Ticket Out - Episode 2

Trouble is Her Name

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A long time ago, well, more like a year ago Zela was a lawyer starting out. She liked the power of the law. On her graduation day, her lecturer told her lot, '...The law is a powerful tool. Wield it wisely, wield it bravely.' She hadn't. Sometimes she felt that she was soft and that was not necessarily a bad thing. The world was too rough and uncourth, that had nothing to do with her . She had met Dialo, he not only swept her off her feet but he gave her ideas. Ideas like freedom, ideas like selfishness and ideas like chosing oneself. So a few months after their wedding, he had given her more money than she could count to buy her independence. She quit her job where she was doing extremely well. She was doing just well. And she started an interior design and land scaping company. Growing up middle class like she did it seemed ridiculous to start a business selling luxuries but the likes of Dialo thrive on luxuries more than necessaries. So she brought her passion, hired skill and labour and Dialo brought his money and connections and in no time her business was doing well. Her business was doing extremely well.

 

Her parents had been livid but they pretended to support her venture because that is what liberal, modern parents do. It was no secret that her mother despised Dialo

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. It had been like that since day one. Nothing aggravated Zela more than her mother's detest for Dialo because she knew the reason behind it. Her mother, Anna Kamasu, thought that Dialo was better than Zela. She actually believed that he had settled in chosing her and one day he would let her know as much. He would soon realize that she was not high society like him and that she would never be and this fact would embarrass him to no end. Then he would look for high society women worthy of him. At first, he would be subtle about it then he would get tired of sneaking around. He would then be bold and buy that other woman a home. His home too. She would be readily accepted by their fellow high society members. Zela would be ostracized. In no time, she would be his dirty little secret. Then the tables will truly turn. And like Lena Moi she would be banished from her home and her beloved acquaintaces with only a stipend and his name. Her mother never knew it because of Zela's defiance and conviction but she had sworn seeds of insecurity in her and for days on end this would be her boogey man each night. Then she pretended to overcome it and marry happy ever after.

 

Anyway, she was heading to Westlands in Nairobi City County. Dialo's offices were housed there temporarily as he renovated his real office. She had unduly won a tender to decorate his real office building so she wanted to go over her vision with him. She had actually scheduled an appointment with his assistant in a bid to be professional. That was all nonsensical to him. He was an entreprenuer and a private business owner and therefore had no business explaining his decisions and actions to anyone. So professionalism was thrown out the window. This was her third 'appointment'. Every time she came over fully armed with colour pallets, samples, ipad, notebook and pen he would take one look at her and they would christen his office. This building was old and the walls were thick but every time she came out of the office she would be godly embarrassed and unable to look anyone in the eye for the rest of the day. Dialo couldn't care less. Any attempts to go over the plans with him at home were futile. He would insist that he does not carry his work home and neither should she. Home was sacred. For them. Then he would go ahead and schedule an appointment with her. These appointments were stressing her out. 

She stood outside his office reception inhaling and exhaling then suddenly the door was opened. A very agitated lady pushed past her and in the process knocked off the tools of trade from her intern's hands. 

"Excuse you! What the hell..."

The lady was turning a corner and then she disappeared. Dialo's assistant came quickly and helped the young intern pick up the materials. 

"Janet, who was that?"

"She didn't have an appointment,ma'am."

"She almost dislocated my shoulder." She said as she made her way past the various offices to the very end to Dialo's corner office. His door was open and he was pacing. That was so unlike him. He was notoriously private. His door was always closed.  One thing that always stood out about Dialo was his calm nature, his noncholant attitude and his constant belief in himself. He was the most confident person she had ever known. Nothing baited him, nothing agitated him and nothing made him lose his cool. She started to notice that the air around the office was abit tense or perhaps it was her paranoia. He looked up and saw her approaching. She stepped inside the office and her kissed her passionately on her lips. She blinked fast. Her intern was standing behind her in an uncomfortable stance. It was almost always like this but his kisses were usually chaste in front of the employees. They would sit and go over the visions and plans for a few minutes with the intern taking notes and Zela forcing her to give her input, ideas and critiques. The intern was still shy but Zela was determined to make her great. Then the formal part of the meeting would come to a close, the intern would pick up their materials and excuse herself from the office. Then it was on.

 

This was no different but Dialo was more active than usual. More involved and pressing. He said he wanted everything to be done and ready for execution within the month. He wanted to move back to his building as soon as it was possible. He was ready and willing to give his time to as many meetings as Zela wanted. If her team could not meet the timelines the she would be forced to decorate an already moved into office. Like time and tide, he would wait for no man or woman...

"Dialo! Lucy, do you mind?"

"Of course not!" The young intern started to leave but Zela stopped her. 

"Please take these with you. We are done here." She said that last bit with bile for his benefit and looked at him with slitted eyes. Trouble. He knew. Lucy obliged her and skirted away glad to be out of that office.

"Zela, please. I don't have the time or patience for your tantrums." She blanched. He had never in their two years of marriage addressed her like that, in private or public but today he was on a role. Secondly, she prided herself in being classy and distingushed. A lady. She never ever threw tantrums.

"Don't worry, you won't have to suffer through that..." She stood up heading to the door but he got their first, his huge frame blocking the door way.

"Honey, cut me some slack. I'm having an awful day."

"Are you?" She said sarcastically.

"Fine. I was being an arse. I'm sorry."

"Do you want to know who else is having a bad day? Me! Yes, roll your eyes all you want but it's God's truth. First, I get my African hair cut assymetrically even after I had been very clear with my instructions. As if that's not enough, the stupid guard at the parking lot at Yaya was also an arse to me, something about pedestrains taking the lifts or stairs to the parking lot on 1st Floor when everyone else was walking up the ramp. Then some client wants a do-over. My latte from Java tasted stale and the lady outside your office almost trampled me... But do I sulk? No. I show up to work. Jovial and friendly. Even better, professional and respectful. Learn the ropes, will you?"

"I'm really sorry, honey. Really. The whole world is a toilet. I'm sorry." He caresses her arms up and down to calm her down and it works then pulls her into a hug. He is contrite and that appeases her.

"How about you? Who spoiled you day?"

"It doesn't matter. I wonder what happened to decorum. People can't treat a lady right anymore. I have half a mind to track down that guard and punch his teeth in. And the lady outside my office?"

"Yeah. They all need a lesson in etiquette."

"Right. Right. Well, at least that lady who almost trampled you didn't do much damage. You are here in one piece."

"No. She just knocked off my stuff." She has lost interest in the conversation, her only thought is leaving that office before Dialo gets any ideas. That little caress and hug of his, it spoke volumes. She is not comfortable with his ideas of sexual exploration, after all she is a christian African child and those ideals don't appeal to her. She walks to his side of the desk and seats on his swivel chair. It has so much authority. His office is despotic unlike hers which has exercise balls and colours. The only personal touches are his many academic and professional accomplishments condensed into certificates. And there are no pictures at all just one potrait of her face, smiling. One of his customers, an artist, had painted it for him upon his request. It had a place of pride on his desk. She took a mental picture to add more photographs or potraits when he returns to his original office space. His mother would appreciate a photo in his office. She stood up abruptly.

"Well, I better get going."

"Don't be like that. You just got here. Also, it's nearly lunch hour. Can we grab a bite, please?"

"Yes. Now. I'm starving." But she said it too quickly. He burst out laughing.

"Oh Zela. You are so cute. Don't worry. I will behave myself today." She exhaled heavily.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

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