Madzimai akagara pasi ndokuronga zvese zvavaida kuzoti zviitike mumba mana Katsande. Mushure mehurukuro yavo yakaita 2hours dzese, Hazel akafonera vamwe vanhu ndokubva vabuda. Haana kutora mota yake yaaisifamba nayo mazuva ese, akatora rhori T35 yeCompany yake yainyanya kushandiswa nevashandi vake kuendesa madrinks kwakasiyana siyana. Vakabva vaenda kuChitungwiza ndokundopaka pamaShops pasina kuzivikanwa naBarbra. Vakafamba netsoka ndokuenda pamba pavakangosvika vachipinda ndokugara vakamirira munhu wavange vafambira.

Mushure mekanguva pakapinda murume wechidiki akange akapfeka hat yewool iko kwaipisa kudaro, hat yacho yakangosiya maziso panze chete, akati kuna Hazel; “Sorry kunonoka tete, nurse vanonoka kuunza mapiritsi acho, ange asiri kubasa so azomawana nhasi. Torai goods renyu tete vangu.”

Mukomana uya akabva atambidza Hazel packet remapiritsi ekurarisa.

“Thank you Sweetman, you never disappoint. Ok let’s get down to the smses. Budisa pen and paper Barbra.”
Barbra akatora kanote book nepen zvaive muhandbag make, ange angorairwa naHazel kuzvitakura, vakatanga kuudzana zvekunyora. Hazel ndiye ainyanya kutaura vamwe vaviri vachinyora. 

Pavakapedza, Sweetman akaperekedza madzimai kwavange vasiya motikari yavo. Vaifamba Barbra ari kumberi ega, ava vari kumashure vachiita nyaya dzavo, dzaisanzwika naBarbra. 

“Ko ndipeika chimoko ichi tete, chakabatana heavy, ndaita dzungu pandatarisa backyard yake. African woman tete.”Sweetman akadaro kuna Hazel.

Hazel akafa nekuseka ndokuti; “Ane varidzi uyu, imbomusiya, zvikamuwandira handione achigona chinhu, idofo rakangongwarisa. Akangomutsa pameso but hapana zviripo apa.” Vese vakaseka vakatarisa Barbra uyo aisanzwa zvavaitaura.

Hazel akaenderera; “Serious wena iwe, itsvuuramuromo, akangwara zvepaGrowth Point, njere dzake dzinotangira paMake up kit dzoperera kuChinamwari, akatokwana so, anofunga kuti varume ndozvega zvavanoda. Through my experience, you know, I believe kuti there is more to life than that, I want intelligence, substance and wisdom, zvese izvi hazvipo pana Barbra kana tsee.”

Sweetman akafa nekuseka; “Mawanzira shamwari yenyu vatete, but ndichamubata zvangu tiri tega.”
“No, no no, ari paduze naBoss nemamwe machinda ekuMinistry saka musiye, handisati ndamuona paamire, kuti zvikanyatsopresser anonyarara here.” Hazel akadaro, akaenderera achiti; “the other issue, Boss vanoda minana to boost things muchurch, as soon as iyi yangobvondoka, we need action inobvisa vanhu attention panyaya yana Katsande, so prepare your guys, vaye velast time vakaendepi?”

“Tete I told you kuti ndotsvaga munhu anenge achida busfare to go out, vasikana vaye vaida kuenda kuCapetown, that very day ravauya kuChurch vakabva vakwira bus vakatoenda. So ndichabvunza mumaraini muno kana paine vanoda kuenda Namibia or Zambia, they perfom and leave the country. Vakaramba vari muno vanozotinetsa, apa Boss hadzidi munhu anoitwa rough.” Sweetman akatsanangura.

“Ok dia, utsvage because iyi tiri kuiita mangwana saka next Sunday ndoinenge iri nyaya, following Sunday toda mashura akapinda aMoses naAaaron mugwenga dia” Vakaseka vachirovana maoko.

Mushure mazvo Hazel akandosiya Barbra kuWarren Park ndokuendawo kumba kwake. Vese vaifara, asi mafariro avo airovesa nehana, Barbra aitya kuti zvavaronga zvikasabuda sezvavaitarisira, upenyu hwake hwaizomira kokayi akadzokera kuMasvingo, Harare yaisazokwana vese vari vatatu Barbra, Lewis naIsabella. Kwekutizira kwega kwaaive nako kwaive Masvingo kwaVictor, saka nyaya iyi yaifanira kubuda zvakanakisa sezvaaitarisira nekuti yaizomupa upenyu hutsva.

