TRAGEDY IN A FOREIGN LAND: THE UNTIMELY DEMISE

 

Sunday – January 17th 2021

Morning

The morning broke just like any other, with the trees whispering in the wind, birds singing sweetly, and the sky a brilliant shade of blue that could rival the oceans in depth. My spirit danced in a tango with my flesh whether I should go to church or not, eventually my flesh won. I whispered a prayer to the heavens and embarked on the day's journey. As a musician, silence isn't really my thing, so I turned on my laptop and played some tunes to lift my spirits; 

“He used to be my everything

Treated me like I was a queen

What spell did you cast on me?

Or is it a make believe?”

The song "Bibanke" by ASA, a wonderfully talented Nigerian singer born in France, filled the room. A friend, who has an excellent taste in music, introduced her to me, knowing well how much music touches the soul. Then I glanced at the pile of laundry needing attention, I knew I had to make time for that.  

I had a good neighbor, such a chilled, cool, and calm person full of humor was a great person to live near. Stepping outside, I stretched and greeted him loudly;

"Good Morning, my Neighbor!" 

Before I could start off for my usual 10km run

I was staying at a castle together with my colleagues; it was a one-and-a-half-kilometer walk to the offices. The castle had a total of 8 bedsitter rooms; it was an all-boys territory except for one lady who opted to occupy one of the rooms for protection. Most of the boys did not like her presence, because she represented control. A representation that limited the boy’s freedom.

I began running and this day my run took more time than usual, it was because I was lazy, on a normal day it took me 40 minutes to complete that 10-kilometer run but on this day I nearly took 60 minutes, never mind I still made a complete run. It was a Sunday, and it was only the three of us at this castle, me and my two neighbors, one had a room to my left and the other to the right, my room was in the middle of these two. 

My neighbor responded to my greeting with an F word, the way Eddie Murphy did in the “Coming to America” movie. I understood him because he had just watched the movie two days ago. He did not lie but expressed his favorite part to me in the movie, and the response he gave was his favorite part. He walked out of his room and greeted me before we proceeded to a place we used to wash our clothes. While we washed, we would engage in conversations about various topics, but our most cherished subject to discuss was always "Sports."

“What is your plan for the Afternoon?” He inquired 

“Well, I would like to buy foodstuffs at the trading Centre” I responded

“We shall be together, then” he commented 

After laundry, I noticed two missed calls from my boss, the Director of an online institution I used to work for. Sensing urgency, I called her back; 

“Hello Jane (not her real name), it's Oliver I found missed calls on my phone.”

“Yes, I would like us to meet, do you have time?” She asked

“Yes, of course, it’s possible, what time?” I responded with a question

“10 AM” she suggested

She wanted to meet urgently to discuss my handover plans, as I was in the final month of a three-year contract I had with the university in Mozambique. I accepted, and I only had 30 minutes to go when I checked my time. I rushed to the bathroom cleaned myself and started off to meet her. 

We met, outlined the handover strategy, and shared a laugh over the smooth proceedings;

“Good Oliver! That’s the plan” She commented as we were ending the meeting with a laugh that she always had when things went well.

Before parting, she asked me to inform a colleague about a meeting she scheduled with him. 

“One more last thing, Oliver, please talk to Mujayi (Not her real name), to meet me at exactly 17:00hrs” Mujayi was my other neighbor  

I nodded my head in agreement and left the scene

Afternoon

As the afternoon sun reached its zenith, I embarked on a journey to the local market with my neighbor, following our morning's plan. We mounted our bicycles, pedaling through a 15-kilometer stretch to the nearest marketplace. It was around 3 PM when we arrived, but before we could begin shopping, I bumped into Mujayi.

"Greetings, Mujayi! How have you been?" I inquired.

"Quite well, thank you," he replied,

He had a bottle of beer in his hand. His penchant for alcohol was notorious, having once landed him in the hospital with strict admonitions against further indulgence. Yet, his addiction often led him to forsake his duties, especially after payday. Mujayi was a reserved man whose demeanor softened with a drink. He was a Zimbabwean who had been assigned to work in Mozambique. Recognized for his intelligence and keen interest in Philosophy, he considered me a close friend, because frequently we could share thoughts and engage in deep discussions and debates on various topics about life.

"Oh, by the way," I remembered,

"Jane would like to meet with you at 5 PM today."

"Alright, thanks. I'll make sure to be there after finishing up a few things," he said

After spending an hour gathering groceries, I noticed Mujayi departing on a hired motorcycle towards the university campus around 4 PM. I waved goodbye as he blended into the evening light. My neighbor and I left the market at precisely 4:30 PM, returning as dusk began to fall. 

We arrived home safely, and I observed that Mujayi's door was shut, yet his lights were on. A fervent supporter of Liverpool, he possessed the remarkable ability to recite the 1991 team's formation, from the goalkeeper right through to the forward, and even name the substitutes for that starting eleven. He was a colleague of mine, in his early 50s, while I was 30. Occasionally, he would invite me to the verandah to share life advice, stressing the significance of education in the modern era. He would speak of the potential he recognized in me, offering encouragement to chase and fulfill my ambitions.

Evening

Unaware of how his meeting with Jane transpired, and with little curiosity on my part, I settled into my evening routine. Dinner was made, I ate and I drifted off to sleep, marking the conclusion of that Sunday, January 17th, 2021. 

Written By Oliver Kasito