Pemphero W Mphande@PempheroMphande
Some weeks ago, a rather well to do friend of mine was on a road trip and decided, almost impulsively, to pass through my place in Chigumula. As I stepped out to welcome him, I noticed a woman seated quietly in the car. She did not come out. What struck me immediately was that she was not his wife and, strikingly, she was even more beautiful than his wife. I asked, politely, “She will not come out?” She simply shook her head, and my friend added, “amenewa satsika.”
We went inside, exchanged a few pleasantries, and within minutes he was on his way. At the time, I dismissed it as a normal case of infidelity, nothing extraordinary. But the story behind it, as I would later discover, was far more unsettling.
Later on, he told me the woman could not step out because she herself was also married. He had met her months earlier and, when he asked for her number, she said plainly, “I am married.” He replied, almost audaciously, “Too bad. I really like you. How much money would make you cheat on your husband right now?” Without much hesitation, she answered, “Right now? 2 million kwacha. I need to pay for something.” In a move that felt both theatrical and chilling, my friend sent her 3 million kwacha on the spot. And just like that, the boundary dissolved.
Since hearing this, I have found myself in quiet contemplation, questioning the very foundations of commitment, loyalty, and the institution of marriage itself. I wonder if i still want to get married!