Hazel aidawo kuita izvi sahwira wake Bishop Isaac asingazive, yaive nyaya yevakadzi aida kuti iperere kuvakadzi. Varume vaifanira kungomira panzvimbo dzavaifanira kurongerwa nedzinza raEva.

Zvaisafanira kumunetsa izvi, akange amboita competition in serious business deals achibudirira, apa aifanira kubuda zvakanaka semazuva ese. Aisangove nechokwadi chekuti mumwe wake Barbra aive nenjere dzacho here dzekukwanisa kuparamura nekusaidzira Isabella kuti abude mumba make zvachose.

So iyi akaiita project yake, kuti ibudirire, Bishop Gambiza vaifanira kurohwa nesurprise, so that he would react zvakanaka chaizvo, zvisiri fake, sezvavaitarisirwa semukuru wesangano.

Iyi tsoro akange aironga zvakanaka, kana chaizobvondoka, nyaya yaisarira Barbra naSweetman, kana Barbra ega, kana aizove rema rinotadza kuita zvaraudzwa aizosara akatarisana nemapurisa akabata cellphone ine mamessage asingazivikanwi kwaaibva.

Musi weMuvhuro uyu, Barbra akasvika kuMabelreign kwaaishanda, pamba pana Katsande. Akange aine kabutwa kake kaakange apiwa naHazel naSweetman uye anyatsoudzwa kuti aifanira kuzoshandisa sei. Akangoti achipinda mumba, Lewis achitobuda achienda kuBusiness kwake kwaaitengesa Computers.

Isabella ange akagara pasofa achigomera nekufinyama finyama. Akaedza kusekerera ndokuti kuna Barbra; “Dont mind me, ndichamboita zvekurutsa, by the time I feel better ndinenge ndisisina simba ndotomborara ndozomuka later. Ita zvako basa rako.” Vachitaura kudaro, cellphone yaBarbra yakabva yarira, akatarisa ndokuona vari vatete vake. Akati kuna Isabella, “excuse me madam ndimbotaura natete vangu.” Isabella akangogutsurira achirara pasofa paye. Barbra akabuda panze achidaira phone yake.
“Tete makadii?”
“Mai Rumbie, wakapedzisira kutaura nevana rini?” vatete vakabvunza.
“Vari right tete, ko hanzi pane arwara here?” Barbra akabvunza asi achida kuti kutaudzana navatete vake kuchipera.

“Iweka, dzimwe nguva ndinombofunga kuti hausi mwana wehanzvadzi yangu. Vakadzi vevaera moyo tiri soft and tender, tiri madzimai ane moyo yakanaka anoda musha. Iwe ummm uri kurwadza moyo wangu Bhabhu iwe.”

“Sugar yenyu yakakwira kani tete, muri kundinzwira sugar mazuvano, svondo haripere musina kumbondishungurudza. Manje mukandinzwira sugar, hamupore.” Barbra akapofoka kuseka ndokugurisirwa natete vakati; “Terera zvandafonera, ana babamunini vako kumusha uko vari kuti munyai wako akauya, hanzi Victor akaunza gupuro, votambira here kana kuti tombokudaidzai mutaurirane?”

“Mati chii vatete imi? Victor kudii?” Barbra akabvunza hana ichirova nekushamisika.
Vatete vakaseka chaizvo ndokuti; “Handiti uri kuonaka mwana wehanzvadzi yangu, hazvisi zvekutamba izvi. Wakazomunyanyira, aneta nekukunyengerera.”

Barbra akaridza tsamwa achifamba famba achinzwa dikita kuerera pakati pemakumbo ake nehasha. Ainzwa kudzipwa zvekutadza kupindura tete vake.

“Watiiko mai Rumbie, ndakavati vasatambire timbotaura newe ….” Vatete vakada kuziva zvaifunga mwana wehanzvadzi yavo pamusoro peimba yake.

“Ndiani akazongwadza rombe rekwaMadziva? Angandiunzire R5 gupuro, nxaa Victor kundiramba? Sei? Kuti zvaita sei?” Barbra aitaura seanotaura ega.

“Usaite seusina kumboenda kuchikoro, izvi zviri kureva kuti Victor ave kuda kuroora kana kutochata chaiko. And haasi kuda barika. Hausisiri mai Madziva amai Rumbie. Ndozvawada here mwanangu?” vatete vakadaro.

