She told me she had checked the doctor in Mombasa for malaria and typhoid and they were both negative. The Doc told me it’s a morning allergy. ‘Don’t worry my love your girl is well’ she confirmed. That evening I bathed her with warm water, cooked for her and spent a night in her house. She was unwell and she needed someone to take care of her.
At 5 I was up. I prepared Rita breakfast. When she woke up at 6 she hugged and kissed me as usual and on smelling the cooking sausages, she started vomiting. This must be malaria I told myself. Her explanations were clear it was malaria. ‘You must be having malaria sweetheart, I told her. She picked a lemon and ate it as we talked.
She smiled despite the fact she was having miserable mornings. She did not show any other sign of illness apart from vomiting. Anyway the Doctor said it’s an allergy. So be it. She left for work. As usual I kissed and hugged her bye.That day I decided to spend in Rita’s house alone. I was helping her clean up. At noon I was exhausted and decided to rest on the sofa. I texted my sweetheart and she confirmed she is well.
Three women discussing outside made a comment that hurt me.Wanawake wa ploti sijui mdomo inawasaidia aje.’Jana nimepata Rita akitapika kwa parking, sijui ametoa wapi mimba’ one of them said. I was surprised. How can she be pregnant? We have been together for only 3 weeks. Fourth week and someone is saying of a pregnancy? I didn’t want to buy their idea.
The Doc had confirmed it’s an allergy. I chose to believe the Doc not wamama wa mucene. That evening Rita came with no sign of illness. She was smiling. We hugged as usual. I didn’t want to speculate. I didn’t want anyone to tarnish her name with a pregnancy.
Mtu akitapika doesn’t mean ni pregnancy. Hata allergy huwa hivo.i requested to escort her to the clinic for a preganancy test. When I told her of the pregnancy she laughed. ‘What makes you thnk am pregnant? I can’t be pregnant am sure of it’ Rita assured me.
She held my waist and asked me, ‘Do you love me? Will you stick by me or run away when I need you most?’ A question she has never asked before. Her question made my intestines melt. One thing is I loved the madam Rita and I could not let her go. Tears had formed in her eyes. I then kissed and held her by my side. ‘My dear chances of me being pregnant are minimal. I have never thought I will be pregnant.
That why my husband left me. The doc had confirmed I may end up being barren.
Let’s not
waste time going for a test. I will be going for a disappointment. This is when I knew the meaning of the question will you stick by me. The point of wamama wa ploti became obsolete and useless.
My life started getting complicated. One, Khadija, the soldier’s wife had shown interest in me. Two, Rita was unwell though the doctor had confirmed it was an allergy.