When we last talked here last week, I was at advanced stages of sending away Electina and Honda, Fiolina’s nieces; the children of Tocla, my brother in law who is always at Hitler’s when he has money, and when broke. This started after the two girls decided to sabotage my Mandazi business.
I knew that sending them away would not be easy. Not when they had the support of Fiolina.
On that Saturday, the day they woke up late, I joined them in the kitchen, to learn a thing or two about mandazi. The same day, I talked to Anindo, and she agreed to come prepare the mandazi the following morning.
VERY HAPPY
That evening, once the girls had kneaded the flour, I told them that the next day, Sunday, was an easy day. “You don’t have to wake up early as we have no early orders.” The girls were very happy.
On Sunday morning, Anindo arrived at our home at 6am and I took her to the kitchen, and showed her everything she needed. In about half hour, the aroma of sweet mandazi wafted through our nose. No one needed a calculator to know that her mandazis were sweater.
I woke up Branton, which you all know is a process, and by 6.50am, Anindo had packed the first consignment, which Branton left to deliver.
And yes, her mandazis were sweeter, I took about five, and wondered if Branton would not be tempted to eat them instead. Anindo continued preparing the second consignment.
The girls woke up at 7.20am and came to the kitchen, only to find the work almost done. They went to report this to Fiolina, who came to the kitchen, charging like an angry lion.
“Which woman is this who goes into another woman’s kitchen without permission?” she asked. “When did you become Dre’s second wife?” Anindo was dumbstruck. “Even if you want to be second wife, let him build you your own kitchen.” She took the packed mandazi, ready to throw them but I intercepted them.
KITCHEN DECISIONS
“I just came to cook the mandazis as Dre told me that you and the girls were not feeling well.”
“When did you start taking kitchen decisions Dre? Are you the woman in this home?” she asked me. I told her that I only made a business decision.
“This is my kitchen!” She went on: “If you don’t want to pay us to prepare mandazis, but you want to pay others, go and look for where to prepare them from.” She asked the girls to carry everything and put them outside. Anindo disappeared in thin air.
This was playing exactly how I wanted. I wanted to create a conflict. Knowing Fiolina, it was not going to be possible to send the children away if I was not angry, I needed to very angry.
Branton had by now returned. Before I left for the second delivery, I called the two girls, Electina and Honda.
“Please pack all your things. When I return, I will be taking you back to your home.”
After delivering mandazi, I took the cooking paraphernalia to Nyayo’s home, and told Anindo that I would bring her wheat flour and cooking oil later that day. She would be preparing mandazis from her home.
TERRIFIED
I reached home and found an angry Fiolina who was saying that the girls could not leave. I told her that my decision was final. The two girls were terrified. I decided to go for a quick one at Hitler’s, for such moments required confidence.
“Leo utajua umechokoza nyuki,” I said as rode off.
When I returned home, I found the two girls ready to leave. Branton too.
“I agree the girls go and so will Branton,” said Fiolina.
“Let’s not mix issues here Fiolina,” I said. “We know why we are sending the girls back to their father, it is not the same with Branton.”
“If they leave Branton must leave,” shouted Fiolina. Her shouting had attracted several people who came to our home, but I did not allow them to say anything.
Soon the chief arrived. Fiolina said she did not have a problem with the two girls going back to their home.
“But I can’t allow them to go stay with their old grandparents in the same home,” she pleaded. I wondered why.
“Young people are supposed to avoid old people during this corona time. I don’t want my old parents to die of Corona.”
The chief agreed with her, saying that it was government policy to reduce mixing of old people and young people.
“Whatever issue you have, vumilia until after corona, you can see the mother has no problem.” All my arguments were dismissed, although I was surprised that the chief referred to Fiolina as the mother.
Reluctantly, I allowed the girls to continue staying. They should thank corona for saving them. In the meantime, I will do everything possible to make them know that they are unwanted. But the day the president opens up the country, the girls must go back to their father. Forever!