The Bodyguard Episode 26
Written by Tisa Phiri
Ackim…….
I was lost in my thoughts thinking about my life. Indeed the loss of my memory was affecting me , each day that past l would hope and wish l knew who l was. It wasn’t easy living a blank life , did l even have Parents? or maybe friends ? I wondered. How was it that no one ever bothered to look for me at the hospitals or file in a missing person report?
I felt sad with the fact that maybe l wasn’t such a good person in my previous life, maybe no wonder l had been having wired dreams about my past , l thought.
I had been in my room most of the day since l had an encounter with a coloured girl. Jane even apologised for making her leave though she insisted if she was that important to me the lady wouldn`t have left me..I hated the feel that Jane could be right , but then whatever the case, Anyone who showed signs of knowing me was actually important at that period of my life.
“Who am l ?” I whispered to myself, looking at the ceiling board as l lay back on my bed.
I heard a soft knock on my door and l responded after the second one..
“come in !”
James came in..
“Hey man , whats up ?”
“Hey ” l answered sitting up ,
” you are back early?” l asked him as he sat next to me on the bed.
“Yes l was told we will have a visitor this evening so l had to rush back” he explained.
“who is that ? family ?” I asked not really interested in meeting any more strangers. As it was l was living with people l didn’t even know and everyone else l had been seing in those months were strangers.
“I dont know really” he smiled.
“But l have been told to prepare myself , so l came to inform you to do the same.”
“Prepare ? ” I asked suprised.
” well it must be an important person indeed. so are we supposed to wear suits or something ?” I asked with a chuckle.
James started laughing softly,
“l hate suits” he said.
“Yeah l too, you have no idea” l answered as we laughed again.
“Guys come on its 18: 30 already , please get ready we dont want you looking like general workers in the mine this evening” we heard Dr Mwamba call out to us.
” Hurry dad and uncle !” Maya screamed excitedly as she passed holding a comb from the bathroom.
I wondered what was going on cause the women had prepared different dishes that evening but with the shouting l couldn’t ask any further questions. All l was told is to dress moderately.
I took a quick shower and wore some soft jeans and a plain grey short sleeved shirt, its all l could think of besides the t-shirts..
I walked out with sandles and before l could go further Maya came screaming ,
“no no no! uncle no sandles please, put on your black shoes” she instructed seriously.
“You ought to look good” she smiled ,
” like the way Will Smith looked when going for a date in that movie Snitch” she told me grabbing my hand back to my room.
“Easy miss” l laughed as she pushed me back and opened my closet to get my shoes.
” There you go” she told me placing the shoes before me.
I shook my head and wore my socks as she ran outside.
” she’s here!’ she jumped when we heard the car hoot outside the gate.
“She`s here ?” I wondered shaking my head as l put on my shoes.
A couple of minutes later l walked out to join the family by the table and in the passage l saw Maya coming in , my heart skipped when l saw her holding a lady`s hand.
She stepped in and for a moment l was motionless , the lady from town in a long dress that outlined what l thought was the perfect shape, her hair pushed to one side making her look like she just came from one of the holly wood movies. I wasnt sure what puzzled and amused me the most, the fact that she looked like a goddess or that l had a chance to ask her about my life.
“What is he doing here ?” I heard her ask almost in a whisper. Maya shook my hand,
” uncle Will, meet my friend” she said smiling ,
“her name is Paula. Paula , this is my Uncle Will” she added looking at her.
” Oh l see, Will” she said casually. if l knew her l would say she was teasing me or something.
“Hey!” l finally said extending my hand to greet her.
“you are welcome Paula?” l said almost like asking if l said it right .
“It is” she smiled weakly as she shook my hand..
Maya cleared her throat and l let go of Paula`s hand. I had not realised l was still holding her soft hand.
“well people lets go have some dinner then we can all catch up later” she announced as she took Paula by hand. I tagged along in silence and l saw Paula look back at me the expression of her face l couldn’t figure out , but whatever it was surely was against me.
We sat down to eat after Paula was introduced to all of us by Dr Mwaba. She told her about Mwamba who was out for some school tournaments, and all this while l watched in silence. Paula`s quick glances at me made me feel uncomfortable like l had done something wrong.
We had our dinner which l barely felt the taste cause I wasn’t at ease , thankfully Dr Mwaba and Maya kept the conversations going asking Paula what she did and where she lived. She explained about her father and some mining business but my heart was longing for her to say something about me.
Without warning l spoke up ,
” so do you know who l a’m ?” I asked blankly and in a high tone.
“well, l cant help but feel you know me from somewhere and l want to know now. Why not get to it and tell me already” I shrugged with a face.
I saw Paula startle and swallowed hard.
“Am am am sorry , excuse me” she said standing up to leave the table after she was quite for some seconds, she ran out to the veranda at the back.
Dr Mwaba and her husband gave me a sharp look and Maya ran out to Paula looking at me with anger.
“What ?” I asked
“did l say something bad ?” I asked shrugging.
The Bodyguard Episode 27
By Tisa Phiri
Dr Mwaba and her husband gave me a sharp look and Maya ran out to Paula looking at me with anger.
“What ?” I asked
“did l say something bad ?” I asked shrugging.
