutitsvagira munhu nhai honey, sisi Barbra is just helping out because I am sick this week, no stress.”
Isabella akatarisa Barbra ndokuti; “Ndaisa hembe dzese dzinoda pressing and ironing muspare bedroom. Munokwanisa kundoayina zvenyu. Thanks for cleaning, mumba machena chaizvo.”
Barbra akabuda ndokuenda kuspare bedroom ondoayina mbatya dzaiveko.
Lewis akasara ndokuti kumudzimai wake; “Are you ok? I need to go to the office now.” Isabella akaseka ndokuti; “Endai kubasa daddy, hanzi namamma nhumbu ndiko kukura, hakusi kurwara, ndosaka ndamuka.”
“Ok then, I am just going to check maComputers, the Desktops and Laptops zvakasvika neSaturday kuShop kwedu, tange tisati tavhura that consignment.” Lewis akafamba achienda kubedroom kwavo achisiya mudzimai wake mukitchen.
Pasina nguva Lewis akamira mupassage ndokuti; “Isabella are you coming?”
“Handiti uri kugeza here, honey, ko ndouya kuzodii?” Isabella akapindura achiisa pan yaaida kubikira mazai pastove.
“Come help me bath sha, handisi kuda kugeza ndega.” Lewis akadaro akangomira mupassage pamusuo webathroom yavo.
Barbra aive muspare bedroom akambomira zvaaiita kuti anyatsonzwa zvaidaidzirana varidzi veimba iyi. Zvaainzwa nenzeve dzake zvakamuitisa munhikwi weshanje.
“Am preparing your breakfast honey”Isabella akadaro achiri kukitchen.
“So I am waiting, I won’t go in the bathroom alone, kurumidza”. Lewis akadaro achidzokera kubedroom kwavo ndokundozvivhariramo. After about 10 minutes, Isabella ange ave pabathroom door odaidza murume wake.
Barbra akaterera ndokunzwa kuseka Isabella achiti; “Honestly, soon I will have twins mumba muno.”
“No no I will be the younger one, always remember that, Junior and his siblings will grow up, and I will remain the youngest of them all, mummy…….” Barbra akanzwa kuseka uye musuo wemubathroom wakabva wavharwa zvimwe zvakataurika hazvina kuzonzwika.
Mashoko avo aiita maungira anobaya munzeve dzaBarbra zvekuti akatanga kuponda chewing gum yake nemazino kunge ichabuda ropa.
Barbra akazoita Svondo rese iri achishanda mumba mana Katsande. Musi weChishanu uyu, Isabella akabva ati; “I am still on leave, but muuye again next week, even for three days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I like the way you clean the house, you are so thorough mumba munosara muchinhuwirira mvura chaiyo.” Isabella akadaro achitambidza Barbra mari yake yeSvondo iri.
Barbra akabva abuda ndokusangana naLewis achipinda nemota pagedhe.Lewis akabva ati; “Mave kuenda auntie Barbra?”
“Ndokuonai neMonday ndave kumhanyira munamato wemanheru ano.” Barbra akadaro achiramba achifamba achienda, Lewis akamboita seane zvaaida kutaura ndokuzofunga kepiri ndokufambisa mota yake achienda kumba kwake.
Masikati eChishanu aya, Barbra akangonanga kuWarren Park ndokundowacha hembe dzavo vese sezvo aida kuzoendawo kuSalon nekumbofambawo mutown pazuva raitevera. Akangoti achipedza kuwacha ndokufonerwa naBen.
“Hie gorgeous, I am in town. Ndokuona kupi?”Ben akangodaro pakadairwa phone.
“Unowana ndave kuFlat, siya makeys paye paye” Barbra akadaro achinzwa kufara chaizvo.
“No no no, amainini variko wena, UZ yakavhura. Pane kaLodge kari 60km ouside town Mutare road. Pane muface wangu ane madhiri emari wandinoda kundoona. So unondiperekedza, toita overnight ikoko, todzoka mangwana masikati. Ndimirire paFood World iri muna Samora Machel, I will pick you up at 6pm sharp, kwete dzechiboy handitika babes.” Ben akadaro.
