I had little choice. I just had to accept my fate. I was going to spend my first few weeks in Mbeya with Mr. Mwakipesile; dad's childhood friend. It was now my own time within the school curriculum for the compulsory Industrial Training popularly known to students as IT. After extensive search for a proper firm that will offer me both the needed experience and financial assistance, myself and dad settled for one pretty decent firm in Mbeya.
They offer technical services to telecom companies and that defined my field every bit, but what didn't do quite that, was the location; Mbeya town. We had nobody there and would mean I would have to settle in faster than usual; which can be utterly difficult. The search was on, for any kind of friend who knew a friend that stays in Mbeya but the result was always the same; none.
We almost then settled on finding an apartment first hand when suddenly dad bumped into Mwakipesile at the recently concluded trade fair after what seemed close to ten years. They had lost any form of contact. Mwakipesile, who we used to know as Uncle M as kids, had moved to the east after getting married and that literally severed ties with my dad.
Dad quickly got into conversation with him which led to his asking about myself. "He is a grown man now" dad must have said, "looking to move to Mbeya for his IT". This stirred Uncle M's interest the more and before the conversation was over, he fully knew I was still in need of an apartment and being currently based in Mbeya, offered to assist us in accommodating me while the search lasted.
The arrangements were soon fixed and I was set to make the trip. His apartment was not the nearest of places to the firm in question but who cares at this point? At least I could afford to enjoy the use of some decent apartment or so I thought, until I could find myself one that will serve me for the remainder of the six months I was scheduled to spend.
It was in September that I eventually took off for Mbeya. Of course, as the start of the story suggests, I was not very keen about this. Reason being that I had always disliked seeming to be some kind of source of discomfort to a family even though the family had been the ones who sent the invite in this case. There was also the case with my girlfriend too. We had broken up but I was still currently hoping on getting back into the relationship.
She had caused me to wish I never dated her but somewhere in my heart, I still missed her and really wanted her back but I was never going to make the first move. She had hurt me and must show some kind of remorse towards her act. This was looking ever more difficult now, considering that I would not even have the privilege of using my presence to stir this into happening. However, all of these were eventually dropped back home as I journeyed to the east. It was a Sunday and I arrived towards evening.
My journey had appeared less stressful than I had envisaged. They were all at home or so I thought, judging by how full the house was; and they easily received me. Their apartment was cozy and nicely furnished. It was going to be hard to miss home in such a comfortable environment. A movie was playing and just after the early expected enquiries about my trip, my people and whether I had been to the state before, of which I gave a firm no, I quickly settled to see the movie with them while eating the plate of Sunday rice they had served me. It was also a good time to take a more withdrawn but closer look at the family.
Uncle M of whom I had always felt was a talkative was as expected, on top of his voice, analyzing every single scene that played before them. Despite being in his mid-thirties, he still had this trait. I would always think it is the only rather ill habit he had as he was generally a decent man.
Tall and well built with a look most girls will still die for. The others seemed to find him comfortable despite his many analysis, and his excessive talking only made the time fun. Sitting next to him was girl of about twenty. She was beautiful and I easily passed her for his daughter but was not sure how that was possible, given that she was fair in complexion while M was dark. She also spotted a nose that was unlikely to come from M or his wife. I did not know much about his family before now so could not tell how right I was.
Another girl who also looked like the first sat close to her. Beautiful too and I easily noticed how she stole quick glances at me. I was not flattered, I had experienced that all my life being the natural looker I was.
***To Be Continued***
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