RENTED LIFE 16

Kuni got emotional and cried as she sat in her bed, this was surreal; the salary didn’t seem real at all. Her own apartment as well? This did not seem real at all, she needed to pinch herself. How was this even her reality? Amidst her moment of disbelief, Simon crossed her mind. If she was going to attend his sister’s birthday party she needed to communicate well in advance as she was moving to the other side of town. Kuni picked her phone to tell him but she remembered her father was busy when she called earlier and he had still not returned her call. She thought he must have been very busy. Kini tried calling her father but he did not answer and even her mother was not picking her phone. It did not feel right to share this news with Saimon before her own parents knew but they were unavailable.

“These two are always excited to hear from me. What could be the matter?”

Kuni called again and this time she sent her mother a message explaining how worried she was about them and needed to hear from them.

Although she could have slept it off and waited for their call. Kuni looked at the time and decided to call a neighbor who might help reach her parents.

Godfrey did not seem quite like himself when he answered the phone. Kuni did not want to alarm the situation by preventing him from speaking out of there was a problem. Kuni picked his somber mood and she played along.

“I don’t know how to comfort you my friend” Godfrey said

Kuni quietly listened as she imagined every worst-case scenario, were her parents dead? What had happened?

“It will be okay Kuni, everything happens for a reason... I am sure you will pick yourselves up... trust in God... do you need me to help with anything? I can talk to my father to accommodate your parents for now... we have enough room... I don’t think leaving the fam will be a good idea. Let them just stick around otherwise the cooperative will exploit your land”

Kuni sighed heavily before admitting to Godfrey that she had no idea what was happening.

“I am so sorry I am the one who has broken this news to you... I honestly thought you knew”

“what has really happened? Where is mum and dad?”

“The chief sent people to demolish the house...”

“Wait, what? The chief?? Why?” Kuni asked in shock.

“Apparently you have not yet obtained the land officially but regardless it was a miscommunication as many other houses were demolished when the official purchase was in progress...”

*************************************************

Aaliyah had barely slept, it was 7am and she needed to put herself and go for work, there was not much she could do as she had to provide for herself or completely risk losing everything, she had including her apartment. Aaliyah was still paying for her car and the only man who took care of all the expenses consistently seemed to be drifting away. After getting ready, she stood by Kunis door and informed her she was leaving for work.

Kuni opened the door looking very stressed like she had barely slept. Aaliyah noticed this but she still chose not to ask, she looked cold and uninterested in engaging in a serious conversation. Kuni did not want to seem pushy, she also did not want to seem like she was using this opportunity she got to move her parents to Lusaka right away. Aaliyah said her goodbyes and left