I remember years ago, there was another mutual friend of mine, let’s call him Mwiza for privacy. Mwiza was a close friend of one of my buddies, and because we often met through our shared connections, we became friends ourselves. We exchanged contact information and occasionally hung out, attending music shows and football games in Blantyre. Most of our get-togethers happened on weekends.

One weekend in 2019, we found ourselves at Njamba Freedom Park during Saulos Chilima’s political rally. While I was with Mwiza, another girl, who happened to be the ex-girlfriend of one of my long-time friends, appeared. We greeted her, and it was evident that Mwiza was drawn to her, engaging in a captivating conversation. I, however, remained shy and reserved.I felt like a stranger as I observed their connection while my attention was focused on the political rally.

To my surprise, the girl continued to accompany us, even after we parted ways for our respective routes. Mwiza made the deliberate choice to escort her, and out of a positive mindset, I let it happen.

A few hours later, Mwiza excitedly called me, exclaiming that the girl, a friend of mine, seemed interested in him. He expressed his intention to just have sex with her and dump her. I suggested he inquire about her reputation, but he was resolute, even if it were unfavorable, in using the rubbers and ending the relationship afterward.

Reluctantly, I had no choice but to share that the girl had a troubled history with one of my close friends, leading to their breakup due to her involvement with blessers. That was the story I knew, although I hadn’t heard her side. As part of my friend’s gang, I felt obliged to support the narrative he had conveyed.

Two weeks later, Mwiza texted me, revealing he had slept with the girl twice and was ready dump her. I chuckled and congratulated him with the common slogan “Bola wadya Bro!”.

A week later, Mwiza faced the loss of his father, requiring a trip to the Northern region for the funeral. I had exams and couldn’t accompany him. Surprisingly, the girl informed me of her intention to attend the funeral. In my mind I was like “You don’t know that boy’s plans on you” 

While I wondered about her motives, I kept my thoughts to myself and wished her a safe journey.

After a week, when Mwiza and his family returned from the funeral, I visited him and expressed my condolences. However, during a holiday in Luchenza, I lost touch with Mwiza. Upon returning to Blantyre for three semesters, I realized I had forgotten about him.

This year, I unexpectedly encountered Mwiza and the girl at ShopRite, still together. We had a brief conversation, exchanged contact information, and parted ways.

I couldn’t help but wonder why Mwiza, who had initially intended just to have an intimacy, was still with the girl. This raised a million-dollar question in my mind.

After communicating on Whatsapp, we agreed to meet up in Blantyre, hoping to rekindle our friendship.

During our meeting, I asked Mwiza about the reason he had stayed with the girl despite the intention of just having fun with her. To my surprise, he stared into my eyes with intensity and declared that she was not just any girl, but an angel. He revealed that she had been his savior during his darkest days, providing unwavering support when everyone else, including me, had abandoned him. I could see signs of tears in Mwiza’s eyes as he shared his story.

He explained how, following his father’s death, her mother passed away due to blood pressure, leaving Mwiza, as the eldest in his family, burdened with responsibilities. His parents’ relatives forced him to his village in the North, taking control of their family’s businesses. Financially and emotionally struggling, Mwiza found himself uncomfortable in his new situation and yearning for a way to support his younger siblings.

During this challenging time, the girl remained by his side. She found him a job as a till operator in a large store and used her own money to cover his rent for several months until he settled in the city.

Mwiza went on to explain how she provided a shoulder to cry on when he needed it most. He firmly asserted that the girl was not just a temporary fling but a savior in his life.

Today, Mwiza is thriving in the city with a job that matches his qualifications, and he and the girl have a child together.

The only regret was that they didn’t allow me to name their baby, even though I had played a pivotal role in bringing them together. I would have named the child Njamba, a nod to the place where it all began, Njamba Freedom Park.