“Sharp sharp.” Barbra akadaro atotsigira fone neshoulder nekuti maoko ange ave extremely busy kutambanudza twumamini skirt nemashorts ekuendesa kwaange adaidzwa.
Manheru emusi uyu, vange vave paLodge apa muroom mavo. Pavakapedza kumbonakirana nekugeza, Barbra akarara pabed, Ben ave paLaptop yake achiita basa rake.
“So madhiri eiko nhai?” Barbra akadaro achida kuziva.
“Haumbozvinzwisisa izvi. Anyway, it’s a money club, we are 25 business people takaisa mari pamwe chete, so tinoita sechimbadzo, we loan each other that money to develop our businesses, todzora ine some interest. Inini ndinongoita accounts dzacho and also, I spin imwe yacho kwakawanda wanda. Muface wangu ndiye muridzi wemari, anondipawo some instructions how to spin mari iyoyo”. Ben akadaro ave kuvhara computer yake ndokuzoti;
“Ndiye again ane vanhu 23 vese, and some of them havatombozive kuti they are entitled to a share of the interest at the end of every year. So he makes money nemari dzevamwe iye asina zvaari kuita. Ndaakutaurisa, siyana nazvo, tinozoita kunge Samson and Delilah, unoda kundiparadza. Iwe ziva kuti it’s money, enjoy it while you keep me company, handitika babes.” Ben akadaro.
Barbra akaseka ndokusiyana nazvo, akatanga kuchinja machannel eTv achiona zvaaida. Ben akabva azofonerwa ndokusiya ati kuna Barbra.
“Order room service, tozodya ndadzoka, ndombonopa report kuna boss muridzi wemari like I told you, and I bought you a swim suit, tozoenda kuswimming after dinner. You will meet muface wangu or boss wangu rather, usataurise zvisinei newe, iwe ziva kuti waperekedza inini, enjoy that. And whatever chinoitika pano, nevaunoona pano, haundotauri mumasalon or to anyone else, even ukazovaona paTv or in the papers, never comment kuti pane kwawakambovaona, wanzwa here?”
Barbra akamuka ndokugara pabed achiti; “Ah nhaiwe is this a threat?”
“A threat and a warning my darling, unofira mahara. But kukutora second time like this, ndakatoona kuti you know how to mind your own business. Some chicks vanosindinetsa, especially ndave kumba kwangu, with my wife. Manje iwewe you didn’t even send a single message till today ndatokufonera inini. You will be highly rewarded for your loyalty and discipline.” Ben akadaro ndokufa nekuseka zvake achidhonza nekubata bata mukaka wasahwirakadzi wake, akabva abuda.
Barbra akasara achiita sezvaange arairwa. Akatorawo swim suit yaange atengerwa ndokumbopfeka achizvitarisa mugirazi raivemo raive rakazadza madziro ese.
Pavakapedza kudya vakabva vaenda kuseri kweLodge kwaive neswimming pool. Kwange kwadoka uye kusina vanhu vakawanda. Asi lodge yese yaive necolourful fluorescent lamps aipa chiedza nzvimbo yese.
Muswimming pool maive nechembere dzechirungu, uye patwumibhedha paive nevamwewo mukadzi nemurume.
Ivo vakaramba vachifamba vachienda kutwumibhedha twaive kwekupedzisira kwaive nemumwe mukadzi nemurume vakange vakagara vakafuratira. Mukadzi wacho akange akagara pamakumbo emurume wake vakabatana kunge vaive mumba mavo vega, apa vakapfeka hembe dzekutuhwinisa, kwaive kushama chaiko. Kana Barbra nekuzhangandira uye kuda chirungu kwake akanyara kuvatarisa. Ben akakosora kosora ndokuramba vakamira kumashure kwevanhu vaye.
Havana kuregedzana, mukadzi akaramba akagara pamakumbo uye havana kucheuka, murume wacho akabva ati; “Ben my man. Handiti you explained our non-disclosure agreement to your guest?”
“Everything is in order boss.” Ben akadaro.
“Cool” Murume uya akadaro achisimudza ruoko kunongedza kuti Barbra naBen vatenderere vandogara pakamubhedha kaive kakatarisana nevaviri ava.
