Stolen Moments Chapter One

“Stop what you are doing Asante you will get hurt.”

I was not shouting as I was agitated. The call was taking longer. I wanted to go back to work but Joseph was not keen. Things were not going well as his mother has also overstayed her welcome. She was not showing any signs of going at that moment. I was not even eager to know what she was discussing with the family as they were in the meeting.

“Mayamiko, I am very careful so do not worry.”

She called me by my name always when she came from her mother’s place. My friend Mphatso thought I was mad to have forgiven him and continued with the traditional wedding. It had been two years of marriage and still, I didn’t have kids from my womb but Asante was my daughter only when she was with us not when she came back from her mother. She was doing Standard 3 at the time and she understood right from wrong but she chose her more.

Blood is always thicker than water so what can one do? She was born from an affair my husband had while we were still together. For some strange reasons, my mother-in-law loved Asante and Tawona who was the baby mama. She was forthcoming about it she didn’t even hide it. That name I never liked well who was I to judge, what had they seen. I laughed at the thought.

“Sir, I am still doing fine and the zoom meetings are going well because I managed to close the deal you wanted so badly. Now I am waiting for your word with the Zomba deal it might be tricky.”

“Miss, I want you in the office now to encourage these lazy people,” we laughed as I checked on Asante who was jumping up and down in the kitchen. “How is the network these days?”

There was always an issue at hope to the point where I bought my router that also caused some issues. How I spent his money was questioned until I stopped and used mine only which was a problem too.

“I am not complaining hence I managed to finish with the proposals you wanted and the deal went through these meetings.”

“I am also happy. We are hoping for a good year again this coming one. We....”

There was a thump that was so hard it pierced my heart. I rushed to Asante and she was unconscious on the floor bleeding.

“Asante, no do not do this to me, my baby......”

I was sweating and crying.

“Hello, Miss Nyirenda, are you still there. What was that?”

The sound of the phone irritated me so much that I cut the call as I didn’t have much to say. I called my husband who ignored it at first. The second time he just dropped it.

I knew he was in that family meeting but I was also his family and he knew I never called unless there was an emergency. He never learnt, no matter how much I complained to him it fell on deaf ears.

I didn’t want to call my mother-in-law but I had to. I was checking up on Asante who had a faint pulse.

My mother-in-law wasted no time as she dropped it before it went to the third ring. I went back to my baby. “Asante baby, I love you please do not do this to me.”

She was not mine but I loved her too much for her to go through this. I didn’t have a car so I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“Please God do not do this to me. I am praying she is just a child.”

I was thinking about her mother who was so vile and I was even imagining all the Chichewa insults she was going to throw at me. She was the one who had wronged me but she was always bitter toward me.

Joseph didn’t even have the guts to defend me. I loved him as soft as he was but at some point, it was not noble. We lived with Asante, I raised her as the mother thought she was going to be married but he chose me. She dumped the baby with us and never looked back. Well, it was only for a little while as she came crying and my soft husband believed her. He didn’t know she was always pushing my buttons and I didn’t want to sound like a whining wife.

I was not going to call her mother but the ignored calls pushed me to call her. She didn’t answer and it was nothing new. I called my friend Mphatso who had been my pillar since we were growing up.

“Mnzanga, muli bwanji? (My friend, how are you?)”

I cried hysterically hearing her voice. I was not going to call my father because He was going to rebuke me for staying with the same man he warned me about.

“Shhhhhhh, talk to me, Maya.”

That is how she shortened my name but my parents used Miko.

“She is lying in the pool of blood and I just looked aside for a second. I do not know what to do.”

“Maya, just breath and tell me what the problem is and we will take it from there.”

Like a little child given instructions, I told her everything.

“I am far in Karonga on business so just take her gentle I have called my husband for you already. I sent a message he is on his way. Please do not panic because you will make mistakes. Remember this is not your child and you know what will happen when something worse happens.”

Ye...esss. I will try to be calm. Thank you very much. Just like your name you are my gift indeed.”

“Do not forget that. Zikomo kwambiri.”

I was not shaking much. When I was leaving our neighbour saw us and I informed her of what was going on. She was going to help me by informing the rest of the family.

“Thank you for taking me.”

I was thanking Mr. Soko who was also an angel as my friend. I wondered why I was so unlucky, as my husband was never there for my friends or family when I needed him the most. He was always there for me though.

He carried lifeless Asante through the doors of Blantyre Adventist Hospital shouting for help. It was the nearest I could think of. It was very expensive but I was going to cover the costs. I was not going to let her die. If she was going to die I was going to follow her as I knew my life was going to be miserable. I loved her like my own.

They rushed to us asking questions as they attended to her. They rushed her to the ER but we were left at the reception filling in the forms. As I was checking the information on the phone the sound I hated irritated my ears. I didn’t charge the phone. I was going to be in trouble. Tears fell uninvited.

“Please, do not cry as it will make it worse for the child,” Mr. Soko said patting my back.

We were still there without any feedback whatsoever. I was waiting for anyone to show up and help as my battery had died.

After what seemed like a lifetime and my tears were dried out the doctor came we both stood up.

“Please tell me, what is going on?” I was shaking as his facial expression said it all.

“Are you the parents?”

“No, but I am the.....”

Before I could answer my mother-in-law and husband came rushing.

“What is going on here?

From her voice, I could tell that I was going to be in trouble. I was glad that the baby mama was not with them.

Well, I spoke too soon. She rushed in fuming.

“What is happening with my child?”

There was a commotion as they wanted to get the answers at the same time. I was defeated I only sat on the bench with my hands on my face also blocking their voices. After a while, there was silence until I opened my eyes to all eyes on me waiting for answers. I didn’t even hear the question so how was I going to answer.

“You see. She is not even sorry for trying to kill my child.”

“Are we not exaggerating a little.” Said Mr. Soko. “It was an accident and if it was deliberate then she was not going to worry, call my wife and pay for all the expenses.”

They all turned toward him.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” My mother-in-law asked.

“He brought me here as Mrs. Soko my friend asked him to bring me.”

“So you can talk. We are asking you about the child and you are quiet only to defend your boyfriend.”

The baby mama was angry.

“There is no need for fighting here and we need to find a solution here. I need medical records as the child has slipped into a coma.”

The baby mama screams and rests her head over my husband’s shoulders. I don’t have time to fight her.

“There is more.”

What the......