Rehema stared out of the window. She was thinking about Trishan and wondering what he was doing. Was he thinking about her? Was he alone in his flat or out somewhere with his girlfriend? She had texted him last night on What’s App. “I asked your aunt for your number so that I could personally thank you for the flowers. I hope you don’t mind.”
He had texted back saying, “No, I don’t mind at all. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing ok. I’m still here in Nairobi.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Next week Friday.”
“Can I come and see you on the Saturday?”
“Yes. I’d like that very much.”
They exchanged more texts and then, they ended their chat. Was it wrong for her to let him visit her, considering what nearly transpired between them? What if her mother hadn’t called? They would have kissed and then, what? Would they have ended up in her bed? Desire coursed through her body at the thought.
A sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted her reverie. She turned and saw her mother standing in the doorway. She came farther into the room until she was standing a little distance from her. “You’re physically here but mentally, you seem to be somewhere else,” she remarked, her gaze searching.
“You’re right, Mama. I was thinking about someone back in London.”
“A man?”
“Yes. His name is Trishan. I met him in June.”
“Trishan. What an unusual name.”
“It’s Hindu. He was born in England but his family is from Mumbai. When we met, he told me that he had been here in Nairobi.”
“And how did he find it?”
“He found it full of vitality with excellent food and lots of fun things to do.”
She studied her daughter’s face. “How do you feel about him?”
“I’m in love with him, Mama.”
Her mother’s eyebrows arched. “You met him in June and already you’re in love with him?”
“I know it sounds crazy but I felt an instant connection to him.”
“And is it mutual?”
“I know that he has feelings for me too. I can tell by the way he looks at me and because of what nearly happened between us at my flat.”
“What nearly happened between you?”
Rehema told her of Trishan’s visit and how they had almost kissed. “He’s the friend who was there when you called and who left when I was on the phone.”
“I wish he hadn’t left because he could have been there to comfort you after I told you about your Bibi’s passing.”
Rehema sighed. “I’ll always miss Bibi,” she said wistfully. She and her grandmother had been very close. If she were still alive, she would have told her about Trishan.
“We never told her about what happened to you.”
“You mean about the trafficking?”
“Yes. We just told her that you’d gone to work abroad and when you came back, we told her that the job didn’t work out. She was happy that you were back in Mombasa but was happy for you when you decided to move to London. She said that there you could start a new life, maybe meet a nice young man and fall in love.”
“She got her wish. I did meet and fall in love with a nice young man. Remember the flowers from London? They were from his aunt and him.”
“The flowers were lovely. It was very thoughtful of them. I think you mentioned before that his aunt lives in your building.”
“Yes. We live on the same floor. She’s my neighbor and my friend.”
“You said that she was the only person who knew about the trafficking.”
“Yes and she was very supportive.”
“Does Trishan know?”
“Yes, I told him.” Rehema told her mother what happened when she told Trishan about her past and his reaction. “It was weeks before I saw him again at a train station. And then, after that, he came to my flat and apologized for his reaction to my past and for running out on me. He said that it was because it was such a big shock for him.”
“I guess it would be.”
“He also said that he was jealous for the men.”
“He was jealous of them?”
“Yes. He hated that I slept with them. I told him that he had no reason to be jealous and that I hated having sex with them. He asked me if I was meeting a man that day when we bumped into each other at the train station and when I told him that I was meeting my co-worker, Sondra, he was relieved. He was about to kiss me when you called.”
“It sounds like he has feelings for you and he has learned to come to terms with your past, so what’s the problem.”
“He has a girlfriend. She was with him when we bumped into each other at the train station. He didn’t introduce us. All he did was say hello and then he was gone.”
“I guess he had his reasons for not introducing you to her. How long have they been together?”
“About four years.”
“And he hasn’t proposed to her as yet?”
“No. He told his aunt that he isn’t ready to get married.”
“It sounds to me like he doesn’t want to marry his girlfriend.”
“Or maybe he just isn’t ready to get married.”
“They’ve been together for four years and he still isn’t ready to settle down with her? No, I don’t think it’s a matter of him not being ready. I think he doesn’t want to marry her. And he’s right not to because it’s obvious that he doesn’t love her. A man should never marry a woman he doesn’t love. Life for both of them will be filled with unhappiness and bitterness. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“I agree with you, Mama. People shouldn’t marry if they’re not in love with each other. There’s nothing worse than a loveless marriage.”
“I don’t think those two are to be together for much longer.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Make sure he breaks up with her before you even think about going out with him.”
“I will, Mama.”
“Good. Now come and have some Biryani and pilau while it’s still hot.”
Rehema smiled as she moved away from the window.
Source: Trafalgar
Notes to Women 