CHAPTER 12
A SMALL WORLD
I was planting some flowers on the east facing patio adjoined to the house when I heard a feminine voice calling out my name. It was a sunny Saturday and it was my off day I didn’t work on Saturdays and Sundays, but Mrs Miller had politely asked me to plant some roses for her. “Tinashe, Tinashe.” “Hie, it’s you.” I said. It was Liandri calling me. She was carrying a huge handbag and from the look of things she was facing great difficulty in carrying it. Liandri was dressed in a midi polka dot skirt and blue court shoes and a navy blue t shirt and had noticeably overdone lipstick and face powder. This made her look like a doll displaying clothes at Edgars. “I have to ask you this. Do I look presentable?” She asked. “You are more than presentable.” I replied. “Please the honest truth.” said Liandri. “What about your mother’s or father’s view.” I said as I stood with the garden trowel in my right hand. “My mother will always say it’s beautiful she is too afraid to hurt my feelings and my Dad is no fashion expert and Abigail is not around. She is on her off day.” “Okay you want the truth I am going to be blunt. You look like a scarecrow. Take a look at the mirror you will see that you over did your face powder and lipstick. Your t-shirt I don’t think it’s the best to suit what you are dressing.” “Go on I can see you have something to add.” said Liandri. “If you wear a white blouse it will match with your skirt and that bag of yours seems like you are carrying a great deal of artillery.” I said. “You are such a darling. Thanks for the insight. I have a date so I have to look the best I can.” said Liandri as she gave me a friendly kiss on my right cheek before leaving. I remember once saying I wasn’t attracted to her I think that’s now changing that brotherly passion is turning into something else. The sun sets as I lay on my bed and the only thing I could think of was Liandri. I was falling for her but it was a bit implausible that she could fall in love with me and if that happened I am sure her parents wouldn’t be happy. Their gardener marrying their daughter. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself maybe it was just a friendly kiss if there is a thing like a friendly kiss between unrelated people of the opposite sex. Just as I fantasised about Liandri I had my phone ringing. “Hello, Bongani. How are you?” I said. “I am fine, and you? Long-time no see.” replied Bongani. “I am fine.” “Can you come to my house tomorrow, I want to take you out for lunch. For old times’ sake.” said Bongani. “You know I never say no to a free meal. Maybe we can catch up a bit” “Okay see you tomorrow. Bye.” said Bongani as he hung up the phone. It was a Sunday morning and as usually the Miller family had left for church. I also went out. The only person left at the house was the guard who had recently been employed. I arrived at Bongani’s place at around 10 pm. We talked for a long time before Bongani told me we were going for lunch at Blue crane a restaurant in Pretoria. What makes the restaurant more appealing is the setting, it’s situated on a waterfront and the view of the lake is awe-inspiring. I could smell the tantalising smell of the gastronomy which was been prepared. The restaurant was large in comparison its floor area belittled the famous restaurant back home in Highfield popularly known as kwaMama. Even the level of hygiene was miles ahead of kwaMama. Unlike at KwaMama were you would constantly come across guys with greasy looking hands and with skunky smells, here it was quite the opposite smartly dressed and well groomed people where the type of crowd that were regulars at the Blue Crane. On arrival I became a bit confused because I was sure the champagne Volkswagen Touareg I had just seen parked in front of the restaurant belonged to the Millers. The number plate on it is the same as the Miller’s. Could have they came here from church for lunch or is my memory failing me but when they left for church there were in the Audi S7. I could be wrong that the number plates are similar but it has the same dent on the right side of the bonnet. We enter into the dirt free and glossy looking restaurant. “Let us go and sit at that table.” said Bongani. “But there is a person at that table.” I said. “Not to worry I know that person.” The person was sitting with their back to us. I can tell I know this person as we walk nearer it dawns to me who it is. “Hey.” said Bongani. As the person turns around their head I see the familiar sight, the green eyes, the feisty face and the tied up platinum blonde ponytail. “Hey, you.” I said. “Tinashe.” she replied. “You know each other.” said Bongani. “Yes I work for her parents.” I replied. “How do you know each other.” said Liandri. “Best friends since