For her friends and family,the tall and elegant Dr.Easineya Zimba would do anything to put a smile on their faces.That was why when her best friend asked her to organize her engagement party for her,she did not hesitate and went all out and spared no cost.As she stood at the entrance of the hall talking to the guests,her eyes moved discreetly around the room,making sure all was in place.

Her eyes lit up and a wide smile crossed her face when she saw Lemba and Nacilele walk in.She excused herself and hurried over to them.

"And a couple of the hour is here,"she said welcoming both with kisses.

"Easineya.The place looks great,"Nacilele said accepting a flute of champagne.

"Hey,only the best for you two.Come in everybody is waiting for you.Why are standing there for?"

They followed her in,stopping to greet a number of their guests.Most of the guests wore the colourful traditional misisi gowns.

"I can't wait for you guys to announce your wedding date.You should do it already.I have already begun compiling what I think you guys might like but that's a topic for another day,"she said,"Right now is the time to announce you guys so this engagement party can start."

Light as the wind on her feet she was gone.

Nacilele gulped down her drink and rubbed at her forehead.“She is going to hate us for this,"she murmured.

"Maybe we should just go through with it,"Lemba said watching his sister fuss about.He hated to disappoint people especially his sister.She had done so much for them.

"And then what?Will it change how you feel?What about me Lemba?How do you expect me to live with myself knowing i forced you into this?Each time i see you sad i will always wonder if maybe you could have been happy somewhere else."

"Am sorry;I didn't think of it that way,"he said grabbing a flute of the liquid poison.This night wasn't turning out as he had imagined.

Easineya stood talking at the Mic.Her eyes caught sight of her brother and a best friend talking.She frowned slightly at their odd behavior.She had thought it strange when they had both walked in dressed in their work clothes instead of the gowns are chosen.

Nacilele had picked a white,waxy chitenge material with tiny intricate blue floral patterns,that she was going to have sewn into both their gowns.She had been excited as she picked the designs while looking forward to tonight.

Then there was the way they were with each other.No holding hands and stood apart from each other like strangers.The two were expressive with their hands but not tonight.It was odd and strange.Easineya figured she would have to have a chat with them later on after the party about their strange behaviour.

Loud applause followed the end of her speech as both Lemba and Nacilele joined her on stage.

"Thank you,everyone,for coming out tonight to support us as you have always done"Lemba began,"

Mum,dad,Mrs Nyambe,Mr.Nyambe sir,thank you."

The two sets of parents raised their glasses in the air to them both beaming with pride.

"Easineya,words ain't enough but thank you,"he raised his glass to her.Easineya smiled back at him but couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.She looked at her best friend who purposefully avoided her gaze,"You have been there for us through all these years supporting and encouraging us.That is why we hope that you will support us even as we take this step too."

"Lemba and I,"Nacilele began looking up at him.He reached down and squeezed her hand,"We are calling off the engagement."

Silence then looks of shock and disbelief greeted their announcement.Easineya shook her head in protest.

"We all came out tonight to celebrate our union.Nothing has changed.Think of this as a celebration to end many beautiful years of a good friendship,"Lemba said to the shocked audience.He raised his glass to them and nodded to the DJ to resume the music.The guests joined him in the toast talking amongst themselves in whispers.

***

A breathless Ian rolled his sweaty body off Clere;a content smile on his face.Staring at the ceiling with tears in her eyes,Clere pulled the sheet over her pale body.

"You my dear,you are a workout,"he said."If you were not so uptight we could do this more often.You know,this doesn't have to be a one-time thing,"he reached to touch her but she cringed away from him.He chuckled settling back in his place.He leaned against the headboard,casting a lustful look at the body he had just ravaged.

"You know,your father ought to worship you for the huge sacrifice you have made for the family.All fathers ought to have daughters like you."

Clere grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around her chest,revealing a glaring red spot on the white sheets on the bed.She almost buckled under on her first attempt to use her now jelly like legs.Seeing her struggle to get her legs to cooperate;a smirk tugged the corners of Ian's mouth.He was well aware he hadn't being merciful with her.

