Chapter 3 Episode 3

CHAPTER 3

I must say walking into church with this handsome gentleman felt great, he wasn't even my man but the amount of affection he showed could get any lady envious. I remember us sitting next to each other and him sharing his bible and also the hymn book. When it was time for offertory he gave me way to be ahead of him as we joined the queue leading to the altar for offertory, a complete gentleman he was. He did the same when it was Holy Communion and finally when leaving the church. I was blown away. Honestly I was already sold on that.

"So you are really catholic?" he asked teasingly as we fastened our seatbelts.

"Yes why? You thought I was lying? Why would you think that?"

Ndaweni chuckled without a response. He drove to MandaHill mall where we had lunch at an indian restaurant. The food was great but his company even made the afternoon better. It had been a while since I experienced something like that, it felt good once in while to just feel appreciated and loved. That's exactly how Ndaweni made me feel. When the lunch was done i was thankful in my spirit but knew I would never see him again. See I had been there, that place where guys take me out and we converse and once they hear about my life and how independent I was, they just couldn't handle it and they left. For a moment I felt maybe I should just hide who I am and pretend to be doing nothing but then again it was confusing, men want an ambitious woman and men again don't want a woman who is too independent guess it was confusing to bridge the gap.

"I really had a great time with you Thandiwe" Ndaweni said as he parked by my gate.

"No I should be thanking you really. Thank you so much... I really appreciate" I said.

Ndaweni looked me straight in the eyes and i giggled.

"What?" He asked.

"No I'm just thinking... I can't believe we met in the club yesterday and today we went to church together. It's just funny" I said.

"Well people meet in different places... it's very possible to meet like that"

"I guess it is" I replied.

Ndaweni looked like he didn't want to go, he was comfortably parked and chatting with me. However, being a lady I didn't want to seem desperate for his attention.

"Ok dear... let me go.. I want to do a bit of laundry.. I have a very busy day ahead tomorrow. Maybe I can even a short nap" I said.

"ok sure.. let me hold you back"

Ndaweni and I shook hands and I went into the house as he drove off. My Sunday afternoons would usually be spent watching t.v and I would take time to prepare myself a good meal but in this case I had already been taken out for lunch so that was off the list. Although I was living alone, I liked to cook my own food and especially try out new recipes. See when you choose the life of a single lady, its hard not to be idle so every minute and every second counted. I had to do something meaningful with my life or I would be lonely and agonising. Days were there when everything was unbearable and those were the days when I would drive to the mall to either watch a new movie or maybe just indulge in cocktails. There's always that cell meeting at church where you would gather to read scripture and to interact, I was never welcome at such places. Not that anyone would ever chase me but showing up to a place where everyone is dating but you would be so humiliating. Everyone seated with their partner and sharing the word of God while you are there trying to fit in. not to forget the constant "oh you came alone" statement which would be so humiliating. Family gathering are worse. Everyone asking when the beautiful big day is.

That Sunday I changed from my church outfit and quickly washed two branded new dresses that I had bought the previous day. I lay on my king sized bed with a book in my hand, the book was supposed to keep me from thinking about unnecessary things. Things that would take me nowhere but depress me. I was flipping to chapter of my novel when Ndaweni started calling.

"Hai..." I responded.

"hai I'm home.." he said

"oh that's nice.. guess you will be resting now" I said trying not to sound like I wasn't into the conversation.

"yes but that's the problem..." he said

"what?"

"well I don't feel like taking a nap or resting. I hate being at home won weekens no wonder I usally step out. Its boring" he said.

"I can imagine.. I know the feeling.. its always boring. Right now I am just reading a novel" I said.

"wHat happened to your laundry?" he asked.

"no I was just washing two specific dresses which I bought. I don't wear clotes straight form the shop"

"I will be going to watch soccer.. if you don't mind I can pick you around 16hrs.." he said.

"well im not a soccer fan"

"then we can do something you like" he said.