Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 32

Episode 4 years ago

Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 32

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LUBESHA.
The interview went smoothly even though Sandra seemed to have an ‘attitude’ but I didn’t mind. Once the interview was done, I requested I take a pic of her which would appear atop the article.
“A picture of me?” She squirmed. “You didn’t mention earlier so am afraid am not dressed for such an occasion.”
To say my jaw almost touched the floor is a massive understatement. I mean, the lady already looked ravishing and now she was saying she wasn’t ready to take a single pic?
“You do look great though,” I honestly told her but she shook her head and stood.
“Let me go change,” said Sandra coolly, taking one more sip from her wine and heading towards the door.
Where I was seated, I closed my notepad and put it in my bag. Recalling how she’d taken long to get dressed some minutes back, I decided to give myself a tour of the place so I rose to my feet and begun walking around. I was admiring the well tended to lawn when I heard people whispering in Swahili. It had been 16 years since I’d left Uganda but I still could clearly understand Swahili so I was able to decipher their conversation. The house help who had welcomed me into the mansion only but a few minutes ago was saying, “You sure this will work?”
A man clad in the uniform of a guard whispered back, “Why not?”
I was standing by a corner where I could not be spotted though I could vaguely see the two. The way they were whispering gained my attention. The guard and maid were obviously conspiring to do something evil.
The maid said, “So I simply sprinkle this in their food and both those two idiots are gone, right?”


“D--n right, baby. Both sir Enoch and that spoilt brat Sandra will be dead and then we can steal that money from the safe and flea from this dreadful place.”
The female maliciously smiled. “You’re a genius, babe. Finally me sleeping with that old man will pay off.”
“It surely will,” replied the guard who briefly kissed the maid on the lips and they embraced.
I’d heard enough so I tiptoed back to the pool area where I sat deep in thought, unable to fathom what I’d just heard.
A murder conspiracy was in brew and now Mr. Enoch Mulimba and Sandra Mulimba’s lives depended on me. Either I keep quiet and they die or I talk and they survive. Talking seemed like the only logical solution.
Sandra took half an hour to get dressed this time around and when she came back, she was looking as beautiful as she’d looked the first time I’d la!d eyes on her in person when she’d walked down the stairs like a model from the movies.
“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long, Mr. Pondamali?”
“No you didn’t.”
I took a few pics of her posing by the beautiful swimming pool and she later picked the one she loved most as the one I should publish in the newspaper.
“You’re a good photographer,” she casually told me and I smiled with gratitude seeing as I didn’t get to hear that compliment too often.
“Thanks.”
“I’m only giving credit where it’s due.”
Now it was time for me to leave cause I’d conducted my interview and even had a pic of Sandra to publish in the paper but how could I go without informing her both her life and that of her father’s were in grave danger as their own employees were plotting to poison them?


The story seemed even farfetched to me, a newspaper reporter so I figured maybe her father would believe me more easily than her.
I awkwardly heard myself say, “Your father, what time does he get home today?”
Sandra whose focus was on her iPhone spared me a glance. “I don’t know. And don’t you think that’s an odd question to ask me now that your job here is done?”
She was right so I said, “There’s something important I wanna discuss with him.”
Sandra opened her mouth to say something but paused and gazed over my shoulder such that I too was forced to look back and I saw the gate open and an expensive black Jaguar drive in.
“Speak of the devil,” she murmured.
No sooner had the chauffeur opened the car door for Mr. Mulimba than I was at his side.
“Who are you and how may I help you?” he curtly asked me.
“My name is Lubesha Pondamali,” I flashed him my ID. “And I was here to interview your daughter concerning the opening of her orphanage.”
“Okay,” he seemed least interested in talking to me while Sandra pecked his cheeks and walked into the house.
It was just him, his chauffeur and I when I said, “Can I talk to you, in private?”
“Young man, I barely even know you! Besides, didn’t you just say you came here to interview Sandra?”
“Yes, sir. But this is a matter of life and death.”
He gave me a long and hard stare before waving his driver off. “This better be important, young man cause I don’t like people that waste my time. Time is money!”
He had an attitude but I understood. Usually wealthy people act like they own the world, right? Anyway, since he didn’t want me to waste his precious time, I had to blurt the truth out.
“One of your maids and guards are planning to murder you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Look, sir, I know this sounds farfetched but you just have to believe me if you value your life…” I went ahead and narrated to him what I’d overhead earlier. “I swear am telling the truth, Sir.”
He was quiet for a few seconds and then said, “Let’s assume I believe your story, are you able to identify the so called conspirators?”
“Yes.”
“Cool, let’s go into the house then.”
Mr. Mulimba led me into the house and straight to the dining hall where a buffet was served on the table. Sandra joined us too.
“Finally,” she exhaled, sitting down. “I’m starving!” she almost dished out but for her father stopping her.
“Just chill a bit, honey,” he told her.
Mr. Mulimba later summoned all his guards and maids after he instructed me to pin point the culprits.


