Jabali's Redemption - Episode 2

 

‘’Neema Kadiri, is that really you?’’ a voice exclaimed drawing Neema from her thoughts. She smiled even before turning to look at the ever jovial face of Officer Mukabi. She stood up from the cold bench at the police station reception and walked over to the short round man whom had helped her and her family more times than she could count.

‘’Officer Mukabi,’’ she greeted him stretching her hand for a handshake but he embraced her. Drawing her into a one side hug and Neema smiled . She had missed him.

Ever since the disappearance of their father when Ngao had been a year old, Officer Mukabi had been there for Neema’s family. He ensured Naiti and Neema went to school and provided them with school equipment whenever they lacked, which was constantly. He has been there on her prayer day before her KCSE exams and he chipped in for funds to support her secretarial course.

Mzee Kadiri, Neema’s father had been the town drunk and he was comfortable sleeping in drainages as long as he got his fix. Naiti had picked him up from trenches more time than they could count. Then one day he disappeared without notice. They had looked for him all over but he was not found. Neema didn’t miss him for a bit

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. There was a time when she was young she wished Officer Mukabi was her father.

‘’You came back to us Neema, you really did,’’ he released her and held her at her shoulders, looking at her.

‘’Yes I am finally back,’ Neema said trying to forget the reason she first abandoned her home. The last time she saw the hefty officer was a day she would rather forget for the rest of life but it was easier said than done.

‘’Come to my office, we have to talk,’’

‘’Please Mr. Mukabi let me see my brother first. I had requested to see him but the officer at the reception told me that the time for visiting has not yet reached,’’ Neema implored the old man. He stood there listening at her and nodded his head as if in agreement with her.

‘’You are right, you should see your brother first. Come with me,’’ he led her to a dingy corridor way that had little light and no windows. Neema could only clutch her handbag nervously. She hated police cells. A reminder of an ugly time.

‘’Wait here, I will fetch Ngao for you. You have to understand Neema, I did everything to exonerate your brother but…um the accuser refused to let him go. Ngao has been causing trouble for him for some time now and Ja…the owner of the property vandalized is angry at him,’’ Officer Mukabi stumbled across his words and Neema noticed he was trying hard not to mention Jabali’s name in her presence.

‘’I know its Ja…bali Kasri who accuses my brother Mr. Mukabi.’’ Neema tried to help him out but she too stumbled across with his name. She couldn’t understand why for all this time his name caused goosebumps to draw on her arms.

 Because he is a cold bloodied killer who walk around scot free, she thought bitterly.

‘’Neema you have to let it go,’’ Office Mukabi whispered and squeezed her shoulder in support seeing the look on her face. That had been his message from the word go but he didn’t understand how hard that was since he was not affected. He had been on the fore front since the case had started but he was not affected by it.  Her mother, her and Ngao were the ones affected, they had lost the most valuable person in their life. Naiti was the centre of her world. Of their world.

‘’I…I…,’’ Neema wanted to lie she had but the words couldn’t form in her mouth.

‘’Just think about it, hmm. I will bring Ngao out,’’ he opened the metallic door and urged her to go inside. The room was dimly lit with a low hanging electric bulb casting an orange glow on the dark walls that had suspicious stains on them, Neema didn’t want to think what those stains were for. The room was cold and it had an eerie feeling to it. A table and two seats adjacent to each other were the only furniture around. Neema took the seat facing the door and waited. Not knowing what to expect.

She had come straight to the police station from the bus station. After texting her mother to be home later, she went to see Ngao. She had gone to the same place she had once gone to confront Jabali Kasri. Neema dispersed the thoughts of Jabali from her head and focused on freeing his brother from his sharp talons.

She had not seen Ngao for five years. She had left town when Ngao was twelve, with a lanky tall body. He was still shy and focused on his studies. Neema was surprised to hear that he was causing trouble. That didn’t seem like Ngao, he was a sweet boy. Nothing made sense.

The door opened suddenly and Mr. Mukabi dragged Ngao behind. Neema stood up quickly and ran to his brother but stopped short. Gone was his fresh face small brother, Ngao had changed to look like Naiti. The carbon copy version of their late slain brother.