Vakamboita nguva vakanyarara, mukadzi uya ndokuti kuna Ben; “It’s high time you get one lady Ben, swearing every chick you bring to every meeting to secrecy doesn’t make sense mhani, tototadza kunyatsofara nema pick and drop ako.”
Murume uya akabva ati; “I always tell him that. Anyway, welcome, what’s your name amainini.” Achibvunza Barbra.
Barbra akaramba akatsikira Ben ndokuti; “Bee is her name. Tiri kunwa chii?”
“You know I don’t drink, so I just ordered red wine to loosen up, imi take what you want” Murume uya akadaro.
Apa hana yaBarbra yakarova, akange asina chokwadi kuti aiziva manzwi evaviri ava, asi apa akazonyatsoziva nekuzivisisa kuti vanhu vaive apa vaive vanani. Nekuvhunduka kwaakange aita, akasimudza musoro ave kuvatarisa vese, paakavaona akatonyanya kurohwa nehana, she was right. She made an involuntary scream achibata muromo, ndokuti; “Bishop Gambiza! Sister Hazel!”
Vamwe vatatu vakavhundukawo zvekuti vese vari vana vakasimuka kunge pakati pavo pange pakandirwa nyoka.
“Ben who is this?” Bishop vakaridza tsamwa dzakasimba kunge vachatsemuka rurimi. “How many times ndichikuudza kuti my Ministry is a no go area. What have you done you idiot?”
Vese vakambonyarara asi Isaac ange atsamwisa chaizvo achifemereka nehasha. “This can be the worst scandal ever, I am expecting the American partners soon, they wanna make me a televangelist, and now this! This?! This nonsense Ben! Ayayayayayaya!”
Ben akatarisawo Barbra ndokumusaidzira kuti agare pasi. “No boss, this chick is harmless don’t worry. Calm down please. Ndimi mave kutotaurisa.” Ben akabva ati kuna Barbra, “Unovazivira kupi, you are new in Harare, wakavaona kupi?”
Barbra akambofemedzeka ndokuzoti; “Ndinoenda kuEuthenia Ministries kubvira pandakauya.”
“What did I tell you tiri mu room?” Ben akadaro kuna Barbra.
“Zvekuno zvinosara kuno,” Barbra akapindura akadzikama chaizvo.
“How much do you want? Name your price, kana ukataura after taking my money you will regret ever setting your foot in this world, mazvinzwa here ambuya imi?” Isaac Gambiza akadaro achinge acharova Barbra nembama.
Barbra akafunga akaona kuti anofanira kungwara, aive nezvaaida kuti Bishop vamuitirewo, apa akapururudzira mishonga yaambuya Mangena; “Zvakajeka, vadzimu vako nemasimba anondigonesa basa iri vachakuendesa panzvimbo yauchandowana zvinoda moyo wako.”
Apa ange apiwa mubatsiri waaida chaiye, in a platter of gold, by default, akasekerera ndokuti; “No bamukuru, relax, I mind my own business.”
Isaac akamboita nguva akatarisa Barbra, akazobata Hazel ruoko vese vakabva vagara pasi, Hazel achifemereka akatarisa Barbra, akange ave kuziva kuti vakatanga kusangana kupi uye sei.
“I know pane zvaunoda, what is it?” Isaac Gambiza akadaro zvakare.
Barbra akambonyarara achifunga kuti oronga sei mashoko kuti anyatsotaura zvaanoda. Mushure menguva akazoti; “Handidi mari yenyu babamukuru. I just want your silent support, imimi nasisi Hazel, ndobva ndagara muchurch menyu, zvachose. Kana paine zvandodawo in church monditsigirawo, chete.”
Isaac Gambiza nekuda kwekuvhunduka kwaange aita, akakurumidza kuti; “Ok ok, Hazie get her contacts, and make sure you are best friends.” Vakazotandara zvavo asi Bishop Gambiza was deeply disturbed. Akatadza kuita nyaya dzekuseka vari vese kudai. Vakazosimuka naBen ndokusiya vakadzi vakagara vega, ivo ndokuenda kundogara kure vave kutaurirana nezve business ravo.