The respective employees queued up and I did my job. Mr. Mulimba looked at me questioningly but in the end sent away the rest of the maids and guards. “Shall we all sit,” he begun.
Sandra looked as baffled as the maid who said, “Even us, boss?”
“Yes, Edna. You and Kabwe will sit too and dine with us too. I asked Mr-” he stopped short, gesturing at me.
I realized he might have forgotten my name so I said, “Lubesha Pondamali.”
“Yes.. I asked Mr. Pondamali here to pin point two employees he’d like to join us at this buffet and he picked you two. I guess today’s your lucky day so sit and let’s all enjoy the food.”
“But Dad-”
“Not today, sweetie,” he offered Sandra a dismissive hand and she kept quiet though she looked infuriated. Obviously the idea of sharing the table with a maid and guard appalled her.
I even wondered why she’d opened an orphanage if she treated people of lower class the way she did. Anyway, what did I care?
Kabwe hesitantly said, “We’ve already eaten, boss. Haven’t we, Edna?”
Edna fervently nodded her head. “Yes we have.”
“Is that so? Then just a bite each won’t hurt, right? Let’s see,” Mr. Mulimba opened a serving pot filled with chicken. “Grab a piece, both of you. Or maybe you haven’t poisoned the chicken?” he opened another pot which contained salads. “Try these salads maybe?”
“What’s going on here?” Sandra inquired, looking from her dad to me to the two employees.


Mr. Mulimba replied, “Honey, can you believe these two ungrateful dogs are audacious enough to poison our food?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about,” Edna immediately said, her head bowed.
“Don’t you? Then I reckon you taste all the dishes you’ve served. Right now!”
Both Edna and Kabwe remained stationed on their spots.
Mr. Mulimba shook his head in disdain and wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. “You know for a second I wished this reporter was just making up stories but now I know he wasn’t. Edna and Kabwe,” he bid his time to get his phone from his pocket and dial a number. “I’m getting you both arrested for attempted murder.”
“It wasn’t my idea,” said Edna sharply. “Kabwe here is the mastermind!”
“Edna! You know that’s not true..You-”
“Shut up!” yelled an angry Mr. Mulimba. “I don’t give a d--n who the mastermind is. All I know is you two will spend the rest of your pathetic lives behind bars!”
As he conversed on the phone, Sandra couldn’t seem to stop staring at Edna and Kabwe in disbelief.
She finally whispered, “You two are the devil’s advocate. My God, you people are wicked!”


☆☆☆
It had been three weeks since the story of me saving the lives of a reputed politician and his philanthropic daughter had blown like wild fire. I was seated in my humble apartment working on my next story when I received call from a private line. I picked up without hesitation nevertheless.
“Lubesha Pondamali?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Enoch Mulimba, I’m outside your house.”


Outside my house? Why? I ended up saying, “Oh..okay.”
“Yeah. Do you have a minute to spare?”
“I guess so.”
Minutes later, I’d locked my house and was joining Mr. Mulimba in his car. This time he was being driven in a Hilux.
We exchanged greetings and he said, “I’m not one to waste people’s time so I’ll go straight to the point. I am really grateful to you for saving my life weeks ago and as a token of appreciation, I’ve decided to buy you shares at the company you work for.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Yes, Lubesha. Can I call you Lubesha?”
I nodded thus he went on, “I’ve bought you several shares in that company so you’re officially a share holder. Congratulations.”
This was too much to grasp. Me becoming a share holder meant I was going to become rich soon.
“I’m afraid I’m not materialistic so I can’t take your gift.”
“I’ve already bought the shares,” he shrugged. “Congrats once again.”
My head was spinning as I went back to the house and as if Mr. Mulimba buying me shares in the company I worked for wasn’t a surprise enough for one day, I found Sandra standing on my porch with a bottle of champagne in her hands.
“Hey,” she enthusiastically said to me, pecking my cheeks. “I’m guessing Dad has already given you the good news so am here to celebrate. Will you say something or at least usher me into your house?” She added when she noticed how frozen I’d gone.
“Um..Hey. Nice to see you again,” I was on the brink of stammering. I unlocked the door and welcomed her into my apartment.
“I apologise for the mess,” I sheepishly said, shoving papers off one couch and gesturing she sits there.
Sandra broadly smiled. “I don’t mind, it’s a guy’s house after all. Kindly bring two glasses cause my throat is itching in anticipation. I can’t wait to drink this amazing champagne.”
Everything was awkward and was happening so fast. Once I’d brought the wine glasses, Sandra insisted I open the bottle which I did and she screamed with joy. I poured the champagne into the glasses and we had a toast.
Had I known what she was like, I’d have just gotten the champagne from her on the porch and sent her home.


☆☆☆
THE WEDDING DAY.
Seeing Tracy in the chapel during my wedding service felt like a nightmare but there she was, clad in red from head to toe and looking as beautiful as ever.

The dull click of her heels on the carpet felt like music to my ears but her being here after so many years would just complicate things instead of making them better.
“I do oppose,” she clearly said.
“Who is she?” Sandra whispered in my ear and I opted to ignore her.
The Pastor asked Tracy, “Why?”
“Because I love Lubesha..I’ve loved him since I was 14!”
“Oh please,” Sandra rolled her eyes as people in the chapel murmured.
“That’s not reason enough to oppose two people’s union though, my child,” the pastor was exercising patience.
“Okay,” Tracy turned and snapped her fingers. A few seconds later, a teenage boy walked into the chapel and one look at him was enough for me to decipher he was my son.

Tracy had a lot of explaining to do!