Barbra akaseka; “Hoooo ah ndozvamuri kufunga. Pane akamuudza kuti kana akaendesa gupuro ndichamhanya ndichidzokera Masvingo, manje maya, ndotomboona zvandiri kuita kuno kuti zvichadii ndozodzokera kundoshanya. Achimboona zvaainditadzisa.” Barbra akaseka zvakare, “Victor anopfimba ani uya, anodiwa nani munhu asina kana andaweya, haiwa. Vaudzei vatambire gupuro racho then ndozomufonera, anoda kumboshaudhiwa ibenzi remunhu kuda kundinyadzisa chete.”

Vatete vakambonyarara vachifunga, ndokuzoti; “mai Rumbie, unenge uri kurarama munyika yako wega, ko wadii kumboenda kuMasvingo weekend imwe chete zvayo? Ko ukazoziva kuti atounza gupuro kuti aroore nekuchata nemumwewo uchadiiko? Kumurambira kwako kunorevaka kuti une tarisiro yekudzokera kuMasvingo kana zvaunoda kuita muHarare zvikatadza.”

“Ok tete ndichaona, asi zvekuti Victor angaroore? Ummm …” akamboseka ndokuzoti; “Forget it haarooremunhu, kana Victor akawana mukadzi gore rino, ah inini ndotoroorwa naPope weRoma. Bye tete ndiri pabasa.” Barbra akapedzisa achidaro ndokupinda mumba, akandochinja mbatya opfeka dzebasa ndokutangana nebasa rake. Akabva awana message yaibva kuna Sweetman yaiti; “ready” yaakakurumidza kupindura achiti; “wait.”

Akaenda mukitchen ndokugadzira tea yaIsabella sezvaakange adzidziswa naLewis musi waatanga basa apa. Chaakangowedzera kwaive kuisa sleeping tablets umu ndokusekerera chaizvo achitambidza Isabella. Mudzimai akanwa ndokumboramba akarara, pasina nguva Barbra akadzoka necup yepiri, Isabella akamuka ndokugara pasi achiti; “Why two cups nhai auntie Barbra, ndichazonwa imwe ndamuka, now ndave kutotadza kufamba kuenda kubedroom.”

“Baba vakati kana manyanyorutsa sezvamaita nhasi ndikupei two cups madam. Inwai henyu ndokubatsirai kuenda kuBedroom kwenyu.” Barbra akadaro akadzikamira chaizvo.

“It’s fine, inga waita hako mudikanwi, ndange ndichairegera here iyo yavepo tea yacho.” Isabella akadaro achiedza kusekerera chaizvo. Akanwa tea yake yechipiri, Barbra ndokumubata vofamba vese kuenda kumba kwairara mudzimai uyu. Barbra akasvikoradzika madam-maiguru vake kunge airarisa mwana mucheche, akaisa comfort dzese kunge amai Katsande vaive murwere abva kuOperation muchipatara.

Nyama dzaIsabella dzakatambanuka, apa overdose yemapiritsi ekurarisa yange yotangawo kushanda. Barbra akaramba akamiramo akatarisa kuti Isabella arara here. Akatora cell phone yaIsabella yaive padressing table ndokuti; “Madam tete vangu vari kurwarisa handina airtime, ndokumbirawo fone yenyu.”

Too Busy To Die - Stories By Lovely Rutendo Nzira - (Chapter 7)

Isabella akaedza kuvhura maziso ndokunongedza kudressing table achiti; “Torai iyo auntie”
“Password madam, it’s locked.” Barbra akakurumidza kudaro achipa Isabella cellphone yake.

Isabella akavhura fone yake ndokutadza kutoidzorera kuna Barbra nekushaya simba, fone yakadonhera mumagumbeze. Barbra akaitora ndokuenda kuApp messages, akandogara muSpare bedroom maaikwanisa kuona zvese zvaiitika pagedhe repamba apa. Aisada kusvikirwa akabata cellphone yamadam vake. Akatumira message kuna Sweetman nefone yake, Sweetman haana kutambisa nguva aiwa, akabva atumira message pafone yaIsabella sezvavakange varangana nekunyorerana pasi zuva rakange rapfuura.

Barbra akatanga achinetsekana kushandisa fone iyi asi shungu dzaaive nadzo dzekuendeserwa gupuro dzakamupa hasha nekumushaisa tsitsi paupenyu hwaIsabella. Pavakapedza, akaisa fone yamadam vake pacharger nekuti aida kuti Lewis paaizoiona inge yakaguta moto ishaye chinokanganisa kuti anyatsoverenga mamessages ange akamumirira.

