One Night Stand

At OR Tambo, Luna breathed out nervously seated on her seat in the plane that was about to take off to Gaborone. Somehow the closer she got to home, the more nervous she got. It had been 3 years since the last time she was there and God knew just how Botswana was different from London. She leaned back failing to just relax. She had nothing really to worry about. She had accepted a good job 3 months ago, with a good salary and benefits she couldn’t say no to. And Christ the job had come at the rightful time. No one spoke about the racism in Queen Elizabeth’s lands enough. She could finally breathe without the non subtle racist behaviour she had encountered since she had gotten her job. “Scared of flights?” Luna pulled herself from her little bubble of memory at the deep voice coming from besides her. She turned and chuckled staring at the man who she was sure hadn’t been there 2 minutes back or was she now losing het mind? Was this how mental illness started? Gosh Lunathi Baaitse! Get a grip. She sighed. “No. More of scared of going back home.” He chuckled exposing his left dimple. “Waaaii mme agona sepe se se ncha.(There’s nothing new.) Just the same hot Botswana you know, same old government, still shitty. Uh… same old Gaborone filled with nothing but hustlers, gays and corrupt old hags, single married people and so forth. We still have shortage of water. Same old same old” Luna laughed. “Ija, I want to go back.” He chuckled. “That’s not a bad idea. I won’t stop you.” Luna smiled. “I am certainly going to have to adapt. Kante mme gone when are we burning single married people?” He laughed. “You want to burn almost everyone yaanong.” “Why not? Let’s just start afresh.” He shook his head. “Not a bad idea.” He carefully looked at her. “But really… what’s scary about being home?” Luna sighed. “Seeing people I swore u never wanted to see again. Finding so much change that maybe I’d never adapt.” “You’d be fine. Before you know it, you are going to look back into this conversation you had with this weird strange man in the plane and laugh.” She smiled. “Oh well I can’t wait.” He stretched out his hand. “Tumelo by the way…” She shook his hand. “Luna… Lunathi in full. Please don’t ask if I am South African, I am not, my mom loved the name so much she gave it to me.” Tumelo laughed. “You sure? Gongwe it belonged to your father’s Zulu side chick.” Luna laughed shaking her head. “I want to switch seats!” “Sorry. Where were you?” She turned to him with a small smile. “London.” “How long?” “6 years of varsity and 3 of working. But I was last here 3 years ago.” “They managed to entice you with a better offer back home?” She nodded. “You know how it goes.” The air hostesses voice spoke through the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, all cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices, such as CD players and laptop computers, must be turned off and stowed for departure. Kindly put on your seat belts as we will be taking off. We hope you enjoy the flight. Thank you.” Tumelo smiled then put on his seat belt. Luna sat properly breathing out. The little conversation had surely relaxed some nerves and now all she could do was wait to land. *** In Gaborone, Misha closed her boutique then locked the doors. She briefly looked at the time then walked over to her little Nissan March and jumped in. Her phone rang just ad she started the engine. Misha smiled then picked. “Hey babe..” “Hey, where are you?” “I am closing at work. I am going to Airport Junction mall to get a few things then head to the airport to pick up Luna.” “Why are you picking her up?” “Babe come on…” “What? I thought we agreed that the little friendship with her was over.” “That is not fair. Please don’t be like that.” “What’s not fair is you keeping someone who clearly hates me and expecting me to be happy about it Misha. I told you I hate that ratchet girl of yours.” Misha kept quiet. “You know what, do whatever you want. You do that all the time.” Tears filled her eyes. “Timothy can we not fight today please?” “I said do whatever you want. My wife and I are having a quiet weekend. Don’t call me.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “This is supposed to be our weekend Timothy, gape I thought Charity was at a family event.” “She is back now, what do you want me to do? Don’t call me. And Misha let me catch you cheating on me or even trying to… I swear to you, it won’t end well.” He hung up. Misha’s lips trembled as she held her phone tightly. Tears rolled down ruining the makeup she had spent over an hour perfecting. She pressed her lips together trying to stop crying but tears still rolled down her cheeks. She tapped his number calling him. “Didn’t I just say-“ “I won’t pick her up. Its fine I won’t pick her up. I am sorry. Will you come?” “I will see.” He dropped the call before she could respond. Misha sniffed sadly wondering why she loved this man so much. It was as if the more the treated her badly, the more she loved him. *** At Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Luna rubbed her lips together dragging her bag walking towards the doors leading outside. She looked around trying to locate Misha. She breathed in the hot air stepping outside then looked at the people walking towards the entrance but couldn’t spot her friend. Minutes passed as she looked around, she had spoken to her at OR Tambo. “Hey… waiting for your friend?” Luna looked up at Tumelo and smiled. “Hi. Yes. She must be running a little late.” “I can give you a lift. My car is here. I won’t charge you I promise.” “No I’m sure she’s coming.” He looked in her eyes. “You want to call her?” He stretched out his phone to her. Luna glanced around then took the unlocked phone. She quickly dialled the number and called. “Hello?” “Misha!” “I am almost there.” Luna hung up then gave back the phone. “She is almost here. Thanks.” Tumelo nodded taking his phone. “Want me to wait with you?” She shook her head smiling. Tumelo laughed. “Ok then, I will wait.” Luna laughed. “I said I am fine..” He smiled. “Its not like I am doing anything, I will wait.” Luna smiled as Misha’s car drove over and parked pulled up next to her. Tumelo chuckled then saluted with two fingers before walking off. Misha stepped out smiling. “Hey…” Luna laughed. “Friend!” Misha hugged her tightly screaming. Luna screamed laughing as they jumped around like 7 year old. Misha sniffed. “I missed you. You look beautiful.” Luna laughed. “You too.” They got in the car. Misha smiled. “I am so happy to see you. You look like you were abroad. And-“ She paused picking her ringing phone. Luna looked at the glimpse of panic in Misha’s eyes and sighed. “Babe?” “I am coming in 20 minutes.” “Ok.” Misha hung up and drove off. “I am going to drop you off then drive home. Timothy is coming.” Luna’s smiled disappeared. “What are you still doing with that man nemma wena?” Misha stepped on the accelerator speeding away. “Luna-“ “No Misha. That man is disrespectful. Not only has he always cheated on you, he got married with you in the picture and continues to use you. What kind of muti did he use on you?” “You’ve never liked him. You don’t understand him like I do. Things are complicated.” Luna frowned. “Are you listening to yourself? He doesn’t love you. He loves wasting your time.” “He loves me. You just hate him. And that marriage was forced! We both know this. That woman trapped him with a baby and…” She stopped talking. “I love him.” Luna shook her head. “Yah neh"