WEEK 3:

I flew back to Dar es Salaam after two successful weeks in Cape Town.  The two weeks went so fast as I had so many prospective investors to meet and other pressing matters to attend to.  I regretted not asking Tiana, where she would be staying.  Something of which I blamed on Reuben – if he hadn’t appeared with his strong big arms, everything would have gone well, I cursed as I walked to my rented car. 

I wondered if I would ever see her again.  I tried to switch my mind off and not think about her but I couldn’t.  At nights when alone, I could hear her merry laughter ringing in my ears.  Nobody had ever made such an impact on me as Tiana had - and on such a short time frame.  As much as I tried I just couldn’t shake off the feeling.  There was something about her I just could not dismiss.  It excited me as well as frightened me. 

The week went fast.  I flew to Arusha after only two day in Dar es Salaam - to meet some clients and to attend to some pressing matters.  I sat in my den overlooking my luscious green garden at the Njiro Hills.  I liked the area for its quietness, comfort and accessible to town and the airport.  I had had a long three weeks.  Long and stressful three weeks.  That Friday evening I decided to unwind.  I hadn’t been to the gym for a while, but the gym wasn’t exactly what I needed.

After disposing of my briefcase in my library, I took a quick shower and changed into shorts, a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers – ready to hit the courts.  I made myself a quick cup of coffee, taking the mug with me to my bedroom as I hunt for my tennis racket.  Finding them, I leave the mug on the kitchen counter as I hurry to my car and drove off to the Gymkhana Club.

I walked around – trying to decide whether I should get myself a drink first or get myself into a sweat.  Then I saw her.  Doe-eyed, sweet dark chocolate brown skin, short, black hair.

“Hey, you want to pair with me?” she asked in a heavily accented voice breaking my far-away stare.
The game was great and relaxing.  After two games, I felt I needed a drink.  We sat at the terrace and struck up a conversation.  Her name was Aimeé.  She came from Congo and had been in Arusha for a year.  I learnt she could speak very fluently French, Swahili and Portuguese apart from English.  She was one of the thousands of attractive African girls who came to Tanzania every year and each year.  They come for the peace and friendly nature the country offers.  They come hoping to find work – along with the peace – or better still, wealthy men who will keep them.  Few achieve the latter ambition.  The rich-love fantasy is very hard to realize, they find it after a while.  A few hungry ones don’t give up at always hanging around clubs where one will find businessmen in the Tanzanite mining or tourism industry.
After one too many drinks we agreed to meet at the Coffee Lodge later for dinner. 
Someone beautiful to take my mind of Tiana.  Infatuation, haa!  I laughed silently.  As beautiful as she was, as warming as the conversation was, I couldn’t help but compare.

 

Copyright Sandra A. Mushi . All rights Reserved