Atove masikati; Sweetman akazomufonera ndokuti; “Ndasenderawo muchinda message, andifonera ane hasha dzisingaite angangouya kumba manje manje, put your things in order and delete calls and chats from me.”

Barbra akaita sekurairwa kwake, akatanga kuita basa rake mumba umu achiimba “Mumba mababa mune mufaro usingaperi.”

Pasina nguva, Lewis akasvika ndokungonanga kwaive kwakarara mudzimai wake. Akawana Isabella achizamura, stretching kubva kuhope dzemadzikirira dzaange arara zuva rese musi uyu.

Aitoshamisikawo paakatarisa nguva kuti ange arara zvakanyanya kupinda mamwe mazuva.

Akasekerera paakaona murume wake achipinda ndokuti; “Hie my love, you are home early.”
“Who is Nathan Hamadziripi?” Lewis akadaro akatarisa mudzimai wake.
“Ah why?” Isabella akadaro achishamisika.
“Answer my question! Is it so difficult?” Lewis akabvunza ari very serious.
“My ex boyfriend taive tese kuCollege, ndakambokuudza wani nhai honey.” Isabella akadaro.
“You did not tell me you met recently and muri kutaura mese.”Murume akapomera mudzimai wake.
“C’me on Lewis, ndakasangana naNathan yes, but takango ….”
“Ndange ndichazozviziva riini?” Lewsi akadaro nehasha neshanje dzebhuru rapindirwa mudanga.

Isabella akasimuka achifamba kuti abude mumba umu, “ I cannot talk to you when you are like this honey. Can we discuss this later when you have cooled off.”
“Cool off? Cool off how when another man is claiming the child I think is mine!” Isabella akatarisa murume wake ndokudzungudza achifamba achibuda.

Mudzimai akandogara muLounge mavo achiedza kufunga kuti yaimbove nyaya yei yaitaurwa nemurume wake, hazvina kumushaisa mufaro wake. Semunhu aive asina zvaanoziva aingoti kanyaya kari kupfuura.

Lewis akaita nguva ari kumba kwaairara nemudzimai wake ndokuzouya pave paya maziso atowedzera kutsvuka. Akasvika ndokukandira Isabella cellphone yake. Isabella akatora ndokuverenga a very long chat yainzi yaive pakati pake naNathan Hamadziripi. Mukadzi aibata muromo achirohwa nehana pane zvaiverengeka apa.

“Get out of my house Isabella, enda kuna babavemwana wawakatakura.” Lewsi akazhambatata akatarisa mudzimai wake.
Isabella akasimuka ndokuswedera kumurume wake; “Honey please, you can’t be believing this, there is a problem somewhere. I don’t remember writing those mesaasges, I was sleeping the whole afternoon, ask auntie Barbra ……”

“Unonyepa, and hapana wekubvunza mange makarara mese here naBarbra wacho? Wange wakazvivharira zuva rese chatting withyour boyfriend. I said get out of my house!”
Isabella akabata Lewis maoko, ndokuti; “Ko go and get a print out of all my chats nhai Lewis, iyo affair naNathan ingaite ye one day here? Panofanira kuveka nemaprevious chats, chii chiri kukutadzisa reasoning nhasi kudai?” Murume akaregedzera mbama yekuseri kweruoko. Yakandomhara panzeve, Isabella akatadza kumira ndokundozvambukira pasi, pakati pesofa necoffee table achirovera pasi nedumbu. Lewis ange ave kudzana dzana seakatsika mazimbe. Barbra paakanzwa mhere mhere akapindawo mumba umu, akasvikopfugama nechekure ndokuti; “Ko madam vaita sei nhai baba?”

Lewis akatora fone yaIsabella ndokukanda kuna Barbra, uyo akaverenga mamessage aye nekukurumidza nekuti aimaziva ese. Barbra akaramba akanyarara, akangosimuka ndokundobatsira Isabella kugara pasi. Lewis akafona number dza“Nathan Hamadziripi.” Akaita kuti zvavaitaurirana zvinzwike navese vaive mumba, fone yakadairwa ichinzi;
“Chii zvakare muchinda iwewe, inga ndatsanangura wani. Kana uine nharo then mukadzi ndewako yes, asi mwana ndewangu.”
Lewis akakanda fone yake pasi ndokurova chibhakera mumhepo. Isabela ange achizvimba muviri wese zvaive pachena kuti BP yake yange yakwira chaizvo. Akasimuka ndokutatarika achienda kumba yekurara.

