Chord Limitless : episode 6

"I am not comfortable in this," I told Namwanda as I stood in front of her mirror wearing a really short dress.
She stood next to me and fixed the wig she had put on my head.
"Stop whining and trust me. You will make more money tonight than you usually make in a day. Beside it is not luke you are a virgin."

I looked at my reflection and honestly I wasn't comfortable. Namwanda had talked me into going with her;giving me the cons of the whole thing. She kept telling me about how much she made and how she was saving till she could find something better. It was a means to survive she had said.


"Beside with you wanting to go back to school this is the best way."
I sat heavily on her bed as I watched my son sleep. I was trying to convince myself that I was doing this for his own good but I couldn't brush away the sickening feeling I felt. Selling my body had been the last thing on my mind. I had never come across a prostitute till Namwanda comfessed that she was. I had heard and seen side chicks being beaten but never a prosititute.
"Time to go," Namwanda announced as she pulled on a chitenge before handing me mine.
I slowly pulled on mine then stole a look at Lumuno. The guilt I felt made me look away and push back the tears.


 I picked my bag and followed Namwanda out of the house wordlessly. It was twenty one hours but people were still up and about. Bana Mapalo looked at me momentarily before looking away;the disappointment she registered on her face made me feel ashamed. Lord forgive me I prayed silently as I followed Namwanda out of the yard. We walked towards the road where we found a bus. We dropped at Lima tower and boarded a Chilenje bus. She explained that we were going to Break point. The one place she worked from.
"It is always busy and there are plenty of clients."
Clients I thought. Men who willingly left their women to sleep with prostitutes. We dropped at Breakpoint and she led me to the filling station across. We pulles off the chitenges and re-did the make up before we crossed to the busy bar area. She pointed out eastpoint as well as KCC.


"There are always guys around, ready to be serviced," she said as she led me into the drip. She walked to the bar and pointed at the barman. "The usual but two shots."
I watched as the barman poured whatever it was into two glasses then slid them in front of us.
"Drink. It will take the nervousness away and it will keep you warm," she said as she lifted her cup and threw the stuff down her throat.
I picked mine slowly and then drank. It was bitter and it burned my throat. I chocked and started coughing. She patted my back as the coughing continued.


"You will be fine," she said as she looked around.
The place was crowded and people were drinking and some were dancing to the loud music. She then took my hand. I followed her out. I watched as she wiggled her behind as she walked. Was I supposed to copy her? I decided not to. At the moment my mind was struggling with walking in the heels. She led me outside where people were eating and drinking whilst seated. We stood near the mini mart and I watches as she looked round. Whenever a car slowed down she gave them her back and wiggled her bum or she would pull the skirt a bit higher.
"Do the same," she said.


I was too nervous and had no idea what the hell I was doing here. After thirty minutes a car slowed down. She pushed me towards it.
"Remember what I told you. Start charging at K70. Live is K100," she said nudging me forward.
Reluctantly I walked towards the car and as I neared it the window on the passenger side slid open. A middle aged man sat in the car.
"Want a good time?" I asked the way Nawanda had taught me. My voice tremored a little.
"How much?"
"K70 with acondom and K100 live."
"Jump in."


I looked at Namwanda who gave me a thumbs up sign as the door was opened for me. Reluctantly I got in. The man immediately drove off. We hardly spoke as he drove. Finally he parked at what I guessed was a lodge. The man turned to look at me then he smiled. He seemed nervous. It was then that I took a good look at him. He was plumb and with a little mustache on his face.
"Beg your pardon. I am a bit nervous," he said smiling nervously.
I didn't respond but just looked at him. He cleared his throat then wordlessly stepped out of the car.


I watched him disappear into what was written as reception. I looked around the car and realised it was quite luxurious. After a few minutes the man returned and nervously told me to follow him. I got my bag and followed him. He stopped in front of a door labelled ten. He unlocked the door and went in. I followed,closing the door behind me after he turned on the light. There was a bed in the middle of the room. I guessed it wasn't a very expensive hotel. There was a dressing mirror to one side and a bin near a door which I guessed was a bathroom. The man sat on the bed.
"My name is Joshua Lweengu."
I stared at him blankly. I didn't understand why he was introducing himself when we had a mission. I put my bag down and swallowes hard before looking at him;gathering all the courage I could master.
"70 or 100?" I asked.


