FISHING IN A WATERPOT

The Engangement

Chapter 4

My job was not difficult for me. I arrived at work carrying a heavy heart. You know how it is when you are still considered young and inexperienced at work, yet you are assigned to handle hardened criminals—and those experienced themselves become intimidated by you. They do not know how great the house you came from was for you to end up where they are. Besides, the luxury vehicle Grace had bought me had left my colleagues with questions they could not answer.

My bosses eventually relaxed when they realized that I was genuinely good at my job. I was trained in every aspect of criminal investigation until it became second nature to me. Crime scene attendance, interviewing criminals, even interrogation techniques—all of it became part of my blood, my daily bread. I deserved to be called Detective Sergeant A. Pamire. And with the gift of a full beard that spread across my cheeks and chin like beans scattered over a threshing floor, no one doubted those who assumed I was a real culprit in disguise.

When Nomatter arrived in Harare, I was obsessed with tracking down evidence related to money that had been stolen from a company in which an important government official held shares. I had been selected among the elite investigators, and I wanted to prove my expertise.

She asked me to come and pick her up that day before she returned home, but I explained that work had become overwhelming. I was busy as a bee. I wanted to solve the case within a week. We had also been promised a substantial reward and a promotion if we found and arrested the culprits. So I had to give it everything I had.

Nomatter became angry when I failed to pick her up. I felt guilty for disappointing her, but knowing her understanding nature, I believed that if I explained myself properly, she would forgive me. Work consumed me so completely that I even forgot about Nomatter herself. And she, too, stopped calling me.

The one who surprised me was Grace. She called to tell me that her that at her home were a party and invited me to attend an engagement party at their home. I explained that work had swallowed me whole, but to my surprise, just as I was about to decline, my superior called me.

"Pamire, take the day off. You're needed at the boss's house anyway. You'll be escorting Deputy Commissioner General Goodson Musavengana. They're attending Honourable Gumedhe's son's engagement party. You've been specifically requested to be there."

For a moment, I thought of visiting Nomatter first, so I called her. To my surprise, the phone rang once and then displayed "number busy."

I went home and transformed myself. I trimmed my beard perfectly, and my mohawk haircut made me look like an African-American movie star. A real man! Had I been offered a role in Men in Black, I would have replaced Will Smith himself. I climbed into the Nissan Navara that Mr. Gumedhe had previously instructed me not to use.

The young women who lived next door waved at me. I gently shifted gears and drove toward Mr. Gumedhe's mansion. Once this event was over, I planned to see Nomatter the following day and make her happy all night long. I wanted to give Nomatter everything. If her family wanted an elephant, I would give them five. If I received the reward money from our investigation, I would immediately pay her bride price. Even her stepfather would realize that selling a daughter to wealthy people was not always the best deal. Sometimes poor men who seize their opportunity hit the jackpot. Men like me, Admire Pamire.

I even imagined seeing myself on the front page of the newspaper with the headline:

"A Brave Cop Cracks a Difficult Crime Puzzle."

Lost in my fantasies, I did not realize that I had already arrived at the gates of the Gumedhe residence in Hatfield. Soldiers guarding the property saluted me, having been instructed by Mr. Gumedhe to do so.

The mansion glowed with brilliant lights. I parked the Navara and walked confidently to the door. Grace opened it and immediately embraced me. The house was already crowded, and everything had been arranged beautifully, clearly expecting even more guests.

Deputy Commissioner General Musavengana was seated near the bar, talking with Mr. Gumedhe. I stood at attention and greeted them respectfully.

"Good evening, Sir."

The older men laughed warmly and shook my hand. Musavengana said:

"My boy, how many times have I told you? Work matters belong at work. Social matters belong at social gatherings."

Mr. Gumedhe laughed and replied:

"Biblical quotation, Goodson. Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and unto God what belongs to God. When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

The men burst into laughter again while drinking expensive imported liquor.

"Relax, son-in-law," they told me. "Just take care of our daughter."

Grace and I sat together in the kitchen area chatting. She looked delighted.

"My sister-in-law finally accepted," she said. "I told her everything about you. I even showed her all the photographs we took together at Mutangadura. She really likes you and encouraged me to marry you."

"Where is this sister-in-law of yours?" I asked. I disliked trying to imagine the face of someone I had never seen.

"She's getting ready. This is her special day, after all. She's in the guest bedroom preparing herself. She'll come when the time is right."

Guests continued arriving. Grace's mother welcomed Peter's friends and relatives. It was beginning to resemble an actual wedding.

Several women kept staring at me admiringly.

One of Grace's friends approached and said:

"Grace, is this guy your friend? He's hot! Why didn't you introduce me to this hot guy?"

