“Mansha!” I jump upon hearing my name.
I turn and look at my mother standing in the doorway, looking at me expectantly.
“Yes?” I ask, closing the file in front of me. I had an important hearing today, at court, and had been making notes all morning.
“Your aunt’s wondering if you could take her to the hospital. She isn’t feeling well.”
I scoff. “Can’t she hire a taxi for once?” Ever since I’ve bought a car, its been as if my aunt has labeled me her driver, she takes me EVERYWHERE. “She had to go grocery shopping yesterday, and now the hospital?”
“Don’t say that. Why get a taxi when you’re perfectly capable of taking her?”
“Only I’m not. I have to go to court in two hours.” I say sharply.
“You’ll be free by then. It won’t take long. I’m telling her you’re coming. ”
I open my mouth to protest, but mom is already calling to inform her sister that I’ll be ready in ten minutes.
Cursing, I put on my court wear and pack my files, knowing full well I’ll have to go to court directly after dropping her off.
×———-×
Fifteen minutes later, I was on my way to the hospital, with my aunt beside me dramatically narrating how weak she’s been since morning.
“-and I could barely walk. But I still forced my self to prepare breakfast for your uncle and send him off. But after just washing the dishes I couldn’t bear it anymore. It felt as if all the blood had left my body and my heart was beating so fast I thought I’d faint right there.”She pauses for effect. “Your uncle left without breakfast.” She said with a sad sigh.
“Sara could’ve helped.” I say, glancing at my cousin sitting silently in the back seat. She narrows her eyes at me.
My aunt grunts. “This girl? She doesn’t lift a finger. Doesn’t care about her mother at all. God knows how she’ll get a husband this way.”
“What does this have to do with my husband mom?!” Sara says incredulously.
“Everything! How will you look after him? I wouldn’t be so sick all the time if you were married. Look at you, 20 years old and without a husband. Keep this up and you’ll end up like Mansha.”
“She has 5 more years before she ends up like me.” I say, trying to keep my voice casual. “That’s very little time Aunty! Five more years without a man in her life and she’ll be rich enough to buy a car so she can give you rides instead of me.”
Aunty shoots me a look. “If she marries a rich man, she’ll be respectable AND have enough cars to go round.”
I sigh, ignoring the insult. “There’s always that big ‘IF’ ” I say, before turning on the radio.
×——–×
Aunty takes an hour at the doctors. When she finally comes out and goes to the hospital pharmacy, I come outside to get my car out of parking.
But when I reach it, I see a black Hilux parked right in front of it, blocking its exit.
A guard sits at the back, so I approach him and ask him to move the car.
“I don’t have the keys miss. Let me go and ask my boss.”
I nod and watch him leave, leaning on the car as I wait.
“Can I help you?” I suddenly hear a deep voice ask, and look up from my phone.
A tall man with a chiseled face and marble grey eyes was looking at me expectantly.
“Can I help YOU?” I redirect the question at him, frowning, wondering why he’d approach me like this.
He tilts his head to the side, eyes lighting up mischievously.
“Yes. You’re leaning on my car.”
I blink, shocked.
“Oh” I say after a while. “Oh, that’s great! I just asked your guard to move it.”
He frowns. “My guard?” He looks around. “Where is he then?” He says after turning back to me.
“How would I know?” I huff. “He went to find you to get the keys.”
The man shakes his head, his dark silky hair moving with it.
“My guard has the keys.”
“Oh for heavens sake!” I punch the air, irritated.
The man looks on, amusement gleaming in his eyes.
“Well?” I snap at him.
He leans back on his car and tilts his head to the side. “Well what?”
“Call him!”
“He’s busy.” The man says dismissively.
I fume at his attitude. “I don’t care. I want your car out of the way so I can leave.” I say sharply.
He nods his head in mock understanding. “Wait a while will you? He’ll be back.”
I grind my teeth. I was getting late for work and was already short tempered because of my aunt.
This man was really asking for it.