Hazel paakasara naBarbra akati; “Ko Ben wakamuzivira kupi?”
“Ndaimbogara kuMasvingo, takangosanganawo ikoko.” Barbra akadaro.
“Ok, so uri kuitei in Harare?” Hazel ange azvipira kuziva zvese nezvaBarbra.
Barbra hana yairova asi aifara kuve pakati pevanhu vakuru ava; “Ndogara naConstance ndiri kutsvaga basa.”
Hazel akambonyarara ndokuzoti; “Ok it’s fine, I can give you a receptionist job paCompany pangu, handiti une O’Level English? Zvimwe unodzidzirapo.”
Barbra akasimuka ndokumbundikira Hazel nemufaro mukuru. Asi Hazel akaramba akapeta maoko ake.
Hazel akaenderera; “Asi handidi munhu anondinyepera, ukandiudza chokwadi ndokwanisa kukubatsira zvakawanda.”
“Sure sisi.” Barbra akadaro ave kufara.
Hazel akabva ati; “I am not a fool, chii chauri kuda kuti Bishop vakutsigire muchurch? Unoda chii muEuthenia Ministries?”
Barbra akambobwaira bwaira ndokuti, “Ndoda murume sisi Hazel, do you think I am happy kuita escort yaBen, for two days, mangwana ondisiya odzokere kumhuri yake, then ondidaidza futi paadira? No I want security. Ndodawo kunzi Mrs, so kana ndikawana murume muchurch Bishop havafanire kuparidza that God hates divorce nonsense. I am not asking him kuti vanditsigire or encourage the man openly. I simply want him to stay away from my issues, then he can come later and pretend to be shocked or say anything zvavanoda ndatove Mrs. Zvimwe I handle my own way.”
Hazel akashama muromo akatarisa Barbra ndokuseka achikachidzwa nemate ake achiti; “You go girl, where have you been all my life?! Now I have a partner and a friend. I like your style. This is survival of the fittest.”
Vasikana vakaita chikwee chakacheukisa zvikomba zvavo, Isaac akatura befu rekuzorora, kushunguridzika kwake kwakabva kwapera.
Hazel akaita serious zvakare ndokuti kuna Barbra, “And tell me, ndiani murume waunoda muEuthenia? Usanyepe zvako kuti hapana, because haungarambe cash from Isaac pasina munhu aripo.”
Barbra akaita nguva akanyarara ndokuzoti; “Lewis Katsande…”
Hazel akaseka zvakare ndokuti; “I repeat, where have you been all my life, the angels of Euthenia are now busy answering my prayers.” Hazel akasimuka ndokudhonza Barbra kuti asimukewo, akamumbundikira kwenguva refu ndokuti; “I will support you, together we are a great team. Trust me.”
Barbra akashamisika nazvo izvi, akagadzirisa drying towel raange akamonera ndokudzokera kugara pasi, Hazel akagarawo pasi achiti; “Now moyo wangu wozorora, gore rino richapera wave Mrs Katsande, Isaac ndichaita ashaikwe panotanga madrama ekurambana kwaLewis naIsabella.”
“But why sisi Hazie? Sei mada kundibatsira kudaro? Ndinozokuripaiwo nei?” Barbra akadaro ave kutya, vanhu ava vaive nezvihombe zvavaiita zvaaisanzwisisa.
“Relax, let me tell you the story of my life.” Hazel akadaro ndokumbodzungudza achifunga.
Akabva azoti; “Isabella takasangana paHarare Poly tichiita Higher National Diploma in Food Science tese. We were best friends, zvekuti vanhu vaiti we are sisters I tell you. I had my childhood lover, ainzi William mukomana andakakura naye, tiri family friends. Vabereki vedu were best friends, so we were a family. We dated kubvira ndiri 14, he was 17 then, kwaive kurerana chaiko. Till ndave 22 pandakaenda kuCollege and met Isabella. Patange tave kuronga kuroorana nemuchato wedu when I turned 24 ndiri mufinal year, William naIsabella vakabva vadanana sha. William akatondisiya. Ndakatorerwa boyfriend nebest friend yangu.” Hazel akambonyarara achipukuta misodzi yange yoerera kumeso kwake.