Gritting her teeth while cursing Ian and his ancestors in her heart,Clere forced her wobbly legs to stand firm.Like a baby who is just learning how to walk,she took tentative steps and headed for the bathroom.

"Clere,wait,"he called her back.She stood with her back to him.Ian rolled out of bed,grabbed the folder from under the pillow she had just laid her head on and stalked over to her without bothering to cover his wrinkly naked body.He stood in front of her.

"My end of the bargain."

Clere turned her head and kept her gaze away from his naked body.

"As we agreed.Your body for the company.Now Benedict holdings will be back in your family's hands."

He reached out to touch her blonde curls,she swat his hand away,glared at him,grabbed the folder and walked away to the bathroom.With the door securely locked behind her,she jumped into the shower and mercilessly scrubbed her pale body as streams of tears rolled down her face.

***

"Tell me its a lie,"Teliwe tearfully begged Pumulo Akowa who had earlier pulled on a white gown.

Pumulo looked away from her,the pain in her voice and face wringing his heart.

"Tell me what she just said isn't true please,"she pleaded with him.Her trembling hands clutched at her tummy.

"Teli"he began taking a step towards her.She stepped back shaking her head and looked at him like he was the plague of the century.

Maybe he was.

Had he not promised her his love and yet had gone on to marry another woman?

As he wrestled with his tormented thoughts,his wife walked out into the suites lounge,her hands thrust in the pockets of the mid-thigh white hotel robe.

Standing side by side,it was clear to see that they wore couple robes.

"Pathetic,"Nsemiwe murmured and beelined for the minibar.She poured herself a glass of wine.

Pumulo glared at her.She smiled behind her glass of wine and shrugged her shoulders.

"Well,will you tell her or do I have to?It was about time Cinderella took off her glass slippers and realized she never stood a chance."

Pumulo covered his face in his palms and sighed.Silence filled the room.It was a long while before he spoke.“I'm sorry Teli.Nsemiwe and Iwe got married this morning in Cape Town."

An anguished sob escaped her mouth.Pearl shaped crystalline tears cascaded down her face,down her trembling lips and chin to her neck then her chest,drenching the tee shirt.She opened her mouth to say something but words could not get past the lump in her throat.With each rise and fall of her chest;her chest seemed to sweep up as if the pent up emotions wanted to burst through the enclosure.

"I didn't want you to find out this way.I was going to come and tell you myself tomorrow,"he said apologetically.

Teliwe let out a choked laugh."Why,would that have made the betrayal any less painful?What good would it have done?"

Pumulo looked down shaking his head.His heart shredding to pieces at her pain.He was supposed to be the one protecting her but had ended up hurting her the most.

"Teli"

"Did you even ever love me at all?"

"What does that matter now?"Nsemiwe asked her before Pumulo could even answer,her voice full of mockery,"He is married to me and that is all that matters."

"Answer me Pumulo!"she yelled at him ignoring his wife,"I deserve to know that much at least."

"Oh,you are so shameless.Which part of we are married now don't you get?What does it matter if he loved you or not?I had just loaned him to you."

Nsemiwe's words left Teliwe weak in the knees,they buckled under her making her fall into a heap on the plush carpet.She looked from Nsemiwe to Pumulo her heartbreaking all over as she realized the past couple of years had all been a lie.Nothing was true.He had never been hers.

The realization had fresh tears rolling down her face as her heart twisted in pain.

"Teli,it's not true."

"I knew about you all these two years.I am a liberal woman that is why I let you both be,"she began.

"Teli please don't believe a word she says.It's not true."

"No?Then what is the truth Pumulo?Do let us know."Nsemiwe taunted him mischief in her eyes.Pumulolooked away from her.Shame and guilt mingling with each other.

"I know men have their sexual urges and he is no different,"she continued."He needed an outlet.And you were it.But I will have none of it now that we are married or you will both get it from me."

Frustrated,Pumulo kicked into the sofa and growled out.Nsemiwe smirked as she watched the hurting pair.

"I'm sorry Teli,"he said to her backing away before heading into the bedroom

.