pre-school.” replied Bongani. “What a small world it is.” I said. “No need for introduction. Since everyone here is acquainted.” said Bongani as he sat down on the pure leather chair. “So tell me dude is she like that girl you were talking about?” I asked as I sat down. “Yes.” replied Bongani. I had fallen in love with my best friend’s girlfriend. Do I feel jealous yes but I have to put it aside. There are many fish in the river, and this in particular one has already been caught. I try as much as I can to avoid eye contact. “So Tinashe tell more about yourself?” asked Liandri. I then started telling her a brief account of my upbringing and how my friendship between me and Bongani had evolved and stood the test of time. “I almost did economics at varsity.” said Liandri. “Why didn’t you pursue it?” asked Bongani. “I had this sudden change of heart and I ended up doing medicine.” replied Liandri. So as the conversation grow deeper I discovered that Liandri’s mother is of Nordic ancestry, her mother’s parents were born in Sweden and had moved to South Africa during the late 1950s. Trying to eat the food and at the same time trying to suppress the feelings I have for Liandri is proving to be difficult. “Hey, Tinashe you look like you are not enjoying your food.” asked Liandri as she sliced a piece of the marinated chicken. “I am eating, it’s only that I am doing it at a leisurely pace.” “Probably the first time I have seen you eating at a leisurely pace you always do it with great gusto.” said Bongani. “How long have you been together?” I asked as tried to divert the subject matter. “Almost 6 months.” replied Liandri. “To think of it you never bothered to tell me, Bongani. How did you meet?” I said as I drank a sip of fine cast matured amarula wine. “An accident. I bumped into her and she split a glass of Coca-Cola she was holding. I offered to buy her a drink and one thing led to another, as they the rest is history.” “To tell the truth I was happy you split that drink because when I saw you from a distant. I was like who is that tall and fine looking guy.” replied Liandri. “So you planned it.” I said. “The particular bump no, it was just fate.” replied Liandri. Just before dessert was served a young short black guy and a tall white lady entered the restaurant. The black guy was playing a guitar and the white lady played the cello. They came in the direction we were sitting. They were playing a romantic tune. I sat there asking myself what was going on. Bongani stood up from his chair and reached out into his right trousers’ pocket and knelt on one leg. That’s when I realised what was going on. “Liandri, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. I know it sounds cliché but I didn’t rehearse it. Will you be the mother of my child.” said Bongani as the music toned off a bit. “No.” replied Liandri. The restaurant which was half filled was reduced to silence as everyone was shocked by Liandri’s reply. I could see Bongani put his face down in misery and shame. I wasn’t celebrating at all that it was a no from Liandri, I wanted my best friend to be happy. It was at this moment Liandri opened up her mouth. “I haven’t finished saying what I want to say. I won’t be the mother of your child but I want to be the mother of your children. I want more than one child.” Everyone in the restaurant just clapped their hands. Liandri and Bongani embraced each other as they both shed tears of joy as the music increased tempo. It was something reminiscent of a blockbuster Hollywood romantic film. I was just bowled over as I stood up and congratulated my best friend irrespective of the feelings I was habouring for Liandri. It seems I can see happiness but it feels like I will never personally feel it. Deep inside me I know Bongani has found his soul mate. I have known Liandri for roughly 8 months but in that short space I have known her, I know she is for keeps unlike Leona Bongani’s ex who is just the devils reincarnate. She is true wife material. You ask me about happiness I will tell nothing you ask me about sorrow I would write volumes of books on it. I put a wide smile it’s not a fake one it’s a genuine one, I feel glad for my best friend. After all the frenzy has sputtered down we go back to our sits. “Congrats man, but I have to say this you where anti marriage a while back. What happened?” I said. “Matters of the heart I can’t explain, but what I can tell you is that when you meet the one, nothing matters. I am so in love and I want to start a family like yesterday.” replied Bongani. We both had another glass of amarula wine as a celebratory toast was done. “Not much you know your problem.” said Bongani in reference to the wine. “I won’t take another one.” I replied as I placed the empty wine glass on the table.