Gossip - 7

The church compound bloomed with flowers. It was Easter Sunday, and as they did every year people brought flowers and plants in pots and in beautiful vases and in plain bowls. Varieties of flowers arranged in different styles by the young ladies and mothers of the congregation adorned the church verandah. It had rained briefly in the morning, and the world wore a fresh new look. White bright sunshine bathed the world, and made even the ugliest person look beautiful, and if you looked in the distance you could see a faint rainbow over the mountains. The morning service had just ended, and people milled around the flowers ooh-ing and ah-ing and giving each other compliments for the creative arrangements. Cameras flashed, laughing groups of young people went around taking photos, and mothers were heard telling their children not to touch the flowers.

Mimi scanned the crowd, looking for Marini, and then remembered Marini must be shepherding her group of Sunday School children towards the table where the Easter eggs and cakes were arranged. Goody U Marini, always busy with something or the other, this choir practice or that committee, never had time for her friends. And look at the way she treated that poor boyfriend of hers, whenever he came to see her at her house she was always rushing out to go somewhere important, or a dozen other suitors would fill her house, and most of the time the poor boyfriend had to sit alone with her family and watch the local programs on TV.

Mimi went towards the food tables, although she had no intention of eating a boiled egg in full view of the community – but the cake looked delicious – maybe she should eat only the cake. No, she musn't. Cakes are fattening, and she had always put on weight easily. Her mother always said she was not fat, only large boned, but then her mother never saw her naked and never saw the rolls of fat on her thighs. Besides, her makeup would get spoiled if she started stuffing her face now.

“Hey Mims,” a familiar voice called out – oh no it’s that disgusting guy U Mavala, who had always been after her ever since she was in high school. Look at that ponytail, makes you sick to the stomach, and did he have to dress like a teenager? She flashed him a brilliant smile but her eyes said something else.

“Hey U Maval, how many eggs have you eaten?”

“Two, but don’t tell anyone.” He carefully picked a slice of cake, and ate it hungrily, as if the world was coming to an end and he had only fifteen seconds left before the last bugle call. “Nice cake,” he said with his mouth full, and tried to smile. Mimi quickly looked away, and was relieved to see Marini coming her way.

“What’s the big hurry, U Maval, there are plenty more cakes,” Marini said, looking at Mimi who was now faking a cough to hide the sudden fit of laughter that came over her.

“Yeah U Maval, you can have my cake too if you want it,” Mimi said, and violently coughed again.

“I’ll go get a cup of tea, please wait for me here,” Mavala said, and walked towards the tea tables.

“Have all your children eaten?” Mimi said.

“I think so. It’s not an easy job, making sure fifty children under the age of ten each get an egg and a slice of cake and a cup of tea, but I think we managed very well.”

“Where are the mothers?”

“Do you think they would come and help when the Sunday School teachers are around? They are probably afraid they would get their beautiful clothes dirty.”

“What about you, have you eaten?” Mimi asked again.

“I never want to see another boiled egg in my life again,” Marini said.

“Then let’s go home before that desperate Mavala comes back,” Mimi said.

The air was cool and balmy, and the road was still damp from the morning rain with a few puddles here and there. The girls hitched up their puan and walked slowly, carefully stepping on the drier areas. Some oil had spilled on the road, probably from a passing vehicle so that a rainbow of colours formed on the road. The main road was very quiet, and the click click of their high heels was the only sound.

“RK-a called me last night,” Mimi said, breaking the silence.

“RK-a who?”

“You know, Zotea’s cousin, we met at the wedding, don’t you remember?”

Mimi was slightly annoyed; her best friend had no interest at all in her love life. And it was Marini who always came running to her with her boyfriend issues. How could she be so insensitive?

“Oh that guy, yeah now I remember. Why did he take so long to call you? It’s been almost a month now since the wedding,” Marini said.

“How would I know? Do you think I would ask him that?”

“I was just wondering,” Marini said, and stepped around a large puddle that had formed in the road where the black top had eroded.

“I casually mentioned Zotea,” Mimi continued, “And RK-a said Zotea is apparently very happy with his new bride, it seemed he never went out anymore, all he does is sit at home looking at his wife.”

“That’s normal behaviour for newlyweds. After a few months he would be itching to go out again and she would become a harried housewife. Just wait and see.”

“Do you mean maybe I could have another try?” Mimi asked hopefully.

“It’s over, Mimi, accept it. You are only resentful because he got married and you are still single. You really don’t want him back,” said Marini

“Maybe I suddenly realized I still loved him.”

“Oh wake up, will you? He is gone, gone, get that into your head.”

“But do you remember when I broke up with him? He said he would always wait for me.”

“That was five years ago.”

“So what? A promise is a promise.”

“Yes, and now he’s made another promise to another girl, to be with her forever. In front of God and the community.”

There it was, out in the open - Zotea was never coming back to her. She’d known it all along, ever since the wedding, but Mimi was living in denial. What she needed was someone to come and rattle her awake, and she was thankful for having such a good friend in Marini.

But lately it looked like Marini had been avoiding her, she never answered her phone, and when Mimi sent her a text message Marini would take hours to reply. Besides, Mimi seldom went to church and other youth activities, and of course Marini was actively involved in everything. They were so different, yet they had always been best friends ever since their childhood. Or did they remain friends only because most of their other childhood friends were either married or living somewhere else? Did they stick to each other because no one else was around? They had other friends, outside friends as they used to say, but no one else knew her as well as Marini did. Mimi thought that was a big disadvantage sometimes, knowing someone too well and for too long - it made you so vulnerable and so exposed.

“My father was thinking of asking U Siama to move,” Marini said.

“But where would he go?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think he’d be moving. I told my father U Siama’s business is slowly picking up, and my father’s now thinking it over.”

“That’s generous of him. By the way, how old do you think U Siama is?”

“I guess… around thirty to thirty-five? And why do you want to know that?” Marini said.

“Well, since you two are such great buddies, I just thought you might know.”

“He is a nice guy, very decent. Most people think he’s a good for nothing type, but really he is very bright. You wouldn’t believe some of the ideas he has.”

“I think he likes you,” Mimi said.

“No way. He speaks to me like I'm his little sister, and besides…” Marini trailed off, leaving her unfinished sentence hang in the air.

“Besides, what?” Mimi asked.

“I don’t know,” Mimi laughed.

“I knew it, you like him too,” Mimi said with a wicked gleam in her eyes, and elbowed Marini.

“No I don’t,” Marini said, and lightly pushed Mimi.

“Oh yes you do, don’t think I don’t know you.”

The sound of their laughter filled the air, like a clear church bell on a quiet Sunday morning.