‘’Ngao,’’ she whispered and was surprised at the indifferent way he was looking at her. He was taller than her, he had filled out his tall body but appeared slightly skinny, Neema wondered if he had enough food. He also spotted facial hair. He looked different and so same at the same time. Apart from a slight swell on the right cheek, he appeared fine. What took her aback was his cold eyes. He had left a bright eyes boy only to come and face a cold hardened teenager.

‘’What are you doing here Neema?’’ his voice had also changed, it was deeper now. Neema ignored his indifference and hugged him. She had to raise at her tippy toes to reach his neck and pull him down for a hug. Ngao stiffened for a second before relaxing though he didn’t hug her back.

‘’What are you doing here Neema?’’ he repeated his question gently disentangling himself from her arms.

Neema wiped the tears in her eyes, ‘’I came to get you out Ngao. I was so worried. We were so worried,’’ Neema cast a glance at Officer Mukabi who stood in the background with a willful look on his eyes. Just like he did all those years ago.

‘’I am fine,’’ Ngao said flippantly, he clearly didn’t know the hot soup he had landed himself in or maybe he didn’t just care and that scared Neema.

‘’Mama can’t sleep just thinking about your situation Ngao.’’ Neema saw a shadow of doubt crossing his brother’s eyes before reverting back to indifference. She wondered what happened to that bright eyed young boy who constantly followed her around. Had she been gone for so long? Did he change?

‘’Did this happen here? Did the police beat you?’’ Neema raised her hand and gently touched his swollen cheek but he brushed her slim hand away.

‘’I am not a child anymore,’’ he grumbled.

‘’Then stop acting like one,’’ Neema challenged, Ngao looked away. ‘’Since when did you start vandalizing people’s property?’’

‘’I didn’t do anything wrong,’’ he retorted back avoiding her eyes completely and looking past her head on the dark walls.

Neema decided that provoking him wouldn’t work,’’ it doesn’t matter now, we are going to get you out of here. What are the options Mr. Mukabi? I understand we can’t pay bail, what other solution do we have?’’ Neema ignored her grumpy brother and decided to focus on finding solutions for their predicament.

‘’Ngao has been stubborn but if he asked for forgiveness from Jabali Kasri, he might be pardoned, the rest of the boys are now out because they pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness but Ngao denied any involvement,’’ Mr. Mukabi explained looking directly at Ngao as if they had had the discussion before.

‘’I will not bend to the will of that man, that murderer,’’ Ngao spat vehemently and Neema was taken aback by his aggression.

‘’That does not concern you, and it happened a long time ago’’ Neema spat back. Ngao had been young when their brother, Naiti was killed, he must have heard the story from someone else. Nothing was hidden in their town. She didn’t want him dragged into all the hate and anger that came with the name of Jabali Kasri.

‘’Isn’t that why you ran to the city and stayed there for five years?’’ Ngao turned on her and Neema felt the words pierce deep inside her,’’ that man destroyed my family and he deserves all that is coming for him.’’

‘’Ngao,’’ both Mr. Mukabi and Neema exclaimed and gaped at Ngao with open mouths.

‘’What? Am I lying? Jabali Kasri is a murderer but treated like a god. I will not bend to his will,’’ Ngao continued spatting his hate and Vuyanzi couldn’t help but blame herself for everything. If only she had stayed back and took care of his brother and mother, maybe all this hate would not be there. She had deserted them like the coward she was.

She was focused on her hate and anger at Jabali that she had forgotten about her aging mother and a younger brother. Now he was at the mouth of the crocodile threatening to be swallowed if she didn’t save him.

‘’You will apologize to Jabali…’’

‘’Never, Neema forget about it.’’

‘’Are you out of your mind Ngao,’’ Neema was tired of his brother’s insolence, he was simply being unreasonable, ’have you thought about your school and the future?’’ but this time he remained silent.

‘’If you won’t apologize to Jabali, I will on your behalf,’’

‘’don’t. No one is asking you to,’’

‘’Either way I will do it,’’

Ngao looked as if he was ready to retort back but the stern look from Neema stopped him. he settled for glaring at her.