Namwanda had parked condoms in the bag for me. I saw the man swallow.
"I will answer later. For now sit down,"he said patting the place next to him.
I eyed him warily before sitting at the edge. He gave a tiny smile. Silence.
"My wife cheated on me," he blurted out after a few minutes.
I stared at him in surprise. He shook his head. "I found her on our bed with another man this evening. I just arrived from Nigeria on a business trip...she had no idea I was coming today," he said quietly.
I didn't know what to say. He continued. "I was so amgry so I got the car keys and drove out. I had no idea where I was headed and I had no plans of picking a prostitute."
I felt hurt as the word prostitute sank in. Being labelled as one wasn't sitting well with me.


"I am not a prostitute," I said quietly.
He stared at me in surprise. I gave him a smile. "It is my first time doing this tonight....I didn't expect a confession though."
He shook hos head as he stared at me. "Well I think everything happens for a reason."
"And what is the reason?"
"God sent us to meet each other and maybe stop us from sinning."
Okay what he was saying made sense. He looked down at his hand;the one with the ring.
"I love my wife. I have loved her from the word go and have always kept our vows. Not once did I ever go astray.


" He pauses as he stared at the wall. "I have no idea why she would hirt me this way....and in anger I almost did something reckless but that isn't me. The God I serve won't let me repay one sin with another."
He turned to look at me. "I really am not an honorable man. I mean imagine a church member finding me here with you. They would actually conclude that this is my lifestyle. Anyway I don't know your story but just know tonight I will not touch you. Just allow me to talk or you can talk."
Him mentioning God made me realise what I was intending to start doing was not his plan for me. My mother was definitely going to be rolling in her grave if I went down this path. She had some faith and hope in me. She had said I would beat the odds and become successful.


 I felt a tear escape my eye as I thought of my mother.
"Did I say something wrong?"the man asked in panic.
I shook my head as more tears streamed down. "My mother would be ashamed of me. She never ever would forgive me for selling my body."
He nodded as though understanding. "Tell me about yourself,"he finally said.
So I did and for the next one hour we spoke about ourselves. At the end of it all we were both shedding tears as we realised that what we had almost done was going to do more harm than good.


"Come let me take you home," Joshua said.
I didn't argue but followed him out. I checked the time on my little phone. It was almost midnight. He handed back the keys then led me to the car. We spoke as we drove towards Chawama. I have him the directions. As he parked near home he looked at me.
"From your story it seems your mother had high hopes for you. Do not allow her hopes ans dreams for you as well as her prayers be all in vain. Go to your son. Find something else to.do but selling your body is not the answer. This meeting was for a purpose and I thank God. I for one am going to my church and I shall kneel at the alter and confess my sins and seek the Lord."


I smiled at him and realised he was speaking the truth. I smiled and nodded. I watched as he reached for the compartment next to me and pulled out an envelope. He handed it to me.
"It isn't much but I hope it will help you achieve some of your dreams."
I stared at him in shock as I opened the envelope. There were k100s in it. I looked at him and smiled.
"I hope next time we meet you will be a doctor."
I smiled and without warning hugges him. I had never hugged a man. He was the first. He patted my back.


"Go now my dear and don't look back. Your friend Namwanda is not a good influence. Do not allow her to lead you astray."
I thanked him and got my bag before wrapping the chitenge round me and waved at Joshau before walking towards home. As I entered the yard I spotted Bana Mapali coming from the direction of the toilet. She looked at me wordlessly. I walked to her.
"I didn't go through it. God had other plans for me," I said to her and without a word she pulled me into an embrace.


"I was oraying for you. I prayed that you wouldn't go astray."
I grinned. "My mother used to pray for me and I know she would be happy knowing someone else has taken over." I Looked at her and smiled. "Thank you. Your prayers sent me a good samaritan."

Watch out for episode 7