This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday evening, Fiolina and I took a walk, unaware of the simmering differences between us. Our weekly walks had started about a month prior, with her joining me out of fear that I would be out with Rumona. That was a lie; Rumona and I would run together, not walk.
Our walks served two purposes: releasing tension and projecting the image of a loving, model couple. Little did anyone know that a reconciliation meeting was scheduled for the next day.
My letter to her parents, complaining about her sabotaging my grand plans, would have been ignored had I not enlisted Caro, the Minister for Communications, Broadcasting and Information, to spread the message in the village.
On Sunday, Fiolina's parents arrived first, followed by Rasto, Tocla, my parents, and Apostle Elkana. Electina and Honda were busy preparing food, while I dressed up to join them. Fiolina emerged from the bedroom, wearing a green long dress that matched my Kaunda suit, and we walked together, hands in hand, projecting an image of a couple in love and harmony.
She spoke first, saying that as her husband and head of the house, I would speak last. 'My husband and I are very happy to host you for lunch,' she said, adding that she wished we could do this more often. As she spoke, Electina and Honda brought food, and she thanked them, saying, 'Thank you Electina and Honda for the food. My husband and I are very happy and lucky to have these two polite and disciplined girls staying with us.'
Before inviting Elkana to pray for the meal, Fiolina said, 'As you know, this food was prepared in a hurry so please forgive me if there are any failings.' The Apostle made a long prayer, thanking God for the blessing of our marriage, saying, 'Other marriages out there are struggling, wives and husbands are separating, but this one is strong as a rock because it was founded in your name God.'
After lunch, there was small talk, which started with BBI and moved to Corona. The consensus was that there was no Corona – it was just a ploy by the government to get donor money. 'Wewe unajua mtu amekufa Corona?' Elkana asked.
As we took tea and groundnuts, Fiolina distributed envelopes, saying it was a small token of appreciation from 'my husband and I.' 'We would have done more but you know uchumi ni ngumu,' she said. After that, everyone thanked us for being a wonderful couple, and Apostle Elkana prayed before they left.
Life went back to normal as soon as they left. I was not served supper that evening, and the next day, we were back to competing in selling mandazi. Every morning, I encountered Nyayo in the market, and he was obviously outselling me. 'You can write another letter to my parents or invite them here, let us see who they will believe,' Fiolina said last week when I complained.