Akabva azoenderera; “Pasina kumbopera gore vakabva varambana. Ndakabva ndaenda kuGermany kuna amaiguru vangu to heal, I was heartbroken ndakapotsa ndapenga, that’s why vabereki vangu vakamboti ndibude muno. Ndakadzoka after 3 years ndave nemari yekutanga Company yangu. William ange aroorawo kamwe kamusikana, kakamuhurira, akamubata ane chikomba mumba mavo, akarova chikomba chacho zviri serious. After a week that guy akamudzokera ane vamwe vake vakamubaya nebanga akafa. Now am thirty, single, heartbroken, hateful to Isabella nanhasi, and am seeking revenge. You are my weapon for revenge.”
Hazel akaenderera achiti; “Now Isabella is happily married, unovaona pese pese showing off the love in their marriage. Dai akatoroorwa naWilliam ndaiti they found love through me, manje so? She just destroyed me. Tinotarisana kunge tisingazivane in church, but taiwirirana zvekuti even hembe taipfekedzana. Now this is pay back time, mira umuone achikwama ndamupa size yake. Iwe concentrate on being Mrs Lewis Katsande, I will make sure you will be Lewis’ only wife, girl.”
Vakadzi vakamboita nguva vakanyarara mumwe nemumwe achifunga nhamo yake. Barbra akabva ati; “Ko vana Pastor Dube nanaElder vakaipindirawo zvinoita sei?”
Hazel akasekerera ndokuti; “Vana Elder Maruta I can also handle them. Ko handiti the Bible says, mukadzi anorambirwa upombwe? Tinoita kuti Isabella aite upombwe hwacho, then inini newe will comfort Lewis kusvika wave nenhumbu yake then vana Elder vozopindira pane yako. Easy. Remember in Euthenia Ministries what Bishop says hazvina opposition, and sometimes zvinonzi Bishop vati zvakati iye ari PA waBishop ataura.” Vakadzi vakaseka again zvine noise vachirovana maoko, vachidzoka from the sad moment yenyaya yaHazel. Kuseka kwavo kwakaita kuti varume vavacheukire.
Isaac Gambiza akanyemwerera akatarisa Hazel ndokuti kuna Ben, “She is my greatest investment, she keeps everything in place, kana aripo zvese zvakarongeka. Hapana kwaachaenda, she is my second wife.”
“Munoda kundoroora here mukoma?” Ben akabvunza.
Isaac akadzungudza ndokuti; “Ndakambozvifunga, I almost planned a very secret traditional marriage asi ndisipo. Kutovati mukwasha atumira mari yekuroora ari UK kana Australia.” Varume vakabvaruka nekuseka madzimai avo akavatarisawo achiseka. Vese vakasimudzirana maoko, vatatu vachifuridza kisses, Barbra akazotevedzerawo pake ega Ben ndokudzorerawo.
Isaac Gambiza akabva aenderera nenyaya yaaiudza sahwira wake; “I wanted to put her panzvimbo pake, nekuti kana zvakakwidza ipapa apa ndinomboitirwa mastaira ndichinzi handisi mukadzi wako.”
Varume vakamboseka chaizvo, Isaac ndokuzoti; “But on second thoughts ndakazoona kuti ndini ndaizoiswa panzvimbo, and it could be scandalous. So ngaagare kuback yard akadaro. Women are stupid, unoona now she behaves well kuna mai Gambiza, but ndikamupa status of a marriage kumba kwavo, yatove mhosva. Munhu haachafunge kuti I did her a favor. She will want to move in kumba kwangu kuna Doris, so no. Doris gives the Ministry a status, of respect and dignity, she covers up for any other activity ingaitike, she wipes away all doubt and answers critics’ questions.” Varume vakaseka zvakare vachirovana mapendekete.
“But for my secret businesses, Hazel is a gem I tell you. Even this Barbra issue, I know it’s solved zvavave kuseka so. I am in safe hands.”
Vakazosimuka vave kundorara pave pakati nepakati panhasi nemangwana.