She flirtatiously touched her finger to her glossy lips.

Grace looked at her and said sharply:

"He is my fiancé. My future husband. Amanda, why can't you behave like other girls? Do you want every man for yourself?"

Then she turned to me.

"Admire, go rest in my bedroom. I don't like you being displayed to spoiled girls like these."

I obeyed, not because I wanted to, but because I sensed danger.

Lying on the bed, my thoughts returned to Nomatter. Today I had failed her again. It would be the last time. I intended to tell Grace the truth:

"Before you came into my life, there was already Nomatter. I want to marry Nomatter, the girl from my own rural home."

As I was gathering courage, Grace entered.

"Grace, there is something important I need to tell you. It's not that I don't love you, but there are many reasons—"

"Tell me later," she interrupted. "Dad is waiting for us. The ceremony is about to begin."

Just then, her mother's voice echoed down the hallway:

"Grace! You're keeping everyone waiting!"

We walked back to the guests.

Mr. Gumedhe laughed.

"My son-in-law, I know you've been busy with work. Have a drink."

They poured me a glass of red wine. I drank carefully, knowing that if I tried to match the older men's drinking habits, I would embarrass myself.

Peter stood at the front dressed in an elegant suit. We greeted each other politely. He was slightly shorter and heavier than I was. But when I looked into his eyes, I saw a cunning and determined man. Thankfully, my detective training had taught me how to read people.

Music played and couples danced together. Peter danced with Amanda, the same woman who had flirted with me earlier.

I asked Grace:

"Why isn't Peter dancing with your sister-in-law?"

She replied:

"She follows traditional customs. Her elders said she cannot dance publicly tonight. She'll only appear during the important part."

When the music stopped, we all sat down. Grace sat almost on top of me like a tick clinging to skin.

Then the bride-to-be entered, her face completely covered with a white cloth, like a traditional bride from the village.

I laughed to myself. This engagement party was beginning to resemble an old-fashioned arranged marriage ceremony.

Peter stood, helped her to her feet, removed the white cloth, and knelt on one knee.

"Will you marry me?"

Then I heard a voice say:

"Yes. Yes."

At first I thought I was imagining things.

But when I saw her face, my heart melted.

I knew that voice.

It was the voice I had wanted to hear for the rest of my life.

Nomatter.

Why had you exposed me like this?

Our eyes met. She immediately lowered hers.

Peter slid the ring onto her finger.

The room erupted in celebration.

Even Grace cheered.

Then I saw Nomatter excuse herself and rush outside crying. Grace followed her before returning to tell everyone that Nomatter was feeling unwell.

My own mind had become chaos.

I abandoned the celebration and locked myself in the bathroom. I called Nomatter.

Her voice was broken from crying.

"Is this what you wanted, Admire? Don't explain. I know everything. You forced me to accept his proposal. You refused to take my virginity while giving your passion to someone else. Why did you betray me, my love? Sorry... you're now my brother-in-law. Take care of my Aunt Addie. She's crazy about you. I saw all your pictures together at Mutangadura. You're a perfect couple. She told me how you slept with her in her bed. And Peter told me that you've spent many nights in this house."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you should hear my side of the story," I pleaded.

"Forget about me, Admire. And know this: Peter already suspected we had once been lovers. When he found me crying, he became absolutely certain. So I refuse to live a double life. It's me and Peter. You and Grace. Please respect me as your sister-in-law."

The line went dead.

At that moment, someone tried to open the bathroom door.

I unlocked it.

It was Peter.

As he relieved himself, he said:

"How many hearts do you intend to break?"

"What do you mean?" I replied boldly.

Had the law allowed it, I would have strangled Peter right there and taken Nomatter away.

"Listen carefully. Don't disappoint my sister. Nomatter belongs to me. If I ever see you near her again, I swear I'll make your life a living hell. The day I saw you on that bus, I sensed trouble. Grace is such a foolish girl."

He shoved me lightly before leaving.

My entire life had changed in a single moment.

When I returned, Grace was waiting for me.

"Where have you been? Were you with Amanda?" she asked jokingly.

I simply looked at her and saw a woman terrified of losing me.

That night, she drove the Navara while I sat silently.

When we arrived, she tried to initiate intimacy, but I told her I was exhausted from work.

She understood and let me rest.

Nomatter was gone.

She had become mdosister-in-law by marriage.

MyPsister-in-law whom I now had to kneel before in respect.

Why was Peter so lucky?

How could he simply arrive and take the virgin I had carefully preserved?

I had become the herdsman who watches over cattle while their true owners come to milk them