” I mean she’s been looking at me like am some sort of bad person and l couldn’t take it any more.” l spoke honestly.
“Well Will, you should have asked politely not the way you did” they told me. Dr Mwaba came closer to me..
“listen my dear. I understand you want to find yourself again but you cant just scream at a woman like that, you could have at least waited until we finished eating and then asked in a gentle way, plus you have to understand that lady didnt know you would be here. I invited her so that you can have an opportunity to ask her about yourself” she outlined gently.
I wiped my mouth , realising what l had just done ,
“you are right that didnt come out well, am sorry” l apologised.
” I just want to know who l’m” l sighed sadly.
“I understand my dear” Dr Mwaba told me..
“now do the right thing” she patted my back.
“Maya come over here!” she called her daughter as she and her husband walked out. Maya came to me and whispered ,
“go on uncle do like you always tell me to when l make a mistake” she eyed me and left to the other room.
I felt so ashamed, but l had to go out and face her. I cleared my throat as l stood behind her, she had her back on me as she looked at the garden.
“Am sorry, l behaved badly in there” l managed to say ,
“its just that l ..”
“You lost your memory?” she turned and asked, cutting my statement short.
“Yeah” l nodded my hands in the pockets. she looked at my hands.
“well at least you have not forgotten the habit of putting your hands in the pockets especially when you are nervous” she told
me with a weak smile.
I looked at my hands ,
“oh that. At least am now aware about one thing about myself” l told her shly.
“I feel relaxed this way,” l agreed standing next to her and looked at the gardens too.
“Am sorry l didnt know you lost your memory, Maya just told me and l didnt even realise that yesterday” she scoffed sadly.
“Its okey,” l answered ,
“it’s not your fault” l told her sitting on the garden chair near by.
“So you don’t remember anything at all ?” She asked looking at me.. “No , nothing except that l woke up in the hospital three months ago and was just told that l was involved in an accident. I cant even remember my real name” l explained as she pulled a chair and sat next to me.
“Maya named me Will” l told her with a giggle ,
“according to her l have some features of Will Smith, the American actor”
She started laughing. I looked at her perfect white sharp teeth and felt relaxed , there was something about her that made me feel comfortable at the moment.
“Well that’s a good one” she sighed rubbing her hand on the knee ,
” your name is Ackim” she told me after a couple of seconds of silence.
“I know who you are , l lived with you for some time. ” she explained. “We were together when the accident happened but l was also out of conscious for a couple of days , so l dont really know what happened afterwards , only that you pushed me out of the car before it blew into flames. You saved my life life” she added.
“Wow ! that’s something” l smiled. “Ackim. It sounds like my name for sure. So we were friends or colleagues or something ?” I asked her.
” Friends” she she told me looking straight at me ,
“good friends and you were working for me and my father too”
“What was it l did as my work ?”
“You were my bodyguard” she answered.
“Oh l see , am sure l enjoyed following you around” l teased her with a laugh.
“Yeah, something like that” she responded not really letting me on on my job thing.
“You were a soldier before so you did a good job” she assured me. she went on to tell me about me being in the army as a commando and that l was held captive in Congo. For hours she told me about lots of things about my job and why l was hired to protect her. she even told me l had a family but that l didn’t get to find them after my return. she mentioned that she somehow managed to find them through someone l hired and that my mother was in the hospital.
All this while l listened like l was watching someone else`s life. It all didnt make sense but at least l was glad l knew who l was, though l couldn’t remember.
By the time we finished talking it was almost 23 hours and Dr Mwaba insisted Paula spent a night at the house. she refused but we all insisted.
“You just told me someone is after your life so l also feel its safer you dont drive out alone in the night” l told her. she shook her head ,
“its alright people l’ll be fine l promise. It’s just that l have to see someone tomorrow morning and head back home before 7 am.”
“Well then let me drive you to your hotel then l will get a cab back here” l stepped forward.
“Good idea Will ” James responded ,
“at least she will be safe with you ” he added..
They all said their good byes and l walked with Paula to the car. She looked at me and held my hand as she handed me the keys ,
“you were always a gentle man” she smiled
” Thank you.”
“You are welcome” l smiled back at her. we drove to Protea Hotel as l asked her some questions about my mother.
“I appreciate your help to my family” l told her when l parked the car.
” If you can show me where she is l would love to see her as well” i added..
“Of course, shes dying to see you too” she smiled not getting out of the car.
” well then,” l sighed handing her the key.
” will see you at the hospital tomorrow” l told her.
“Sure thing” she answered and l got out of the car and walked to open the door for her. she stepped out holding her dress, stepping on it and lost some balance but l was quick to hold her her up.
she stood so close to me and l felt my heart beating rapidly. she smiled as her scent clouded my mind making my legs go stiff. she moved her hand on my chest and whispered softly.
” I wish you could remember who l am Ackim.” she sighed tears filling her eyes.
” I missed you” she added letting go of me and rushing to the entrance.
I watched her as she walked past the door and she looked back at me for some time before walking right in. something in me moved but l hard no idea what it was.
I crossed the road and booked a taxi home. My head was pounding seriously, I had taken in so much information for a day and l needed some serious sleep to accumulate it all.
To be continued