Barbra akakurumidza kuti; “ndave kuenda, ndachaisa.”
“Ok take your things, ndokuperekedza zvangu, I need some air.” Lewis akadaro achitora makey emota yake.

Barbra akaenda mubathroom ndokundozvitarisa pamirror, akasekerera achizvitsunya nekufaya kwakange kwaita zuva iri rainzi nhasi. Akageza kumeso kwake ndokunyatsopoda zvakanakisa, akabvisa mbatya dzebasa ndokupfeka kaskirt kake kamini nekatop kaihafura chipfuva chake zvaidakadza meso emunhurume.

Vakabuda vese ndokupinda mumota voenda kuWarren Park. Havana zvavo kunanga kumba, uye Barbra hapana zvaakataura akaramba akanyarara achipa Lewis mukana wekupedza hasha dzake. Lewis akandopaka panzvimbo yaigochwa nekunwiwa, akabuda ndokundotenga nyama nemadrinks ndokudzoka, akaisa pabonnet pemota yake ndokubva adaidza Barbra uyo akange ave busy pafone yake kuudza Sweetman naHazel zvaiitika.

Vakaita nguva vakanyarara vachidya, Lewis ndokuzoti; “Handina kumbofunga kuti Isabella angaite affair, or I would question paternity yemwana wangu.”

Barbra akambotsenga nyama ndokuti; “Ko hamusi mamhanyisa here, dai mamboterera kuti vange vachitii nazvo.”

“Zvambodii? Nyangwe dziri nhema, why zvaitika kudaro ane nyaya dzechii nevanhu vangamurongera zvakadaro. It’s scary you know? Iye Nathan wacho ari kuwana kupi simba rekutaura zvese izvo so confidently.”

“Panonetsawo ipapo, and vakadzi vanonyanyodiwa ndovanoita zvakadaro. Ko Bishop mukavaudza?” Barbra akadaro achiita seasina hanya nenyaya iyi.
“It’s too early for that, I don’t want our issues kuti dzisvike kuvakuru vechurch. I love Isabella, am just shocked.”
Barbra akavhara tsamwa yaakaona aridza nekukosora chaizvo seadzipwa, Lewis akazopedzisira ave kumurova rova musana. Pave paya Barbra akati; “Chete zvinonetsa, vanhu ivava vanopiwa too many chances vachiregererwa zvese zvese vanozoita worse, zvaanoita next time zvinokuuraya.”

“You are very right, unoziva kuti chii? Tange tisina kumboplanner mwana naIsabella, ndakaenda kuThailand for a month, ndokudzoka achiti she is pregnant. This Nathan guy aziva zvese izvi sei, murume ari kutodawo mwana wake. He has details of our life zvinotoshamisa, akazviwana kupi? Only Isabella ndiye angazive zvakadaro.”

Barbra akaramba akanyarara, Lewis akabva ati; “You are a good woman, dai usipo nhasi ndaikuvadza Isabella ndikafira mujere. Uri kundibatsira kuona things clearly.” Lewis akabata Barbra ruoko, mukadzi akanyemwerera ndokutsikitsira.

“Please usawanewoka waunoudza about this, but allow me kukufonera nekutaura newe anytime nekuti zviri kundi stressor, since zvaitika uripo, ndiwe wega munhu angandinzwisisa”
“Pakanaka, anytime ndichave shamwari yepedyo. Musaregera hasha dzichikuparadzai, muupenyu mune zvakawanda nevakawanda vanokudai. Isabella haasiye your alpha and omega.” Barbra akadaro,
Lewis akakwanisa kusekererra mukurwadziwa kwake ndokuti; “I thank God ndakasangana newe zvakadai zvichiitika, dai wange usipo ndaimhanya to tell wrong people.”

“You are a good man, usabvumire vanhu vasingatende zvaunovaitira kuti vave muupenyu hwako.” Barbra akadaro.

Lewis akagutsurira ndokuti; “Thanks so much, handei ndinokusiya kumba kwako. Hausi kuuya kwedu mangwana handiti, but ndokwanisa kukufonera for advice and support.”

Barbra akakwanisa kungonyemwerera vachipinda mumota vese. Mukadzi akandorara akafara achigutsikana nezvaiitika muupenyu hwake.

Lewis akasvika kumba kwake ndokutenderera imba yese achitsvaga mudzimai wake. Paasina kumuwana, akafonera munin’ina wemudzimai wake uyo akamuudza kuti mukoma wake ange ari kumba kuna mai vavo kuChitungwiza. Akambotumira mamessage ekutenda kuna Barbra kusvika arara.