…………………………….

Jabali looked at the ugly portrait on the wall and wondered who in their right mind would hang that in the name of art. He twirled the long wine glass on his hand and tried to decipher if someone just sprayed colors on the canvass or there was a hidden message he just wasn’t seeing. Contemporary art they said but hey what did he know about art?

His phone vibrated on his two piece charcoal black suit and he checked to see the message he had been anticipating for.

She is here.

Jabali smiled at the message and slid the phone back to his breast pocket. His plan had worked and he liked it. Neema had taken the bait and this time he will fish her out of the water.

Neema was back Tembo and if everything went according to his plan. She would be staying this time. For good.

He turned back to the portrait and looking closely he was sure he could see the outline of a woman’s leg from the disaster called art before him.

‘’You are in good mood Jabali,’’ Aluvisa slinked back at his side, correcting his tie and running his hand through his short hair and Jabali smirked at him. Aluvisa had been pretty occupied with a lady out on the balcony of the extravagant house they had been invited to.

It was night but it seemed like day time inside the high ceiling room with chandeliers hanging decoratively. People mingled around and Jabali wished he was somewhere else. He only tolerated huge crowds for some time before he had his fill and tonight he had more than enough.

Jabali knew how people looked at him. Women looked at him with open attraction and men were either jealous or impressed by him. It could only been attributed to his physique or his success. Jabali stood a head taller than most men and he packed pure muscle. Add his hardened gaze and he was unapproachable.

‘’You too it seems,’’

‘’If only you would let loose for a second. You will enjoy yourself too,’’ Aluvisa smiled at a bevy of ladies passing before them sending them appreciative glances. Jabali did not even glance at their way. They knew better than being friendly at him. With a scowl he had managed to dissuade most of them from approaching him and he liked that. He didn’t have time for small chatter and pleasantries.

‘’Ladies and gentlemen if only you would give me your attention for a second,’’ the host raised his voice. Mzee Okumu was a member of the board of directors and the second largest shareholder in the company. The old man was a dear friend of Jabali and acted like his father more than his own biological father. Mzee Okumu was growing old and he was delegating his duties in the company to his eldest son.

‘’My son has just landed from the South Africa and he has agreed to take over my position at the company. Let us give him a round of applause,’’ Mzee Okumu clapped his hands and was joined by the guests inside the house. A young tall well-dressed man stood beside his father, beaming at the crowd. Jabali could see he was as jovial as his father. He hoped he would also be a handworker like the old man.

‘’I am happy to be back home and I hope we will be able to work together to make great things happen,’’ he greeted the congregation and then kissed his mother’s cheek.

 Mr. and Mrs. Okumu looked on proudly as their son mingled with the crowd. Jabali wondered if his father would ever have looked at him with such adoration. He would never know since his old man was dead and gone. Good riddance Jabali thought, emptying his drink in one gulp.

Read " The Dancing Bride And Her Spirit Warrior " by the same author ( Razia Iminza )

. A group of people had already surrounded Akila and Jabali could see that they were hanging on whatever he was saying. He was clearly a man of the people.

‘’That is how you associate with people Jabali, your employees to be exact. He is bound to take the loyalty of all the employees if you continue to bark out orders to them.’’ Aluvisa observed, ‘’ Now stop scowling, Mzee Okumu is heading this side with his son,’’

As if on cue, Mzee Okumu cut through the crowd with his son on toes after his father, heading towards his direction.

‘’Jabali, my boy. I really appreciate you taking your time to come to this celebration. This here is my son. Akila Okumu, he will be joining you,’’ Mzee Okumu introduced his son.

‘’Nice to meet you Mr. Kasri I have heard you are the boss around here. I hope you will take it easy with me. It has been long since I have managed anything,’’ Akila joked and held out his hand for a handshake and Jabali noticed that the man had a firm grip contrasting his playful attitude. He squeezed tight and Akila managed to squeeze even tighter, his gaze steady on him since they were the same height.

Jabali felt like Akila was challenging him and welcomed it, Jabali loved challenges.

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Hey Ebonites.

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

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Much Love.